Gota Sings A Different Tune On Lasantha Murder

Gotabaya

MARCH 1, 2018

Replying to an article carried in banner headlines in the Island newspaper of 27th February under the caption “Inquiry into Lasantha murder in a muddle” Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was Secretary Defence at the time Lasantha Wickrematunge was brutally murdered offers an explanation as a cover up after his much publicised ” Who is Lasantha?” interview with the BBC shortly after the killing. He also said that he filed action as it was the correct thing to do. Will he file action against the Island? That would also be the correct thing to do by his own admitted standards.

The infamous interview shocked the entire world when Gotabaya arrogantly said “who is Lasantha? He was a tabloid journalist criticising every President. Why ask about one man? There are so many murders”. In his reply carefully crafted as one suspects by a lawyer, he goes on to put the blame on Brigadier Keppetiwalana a known acolyte of Gen Sarath Fonseka when he was the Commander of the Army. If one were to recall, Brigadier Keppetiwalana and some other Army Intelligence personnel were arrested and kept in CID custody after being held by the Military initially. At the time Gotabaya was yet the all powerful Secretary Defence. They were released after a visit by Rohan Guneratne arranged and approved by Gotabaya himself. It is indeed funny that the former Secretary Defence now places the blame at the feet of Keppetiwalana, having lost power but did release him whilst he was in power. Rumour was rife that Keppetiwalana et al were pushed to blame Gen Fonseka of the murder whilst being held but when they capitulated by saying to Guneratne they would speak of other murders if they were pushed. Hey presto, the release took place. The CID would do well to follow up on that lead too.

Lasantha

The Rajapaksa government with Gotabaya as Secretary of all he surveyed did nothing with investigating murders let alone corruption. Thajudeen’s murder was an accident. Lasantha’s murder was done by LTTE and hence pushed to SSP Wakista in the anti terrorism unit. Keith Noyahr was released after a near death experience when calls were made to MR and GR. Ekaneligoda was found wandering around overseas. Forget the Udayan journalists. They had no chance. Shame on you journalists in the South. How is it that the former Secretary Defence now says these crimes need not be investigated? How is it that it is convenient to hide behind statements made by Ranil Wickremesinghe and Joseph Michael Perera that it was Gen Sarath Fonseka who killed Lasantha Wickramatunge,at a time he was in power ? Why did he not believe those statements at that time and take action? He was in power !!!!

The former Secretary Defence goes on to say that the Government is hell bent on incarcerating the self proclaimed War Winning Hero ( forgetting Gen Fonseka) because of his efforts in defeating the LTTE and beautifying Colombo. All by himself. Due to the super performance by his brother at the recent Local Government elections the Yahapalanaya boys have got jittery and are hell bent on “fixing” them, says he. Perhaps Gotabaya has forgotten that his brother got such a mandate mainly because the Yahapalanaya’s did not move against them after making serious charges prior to defeating MR. The people felt that the Rajapaksa clan were now, spring chicken. Close behind is the looming possibility of Field Marshal Fonseka becoming the Law and Order Minister, that has sent shivers down their collective spines. Hence the reply.

The gung ho super hero who commandeered all he surveyed when he was in power seems to be cowering without the tri forces and the police to hide behind. He goes on to explain that he did file action against the late senior journalist and his newspaper for billions over the reporting of the “MiG Deal” as he himself calls it. Observers will do well to remember that Gotabaya in an interview with Hard Talk during his period as Secretary Defence arrogantly said to a question whether he wished The Sunday Leader to shut down as they will not be able to pay billions “Of course”. Watch You Tube interview. Yet when the paper changed hands he accepted an apology from Rajapaksa codger Asanga Seneviratne who was by then the owner. Observers must also remember that Gotabaya was out of power when he accepted the apology. So, the all powerful Secretary Defence who wanted the Leader Newspaper shut down, meekly accepts a contrived apology from his poodle when out of power.

Having set in motion his papers to revoke US citizenship Gotabaya takes his first steps to run for President in 2020. Viyath Maga stands testimony. For the first time Gotabaya accepted in an interview that he was a US citizen. Why? Because he has already set in motion the revoking of his US citizenship. If readers do not believe it please ask Malraj Silva in California who knows inside out of all, We mean ALL of Gotabaya’s affairs in the USA. Maybe the CID should follow that lead too.

Maybe, just maybe The Island carried this on the front page to open the debate for Gotabaya
to respond in this fashion since Field Marshal looms large. The Island has been openly supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya with Shamindra Ferdinands and Dayan J, leading the cheer squad. If this is as it seems it’s a shame that a newspaper is helping to cover up for a fellow scribe,s murder let alone of a former colleague within their fold.

The script is clear. Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot run for President in 2020. Gotabaya is the choice of the Pohottuwa. As stated early in this article the Yahapalanaya brought this upon themselves. Between President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe both are guilty of vacillating over the many investigations against the former regime bigwigs. They read it wrong and now there is hardly time but to make haste in getting about what was promised and needed. Thajudeen, Lasantha, Eknaligoda, Udayan journalists and Noyahr, apart from the grand larceny of a corrupt and dictatorial regime.

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