Exposing the conflict of interest between the Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe and the Chairman of Avant Garde Nisssanka Senadhipathi, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka challenged Minister Rajapakshe to explain the truth regarding his personal relationship between himself and Nissanka Senadhipathi.
The photographs which have emerged showing a close familial bond between Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Chairman of Avante Garde were taken in January 2006.
Rajapakshe, a former member of the SLFP and a state minster of the Rajapaksa led administration had a close personal relationship with Senadhipathi during the time he was appointed as Chairman of the parliamentary watchdog COPE.
A few weeks ago Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe speaking to the media lied about his relationship with Senadipathi, going on record saying that he has had no dealings with the controversial businessman.
The photos released by Sarath Fonseka show a close relationship going beyond a proffessional one, with families of the duo seen together.
Following the 2005 presidential elections, President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed him as the Minister of the State Banking Development in November 2005, however, he resigned thereafter in April 2006 and took over as Chairman of COPE in July 2006.
Rajapakshe said in several interviews that the Attorney General had consistently maintained that there was no criminal case against the Company.
However, earlier Colombo Telegraph revealed that Rajapakshe had lied, providing documentary proof that the Attorney Generals Department had advised that Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Senadipathi were both criminally liable for their hand in the Avante Garde scandal.
As Colombo Telegraph reported in March, there was high embarrassment for two people who were openly supporting the Avant Garde case. One was Tilak Marapana PC, who is counsel for Senadipathi and also advisor to the Anti Corruption sub committee of the government. Other is Wijedasa Rajapakshe, Minister of Justice. At a meeting of the committee, when Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the JVP leader and Champika Ranawaka, the JHU leader raised questions, Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath could not keep quiet. He disclosed that Marapana directed him not to object when an application is made to have the passport of Senadipathi returned for him to travel to Nigeria. Gamlath said he checked with Justice Minister Rajapakshe. He had said he was asked not to object and go slow with the case.
Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapana, last November resigned from his ministerial portfolio amidst calls to step down over the controversy surrounding the Avant Garde issue.
Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka today released twenty seven photos which shows the families of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and the Avante Garde family in holidaying mood together in Disney Land dating back to January 2006. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka challenged Minister Rajapakshe to explain the truth regarding his personal relationship between himself and Nissanka Senadhipathi.
According to Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka these pictures were taken by Nissanka Senadhipathi.
Kumar R. / December 10, 2015
If only MR/Gota were still in power, both Nissanka and Wijedasa would have claimed these as doctored photos, doctored by the Diaspora to discredit the sovereign Sri Lanka.
A video-forensic expert domiciled in Australia would have readily authenticated the photos as being doctored!
What’s more, Sarath Fonseka would be singing in chorus as well!!
Oh, what a country?!
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Amarasiri / December 10, 2015
Kumar R.
Wijedasa Still has only one Wife?
If he became Muslim, he could have afforded 4 wives. Avent Garde would have covered the expenses.
Even roosters have, on average, 10 hens.
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Amarasiri / December 11, 2015
Kumar R.
“If only MR/Gota were still in power, both Nissanka and Wijedasa would have claimed these as doctored photos, doctored by the Diaspora to discredit the sovereign Sri Lanka. “
Even though Wijedasa corrupted his parents from his lies, his cries and crocodile tear, we should appreciate from the pictures that he has given the freedom for his women to be clad in the clothing they feel comfortable, and they were NOT wearing Hi -jabs, Burka, Niquab dresses from elsewhere.
From that angle, Wijedasa is more humane and decent than the Saudi Wahhabi and their clones, who likes to stone their women.,
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Kumar R. / December 11, 2015
Amarasiri,
Yes, even the worst of Sri Lankans are (most likely) better than the cannibals in Congo (remember Idi the emperor), or the ruffians that lead Libya and Iraq.
So what is your point – as long Wijedasa is not as bad as the bottom-dwellers of the world, we should fund his family extravaganzas using maid-earned foreign exchange while half the country’s population struggles below poverty line?!
We as a country who is willing to send our mothers, daughters, sisters and wives to go wash Arab-backs for a few shillings are at best only marginally better than those Arabs who stone women!
The Arabs kill them – we simply rob their lives in pursuit of a handful of dollars we don’t know how else to earn. And those few precious dollars then end up in Disney Land through moronic extravaganzas!!
And, you think we should learn to appreciate them?!
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Amarasiri / December 12, 2015
Kumar R.
