The UNP claims that the arrest of UNF Colombo district candidate and former Sirasa media Director Susil Kindelpitiya was an act of political revenge by the government at a time when a General Election is at hand.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayaka speaking to Daily Mirror online stated that there was an acepted method of conducting an arrest after a complaint was lodged. And that an arrest of a candidate contesting an election at a time an election is at hand was wrong without conducting proper investigations.