“Then why is it today that many of the victims of that tragic day ten years ago are still without adequate shelter or livelihood? Why is it that many still suffer despite Sri Lankan and international generosity? One of the main reasons is that a man who is contesting to be President of this country does not care for peoples’ suffering. He has consistently put his own private gain above the people’s pain. I am very sad to say, that this politician is a callous thief. He stole 83 million rupees of Tsunami relief funds and used them for his personal gain.” says the former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Mangala Samaraweera MP

Issuing a statement Samaraweera said; “The former Chief Justice has publicly apologized saying that the Helping Hambantota judgement, which he presided over and which protected that thief from conviction and ultimately jail, was the biggest mistake in his entire life. What right does this man have to speak of the people’s development and the country’s development? His achievements and energy over the last nine years have been spent only on own his family’s development and enrichment.”

We publish below the statement in full;

On this day ten years ago the Tsunami struck. Almost 40,000 were killed in the matter of a few minutes. Tens of thousands lost their children, parents or loved ones. The entire country was in shock and anguish. It was a day that none who were present will forget.

All the people of this country made great sacrifices and took greater risks to help their fellow citizens in this time of sorrow and desperate need. People who were hungry themselves donated food, soldiers took part in the rescue effort and lost comrades in the process, and many volunteers worked tirelessly for weeks and months. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga provided immediate relief, and without fail all political parties and civil society organizations contributed to these efforts. The entire world’s sympathy was focused on the Tsunami victims. Ordinary citizens across the world stood in solidarity with us, and on then President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s request gave generously of their resources and time.

Then why is it today that many of the victims of that tragic day ten years ago are still without adequate shelter or livelihood? Why is it that many still suffer despite Sri Lankan and international generosity? One of the main reasons is that a man who is contesting to be President of this country does not care for peoples’ suffering. He has consistently put his own private gain above the people’s pain. I am very sad to say, that this politician is a callous thief. He stole 83 million rupees of Tsunami relief funds and used them for his personal gain.

The former Chief Justice has publicly apologized saying that the Helping Hambantota judgement, which he presided over and which protected that thief from conviction and ultimately jail, was the biggest mistake in his entire life. What right does this man have to speak of the people’s development and the country’s development? His achievements and energy over the last nine years have been spent only on own his family’s development and enrichment.

He may have evaded justice in the courts through his trickery and lies, but he cannot and will not escape the people’s justice on the 8^th of January. The people will choose virtue and compassion over thievery of the vulnerable and enrichment of a single family. My thoughts today are with the victims of the Tsunami who in the last 10 years have been prevented from fully recovering and I sincerely hope for a better future.