List of 110 disappeared placed in Sri Lanka’s military custody released by ITJP

18 May 2015

The International Truth and Justice Project - Sri Lanka (ITJP), on Monday, released a list of the names of 110 people that were seen surrendering to Sri Lanka’s military on May 18 2009 by eyewitnesses who have fled the country.

In a statement made to coincide with May 18, the Executive Director of the ITJP Yasmin Sooka, called on the government to conduct “credible investigations into the forced disappearance of the more than a hundred people who disappeared while surrendering to the military on this day six years ago and to indict, prosecute and convince those responsible.”

The statement further called on the government of Sri Lanka to become a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of All persons from Enforced Disappearances.

See full list of disappeared persons confirmed to have surrendered to Sri Lankan militaryhere.

Statement 18 May 2015 ITJP-SL Disappearances by Thavam Ratna

THE SHIFT FROM VICTORY DAY TO REMEMBRANCE DAY--JEHAN PERERA

18 May 2015
May 18 has been a day of divisive sentiment since the year 2009. This was the day the war ended on the battlefields of the North. This meant the dawn of peace and an end to terrorism that had plagued the country for nearly three decades. But to the Tamils who had supported the campaign of the LTTE to separate the North and East of the country, it was the bitter end of a struggle that had gone nowhere. British Tamil Forum president Fr S J Emanuel framed the dichotomy as “The end of the war between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE meant two entirely different things with different rationale to justify their actions. For the Government it was a victory over Tamil terrorism, end of a war and beginning of peace. But for the Tamils it was the culmination of another mass massacre of militants and civilians and the beginning of incarcerations and further militarization, robbing of lands and missing of persons.”

Remembrance can be an act of union or of division. The Victory Day event organized in Colombo on May 18 by supporters of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa titled “Protect the Motherland Liberated by Heroes” was to counter “efforts to undermine the service rendered by our valiant troops in liberating the motherland from terrorism” according to organizers of the event. The government of the former president made the victory over the LTTE the centre piece of its political programme. Its success in achieving victory over the LTTE was used time and again at election campaigns to generate nationalistic pride in the majority of people which translated into majority support at elections. May 18 became an occasion to remind the people of the war victory.

The decision of the present government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena to redefine May 18 a Day of Remembrance marks a significant break with this past. However, it is still not a complete break. The government’s decision has been to have a politically pragmatic event in the southern heartland of Matara which reflects continuity with change. This is to have a military parade, as in the past, attended by the President. The sacrifice of the Sri Lankan security forces who ensured the territorial unity of the country and the final military triumph over the LTTE and its separatist campaign will be the main theme of this event. But on this occasion the government also announced that it would make the remembrance of all who lost their lives a part of the event.

WELCOME SHIFT
The government’s decision to bring the loss of life during the war into focus on this occasion through a Day of Remembrance is welcome. The democratic space that has opened up under the government of President Maithripala Sirisena needs to be used to strengthen the reconciliation process and not be used for the purpose of gaining narrow political advantage by divisive political statements. The need for reconciliation between all communities must be foremost in the minds of all people and our political leaders. The genuine Tamil grievances that created conditions for the Tamil militancy need to be addressed urgently. The government's redefinition of May 18 to be a Day of Remembrance is one of the steps forward in the process to national reconciliation.

The change in government that took place after the presidential election of January 8 has led to a new relationship between the government and Tamil polity. President Sirisena’s victory at the election was made possible by the large majorities he secured in all electorates where the Tamil and Muslim votes predominated. The president is aware that the ethnic minorities placed their trust in him. Following his election he, and key members of the government, have publicly acknowledged the multi ethnic and multi religious nature of the country and the need to govern the polity through democratic means.

Since his election, President Sirisena has ensured that some of the immediate Tamil grievances have been addressed, or are in the process of being addressed. He replaced the two governors of the Northern and Eastern provinces who were former military commanders with those who are purely civilian and with a track record of sensitivity to the aspirations of the ethnic minorities. Governor Palihakkara in the North was a member of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission which produced a road map on national reconciliation for the country which has received international support. Governor Austin Fernando in the East was defense secretary during the time of the Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE which was the period when the hope of a negotiated end to the war was at its highest.

