"We won't go to war, but, we are ready to fight if attacked," said the younger brother of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga addressing a public rally in Polonnaruwa on Sunday.

Expressing the governments willingness for the devolution of power peacefully, the minister said however, that they are not prepared to "betray the Sinhala and Muslim people".

A contempt of courts decision has already been taken against former Samurdhi Minister S B Dissanayake, revealed minister Bandaranaike.

S B Dissanayake earlier alleged that the government is engaged in a political witch-hunt, and appealed to the president in a press conference to "stop politically motivated victimisation".

Investigations are underway on corruption charges related to misappropriation of Samurdhi funds, against Dissanayake who has been banned from travelling abroad.

Proclaiming that the present government will be in power for the full term of six years Minister Bandaranaike said, "S B Dissanayake will be behind bars by the next year".