Deep Rift In Joint Opposition Over Leadership
A deep rift over former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has threatened to split the join opposition, sources in the joint opposition said.
Sources said that joint opposition members Prasanna Ranatunga, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Dullas Alahapperuma have expressed their displeasure over Basil Rajapaksa.
There has been a proposal to get Basil Rajapaksa involved in the new political party expected to be launched by the joint opposition.
However sources revealed that if Basil Rajapaksa is given a leading role in the new party then some joint members may decide to either join the government or remain independent.
When contacted, Prasanna Ranatunga admitted that there were differences of opinion in the joint opposition but that did not mean anyone was going to leave.
Udaya Gammanpila meanwhile told The Sunday Leader that claims of some joint opposition members joining the government was made even during the budget yet no one crossed over.He claimed that the government was on shaky ground these days and was attempting to divert the attention by spreading false rumours.One joint opposition member, who has been rumoured to be in talks with the government, is Geetha Kumarasinghe.When contacted by The Sunday Leader, Kumarasinghe said that she has not made any decision on joining the government.
(Source: The Sunday Leader – By Ashanthi Warunasuriya)
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The fundamental rights application filed by former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa requesting that an interim order be issued against any move to arrest him by the FCID over five magisterial inquiries, will be taken up for support before Supreme Court today.
The petition is to be heard before a three member Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justices K. Sripavan, Justice Anil Goonaratne and Justice K.T Chitrasiri.
Through his petitioner, Rajapaksa sought an order preventing the FCID from arresting him over five magisterial inquiries under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
In his petition, Rajapaksa had cited 10 persons including Police Chief N.K. Ilangakoon, Deputy Inspector General of Police at FCID Ravi Waidyalankara and the Attorney General, Suhada Gamlath, as respondents.
The petitioner stated that the FCID has recorded statements from him over five magisterial inquiries at four Magistrate’s Court in Gampaha, Pugoda, Matara and Kaduwela over allegations that he committed offences under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Rajapaksa stated that the FCID has recorded statements from him over the following incidents.
The purchase of the land at Orutota, Gampaha and the construction of a building thereon; the purchase of the land at Gangabada Road, Malwana and the construction of a building; the purchase of the land at Brown Hill Road, Matara and the construction of a building; the alleged misuse of funds in the conduct of the Divineguma National Convention in terms of the Divineguma Act; and the provision of GI pipes (flag poles) by the Divineguma Development Department to Pradeshiya Sabhaas and Provincial Councils.
The petitioner, Basil the hero, maintained that the imminent arrest of him by the FCID at this juncture for politically motivated and mala fide intentions of punishing the petitioner by depriving him of his personal liberty for no legally justifiable reason and therefore constitutes an imminent
This is a significant case in the Supreme Court; it challenges the basis for prosecution of the Rajapaksa veerayas.
However, readers, do not worry. The boss on the SC Chair is CJ Sri Pavam, who was, and probably is, a contributer to Tamil Diaspora. The Yahapaloanaya have, of course, got his genitals twisted so that he can only issue rulings that support Yahapalana Bimbies.