Hon. (Attorney-at-Law) Sunil Watagala

¶ 01 What I am saying is about a matter he has been carrying. Who are we talking about? Which political figures who were looking to win votes and gain political advantage back then? Shall we look at that list? Who is on top of that list? In the foreword to Rohan Gunaratna’s own book, who is being referred to? Then, did Udaya publish this book the other day because of fear he had back then, or out of political cunning? We are asking that from you.

¶ 02 There is another question as well. Since that time, several investigative reports were published. Court proceedings were held. Some even paid compensation. At no time did Udaya come forward to say, “Stop, stop,” and bring those processes to a halt. He should have told the Cardinal then, “Your Eminence, do not be afraid; I will show you how to search.” After sleeping through so long, why has Udaya suddenly started rushing now to find the mastermind? Is it because signs have emerged that the real mastermind will be exposed? Was he afraid that, if that comes out, those who feasted together would be revealed? Or is this, as before, yet another paid assignment?

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Speaker, is he now like the jackal that waited for the heifer to stumble? Is Udaya just another member of the jackals who are waiting and saying, “It will fall now, it will crack now,” until the Government falls, so that when it collapses, he can grab a big chunk? Did he make some noise and do a bit of work to show he is suitable, to mark that he too is present and qualified to catch a big share when it falls? Hon. Deputy Speaker, did he write this book to give ear to the laments in his own 60260th testimony? Or was it to very carefully reveal a mastermind whom Udaya himself already knew?

¶ 04 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I recall a recent incident from the past. In Narahenpita, Lalith Athulathmudali was assassinated. The accusation fell directly on former President Premadasa. Former President Premadasa immediately issued a statement: “Even if I am assassinated, do not assassinate my character.” He also said he would reveal who the killers of Athulathmudali were at the May Day rally. That is, he declared that he would reveal the mastermind behind the Athulathmudali assassination. What happened? Hours before the May Day rally, President Premadasa himself was assassinated. To this day, it has not been properly revealed who carried out the Athulathmudali assassination. Udaya knows this story. Udaya felt he had to write a book on who the mastermind of the Easter attacks was. He wrote the book and even got Rohan Gunaratna to write a foreword. Some matters in that foreword are concealed. That is why I said, the sentence I first mentioned is relevant here. The book says one thing; the foreword says another. Afterwards, Udaya invited the masterminds he knew to the ceremony.

¶ 05 Finally, Hon. Deputy Speaker, let me say this. There was a banner on the stage: “Revealing the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks.” Anyone looking at the front rows of the hall could guess the rest. What happened to Udaya, in a way that makes one laugh, is this. He is truly afraid of the red thread tied by the fortune-tellers on his wrist. The gods of that thread appeared and truly frightened him: either tell the truth, or something good will happen to you. Udaya knows exactly what will happen if he tells the full truth. He remembered how the son of the gem merchant died when his Benz overturned at Gikiyanadeniya. He remembered what happened to Tajudeen who got into a car with a bottle of water. Udaya tried to play both the small and big games at once. He planned a way to escape both sides. He said one thing in the book, another in the foreword. He pointed to the truth by jabbing a finger toward the gallery, saying “Look toward the House.”

¶ 06 Hon. Deputy Speaker, we must understand very subtly what is inside these books. We do not know what action the CID will take. In fact, some points in this book may misdirect the investigation, or affect matters pending before the Hon. Courts. Therefore, Hon. Deputy Speaker, we say one thing to Madugoda: do not be afraid. We will, within this investigation, necessarily reveal the true mastermind. That is a pledge within the popular mandate of the National People’s Power. Reminding that we will fulfill that pledge, I conclude.

¶ 07 Thank you.