8 September 2020 12:00 am
By Susitha Fernando
Environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara refuting the letter of demand sent by the Prime Minister’s second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa relating to a statement he made on the controversial construction of a road in the area of Sinharaja forest reserve to Lankagama, has stated that he never referred to Lieutenant Commander Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of PM Rajapaksa when he participated at a press conference to protect the Sinharaja Forest reserve.
Replying through his lawyer Priyalal Sirisena, Mr. Chamikara, the legal officer of the Movement for Land and Agriculture Reform (MONLAR) vehemently denied the letter of demand dated August 24 sent by Mr. Rajapaksa demanding Rs. 500 million as damages.
He stated that he participated at a press conference organised by Youth for Change on August 19 to disclose the impact caused by the irregular construction of a roadway in the highly sensitive area of the Sinharaja Forest reserve. Mr. Chamikara said that the roadway in dispute not only gives access to the villages but also serves certain commercial entities. He said he referred to “Hotel of Mr. Yoshitha Rajapaksa”, the term commonly used by the villagers around Deniyaya area to identify and describe the said hotel.
He stated that he did not mention anything relating to Lieutenant Commander Yoshitha Kanishka Rajapaksa or to the second son of the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said that certain media and websites might have maliciously stated that the hotel belongs to Lieutenant Commander Rajapaksa.