A political storm erupts as Namal Rajapaksa accuses the government of shielding allies, manipulating investigations, and politicizing the Easter attacks while burdening citizens with economic hardship.
Former minister Kumara Jayakody was protected by the President when he came to Parliament three times, said Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, the National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, intensifying the ongoing political debate surrounding accountability and governance.
He made this statement while addressing journalists after participating in the New Year work commencement event held today at the SLPP’s Nelum Mawatha party headquarters, where party leadership signaled renewed political mobilization.
Speaking further, Mr. Namal Rajapaksa said:
“We have completed the New Year ritual ceremonies and have already begun party office work. We believe that within this year, we will further strengthen the party’s grassroots mechanisms by appointing branch committee leaders, which we did last year.
The first thing is that there is something we always believe. The people voted for this government for one reason. We must fulfill the people’s expectations through this government. This is not a government that came to power by force. It was elected through votes, making unlimited promises. Today, that government has no right to break its promises. Therefore, the government must fulfill the promises made to the people.
The President came to Parliament and said there were crores and crores of rupees available. But what is happening now? On one hand, there is the coal scam. On the other hand, they are closing down renewable energy generating institutions, and the government is acting to bring the diesel mafia into this country. That is the plan of this government. The country will come to know about that fraud in the remaining time.
We previously took a decision from the party’s political bureau that we will not celebrate May Day this year in the form of a rally because of the Poya day. Instead, we will transform May Day into a day for workers in front of the statue of our late T.B. Ilangaratne. Similarly, we will engage in religious activities by blessing workers at religious sites in Sri Lanka.
We are now waiting to see whether a fair investigation will be conducted. The country is well aware of this coal scam. When you look at the Auditor General’s report, it is clear that it is a fraud. Similarly, even if you look at the lab report regarding the coal, a false report has been submitted. These things cannot be hidden. However, we are now waiting to see whether the minister, the President, and the Cabinet will take responsibility for this, or whether they will shift the blame onto officials who acted on their instructions and remove those officials from service.
We have seen that happen before. The Prison Commissioner was just removed. But he received justice from a human rights perspective. The government is trying to cover up its own mistakes by shifting blame onto officials. Ultimately, what will happen? We believe justice will be done. In this case as well, we are waiting to see whether the President will take responsibility.
The President appointed this person knowingly. Not only that, the President came to Parliament three times and protected this minister. With 159 votes, he was protected. One day, after a debate in Parliament, they voted 159 times. Now we are waiting to see what will happen. Will they shift the blame onto officials, or will the government take responsibility?
It is now clear whether a mistake has been made, yes. Now we are waiting to see whether this government will take legal action. We are waiting to see whether the Inspector General of Police will continue to act as the IGP of Malimawa or as the IGP of the Sri Lanka Police.
This is a very difficult time for the people. As a political party, we must understand that. The government must understand that. A heavy burden of harsh taxes has been placed on the people. Also, the loss caused by the coal scam. Furthermore, we have become the government that bought oil at the highest price in the world. We are not saying this. International media reports that we have become a government that brought in oil at the highest price in the world and placed an immense burden on the people.
Also, regarding the people affected by Cyclone Ditta, the President went to one house and simply boiled milk rice. I do not know whether he went there or not, but the milk rice boiled over. That is fine. But the people are still living in makeshift camps. No steps have been taken to relocate people from unsafe areas. Last time, when I went to a village, a brother showed me a piece of land, but the people are still living in unsafe areas. No one is looking for that brother. So this year is going to be a very challenging year for the people, because the government is clearly suppressing the opposition to cover up its own mistakes. To hide its own incompetence, it is placing that pressure on the people.
We need to investigate the coal issue not just from 2009. It needs to be investigated from the period of 1988 to 1989. If there was that coal, it would have been from that time.
The Easter attack has been completely politicized. This government has completely politicized it. On one hand, they arrested a former parliamentarian and minister who was with the previous government in connection with the Easter attack. The line minister came to Parliament and said that he had revealed a great deal of information. Why is he being produced in court for some other murder?
Similarly, today, Suresh Sali, our former intelligence chief, has been arrested and is being interrogated. But who is interrogating him? The very people who hid the intelligence reports of the Easter Sunday attack in drawers. Now those same two people are going to investigate the coal scam. That is the best joke. During their political rallies, when asked about the Easter Sunday attack, they tell us, ‘You should ask that question of the JVP or of Ebrahim.’ Why did those two boys do that?
Now, they say that there is a great mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attack, the Rajapaksas. Well, Mr. Ebrahim probably knows. Did his two sons become terrorists because of the Rajapaksas, or for some other reason? He is still a member of the JVP. He was on the national list, was he not? They spent money on their own party. They hid and protected the person who spent money on their party, released his property, and now pointing fingers at others who are leaving will not work.”
