Sri Lanka: Govt.

To Nab Former Minister Weerawansa Over

Sexual Assault Charges?

( January 10, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Guardian) The newly appointed government is planning to nab a former Minister Wimal
Weerawansa over sexual assault charges, reliable source said.
Record From The History: Wimal Weerawansa accused of sexual harassment
We are re-publishing the following report on the former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, who is
responsibility for sever sexual assaults on an innocent women. The article was originally
published by the Sunday Leader, when late Lasantha was editing it, on November 2006.

Lake House employee transferred to Anuradhapura following revelations

Complaint made to President Rajapakse in writing
Weerawansa accused of abusing girl in filth for alleged leak
Wimals wife is alleged to have told victim she is aware of husbands weakness for
phone action

Wi
mal Weerawansa then a minister under the Former President Rajapaksa, attending the election
camping rally in 2015.

| by Vimukthi Yapa for the old-Sunday Leader

Incriminating evidence has emerged against firebrand JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal
Weerawansa for alleged sexual harassment of a 24-year-old Lake House employee.
And the scandalous tale indicates that the pontificating politician has been in the habit of
telephoning the innocent village girl from Polonnaruwa whose job at the Lake House was
secured by Weerawansa, though he allegedly requested for sexual favours from her afterwards.

(Fr
om Left) Letter of transfer issued by G.M, ANCL Mahinda Rajapakse, Weerawansas wife,
Wimal Weerawansa
What is more, for having resisted his overtures and for a news item that appeared in a
newspaper linking her to Weerawansa following some comments made by the opposition in
parliament, the MP had threatened her by phone and allegedly claimed that her entire family
would be wiped out.
The immediate result of the publication of the news item terribly impacted on the girl. She had
been immediately transferred from the VDT Unit, Lake House where she worked as a computer
operator to the Anuradhapura branch with effect from October 31.
With authorities failing to assist her in her hour of need, the victim has now sought justice from
the highest in the land.
In an emotional appeal to President Mahinda Rajapakse, she had claimed that she was
transferred simply due to a personal vendetta which had nothing to do with her work.
Holier-than-thou
However, the matter that never came to the public glare first emerged in parliament when an
opposition parliamentarian heckled the holier-than-thou Weerawansa about not allowing an
innocent village girl to continue with her employment at Lake House.
The UNP parliamentarian who dredged the matter told parliament that it was sad to have a
group leader of a leading political party allegedly demanding sexual favours from an innocent
village girl who only sought assistance from him to find herself a job.
For a man who loves to drag others down, and interested in publishing sometimes even non
existing sleaze and scandal about those who do not subscribe to his views, Weerawansa has
allegedly made a habit of giving amorous calls to the said girl.
The victimised girl (whose identity is withheld due to ongoing investigations) in a hand written
letter to President Mahinda Rajapakse on November 11 had claimed that she had been

transferred out from the VDT Unit of Lake House with effect from October 31 without any
prior notice.
Her letter of transfer further instructed her to report to the Provincial Editor/Anuradhapura
Branch.
According to the transfer letter issued by General Manager, ANCL, Abhaya Amaradasa, the
said girl had been transferred to the Anuradhapura branch office with immediate effect. No
explanation was provided to her, even when she asked as to why no explanation was offered,
except to say they were acting according to the orders received.
Political interference
Lake House inside sources confirmed that the transfer was effected as a direct result of the
political interference by Weerawansa who simply wanted the girl removed following his
harassment issue becoming a topic of discussion among opposition parliamentarians and even
reaching the newspapers.
The said girl had been attached to the VDT Unit at Lake House for over a period of one and a
half years in the capacity of computer operator.
According to her letter written to President Rajapakse, it is alleged by her that her transfer was
a direct result of a personal vendetta. (A copy ofthe letter sent to the Presidential Secretariat
was obtained by The Sunday Leader which is being reproduced in full to endorse authenticity
of facts.)
A native of Polonnaruwa, she is currently pursuing higher studies and is therefore residing in
Colombo as travelling is easier.
She alleges that her name had been linked to a leader of a prominent political party in a news
item which appeared in a Sinhala newspaper thereby triggering off a crisis that culminated in
an act of victimisation.
According to her letter, she had inquired from the Lake House management for the possible
reason for her transfer. She further alleges that she was informed that the management was
simply carrying out orders from the top which made it impossible for them to do anything else
in this regard. According to her, the management had also informed her that her personal life
had no bearing on her work but they were also unable to be of further help.
Appeal to the President
In her appeal to the President, the victimised and harassed girl has stated that she was invited to
come and meet Mrs. Anura Yapa, also the private secretary to the Media Minister in order to
ascertain the veracity of the story.
Mrs. Yapa, according to the letter had got the young girl down to her office in an official
vehicle during office hours. Next she had questioned her as to whether there was any basis to
the story.
The girl, upset that anyone should so ask, and hurt by having to defend her innocence had
related the entire sequence of events leading up to the death threats at which point the
Ministers wife had allegedly offered her a solution.
She had suggested that either she obtain a transfer so that the story in circulation would die a
natural death or to apply for leave for about a month and to stay away from work during that
period.
The girl however, according to inside sources as well as the contents of her letter, had stood her
ground and said that she did not wish to leave Lake House like a coward when she has not done
any wrong and in fact was completely free of guilt that she wishedto continue with her present

