Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa says there is a renewed focus on taking legal action against the government’s continuous smear campaigns.
Speaking at a press conference held at the SLPP headquarters yesterday (6 September), Rajapaksa challenged the government to reveal full details about the release of container number 323 and its contents.
Rajapaksa said that in recent days, the government and police had made public statements regarding an SLPP local council candidate and launched an investigation, after which the party’s General Secretary suspended the individual’s membership.
“We expect and trust that the government will conduct an impartial investigation into this matter without turning it into a political witch-hunt,” he said.
He questioned whether the government or the police were previously aware of any details regarding the containers. “Were the police chief or the intelligence units, local or foreign, informed of these containers before? And if so, what action was taken?”
Rajapaksa further noted that while the government has remained silent on the container issue since coming to power, reports indicate that more than 300 containers had been released from the port. He referred to a report prepared by the Finance Ministry Secretary on the instructions of the President, which also states that additional containers have been released from the port beyond the 300 already identified.
“If the relevant minister knew the location of these containers, as he himself claimed, where were they all this time? How could a container under a red alert have been released from the port? Are the two recently discussed containers also part of the same batch that was released under questionable circumstances? These are the questions we are compelled to ask the government,” he said.
Rajapaksa stressed that the SLPP has not been involved in any illegal activities. “Our hands are clean. We have no blood on our hands. We have not engaged in or supported unlawful acts. We urge the government to conduct a fair investigation, put an end to petty politics, and take effective action to curb organised crime.”
