Gotabhaya prevented Frederica from obtaining diplomatic post - Keheliya

by Zacki Jabbar

The government yesterday alleged that the Sunday Leader editor Frederica Jansz was critical of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa since he had prevented her from obtaining a diplomatic posting abroad, through the good offices of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing in Colombo, said that Frederica had met President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees recently, in the company of Gamini Abeyratne alias Taxi Abey and requested that she be posted abroad as a diplomat.

The Defence Secretary on hearing of the meeting had objected to any favours being granted to Frederica, Minister Rambukwella said.

Responding to a question by a journalist, the Minister said that Frederica’s allegation that Gotabhaya had scolded her in filth, when she called him recently to check on a story that SriLankan Airlines was planning to change aircraft and pilots to bring down a puppy from a western country for Gotabhaya’s niece, may be due to malice on her part.