By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa last night said that he had met the person described as a drug kingpin by the Police Spokesman and the UNP at the launch of the documentary movie ‘Selvam’ on the evening of Nov 25, 2011 at Regal Cinema.

Responding to Minister Jayasuriya’s allegations, Rajapaksa said that the then service commanders, the IGP as well as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) participated at the event on the invitation of Sanjaya Leelarathna, who directed the movie. Among others present on the occasion was the then National List MP Malini Fonseka, Rajapaksa said, adding that the movie depicted the post-war scenario after the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009.

The former Defence Secretary insisted that as Leelaratne, who had also acted in the documentary, introduced the alleged drug kingpin as the producer, the police should inquire from him the circumstances leading to the film project.

‘Selvam’ won two awards at the Kuala Lumpur U.D.C. Film Festival in Malaysia.

Rajapaksa said that the defence establishment promoted the movie as the director picked an actual ex-LTTE combatant Shanthalingam Gokularaja to play the main role.

He said that the police should reveal whether the then government, Defence Ministry or Police Headquarters had been informed of the alleged drug dealer at the time he visited Sri Lanka for the film project. “Yes. I shook hands with him. In fact, the photograph being used against me was taken from defence.lk.”

Rajapaksa said that the media could visit defence.lk and see for themselves those present on the occasion. State-run and private television stations as well as print media could provide more pictures of the event, the former Defence Secretary said, urging the police to reveal whether the alleged heroin kingpin had been wanted by Malaysia or any other country for heroin or some other offence by that time.

Rajapaksa pointed out that the media on the basis of information provided by the Police Spokesman had reported on Wednesday that an investigation into Malaysia based heroin dealer commenced in 2013.

The former Defence Secretary emphasised that he along with the defence top brass attended the event at Regal Cinema as guests of director cum actor Leelaratne.

Courtesy:The Island