"It's only fifty acres that there is for my whole family; if I have three thousand acres ... let the state acquire it"

"It's only fifty acres that there is for my whole family; if I have three thousand acres ... let the state acquire it" 

"I am accused of having three thousand acres. My whole family has fifty acres. If I have three thousand acres ... let the state take it over", said former minister, member of parliament Rishad Badiudeen gave evidence in the presence of the parliament selection committee which probes the Easter Sunday terrorist attack. 

giving evidence he also said that statements to the effect that he had appeared together with Zaharan

in photographs is utterly false and said that he happened to see Zaharan from photographs published across the media after this incident.

Chairman of select committee: "There are several accusations aimed at you. There are accusations that you have a connection with these terrorist activities which happened on Easter Sunday. A no-confidence motion too has been launched against you in parliament".

Witness: "A group of opposition party members of parliament has forwarded a no-confidence motion under ten allegations against me. An accusation was aimed at me that I am linked to the terrorist group. I have not seen the terrorist leader called Zaharan. I saw his photographs or the first time after the Easter Sunday terrorist attack. I saw after it was published by the media. 

Though those who were involved in the Easter Sunday attack had Islamic names ... we don't welcome them. We feel sorry about the lives lost and those wounded because of the attack launched by these damned terrorists. We even didn't allow dead bodies of those terrorists be buried in Kaththankudy cemetery".

Ravi Karunanayaka: "Do you accept ISIS?"

Witness: "No. Destroying the lives of people is not sanctioned in Islamic religion".

Ravi Karunanayaka: "It's said that vehicles belonging to Sathosa was given for this activity. Is it true?"

Witness: "MPs of the opposition have implicated me saying that I gave vehicles for terrorist activities. When I was invited to join with the 52 government ... but I didn't accede to it. That is why these serious allegations are aimed at me and that was two members of parliament. No complaint was made against me to the police in this connection. I complained against them to the acting inspector general of police".

Ravi Karunanayaka: "Alaudeen who is supposed to be the treasurer of your party, isn't it?"

Witness: "I appointed him for the position of treasurer when my party was started. Since he is a businessman, he said that he couldn't accept that post. Later he was appointed as the deputy treasurer".

Nalin Herath: "Accusations were made against you that you had made an influence in this incident".

Witness: "The person called Muinudeen was taken away by police. His father asked me to find out where he is. I contacted several police stations. Spoke to the army commander also. I was told to ask about him in another one and a half years". After speaking to the army commander three times, he informed me that Muinudeen is in their custody". 

Nalin Jayatissa: "Did you sound the minister of defence about this?"

Witness: "Didn't speak to the minister of defence?"

Witness: "I spoke to DIG Wickremasingha. He told me to ask the army. I spoke to him since Muinudeen's father wanted to know where his son was ... to know whether he was among the living. He told that if he has done a blunder ... he should be punished".

Nalinda Jayatissa: "What you had told the media was that you spoke to the minister of defence also".

Witness: "Yes, I spoke to him. What he said was that it should be found out from police". 

Sarath Fonseka: "I asked the army commander whether it's for a joke that it was told to ask after one and a half years".

Ashu Marasingha: Do you know the army commander?"

Witness: "After he became the army commander ... I came to know him. Before that I had not known him".

Ashu Marasingha: "Do you know Mohommed Ibrahim?"

Witness: "He is the president of Colombo trading association. As the miister of marketing I have met Mr. Ibrahim".

Ashu Marasingha: "He stands close to you in this photograph. Does he hold a position in your ministry? (Shows photograph). 

Witness: "No position has been given to him or anybody of his in my ministry as such".

Ashu Marasingha: "Do you know his son?"

Witness: "I attended his wedding".

Ashu Marasingha: "Does he hold a position of advisor in your ministry?" 

Witness: "No ... does not hold any position".

Ashu Marasingha: "Ibrahim Imnazad Ahamad; was president of Colonial Inzaid firm recommended to grant empty bullets?"

Witness: "These requests were received. I appointed a committee to look into how this raw material was given. It was on recommendations recommended in that report the raw material was released".

Ashu Marasingha:"Was those of this Ibrahim family helped in pepper, areca businesses?"

Witness:"He has not approached me and asked for help. I was met with representatives of Colombo Traders' Association". 

Ashu Marasingha: "Did you make any influence on tender boards?"

Witness: "I have not made influence ... will not do either". 

Nalinda Jayatissa: "It was told by Embassy of Turkey that 50 persons who acquired training in Turkey have come to Sri Lanka. Do you remember it?"

Witness: "I came to know about it from the media".

Nalinda Jayatissa: "You have not conveyed any information about this to security forces. Some moulavis provided information to the police about this".

Witness: "I am not connected to this terrorism. They say that the person called Zaharan is a moulavi. As a politician I don't get involved in those".

Nalinda Jayatissa: "These issues flare up in Kaththankudy area. If some moulavis provide information to police ... how is it that you have no knowledge about it?"

Witness: "It is across the media that we come to hear about this Zaharan's activities".

Ashu Marasingha: "You said that you have not met Zaharan".

Witness: "Yes ... I have not met him".

