Daily NEWS Srilanka

Former Economics Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who is currently in remand had informed all of a sudden while in the prison hospital that he was stricken with a chest pain. Subsequently, the other two who were sentenced to remand prison had contracted chest pain and Nihal Jayatilleka who was a doctor had said that he is suffering from chest pain. Since all three inclusive of Basil were having chest-pain, it was after that that the amicable doctors who examined them made a medical recommendation that they be admitted to the Colombo National Hospital from the remand hospital. As a result of this abnormal chest pain, all three of them were able to enjoy the benefits of facilities available at the paying-ward of the Colombo National Hospital compared to the prison hospital. On the recommendation of the chief judicial officer of the prison, the three of them were transferred last evening to ward (room number 15) of the Colombo National Hospital paying-ward under protection of the prison officers.

In the meantime, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of Basil stating his ideas about his brother being imprisoned said, "Basil has been taken into custody and remanded saying that he had given money to samurdhi beneficiaries, isn't it. It doesn't matter if he goes to jail for a month ... three or even six months. I am also a person who was in jail for three months. As a politician .... must have an experience of this sort".

Through this statement the ex-President has interpreted Basil's jail sentence as 'gaining an experience based on a minor error'. It is the idea of political critics as to how the allegation of public funds amounting to Rs. 2100 million being deposited in private accounts which is a case of cheating could be called an instance of giving money to samurdhi beneficiaries. Further, it is a complex situation to consider how this act of financial fraud be termed only as an experience along the political journey.