Having failed miserably in its attempt to turn a minor cat burglary into a witch hunt against my private life, they have now induced a small time racketeer to make a fantastic allegation against me for receiving a bribe in return for an approval for a ‘Dry Port’ while I was the Minister for Ports and Aviation between 2004 and 2007, says Mangala Samaraweera.
Mangala Samaraweera
Issuing a statement today the opposition MP says; “There is a limit to ones patience in the face of this sustained smear campaign against my honesty and integrity. Therefore I have instructed my lawyers to proceed with legal action against the parties concerned. I do not seek an apology from the Editors of the two state run newspapers: these morons who parade as journalists will not understand such a noble concept as an apology.. I will be asking for Rs.5 Billion each from the ‘Daily News’ and the ‘Sunday Observer’. I will also be initiating legal proceedings against this small time wheeler – dealer who is making such fantastic allegations against me on behalf of the ‘ Destroy Mangala’ mafia and I will present to court detailed information of his ‘colourful’ and dubious past.”
We publish below the statement in full;
In yet another desperate attempt to intimidate and silence me, the Rajapakse regime through its journalistic pygmies in the state media has again embarked on a vicious campaign to tarnish and question my honesty and integrity, which I have valued above all else during my political career.
Having failed miserably in its attempt to turn a minor cat burglary into a witch hunt against my private life, they have now induced a small time racketeer to make a fantastic allegation against me for receiving a bribe in return for an approval for a ‘Dry Port’ while I was the Minister for Ports and Aviation between 2004 and 2007.
The proof of the pudding they say is in the eating. Logically, for such a enormous bribe to be given, the request for a dry port had to be granted. I can say categorically that all requests for dry port facilities made by several parties during my tenure as Minister were rejected outright on the basis that such a facility would be inimical to the interests of the SLPA. However, I understand that a dry port facility has been granted subsequently by the present Minister in charge of the subject and I challenge the government to make public all details pertaining to this dry port and to prove that I extended such a facility to anyone during my tenure.
There is a limit to ones patience in the face of this sustained smear campaign against my honesty and integrity. Therefore I have instructed my lawyers to proceed with legal action against the parties concerned. I do not seek an apology from the Editors of the two state run newspapers: these morons who parade as journalists will not understand such a noble concept as an apology. I will be asking for Rs.5 Billion each from the ‘Daily News’ and the ‘Sunday Observer’. I will also be initiating legal proceedings against this small time wheeler – dealer who is making such fantastic allegations against me on behalf of the ‘ Destroy Mangala’ mafia and I will present to court detailed information of his ‘colourful’ and dubious past.
Sunila mendis / February 4, 2014
Mangala, everyone knows that you are honest .You could have made big money when you were in charge of key ministries. I admire your guts by standing up to the Rajapakses.
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Athula / February 4, 2014
Did he or did he not do a financial deal on behalf of MR deal along with Tiran Alles with the tigers that prevented the northern voters from casting their ballot ? Yea or no – a simple answer will suffice. Despite very direct accusation, Mangala has never denied it.
Laughably, it is the very deal that prevented his bosom now-pal Ranil from a certain victory – the irony beggars belief.
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John / February 4, 2014
Mangala is an opportunist, now bankrupt
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Mara P Hora / February 4, 2014
Its a good sign that you guys openly showing your fear.
MaRa knows that he cannot continue to fool the masses although still there are few idiots supporting him here and there. People started to realise who and what this uncultured ugly family is. sooner if not later the fake dynasty is going to fall.
Mangala knows what exactly MaRa’s weaknesses and threats are.
Attacking Mangala is a very positive sign of regimes fear.
Its time for Mangala to reveal the transaction took place just before the Prez elections between LTTE & Basil/Tiran.
Its time to reveal about how Sripathy was killed.
Its time to reveal the then human right champ MaRa, who ran to Geneva to ask the UN to bring an embargo against Sri lanka.
Reveal the Tsunami embezzlement so on.
Go Mangala Go…!
There is nothing to lose, and the time is running out.
If you let MaRa win again its the end of the UNP lead all opposition.
Do or die mate!
