tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88137664960634453962024-03-15T18:11:19.809-07:00SRI LANKA – WAR ON TERROR REVISITEDIslander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comBlogger666125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-6125050522845216422023-11-08T05:04:00.000-08:002023-11-08T05:04:25.015-08:00Prez recalls debilitating Elephant Pass setback at Reid Avenue talk<p> <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 495</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></p><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/11/8</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px -380px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 380px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ranil.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ranil.jpg 800w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ranil-300x188.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ranil-768x480.jpg 768w" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ranil.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ranil.jpg 800w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ranil-300x188.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ranil-768x480.jpg 768w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="800" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">A smiling President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives at Royal College, Reid Avenue on Oct. 27 (pic courtesy PMD)</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 38px 0px 0px; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Close on the heels of humiliating battlefield defeats in the Jaffna peninsula, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga declared her intention to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel. Sri Lanka opened a diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv in Oct 2000 after having established full diplomatic ties with the Jewish State in May 2000, just a few weeks after losing Elephant Pass. Kumaratunga made her move after India refused to throw its military weight behind Sri Lanka’s bid to bring the war to a successful end in the Jaffna peninsula. Sri Lanka closed down the Israeli Interest Section in 1989.The Kumaratunga administration even subjected the print media reportage of Indo-Lanka relations pertaining to defence matters to censorship. In the wake of the Elephant Pass debacle and repeated assaults on the retreating SLA, the Kumaratunga government at one point feared the possibility of having to abandon the Jaffna peninsula. But, the SLA courageously fought back to halt the enemy advance and then made modest territorial gains. But, the politically motivated change of Northern and Jaffna Commands appeared to have led to Operation Agni Kheela, nothing but a catastrophe that caused quite significant damage to the SLA offensive capacity.</span></strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently referred to the worst ever battlefield defeat suffered by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) during the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Addressing a distinguished gathering at his alma mater Royal College, Colombo 07, on Oct 27, the UNP leader, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, recalled the supreme sacrifice made by two Royalists, namely Brigadier Percy Fernando and Colonel Bhathiya Jayatilleke during the chaotic withdrawal from the Elephant Pass (EP) base or Aanai Iravu, as it is known in Tamil, in late April 2000.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The strategically located EP base had never been overrun and was widely believed to be impregnable until the LTTE executed a meticulously planned operation, having disrupted the overland supply route. The EP calamity took place during Eelam War III when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga served as the President (April 1995- Nov 2005).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the time of the EP debacle<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">,</b> Wickremesinghe served as the Opposition Leader, having received the UNP leadership in 1994 after his party was voted out following a17-year long reign. During the UNP reign, the SLA experienced its worst setback at Pooneryn on the Vanni mainland in early Nov. 1993 that led to the hasty retirement of then Army Commander Cecil Waidyaratne.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Percy Fernando, Deputy General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the fully fledged 54 Division, and Bhathiya Jayatilleke, Commander of 54.1 Brigade, were promoted to the rank of Major General and Brigadier, posthumously. The SLA couldn’t have held the EP after the LTTE captured their sole source of drinking water, the wells at Iyakachchi, and immediate withdrawal became inevitable. Both top officers and many of their men suffered from severe dehydration and not so much from enemy fire. Jayatillake was also the son-in-law of then JOC Head Lt. Gen Hamilton Wanasinghe.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Paying a glowing tribute to the former Royalists, the UNP leader declared that in spite of the grave risk to their lives they didn’t flee theElephant Pass base but stayed with the withdrawing troops. The old Royalist said that they (Royalists) never fled under any circumstances. Wickremesinghe pointed out how he and Premier Dinesh Gunawardena faced daunting political challenges as Royalists.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps, the Elephant Pass debacle should be examined also taking into consideration the recent death of General Lionel Balagalle, one-time Army Commander who also served in Jaffna before the EP calamity. Widely regarded as the father of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) Balagalle had been the Chief of Staff at the time of the debilitating EP setback and was involved in failed attempts to thwart LTTE offensive action therein.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The SLA first deployed a platoon at EP in the early ’80s. In 1990, EP became the home for a battalion of troops and support units. A decade later, the SLA had over a Division plus troops in the EP sector but couldn’t repulse the LTTE offensive.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The EP strip was of strategic importance to both the SLA and the LTTE as it linked the Vanni mainland with the Jaffna peninsula. Both the Jaffna-Kandy A9 road and the railway line to Jaffna run through EP, and the narrow strip of land was in a sense the gateway to Jaffna. The EP debacle should be also examined keeping in mind, that at the time, the SLA held the Jaffna peninsula, comprising Waligamam, Thennamaratchchy and Vadamaratchchy areas.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brig. Fernando had been walking with a group of soldiers moving northwards, away from Elephant Pass, when he was shot dead by a sniper, whereas Jayatilleke died from dehydration despite being admitted to the Palaly military hospital. Then Maj. Janaka Ritigahapola, the Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion of the Commando Regiment, who had been walking ahead of the Deputy Division Commander, later organized a night mission to recover the senior officer’s body.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now retired, Lt. Col. Ritigahapola told the writer, last weekend, how the Deputy Division Commander’s battle buddy accompanied a group of commandos who volunteered to walk back to the spot where the Brigadier was shot through the back of his head. “We really do now know he was sniped,” Ritigahapola said, adding that the senior officer’s sidearm was brought back by his battle buddy. According to Ritigahapola, like him, Brig. Fernando had returned to EP within 48 hours before having attended the funeral of a serviceman who succumbed to injuries suffered at EP.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Otherwise the SLA would have had to depend on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to secure the senior officer’s body. The LTTE returned many bodies of officers and men attached to the 54 Division through the ICRC as the situation deteriorated. The writer used to contact the then ICRC spokesperson Harasha Gunawardene regularly to receive updates as the LTTE pressed ahead with its offensive in the Jaffna peninsula. According to Gunawardene, as many as 200 bodies, or more, may have been transferred across the frontline at that time.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The LTTE directed phase four of large scale multi-pronged operation Ceaseless Waves (<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oyatha Alaikal</i>) at EP. That was meant to overrun the 54 Division plus troops deployed in the Elephant Pass sector. Phase I and II of Ceaseless Waves defeated the SLA in the Vanni and phase III, carried out beginning the second week of Dec. 1999, severely weakened the SLA position in the north, thereby facilitating the fourth phase. The first Unceasing Waves destroyed the isolated the Mullaithivu base, home to two infantry battalions and support units in July 1996. In terms of officers and men killed, Mullaithivu was the worst single battlefield loss.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The failure on the part of the SLA to thwart the LTTE offensive on the EP base is still a mystery. At that time, the fully equipped 54 Division, headquartered at Elephant Pass, had Division plus troops. Brigadier K.B. Egodawela, who had served as the GoC of the ill-fated Division, was among those who managed to escape the marauding LTTE units. The Division Commander had been among the sections of 54 Division which succeeded in evading the LTTE units deployed to block escape routes.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Undoubtedly, the loss of EP was the worst debacle the LTTE inflicted on the SLA. Close on the heels of their success at EP, the LTTE brought in all available units to press ahead with its assault on Jaffna. Fortunately, the SLA managed to repulse a series of determined LTTE attempts to advance on Jaffna town. Had the LTTE succeeded in its bloody efforts, Jaffna, regained in Dec. 1995 by Operation Riviresa, too, would have been lost. Had that happened, both the Palaly airbase and Kankesanthurai harbour would have been vulnerable to the LTTE offensive and the war could have taken a dangerous turn.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unprecedented crisis</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the time the EP base fell, the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had been in the UK. Therefore, the decision to order the 54 Division to withdraw from EP was taken at a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), chaired by the then Deputy Defence Minister, the late Anuruddha Ratwatte on the night of April 19, 2000. Amidst Opposition criticism of the President’s absence, the Presidential Secretariat declared that Mrs. Kumaratunga was abroad to receive medical treatment.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As pressure mounted on the SLA to take a swift decision on the EP base, the then Army Chief Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya, risked his life to visit the base, under siege, for consultations with Division Commander Brig. Egodawela and other senior officers. Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya had flown to Palaly airbase on the morning of April 19 and from there moved overland to the EP in two light vehicles and returned, following consultations, to Palaly before taking a flight to Ratmalana.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gen. Weerasooriya had briefed the NSC regarding the developing situation and the need to act swiftly to save the lives of officers and men as the combined security forces weren’t in a position to defend the EP base. The Army Chief has pushed for immediate withdrawal as the combined forces couldn’t intervene successfully. Responding to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i> query over the last weekend, the former Army Chief emphasized that he never asked for a ceasefire but underscored the urgent need to evacuate the defence complex if the enemy onslaught couldn’t be defeated.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The PA leadership opposed a ceasefire as such a move would undermine the government. Therefore, Deputy Defence Minister Ratwatte had given the go ahead for Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya to take necessary actions.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over the Army communications setup, instructions had been given to Brig. Egodawela to carry out the withdrawal on April 22, 2000. By the time instructions were issued, some sections of the 54 Division had already shifted positions, the former Army Chief said, recalling Brig. Fernando opted to walk with his men though he had an opportunity to get on board an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) or some other vehicle.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The writer was among a selected group of journalists invited to cover a hastily arranged media briefing at SLA headquarters on the night of April 24, 2000.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya and Maj. Gen. Balagalle explained the measures that were being taken at that time to consolidate the government position in Jaffna, following their pullout from EP. They were flanked by Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Cecil Tissera and Brigadier Palitha Fernando, the then military spokesman.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A grim-faced Army Chief declared that a re-thinking of strategy was required as the SLA consolidated its positions in the general area Soranpattu, northwest of Iyakachchi.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Against the backdrop of the developing crisis in Jaffna, the Army Chief dispatched Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera and Maj. Gen. Sarath Fonseka to the Jaffna peninsula. Maj. Gen. Perera received the appointment as Overall Operations Commander (OOC) for the entire northern theater while Maj. Gen. Fonseka assumed duties as Security Forces Commander, Jaffna.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya stressed the need to rapidly enhance the firepower to meet the emerging threat. The Army Chief also underscored the urgent need to bolster the fighting units in line with overall defence policy. He declined to comment on the enactment of laws to introduce hitherto unprecedented step of conscription to meet the serious manpower shortage experienced by the SLA.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya said: “When a war is on, like ammunition we need men.” Commenting on the need to strengthen the SLA, the Army Chief said: “We would like to further increase our firepower and re-equip.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that the PA government subjected the reportage on the conflict to military censorship. The government felt uncomfortable that battlefield losses could erode its popularity among the public, therefore there was no alternative to censorship. The media raised the issue with the Army. Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya, who emphatically denied ever requesting the government to impose censorship. Brigadier Palitha Fernando strongly opposed the media taking up the contentious issue of censorship at this particular media briefing.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The LTTE carried out ‘Unceasing Waves’ during the late Lt. Gen. Rohan Daluwatte’s tenure as the Army Commander (May 1, 1996-Dec. 15, 1998) and his successor Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya (Dec. 16, 1998-Aug. 24, 2000). Lionel Balagalle succeeded Weerasooriya on Aug. 25, 2000 and served as the Commander till June 30, 2004, during a politically turbulent period as the country headed for Eelam War IV.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Playing politics at the SLA’s expense</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regardless of the consequences, the PA and the UNP clashed over the EP debacle. Having returned home from abroad, Mrs Kumaratunga immediately went on the offensive. Kumaratunga accused the UNP of seeking political advantage over what she called a temporary setback suffered by the SLA in the Jaffna peninsula. She flayed the UNP for asserting the withdrawal from EP as a major military debacle.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What the PA really feared was the emerging threat on the Palaly-Kankesanthurai joint military complex in case the SLA had to abandon Jaffna following the EP debacle. The PA sought some sort of consensus with the UNP regarding the developments in the Jaffna peninsula whereas the UNP parliamentary group felt the government had suffered an irreversible setback and the situation could further deteriorate in case the SLA position in Jaffna town and its suburbs became untenable.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The LTTE launched the offensive against the EP base on Dec. 11, 1999, as the country was heading for presidential election on Dec. 21, 1999. On Dec. 18, 1999, the LTTE made an abortive bid to assassinate Kumaratunga at the final presidential election rally. In the run-up to the previous presidential election held on Nov. 09, 1994, the LTTE assassinated UNP candidate Gamini Dissanayake in late Oct. 1994.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the Jaffna theatre post-EP debacle, the LTTE pressed ahead with offensive operations and the SLA struggled to defend its positions. The UNP demanded a special debate on the situation as the SLA vacated Ittavil, Pulopullai and Pallai. The PA sustained censorship to deprive the public of their right to know what was going on in the north. The ICRC continued to transfer bodies of SLA personnel found in areas under LTTE control. The PA and UNP shamelessly played politics with the Jaffna situation regardless of the fact that the then the entire Vanni theatre had already fallen into the hands of the LTTE.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, the SLA with a range of new arms, ammunition and equipment acquired in the wake of the EP crisis, thwarted the LTTE offensive and stabilized the situation. As the SLA gradually brought the situation under control, the PA removed both Majors General Janaka Perera and Sarath Fonseka. President Kumaratunga scrapped the post of OOC while Fonseka was replaced by Brig. Anton Wijendra. The PA appeared to have felt confident that the LTTE no longer posed a threat on Jaffna therefore the services of the two officers, who led the defence and also the counter attack, was no longer required. Maj.Gen. Perera received the appointment as Chief of Staff whereas Fonseka moved to Vanni. What really made the PA remove both Perera and Fonseka?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maj. Gen. Wijendra consolidated the SLA positions in the Jaffna peninsula before the launch of Operation Agni Kheela (Rod of Fire) in early 2001 that was meant to regain the area lost to the LTTE in the previous year. The offensive went awry. The LTTE inflicted heavy losses on the SLA. That was the last large-scale SLA offensive before the signing of a Ceasefire Agreement in Feb. 2002 following the return of the UNP to power at the Dec 5, 2001, general election.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-7779773597209883672023-10-31T23:56:00.000-07:002023-10-31T23:56:28.004-07:00Vanni war and Israel-Gaza conflict: Funding catastrophes<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 494</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/11/1</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war-300x225.jpg 300w" height="488" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war-300x225.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">Four-wheel drive double cabs with anti-aircraft guns captured during Vanni offensive. The LTTE procured these vehicles in 2003-2004 with the support of the then government of Sri Lanka (pics courtesy SLA)</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/vanni-war-and-israel-gaza-conflict-funding-catastrophes/#" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; 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font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The utterly duped Sri Lanka government had no qualms in bending backwards to appease the LTTE in so many ways believing the so-called peace facilitators to the bitter end, despite the LTTE violating virtually all CFA rules.</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Viking peace facilitators took the Lankan leaders on right royal ride by making them believe in the Tigers to the bitter end. A case in point is the payments made by the then government in respect of an undisclosed number of brand new four-wheel drive double cabs acquired by the LTTE from Toyota Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. According to a letter sent by S. Pulieedevan of the LTTE Peace Secretariat, dated</strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">January 26, 2004, to Bradman Weerakoon, the Secretary to Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, the government had paid Customs duty, surcharge, excise Duty, PAL, VAT and BTT for those double cabs. The LTTE only paid the CIF value of the vehicles. During the Vanni battles, the Army captured double cabs mounted with anti-aircraft guns. These double cabs could have been among the vehicles acquired from Toyota Lanka. What really baffled the public is that the LTTE received such special status even 10 months after it quit the negotiating table.</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The creation of Hamas now fighting Israel can be easily compared with the formation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other Tamil groups in the late 70s. Hamas is an Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hamas and the LTTE were meant to undermine the elected representatives of the Palestinians, and the Tamil speaking community, respectively. That was one of the primary objectives of those who initially sponsored Hamas and the LTTE and other Tamil groups which gave up separatist agenda during Ranasinghe Premadasa’s tenure as the President (Jan. 02, 1989, to May Day, 1993).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Later objectives of the sponsors and strategies of Hamas and the LTTE changed over the years as they rapidly expanded, drawing funding from many other sources. Both groups achieved conventional status, and the losses they inflicted on governments were an indication of their military prowess. When Israel, the founding benefactor of Hamas, stopped funding it, regional powers, opposed to the Jewish State, stepped in, in a big way.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The LTTE went to the extent of killing Rajiv Gandhi who, in his capacity as the Indian Premier, forced Sri Lanka to accept the deployment of the Indian Army here (July 1987-March 1990) to impose a solution that suited New Delhi’s overall strategy at that time. Gandhi was killed in May 1991 by an LTTE suicide bomber during an election rally in Tamil Nadu. During the IPKF deployment here the LTTE humiliated India by killing over 1,300 officers and men whereas Hamas stunned Israel with an unprecedented Oct. 07 attack after a spate of large scale attacks/confrontations over the years. Israel fought three wars with Hamas in 2009, 2012 and 2014 and the current conflict is so far the worst.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last week <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i> dealt with some of the issues at hand in an article titled Vanni war and Israel-Gaza conflict: similarities and differences. The writer felt the need to discuss the Indian financial package that helped turn a Sri Lankan armed group into one of the world’s most sophisticated fighting machines. But soon after India halted funding terrorism here, the LTTE expanded its vast network of revenue sources here and overseas. One of its new-found sponsors happened to be the government of Sri Lanka.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Before we further discuss the LTTE funding/revenue sources, it would be pertinent to mention how Israel facilitated the growth of Hamas to undermine the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and faction, Fatah.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brig. Gen. Yitzhak Segev, who had been the Israeli military governor in Gaza in the early 1980s, is on record as having told the New York Times that he had helped finance the Palestinian Islamist movement as a counterweight to the PLO and Fatah.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Times quoted the retired Brig. General as having disclosed how the military government funded Hamas through mosques. Number of others had commented on the Israeli funding for Hamas. Perhaps one of the most significant statements pertaining to the Jewish state’s affiliation with Hamas was made by Avner Cohen, one-time Israeli religious affairs official who served the Gaza administration for over two decades. Wall Street Journal in 2009 quoted Cohen as having declared: “Hamas, to my great regret, is Israel’s creation.” That was the year Israel fought its first war with Hamas. Cohen has revealed the warning he issued to the Israeli government in the mid-80s over its divide-and-rule strategy in the occupied region. The Wall Street Journal quoted the Israeli as having said: “I … suggest focusing our efforts on finding ways to break up this monster before this reality jumps in our face.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The US, the UK, France or EU didn’t find fault with Hamas at the time Israel promoted Hamas at the expense of the PLO and Fatah. Israel is paying a very heavy price for what can be called a strategic miscalculation in their policy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jayantha Dhanapala on states sponsoring terrorism</strong></p><div class="gallery galleryid-135405 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full" id="gallery-1" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><dl class="gallery-item" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war1.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="attachment-full size-full lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war1.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war1.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war1-300x207.jpg 300w" height="482" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war1.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war1.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vanni-war1-300x207.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 2px solid rgb(207, 207, 207); height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /></a></dt></dl><br style="clear: both;" /></div><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over a year after the successful conclusion of the war against the LTTE, the late Jayantha Dhanapala, one-time UN Under-Secretary-General for the Office for Disarmament Affairs from 1998-2003, appeared before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. Dhanapala, the career diplomat, who has had diplomatic postings in London, Beijing, Washington DC, New Delhi and Geneva and also performed ambassadorial duties in Geneva accredited to the UN from 1984-1987 and in Washington DC from 1995-1997 addressed the entire gamut of issues on Aug. 25, 2010.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dhanapala dealt with the contentious issue of governments sponsoring terrorism with the focus on the Indian funding of the LTTE. Perhaps, Dhanapala may not have taken President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s funding and arming of the LTTE into consideration. Let me reproduce what the erudite former diplomat Dhanapala who served as the head of the Norwegian-funded Secretariat for Coordinating Peace Process (SCOPP 2004-2005) declared before the LLRC: “Now I think it is important for us to expand that concept to bring in the culpability of those members of the international community who have subscribed to the situation that has caused injury to the civilians of a nation. I talk about the way in which terrorist groups are given sanctuary; are harboured; are supplied with arms and training by some countries with regard to their neighbours or with regard to other countries. We know that in our case this happened, and I don’t want to name countries, but even countries who have allowed their financial procedures and systems to be abused in such a way that money can flow from their countries in order to buy the arms and ammunitions that cause the deaths, the maiming and the destruction of property in Sri Lanka are to blame and there is therefore a responsibility to protect our civilians and the civilians of other nation States from that kind of behaviour on the part of members of the international community, and I think this is something that will echo with many countries in the Non-Aligned Movement where Sri Lanka has a very respected position and where I hope we will be able to raise this issue.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The writer covered the LLRC proceedings for <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i> throughout the sittings held at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKI) named after the much-respected Foreign Minister slain by the LTTE. Actually, Dharnapala’s statement, regardless of its importance, never received the government attention it deserved. In fact, the government simply ignored it. The then Rajapaksa government was more preoccupied in playing politics with the accountability issue than addressing the concerns of the Tamil speaking people and the Western powers who had to woo the vociferous Tamil Diaspora for their local vote bank.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dhanapala not only dealt with India but underscored the responsibility of Western powers who allowed the LTTE to raise funds in their countries to wage war here. The sinking of nearly a dozen floating LTTE arsenals over the years in Indian waters, Sri Lankan waters, and on the high seas, revealed the extent of the funding available to the LTTE. The LTTE had a range of weapons, including heavy artillery, shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles, underwater equipment and fast boats. Acquisition of such an arsenal couldn’t have been done without unlimited funds. The group had so much funds it hired foreigners and went to the extent of making an attempt to bribe a US State Department official.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nearly 15 years after the war, only India knows how much the Gandhi governments spent on establishing a massive terrorist project in Sri Lanka. In fact, the LTTE demanded compensation from India to cover up losses the group suffered in the wake of the 1987 Indo-Lanka peace accord. The LTTE wanted compensation for the denial of its right to tax people living in areas under its control and those who entered that region.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that India spent not only on the LTTE but also on nearly half a dozen Tamil groups, including the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and the Tamil National Army (TNA) that was formed in the wake of India’s decision to withdraw its troops from the then temporarily merged Northern and Eastern Provinces after the Premadasa government asked them to leave unceremoniously.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How Sri Lanka funded LTTE</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the war, the then Opposition MP Bandula Gunawardena, in his own hand writing, released a statement that dealt with payments made to the LTTE at the behest of President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Lawmaker Gunawardena who <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">now served</b> the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa Cabinet, disclosed that the Treasury made the largest single payment months after the eruption of Eelam War II in the second week of June 1990. According to the document issued by MP Gunawardena, the first payment had been made on August 09, 1989, a couple of months after the LTTE initiated talks with Premadasa while the Indian Army was deployed here. Altogether, there had been 15 payments of Rs 5 mn each on 15 separate occasions, with the largest and the final payment of Rs 50 mn paid on Nov. 05, 1990.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the time of these payments, R. Paskaralingam had been the Secretary to the Treasury and he couldn’t have resisted the orders issued by the President. Premadasa also had no hesitation in issuing a large stock of T-56 assault rifles and ammunition to the LTTE. His administration also issued weapons to other Tamil groups. Perhaps, Sri Lanka should officially acknowledge the type and the amount of weapons issued to Tamil groups and the funds paid to them.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me remind the reader that the last and the largest payment was made many months after the LTTE executed several hundred surrendered policemen in the East after they were ordered to do so by the then government and overran isolated Army detachments along the Kandy-Jaffna road, north of Omanthai. As a result, the Army lost the overland Main Supply Route (MSR) route to Jaffna. The MSR was restored in January 2009, nearly 19 years after the military suffered defeat in the Vanni.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the conflict, successive governments accepted the LTTE’s right to tax people living in areas they controlled. Those entering the region under its control, too, were taxed.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But following the signing of a one-sided Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) with the LTTE in Feb. 2002. arranged by the Norwegian facilitators ,unknown to many, including then Commander in Chief President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the then government did away with all restrictions. Overnight, the government accepted a region under exclusive control of the LTTE where the group denied the right of other Tamil political parties to engage in political activity. The LTTE was granted special status. The government paved the way for the LTTE to receive substantial foreign funding and also bring in a range of equipment through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) without checks.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Funding for LTTE radio</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Only Hamas really knows what it did with funds received from Israel. Similarly, only the LTTE knows what it really did with funds received from Sri Lanka during the conflict. Let me examine one incident during the 2002-2003 period that involved Sri Lanka, Norway and the LTTE on the basis of disclosure made by Bradman Weerakoon, the then Secretary to Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, regarding the agreement on an LTTE proposal to install and operate an FM station in Kilinochchi.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weerakoon, in an article titled ‘Initiating and Sustaining the Peace Process: Origins and Challenges’ included in ‘Negotiating Peace in Sri Lanka: Efforts, Failures and Lessons’ discussed the circumstances under which the equipment had been brought into the country, with the support of the Norwegians. Weerakoon described the agreement on the FM station as a confidence building measure.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The upgrading of the LTTE propaganda arm took place following the closure of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vanni Sevaya</i> and restrictions on the Army with regard to dissemination of security related news. (<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vanni Sevawa</i> catered especially for the armed forces, police and Sinhala civilians living in the area)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having described the installation of the new equipment as a confidence building measure, Weerakoon inadvertently exposed the despicable LTTE strategy. Had it been a genuinely confidence building measure, the LTTE would have discussed their move to establish an FM station before ordering the equipment.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weerakoon discussed in considerable detail how the LTTE had conducted the transaction with the help of the Norwegians. Weerakoon said: “The Political headquarters of the LTTE in a letter to the PM’s Office on Oct. 1, 2002, informed the government that it had purchased a new FM transmitter, which they would like to bring to Vanni to be used in their dissemination campaign about the peace process. The equipment had already been purchased by them in Singapore at a cost of USD 93,265 and was on the way by sea. The letter requested customs clearance and duty free importation and no delay.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weerakoon also revealed how the Norwegians utilized their diplomatic status to clear the LTTE cargo duty free by substituting itself as the consignee of the goods. But once the Norwegians handed over the goods to the LTTE through SCOPP (Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process), the SCOPP became liable for duty amounting to Rs. 3 mn, which according to Weerakoon, was paid with funds made available by Norway to the SCOPP. Weerakoon estimated the annual donations received by SCOPP from Norway at Rs. 12 mn.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weerakoon admitted that the LTTE had informed the government of its move, while the cargo was on its way to Colombo and the Norwegians stepped in at the right moment to have the equipment delivered to the LTTE.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A treacherous government ordered the Army to transport the equipment from Colombo port to Omanthai and hand them over to the LTTE, while their <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vanni Sevaya</i> remained closed.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While Weerakoon referred to Norwegian funds being utilised to pay for import duty, the then Director General of SCOPP, Dr. John Gooneratne claimed using funds received from Sweden. The revelation is made in a letter Gooneratne wrote to Treasury Chief, Charitha Ratwatte. The letter dated Jan. 16, 2004, referred to the role played by the Prime Minister’s Office in carrying out the controversial transaction.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wouldn’t it be interesting to know, at least now, who actually paid duty for the LTTE equipment?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Funding through government</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka obviously believed the LTTE wouldn’t accept a political solution and the group couldn’t be defeated on the battlefield. Therefore, the group granted the opportunity to tax the people in the North and East, whereas Western powers turned a blind eye to massive fund raising projects undertaken by the LTTE in Europe, the US and Canada as well as other countries. How much did the LTTE spend on acquiring and operating a fleet of large ships to store arms, ammunition and equipment in the high seas and transfer weapons as and when required?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The LTTE brazenly used the CFA to secure funds even from the international community. The then government fully cooperated with the LTTE strategy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Former respected MP Rajiva Wijesinha, during his tenure as Secretary General of SCOPP, and during the initial phase of the Vanni offensive that was launched in March 2007, made a shocking revelation regarding funds received by the LTTE. In response to Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda’s criticism of the SCOPP, Prof. Wijesinha issued a statement titled ‘Sri Lanka’s civil society organizations: Shady techniques and bribes to the Tigers?’</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wijesinha dealt with hitherto unknown funding operations arranged by the UNP government in support of the peace process facilitated by the CFA. One of the grants-UNDP project worth USD 600,000 signed by Bradman Weerakoon who was also the Commissioner General for the Coordination of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation as well as the External Resources Department raised eyebrows.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wijesinha expressed surprise at the signing of the agreement on Dec 19, 2003 amidst deepening political turmoil caused by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga suspending Parliament. She also sacked three ministers and brought the Army on to the streets of Colombo. However, what Prof. Wijesinha didn’t say that by then the LTTE had quit the negotiating table. Why did the government authorize such a huge amount of UNDP funds for the so-called LTTE Peace Secretariat nine months after the LTTE suspended its participation in the Norwegian arranged talks? Prof. Wijesinha pointed out that the UNDP funding was made available to the LTTE just months ahead of the general election. Did the UNDP realize what it was doing?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The LTTE-backed Tamil National Alliance (TNA) recorded its best performance at the general election held in early April, 2004. The Parliament conveniently forgot what the EU polls observation mission said about the LTTE helping the TNA to secure over 20 seats in the Northern and Eastern Provinces by stuffing ballot boxes. This was against the backdrop of the devastating split in the LTTE caused by Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, one-time commander of LTTE formations which thwarted Operation Jayasikurui in the Vanni theatre in 1997/1998 period.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The writer intended to discuss the funding made available by various interested parties, including governments to those who promoted the peace process involving the LTTE over a period of time.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Hamas attack on Israel should influence Sri Lanka to examine various aspects of the conflict that was brought to an end through military means-an effort so far unmatched by any country since the end of World War II.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-62696243643255395922023-10-24T20:38:00.000-07:002023-10-24T20:38:32.857-07:00Vanni war and Israel-Gaza conflict: similarities, differences<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 493</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/10/25</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/London-protest.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/London-protest.jpg 800w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/London-protest-300x200.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/London-protest-768x511.jpg 768w" height="532" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/London-protest.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/London-protest.jpg 800w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/London-protest-300x200.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/London-protest-768x511.jpg 768w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="800" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">British Tamils occupy Parliament Square in London demanding immediate Western intervention to halt Sri Lankan offensive against the LTTE in 2009 (pic courtesy Tamil Guardian)</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The US utilised Hamas attack to prepare an emergency funding project that conveniently accommodated Ukraine battling Russia. The funding amounted to USD 105 bn in military and humanitarian aid to Kiev and Tel Aviv. Having visited Tel Aviv last week, US President Joe Biden declared that their security is directly connected to the success of Ukraine and Israel. Interestingly the largest share of USD 105 bn allocation has been earmarked for Ukraine (more than USD 61 bn) with Israel receiving over USD 14 bn, over nine bn for humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza and over USD 14 bn for border enforcement with Mexico. Regardless of US pouring military assistance, Israel remains unsure of its capacity to fight a ground war in Gaza to the finish. The delay in launching the ground offensive underscores Israel’s continuing dilemma. That is the reality.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unparalleled Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, triggered a spate of comments on Sri Lanka’s war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that was brought to a successful end in May 2009. Hamas captured about 230 persons, including Israeli military personnel and foreigners and moved them to areas under their control. The abducted persons’ whereabouts remain unclear though four, including two Americans were released so far. Respected expert on terrorism experienced in Sri Lanka, M.R. Narayan Swamy, discussed the similarities of Sri Lanka’s conflict and the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. New Delhi based Swamy, who had served UNI and AFP during his decades long career discussed the issues at hand while acknowledging no two situations were absolutely comparable. Swamy currently serves as the Executive Director of IANS (Indo-Asian News Service).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now there is a possibility of Lebanon being dragged into the conflict as Iran threatened Israel amidst ongoing heavy exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Lebannon based Hezbollah. However, the battles on the Lebanese border have tied up several Israeli Divisions thereby preventing them from joining the formations deployed against Hamas.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How’s Hamas’ attack similar to that of LTTE?</i>’ and ‘<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hamas’ offensive on Israel may bring it closer to LTTE’s fate</i>’ dealt with the issues involved. Let me reproduce Swamy’s comment: “Oct 7 could be a turning point for Hamas similar to what happened to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka in 2006. Let me explain. Similar to Hamas, the LTTE grew significantly over time eventually gaining control of a significant portion of Sri Lanka’s land and coast. The LTTE was even more formidable than Hamas. It had a strong army, growing air force and a deadly naval presence. Unlike Hamas the LTTE successfully assassinated high ranking political figures in Sri Lanka and India. <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Notably LTTE achieved this without direct support from any country well Hamas received military and financial backing from Iran and some other states </i>[emphasis is mine]. The LTTE became too sure of their victories overtime. They thought, they could never be beaten and that starting a war would always make them stronger. But in 2006 when they began Eelam War 1V their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran couldn’t have foreseen that within three years he and his prominent group would be defeated. Prabhakaran believed gathering tens of thousands of Tamils during the last stages of war would protect them and Sri Lanka wouldn’t unleash missiles and rockets. Colombo proved him wrong. They were hit. By asking the people not to flee Gaza despite Israeli warnings Hamas is taking a similar line. Punishing all Palestinians for Hamas’ actions is unjust just like punishing all Tamils for LTTE’s actions was wrong. The LTTE claimed to fight for Tamils without consulting them and Hamas claimed to represent Palestinians without seeking the approval for the Oct.7 strike. Well two situations are not absolutely comparable. We can be clear that Hamas is facing a situation similar to what the LTTE faced shortly before its end. Will Hamas meet a similar fate as the LTTE? Only time will answer that question.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Swamy quite conveniently refrained from mentioning India’s direct role in setting up one of the deadliest terror projects in the world in the 80s. How could he forget the loss of nearly 1,400 Indian military personnel and double that number wounded here?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Former Editor of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Hindu</i> Malini Parthasarathy who also had served as Chairperson of The Hindu Group released a list of politicians assassinated by the LTTE, as she hit back hard at those who raged against the comparison of the Hamas to the LTTE. The list included two Jaffna District MPs, Arumugam Murugesu Alalasundaram and Visvanathan Dharmalingam, assassinated in early Sept 1985. Slain Visvanathan Dharmalingam’s son, Dharmalingam Siddharthan, who represents the Vanni electoral district on the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) is on record as having said that the two MPs were abducted and killed by TELO (Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation.) gunmen. The list posted by Parthasarathy included PLOTE leader Uma Maheswaran assassinated in Colombo in July 1989. The LTTE hadn’t been involved in that killing. Maheswaran is believed to have been killed by his onetime associates, perhaps over the abortive PLOTE raid on the Maldives in Nov 1988. India never bothered at least to acknowledge that the Maldives raid was carried out by men trained by India to destabilise Sri Lanka. There is no doubt that Maheswasran’s killers, too, were known to the Indian intelligence at that time.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Before rushing into conclusions regarding Hamas and LTTE, perhaps a proper examination of the circumstances they emerged is necessary. The two situations-fourth phase of the Eelam conflict and the latest Hamas strike on Israel and the devastating counter attack cannot be compared under any circumstances. Efforts to compare the two issues is more like comparing apples and oranges, though mutually Tamils and Sinhalese have so many commonalities having intermingled throughout history like the Arabs and Jews.