Royal Old Boys dinner:

Minister Aluthgamage not involved in fisticuff

Incident stage managed by UNP :

Power and Energy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday completely denied a report in a Sunday paper that he was involved in a fisticuff with UPFA Provincial Councillor Nishantha Muthuhettigama at the Royal Old Boys' dinner dance and called the incident a craftily stage managed one by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to gain political milage and cause embarrassment to the Government.

'This is deliberate lie. I had no hand in the incident.The OBU membership will vouch for my innocence" the Minister said.

He accused UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake for starting it all by bringing Muthuhettigama to the function in a coloured sarong and slippers contrary to the strict formal attire stipulated in the invitations.

He said Muthuhettigama was taken to the table occupied by Ranil Wickremesinghe where the duo was seen in animated conversation. The Opposition Leader took the opportunity to make remarks to the guests that he (Muthuhettigama) was also now with them (opposition).

"The Annual OBU dinner dance is a very formal affair and had passed without incident since its inception 20 years ago.This is the first time such an ugly scene occurred.

Ravi Karunanayake should take the full blame for bringing him (Muthuhettigama) for the function in that manner." He said after about one hour after sharing a drink with Ranil Wickremesinghe at the latter's table Muthuhettigama obviously in an inebriated state went on stage requesting the Gypsies band leader Sunil Perera for the mike.

Things got out of hand at that moment when Sunil Perera broke into song.

This angered the OBU members who started throwing glasses at the stage with some of the members even preparing to assault Sunil and Muthuhettigama.

"When the Secretary of the OBU had requested Muthuhettigama to leave he threatened him saying he had a gun in his sarong ".

Refuting the account in the newspaper that he was involved in a fisticuff with the Provincial Councillor the Minister said there was no such accusation being made by the OBU membership against him. "Even the Principal called me this morning to say that I was not involved."

He said the whole episode was a politically motivated affair and the fact that Muthuhettigama was brought in by Ravi Karunanayake and seated him with the Opposition Leader tells a tale.