Exercising its right of reply opportunity, the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN today said; “K.P. Selvanayagam a.k.a. Gobi who had been overseas and returned to Sri Lanka was actively involved in reviving the LTTE through regrouping LTTE cadres and recruiting unemployed local youth with the intention of using them for acts of terrorism.” The Mission also said; “The detention on 16th March of Mr. Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen under the PTA were in connection with the aforesaid investigation into attempts to revive the LTTE by operatives, including the recovery of the arms caché at Vishwamadu and the shooting incident in Dharmapuram involving Gobi.”
We publish below the statement in full;
Right of Reply by Sri Lanka
25th Session of the Human Rights Council
Agenda Item 4
Mr. President,
Sri Lanka wishes to exercise its right of reply on statements made regarding the arrest and detention of Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari, and the detention of Mr. Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen.
Ravinatha Aryasinha – Ambassador Geneva
a. Investigations revealed that K.P. Selvanayagam a.k.a. Gobi who had been overseas and returned to Sri Lanka was actively involved in reviving the LTTE through regrouping LTTE cadres and recruiting unemployed local youth with the intention of using them for acts of terrorism.
b. The intention of these LTTE operatives headed by Gobi had been to recover arms cachés hidden by the LTTE prior to their defeat.
c. The key operative directing the operations, Gobi, had been evading arrest. Following further investigations, the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) had recovered an arms caché including mortar and RPG type live ammunition, 3 hand grenades, 2.5 kg claymore bomb and ammunition for T-56 weapons.
d. Pursuant to this recovery, and a lead obtained on the whereabouts of Gobi, a team of Police Officers proceeded to the residence of Balendran Jeyakumari in Killinochchi. During the search operation Gobi had fired at the Police, injuring a sub-Inspector and escaped.
e. At this residence, the landlady Balendran Jeyakumari and her 13 year old daughter Vibooshika were present. Since suspect Gobi while being armed escaped, a search was carried out on the said residence. A Menelab F-3 type mine detector was recovered. Therefore, Ms. Jeyakumari was placed under arrest on suspicion of aiding and abetting Gobi in his activities.
f. As Balendran Jeyakumari had been unable to provide an appropriate caregiver/relative to keep her 13 year old daughter, she was taken along with the mother and produced before the Killinochchi Magistrate. Based on the Magistrate’s order, Vibooshika has been placed under the care of Probation and Child Care Services.
g.The aforementioned arrest was made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The ICRC has access to all detainees being held at Boossa.
Therefore, it is regrettable that an elected member of the Northern Provincial Council, Ms. Ananthi Sasitharan, has chosen to misrepresent this case in this august body and depict it as an arrest made of a child who had participated in protests. It is also regrettable that Ms. Sasitharan, despite being a member of a provincial administration, has chosen to make statements in the Council using time allocated to two NGOs. We also note that Ms. Sasitharan, in referring in her statements to the Council to “Tamil Eelam”, has failed to adhere to the agreed language of the United Nations, and is in violation of the Constitution she has pledged to uphold as a Provincial Councilor.
The detention on 16th March of Mr. Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen under the PTA were in connection with the aforesaid investigation into attempts to revive the LTTE by operatives, including the recovery of the arms caché at Vishwamadu and the shooting incident in Dharmapuram involving Gobi. Investigations have revealed that Mr. Fernando and Father Praveen had been in Killinochchi engaging with persons connected to Gobi. Their questioning is continuing at present to ascertain the whereabouts of Gobi and other related operatives.
The above actions taken by the Law Enforcement Authorities of Sri Lanka are well within the existing legal framework and following due process.
This development also underscores the need to be vigilant on the activities of the remnants of the terrorist group, considering its bearing on national security.
Thank you.
18March 2014.
Related posts;
US Government Concerned Over Detention Of Human Rights Defenders
The Arrest Of Ruki And Fr. Praveen Is Highly Damaging To National Interests: Law And Society Trust
Sri Lankan Govt. Retaliates To Proposed UNHRC Resolution By Arresting Activists And Witnesses: AHRC
Ruki Fernando And Father Praveen Detained In Kilinochchi
ray wilson / March 18, 2014
One more step closer to “International Investigation”,
best time ever to arrest these people. Fools!!!!
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Leon / March 18, 2014
It is time for an international investigation as nothing coming from GOSL is credible.
