Taped conversation provokes pandemonium

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 July 1999, 16:41 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Parliament was adjourned today amidst pandemonium on the floor of the house when an MP from the main opposition United National Party (UNP), played a tape of a conversation which allegedly took place between the Sri Lankan President's media advisor and a businessman about kick backs with regards to a private TV channel deal.

Dr. Rajitha Senaratna, a controversial politician, produced the tape of the alleged conversation and played it to the house.

Details of the alleged deal on the private TV station Channel 9 in which Sanath Gunatillaka had discussed kickbacks, implicating the Sri Lankan President were revealed by the English language weekend paper, The Sunday Leader recently.

The paper said that it was possession of the tapes of a crucial conversation between a Tamil investor from Australia, the President's media advisor and Lakshman Hulugalla, a controversial local businessman.

The committee's chairman, Rauf Hakeem, MP (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress) who was Acting Speaker today objected to Dr. Rajitha playing the tape in the house.

UNP ranks reacted to his objection by jeering and hooting.

The government ranks, according to Parliament sources, reacted by shouting back, creating pandemonium in the house.

The committee's chairman then adjourned the house.