Certain elements conspiring to destroy me: Minister

27 February 2013 12:43 pm

SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday warned of a conspiracy to destroy him politically in the wake of Sunday’s Passikudah incident where his son Daham was alleged to have assaulted a DIG’s son.

He said he had received death threats over the phone some months ago when he wanted to implement the National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP). He said these same elements might have influenced the media also.

“Attempts have been made by various political elements, the drug mafia and my enemies to destroy me. The Passikudha incident has given them the opportunity they were looking for,” he said.

The minister singled out several newspapers, a privately-owned TV station and a radio station and a government-owned radio station as being among those attempting to destroy him. He said he did not mind it as long as they gave the correct story on the Passikudha incident.

“Do they think they can weaken President Mahinda Rajapaksa by attacking me? Whom are they trying to replace me with? Is it how the government or pro government media are strengthening the hard won peace by President Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa? Their actions make me sad and I can’t understand why all these negative campaigns have emerged at a time the government is in the midst of a battle in Geneva to protect the dignity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka,” he asked. “I will never intervene in police investigations or in performing their duty. I want the law to take its course and find the truth and punish even my son if he has committed any offence. But I must tell you that my only son is a child bred in a peaceful and religious atmosphere and he has never ever been involved in any sort of unlawful act.”

The minister said he could not understand why certain pro government and state media attempting to blow this incident out of proportion and try to attack him mercilessly.

“Do they think they are helping President Rajapaksa and the UPFA government? Do they think they can benefit by destroying me? They must understand that I have the resolve to stand up to all these malicious campaigns and come out unscathed because I have always worked according to my conscience,” he said.

The minister said Sri Lanka is an island and people flocked to its beaches to enjoy its beauty and serenity. But it is also common that people especially youngsters are involved in brawls and fisticuffs. These are not serious affairs but the media should not exploit these minor incidents to attack people when a youngster who is involved in a minor dispute was the son of a prominent person or a politician.

“Look what would have happened if the father of the young man arrested was some other politician. He would have surrounded the police station with his supporters and got his son released by force. But I stayed for eight hours seated on a bench at the Kalkudha Police to get my son released on police bail. Do not forget that I am the SLFP General Secretary and a senior minister of the UPFA government,” he added. (Sadun A. Jayasekara)