CDA chairman defends minister's son; driver made fall guy

An attempt by Coconut Development Authority ( CDA) Chairman Keerthi Weerasinghe to defend the son of his boss, State Minister Arundika Fernando, during a news conference ended in total embarrassment as his story fell apart in the face of questions by a journalist.

State Minister Fernando’s son is accused of leading a group of men who attacked some undergrads occupying a hostel of the Ragama Medical Faculty, injuring several. The CDA Chairman held a news conference after it emerged that some of the attackers had come in an official vehicle belonging to the CDA. The vehicle had been detained by students, along with its driver, a CDA employee. Mr.

Weerasinghe initially chided the media over the issue, claiming that it was only reporting one side of the story.

He claimed he had spoken with the state minister’s son, who had assured him that only five people had gone to the location and contrary to what was reported in the media, none of them was armed. He claimed he had “confirmed this” by viewing videos of the alleged incident. Nevertheless, since the driver had taken an official CDA vehicle to the location without permission, steps have been taken to suspend him, Mr. Weerasinghe said.

The CDA Chairman also claimed that the group had gone there to “rescue” a friend who was about to be assaulted -- and murdered.

At this point, a journalist started questioning Mr. Weerasinghe about his claims:

Journalist: Did you speak with the

CDA Chairman: I did. Journalist: Why did he go to that location? Who compelled him?

CDA Chairman: No one had compelled him. He was told that they needed to go and rescue a person, so he had gone. That was when this incident occurred.

Journalist: Was it the minister’s son who had spoken to him?

CDA Chairman: I don’t know that yet.

Journalist: Wasn’t the minister’s son in that (CDA) car?

CDA Chairman: I don’t know that. Journalist: Where did that vehicle leave from? Was it from here or the minister’s house?

CDA Chairman: I don’t know that either.

Journalist: So, you have suspended him (driver) without clearly knowing the facts of the incident?

CDA Chairman: The driver has been assigned to this particular vehicle so he must take responsibility for that.

One cannot help but be reminded of the old Sinhala adage about giving incoherent replies to questions; “Koheda Yanne? Malle Pol” (Where are you going? I have coconuts in the bag).