When he walked into the Matara police station last weekend following violent clashes on the streets of the southern town between warring factions of the United National Party, Herman Guneratne was smoking a cigarette and asking to speak to Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, UNP Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera claimed yesterday.
Herman
Guneratne, the father of former UNP Provincial Councillor Maithri Guneratne who is leading a radical reformist movement against UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested in connection with a shooting spree against Samaraweera’s supporters that left at least three persons injured from gunshots.
“There he was cool as ever at the police station where he was served coffee, smoking a cigarette and speaking to Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” Samaraweera told a press conference at the UNP’s Sirikotha Headquarters yesterday.
He said the police had no option but to arrest Herman Guneratne because there were so many eyewitnesses and footage of his shooting spree on the streets of Matara.
Samaraweera said the actual witch-hunt was against his own supporters. “28 of them have been arrested and are still being arrested by the police. When I went in and asked the police why they were harassing my supporters when some of them had nothing to do with the incident, they say these people were being identified by the footage provided by Sirasa TV and the Mawbima newspaper,” he charged.
“I asked them whether it was now to Sirasa dictates that the Matara Police was now working,” Samaraweera said.
The UNP MP said that while there was ample video and photographic evidence of the assualts by the anti-Ranil faction that was marching to Colombo from Matara to seek Wickremesinghe’s ouster, these persons were simply not being arrested.
“At least 11 PSD members were inside that procession in civil clothing and their identities have been revealed in the media in detail. Yet there is no action,” he charged.
Samaraweera raised the issue in Parliament which oddly drew angry retorts from Government Ministers all of whom took a vehemently anti-Ranil, anti-Mangala position and praised the pro-Guneratne Sirasa and Mawbima media organisations for doing their jobs.
Horikadey / October 12, 2013
Ordinary and decent Sinhala people in Mataraare ashamed and worried about what the country has been turned into. This climate of impunity is taking over in the rest of the country as well. Continuing signs of a Failed Society.
Elsewhere Lakshman Hulugalle says no instructions have gone out of the Defence Ministry to prevent demos in Colombo during CHOGM. He probably takes all others to carry his own IQ. The question is about the right to protest in Hambantota during CHOGM – not only in Colombo.
Horikadey
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Rohan / October 12, 2013
Yeah – yeah… when BBS says GET ANGRY AND HIT all these people will go and burn Muslim businesses and Mosques. What’s the point?
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Don Stanley / October 12, 2013
This shows that there is nothing to choose at this stage between the UNP leadership and the UPFA leadership – all a bunch of corrupt, greedy, criminals who are into politics for the power and perks if offers!
Ranil Wickramasinghe is a Dictator in the UNP which is NOT a DEMOCRATIC Party and Rajapassa is a Dictator of Lanka – they both believe in and promote dictatatoships as do their gang of political thugs/ followers…
Political culture in Sri Lanka is CORRUPT AND ROTTEN TO the core and we need a NEW GENERATION OF CLEAN young politicians to take over and get rid of Wickramasinghe, Gunaratne, Rajapassa and his family moronic criminals..
Karu an Rosy Should cleans and lead a new UNP..!
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nissanka / October 14, 2013
Don Stanley
You seem to be promoting Rosy big time . She is not squeaky clean , and not the paragon of virtue she makes out to be . Word is , she is waiting to jump ship in the very near future to ensure you have a good retirement fund in place , and can live happily ever after .
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Safa / October 12, 2013
Mangala fighting for Ranil. Maithri, Shiran against Ranil. Sajith on the sidelines passing comments. Ranil, has lost his voice. Tissa, Ranils mouthpiece. Karu the peace maker. MR watching the fun and fishing in troubled waters. What an unholy mess. RW if you cant lead, please step down.
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Snowdon Asange / October 12, 2013
Are the TOP police officers of the MATARA police station SPINELESS to let this thug to smoke inside the premises? why such high handed act by the so called ” Presidential Advisors”?
No wonder one was killed in a battle with Duminda Silva.. Jungle law prevails NOT only in Matara but all over the country…
Shame to note that the POLICE go by evidence to arrest a few, while there was footage of an Un-registered vehicle with a GOVERNMENT EMBLEM effortlessly was driven in and out of the MARADANA police station…
IGP, prove to the masses that you are Impartial and have a spine….
