The Sunday Island news story: ‘Key suspect in Lasantha killing given diplomatic post by Gotabhaya’ is fake news, misleading the public, says the former secretary to the ministry of defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
He has tweeted “Fake news misleading public #sundayIsland” with a link to a criticism written by one Sanjaya Amarathunga which was posted on Viyath Maga Facebook page.
We publish below the Gotabaya’s recommended post in full:
WHY DO NEWS PAPERS CARRY FAKE NEWS MISLEADING THE PUBLIC?
It was disappointing to read the headline news today on Sunday Island which says ‘Key suspect in Lasantha killing given diplomatic post by Gotabhaya’.
According to this article, one major Bandara Bulathwatte was given a diplomatic posting to Thailand by then defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2010. Bulathsinhala is now a suspect in the investigation of the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge in January 2009.
The news item is factually incorrect to start with. Given the sensitivities involved, the journalist should have taken better care in understanding the background before publishing this news item.
Firstly, Bandara Bulathwatte was nominated to go to Germany and not to Thailand. Secondly it was not a diplomatic posting. He was nominated for active service in a foreign country as an undercover intelligence officer.
It had been a standard practice in the army to place intelligence officers at Sri Lankan embassies in countries where there were active LTTE operatives. Most European counties fell under this category and army intelligence officers were routinely posted to the relevant embassies.
Posting of intelligence officers to Europe to monitor LTTE activities commenced in 2005. ASP Latheef from NIB was the first officer to receive such a posting. Since then, more than 25 intelligence officers from police and army have been sent to various countries on similar missions. This is practiced even today. These are intelligence offers who operate under cover holding junior posts at the embassies. They are not sent as Defence Attaches.
Major Bandara Bulathwatte was in active service of the army intelligence in January 2010. If he was nominated to be sent to Germany, that would have been a decision of the army.
When army wants to send an intelligence officer to a particular country, the request to the ministry of external affairs is sent through the ministry of defense under the signature of the ministry secretary.
Why Bulathwatte was selected for this particular mission and why the posting was subsequently cancelled is a question that should have been directed to the army and not to the ministry of defense.
Sanjaya Amarathunga ( BSc. Eng. )
Related posts:
Ajith / April 24, 2017
It is laughable that Gotapaya speak about fake news. It is a well established fact that Gotapaya made all necessary arrangements to issue a fake passport to Karuna Amman as a deplomatic to send him to UK and it is the same Gotapaya got him after his period of jail in UK and giving him ministerial post. There is no doubt that there is a close association between the murderer OF Lasantha and Gotapaya. The question is why still the government is not prepared to take necessary actions against this murderer.
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punchinilame / April 24, 2017
It is not the Govt. but the instituions involved in framing charges – AG & CID
who are searching for air tight evidence, that will prevent Black coats who
charge by the millions, will not be able to walk through?
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Sunil / April 24, 2017
Is Mahinda Rajapaksa planning another coup!!?
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Shamal / April 25, 2017
Someone is intimidating people in the heart of colombo!!
“Earlier this evening a person claiming to be a Politician and the Secretary to the President attacked our home with a gang of security personnel and tried to occupy the premises, threatening to evict us.”
What is happening!!?
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Silva / April 25, 2017
Who is this politician doing this?
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Shamal / April 25, 2017
Supposed to be a guy called Praba Ganesan who won under the UNP and crossed over to Mahindas side…
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Max / April 27, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Amarasiri / April 24, 2017
RE; Sunday Island Carries Fake News: Gota
To Gota, MaRa MaRa Fake GoTa, many news are fake.
Is the news that Lasantha, Thagudeen, Ekliyadoda and others were killed or murdered all take news, Gota? If so, can your bring them back?
GoTa GoTa AmaNa GoTa
GoTa GoTa ChaTu GoTa
GoTa GoTa MiNi MaRu GoTa
GoTa GoTa DhushaNa oTa
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words / April 25, 2017
Aiyo..stale.. get a new vibe man..
