Former parliamentarian President’s Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakshe has revealed that a group in the last government had planned to have Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrested over the Avant Garde incident and revoke his civil rights.
Testifying before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating political victimization under the last government, President’s Counsel Rajapakshe said a Cabinet paper had been submitted seeking approval for stripping the members of Rajapaksa family of their civic rights.
That Cabinet paper had been signed by former Parliamentarians Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Arjuna Ranatunga and Sarath Amunugama, Rajapakshe said.
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating the incident of political victimization has issued summons on 18 individuals including former ministers Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Arjuna Ranatunga, and Patali Champika Ranawaka, former MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, former Navy Commander Ravindra Wijegunaratne former CID Director Shani Abeysekara, President’s Counsel Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe to appear before the Commission yesterday.
However, only a few persons including Patali Champika Ranawaka and Shani Abeysekara were present at the hearing yesterday. The Presidential Commission instructed the Attorney General to issue notices to those who were not present.
Testifying on behalf of the complainant, Rajapaksha said he was aware of the Avant Garde Security Services in 2015 but was unaware that it provided security at sea.
Mr. Rajapakshe said that several foreign companies had inquired about the seizure of the Avant Garde floating armory ship and pointed out that it was not an illegal deal but that they were working with the international community.
He further stated that on the then Prime Minister’s directive he had looked into the matter and informed the then Prime Minister and the President that the company was legitimate.
PC Rajapakshe stated that he received information that there was a discussion at the residence of Rajitha Senaratne one day in February 2015 to use the law to arrest Gotabhaya Rajapaksa following the Avant Garde incident. He said a CID officer has anonymously informed him that former Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka and lawyer J.C. Weliamuna will attend the meeting to discuss ways and means of having Gotabaya Rajapaksa jailed.
“I received a call from a police officer of the CID. He told me that the CID had received a letter from the Department of the Attorney General instructing it to take nine persons including Gotabaya Rajapaksa into custody over the Avant-Garde controversy. The AG’s letter had been sent following the meeting at Senaratne’s residence. The letter to the CID had been signed by Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Navaratne Bandara.”
Mr. Rajapakshe said that a group of people had attempted to appoint a Criminal Justice Commission and bring a bill to abolish Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s civic rights.
He said that these politicians accused him of being a minister protecting the frauds.
“I acted fast and contacted the then President, Prime Minister and the former IGP and pointed out to them that the move to arrest Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be stopped immediately. It told them it was also bad for the government to resort to such action. The move was stopped. Thereafter, those who were behind the failed move branded me a stooge of Gotabaya. They said that I had secret deals with Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Nissanka Senadhipathi,” he said.
PC Rajapakshe said at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office this political group said the government would not be able to rule for a long period of time if they (Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Avant Garde management) were not jailed as Gotabhaya’s strength is due to the Avant Garde’s money.
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry chaired by former Supreme Court judge, Upali Abeyratne is to convene again on the 23rd and 26th of this month.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
