The United National Party today decided to boycott a Commonwealth cultural event hosted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on April 26 - for which all members of Parliament are invited. 

The UNP said it would boycott the event on the grounds that the present government has grossly violated all values and principles governing the Commonwealth of Nations.

"With reference to the invitation extended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to all members of Parliament for a function to "celebrate the cultural diversity of the Commonwealth to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New year" on April 26, 2014 at Temple Trees, the Leadership Council of the United National Party decided to instruct all members of the party to boycott the event on the grounds that the present government, led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has grossly violated all values and principles governing the Commonwealth of Nations. The UNP is of the strong belief that the government has no right to host events related to Commonwealth when its own actions continuously  contravene basic tenets of democracy and good governance, that it is bound to uphold as Chair in Office.

Therefore, no UNP member will be present at the ceremony and the party, without any reservations will boycott the event," the Leadership Council of the United National Party said a short while ago.