by Matthew Campbell, The Sunday Times, London, May 14, 2022,
Tamil & Sinhalese translations of the English provided. (Sinhala version has not been verified)
Gotabaya Unlawful Election The Times May 14 2022
‘If they knew I was doing this, Rajapaksa’s thugs would take my children and send me their heads in a basket’
Journalist in hiding after questioning Sri Lankan leader’s legitimacy
Riots in Sri Lanka threaten to topple the Rajapaksa family that has shaped Sri Lanka for a generation ISHARA S KODIKARA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
A journalist in Sri Lanka is sheltering in fear for her life after obtaining evidence that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should have been barred from running for office in 2019 and is therefore an illegitimate leader.
She obtained a copy of an official document from a contact in the United States apparently indicating that the politician was an American citizen at the time, which would have disqualified him from running.
Her newspaper then refused to publish her claims about the president’s alleged constitutional breach for fear of reprisals from the powerful Rajapaksa dynasty. The family has dominated Sri Lankan politics for almost two decades and is at the heart of the turmoil sweeping the country.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa has denied ordering hits on members of the press THARAKA BASNAYAKA/NURPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES