Audio: UNP lashes out at ‘Amare visit” to prison

21 June 2012 06:33 am

The UNP charged today that the disclosure by the Tangalle high court judge Chandrasena Rajapaksha clearly shows that "underworld gangs operate with state patronage".

UNP Vice president Lakshman Kiriella asked how a criminal with arrest warrants issued against him was able to visit the Tangalle prison to meet a remand prisoner “The fact that despite ‘Julampitiye Amare’ having over a 100 warrants against him issued by various courts in the country, he was able to visit a remand prisoner a week ago clearly shows that this underworld criminal had state patronage, if not how could he visit a prison with the Police on the lookout for him?” he asked.

Addressing a press conference held at the opposition leaders office, Kiriella went on to state that the underworld figure resided and carried out his illegal operations at the heart of the Presidents and the Defence Secretaries hometown.

“This man lived and created terror in Hambanthota which is the hometown of the President, Defense Secretary and a host of other powerful parliamentarians. It is in this place that he continued to reside despite over 100 warrants issued against him, therefore it is clear that he had state patronage and protection” he said. ( Hafeel Farisz &  Nishan Casseem)