MUTUAL REMEMBRANCE
More recently, the government under President Sirisena’s leadership has also been releasing land taken over by the former government from the people in the North and East even though his good intentions have been slowed down by legal processes. There has been an opening of space for civil society activism and for the voicing of Tamil aspirations such as for a greater sharing of political power. In the context of May 18 and the declaration of Remembrance Day there has been resurgence in the resolve of civil and political groups in the North to commemorate Tamil losses in the war. This was a space that was denied during the period of the previous government. The commemoration of the dead in the North will necessarily involve LTTE cadre. They were kith and kin of the people of the North.

The challenge for the future is to ensure that the May 18 is not used for narrow and divisive political purposes. From 2009 onwards, the government did not permit the commemoration of the LTTE and cracked down on the public commemorations in the North and East, even of those events that were ostensibly to mourn everyone who lost their lives. This was on account of the inseparability of the LTTE and the civilian losses in the last phase. On this occasion too, the government has not been willing to permit the public commemoration of May 18 in the North, and took out injunctions from the courts to block such commemorations. There were plans to declare a “week of genocide” in the North by sections of the Northern polity and civil society.

One of the key recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the previous government was that there should be a Day of Remembrance in which all who lost their lives should be commemorated and the war be seen as a collective tragedy. All who lost their lives whether members of the security forces, LTTE or civilians were Sri Lankan citizens. Each group, and community, must remember the other when they commemorate May 18 whether in the North or in the South. Peace cannot be built by remembering victory and defeat. Peace can only be built on what we share. What the people of Sri Lanka share in common is that the war was a tragedy in which the sons and daughters of the country suffered and died, and we resolve that it will never happen again and there is a meeting of minds in the resolve to overcome the past and to have a shared future. The government needs to also address longer term Tamil and other minority grievances. This is the best kind of reconciliation.

Remembrance at Mullivaikal

2015-05-18 17:28:26

Northern Province Chief Minister and TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran are seen participating at a function to remember victims of the war, held at Vellamullivaikkal this morning (18). Pix by Romesh Madushanka

- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/72873/remembrance-at-mullivaikal#sthash.HapYdHev.dpuf

Political Necessity Used For Politicking, Negates Independent Commissions

By Kusal Perera –May 18, 2015 

Kusal Perara

In a not so peculiar turn of events for Sri Lanka, but certainly beyond what was expected, the Fundamental Rights petition by former secretary to the ministry of defence and urban development Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was allowed leave to proceed by a two member Supreme Court (SC) bench with a restraining order that prevents him being arrested, at least till 06 of October, when the petition is fixed for hearing. From 12 May to October 06, Gotabaya is now free to travel anywhere he pleases without fear of arrest, except outside Sri Lanka.

Leaving PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s usual out of the orbit interpretations, this time on Commonwealth intervention, this length of time stretched for 146 days for the SC to start hearing a petition that in turn allows Gotabaya an arrest free period that long, is most terrifying to say the least about judicial independence. The issue is not just about his FR but one on mega financial crimes related to national security and illegal weapons trade. This raises the most important question whether social responsibility of the judiciary can be left aside for purely legal and technical propriety.

Whatever Hultsdorf decides, resentment over the Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) is obviously about politics and not about curbing corruption. There is in any society a consensus against fraud and corruption. Yet in modern liberal economies fraud and corruption is a common occurrence usually taken for granted, when at tolerable levels. Tolerable, when it is not hitting you right in the face, almost every day. Way back in the 80’s when the accelerated Mahaweli Development projects were on, the only “Left” MP in parliament, the respected Communist Party member Sarath Muttettuwegama accused Minister Gamini Dissanayake of corruption in Mahaweli projects. He was told by the minister, the issue is in his communist lingo. “You call it corruption. We call it commissions” said Minister Dissanayake. The minister said, they had left a margin of about 10% for such transactions for the “system to move things fast”.

