Felix attacks Rajitha on president’s order!

 Tuesday, 10 December 2013 

It is on the instructions of the president that social services minister Felix Perera had given a special interview to last Sunday’s issue of ‘Lankadeepa’ alleging interference of the family members of fisheries minister Rajitha Senaratne in the affairs of the ministry.

Minister Senaratne is not in the good books of the president as state intelligence has reported to him that the minister was having close connections with former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. Both Rajitha and Felix had been very close friends of the late Vijaya Kumaratunga.

Minister Felix Perera was absent at the commemorative programmes to mark the 25th death anniversary of Vijaya Kumaratunga organized by the ex-president, but minister Senaratne had been a very enthusiastic participant.

The president has been further displeased with minister Senaratne’s inclination towards Mrs. Kumaratunga and also for having challenged his stance with regard to the 13th amendment to the constitution. In light of these enmities, the president had provoked minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena alias ‘Rattaran’ in the past few months against minister Senaratne, and has now chosen Felix Perera, incidentally the political ally of minister Senaratne, to be used as his cat’s paw.

It was also the president who has named journalist Prasanna Sanjeewa Tennakoon to do the interview, through Tennakoon’s political boss, minister Wimal Weerawansa. However, editor Ariyananda Dombagahawatte had strongly advised his editorial members not to carry anything against minister Senaratne.

However, the interview against minister Senaratne was published last Sunday, and early in the morning on that day, the president had telephoned Ariyananda Dombagahawatte and told him to obtain an interview from Rajitha Senaratne against Felix Perera. Accordingly, the editor has got an interview, through an editorial member, from minister Senaratne yesterday.