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John / February 5, 2014
I’m not backing MR.
Mangala is a useless bugger, bankrupt & nowhere to go, hangs on to UNP as an opportunist & destroys UNP as well.
What any good this bugger has done to UNP other than supporting once foe, Ranil the serial loser for his own survival ??
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Tsunami Hora / February 6, 2014
Ok John what good Jonston, Keheliya, Duminda have done to MaRa?
MaRa might be somewhat better off wiothout these UNP crap. I neither am a Mangala/Ranil/Sajith supporter nor against, but MaRa regime is destroying this country. Dont you see it?
He should go fast. For that I would support even the Mahasona.
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Ben Hurling / February 4, 2014
I wish Mangala well.
It is no easy task when you are at the receiving end of corrupt Rajapassa clan’s wrath.
Two questions however:
1. These law suits are symbolic of our disfunctional legal system? I know of nobody getting ten billion in damages in Sri Lanka. Yet, high profile people keep filing these cases. What the heck is going on? Is our legal system a total joke? Please explain.
2. Mangala was in government with CBK & MR for very a long time. Why did not you fix the utterly corrupt, useless state media outlets? Make them impartial, professional & ethicl? Why does a modern democratic nation need a state media at all? Why do you whine about it only now?
Cheers!
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Athavuda / February 5, 2014
[Edited out]
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sunil / February 5, 2014
The man behind this story is lakehouse chairman.
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OutRider / February 4, 2014
I get it Mangala. You are getting your story out there quickly before your enemies do. That way they become the subject of the scandal. This is damage control 101. Good for you.
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Dr. DeeJay / February 4, 2014
Expose the bastards, including their Masters
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Paul / February 4, 2014
If you can’t become the next UNP leader jump ship again.
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Jagathchandra - France / February 4, 2014
I would be a liar, a hypocrite, or a fool – and I’m not any of those – to say that I don’t write for the reader. I do. But for the reader who hears, who really will work at it, going behind what I seem to say ….. remember mr Mangala when you were with them how you act . no one believing you except people who eat grass and drinking punnakku
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Pulli Mahenrdran / February 4, 2014
Ok, forget about the Dry Port matter. Maybe its all fabricated as you say. But tell us how much you made on the REAL deals. Did you not, together with the Chor Rajini sell the countrys silver during your heyday? Now, both of you are trying to be comeback-kids to loot the country even further.
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Nimal / February 4, 2014
Mangala,
How much was paid to Jagath Weerasinghe for constructing the Ahinsakayange Aramaya?
How much was paid to refurbish your department office, and to whom?
How were these people selected for the jobs?
Were they your friends at the time of giving them these contracts?
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T Wickramaratna / February 4, 2014
Mangala is now trying to tell us how honest he was and now is.Good luck Mangala.But there are no olden day chines in sri lanka now.
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T Wickramaratna / February 4, 2014
Mangala, do you expect us to believe that you honest and above board?
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Jones / February 5, 2014
He’s such a paranoid drama queen!
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HALAL &THAYAB / February 5, 2014
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HALAL &THAYAB / February 5, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Tyrant Alles / February 5, 2014
Dear Mangala, we believe you.You are an honest man and will never tell lies. So do tell us what was your cut on government deals/contracts as a percentage, when you were minister. Was it more than Ravi Karunanayakas or less? We would like to know just for the record.
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Upali Wijewardene / February 5, 2014
Mangala, show what you are made of. Sue them for the 10 billion and Rajapakshe’s will dole that out without blinking an eye lid. They have the means to do it.
I admire your courage and commitment to fight on. You brought them to power and YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD SEND THEM HOME
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Mahasona / February 5, 2014
Is karma at work? People who are trying to destroy
Mangala now are his own creations.
In this case it is Tiran Alles who rose to fame,
learnt his game and won a name. Wheeler dealer Alles
is now wanting to destroy Mangala.
He brought late General Sarath Munasinghe to the PA
Government. Even today the Rs 30 million rupee question
is how he crossed over to the UNP?
He brought Kaanu Kataa Mahinda Abeysundera and got him
to sling mud at all and sundry on SLBC and ITN stations.
