Friend or foe: Police probe alleged threat to Bandaranaike

At least two of the callers who spoke to parliamentarian Anura Bandaranaike during times he alleged he received abusive calls were his friends, Police said yesterday.

A.Bandaranaike

Senior Superintendent Sarath Lugoda, Director of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) that is conducting the investigation told The Sunday Times detectives had spoken to the two callers. He said they were still investigating the other calls Mr. Bandaranaike received.

Mr. Lugoda said they were in contact with the telecommunication authorities to trace where the other calls originated from.

Raising a question of privilege in Parliament on Thursday, Mr. Bandaranaike said that on Tuesday morning, he was told there was an urgent call from Parliament.

“When I answered the phone, I was told by the caller, ‘If you and Mangala Samaraweera oppose President Mahinda Rajapaksa, you will be, abducted, thrashed and hung from lamp posts in Attanagalle and Matara.’ A few minutes later there was another call, but this time in a different voice but the same message was given. Again a few minutes later there was another call and this time I used the filthiest possible language (sudda Sinhala) on him and hung up. I could clearly hear someone prompting the caller. I had to leave for Horogolla shortly and I was informed by my telephone operator that the Friend same call had been received several more times while I was away,” he said.

“Initially I thought this was a joke but when you look at what is happening in the country, as highlighted in the letter Mangala Samaraweera sent the President that a person is abducted every five hours, then we have to take it seriously.

“I informed my security officer about the calls and he in turn informed the head of the MSD. I think an investigation has been launched for which I am thankful to the President. This is being done by some people around the President. I am sure the President is not aware of it. I know it is also not the UNP. I have known the UNP leader since kindergarten and he is a perfect gentleman. I am sure he will not resort to this kind of action. The UNP is having its own problems so it has no time to make anonymous calls.

“I am sure the JVP will also not do this kind of thing. Mangala and I were the first persons who initiated an alliance between the JVP and the SLFP. Some of the people who opposed this later become friends with them but not any more. We had to force some of them to join our ‘pada yatra’. So, I think they are a grateful party and will not resort to this kind of action. I am also sure it is not the LTTE because it will never make threatening calls and then kill you. The Tigers just kill any one they want.

“I am saying some section of the government is responsible for this action. Not the President but some others who are using his powers. They have American passports and will fly out the day they are out of power. Managala and I have never conspired. This is done by some people who want to silence us. But this will only make us tougher.

“I don ‘t think even Hitler’s propaganda secretary Goebbels did this kind of thing.” Fisheries Minister Felix Perera who responded to Mr. Bandaranaike’s allegations said that politics was not a bed of roses and threats were a common feature in a politician’s life.

“We also receive threats. Politics is a dangerous profession with death threats a common possibility. It’s akin to ‘maruwa samaga wase’. If you are living in the real world you will understand this but these people are not living in the real world,” he said.