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Kumar R. / April 25, 2017
Fake news? Really??
Gota – do you remember broadcasting the “Zero civilian” news through all public and private media under your regime? Could anything be worse?
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John / April 25, 2017
Being an American citizen, the lingo is Trump-like?!
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Mohamed Rahim-Beruwela / April 27, 2017
Gotha’s Bio data:
Gotha Failed the GCE(O/L)
Gotha joined the Sri Lankan Army as a corporal
Gotha Promoted as Lieutenant Colonel
Fled to the US in fear of the LTTE
Requested asylum in the US
Asylum granted
Applied for Green Card
Received Green Card
Worked as a Computer Technician in the US and worked as a part time worker in a Gas Station in Staten Island USA
Returned to Sri Lanka after his brother’s Successful Presidential election
Promoted as Secretary of Defense – In charge of White Van Abduction and Killings of Journalists including Lasantha Wicremasinghe.
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Joseph De Vazz - Kotte / April 29, 2017
Gotha the GCE (O/L) Dropout -US Asylum Seeker-US Green Card Holder, Creator and Architect of White Color Vans used to Abduct – Torture and to Kill mainly innocent Journalists.
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eldorado / April 24, 2017
“Fake News” now in Vogue, what will old Donald say ? He may coin a different phrase that Gota, Mahinda, and the Yahapalanayas, et all, will find convenient to copy to cover their horrendous misdeeds !
Why cant they coin their own catch phrases, don’t they know that borrowed
plumes never shine ? Something like “Kavun Hora” or Kunu Maraya” !!
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Ajay / April 24, 2017
‘is fake news, misleading the public’…. Hmm reminds me of another so called news site that does the same. eg. m a sumanthiran fake assassination attempt, later turned out to be true, one of many. Wonder which site did this??
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Ad / April 24, 2017
Kamal also sent as undercover to Brazil?
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Misha / April 24, 2017
The newest tactic by tyrants, right wingers, criminal leaders, and Trump – dismiss the negative news about them as fake news.
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janaka / April 24, 2017
No way the uneducated uncultured low class filth can escape joining his pal kudu Duminda on death row?
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Upul / April 24, 2017
Nobody will admit that he or she committed any wrong doing. Even though that is the usual way the things are happening, the punishments for wrong doings will be meted at some stage for you. You may be very powerful in this life that you may run away from the crimes you committed, but nevertheless you will pay for it one day. It may be during the current life or any life later on, as the karma will follow you like your shadow.
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K.Pillai / April 24, 2017
When the civil war ended in May 2009, the then GR’s Defense Ministry website carried the news that “not a single Tamil civilian was killed or injured” or something to that effect. Was that fake news?
BBC reported in a “Hardtalk” GR blurted “He(Sarath Fonseka) will be hanged” Was this fake news? How about Avant Garde intrigue? Gr’s patronage of BBS? Of course the issue of fake passport to Karuna. The Swiss poppy episode? List is incomplete.
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SEA... / April 25, 2017
Add yo the Rathpusella..where ppl asked for clean water but Gota being the head of defense ordered to shoot n kill…matale mass graves.,,Lasantha saga…Thaju episode…white van culture kidnappings wealthy businessmen…. Buying property at gun point…for cheap..n much more
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Srilal / April 26, 2017
Pl add “Grease yaka” episode for that dreadful list.
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Burt / April 24, 2017
Thank god the fake WHITE VANS have disappeared off the streets of Colombo.
Thank god the fake assassins of Kadirgama were able to disappear into thin air.
Thank god licensed medical practitioners were able to issue fake reports.
Thank god these fake deashapremi’s are still free.
LOL
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Antany Peter / April 25, 2017
I am in Sri Lanka, and I read most of the newspapers. The Sunday Island is bias towards the current government, and its a huge fan of the Western democracy; even though the Americans, Australians, Canadians and Kiwis don’t live in their own country, but live on others’ homelands which they took on genocide. Does the Sunday Island editor know that the Australian constitution says Australia belongs to white settlers?