What happened? The same Kaanu Kataa is now defaming Mangala
every day.
He introduced Sripathi Sooriyaratchchi to politics? What
happened? He betrayed him.
What Mangala should be warned against is not his enemies. He
is bold and courageous enough to face them. He must beware
of his friends. There are many around him now. They will one
day sell him down the line. One main case is Ruwuan Guruge
alias Ruwan Ferdinandez the godfather of mud slinging journalism.
He is the main supplier of derogatory information against UPFA
leaders to different websites, some of them now banned.
Mangala better watch out for this back stabber and his other
new found darlings. They are neither his friends nor supporters.
More will come soon.
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Victor Ilangakoon / February 5, 2014
No doubt Mangala is comparatively honest. The greatest mistake he did was not to heed the calls for making SLBC and SLRC truly independent public service broadcasters. He completely ignored the R.K.W. Gunasekara recommendations of media law reforms and misread the judgments of Justice Mark Fernanado on the right of listners when closure of the new education service at SLBC was challenged by a listener. Now he feels the heat of his mistakes. I doubt whether a future UNP government would implement the R.K.W. Gunasekara reforms or provide enabling policies to develop a professional independent media culture. Their media guru Ganganath is another mediocre person who thinks that public service broadcasting is dead.
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Rufus Palipana / February 5, 2014
Mahasona, you are spot on. Mangala tends to get
carried away by some who bullshit him. He has
to be careful. He trusted Wimal Weerawansa and
confessed in him. His throat was cut and he was
forced to resign.
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Nalin de Silva / February 5, 2014
Mr. Samaraweera, We have not forgotten how you tamed the media when you were licking the lady who is always late and wasted 11 years as the Head of State. You are not talking about media ethics. But did you practice them when you were a powerful Minister. Don’t try to act as an innocent baby when you have done all the dirty tricks in politics. We are not worried about you private life with emerging youth.
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Priyalal Fernando / February 7, 2014
Not only Wimal Weerawansa or Wairawansa
Rufus Palipana.
He took the JVP to Chandrika and made
them kings.
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Anuruddha Attanayake / February 9, 2014
Mangala was responsible in a very large way for
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory at the 2005 Presidential
polls. He was his campaign manager.
His is politically savvy, personally gutty and more
often forthright. However, the bitterness of being
forced to quit the Rajapaksa Government has made him
very venomous man.
It is true he is the only voice in the UNP to speak
out. But his entire energy is directed at Rajapaksa
and his family. He breathes fire on President Rajapaksa,
Defence Secretary Gotthabaya and a whole host of others.
The venom and oozes out. This is why he has become a
target of the Rajapaksas. Not because he was raising
other issues of national importance like corruption,
nepotism and all the abuses caused by this government.
Mangala singularly destroyed Ranil Wickremasinghe when
he was hanging on to Chandrika’s saree pota. Now he is
hanging on to Ranil Wickrmesinghe’s tie. Don’t ever be
surprise if he tries to tighten the noose around Ranil’s
neck using the same tie because he is a frustrated man.
Already he has aligned himself with Leader Council chairman
Karu Jayasuriya, a political eunuch and opportunist.
Ranil has now abandoned his close friends like Sagala Ratnayake
for Mangala. With his vily ways, he will destroy RW for a
second time. History will repeat itself.
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Lahiru Dissanayake / February 10, 2014
Anuruddha Attanayake – I agree with the first part of
your comment that MS is frustrated and vicious poison
spews from his mouth.
As for destroying Ranil Wickremesinghe, it won’t be
easy. Mangala has more enemies in the UNP than you
think. Even if he joins Karu Jayasuriya, that will be
difficult. KJ is also a shamed person after failing to
defeat RW.
There is lot of potential in Mangala if he reforms and
shed his poisonous vein and takes to good politics. He
is not a man with a clear cut strategy or vision. He
has proved himself only as a deal maker in Sri Lankan
politics. She needs to change.
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Sarath Funnyseka / February 13, 2014
“There is lot of potential in Mangala if he reforms and shed his poisonous vein”
You cant defang a cobra.
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