“From that angle, Wijedasa is more humane and decent than the Saudi Wahhabi and their clones, who likes to stone their women.,”
True Wijedasa is bad. On a relative basis, he is not that bad compared to the Wahhabis, but still bad, on the Sri Lankan scale.
Wijedasa was bad from the day he was born, again on a relative basis.
It does NOT mean that Amarasiri condones bad Wijedasa.
Simply pointing out the degree of “Badness” of Wijedasa compared to the Wahhabis, who kill and maim with stones women, even when it is NOT in the Quran.
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Kumar R. / December 12, 2015
Amarasiri,
So then, why didn’t you compare Wijedasa with Idi Amin and conclude that Wijedasa was so much better than Idi who not only raped and killed women, but then ate them as well? Where exactly do you stop your reference base for appreciation?
My point is that there is nothing to be appreciated among these sub-humans, morality and civility-wise. Perhaps your bench mark for appreciation is quite at odds with mine.
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Amarasiri / December 13, 2015
Kumar R.
“My point is that there is nothing to be appreciated among these sub-humans, morality and civility-wise. Perhaps your bench mark for appreciation is quite at odds with mine.”
I see your point. Amarasiri is mixing up two different scales here. However, point of my remark was to put the Bad Wahhabis’s and Bad Wijedasa on the same scale, and see where they stack up.
Still, Wijedasa comes out Bad. How bad? That depended on the Sri Lankan National Scale. When MaRa was there it was “acceptable” because the standards were lowered, and his buddies raped and killed tourists. There is no disagreement here.
Noe that we have “Yahapalanaya” we want a better scale and more “decent” standards.
Having said that, we all need to appreciate that Wijedasa is not a Satan, Iblis, Devil following Wahhabi , who likes death, Eben the Mara liked death, with the White Vans.
Should we sing:
MaRa MaRa Amana MaRa
MaRa MaRa Wijedasa MaRa
MaRa MaRa Amana MaRa
MaRa Mara HoRa Wijedasa MaRa?
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Native Vedda / December 10, 2015
CT
It would be much easier if you could publish the names of honest public servants of this island.
I find it difficult to keep track of all those politicians, officials, middlemen, who are obviously on the take.
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Amarasiri / December 12, 2015
Native Vedda
“I find it difficult to keep track of all those politicians, officials, middlemen, who are obviously on the take.”
May be CT or the Bribery Omission can start a database, easily accessible on the internet to keep track of these characters.
Potentially, there could be 20 million entries into the database.
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Sinhala_Man / December 12, 2015
Dear Amarasiri,
Read more carefully! NV wanted the names of the HONEST public servants, expecting them to number only in the hundreds, not millions.
Rather like Diogenes walking round Athens at noon, with a lantern, looking for an honest man.
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Amarasiri / December 14, 2015
Sinhala_Man
“Read more carefully! NV wanted the names of the HONEST public servants, expecting them to number only in the hundreds, not millions. “
Why only the Honest Public Servants?
Why not the millions of honest citizens as well? What about the worker, women or man doing things that makes the economy run, like the tea plucker, the rubber tapper,the coconut pluckier, the fisherman, the bus many) driver, the bus conductor ( yes there are some)
Then one can check if they are on the database. If they are not, we know they are not.
Directory of Honest Sri Lankans.,
Politicians: One Entry
Government Servants 998 Entries
Policemen” 125 entries
Citizens: 6,200,000 Entries- This who Voted to remove MaRa.
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Kumar R. / December 10, 2015
It will also be of interest to find out how and when Sarath Fonseka got his hands on these photos.
Were they shared with Fonseka family when they were huddled together under the Rajapakse regime?
Are there other such incriminating photos/videos of “right royal” limo rides and extravagance by other thuappahi politicians, indulging themselves in the most repugnant way while the country (and the likes of Rajasinghams) were begging for foreign exchange to “help” the barb-wired destitute?
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BBS Rep / December 10, 2015
Will shamelessly lying Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa now resign. Well that is the right thing to do if this gormless man has any self respect.
Or on the other hand will ‘Boru Sira’ force him to resign. Well that is what is expected of a ‘Yahapalanaya’.
One more nail in the coffin of ‘Yahapalanaya’.
Oops, almost forgot. It is already labelled ‘Yamapalanaya’ and for very good reasons too.
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Wera / December 10, 2015
The voters of this country are mere fools for these politicians, to be lied to. Wijedasa will not be removed from his post for he is too powerful. But that power was given to him by the voters whom he has betrayed in grand style. Avant Guard needs to go into the dustbin of history. A process that was begun with the intervention of the PM and the president. Lets hope they prevail.
