Alleged attempt on SJB leader’s life: Sajith confirms Johnston’s accusation

Handunetti says accusers must have their heads examined

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (24) confirmed that an abortive attempt was made on his life at Galle Face on the afternoon of May 09, 2022 in the wake of the attack by SLPP goons on those who had barricaded themselves outside the Presidential Secretariat.

Colombo District MP Premadasa said so in response to The Island query. We sought the Opposition Leader’s reaction to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Kurunegala District MP Johnston Fernando’s declaration that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) made an attempt to assassinate the SJB leader.

Former Minister Fernando said that the Opposition Leader could have been killed on the road if not for the quick thinking of his driver who reversed the vehicle after Premadasa got into it to escape those chasing him.

MP Premadasa said: “That is correct.”

Top JVP spokesman and former MP Sunil Handunetti said that those who made that claim should have their heads examined. No sane person would have held the JVP responsible for that incident at Galle Face, the ex-MP said.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath didn’t answer his hand phone.

Lawmaker Fernando lambasted the JVP at the opening of his main Kurunegala district political office at Wilegoda at the outskirts of Kurunegala town on Poya day (April 23).

Alleging JVP activists destroyed his political office during the May 09/10, 2022 violence, MP Fernando said the JVP was nothing but a murderous outfit that also made an attempt on the SJB leader’s life.

SLPP Chairman Mahinda Rajapaksa presided over the meeting. MP Namal Rajapaksa was among those present on the occasion.

MP Fernando paid a glowing tribute to the SLPP founder Basil Rajapakse whom he declared the most capable organizer still active behind the scenes though various interested parties sought to ridicule him.

SLPP’s National Organizer MP Namal Rajapaksa, too, addressed the gathering.

MP Fernando later told The Island that the SJB leader obviously went to Galle Face on that day to declare his support for the high profile; ‘Gotagohome’ campaign. The SJB, both in and outside Parliament, backed the campaign against the then government but the JVP was not ready to recognize the right of any political party to join the protest movement.

Lawmaker Fernando claimed that had the JVPers captured Premadasa, the fate of Polonnaruwa District MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale would have befallen him. MP Atukorale was lynched along with his police bodyguard at Nittambuwa also on the same day.

Those responsible for national security should be ashamed of their failure to properly investigate the incidents/developments relating to the violent protest campaign, MP Fernando said.

In spite of clear evidence that the JVP spearheaded the abortive bid to seize control of Parliament, in the second week of July 2022, the police were yet to record a single statement regarding that development, MP Fernando said, alleging that nearly two years after the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa the government was yet to investigate the unprecedented and systematic destruction caused by politically-inspired protesters.

The ex-Minister emphasized that he was not the SLPPer to complain about the status of the investigation. MP Fernando also pointed out that the government has conveniently ignored Speaker Mahinda Yapa’s declaration of external hand in the protest campaign and interested parties threatened to harm his life after his refusal to cooperate.

Acknowledging that Amarakeerthi Atukorale’s trial was on, MP Fernando said that a comprehensive investigation was needed to ascertain the incidents/developments during the 2021/2022 period.