Ashu Marasingha: "Then who is it in this photograph? Isn't it Zaharan who is with you in this photograph?" (Shows photo).

Witness: "That is not Zaharan. It's a photograph taken when I attended a festival as a chief guest in Thihariya. The person there is Moulavi Nisthar. Moulavi Nisthar has made a statement to police saying that it is he who is there and not Zahara".

Ravi Karunanayaka: "It is understood that those who died in the Dematagoda incident is your mother's sister's daughter ... is it so? 

Witness: "It is not Aladin's daughter who died in the Dematagoda incident. It is wrong to say that it is my mother's sister's daughter. My mother has no sister. All this is being told by two MPs of the opposition. I was invited to join with the 51 government. Because I didn't go ... all sorts of matters are spoken against me".

Ravi Karunanayaka: "Can you tell in what manner you render any contribution to prevent this terrorist acts?"

Witness: "I suffered for years in camps. So I know about this terrorism. The way in which the cardinal handled matters is praiseworthy. Political parties without making use of this incident, everyone connected to this incident should be taken into custody ... irrespective of whether they are Buddhist religious leaders, Catholic religious leaders ... all involved. In the same way Muslim religious leaders should be included in this. This instance should not be used for political ain as such. This should be abolished totally. We should all think of the country and get together and launch a programme of activity".

Ravi Karunanayaka: "Why is this ISIS not rejected?"

Witness: "We Muslim ministers rejected ISIS".

Ravi Karunanayaka: "When considering Wilpattu ... it is said that you had lands there. Is it true?"

Witness: "Resettlement was launched through a committee after the incident of terrorism. Not even a single family was given lands in Wilpattu Park. It was Mannar district that lands were given. Not even a single family has taken lodging in Wilpattu. It is is Mannar that lands have been given".

Sarath Fonseka: "There is a strip of land outside Wilpattu. There had been a village above that. People in that village have deserted the village during the war. Six people have established houses in that outside strip. A case is going on against them. You are not responsible for those houses".

Nalinda Jayatissa: "An incident where 41 houses have been provided in Kallaru reserve is mentioned in auditor general's report". 

Witness: "A report has been prepared in this respect. Investigations are underway about that report".

Nalinda Jayatissa: "You and those in your family have three thousand acres in Mannar. What can you say about it?"

Witness: "They say that I possess thirty thousand acres ... seven thousand acres. I don't have thirty thousand or seven thousand acres as such".

Ashu Marasingha: "In that case, how many acres does your family have?"

Witness: "My family has 55 acres. If I have three thousand acres ... I tell that it be acquired by the state. It was published in 'Divaina' newspaper that my brother will be arrested. My brother was not taken into custody. Army and police of my hometown Thaarapuram in Mannar had launched search operations. My brother and the vehicle was checked and subsequently released. The media reported this in a different manner".

Nalinda Jayatissa: "It is understood that A co-ordinating secretary of Rishad is in custody with six detonators in his possession".

Witness: "A former provincial council member called Sanoon was arrested on suspicion and later released. He is not a co-ordinating officer of mine".

Ashu Marasinha: "It is said that a house belonging to a brother of yours in Wattala has been given on rent to terrorists. Is it true?"

Witness: "There is a house belonging to my younger sister's husband's father in Wattala. It has been leased out. It has been leased out by a brother of younger sister's husband and not younger sister who has leased it out as such and nor has her husband".

Rajitha Senaratna: "Minister Rishad Badiudeen ... don't you think that as a result of false accusations launched by media against Muslim political leaders ... a case of arson has taken place in this second round?"

Witness: "171 houses have been destroyed. Shops and the like have been set on fire. All these incidents have taken place because of false allegations. 33 mosques have been destroyed. I see it as a motive of creating an incident similar to the '83 Kalu Juliya'. Those who are linked to these incidents should be given maximum punishment".

Nalin Jayatissa: "Hasn't some locations become Arabianised .. like for instance that Lazim City?" 

Witness: "Locations given by Arabic countries are like that".

Rajitha Senaratna: "Don't you accept that it is not suitable to name roads and the like in Arabic letters? We, the selection committee have decided to withhold erection of roads in Arabic letters".

Witness: "Yes, I too accept. It is not suitable to erect name-boards in Arabic letters for roads. Other religious leaders are making various statements regarding our Quran. There should be no actions of discrimination among Sinhalese and Muslims within our country. The country should be protected. Our motherland.We do not have a necessity to bring Arabic rules here. We should act according to the law of this country. We respect the law of this country. Do not transfer a wrong opinion towards the Sinhala society".

Sarath Fonseka: "It is mentioned in the no-confidence motion that several suspects taken into custody in the copper factory were released because of a link with you. What can you say about it?"

Witness: "There is no connection of mine of that nature".

Sarath Fonseka: "It is mentioned in the no-confidence motion that an advisory moulavi whom you associate is connected to this issue".

Witness: "No moulavi acts as an advisor of mine. The referred to moulavi has been taken into custody".

Sarath Fonseka: "It is further stated in the no-confidence motion that you being holding the portfolio itself contributes towards an obstacle for terrorist surveillance activities".

Witness: "I have resigned from my position as minister. Now the surveillance activities can go on".

-- Ruvira Dilan Madhusanka --