Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday joined the growing list of politicians who claimed to have 'files' in their possession, when he declared that he has 92 files regarding the corruption of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.
Speaking at a rally in Ratnapura, Dissanayake said that he will take action against the corruption by the government of former President Rajapaksa once the new parliament in elected.
There was enough material to launch investigations to various allegations, he added.
The claims of having 'files' in possession entered the local political scene during the last presidential election when the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed to have 'files' on the wrongdoings of people who had defected to the opposition. However, this comment had a huge negative impact on his campaign as he was accused of deliberately hiding facts on alleged wrongdoings of certain people.
Later in the campaign, Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka famously claimed that "we also have files."
Three individuals were arrested by Dambulla Police yesterday on allegedly threatening Central Province Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon at the police station a few days ago.
The incident had allegedly taken place when Tennakoon arrived at the Dambulla Police Station to complain about damaging election cut-outs near former minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon's house. Three supporters of Deputy Minister Ranjith Aluvihare verbally assaulted him inside the police station and threatened him with death, Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon complained to the police.
The suspects were arrested last night after evading arrest for a few days. They will be produced before the Dambulla Magistrate today.
Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon is the son of former Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon.
Police discovered 25,000 posters this morning, printed with the intention of slinging mud at former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Police Media Unit told Asian Mirror that the posters were discovered at a printing press in Divulapitiya in Boralesgamuwa.
Three individuals were also arrested with the posters, police also said. They were found to be residents of Piliyandala and Pothuhera.
The three suspects were later released by the Gangodawila Magistrate Court on sureties of Rs 200,000 each.
Uva Province Chief Minister Harin Fernando asked SLFP Spokesman Dilan Perera to take poison on August 18 once the UPFA is defeated at the general election.
He said this in response to Dilan Perera's comments yesterday, asking the Prime Minister and four others to take poison.
(Photo: Daily Mirror)
Ovitigala Dhammananda Thera yesterday explained the controversy regarding the appearance of his name on two party lists in Kalutara District by declaring that he had signed nomination papers with only the Bodu Jana Peramuna.
Speaking at a press conference, Dhammananda Thera said that his name had been added to the list of Jana Setha Peramuna without his knowledge.
He added that he signs in Sinhalese and added that according to his knowledge, someone has signed his name in English in the Jana Setha Peramuna nomination papers.
Bodu Jana Peramuna demanded election officials to investigate the matter.
The controversy broke out when it was revealed that Ovitipana Dhammananda Thera's name appeared on both the Bodu Jana Peramuna list and the Jana Setha Peramuna list in Kalutara District.
Bodu Jana Peramuna leader Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera leads the BJP list in Kalutara.