Today We Got To Write In The History Books Of Lanka
Senuri Jayasekara
Today marks the day the Sri Lankan’s managed to claim independence for their country for the third time within a century…the day they managed to overthrow the dictatorial Rajapaksa family of rulers that drained the country of the prosperity it could’ve otherwise enjoyed.
I still remember…
I still remember, Jan 8th 2015, the day of the Sri Lankan presidential election marked the 6-year anniversary of the murder of the respected journalistLasantha Wickrematunge; who wasn’t afraid to reveal the heinous crimes committed by the incumbent…which then brings me to remember the era of fear and censorship we just lived through. I still remember the attacks on the Sirasa/MTV news networks because of their lack of support for the govt. In 2010, I still remember Prageeth Eknaligoda, who among many other people at the time, was reported missing. Oh I still remember all those white van kidnappings of persons that took place whenever the incumbent felt that their authority was being questioned or criticised.
Election Night Coup: Gammanpila Suffers From Duminda Silva Syndrome, He Can’t Remember
January 21, 2015
Despite relating quite a detailed account of his version of the events that expired at the Temple Trees on the election night, Udaya Gammanpila today said that he cannot recall whether the de facto Chief Justice Mohan Pieris was present there that night.
Speaking to the media outside the CID headquarters in Colombo today, Gammanpila said there was no attempt to impose emergency regulations but added there was a discussion on whether curfew should be imposed.
“There were concerns about the safety of several UPFA politicians including UPFA Provincial councillor Samanmali Sakalasooriya as a group of UNP supporters had attempted to attack her at a counting center. Several areas in Colombo too were prone to violence and there was a worry on whether the UPFA supporters would be victimized,” he said.
He added that apart from such a discussion, the only other instructions given by the departing PresidentRajapaksa was to assist in preparing for the swearing in of the newly elected President.
“His only concern was the security of his brother Gotabaya and he carried out a discussion with the present Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the matter. That is all that happened that night,” Gammanpila said.
However, when questioned by a journalist on whether CJ Pieris was at the Temple Trees he said, “There was a large gathering there that night, so. . . I cannot say for sure whether I saw him there. “