employment.
Now the girl, victimised and with no support from others while the politically powerful persons
are creating further problems for her and threatening her with death, has finally decided to quit
her employment at Lake House altogether.
Disgusted
The victim it is said, had told confidantes that she was disgusted about the present set up that
does not defend innocence and does not assist an innocent employee when she seeks the
support of custodians to safeguard both her reputation and her job.
The poor girl elsewhere has stated on record that she was scared to solicit help from anyone
simply because those who assist her appear to be wolves in sheeps clothing, waiting to pounce
on her and seek favours of a different kind - the kind that she refuses to grant.
According to the victims family sources, the victim is related to Shirsha Udayanthi, wife of
JVP Spokesman and Parliamentary Group Leader, Wimal Weerawansa. The sources claim that
when Weerawansas spouse and her family were down in the dumps years ago, it was this girls
family that came to their aid.
Family sources maintain that after she completed her Advanced Level examination, Shirsha
Udayanthi requested the young girl to be sent to her residence to obtain a good job for her.
Her parents readily agreed to send her given the fact that Weerawansas spouse had been
always close to the family and now her husband was a powerful politician who could help their
daughter to obtain gainful employment.
But when the young girl did visit the Weerawansas, she visited the home she knew which was
in Mawaramandiya where Shirsha Udayanthi previously managed a communication centre.
Before undertaking the journey, she had allegedly told her parents how happy she was at the
prospect of finding herself a job.
She was first given accommodation at Weerawansas Arewwala home, the house Weerawansa
occupied after he left the Mawaramandiya home citing security reasons.
Extremely trustworthy
When the girl did go there, the JVP politburo members were also occupying the house. It is
learned that the JVP policy makers were given a firm undertaking by Wimal Weerawansa that
she was extremely trustworthy and there would be no problems by her staying there.
All hell broke loose however when an opposition parliamentarian jokingly referred to
deplorable conduct by Weerawnsa with regard to a Lake House employee just two months ago.
The same day Weerawansa,we have it on record, had reportedly called her and told her that she
was being used as a cats paw, to sling mud at the JVP spokesman.
She had reportedly responded by saying that it was they who were creating problems for
themselves and for her. It is learned that Weerawansa has shouted at the young girl over the
telephone.
Family sources claim that the girl was originally under the belief that somebody would have
tapped her telephone and divulged details of these personal conversations to the said newspaper
that published the initial story.
The following Monday when she reported to work, she was promptly summoned to the office
of Manager (Personnel), Lake House and questioned about the news item. She had said she had
no idea as to how the information leaked out and defended her innocence.
However, the manager had suggested that the girl meet Mrs. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa
immediately to clear the air, adding that Lake House was good to employees who were good to

the institution in return.

Options offered
During her meeting with Mrs.Yapa, she offered two options, a transfer or one months leave
both of which were refused by the victim who claimed that she had no reason to hide
somewhere when she was completely innocent.
The real drama started afterwards. Wimal Weerawansa according to what is onrecord had
allegedly called the victim and abused her in absolute filth and threatened to kill her. While the
victim who was embarrassed by the call was claiming that she played no role in a possible
campaign against Weerawansa, Shirsha Udayanthi, wife of Wimal Weerawansa had grabbed the
telephone and begun using abusive language. She had allegedly threatened the victim would
not be allowed to work for more than a few days and further alleged that she would be taken
unawares when a great tragedy strikes her soon.
A few minutes later, Shirsha Udayanthi had telephoned the girl again; apologetic for her bad
choice of language in the presence of her husband. Her excuse had been to say that her husband
was there in front of her at the time, hence the use of intemperate language.Weerawansas wife
had thenallegedly claimed that she was quite aware of her husbands weaknesses.
Phone sex
An angry wife hadallegedly told the girl according to the evidence on record that the husband
enjoyed phone sex and nothing more and admitted to having an affair with a leading SLFP
politician with the blessings of her own husband.
The victim had cautioned that she had no interest in the personal lives of the Weerawansas and
simply asked her to be left alone.
But she was not. With those in power managing to hide facts, the girl was instantly penalised.
She was unceremoniously transferred to Anuradhapura with no other option or even an
explanation.She had further charged that Weerawansa invited her to visit various places with
him which she had declined.
The young girl further charges that aman providing security to Weerawansa who is identified as
Priyantha, had offered to send her to Japan to ensure both the JVP Parliamentary Group
Leader and she were protected from exposure.
Her letter of transfer signed by General Manager, ANCL, Abhaya Amaradasa was delivered to
her home thereby sealing the fate of a girl who had been twice victimised by the Lake House
authorities at the behest of a politician and the politician himself.
The President on receipt of the letter had been visibly shockedbut has decided to ignore it lest it
becomes a political hot potato for him to deal with.
Politicos wife threatened me - victim
The employees complaint to the President
Name (Withheld)
Computer operator
VDT Unit
Lake House
06/11/06
Your Excellency, the President
Presidential Secretariat,

