{"id":210242,"date":"2020-05-06T02:24:08","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T20:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=210242"},"modified":"2020-05-15T06:29:34","modified_gmt":"2020-05-15T00:59:34","slug":"expose-ec-chairman-mahinda-deshapriya-in-hot-water-after-favour-from-gota-to-bring-son-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/expose-ec-chairman-mahinda-deshapriya-in-hot-water-after-favour-from-gota-to-bring-son-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Expos\u00e9: EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya In Hot Water After Favour From Gota To Bring Son Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya<\/span><\/a> has embroiled himself in a serious scandal after he solicited a huge personal favour from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa<\/span><\/a> and his top officials at a time when an election has been declared in the country.<\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph has seen documentation proving that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa personally approved the repatriation of Deshapriya\u2019s son W.V.K. Deshapriya, who was pursuing post graduate studies in The Netherlands on a flight arriving in Colombo from London on May 5, 2020.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya<\/p><\/div>\n

The controversy has a major bearing on the forthcoming parliamentary elections, with the head of the independent Elections Commission effectively being beholden to the President and his Government for bringing his son home. After an election has been declared, the Elections Commission becomes the country\u2019s highest authority. Good Governance activists told Colombo Telegraph that Deshapriya\u2019s decision to involve himself in the repatriation of his adult son casts a huge cloud over the Commission and its ability to remain neutral during a major election.<\/p>\n

The approval came after Deshapriya, by his own admission in a telephone call with the Editor of Colombo Telegraph, hand delivered emails from his son to the Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister\u2019s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The letter addressed to Government officials from the EC Chairman\u2019s son is published below.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

According to Deshapriya, on receipt of the letters he received calls from Presidential Advisor Lalith Weeratunge and Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Senarath to work out logistics regarding his son\u2019s repatriation.<\/p>\n

Deshapriya also told Colombo Telegraph that he had called former Rear Admiral Jayanath Colambage, the presidential advisor on Foreign Affairs and the man who essentially runs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under President Rajapaksa, about his son\u2019s matter.<\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph has seen correspondence between Colambage and the Chairman of SriLankan Airlines<\/span><\/a> and Softlogic Moghul Ashok Pathirage<\/span><\/a> and several others claiming that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had approved Deshapriya\u2019s son\u2019s name along with four other students in the Netherlands for inclusion on the May 5 special flight from London. (See email excerpt below – with personal information and email addresses edited)\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Upon receiving information about Deshapriya\u2019s intervention with the President and his officials about repatriating his son, Colombo Telegraph emailed the Chairman of the EC on May 4. In response, Deshapriya said the following: \u201cMy son is an engineer at the Irrigation Department. He and four other engineers who are government servants were hoping to return to Sri Lanka after going to the Netherlands on scholarship to do post graduate studies. My son and three others registered themselves with the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Sri Lanka\u2019s embassy in The Netherlands. Having written to the authorities and SriLankan Airlines he was included on a flight arriving from London on May 5th. This is not a special flight chartered for my son. I did not make a special request of the President about his case,\u201d the Chairman of the Elections Commission told Colombo Telegraph.<\/p>\n

We publish below Mahinda Deshapriya\u2019s full quote in the original Sinhala for the benefit of our readers:<\/p>\n

