Laws apply to Rajapaksas too: Govt.

Tuesday, 2 February 2016 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Government representatives responded to charges that Yoshitha Rajapaksa was a political prisoner yesterday, saying the country’s law applied to all persons, even the former first family.

Addressing a meeting yesterday, Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said the arrest was the result of year-long investigations about the Carlton Sports Network by the FCID. He said the police did not arrest the former President’s son on a whim.

“If the country’s laws apply to Silva and Sudha, is there some reason why it should not apply to the Rajapaksa family?” Perera charged.

Telecommunications Minister Harin Fernando also addressed the allegation, insisting that if the arrest of Yoshitha Rajapaksa was political it would have happened the way Sarath Fonseka’s arrest took place.

“If Yoshitha Rajapaksa is really a political prisoner, then Nishantha Ranatunga who is the brother of a minister in the present cabinet should have been given bail. Only Yoshitha should have been remanded. Instead, all of them are in police custody,” Fernando pointed out.

Meanwhile, addressing a media conference Professor Sarath Wijesuriya who was part of the civil society movement that backed the January 8 common opposition coalition, hit back against claims that Yoshitha Rajapaksa was a naval officer and a war hero.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was claiming that his son had willingly gone to join up to fight in the country’s war against the LTTE. “If he was a naval officer and a war hero, the Rajapaksas also must explain how he came to be calling the shots at the Carlton Sports Network while enrolled in the forces,” he said. (DB)

Yoshitha gets visitors at Welikada

Former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa and Rohitha Rajapaksa visited Yoshitha Rajapaksa at the Welikada prison yesterday, where he is being held in remand custody until 11 February.

The former first lady headed directly to Welikada after her questioning last morning at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges.

Speaking to reporters, Yoshitha’s youngest brother Rohitha said the law must run its course, but insisted that the truth will finally come out. “There was no reason to remand him,” he said outside Welikada.

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Several members of the Joint Opposition including Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Gamini Lokuge and Bandula Gunawardana yesterday visited Yoshitha Rajapaksa and the four others remanded along with him at the Welikada prison – Pix by Nisal Baduge

Namal Rajapaksa also spoke to the media to denounce the Government for its witch-hunt against his family and accused the police of dancing to the Government’s tune.

“The police spokesman released more details to the media than were presented before the Kaduwela Magistrate by the FCID,” he said.

A large number of “joint opposition” MPs also visited the former President’s son in prison yesterday.

At a press conference held after their visit, UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa said Yoshitha Rajapaksa had been engaged in exercises with other prisoners in remand when they had visited.

Weerawansa said that the Government was attempting to stall the former President’s political journey by going after his children.

Also addressing the media conference, UPFA MP Dinesh Gunewardane said Yoshitha Rajapaksa was a “political prisoner.”

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, President Rajapaksa’s second son was arrested on Saturday by the FCID and remanded by the Kaduwela Magistrate on money laundering charges. (DB)