EDITORIAL

A Criminal Mind

Starting with a tiny crack, the trickle of information on the criminal life and times of Thilanga Sumathipala has now been transformed into a flood, and a flood in full spate to boot. Last week we exposed his alleged complicity in murder and conspiracy to murder. This week we show beyond a shadow of doubt that he is a crook — a criminal fraudster of no mean order. And there is more — much more — yet to come.

When a newspaper labels someone as a crook and a criminal, it must do so with responsibility. After all, the law of defamation is severe. Sumathipala could sue The Sunday Leader and drive it into ruin. After all, he is a media tycoon, Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom (probably the largest company in Sri Lanka) and President of the Board of Control for Cricket. He has a reputation to defend: no ordinary man he. And yet we do, in the public interest and with responsibility, claim him to be a common criminal.

The allegations against Sumathipala made in a statement to the CID by an accomplice named Bada Mahinda gave a chilling account of how Sumathipala had contracted a gang of assassins to murder the Editor of this newspaper, amongst others. But that is not why we are choosing to expose him: no act of vengeance this. We are exposing Sumathipala’s criminality because it is in the public interest to do so. He has been appointed by the government to head one of the largest business entities in the country and he presides over the multimillion-dollar empire of the Board of Control for Cricket. Should these vital offices be held by a common criminal? Don’t the people of Sri Lanka deserve better? Can Sri Lanka’s place of honour in international cricket — the gentleman’s game — survive this blot on the landscape?

In the past week, unequivocal evidence has come to light that Sumathipala committed criminal fraud, and a fraud more so, that links him inextricably to the very man he is alleged to have contracted to commit murder. Accompanied by then Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake, Sumathipala took the alleged murderer, Dhammika Amarasinghe to the 1999 Cricket World Cup in London. They flew Business Class, sat together and were accorded the privileges of the VIP lounge — at taxpayer’s expense. Sumathipala paid for Amarasinghe’s ticket. The Cricket Board paid for the underworld contract killer’s expenses: Rs 170,651.34 in fact by way of traveller’s cheques, something that was picked up and queried by a committee of inquiry subsequently since the man’s identity was at the time not known. Right until now, no one knew the unidentified person the Cricket Board funded on Sumathipala’s directive at the time was a wanted criminal on the run. What is most damning is that Dhammika Amarasinghe travelled on a false passport obtained by fraud, and under a false name. His UK visa too, was obtained under false pretences under Sumathipala’s patronage as President of the BCCSL. Let us see what the British High Commission will do with that juicy piece of information.

On pages 12 and 13 in today’s issue, we provide evidence of all this, chapter and verse. There is no ducking any of it now: Sumathipala aided and abetted underworld kingpin Dhammika Amarasinghe to leave and re-enter Sri Lanka on a false passport, an offence punishable by imprisonment under Section 45 of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act. More importantly, this independent evidence helps corroborate Bada Mahinda’s confession on vital elements as to Sumathipala’s links with Dhammika Amarasinghe and his complicity in the crimes spoken of. He also defrauded the Cricket Board, which paid the murderer’s expenses under a false name and passport to accompany Sumathipala to London. What would Sir Tim Rice, the venerated Lords President say if he knew that his counterpart from sunny Sri Lanka had not only smuggled a murderer into his box but had done so by defrauding the Sri Lankan Board of Control?

We wonder what the so-called men of honour on the BCCSL board are going to do now. What of Mohan de Silva? Trevor Rajaratnam? Will they call for an inquiry in the light of this evidence that their President committed fraud? Or will they stoop to be party to a cover-up? What also from Sumathipala’s former rival, Arjuna Ranatunga? Will he dare even to mention this sordid misdeed in parliament?

Sumathipala is not an unimportant man. He has friends in the highest places. He has pleaded desperately with the Prime Minister and numerous ministers to intercede with this newspaper and put an end to the exposures. We have not heard from the Prime Minister in this regard, although we learn that Sumathipala was told in no uncertain terms that SLT was not his private property and that he had no right to use private grudges to restrict advertising in selected newspapers — no prizes for guessing which one. We have also been told by several ministers that Sumathipala had urged them to plead his case with The Sunday Leader. Our stock response has been, ‘No way, José!’ The truth will out.

The police have up to now conducted an inquiry that is exemplary for its impartiality and objectivity. We have no doubt that Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabayson and Solicitor General C.R. de Silva will keep faith with their oaths of loyalty to the constitution, the law and principles of justice. The Attorney General proved that he was no mere hireling of the government in power only recently by publicly rejecting the infamous deal between SriLankan Airlines and Emirates. The Solicitor General has also throughout his career not flinched in prosecuting the rich and powerful. No doubt pressure will be brought to bear on them too, by the all powerful Sumathipala.

One of Sumathipala’s greatest strengths has been his power over the media. He has in effect used the patronage he wields as SLT Chairman and President, BCCSL, to woo media bosses and journalists into silence. The public knows full well which media institutions have chosen to brush the revelations against Sumathipala under the carpet. They will know soon enough why.

Even as the net closes around this criminal, and the noose tightens around his neck, it is ironic that he travels in a cavalcade of armoured vehicles, with six Ministerial Security Division (MSD) bodyguards to protect him, even as his putative victims lie dead or sans any protection whatsoever. We do not for one moment claim that if there is in the opinion of the police a risk to Sumathipala’s life, he should not be afforded security. But why the MSD? Is he a minister? No, he is a mere catcher — a hanger-on of state patronage. And ironically, when two attempts were made on the life of the Editor of this newspaper during the course of the last government, a lone sentry was stood outside his house for some days.

As William Congreve, a man of few words, said in his The Double Dealer, “Murder will out.” To Sumathipala’s eternal disgrace, it has. It remains only to be seen whether it will earn him damnation: the sword of justice hangs over this villain’s head and the question now is whether his wealth and affluence can propel him yet above the law. The Sri Lankan public are also no doubt closely watching what Sports Minister Johnston Fernando will do with regard to Sumathipala’s continued occupation of the BCCSL presidency notwithstanding their close friendship now that there is demonstrable fraud on his part in that organisation. The public will also watch how the government will countenance this criminal as its nominated SLT Chairman. The heat is on, Mr. Prime Minister: let us see how the chips will fall.