Umar accuses Aragalaya activists tried to extort Rs. 3Mn

Jaswar Umar, a prominent figure in the Sri Lanka Football Federation’s Presidential election, has alleged that Aragalaya activists attempted to extort money from him, revealing their actions during a press conference held in Colombo ahead of the crucial election.

Umar claimed that the Electoral Committee, consisting of two retired High Court Judges and an A-Grade Government officer, faced intimidation when an individual stormed into the Football House. This incident was captured on video, which was subsequently circulated on social media, depicting a person using offensive language towards the Electoral Committee and entering official rooms without permission.

The aspiring presidential candidate went on to accuse a few Aragalaya activists of soliciting bribes for his campaign. Umar recounted that he received a phone call from an activist of Aragalaya, who demanded three million rupees for campaign support. Umar refused, citing ongoing legal matters.

Subsequently, the activist reduced the demanded amount to Rs 600,000 and then Rs 100,000, even asking for an urgent payment of Rs 20,000. Umar claimed to possess evidence of these exchanges, including bank account details provided by the activist, as well as details of the activist’s wife’s bank account.

Concerned by these alleged extortion attempts, Umar announced his intention to seek legal advice regarding a potential complaint to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) against the Aragalaya activists, some of whom he alleges may be attempting to flee the country.

The accusations come at a crucial juncture in the Sri Lanka Football Federation’s presidential election, raising questions about the integrity of the process and the influence of external parties.

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