That’s neo liberalism in its formal, tolerable form. Over the years through President R. Premadasa and then through President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s tenure of 11 years when she was minister of finance also, we slid and slumped to conscious mismanagement of the free market economy. Fraud and corruption mounted to very conspicuous heights. Thereafter, we were pushed over the top to the bottom of the pit with an unbearable stink by the previous Rajapaksa regime. Worst was the period after the 2010 January presidential polls. The 08 Jan 2015 presidential poll was therefore all about curbing abusive and excessive powers with the executive presidency and cleaning the stinking pits.Read More

Jaffna University remembers massacre of Tamils at end of Sri Lanka's armed conflict

Jaffna University auditorium  (Photographs Tamil Guardian)

18 May 2015

Hundreds of students attended a memorial event held at Jaffna University on Monday, marking the sixth year anniversary of the massacre of Tamils during the final stages of Sri Lanka's armed conflict. 

Holding candles in their hands, students filed into the Kailasabathi auditorium and paid their respects to those who had been killed. 

Whilst Sri Lankan police officers and military personnel were not seen on campus, there was an increased presence of intelligence officers in the surrounding area reported by students.

Earlier in the day a special prayer service had taken place at the Parameswaran temple which is located within the campus. 

The service was followed by the lighting of a lamp of remembrance at the main gate of the university. Students and teachers proceeded to hoist black flags and banners across the university grounds marking the day as one of remembrance, before going inside into the auditorium for the main event. 

Black flags, international investigation on poster

Protect the Space for Reconciliation during May 18 Commemorations

 18 May 2015

The government has declared that May 18, the day the war ended six years ago in 2009, will be commemorated as a Day of Remembrance. This signifies a departure from the practice of the past five years when it was considered a Day of Victory, and is recognition that the people who fought against the government were part of the same national community and constituted members of the same State. The government will be conducting its own military parade on this day, but unlike in the past it will also remember all who died in the three decade long conflict. It has also expressed its opposition to the occasion being used to pay tribute to the LTTE as an organisation and has taken legal injunctions to prevent commemorations of the LTTE.

The National Peace Council looks to the day when there could be a joint commemoration throughout the country, in the North and South with the participation of all sections of the polity. We have always taken the position that the end of a civil war in which the citizens of the country were the victims cannot be celebrated as a victory for one side. In doing so we have echoed the recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the previous government which stated that there should be a Day of Remembrance in which all who lost their lives should be commemorated and the war be seen as a collective tragedy. All who lost their lives whether members of the security forces, LTTE or civilians were Sri Lankan citizens.

The National Peace Council therefore welcomes the government’s decision to bring the loss of life during the war into focus. We urge that the democratic space that has opened up under the government of President Maithripala Sirisena be used to strengthen the reconciliation process and not be used for the purpose of gaining narrow political advantage by making divisive political statements. The need for reconciliation between all communities must be foremost in the minds of all people and our political leaders. The genuine Tamil grievances that created conditions for the Tamil militancy need to be addressed urgently. We see the government's redefinition of May 18 to be a Day of Remembrance as one of the steps forward in the process to national reconciliation.

Governing Council

The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organization that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country.

Democratising Laws and Minds

by Tisaranee Gunasekara

“No questioning

arises from subservient lips.” – Andrée Chedid (For Salman Rushdie) 

( May 18, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) In a recent satirical column, American humorist Andy Borowitz reported the discovery of a new strain of fact-resistant humans. “These humans appear to have all the faculties necessary to receive and process information… And yet somehow they have developed defences that, for all intents and purposes, have rendered those facilities totally inactive… As facts have multiplied their defences against those facts have grown more powerful…”[i]

Democratising Laws and Minds by Thavam Ratna

Rajapaksa’s “War Heroes’ Day” to counter Sirisena’s “Remembrance Day”

18/05/2015

Former Sri  Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who hopes to romp back to power in the coming parliamentary elections on a Sinhalese-nationalist wave, will be celebrating May 18,  the day on which LTTE Supremo Prabhakaran was killed, as “War Heroes’ Day.”

Rajapaksa’s rally to be held at Colombo’s Viharamahadevi Park is noteworthy in the context of President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to observe May 19 as “Remembrance Day” to honor all Lankans, soldiers and civilians, irrespective of ethnicity, who had sacrificed their life or limb for the sake of the unity and integrity of the country. During the Rajapaksa regime, May 19 was celebrated as “Victory Day”  marked by a military spectacle.

Additionally, Rajapaksa’s rally coincides with the Tamils’ “Mourning Day” to commemorate the death of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran and the killing of thousands of other Tamils in the final, brutal phase of Eelam War IV at Wellamullivaikkal in Mullaitivu district in May 2009.

The Rajapaksa rally is meant to hype the heroism of the Lankan armed forces. But  the Sirisena rally is expected to be a somber affair, although its center piece will be a military parade as it is also a Ranaviru Smaranaya (War Heroes’ Memorial).

Rajapaksa has accused Sirisena of dancing to the tune of the Tamil Diaspora and changing the character of the “Victory Day”.  Rajapaksa’s followers are to observe the week from May 18 as Victory Week.

In the island’s North and East, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will unofficially observe May 18 as the “Day of Mourning and Prayer”. But a radical section is planning to observe the day as “Anti-Genocide Day”.

The Sirisena government has allowed the mourning of the dead, but commemoration of the LTTE, a banned organization, will not be tolerated. To prevent radicals from creating a scene at Wellamulliwaikkal, government has banned all memorial functions in Mullaitivu district.

This time round, the Tamil Diaspora is backing Sirisena. The Global Tamil Forum’s President, Fr.S.J.Emmanuel, has hailed Sirisena as an “emerging statesman” and British Tamil Forum’s  Suren Surendiran has described Sirisena’s approach as being “breathtakingly fresh”.

(New Indian Express)

Note by SLB: Suren Surendiran does not represent  the British Tamil Forum (BTF) , he represents Global Tamil Forum (GTF)

‘Superior court judges should resign to pave way for 19th amendment’

Monday, 18 May 2015

Citizen’s Power calls for the establishment of independent commissions as per the 19th amendment to the constitution that has now become part of the law.

In a statement it points out that Supreme Court and Appeal Court judges should resign to pave the way for the appointment of qualified and distinguished persons to the positions in order to establish an independent judiciary. The Citizen’s Power says it believes that an independent and carefully-practising judiciary can be established by eliminating doubts in the minds of the people, who enjoy the country’s supremacy, that had arisen due to the 18th amendment.

Also, it asks the president to take steps to ensure passage of the 20th amendment and the draft bill on the right to information, which have been submitted in consideration of ideas and suggestions of all parties concerned.

Sirisena and Govt. embroiled in disputes and deadlocks

By Our Political Editor-Sunday, May 17, 2015

President wants 20A before dissolution; but UNP and JVP call for immediate elections -- Ranil to challenge relief given to Gotabaya by two-member SC Bench; seeks review by Fuller Bench

Five months after the historic presidential poll, the presidency and the Government seem to be drifting without direction. With a truncated 19A in his pocket, President Maithripala Sirisena is trying hard to bag the 20A. It is not easy, though he has asked a ministerial team to give shape to an electoral reform package through constitutional amendments. With growing displeasure among parliamentarians of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and their allies, will he succeed in receiving a two thirds vote remains a critical question. He is not unmindful of the obstacles ahead. Yet, he needs more time before he could dissolve Parliament notwithstanding the great anxiety of the United National Party (UNP) to see an early poll. The UNP believes it would deliver an inevitable victory for it. But for Sirisena and his close advisors, other than the 20A, there are a number of other developing concerns. That is not to mention the fact that ceding a win for UNP on a platter would force him to face accusations of ‘betraying’ his own party. These and other factors are compelling him, like the weathercock, to change positions every now and then.

Just last week, as revealed in the front page lead story of the Sunday Times, Sirisena chose to dissolve Parliament if political parties are unable to reach accord on electoral reforms.

Sirisena and Govt. Embroiled in Disputes and Deadlocks by Thavam Ratna

Maithripala – Mahinda Talks: A Genuine Effort?

By Gamini Jayaweera –May 18, 2015

Gamini Jayaweera

MS – MR Talks: A Genuine Effort to Unite the SLFP or A Cynical Attempt to Cover-up the Alleged Illegal Activities?

