News
President warns of imposters misusing his name
View(s):It has been a continuing problem since his election and, yesterday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa once again issued a public warning against any persons who flog his name to gain personal benefits.
“An individual who intimidated and threatened a Principal of a school in Moratuwa on the pretext of being an advisor to the President has been arrested,” President Rajapaksa’s social media accounts said.
“Please be vigilant & alert the police if any individuals who use my name to gain undue personal advantages,” the President said
Mr Rajapaksa’s warning came after the Colombo Crime Division arrested a man who had allegedly threatened a principal of a leading school in Moratuwa after claiming to be an advisor to the President.
The President’s Media Division issued a statement urging the public to report such persons to the police saying they must be severely dealt with.
After he assumed power, President Rajapaksa and his office have repeatedly cautioned the public against people and groups claiming to have close ties to the President.
On December 14, too, he issued a statement on social media saying there were reports of certain persons using his name and that of his office in fraudulently claiming to be officials of the Presidential Secretariat.
“I would like to inform the public that such acts are being carried out without my knowledge or that of the Presidential Secretariat and request you to kindly inform the closest police station of such incidents or imposters,” he wrote.
Two days later, the Ministry of Defence issued another statement saying information was received on “various fraudsters who deceive and influence people unlawfully by impersonating as Coordinating Officers or close associates of the President”.
“The police officers of the relevant police stations have been instructed by the police headquarters to deal with them stringently under the law,” it said, asking public assistance to trace imposters.
Last month, the PMD also warned the public that some individuals or groups claiming to have close ties to the President were trying to deceive the public by claiming they could help them get employment, various positions, appointments and tenders.