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Dushantha Kurera / March 18, 2014
On one hand we say Buddhists monks should not get involved in Politics. Then why should Catholic priests and Bishops get involved ????? I’m a Catholic and denounce Catholic priests involment in LTTE
It’s good that they were arrested and getting to the bottom is best to prevent another insurrection by interested parties who want to make money out of the innocent people of North.
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Nalin Fernando / March 18, 2014
Even Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is a politician pontificating Mahinda Rajapakse of anti-Tamil hatred. He accompanied Mahinda in the government propaganda campaign. He makes holy political statements against the Tamils. He has not made any effort to unify the Catholics.
He is making cardinal sins by his dubious conduct.
‘In the name of the Jesus and the holy spirits what I do is not sins’ thinks the right wing Cardinal.
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Davidson Panabokke / March 19, 2014
”He accompanied Mahinda in the government propaganda campaign”
When and where please?
Many ppl know thathe went to the Pope to get GSP+ and went to Mannar with Gota to make the people accept what is offered by Gota.
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srilal / March 19, 2014
Davidson Panabokke ,
“When and where please?”
pl do a simple Google search , you will see the veracity of the accusation.
first lady who is a devoted catholic associates very closely
with the Cardinal .
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Nalin Fernando / March 19, 2014
That is political.
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burt / March 18, 2014
Taking care of the displaced, caring for the orphaned, elders and the vulnerable and being a voice for the voiceless is not same as hate mongering, damaging and destroying other places of worship with state protection.
That is the difference. You have called your self a catholic but a label means nothing if your life does not practice that theology.
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Ajith / March 19, 2014
Catholic Priests never get involved with politics. They are involved with human rights and raise the voice on behalf of people affected by unlawful acts of the state. They don’t go and attack Buddhist temples or Muslim Mosques as Sinhala Buddhist Monks.
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RICHARD / March 19, 2014
Dushantha I am surprised you have been taken in by this govt statement that Fr.Praveen was arrested on his terrorist links. Where have you been? If you have been in Sri Lanka you will know that MR is the “boruwe upatha (birth of lies)”; he entered the presidential election after robbing tsunami funds donated to the Hambanthota area to help those affected. He together with his brother GR the police and army are now hell bent on pulling a ‘terrorist rabbit’ from the magician’s cap to make up a case to defend their own terrorist actions in Sri Lanka, such as the cold blooded murders in Chilaw, Katunayake, Rathupaswela, etc (report on inquiry not published). They incite racial hatred and allow actions such as forcing the female muslim student at Presiden’t College to be stripped off her muslim attire, allow religious intolerance with BBS and Ravana Buddhist “thugs in robes” to attack muslim and christian churches.
MR does not want the international investigation at any cost as he and GR will be implicated in the atrocities and will say that the Pope is helping the LTTE by keeping a cache of arms for terrorist activities if necessary.
SRI LANKANS TODAY HAVE COME NOT TO TRUST ANYTHING UTTERED BY MR,CJ,GOVERNOR CB, POLICE AND ARMY FOR THEY ALL WORK TO ONE AGENDA ; SCREW THE PEOPLE.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / March 18, 2014
Excellent response. It’s funny how certain sections seem to think Sri Lanka should turn a blind eye to terrorist activity whenever it’s a Tamil and/or someone wearing the “human rights activist” amudey behind it :D
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aratai / March 19, 2014
.
What a stupid way of doing things….
If this is true, the person to arrest is Gobi, and others are just helpers.
Use the helpers or follow them and get the culprit.
Instead they arrest and threaten Tamils… which will not work.
SL Intelligence doing the same old stupid mistakes.
:-)
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Maveeran / March 19, 2014
[Edited out]
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NA / March 19, 2014
But they gave the works to your sun goat,didn’t they?
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Rohan / March 19, 2014
Now you may want to explain why they were relesed! heh heh!!
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Nalin Fernando / March 19, 2014
Even when Tamils fart it is branded as LTTE terrorist revival. Sri Lanka is good at branding.
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Palmsquirrell / March 19, 2014
No one but you Sinhala Chauvinists will push this BS. Seeing as how you are already intentionally deceiving with your distinctly Hindu priestly name, your comment is as worthless as this pathetic lie pushed by Aryasinha.
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Rajash / March 18, 2014
Revive LTTE and fiance and arm them to avoid war crime investigation seems to be the latest strategy
Cut the nose to spite the face
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Javi / March 19, 2014
Oh so is this the cause of Lokka not attending the Commonwealth Summit London to meet the Queen and Hambantota was not involved in the hijack??- Phew
Bihari Bandit and his rational Slippery Slope.
