Lilantha back to politics

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

Former Colombo District UNP MP Lilantha Perera who was charged for illegal possession of roofing sheets meant for the poor and acquitted is set to return to full time politics.Mr. Perera who was remanded for nearly six months was released by Colombo Additional Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya due to lack of evidence to prove the allegations.

The roofing sheets were valued at Rs. 1.8 million. Lilantha Perera addressing a media briefing said that he had a strong belief that he would be released. “The roofing sheets were to be distributed to the poor by 2003, but when they arrived it was late. The first lot went to the needy in villages and the final lot was in Colombo. When Parliament was dissolved in March 2004, I distributed the sheets to the needy in Colombo North, some of them being my organizers. Then President Kumaratunga issued that it was a violation of election law,” he said.

He said that after recording a statement at the Dematagoda CCD he was remanded on May 16 2004.