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is no doubt Jews are a people that suffered persecution throughout known history under Assyrians, Babylonians to Romans and so forth. Such persecution includes expulsion of Jews from England in 1290 and from Spain 1492. So what Hitler and the Germans did was to take the historic process to another extreme.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yet to blame the Palestinians and treat them like animals and to simply butcher them for the latest uprising by Hamas for all the humiliations and suffering they have been going through non-stop since Naqba in1948, from the time of the creation of Israel is to allow the creators of the problem, including the UK, USA and United Nations to wash all their sins on the true other victims of this conflict, the Palestinians.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that Israel in spite of having one of the world’s best fighting armed forces with 100 percent backing from the West cannot totally eradicate Hamas the way Sri Lanka dealt with the LTTE.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The circumstances under which the LTTE launched a large-scale offensive in Aug 2006 and its objectives had been very much different from that of Hamas. The LTTE really believed that it could have defeated the Sri Lankan military in the north by cutting off the sea supply route from Trincomalee to Kankesanthurai and simultaneously overrunning the Kilali-Muhamalai-Nagarkovil forward defence line (FDL). The total collapse of the FDL could have allowed the LTTE to eradicate isolated fighting formations trapped north of the FDL. But, in the case of the Gaza war, the Hamas strike was meant to provoke Israel to unleash a massive unbridled counter attack that caused maximum losses on the civilians. As Hamas expected the Israeli counter attack has triggered massive protests in the West against their leaders. They have been accused of encouraging violence against Palestine. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other US allies are under heavy pressure from Muslims and other horrified communities’ world over to take a stand against the US.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A Western lifeline for LTTE</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-134320 lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Malini-and-Swamy.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Malini-and-Swamy.jpg 400w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Malini-and-Swamy-300x206.jpg 300w" height="274" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Malini-and-Swamy.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Malini-and-Swamy.jpg 400w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Malini-and-Swamy-300x206.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; float: left; font-size: 17.6px; height: auto; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="400" />UK Premier Rishi Sunak pledged unequivocal support for Israel before flying to the Jewish State where he reiterated British commitment. Sunak followed US President Joe Biden, the first foreign leader to visit Tel Aviv amidst indiscriminate attacks on Gaza. At the time this comment was written on Oct 22, the international media reported the possibility of French President Emmanuel Macron also undertaking a visit to Tel Aviv. Canada, too, declared support for Israel. Their declaration of support for Israel didn’t surprise anyone.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Against the backdrop of various interested parties comparing the Vanni situation and the developing regional crisis with devastating global implications, it would be pertinent to examine the Western response to the eelam war.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Western powers intervened on behalf of the LTTE facing annihilation in the hands of the Sri Lankan military. By late Feb 2009, the LTTE had taken such a beating on the Vanni front, its command and control structures were in tatters. Responding to LTTE’s pleas for help backed by demonstrations organised by Tamil Diaspora in Europe and Canada, the then British and French Foreign Ministers, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner arrived in Colombo in late April 2009. They demanded an immediate halt to offensive action. They wanted to visit Prabhakaran. The combined British – French move backed by the US was meant to save Prabhakaran. Later a diplomatic cable originating from the US mission in London disclosed Miliband’s intervention was due to domestic political compulsions. Interested parties also speculated about a US role in a possible bid to evacuate Prabhakaran but Sri Lanka insisted that the offensive could be brought to an end only if Prabhakaran surrendered.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In May-June 1987 when the SLA engaged in ‘Operation Liberation’ and advanced on Prabhakaran’s Vadamaratchchi base, India intervened. Having forced JRJ to call off the first Brigade-level offensive, Indian Mi-17s landed in Jaffna on July 24 to evacuate Prabhakaran, his wife and the two children along with several other LTTE cadres. This happened five days before the signing of the Indo-Lanka accord in Colombo that paved the way for the deployment of the Indian Army (July 1987-March 1990).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Had India allowed Sri Lanka to finish off the LTTE, it could have avoided a disastrous war here. Thousands of lives could have been saved if India didn’t play politics with the Sri Lanka issue. New Delhi paid a very heavy price and over a year after its pull out the LTTE assassinated wartime Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi during a general election campaign in May 1991.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let us get back to the Western effort to rescue Prabhakaran, the way India did in July 1987. The Western objective was the same though the tactics and circumstances were different. The UK and France with the blessings of the UN and the US tried to save Prabhakaran in late April 2009 to fight another day.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">India-Israel relations</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although Indian Premier Narendra Modi won’t fly to Tel Aviv to reiterate their support for Israel, New Delhi would be extremely cautious in addressing the issue. India cannot jeopardise her growing relationship with Israel, a key weapons and technology supplier over the years though in the 80s New Delhi strongly opposed Israeli presence in Sri Lanka. The Jewish state is one of the few countries which backed Sri Lanka throughout the war against separatist Tamil terrorism. A range of Israeli arms, ammunition and equipment made Sri Lanka’s triumph over terrorism possible.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since India joined the US-led club, New Delhi has received a massive boost to her overall military capacity thanks to Israel and New Delhi would do nothing to upset her relationship with the Jewish State whose continuing support is of critical importance, especially against the backdrop of Russia-Ukraine conflict. The acquisition of Pegasus spyware has overnight changed India’s capabilities. That is the undeniable truth. India being one of the four members of ‘Quad’ that included US, Australia and Japan, is now in a strategic relationship with Israel. Massive Israeli weapons sales have boosted the Indian military facing China and Pakistan.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In India, thousands of people demonstrated in many cities in support of Palestine experiencing an escalation of violence perpetrated by Israel. In Mumbai, Kerala and Lahore, demonstrators expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people and called for an end to the Israeli occupation and blockade of Gaza.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But, on the other hand, Hamas, in spite of overall Israeli prowess and strategic assets available, appeared to have achieved 100 percent surprise as Israel did nothing until large scale infiltration at an unprecedented level took place right under their nose. The Hamas action appeared to have united the people world over against the US-led grouping and taken the heat off Russia engaged in a difficult war in Ukraine.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A considered move</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps one of the most significant decisions taken by Sri Lanka as the LTTE deteriorated on the Vanni east front was to invite India to deploy a fully-fledged medical team close to a point where the wounded were brought in by sea. Sri Lanka made the request several weeks after the military brought Kilinochchi under its control. It would be pertinent to mention that Kilinochchi functioned as their main administrative centre after the military regained Jaffna in late 1995. The loss of Kilinochchi in the first week of January 2009 quite clearly stunned the LTTE, Tamil Diaspora as well as those foreign powers confident of the group’s battlefield prowess. The government moved quickly to bring in an Indian medical team amidst accusations that the war wounded were being deprived of treatment. The team consisted of 62 personnel. India set up a medical facility at Pulmoddai, north of Trincomalee.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka went out of its way to treat those who had been evacuated from Puthumathalan to Pulmoddai. The writer had been one of the few journalists taken to the Puthumathalan seas by the Navy to witness the evacuation of the wounded by the ICRC and then transferred in a ship to Pulmoddai. This was in late April 2009. Subsequent to the visit to the Puthumathalan seas and Navy deployment at Chalai, the writer had an opportunity to meet the Indian medical team at Pulmoddai.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After the war, the Indian High Commission declared that their Pulmoddai facility treated over 3,000 war wounded and soon after the war ended the medical mission moved to Zone 1 of Menik Farm displaced persons camp. India pulled out its team from Menik Farm at the end of August, 2009 after having treated over 25,000 displaced persons. Sri Lanka opened a sea route between Puthumathalan and Pulmoddai in early 2009, soon after the closure of the overland route to and from the LTTE held area. The move underscored the government’s determination to assist the civilian population.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, Sri Lanka never made a real effort to set the record straight. Successive governments conveniently failed to place all available information before the international community. Any other country engaged in such a huge military operation would have second thoughts in giving foreigners direct access to the war wounded. But, Sri Lanka did.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka’s continued failure to mount a strong defence at the Geneva based Human Rights Council is a mystery. The <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government betrayed the war winning military by co-sponsoring an accountability resolution against the country. That was on Oct 01, 2015.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Until the very end, Sri Lanka allowed the World Food Programme (WFP) under the protection of the ICRC to move essential supplies to those living in the rapidly shrinking Vanni territory under the LTTE’s control. Once the overland route had to be closed, essential items and medicine were despatched in ships to Puthumathalan. The world shouldn’t forget that selected members of the Colombo-based diplomatic community were given real time drone footage of the Army breaking through the LTTE positions to facilitate a massive rescue operation. Have you ever heard of an Army accused of perpetrating genocide breaking enemy line for those trapped within to escape and take refuge within the territory under its control?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Israel fought the first Gaza war (Dec 27 2008-18 January 2009) against Hamas in the wake of heavy rocket attacks on its territory. It was the first large-scale invasion of Palestinian territory after Hamas took over Gaza from Fatah in 2007. The Israelis called the offensive ‘Cast Lead.’ Regardless of losses suffered, Hamas retained its command and control structure and was back in action soon. The possibility of Israel achieving victory over Hamas appeared remote and unrealistic. However, the Sri Lanka military during Dec 2008-January 2009 delivered a knockout blow to the LTTE. By the end of January 2009, the LTTE’s command and control structures were gone. A massive naval cordon involving a range of vessels, spearheaded by Fast Attack Craft (FACs) blocked sea escape route while Air Force was on high alert to intervene in case an attempt was made to evacuate Velupillai Prabhakaran, his family and top commanders from the battlefield. In a bid to reduce reaction time, the Air Force shifted a pair of jets from Katunayake air base to China Bay. The rest is history.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although Israel claimed victory in the first Gaza war, Hamas was soon back in action. According to international media reports, Hamas fired over 200 rockets and dozens of mortar rounds at Israel during the second week of Nov 2012. Tel Aviv was hit for the first time since 1991 Gulf war when Iraqi Scud missiles landed therein. Israel launched ‘Operation Pillar of Defence’ to neutralize the threat but never extended the operation to a ground incursion.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In July 2014, Israel carried out ‘Operation Protective Edge’ which included a minor ground incursion –just a few kms into Gaza. This particular operation was conducted in the wake of breaking up of Hamas association with Egypt over the former’s alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood which the then Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi considered a threat to him. The issue prompted Egypt to close down smuggling tunnels from Egypt to Gaza, one of the major revenue sources for Hamas. The two-week long operation obviously didn’t cause serious damage to Hamas. Over the past several years, Hamas clearly succeeded in building up a massive arsenal that overwhelmed the much touted Iron Dome-a highly mobile air defence system jointly developed by the US and Israel. The latest Hamas attack proved that terrorism cannot be defeated by air and naval bombardments and availability of high tech arms, ammunition and equipment. Ground forces had to go the whole hog whatever the consequences.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Sri Lanka military achieved irrevocable victory in a sustained campaign in the East (Aug 2006-June 2007) and North/Vanni (March 2007-May 2009) but our corrupt and utterly useless political party system never built on the military’s success. Today war winning Sri Lanka is a bankrupt country dependent on Western tool IMF and tied to the Washington headquartered lending body having obtained a USD 2.9 bn bailout package. The IMF suspended the programme recently to pressure the government to end its corrupt ways and means and to take tangible measures to meet projected revenue targets.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-9987940438803235302023-10-18T00:42:00.000-07:002023-10-18T00:42:02.675-07:00Focus on early stage of ‘unwinnable’ Eelam conflict over a decade after Nandikadal confrontation<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 492</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/10/18</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Brig-Ranjan-Wijedasa-hand-over-the-mihidan-nowu-minisa-to-defence-secretary-kamal-gunaratne.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Brig-Ranjan-Wijedasa-hand-over-the-mihidan-nowu-minisa-to-defence-secretary-kamal-gunaratne.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Brig-Ranjan-Wijedasa-hand-over-the-mihidan-nowu-minisa-to-defence-secretary-kamal-gunaratne-300x200.jpg 300w" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Brig-Ranjan-Wijedasa-hand-over-the-mihidan-nowu-minisa-to-defence-secretary-kamal-gunaratne.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Brig-Ranjan-Wijedasa-hand-over-the-mihidan-nowu-minisa-to-defence-secretary-kamal-gunaratne.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Brig-Ranjan-Wijedasa-hand-over-the-mihidan-nowu-minisa-to-defence-secretary-kamal-gunaratne-300x200.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="750" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">The author hands over a copy Mihidan Nowu Minisa to Defence Secretary retired Gen. Kamal Gunaratne</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/focus-on-early-stage-of-unwinnable-eelam-conflict-over-a-decade-after-nandikadal-confrontation/#" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><h2 align="LEFT" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 1.8rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.4; margin: 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: grey; font-size: 28.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 28.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let us set the record straight, officially</em></span></h2><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_133305" style="border: 0px; color: #777777; float: left; font-size: 0.8rem; margin: 5px 0px 30px 20px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 160px;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-133305" class="size-full wp-image-133305 lazyloaded" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/sarath-weerasekara.jpg" height="169" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/sarath-weerasekara.jpg" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 12.8px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-133305" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sarath Weerasekera</p></div><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera recently declared that in his capacity as Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security he would present to President Ranil Wickremesinghe a comprehensive report on how the war was conducted.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The recent US denial of a visa to Adm. Weerasekera underlines the need to take tangible measures to safeguard the interests of serving and ex-military personnel, especially when being unfairly targeted by foreign entities with ulterior motives, like wanting to break up Sri Lanka in pursuit of their agendas.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The announcement was made at a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC). Sri Lanka needs to prepare an all-inclusive dossier on the war. Regardless of some retired/serving officers sharing their experience by way of books and social media, successive governments failed to compile a complete book on the conflict that didn’t belong to any service, a particular regiment or an individual.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The efforts made by individual officers to share their experience should be encouraged but the responsibility of the government is to produce an official record taking into consideration all factors.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that Sri Lanka is the only country on earth to betray her war-winning armed forces. The Geneva betrayal on 01 October, 2015, underscored the treachery on the part of the then shameless <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration. Let there be a genuine effort to restore the pride of our armed forces who saved the country from anarchy in 1971, 1987-1990 and from separatist LTTE terrorism.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Daredevil Armoured Corps officer Ranjan Wijedasa, 52, shared his battlefield experiences in <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mihidan Nowu Minisa</i> ( The man who did not get buried) launched in September this year, 15 years after the combined security forces brought the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to a successful end. Sri Lanka proved that what had been termed an unwinnable war here and abroad could be won. The LTTE caught up in a multi-pronged offensive that involved several Divisions and Task Forces in the East and then Vanni theatre, lasting just two years and months.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The recent Hamas attack on Israel that involved groups of heavily armed men invading the Jewish state from the air, sea and ground while thousands of missiles fired from Gaza caused unprecedented death and destruction underscored Sri Lanka’s triumph over the LTTE though the circumstances cannot be compared. The Hamas offensive is a grim reminder how lapses on the part of the political-military setup could cause catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. Judging by international reportage of the latest Israel-Gaza war, there cannot be any dispute regarding the assertion that the Jewish state never expected Hamas to undertake such a large-scale offensive. In that background, let me discuss the Eelam war experienced by an officer who had served the Army at a time eradication of terrorism seemed impossible.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thrice wounded Wijedasa, now a Brigadier, serving the National Defence College as the Senior Directing Staff, had to quit active service following the amputation of his left hand below the elbow in Aug., 1997 due to injuries suffered during offensive action at Puliyankulam. The young tank officer, in spite of being married to Ruchirani Siriwardena in May 1997, gladly joined the largest ever ground offensive <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jayasikurui</i> (Victory Assured) conducted before Eelam War IV (Aug 2006-May 2009). But, <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jayasikurui</i> meant to restore the Overland Main Supply Route (MSR) to the Jaffna peninsula had been nothing but a disaster that sent shockwaves through the then political establishment. That offensive should be examined against the backdrop of subsequent LTTE counter-offensive that at one-time threatened even Vavuniya, a strategically important town situated north of Anuradhapura.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wijedasa had been on the staff of the then Director, Operations Brigadier Udaya Perera during Eelam War IV. One-time Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner in Malaysia (2009-2011) Perera, who retired in 2017, is on the US list of war criminals. That categorization has been made in Dec. 2021. Sri Lanka never made a genuine effort to counter unsubstantiated war crimes allegations, thereby facilitating the despicable Western agenda. It would be pertinent to mention that the treacherous UNP-SLFP <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration shamelessly betrayed the war-winning military by sponsoring an accountability resolution against one’s own country because that impossible victory was attained against the LTTE by their political rival and to please the West, in early Oct. 2015 by co-sponsoring a US-led move, one of the world’s worst human rights offenders.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let us get back to Wijedasa’s account of his fighting experience with the Armoured Corps (1991-1997) after having joined the Army in January 1990, several weeks before India pulled out her forces from the then temporarily-merged Northern and Eastern Province. The Eelam War II erupted in the second week of June 1990 while Wijedasa was undergoing training at the Diyatalawa Military Academy. Slain President Ranasinghe Premadasa allowed an LTTE build-up during a 14-month long ‘honeymoon’ with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran that paved the way for the group to exploit the ground situation. Their experience in fighting the Indian Army had been an added advantage against isolated detachments along the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road north of Vavuniya. The Army lost Thandikulam –Elephant Pass stretch within weeks after the resumption of hostilities in the second week of June 1990. The Army Commander ended up with egg on his face. Sandhurst trained Hamilton Wanasinghe was his name (Aug. 1988-Nov. 1991). <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jayasikurui</i> was meant to regain the MSR at any cost.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Devastating losses at Puliyankulam</strong></p><div class="gallery galleryid-133298 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full" id="gallery-1" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><dl class="gallery-item" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mihidan-nowu-minisa.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-133307" class="attachment-full size-full lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mihidan-nowu-minisa.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mihidan-nowu-minisa.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mihidan-nowu-minisa-300x228.jpg 300w" height="493" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mihidan-nowu-minisa.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mihidan-nowu-minisa.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/mihidan-nowu-minisa-300x228.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 2px solid rgb(207, 207, 207); height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /></a></dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" id="gallery-1-133307" style="border: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Brig. Ranjan Wijedasa addressing a gathering at Rock House Armoured Corps camp, Mattakkuliya, at the launch of his memoirs (pics courtesy MoD)</dd></dl><br style="clear: both;" /></div><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the time Wijedasa suddenly received orders to take over the command of ‘Alpha’ squadron assigned for the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jayasikurui</i> offensive, he was preparing to leave Vavuniya to receive an appointment at the Directorate of Personnel, Army headquarters. Without referring to the Divisions that had been involved in the disastrous bids to capture fiercely defended Puliyankulam, the author described the effort made by the Armoured Corps to bring the town under its control after assaults spearheaded by the infantry failed. The operation involved the 53 Division. It included elite formations with vast experience in fighting in both eastern and northern theatres but couldn’t overcome fierce resistance offered by the enemy or thwart a series of counter attacks which paralyzed fighting Divisions.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The author recalled the devastating outcome of the battle between the Armoured Corps and LTTE units armed with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and the effective use of monster landmines capable of immobilizing a 40-tonne Main Battle Tank (MBT). Of the 48 tanks that had been assigned for the task, only three were able to penetrate enemy defences and reach Puliyankulam town. Each tank had been accompanied by three Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) but accurate RPG attacks on one of the AFVs and the author’s T-55 MBT forced the Armoured Corps to retreat. In hindsight, the Army, at that time, lacked sufficient fighting battalions to conduct large scale offensive operations and the strategy- opening a front with the objective of restoring the MSR seemed reckless at a time the enemy could move within the vast Vanni region without hindrance.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Within 24 hours after suffering injuries, Wijedasa had been transferred from the battlefield to Vavuniya in a Bell 212, then from there to Anuradhapura in Y12 fixed wing aircraft before being airlifted to the National Hospital, Colombo.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jayasikurui </em>launched in May, 1997 was meant to restore overland MSR to the Jaffna peninsula as the government found it extremely difficult to maintain the sea supply route from Trincomalee to Kankesanthurai. Perhaps, author Wijedasa should have dealt with the loss of MSR soon after the LTTE resumed hostilities in the second week of June 1990. Isolated detachments along the MSR north of Vavuniya were either destroyed or vacated by the Army in quick succession as President Premadasa quickly lost control of the war, having conspired with the LTTE to oust the Indian Army.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regardless of heavy losses, the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, in her capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of armed forces pressed ahead with <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jayasikurui</i>. Finally, Kumaratunga called off the offensive in early Dec. 1998 after the Army acknowledged it couldn’t sustain the offensive any longer. Maj. Gen. Asoka Jayawardena, in his capacity as the Overall Operations Commander (OOC) commanded <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jayasikurui.</i> Instead, in a bid to divert public attention from the debacle, troops were deployed to capture Oddusuddan and annex the areas covering Mankulam, Oddusuddan and Nedunkerni in the Vanni east. That, too, ended with disastrous consequences. That offensive was called Rivi Bala.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By the time Mrs. Kumaratunga won a second term at the Dec. 1999 presidential election, the LTTE had the upper hand in the northern theatre of operations. The election was conducted following a series of severe battlefield defeats leading to the worst single ever debacle suffered by the Army in April 2000. The LTTE defeated the 54 Division plus troops deployed at Elephant Pass sector that encompassed Iyakachchi and Vettilaikerni on the Mullaitivu coast. Eventually, the then Lt. Gen. Fonseka’s Army restored overland MSR in January 2009 following major battlefield success both west and east of the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The reportage was subjected to military censorship. The military resorted to harsh censorship to prevent the public from knowing the actual situation. Devastating losses suffered by Armoured Corps were not allowed to be reported in the print media at a time television didn’t cover the conflict and social media never heard of. The losses suffered by the Armoured Corps remained unreported until Brig. Wijedasa went public</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The LTTE allowed Rivi Bala troops to advance. Prabhakaran refrained from resisting the latest offensive that involved the 53 and 55 Divisions and some elements of the 56 Division that had been previously involved in Operation Jayasikuru, to bring back Oddusuddan under government control, situated north of Nedunkerni, as it shifted focus of offensive action to east of the A9 road. The LTTE didn’t resist as troops secured Oddusuddan, situated 14 km north of Nedunkerni.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This writer had the opportunity to visit the new frontlines at Nedunkerni-Oddusuddan on Oct. 6, 1998, along with a group of journalists when Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte visited the area. Having participated at a Hindu religious ceremony at Oddusuddan, Minister Ratwatte in camouflaged battle dress was about to get into a Russian built BTR 80 armoured personnel carrier when the LTTE fired four rounds of mortars at the group. At the time of the incident, the visiting group of journalists was about two kilometers south of the scene of the attack. My senior colleague from our sister paper <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Divaina </i>Sirimevan Kasthuriarachchi was among the group. The group was being moved to Oddusuddan in locally built armoured personnel carriers when the LTTE fired mortars. The convoy stopped in the middle of the road leading to Oddusuddan when the SLA fired artillery in response to the LTTE attack. The group was stuck there for more than an hour. Although Minister Ratwatte, Army chief, Lt. Gen. Daluwatte, SLN Commander, Vice Admiral Cecil Tissera, Air Force Commander, Air Vice Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody and Wanni Security Forces Commander, Maj. Gen. Lionel Balagalle miraculously escaped, the LTTE attack claimed the lives of four SLA personnel, while 42 received injuries. Three bodyguards of Minister Ratwatte were among the wounded (<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anuruddha and service chiefs in narrow escape––The Island</i> Dec. 7, 1998).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A proud father’s advice</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ranjan’s father had served the Army and retired in the rank of Captain. Having studied at Isipathana College, Colombo, where he attended the primary, Ranjan and his three brothers – one elder to him and two younger – the family moved to Mahena, a village near Warakapola, after the retirement of Captain W.A. Wijedasa in 1979. The Brigadier’s narrative of their simple way of life and the boys’ escapades captured the readers’ interest. References were made to the retired officer being recalled in 1983 in the wake of July riots following the killing of 13 soldiers at Thinnaveli, Jaffna, and the emergence of the second JVP insurrection. The enjoyable time Ranjan and his elder brother had at Minneriya Infantry Training Centre and the opportunity granted to the boys to engage in exercises meant for soldiers perhaps influenced their decision to join the Army.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the time, Ranjan had been chosen for the prestigious Diyatalawa Military Academy, his elder brother Manjula was there. The author’s description of nearly two yearlong training there made good reading but nothing could have been as important as advice he received from his father on the day he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of 33 Intake of SLMA. His brother, now retired after serving the military for nearly 20 years, too, had served the Armoured Corps though the two brothers were not assigned to the same unit during the conflict.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The author quoted his father as having told him that there were various funds in the Army. “Never touch those funds. If you need money, give me a call. Don’t smear insignia with faeces by stealing money.” Unfortunately, such high morals seemed to have made no impact on the overall public service, including the armed forces if allegations traded in Parliament and outside are true. The country is in dire straits due to waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement. With both the private and public sectors badly affected, the armed forces and police, too, deteriorated since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. Corruption takes a heavy toll on post-war bankrupt Sri Lanka with the economy in such a precarious state with many complaining the difficulties were worse than the time of conflict.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fifteen years after the end of the conflict, the government is in the process of gradually reducing the Army’s strength to 135,000 by the end of next year and 100,000 by 2030. At the time a soldier shot Velupillai Prabhakaran through the head on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon on the morning of May 19, 2009, the Army strength stood at approximately 205,000. The gradual reduction commenced during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as the President. By the time, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced out of office, the Army strength was down to approximately 168,000. The continuing economic crisis has compelled the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government to go ahead with further downsizing of the Army and by next year the strength is expected to be down to 135,000 and 100,000 six years later.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that the war couldn’t have been won if not for President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s approval of Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka’s call for a larger Army. From some 116,000 officers and men, while the Army was fighting on multiple fronts over a period of three years, the strength was increased to 205,000, a tremendous achievement in an environment of instability, uncertainty and political turmoil.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brig. Wijedasa paid a glowing tribute to Field Marshal Fonseka while recalling the Sinha Regiment hero’s declaration that he wouldn’t leave the war unfinished. Fonseka gave that assurance at a time the LTTE remained a formidable fighting force with conventional fighting capacity in land, sea and even in air with a rudimentary air force, which was used to bomb Colombo on at least two occasions.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DK visits Pooneryn</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brigadier Wijedasa disclosed a hitherto unheard visit by the then Northern Commander Maj. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa to isolated Pooneryn-Nagathevanthurai military base at an early stage in the author’s career. Pooneryn-Nagathevabthurai had been perhaps one of the most difficult bases to serve during the war and was the scene of one of the fiercest attacks carried out by the LTTE on the Vanni east. The Army lost hundreds of men. Kobbekaduwa, also of the Armoured Corps during the visit to Pooneryn had declared that MBTs could operate anywhere in the Pooneryn sector whereas the author dared to disagree with the deployment of such heavy equipment in boggy conditions. Kobbekaduwa seemed to have been offended by the junior officer’s suggestion and ordered the author to prepare a MBT to move from Pooneryn to Kalmunai Point a distance of about 20 kms towards the Jaffna lagoon. Wijedasa recalled how he accompanied by Lt. Colonel Chitral Punchihewa, the Commanding Officer of the infantry deployed therein left Pooneryn atop T-55 MBT and after covering a distance of about 10 km was unexpectedly bogged down. The only other MBT that had been deployed at Pooneyn was called in to pull the bogged down T- 55. The rescuer, too, had got bogged down at the same location where those assigned for the two MBTs had to remain there for three weeks until a tank recovery vehicle was brought in from Mullaithivu by ship to Trincomalee and then overland to Pooneryn to pull the T 55s.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regardless of orders issued by the Northern Commander in this regard, other officers senior to Wijedasa at that time had found fault with him for the fiasco. However, Lt. Col. Punchihewa had taken the responsibility for the incident thereby saved Wijedasa from being tainted. Wijedasa recollected Punchihewa’s sacrifice with love and gratitude while revealing the death of his savior in a landmine blast that ripped apart his Land rover speeding towards Kalmunai Point. What is really poignant in Punchihewa’s death is that the Lt. Col. had stopped on his way to Kalmunai Point after seeing Wijedasa at the helipad with another officer and inquired what they were doing in the hot sun. The incident underscored the senior officer’s humanitarian qualities amidst a brutal war.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brigadier Wijedasa’s memoirs is a must read for those really interested in the conflict and how the military absorbed the youth. It would be the responsibility of the top brass to ensure the young officers and men learn from the past as it were. Wijedasa’s memoirs <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mihidan Nowu Minisa</i> can be purchased from Design Waves Private Ltd. Tel 011 2150 100 <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(www.designwaves.lk)</b></i></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-73150778222200326212023-10-11T00:15:00.000-07:002023-10-11T00:15:08.128-07:00Where have millions of USD invested in good governance and accountability projects et al gone?<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 491</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/10/11</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><h2 align="LEFT" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 1.8rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.4; margin: 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: grey; font-size: 28.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">USD 73 mn down the drain?</span></h2><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />The US Embassy is on record as having said that USAID conducted a project at a cost of USD 73 mn during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>administration (2015-2019) to enhance the efficiency of lawmakers and be responsive to the people they represent. In terms of this project, 50 Research Assistants of the Sri Lankan Parliament participated in a US-supported workshop meant to help MPs better hear and address the concerns of their constituents. The then US Ambassador Atul Keshap was quoted in an Embassy statement as having declared: “Developing the skills of Parliamentary staff helps MPs better serve the people” said US Ambassador Atul Keshap.</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“In turn, this will foster and strengthen the principles of good governance”, Ambassador Keshap added.</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Both USAID and Sri Lanka Parliament should examine whether this particular project, as well as other programmes conducted since 2015, improved the quality of MPs and Ministers.</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At least on paper the subject of public finance is under the total control of Parliament. Chapter XVII of the Constitution forms the foundation of Parliament’s powers over all public finances. Parliament powers and authority over public finance are dealt by Article 148, Article 149, Article 150, Article 151, and Article 154R.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act (12 of 2016), <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i> sought information from Parliament as regards projects implemented by external sponsors for Sri Lanka’s benefit over the years.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These foreign-funded projects were essentially meant to strengthen good governance, accountability, build civil society capacity et al. The publication of a clarification was requested on Sept. 05, 2023, in the wake of Parliament claiming, the day before, that it would receive USD 300 mn through a new cooperation framework for development programmes over the next five years. The announcement was made on Sept. 04, referring to newly appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator to Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche congratulating Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on the adoption of the Anti-Corruption Act and the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office. They met on Oct. 01, 2023 with the participation of the Secretary General of the House Kushani Rohanadeera.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite having to eat humble pie, the House issued a clarification to correct its exaggerated communique when it was published in <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island,</i> under the heading <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Parliament to receive UN funding amounting to over USD 300 mn’</i> (Sept. 05, 2023 edition, <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i>). Its Director, Legislative Services/Acting Director (Communications) Janakantha Silva on Sept. 06 stated that the USD 300 mn referred to in the previous statement, dated Sept. 04, 2023, was meant for all development programmes, not only for Parliament. The official didn’t indicate the amount allocated to Parliament.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As per our separate request for information, Parliament responded to five out of eight questions submitted in Sinhala by the writer. Of the three unanswered, the one that referred to Parliament was considered irrelevant by it, while declining to respond to the remaining two. <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i> also sought information from the US Embassy in Colombo, as well as the EU mission here, as regards the funding made for various projects. Let me examine their responses against the backdrop of harsh criticism of Parliament for its failure to ensure control over public finance. Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, and Mahindananda Aluthgamage, MP, both elected on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ticket at the last parliamentary election in Aug. 2020, accused Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena (SLPP) of neglecting his duties and responsibilities as Chairman of the Constitutional Council (CC). They lambasted the CC as an utterly useless corrupt body. The CC consists of the Speaker, Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Nimal Siripala de Silva (President’s nominee), Sagara Kariyawasam (PM’s nominee), Kabir Hashim (Opp. Leader’s nominee), Dr. Prathap Ramanujam (nominated by PM and Opp. Leader), Dr. Mrs. Anula Wijesundere (nominated by PM and Opp. Leader) and Dr. Dinesha Samararatne (nominated by PM and Opp. Leader).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The CC hasn’t been able to appoint the 10th member due to disagreement between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the rebel members of the SLPP parliamentary group. Lawmakers Rajapakshe and Aluthgamage went to the extent of declaring that those who had set properties, belonging to members of Parliament, ablaze in May last year should target CC members hereafter. They should be reminded that of the 10 members of CC, seven represented Parliament. The duo lambasted the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) over its failure to address the issues at hand while also targeting revenue collecting authorities, namely the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise Department. Dr. Rajapakshe declared that the country didn’t have to depend on the USD 2.9 bn bailout package if those responsible for revenue collection achieved what they were duty bound to do. Both lawmakers alleged that the entire revenue collection setup was corrupt at every level. The former President of the Bar Association charged that even junior employees of above-mentioned state institutions are procuring luxury apartments, while Aluthgamage accused a department head of owning property in the US and living a super luxury life.</p><div class="gallery galleryid-132264 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full" id="gallery-1" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><dl class="gallery-item" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 370px;"><dt class="gallery-icon portrait" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mahinda-Yapa.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-132255" class="attachment-full size-full lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mahinda-Yapa.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mahinda-Yapa.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mahinda-Yapa-258x300.jpg 258w" height="349" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mahinda-Yapa.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mahinda-Yapa.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mahinda-Yapa-258x300.jpg 258w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 2px solid rgb(207, 207, 207); height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a></dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" id="gallery-1-132255" style="border: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Mahinda Yapa (Since 2020)</dd></dl><dl class="gallery-item" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 370px;"><dt class="gallery-icon portrait" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ex-Speaker-Karu-Jayasuriya.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-132256" class="attachment-full size-full lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ex-Speaker-Karu-Jayasuriya.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ex-Speaker-Karu-Jayasuriya.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ex-Speaker-Karu-Jayasuriya-258x300.jpg 258w" height="349" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ex-Speaker-Karu-Jayasuriya.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ex-Speaker-Karu-Jayasuriya.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ex-Speaker-Karu-Jayasuriya-258x300.jpg 258w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 2px solid rgb(207, 207, 207); height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a></dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" id="gallery-1-132256" style="border: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Ex-Speaker Karu Jayasuriya (2015-2019)</dd></dl><br style="clear: both;" /></div><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament responds</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(1) The Island: </em></strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Would it be possible to know the agreements Parliament reached with foreign governments and organizations following parliamentary polls in 1989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2015 and 2020 and the estimated worth of those projects?</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament:</em></strong>We work with the following partners since 2016, namely United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), SLPP-Sri Lanka Parliament Project (concluded in Sept. 2016), Strengthening Democratic Governance and Accountability Project (concluded in Nov. 2016), Inclusive Participatory Processes Project (IPPP), National Democratic Institute (NDI), International Republican Institute (IRI) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (concluded). Projects were carried out in line with agreements sans funds made available to Parliament. (Their response meant that there hadn’t been such projects prior to the advent of the UNP-SLFP coalition aka Yahapalanaya)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(2) The Island: </strong></em>What were the purposes of these projects and the years of implementation?