Thalatha hits back at allegations she had hand in framing convicted SLPP MP

Thursday, 10 September 2020 01:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says case against Jayasekera was ongoing when she took over as Justice Minister in August 2017
Says death sentence was given after 42 witnesses gave evidence

Ratnapura District Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Thalatha Atukorale yesterday hit back at claims made by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Premalal Jayasekara that she had played a hand in framing him for murder.

Raising a privilege matter in Parliament, Atukorale referred to the speech made by Jayasekera on Tuesday after his controversial swearing-in, where he hinted that his political opponents in the District had been behind a “conspiracy” to frame him for a crime he did not commit, and refuted the allegations.

“He (Jayasekara) has accused me of being involved in the death of one of his relatives in 2001. He has continuously served in this Parliament since 2001. Until 2014, he was a Government MP. I have been an MP since 2004. Rather than hurling baseless allegations hiding behind MP’s privileges, why didn’t he push to have his Government investigate these allegations and take legal action?” she queried.

She queried why Jayasekara was coming out with the allegations some 20 years later, in an attempt to earn sympathy.

Atukorale also dismissed claims made by the SLPP MP that as the Justice Minister of the Yahapalanaya Government, she had once stated that she would “resign and go pluck tea leaves,” if she failed to have him sentenced to death.

“I became Justice Minister on 25 August 2017, and at the time, this case was still ongoing. The honourable judges and officers of the Attorney General’s Department will bear witness that I never brought up this case with them at any time,” she said.

Atukorale pointed out that the death sentence on Jayasekara had been handed down after recording evidence from 42 witnesses. “My only involvement in the case was referring lawyers to act as counsel for the interests of the aggrieved party, since the victim was someone known to her,” she said.