Opposition leaders sister Mrs. Dulanjalee Jayakody was summoned by the CID , yesterday to record a statement about setting fire to Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe’s house down 5th Lane Colombo 4. This was reported by ‘Mawrata web’ yesterday. Today she spoke to media and released a special statement about the whole episode.
She said ‘I was not there when Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe’s house was on fire! I was shocked to hear about it! Nothing can be done to my character or the name of Premadasa by slandering and making false accusations! A special statement from Dulanjali Premadasa!’
Mrs. Dulanjalee Jayakody’s special statement appended below.
I am a citizen of Sri Lanka. I am myself before I am my parents’ child , my husband’s wife, my children’s mother, my brother’s sister. I have the same rights as anyone else under the constitution. I have and will continue to exercise by freedom and my rights without breaking any laws of the land.
Some of you may feel that I should not go out and take part in a protest. Why ? Would you rather I stay at home twiddling my thumbs while the country is on fire? I on my own may not make a huge difference but collectively all of us can. If I step out of my house with my children to exercise my right to protest why is that anyone’s business?
I was there two days ago opposite 5 th Lane standing on the pavement asking for the Prime Minister’s resignation. Earlier we were tear gassed and water sprayed repeatedly, we ran for cover. Then I walked back on to the pavement and stood there watching the younger protestors. I was asked to move away by a police officer but I refused saying that it was my right to stand on the pavement asking for the Prime Minister’s resignation as was the majority of people in Sri Lanka.
Then after a while the police and the STF started getting very aggressive with the use of water and tear gas. All of us ran down the road and I hid inside Thurston College. The younger protestors who were out on the road were assaulted. Many were injured. Since we were inside the school premises we could not see much so after some time we left , around 8 pm or so.
I heard what happened afterwards. Burning and destroying people and houses is not something any sane person approves of including myself. I was there to ask the PM to resign AS IS MY RIGHT. Not to break the law in any form. I was appalled to hear that his house was burning. No one wishes that on anyone.
All of you who make it your day attempting to tarnish my name , image whatever takes your fancy , that’s your right . I have rights too and will continue to fight lawfully for what I believe in. I will protest about anything I feel I need to make a stand on. No amount of pointless useless vindictive criticism will stop me.
My intentions are to live together in peace with people of all religions and races, where they can earn their living honestly in order to feed and educate their children. People should be provided with their basic necessities and medicine to survive. It’s all about survival now in case if you all have forgotten! If this government cannot provide that then they must leave.
If any subsequent government cannot provide that then they too must leave their office with dignity without bringing the people out on to the streets to protest , to get assaulted , tear gassed and water boarded. I do not owe anyone any explanations but I wanted to state the truth as it is. Some of you enjoy throwing all forms of insults and accusations but before going on your rampage find out the real story.
Kindly use your common sense and basic intelligence which most of us are blessed with to assess what happened. It helps to know what you are on about.
There are several political parties that are bent on attacking my image to enhance their own petty agendas. They should pick a valid topic instead of clinging on to falsehood and innuendo.
Wishing you all a blessed day !
Dulanjalee Jayakody