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Amarasiri / December 10, 2015
RE: Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Corrupt Since Time Of COPE Chairmanship: Photos Reveal
“Exposing the conflict of interest between the Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe and the Chairman of Avant Garde Nisssanka Senadhipathi, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka challenged Minister Rajapakshe to explain the truth regarding his personal relationship between himself and Nissanka Senadhipathi.”
Justice Minister Wijedasa was corrupt from the day he was born.
Avent Gardner knew that.
He even corrupted his parents from his lies, his cries and crocodile tears.
He was well trained to serve.
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bo / December 10, 2015
Hmmm so what is the response? BTW this must be before they became multi-billionaires, being pre 2007 era before Gota and Mara became cardboard heroes. You can tell it by the sort of snacks they were eating and drinking those days,and what they would be doing now if they did the same trip. Funny what corruption could do to a man’s image and status, while all their other country folks in towns and villages and former soldiers that really fought for the country and risk their necks have to beg to eke out a living.
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anonymous / December 10, 2015
The Minister of Justice lieing in public and along with a man of 6 years experience in the army challenging a Four Star General with 40 exhausting years as front line officer is a disgrace.
This Rajapaksa has to join the other Jarapassa loosers. Once he is gone Senadhipathi/Gota should be taken care of.
‘Chirang Jayathu Wel Widane!’
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Woodward / December 10, 2015
LMD editorial board to be congratulated on their brilliant choice of Wijedasa Rajapakshe as LMD Man of the Year 2007.
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Mervyn Silva / December 10, 2015
In a different context, I read a news item in which P B Abeykoon, Secretary to the President has advised the public officials to shun corruption. Abeykoon should go before a mirror and see himself properly and recollect his days as Head of Immigration. This mediocre officer had a very humble beginning but today owns properties in Australia. How? Only Abeykoon and people who bribed him know the answer.
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Time Exposure / December 10, 2015
Living ‘la vida loca’!
Time for another crooked Rajapakse to bite the dust. Another liar and protector of a mega wheeler-dealer with ample ‘conflict of interest’ details which must disqualify him from his position as Minister of Justice, no less!!
Surely Maithri must have known of this connection before the appointment was made???
Time for another resignation!
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Ben Hurling / December 10, 2015
Deal Dasa needs to do a Tilak Marapana.
Resign at once from the Ministry of Justice!
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Douglas / December 10, 2015
What a SHAME on us to be GIVEN and HAVE a Minister of Justice like this person. You have proved that if a person does not have “Lejja and Baya” – (shame and fear)he/she would commit any type of unholy act even though academically qualified. Mr. Rajapakse, if you were accused like this in Singapore during Mr. Lee Kuvan Yei or even NOW, you would be languishing in a Jail Cell by now. Just recollect how you advised the President not to arrest Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakse (that was your own admission) and also unduly interfered with the Justice System of the country. But the irony is that you CONTINUE and ALLOWED TO CONTINUE by the Government and the PEOPLE as Minister of Justice of this country.
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Jay / December 10, 2015
Damn you WR. Anyone with a surname Rajapaksha not be trusted under whatever circumstances. He was and he is defending all the corrupt guys because they are his allies. There’s a saying that the biggest criminals always are those who are often well educated and well placed in the society. This guy shamelessly use his position to defend wrongdoers. Its shame that he still remains as the minister of justice. My foot. Once I had to confront his son Rakitha and he was trying to paint a good picture of himself and his dad. Rakitha spends millions a month for FB campaigns to become future politician. Bugger is saying he has no intention. Oh that is pretty clear. While his dad becomes the main invitee of Pitiduwe Siridhdhamma the so called Buddha who attained Nirvana, this guy becomes the minister of Buddhist affairs. Future is dark with corrupt people like his who always fight for criminals and not for citizens of this country. He also wanted to consider facebook matters as criminal affairs before court. He knew he was going to expose. Am happy it happened finally…
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Arun / December 10, 2015
Photos speaks for itself and now we know why Wijayadasa R is speaking for Avant Garde Senathipathi. Shame on W R
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laksiri / December 10, 2015
if any human dignity with president.prime minister both must ask this man to resign from entire his position and parliamentary seat. how can you stop corruption in the country when you have this nature of fucking justice minister. this is the main problems of this poor nation.only they know how to send people to Saudi Arabia selves’s job. it is important to note that this nature of lair holding the most respectable cabinet position in the country can not get any respect from the world.
