President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the late Member of Parliament Nadaraja Raviraj spoke fearlessly on behalf of the people he represented. He did not hesitate to strongly voice his concerns over the issues pertaining to his people.

President Rajapaksa emphasized that he was the leader of all the people of Sri Lanka, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or any other differences he believes that every person in this country should have the right to speak out and express one’s ideas freely with no restrictions; In keeping with the ideas of a democratic society, He said he was fully committed to uphold this principle of democratic freedom in governance.

President while expressing his deep sympathies to the family of the late MP stated that Mr. Raviraj was a personal friend of his.

President Rajapaksa said this at the opening ceremony of the new office building for the Department of Inland Revenue in Colombo this morning.

Meanwhile the President has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask for the assistance from the Scotland Yard to carry out investigations into Mr. Raviraj’s assassination.

"Deliberate and well planned attempt to bring the government and country in to disrepute" added the President.

The President said that this assassination of Mr. Raviraj shows every indication of being a deliberate and well planned attempt to bring the country and the Government in to disrepute; it was also a serious move to create obstacles to the efforts being made to bring about better understanding among the different communities in the country, in the search for peace and harmony.

President has, earlier instructed Inspector General of Police to conduct an immediate investigation into the murder and report back to him.

Tamil National Alliance MP Nadaraja Raviraj was shot dead this morning near the Elvitigala Housing Scheme at Elvitigala Road in Narahenpita – a busy centre town in Colombo.

Source: http://www.news.lk