UNP decision against Wijedasa Rajapaksa

UNP decision against Wijedasa Rajapaksa

The issue which a group of UNP MPs are preparing to bring forward as a No-confidence Motion against Justice Minister Wideasa Rajapaksa is to be discussed at the UNP Working Committee meeting to be held next Thursday. Subsequently it is exoected to arrive at a decision as to whether a No-confidence Motion is to be brought in parliament and if he is to be ousted

from portfolios for which he is responsible.

The two issues which cropped up recently relating to the Justice Minister was concerning leasing out Hambantota Port in opposition to the UNP or the cabinet and being in favour of the United Opposition instead and that he was behind the activities of the Attorney General's Department for having quickened-up processes relating to a Minister of this government such as Ravi Karunanayaka.

Apart from that, propaganda has been launched over his influence as the Minister of Justice in delaying punishment legalwise concerning those guilty for corruption during the past regime. Whatever it is, joining in weekend newspapers during the past few days and rupavahini programmes he had relinquished these allegations. He had mentioned that on those occasions that he does not interfere in independent matters pertaining to the judiciary of Sri Lanka and that his opinion about Hambantota Port is a personal one of his own and that even when he was with previous governments he had fought alone to rescue the CTB and Insurance Corporation and that he is fighting on behalf of Hambantota Port.

His argument is that because of the success of international naval transport that could occur after the Hambantota Port is acquired; vessels coming to the Port of Colombo in future would come to a halt and thus Sri Lanka would be rendred helpless. As such, he has made a statement at the decision arrived in unison at the last cabinet meeting by opposing it.

Wijedasa Rajapaksha who was the chief of the Cope Report Committee resigned on his own not being pleased with influences there and then joined the UNP. On the misunderstanding between he and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka sometime back, arguments flared up and some photos where Wijedasa Rajapaksha engaged in overseas travel on that occasion in the company of Avant Garde chief were published. Some months before these allegations were aimed at the Justice Minister that he had provided shelter to Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera; but he refuted that accusation.

In the meantime when the media day-before-yesterday questioned former President whether he would support the No Confidence Motion against Minister Wijedasa he had responded saying "Why should we give support ... he's a man from our village no. He'll keep on doing things against the UNP ... gives support to the matter of acquiring Hambantota Port too".