Cabinet Spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne and his son Eksath Senarathne have been issues notices to appear before the Colombo High Courts on April 2 over the abduction of an under-age girl.
Eksath Senarathne and the girl
The notice has been issued today following the controversy that emerged earlier this week over the abduction of a 17-year old girl by the Minister’s son.
It was on Sunday that a mother and father from the Kirulapone held a press conference and announced that Rajitha’s son abducted their underage daughter and pleaded for some information about her.
The victimized father – Gamini Ranasinghe said his daughter was abducted on February 14 and that she was preparing for the London O/L exams during the time of the abduction.
The parents accused that both the Minister and his wife are aware of their daughter being kept at their official residence in Colombo and said although due to the initial interference of the NCPA they managed to get their child back, she was once again abducted on April 6.
The Minister however rejected the charges and said the girl came with his son willingly due to some issues with her parents. He said the parents’ charges are part of a mud-slinging campaign and said he would take legal action against the parents.
Police Spokesman stated the preliminary investigations have revealed during the time of the incident, the girl had been over 17 years.
*Photo – Rajitha and the girl
MEDIA STATEMENT MADE BY PARENTS OF THE GIRL
We, Gamini Ranasinghe and Damini Indira Rodrigo of No 8/1 Lionel Edirisinghe Mawatha Colombo 05 are the parents of Dinithi Aloka Ranasinghe aged 17 who is being forcibly kept by Eksath Senaratne , younger son of Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne at an undisclosed location. Our daughter has been kept away from us forcibly for over a year without us being aware of her well being – we have filed a habeas corpus application in this connection in the High Court of Colombo, seeking our daughter’s release. (Case No HCWA 02/2015 ).
Our daughter Dinithi was taken from school forcibly by Eksath Senaratne and Oshala Herath in vehicles from the Ministry of Fisheries, (at the time Rajith Senaratne was the Minister of Fisheries) in February 2014– following our pleadings, she was shown to us briefly. When we complained to the Cinnamon Gardens Police Station and The National Child Protection Authority and the Minister’s wife Sujatha Senaratne promised to even send her to us and allow her to continue her education.
However , this never happened and our daughter has since been kept in their custody. We have not been able to see our daughter or have any contact with her up to now, causing us great pain of mind.
We have now been made to understand by reliable quarters that Minister Rajitha Senaratne and his son are planning to take our daughter secretly out of Sri Lanka by using a forged passport (her passport is in our custody and bears the no N0912666).
We voted for Good Governance and change in abuse of state power and would like to see the principles of Good Governance applied to our case ; we thereby request His Excellency The President Maithripala Sirisena and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Rosy Senanayake Minister of Women’s Affairs to grant us justice.
Jeremy Claessen / March 25, 2015
I have visited your lovely island. This minister, an intelligent person, a professional doctor, is denying a child of her rightful higher education. Why would a responsible government minister do such a thing ? What is the motive ? It is clear there is a love affair with his son. When I spent days in Sri Lanka what impressed me more was the sense of respect and honour that children give their respective parents during courtship and also during the marriage life. It is so strange that this girl is being kept by this intelligent person, under his supervision, without making the way possible, for the child to become more intelligent by studying more. Why does this intelligent minister not allow her to interact with her own parents and sisters ? That’s very unfair on the younger girls. Isn’t there a government minister in Sri Lanka who can intervene on behalf of the younger children to ensure that the family ties on the girl-child’s side are strengthened and continue ? Wherever the laws need to be reviewed, they must be, in the common interest of all citizens, not showing discrimination and disrespect to some. Mr Minister please return the child to her rightful parents. In the meantime your son can also gain more education and get the suitable employment so that when he marries this girl, he can maintain her with the dignity of both intact.
/
Ranjan Joseph / March 27, 2015
Sri Lanka is now a land of the healthy blend of tolerance with truth under the new presidency of Maithripala Sirisena and prime ministership of Ranil Wickremasinghe. When Jeremy you next visit this beautiful island, you would know that laws in this regards have indeed been reviewed and the legal contradictions eliminated. The independence of the judiciary will enable the hindrances to be resolved.We in Sri Lanka stand alongside all the officials of justice and pray that every sense of independence they require will be afforded them. Do visit this island again and see the difference, for yourself.Take Care. Thank You for your concern too, towards the children of our land.
/