‘Take this 500 million and keep your mouth shout’

 Monday, 16 March 2015 

“Hey Thambiya, come here. You are too much. Since recently, you poke your nose into everything. Don’t think we are nobodies. I have arranged 500 million for you. Get it. But, if you open your mouth again, I will destroy you and your family on January 09. I am a man who does what I say.” That was a death threat issued to a leader representing the Sri Lankan Muslim community as the presidential election neared, in December.

That death threat was issued by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. The target of that threat was central provincial councillor and popular Muslim politician Asath Salley. He made the revelation to expatriate Muslim community leaders in London, where he met them as a member of the delegation headed by president Maithripala Sirisena last week.

He related further how the ex-president had threatened him.

“Keep this 500 million for now. If this is not enough, meet Basil and strike two or three deals. I will pass the message to Basil. If you are in our good books, you can earn 5,000 million. We do not gain for ourselves only. We treat well those who are with us. Similarly, if attempts are made to destroy us, we will eliminate them. Remember that well.”

The listeners were left baffled and terrorized.