Mervyn goes to CID against Gota and Basil

Former Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva has lodged police complaints against members of the Rajapaksa family. Police sources told that the Parliamentarian has lodged complaints over bribery, corruption as well as criminal charges. 

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa were at the receiving end of former Minister’s attack.

Silva has told the CID that the former Economic Development Minister amassed wealth through illegal means and he had “files” with regard to his illegal transactions.

More serious charges have been leveled against former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa including the murders of former Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wikcrematunga and a person named ‘Loku Seeya’.

Silva had said the former Defence Secretary was the main who was behind the “white van culture” in Sri Lanka over the past few years.

Speaking to media outside the CID premises, Silva said Basil Rajapaksa embezzled Rs. 6000 Million from 'Divineguma' funds.

Silva was a person who often claimed that he had utmost respect for the Rajapaksa family as he too hailed from Beliatta - the hometown of the Rajapaksas.

Meantime Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti  said that by complaining about Rajapaksas, Mervyn Silva does not get "immunity" over charges against him.

Handunnetti was referring to the complaints filed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) by former Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa.


"Mervyn Silva was once a very trusted and loyal liaison of the Rajapaksa family and also played a major role in handling their 'deals'", Handunnetti said.

However, the JVP Parliamentarian  said that a proper investigation against the two Rajapaksa brothers should be conducted since the accusation comes from a person who was a 'worshiper' of the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

"Nevertheless, what he says should not be accepted without proper investigations", warns the JVP parliamentarian.

Meanwhile, Handunnetti  asserted that 'wrongdoings' done by Silva hiding behind the protection of the former regime should also be investigated.

Namal receives death threats

UPFA Hambantota district Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has complained to the Tangalle Police last evening claiming that he had received death threats over the phone, the Police said.

Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said, Mr. Rajapaksa in his complaint stated that he had received calls from one number on four occasions between 11 p.m. to 12 midnight on Tuesday. The caller had threatened Mr.Rajapaksa to resign from politics or otherwise he would be killed, SSP Rohana said. Police have launched investigations into the complaint, he added.

Slamming the allegations raised against him, Rajapaksa in his blog said “As you may have already heard, certain individuals are coming after me with a vengeance, trying to implicate me in a number of alleged wrongdoings.

We expected this. Those who are older than I am will remember well that this is the usual fate that members of the SLFP must suffer whenever we lose elections. It has happened in the past, and the same is happening this time also. We welcome the new government’s initiatives of “good governance,” but we make a strong appeal not to allow certain individuals misuse this initiative to fulfill personal vendettas under the guise of “good governance.”

Western Provincial Councilor Udaya Gammanpila while addressing a press conference held in Colombo , yesterday, said that he also received death threatening messages.

Padmasiri didn't 'sexually assault' me - Lakshika

Popular actress Lakshika Jayawardena refuses claims made by a certain local newspaper that teledrama director Padmasiri Kodikara has sexually assaulted her.

Speaking to SLM Lakshika said that he had made an attempt to obtain a sexual bribe.

Although she has informed the news editor of the publication to rectify the article, it is yet to happen, Lakshika added.

As there is a court case over the bribe incident, Lakshika said that she would inform the court about the detrimentary article.

Lakshika further said she is also contemplating on pressing separate defamatory charges as a large number of websites have cited the newspaper report.

Related ::  Lakshika to complain over Padmasiri

Basil says he won't return to SL

Former minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa has informed his aides that he would not return to Sri Lanka.

Also, in a letter the SLFP General secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, he has resigned from the post of SLFP national organiser after taking full responsibility for the defeat of his brother - Mahinda Rajapaksa at the recently concluded Presidential polls.

Basil Rajapaksa spearheaded the campaign of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, the letter further states that he would continue as a UPFA backbencher in parliament.
It is said that Basil Rajapaksa is currently residing in Los Angeles, US.

His Holiness Pope Francis arrived

Pope Francis who arrived in the country this morning said that he hoped every word and action of Sri Lankan political and religious leaders will make a lasting contribution to the material and spiritual progress of all the Sri Lankans.

Speaking at the Bandaranaike International Airport upon his arrival, the Pope said that promoting human dignity and respect for human rights was also essential as well as improving infrastructures and material needs. “The great work of rebuilding must embrace improving infrastructures and meeting material needs, but also, and even more importantly, promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and the full inclusion of each member of society,” he said.

He said that the diversity was no longer seen as a threat, but as a source of enrichment and therefore people of Sri Lanka must be prepared to accept one another, to respect legitimate diversities, and learn to live as one family. “Whenever people listen to one another humbly and openly, their shared values and aspirations become all the more apparent,” he said. Commenting on the civil war and its aftermath, the Pope saidhe was convinced that the followers of the various religious traditions have an essential role to play in the process of reconciliation and rebuilding which is taking place in the island.

Pope Francis on Tuesday cancelled a planned meeting with Sri Lankan bishops, with one security official saying he was "exhausted" after a long journey from the airport exposed to the hot sun. The 78-year-old, who arrived in Colombo Tuesday on an Asia tour that will also take him to the Philippines, took over an hour to travel into the city from the airport on roads thronged with well-wishers.

The pope travelled in an open-top car with no protection from the strong sun and after a long overnight flight from Rome. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said only that the meeting with the bishops had been cancelled due to the pope's late arrival from the airport. But a source working on security arrangements who asked not to be named told that pontiff looked "exhausted" after his journey. Pope Francis has shunned the pomp of his predecessors, and said earlier this year he prefers not to use the bulletproof "popemobile" favoured by previous pontiffs.

Journalists travelling with him said he appeared on good form during the flight. 

Bribery charges filed against Rajapaksa family

 The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna today (January 13) officially filed a written complaint of bribery charges with the Bribery Commissioner against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his two brothers former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his eldest son MP Namal Rajapaksa.

The complaints were lodged by JVP members Vijitha Herath, Sunil Handunnetti and attorney at law Sunil Watawela.

Also named in the petition are former governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, former Trade Minister Johnston Fernando, former Minister of Ports Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Chairman of the Tourist Board Senanka Gunaratne, Managing Director of the Ports and Tourism Promotions Bureau Rumy Fauser and National Lotteries Board Chairman and former Director General of the Economic Development Ministry Samudri.

Harin Likely To Be Uva Chief Minister

 
Opposition Leader of the Uva Provincial Council Harin Fernando today informed the Governor of the Province that he had secured the majority in the Council.

Fernando had informed that he had the support of 17 members in the Council apart from the two seats held by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

Therefore the former Parliamentarian is likely to be appointed by the Governor as the new Chief Minister of the Uva Province.

Fernando managed to secure the majority when several members of the UPFA crossed over to the opposition following the swearing in of the new President over the weekend. The opposition leader only needed the support of three more members to secure the majority in the Council.

Shasheendra Rajapaksa, the nephew of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is presently the Chief Minister of the Uva Provincial Council.