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Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Ending his hide-and-seek game with CID: Mentally stressed Rajitha gets admitted to hospital
GAGANI WEERAKOON -Dec 29 2019
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on the day after Christmas, paid an
impromptu visit to the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) in Werahara.
The public, who were waiting in queues to obtain services from the DMT,
conveyed their grievances.
First the President spoke with the public, and spent time with them asking questions such as when they arrived at the DMT and how long they had to wait. Thereafter, he went to certain places where the services were being provided and engaged in discussions.
The President also spoke with the institution's staff, including its Commissioner and senior officials, and reprimanded them over the unavailability of a proper system to fulfil the needs of the public in an efficient manner. He asked the officials whether it would be possible to devise a systematic plan within a period of one month.
The officials responded that such a system could be devised within one month, to which the President said that he will be back in a month to check its progress.
The President said, "The public service is there to assist the public. Every public employee should understand their responsibilities and provide services efficiently without wasting people's time.
To do that, a proper system should be in place. When someone comes seeking a certain service, that person should be given a time when that service can be provided, so that person can get their other work also done. That's what we call efficiency.
"I'm also a public employee. I was in the public service for 30 years. I resolved the issues of everyone who visited me each day.
"Some days, over 1,000 people visited me. But I managed to give solutions to their problems on the same day. We must be able to do that."
The President went on to stress that it is the duty of every public employee to dedicate himself to render efficient and proper services to those who visit public institutions seeking services.
"Also, when providing these services, no room can be kept for any form of irregularities," the President added.
Hide-and-seek
The hide and seek game that continued between former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for over 48 hours came to an end with Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalini Perera, on Friday (27), remanding Senaratne, till 30 December.
The CID arrested former Minister Senaratne at around 2:30 p.m. while he was receiving treatment at Lanka Hospitals in Narahenpita. The Magistrate visited the hospital and remanded Senaratne. Thereafter, prisons officers had taken him into their custody.
Senaratne got himself admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Lanka Hospitals on Thursday night stating that he has heart complications after the Bypass surgery done recently.
According to eyewitnesses, Dr. Senaratne had arrived at the hospital at around 7:15 p.m. wearing a pair of sunglasses and a cap. He was accompanied by UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, MP Dr. Ashu Marasinghe and civil society activist Saman Ratnapriya.
Earlier on Friday when the case was taken up for hearing before Colombo Chief Magistrate Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris said that Dr. Uma Shankar, who examined the suspect, had stated that he was suffering from mental stress, shock and high blood pressure.
President's Counsel Navaratne Bandara, appearing for the suspect, said that according to charges filed against the suspect, MP Sajith Premadasa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should file complaints themselves if they had faced any damage. He added that according to Section 81(1) of the Presidential Elections Act, a complaint should be filed by the person who had faced damages.
The Chief Magistrate stated that when it comes to offences under the Penal Code, complaints don't need to be necessarily filed by those who were affected, adding that she needs to further study the Presidential Elections Act.
He had gone missing over the past few days following a Court, on Tuesday (24), issuing a warrant for his arrest.
The CID, together with the STF conducted an hour-long search operation, after obtaining a search warrant, at Senaratne's official residence in Colombo on Thursday (26) evening, but the MP was not there. The STF Bomb Disposal Squad was also present during the search that ended by 5p.m.
Senaratne's residence in Beruwala had previously been inspected and he was found to be away. The STF and the CID have launched a special investigation into the case.
Journalists who had arrived at the Colombo residence yesterday were however treated with soft drinks by Seneratne's associates.
Lawyers representing Rajitha Senaratne, on Thursday (26), decided against filing a motion, they had planned to file, seeking that the warrant issued for the arrest of Senaratne, over 'White Van' Media briefing, be recalled.
On 10 November, former Minister Senaratne along with two other individuals spoke at a press briefing about White Van abductions, torture, concealing of information, disappearances and robbery of gold jewellery and euros belonging to Prabhakaran.