\u0db8\u0d9c\u0dda \u0db4\u0dd4\u0dad\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dba\u0dcf \u0dc0\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dd2\u0db8\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0d9c \u0daf\u0dd9\u0db4\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dad\u0db8\u0dda\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0dda \u0d89\u0d82\u0da2\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dda\u0dbb\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0dd9\u0d9a\u0dd2 . \u0d94\u0dc4\u0dd4 \u0dc4\u0dcf \u0dbb\u0dcf\u0da2\u0dca\u200d\u0dba \u0dc3\u0dda\u0dc0\u0dba\u0dda \u0dad\u0dc0\u0dad\u0dca \u0d89\u0d82\u0da2\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dda\u0dbb\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0db1\u0dca \u0dc3\u0dd2\u0dc0\u0dd4\u0daf\u0dd9\u0db1\u0d9a\u0dd4 \u0db1\u0dd9\u0daf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dbd\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dba\u0dda \u0dbb\u0dcf\u0da2\u0dca\u200d\u0dba \u0dc1\u0dd2\u0dc2\u0dca\u200d\u0dba\u0dad\u0dca\u0dc0\u0dba\u0d9a\u0dca \u0db8\u0dad \u0db4\u0dc1\u0dca\u0da0\u0dcf\u0dad\u0dca \u0d8b\u0db4\u0dcf\u0db0\u0dd2 \u0db4\u0dcf\u0da8\u0db8\u0dcf\u0dbd\u0dcf \u0dc4\u0daf\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dcf \u0d85\u0dc0\u0dc3\u0db1\u0dca\u0dc0\u0dd3 \u0dbd\u0d82\u0d9a\u0dcf\u0dc0\u0da7 \u0db1\u0dd0\u0dc0\u0dad \u0db4\u0dd0\u0db8\u0dd2\u0dab\u0db8\u0da7 \u0d85\u0db4\u0dda\u0d9a\u0dca\u0dc2\u0dcf\u0dc0\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca \u0dc3\u0dd2\u0da7\u0dd2\u0db1 \u0dbd\u0daf\u0dd3 . \u0d89\u0db1\u0dca \u0d91\u0d9a\u0dca \u0d85\u0dba\u0d9a\u0dd4\u0d9c\u0dda \u0d85\u0db0\u0dca\u200d\u0dba\u0dcf\u0db4\u0db1 \u0d9a\u0da7\u0dba\u0dd4\u0dad\u0dd4 \u0d85\u0dc0\u0dc3\u0db1\u0dca \u0db1\u0ddc\u0dc0\u0dd6 \u0db1\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dcf \u0db8\u0dcf\u0d9c\u0dda \u0db4\u0dd4\u0dad\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dba\u0dcf \u0dc4\u0dcf \u0d85\u0db1\u0dd9\u0d9a\u0dca \u0dad\u0dd2\u0daf\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dcf \u0db1\u0dd9\u0daf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dbd\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dba\u0dda \u0dc1\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dd3 \u0dbd\u0d82\u0d9a\u0dcf \u0dad\u0dcf\u0db1\u0dcf\u0db4\u0dad\u0dd2 \u0dc4\u0dbb\u0dc4\u0dcf \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0daf\u0dda\u0dc1 \u0d85\u0db8\u0dcf\u0dad\u0dca\u200d\u0dba\u0dcf\u0d82\u0dc1\u0dba\u0dda\u0daf \u0d91\u0d82\u0d9c\u0dbd\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dba\u0dda \u0db8\u0dc4 \u0d9a\u0ddc\u0db8\u0dc3\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dca \u0d9a\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dba\u0dcf\u0dbd\u0dba\u0dda\u0daf \u0dbd\u0dd2\u0dba\u0dcf\u0db4\u0daf\u0dd2\u0d82\u0da0\u0dd2 \u0dc0\u0dd3 \u0d92 \u0db4\u0dd2\u0dc5\u0dd2\u0db6\u0daf\u0dc0 \u0dc1\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dd3 \u0dbd\u0d82\u0d9a\u0dcf\u0dc0\u0dda \u0d9a\u0da7\u0dba\u0dd4\u0dad\u0dd4 \u0d9a\u0dbb\u0db1 \u0dbb\u0dcf\u0da2\u0dca\u200d\u0dba \u0db1\u0dd2\u0dbd\u0db0\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dd3\u0db1\u0dca \u0dc4\u0dcf \u0dc1\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dd3 \u0dbd\u0d82\u0d9a\u0db1\u0dca \u0d9c\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0db1\u0dca \u0dc3\u0dda\u0dc0\u0dcf\u0dc0 \u0d85\u0db8\u0dad\u0dcf \u0dbd\u0dd2\u0db4\u0dd2 \u0dbd\u0dd2\u0dba\u0dcf \u0dbd\u0daf \u0d85\u0dc0\u0dc3\u0dbb \u0d85\u0daf \u0db8\u0dd0\u0dba\u0dd2 05 \u0daf\u0dd2\u0db1 \u0dbd\u0db1\u0dca\u0da9\u0db1\u0dca \u0db1\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0dbb \u0dc3\u0dd2\u0da7 \u0db4\u0dd0\u0db8\u0dd2\u0dab\u0dd9\u0db1 \u0d9c\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0db1\u0dca \u0dba\u0dcf\u0db1\u0dba\u0dda \u0db4\u0dd0\u0db8\u0dd2\u2063\u0dab\u0dda . \u0d91\u0dba \u0d94\u0dc0\u0dd4\u0db1\u0da7 \u0dc0\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca \u0d9a\u0dc5 \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0dc1\u0dda\u0dc2 \u0dba\u0dcf\u0db1\u0dba\u0d9a\u0dca \u0db1\u0ddc\u0dc0\u0dda. \u0db8\u0ddc\u0dc4\u0dd4 \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0dc1\u0dda\u0dc2 \u0dba\u0dcf\u0db1\u0dba\u0d9a\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dca \u0d9c\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca\u0dc0\u0dcf \u0daf\u0dd9\u0db1 \u0dbd\u0dd9\u0dc3 \u0dc4\u0ddd \u0db8\u0ddc\u0dc4\u0dd4 \u0dc3\u0db8\u0dca\u0db6\u0db1\u0dca\u0db0\u0dba\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca \u0dc0\u0dd2\u0dc1\u0dda\u0dc2\u0dba\u0d9a\u0dca \u0d9a\u0dbb\u0db1 \u0dbd\u0dd9\u0dc3 \u0db8\u0dcf \u0da2\u0db1\u0dcf\u0db0\u0dd2\u0db4\u0dad\u0dd2\u0dc0\u0dbb\u0dba\u0dcf\u0d9c\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca \u0d89\u0dbd\u0dca\u0dbd\u0dcf \u0db1\u0dd0\u0dad.<\/p>\n

