After months of feigning illness in Singapore, where he has spent his days at a luxury hotel since June 2019, former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa is finally headed back to Sri Lanka, Colombo Telegraph learns.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
The decision to advance his return to Colombo by a few days came after Attorney General Dappula De Livera reportedly sent Rajapaksa a private assurance that the indictment filed against him in the D.A. Rajapaksa museum case would be amended. The AG has assured Gotabaya Rajapaksa that he will no longer be the First Accused in that case and that several key charges against him would be dropped.
The AG’s decision was conveyed through the family of a state counsel with close ties to De Livera, whose family runs a funeral service and has been long-standing associates of the former Defence Secretary.
Rajapaksa was originally due to return on July 27, after his trial was due to begin.
This would mean that on Friday, July 26 when the D.A. Rajapaksa trial was set to begin, the Attorney General is likely to inform the Permanent Trial at Bar that the indictment against Rajapaksa and others will be amended and refiled. The decision to amend the indictment could set the trial date back by months, sources told Colombo Telegraph.
Interestingly AG De Livera has decided to amend the indictment against Gotabaya Rajapaksa despite the fact that no Court has ordered him to do so.
In fact, when Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s lawyers filed preliminary objections at the Permanent High Court saying the indictments had been erroneously filed, the three judges of the High Court strongly disagreed and ruled in favour of the AG that the indictments would suffice.
However, despite the judges having made no such request, the AG’s Department, on the instructions of De Livera, informed the Supreme Court that the indictments would be amended when Rajapaksa’s lawyers filed an appeal against the Permanent High Court’s rejection of their objections in the Supreme Court.
No reasons have been provided as to why the AG has decided to amend the indictment against Rajapaksa, since De Livera’s prosecutors strongly resisted preliminary objections raised by Gota’s legal team when they found fault with the indictments.
However, legal sources said that De Livera’s conduct has become clearer in recent weeks, specifically with regard to investigations and cases that implicate the former Defence Secretary. De Livera is desperately trying to get the CID to wrap up key investigations into attacks on journalists and other emblematic crimes on the pretext of expediting prosecutions, but suspicions are being raised about his true motives. It is speculated that De Livera may be trying to close those investigations before police can find evidence to irrefutably link the former Defence Secretary to those crimes.
It is unclear if De Livera’s actions are motivated by a desire to buy insurance in case Gotabaya Rajapaksa is made candidate for the SLPP and wins the presidency, or whether his proximity to a family with close links to the former Defence Secretary is driving his desire to save the former President’s brother from prosecution. (By Kamani Ramanayake)
Rajeev / July 24, 2019
CT!
Any more fake news … sucks to be you!
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Dinuk / July 24, 2019
Gota is no longer a US citizen an hence back in Lanka! This has nothing to do with Mr. Livera who is honest and fat off to him.
Gota’s return has everything to do with the US which has set the hen among the chickens to further the game to colonize Lanka and turn it into a Military base garbage dump has gone to the next level.
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Craig / July 24, 2019
Its truly unbelievable how this man has succeeded in evading this case by trudging from court to court and filibustering. I have heard that Dappula’s juniors have told him that they can wrap this case up without a problem and that he must not compromise. But Dappula the ripper has his own devious agendas. Gota has now been joined by another “war hero” Nissanka in Singapore and Dappula is making pathetic attempts to bring him down for the Avante Garde case. Dappula leaked his order to the CID to arrest him to help Nissanka fly-the-coop. The manner in which Dappula issues press releases from the AG’s office is unprecedented.
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Don Stanley / July 24, 2019
CT this sort of story is a total disgrace and fake news. The AG is pursuing cases against the rich and powerful in the Cesspit Parliament and their relatives without fear or fancy and doing a great job!
Gota’s citizenship was revoked by the US and the news was out last week.
So please fact check you stories or shut down!
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Manel Fonseka / July 25, 2019
Don Stanley
Please share the source of the news that Gota’s citizenship has been revoked. Surely, the only reference to US citizenship recently was an item that said his name was not in the list for the Jan/March quarter of people who were no longer citizens.
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Steve / July 24, 2019
“The AG has assured Gotabaya Rajapaksa that he will no longer be the First Accused in that case and that several key charges against him would be dropped.”
If GR is not the first accused ; is MR or BR or CR the first accused ?? . AG is another arse-licker !!
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K.Anaga / July 24, 2019
Srteve
The first accused should be AG himself, as he is trying to hide the truth.
Aiding and abetting is also an offence.
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Douglas / July 24, 2019
To our “Attorney General”, in my village usage, “Okath Maha Kajjakda”. If he doesn’t do it, it will be another surprise. That is why this case has been “Dragged” from Court to Court, even though it is as SIMPLE as eating “KAJU” nuts. Finally it will be (most probably) found that an “Accounts Clerk” at the UDA who “WROTE” issued the cheque will be found “GUILTY”.
