FSP: Corrupt officials likely to be appointed to CBSL

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was likely to appoint some senior public officials to the Central Bank despite their involvement in the Treasury bond scams, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Pubudu Jayagoda said yesterday.

Jayagoda told the media that it was likely that Wickremesinghe himself would become the Finance Minister. Wickremesinghe had already tried to influence the Central Bank during some meetings, he said. “We feel that the stage is now being set for Treasury Bond Scam – II,” he added.

Jagoda said an attempt was being made to destroy police logs maintained by a DIG and SSP in Colombo, who had noted that SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon had instructed them not to stop pro-Rajapaksa supporters from attacking protesters at Galle Face on 09 May.

Jayagoda said that SDIG Tennakoon had told the senior officers that he was issuing these orders under the instructions of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gen. (retd.) Kamal Gunaratne.

“Now, we hear that the Police are trying to destroy the logs. We will go to courts to protect these log books because the people of the country need to know what actually happened.”

Jayagoda mentioned that the pro-Rajapaksa mobs had visited Temple Trees, prior to the attacks, and the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Johnston Fernando had made inflammatory speeches.

“There were no average Joes. They were SLPP local councillors and their henchmen. The Police did very little to stop the attacks and this fact becomes evident when one watches the videos of the incident. When the University students marched to Galle Face peacefully, the Police placed barricades, with spikes covered with polythene, to cause injuries to the protesters, but they looked on while the pro-SLPP marchers attacked peaceful protesters.

Jayagoda added that earlier in May, Police had used military grade gas on peaceful protestors opposite Parliament. This was a violation of humanitarian laws, he said, adding that some students were still complaining of health problems due to the exposure of harmful gas.

“But when the SLPP thugs came, the Police did nothing. Why? SDIG Tennakoon walked with the mobs, talking to MP Sanath Nishantha.

However, in recent days, the Police had been arresting people who had reacted to the attacks by pro-Rajapaksa mobs, Jayagoda said, noting that people had attacked buses carrying Rajapaksa supporters, and also properties, following the attacks on Gota Go Gama (GGG,) but the Police and the security forces did nothing to stop these attacks.

“Now, over 200 people have been arrested. But not a single pro-Rajapaksa supporter is among them. After swearing in as Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he would provide assistance to the Gotagohome Gama. People don’t need food and tents. They want the PM to have those who attacked peaceful protesters arrested,” he said.