Well publicised meeting between the current President Mr. Maithripala Sirisena and the former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa took place recently with close supporters from MS and MR fractions of the SLFP. The MPs who organised this meeting publically stated that they wanted to unite the MS and MR fractions of the party before the next general election to ensure that SLFP would defeat the other parties (mainly UNP) and obtain the majority in the parliament to govern the country for the next 6 years. There was nothing wrong about this meeting if the honest objective had been to unite the SLFP fractions to fight the upcoming general elections. It had been reported in the media that MR fractions had put forward various conditions for agreement in order to reconcile the differences between the two fractions and unite the membership of the SLFP. Let us examine some of the demands which had been tabled by MR fractions to resolve the differences are genuine issues to unite the SLFP or it was an attempt to turn a blind eye to the alleged illegal activities that had been carried out by various ministers and MPs under the leadership of former president Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Alleged Bribery & Corruption

It had been reported that the MR fraction had requested the President Mr. Maithripala Sirisena to withdraw all cases against members of the previous regime for alleged illegal activities during the last 10 years of MR administration because the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) set up by the current regime is politically biased. During the pre and post-election periods members of the current government highlighted a no. of serious allegations against some members of the previous regime and the voters in Sri Lanka believed these stories and voted in favour of the current regime led by Mr. Maithripala Sirisena and the leaders of his coalition partners. They also told the people of Sri Lanka that they would provide evidence to support their claims and punish the corrupt politicians including who have had dealings with drug traffickers and ethanol dealers.

Read More

Shiranthi’s predicament at Devale!

 Monday, 18 May 2015 

Former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa had faced a dilemma at a Devale at hospital roundabout at Himbutana, Angoda, which she had visited along with his brother, former chairman of SriLankan Airlines Nishantha Wickemasinghe, to seek soothsaying and blessings, reports say.

She is these days visiting every Devale in the island and beseeching divine intervention to save her family from their present predicament. At the Himbutana Devale, she was told by the Sadhu that her second son was on the verge of being imprisoned. And that any chance of resurgence of the family lies with the third child, whose horoscope is very powerful. She was advised to protect him.

When Nishantha Wickremesinghe asked what his fate would be, the Sadhu showed him the door tersely. Then, Shiranthi asked about her husband, and was told that he had a good heart, but that he is very foolish and cannot differentiate between his enemies and friends. Also that he has, and will, continue to lose many things by listening to deceptionists.

Shiranthi was told about this place by Shashi Weerawansa. When Shashi first visited the Devale, she too, was expelled like Nishantha Wickremasinghe. But, she was shrewd enough to get the Sadhu to visit her home and got it blessed by him.

Sri Lanka: Sirisena Says No Room Will Be Left For Misuse Of Power

Sri Lanka's Maithripala Sirisena. Official photo via Facebook.

By Eurasia Review-May 18, 2015

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena addressing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Polonnaruwa District Conference held at Polonnaruwa “Buddhi Mandapaya” yesterday (May 17) asked SLFPers whether they thought it would be right on his part, if he used his presidential powers to extended the term of office of Local Government bodies (Pradeshiya Sabhas).

“I can extend the term by one year and gazette it. If I gazetted the extension of Pradeshiya Sabhas, what sort of an influence would it have brought upon the people’s right to vote to elect their members to a Local Government after the end of its official term, following a period of four years?” asked President Sirisena.

“The Constitution clearly sets out that the term of office of a Local Government is four years. Following that, voters can elect a new council. What this means is by extending the term of office of the Local Government, you also take away the rights of the voters with it,” President Sirisena said.

“This is one change. There shall be no misuse of power. If there were instances to that effect in the past, I am going to rectify them,” the President further stated.

Government allocations will be allowed for public development activities but not for personal activities aimed at getting votes, the President said. He said politics will be used to build the country but not to glorify personalities.

Speaking further, the President said he would commit himself to build a new political culture for the benefit of the people. He said that he will represent himself to solve the problems of the people and he will not act on the personal agenda of certain people. He also stated that the people friendly programme will be further strengthened.

The President recalled that the anticipated changes of the people for the last 37 years to remove the unlimited powers of the Executive Presidency have now been made. “Similar to the strengthening of the freedom and democracy in the country, the democracy within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will also be strengthened to empower the members of the party” he said.

