Sri Lanka arrest astrologer who predicted President Sirisena’s death
Posted on February 1st, 2017
Courtesy South China Morning Post
An astrologer who made several predictions that Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena would die has been arrested, police said Wednesday.
Most Sri Lankans follow astrologers’ advice, and the suspect, Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni, is a former navy sailor convicted of attempting to assassinate India’s then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1987.
The Police Media Division said Wijemuni was arrested Tuesday evening on the charges of making false predictions and comments that could mislead the public.
Wijemuni posted several videos on Facebook predicting Sirisena would die of illness or accident before January 27. His predictions raised concerns of top government officials, and Media Ministry Secretary Nimal Bopage asked police in December to investigate.
Watch: the moment Wijemuni attacks Rajiv Gandhi with rifle butt
In a letter sent to the police chief, Bopage said he suspected a possible coup and assassination attempt were behind Wijemuni’s sustained campaign on the internet during the last few months. He is the only person who has been investigated, though the government did not say if he was thought to have acted alone.
Wijemuni served two and a half years in prison for attacking Gandhi with his rifle as the Indian premier inspected a naval guard of honour in Colombo. After being released from jail, Wijemuni turned to politics and contested for parliamentary elections in 2000, before becoming an astrologer.
Most Sri Lankans follow astrology to identify auspicious times for occasions such as marriage, building houses and signing important documents.
February 1st, 2017 at 3:14 pm
When the Yamapalana Government takes SASTARA KARAYAS hallucinations SERIOUSLY, we do have a SERIOUS PROBLEM …… with the sanity of the government.
This may be a gross violation of Freedom of Speech. In any case, it will be declared a TOMFOOLERY and will be thrown out of court for the SASTARA KARAYA did not advocate the death of the pana-nathi President; he was merely making an astrological prediction using his clearly faulty “science”!
How can he help it if the astral bodies do not behave syrictly according to their historical patterns in the Arya Panchanga Litha?
Will this give rise to a case in which DUELLING EXPERTS will be called upon to give expert evidence in court?
The Yamapalanaya is setting itself up to be the laughing stock of the nation and the world . … ONCE AGAIN!
Perhaps a more meaningful expenditure of our TAX-MONEY would be for the Yamapalanaya to investigate the official who ordered the arrest of the sastara karaya as to whether the officisl is part of a plot to make the government look foolish ….. AGAIN!
A MUCH MORE LIKELY SCENARIO …. in my humble view!
February 4th, 2017 at 5:46 am
This shows the stupidity and ignorance of our leaders who lack self confidence to depend on these sathara Karayas to make a decision and one fake general used them to decide the strategy in the battle against the terrorists which cost may lives .He is now rewarded with a statue just like our other bogus leaders in our history. One could only judge a hero or a past leader by his achievements to the country and it’s people.