Basil Wants To Capture BASL
June 9, 2013
Colombo Telegraph learns that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent party of the Rajapaksa government, is anxious to take the control of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). This decision was taken at a meeting held on Friday June 7 at 7.00 pm at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. A meeting of the SLFP’s Lawyers Association had been convened by Minister Basil Rajapaksa with the participation of 130 lawyers including Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The meeting was followed by a gala dinner at the Ministry premises itself, Colombo Telegraph learns.
1) Minister Basil Rajapksa observed that the SLFP lawyers have lost control of the Bar and the BASL due to impeachment and that steps should be taken to re-take the BASL at the earliest opportunity.
2) Mrs. Anoma Gunatilake (wife of Retired DIGJayantha Wickramaratne, a member of the Bribery Commission and against whom two investigations are pending in the commission itself) said that the BASL is now working as an anti Government organisation and all necessary steps must be taken to change this order of affairs.
3) Mr. Remadious (a lawyer practicing in Jaffna and who recently sought the SLFP ticket to contest the Northern Provincial Council election after defecting from the TNA), a new addition to the SLFP lawyers Association, said that Miss Abhimanasinghem (senior most lawyer and Zonal Vice President of Jaffna) is acting arbitrarily in Jaffna and that ‘it is desirable to deal with her’.
4) Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that there is no threat internally and the threat is only external and therefore the Bar should not pose a threat to the Government.
5) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that all panels of lawyers (who are given Government cases to appear) will now be changed and the new lists will comprise only of the members of the present SLFP Lawyers Association.
6) It was also observed that some of the lawyers previously with the Association and who had on occasion come to Temple Trees for discussions have now joined other political parties.
“Dhammika is spoiling Namal” – Basil
Sunday, 09 June 2013
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa says that although MP Namal Rajapaksa has a clear political future, he is being misguided by millionaire businessman Dhammika Perera and his lackey Nimal Perer.
Basil Rajapaksa has said that he had continuously requested the President not to appoint a casino businessman like Dhammika Perera as a ministry secretary, but it was Namal Rajapaksa who had got him appointed as the Transport Ministry Secretary. He has added that the respect enjoyed by public officials has diminished after appointing a casino businessman as a ministry secretary.
Basil has observed that while Anura Bandaranaike’s political life was ruined by his alcoholic playboy friends, Namal’s political future is being ruined by the likes of Dhammika and Nimal by spending millions and giving him Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins and introducing him to pretty damsels.
Basil has made these comments to some SLFP MPs who had attended the opening ceremony of the new SLFP headquarters on the 7th.
Basil Rajapaksa has said that Nimal Perera had also given him details of Dhammika’s business rackets and that the details would be revealed shortly.