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament:</strong></em> <span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With the backing of the UNDP, we implemented a three-year project (2017-2019) to meet /strengthen constitutional requirements within the parliamentary system and the same was extended for a further three-year period (2020-2023). (Interestingly, Parliament made no reference to high-profile USAID funds to strengthen accountability and democratic governance. The US Embassy is on record as having said the three-year project worth USD 13 mn – Rs 1.92 bn – announced in late Nov. 2016 was meant to broaden their support to the independent commissions, Ministries, and provincial and local levels of government as well as equal participation by men and women and other underrepresented groups in politics and leadership.)</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(3) The Island: </strong></em>Were those foreign- funded projects subjected to audits and, if so, by whom?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament: </strong></em><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There was no need for an audit as sponsors provided experts for relevant programmes intended to improve and enhance knowledge and capacity of lawmakers and other parliamentary workers, foreign tours and other required services.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(4) <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island: </i></strong>Why weren’t they audited?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament: </strong></em>Irrelevant as explained earlier.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(5) The Island: </strong></em>Is there a laid down procedure to finalize projects funded by external partners?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament: </strong></em>The UNDP funded project, launched in June 2016, was meant to achieve seven objectives while also working with other development partners. There objectives were (1) strategic plans for Parliament (2) strengthening of Oversight Committee System and enhancement of lawmakers’ skills development (3) improvement to parliamentary procedures and their use (4) strengthening of research and policy examination (5) public relations and public participation in law process (6) strengthening of constitutional and administrative systems/structures and (7) increase in women representation in Parliament and thereby increase their role in the decisionmaking process.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(6) <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island: </b></i></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How many computers were received from China for members of Parliament and House officials during </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalanaya</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and their cost?</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament:</strong></em> We received 268 computers worth USD 287,491.64.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(7) </strong><i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island:</strong> </i>India provided SLR 300 mn to build a village in memory of the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera who passed away in late 2016, having played a significant role in the 2015 change of government. The money was provided on a request made by Yahapalana Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. Were you able to complete that village building project?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament:</em></strong> As Parliament didn’t have information regarding the said project, therefore the question cannot be answered.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(8) </strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island:</strong> </em>Did Parliament reach an agreement to spend UNDP funds (funds allocated from the USD 300 mn to be spent over a five-year period) with the participation of political parties represented in the current Parliament?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament:</strong> </em><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As Parliament didn’t have information regarding the said project, therefore the question cannot be answered.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">US Embassy explains</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The US on Sept. 20, 2023 announced a further commitment of more than USD 19.23 mn (Rs 6.2 bn) in additional funds for bankrupt Sri Lanka. The US Embassy in Colombo declared that fresh funding made through USAID would support economic growth and democratic governance activities. The US has provided more than $2 billion (nearly Rs. 720 billion) in assistance to Sri Lanka since 1956. The writer sought to clarify some issues with the US Embassy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Q: </strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Would you please explain /describe ‘democratic governance activities’ referred to in the press release, dated Sept. 20, 2023. Have you reached consensus with the government on a set of such activities?</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Embassy spokesperson:</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">USAID works in partnership with Sri Lanka and its government to strengthen inclusive governance, build a robust civil society, and promote the rule of law. USAID also works to improve Sri Lankans’ access to balanced and reliable news and partners with the government and the people of Sri Lanka to strengthen dialogue between multi-ethnic communities. In addition, USAID builds local capacity for disaster response and risk reduction.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Q: </strong><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The USAID and Sri Lanka Parliament signed an agreement worth USD 13 mn in late 2016 to strengthen accountability and democratic governance. It was implemented over a period of three years. Did that project achieve anticipated objectives?</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Embassy spokesperson:</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Strengthening Democratic Governance and Accountability Project (SDGAP) was a three-year (October 2016 to September 2019) USD13 mn project funded by USAID. It was developed and implemented in close consultation and collaboration with the government and Parliament of Sri Lanka. SDGAP helped the government to strengthen public accountability systems, improve government strategic planning and communication, policy reforms and implementation processes and, increase political participation of women and underrepresented groups in democratic governance. It also supported the government to strengthen communication with citizens and incorporate public participation in policymaking.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Q:</strong> <span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If possible, please let me know the funds the US spent on the MCC project though it was not implemented</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Embassy spokesperson: </strong>The United States did not sign an MCC compact with Sri Lanka in 2020 due to a lack of partner country engagement. The grant funds that had been intended for Sri Lanka were later reallocated to other eligible countries with economic development priorities to reduce poverty and stimulate growth.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Massive investments made by the UNDP and US through Parliament and elsewhere to strengthen democracy, good governance and accountability here appeared to have made no impact. The declaration of bankruptcy in May last year and the country having to bend its knees before the IMF for the 17th occasion proved that the Parliament hasn’t learnt a thing at all. Recent allegations that the CC had pathetically failed in its duties and responsibilities underscored the responsibility of the donors to be tough with utterly corrupt political leadership here. They, too, should be responsible for their taxpayers without using such funds to sabotage those countries by way of getting rid of regimes their own ‘Deep State’ find not to their liking or on other diabolical plans, especially to get those poor countries to toe their line.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Intrepid former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe said that Parliament should be held accountable for the ruination of the country. Wijesinghe, who held that post from Nov. 2015 to April 2019, said that the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition diluted the National Audit Bill to such an extent that the enactment of the new law in July 2018 didn’t make any difference though that was a promise given by the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> campaign at the 2015 presidential election.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wijesinghe recalled that despite the then government claiming foreign investment in various projects to strengthen good governance and accountability, hadn’t achieved anything at all. Declaration of bankruptcy in May 2022 amidst unprecedented turmoil proved the Parliament hadn’t met two primary responsibilities, namely control over public finance and enactment of new laws. Instead, the Yahapalana government abolished the time-tested 1953 Foreign Exchange Act in 2017and enacted a new Act that diluted regulatory powers exercised by the Central Bank. The accusations made in Parliament and outside that export proceeds amounting to over USD 50 bn that had been “parked abroad” should be examined taking into consideration the Parliament created an environment conducive for such unscrupulous practices.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wijesinghe warned that further foreign investments would be wasted unless required constitutional amendments and new laws were enacted.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BASL action</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bar Association, during Saliya Pieris’ tenure as its President, filed two fundamental rights applications in late March 2022 to pressure the then government to take tangible measures to address the developing economic crisis. The SC was moved against the government a few days before violent protests erupted outside the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Pangiriwatte, Mirihana. The BASL made the Attorney General, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Secretary to the Treasury, Secretaries to several Ministries, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation as respondents. There hadn’t been similar action against the government before. These petitions were filed by Saliya Pieris PC, Deputy President Anura Meddegoda PC, Secretary, Rajeev Amarasuriya, Treasurer, Rajindh Perera and Assistant Secretary Pasindu Silva. By late Oct. 2022 however, the BASL decided to suspend action taken against the government. When the writer sought an explanation from the BASL as to why the cases that had been filed over the deterioration of the economy as the situation remained critical, Pieris said on Nov 02, 2022: “It was laid by not withdrawn. Our Counsel thought that at the moment there is nothing the court can do further. It can be revived again.” The BASL move eased pressure on the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The IMF prerequisites for the resumption of the bailout package meant that the government hadn’t taken measures to prevent those in authority from continuing waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement. That is the undeniable truth. State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe’s explanation does not hold water at all. The Anuradhapura district lawmaker should realize that the economy is in such a messy situation his efforts both in and outside Parliament sounds hollow. He is trying to defend the indefensible. The IMF prerequisites underscored that the lending body had absolutely no faith in the powers that be at every level. In fact, the IMF declared that the international community didn’t have confidence in the system in place.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The IMF’s Governance Diagnostic Assessment report is nothing but an indictment on Sri Lanka at every level and the most significant roadblock to financial recovery lies in Sri Lanka’s persistent failure to address its deep-rooted corruption. The following are the IMF’s demands <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(1)</b> Establishment of an Advisory Committee by November 2023 to nominate commissioners for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(2) </b>Disclosure of asset declarations of senior officials by July 2024 <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(3)</b> Enactment of proceeds of crime legislation by April 2024 <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(4)</b> Amendment of the National Audit Act <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(5) </b>Finalization of implementation of regulations for beneficial ownership information and creating a public registry by April 2024 <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(6)</b> Enactment of Public Procurement Law by December 2024 <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(7)</b> Publishing reports on increasing competitive tendered procurement contracts, targeting agencies with low levels of competition <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(8)</b> Requiring the publication of all public procurement contracts above LKRs 1 billion <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(9)</b> Implementing the State-Owned Enterprise Reform Policy to ensure ethical management <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(10) </b>Abolishing or suspending the Strategic Development Projects Office Act until a transparent process for evaluating proposals is established <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(11) </b>Amending tax legislation to prevent unilateral tax changes without parliamentary approval <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(12)</b> Implementing short-term anti-corruption measures within revenue departments to enhance oversight and sanctions <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(13)</b> Exploring options for new management arrangements for the Employees Provident Fund to avoid conflicts of interest <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(14)</b> Revising legislation, regulations, and processes for stronger oversight in the banking sector <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(15)</b> Establishing an online digital land registry and ensuring progress in registering/titling-state land and <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(16) </b>Expanding the resources and skills available to the Judicial Service Commission to strengthen justice.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It wouldn’t be fair to blame the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government for the economic fallout. In fact, the SJB MPs who previously served the UNP and SLPP rebels, too, should be held accountable as all political parties, including the TNA and JVP, also contributed to the crisis but in varying degrees.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Actually, high profile foreign-funded projects are a mystery as the executive and legislature continued to cause further economic deterioration. A few months before the “public” chased out President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Justice Ministry, with funding from the EU, along with the UNDP and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched a high profile Justice Reform (JURE) programme. That project was finalized in Feb. 2022 and to be implemented over a period of four and half years, received EU funding to the tune of EUR 18 million (approx. LKR 4 billion) and the UN for EUR 1 million (approx. LKR 225 million). Would it help change Sri Lanka?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Devastating accusations directed by the Justice Minister last week at the all-powerful Constitutional Council over its failure to do its duty despite being legislatively armed to the teeth highlighted the crisis Sri Lanka is in. One cannot forget that the Bar Association, too, received substantial amounts of US funding over the years without any independent audits, but the overall situation remains the same. Let me stress again that the IMF prerequisites indicate that regardless of big anti-corruption talk, Sri Lanka remains in the grip of an utterly corrupt political party and bureaucratic systems. While we like to concede that politicos are now to some extent circumspect due to the glare of the local and international spotlight directed at them and the fear of a fresh <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aragalaya</i> targeting all of them, the less we say about the corrupt bureaucracy that works hand in glove with them the better. The MPs even if they are all corrupt to the core are limited to just 225 in number, but the unscrupulous bureaucracy ever ready to point the finger at politicos to cover their sins are far worse and found at every turn in places like the Inland Revenue, Customs, Excise, RMV, police, courts, local authorities, ports etc., etc., is insurmountable. So CC better get cracking before the people go berserk because of their unbearable suffering reaching breaking point.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And most of all we must watch out for foreign elements working in not so mysterious ways to exploit our weaknesses to their ends, especially after what happened since the Pangiriwatte riots of last year followed by much more vicious acts on May 09 and July 09 of that year and just as mysteriously melting away, thereafter, like a thief in the night. If someone says it was the spontaneous reactions of an enraged public, some of it may be. But such persons should go and “tell that to the marines”!</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-79678630588856113922023-10-04T06:25:00.000-07:002023-10-04T06:25:32.955-07:00Sirisena, SLFP enmeshed in Easter Sunday fallout<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 490</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/10/4</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/President-Maithripala-Sirisena.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/President-Maithripala-Sirisena.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/President-Maithripala-Sirisena-300x203.jpg 300w" height="473" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/President-Maithripala-Sirisena.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/President-Maithripala-Sirisena.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/President-Maithripala-Sirisena-300x203.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">The then President Maithripala Sirisena arrives at the PCoI accompanied by his lawyer Maithri Gunaratne, PC.</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is desperate to reach a consensus with political parties in the Opposition. But the Opposition is very much reluctant to do so due to the SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena’s fickle past and now again under intense fire over the 2019 Easter Sunday attack. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, no stranger to controversy, especially to his advantage, having served Sirisena’s cabinet during the Yahapalana administration, called the former President the mastermind of the Easter carnage. The SJB Chairman, who is now at loggerheads with the party, declared in Parliament that there were two masterminds. One was Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the other Maithripala Sirisena. Jathika Jana Balawegaya leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake flayed Sirisena for being so petty-minded that he sabotaged the National Security Council over his personal dispute with the then Premier Wickremesinghe.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chairman Maithripala Sirisena, MP, recently accused ousted General Secretary of the party, parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera, unceremoniously kicked out by him, of seeking to contest the next presidential election. The former President (2015-2019) claimed that the Kurunegala District lawmaker pursued political ambitions at his expense, regardless of the consequences. Therefore, as the Chairman of the Party he had no option but to thwart the conspiracy hatched by a group of conspirators.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The accusation was made during a live interview on Salakuna, anchored by Chamuditha Samarawickrema, who served the then President Sirisena as his Media Director. At one point, visibly upset Sirisena accused Samarawickrema of being part of the growing conspiracy to ruin his political career.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the no holds barred interview, the Hiru panel relentlessly pressed the former President over his failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, the simmering turmoil in the SLFP, with the focus on his battle with Jayasekera, and future plans. Jayasekera has been removed from the position of General Secretary and his party membership suspended at the same time.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena strongly defended repeated accusations that he caused the ruination of the SLFP from the commanding position of 144 MPs in 2010 to just one elected on the SLFP ticket at the last general election in August 2020, whereas the remaining 13, including himself, entered parliament on the SLPP ticket.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena attributed that victory to Sri Lanka’s triumph over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009. The UPFA recorded a significant increase of 39 seats since the 2004 general election. The UNP-led UNF secured 60 seats, a decline of 22. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) obtained 14 seats, down from the 22 they won in 2004, and Sarath Fonseka-led DNA, contesting for the first time, won seven seats.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Responding to the Samarawickrema-led Hiru panel, Sirisena repeated a range of allegations against war-winning Army Commander Sarath Fonseka who was also accused of conspiring against the SLFP leader. Sirisena repeated accusations against Fonseka in Parliament recently that during the Army Chief’s much publicized visits to Kilinochchi during the war, the Sinha Regiment officer hid in a concrete bunker.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps the most astonishing declaration the embattled President made during that interview was his readiness to reach a consensus with UNP leader and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Sirisena indicated he was ready to cooperate with anyone as political parties sought alliances. Let me stop the comment on ‘Salakuna’ interview and examine the challenges Sirisena faced as he struggled to navigate choppy waters.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ex-President exploded when Samarawickrema accused him of lying regarding his visit to Singapore in April 2019. The ex-presidential aide played a voice recording of Sirisena claiming that he was on holiday in Singapore soon after he told the interviewers of visiting Mount Elizabeth Hospital for a medical check-up. Saramawickrema pointed out that the bills were paid by the President’s Fund belonging to the people.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The reality is that the SLFP has been reduced to just one MP Angajan Ramanathan elected from the Jaffna district and may find it extremely difficult to finalize an agreement in time for the presidential election. Sirisena realizes the pathetic state his party is in as the seniors are keen to face the future under Wickremesinghe’s leadership. The growing criticism of Sirisena’s conduct in the run-up to the Easter Sunday carnage, and after, has caused irreparable damage to Sirisena. The bottom line is Sirisena is a liability. The SLFP cannot under any circumstances expect to reach an electoral alliance with any political party represented in Parliament as long as Sirisena remained the leader. That is the undeniable truth. Unfortunately, Sirisena seems to be in a dream world of his own incapable of comprehending the political environment or the utterly desperate situation he is in.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kilinochchi concrete bunker</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Did the Army Chief visit Kilinochchi often during the war? In spite of being a member of the Cabinet and Acting Minister of Defence on a number of occasions during the war, Sirisena seems to be clueless regarding even the basics in military strategy or what really happened. Kilinochchi, which served as the outward LTTE headquarters, where foreign and local visitors were entertained, was not liberated till January 2009. In fact, the then Lt. Gen. Fonseka hadn’t visited Kilinochchi until the Army brought the LTTE bastion under its control. He no doubt personally directed frontline operations from Colombo often bypassing many top officers in the command structure. He even had the habit of giving orders directly to small brigade-type operations led by lieutenant colonels using CDMA phones as he knew Tigers were monitoring all their radio communications. In one instance we can recall that when we reached the base camp of one such unit advancing north of Vavuniya, parallel to A-9 highway one evening, Fonseka came on line while we were meeting the lieutenant colonel leading that push and immediately attention was drawn to field maps on the improvised table there and the Army Commander without wasting any formalities started asking why they had not completed a certain task assigned to them that day, the poor Lt. Col. literally stammering said they had run into a minefield and immediately Fonseka shouted back and pointed out that there is a nearby trail used by lumber thieves and for them to advance along that to bypass the minefield. And that is how Fonseka, who knew the northern terrain like the back of his hand, won the war that many experts said was unwinnable by our security forces.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But the tragedy is that Field Marshal Fonseka has forgotten how that dream victory was made possible by the tremendous unstinted backing he had received from the then political and security forces leaderships. Earlier capable Generals like Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Wijaya Wimalaratne et al were handicapped by being sabotaged from within or having eccentric political leaderships at the apex, especially with the likes of Presidents Ranasinghe Premadasa and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, while the former was overly punctual, the latter basically had no sense of time.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A retired Special Forces officer holding middle-level rank confirmed that the Army Chief flew to Kilinochchi on the morning of April 16, 2009, along with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Kilinochchi was brought under military control in the first week of January 2009. The Army Chief visited Vanni east again only after the successful conclusion of the war on May 19, 2009. Therefore, there couldn’t be any basis for Sirisena’s claim that the Army Chief sought to build his image by flying into Vanni often as that was simply not possible with a formidable enemy like the LTTE dominating Wanni, except for periodic strikes by the Army’s deep penetration units that eliminated some key Tiger leaders. After the Army Chief’s visit to Kilinochchi on April 16, 2009, the LTTE lasted less than five weeks.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The war-winning President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared in Parliament on May 19, 2009, “When I won the Presidential Election in 2005 there were LTTE police stations in the North and East. There were Tiger courts. What was missing was only a Tiger parliament. Today we have finished all that forever.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena should be especially ashamed that he didn’t at least bother to verify such serious accusations before going public.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The SLFP cannot further delay making a proper assessment of the impact of Sirisena’s culpability as well as negligence on his part pertaining to the Easter Sunday carnage. Sirisena, in addition to being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Defence Minister, held the Public Security portfolio at the time the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) mounted a spate of suicide attacks.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In spite of repeated requests by the coalition partner UNP, Sirisena declined to swear in their nominee though he accepted Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Premier following the Supreme Court declaration of December 13, 2018. Sirisena hasn’t been able to explain his actions though he is bombarded with questions.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Political uncertainty caused by the Sirisena-Rajapaksa alliance, too, may have influenced the NTJ strategy. The Supreme Court ruled that Sirisena’s decision to dissolve Parliament 20 months before the end of its term was unconstitutional. A full seven-judge bench unanimously declared that the President couldn’t dissolve Parliament until it completed a four-and-a-half-year term.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena’s actions should be examined taking into consideration three major developments in 2015. (1) The President being compelled to accept Singaporean Arjuna Mahendran as Governor of the Central Bank (2) Dissolution of Parliament in late June 2015 to prevent the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) from tabling special report on the first Treasury bond scam perpetrated in late February 2015, no sooner the Yahapalana government assumed office and (3) Sirisena, in his capacity as the Chairman of the SLFP delivered a knockout blow to his own party by declaring that Mahinda Rajapaksa wouldn’t be appointed Prime Minister even if the UPFA won the election.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The last above declaration by Sisisena was meant to dishearten Mahinda supporters. The President obviously wanted to ensure the victory of those who fielded him as the common candidate at the 2015 presidential election. The coalition consisted of the UNP, TNA, JVP, SLMC and other smaller minority parties, all backed by an influential section of the civil society, well-funded by the West. Sirisena’s move restricted the UPFA total to 95 seats, including 12 National List slots whereas the UNP secured 106 seats. The UNP group included 13 National List seats. Sirisena allies TNA won 16 seats, JVP 06, EPDP 01 and SLMC 01. Today both the UNP and SLFP have been reduced to just one MP.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A debilitating setback</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is consensus among the Opposition that the SLFP cannot be part of a coalition against the backdrop of the Supreme Court ordering Sirisena to pay a sum of Rs 100 mn as compensation to the Easter Sunday victims. The apex court in a judgment delivered on January 12, 2023 ordered Sirisena, four officials and the State to pay compensation amounting to Rs. 311 million rupees.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That unprecedented move compelled the Opposition (SLPP rebels, including those in the Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya) to ask Sirisena to take the SLFP out of a coalition formed in January this year to contest indefinitely the postponed Local Government polls.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena is on record as having said that rebel SLPP lawmakers, Prof. G. L. Peiris and Dullas Alahapperuma visited him at his official residence in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling and requested him to quit the ‘Helicopter’ alliance. They wouldn’t have done so without consulting other constituents.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ground reality is that the Opposition now found it difficult to accommodate the SLFP in a coalition at any level. The party lacked the strength to go it alone for obvious reasons. The continuing dispute between Sirisena and Jayasekera should be examined against the backdrop of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva’s success at the High Court of Civil Appeal.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The SLFPer thwarted bids made by Sirisena and Jayasekera, in their capacities as the Chairman and General Secretary of the SLFP, respectively, to prevent him from functioning as Senior Vice President of the party. Silva and the majority of those who had been elected to Parliament on the SLPP ticket, have pledged their allegiance to President Wickremesinghe. In fact, with the removal of Jayasekera, Sirisena appeared to have deprived himself of an apparatus capable of even basic organizational work.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday carnage, in its final report, made a damning recommendation pertaining to Sirisena. For some strange reason, Sirisena continued to downplay the severity of the PCoI recommendation. Declaring that Sirisena failed in his duties and responsibilities and his failure went beyond mere civil negligence, the PCoI advised the Attorney General to consider instituting criminal proceedings under any suitable provision in the Penal Code. (Final report, Vol 01, p 265).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena’s efforts to consolidate his position in the party with an eye on the next presidential election appeared to have collapsed due to the Easter Sunday fallout. Minister de Silva challenged in court the legality of constitutional amendments pertaining to the party. In his capacity as the Chairman, Sirisena sought the power to reconstitute the party Central Committee by nominating 35 members of his choice, increase the number of Vice Presidents to 14 and Senior Vice Presidents to seven. Sirisena also sought unilateral authority to remove any office bearer.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena appeared to have blundered by calling for UN intervention/assistance in the wake of Channel 4’s wild claims that the Easter Sunday carnage was facilitated by State Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) helped SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa to win last presidential poll conducted in November 2019. As that accusation had been made even before the presidential election, Sirisena owed the public an explanation why his party contested on the SLPP ticket at the subsequent general election held in August 2020. Sirisena appeared to have tied himself in knots with his illogical greedy strategy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former President lacked both time and space to address issues at hand, the latest being the accusations pertaining to the General Secretary of the party trying to oust him. Sirisena has refused to disclose the names of those involved in the alleged bid to oust him. Perhaps, Sirisena has quite conveniently forgotten how he betrayed Mahinda Rajapaksa in late 2014 just a couple of weeks before the presidential poll and morning after enjoying a sumptuous string hopper dinner with the Rajapaksas at Temple Trees.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Difficult road ahead</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena needs to take stock of things. This should be done without further delay as pressure builds-up on his party to address issues arising out of the Easter Sunday carnage. The former President must realize that the party will continue to suffer as long as he remains as its leader. Wickremesinghe under any circumstances wouldn’t accept the SLFP as long as Sirisena served as its Chairman though the PCoI also strongly criticized Wickremesinghe’s own response to growing Islamic extremism here.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The PCoI observed that Wickremesinghe’s approach towards Islamic extremism was one of the primary reasons for the failure on the part of the government to neutralize the threat. Wickremesinghe’s approach facilitated the build-up of Islamic extremism and caused the Easter Sunday carnage (Final report, Vol 01, p 276-277). However, the PCoI refrained from making any specific recommendation in respect of Wickremesinghe. The Catholic Church has publicly questioned the failure on the part of the PCoI in this regard.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of the politicians investigated by the PCoI and whose names transpired in the Easter Sunday coverage, Sirisena seems to be the only one really affected. Had Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka or a UNP member served as the Law and Order Minister at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks, Sirisena could have exploited the situation. The civil society grouping that backed Sirisena’s candidature at the 2015 presidential backed Fonseka as the Law and Order Minister. Before Sirisena brought that portfolio under himself, Tilak Marapana, PC (not in active politics now), Sagala Ratnayake (Security Advisor to the incumbent President) and Ranjith Maddumabandara (General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya) served as the Law and Order Minister.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sirisena cannot absolve himself of the responsibility for political instability caused by the constitutional<br />coup that may have influenced the NTJ. The live interview with Samarawickrema has further weakened Sirisena’s position. The former President struggled to convince the interviewer that both the Presidential Security Division (PSD) and the Prime Ministerial Security Division (PMSD) hadn’t been aware of the warning given by the Indian intelligence service on April 04, 2019. But many others, like present Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, had been aware of the threat through other channels. In fact his late father had told him not to attend church on that fateful Sunday because of the pending threat. It being such an important date in the Christian calendar even many of those aware of the threat would have ignored the warning as a mere crying wolf.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="en-gb" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The shocking revelation how SLFPer and ex-UPPA MP Shantha Bandara, in his capacity as an aide to the then President Sirisena, extended support to those who managed a factory where the suicide jackets were alleged to have been produced, further tarnished the SLFP’s image. Bandara is among the 13 SLFPers elected on the SLPP ticket in the current Parliament. Interestingly, Sirisena accommodated Bandara on the UPFA National List after M.L.A.M. Hisbullah resigned in the first week of January 2019 to receive appointment as Governor of the Eastern Province. This appointment was made just four months before the Easter Sunday blasts. Hisbullah was among those politicians who appeared before the PCoI after having been examined by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the Easter Sunday carnage. The PCoI, having asserted that Hisbullah facilitated the spread of ‘extremism within Kattankudy’ has now got back the massive building complex in the East meant to house a private Shariah University that had been built with no expenses spared, thanks to secret lavish funding from Arab donors!</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recently, the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government handed back the Batticaloa University that had been brought under the military after the Easter Sunday killings to Hisbullah despite the skullduggery involved from the word go. Perhaps a separate article based on proceedings of PSC and PCoI relating to the private Batticaloa University may help those really interested in the issues at hand to understand how politics transcends ‘everything.’</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-86865678150578361992023-09-26T19:56:00.001-07:002023-09-26T19:56:39.760-07:00Parliament reels as Easter Sunday accusations tarnish members’ credibility<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 489</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/09/27</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px -380px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 380px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTTE-leader-velupillei-prabhakaran.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTTE-leader-velupillei-prabhakaran.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTTE-leader-velupillei-prabhakaran-300x200.jpg 300w" height="466" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTTE-leader-velupillei-prabhakaran.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTTE-leader-velupillei-prabhakaran.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTTE-leader-velupillei-prabhakaran-300x200.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">The LTTE used to mark 'Lt. Col.' Thileepan and Vaithilingam Sornalingam aka Col Sankar remembrance event together. The founder of the Tamileelam Air Force (TAF). Col. Sankar was killed by the Army on September 26 in 2001. (Tamil Net pic taken on Sept 26, 2008)</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 38px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/parliament-reels-as-easter-sunday-accusations-tarnish-members-credibility/#" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; 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font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Parliament last week wasted two days on a much hyped debate on national security and the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage carried out by local Muslim extremists radicalized by ISIS ideology. The debate didn’t help political parties represented in Parliament to reach consensus on the post-Easter Sunday reconciliation plan.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But, the ruling ‘Pohottuwa’ party and the solitary UNP National List MP Wajira Abeywardena defended the handling of the Easter Sunday investigations, whereas those who were in the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>Cabinet, that ruled the country at the time, attacked the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government over its alleged failure.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A careful consideration of speeches made on September 21 and 22 clearly reflected the fact that political parties remained committed to their original positions, though the political landscape has changed. The exchange between former President Maithripala Sirisena, MP, and war-winning Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MP, on the first day of the debate, underlined the pathetic state of affairs.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Polonnaruwa District ‘Pohottuwa’ lawmaker Sirisena’s claim that the war veteran wouldn’t have received the Field Marshal’s rank without his intervention proved again he didn’t have any sense of what he was talking about. If not for Fonseka’s strategic, courageous, ruthless and relentless leadership in pursuit of his goal to destroy the Tigers, the LTTE wouldn’t have collapsed in less than three years (Aug 2006-May 2009) though the successful war effort hinged on the combined forces commitment, and leadership in their respective fields.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Sirisena owes an explanation as to why wartime Navy and Air Force commanders, Wasantha Karannagoda and Roshan Gunathilake, respectively, were denied honorary ranks of Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Air Force when Fonseka was awarded the rank of Field Marshal in March 2015. Karannagoda and Gunathilake finally received their due honours in Sept. 2019, several months after the Easter Sunday carnage, the subject of the two-day debate that didn’t achieve anything.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lawmaker Sirisena should be reminded that he held the public security portfolio as the then President and Commander in Chief at the time of the Easter attacks. Sirisena steadfastly refused to swear in an UNPer as Public Security Minister though he reluctantly swore in Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Premier after the Supreme Court thwarted his constitutional coup. In fact, an influential section of the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> setup wanted Fonseka appointed as the Public Security Minister, though the proposal didn’t find favour with Premier Wickremesinghe.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While Parliament debated the Easter Sunday carnage, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who served as the Premier at the time of the near simultaneous suicide attacks, was away in Washington to attend the 78th sessions of the UN General Assembly in New York. Let me reproduce verbatim the assessment made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday carnage. “Upon consideration of the evidence, it is the view of the CoI that the lax approach of Mr. Wickremesinghe towards Islamic extremism, as the Prime Minister, was one of the primary reasons for the failure on the part of the then government to take proactive steps towards Islamic extremism. This facilitated the build-up of Islamic extremism to the point of the Easer Sunday attack.” (Final report, Vol</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">01, p 276-277).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Against the backdrop of lawmaker Sirisena seeking UN intervention following the Channel 4 allegations, based on Hanzeer Azad Maulana (ex-aide to State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan aka Pilleyan) over claims of complicity of Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in the Easter Sunday plot, it would be pertinent to point out the CoI’s assessment on the then President Sirisena. “Upon consideration of evidence of facts before 4th April 2019, the CoI is of the view that President Sirisena has failed in his duties and responsibilities and that his failure transcends beyond mere civil negligence.” (Final report, Vol 01, p 263)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CoI suggested: “….based on the evidence, the CoI is of the view that there is criminal liability on his part for the acts or omissions explained above. The CoI recommends that the Attorney General consider instituting criminal proceedings against President Sirisena under any suitable provision in the Penal Code.” (Final report, Vol 01, p 265)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Supreme Court Justice Janak de Silva chaired the CoI. The other members of the CoI were Court of Appeal Judge Bandula Karunaratne, retired Court of Appeal Judge Sunil Rajapaksa, retired High Court Judge Bandula Atapattu and retired Justice Ministry Secretary W.M.M.R. Adikari. The CoI commenced its hearings on Oct. 31, 2019 and sat on 214 days in total, holding 640 sittings and interviewing 451 witnesses.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ‘Pohottuwa’ caused suspicions among the Catholics by appointing a six-member team to study the report prepared by such an eminent group. The group, headed by Chamal Rajapaksa, and included Johnston Fernando, Udaya Gammanpila, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga and Rohitha Abeygunawardena, was named on Feb. 19, 2021. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the report on Feb 01, 2021.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Catholic Church repeatedly pointed out that none of the recommendations made by the CoI had been implemented.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Retired AVM doubts C4 claims</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-130062 lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Retd-AVM-Brendon-Sosa.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Retd-AVM-Brendon-Sosa.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Retd-AVM-Brendon-Sosa-151x300.jpg 151w" height="596" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Retd-AVM-Brendon-Sosa.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Retd-AVM-Brendon-Sosa.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Retd-AVM-Brendon-Sosa-151x300.jpg 151w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; float: left; font-size: 17.6px; height: auto; margin: 20px 20px 20px 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" />Air Vice Marshal [retired] A.B. Sosa V S V, psc, emphasized the pivotal importance of what he called maximum possible legal punitive action against those responsible for the attacks and security failure at all levels.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former coordinating Officer of the Hambantota District at the height of the JVP-inspired insurgency (1987/88) and Mahiyanganaya in 1989 where the JVP declared a curfew to sabotage President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s Gam Udawa project explained how various interested parties exploited the developing situation to their advantage.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Declaring that the Easter Sunday carnage is a crime against humanity, Sosa examined the sequence of events as presented by C4, based on Hanzeer Azad Maulana, ex-CID Officer Nishantha Silva, who sought political asylum in Switzerland a week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election as the President in Nov. 2019, and an anonymous Sri Lankan Government Official.