16 May 2020 12:00 am
By Yohan Perera
More Opposition members are likely to be arrested in the future, Samagi Jana Balawegaya
(SJB) alleged yesterday.
The allegation was made by SJB leaders including former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Sarath Fonseka, Rauff Hakeem and Rishad Bathiudeen who held a joint press conference in Colombo yesterday May 15, in the aftermath of former Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s arrest on Wednesday.
Mr. Ranawaka said the arrest of Dr. Senaratne is a case of political victimisation. “Dr. Senaratne is one of those ministers who left the government in 2014 together with former President Maithripala Sirisena. He came out against corruption in the government during that time. We are saddened that some people who went into high positions as a result of the political decision which Dr Senaratne made in 2014 have become allies of the Present government,” he said. Field Marshal Fonseka said there is a list of Opposition MPs who are going to be arrested in the near future. “We are also supposed to be included in this list. However we are not afraid of anything as we are used to prisons,” he said.
Mr. Premadasa and Mr. Hakeem said Dr. Senaratne’s arrest is a clear case of political victimisation. “We will fight against this victimisation through democratic means”.