Courtesy Ceylon Today

With an alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa unfolding, the involvement of the Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Tamil Diaspora, and the Avaa gang in the North has come to light, MP Wimal Weerawansa said.

Addressing a Press conference held in Colombo today (17), he alleged that the members of the Avaa gang even receive training in India.

He claimed that the Indian national arrested in connection to the assassination plot, M. Thomas, was in fact a trained member of RAW who had arrived in Sri Lanka following the 2015 Election, under diplomatic immunity and a false identity. Weerawansa said the suspect’s real name was Rajitha Kumar with the RAW identification ‘RB 317217/BK’, and that the suspect had even visited his residence and office looking for him, however, the MP had at the time said he was unavailable.

Hence, upon his arrest the Indian High Commission declared that the suspect was mentally handicapped in order to absolve India from any involvement in the plot. Nonetheless, the suspect has made a statement to the Police affirming his involvement in an elaborate plot to assassinate high profile targets. There has been a deliberate involvement of Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara, in the alleged plot, however no action has been taken against him and there is an intention within the Government to send him as an ambassador,” he further said.

At the same time, the incumbent Government, while diluting the effect of the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1978 by seeking to introduce a new Act (presently the Counter Terrorism Bill), has also approved the payment of compensation to former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, he claimed.