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">C4 accusations pertained to the period about four years prior to the Easter bombings. They rely on the accusations of Maulana and Nishantha Silva. C4 dealt with circumstances Pilleyan’s involvement in the murder of a sitting Member of Parliament Joseph Pararajasingham while attending holy mass on Christmas day 2005. That killing took place in Batticaloa.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One-time LTTEer and sidekick of Karuna Amman who served Mahinda Rajapaksa’s parliamentary group had been entrusted with the task of eliminating those opposed to the Rajapaksas, according to Moulana, who lucidly explained the role played by his former boss over the years.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sosa questioned Moulana’s claim that Pilleyan’s group had been accommodated at the former Tripoli market premises and was named the ‘Tripoli Platoon.’ The former Director of Operations and Training declared: “This is an outrageous claim. As there had been an Army detachment therein, a motley crowd of civilians couldn’t have been positioned there under any circumstances. Such a situation is not possible in any disciplined military organization.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reiterating his concerns over the failure on the part of successive governments to punish those responsible for the assassination of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday Leader</i> Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga in January 2009, the Air Force veteran said that Moulana’s claim that the wartime Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed the so-called Tripoli ‘platoon’ to eliminate the eminent journalist is nothing but a blatant lie.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sosa said that the ex-CID officer’s unsubstantiated claims regarding the Wickrematunga assassination and his removal from the investigation should be examined against the backdrop of his failure to produce any documents or incriminating tapes. The retired AVM emphasized decisions couldn’t be made or consensus reached merely on a statement. Reference was made to an unprecedented Swiss Embassy ‘drama’ that followed the CID officer leaving the country along with his family.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During his career, Sosa, who had received training in the UK and Pakistan, held several command appointments, including as the Commander of the Katunayake Air Force Base.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Commenting on the alleged meeting arranged by Moulana between Sallay and the would-be Easter Sunday suicide bombers in a coconut estate called Lactowatta in the Puttalam district in Feb. 2018, Sosa emphasized this allegation should be examined taking into consideration the officer concerned was based in Malaysia as Sri Lanka’s Minister Counsellor. Sallay is on record as having said that he never left Malaysia in 2018 to visit Sri Lanka or any other country. Sosa stressed that Sallay, who had served as head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) at the time of the 2015 presidential election, was removed and sent out of the country. Malaysia could help Sri Lanka and other interested parties to establish/ascertain the then Minister Counsellor’s movements. Sosa said: “Sallay could not have been simultaneously in two countries.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The retired AVM also disputed C4 claim that Moulana had received instructions from Sallay on April 19, 2019, over the phone on the basis the officer was on a National Defence College, India, course. The government and other interested parties could easily verify this with Indian authorities, Sosa said, pointing out that both Malaysia and India must have examined claims.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The retired officer said: “In such circumstances, it is obvious that some ill-considered notions had been accepted by C4. Did C4 engage in a deliberate project to discredit Sri Lanka? I hold no brief for anyone. I have never met those who had been interviewed by C4 or persons mentioned, including Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay. There is absolutely no doubt that the heinous Easter Sunday attacks and other allegations must be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators punished. However, it is necessary to sift out red herrings such as the farcical so-called C 4 hatchet job meant to discredit Sri Lanka. Perhaps, C4 is among those who pursued a different agenda as they couldn’t stomach our victory over terrorism.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sosa retired in Aug. 1990 on reaching the mandatory 55 years, several weeks after the eruption of Eelam War 11. Having successfully met the JVP challenge in the hotbed of subversive activities, where he served as CO for a year, Sosa received appointment as Base Commander, Karunayake, even though the Security Council wanted him appointed as CO, Kegalle. Sosa recalled how President Ranasinghe Premadasa, having succeeded JRJ, sent him to Mahiyangana to neutralise the JVP threat to facilitate the holding of Gam Udawa there. “Immediately after I took over security at Mahiyangana, President Premadasa met me there. We had a very cordial one-to-one meeting. The President told me to ensure that power supply was not interrupted and normalcy restored. The JVP had sabotaged the entire fleet of around 30 buses in the depot. I flew down motor fitters and mechanics from Katunayake air base who got the buses going by cleaning the sand spiked gear boxes and oil tanks. Army troops were placed on 24-hour patrols to ensure the power pylons were not destroyed by the JVP. These troops had to be maintained by helicopters as the area was not accessible by road. During the Gam Udawa period, President Premadasa met me every morning. The Gam Udawa drew a large crowd and everything went off well except for a minor incident after closing time on one occasion. When leaving in the morning after the final day the President said “Thank you, see me in Colombo.” Sosa said that he opted to get back to Katunayake air base and remained there until retirement.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Thileepan affair</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amidst the ongoing controversy over the Easter Sunday carnage and ahead of the two-day debate in Parliament, a vehicle carrying a portrait of Thileepan was attacked by villagers at Shardhapura, Uppuveli.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thileepan died of a hunger strike at Nallur Kandasamy Kovil on Sept. 26, 1987. His fast lasted 11 days. A section of the media reported that National List MP Selvarajah Kajendran (a member of the Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam led Ahila Illankai Thamil Congress) accompanying the vehicle was also attacked. It would be pertinent to mention that Kajendran first entered Parliament in 2004 on the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) ticket. The one-time President of the Jaffna University Students Union received the backing of the LTTE at that election in the wake of the TNA recognizing Velupillai Prabhakaran as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people, amidst the shocking split caused by then LTTE Eastern Commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan aka Karuna Amman defecting to the government.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The portrait-carrying vehicle began its journey at Pottuvil and was on its way to the Jaffna peninsula, where the final remembrance was to be held. A section of the media depicted Thileepan as a person who died for the rights of the Tamil speaking people.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let us examine the circumstances 26-year-old Thileepan died following the 11-day fast after Velupillai Prabhakaran ‘deployed’ him as a suicide bomber. Actually, Thileepan’s fast unto death was meant to cause mayhem in the Jaffna peninsula. The LTTE mounted its first suicide attack on July 05, 1987, on the Nelliady Army detachment.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Former LTTE terrorist Niromi de Soyza (adopted pseudonym) dealt with Thileepan’s fast unto death, in her debut as a writer. ‘Tamil Tigress’ first published two years after the Sri Lankan military decimated the LTTE’s conventional military capability, the writer, who had been 17 at the time she joined the group in 1987, discussed Thileepan’s death against the backdrop of Velupillai Prabhakaran’s decision to take on the Indian Army. Sri Lanka was forced to accept the deployment of the Indian Army in late July 1987.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The writer ‘Niromi’ questioned Velupillai Prabhakaran’s choice as Thileepan was physically fragile and too intelligent to be sanctified. She had been one of those assigned for crowd controlling duties at Nallur Kandasamy Kovil where she witnessed Thileepan being welcomed onto the makeshift podium. The LTTE’s No. 02 at the time Mahattaya had been with Thileepan at the launch of his fast. ‘Niromi’ had been at the scene of the hunger strike on many days and experienced the LTTE propagating the lie that the dying man’s wish was for the LTTE to defeat the Indian Army. Recalling the opportunity she received to get onto the podium, the writer translated four lines of a Tamil song heard about a week after Thileepan launched his much advertised action.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A sweet-smelling flower is withering</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It cannot speak, it cannot walk</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Will Thileepan anna’s desire be satisfied?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Won’t the foreign army flee?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The writer named Thileepan as the person who conscripted her, handed her first assault rifle as well as a cyanide capsule which the writer called kuppie.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">She had been present when a doctor who examined Thileepan on Sept. 26, 1987, pronounced him dead.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Niromi de Soyza’ wrote: With his life Thileepan had paved the way for war (Chapter 09: There’s still time to change your mind).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Less than 10 days after Thileepan’s death, the Sri Lanka Navy intercepted a trawler carrying a group of hardcore LTTE terrorists in the northern seas. Their detention and their subsequent mass suicide in Sri Lankan custody led to the resumption of war in the second week of Oct. 1987.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Niromi de Soyza quoted Velupillai Prabhakaran as having told a group of cadres, including herself, soon after the mass suicide at Palaly, “The Indian government engineered the so-called peace process as a plot to gradually eliminate us.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Propaganda war will continue unabated until Sri Lanka countered lies. Fifteen years after the conclusion of the war, Sri Lanka is still struggling to counter various narratives. There cannot be a better example than the bid to exploit deliberately caused Thileepan’s death to launch a fresh rift between the Sinhalese and Tamil speaking people. The vehicle convoy that had been launched from Pottuvil was meant to cause maximum harm to these yet fragile relations. Unless the government takes tangible measures against such exploiting tactics to create fresh wounds between the two communities, the day the country erupts again is not far off.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-15515729642472603552023-09-20T05:08:00.001-07:002023-09-20T05:08:38.659-07:00How shoddy handling of accountability issues facilitated anti-Sri Lanka Geneva project<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 488</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/09/20</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/former-presidents-in-sri-lanka.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/former-presidents-in-sri-lanka.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/former-presidents-in-sri-lanka-300x114.jpg 300w" height="285" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/former-presidents-in-sri-lanka.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/former-presidents-in-sri-lanka.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/former-presidents-in-sri-lanka-300x114.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka’s failure on the Geneva front has facilitated a high profile project to undermine the country’s unitary status. The Geneva role in the controversial bid to introduce a brand new Constitution during the<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Yahapalana</i> administration with the involvement of the rebel UPFA group (now SLPP) has been quietly forgotten. At one point, Wimal Weerawansa quit the process, warning the then Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to leave the UNP-led operation or face the consequences.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the absence of a cohesive and holistic effort on the part of Sri Lanka, till now, to counter unsubstantiated war crimes allegations, the country remains enmeshed in the Geneva trap.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009 in spite of Western efforts at scuttling it, even at the eleventh hour, by dispatching a powerful team of foreign Ministers from the UK and France to prevail on the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to halt the war when we were on a certain winning path, proving many a pundit wrong.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With such a powerful Western delegation, comprising French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Dr. Bernard Kouchner and Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom David Miliband trailing President Rajapaksa he even conveniently fled to Embilipitiya to avoid them but they pursued him there and pleaded their case in late April 2009. The President simply rejected their plea. So, no wonder, the West left no stone unturned to destroy that government and the Rakapaksas! That is not to say that we consider the Rajapaksas’ to be lily white; they were far from it.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The basis for the continued harassment, and humiliation, of war-winning Sri Lanka, is the report of the Secretary General’s Panel of Experts (PoE) on Accountability here, released on 31 March, 2011. It was authored by Marzuki Darusman (Indonesia), Yasmin Sooka (South Africa) and Steven Ratner (US).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On 01 October, 2015, Sri Lanka became the first country to betray her own armed forces by co-sponsoring UN Human Rights Council’s Resolution 30/1 that ostensibly promoted reconciliation, accountability and human rights. Since then Geneva has gleefully engaged in bashing Sri Lanka annually.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ongoing 54th Geneva sessions (11 Sept. – 23 Oct., 2023) is no exception. Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva Himalee Arunatilaka rejected the latest Geneva statement (written update). The career diplomat also strongly disputed the reference to the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. That reference, obviously, was based on UK television station Channel 4 allegation that wartime Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa engineered near simultaneous Easter Sunday suicide attacks which claimed the lives of 269 persons, including 45 foreigners, based on an allegation levelled by a sole individual, while trying to seek political asylum in Switzerland.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the basis of Geneva claims, some of those who successfully spearheaded what was repeatedly dubbed an unwinnable war, have been harshly dealt with. Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Shavendra Silva is one. Maj. Gen. Chagie Gallage, who retired in late 2018, is another. The list is long. When the writer raised the issue with Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, a year ago, he didn’t mince his words when he declared that not only individuals but the entire fighting formations have been condemned.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka never made a genuine effort to address accountability issues. The Rajapaksas unashamedly exploited the Geneva threat to their advantage, whereas other political parties played politics with the issue. Defeated LTTE’s sidekick, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) threw its weight behind the Geneva project.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arunatilaka who previously served as our Ambassador to Nepal (Oct. 2019 to Dec. 2022) succeeded C.A. Chandraprema in January this year following the election of Ranil Wickremesinghe as President. Parliament elected Wickremesinghe on July 20, 2022, a week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa, elected with a thumping 6.9 mn votes, was forced to flee the country, following an unprecedented public protest campaign over the disruption of basic services, with lavish funding from both local and foreign sources angry with the Rajapaksas. In the latter case they were angry at them for delivering a crushing defeat to the LTTE. The declaration of bankruptcy by the Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, during the tail end of Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency, was long overdue. In January, this year, Dr. Weerasinghe said that Sri Lanka had been bankrupt much earlier but didn’t acknowledge the reality.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But the irony is Sri Lanka has gone bankrupt with a foreign debt of little over USD 50 billion, a sizeable amount out of it had been borrowed at high interest rates during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> regime (2015-2019). The situation had been exacerbated by that regime loosening exchange controls by doing away with the time-tested Exchange Control Act that had been in place since the early 1950s. As a result, Sri Lanka has been made open to unscrupulous elements to steal valuable foreign exchange from the country. To make the situation worse, even according to Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, some unscrupulous exporters have parked export proceeds abroad to the tune of about USD100 billion that should have been legitimately brought back to Sri Lanka. So in actual fact our bankruptcy is entirely an artificial one created by interested parties! So the billion dollar question is why the government is not taking action to bring back the money that legitimately belongs to this country, or at least name the culprits in public.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the time Sri Lanka co-sponsored resolution 30/1, career diplomat Ravinatha Aryasinha (currently Executive Director, Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute) served as Permanent Representative there (19 July, 2012 to 31 March, 2018), according to our mission website. The late Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera directed Aryasinha to go ahead, regardless of serious concerns raised by him. At the behest of the then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, Aryasinha was simply overruled.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another career diplomat A.L. Azeez succeeded Aryasinha. Azeez and served there from 12 April, 2018 to 31 January, 2020, also according to the website. Therefore, at the time Sri Lanka declared its withdrawal from the Geneva process, on 26 February, 2020, the Geneva position remained vacant. That silly announcement was meant to deceive the gullible people as the ongoing Geneva session reminds Sri Lanka of the tightening noose laid by the West.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Veteran bilingual newspaper columnist Chadraprema served as our PR there 10 Nov., 2020 to 31 Dec., 2022, and was replaced by Arunatilaka, who joined the Foreign Service in 1998.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A pathetic response</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-129045 lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ambassador-Himalee-Arunatilaka.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ambassador-Himalee-Arunatilaka.jpg 250w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ambassador-Himalee-Arunatilaka-221x300.jpg 221w" height="340" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ambassador-Himalee-Arunatilaka.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ambassador-Himalee-Arunatilaka.jpg 250w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ambassador-Himalee-Arunatilaka-221x300.jpg 221w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; float: left; font-size: 17.6px; height: auto; margin: 20px 0px 20px 20px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="250" />Whoever had been at the helm, the Government of Sri Lanka was determined not to set the record straight, both locally and internationally. The war-winning Rajapaksa administration and the Wickremesinghe-Sirisena government, that co-sponsored the treacherous 30/1 US-led resolution in Oct. 2015 against one’s own country, refrained from addressing specific issues. The Gotabaya Rajapaksa government was definitely the worst. Instead of mounting a proper defence, it merely declared the country’s withdrawal from that resolution.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government hired US-based WR group and a private equity fund manager Imaad Zuberi at a cost of USD 6.5 mn (approximately Rs 1.31 bn) to influence US policy. The payments made over a period of five months, in 2014, were meant to divert US attention from Sri Lanka, ahead of the 2015 Geneva sessions. With the change of government, Sri Lanka joined the US in co-sponsoring a 30/1 resolution against her own armed forces.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In February 2021, Imaad Zuberi was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion, foreign influence-peddling and campaign finance violations.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Five years before the endorsement of the 30/1 resolution, the Tamil speaking people, living in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, declared their faith in the warwinning Army Commander, Gen. Sarath Fonseka, for President. The US, too, affirmed her confidence in the SLA by throwing its weight behind Gen. Fonseka, who contested the first national election after the eradication of separatist Tamil terrorism. The Tamil electorate voted for Fonseka against the backdrop of the TNA’s endorsement of the General, whose ruthless tactics brought the LTTE down to its knees within three years. Then why did the Tamil electorate overwhelmingly vote for Fonseka? Had they really despised General Fonseka for Sri Lanka’s triumph over the LTTE, the electorate could have boycotted the poll, regardless of the TNA’s intervention. Let me stress that all those Tamil speaking people, who voted for Fonseka and Commander-in-Chief of armed forces Mahinda Rajapaksa, in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, did so because they appreciated the eradication of the LTTE. That is the truth.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, no government ever referred to this fact in Geneva. Sri Lanka should have taken up this matter with the Sri Lanka Core Group,comprising the US, the UK, Canada, Malawi, Montenegro and North Macedonia, at the UNHRC.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having endorsed Fonseka at a national election, less than a year after his Army crushed the LTTE, it would be quite absurd for Tamil representatives in Parliament to press for an international inquiry. And those demanding for external intervention are silent on the origins of terrorism. The TNA, instead of demanding an international investigation, should make a public apology for its recognition of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran as the sole representative of the Tamil-speaking people, way back in 2001.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka shouldn’t hesitate to declare a sordid relationship between the TNA and the LTTE before the UNHRC as well as to bring it to the notice of the UN, officially. TNA lawmaker M.A. Sumanthiran, PC, attended meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York. For some strange reason, successive governments refrained from placing all facts, officially, before the international community, thereby allowing all those interested in hounding Sri Lanka for defeating LTTE terrorism, especially in the West, along with their cronies like Malawi, exploit a hapless country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In fact, there is no point in blaming the Western powers, and India, for Sri Lanka’s pathetic failure to set the record straight no doubt because of their international clout. In addition to the far reaching disclosure made by Lord Naseby in the House of Lords in Oct. 2017 that disputed the very basis of the Darusman report, there were a number of other instances/developments which could have been utilized to build Sri Lanka’s defence. But irresponsible political leadership ignored such developments. Sri Lanka’s first major mistake was its failure to use the overwhelming Tamils’ recognition of General Fonseka at the 2010 presidential election.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Key factors</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having faulted the SLA, on three major counts, the PoE (Panel of Experts) accused Sri Lanka of massacring at least 40,000 civilians. Let me reproduce the paragraph, bearing No. 137, verbatim: “In the limited surveys that have been carried out in the aftermath of the conflict, the percentage of people reporting dead relatives is high. A number of credible sources have estimated that there could have been as many as 40,000 civilian deaths. Two years after the end of the war, there is no reliable figure for civilian deaths, but multiple sources of information indicate that a range of up to 40,000 civilian deaths cannot be ruled out at this stage. Only a proper investigation can lead to the identification of all of the victims and to the formulation of an accurate figure for the total number of civilian deaths.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those in authority should have paid attention to the following cases. The writer, on numerous occasions, underscored the responsibility on the part of the government to explore ways and means of exploring the following matters as part of overall strategy to build a solid defence <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(1)</b> Dismissal of war crimes accusations by wartime US Defence Attaché Lt. Col. Lawrence Smith in Colombo. The then US official did so at the May-June 2011 first post-war defence seminar in Colombo, two months after the release of the PoE report. The State Department disputed the official’s right to represent the US at the forum though it refrained from challenging the statement. <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(2)</b> Examination of the US statement along with Lord Naseby’s Oct. 2017 disclosure based on the then British Defence advisor Lt. Colonel Anthony Gash’s cables to London during the war (Jan.-May 2009). Sri Lanka never used Lord Naseby’s disclosure to her advantage. <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(3)</b> WikiLeaks revelations that dealt with the Sri Lanka war. A high profile Norwegian study on its role in the Sri Lanka conflict examined some of these cables. However, the Norwegian process never strengthened Sri Lanka’s defence. Instead Norway merely sought to disown its culpability in the events leading to the annihilation of the LTTE. One of the most important WikiLeaks revelations disputed Sri Lanka deliberately targeting civilians. The cable proved that our ground forces took heavy losses by taking the civilian factor into consideration. <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(4)</b> Wide discrepancies in loss of civilian lives claimed by the UN and various other interested parties. The UN estimated the figure at 40,000 (March 2011) whereas Amnesty International (Sept, 2011) placed the number at 10,000 and a member of the UK Parliament (Sept. 2011) estimated the death toll at 100,000. <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(5) </b>Disgraceful attempt made by Geneva to exploit the so-called Mannar mass graves during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration. The Foreign Ministry, under the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>rule, conveniently remained silent on the Mannar graves, while Western diplomats played politics, only to be proved utterly wrong. Acting at the interest of those hell-bent on blaming Sri Lanka, the then Geneva Chief Michelle Bachet faulted Sri Lanka before the conclusion of the investigation. The then Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran (Jaffna District MP now) rejected scientific findings of the Beta Analytic Institute of Florida, USA, in respect of samples of skeletal remains sent from the Mannar mass grave site. Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet went to the extent of commenting on the Mannar mass grave in her report that dealt with the period from Oct. 2015 to January 2019. We come to wonder whether she was actually a victim of Gen. Pinochet or a mere manufactured victim. Had the US lab issued a report to suit their strategy, would they have accepted fresh tests in case the government of Sri Lanka requested? The following is a relevant section bearing No. 23 from Bachelet’s report: “On May 29, 2018, human skeletal remains were discovered at a construction site in Mannar (Northern Province), Excavations conducted in support of the Office on Missing Persons, revealed a mass grave from which more than 300 skeletons were discovered. It was the second mass grave found in Mannar following the discovery of a site in 2014. Given that other mass graves might be expected to be found in the future, systematic access to grave sites by the Office as an observer is crucial for it to fully discharge its mandate, particularly with regard to the investigation and identification of remains, it is imperative that the proposed reforms on the law relating to inquests, and relevant protocols to operationalize the law be adopted. The capacity of the forensic sector must also be strengthened, including in areas of forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology and genetics, and its coordination with the Office of Missing Persons must be ensured.” <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(6)</b> Wigneswaran, in his capacity as the then Northern Province Chief Minister in August 2016, accused the Army of killing over 100 LTTE cadres held in rehabilitation facilities. Wigneswaran claimed the detainees had been given poisonous injections resulting in the deaths of 104 persons. The unprecedented accusation made by the retired Supreme Court judge had been timed to attract international attention. Wignewaran is on record as having said a US medical team visiting Jaffna at that time would examine the former rehabilitated LTTE cadres, who he alleged had fallen sick because they were injected with poisonous substances at government detention or rehabilitation centres.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-31318283509120698402023-09-12T21:41:00.000-07:002023-09-12T21:41:22.293-07:00C 4 narrative reminiscent of its previous ones on the eve of the annual Geneva sessions and Sallay’s challenge<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 487</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/09/13</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><h2 align="LEFT" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 1.8rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.4; margin: 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: grey; font-size: 28.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Easter Sunday plot:</span></h2><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">C4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy towards the end of their latest film on Sri Lanka, posed three questions to the viewers. Did Sallay meet those who perpetrated the Easter Sunday massacre? Did the Directorate of Military Intelligence mislead police, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the President, sabotage the investigation? Those accused should answer these questions. As Guru-Murthy stressed that the families of those who perished deserved the truth. Perhaps, those genuinely interested in establishing the truth should also investigate/seek an explanation why extremist NTJ mounted suicide attacks to facilitate the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, always portrayed as a Sinhala Buddhist hardliner. C4 should accept Sallay’s challenge to verify his whereabouts/activities in 2018 and 2019 with Malaysian and Indian authorities. On its own, C4 can verify when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. The Indian origin Guru-Murthy declared that Rajapaksa fled on Sept. 22, 2022 whereas the truth is the President flew out of Colombo on July 13, 2022 and returned on Sept 03, 2022. That basic blunder highlights how the media can be overwhelmed by a ‘story.’</span></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hanzeer Azad Maulana, who had been with Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan aka Pilleyan (formerly of the LTTE), till he fled the country and decided to seek political asylum in the West last year, in an interview with Channel 4 (C4) Television last week accused Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay of facilitating the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage to get Gotabaya elected as the President.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How could Sallay have had engineered such a big clandestine operation that included meeting would-be terrorist suicide bombers at a coconut estate as allegedly arranged by Maulana at the behest of Pillayen, while being posted to the Sri Lanka High Commission in Malaysia (Dec. 2016-Dec. 2018) and then from January 2019-Nov. 2019 when he was at the National Defence College, India, including on the day of the cowardly near simultaneous suicide blasts targeting civilians on the morning of Easter Sunday April 21, 2019, and another a few hours later at New Tropical Inn, Dehiwela, near the National Zoo that sent shock waves, not only through Sri Lanka, but across the world?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">State Minister Pilleyan is the Leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), a breakaway faction of the LTTE in Parliament. Pilleyan, elected from the eastern Batticaloa district, is the only TMVP MP in Parliament aligned with the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sallay’s alleged role in the Easter Sunday carnage is based on the claim of a sole individual Maulana that the senior military officer met the group of would-be suicide bombers at a large coconut estate, bordering the Kalpitiya lagoon at Karadipuval, in Wanathavilluwa, in the Puttalam District, in Feb. 2018. whereas the officer being accused says there are plenty of international alibis to prove he was not in Sri Lanka during the period concerned. Sallay insists that he never left Malaysia, for any destination, during 2018. The estate is called Lactowatta. The blasts claimed the lives of 269 persons, including 43 foreigners. Eight British tourists were among them. It would be necessary to stress Maulana’s claim that he arranged the meeting at the behest of directives received from Pilleyan, in September 2017 and January 2018.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During this entire period, Pilleyan, an erstwhile sidekick of Karuna (Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan aka Karuna), had been in remand for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Joseph Pararajasingham of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA National List) in Dec. 2005.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In response to queries posed in August this year by the UK-based production company, Basement Films, which produced the latest C4 film, Sallay asked them to verify with Malaysian and Indian authorities of his whereabouts in Feb. 2018 and April 19, 2021. That is the crux of the matter.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">War-winning Army Chief Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka’s suggestion that Sallay may have entered Sri Lanka through an illegal route, in 2018, shows how diabolical and politically motivated he could be, having jumped headlong into the political cesspit at the end of the war.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our Colombo 07-type folks might still swallow that myth about the British sense of justice and fair play and will readily accept anything aired by its media institutions as the gospel truth. Let us first of all not forget that it was the BBC that gave the signal to topple the duly elected democratic government of Iran, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh, in 1953.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The truth is London, which was deeply involved in slavery, having plundered much of the world in the name of god and king/queen, is still up to the same old tricks but in less lethal ways. In recent decades, virtually all their “highly respectable” banks have been fined hundreds of millions of dollars by American regulators for laundering drug money for international narcotic cartels. So we need not talk about how it went to war with China to dump opium in that country, in the 19th Century.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government should request Malaysian and Indian assistance in this regard. The government shouldn’t, under any circumstance, hesitate to have these accusations investigated. The failure to take tangible measures to ascertain the truth, without further delay, can cause catastrophic and irreversible damage. There shouldn’t be any issue with the government seeking foreign assistance as Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), European Intelligence services and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) had been already involved in the Easter Sunday investigations.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">C4 declared that Maulana, who fled Sri Lanka in 2022, and submitted himself to European Intelligence agencies and the United Nations Human Rights Council, won the confidence of interviewers. Against the backdrop of UNHRC and European Intelligence services asserting Maulana’s claim credible, it would be pertinent to ask them whether they verified Maulana’s claim that Sallay travelled to Colombo and then Lactowatta, in Feb, 2018. Had they done so, the latest C4 episode would have ‘decapitated’ Sallay.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In fact, the meeting at Lactowatta seems to be central to the heinous plot as towards the end of the much-touted C4 film, Maulana declared with authority that the Feb. 2018 secret meeting between Sallay and would-be suicide bombers took place at the same location. Therefore, Sri Lanka should immediately have Sallay’s ‘clandestine’ visit to Colombo, in Feb. 2018, as alleged by C4, investigated with the highest international participation.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps, the vast majority of complacent Sri Lankans had quite conveniently forgotten the raid conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Lactowatta, on January 16, 2019. The plainclothesmen were later joined by elite Police Commandos. The CID was hunting for those who had vandalized Buddhist statues in the Mawanella, Peradeniya and Velambada police areas from Dec 23, 2018 to Dec 26, 2018. Some authorities described Lactowatta as a Jihadist Training Camp though it didn’t have any infrastructure.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Allegations pertaining to the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) hindering investigations into extremist activities should be examined taking into consideration a petition filed by Gnanendra Shani Abeysekara, retired SSP who served as the Director, CID (2017-2019). The veteran investigator moved SC in terms of Article 126 read with Article 17 of the Constitution in Feb. 2022 claiming an attempt to implicate him over his failure to thwart the Easter Sunday carnage.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ex-top cop’s specific allegations directed at the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and DMI as regards the overall investigation into extremist activities, including high profile claim that two persons, including an ex-LTTE cadre, were falsely implicated in the killing of two police constables (Ganesh Dinesh and Walpita Gamage Niroshan Indika Prasanna) on Nov 30, 2018, at a checkpoint at Vavunathivu, Batticaloa. What Abeysekara said was astonishing. The heavyset one-time Police Commando alleged that the SIS and DMI made a deliberate bid to deceive the CID pertaining to the Vavunathivu incident. Abeysekara also declared that the Easter Sunday carnage could have been averted if the SIS and DMI shared information regarding those who killed the constables. If Sri Lanka is genuinely interested in establishing the truth, the entire gamut of issues should be investigated.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The CID swooped down on Lactowatta in the late afternoon of January 16, 2019. Mohamad Razik Thaslim, Coordinating Secretary to the then <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>Minister Kabir Hashim, accompanied the CID team to Lactowatta. On March 29, 2019, Thaslim was shot in the head while he was asleep at his home located at Danagama, Mawanella, by Islamic extremists soon thereafter. In spite of receiving severe injuries, he survived.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who really prevented the government from going all out against the extremist groups, at least after the raid on Lactowatta, and the assassination attempt on Kabir Hashim’s aide? Regardless of the SIS and DMI not providing anticipated support to the CID, the raid on Lactowatta revealed the growing threat posed by extremists, led by deranged Zahran. The <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> leadership owed an explanation why it couldn’t/didn’t thwart the plot, especially after India warned, on April 04, 2019, of imminent attacks.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The conduct of the SIS and DMI during that period should be thoroughly examined and if the retired SSP allegation proved right those responsible should be appropriately and harshly dealt with.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rajan Hoole’s disclosure</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Academic Dr. Rajan Hoole dealt with the Easter Sunday carnage several weeks before the last presidential election on Nov. 16, 2019. Titled ‘Sri Lanka’s Easter Tragedy: When the Deep State gets out of its Depth’ in the Ravaya publication. It skillfully discussed the circumstances leading to the first and the only terrorist attack since the successful conclusion of the war in May 2009. At that time, Hoole deliberated the Easter Sunday plot, Maulana remained with Pilleyan. If what Maulana claimed in his interview with C4 is true then he had no qualms in working with Pilleyan, even after the Easter Sunday massacre, until he left the country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The author is the brother of Ratnajeevan Hoole, who served as a member of the Election Commission during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration. Having perused the book and its Sinhala translation (translated by Mahinda Hatthaka, Movement for Defense of Democratic Rights), there cannot be any dispute Hoole shed light on the complex web of secrets/situations/relationships that created an environment conducive for the murderous plot.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hoole, who authored ‘The Arrogance of Power: Myths, decadence and murder,’ in January 2001, quite clearly blamed the State elements for the attack. A founding member of the daring and pioneering University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR) Jaffna that defied the LTTE at its might with its clandestine publications, Dr. Hoole is explicit in his accusation that those who backed SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa created an environment to deprive the Muslims of an opportunity to vote at the Nov. 2019 presidential election. The author asserted that the attempt failed while making reference to the plantation Tamils being disenfranchised in 1949, consequent to the 1948 Citizenship Act. However, the author quite conveniently refrained from recalling how the LTTE-TNA combine denied the northern community an opportunity to vote at the Nov. 2005 presidential election. That calculated move definitely cost UNP candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe the election. Wickremesinghe lost by 186,000 votes. The writer discussed Hoole’s assertions in an article titled ‘Failed 2015 political project may have triggered Easter Sunday attacks,” on Oct. 21, 2020 edition of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island.</i></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Therefore, Moulana’s interview didn’t surprise the vast majority though he appeared to have caused an unnecessary complication by his unsubstantiated claim that Sallay met would-be suicide bombers at Lactowatta in Feb. 2018 whereas the officer being accused challenged C4 to check with Malaysia whether he left for Colombo during the whole of that year.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the time Zahran mounted the attacks, the UNP-SLFP <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> arrangement was in tatters against the backdrop of President Sirisena’s failed bid to oust Premier Wickremesinghe. The extremists couldn’t have been unaware of the pathetic state of governance and sought to exploit the situation. The overall failure of that government should be reviewed taking into consideration a specific warning given to President Sirisena by the then Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne, in charge of the CID and SSP (petitioner) Abeysekara regarding the extremist threat as the destruction of Buddhist statues was carried out by the group that managed Lactowatta.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In his petition to the Supreme Court, SSP Abeysekara alleged that President Sirisena didn’t keep his promise to grant Seneviratne an opportunity to brief the National Security Council of the extremist threat, thereby marshaling SIS and DMI support to eradicate it. The ex-President must be asked to explain as to why he failed to take action after having met the two cops on Feb. 02, 2019, about 11 weeks ahead of the attacks. Sri Lanka received the first Indian warning on April 04, 2019.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As Maulana alleged, could Sallay interfere with the DMI while serving as Minister Counsellor in Malaysia and subsequently during the NDC course? If India knew of the plot, its intelligence services couldn’t have missed Sallay’s alleged involvement and placed him under surveillance.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A fresh look at accountability issues</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Former CID officer Inspector Nishantha Silva was among those interviewed by C4. The British television channel disclosed that European intelligence services talked to Silva, too. The Swiss Embassy in Colombo facilitated Silva’s clandestine departure just over a week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election, as the seventh executive president, with an overwhelming majority. Claiming that he was obstructed by Navy and Army intelligence, the experienced investigator essentially commented on the assassination of the founding editor of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday Leader</i> Lasantha Wickramatunga on January 08, 2009. The C4 film blamed Wickrematunga’s assassination on what it called ‘Tripoli platoon’ run by Pilleyan. C4 described the unit as a para-military outfit tasked with eliminating those who earned the wrath of the Rajapaksas. The unit was accused of enforcing disappearances.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that close on the heels of Inspector Silva fleeing to Switzerland, local Swiss Embassy employee Garnier Francis, formerly Siriyalatha Perera, caused quite a controversy by alleging government agents sexually abused her after having abducted her outside the mission. Her claim was subsequently proved to be a blatant lie. The case was settled after she retracted her claims that were given prominent attention by the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Times,</i> but not her retraction or the exoneration of the government by the ccourts.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The others interviewed by C4 were Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, former Human Rights Commissioner (during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration) and Attorney-at-Law Ambika Satkunanathan, former <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday Leader </i>editor Frederica Jansz, slain <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday Leader </i>editor’s elder brother, Lal Wickrematunga, former lawmaker (UNP) and one-time Ambassador to Germany Sarath Kongahage (Mahinda Rajapaksa administration), a few victims of the Easter Sunday carnage and a person who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Statements that cannot be examined should be discarded. (General Sarath Fonseka was sentenced to three years in jail and fined Rs.5000 in a two-one split verdict delivered in the white flag case based on an interview Jansz did in Dec. 2009, a few weeks before the presidential election. Jansz did the interview in her capacity as the Editor of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday Leader</i>. It was headlined “Gota ordered them to be shot – General Sarath Fonseka’ in the Dec. 13, 2009 edition).