Former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Horana Organiser Charith Abeysinghe says some political parties and organisations branded him guilty following his arrest even before a court had determined his guilt, adding that he would no longer stand by those who failed to stand by him.
Speaking during an interview on a YouTube channel, Abeysinghe said that among those who had treated him as a “hero” outside, only one or two stood by him after his arrest.
He claimed that those whom he considered his own had ultimately contributed the most towards achieving the objectives of those behind what he described as an attack against him.
Referring to the criminal allegations against him, Abeysinghe said he had no involvement with the SJB in 2023, the period to which the allegations relate, and that he only joined the party around November 2024.
He said that during the period in question, he was working as the host of Sirasa TV’s ‘Money Drop’ programme and denied ever maintaining links with members of the underworld.
Abeysinghe said that as an entertainer, he had travelled overseas to host and compere events and had met people from various backgrounds in countries including Dubai and Singapore.
He also spoke about his close friendships with artists associated with the National People’s Power (NPP), including Jagath Manuwarna and Namal Jayasinghe, saying they had engaged in ideological discussions about the need for social reformers to build a better society.
Abeysinghe further revealed that during the Galle Face protest movement, the serviced apartment complex at Edmonton Residencies in Kirulapone, where he was residing at the time, had been used as a venue for key discussions linked to the protest movement.
According to Abeysinghe, Namal Jayasinghe, Udul Premaratne, Jagath Manuwarna and others held discussions on the rooftop of the building under the theme “a system instead of a man”.
Speaking about his political background, Abeysinghe said both his parents were from Horana and that his family had traditionally been associated with the United National Party (UNP).
He said he entered active politics after being strongly encouraged by two close friends and decided to sign nomination papers after discussing the matter with his wife.
Abeysinghe also explained how he came to know a man identified as “Herbie”, who was named as the main witness in the bribery case in which Abeysinghe and attorney Rakitha Rajapakshe, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, were arrested last June.
He said he first met Herbie at a musical event in Dubai in 2023, where the latter had sponsored singer Mihindu Ariyaratne.
“I knew him through a musical show. It wasn’t an event he invited me to. It was in Dubai in 2023,” Abeysinghe said.
He recalled that Herbie complained to him that despite sponsoring Ariyaratne, his name and company had not been mentioned on stage. Abeysinghe said he then asked for the details and acknowledged him from the stage, after which the two became acquainted.
