SRI LANKA: Udayan Arson Attack: Secrets Unraveled

Fingers point toward Maj. Pathirane, who reportedly was instructed to carry out the act by Maj. Gen Haturusinghe.

(JAFFNA) - The Udayan newspaper office in Jaffna had been set on fire on the instructions of Jaffna Army commanding officer Major General Mahinda Haturusinghe, and the arson had been committed by an army team under the Gajaba regiment second commanding officer, Major R S D Pathirane of Jaffna, according to Lanka e news inside information division.

Major Pathirane is a trusted officer of Major general Haturusinghe, and it was Pathirana who had been looking after Haturusinghe during the time when the latter was suffering from a psychiatric disorder. Some weeks ago prior to setting fire to the Udayan office 13th early morning, the Uadayan newspaper had taken central place at the discussions held under the leadership of Haturusinghe. ‘The defense secretary instructed to get Udayan on proper track . His orders are not being followed by them. Something must be done now itself,’ Haturusinghe had told Pathirane. Haturusinghe had then ordered Pathirane to hold out a small threat.

Prior to setting fire to the Udayan office , the Udayan office staff had been summoned and advised on how they should work. ‘Do not create news that imperil the country. The country has provided the necessary infrastructure for this district. The necessary things are being done. Udayan newspapers must publish them,’ they were told in a threatening manner. However, due to fear or for some other reason, in the complaint lodged with the police regarding the arson ,these threats had not been revealed by the Udayan staff.

As the Udayan newspaper had not heeded the threat made through Pathirana, the office had been set on fire 13th. According to Lanka e news inside information division, Major Pathirane had been personally present at the venue when the arson was committed, and the arsonists had left the venue at about 4.20 a.m. A Land cruiser jeep, another two jeeps , and three motor cycles had left the scene after the attack. Those six persons who were in the three motor cycles were in civil attire. The riders of the motor cycles were carrying mini Ushi automatic weapons while the pillion riders were armed with T 56 weapons.

This group at the junction near the turn to Kasthury road where the Udayan office is situated, had also met three Tamil civilians who were going early morning for their fishing activities. They had threatened the civilians by brandishing their weapons and made them to turn back and run. These civilians have in fear run for dear life.

Thereafter, this group had come in front of the Udayan office, and threatened the security officer by thrusting a weapon into his mouth.

By now, this arson attack had provoked a storm of controversy, and based on the premeditated plan the whole investigation is being orchestrated and rigged to mislead the world.

ASP W C K Thilakaratne and Jaffna police station OIC Segera under the instructions of northern district senior DIG Gamini Silva have undertaken to rig the investigations to suit their needs. Accordingly this investigation is to take the route to show that the arson was committed by a group that has taken money from the Tamil Diaspora, in order to tarnish the image of the Rajapakses. With this in view, telephone instructions have gone out already to make necessary amendments at the place of the police headquarters where the daily information are reported, and the place where the IGP gives instructions.

Senior DIG Gamini Silva had told , if the situation turns for the worse, the General will give three army personnel who can be produced to the courts preparing a B report accordingly. In other words ,Major general Haturusinghe has such individuals to be produced at the time of those obnoxious unlawful needs. These are the soldiers who deserted the army but later apprehended by the military police. Haturusinghe has over 20 such ‘Billi boys’ (soldiers hired for sacrifice), according to Lanka e news inside information reports.