The other two individuals who spoke at the Media briefing were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 13 December.
They were produced in the Court on 16 December and remanded. The two remanded suspects were identified as Sakalawalli Arachchige Sarath Kumara and Watareka Gamage Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake.
Based on information revealed through investigations and statements given by the two suspects, Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Nelundeniya, on 24 December, issued an open warrant to arrest former Minister Senaratne for committing offences punishable under Section 102, 113 (A), 169 and 190 of the Penal Code, and under Section 80 (1) of the Presidential Elections Act No 15 of 1981.
The Court had issued this order after taking into account a request made by Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris on behalf of the Attorney General. The CID had also told the Court that the Attorney General had issued written instructions to arrest former Minister Senaratne, and produce him in Court after recording a statement.
Earlier, former Minister Senaratne filed an anticipatory bail application in the Magistrate's Court in accordance with Section 21 of the Bail Act No. 30 of 1997.
The CID, in accordance with Section 25 of the same Act, requested the Magistrate's permission to arrest him. Accordingly, the Magistrate issued open warrants for the arrest of Senaratne on 24 December.
Champika bailed out
Meanwhile, former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was remanded in connection with an accident that occurred in 2016, was released on bail, by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjani Silva, on Tuesday (24).
The Magistrate released Ranawaka on bail in Rs 25,000 cash and two sureties in Rs 500,000 each.
Ranawaka was also warned to refrain from interfering with witnesses and ordered to report to the Colombo Crimes Division on the last Sunday of every month, between 9:00 a.m. and 12 noon.
The former Minister was produced in Court from remand prison. Ranawaka has been charged with causing grievous injury to a motorcyclist, identified as Sandeep Sampath from Godagama, through a rash and negligent act and for switching drivers in a road accident.
However, the saga has not ended yet. The Colombo Crimes Division has questioned seven Police Officers, including an SP and three Officers-in-Charge (OICs), in connection with investigations into allegations levelled against former Minister Ranawaka including causing an accident in 2016 in Rajagiriya, fleeing the scene and concealing evidence.
Among these Police Officers were SP Herath Priyadarshana, then ASP in-charge of the Welikada Police; Asath Asmadala, the former Welikada Police OIC; ASP Pragathi Lakmina Abeysinghe, Borella Police former OIC; Chief Inspector Rohan Mahesh, former Padukka Police OIC; Inspector Perera, then Welikada Police Traffic Division OIC; and two Police Constables.
IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who was remanded on Court orders, will also be questioned.
Investigations are being conducted under the guidance of CCD Director SP J. Nandage and CCD OIC Chief Inspector of Police Neville de Silva.
A group of Government MPs have reportedly requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to summon IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who has been sent on compulsory leave, to question him about the 2016 hit-and-run case involving MP Patali Champika Ranawaka.
IGP Jayasundara is currently in remand custody over a case regarding the Easter Sunday attacks.
Speaking to our sister paper, 'Mawbima,' a Government MP said they would forward this request on 3 January 2020 when Parliament sits for the new term.
He said IGP Jayasundara should be questioned about allegations being levelled at Ranawaka such as hiding evidence related to the accident and that he interfered with Police investigations.
"When IGP Jayasundara's name was proposed to the post at the Constitutional Council (CC), Ranawaka was very keen to appoint Jayasundara. And we have reasonable suspicion that Ranawaka tried to interfere with Police investigations in this case," he said.
"It was decided to question seven Police Officers regarding the case as of now. This is another fact that we should be concerned about. As the CC appointed Jayasundera as IGP, he should be accountable to the CC in return. Therefore, he should be summoned to Parliament to be questioned about this particular case. The CC should pay special attention to this fact as well," the MP said.
Karu under wrath
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya came under severe criticism for his alleged partiality expressed following the arrest of former Minister Ranawaka. This was after he visited Ranawaka at remand prison.