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Sim / July 24, 2019
Where is the equality before the law when the AG is acting like this to favor some.
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Good Sense / July 24, 2019
In this country, anything can happen. One must verify, whether Dappula is acting on his own or Dappula is carrying out his master’s wishes.
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Rwkd / July 24, 2019
This is preposterous. Finally when we are waiting for years to get some justice walk in this joke in the form of AG and ridicule the whole justice system and the citizens of the nation. Is the government allowing such misjustice to happen? This is day light robbery.
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Jey / July 24, 2019
Is this guy, Sri Lankans are touting as a presidential candidate? I am flabbergasted as to why the Sri Lankan are too naïve when it comes to politics. The country is losing itself in all aspect of good living. Religious bigotry, racism and with an autocratic leader at the helm will be hell in the making and shalom Sri Lanka.
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Matilda Ellepola / July 24, 2019
Livera you scumbug….. you are a Sarath N Silva V.2.0 and a disgrace for the rule of law and this is the law of the jungle.
You are not fit for a AG and please change jobs to a clown in Medamulana circus !
Let me sum with a one word – DISGUSTING !
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Jadon / July 24, 2019
Now the reasons for this relentless attack on the first honest AG that Sri Lanka has had in a long time are clear.
It is because he had asked for a Report on the probe on the Easter Sunday disaster that will probaby reveal how foreign intelligence agencies and their local partners in crime including US puppet Bondscam Ranil and his LGBTQ network covered up the Saudi and and US role in the Easter carnage that was staged by Special Operations Forces (SOF) to get the SOFA passed so that US troops can set up a military base in Sri Lanka under pretext of ‘Counter-terrorism” and fighting IS!
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Ad / July 24, 2019
GR winning? BS. Have to send all these black worms by using ballot.
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Ajay / July 24, 2019
Gota is the lowest, most shameless coward in Sri Lanka. He poses as a Maha Sinhala Veeraya, but shivers and pees in his pants if he is summoned by the courts. Such lowlifes only torture and kill innocent unarmed civilians. The worst part is Sira and Dappula are scared shit of this lowlife toad.
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rbh / July 24, 2019
Permanent High Court saying the indictments had been erroneously filed.
End of the day most of the errors have been done form the higher department than the
guilty. Court is the last line of defense for the powers and for the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.
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BP / July 24, 2019
All these show that the country needs “Nagananda Kodituwakku constitution” very badly as early as possible.
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S.Modaya / July 24, 2019
CT Editors, what you do not know is that Gota is no longer a US citizen!
The US game to colonize Lanka and turn it into a Military base garbage dumo has gone to the next level.
Gotabaya Ranapaksa is NO LONGER A US CITIZEN and this is why he is back in Sri Lanka.
The US reckons that, with their Puppet Bondsam Ranil whose economic policies are drafted by MCC in Washington to benefit America First and the Global 1 percent on one side, and ex-US citizen Gota and current US-citizen Basil on the other side the US is on a home run.
The name of the game : Heads, I win, Tails, you Lose! Either way Lankan people is screwed by the US-brokered UNP-SLFP-PP bi-partisan Corruption racket called Fake Reconciliation with its advisor Prasad Kariyawasam in the Cesspit of Corruption called the Sri Lanka parliament. JVP and TNA and SLMC are all in the game and bought by USA.
Long live Miracle of Modayas!
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Walla / July 24, 2019
So it’s negotiable?
Wow ? so good for drug dealer too eh ?
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JD / July 24, 2019
WHY RAJAPAKSES ARE BAD. ;Sri Lanka, an island nation straddling the Indian Ocean’s crucial trading routes, witnessed a substantial expansion of Chinese influence during the tenure of President Rajapaksa from 2005 to 2015. Several multibillion-dollar Chinese investments in critical infrastructure resulted in the rapid accumulation of debt, “white elephant” projects, and widespread corruption, offering a model case study for the risks associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Since Rajapaksa lost his re-election bid in 2015, Sri Lankan–U.S. relations have flourished, and Sri Lanka has become an important partner in the Trump Administration’s vision for a Free and Open Indo–Pacific. In late 2018, the country’s politics were thrown into turmoil when President Sirisena attempted to install Rajapaksa as prime minister via a soft coup. The unconstitutional effort failed, yet political forecasters are predicting the return to power by the influential Rajapaksa family in forthcoming elections. If mishandled, a return of the Rajapaksas could jeopardize recent gains in Sri Lankan–U.S. relations, offer Beijing another foothold in the Indian Ocean, escalate the rivalry between China and India, and pose a setback for the Trump Administration’s regional strategy. Moving forward, the U.S. must: (1) hold any future Sri Lankan government accountable to basic democratic and humanitarian standards, (2) prioritize diplomatic and military engagements with Sri Lanka, and (3) leverage regional alliances and new development finance tools to provide Sri Lanka with alternatives to the BRI that value sovereignty, sustainability, transparency, and democratic governance.