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Truth Seeker / December 10, 2015
Damn lier. Resign.
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wijeratne / December 10, 2015
General public of this country can not be cheated. Eeven berfore the disclosure of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka , we were well aware and well informed of Mr Wijayajasa Rajapakse who portrayed himself as the cleanest minister in the cabinet.
He tried hard to protect Gotabhaya and Nissanka Senadhipathy simply because of the financial and other benefits he got from them. It is an utter shame for the Prime minister and the president to keep an utterly dirty fellow like Wijedasa in the cabinet.
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Kumar David / December 10, 2015
What the hell is going on?
A familial relationship is not a business relationship, but the Minister should have have made a statement disclosing familial connections and rescued himself from all Cabinet discussion and public comment on the Avarde Guard issue. If the photos are not fakes, Shame on the Minister!
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vishvajith / December 11, 2015
I agree Kumar.
Then, we don’t operate in sophistication, no ? WR could have easily avoided all this with the two points you make.
It is not late for one, to say he has no ” Business Interests ” with Senathipathi.
He has to live with the second.
Vishvajith.
btw : WR’s shoes are a bloody hoot. Obviously the chap is not used to wearing sneakers.
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Inspector Dirty Hari / December 12, 2015
Kumar David,
“A familial relationship is not a business relationship, but the Minister should have have made a statement disclosing familial connections and rescued himself from all Cabinet discussion and public comment on the Avarde Guard issue”
I agree but the relationship can be both business and family. We don’t really know do we? It is clear that the minister should have told about this.
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People / December 10, 2015
OK, now time to investigate.
And, be careful, nobody talks, only investigation talks.
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Parakrama Abeygunawardane / December 10, 2015
High time for you to fallow Marapana,if you have at least a little bit of self- respect.
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shankar / December 10, 2015
getting rid of marapone is only half the problem solved.Kick this bugger out too otherwise waste of time going for anti bribery walks.
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Siri Abeygooneratne / December 10, 2015
If you have any quality re resing
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Raawana / December 10, 2015
Thanks for the National Hero. don’t let him to do others fools.Now ,everybody will realize that this crook is trying to safeguard illegal weapon dealers.
Now, what this culprit have to say?
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thumpane gamaya / December 10, 2015
Hey Wijedasa! We now know who the “WEL VIDANE” is? you cheap fellow resign from the Ministry immediately. This proven bribe taker should not be in the cabinet.
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Spring Koha / December 10, 2015
Oh no! Not Mr Nice, surely. About the same time Mahinda championed the cause of Human Rights, Mr Nice was championing the fight against ‘bribery and corruption’. That was a long long while ago. Time does strange things to men.
Still, if the pure and sinless liberating General says there was something fishy, then, who are we to argue?
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ASLAM / December 10, 2015
When this issue came up we gave the benefit of the doubt to WR.now it is proven beyond doubt it is a clear conflict of interest.It is high time WR called it a day.in numerous occasions WR TRIED to influence judiciary on behalf of AG as well.It is a real shame for this respected and qualified politician fallen in to this low level.
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conflict of interest / December 10, 2015
Now you can see the difference between WORDS & ACTION .
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Ravin / December 10, 2015
Mr. Wijedasa Law Minister should be sacked forthwith by the President as these Photos clearly shows his close relationship with Senadhipathy and the crooks involved with the Avante Garde Scam. Look at those pics and see this guy having a ball in L.A. Disneyland being Chaufered in Stretched Limos like Holywood stars.And Champangne swilling refreshments to boot.Call Sajin Vaas a wastrel who took Gl Peris and Foreign affairs for a ride? this bugger is no different . He is the Guy who said Gota wont be arrested, Arrest this crook instead and find out how much lucre has he been paid to fix all these investigations. And the A.G and his department is yet an extension of the MARA set up where “Ape Miniha” has to be taken care of. Are you sleeping Ranil and Maithree, you are commiting political suicide if you do not address the legitimate grievences of the people. Stop the “Tetes a Tetes” with Mara and his henchmen they will cut your throats before you talk Yahapalanaya.
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ansar / December 10, 2015
How many wolves are out there in sheep’s cloth ?
Shame on you Wijedasa, I was posing this question earlier as well,Were your parents living closer to D.A.Rajapakshe neighborhood? You smell the same blood of Jarapassas.
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