Minister of Foreign Relations, Dinesh Gunawardena, speaking to Ceylon Today, said the statement issued by the Speaker's Media Unit, which said that both the Governing Party and the Opposition collectively opined at the Party Leaders' Meeting that the arrest of Patali Champika Ranawaka was a violation of Parliamentary traditions followed thus far, is completely untrue and misleading, and that therefore, he rejects it.
The Speaker, at the conclusion of the Party Leaders' Meeting, stated that he doesn't approve of arresting Parliamentarians without his knowledge, and that he will inform party leaders of the true situation, after contacting the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Minister Gunawardena added.
The Deputy Speaker had been informed of this arrest in advance, the Minister said, adding that at that time, the Speaker was abroad.
The Speaker must discuss with the IGP and let us know what the IGP says, and he said that he will let us know the true situation, the Minister added. Minister of International Cooperation, Susil Premajayantha too said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was taking a political stand instead of fulfilling his responsibility as Speaker. Premajayantha was referring to arrest of Parliamentarian, Patali Champika Ranawaka.
He said the Speaker was suddenly reminded of Parliamentary tradition whereas in the case of the arrests of MPs Johnston Fernando and Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Parliamentary traditions under the United National Front (UNF) Government were blatantly ignored.
He also said that even during the previous regime, the judiciary was open at night and arrests were made for various political reprisals. Recalling that the Speaker was not informed when those arrests were made, Premajayantha said it was ridiculous for Speaker Jayasuriya and Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri to now take an interest in Parliamentary tradition when Ranawaka was arrested.
Minister of Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Janaka Bandara Tennakoon alleged that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's conduct is biased and his visiting MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, who arrested over a hit-and-run incident in 2016, is in remand custody is an example to prove that.
Tennakoon said that the Speaker did not intervene like that when about 16 MPs of the then Opposition were arrested and kept in remand custody for months.
"The Speaker never visited the MPs of the Joint Opposition when they were in remand custody back then. But when Ranawaka was in remand prison, the Speaker visited him to inquire into his wellbeing. I was arrested by the then Government for political revenge and was in remand custody for 56 days. But the Speaker never came to see me," he added.
Meanwhile, State Minister of Fisheries Sanath Nishantha also said that when he was in remand custody for 93 days, the Speaker did not intervene as he did in Ranawaka's case.
"I was arrested without informing the Speaker. But he never bothered to inquire about it back then," Nishantha stressed. Minister Johnston Fernando said that when he was unfairly imprisoned by the UNF Government, Speaker Jayasuriya did not come to see him in the remand prison. But Speaker went to see former Minister Champika Ranawaka when he was remanded.
He said, "The UNF Government imprisoned many UPFA MPs but Speaker did not visit any of those MPs including me. I question where Jayasuriya's impartiality is. He is not a Speaker of the Sri Lanka Parliament. He is the Speaker of UNP MPs."
Speaker Jayasuriya, issuing a statement through his media unit stated, he decided to visit Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was in remand prison, and paid special attention to his case, because he faced injustice as an MP when he was arrested, which violated Parliamentary traditions.
"Our attention has been drawn to opinions expressed by certain parties in connection with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya conveying his views on arresting MP Patali Champika Ranawaka violating Parliamentary traditions adhered to thus far, and visiting MP Ranawaka at the remand prison.
The Speaker had emphasised that although arresting any Member of Parliament based on a valid reason is unarguably acceptable, the due procedure should be followed. When it comes to the privileges of MPs who had been arrested in the past in the correct manner, the Speaker never took into consideration the political parties they belonged to."
This statement was issued following the uproar of Government MPs, who claimed the Speaker was biased, after he visited Ranawaka, who was in remand custody for a hit-and-run incident which occurred in 2016.
The statement of the Speaker's Media Unit refuted that allegation. "Although a Puttalam District UNP member had been in remand prison for more than 50 days, the Speaker never visited him. The Speaker, by giving special attention to an MP who was arrested against Parliamentary traditions, is not trying to protect the privileges of one individual or one party.