Partly, it is a conflict between two different models of Capitalism. Ranil likes the American way. Rajapakse likes the Chinese way.
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rbh / July 24, 2019
Health is wealth, is this kind of job bad for the health, So much of international non stop travelling activities.For normal people health conditions is the first option that is counted.
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Unreal / July 24, 2019
Frankly, anyone who tries to ‘find’ reasons, as to why AG would amend indictments when High Court judges had not asked for it, does not know how the legal system in our wretched country works!
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Oma Yang / July 24, 2019
With scoundrels like this in every nook and cranny of the government, saving the wrong doers from punishment this country will never go forward.
Personally, if this is true, then the Executive and Judiciary is also corrupt to the core.
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Manel Fonseka / July 24, 2019
Dear Shamil
Are you still convinced of this:
“… Dappula….. is tirelessly pursuing cases against corruption by all the corrupt politicians regardless of party poltical affiliation.”
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James speethy / July 24, 2019
Sirisena is best placed to win the next election if slpp and slfp chose him to be the nominee. he is the incumbent and no incumbent president has lost an election after only one term. also astrologicall he is in a strong position. he was born in 1951. this is in the 1950 to 1952 cycle which is a strong astrological cycle for leaders. both modi and imran khan were successful in leadership aspirations in 2018-19 the latter also being successful earlier in 1992 with worldcup victory. both gotabaya and ranil were born in 1949. hence in a head to head match only possible chance of ranil winning is if gotabaya is candidate. if It is sirisena then almost no shot at winning. hence upfa should let sirisena week a second term. best option for unp if sirisena is nominee is to run ranil and lose and spend the next five years rebuilding and preparing ranatunga for presidential run in 2024. 1963 also a good birth year for leadership and with slfp having no incumbent he has a good shot while also he is genuinely popular due to his role in 96 worldcup. he is someone with proven leadership skill though not in politics but nevertheless better than most current crop of leaders. sajith will not do anywhere near as well and will struggle to win as his candidacy would divide traditional capitalist base and minority votes from sinhala Buddhist votes while ranatunga is renowned by all elements. also 63 is a stronger birth year.
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clean slate / July 24, 2019
Different strokes for different folks.
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Mohamed Marzook - UK / July 24, 2019
Laws and Judicial procedures seems to be adjusted to suit powerful offenders when the ordinary man is punished even when allegations are not sufficiently not proved. Gota’s and Dr. Shafie’s cases are clear examples.
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Nosey Parker / July 24, 2019
If I remember correctly, the present AG was a sort of a hero at the time of the Bond Scam hearing . Recently he seems to have fallen out of favor with CT and is being hounded incessantly. His secretary the Jayaratne lady is also obviously being targeted .
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Estate Labourer / July 24, 2019
In this country “THE LAW IS A RESPECTER OF PERSONS.”
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ansar / July 24, 2019
This F….g country which boasts of a 2500 year old Buddhist Culture, Truly Stinks.
I have nothing more to add, when even the educated Morons like Dappula de Boo….wa also behaves like this.
Serendipity at it’s best with Theravada Buddhism as it’s proud heritage. Isn’t there anybody who can save our Country from these Vultures and make it a better place to live for future generations to come of all races of this beautiful island.
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justice / July 24, 2019
Ansar,
Theravada Buddhism, & its proud heritage made Gota to order the army to shoot & kill those who surrendered with White Flags at the end of the war.
Will Tamils vote for him?
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Raj-UK / July 24, 2019
The rich & the powerful are above the law while the less privileged have no justice or subjected to grave miscarriages of justice. The judiciary in SL has gone to the dogs (apologies to the noble species of dogs) We have become a race of shameless bum suckers with no conscience. The cry of the few upright citizens is lost in the corrupt wilderness. Do we blame it all on a failed educational system or is it in our genes?
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Kugan / July 24, 2019
It’s good move ,we all know this crying land was blessed by ,all we can see is statues after statues every corner junctions don’t talk about the trees ….
This Kallathoni Vijay ,invader Ashok,then these Europeans,leave Ravana in this context what’s trying to do is in Kinniya is ……
But am sri Lanka I would do to my parents from my own hard working money
What a disgrace children
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Christopher Seneviratne / July 24, 2019
I scratch your back, you scratch my back. That is the normal form in this country. So it is with Dappula and Gota. Very sad what has befallen this country.
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