Despite the number of security forces personnel and civilians being killed, increasing by the day, the government continues to boast about winning the battle against the LTTE, Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Uva Paranagama, on Saturday.

Speaking after declaring open the UNP’s, Uva Paranagama branch office, he said that in addition to war casualties, armed groups were abducting innocent Tamils and demanding ransom for their release from family members. Failure to comply meant certain death.

"The law and order situation and economy are in total disarray. Haphazard printing of money has resulted in the inflation rate zooming to an unprecedented 26 per cent."

Wickremesinghe said that he was in the process of formulating a national policy incorporating true Sri Lankan values which would be unveiled shortly. "It will be implemented when the UNP comes back to power in the near future," he said.

Unable to deliver on bogus election promises the government had begun to attack media personnel, who exposed its terror tactics, inefficiency and blatant corruption, he said.

"The easiest thing in the present context is to label anyone who dares criticise the government as traitors and then harass them in every way possible", he added.