The Speaker, even in the face of various criticisms and challenges, will not hesitate to fulfil his responsibilities and dedicate himself to protect democracy," the statement said.
First the President spoke with the public, and spent time with them asking questions such as when they arrived at the DMT and how long they had to wait. Thereafter, he went to certain places where the services were being provided and engaged in discussions.
The President also spoke with the institution's staff, including its Commissioner and senior officials, and reprimanded them over the unavailability of a proper system to fulfil the needs of the public in an efficient manner. He asked the officials whether it would be possible to devise a systematic plan within a period of one month.
The officials responded that such a system could be devised within one month, to which the President said that he will be back in a month to check its progress.
The President said, "The public service is there to assist the public. Every public employee should understand their responsibilities and provide services efficiently without wasting people's time.
To do that, a proper system should be in place. When someone comes seeking a certain service, that person should be given a time when that service can be provided, so that person can get their other work also done. That's what we call efficiency.
"I'm also a public employee. I was in the public service for 30 years. I resolved the issues of everyone who visited me each day.
"Some days, over 1,000 people visited me. But I managed to give solutions to their problems on the same day. We must be able to do that."
The President went on to stress that it is the duty of every public employee to dedicate himself to render efficient and proper services to those who visit public institutions seeking services.
"Also, when providing these services, no room can be kept for any form of irregularities," the President added.
Hide-and-seek
The hide and seek game that continued between former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for over 48 hours came to an end with Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalini Perera, on Friday (27), remanding Senaratne, till 30 December.
The CID arrested former Minister Senaratne at around 2:30 p.m. while he was receiving treatment at Lanka Hospitals in Narahenpita. The Magistrate visited the hospital and remanded Senaratne. Thereafter, prisons officers had taken him into their custody.
Senaratne got himself admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Lanka Hospitals on Thursday night stating that he has heart complications after the Bypass surgery done recently.
According to eyewitnesses, Dr. Senaratne had arrived at the hospital at around 7:15 p.m. wearing a pair of sunglasses and a cap. He was accompanied by UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, MP Dr. Ashu Marasinghe and civil society activist Saman Ratnapriya.
Earlier on Friday when the case was taken up for hearing before Colombo Chief Magistrate Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris said that Dr. Uma Shankar, who examined the suspect, had stated that he was suffering from mental stress, shock and high blood pressure.
President's Counsel Navaratne Bandara, appearing for the suspect, said that according to charges filed against the suspect, MP Sajith Premadasa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should file complaints themselves if they had faced any damage. He added that according to Section 81(1) of the Presidential Elections Act, a complaint should be filed by the person who had faced damages.
The Chief Magistrate stated that when it comes to offences under the Penal Code, complaints don't need to be necessarily filed by those who were affected, adding that she needs to further study the Presidential Elections Act.
He had gone missing over the past few days following a Court, on Tuesday (24), issuing a warrant for his arrest.
The CID, together with the STF conducted an hour-long search operation, after obtaining a search warrant, at Senaratne's official residence in Colombo on Thursday (26) evening, but the MP was not there. The STF Bomb Disposal Squad was also present during the search that ended by 5p.m.
Senaratne's residence in Beruwala had previously been inspected and he was found to be away. The STF and the CID have launched a special investigation into the case.
Journalists who had arrived at the Colombo residence yesterday were however treated with soft drinks by Seneratne's associates.
Lawyers representing Rajitha Senaratne, on Thursday (26), decided against filing a motion, they had planned to file, seeking that the warrant issued for the arrest of Senaratne, over 'White Van' Media briefing, be recalled.
On 10 November, former Minister Senaratne along with two other individuals spoke at a press briefing about White Van abductions, torture, concealing of information, disappearances and robbery of gold jewellery and euros belonging to Prabhakaran.
The other two individuals who spoke at the Media briefing were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 13 December.
They were produced in the Court on 16 December and remanded. The two remanded suspects were identified as Sakalawalli Arachchige Sarath Kumara and Watareka Gamage Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake.
