Ex-CJ's son slams Namal

29 May 2015 01:35 pm

Shaveen Bandaranayake, son of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake questioned MP Namal Rajapaksa’s moral stand, asking Rajapaksa if he understood how he (Shaveen) 'felt when my family was condemn(ed), vilified and harassed during the past two and a half years'.

He said this in a response to a 'status' posted by Namal Rajapaksa on his official Facebook page, in which he pleads for his 'mother and brothers' to be 'left alone’.

In a no holds barred response currently going viral, Shaveen asked how he would have felt when his parents were summoned to the Bribery Commission.

The former Chief Justice was impeached by the previous regime under controversial circumstances with what many alleged were trumped up charges brought against her in attempts to oust her.

The impeachment led to severe criticism against the then government both locally and internationally. However, the government maintained that the charges were proved and due process was followed.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife and Namal’s mother Shiranthi Rajapaksa had been summoned to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) to record statements over various allegations of fraud and corruption.

In his Facebook post, Namal asked that political vengeance be stopped immediately.

"My Mother just received a notice to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). My Mother has always stayed away from politics. Does she deserve this harassment?! “Yahapalanaya” seems just a facade for this government. Vengeance isn't "good governance." Targeting my Mother proves it. President Rajapaksa and I, as politicians, are always ready to face political vengeance. But I wish they would leave my Mother & brothers alone" Rajapaksa said in his status which was posted on the 26th of May.

Bandaranayake had responded the very next day, commenting right below the above status "Mr. Rajapaksa, you tend to forget those who you've left in your wake. My mother, father, aunt, uncle nor I were politicians. Yet, your government moved swiftly to condemn, vilify and harass us throughout the past 2 1/2 years. How must I have felt when my parents were called before the Bribery Commission? How must I have felt seeing them being carted day after day to courts? How must I have felt seeing them being defamed by the government media that you so eloquently manipulated during your rule? Before you seek sympathy or support, 'audi alteram partem'. You’re an attorney, look that up" (Hafeel Farisz)