How to 'solve' Wilpattu

courtesy: Flickr

Fragments.

Posted by Uditha Devapriya-Monday, May 18, 201

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has raised concerns about deforestation around Wilpattu National Park. Four environmental organisations have charged Rishad Bathiudeen of complicity. Now guilt isn't always about direct involvement. People can be indirectly involved. That is why the allegation that he has cleared more than 18,000 acres of forest land throughout three districts is serious. He needs to be investigated. Period.

An inquiry would make sense. President Maithripala Sirisena has called for one. That sets precedent, and certainly a good one. But there's another issue here. If illegal acquisition was all that mattered this wouldn't be a big problem. Indeed one can argue that illegal resettlement in the guise of land clearance is a problem that can easily be remedied.

There's an underside to Wilpattu, however. This has gone unnoticed. It came to me through a comment to a Facebook post. Not the media. The comment was about certain visitors to the park who are engaged with "hunting safaris". Animals are being shot and no one seems to be aware of this. To make matters worse these hunters are actively bragging about what they do on social media (as this photo quite clearly shows).

No action has been taken here. This reflects lethargy on the part of the Wildlife Ministry. To top it all no less a figure than the president himself heads it. Letting these hunters off the hook would reflect badly on him and his government. This is not because evidence lends credence to allegation but because those who perpetrate these crimes are bragging about them. That warrants public outrage. Naturally.

Here's what we know. Most of these "visitors" are from overseas. This indicates that the wrongdoers aren't Sri Lankan. It also indicates that more vigilance should be demanded from relevant authorities in cancelling their visas. Hosts should not tolerate behaviour of this sort from guests, naturally enough. But while they are committing these acts, it is alleged that local criminal gangs are abetting them. That is despicable and demands immediate remedy.

I raise these points because this government has shown itself capable of persecuting wrongdoers. Unfortunately most of those they have persecuted thus far have been officials from the previous regime. That does not and indeed will not license unchecked allegations on the part of Ministers who belong to this government. President Sirisena himself should know this.

There are two courses of action that must be followed. The first and most immediate would be to book those hunting illegally. This can be done with assistance from the Immigration and Emigration Department. Secondly those abetting these "invited guests" must be investigated, arguably the harder of the two given that they remain unidentified. Given how active the government has been in booking members from the former regime I don't think it will be difficult to persecute both criminal and accomplice here.

It doesn't make sense to go on a rampage against former Ministers but let this issue go by unnoticed. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) hasn't spoken a word about it. That is not surprising. We are after all talking about an organisation that raised hell over Rishad Bathiudeen when he was with Mahinda Rajapaksa but stayed shut when the former joined Maithripala Sirisena's election campaign. BASL has always been ready to urge constitutional reform. That is why continuing silence on its part about Wilpattu disgusts me.

It is the government and the government alone that must combat this problem. Yahapalanaya after all isn't about regime-change. Problems that crop up must be investigated. Action must be taken. A top-to-bottom coordinated program must be implemented. Solving a problem like Wilpattu takes more than just harping on about the government's stance on good governance. It should involve active engagement with issue and nothing short of that.

The litmus test for this problem is whether or not a presidential inquiry will be implemented and how objective it will be. The findings of such an inquiry must involve not just alleged deforestation, moreover. It must also involve those hunters bragging about what they do on social media. Simple as that.

Uditha Devapriya is a freelance writer who can be reached at udakdev1@gmail.com

Mahinda approved Rs. 2 m for Eva Wanasundara!

 Monday, 18 May 2015

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa has approved a payment of Rs. 02 million to Supreme Court judge Eva Wanasundara, say sources at the president’s office. The cheque for the money was written and approved by Mahinda, but it could not be sent to her as he had lost presidency.

The money was approved for medical treatment for Wanasundara’s husband.

When Mahinda was at Law College, which he entered not by passing the entrance exam, but thanks to minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike, Eva was in his batch. It was him who had appointed her from the attorney general’s department to the SC. Due to this close connection, Mahinda had ordered the payment be made.

Although she did not get the cheque, Eva showed her gratitude by issuing an order against the arrest of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, say legal sources.