Based on information revealed through investigations and statements given by the two suspects, Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Nelundeniya, on 24 December, issued an open warrant to arrest former Minister Senaratne for committing offences punishable under Section 102, 113 (A), 169 and 190 of the Penal Code, and under Section 80 (1) of the Presidential Elections Act No 15 of 1981.
The Court had issued this order after taking into account a request made by Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris on behalf of the Attorney General. The CID had also told the Court that the Attorney General had issued written instructions to arrest former Minister Senaratne, and produce him in Court after recording a statement.
Earlier, former Minister Senaratne filed an anticipatory bail application in the Magistrate's Court in accordance with Section 21 of the Bail Act No. 30 of 1997.
The CID, in accordance with Section 25 of the same Act, requested the Magistrate's permission to arrest him. Accordingly, the Magistrate issued open warrants for the arrest of Senaratne on 24 December.
Champika bailed out
Meanwhile, former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was remanded in connection with an accident that occurred in 2016, was released on bail, by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjani Silva, on Tuesday (24).
The Magistrate released Ranawaka on bail in Rs 25,000 cash and two sureties in Rs 500,000 each.
Ranawaka was also warned to refrain from interfering with witnesses and ordered to report to the Colombo Crimes Division on the last Sunday of every month, between 9:00 a.m. and 12 noon.
The former Minister was produced in Court from remand prison. Ranawaka has been charged with causing grievous injury to a motorcyclist, identified as Sandeep Sampath from Godagama, through a rash and negligent act and for switching drivers in a road accident.
However, the saga has not ended yet. The Colombo Crimes Division has questioned seven Police Officers, including an SP and three Officers-in-Charge (OICs), in connection with investigations into allegations levelled against former Minister Ranawaka including causing an accident in 2016 in Rajagiriya, fleeing the scene and concealing evidence.
Among these Police Officers were SP Herath Priyadarshana, then ASP in-charge of the Welikada Police; Asath Asmadala, the former Welikada Police OIC; ASP Pragathi Lakmina Abeysinghe, Borella Police former OIC; Chief Inspector Rohan Mahesh, former Padukka Police OIC; Inspector Perera, then Welikada Police Traffic Division OIC; and two Police Constables.
IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who was remanded on Court orders, will also be questioned.
Investigations are being conducted under the guidance of CCD Director SP J. Nandage and CCD OIC Chief Inspector of Police Neville de Silva.
A group of Government MPs have reportedly requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to summon IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who has been sent on compulsory leave, to question him about the 2016 hit-and-run case involving MP Patali Champika Ranawaka.
IGP Jayasundara is currently in remand custody over a case regarding the Easter Sunday attacks.
Speaking to our sister paper, 'Mawbima,' a Government MP said they would forward this request on 3 January 2020 when Parliament sits for the new term.
He said IGP Jayasundara should be questioned about allegations being levelled at Ranawaka such as hiding evidence related to the accident and that he interfered with Police investigations.
"When IGP Jayasundara's name was proposed to the post at the Constitutional Council (CC), Ranawaka was very keen to appoint Jayasundara. And we have reasonable suspicion that Ranawaka tried to interfere with Police investigations in this case," he said.
"It was decided to question seven Police Officers regarding the case as of now. This is another fact that we should be concerned about. As the CC appointed Jayasundera as IGP, he should be accountable to the CC in return. Therefore, he should be summoned to Parliament to be questioned about this particular case. The CC should pay special attention to this fact as well," the MP said.
Karu under wrath
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya came under severe criticism for his alleged partiality expressed following the arrest of former Minister Ranawaka. This was after he visited Ranawaka at remand prison.
Minister of Foreign Relations, Dinesh Gunawardena, speaking to Ceylon Today, said the statement issued by the Speaker's Media Unit, which said that both the Governing Party and the Opposition collectively opined at the Party Leaders' Meeting that the arrest of Patali Champika Ranawaka was a violation of Parliamentary traditions followed thus far, is completely untrue and misleading, and that therefore, he rejects it.
