Another Maga Neguma dispute: DS complains of death threats

By Shane Seneviratne

A Divisional Secretary has complained to police that she received death threats from a Pradeshiya Sabha chairman and a member in Kundasale, as she refused to approve payments for a construction, but the member is denying the allegation and is making a counter claim that they wanted the officer removed for blocking development activities.

District Secretary Sujani Wijesinghe claims she had refused to make the payment for work carried out under the Maga Neguma Programme as the construction failed to meet required standards. She claimed the death threats were made by the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and the member in the presence of Kandy,District Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne who had summoned a meeting to resolve the dispute.

The meeting had been summoned as the Pradeshiya Sabha members had planned to hold a protest opposite the Divisional Secretariat office in Kundasale. At the meeting the Pradeshiya Sabha member Ruwan Kapukotuwa had said the Divisional Secretary should be transferred within three days and if the payment is not made she would be killed.

The Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman who was present had said he agreed with the comments made by his member. The Menikhinna police said the complaint had been referred to the Kandy Police as she had been threatened in the Kandy Police area. However, Mr. Kapukotuwa told The Sunday Times that he was appointed as the convenor to represent the council to discuss the demand for removing the Divisional Secretary as she was obstructing the work of the council.
He said he did not threaten her at the meeting.