"The condition of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has been
improving since she suffered minor injuries at last night's bomb blast at the
Town Hall, Colombo just after she had addressed the final PA rally prior to the
Presidential election. Her right eye had been injured, but it has not impaired
her vision.She is presently wearing a bandage on her right eye. In fact she has
started working from her bedside having opened a small office in the room
adjoining her bedroom at the hospital where the Defence Secretary and her
Private Secretary are working very closely with her".

This was stated by Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera at a special press
conference of the Media Unit of the People's Alliance held at Galadari Hotel
yesterday noon. The purpose of the press conference was to clarify matters
regarding the President's health and to arrest wild rumours regarding the
aftermath of the bomb blast.

Answering questions raised by press reporters Minister Samaraweera said that
the President has through the IGP already appointed one committee to probe the
weakness of security at the Town Hall blast, consisting of three senior police
officers, DIG's Indra de Silva, Jayatissa Herat and R. K. Karunasena. Another
similar committee has been appointed to probe weak security at the Jaela bomb
blast consisting of P. K. C. Perera (DIG) Camillus Abeygoonewardene (DIG) and
F. R. Alles (SSP). The President has directed that both these reports should be
submitted by 23rd December.

Several world leaders have sent messages of good wishes and concern about the
condition of President Kumaratunga. Among them are the President of India
K.R.Narayan, Prime Minister of India Athal Bihari Vajpayee and President Bill
Clinton of the USA and President Jacques Chirac of France.

Minister Samaraweera also categorically stated that the Government will hold
the Presidential election as scheduled. It will not be postponed although
several attempts were made in devious ways to get the election postponed, from
the very day the nominations were announced. The President had on Saturday
night from her hospital bed given the order to proclaim a curfew in the Colombo
and Gampaha Districts. Her motive in doing so was to give special protection
and security to Tamils in Colombo and Gampaha Districts. The President had
given special instructions to double the security in Wellawatte and Kotahena
etc where most residences were those of Tamils. She has clearly stated that
under no circumstances will she ever tolerate any communal backlash.

Asked why she is not being shown on TV Minister Samaraweera replied that since
her eye was bandaged and since the Sinhalese were an emotional race, there was
no necessity to provoke anybody. However she was due to give a message to the
nation yesterday. A regular medical bulletin will be issued for the benefit of
the nation by a panel of doctors treating her on her improvement in health.

Answering a question whether there could be any connection between the
statement made by Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will hand over President
Chandrika Kumaratunga to Prabhakaran, and Saturday's bomb blast at the Town
Hall in Colombo, Minister Samaraweera replied that Ranil became Prime Minister
after President Premadasa was assassinated by the LTTE, and Ranil became UNP
Leader after Gamini Dissanayake was assassinated by the LTTE. It is left for
the public to judge whether Ranil wanted to succeed to the Presidency after
giving Chandrika to Prabhakaran which virtually meant after the assassination
of President Chandrika by the LTTE.

Varthrajah Perumal of the EPRLF vehemently condemned the assassination attempt
of President Chandrika by the LTTE and wished her a speedy recovery.Tamils
should never forget that the barbaric and brutal acts of the LTTE destroyed the
democratic system and by doing so the LTTE only intended to fuel anti Tamil
riots in Colombo. Tamils in any part of the country should realise that by
supporting the LTTE they are only digging their own graves.

Sivadasan of the EPDP said that the LTTE attempting to snatch away the life of
President Chandrika was no surprise. We have decided to support her for her
bold and courageous decision to support the Tamil minorities. When Kobbekaduwa
contested the Presidency there were a large majority of votes from Jaffna. This
time, too, Chandrika will reap a large harvest of votes from Jaffna.

Siddharthan of the PLOTE said that while condemning the dastardly act of the
LTTE in attempting to kill President Chandrika, since 1956 no Sinhala leader
has ever given the concessions proposed in the package of Chandrika to the
Tamil people. We sincerely hope it will go through Parliament. That is why we
support her wholeheartedly.

M.M.Zuhair of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress said that they condemned the
dastardly act of attempted assassination. He observed that due to the
barricades President Chandrika's life was saved. He complimented the Government
for not taking political advantage of the situation and for advocating calmness
in the face of adversity.

Sivadasan of the Ceylon Workers Congress said that they appreciated the
determination of the President to give equality and development to the quality
of life of the Tamils. That is why we repledge ourselves to support her. We
strongly condemn this foul deed of the LTTE.

Srimani Athulathmudali of the Lalith Front conveyed her sympathies to the loved
ones of the President and of the victims of the bomb blasts. She urged everyone
to act with prayers and restraint in this dark hour. She condemned the LTTE.

Minister Batty Weerakoon also condemned the cowardly act of the LTTE. He said
that probably Prabhakaran was spelling out the agenda, since in the event of a
death of a candidate to Presidency, Parliament can appoint a President
according to certain clauses of the constitution.

Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Leader of the Dissident UNP Group quoting figures from
the BBC London said that according to a BBC survey conducted by Tensing Zega of
the BBC, President Chandrika would poll 57 per cent of the votes and that Ranil
Wickremesinghe would poll 37 per cent. When the BBC local correspondent
questioned him about the authenticity of the figures Dr Amunugama produced all
documents and stated that he was surprised the local correspondent was ignorant
of the survey done by the BBC, the very organisation for which the local
correspondent worked

Rathnadeepa,
  Janmabhumi,
    Vijayabhumi,
       Mathrubhumi, .......
         Me Ape Udhara wuu
            Mathrubhumiyai..............

Me Parath Dhunna Bate ,
         Giaya Paratha Dhunna Bate,
                 Hema Parama Denawa Bate