Desperate Govt. tapping phones: JO

8 August 2018 11:34 pm - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In a last minute attempt of survival, the Government had started listening in to phone conversations of, not only its political opponents but also Ministers, who were criticising the Government, the Joint Opposition (JO) charged today.

JO National Organiser Dullas Alahapperuma said a special Police Unit headed by a DIG had been established by the Government to tap into people’s phone conversations and latest hi-tech equipment had been brought down from Japan for the purpose.

“The Unit is based in Nugegoda and it has been directed to tap into phone conversations of JO MPs, Heads of Media institutions and even some Police personnel,” he said.

“Minister Rauff Hakeem, who expressed opposing views over the electoral system, had also been listed as someone whose phone conversations should be tapped into,” the MP told a news conference.

He said these were signs of the Government heading towards a Gestapo-like administration, which prevailed in Nazi Germany.

The MP warned that the JO would keep a tab on Government officials, who would commit wrongdoings under the directives of political authority.

Meanwhile, he said Parliament and Speaker could learn lessons from the Indian Lok Sabha, where there was no Opposition Leader because no opposition political party had collected more than 10 per cent of seats in Parliament.

“In our Parliament, the Opposition Leader post has been given to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a party which has only seven per cent of seats in Parliament.

“The JO has more than 30 per cent of seats, but still the Speaker hasn't given us the post of Opposition Leader,” he said.(Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 24

vithura Thursday, 09 August 2018 12:05 AM

See who is alleging of tapping phones, it takes one to know one!

Stunned Citizen Thursday, 09 August 2018 12:48 AM

Wasnt Gotler, who Brough this equipment into SL to spy on others! Finally a taste of your own medicine

Max Thursday, 09 August 2018 01:33 AM

The current speaker is a dummy. Expecting independence from him is futile.

Unchikun Thursday, 09 August 2018 06:09 AM

I am an Telecom professional. The equipment the JO is talking for may be the invention of the JO. There is no such equipment to monitor all calls from operators. This has to be done with the assistance of the operators. Calls on most IP based systems such as Skype, Viber etc are what is called peer to peer and encrypted. Even the operator has problems monitoring these calls.

Dee Thursday, 09 August 2018 06:26 AM

You JOkers must be pretty used to it? It's your war hero who started it.

Neela Thursday, 09 August 2018 06:41 AM

This is what MR,GR and BR too did. So there is nothing wrong.

southpaw Thursday, 09 August 2018 06:47 AM

They learnt this technique from the previous regime.

City Thursday, 09 August 2018 07:01 AM

Why not you teach them how to give up politics and packup to the US.also please tell why are you guys so desperate for power.

Cobra Thursday, 09 August 2018 07:32 AM

Look who looks desperate!!!

Empulz Thursday, 09 August 2018 07:38 AM

We know exactly who tapped whom during the elections

Sambo Thursday, 09 August 2018 07:49 AM

Remember during your time it was open secret that phone of even the public were tapped. So don't look up and spit, it falls back on you. You are a great pretender.

DAM Thursday, 09 August 2018 08:13 AM

Better tap specially JO because they want to cripple the country for unfair benefits of rogues

Mandy Thursday, 09 August 2018 08:15 AM

What a hypocrite. He is accusing the govt of all the dirty things they did prior 2015 - he should know as he was in the kitchen cabinet then.

VJ Thursday, 09 August 2018 08:33 AM

Wire tapping and intensive surveillance were extensively applied by the previous regime. The then opposition had to switch to secure means of communications such as satellite phones, Skype etc. What you did in the past has come back to haunt you all.

Ravi Thursday, 09 August 2018 08:49 AM

My darling baby Dallas, your uncle Mahinda and his siblings are the guys who tapped the phones in this country.

GH Thursday, 09 August 2018 09:36 AM

Worst than MR regime.

D.E.M. Ocracy Thursday, 09 August 2018 09:47 AM

The statement by Dallas only goes to prove that he is not fit to hold any position in a future Government. How could the JO request for the position of Leader of the Opposition as they too are still a part of the Government. Why not resign from the UPFA/SLFP and then make the request.The General Public will not be hoodwinked by their Third Grade gimmicks.

Lord Wolfstein Thursday, 09 August 2018 09:49 AM

Before you talk about Nazi Germany you should inform yourself about German history. If the Sri Lanka government act like a Gestapo--administration, which prevailed in Nazi Germany, there would be no so-called joint opposition or any other kind of opposition in this country. And where is the problem when criminals are being taped?

cheers Thursday, 09 August 2018 09:57 AM

This is actually the work of UNP and non committal Maithree (His name looks sweet but his actions are 3rd grade) what can you expect from a villager from Paddy fields having big job he cant handle

Stan Thursday, 09 August 2018 05:48 PM

Looks like the villager from paddy fields gave you too much freedom of speech.

Slay Thursday, 09 August 2018 10:37 AM

It is beyond my imagination how a dumb nitwit like this could have been a minister in the previous administration.

CITIZEN Thursday, 09 August 2018 10:44 AM

This guy is jittery that his clandestine activities will come to light!

Warren Raed Thursday, 09 August 2018 11:32 AM

Tapping others phones or not, we know one thing for sure. This government is going home in 2020. I know that not one single citizen is going to vote for them. That is guaranteed.

Sue Thursday, 09 August 2018 01:14 PM

Speak for yourself Mister clairvoyant. Nothing is guaranteed in this country.

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Desperate Govt. tapping phones: JO

Comments - 24

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