SLFP dissidents ask Rights Commission to guarantee safety

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 March 2007, 00:52 GMT]
Mangala Samaraweera, sacked Foreign Minister Monday said that Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse in his capacity as Defence Minister, and Gothabaya Rajapakse, Defence Secretary, should accept responsibility should anything happen to Sripathi Sooriyarachchi or him. Mr. Samaraweera was speaking to the press after attending the inquiry held by the officials of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on complaints made by him and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi.

Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi have registered complaints with the HRCSL that their lives are in danger due to the accusations they had levelled against the Sri Lanka government after being stripped of their cabinet positions.

Sacked ministers have named Mahinda Rajapakse and Gothabaya Rajapakse as respondents in the complaints. Both did not attend the inquiry. Gothabaya Rajapakse sent two persons to represent him.

Samaraweera said that they were told that Defence Ministry is to handpick the security detail. "This would endanger our lives," Samaraweera said.

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