Hang upside down and make a noise like a banana to get King Pong.
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bo / March 19, 2014
If Anandi is behaving against the terms of the constitution then she should be arrested and dealt with. The fact is all TNA members act against the constitution, yet MR and his gang do nothing. There is no point in telling UNHRC; they are deaf and dumb to the facts and only interested in their agenda to justify their monthly pay cheques. The whole thing is a game, all these political animals in SLK and UN, whatever their nationality, are just playing a stupid game and winding up the average public and their emotions. Actually none of them care or follow the truth. It is just a game of CON!
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Fathima Fukushima / March 19, 2014
Please let me do the honors!
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Javi / March 19, 2014
Fat_Imam Bin Lardens Eunuch!
India has already given you and paramiltary Bosses the Nalli Cut ｡◕‿◕｡
Try a camel you would feel home like mamu the pissa.
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Dawn Dale / March 19, 2014
I listened to her UN speech – she certainly sounds like a brain washed terrorist!
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Javi / March 19, 2014
You saw her reading it so intently?
I suppose Minister Douglas in his kindness wrote it for her just to share a thought or two.
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Eusense / March 19, 2014
bo,
You seem to have common sense and street smartness than most who write here. The US, UK, EU and the west controlled UNHRC has no interest and don’t care about human rights of a bunch of Tamils. Specially after these Tamils funded a terror war in SL. As long as the money train keeps rolling in, these politicians will supply lip service. If they pass anything worthwhile at the UNHRC this gravy train is going to stop. That is a no no for these politicians. So, expect this kind of lip service and watered down resolutions next year and for many years to come! These Tamils need to use their brain when nothing has happened even after 5 years. This stupid diaspora should have invested this wasted money in Jaffna, found employment for Tamils of the north and captured Sri Lanka financially.
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Native Vedda / March 19, 2014
bo
“The fact is all TNA members act against the constitution, yet MR and his gang do nothing”
If its a bad constitution everyone must act to change it. Even MR promised to change it before he became president and started enjoying the trappings of power.
So whats wrong if TNA behaved in a manner that could be catalyst for a change?
Those who violate the constitution are those who rule this island.
What have you decided to do about it bo? Just ignore the clan and target TNA, SLMC, and the most weakest members of the land.
“Actually none of them care or follow the truth.”
Please let us know the truth.
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Lasantha / March 20, 2014
Ask from the Adambara Thatha what he did in Geneva in 1988/89 UNHRC taking photos of dead JVP carders.
At least Anandi is fighting for her own disappeared Husband under STF custody
But MR the power greedy fake Joker Patriot went to Geneva to topple then UNP government and bring discredit to Sri Lanka.
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Palmsquirrell / March 19, 2014
More BS excuses by GOSL to justify their tyranical practices. Considering GOSL’s actions and history, there every reason not to believe them.
GOSL who is always spying on, intimidating , incarcerating and interrogating Tamils who speak with foreigners expects us to believe that an overseas Tamil came back to SL is restarting LTTE. Even the Sinhala Nationalists won’t fall for this BS but they will act like it has merit to justify GOSL’s actions.
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Piranha / March 19, 2014
Let’s see a picture of this imaginary Gobi. The all powerful heroic Sri Lankan military, despite surrounding the house where Gobi was hiding with hundreds of soldiers, were unable to capture him. Why didn’t the heroic Sri Lankan military use their usual tried and tested tactic of bombing the whole place to smithereens like they did during the last stages of the war. Surely that would have nipped the resurgence of the LTTE in the bud. Anyway they did manage to take into custody a woman and her child and they should be congratulated for this brave and courageous act. A victory monument will be erected after Jeyakumari’s house is demolished.
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OutRider / March 19, 2014
Sri Lanka is the only country as far as I know where a defeated terrorist organization’s remnants in the diaspora are able to disrupt reconciliation efforts with the help of so-called human rights groups.
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Native Vedda / March 19, 2014
OutRider
“Sri Lanka is the only country as far as I know where a defeated terrorist organization’s remnants in the diaspora are able to disrupt reconciliation efforts”
They are not alone, they have very senior partners namely Sri Lankan state, its rulers and stupid lackeys like you.
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OutRider / March 20, 2014
Naive Vedda
You are the stupid lackey arguing for the sake of arguing ad nauseam because you old fart have nothing better to do in your miserable old life. It is well known the government’s efforts at reconciliation are far from perfect. There is nothing new to add to that. But what is unique in the case of Sri Lanka is – the defeated enemy is still able to disturb the reconciliation process and that too with the help of those who claim to work for human rights. The whole situation is rife with irony and that’s what I was pointing out. Now you stop being miserable for a while.
