S B Dissanayake was sentenced for two years rigorous imprisonment (Photo Sena Vidanagama)

President of the newly formed organisation Mahinda Wijesekara told journalists in Colombo on Thursday that the UNP is also exploring the possibility of getting a bill passed in parliament to quash the sentence against SB.

Spelling out the "action plan" of the campaign group convenor Dr. Rajitha Senaratna said that MD will be demanding to release SB with posters, leaflets, coconut-smashing, "seth kavi and bodhi puja".

Dissanayaka who was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court on Tuesday for contempt of court can be released only if the president grants a pardon.

No appeal is possible in Sri Lanka against a Supreme Court verdict.

Under Article 89 of the Constitution, any person who is serving or has served a jail term of more than six months disqualifies to be an elector for a period of seven years.

In a parliamentary party leaders meeting held on Wednesday, spokesperson of the UNP G L Peiris has rejected the idea of a presidential pardon.

Wijesekara said that the UNP wants to "uphold the freedom of expression" that S B Dissanayaka exercised when delivering the speech that sent him to jail.

Addressing the media UNP parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardhana said that the government is moving towards a witch hunt against political opponents and imprisoning SB was a "singular indicator" of that tendency.