Gota rejects ‘Death Squad’ claims

27 March 2017 01:00 pm - 29 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa has rejected news reports published by AL Jazeera and AFP that he operated a death squad with the intention of silencing his critics.

On March 20, foreign news agencies reported that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had told the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate's Court that Mr. Rajapaksa led a top secret death squad, targeting journalists and dissidents.

The news report said the alleged unit was also accused of assassinating former Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.

Sending a letter to AL Jazeera and AFP news through his lawyer on March 23, Mr. Rajapaksa had said the news was a blatant ‘lie’ because the Police Report did not refer to Mr. Rajapaksa per se.

“I have instructed by my client that in any event, no report whatsoever was read out in court implicating my client as mentioned in your news item,” Counsel Sanath Wijewardane, the lawyer of Mr. Rajapaksa, said in this letter.

The letter said Mr. Sarath Fonseka, who gave a testimony in connection with the series of incidents, would attempt to divert the attention of the investigation and it was not possible to operate any Army unit and/or deployment without the sanction and/or approval of the Army Commander.

“In any event, my client, during the said time period was a civilian and had no direct links to operate any military or other deployment. Therefore, I’m instructed by my client to write to you demanding an immediate correction of the distorted and false publication carried out by you,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, MP Udaya Gammanpila, who also released the letter to media during a news conference today, said legal action against such ‘fake’ news would be considered and taken in the event a correction was not made by the respective news publishers. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 29

ananda Tuesday, 28 March 2017 02:41 PM

This man can only reject all the killings and disappearances initiated by him to silence his critics. via DM Android App

ANTON Monday, 27 March 2017 01:13 PM

NOW WE HAVE COME TO THE VERY INTERESTING PART OF THE SERIES OF TELE DRAMA EPISODES.

BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 27 March 2017 01:21 PM

This is like Idi Amin claiming he was only a civilian President of Uganda and all the criminal activity that was committed during his time was not by him but by those armed forces below him.

daily boru Monday, 27 March 2017 01:29 PM

Of cause people killed themselves during over time. We were next to heaven during those days and people were in a hurry to cross the boarders to go the heaven.

Jinn Monday, 27 March 2017 01:50 PM

Waiting for the Sri Lanka Justice to put the once feared Gota behind bars, now claiming to be a saint.

palle Monday, 27 March 2017 03:14 PM

Why so fearful, unless you are a LTTE terrorist ?

shami Monday, 27 March 2017 03:17 PM

He has admitted running the white vans on television and military on remand have named him as giving orders?He is the one who brought Mahinda down?

jude Monday, 27 March 2017 03:19 PM

jinn,if you are waiting to see Gota behind bars(only bars you will see him will be liquor bars),YOU WILL HAVE MORE CHANCES TO KISS PRESIDENT TRUMP.You need to GROW UP.

lion Monday, 27 March 2017 03:21 PM

few years ago this man behaved as he owned this country. excessive pride and arrogance has made him to behave like a man with hubris, He was the law of this land no one forgets how he had addressed Fredrica Janz of Leader news paper in utter filth. Men of this nature earns wrath of the god as shown in Greek stories.He will suffer for what he did to Sarath Fonseka the real hero of this land.

wiseman Monday, 27 March 2017 03:34 PM

If the news item is a "blatant lie", why don't you(Gota) file a case in the courts against the news article ?

OMG Monday, 27 March 2017 03:44 PM

HAHAHAHA GOOD ONE

Elis Monday, 27 March 2017 03:46 PM

Sri Lanka law and order has no back born to put gotta behind bars. This episode will go for ever.

Sharon Monday, 27 March 2017 04:04 PM

So the Bond money goes as far as Al Jazeera and AFP...

yahiya Monday, 27 March 2017 04:13 PM

RAJAPAKSE MOVIE IS CLOSED. SIBLINGS FINISHED IT FAST.

Gafa Monday, 27 March 2017 04:17 PM

this man KADEY GOING for RAJAPAKSHE Family

Real Peace Monday, 27 March 2017 04:25 PM

...And we have GOT An idea who was behind the death squad!!

Tissa Monday, 27 March 2017 04:41 PM

Dont be second weerawansa go to relevant authority prove your inocent we do not wants media jilmart via DM Android App

Hubert Monday, 27 March 2017 04:49 PM

In t his country lying is the art of living

Lal Monday, 27 March 2017 04:51 PM

Palle since when was Thajudeen, Eknaligoda ,Lasantha ,Keeth etc are LTTE?

sara Monday, 27 March 2017 04:56 PM

Well who expect you to accept without rejecting?

Minal Monday, 27 March 2017 04:59 PM

We Hail and salute our future President

TELL THE MARINES Monday, 27 March 2017 05:00 PM

TELL THE MARINES - who expects anyone who committed grave crimes to come forward and admit it. Most murderers who pleaded NOT guilty finally were sent to death row. Silence is golden.

TruthSeeker Monday, 27 March 2017 05:21 PM

palle I recomend you leave for thrid world dictatorship. You can't brand civilians as terrorist and murder them

Shelly. Monday, 27 March 2017 07:24 PM

We are about to see a very interesting battle. via DM Android App

Kadiya Monday, 27 March 2017 07:44 PM

Who??????

dharmapala Monday, 27 March 2017 07:57 PM

mrGota is still doing his criminal work in srilanka ,he is facing number of murder cases and corruption. mr Ranil is a good friend he is interfere in judical matters,minister of justice and budhhistim minister harbouring the mr Rajapaska family.

sara Monday, 27 March 2017 08:58 PM

Gota unfortunately you are not in power now to eliminate all those who are accusing you now.

Soma Tuesday, 28 March 2017 01:46 PM

Can't believe that so many people hate this great man

Tom Monday, 27 March 2017 10:26 PM

Then who is responsible for the white van and the murder of Lasantha Eknaligoda Vaseem Tajudeen etc. via DM Android App

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Gota rejects ‘Death Squad’ claims

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