The Mahinda Rajapaksa government is full of contradictions and the Yapas have become the latest addition to the circus, UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne said yesterday.

He told a news conference in Colombo, that there are two Yapas in the Media Ministry and both of them are ministers. "Of late, the frequency with which each one contradicts the other, has been increasing. Serious allegations are made by one Yapa and when journalists asks the other Yapa, if he agrees, his reply is ‘I don’t know’. People are now wondering if they are in the same government."

Contradictions have turned out to be the hallmark of the Rajapaksa regime and what happens among the Yapas is common among other Ministers as well. Serious issues are toyed about and made a joke of with several Ministers saying different things on the same subject. The government looks more like a kindergarten. While the circus goes on, the masses who were looking for some relief with the end of the war, have been thrown from the frying pan into the fire, Seneviratne said.

"Despite the government claiming to protect media freedom, the harassment of journalists has not ceased and those highlighting corruption and abuse of power, are being dealt with, in a very violent manner."

The Tamil people, he said, are still awaiting the much publicised promise of resolving their problems, but nothing gets done, because Ministers spend their time singing the praises of the President and the need to make him the eternal ruler.

Commenting on the forthcoming Elections, Seneviratne alleged that Opposition parties are not allowed to travel beyond Medawachchiya, but UPFA candidates are roaming about freely, with enough and more state security to protect them.