Sri Lankan opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has accused the government of creating a new climate of media repression.

His comments came amid reports that the head of a state media company had been questioned in connection with last month's assassination attempt on President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Mr Wickremesinghe, who was defeated in last month's presidential elections, called on the government to issue a statement on its commitment to uphold media freedom.

"By all means, investigate the assassination attempt but don't fabricate evidence to show there was a coup and make that an excuse to crack down on media freedom and suppress democracy," Mr Wickremesinghe said.

Conspiracy theory

Last week state media alleged that the attempt on the life of President Kumaratunga was part of a wider conspiracy to stage a military coup.

The Sri Lankan Broadcasting corporation alleged that several prominent businessmen had joined hands with military leaders, the opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to murder the president.

The BBC's Susannah Price in Colombo says the focus is on two unnamed newspaper editors and their role in the suicide bomb attack on Ms Kumaratunga's campaign rally that killed 26 people.

The UNP rejected the accusation calling it absurd and said it was part of the government's attempt to stifle opposition.

"While the government makes the army an easy sacrifice in the north in the hands of the LTTE, the government blames them for conspiring with the LTTE," the UNP said.

"We call upon the people to rally round to protect the country from the presidential rage," the party said in a statement.

Private newspaper editors and a media watchdog have said they fear the government would use the allegations to crack down on journalists and curb media freedom ahead of parliamentary elections.

Last week President Kumaratunga made a lengthy speech on state radio and television in which she accused two broadcasters and six newspaper groups of targetting her during her presidential campaign.