Pistol wielding drama in Hambantota

22 April 2014 04:22 am - 2 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Attention is now drawn towards the Mayor of Hambantota - Eraj Fernando, for the alleged assault on the UNP parliamentarians who visited Mattala Air Port and Hambantota Harbour, on a fact-finding mission on April 17 (Thursday), 2014.

The Mayor, despite the media spotlighting him trotting with a pistol, initially denied that he had a pistol in his possession and later said that it was just a toy pistol and it was grabbed by him from one who was close to him on that day. Police however said that they were yet to confirm whether it was a toy pistol.

It is not just a minor incident for the City Mayor to find a pistol after groping the body of a city dweller. If these city dwellers are carrying these toy pistols to secure their positions then it is a serious situation. Or, in the alternative are these grown-ups still playing with toy pistols? This scenario raises many issues. Police should immediately investigate this matter and also launch search operations to locate whether this type of toy pistols are in circulation. They may suddenly fire.

However, whether it was a genuine pistol or a toy that was brought into the midst of a clash, and the inaction of the police watching the proceedings, is sure to lead to a serious breakdown of law and order. This incident might become a bad precedence and give a wrong signal to the civil society. Therefore action should be taken forthwith to nip in the bud, before these toy pistols start firing, if not there might be more trotting pistols, feigning them to be toys. However, with this incident more shots are expected to be fired.

Courtesy: Ada Newspaper

I challenge to show the videos playing Casino with the Mayor

I deny any association with Eraj

Refuting these claims made by Eraj Fernando, UNP MP Nalin Bandara denied any association with Eraj Fernando stating that he met him only once, which was during a wedding ceremony in Galle, and challenged him to screen the videos to prove that he visited Casinos with Eraj.

The Mayor is more knowledgeable on contract killers

I was never his friend. I have met him only once

The Mayor of Hambantota is more knowledgeable on contract killers and he is not a friend of mine. Ajith P. Perera one of the UNP MP’s who was attacked said.

He also said that he did not have any contact with the Hambantota Mayor and he was never his friend.
A person whom he had met only once in his lifetime and never spoken over the phone cannot be a friend, MP Perera added.

When the incident happened I was not informed

I have advised local politicians to help anyone in trouble in the district

Referring to the attack on the group of UNP MPs, Hambantota district parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa said that he came to know about the attack around 6.30 pm and he did not have any contact with anyone during the alleged incident. On the said date from 4.30 am to 6 pm I was at a special rugby training session at an army camp in Trincomalee and therefore during that period no one spoked to him.

“Some are trying to show that I have a connection to the said incident. I have no connection to the incident at all. I came to know about it only around 6.30 pm. Since we were in a rugby training session we did not use telephones.

There was no telephone convertions between the Hambantota Mayor, Eraj Fernando and myself and if somebody says so it is a complete lie,” MP Rajapaksa said.

“However as the Chairman of the Hambantota Development Committee I have advised all the local politicians not to get involved in any clash and work cordially with the Opposition politicians. I have also advised them to help anyone in trouble in the district disregarding their political affiliations,” Mr. Rajapaksa said. There are enough instances where our local politicians helping those who are in distress and need help, he added.

I only grabbed a toy pistol from a protestor- Mayor

I did not call MP Namal Rajapaksa, but only acted according to the instructions given by him to safeguard those who visit Hambantota

In his explanation, the Mayor of Hambantota Eraj Fernando said that he never brought a pistol when he arrived at the scene but only took possession of a toy pistol from someone who came to the venue to protest against the UNP parliamentarians who came on this fact finding mission. He also said that he knew most of the UNP MPs, and he was not out of his mind to bring a pistol, but during the commotion he had observed someone in the crowd having a toy pistol hidden in his waist and he grabbed it and went to protect the MPs from being assaulted. He said further that he assisted these MPs to get into the bus in which they had come.
He went on further to acknowledge the friendship he had with some of the UNP MPs.

“Ajith Perera after being appointed as organiser for Bandaragama electorate sought my protection from someone who was trying to kill him, Ajith Mannapperuma and I signed as witnesses at a wedding in Gampaha. I run a security service which provided security at Night Clubs and MP Nalin Bandara accompanies me when ever I visit them, and I have played Casino with him. I have videos to prove them. I did not call MP Namal Rajapaksa, but only acted according to the instructions given by him to safeguard those who visit Hambantota,” Major Eraj Fernando said.

There is no evidence of a toy pistol

Separate investigation will be conducted under a DIG to find out whether the police officers failed to carry out their duties

In response to the attack on the UNP MPs and the police inaction, the Police Headquarters stated that investigation had not revealed about a toy pistol being used and threatened a group of UNP MPs at the Hambatota Port. It further said that legal action would be taken against all the parties involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana said a separate investigation will be conducted under the Deputy Inspector General of Police, (DIG) Gamini Maturata to find out whether the police officers who were there had failed to carry out their duties.

He said that UNP MP Ajith P. Perera had made a complaint and the statements would be recorded from Ajith Mannapperuma, Nalin Bandara and R. Yogaraja, the UNP politicians who joined him.

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Comments - 2

srinath.gunaratne Tuesday, 22 April 2014 08:51 AM

two sides of the same coin, Ratakata giya kala

George Tuesday, 22 April 2014 10:36 AM

Wonderful way of twisting a drama. WE, 92% illiterate Sri Lankans are fools while a few in Hambantota are trying to teach ABC for us.

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