Secret of Sujeewa Senasinghe’s singing praises of Gotabhaya!
- Sunday, 09 February 2014
The cat is out of the bag. Colombo district MP, lawyer Sujeewa Senasinghe’s reasons for praising defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa both in and outside parliament, and at television interviews, has come to light.
That is because the local agent of a foreign company had recorded a telephone call given by the MP, demanding a Rs. 300 million bribe to settle a rights case submitted by residents of Slave Island, Colombo, who had been forcibly evacuated to give way for a luxury apartment complex.
He has promised to withdraw the objections filed in the case, in return for the money from the foreign company that is constructing the apartment complex.
The local agent, who recorded the conversation with Senasinghe, had given it to the defence secretary through a renowned vehicle dealer, who is based at Slave Island, and is an intimate associate of the president. The president has been close to him since his days as a cabinet minister and got him to sell all his vehicle permits. This vehicle dealer is also a close friend of the local agent of the foreign company in question.
The local agent has informed the foreign company regarding the bribe demanded by the MP, and the company has refused to pay it, but agreed to give the MP an apartment from the complex. Unsatisfied by the offer, MP Senasinghe had continued to influence the agent, who then had given their recorded conversation to the defence secretary.
Later, the defence secretary has told engineering services minister Wimal Weerawansa about it. Some days ago, when MP Senasinghe got involved in an argument with minister Weerawansa, the latter had asked the former, “Didn’t you ask for Rs. 300 million from the company that is building houses at Slave Island?” A highly embarrassed Senasinighe had abused the minister, calling him names such as dog, ass etc. From then on, the MP has been singing hosannas of the defence secretary.
He has promised to withdraw the objections filed in the case, in return for the money from the foreign company that is constructing the apartment complex.
The local agent, who recorded the conversation with Senasinghe, had given it to the defence secretary through a renowned vehicle dealer, who is based at Slave Island, and is an intimate associate of the president. The president has been close to him since his days as a cabinet minister and got him to sell all his vehicle permits. This vehicle dealer is also a close friend of the local agent of the foreign company in question.
The local agent has informed the foreign company regarding the bribe demanded by the MP, and the company has refused to pay it, but agreed to give the MP an apartment from the complex. Unsatisfied by the offer, MP Senasinghe had continued to influence the agent, who then had given their recorded conversation to the defence secretary.
Later, the defence secretary has told engineering services minister Wimal Weerawansa about it. Some days ago, when MP Senasinghe got involved in an argument with minister Weerawansa, the latter had asked the former, “Didn’t you ask for Rs. 300 million from the company that is building houses at Slave Island?” A highly embarrassed Senasinighe had abused the minister, calling him names such as dog, ass etc. From then on, the MP has been singing hosannas of the defence secretary.