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Dinuk / October 12, 2013
Gota the great GOON gives, and Gota the Great Takes..!
If you are the victim of violence, you must also seek protection from the perpetrator of that violence in this land like no other!
This is the state of Law and Order in the Lanka – tipped to Head the Commonwealth of Clowns (CHOGM)!
All the world a cricus for petty dictartors like MR and his GOon Gota to Strut on!
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Nano Tina / October 12, 2013
Mangala, What nonsense you are talking. Had you not intervened there would not have been any clashes. It was a peaceful march till your goons intervened. The responsibility lies with you and you alone.
Mangala! please GET OUT without destroying the party. Let the UNP decide the future course action. No need of parachute’s. After kicked out from SLFP trying to destroy it, you formed SLFP – ‘M’ (Monkey to illustrate jumping)and not finding supporters to fill a 3-wheeler, landed with Ranil and getting around (or under or over) him now trying to destroy UNP. For god’s sake please get back to your 3-wheel party and do it NOW!
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sunila mendis / October 12, 2013
Sirasa TV has joined the State Bandwagon to destroy the UNP before the next Presidential elections.Many people who watched Sirasa have now switched on to other channels.Is this the media ethics in SriLanka.Maharajha is an accomplice of the Regime to mislead the gullible.Very soon the people will realise the bonafides of Sirasa.
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Reverberates / October 12, 2013
In short Sri Lanka has a dictator and the people of Sri Lanka should know that a dictator wants everything or everyone opposing to be destroyed. Hence, it should be understood that Ranil should be destroyed and the dictator knows if its done the UNP will not be heard of in the future! Lankans should know by now that Ranil is not gullible to the dictators tricks whereas all others are and can be bought! In my opinion anyone shouting Ranil to be removed is a fool since he is destroying the country and its future. Good luck Lankans!
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Fathima Fukushima / October 12, 2013
Kothapaya may be behind this.
A man is judged by the company he keeps!
SL needs a better defence secretary.
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PalmSquirrell / October 14, 2013
Isn’t he your kind of Defense Secretary.
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Peter Casie Chetty / October 12, 2013
Mangala is lost without the State Media. I remember well how the people in protest marches were beaten up – journalists and all outside Victoria Park when Chandrika was President and Mangala was Media Minister. Then Lake House employed people who had served 10 years in prison for fraud. The man knew nothing about journalism except that his brother was a Mangala bootlicker. He can deny this if he wants. I was there. I saw many unqualified people in places where they were not qualified to be except that Chandrika was known to them. How many times did out army lose ground to the LTTE between 1994 and 2005. I was there and I know.
Ranil is a lose with or without Mangala.
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Mahela / October 13, 2013
Weliweriya visited Matara. Gota’s new game plan. Hit and destroy both sides of UNP. My father had a Boxing toy where you could wind and watch them fight. No difference and a Way to avoid Hague criminal courts.
Mangala taking this case to CW and CHOGM. Mangala should start his own media Broadcast channel to show live drama and should go International.
More drama ahead. Foreign Investments galore……Record number of Tourists to see Live Chicago action pact. When is the next BBS action pact show going to be. Should be during CHOGM.
Jayawewa. Siri Sris lanka missing “Punnakku” and “Polkudu”.
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crazyoldmansl / October 13, 2013
why does the unp have thugs in the party?
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Sunil Perera / October 13, 2013
Moulding Sri Lanka to be the next DPRK….North Korea.
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Snowdon Asange / October 13, 2013
or DR Congo…
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Scoorias / October 15, 2013
Which other Rambo in Sri Lanka
opened fire on people and
enjoyed star class comforts
at the Merchant’s Ward of the
National Hospital? If he has
suffered skull or brain damage,
is that the place for him? Why
this special treatment only to
him? Go to the Merchants Ward and
see the luxury and comfort with
which Gunaratne is living. Three
mobile phones are on his side. Food
and drinks from outside. Hot drinks
in the night. What more do you need
under Police protection?
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titan / October 18, 2013
The UNP is now paying for the past sins of JRJ & R. Premadasa eras, UNP has broken into factions and are destroying each other. MR & Gotha must be enjoying the drama!
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