Major Cold War Between Samarawickrama and Sagala

Dec 15, 2016

It was no secret that Sagala Rathnayake Law and Order Minister and his brother Kavan worked closely with former Defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse during the Rajapaksa days. 

 

Gotabaya went out of his way to help Sagala and Kavan. It is alleged when Sagala was down and out financially, it was Gotabaya who helped him with a land. Kavan was given work by Gotabaya. 

 

Rathnayake in 2015 had told friends that he will protect Gotabaya from being arrested for his involvement in killings during the Rajapakse days . For inexperienced Sagala Rathnayake to be given such important portfolio like the Police by the Prime Minister and President is truly shocking. 

 

He had never held any important portfolios. Neither did he do anything much to get the government into power . But Prime Minister for some reason likes Sagala Rathnayake and continues to give him more and more responsibility. 

 

Malik Samarawickrama is also a beneficiary of his friendship with the Prime Minister. He is unhappy with Sagala's influence over the Prime Minister and is getting slowly sidelined. So Samarawickrama goes round ridiculing young Sagala Rathnayake. 

 

The story of Pujitha IGP getting orders from Sagala was allegedly leaked to the media by non other than Malik Samarawickrama. Certain transactions involving Malik Samarawickrama and Jehan Amaratunga are known to Sagala Rathnayake. 

 

The current Cold War between the two will only affect the Prime Minister further. The President has had enough with both Samarawickrama and Sagala. 

 

According to SLFP sources in the next reshuffle Malik and Sagala will be demoted by the President even though the Prime Minister is very likely protest. . The President and others are determined to bring order back to the government. 

 

Malik and Sagala are clashing according those close to the Prime Minister because each one wants the Prime Minister to favor one over the other. Malik Samarawickrama unlike Sagala Rsthnayake was actively involved in the campaign while the young Sagala was playing safe, both Sagala and his brother Kavan had assured the Rajapaksas that the Prime Minister would contest the presidential election which influenced Mahinda Rajapakse to call for a Presidential election early. 

 

The other problem both Sagala and Samarawickrama has is that Samarawickrama wants to direct the FCID, which Sagala is resisting. The clash between the two will further expose the divisions within the UNP and strengthened the Joint Opposition