(Lanka-e-News -10.OCT.2011, 11.00p.m.) A Minister of the SLFP who did not wish to reveal his name , but eager to expose the truth, speaking toLanka e news this morning said, there had been a premeditated plan to murder Bharatha Lakshman , and for this brutal murder , Duminda Silva and defense Secretary are directly and fully responsible. Speaking further , he explained as follows :
There had been a love affair between Bharatha Lakshman’s daughter and Namal Rajapakse . Though the existence of a love affair between youngsters is natural , the Rajapakse family had been bitterly resentful over this. One day Shiranthee Rajapakse had on the phone upbraided Bharatha Lakshman at length in this regard . The primary reason which necessitated the Rajapakses to plan to get rid of Bharatha Lakshman was this affair.
The Rajapakses had then begun dismissing the leaders of the SLFP trade unions which were under the Chairmanship and leadership of Bharatha Lakshman with a view to clip the wings of the latter. The worst part of this maneuver was the chasing away of the supporters of Baratha Lakshman in the Ports trade union , a powerful arm of the SLFP trade unions. When Bharatha Lakshman had discussed with Mahinda Rajapakse on this , the latter had told him, the trade union Presidential advisor ‘ don’t come to teach law and politics to me’ while having the former Attorney General also with him.
Thereafter the Rajapakses have used Duminda Silva to collide with Bahratha Lakshman . The latter had been receiving a number of complaints daily from his supporters in the areas under his control about Dumminda Silva’s intimidations , threats and harassments directed towards them. Though Bharatha Lakshman had reported this grave situation to the Rajapakses , they had paid no heed . Despite Bharatha Lakshman lodging complaints with the CID against the kudu (heroin) peddlers and dealers of Dumminda Silva , they had been unavailing because of Gota’s intervention at the behest of Dumminda.
At the recent elections Gotabaya Rajapakse travelled openly with Duminda throughout Kolonnawa canvassing votes . Bharatha Lakshman who was thoroughly disappointed over this , had at his rallies openly stated , ‘at places nearby where Gotabaya visited along with Dumminda , he was welcomed by ‘kudu dealers’, and some other nearby places he was garlanded by ‘kudu dealers’. The defense Secretary ought to be ashamed that he was being garlanded by kudu dealers , Bharatha Lakshman announced on platforms at his rallies. He added , if you want to cast your vote against kudu dealers , then vote for Solangarachchi . As urged by Bharatha Lakshman so the people voted for Solangaarachi of the SLFP who polled a massive number of 42322 votes whereas the ‘kudu dealer’ candidate promoted by Gota and Duminda polled only 5811 votes. The Minister who was relating this episode to us asked ‘doesn’t this alone demonstrate the people’s abhorrence to ‘kudu’ and those promoting it ?’
Owing to these developments , there had been a plan to torch Solangaarachi’s house and kill Bharatha Lakshman on the elections day. When 11cans of petrol were being transported for this purpose by Duminda Silva and his marauding gang, their vehicle has collided with an ASP’s vehicle resulting in a change of plans. Later , the people have taken these petrol cans and set fire to the vehicle which transported them.
Prior to this episode , a cutout of Mahinda Rajapakse was shot at one night , by a group who had fled away. The Rajapakses suspecting that it was Bharatha Lakshman ‘s supporters who did this shooting had harbored an inveterate hatred towards Bharatha Lakshman.
In the circumstances , there has been a premeditated plot to kill Bharatha Lakshman , the Minister pointed out. “ Those responsible SLFP ers should come forward and put a stop to this . Otherwise , we too will have to face the same fate, and die on the road like dogs at the hands of the murderer gangs of Gotabaya”, the Minister told with grave concern.
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SRI LANKA: Eighth case of extrajudicial killing of beggars in the Kalaniya Police Division should be investigated
October 6, 2011ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION-URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME- Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-194-2011
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is making an exceptional Urgent Appeal after observing the increased numbers of systematic extrajudicial killings of beggars in Sri Lankan cities over the past few months. According to information that the AHRC has received, a beggar was clubbed to death by unidentified assailants with a sharp weapon during the early hours of 4 October 2011 at Kelaniya in Gampaha District. This is the eighth beggar who is reported to have been killed in the past 3 months. In the name of modernization and the beautification of the cities, around a dozen beggars were similarly killed in the city of Colombo in 2010. Investigation or prosecution of the assailants were denied in all of these cases. Therefore, justice was denied. The case is yet another in a very long list of extrajudicial killings by the Sri Lankan police.
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