Talatha Responded  to MR on Death Doubt Expressed by Mahinda

While responding to journalists on the remarks made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa  that the new Justice Minister, should order a probe into her brother’s death, Justice and Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorale said,  she did not have any doubt on the circumstances that led to her brother’s death.

Further she said,  she was well aware of the secret dealings Mr. Atukorale had with Mr. Rajapaksa  prior to his sudden death from a heart attack on January 2, 2002 and  she is at a loss  to understand as to why  former President Mahinda Rajapaksa suggested that she should initiate a probe into the death of her brother after 10 years.

As the younger sister of my brother, I was well aware of the covert alliances my brother had with Mr. Rajapaksa and President Chandrika Kumaratunga. If Mr. Rajapaksa had a slightest doubt on the death of my brother,  he could have ordered a probe after becoming the President in 2005. Why  didn’t  he  do that then and now suggesting that I must hold an inquiry.  He made this statement with ulterior motives and with malice,” the minister  concluded.