Gotabhaya misled judiciary - Kiriella
Wednesday, 08 October 2008 14:55
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has deliberately misled the judiciary by producing false information to show that the late Gen. Janaka Perera had no threats to his life, head of the UNP media unit, Lakshman Kiriella said.
Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo this morning (Oct. 08th), the Mr. Kiriella said the party would seek other means if the IGP and the Attorney General fails to look into the matter.
Speaking further, he said that on a request by Maj. Gen. Perera, he had raised the issue in the media on July 18th, and asked whether the government deliberately intended to refuse him security until some danger befell him.
The defence secretary survived a suicide terror attack due to the heightened security provided to him, the UNP media head added.
Noting that five government ministers telephoned Maj. Gen. Perera shortly before being named as chief ministerial candidate of the UNP, urging him to change his decision, Mr. Kiriella said that he had threatened not only by the LTTE, but also by certain segments of the government.
In addition to the terrorists in the north, terrorists who formed MoUs with the government also existed, he said.
Adding that a majority of terrorists in the east has formed agreements with the government, the UNP frontliner said that former LTTE military commander of the East, Karuna Amman was able to obtain a MP seat as a result.
Despite the government’s claims that Maj. Gen. Perera did not require security, a pro-government newspaper has reported 12 attempts on his life, he said.
Arrangements had been made to airlift the remains of Maj. Gen. Perera to Anuradhapura at 10.00 am, but the body had to be kept outside the Rathmalana Airport until past 11.30 am as the Defence Ministry had not permitted it, he added.
This is like taking revenge on his mortal remains, MP Kiriella said.