Colombo
Ref: immediate transfer from post
Your Excellency,
I have been employed at the Lake House for over a period of 1 1 /2 years as a computer
operator attached to the VDT Unit.
I have been transferred to the Anuradhapura branch of Lake House with immediate effect from
October 31.
I am a native of Polonnaruwa and at present happen to pursue higher education in Colombo. To
facilitate my education, I am currently residing in Colombo.
Further, I also wish to state that this transfer emanated from a personal vendetta the backdrop
for which I seek to explain.
A newspaper recently published a news item linking a political leaders name with that of mine
which was the closest reason for the fate that befell me. Despite my innocence, the final
outcome had been the transfer which is a huge impediment to my studies.
When I inquired from the Lake House management, I was told that they were simply giving
effect to orders from the top and that they were also helpless. Thy further told me that my
personal life had no bearing on my employment.
I wish to impress upon Your Excellency, that I have diligently carried out my work at all times
and would consider my services still necessary to the institution.
I have also complained to the trade union organisations seeking some redress, once again to no
avail. Further, I am also suspicious as to why they were not supportive of me in this instance.
I have also been receiving threats from the wife of the said politician since September 29.Yet I
continued to discharge my duties and bore the insults and agonies in silence, as I did not wish
to create problems.
But I am compelled to think that my life is now in danger following these incidents.
I am the only daughter of a well-educated family. I am only 24 years of age. My family has for
generations been involved in SLFP politics and has served the SLFP interests faithfully.
But what I fail to comprehend is as to why anyone would wish to penalise me based on a news
item and even going to the extent of issuing death threats to me.
I do know that subjecting party members to such humiliation and suffering is not the style of
our political party. As such, I appeal to Your Excellency to prevent young lives from being
destroyed for no fault of their own and I am certain that you would take all possible action to
prevent such things from happening in the future.
I also reiterate that I have never provided information to any institution in a bid to publishing
the said news story. I also do not know any of the persons associated with the said news
publication and insist that I cannot be bought over and under no circumstances would I lie with
regard to anything.
However, Minister of Information and Media, Anura Yapas wife who also functions as his
secretary, got me to her residence during working hours in an official vehicle simply to verify
facts.
Because I did not conceal any facts from her and believed that honesty was the best policy, she
came to realise that I was innocent in this regard.
Then she asked me whether I would like to go on leave for about a month either for study
purposes or to be transferred to a different place. Because I strongly believed that I had done no
wrong to be penalised in any manner. I rejected both offers and told Mrs. Yapa that I am not in

the habit of running away from problems, but only in confronting them. What is more, I also
told her that I have not done anything wrong to run away.
What is more, I have also informed the Lake House management about the many death threats
received by me, to which their laconic response was to simply continue to ignore them.
When there was no action to secure my life, I met my superiors and asked whether it would be
appropriate for me to lodge a police complaint with the assistance of my lawyer for my
protection.
To my shock and dismay, their reply was that whatever the course of action I decided to take
had no bearing on them. They also told me that the Lake House was indeed good to its
employees as long as the they were good to the institution.
Your Excellency, I asked them why I was being penalised when I have been good to the
institution. In response, they could only say that this was a separate issue and orders from the
top had been received.
Do I need to emphasise here your Excellency, the duty of an institution is to protect an innocent
employee who is particularly not in the wrong? Yet, I was penalised for no fault of mine. Then
whose fault was this?
I find that political leaders who profess to protect the rights of the working class and try to
champion their causes are the very ones who abuse their positions to penalise innocent workers
simply to settle petty scores.
I beg you to provide me an answer as to how these political leaders could purely act in
vengeance and ruin others lives? Isnt it most unfortunate that this ugly incident of
victimisation and harassment occurred during your regime?
I have kept faith inYour Excellency, yet do you also wish to allow injustices of this nature to
continue? Would you also allow other political parties to abuse the powers of your government
and simply destroy the lives of youth like me?
I also reiterate that this kind of victimisation, if allowed to continue would eventually build to
such a level that thousands could fall prey to the dirty tactics of politicians.
I implore your Excellency to prevent the occurrence of such incidents in the future so that
innocent people would be spared of the agony of being victimised despite their sheer
innocence.
I also urge some action to prevent such things from happening in the future in the name of
humanity.
Yours faithfully,
.
Employee (Lake House)
Penal Code definition of Sexual harassment
According to Section 345 of the principal enactment as amended by Section 5 of the Amending
Act No. 22 of 1995, whoever, by assault or use of criminal force, sexually harasses another
person, or by the use of words or actions, causes sexual annoyance or harassment to such other
person commits the offence of sexual harassment and shall on conviction be punished with
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years or with a fine or
with both and may also be ordered to pay compensation of an amount determined by court to
the person in respect of whom the offence was committed or the injuries caused to such person.
The repeal section adds two explanations to the above as well.
According to the first, unwelcome sexual advances by words or action used by a person in

authority, in a working place or any other place, shall constitute the offence of sexual
harassment.
The second explanation is that for purposes of this section, an assault may include any act that
does not amount to rape under Section 363 of the Penal Code.