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Al-faqurlah / April 25, 2017
Pinnadi Eater,
You are biased towards west because you got kicked out as none of them wanted you to be in their land. Arabs are in the homelands of Sumerians after committing genocide. Pakistanis are in the homelands of Dravidians after committing genocide, Malays are in the homelands of Orang Aslis after committing genocide. Why look to foreigners when Sinhalese are in the homelands of Veddhas after committing genocide. Sinhalese say that Srilanka belongs to them and all others including you are scroungers.
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Eagle Eye / April 26, 2017
“Why look to foreigners when Sinhalese are in the homelands of Veddhas after committing genocide.”
Hindian Tamils are in the homeland of Sinhalese and Veddhas after committing genocide. If Sinhalese did not fight and chased the South Hindian Tamil invaders, those Tamils would have wiped out both Sinhalese and Veddhas without leaving any trace. Thanks to Sinhalese, Veddhas survived.
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K.Pillai / April 25, 2017
Antany Peter: “……… the Australian constitution says Australia belongs to white settlers?”
Fake News 101. Now we know why Jaffna University rejected his application for the position of V-C
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aj / April 25, 2017
Gotha did not mean to say ‘fake news’. What he actually meant was ‘alternative fact.’
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B Perera / April 25, 2017
What has (BSc Eng) to do with this subject? If BSc Eng is to show that they are “Viyath”, they cannot definitely back a person like GR.
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B Perera / April 25, 2017
If Sunday Island carries fake news about Rs, why does it allow Chandraprema to carry all good news about Rs. in his political write-up?
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Srilal / April 26, 2017
What about that Gota’s disciple “Shamindra Ferdinando” ?
He is yet another Rajaqpakse sympathiser , isn’t he ?
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wimal / April 25, 2017
Get this little uneducated uncultured vermin behind bars?
From nobody to somebody and back again?
Drag the vermin to jail like they did war hero general Fonseka?
The MIG deal not through government or military but through a bogus London company?
Military purchase of ten animal humane killers like the one used on Lasantha?
Thajudeen who upset the uneducated uncultured unmarried fake lawyer and navy officer killed while crashing his car sitting in the passenger seat?
The LTTE explosives discovered wrapped in a Sinhala newspaper?
Tsunami donations stolen not in government account not in PM account not even in Sri Lanka bank but in British bank account of sister with no means of earning this amount?
The gas mask taken on day of suicide bomber detonating twenty five meters from bomb proof BMW?
If only the vermin spent more time in school?
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paul anthony / April 25, 2017
These bigwigs are so sure and confident of their acquittal of all crimes it’s like pouring water on buffaloes, it’s hardly felt. Hence their high and mighty talk damning all proof and evidence as FAKE. These sporadic comments from these guys are to stir up a hornets nest and read the responses giggling all the while knowing for sure they are well protected.
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Gos / April 26, 2017
By the look of the above comments it seems Sri Lankans are all mad hatters!!!
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eldorado / April 26, 2017
Good gos ! have you just realised that ? where were you all this time ? Asleep !!
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truth finder / April 27, 2017
Everyone agrees that MR/GR invented fake news. The issue here is not to justify fake news and to talk about real news!
Two issues:
1. Whether it is a “diplomatic” post or not, the fact is he was posted as agreed by GR! There is nothing fake about it other than the word “diplomatic”
2. “Why Bulathwatte was selected for this particular mission and why the posting was subsequently cancelled is a question that should have been directed to the army and not to the ministry of defense”
This statement alone is enough to prove that ‘a’ posting was given to him!!
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janaka / April 27, 2017
News of war hero field Marshal Fonseka appointment will be causing the vermin some sleepless nights?
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Lanki / May 3, 2017
Sarath Fonseka should be appointed as Minister of Law and Order and in addition Justice Ministry should be brought under him. This would expedite investigations and ensure that those who committed crime will be punished. President should take this action immediately even if Prime Minister opposes it.
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