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EDITORIAL REMINDS RANIL WICKREMESINGHE THE UNP'S PROMISE TO ARREST S.B. DISSANAYAKA OVER SUSANTHIKA AFFAIR YEAR AGO

By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles

The Los Angeles based independent bi-weekly, Sri Lanka Express in an editorial told Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that his assurances of a full investigation into the Susanthika Jayasinghe assault reminded a promise given by the UNP just over year ago that when the UNP came to power former Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayaka would be arrested.

The California bi-weekly circulated among the Sri Lankan expatriates in the United States and Canada in a signed editorial by the paper's Editor Hassina Leelaratne said when the Susanthika controversy first cropped up a UNP press conference presided over by the then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told the media that the former Sports Minister S.B.Dissanayaka would be arrested and held accountable for his misdeeds including alleged sexual harassment against the Olympic medal winner.

The lady editor of the weekly said, "The UNP is now in power and far from putting him behind bars Mr. Wickremesinghe has made Dissanayaka a Minister in his own cabinet."

Jayasinghe, who won an Olympic medal in fifty years for her native Sri Lanka announced that she would retire from sports after being allegedly assaulted by a male athletic close to the former Sports Minister and currently Agriculture Minister S.B.Dissanayaka, two weeks ago.

The editorial published with a photograph of a beaming S.B.Dissanayaka with a caption, which said 'SB-Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in greener pastures and every reason to be grinning' noted further, "Far from being arrested he was welcomed with open arms by Mr. Wickremesinghe when he defected from the PA."

"In greener pastures Wickremesinghe has offered him as the new Minister of Agriculture and live stock and Mr. Dissanayaka continues to look as smug as ever," the editorial said.

In biting sarcasm she noted, "Then again, perhaps he'll do a better job than he did at the Sports Ministry - being that he is now in charge of cows and goats."

The following is the full text of the Express editorial: "Latest media reports about Susanthika Jayasinghe matter said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has personally contacted the world renowned Sri Lankan athlete to assure her that a full investigation will be made into her allegations of assault and death threats by a male athlete.

" It is highly unlikely that the Prime Minister's 'assurance' would assure Jayasinghe since it was not too long ago that she and the public were given a similar promise.

" Just over a year ago, October 5, 2000 to be precise, the media were told of a promise made by UNP leaders that when the party comes to power former sports minister S.B. Dissanayaka will be arrested and held accountable for his 'misdeeds' against Jayasinghe. The misdeeds included alleged sexual harassment.

" The UNP is now in power and far from putting him behind bars Mr. Wickremesinghe has made Dissanayaka a minister in his own cabinet!

" Jayasinghe, who last year won Sri Lanka's first Olympic medal for more than 50 years, earlier this week announced her retirement after alleging she was assaulted at the Sports Ministry.

" The Olympic bronze medallist, said she was attacked at a Sports Ministry gymnasium in Colombo by a male athlete.

"I will never run again. I am going to retire because I'm sick of this," Jayasinghe was quoted by Reuters as saying. "I can't live with the death threats and the abuse."

" Jayasinghe revealed that she lodged a complaint at the Cinnamon Gardens police station of being assaulted by a male athlete at the Sports Ministry ground in Torrington Square on Wednesday.

"According to the Cinnamon Gardens police, Jayasinghe had named her assailant as Ranga Wimalawansa, an athlete who is currently serving a ban. He had allegedly grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against a wall.

"Jayasinghe has complained to the police that she was also threatened with death by her assailants.

"Ranga Wimalawansa is said to be a close associate of former president of the Amateur Athletic Association Sunil Gunawardane who in turn is reportedly an associate of former Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayaka, who in turn is sitting in Mr. Wickremesinghe cabinet.

"Jayasinghe got her 'fifteen minutes' when she told reporters at the Sydney Olympics that she had been sexually harassed by the minister.

"The minister ... the big guy... he wants sex with me but I refused. I have a husband," she reportedly told a press conference in Sydney. "It was trouble for me, including doping and sexual harassment after I won the World Championship in 1997," she added.

"Susanthika was extensively quoted in the largely pro-UNP local media as having meant minister Dissanayaka but she later denied that the reference was to him.

"Many speculate that Wednesday's incident is an extension of the young athlete's problems with the former sports minister.

"Back to that other promise. The Sunday Leader reported on October 8, 2000: "The UNP on Friday claimed they will arrest Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayaka for charges of sexual harassment and dope fixing against sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe." The promise (to arrest SB) was made by Anura Bandaranaike (then in the UNP) at a press conference presided over by Wickremesinghe. The conference was held " in the wake of Susanthika Jayasinghe' S revelations to the world about dope charges framed against her because she refused to have sex with the sports minister. Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayaka was not available for comment. Bandaranaike also said they would investigate into the dope charge and punish those found guilty of any misdeed."

"The report went on to state that Jayasinghe, when informed by the Leader of this development, said she would be the first to visit him in prison if that was to happen. "I would take with me an apple to give him because apple symbolizes the forbidden fruit,' she was quoted as saying.

"The Ides are here. The UNP rules. But if Susanthika still wants to take him that apple and tell him a thing or two about forbidden fruit, she won't find SB in a prison cell.

"Far from being arrested, he was welcomed with open arms by Mr. Wickremesinghe when he defected from the PA.

"In the greener pastures Wickremesinghe has offered him as the new minister of agriculture and livestock Mr. Dissanayaka continues to look as smug as ever. Then again, perhaps he'll do a better job than he did at the sports ministry -- being that he's now in charge of cows and goats."

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