However, as detailed above, Deshapriya subsequently admitted in a phone call with the Editor of Colombo Telegraph that he had indeed been in touch with powerful officials over the repatriation of his son.<\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph can now also reveal the following.<\/p>\n

At precisely 6.02 PM on May 4,2020 Sri Lankan time, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa telephoned Elections Commission Chairman Deshapriya. The phone call was regarding Attorney General Dappula De Livera<\/span><\/a>\u2019s letter to the Commission about the legal position on receiving nominations on a gazetted public holiday. This is the conversation that followed:<\/p>\n

\u0daf\u0dda\u0dc1\u0db4\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dd2\u0dba\u200b- \u0dc3\u0dbb\u0dca \u0d9a\u0dcf\u0da7\u0dc0\u0dad\u0dca \u0d9a\u0dd2\u0dc0\u0dca\u0dc0\u0dd9 \u0db1\u0dd0\u0dc4\u0dd0\u0db1\u0dd9 \u0d92 \u0d9c\u0dd0\u0db1\u200b. \u0d8b\u0dc0\u0dd2\u0db3\u0dd4 \u0d87\u0dc4\u0dd0\u0dc0\u0dca\u0dc0 \u0d92 \u0d9c\u0dd0\u0db1.<\/p>\n

\u0d9c\u0ddd\u0da7 – \u0db1\u0dd1 \u0db1\u0dd1.<\/p>\n

\u0daf\u0dda\u0dc1\u0db4\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dd2\u0dba\u200b- \u0dc4\u0dbb\u0dd2 \u0dc3\u0dbb\u0dca<\/p>\n

\u0daf\u0dda\u0dc1\u0db4\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dd2\u0dba\u200b- \u0dc4\u0dbb\u0dd2 \u0dc3\u0dbb\u0dca \u0db8\u0db8 \u0dc4\u0dd9\u0da7 \u0d9a\u0dd2\u0dba\u0db1\u0dca\u0db1\u0db8\u0dca \u0daf\u0db4\u0dca\u0db4\u0dd4\u0dbd\u0d9c\u0dd9 \u0dbd\u0dd2\u0dba\u0dd4\u0db8\u0da7\u200b \u0d9a\u0dbb\u0db1 \u0daf\u0dda<\/p>\n

TRANSLATION<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Deshapriya: Sir did you tell anyone about that matter? He [Uvindu] asked me about it.<\/p>\n

President: No no I did not.<\/p>\n

Deshapriya: Ok ok sir<\/p>\n

President: [Asks about letter from AG]<\/p>\n

Deshapriya: Ok Sir, I will reply Dappula\u2019s letter tomorrow and tell you about tomorrow.<\/p>\n

[Conversation unclear. Both chuckle]<\/p>\n

Subsequent to the queries from Colombo Telegraph it is learnt that Deshapriya was torn between submitting his resignation as Chairman of the Elections Commission with several members of his own family telling him not to resign over his son\u2019s matter.<\/p>\n

Serious questions are also being raised about whether there are elements within the Government that seek to force Deshapriya\u2019s resignation in order to appoint a full-blown lackey in his place who will blatantly overrule Commissioners Ratnajeevan Hoole and Nalin Abeysekera.<\/p>\n

But Deshapriya\u2019s actions to involve himself in the repatriation of his son raises huge ethical questions, good governance activists and lawyers said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only way for him to restore dignity to the Commission after this is to resign. It is true he is a father who was concerned for his son\u2019s safe return. That is only human. But when you serve in this sort of high office, that has to be a public official\u2019s first and foremost consideration. What makes this doubly bad is that an election has been declared \u2013 and the Government will basically have him eating out of their hands because they have done him this favour,\u201d an activist told Colombo Telegraph in an email.<\/p>\n

In fact it appears that the chairman of the Elections Commission through his actions is not just beholden to the President and his Government, but also to corporate interests – in this case Softlogic – by the involvement of Ashok Pathirage in his son’s repatriation,” the activist added.<\/p>\n

Other questions also crop up as a result of the phone call between the Chairman of the Commission and the President. It is unclear why Deshapriya is reporting to the President about matters between the Elections Commission and the Attorney General. Under the terms of the 19th Amendment the EC is an independent commission that must not take its instructions from political authorities. It is also unclear if other members of the Commission are aware of this pattern of the Chairman reporting matters to the President. (By Chinthika de Silva)\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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