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As anticipated, C4 dealt with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election at the 2005 presidential election and the developments beginning with the LTTE taking up arms. C4 refrained from mentioning the origins of terrorism here but reiterated unsubstantiated allegations that 40,000 civilians perished in the final phase of the government offensive on the Vanni east front in 2009. The failure on the part of many to mention that India caused terrorism in Sri Lanka is baffling. Sri Lanka lacked the backbone to set the record straight at the UNHRC with regard to the origins of terrorism here.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps C4 still doesn’t accept that the UK Foreign Office, in response to queries posed under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in 2014 after a three year delay acknowledged that the death toll was 7,000-8,000 not 40,000 as claimed on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations. Like the person who spoke to C4 on the condition of anonymity, the identities of those who claimed 40,000 killings during that period would remain buried at least till 2031. C4 cannot ignore the official British records against the backdrop of its readiness to accept unsubstantiated allegations made by Maulana and an unidentified person. Their approach reminds us of how the UK media propagated the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) allegation to facilitate the US-British led invasion of Iraq in 2003.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the beginning of the C4 film, reference was made to the deaths of eight British tourists in the Easter Sunday carnage. The British must be reminded how they allowed the LTTE a free hand in the UK until the Sri Lankan military erased the LTTE conventional military capability. The LTTE maintained its so-called International Secretariat in London even up to the time the terrorist group assassinated the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with a suicide bomber in April 1991, while their ideologue Anton Balasingham enjoyed the status of a British citizen until he died there peacefully in Dec. 2006 and his widow Adele, notorious for adorning their trade mark suicide capsules on Tiger female cadres, continue to live there scot free. Those shedding crocodile tears for terrorists should probe how millions in foreign currency were raised by the LTTE in the West since the ’80s to wage the terrorist war in Sri Lanka.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka political leadership should be ashamed for its pathetic failure to represent the country’s interests. Sri Lanka’s sponsorship of the 2015 Geneva Resolution proved the then <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>government’s treachery. It betrayed its own armed forces before turning a blind eye to the growing extremist threat that culminated with the devastating 2019 Easter Sunday massacre.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The world must be reminded how LTTE terrorism here influenced far right extremist Andres Breivik to go on a killing spree in Norway in July 2011. The massacre of 77 innocent people, mostly teenagers, shocked the world. The onetime Norwegian diplomat’s son declared, ahead of the attacks, that he was inspired by the LTTE. In July 2016, European Union member state Germany asserted that an18-year-old gunman who had massacred nine people at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich was inspired by Breivik.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Even 15 years after the eradication of the LTTE, Sri Lankan political leaders haven’t been able to address accusations pertaining to accountability issues. Sri Lankan political parties seem only good at perpetrating corruption, fraud, irregularities and mismanagement. They collectively bankrupted the country, thereby helping those who still remained committed to separatist agenda here. Continuing offensive over the accountability issues is central to their overall strategy meant to do away with Sri Lanka’s unitary status. That is the bottom line.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: grey; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Apropos ‘Alleged secret meeting with NTJ: Maj. Gen. Sallay says he was not in Sri Lanka for the whole of 2018’ in Sept. 07 edition of The Island, at the time Sallay arrived in Malaysia as Minister Counsellor, Pakeer Mohideen Amza served as our HC there. The career diplomat was replaced by A. J. M. Muzammil in late Feb. 2017. He was there at the time of the Easter Sunday carnage.</em></span></strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: grey; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We thank journalist Ranga Srilal for pointing out the error in our report.</em></span></strong></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-63946025794567124322023-09-05T23:46:00.001-07:002023-09-05T23:46:44.931-07:00Significance of US Senator’s visit to SLNS Gajabahu<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 486</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/09/6</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SLN-Gajabahu-and-SLN-Viyayabahu.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SLN-Gajabahu-and-SLN-Viyayabahu.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SLN-Gajabahu-and-SLN-Viyayabahu-300x199.jpg 300w" height="465" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SLN-Gajabahu-and-SLN-Viyayabahu.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SLN-Gajabahu-and-SLN-Viyayabahu.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SLN-Gajabahu-and-SLN-Viyayabahu-300x199.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">SLN Gajabahu (P 626) and SLN Viyayabahu (P 627) at the Colombo Port on 31st August. Senator Hollen shaking hands with VA Perera while Ambassador Chung looks on</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/significance-of-us-senators-visit-to-slns-gajabahu/#" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; 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color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="mvp-post-soc-com mvp-com-click" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); color: #bbbbbb; float: left; font-size: 18px; height: 28px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 38px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-2 fa-commenting" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Indian High Commission announced on Friday (01 Sept. ) the postponement of much touted Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit (02-03 Sept.). Cancellation was announced just hours after India declared Singh’s scheduled visit to review bilateral defence ties. Singh was to hold talks with President Wickremesinghe who also holds the defence portfolio and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The PM recently reiterated his commitment to Sri Lanka’s unitary status thereby rejecting calls for full implementation of 13th Amendment to the Constitution. According to India HC statement Singh was to review the entire gamut of India’s defence ties with Sri Lanka. The Defence Minister was also scheduled to visit Nuwara Eliya and Trincomalee. “This visit of Shri Rajnath Singh reiterates India’s continued commitment in furthering the existing warm and friendly relations with Sri Lanka. The visit is an important landmark in deepening the enduring bonds of friendship between the two countries in the defence sphere,” HC stated, adding that it was based on a press release issued on 01 Sept. by Press Information Bureau – Defence Wing, Government of India in New Delhi.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A short video clip of luggage being loaded to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Gajabahu </i>P 626 at the port of Colombo on the afternoon of 9th July, 2022, went viral as the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave up resistance to a public protest campaign. Some television stations, too, carried that video. The print media followed. Until then <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Gajabahu </i>hadn’t been in the public domain. Having joined the SLN fleet a decade after the successful conclusion of the war, the vessel never had a real opportunity to grab public attention.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The President and the First Lady Ayoma reached Trincomalee in <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Gajabahu</i> on the following day though many believed the vessel’s destination was some foreign land. The couple was accompanied by the then Navy Commander Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne (retired in Dec. 2022). Actually, a vast majority of people hadn’t even heard of that vessel, commissioned on 6th June, 2019, by the then President Maithripala Sirisena.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The then US Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz had been among the invitees at the commissioning ceremony as the vessel categorized as AOPV (Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel) was formerly <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sherman</i> of the US Coast Guard. It was the second US vessel received by Sri Lanka (2018). Sri Lanka took delivery of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">USCGC Courageous</i> in 2004 and the vessel was commissioned <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Samudura </i>P 621 in the following year. While <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Samudura </i>played a critical role in SLN operations during the then Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda’s campaign against Sea Tigers, <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Gajabahu</i> grabbed media attention last year in an unexpected manner when it was used by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and First Lady Ayoma to escape a massive violent mob, obviously instigated by outside forces.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Against the backdrop of accusations that had been directed at the US, both in and outside Parliament, over the role it played in one-time US citizen President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s removal, the United States Senator Chris Van Hollen’s visit to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Gajabahu</i> attracted public interest. The Maryland representative is a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. Hollen was accompanied by US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Julie Chung, widely accused of playing a central role in the previous President’s ouster.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Nine: The Hidden Story’ and ‘Galle Face Protest: System Change or Anarchy?’</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></i>authored by lawmaker Wimal Weerawansa and award-winning writer Sena Thoradeniya, respectively, dealt with the US-led project that also involved India. Chung has dismissed Weerawansa’s work as fiction.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hollen and Chung met Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera onboard <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Gajabahu, </i>Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s getaway vessel, on 30th Aug. The visitors had been there for about 90 minutes and Hollen fondly remembered his childhood days here, in the ’70s, when his father Christopher Van Hollen, Sr, served as the US Ambassador from 1972 to 1976 during Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s tenure as the Prime Minister. The Senator had been quite happy with the way SLN maintained the three former US Coast Guard Cutters, currently in service with the SLN. In addition to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">USCGC Courageous </i>and <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">USCGC Sherman,</i> Sri Lanka took delivery of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">USCGC Douglas Munro</i> which was commissioned in late Nov. 2022 as <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Vijayabahu</i> P 621, a few days short of a month before VA Ulugetenne’s retirement. When the US delegation visited <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SLNS Gajabahu</i>, the third US Coast Guard Cutter, that had been commissioned by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, was anchored next to the vessel where the meeting took place.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">US and Sri Lanka are working on the transfer of a fourth US vessel to the latter in line with the overall US policy meant to enhance its influence. Do not forget Sri Lanka entered into ACSA (Access and Cross Servicing Agreement) in Aug. 2017, and the possibility of a consensus on SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) discussed during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>administration can never be ruled out. The US strategy seems on track here with USD 2.9 bn loan package spread over a period of four years as part of that scheme. Whatever our concerns, it must be stated that the timely passing of US intelligence, regarding LTTE floating weapon warehouses, at the tail end of the war, hastened the eradication of the conventional fighting power of the enemy. That helped to finish off the LTTE within two years and 10 months.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-126962 aligncenter lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VA-Perera-while-Ambassador-Chung.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VA-Perera-while-Ambassador-Chung.jpg 600w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VA-Perera-while-Ambassador-Chung-300x198.jpg 300w" height="396" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VA-Perera-while-Ambassador-Chung.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VA-Perera-while-Ambassador-Chung.jpg 600w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VA-Perera-while-Ambassador-Chung-300x198.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 17.6px; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="600" />According to a US Embassy statement posted on 01 Sept., the core objectives of the Senator’s visit were the promotion of enhanced security cooperation, deepening economic ties, collaborative initiatives to address climate change, and the advancement of democracy and human rights. Regardless of propaganda, the US is one of the worst human rights offenders. The writer is not sure what Senator Hollen learnt from civil society representatives whom he met in Colombo, many of whom are funded by the West to be their hurrah boys and gals here, and the families of the disappeared prior to the 30 August International Day of the Disappeared. The US Embassy statement, while referring to their anguish, stressed the need for transparency, justice, and accountability.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We can even understand the behaviour of the US pursuing its diabolical plans around the world, but how can the UN to be an appendage of American evil policies? The UN’s Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche issuing a lengthy statement last Wednesday on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances highlighted “the profound scars left by enforced disappearances on the nation’s history. He emphasized that these disappearances continue to cast a shadow of ambiguity over the lives of countless Lankans, where loved ones are neither definitively present nor absent”.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However most ironically neither the US nor the United Nations, who wept buckets on the International Day of the Disappeared on 30 August said anything here on the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the victims of terrorism that fell on 21 August, forgetting the fact that there were thousands of innocent victims of terrorism here, many of whom were Tamils, since the LTTE launched its terror campaign here in pursuit of the Eelam dream with the cold blooded killing of Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah in the mid-70s.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There was not a word about victims of terror or their long suffering family members here from the world body or the US when the world marked the Day of victims of terrorism on 21 August.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The UN that sheds so much tears for disappeared here, hardly says anything against terror tactics used by Israelis not only against Palestinian adults who are protesting horrors they have to undergo on a daily basis, but even against their children.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is more concerning is the fact that Colombo-based UN officials Marc-André Franche and Edward Rees visited the JVP Headquarters on 29 August to meet its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake et al.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last year soon after American Ambassador Julie Chung visited the same JVP headquarters, homes of several dozen then government politicians were attacked and destroyed across the country, meticulously, in one night, along with, in some cases, properties of their relatives. On the eve of those attacks Ambassador Chung also issued a statement calling on Police and the armed forces not to interfere with those “peaceful protesters.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As we have reported previously it was not so too long ago a previous UN Resident Representative, a Norwegian, unilaterally tried to declare its compound in Colombo a refugee camp for Tamils. Luckily for us, our then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar told him where to get off. Had that succeeded they would have staged attacks on Tamils here to create a storm of refugees in the country wanting to get into the UN premises for safety, then Sri Lanka as we know it would have become history overnight.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Would the US care to explain disappearances caused by its forces and agents all over the world following interventions on various pretexts? The invasion of Iraq in 2003 on the basis of going after the wholly concocted claim that Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), the abduction of hundreds if not thousands of suspected terrorists and transferring them to other countries where they were tortured. The US called the murderous project an extraordinary rendition. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government once cooperated with the US in such an operation. The Guantanamo Bay US military prison is nothing but an insult to those who really value transparency, justice and accountability. Actually US human rights violations are incalculable.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Briefing on draft Anti-Terrorism Bill</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">US Ambassador Chung was among those present at a briefing arranged for the diplomatic corps at the Foreign Ministry on 01 Sept. on the draft Anti-Terrorism Bill. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, both notable President’s Counsels, briefed foreign envoys regarding the Wickremesinghe-Rajapakse government’s efforts in this regard. It would be pertinent to ask the ministers whether they were aware of any foreign governments which consult so called relevant stakeholders, including civil society and international partners, in making laws in their countries.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having perused the statements issued by Foreign and Justice Ministries following the briefing, it was clear the foreign envoys were consulted before presenting the draft Anti-Terrorism Bill to the Cabinet-of-Ministers. Minister Sabry is on record as having said that the proposed law meant to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) addressed national security requirements, met international standards and best practices. Those who found fault with Sri Lanka for enactment of draconian security law way back in 1979 conveniently forgot why the then President JRJ had to take measures to counter Indian-sponsored terrorism here. The government lacked the backbone at least to set the record straight. This applies to the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government too.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While the US and its allies preach transparency, human rights and accountability to successive governments here some of those terrorists responsible for heinous crimes during the conflict live in those countries having received foreign citizenships and in some cases new identities. Those governments are not worried about their sordid past. Among them are hundreds of Sri Lankans trained in India, Lebanon and in Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka. The number of terrorists who had received foreign citizenship in the West over the years is not known though the actual figure can be quite high. Among them can be those who forcibly recruited children and used them as cannon fodder and even in suicide missions. Didn’t one-time Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi fall prey in May 1991 to a child suicide cadre in the run-up to Indian parliamentary polls? Did she (the suicide cadre) receive her cyanide capsule from Australian Adele, wife of the late Anton Balasingham, British citizen of Sri Lankan origin? Balasingham who had served the British High Commission in Colombo as a translator functioned as the LTTE theoretician until he passed away in the UK. The Balasinghams couldn’t have been unaware of the dastardly assassination plot. Adele Balasingham lives in the UK. The former colonial power here hasn’t been bothered about her accountability. Some of those who had been listed as disappeared here were killed during a major Indian manhunt, following Gandhi’s assassination. They were buried there.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Quite a number of Sri Lankan terrorists, who raided the Maldives in Nov. 1988, too, ended up dead while some were arrested by the Indian military. The dead can be still listed as missing as the human rights circus continues 15 years after the eradication of terrorism here.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Obviously, the West and India wanted Sri Lanka to forget the past and restrict examination of accountability issues pertaining to the last phase of the war against the LTTE (January-May 2009). Following Sri Lanka’s triumph over the separatist Tamil movement, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that recognized the LTTE as the sole representative of Tamil speaking people in late 2001, joined external powers to demand abolition of the security law. The government never bothered at least to remind foreign governments that held the TNA in high esteem how the group served the LTTE’s terrorist programme until the very last moment.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Child recruitment continued in LTTE-held areas regardless of a UN arranged agreement finalized in 1998 during CBK administration until combined security forces destroyed their fighting structure. By late January/early March 2009 the LTTE lost its capacity to sustain its military structure. The TNA remained silent on child recruitment and the use of human shields on the Vanni east front as the military rapidly pushed the ‘defenders’ towards the east coast.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The government should be mindful of the need to take special measures to prevent children being used in terrorism. The 2019 Easter Sunday carnage reminded the complacent and utterly irresponsible Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government how the young could be exploited. Anti-terrorism law should be comprehensive to deal with security threats. The public protest campaign that ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and set Premier Wickremesinghe private residence ablaze and the property of nearly 80 lawmakers, in the current Parliament, underscored the need to be mindful of threats emanating from various quarters. In their haste to satisfy Western powers, civil society and other interested parties, the government shouldn’t disregard growing threats in various other forms though a conventional military challenge is not likely on our soil again.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">UNP leader Wickremesinghe acted quickly and decisively within hours after being elected President on 20 July, 2022, to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term. At the behest of President Wickremesinghe, the military and police cleared those who had forcibly occupied the Presidential Secretariat and other government buildings in the guise of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aragalaya,</i> weeks previously. Wickremesinghe simply ignored the US concerns over the use of force to regain control of government buildings. Had the US anticipated Wickremesinghe’s move, Chung condemned the action taken by the new President.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A complaint to Sabry</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chung met Wickremesinghe soon after troops raided a protest site in Colombo, which left nine people injured. The meeting took place before she tweeted Friday 22 July evening that she had expressed her grave concern over the “unnecessary and deeply troubling escalation of violence against protestors overnight”. “The President and Cabinet have an opportunity and an obligation to respond to the calls of Sri Lankans for a better future. This is not the time to crack down on citizens, but instead to look ahead at the immediate and tangible steps the government can take to regain the trust of the people, restore stability, and rebuild the economy. Chung did not reveal the President’s response. The President ordered the crackdown before ministers were sworn in.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A year later, the US and India in spite of their previous reservations work so closely with Wickremesinghe, the Federation of National Organizations (FNO) believes the US envoy is pursuing an agenda inimical to the country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The day before the briefing for the Colombo-based diplomatic corps, attended by the US envoy, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, on behalf of the FNO and several other organizations, handed over a petition to the Foreign Ministry drawing Minister Sabry’s attention to Chung’s agenda. Sabry got a subordinate to accept the petition on his behalf. Dr. Wasantha Bandara who recently alleged both the government and the Opposition were dancing to the US tune and Constitutional Council member Dr. Anula Wijewardena accompanied Dr. Amarasekera.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Amarasekera pointed out how Chung and other Colombo-based envoys pursued a strategy that undermined Sri Lanka and also diminished the armed forces’ triumph over separatist Tamil terrorism. Particularly, the FNO found fault with Chung for advising the Army to build trust with minority communities to ensure lasting peace during her visit to the North. Perhaps the US envoy should be reminded that the predominantly Tamil speaking districts in the now de-merged Northern and Eastern Province at the 2010 presidential election voted overwhelmingly for war-winning Army Commander the then Gen. Sarath Fonseka. The Sinha Regiment veteran lost the election by a huge margin – over 1.8 mn votes – though he won the North and East districts handsomely. So there cannot be a question over building trust.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In spite of being asked by the TNA, the people wouldn’t have done so if they really felt humiliated by the LTTE’s defeat. Advised by the SLMC, the Muslims living in those areas, too, threw their weight behind Fonseka. Tamil speaking people probably felt grateful to the military for bringing the three decades long war to an end. Unfortunately, successive governments failed pathetically to use Fonseka’s performance to challenge the Western narrative. Unfortunately, even those opposed to US and Indian interventions conveniently remain silent. This applies to the FNO, too.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The FNO backed Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential candidature much before the SLPP (Pohottuwa party) officially picked him as its man. The SLPP had been in two minds regarding the wartime Defence Secretary therefore nationalist organizations, backed by few UPFA MPs (precursor to SLPP) and the likes of Ali Sabry, in his then capacity as Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s lawyer, campaigned for the much respected administrator. Perhaps an appraisal of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency is necessary on the basis of his response to external threats unleashed within a week after the presidential election. The President survived the Swiss Embassy trap close on the heels of that country giving political asylum to CID investigator CI Nishantha Silva. Regrettably, the President never learnt from that episode. Apparently, the President felt that he could come to some sort of arrangement with the US but that never materialized. What Sri Lanka never really understood was that the Indian strategy here even to subjugate Sri Lanka militarily is compatible with that of the US as the latter desperately wants to use New Delhi against Beijing.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-73783758826426942472023-08-30T08:55:00.000-07:002023-08-30T08:55:30.976-07:00SLC, cryptocurrency and repealing of time-tested law<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 485</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/08/30</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/president-Ranil-wickramasinghe-in-LPL-final-Match.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/president-Ranil-wickramasinghe-in-LPL-final-Match.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/president-Ranil-wickramasinghe-in-LPL-final-Match-300x177.jpg 300w" height="443" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/president-Ranil-wickramasinghe-in-LPL-final-Match.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/president-Ranil-wickramasinghe-in-LPL-final-Match.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/president-Ranil-wickramasinghe-in-LPL-final-Match-300x177.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="750" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">A smiling President Wickremesinghe listens to Pakistan’s great fast bowler of yesteryear Wasim Akram at the LPL 2023 final played at the R. Premadasa Stadium under lights. SLC Chief Shammi Silva sits extreme left. Minister Harin Fernando sits next to Silva. Extreme right is Sagala Ratnayake. Well informed sources say utterly corrupt elements seeking to take control of the SLC are believed to be involved in a campaign to discredit the current administration. (Pic courtesy PMD)</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/slc-cryptocurrency-and-repealing-of-time-tested-law/#" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, declared in Parliament that the winners of LPL (Lanka Premier League) 2023 B-Love Kandy had been sponsored by an enterprise that was banned in the country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The statement was made in Parliament on 24th August. The one-time President of the Bar Association found fault with SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) for involving B-Love Network banned here over promoting cryptocurrency.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, by the time the Justice Minister made the declaration President Ranil Wickremesinghe had attended the final of the LPL 2023 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday (20 Aug.). The President was accompanied by Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando and Senior Advisor on National Security Sagala Ratnayake.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Among those present were senior SLC officials, including President of the Board Shammi Silva, under investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) over extravagant spending of over Rs 67 million by the SLC for its officials, family members and friends to watch the T20 World Cup tournament played in Australia (Oct. 09-Nov. 13, 2022) and a spate of other allegations.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews led B-Love Kandy to victory over Dambulla Aura, led by Kusal Mendis.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Rajapakse told <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island </i>that he firmly stood by what he said in Parliament regarding the LPL being a gambling den. All those who had been involved in gambling/betting, as well as promoting cryptocurrency, but accommodated in LPL, were named in Parliament, and it would be the responsibility of the powers that be to take tangible measures against the SLC, the one-time Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) stressed.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I was also invited to witness the final but didn’t attend for obvious reasons,” Minister Rajapakse said, adding that “the LPL 2023 should be thoroughly investigated, particularly against the backdrop of the NAO investigation.” The Minister recalled the SLC fared very badly before the parliamentary watchdog committee over a period of time.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, to be fair by the sponsor, it would be pertinent to mention that Kamal Faridi, the CEO of B-Love Kandy, in an exclusive interview with Ada Derana, posted on 24 July, 2023, quite clearly referred to their role in promoting cryptocurrency.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When asked to describe the B-Love network, Faridi declared: “B-Love Network is a community of people who hold crypto coins. They are one of the main sponsors of the Kandy team and are passionate about sports and cricket.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Faridi said that they secured the franchise of the Kandy team for a period of 10 years. The top spokesperson is on record as having said that they bought the most expensive team in the LPL without negotiations. Financier Omar Khan is the owner of B-Love Kandy, formerly Kandy Falcons, Kandy Warriors and Kandy Tuskers. B-Love Kandy is coached by legendary Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad whereas other big names included Wasim Akram.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Justice Minister said that the SLC owed an explanation. Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe couldn’t absolve himself of responsibility by simply declaring that he was not consulted by the SLC. The Minister should inquire into this matter without further delay. The Central Bank and the Monetary Board, too, should look into the issues at hand as a bankrupt country couldn’t continue to flout laws of the land.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It must be noted that the Central Bank daylight robberies that were staged as far back as 2015/16 have yet to be resolved and one of the chief architects of that robbery continues to be shielded by Singapore, even though he is a top fugitive here, but those at the highest echelons of the present regime continue to run to that city state at the drop of a hat for “consultations”. Mind you the same city state also tried to dump all its garbage here during that notorious <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> regime. And there wasn’t a hum from our NGO quislings.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The disclosure of the SLC’s alliance with such enterprises would definitely attract the attention of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Justice Minister stressed, pointing out that in terms of the recently passed Anti-Corruption law the SLC matter could be dealt with.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lawmaker Rajapakse made a devastating attack on the SLC during the debate on NAO’s draft report on the 2022 tour of Australia. Interestingly, in spite of a prohibition order obtained from the Colombo District Court by SLC against SJB lawmaker Hesha Withana discussing the issue, the Opposition MP, however, flayed the cricket administration, using his parliamentary privilege. The Ratnapura District MP repeated allegations, based on the NAO report, regardless of the court directive, but the position taken by the Justice Minister astonished all. Such accusations couldn’t have been at a worse time for the SLC, under heavy fire over waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement at a time the country is experiencing severe economic difficulties.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A major controversy erupted during the opening ceremony of the LPL 2023 tournament when versatile singer Umara Sinhawansha distorted the national anthem. How much was Ms. Sinhawansha paid by SLC for her rendition of the national anthem? That, too, would come up for discussion once the LPL 2023 is subjected to a state audit.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, the Justice Minister’s allegations are even far more damaging than the NAO report revelations as the former come under the purview of the Anti-Corruption Act.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Repealing of a time-tested Act</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who wanted to repeal Exchange Control Act No 24 of 1953? Did repealing that time-tested Act contribute to the collapse of the national economy in 2022? Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse’s repeated accusations regarding the repealing of the 1953 Exchange Control Act should be thoroughly investigated as the President’s Counsel, too, had been a member of the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government that enacted Foreign Exchange Act No 12 of 2017 at the expense of the 1953 law. The Justice Minister, in an interview with Hiru, a week ago, claimed that taking advantage of the law exporters have parked as much as USD 100 bn abroad while the country continued to struggle to meet its basic commitments.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to discuss the circumstances under which the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration enacted the Foreign Exchange Act No 12 of 2017. In May 2017, the then President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed on a mini-Cabinet reshuffle in the wake of two Treasury bond scams perpetrated in February 2015 and March 2016. Nine Cabinet Ministers and one State Minister were re-allocated fresh ministerial portfolios on the morning of 22 May, 2017. The most important and far- reaching decision in the reshuffle was the key exchange of portfolios between Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Karunanayake received Foreign Affairs while Samaraweera got the Finance portfolio. In addition to Finance, Mangala Samaraweera received the Media Ministry. Within four months, Karunanayake resigned over corruption charges in respect of the bond scams.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was the late Mangala Samaraweera who served as the Finance Minister when the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government enacted the now controversial Finance Act of 2017 on 25 July, 2017. Of the 225-member Parliament, 94 voted for the Bill presented by Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, whereas 18 voted against. A staggering 113 MPs skipped the vote. Among those who voted for the Bill were current members of the SJB. The SJB was formed by a breakaway faction of the UNP, in early 2020. Kabir Hashim and Dr. Harsha de Silva, members of the SJB economic team, were among those who voted for the Bill. Karu Jayasuriya, in his capacity as the Speaker, endorsed the Act.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In addition to safeguarding those who parked money overseas, the new law facilitated money laundering operations. In the 1953 Act section 23 regularized the foreign exchange transfers. That particular section dealt with those who sent money overseas but didn’t receive goods in terms of that transaction. But, the 2017 law conveniently omitted that. The writer intends to submit a RTI query to Parliament seeking the list of MPs who voted for the 2017 Foreign Exchange Act.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The UNP and SJB owed an explanation regarding the allegations made by Justice Minister Rajapakse. Dr. Rajapakse, too, should explain why he waited so long to raise his voice against the 2017 Exchange Control Act. The then Premier Wickremesinghe who presented that damaging Bill is the President now. The UNP leader also holds several other portfolios, including Finance and Defence. At the time the new law was brought in, Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy served as the Governor of the Central Bank, though the government didn’t consult him as regards the new law.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Several months ago, rebel SLPP lawmakers, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila raised the grave injustice caused to the country by the highly questionable Act passed in 2017. Dr. Rajapakse, too, discussed this matter, both in and outside Parliament, several months ago. But, so far, the government hasn’t responded to the accusations pertaining to the 2017 Foreign Exchange Act. In responding to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i> query, Dr. Rajapakse said that he offered assistance to the relevant authorities to amend the law but didn’t receive the anticipated response. The bottom line is that the Parliament enacted an Act at the expense of overall national security and stability.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shocking revelation at PSC</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-125819 lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr.-Wijeyadasa-Rajapakse-and-Dr.-Indrajith-Coomaraswamy.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr.-Wijeyadasa-Rajapakse-and-Dr.-Indrajith-Coomaraswamy.jpg 600w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr.-Wijeyadasa-Rajapakse-and-Dr.-Indrajith-Coomaraswamy-300x201.jpg 300w" height="401" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr.-Wijeyadasa-Rajapakse-and-Dr.-Indrajith-Coomaraswamy.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr.-Wijeyadasa-Rajapakse-and-Dr.-Indrajith-Coomaraswamy.jpg 600w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dr.-Wijeyadasa-Rajapakse-and-Dr.-Indrajith-Coomaraswamy-300x201.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 17.6px; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="600" />The Parliamentary Select Committee, assigned to investigate the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, raised the Foreign Exchange Control Act of 2017, with the Central Bank, on 26 July, 2019. The CBSL team comprised the Governor of the Central Bank, Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Director of Financial Intelligence Unit, D.M. Rupasinghe, and Director of the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions R.R. Jayaratne. Rupasinghe testified in-camera on a request made by Dr. Coomaraswamy. Dr. Coomaraswamy succeeded disgraced Singaporean, Arjuna Mahendran, in early July, 2016.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The CBSL set the record straight in response to then Power, Energy and Business Development Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s challenge. PSC member Karunanayake strongly countered CBSL condemnation of the Foreign Exchange Act of 2017. Commenting on funds received by the Batticaloa Campus Limited and the Heera Foundation from Saudi Arabia on seven and 15 occasions, respectively, the CBSL stressed that the new Act weakened the CBSL regulatory role, vis-a-vis illegal transactions. Those institutions were under investigations as regards the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks due to their links with the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ), blamed for those devastating attacks.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The PSC proceedings showed how politicians caused irreparable damage through unilateral actions. Ravi Karunanayake, who had been again brought back to the Cabinet, after the failed constitutional coup, in late 2018, clashed with the Central Bank over the enactment of the new law. The CBSL took an unwavering stand that the new law impeded its regulatory powers thereby facilitating illegal transactions.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ravi Karunanayake (RK): Where does it say such transactions cannot be inquired into in terms of the new Act?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CBSL: In accordance with 2017 Exchange Control Act, Section 30, action cannot be taken.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">RK: You prepared that Act. Why are you pretending as if you don’t know anything about it? CBSL amended it several times and sent it back.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Director of the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions R.R. Jayaratne could have faced a ministerial onslaught if not for Dr. Coomaraswamy’s<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b>swift intervention. Had Dr. Coomaraswamy opted to remain silent, Jayaratne, probably would have had to suffer in silence unable to talk back to a powerful Minister</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Coomaraswamy: No Sir. The Act actually was not drafted by us.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">RK: Why not?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Coomaraswamy: No Sir. It was done outside. We were actually very upset about it. We were not included. That was drafted without the CBSL being involved. We were asked to comment on it</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa: If the Batticaloa Campus last received money in 2017, Hizbullah was aware of the new Act being drafted.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CBSL: Yes.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nalinda Jayatissa: It could have happened.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CBSL: Present Act does not at least interpret what it meant by wrong. Unauthorized money transactions were taking place all over the country. Foreign currencies are kept illegally. Transactions do not come into the official banking system, not even one USD.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The exchange between Ravi Karunanayake and the CBSL erupted when lawmaker Ashu Marasinghe sought a clarification as regards the difference in the current and the previous Exchange Control Acts. The then Chairman of the Public Finance Committee M.A. Sumanthiran remained silent during the exchange between Ravi Karunanayake and the CBSL.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The circumstances of the Exchange Control Act that had been introduced was disputed by no less a person than the CBSL Governor. It would be pertinent to recall the advice given by Dr. Coomaraswamy to the electorate late 2018. Dr. Coomaraswamy issued the advice before President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved Parliament at midnight on 09 Nov., 2018, following the sacking of Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Coomaraswamy’s statement, made before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCol) on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka is relevant as Sri Lanka struggles to navigate difficulties. Dr. Coomaraswamy told the PCol that the country was facing a non-virtuous cycle of debt and it was a very fragile situation which could even lead to a debt crisis. “Of course my colleagues in the Debt Department have plans and capability to manage it. But it’s the duty of every citizen to act responsibly as regards the government policy,” he told the PCol. Dr. Coomaraswamy emphasized that people should elect MPs who were prudent enough to handle fiscal and monetary matters of the country. “I am not referring to any government, but it’s been the case ever since independence.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In spite of knowing that the Exchange Control Act of 2017 is seriously flawed, political parties have done nothing so far to bring forth remedial measures, especially by those now wielding power. Perhaps the Committee on Public Finance should inquire into this. The Parliament should be ashamed of its failure to address this issue.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lapses on the part of Parliament</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The pathetic failure on the part of Parliament to deal with gold smuggling MP Ali Sabry Raheem (Puttalam District MP representing the Muslim National Alliance), for over five months, underscored the crisis the country is experiencing. Many an eyebrow was raised when the disgraced MP Raheem attended a meeting, chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat,where ways and means of strengthening the gem and jewellery industry was discussed. Raheem was there as a member of the Sectoral Monitoring Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Parliament owed an explanation why it couldn’t take action against the offending MP. The All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) that fielded Raheem on the MNA ticket, too, should be held responsible. The first time entrant, who was fined much less than any other offender after being caught with 3.3 kgs of gold and 91 smartphones valued at Rs. 74 mn and Rs. 4.2 mn, respectively, in late March this year, caused quite a stir when he voted in Parliament immediately after the disgraceful incident.