‘Shiranthi ruined my children’s future by sending them behind money’

That contemplation was very personal, but we decided to publish it as we believe that it could teach a lesson for all.
“When youths get too much of money, they become completely mad. They don’t know what they do. They get deceived. When the mother encourages them, they become madder. Now, it is pointless to repent or go to Devales. Truly, I do not wish to do politics again. What I want to do is to get my children saved. If the president gives me an assurance on that, I will retire from politics. From what I hear, Namal too, will be taken within days. So far, only Rohitha is without any accusation. The children are safe at least to this extent due to the people’s loyalty to me,” the former president said.
As the last presidential election had been nearing, the then defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had sent for Namal and asked him pointblank, “What’s wrong with you all? Why are you behaving like this? Do you want to spend the rest of your life in prison after losing power?” Namal had not replied, but kept on chatting via his phone with a smile. Understanding that Namal was not heeding his advice, Gotabhaya had sent him away. Later, he had related the incident to Mahinda with grave pain in mind.
The ex-president is contemplating all these now as he believes that very soon, another misfortune will befall his children.