The Speaker, at the conclusion of the Party Leaders' Meeting, stated that he doesn't approve of arresting Parliamentarians without his knowledge, and that he will inform party leaders of the true situation, after contacting the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Minister Gunawardena added.
The Deputy Speaker had been informed of this arrest in advance, the Minister said, adding that at that time, the Speaker was abroad.
The Speaker must discuss with the IGP and let us know what the IGP says, and he said that he will let us know the true situation, the Minister added. Minister of International Cooperation, Susil Premajayantha too said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was taking a political stand instead of fulfilling his responsibility as Speaker. Premajayantha was referring to arrest of Parliamentarian, Patali Champika Ranawaka.
He said the Speaker was suddenly reminded of Parliamentary tradition whereas in the case of the arrests of MPs Johnston Fernando and Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Parliamentary traditions under the United National Front (UNF) Government were blatantly ignored.
He also said that even during the previous regime, the judiciary was open at night and arrests were made for various political reprisals. Recalling that the Speaker was not informed when those arrests were made, Premajayantha said it was ridiculous for Speaker Jayasuriya and Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri to now take an interest in Parliamentary tradition when Ranawaka was arrested.
Minister of Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Janaka Bandara Tennakoon alleged that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's conduct is biased and his visiting MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, who arrested over a hit-and-run incident in 2016, is in remand custody is an example to prove that.
Tennakoon said that the Speaker did not intervene like that when about 16 MPs of the then Opposition were arrested and kept in remand custody for months.
"The Speaker never visited the MPs of the Joint Opposition when they were in remand custody back then. But when Ranawaka was in remand prison, the Speaker visited him to inquire into his wellbeing. I was arrested by the then Government for political revenge and was in remand custody for 56 days. But the Speaker never came to see me," he added.
Meanwhile, State Minister of Fisheries Sanath Nishantha also said that when he was in remand custody for 93 days, the Speaker did not intervene as he did in Ranawaka's case.
"I was arrested without informing the Speaker. But he never bothered to inquire about it back then," Nishantha stressed. Minister Johnston Fernando said that when he was unfairly imprisoned by the UNF Government, Speaker Jayasuriya did not come to see him in the remand prison. But Speaker went to see former Minister Champika Ranawaka when he was remanded.
He said, "The UNF Government imprisoned many UPFA MPs but Speaker did not visit any of those MPs including me. I question where Jayasuriya's impartiality is. He is not a Speaker of the Sri Lanka Parliament. He is the Speaker of UNP MPs."
Speaker Jayasuriya, issuing a statement through his media unit stated, he decided to visit Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was in remand prison, and paid special attention to his case, because he faced injustice as an MP when he was arrested, which violated Parliamentary traditions.
"Our attention has been drawn to opinions expressed by certain parties in connection with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya conveying his views on arresting MP Patali Champika Ranawaka violating Parliamentary traditions adhered to thus far, and visiting MP Ranawaka at the remand prison.
The Speaker had emphasised that although arresting any Member of Parliament based on a valid reason is unarguably acceptable, the due procedure should be followed. When it comes to the privileges of MPs who had been arrested in the past in the correct manner, the Speaker never took into consideration the political parties they belonged to."
This statement was issued following the uproar of Government MPs, who claimed the Speaker was biased, after he visited Ranawaka, who was in remand custody for a hit-and-run incident which occurred in 2016.
The statement of the Speaker's Media Unit refuted that allegation. "Although a Puttalam District UNP member had been in remand prison for more than 50 days, the Speaker never visited him. The Speaker, by giving special attention to an MP who was arrested against Parliamentary traditions, is not trying to protect the privileges of one individual or one party.
The Speaker, even in the face of various criticisms and challenges, will not hesitate to fulfil his responsibilities and dedicate himself to protect democracy," the statement said.