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The President’s Office obviously failed in its basic responsibilities by inviting the culprit for a meeting with the President. But, the President’s appearance at the LPL final stressed that the ongoing controversy over massive financial irregularities didn’t matter at all. The question that must be popping up in the heads of most Lankans is are we being governed by baby faced bandits. Political party system continues to emphasize that regardless of whatever transgression, alleged wrongdoers can continue with impunity. There cannot be a better example to prove the shoddy way Parliament addressed issues of utmost importance than the gold smuggling’s MP’s affair.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The recent call by the Leader of the House Susil Premjayantha to summon MP Raheem before the parliamentary ethics committee, over five months after the incident at the BIA, must be nothing but another bid to side-step the issue.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-89017409735460862842023-08-22T18:50:00.000-07:002023-08-22T18:50:05.309-07:00Does SF’s unexpected move portend confrontation?<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 484</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/08/23</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; 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font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During a violent protest campaign to oust President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last year, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka threw his weight behind the project. Fonseka was the only parliamentarian allowed to address large crowds as they gathered near the President’s House on the morning of 09 July, 2022. The Field Marshal didn’t mince his words when he urged the military not to crack down on violent public protests, obviously staged by outside forces with financial and other resources, to oust the then government. Overwhelmed by the massive gathering, the Army quietly abandoned the President’s House, paving the way for Ranil Wickremesinghe’s succession, on whose orders the military then swiftly cleared the President’s House, Presidential Secretariat and other government buildings. Now Sarath Fonseka wants to take on the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government. The People’s Revolution is meant to inspire a countrywide protest campaign. But the task seems difficult in the absence of an environment conducive for such a project without the clandestine backing of outside elements.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><h2 style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></h2></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MP, recently declared his intention to chart a new political course amidst continuing turmoil in the Opposition. The war-winning Army Chief, 72, on 11 August, launched a campaign of his own, at the expense of the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), as further differences emerged in the breakaway UNP faction. How could Gampaha District SJB lawmaker Fonseka, the current Chairman of the party, initiate a protest campaign, dubbed ‘People’s Revolution,’ targeting waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Sinha Regiment veteran declared that the national economy couldn’t be restored, under any circumstances, unless the utterly corrupt governance system was done away with.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The protest, held outside Viharamahadevi Park, drew a mixed crowd. The deployment of a sizable police contingent, backed by anti-riot squads and water cannons, was meant as a warning sign not to test the government’s will. The writer quite comfortably felt that the protesting group didn’t have the intention of blocking the road, or marching on any government building. Some displayed placards demanding proper implementation of the ‘<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aswesuma’</i> social security scheme, leave EPF and ETF out of the debt-restructuring process, and media freedom.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former Yahapalana minister Fonseka seemed alone in that crowd in the absence of any other known face. The SJB Chairman appeared to have lost faith in his own party, struggling to counter President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Regardless of his own party being reduced to just one National List slot (Wajira Abeywardena) at the last parliamentary election, Wickremesinghe has managed to consolidate his position in Parliament.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Fonseka’s move should be examined taking into consideration the presidential election due next year. Would parliamentarian Fonseka consider himself as a candidate at the next presidential election? Having served as Regional Development, as well as Minister of Wildlife and Sustainable Development, during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration (January 2015-November 2019), is he really interested in another go at the presidency. Or will it be used as a bargaining chip to join the increasingly confident possible UNP-SLPP future government. Remember the old adage there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics. Garadihewa, as his name denotes, is from a true warrior stock, and, with a sixth sense in battle, he no doubt proved his mettle by leading the fight to defeat the world’s most ruthless terror outfit against the advice of all pundits, and carried out the war even after the Tigers nearly killed him in his own den with a suicide bomber, who inflicted life threatening injuries on him.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In our humble opinion, may be Fonseka should have quit when he was far ahead with an almost unblemished record as a General. Now this once true lion, having jumped headlong into the political cesspit, is no longer fighting brave tigers, but many more two legged hyenas, jackals and whatnot.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Similarly, see what has happened to our erstwhile cunning comrades in the JVP, FSP and their trade union cabal. Remember they were ready to lay down their lives for the country, but are now more like kittens as if on cue from Uncle Sam, despite New Delhi and Washington clearly running roughshod over us. Even Comrade Kumar Gunaratnam seems to be enjoying the best of both worlds in Australia and Sri Lanka. We should not also forget the NGO quislings, who clearly know on which side their bread is buttered.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The protest at Viharamahadevi Park gravely underscored the war veteran’s dissatisfaction at the way the SJB is addressing the burning issues. The brief but fiery speech delivered there meant that he didn’t have faith in the top management of the party. It would be pertinent to mention that in the run-up to the last presidential election, in 2019, Fonseka, on numerous occasions, declared that he was prepared to contest that election if Ranil Wickremesinghe was not in the race. Then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, too, indicated his desire and was chosen by a group of academics as the best challenger to SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. But MP Fonseka’s overtures were ignored. Maybe Fonseka felt he could contest the presidential poll.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka contested the January 2010 presidential election as the common candidate. Having spearheaded the Army-led all-out offensive to defeat Tiger terrorism, during a three-year-long campaign, backed by the Navy and Air Force, Fonseka declared his intention to contest the first national level election, after Sri Lanka’s triumph over the LTTE, in May 2009. Fonseka had the backing of a US-led coalition that consisted of the UNP, TNA, JVP and the SLMC. There hadn’t been a previous instance of the UNP and JVP forming a political alliance. In their haste to bring the Rajapaksa presidency to an end, they quite conveniently forgot that their partner, the TNA, served the separatist LTTE agenda until the very end. They disregarded how the TNA recognized the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people in 2001 and set the stage for the final showdown, eight years later.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But, Sri Lanka’s greatest ever Army Commander couldn’t deprive Mahinda Rajapaksa of a second consecutive term. Rajapaksa polled 1.8 mn votes more than Fonseka, though the latter comfortably secured all the predominantly Tamil speaking districts, including Digamadulla, thanks to the TNA’s support. The SLMC also played a crucial role in the East on his behalf.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The then General Fonseka’s performance in the Northern and Eastern electoral districts proved beyond any doubt that unsubstantiated war crimes accusations, propagated by interested parties, didn’t hold water.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SJB’s woes</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Fonseka seems to have distanced himself from the SJB, struggling to cope up with defections and its failure to reach consensus on a common strategy. The elevation of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President, in July last year, to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, has undermined not only the SJB but the SLPP that elected him.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wickremesinghe lured SJB MPs Manusha Nanayakkara (Galle district) and Harin Fernando (National List) to accept Cabinet portfolios in May 2022. They switched sides immediately after Wickremesinghe accepted the premiership from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In spite of their treachery, the government couldn’t entice other members of the SJB parliamentary group. Nanayakkara and Fernando, having repeatedly accused Gotabaya Rajapaksa of being the direct beneficiary of the April 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, joined his government without qualms. In the wake of Gotabaya Rajapaksa being forced to flee the country, due to a well-organized violent campaign to oust him, with massive protests, while law enforcers merely stood by idly, in July 2020, Nanayakkara and Fernando joined Wickremesinghe’s Cabinet.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Fonseka has declared his intention to contemplate a different path in the wake of two more elected on the SJB ticket, namely Kumara Welgama (Kalutara district) and Patali Champila Ranawaka (Colombo district) seeking to chart their own courses. Welgama and Ranawaka launched the Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya and the United Republican Front in 2020 and May this year, respectively.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The SJB won 54 seats, including seven National List slots, at the parliamentary election. Even before the SJB settled down, as the main Opposition party, one of its NL members, first time entrant to Parliament, Diana Gamage, switched her allegiance to the SLPP. Diana Gamage didn’t even bother to hide her contempt for the top SJB leadership when she declared her support to the controversial 20th Amendment to the Constitution, enacted in late October 2020. She simply dismissed the SJB’s decision to vote against that Amendment, meant to further strengthen the executive, as irrelevant. Further deterioration of the SJB parliamentary group can be disastrous as Wickremesinghe steps up pressure on the breakaway faction, ahead of the presidential election.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fonseka switched allegiance to Sajith Premadasa immediately after the UNP split that followed SP’s heavy defeat at the presidential election. Fonseka contested the last general election on the SJB ticket, amidst simmering controversy over the circumstances under which the then Election Commission allowed the Ape Jathika Peramuna to be named as Samagi Jana Balawegaya in 2020. Diana Gamage’s husband, Senaka de Silva formerly of the Army, had been a one-time influential member of General Fonseka’s staff when he contested the 2010 presidential poll. The cashiered junior Army officer had been the leader of Ape Jathika Peramuna at the time the breakaway UNP faction, under Sajith Premadasa’s leadership, negotiated for the taking over of that party. In the wake of MP Diana Gamage voting for the 20th Amendment, a major issue erupted after the SJB demanded an explanation from her as to why she voted for Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s amendment, regardless of the party decision to move against it. Diana Gamage threatened to take back the party. The bone of contention is whether Diana Gamage could have taken things for granted just because her husband gave up his party for the benefit of Sajith Premadasa’s group.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SP declares his prez candidature</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In May this year, the SJB hurriedly named its leader, Sajith Premadasa, as its presidential candidate. The party announced the decision on May 16, following a meeting of its decision-making Working Committee. The announcement was made in the wake of speculation that President Wickremesinghe contemplated introducing a simple amendment to pave the way for presidential election. Declaring that there was no one they could have faith in, except party leader Sajith Premadasa, former UNP MP Sujeewa Senasinghe proposed their leader as the presidential candidate. One-time State Minister and SJB Gampaha District MP Harshana Rajakaruna made a joint proposal in this regard that received the unanimous approval of the Working Committee. A one-page statement, issued by the SJB soon after the meeting, said that MPs S.M. Marikkar and Chamindra Wijesiri, Rehan Jaywickrema and President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya and several others appreciated the Working Committee decision.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Did the SJB at least unofficially consult other political parties, which contested under its symbol at the last parliamentary poll, before the announcement on the 2024 presidential candidate was made? The SJB cannot afford to ignore efforts made by the SLMC and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) to pave the way for a consensus between the SJB and President Wickremesinghe. The SLMC and three political parties, represented in the TPA, contested the last general election on the SJB ticket, therefore the main Opposition party should be mindful of the interests of its constituents. Its failure to address the concerns of partners, as well as individual members, can be quite catastrophic ahead of the next presidential election.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">President Wickremesinghe stands to gain by the SJB’s shoddy approach to the next presidential election, followed by parliamentary polls. Undeterred by being reduced to just one seat in the 225-member Parliament, the UNP leader seemed quite convinced of his chances at the next presidential election with the backing of a section of the SLPP parliamentary group. A debilitating SLPP split is now almost certain with Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera openly declaring his support for the UNP leader. The Matara district parliamentarian is on record as having said that the majority of the SLPP parliamentary group supported President Wickremesinghe’s candidature. Lawmaker Wijesekera has repeatedly declared that though the UNP and the SLPP currently carried out meetings separately, a tie-up between the SLPP and President Wickremesinghe is inevitable.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If Wijesekera is proved right, the main contenders at the next presidential election would be UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the former UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa. If that happened, the electors would face the challenging task of choosing one as essentially the two leaders’ economic strategies won’t clash. Would Wickremesinghe’s current policies be acceptable to the SLPP? Perhaps the UNP leader is not looking at a formal agreement with the SLPP but a consensus with a sizable breakaway group ready for its chances with the UNP leader. Whatever the bombastic declarations made by Wickremesinghe’s depleted group, the UNP hadn’t been able to engineer crossovers from the SJB as intended. Over a year after receiving the presidency, Wickremesinghe hadn’t been able to win over a single SJB MP. Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando switched allegiance to the government at a time Gotabaya Rajapaksa served as the President. Facts are stubborn. In fact, the President totally depends on the SLPP for his survival in Parliament. Their relations are in deepening crisis due to the inordinate delay on the part of the President to accommodate SLPP nominees in his Cabinet. That particular SLPP request has been on the backburner for over 11 months. That is the truth.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With the JVP-led Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) certain to field a candidate of its own, the rebel SLPP group (Prof. G.L. Peiris-DA [Dallas Alahapperuma] led 12-member group) plus Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya, too, would be compelled to contest, thereby causing further setback to the Opposition effort. The decision-makers will have to examine two key issues: (1) can there be an understanding among the GL Peiris-DA led group and Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya? And (2) is there a likelihood of an alliance involving the SJB, SLPP rebels, including Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tough times</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having lost badly to Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2010 presidential election, Fonseka sought to contest the general election on the UNP ticket on his terms. Wickremesinghe however swiftly rejected Fonseka’s move. That prompted Fonseka to contest the election, under the JVP-led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) ticket. It was nothing but an odd marriage of convenience. The DNA managed to secure seven seats. The DNA parliamentary group consisted of Sarath Fonseka, Arjuna Ranatunga (no longer in active politics), Tiran Alles (National List/the incumbent Public Security Minister) and four JVPers, including incumbent leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The subsequent arrest of Fonseka and denial of his parliamentary seat under questionable circumstances prompted the war hero to form the Democratic Party aka DP. That party suffered a catastrophic setback in its debut at the 2015 general election with its leader Sarath Fonseka failing to get elected from Colombo. The DP couldn’t poll 30,000 votes countrywide. Fonseka’s party couldn’t at least secure a National List seat and was relegated to history. However, <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe rescued the former Army Chief by accommodating him on his National List. Fonseka was brought into Parliament on the UNP National List, in early 2016, and accommodated in the Cabinet of Ministers, though Wickremesinghe simply ignored calls to appoint him the Law and Order Minister.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Could Fonseka have averted the 2019 Easter Sunday attack if he was tasked with the Law and Order Ministry? At the time of the Easter Sunday suicide attacks, Ranjith Madduma Bandara served as the Law and Order Minister. Fonseka suffered due to his running disputes with the then President Maithripala Sirisena who strongly opposed giving that particular portfolio to the wartime Army Chief under any circumstances. They failed to iron out differences though Sarath Fonseka was granted the Field Marshal’s rank during Sirisena’s tenure as the President. Sirisena owed a public apology for his failure to award the same to Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilleke.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The 2019 presidential poll campaign saw UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa declaring Fonseka as the Defence Minister, if he ended up victorious.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-3443369512591997222023-08-15T20:46:00.000-07:002023-08-15T20:46:44.582-07:00Foreign policy quagmire<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 483</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/08/16</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image ls-is-cached lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Chinese-scientific-survey-and-research-vessel-HAI-YANG-24-HAO-at-the-Colombo-harbour.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Chinese-scientific-survey-and-research-vessel-HAI-YANG-24-HAO-at-the-Colombo-harbour.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Chinese-scientific-survey-and-research-vessel-HAI-YANG-24-HAO-at-the-Colombo-harbour-300x169.jpg 300w" height="422" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Chinese-scientific-survey-and-research-vessel-HAI-YANG-24-HAO-at-the-Colombo-harbour.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Chinese-scientific-survey-and-research-vessel-HAI-YANG-24-HAO-at-the-Colombo-harbour.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Chinese-scientific-survey-and-research-vessel-HAI-YANG-24-HAO-at-the-Colombo-harbour-300x169.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="750" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">Chinese scientific survey and research vessel HAI YANG 24 HAO at the Colombo harbour</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; 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margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the question-and-answer session, Dr. Dushni Weerakoon questioned the sustainability of Sri Lanka’s non-aligned foreign policy, as it weakened the country’s position in trade negotiations. The expert assertion was certainly not restricted to trade negotiations. Having signed ACSA (Access and Cross Servicing-Agreement) with the US, in August 2017, it would be ridiculous to still talk of non-aligned policy. The fact remains the US also sought o finalize SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) in addition to MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) Compact. Sri Lanka first signed ACSA in early 2007 during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s first term. In the wake of ACSA, the US provided crucial intelligence that helped the Navy to hunt down floating LTTE arsenals on the high seas and accelerate their collapse.</span></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A scientific survey and research vessel, manned by the Chinese Navy, arrived at the Colombo port on 10 August. HAI YANG 24 HAO was here for a replenishment assignment. Commanded by Commander Jin Xin, the 129 m long vessel, crewed by 138 officers and men, departed Colombo on 12 August. The visit didn’t create controversy the way when Chinese surveillance vessel Yuan Wang 5 visited Hambantota in August last year close on the heels of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HAI YANG 24 HAO was the first Chinese Navy vessel here since President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s two-day visit to New Delhi, the first since Parliament elected him in July last year to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term won at the November 2019 presidential election. The next presidential poll is a year away.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The growing Indian concerns over what they call Chinese ‘activity’ here is a huge challenge that has to be dealt with at the highest level. But bankrupt Sri Lanka dependent on the new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) secured with the support of India and the US faced the daunting task of convincing India<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b>that Colombo’s relationship with China didn’t pose any threat to their interests. As regards Chinese naval visits, the US, too, has expressed concerns on behalf of its Quad partner. Quad consists of the US, Australia, Japan and India.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies recently launched ‘LKI Foreign Policy Forum’ , a fresh initiative for a free and frank discussion on foreign policy matters, as well as related issues. The inaugural session at the LKI Lighthouse Auditorium, on 09 August, featured former Foreign Secretary H. M. G. S. Palihakkara, Executive Director Institute of Policy Studies, Director International Relations, KDU Dr. Harinda Vidanage, Executive Director Policy Studies Dr. Dushni Weerakoon and Executive Director, National Peace Council Dr. Jehan Perera. None of them need any introduction. They dealt with the topic ‘the changing global dynamics: implications for Sri Lanka.’ The Chinese vessel arrived in Colombo the following day.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The launch of ‘LKI Foreign Policy Forum coincided with the 18th death anniversary of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, which fell on 12 August 2023. The LTTE assassinated Kadirgamar at his Buller’s Road residence. LK was 73 years old at the time he was felled by a sniper. How an LTTE sniper fired several gunshots at LK from the window of a bathroom located on the top floor of a house on Buller’s Lane is still a mystery. The person who resided in that house, the late Lakshman Thalayasingham, denied any knowledge of LTTE operatives being there when the law enforcement authorities rushed in soon after the assassination. Those responsible for LK’s security never explained how the surrounding houses of the man, high on the LTTE’s hit list, were never properly checked.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ravinatha Aryasinha, career diplomat recently appointed Executive Director of LKI, moderated the inaugural programme which attracted a section of the Colombo-based diplomatic community. At the onset of the discussion, the one-time Foreign Secretary, who served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Washington (Dec. 2020-Sept. 2021) before retirement, briefly explained the current global and regional status, taking into consideration the ongoing war in Ukraine where Russia is battling US-backed forces. The UK and Germany, among other NATO allies, have thrown their full weight behind American-led efforts to bring the Russians to their knees, using the Ukrainian forces as the battering ram.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Russian Ambassador in Colombo Levan S. Dzhagaryan, who took up the post here four months after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster, was seated on the front row of the audience.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The conflict in Ukraine has sharply divided the world, with Japan campaigning against Russia. Japan has taken up the issue at hand with Sri Lanka, though it knows Colombo is not in a position to take sides. Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa who was here in the last week of July, took up Russian actions with Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, on 29 July. Their discussions also covered the situation in East Africa.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pushing Sri Lanka to back their ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ (FOIP), Yoshimasa, towards the end of his discussion with Sabry, emphasized the importance of what is called the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) meant to facilitate grain exports from Ukraine, through the Black Sea, to various parts of the world.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yoshimasa blamed Russian termination of the initiative, alleging that move ran counter to the international community’s efforts in addressing food insecurity.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contrary to Western expectations and that of Japan and Australia, India has quite clearly indicated that it wouldn’t back resolutions moved against Russia at the UN. Sri Lanka abstained at the UN vote on Russia. China and Pakistan, too, abstained. But the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government is under heavy pressure to back the Western position. Foreign media reports suggest that the US forced Pakistan to remove their PM Imran Khan over the latter’s refusal to condemn Russia.. Therefore, MP Wimal Weerawansa’s accusations, regarding US and Indian involvement in the change of government here, last year, shouldn’t be dismissed as mere rhetoric.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The writer is of the view that whatever the domestic politics here, and external pressure, Sri Lanka shouldn’t back a UN resolution against Russia. Perhaps LKI, in consultation with all relevant parties, should thoroughly examine this issue, also taking into consideration Asia’s position, in general, and advise the government, accordingly, as an independent think tank, especially against unfair moves by India to smother our independence and sovereignty that we have jealously guarded throughout history, without being a threat to it.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We wonder how those who are still blindly pursuing an Eelam dream and have done every possible thing to wreck this country in the pursuit of that, now feel with India clearly calling the shots everywhere.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indo-Lanka relations</strong></p><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_124005" style="border: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 0.8rem; margin: 5px auto 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 710px;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-124005" class="size-full wp-image-124005 lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Foreign-policy.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Foreign-policy.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Foreign-policy-300x111.jpg 300w" height="258" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Foreign-policy.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Foreign-policy.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Foreign-policy-300x111.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 12.8px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /><p class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-124005" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From left: Dr. Dushni Weerakoon, Dr. Harinda Vidanage, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Dr. Jehan Perera and Ambassador H.M.G.S. Palihakkara</em></p></div><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the brief question and answer session, civil society activist Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, the Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), called for closer alignment with India. The former board member of the LKI explained why bankrupt Sri Lanka should align herself with India as it struggled to navigate through the developing crisis. Reference was also made to continuing Indian and Chinese roles here and how flagship Chinese project, the Port City, could attract Indian investments. The academic reminded what could have happened if not for India’s swift intervention to meet Sri Lanka’s basic needs, in 2022. Against the backdrop of continuing economic-political-social crisis in Sri Lanka, the Modi administration, seeking a third consecutive term, has paid considerable attention to the developments here. Obviously, their primary objective is to enhance India’s influence here and outdo the Chinese who secured the Hambantota Port on a 99-year lease, and also sustained the flagship Port City project.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The entry of Chinese oil giant Sinopec recently to the Sri Lanka market underscored how they sustained their operations, regardless of the change of government in July 2022. In fact, China appeared to have subtly exploited the crisis, and the political setup here, to secure the best possible terms for their entry as the third player in the retail oil market. Until their entry, the CPC and Lanka IOC shared the market, with the latter gradually expanding its influence at Trincomalee where the strategically located British built oil tank farm is situated. Similarly, the Chinese consolidated the strategic Hambantota Port with subsequent investments.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka needs to take both Chinese and Indian investments here into consideration as the Asian giants sought to further enhance and consolidate their position here. During Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure as the President, the then CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando caused quite a controversy when he explained how President Gotabaya intervened on behalf of the Adani Group. The declaration, though subsequently denied, cannot be simply dismissed as the close relationship between controversial tycoon Gautam Adani and Indian Premier Narendra Modi, now seeking a third consecutive term, is well established. Gautam Adani had an opportunity to meet President Wickremesinghe during the latter’s two-day July visit to New Delhi where an assurance was given that Adani renewable power projects at Mannar and Pooneryn would be completed in January 2025.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During Wickremesinghe’s visit, an agreement was reached on cooperation on further renewable energy projects and development of Trincomalee as an energy hub. A permit clearing the joint venture between the Ceylon Electricity Board and India’s NTPC for a solar park in the eastern town of Sampur, in the Trincomalee district, too, was also issued in line with overall understanding.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since the end of the war in May 2009 India has gradually stepped up interest in Sri Lanka. India wants Sri Lanka to fully implement the 13th Amendment to its Constitution. New Delhi has the US backing for the project that some concerned here say would lead to a federal state.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the wake of Narendra Modi’s election, as Premier, in May 2014, India steadily increased investments here during his two terms and further expansion is likely in his third term. Indian parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 2024.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Following President Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi where he had one-on-one with Premier Modi, the two countries announced an agreement on development of ports and logistics infrastructure in Colombo, Kankesthurai (KKS) and Trincomalee and launch ferry services between Nagapattinam in India and KKS, Rameswaram and Talaimannar and other mutually agreed places, welcoming resumption of flights between Chennai and Palaly, agreed to explore the possibility of expanding air connectivity to Colombo (BIA or Ratmalana) as well as Trincomalee and Batticaloa, development of infrastructure at Palaly.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In addition, enhanced cooperation on the development of the renewable energy sector here, establishment of a high capacity power grid interconnection between India and Sri Lanka to enable bidirectional electricity trade between Sri Lanka and other regional countries, including the BBIN countries, implementation of understanding reached on Sampur Solar power project and LNG infrastructure, development of Trincomalee oil tank farms in line with overall project focused on the eastern port city. As part of this project launch construction of a multi-product petroleum pipeline from South India to Sri Lanka, exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Sri Lanka’s offshore basins with an aim to develop Sri Lanka’s upstream petroleum sector, divestment of state owned enterprises (Indian investments in those selected sectors), fresh discussion on Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), designation of INR as currency for trade settlements between the two countries and the agreement to operationalise UPI based digital payments, use of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure to meet Sri Lanka’s requirements and, finally, establishment of land connectivity between the two countries.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me reproduce the relevant section as released in a joint communique, titled ‘Promoting Connectivity,</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Catalyzing Prosperity: India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision’ issued following talks between Premier Modi and President Wickremesinghe. “To establish land connectivity between Sri Lanka and India for developing land access to the ports of Trincomalee and Colombo, propelling economic growth and prosperity in both Sri Lanka and India, and further consolidating millennia old relationship between the two countries. A feasibility study for such connectivity will be conducted at an early date.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those agreements have consolidated Indo-Lanka relationship, regardless of serious concerns in some sections that Sri Lanka’s independence is at stake. The powers that be must realize that Sri Lanka shouldn’t promote a particular relationship at its own expense as well as other powers interested in developing further ties.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There cannot be a better example than the cancellation of tenders awarded to China to execute hybrid renewable energy systems in Delft, Nagadeepa and Analativu, off the Jaffna coast. Having awarded the tenders in January 2021, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government cancelled those following Indian protests.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">India never knew of those projects funded by the ADB until the CEB made the announcement in January 2021.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Chinese project was going to be carried out with an ADB loan. India offered alternative arrangements to implement the same. In spite of the Rajapaksas making a desperate effort to save the Chinese project, India finally compelled the cancellation of the project about a year after the awarding of tenders. When Sri Lanka pointed out that the ADB funded project couldn’t be cancelled unilaterally, New Delhi is believed to have intervened with the ADB.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, Premier Modi’s criticism of the late Premier Indira Gandhi over handing over of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974 is a grim reminder how fresh issues could be raised ahead of elections. India parliamentary polls are scueduled for next year.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Accountability issues and origins of</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">terrorism here</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now that there is no question about post-war Indo-Sri Lanka relationship, it would be pertinent to ask how Sri Lanka addressed accountability issues in line with overall measures meant for reconciliation. Of the four panelists, Dr. Jehan Perera emphasized the responsibility on the part of all concerned to ensure those responsible for human rights violations at all levels be dealt with regardless of their standing in society. The peace icon who had been engaged in the peace process over a period of time stressed that the country couldn’t move forward unless accountability issues were addressed, based on the 2015 Geneva Resolution, co-sponsored by the then <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government. While pressing Sri Lanka on accountability issues, Dr. Perera ironically and with no shame went out of his way to praise the human rights record of US-led powers, regardless of death and destruction caused all over the world in the name of democracy. The civil society activist also didn’t comment on the origins of terrorism here. Obviously, Dr. Perera forgot he was at the LK commemoration and the fact that the much respected leader was killed by an organization, established by India.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those demanding accountability on the part of Sri Lanka should explain how they proposed to deal with India for (1) launching a terrorist campaign in the early ’80s. In addition to the losses caused to the Sri Lanka military, fighting among rival northern groups claimed the lives of hundreds if not thousands (2) killings blamed on the Indian military during its deployment here, July 1987-March 1990 period (3) killing carried out by Tamil National Alliance, formed by India, in the wake of Sri Lanka’s request for complete withdrawal of its military and (4) Indian trained PLOTE raid on the Maldives in November 1988, if succeeded, could have caused regional instability.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They should also explain in what way the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), now represented in Parliament, could be dealt with. Having recognized the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people in 2001, Trincomalee District MP R. Sampanthan’s outfit under any circumstances couldn’t absolve itself of the complicity for the catastrophic devastation caused by the LTTE, especially to innocent people everywhere. The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government must realize that post-war reconciliation couldn’t be achieved through the South Africa-type Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) examining the Eelam War IV (Aug. 2006-May 2009).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The TNA collaborated with the LTTE to the hilt until the very end. Their relationship was built on 2004 ‘agreement’ that helped the TNA to secure 21 seats in the Northern and Eastern districts at the 2004 general election with the LTTE stuffing ballot boxes on their behalf. The blatant LTTE partnership with the TNA attracted the attention of the European Union Election Observation Mission. The EU mission, in its report, pointed out how the TNA won the lion’s share of the seats in the then temporarily merged North and East with direct LTTE support. Except <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island </i>no other print media and electronic media bothered to report this. The Election Department did nothing.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Parliament, too, conveniently turned a blind eye to the issue. In the following year, the LTTE set the stage for the final war by ordering the Tamil electorate to boycott the presidential poll. The TNA issued the ‘directive’ on behalf of the LTTE. Again, the Election Department and Parliament did nothing. How could a political party, represented in Parliament, ask the entire northern population to boycott the national election to facilitate the terrorist strategy?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Five years later, the same TNA backed war-winning Army Commander, retired General Sarath Fonseka, after having accused him and his Army of genocide, when he emerged as the common candidate at the presidential election. Fonseka lost badly by over 1.8 mn votes though he handsomely won all electorates in the Northern and Eastern provinces where his Army, over a period of three years, eradicated the LTTE completely.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">LKI can certainly examine the entire gamut of issues, including the circumstances leading to the 2015 Geneva Resolution, co-sponsored by the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration. Sri Lanka backed the US led move, regardless of serious concerns expressed by the then Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, the incumbent Executive Director of LKI. <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island </i>covered the Geneva issue extensively hence no need to repeat how the then government acted recklessly in that regard and the subsequent declaration made by TNA heavyweight M.A. Sumanthiran in Washington (2016) pertaining to a tripartite agreement involving the US, GoSL and TNA on hybrid war crimes mechanism.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A thorough examination of events and developments is necessary as accountability issues are used to influence the leadership on post-war reconciliation. Sri Lanka struggling with a mountain of debt, both local and foreign, seems to be easy prey for those interested parties.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-71496235767085270482023-08-09T03:40:00.000-07:002023-08-09T03:40:29.481-07:00Impact of foreign-funded projects on Parliament’s standing as sole sovereign and supreme body<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 482</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/08/9</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Members-of-the-Women-Parliamentarians.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Members-of-the-Women-Parliamentarians.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Members-of-the-Women-Parliamentarians-300x131.jpg 300w" height="328" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Members-of-the-Women-Parliamentarians.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Members-of-the-Women-Parliamentarians.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Members-of-the-Women-Parliamentarians-300x131.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="750" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">Members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus during their recently-concluded visit to New Zealand (pic courtesy Parliament)</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; 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font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</strong> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></i>Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s plea for Indian funding to develop Elapathagama in the memory of the late Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera remains a mystery. In terms of an agreement signed on 14 July, 2017, India provided Sri Lankan</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rs 300 mn to develop Elapathagama in the Anuradhapura district. The late Sobitha Thera, a controversial character, spearheaded a high profile campaign that facilitated the UNP-led Opposition strategy meant to thwart Mahinda Rajapaksa securing a third presidential term.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Actress Shalani Tharaka dominated electronic, print and social media recently after the shocking disclosure that Sri Lanka Cricket heavyweight Jayantha Dharmadasa recommended her for an Australian visa among other faux pas committed by the cavalier SLC Executive Committee.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The revelation, based on Auditor General W.P.C. Wickremaratne’s draft report on the country’s disastrous T-20 World Cup tour of Australia late last year, embarrassed the SLC. The SLC is yet to respond to a spate of questionable ‘transactions’ raised by the National Audit Commission in its draft report handed over to Sports Secretary K. Mahesen. That report is evidence that the SLC bosses spent funds at will in spite of being answerable to Parliament.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then versatile singer Umara Sinhawansa upstaged model Tharaka, who captured the media limelight in 2007 as ‘Sirasa’ Kumariya. Sinhawansa earned the wrath of the nationalists for the way she sang the national anthem at the opening of LPL at the R. Premadasa stadium, Khettarama, on Sunday (30 July). Social media exploded over the issue at hand while the government sought the advice of Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, in this regard.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Would Umara have received such negative coverage if she had not performed live at the invitation of SLC, under heavy fire over squandering of funds? It would be pertinent to ask how much Umara received for her controversial singing of the national anthem. Perhaps the Auditor General would raise that issue later with the SLC. Most probably she put in her sincere best effort, without knowing some of the key words in the national anthem. May be the blame should go to our education system and those at SLC who should have whetted her performance, in advance. The whole issue should be examined against the backdrop of Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s claim that SLC didn’t even bother to consult him regarding the LPL tournament. But another issue is how much Umara Sinhawansa’s particpation at the LPL opening cost SLC.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The draft report underscored the failure on the part of Parliament to discipline the richest sports body in the country. In fact, the reports issued by the National Audit Commission, over the past several years, reveal the pathetic failure on the part of our supreme legislative body the Parliament at all levels.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Close on the heels of the continuing controversy over Umara who’s younger sister Umariya received the honour of singing ‘Hanthane Sihine’ with the late maestro W.D. Amaradewa a few years ago.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Meanwhile the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus’ visit to New Zealand also grabbed public attention. So much so, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera issued a brief statement to explain the position of the Parliament. Rohanadeera insisted that public funds weren’t utilized. The funding was provided by Sri Lanka’s development partners. The initiative, launched two and half years ago, never received public funding and the visit was meant to gain experience from developed countries in the Commonwealth.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The group consisted of Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle (SLPP), Dr. Sitha Arambepola (SLPP), Rohini Kumari Wijeratne (SJB), Pavithradevi Vanniarachchi (SLPP), Geetha Samanmalee Kumarasinghe (SLPP), Thalatha Atukorale (SJB), Kokila Gunawardena (SLPP), Mudita Prishanthi (SLPP), Rajika Wickramasinghe (SLPP), Manjula Dissanayake (SLPP) and. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya (JJB). Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, Assistant Director (Administration) Indira Dissanayake and Media Manager of Parliament Nimmi Hathiyaldeniya accompanied the delegation. Having left the country on 24th July, the group concluded the visit on 3rd August.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></i>sought an explanation from the Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Dr. Sudharshini Fernandopulle. The Gampaha District parliamentarian said that the Secretary General would have issued a statement in response to media queries in this regard. The lawmaker added: “New Zealand was selected because they have 50% women’s representation in Parliament, as well as in Cabinet. They also have an electoral system, known as Multi Member Representation, where people have two votes – one for the party and the other for the candidate. This system ensures representation by small parties, too. This high representation has been introduced by reforms within political parties where they have fielded more female candidates.”</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A few years ago, the media wouldn’t have raised such a visit. But the conduct of members of Parliament and especially their foreign visits are increasingly coming under public scrutiny against the backdrop of the country being declared bankrupt in April 2022 and unprecedented deterioration of parliamentary standards over a period of time. (During the war various interests sought to influence MPs by arranging foreign tours. They felt public opinion can be manipulated by winning over MPs)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NZ tour courtesy USAID</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a trilingual statement, dated 02 August, the Parliament explained how the required funding for this year’s tour was obtained. The National Democratic Institute (NDI), with the funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has organized the tour undertaken by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus for the advancement of Sri Lankan women at every level.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In addition to the USAID, the NDI works closely with the National Endowment for Democracy, the U.S. Department of State and the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS). The above-mentioned organisations are well known around the world for sponsoring such initiatives, in line with furthering US interests.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the nearly 10-day visit, Dr. Fernandopulle’s group had an opportunity to meet New Zealand’s first woman Prime Minister Helen Clark as well as Jacinda Ardern who created waves as the Premier from 2017 to 2023. They shared their experience with the visiting MPs, with Ardern focusing on the challenges she faced in the face of the economic and political crises, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, during her tenure.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Political parties, represented in Parliament, should seriously examine whether the country benefited from foreign tours received by its members. Let me stress that such an appraisal shouldn’t be restricted to the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus. Unfortunately, Parliament has never been bothered with such examinations though a section of the media raised the accountability on the part of the House to provide proper audit of foreign grants.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps Parliament can explain the outcome of the high profile USAID project worth Rs. 1.92 billion (USD 13.7 million), launched in late November 2016, during Karu Jayasuriya’s tenure as the parliamentary Speaker during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>government.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The USAID, partnered with the Parliament, and the first project of its kind, was meant to strengthen accountability and democratic governance. Interestingly, USD 3 mn had been released in September 2016 before the official launch of the project.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament announced the USAID project in the wake of Sri Lanka becoming the newest member of the United States’ House Democracy Partnership programme which purports to support peer-to-peer exchanges for partner legislatures around the world.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By then the massive Treasury bond scams had been perpetrated twice in late February 2015 and March 2016 while the fugitive Governor of the Central Bank, Singaporean Arjun Mahendran, later indicted in the High Court of Colombo, had still not fled the country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Actually, Karu Jayasuriya, the incumbent head of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), certainly owes an explanation as to the progress made in terms of the three-year Strengthening Democratic Governance and Accountability Project (SDGAP) geared to improve strategic planning and communication within government and Parliament, enhance public outreach, develop more effective policy reform and implementation processes, and increase political participation of women and underrepresented groups in Parliament and at local level.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The people have a right to know how the USAID funds were spent and whether stated objectives were achieved, especially in light of former US Secretary of State John Kerry having crowed about how they brought about undemocratic secret regime changes here and elsewhere after spending hundreds of millions of dollars.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maryland headquartered Development Alternatives, Inc (DAI) implemented the project intended to reform the public sector in accordance with an agreement between Sri Lanka and the House Democracy Partnership of the US House of Representatives.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the implementation of that USAID project, Speaker Jayasuriya had retained retired controversial career diplomat Prasad Kariyawasam as his advisor. Kariyawasam, who had served as the Foreign Secretary after being Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Washington, was on the USAID payroll. Kariyawasam earned the wrath of the JO/SLPP and various other parties. They accused him of promoting US interests, both in and outside Parliament. Even as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Washington, he figured in a rather embarrassing press conference with TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran claiming that there was a triparite agreement on the setting up of hybrid court to investigate accountbaility issues.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having failed in its bid to elect General Sarath Fonseka at the 2010 presidential election, the US played a role in the change of government in January 2015. No less a person than the then US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who visited Colombo, in May 2015, is on record as having said that the US-funded restoration of democracy (read clandestine change of governments) in Nigeria, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The State Department referred to USD 585 mn as the cost of those clandestine projects.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May be due to such continuing underhand interventions of the US, Sri Lanka ended up bankrupt and the incumbent Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe had to officially acknowledge the country’s pathetic status in April 2022. The economic fallout should be examined taking into consideration the circumstances the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration (2015- 2019) obtained International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs) to the tune of USD 12.5 bn.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Interestingly, Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne exposed the massive disparity between the above such borrowings and lack of corresponding assets when he addressed a workshop for parliamentarians recently</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the Auditor General, Sri Lanka has taken project loans, amounting to eight trillion in rupee terms ,since 2015, but the country has corresponding assets worth only two trillion rupees to show, leaving a black hole of six trillion rupees.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to a report in the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday Times</i> BUSINESS of 30 July, Wickramaratne was quoted as having stated that this cannot be acceptable by any accounting standards and that loans are recorded as liabilities on the borrower’s balance sheet.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The explanation given for this disparity by state officials was that they were in the process of assessing the assets, he has revealed, adding that even after eight years the country was unable to identify the corresponding assets.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Like in the case of the CB bond scam we may not see any justice in our life time the way the system works, but even if this was a robbery of six trillion marbles it is certainly no small matter.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday Times </i>BUSINESS, in a separate report headlined <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Loophole for money launderers in Foreign Exchange Act” </i>says a gaping loophole in the six-year-old Foreign Exchange Act (introduced by the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government) is damaging the country’s fight against money laundering.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Enacted in 2017 after repealing the 1953 Exchange Control Act, it quotes unnamed experts as stating that the Act does not have provisions to regularise foreign exchange transfers.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Accountability of Parliament</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the request of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>Speaker Jayasuriya, China arranged familiarisation tours for members of Parliament. Tours began about 10 weeks after the August 2015 General election. Altogether 11 batches of MPs, accompanied by officials, visited China from Oct0ber 2015 to July 2019. Following their return, the then Chinese Ambassador in Colombo Cheng Xueyuan hosted a grand reception for the parliamentarians.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In addition to them, a group of journalists, covering Parliament, too, were included in the deal. Did the country benefit in any way from these junkets?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the period the groups of lawmakers toured China, the emerging power finalized the controversial deal on the Hambantota port. Then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had been openly critical of Chinese policy here, ended up leasing the port for a period of 99 years. In spite of the government repeatedly claiming that the leasing was meant to raise the funds required to settle loans, taken from China to build the port, subsequently it was revealed USD 1.2 bn received from China was utilized for other purposes. When the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) raised this issue with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), it didn’t even know how USD 1.2 was spent. The then Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga resigned after having refused to sign the lease agreement. But President Maithripala Sirisena brought in Mahinda Samarasinghe as the Shipping Minister to authorize the deal. Finally, Samarasinghe who entered Parliament on the SLPP ticket, at the last general election, in August 2020, received appointment as our Ambassador in Washington.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Speaker Jayasuriya also obtained laptops for all MPs, courtesy China. China is reported to have spent $293,000 for the supply of nearly 250 laptops.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regardless of foreign lessons and a range of other facilities received by parliamentarians, the standards have deteriorated over the years with political parties losing control over its members. The absence of MPs at vital votes in Parliament reflects the unprecedented crisis in Parliament today. There cannot be a better example than the vote on the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Bill on 20 July, this year. Parliament passed the Bill with a majority of 42 votes, with amendments. The Bill received 66 votes in favour and 24 voting against it. Both the government and the Opposition owed an explanation why more than half of the total number of lawmakers skipped the vote. Examination of several votes, taken over the past several years, proved that MPs participation was low (Parliament meets only eight days a month) and the absence of quorum in Parliament is not a rarity.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The MPs’ participation in the vote on resolution regarding the Domestic Debt Optimization (restructuring of local debt) on 01 July, this year, was much better, even though the absence of 41 lawmakers cannot be justified, under any circumstances. Altogether 122 MPs voted for the resolution whereas 62 voted against.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The position taken by political parties, and individual members, should be examined, taking into consideration President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s declaration that the Parliament failed to avert the financial crisis. Wickremesinghe, who also holds the Finance portfolio, found fault with the Parliament at a recent awards ceremony held in the House. However, the UNP leader cannot absolve himself of the responsibility for the country’s bankruptcy status. Having first entered Parliament, in1977, Wickremesinghe represented the UNP in Parliament, apart from a break of 10 months, from August 2020 to June 2021. That was due the UNP’s humiliating defeat at the last general election when it failed to win a single seat and had to be contented with one National List slot. The UNP couldn’t reach consensus on the National List nominee for nearly a year before Wickremesinghe took oaths on 23 June, 2021, as an MP. Having served as the Premier on six occasions, Wickremesinghe, too, owed an explanation regarding the failure of Parliament to achieve its two primary tasks, namely ensure financial discipline and enactment of laws.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament, as an institution, owed an explanation as to why the Exchange Control Act No 12 of 2017 hadn’t been amended yet to bring enough pressure to bear on those who had parked billions of USD overseas to bring the money back. In spite of some dissident MPs, including Gevindu Cumaratunga, Wimal Weerawansa and Vasudeva Nanayakkara raising this issue, both in and out of Parliament, the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government has conveniently turned a blind eye to the urgent need to amend the Exchange Control Act No 12 of 2017. They have estimated the amount of forex stashed overseas at USD 36 bn whereas Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, placed that amount at USD 53 bn (during a period of 12 years). Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, too, has publicly discussed this issue though he never referred to USD 36 bn or USD 53 bn. However, exporters stashing money overseas remains a major problem. Would Justice Minister Rajapakse care to explain what he has done so far to change the laws as promised by him last December.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In spite of the big talk by leaders of political parties and propaganda shows,courtesy the House, the Parliamentary system is in tatters. That is the ugly truth. The UNDP and Parliament should examine whether their current costly projects resulted in tangible improvement to the parliamentary system.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-83822035559058413242023-08-02T03:08:00.000-07:002023-08-02T03:08:16.533-07:00Indo-Lanka relations:Shared challenges and ‘Quad’ strategies<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 481</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/08/2</span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Indo-Lanka-relations.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Indo-Lanka-relations.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Indo-Lanka-relations-300x153.jpg 300w" height="383" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Indo-Lanka-relations.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Indo-Lanka-relations.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Indo-Lanka-relations-300x153.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="750" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">The Sri Lankan delegation with Indian President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Murmu assured the visiting delegation that Sri Lanka occupied a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth of All in the Region) Vision. From left: Ministers Kanchana Wijesekera, Doudlas Devananda, Ali Sabry, PC, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, President Murmu, Minister Jeevan Thondaman, Presidential Advisor Sagala Ratnayake, Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardena and Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake (pic courtesy PMD)</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; 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padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="mvp-post-soc-com mvp-com-click" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); color: #bbbbbb; float: left; font-size: 18px; height: 28px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 38px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-2 fa-commenting" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The developing Indo-Lanka relations, particularly the process since early 2022 should be examined taking into consideration the significant role played by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in New Delhi Milinda Moragoda, who received the Cabinet rank. At the time President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sent the former UNP Minister, one -time close associate of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the wartime Defence Secretary wouldn’t have had the slightest idea of the impending onslaught on him.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #993300; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having moved into Delhi, late August 2022, Moragoda officially announced his policy framework ‘Integrated Country Strategy for the Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India 2021/2023.’ prepared before the country suffered the worst economic crisis. President Rajapaksa picked Moragoda, regardless of a section of those who backed at the presidential election, declaring strong opposition.</span></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Khukri class Missile Corvette ‘Khanjar’ entered Trincomalee harbour at 7.45 am on 29 July, the 36th anniversary of the Indian Army deployment in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The latest visit is in line with the much-touted India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. INS ‘Khanjar’ followed Indian Naval Submarine Vagir visit to Colombo in the third week of June, this year.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Indian High Commission, in Colombo, underscored the significance of the latest literal gunboat diplomacy “in view of the potential for cooperation between India and Sri Lanka for augmenting capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy for efficiently addressing shared challenges for maritime security in the region”.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">India pulled out the last contingent of her ‘Peace Keeping Force’ (IPKF), a misnomer no doubt from Sri Lanka’s North and East, in late March 1990, also from Trincomalee after the then President, the late Ranasinghe Premadasa, called for their abrupt removal. The LTTE tricked Premadasa to call for Indian withdrawal to pave the way for the resumption of Eelam War II thinking that it had the definite upper hand with the West giving it underhand support by having created safe havens in their countries to raise funds and arms from the black-market, even by dealing in the drug trade, for its war effort here and Premadasa was facing so many domestic enemies. Fighting broke out in the second week of June 1990. The rest is history.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to ask what these often repeated shared challenges India and bankrupt Sri Lanka faced in the region though there is no doubt US, Japan, Australia and India faced shared challenges because of their openly ganging up against China. It would be an irreparable strategic mistake on Sri Lanka’s part not to examine the post-war challenges taking into consideration (1) Indo-Lanka bilateral relations/partnership (2) Sri Lanka’s relations with ‘Quad’ countries, namely US (Sri Lanka entered into Access and Crosss Servicing Agreement with the US in Aug. 2017. The US has still not given up on agreement on Millennium Challenge Corporation compact and Status of Forces Agreement), Japan (Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership finalized in Oct. 2015), Australia and India (3) ‘Quad’ concerns over growing Chinese power and Sri Lanka’s relationship with Beijing, one of the major creditors (4) Tamil Nadu politics and the Center’s interest in the 13th Amendment enacted in 1988 in line with the Indo-Lanka Accord and finally (5) the next Indian general elections scheduled to be conducted between April-May 2024.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regardless of the 26-member Indian Opposition alliance vowing to challenge Premier Narendra Modi’s BJP, the incumbent Premier is widely expected to comfortably secure a third term. The Opposition strategy is unlikely to receive a boost, regardless of the failure on the part of the Modi administration to quell continuing violence in Manipur. Having received the executive leadership in 2014, Modi is set to extend his term by six more years.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the recently concluded Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa’s visit, Tokyo stressed the importance of their ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) initiative meant to address the Chinese challenge. Yoshimasa also discussed the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), which has enabled grain exports from Ukraine through the Black Sea to various parts of the world, and then found fault with Russia for terminating the initiative.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Against the backdrop of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s two-day visit to New Delhi last month, the Colombo based media over a week received quite useful but rare background briefing from the Indian High Commission.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The inclusion of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Douglas Devananda in President Wickremesinghe’s delegation is a grim reminder of India’s despicable intervention in Sri Lanka nearly 40 years ago. Having entered mainstream politics on the invitation of the late President Premadasa in 1989, Devananada served successive governments and currently holds the Fisheries portfolio. Devananda was among those who received weapons training in Lebanon and India. Devananda declared as an offender in India and is wanted on charges of murder, attempted murder, rioting, unlawful assembly and kidnapping. Regardless of consequences, Minister Devananda should be definitely summoned by the proposed South African-style Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). TRC cannot under any circumstances be selective in its investigations if a genuine attempt is to be made to ascertain the truth, including the origins of terrorism.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Prez polls next year</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having finalized a spate of agreements and reached political understanding with President Wickremesinghe, New Delhi would be naturally concerned about the outcome of next year’s presidential election in Sri Lanka. The contentious issue is whether UNP leader Wickremesinghe, with just one National List MP, could form a coalition that included the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to regain the presidency. Having elected as the President by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramana (SLPP) in July last year to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, Wickremesinghe is not on the same page with the ruling party on several issues, including the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and Cabinet appointments.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although several SLPP lawmakers have declared Wickremesinghe as their choice at the next presidential election, the SLPP is likely to take a contrary stand. If that happened, the already divided SLPP would lose quite a number of lawmakers to Wickremesinghe. Let me point out that Wickremesinghe’s delegation to New Delhi included three lawmakers Ali Sabry, PC, Jeevan Thondaman and Kanchana Wijesekera elected on the SLPP ticket or appointed through the SLPP National List.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New Delhi seems quite confident that whatever the outcome of the election its agenda here can be sustained. Having bankrupted the country, the utterly corrupt, irresponsible and shameless Sri Lankan political party system will have no option but to be dictated by external powers. Could Sri Lanka have obtained USD 2.9 bn IMF bailout package in March this year without direct Indian intervention? Certainly not. In fact, if not for prompt Indian assistance that was provided, even before Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster, the situation here could have been far worse. The truth is New Delhi provided as much as USD 4 bn worth assistance whereas the IMF package covered a period of four years.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, Wickremesinghe’s election by Parliament, as the caretaker President, appeared to have facilitated New Delhi’s strategy, though Delhi tends to assure us it didn’t find working with the Rajapaksa’s difficult. But anyone who read <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Choices: Inside the making of Indian foreign policy’</i> by one-time Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, could understand how the decision-makers in New Delhi perceived the threat the Rajapaksas’ relationship with Beijing posed. In spite of repeated vehement denials by successive Colombo governments of forming any suicidal anti-India axis with China, paranoid New Delhi, wanting to bring Colombo under its clutches, still insists that clandestine Chinese activities here posed a serious threat to their security interests. The Indian leadership reiterated its concerns with President Wickremesinghe. The foolish decision to lease Hambantota port by the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government, led by Wickremesinghe, to China in 2017, for a period of 99-years, under controversial circumstances, will remain a thorny issue.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a public statement issued during President Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi, the Indian leader underscored their stand in a few lines. “Sri Lanka has an important place in both, India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision. Today we shared our views on bilateral, regional and international issues. We believe that the security interests and development of India and Sri Lanka are intertwined. And therefore, it is essential that we work together keeping in mind each other’s safety and sensitivities.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having declared so, Premier Modi made reference to Economic Partnership that encompassed maritime, energy, and people-to-people and their long term commitment to Sri Lanka on the basis of mutual cooperation in tourism, power, trade, higher education and skill development. New Delhi’s strategy, though seemed to be facilitated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster last year, will have to negotiate major obstacles in case Wickremesinghe fails to retain power.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regardless of much repeated accusations by lawmaker Wimal Weerawansa as well as author Sena Thoradeniya in his latest book <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Galle Face Protest: Systems Change or Anarchy? Politics, Religion and Culture in a Time of Terror in Sri Lanka’</i> that both the US and India conspired not only to oust Gotabaya Rajapaksa but were keen to prevent Wickremesinghe taking over the presidency, the Quad nations, however, threw their weight behind Wickremesinghe after their first wish failed as Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena chose not to be part of any conspiracy. The current arrangements seem to be working fine with the disjointed Opposition making feeble attempts to challenge the executive.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, Wickremesinghe’s international partners should be mindful of the incumbent government’s political strategy. Wickremesinghe appears to be determined not to conduct both Provincial Council and Local Government polls under any circumstances. Would he seek to postpone the presidential election, too, on some pretext?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">APC farce</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">India remains concerned over Sri Lanka’s reluctance to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Successive Indian governments dealt with the issue at hand and Narendra Modi, eyeing a third term, is no exception. President Wickremesinghe was urged to implement the Amendment enacted way back in 1988. The devolving of police powers remains the bone of contention with President Wickremesinghe struggling not to offend those seeking full implementation and those opposed to the move. If the UNP leader is expecting to contest the next presidential poll, he couldn’t afford to antagonize electorates outside the Northern and Eastern Provinces and the Hill country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The All-Party Conference called by President Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat (Old Parliament) soon after his return from New Delhi ended inconclusively on the evening of 26 July with one-time LTTE ally, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) totally rejecting the UNP leader’s stand on the controversial Amendment. Jaffna District MP M.A. Sumanthiran, PC, didn’t mince his words outside the Presidential Secretariat when he ridiculed the President’s offer either to conduct the inordinately delayed Provincial Council polls or proceed with the full implementation of the 13th Amendment. At the end, President Wickremesinghe had no option but to admit that he couldn’t proceed as his party lacked the required numbers in Parliament. The public reduced the number of MPs elected and appointed on the UNP lists from 107 at the 2015 general election to just one at the last general election in 2020.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wickremesinghe is in a deepening political dilemma. In spite of exercising executive powers, President Wickremesinghe lacked a party mechanism on the ground to face an election at any level. The President and his top advisors, though being aware of the developing crisis, are reluctant to acknowledge their difficulties. The delay in appointing SLPP’s nominees to the Cabinet, as requested by the ruling party in July last year, remained perhaps the most serious issue that caused the continuing friction.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having examined the latest APC bid that did nothing but further divided political parties represented in Parliament, President Wickremesinghe is very much unlikely to receive support of the SLPP, the main Opposition party SJB or the rebel SLPP groups in this regard. The JVP didn’t bother even to participate in the APC. But, wily Wickremesinghe couldn’t have been unaware of the outcome. For obvious reasons, Wickremesinghe didn’t expect support from any invited party and the result suited his strategy. The President conveniently placed the responsibility of reaching consensus on this matter on the Parliament, thereby washing his hands off the issue at hand. The bottom line is that the latest APC was meant to fail as no one could have proceeded. It was nothing but a gaudy public show where the President and leaders of political parties sought to score some political mileage.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, the government lacked the strength to set the record straight. The full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was based on total disarming of the LTTE. Unfortunately, the late JRJ went ahead with the Amendment though the LTTE declared war on the Indian Army in Oct. 1987 having declined to hand over its weapons in terms of the Indo-Lanka accord, other than some token items.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Manipur violence</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The continuing violence in BJP-run State of Manipur underscored the failure on the part of the Modi government to act swiftly and decisively to bring the situation under control. Violence that erupted in May this year following the majority Meiteis (mostly Hindus) demand for tribal status continued in spite of quite a strong deployment of Indian forces in the State neighbouring Myanmar. Meiteis’ demand has prompted the minority Kukis (mostly Christians) to ask for territorial autonomy or separate administration. So far, violence has claimed over 160 deaths while over 60,000 were forced out of their homes. People found fault with Premier Modi for the inordinate delay in commenting on the violence in India state while the Indian leader ironically had the audacity to ask President Wickremesinghe to ensure a life of respect and dignity for the Tamil community here. Modi remained silent until the release of a video taken on 04 May, 2023 of Kuki women being paraded naked by Meiteis. The video surfaced after India lifted a ban on the internet. The Indian Premier responded to the developing crisis in Manipur several weeks after violence erupted there.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The US response to the crisis in Manipur sounded more circumspect and differed from its usual bellicose reactions in cases of similar situations elsewhere. The media quoted US Ambassador in New Delhi Eric Garcetti as having described the ongoing violence in Manipur as an ‘internal matter.’</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite the toned down reaction from Washington, Congress MP Manish Tewari has reacted sharply to the US statement. The media quoted the former Information and Broadcasting Minister as having said that India never appreciated any statement on its internal matters. “There is gun violence in the US and several people are killed. We never told the US to learn from us as to how to rein that in. The US faces riots over racism. We never told them that we would lecture them. Perhaps it is important for the new Ambassador to take cognizance of the history of India-US relations,” the MP was further quoted as having said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Manipur mayhem reminds that India notwithstanding its recently attained economic and military power can suffer from such turmoil. The 2002 Gujarat riots which may have claimed the lives of as many as 2,000 people took place during Modi’s tenure as the Chief Minister of the Western Indian State. The sharp difference in the US response to Gujarat violence and the current situation in Manipur underscored how the big power reacted to such developments depending on its relationship with the country concerned.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those who pursue Sri Lanka on accountability issues leaving aside the origins of terrorism in Sri Lanka are following an agenda meant to deprive China of any opportunities here.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-63740817315558122782023-07-26T00:25:00.002-07:002023-07-26T00:25:51.653-07:00Norway departs as Indo-Lanka relations enter a new phase<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 480</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/07/26</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dr.-William-hands-over-a-copy-of-The-Peace-Process-in-Sri-Lanka-after-the-Ceasefire-Agreement-from-2002-2008.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dr.-William-hands-over-a-copy-of-The-Peace-Process-in-Sri-Lanka-after-the-Ceasefire-Agreement-from-2002-2008.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dr.-William-hands-over-a-copy-of-The-Peace-Process-in-Sri-Lanka-after-the-Ceasefire-Agreement-from-2002-2008-300x223.jpg 300w" height="521" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dr.-William-hands-over-a-copy-of-The-Peace-Process-in-Sri-Lanka-after-the-Ceasefire-Agreement-from-2002-2008.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dr.-William-hands-over-a-copy-of-The-Peace-Process-in-Sri-Lanka-after-the-Ceasefire-Agreement-from-2002-2008.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dr.-William-hands-over-a-copy-of-The-Peace-Process-in-Sri-Lanka-after-the-Ceasefire-Agreement-from-2002-2008-300x223.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">Dr. William hands over a copy of 'The Peace Process in Sri Lanka after the Ceasefire Agreement from 2002-2008: Systemic Conflict Transformation and its Application to the Peace Process in Sri Lanka' to Pro. Jayadeva Uyangoda, while Dr. Jehan Perera looks on</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/norway-departs-as-indo-lanka-relations-enter-a-new-phase/#" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; 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color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="mvp-post-soc-com mvp-com-click" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); color: #bbbbbb; float: left; font-size: 18px; height: 28px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 38px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-2 fa-commenting" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thilini Kahandawaarachchi, on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy, on July 06, 2023, reminded the media of the closing down of the mission on July 31, 2023. In her capacity as the Senior Political Advisor at the mission, Kahandawaarachchi, stated that with effect from August 1, 2023, the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi would be responsible for both Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The last email from the mission in Colombo was aptly titled ‘Goodbye from the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo.’</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Norway established diplomatic mission here in 1996, ahead of taking up therole as the Chief peace facilitator of the last bid to work out a negotiated settlement with the tacit understanding with New Delhi.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Norway announced its decision to close down its mission here in early September last year. The Norwegian announcement followed the declaration made in April, the same year, by our Foreign Ministry, that Sri Lanka’s mission in Oslo would be closed down. Sri Lanka attributed its decision to the economic crisis.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Norway quit 15 years after Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion. Sri Lanka sustained a nearly three-year long largest ever combined security forces campaign launched during the highly questionable Norwegian peace effort or pieces effort i.e. the breakup of the country, until a soldier shot elusive Tiger Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran through his head on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon on the morning of May 18, 2009. By then, the LTTE conventional fighting power had been decimated for once and for all.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contrary to speculation that the LTTE remnant could return to guerilla warfare, it couldn’t stage a comeback. In fact, there hadn’t been a single LTTE hit-and-run attack since the conclusion of the war.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that served the interests of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) throughout the conflict and other interested parties, both here and abroad. continues to undermine post-war national reconciliation by demanding accountability on the part of the government alone. But, they are conveniently silent on the culpability of the LTTE for the death and destruction brought about by its terror campaign. Its brutality was such that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation termed it the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world. So it is laughable for the TNA and some sections of civil society to demand accountability only from the government after having nourished and encouraged the terrorists all along. The TNA, in 2001, recognized the proscribed LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The issue of accountability also cannot be dealt with forgetting how India set up an unprecedented terrorism project here. Some believe India did so to get even with our then blindly pro-Western President Junius Richard Jayewrdene whose government mockingly compared Mrs. Bandaranaike and her son Anura with Mrs. Gandhi and her son Sanjay.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, Sri Lanka has pathetically failed to set the record straight. For want of a cohesive political strategy and treacherous attitude of successive governments, the TNA, having supported terrorism, has received the recognition as the chief representative of the Tamil speaking people. Other political parties represented in Parliament and an influential section of the civil society and Western powers have conveniently forgotten their despicable track record. The TNA backed the LTTE war strategy that involved ‘human shields’ on the Vanni east front by remaining silent. The TNA never even once requested the LTTE to stop using innocent Tamil civilians as ‘human shields’ or forcible recruitment of child soldiers from such hapless Tamil families. That is the ugly truth suppressed by all interested parties.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps against the backdrop of Norway closing down its mission here, the circumstances leading to the eradication of terrorism through military means can be re-examined. Did Sri Lanka make a genuine effort to bring the conflict to an end through peaceful means? Why a negotiated peace couldn’t be achieved regardless of costly foreign interventions? Can these issues be honestly discussed, taking into consideration the efforts made over the years with the focus on peace initiative undertaken during 2002-2008. The collapse of the last questionable effort. spearheaded by Norway, with a deliberate one-sided Ceasefire agreement it got from the then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe to sign in 2002 with the LTTE without the approval of the then sitting President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. As it was violated at will by the Tigers from the word go, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had no choice but to launch an all-out war. The LTTE collapsed within three years, so much for their invincibility that was embedded into our psyche at every turn by the West and some sections of the media.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A must-read</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recently launched ‘THE PEACE PROCESS IN SRI LANKA AFTER THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT’ (from 2002-2008) by Dr. Joseph Vethamanickam William discussed the failure of the high profile peace efforts over the years leading to the final war. Dr. William is the Chairperson of civil society group National Peace Council (NPC).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The three-year combined security forces campaign for once with a truly dedicated and committed political and military leadership proved that the LTTE couldn’t match the Sri Lankan security forces. Dr. William’s assertion should be examined also taking into consideration <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Pawns of Peace: Evaluation of Norwegian Peace Efforts in Sri Lanka (1997-2009)’</i> authored by Gunnar Sorbo, Jonathan Goodhand, Bart Klem, Ada Elisabeth Nissen and Hilde Selbervik and Mark Salter in ‘<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To End a Civil War; Norway’s Peace Engagement in Sri Lanka.’</i></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. William also underscored the importance of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘A dove sits on my shoulder’ </i>authored by Dr. Jehan Perera, also a member of the NPC’s Board of Directors.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Therefore, Dr. Perera’s work that focused on the war/conflict during 2007-2008 period, too, should be taken into consideration. Dr. Perera’s book contained his articles to the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Daily Mirror </i>beginning with one published on January 01, 2007 (The LTTE was still strong in the Eastern theatre at that time).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Daily Mirror </i>published the last article included in the book on Sept. 22, 2008. By then the dye was cast.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having brought the Eastern Province under Government control in July 2007 with the capture of the LTTE’s last holdout in the East, the rocky outcrop known as Toppigala, the LTTE was retreating on multiple fronts.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having perused Dr. William’s book which Dr. Perera said was the result of work over a period of over 10 years, it would however be pertinent to say that the author never really scrutinized the LTTE’s mentality. Their blood thirsty mindset underwent a major transformation for the worse after the Premadasa Administration told the Indian military mission here (July 1987-March 1990) to pack up and go. The LTTE manipulated the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa to get the Indian Army out of Sri Lanka after also getting truckloads of weapons from that foolish administration, that paved the way for the resumption of war in June 1990 is nothing but a masterstroke on the part of the Tiger lobby.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Within just weeks after the resumption of the war, the LTTE cut off the overland supply route to Jaffna. The LTTE could have overwhelmed the Jaffna based troops if not for heroic efforts by the Navy and Air Force to ensure their supplies.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The LTTE never believed in a negotiated settlement. On and off negotiations were cleverly used to rebuild their strength eroded due to battlefield losses and to secure an environment conducive for external interventions. Unfortunately, those who engaged in negotiations, egged on by the well-funded peace lobby, foolishly believed the LTTE could be satisfied through a political settlement. In other words, Dr. William, having engaged in peacebuilding efforts here for over a period of three decades, should have realized that the LTTE wouldn’t have accepted a negotiated agreement as long as it believed in its invincibility promoted by the West.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In fact, the LTTE fashioned the overall political developments/situations to achieve its objectives. There cannot be a better example than facilitating Mahinda Rajapaksa’s narrow victory at the 2010 presidential election by depriving Ranil Wickremesinghe of the Northern Province vote, which otherwise was a certainty for the UNP if the LTTE had not forbade the northern voters to cast their vote to the grand old party. Those who have alleged the Rajapaksas bribed the LTTE to order Tamils not to exercise their franchise should explain whether they really believed the late Velupillai Prabhakaran could have been compelled to deviate from his strategy by any means. Perhaps the TNA, which announced the 2010 presidential polls boycott on behalf of the LTTE, should at least now set the record straight after having been a partner in that crime as well. If not for the LTTE-TNA intervention, Ranil Wickremesinghe could have easily won the 2010 presidential poll. The difference between the winner and the loser was less than 200,000 votes.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me stress that the LTTE ensured Mahinda Rajapaksa’s triumph as it believed the new leader could be easily overwhelmed. The LTTE resumed devastating attacks just weeks after Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Misspent funds</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation aka Misereor has funded Dr. William’s project. Why on earth German Catholic Bishops want to fund a book project on a failed peace process? The Catholic Church therein must have its reasons. However, Dr. William’s work gave a clear insight into the NPC’s thinking. Perhaps, the NPC unwittingly played into the hands of the LTTE. How could they have workshops funded by various interested parties, inter-religious campaigns and visits of journalists to the Jaffna peninsula with the approval of the LTTE facilitated the peace process. In fact, the LTTE exercised control over all NGOs and INGOs regardless of their status and level of involvement. In hindsight, those who funded NGO projects squandered quite a significant amount of funds on questionable ventures. What did they really expect to achieve by organizing groups of lawmakers to visit various countries? They couldn’t have been unaware that members of Parliament were not in a position to influence the LTTE at all.