Another big farce!

“Suresh Sallay is the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attack”: For argument’s sake, let us assume this to be true even though it is far from being proved ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ by a court of law.

- BY Dr UPUL WIJAYAWARDHANA

Minister Ananda Wijepala, however, in his statement to the parliament painted a picture of absolute certainty of Sallay’s guilt. The unfairness and the implications of this callous statement was well analysed in the editorial “Probes and politics” (The Island, 12 June). International media picked up Minister Wijepala’s statement, making Sallay guilty in the eyes of the world. Perhaps, they are not aware that what is stated in the parliament of Sri Lanka is not necessarily the truth! The more important question is how the reputational damage done to Sallay can be reversed.

Shortly after concluding his statement, Minister Wijepala referred to what he called ‘unexplained’ deaths including that of Rajeewa Jayaweera, in 2020. The fact that Rajeewa, unfortunately, took his own life has been confirmed, repeatedly, by his family. When rumours started circulating after the death of Kapila Chandrasena, Rajeewa’s brother Sanjeewa wrote an article titled, “Sri Lanka Airlines Airbus Scandal and the Death of Kapila Chandrasena and my Brother Rajeewa” (The Island, 17 May), wherein he stated: