• Cabinet spokesman defends PM, says his right to appoint Mahendran
• Questions what was done by JO members during hedging deal and Greek bond
• Pro-Sirisena SLFP and others would side with Wickremesignhe in case of No-confidence vote 
• Slams media for “inflaming” situation   

Any attempt by the Joint Opposition to initiate a No-Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would “boomerang” as it would motivate the SLFP faction loyal to President Sirisena and constituent parties to side with the premier, insisted Cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday.

The Cabinet spokesman came out fists swinging for the second week, this time in defence of Wickremesinghe after the latter was heavily criticised by the Joint Opposition over his appointment of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s appointment and the subsequent bond scam, which was investigated by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). The previous week he stoutly defended President Sirisena after his controversial speech resulted in the resignation of the Bribery and Corruption Director General.

“The Prime Minister had every right to appoint whoever he wanted to head an institution under him. It is true we had reservations, I was one such person that voiced concerns the loudest, but it was still the Prime Minister’s right,” Dr. Senaratne told reporters at the weekly Cabinet briefing. 

“When it became apparent that his official had done wrong the Prime Minister took necessary steps. The COPE report is now before the Auditor General and we will take the necessary legal and financial steps. Did the Joint Opposition members ever do anything under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa? Was there ever a COPE report sent to the Auditor General on the hedging scam? Or the Greek bond? Where was the political will to take action?” 

Vehemently dismissing questions raised repeatedly by journalists, Dr. Senaratne bulldozed merrily on his way issuing a challenge to the Joint Opposition to present a No-Confidence Motion to parliament “if they could,” and warning “it will just boomerang on them”.   

Dr. Senaratne also slammed media for “blowing the issue out of proportion” trotting out the standard defence that reporters would not have been able to report extensively on the bond scam if it was under the previous Government. 

“The media is trying to inflame the situation and insinuating that this bond issue has destabilised the Government. There is no such uncertainty. If ever a No-Confidence Motion is brought we will all stand by the Prime Minister,” he assured. 

AAVA Group creation of Gotabaya alleges Rajitha 

• Govt. appoints Brigadier Vijendra Gunatilake as new army intelligence director

Cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday called out former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the initial creator of the mysterious “AAVA Group” in the north and openly charged members of the original group were working to create ethnic divisions in the interests of their former leader. 

Brigadier Vijendra Gunatilake was appointed as the new Army Intelligence Director, the Army Media Unit announced yesterday as the Government appeared to address concerns raised by journalists and northern residents that the AAVA Group is linked to military intelligence. 

“This group was created during the war by the Defence Secretary, this is an open secret. We know who funded them, who trained them, who fed them, gave them motorcycles. Now this same gang is operating in the north to create discord among the people,” alleged the Cabinet spokesman. 

“There are two sets of events happening in the north. On one hand people are engaging in their democratic right to protest and fight for equal rights, which is perfectly acceptable because that is what, happens in a democracy. In fact that is what happens in the south every day. But on the other we have this mysterious group that is attacking police and clearly trying to create ethnic divisions. This second development is disturbing and we must remember to keep them separate and not lump them together as a resurgence of terrorism,” he explained.

Insisting that Sri Lankans must see the democratic struggle of the Tamil people separately from the AAVA Group, the minister pledged to take action against its members but acknowledged “it cannot be done overnight”.