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Native Vedda / March 20, 2014
OutRider
“Now you stop being miserable for a while”
I will stop being miserable only when those descendant of kallthonies leave my island.
Being outrider you could escort your stupid people out of my land and into your homeland Tamilnadu.
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Maveeran / March 19, 2014
LTTE weren’t a terrorist organisation after all. The truth is coming to light now.
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Native Vedda / March 19, 2014
Maveeran
“LTTE weren’t a terrorist organisation after all. The truth is coming to light now.”
You may be right, but it was angel of death. It caused death, destruction, deliberately targeting innocent people and property.
How would you like us to call LTTE, an angel, angel of death or a terrorist outfit whose leader was a psychopath?
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Javi / March 19, 2014
NV
he was their thalaver you know; a people to people to people across the sea. So i would 3 words call him
Pongu_Ponne_Pong!
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K.A Sumanasekera / March 20, 2014
How would he know?.
Does Native speak Tathamil ,,,,
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Javi / March 22, 2014
tasting is 100% haven’t you sevela unnaha??
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Piranha / March 20, 2014
Bloody good innit, mate?
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Unreal / March 19, 2014
Ruki And Fr. Praveen Released, is the latest news.
Does this mean that the paid employee Ravinatha Aryasinha is on the rocks … .
Remember, the Ambassadorial position in Geneva is a routine musical chair.
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Thamara / March 19, 2014
Ravinatha
I Think you have got the name wrong. It is not Gobi, read it as Gota
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Javi / March 19, 2014
Its Alugobi which they relish in Bihar!
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Park / March 19, 2014
Ane Ravinatha Malli, [Edited out]
We are sorry, the comment language is English – CT
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Safa / March 19, 2014
Every one including the UN, OHRC, US, UK, EU have already been accused of being LTTE supporters. So even a widow and 13 yrs old daughter are labled such. Ruki F’do and Father Praveen are also labeled as LTTE supporters. In the current election campaign, UNP, SLMC, DP are all labled as LTTE supporters.
So it is obvious that the regime is trying to recreate the LTTE bogeyman in the minds of people. It is deliberately doing this to cling on to power. The UN rep Ariyanatha has now brought this issue to the highest forum in the world. So now people may wonder what this is all about? Isnt the govt acting in an irrational and paranoid manner? The man who is insane thinks all others around him are insane.
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ainsley / March 19, 2014
Eat your words Ravi boy!
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Nalin Fernando / March 19, 2014
They killed one British citizen Gobi in the prison recently.
Another Gobi got caught and released die to international pressures. Otherwise he too would have experienced the finality of death.
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Lapatiya / March 19, 2014
“c. The key operative directing the operations, Gobi, had been evading arrest. Following further investigations, the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) had recovered an arms caché including mortar and RPG type live ammunition, 3 hand grenades, 2.5 kg claymore bomb and ammunition for T-56 weapons”
That is why our Directives became No. 1 Detectives in the world. Look what they have recovered. Actually in my opinion they should have added some more because everybody will believe what ever our Ranaviru Police says. I just can’t understand why our Brave Police officers didn’t take Jayakumari and her 13 year old Daughter Vibhushika to look for Hidden Arms? They could have created a very nice story and Our Rajapksha Police Spokesperson, SSP Ajith Rohana could have said at the Media Brief with the physical evidence like this. ” Today TID Officers took Jayakumari and Vibhoshka(Very dangerous Terrorists) to look for Hidden Arms and suddenly Jayakumari tried to attack the TID officers with a Hand Grande with handcuffs and TID officers fired for self defense. Vibhushika, Ruthless Terrorist died while trying to escape from the TID. She Jumped to the River with Handcuffs……….”
I am sure this should have worked as our Independent Judiciary will accept this story without any argument. Very convenient.
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Navin / March 19, 2014
Is it not possible that the thugs in uniform dumped Jeyakumari in Boossa and told her to unconditionally declare that she will keep her mouth shut regarding the murder of her surrendered son? Is it not possible that if she refused, that they will kill her 13 year old daughter also? Gobi is only a ghost. Otherwise why did the well armed, well informed army fail to arrest him, succeeding only in catching an old woman and child? Pimpiya Ravinatha Ariyasinghe is singing for his bread. He says ICRC has access to inmates at Boossa. Significantly he failed to mention that Jeyakumari was met by them. Does she know that her daughter is with Child Care Services? Or she already comatose thinking of the fate of her only remaining child?
Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen are human rights workers rendering a selfless service to the destitude, oppressed, displaced, humiliated class of citizens. There is nothing more to discuss there. Their arrest is to serve as a lesson to all other human rights workers.
Pimpiya Ravinatha, you have no integrity, no conscience. You support murderers to do whatever they like, causing untold suffering to hapless humanity. Pimpiya, enjoy your filthy wages until you enter hellfire.
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Ajith / March 19, 2014
Finally, Truth has come out in Geneva. It is a poorly planned drama in order to put a justification of the Sinhala militarization in the North.
LTTE has coming back, Terrorism has come back. There is a threat to Security. Military presence is essential.
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Eusense / March 19, 2014
Can anybody enlighten me with what Ms Jeyakumari do when the LTTE took her two older children as child soldiers and were killed.
Did she organize a protest against Parayabakaran and the LTTE? Did Ruki and Fr. Praveen organize human right marches against the LTTE? Did any one sought justice, truth and reconciliation from the LTTE through UNHRC or any other entity anywhere in the world?
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Maveeran / March 20, 2014
I thought the fat buddha already enlightened you Sinhalame people.
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Eusense / March 20, 2014
Maveeran,
You seem to have no answer for me.
This shows what fake issues these Tamil terrorists like you are bringing up! All these watch dogs, freedom fighters and human rights watchers are a farce and driven only by money.
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douglas / March 19, 2014
If this person named Gobi is a wanted man who is alleged to have carried on campaign or any sort of that type of activities in inciting the people with an idea of reviving disruptive activities and also for shooting a law enforcement official, all these Human Rights Activists and other NGO personnel must assist to locate him and bring him to book as per the country’s laws. If any person or persons protect him from arrest, he,she or they too must be dealt with.
If this happened in US/UK, by now Gobi and all others who are alleged to have given any type of protection to him would have been dealt with very seriously. The irony is that Sri Lanka cannot do it and will also not be allowed to enforce the law. This is why we see the “Double Standard” policy of these “Big Powers”.
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Native Vedda / March 20, 2014
douglas
“The irony is that Sri Lanka cannot do it and will also not be allowed to enforce the law.”
Gopi may be hiding in Gota’s house or in his head. Hard to catch Gopi.
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Saman / March 20, 2014
Is it Gopi or Gota…pee. Like Pig eating shit.
Yes Soon there will be more Gota’s pee and shit all over Sri Lanka.
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Eusense / March 20, 2014
Saman,
What garbage are you talking here? Is it because Gota did what is needed for the Tamil terrorists which you are a part of??
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Citizen / March 20, 2014
Why is Ravinatha Aryasinha – Ambassador Geneva, distorting facts about Gobi. It appears that Gobi was carrying on a partnership business with a Police Officer, the capital of which is almost 37.5 million Rupees. Gobi was arrested when he was asked to bring a modernised telephone from UK and when he brought it, he was arrested at the Katunayake Airport. Moreover, he is from Puloly-South. Has the Police officer staged some drama to play out the large amount of money. Again Gobi’s father’s name is Viswalingam. But here he mentions as K.P. Selvanayagam. Something went wrong some where. He was also attacked twice at Welikade and informed his father that he fears death at the hands of some characters. It is better to get the truths from his wife, now a British citizen or from his relatives. There were also threats about his funeral.
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Jayantha / March 20, 2014
Native Vedda,
“Gopi may be hiding in Gota’s house or in his head. Hard to catch Gopi”.
You mean like Kangetta, Wele Suda, Greese Yaka, Karuna, KP or Julampitiya Amare.
Great combination for a Gota’s “Kotthu Roti”.
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Native Vedda / March 20, 2014
Jayantha
“You mean like Kangetta, Wele Suda, Greese Yaka, Karuna, KP or Julampitiya Amare.”
You missed one important person.
Is it true that Gota is romantically linked to Pottu Amman, and has set up home with him within his home, that his wife sleeps in the spare room, and Gota shares his bed with Pottu?
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burt / March 22, 2014
What!!!!!!! Wow!
“Is it true that Gota is romantically linked to Pottu Amman, and has set up home with him within his home, that his wife sleeps in the spare room, and Gota shares his bed with Pottu?”
Is Pottu that good for this guy to give up his wife?
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