Harsha says he didn’t ask for arrest of Packer

Thursday, 14 November 2013 01:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane is denouncing the Opposition as traitors to the motherland for attempting to prevent a crime being committed by Australian casino king James Packer, UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said yesterday. The Minister was attempting to claim that the UNP was demanding Packer’s arrest, scaring away investors and betraying the motherland, De Silva explained addressing a media briefing yesterday.

“This is another lie that the Minister is now famous for. We never asked for his arrest only that we have evidence that he is conspiring to commit a crime and that the police should investigate to prevent same,” the UNP MP said. De Silva said that running casinos without a valid license is a crime in this country after 1 January 2012. “Three times he mentions that I called for packers arrest it in the Sinhala press release and calls me (and Ruwan and Ajith) traitors. “Are the Mahanayakes who are opposing this casino project, traitors to the nation? Is Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who opposes it also a traitor? Is JHU Minister Champika Ranawaka also a traitor?” he charged.