{"id":119577,"date":"2014-02-04T12:57:52","date_gmt":"2014-02-04T07:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=119577"},"modified":"2014-02-17T03:40:39","modified_gmt":"2014-02-16T22:10:39","slug":"destroy-mangala-mafia-mangala-to-ask-rs-10-billion-from-daily-news-and-sunday-observer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/destroy-mangala-mafia-mangala-to-ask-rs-10-billion-from-daily-news-and-sunday-observer\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Destroy Mangala Mafia’: Mangala To Ask Rs.10 Billion From ‘Daily News’ And ‘Sunday Observer’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having failed miserably in its attempt to turn a minor cat burglary into a witch hunt against my private life, they have now induced a small time racketeer to make a fantastic allegation against me for receiving a bribe in return for an approval for a ‘Dry Port’ while I was the Minister for Ports and Aviation between 2004 and 2007, says Mangala Samaraweera.<\/p>\n

\"Mangala<\/a>

Mangala Samaraweera<\/p><\/div>\n

Issuing a statement today the opposition MP says; “There is a limit to ones patience in the face of this sustained smear campaign against my honesty and integrity. Therefore I have instructed my lawyers to proceed with legal action against the parties concerned. I do not seek an apology from the Editors of the two state run newspapers:\u00a0 these morons who parade as journalists will not understand such a noble concept as an apology.. I will be asking for Rs.5 Billion each from the ‘Daily News’ and the ‘Sunday Observer’. I will also be initiating legal proceedings against this small time wheeler – dealer\u00a0 who is making such fantastic allegations against me on behalf of the ‘ Destroy Mangala’ mafia and I will present to court detailed information of his ‘colourful’ and dubious past.”<\/p>\n

We publish below the statement in full;<\/p>\n

In yet another desperate attempt to intimidate and silence me, the Rajapakse regime through its journalistic pygmies in the state media has again embarked on a vicious campaign to tarnish and question my honesty and integrity, which I have valued above all else during my political career.<\/p>\n

Having failed miserably in its attempt to turn a minor cat burglary into a witch hunt against my private life, they have now induced a small time racketeer to make a fantastic allegation against me for receiving a bribe in return for an approval for a ‘Dry Port’ while I was the Minister for Ports and Aviation between 2004 and 2007.<\/p>\n

The proof of the pudding they say is in the eating. Logically, for such a enormous bribe to\u00a0 be given, the request for a dry port had to\u00a0 be granted. I can say categorically that all requests for dry port facilities made by several parties during my tenure as Minister were rejected outright on the basis that such a facility would be inimical to the interests of the SLPA. However, I understand that a dry port facility has been granted subsequently by the present Minister in charge of the subject and I challenge the government to make public all details pertaining to this dry port and to prove that I extended such a facility to anyone during my tenure.<\/p>\n

There is a limit to ones patience in the face of this sustained smear campaign against my honesty and integrity. Therefore I have instructed my lawyers to proceed with legal action against the parties concerned. I do not seek an apology from the Editors of the two state run newspapers:\u00a0 these morons who parade as journalists will not understand such a noble concept as an apology. I will be asking for Rs.5 Billion each from the ‘Daily News’ and the ‘Sunday Observer’. I will also be initiating legal proceedings against this small time wheeler – dealer\u00a0 who is making such fantastic allegations against me on behalf of the ‘ Destroy Mangala’ mafia and I will present to court detailed information of his ‘colourful’ and dubious past.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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