Gota rejects ‘Death Squad’ claims

I have been instructed by my client that in any event, no report whatsoever was read out in court implicating my client as mentioned in your news item

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has rejected news reports published by AL Jazeera and AFP that he operated a death squad with the intention of silencing his critics.

On March 20, foreign news agencies reported that the CID had informed the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate’s Court that Mr. Rajapaksa headed a top secret death squad, targeting journalists and dissidents. The news report said the alleged unit was also accused of assassinating former Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.

In a letter to AL Jazeera and AFP through his lawyer on March 23, Mr. Rajapaksa said the news was a blatant ‘lie’ because the Police Report did not refer to Mr. Rajapaksa per se.

“I have been instructed by my client that in any event, no report whatsoever was read out in court implicating my client as mentioned in your news item,” Counsel Sanath Wijewardane said on behalf of Mr. Rajapaksa.

The letter said Mr. Sarath Fonseka, who testified in connection with the series of incidents, would attempt to divert the attention of the investigation and it was not possible to operate any Army unit and/ or deployment without the sanction and/or approval of the Army Commander.

“In any event, my client, during the said time period was a civilian and had no direct links to operate any military or other deployment. Therefore, I’m instructed by my client to write to you demanding an immediate correction of the distorted and false publication carried out by you,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, MP Udaya Gammanpila, who also released the letter to the media during a news conference said yesterday legal action would be taken against those who publish such ‘fake’ news in the event a correction was not made by the news agencies.