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. William dealt with a costly project undertaken by the NPC in collaboration with International Alert to educate parliamentarians on conflict resolution in countries affected by similar situations. Of course, there is no doubt those picked by the NPC and International Alert thoroughly enjoyed all expenses paid foreign jaunts, though such visits never made an impact on the LTTE. The group remained hell-bent on achieving its aims through military means.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the author, altogether 29 MPs representing nearly a dozen political parties visited Crete, where they met those engaged in the negotiating process in South Africa, Northern Ireland and the southern Philippines island of Mindanao. The issuance of a statement by the parliamentarians requesting for talks with the LTTE had been the highlight of their post-foreign visits activities. There had been two other tours arranged by the NPC to Mindanao and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Dr. William referred to what he called a significant shift in the peace process in the wake of PA-UNP discussion on a bi-partisan approach towards the conflict. But, the LTTE never took these initiatives seriously. They pursued a one track spectacular military strategy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By the time Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga reign came to an end in Nov 2005, the LTTE was in command of the Northern region. The UNP’s utterly irresponsible entry into a Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE in Feb. 2002 caused rapid deterioration of the security situation in the then amalgamated Northern and Eastern Provinces. The LTTE helped Mahinda Rajapaksa to win the presidential election believing the two provinces could be plunged into crisis along with the rest of the country with its well-entrenched sleeper cells in the south of the country. Their strategy was simple. Sharp intensification of violence in the two provinces and selected operations deep in the South.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The stage was set for an all-out war with both parties ready for a fight to a finish in the long drawn out conflict.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Misconceptions</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. William quite wrongly has asserted that Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory at the 2005 presidential poll paved the way for resumption of war. Let me reproduce the line in question verbatim. In abstract, Dr. William stated: “The profound paradigm shift following President Rajapaksa’s coming into power from a liberal peace to a counter insurgency strategy, led to the abrogation of the CFA in 2008 and resumption of war that ended with the military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009.” Nothing can be further from the truth. The whole analysis is unfortunately built on a fallacy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. William appeared to have conveniently forgotten that the LTTE had been ready for war in August 2005 during Chandriika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s presidency. The LTTE wouldn’t have assassinated Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar at his Bullers Road residence if the group was prepared for the immediate resumption of war. Let me stress that Eelam War IV (the one referred to by Dr. William) resumed in the second week of August 2006 with simultaneous LTTE attacks in the Northern and Eastern theatres. The SLMM (Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission) records prove that the LTTE initiated the offensive.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By 2008, the LTTE was on total retreat with combined security forces turning the heat on multiple fronts, particularly targeting LTTE bases east of Kandy-Jaffna A9 road.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The author has addressed the contentious issue of the Indian intervention in Sri Lanka and the entire range of related issues (Chapter 3) systematically. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution now again under focus is among the issues addressed. However, in Chapter 4, Dr. William has made quite a wrong declaration that Sri Lanka sought the backing of the West to meet the threat posed by Tamil rebels. Under the section titled ‘Regional geopolitical interests (India), Dr. William declared: “In the early 1980s when Sri Lanka under a pro-Western government began to look to the West in its war against the Tamil rebels, India acted quickly by arming and training the Tamils to exert pressure on Colombo.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The truth is Sri Lanka had to hurriedly seek arms, ammunition and equipment and expand military training in response to the alarming Indian intervention and certainly not the other way around. Sri Lanka wouldn’t have even considered expanding the military if not for the security crisis created by India to meet its own domestic political needs. Actually, the West didn’t provide any tangible support. During the first Eelam war (1983-1987), Sri Lanka primarily received support from China, Pakistan and Israel. That wouldn’t have happened without the approval of Washington but then the equation changed with the collapse of the Soviet Union. In addition to their support, the Channel Islands-based KMS provided training to Sri Lankan personnel with the approval of the British government.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps Dr. William, who launched his book, hadn’t read one-time India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, J. N. Dixit’s memoirs, <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Makers of India’s Foreign Policy,’</i> released in 2004. Dixit set the record straight with regard to the Indian interference which he preferred to call India’s interference during 1980-1990 period as ‘Indian involvement.’</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dixit asserted that the decision to give active support to Sri Lankan Tamil militants could be considered one of the two major foreign policy blunders made by the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. But he strongly defended the Prime Minister’s action, while asserting Gandhi couldn’t have afforded the emergence of Tamil separatism in India by refusing to support the aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[Chapter 6: An Indocentric Practitioner of Realpolitik-Makers of India’s Foreign Policy]. Dixit failed to explain how the Prime Minister hoped to achieve her twin objectives by recruiting, training, arming and deploying thousands of Sri Lankan Tamil youth. India also helped Sri Lankan terrorists establish contact with international terrorist groups.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indian action caused irrevocable damage to Indo-Lanka relations. The Maldives, too, suffered due to Indian intervention in Sri Lanka. Dixit totally ignored the Maldivian factor, though India couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for the coup attempt in the Maldives in Nov. 1988.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A comprehensive study is needed to counter various misconceptions as regards the conflict as well as regional issues caused by Indian intervention.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, with the return of Ranil Wickremesinghe to power at the expense of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who comfortably won the last presidential election in Nov. 2019, the stage is set for taking Indo-Lanka relations to the next level. President Wickremesinghe’s recently concluded visit to New Delhi, exactly one year after Parliament picked him as the President to complete the remainder of his predecessor’s term, underscored New Delhi decisiveness in Indo-Lanka matters.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indo-Lanka relations should be examined freshly taking into consideration the following matters: (1) state of bankruptcy (2) US led ‘Quad’ countries (Australia, Japan and India) response to Sri Lanka’s relationship with China and (3) emergence of China as world power. It would be a grave mistake on Sri Lanka’s part to accept external dictates in fashioning our foreign policy.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-57888082512101449982023-07-18T20:31:00.000-07:002023-07-18T20:31:37.080-07:00LTTE’s Balasingham, Garnier and Western diplomatic missions<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 479</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/07/19</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Garnier-Francis.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Garnier-Francis.jpg 600w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Garnier-Francis-300x197.jpg 300w" height="393" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Garnier-Francis.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Garnier-Francis.jpg 600w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Garnier-Francis-300x197.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="600" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">Garnier Francis</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; 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padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="mvp-post-soc-com mvp-com-click" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); color: #bbbbbb; float: left; font-size: 18px; height: 28px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 38px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-2 fa-commenting" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Analysis of telephone data revealed that Swiss embassy employee Garnier Banister Francis had been in touch with Chief Inspector Nishantha Silva before the latter left for Switzerland. She had also been in touch with several others. Had she really desired to migrate to Switzerland with her family, the Swiss mission here could have arranged it. They could have left the country without making an issue. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka seems still blind to the machinations of Western powers. That is the undeniable truth. However, the government response to the Swiss accusation can be considered an exception. The then Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha and Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne on Dec 01, 2019 briefed Swiss Ambassador Hanspeter Mock and the Deputy Chief of Mission. They set the record straight. CCTV footage, Uber taxi and telephone records as well as GSP data proved Mock wrong (Alleged abduction: Swiss Ambassador’s claim not true-gov., The Island, Dec 02, 2019) It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the Swiss Ambassador lied. The issue is whether the local employee misled the Ambassador or she was part of a wider conspiracy.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="left" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There hadn’t been a previous instance of a local employee of a diplomatic mission, based in Colombo, receiving international media attention before Garnier Banister Francis ended up in the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Times </i>in late Nov., 2019. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), as well as the Indian media, reported the alleged incident, following the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Times </i>(NYT) exclusive headlined <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Sri Lanka critics fear a crackdown is underway, and some flee.’</i></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The alleged abduction of a female Swiss Embassy employee, just a week after the swearing in of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the seventh executive President, rattled the government. Even Anton Stanislaus Balasingham, 68, the late theoretician of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), hadn’t received such prominent media attention during the time he had served the British High Commission, in Colombo, as a translator. Balasingham captured media attention after he received the LTTE recognition as its spokesperson. That was years after he left the BHC, Colombo, and got married to Australian-born Adele, a nurse by profession, in 1978. British passport holder Balasingham passed away at his South London home on Dec. 14.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Francis received wide media coverage after she alleged being abducted by government agents on the evening of November 25, 2019, near St. Bridget’s Convent, sexually assaulted, and questioned regarding Sri Lankans who sought asylum in Switzerland. She claimed to have been abducted by five persons who arrived in a Toyota Corolla car soon after she left the Embassy at No 63, Gregory’s Avenue (Srimath R.G. Senanayake Mawatha), Colombo 07.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Both the UNP and the JVP immediately and blindly found fault with the government. They didn’t even bother to wait for a preliminary inquiry before accepting the Swiss Embassy employee’s claim. The NGO grouping, generally funded by the West, too, wholeheartedly backed her claim.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maria Abi-Habib and Sameer Yasir reported the abduction in the NYT online edition on Nov. 27, the day the then Swiss Ambassador, in Colombo, complained to the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, at his Wijerama Mawatha residence, about the abduction. They updated the story on Nov. 29, 2019.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By the time the NYT reported the alleged abduction, now admitted in the Colombo High Court as a lie by the accuser, the local police hadn’t been at least aware of the ‘incident.’ But, the Embassy had briefed the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Times</i> journalists of the incident. They quoted diplomatic officials in Colombo as having said that the men held the Embassy employee for several hours and then, before releasing her, threatened to kill her if she told anyone. For a country like Switzerland that maintains a lily white image, despite getting super wealthy by secretly handling black money, from around the world, under convenient banking secrecy laws, is capable of committing any heinous crime. Remember the country’s banks also stole funds of Jews burnt in Hitler’s gas chambers.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They were further quoted as having claimed the men appeared to be focused on finding information about a Sri Lankan detective who had been investigating President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. NYT refrained from naming the detective.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NYT was referring to Chief Inspector Nishantha Silva of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) who left for Switzerland with the blessings of the then Swiss Ambassador in Colombo Hanspeter Mock. The investigator with obvious stained hands was accompanied by his wife and three children.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NYT quoted Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pierre-Alain Eltschinger as having declared: “We can confirm that a local employee of the Embassy was detained against her will on the street and threatened at length by unidentified men in order to force her to disclose Embassy-related information.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Switzerland regards this incident as a very serious and unacceptable attack,” he said, adding that the Swiss government was “demanding an immediate and complete investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka last week brought the high profile case to a conclusion. Colombo High Court Judge Namal Balalle on Friday (Nov. 14) sentenced Francis to two years RI suspended for five years. She was also ordered to pay Rs. 2 mn as compensation to the government and fined Rs. 5,000. She is now free to join her husband and two children in Switzerland.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Probably the person who should be compensated is former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa whose administration was the target of this wholly staged drama to malign it no sooner he became the President with an overwhelming mandate.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The judgement was delivered four years after the alleged incident. Francis pleaded guilty to charges in open court. Judge Balalle lifted the travel ban imposed on Francis. She was represented by former President of the Bar Association Kalinga Indatissa, PC.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bar Association, during Indatissa’s tenure as its President, took offence over the high handed statement issued by the Swiss government on Dec. 30, 2019, as regards the proceedings pending in the Magistrate’s Court of Colombo over the purported abduction of Garnier Francis. The Bar Association issued a strongly worded statement that condemned the Swiss position and their motives. At the Magistrate Court, Upul Kumarapperuma appeared with Sudharshana Gunawardena. Once the case was moved to High Court, Indatissa led the defence team.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Manohara de Silva, PC, strongly criticized the Swiss mission here over the incident. <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island </i>carried two statements issued by the lawyer. The then Chairperson of the HRCSL, Dr. Deepika Udugama, too, in respons to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i> query issued a statement that dealt with the issue. She stressed the need for investigators to have access to the Swiss Embassy employee.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Swiss Embassy employee’s canard was exposed by our intrepid investigators who wasted no time in perusing CCTV and other evidence before interested parties could have tampered with them.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Swiss salvo</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A few days after the alleged incident, the Swiss mission, in Colombo, issued the following statement: “On 25 November 2019, a serious security incident, involving a local employee of the Embassy of Switzerland, in Colombo, occurred. The employee was detained against her will in the street, forced to get into a car, seriously threatened at length by unidentified men and forced in order to disclose Embassy-related information.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Several false pieces of information are circulating in the reporting of this incident. The Swiss Embassy in Colombo is issuing the following clarifications: (1) The Swiss Embassy immediately lodged a formal complaint and is fully cooperating with the Sri Lanka authorities in order to support police investigation and initiate an inquiry over the case, while duly considering the health condition of the victim and her relatives. (2) Due to a deteriorating health condition, the victim is currently not in a state to testify. (3) It has been alleged that the Swiss government rejected a request for the extradition of an employee of the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and his family. No such request has been submitted.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having declared the Embassy was fully cooperating with authorities, Hanspeter Mock accommodated the local employee in the mission till Dec. 8, 2019. She reported to the CID on the afternoon of Dec. 08, 2019, but declined to undergo medical examination in the absence of a female doctor though two female nurses were present (Alleged abduction: <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Swiss embassy employee makes statement to CID, The Island </i>of December 09, 2019 edition).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that Ambassador Mock handed over the local employee to the CID after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa rejected his proposal to evacuate the Embassy employee, along with her family, to Switzerland, in an air ambulance, they had managed to fly into BIA well in advance. No less a person than President Rajapaksa told the writer on the night of Nov. 29, 2019, about the Swiss bid (<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Swiss mystery takes a new turn: Air ambulance to move embassy employee, govt. insists on immigration formalities,</i> <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Sunday Island,</i> Dec. 01, 2019 edition). Until then Hanspeter Mock hindered the investigation. While demanding a thorough inquiry, the Swiss Embassy initially declined to reveal the identity of the alleged victim. In hindsight, the Swiss planned to take her out of the country without she being subjected to any form of investigation (<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alleged abduction: Swiss embassy denies SL access to employee, </i>with<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </i>strapline <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">FM asks embassy to follow established procedure to allow smooth probe</i>, <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i>, Nov. 29, 2019, edition)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The attempt to evacuate the group (Garnier Francis and her family) was made during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s two-day visit to New Delhi. At the behest of the President, those who dealt with the Swiss authorities insisted that evacuation could be permitted only if the Embassy employee and her family underwent immigration formalities. Had the government gave in to diplomatic pressure and allowed her to go, the unsubstantiated allegations wouldn’t have been proved false. And the malicious claim against our country would have stuck for good across the world.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Interestingly, the Swiss Embassy statement conveniently failed to name the detective, though the local media identified the officer concerned. In fact, Sri Lanka never sought a clarification from the Swiss Embassy as regards the detective. Actually, it wouldn’t be fair to blame the Swiss Embassy for Sri Lanka’s inept response. Regardless of who held political power, Sri Lanka lacked the political will to face challenges, and external powers enjoyed manipulating the country to their hearts’ content. It would be a grave mistake on our part to blame external elements working through their agents here without taking remedial measures.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those who planned the propaganda blitz over the Swiss Embassy employee ‘abduction’ case certainly took into consideration a spate of still unsolved cases – the disappearance of 11 youth at the hands of the Navy, mostly in 2007/2008, torturing of Deputy Editor of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Nation,</i> Keith Noyahr, on May 22, 2008, assassination of the founding Editor of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Sunday Leader,</i> Attorney-at-Law, Lasantha Wickrematunga, in the morning of January 08, 2009, on Attidiya Road, near Bakery Junction, attempt on the life of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rivira</i> editor, Upali Tennakoon, on January 23, 2009, at Imbulgoda, Gampaha, abduction and assault on well-known journalist and civil society activist, Poddala Jayantha, on June 1, 2009, near Embuldeniya Junction, in Nugegoda, and disappearance of media personality, Prageeth Ekneligoda, on the eve of the January 26, 2010, presidential poll. Keith Noyahr and Upali Tennakoon secured political asylum overseas.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We are not saying the Rajapaksas were behind all of the above, but they and the succeeding UNP-led <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>administration failed to get to the bottom of any of them.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Need for a wider inquiry</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The incumbent Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, was the first parliamentarian to raise a CID officer taking refuge in Switzerland. In conversation with the writer, the then UNP MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakse explained the responsibility on the part of the Foreign Ministry to seek the extradition of CI de Silva as the relatively junior officer and his family receiving political asylum in Switzerland should be examined against the backdrop of many senior military officers being denied visas. The MP also disclosed how the then senior officer in charge of the CID, DIG Ravi Seneviratne, defended the conduct of CI de Silva when <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> President Maithripala Sirisena summoned the top man for a discussion in late 2018 following a complaint made by him. Lawmaker Wijeyadasa Rajapakse said that he felt the urgent need for President Sirisena’s intervention as the CID was making moves to arrest Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne over the abduction of 11 persons and giving protection to Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi falsely implicated in the abduction cases, respectively (<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wijeyadasa reveals powwow between CID Chief and President MS: Govt. urged to seek Nishantha’s extradition, The Island,</i> Nov. 27, 2019)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Police headquarters went to the extent of deliberately calling Lt. Commander Hettiarachchi ‘Navy Sampath’ in a bid to manipulate the case. The Swiss got involved when Lt. Commander G.G. Laksiri, who gave evidence against Admiral Wijegunaratne, was granted political asylum to the Volunteer Naval Force officer. Therefore, Laksiri had secured Swiss protection much before CI Silva and attempts to depict the detective as the first man from the security sector to do so are not fair.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then there was the case of Lt. Commander Welagedara who secured political asylum in Australia claiming his life was at risk here. Welagedara migrated to Australia during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration in spite of Admiral Karannagoda complaining to the then Defence Secretary over accusations made by the officer. The then President’s Office intervened on behalf of Welagedara who skipped a Tri-Services Board of Inquiry scheduled to begin hearings on January 07, 2017.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Other cases</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka lacked political will to counter those who propagated lies in a deliberate attempt to tarnish the country’s image.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One-time Northern Province Chief Minister and ex-SC judge C.V. Wigneswaran (member of the current Parliament) couldn’t stomach the LTTE’s defeat. In August 2016, Wigneswaran accused the military of killing over 100 LTTE combatants, in custody, by poisoning them. The PTI and NDTV were among international media which reported unsubstantiated allegations.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wigneswaran placed the number of such deaths at 104. Accusations were made while the U.S. Pacific Command’s ‘Pacific Angel’ exercise was underway in the Jaffna peninsula. Obviously, the politician took advantage of the US exercise to propagate war crimes accusations.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wigneswaran boldly declared that the U.S. Air Force medical team, in Jaffna, could examine the former rehabilitated LTTE cadres, who, he alleged, had fallen sick because they were injected with poisonous substances at government detention centres. The government never bothered to seek an explanation from Wigneswaran.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The then State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene and Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne dismissed the vicious accusations. Wijewardene offered the international community access to rehabilitation facilities. What the Ministers didn’t realize was that by Aug. 2018, the vast majority of ex-LTTE combatants had been released.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The US conveniently refrained from making its position clear on Wigneswaran’s claim when the writer raised the issue with the US Embassy in Colombo. There had never been such a claim before TNA’s Wigneswaran sought to humiliate Sri Lanka. It would be pertinent to mention that one-time LTTE subordinate, the TNA, backed common candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the 2015 presidential poll, having earlier supported Gen. Sarath Fonseka at the previous presidential poll.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On both occasions, the TNA delivered all northern and eastern electoral districts to Fonseka and Sirisena, who contested on the New Democratic Front (NDF) ticket with the ‘Swan’ as its symbol. The TNA did the same for Sajith Premadasa in the North and the East at the last presidential election, though the South overwhelmingly defeated the UNPer as was the case with Fonseka previously at the 2010 presidential poll.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had been elected with a staggering 6.9 mn votes could not overcome the overwhelming economic-political-social crisis that was created by his predecessors while he, too, took some short-sighted disastrous decisions possibly on wrong advice.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Swiss project against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be examined taking into consideration accusations made at a media briefing chaired by Dr. Rajitha Senaratne a week before the Nov. 16, 2019 presidential election. The briefing was held in support of UNP presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The SLPP presidential candidate was accused of ordering the killing of people and throwing their bodies into a crocodile-infested tank in the Moneragala district during his tenure as the Defence Secretary. At the same media briefing, the Mahinda Rajapaksa government was also accused of secretly moving 700 tonnes of gold from the North during and after the conclusion of the war.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When the lie backfired, the UNP called a media briefing at Sirikotha on Dec. 26, 2019. in support of Dr. Senaratne who was in hiding. Guess who was there to defend Dr. Senaratne? TNA heavyweight M.A. Sumanthiran, whose party, in 2001, declared the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil-speaking people. A few hours after the briefing, Dr. Senaratne, who arrived at Lanka Hospital, Narahenpita, got himself admitted. That case is pending in the Colombo High Court.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-18616090385321757352023-07-12T07:45:00.000-07:002023-07-12T07:45:21.382-07:00How an explosive mix of domestic and int’l factors caused GR’s downfall<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 478</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/07/12</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya-300x190.jpg 300w" height="476" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya-300x190.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="750" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">Sena Thoradeniya handing over a copy of ‘Galle Face Protest: Systems Change or Anarchy? Politics, Religion and Culture in a Time of Terror in Sri Lanka’ to Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera. Dr. Ven. Madagoda Abetissa looks on. International Affairs and political commentator Mohan Samaranayake is seated extreme left.</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/how-an-explosive-mix-of-domestic-and-intl-factors-caused-grs-downfall/#" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><h2 align="LEFT" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 1.8rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.4; margin: 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: grey; font-size: 28.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 28.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Through the eyes of Sena Thoradeniya:</em></span></h2><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sena Thoradeniya discussed successful US operations here taking into similar interventions in the past and present. The examination of the Egyptian and Iranian scenarios is surely useful. Those genuinely concerned about what went wrong for Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who didn’t really receive the backing of any section of the international community. The way China responded to the organic fertiliser fiasco and corruption accusations, related to both fertiliser imports from China and then India, underscored the overwhelming challenges faced by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who could have fared much better if those around him served the country honestly. Thoradeniya also made reference to the President’s failure to deal with those responsible for the Areoflot fiasco that undermined Sri Lanka’s relations with Moscow and also exposed the Bar Association. Gotabaya Rajapaksa certainly was a star crossed politician during his tenure as the President.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">National Literary Awards Winner Sena Thoradeniya’s <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Galle Face Protest: Systems Change or Anarchy?</i></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Politics, Religion and Culture in a Time of Terror in Sri Lanka’ meticulously dealt a toxic combination of external and domestic factors in the overthrowing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July last year.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The political analyst launched the 286-page book with the patronage of Federation of National Organizations (FNO) and Global Sri Lanka Forum (GSLF), at the National Library and Documentation Services Board, Independence Squarem on 05 July. The event marked a few days short of the first anniversary of President Rajapaksa’s ouster, without doubt a watershed moment.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, the occasion didn’t receive the media attention it deserved. The author in his 40-minute thought-provoking address humbly acknowledged the absence of the anticipated crowd.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya who had visited Pangiriwatte, Mirihana, at the onset of the high-profile campaign against the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on 31 March, 2022, addressed the entire gamut of issues, with the focus on the US role and the significant complicity of India in the whole plot.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This was despite New Delhi knowing how Washington plotted to break it up since its independence, especially by using Pakistan as a proxy. The obvious change of heart came with the collapse of the Soviet Union and Washington’s illegitimate child, Israel, living in a sea of enemies, needing some solid anchor, like India with a population to more than match its hostile Arabs. London that created the chaotic problem without solving the Palestine issue when it set up the state of Israel from the lands the Palestinians had lived on from time immemorial, by fiat, naturally cheers on whatever the US does to protect its creation.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We must never forget the fact that London is also responsible for the divisive situation here because of its divide and rule principle with which it governed during the colonial era which has been thoroughly recorded by many writers of repute.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps PM Modi’s crony capitalists swung that country to toe the Washington line on Sri Lanka hook line and sinker.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Their interventions here should be scrutinized, taking into consideration the overall Quad strategy meant to counter China and the special and longstanding relationship the People’s Republic had with the Rajapaksas.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One-time Foreign Secretary and ex-National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon in his much appreciated <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Choices: Inside the Making of Indian Foreign Policy,’</i> launched in late 2016, explained how Sri Lanka-China relations influenced New Delhi.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those who have already read National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa’s<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> ‘09: Sangawunu Kathawa’</i> would find Thoradeniya’s narrative quite engrossing.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weerawansa released his 135-page book at a much bigger event held at the Sri Lanka Foundation in late April. The 25 April event attracted a much bigger crowd. However, Thoradeniya’s work would help the discerning readers to comprehend no holds barred foreign funded political project that mercilessly exploited an utterly inept (when it came to wily politics), innocent and decent President.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The declaration of bankruptcy by the country on 13 April, 2022, during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency, underscored the responsibility on the part of all administrations, beginning 2005. Surprisingly, Ranil Wickremesinghe who couldn’t absolve himself of culpability as his administration borrowed over USD 12.5 bn in ISBs (International Sovereign Bonds) at high interest rates during the 2015-2019 period, without having shown what he did with that money, and the USD 1.2 billion received from China for the Hambantota Port lease, clearly precipitating the Gotabaya administration going bankrupt, ended up as the President.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Therefore, it would be a grave mistake to blame it all on Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who invited Wickremesinghe to receive the premiership on 11 May, 2022, regardless of his direct involvement in the protest campaign. The SLPP went a step further. The ruling party elected Wickremesinghe as the President on 20 July, 2022. Thoradeniya discussed Wickremesinghe’s role and the overall UNP strategy, leading to the ouster of an elected President. Perhaps those who haven’t read <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘09: Sangawuna Kathawa’</i> so far should do so.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya dealt with Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s murky citizenship issue. The author speculated about Gotabaya Rajapaksa being allowed to renounce US citizenship, regardless of a pending court case. As Thoradeniya asserted, did the US pave the way for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to enter the presidential fray, believing that a partnership beneficial to both parties could be worked out in case he won the Nov. 2019 contest? The author has erroneously said that two civil society activists moved the Supreme Court over Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship case, whereas it was the Court of Appeal. An appeal filed in the Supreme Court on Nov. 13, 2019 against the Court of Appeal judgment was dismissed.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, Thoradeniya’s effort shouldn’t be compared, under any circumstances, with that of Weerawansa, who served the Cabinet-of-Ministers and, therefore, couldn’t absolve himself of the utterly irresponsible way the Rajapaksas handled the economy. Those who exercised executive power as members of the Cabinet should be held accountable for the ruination of the national economy, regardless of their current position. There shouldn’t be any exceptions. Thoradeniya, in his own way, explained how a costly US project exploited Sri Lanka, at every level, while inept political leadership looked the other way.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How GR facilitated Opp. strategy</strong></p><div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_119194" style="border: 0px; color: #777777; float: left; font-size: 0.8rem; margin: 5px 0px 30px 20px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-119194" class="size-full wp-image-119194 lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya1.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya1.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya1-202x300.jpg 202w" height="445" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya1.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya1.jpg 300w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sena-Thoradeniya1-202x300.jpg 202w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 12.8px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-119194" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sena Thoradeniya</p></div><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya discussed how, at the very beginning of his five-year term Western powers made a despicable bid to undermine his government. Switzerland warned Sri Lanka that its reputation, as a constitutional state, was at stake after police arrested local employee Garnier Bannister Francis (former Siriyalatha Perera) for falsely claiming that she was abducted and sexually harassed by government agents on 25 Nov, 2019, the day after the Swiss mission in Colombo facilitated CID investigator Inspector Nishantha Silva’s departure, under controversial circumstances. The officer’s wife and children, too, secured protection in Switzerland.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya found fault with the President for failing to address that issue properly. In spite of the police investigation uncovering that the Embassy worker lied, the government never made an attempt to bring the inquiry to a successful conclusion. Thoradeniya questioned why Swiss Ambassador Hanspeter Mock in Colombo at that time was not declared persona non grata. The failure on the part of the government to respond appropriately to Ambassador Mock facilitating a police officer’s departure clandestinely, in addition to staging the abduction drama.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa averted a further escalation of the situation by thwarting Mock’s plan to evacuate the local employee in a special air ambulance along with her family. The attempt was made while Gotabaya Rajapaksa was away in New Delhi, his first overseas visit after swearing in as the President two weeks before. Had the President given into Foreign Ministry mandarins, the Swiss Embassy worker could have reiterated false accusations under Swiss protection with liberal backing of the Western media.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya questioned the failure on the part of the government to demand the extradition of the CID officer Nishantha Silva. Did President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fail to recognize the threat posed by Western block?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The author also briefly discussed how the government totally mismanaged the Geneva challenge after having publicly denounced the controversial resolution, titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka (adopted by the Human Rights Council on 01 October 2015). Thoradeniya raised the contentious issue as to why the government did nothing after declaring in February/March 2020 that it withdrew from the process. Three years after that meaningless declaration, the Geneva witch hunt is on track. The recent declaration made at the ongoing Geneva sessions that Sri Lanka would be subjected to extraterritorial jurisdiction underscored the gravity of the situation.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The operation that forced the President to flee the country in an SLAF Avro after having gone into hiding for a few days should be investigated against the backdrop of a failed Swiss operation.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, the SLPP that fielded Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in spite of still being the ruling party, seems not interested in ascertaining the truth. Sri Lanka needs to examine continuing external interventions at every level and take precautions or prepare to face the consequences. There is irrefutable evidence that the US brazenly intervened in elections here. The US played a significant role at two presidential elections, in January 2010 and January 2015.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps Thoradeniya should have examined those interventions against the backdrop of the issues at hand. Having categorized the then General Sarath Fonseka as a war criminal along with the Rajapaksa brothers (Wikileaks revelation), the US had no qualms in forcing the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK)-led Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to back the war-winning Army Commander’s presidential candidature. Regardless of unsubstantiated war crimes allegations directed at the Sinha Regiment veteran, Fonseka received the backing of the UNP-led coalition that included the TNA and JVP to handsomely win all the predominantly Tamil speaking Northern and Eastern electoral districts. But the US plan went awry as Fonseka lost badly in the rest of the country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Five years later, the US succeeded. No less a person than the then US Secretary of State John Kerry made the revelation in a 2016 State Department report that a staggering USD 585 mn was spent to ‘restore’ democracy in Nigeria, Burma and Sri Lanka in 2014/2015. Of that staggering amount, how much did the State Department allocate for the Sri Lanka electoral coup? The writer raised this issue with the US Embassy in Colombo years ago though the mission refrained from responding to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</i> queries.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Warnings from Parliament ignored</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Obviously President Gotabaya Rajapaksa lacked understanding of the parliamentary committee system. Had the President bothered to at least go through the proceedings of three parliamentary watchdog committees, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), as well as exposure of corruption, he could have intervened.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, those who surrounded the President appeared to have deprived him of an opportunity to know what was going on. Obviously he was surrounded by economic hitmen planted by his own family, some of whom were obviously jealous or feared losing their influence in the government if Gotabaya became a runaway success, especially with his simple living and clear decency.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya quite rightly pointed out how President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s failure to act on shocking revelations made before the House watchdog committees contributed to the overall deterioration of the economy. The Cabinet-of-Ministers, which the President headed, never addressed the real issues. Thoradeniya reminded of the infamous Finance Ministry decision to slash the Rs 50 tax on a kilo of imported sugar to 25 cents on Oct. 13, 2020. The then COPA Chief Anura Priyadarshana Yapa condemned the Finance Ministry decision. The committee agreed that the particular decision didn’t, in any way, provide relief to the consumers.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The author also pointed out how the Sri Lanka Insurance owned Litro gas hired two President’s Counsels to block Auditor General W.P.C. Wickremaratne from examining the accounts of the national gas supplier.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradenya refrained from naming the PCs. However, the writer, on the basis of COPE proceedings, during Charitha Herath’s tenure as COPE Chairman, disclosed that the PCs hired by the then Litro Chairman Anil Koswatte, who left under a cloud, were Romesh de Silva and Sanjiva Jayawardena, the latter a member of the five-member Monetary Board. Jayawardena continues in the Monetary Board. It would be pertinent to mention that de Silva headed the nine-member committee, tasked by the President to formulate a draft Constitution.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya also discussed the fires and explosions related to LPG cylinders, a highly contentious matter that exposed the utterly corrupt system in place for the procurement of gas supplies. Investigations later revealed that the change of composition of gas resulted in unprecedented increase in pressure within the cylinder. The government conveniently turned a blind eye to scandalous revelations made by Litro Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe as to how interested parties manipulated the entire procurement process to their advantage.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The President never had an opportunity to take stock of things. The President was in a mighty hurry or influenced by various interested parties. Thoradeniya pointed out how the signing of the controversial agreement on Yugadanavi power station at midnight on Sept. 17, 2021 caused a debilitating setback to this already troubled government. Unfortunately, only three Ministers, namely Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, had the strength of their convictions to take a stand, regardless of the consequences.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They moved the Supreme Court against the decision. The President’s Media Division (PMD), under the leadership of Kingsley Ratnayake, formerly of Sirasa, launched a counter attack. The PMD’s effort was to back the Yugadanavi deal. The President responded by sacking Ministers Weerawansa and Gammanpila whereas Nanayakkara was left untouched.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya found fault with other SLPP parliamentary group members for failing to stand by Nanayakkara, Weerawansa and Gammanpila. Had they taken a courageous stand over the treacherous Yugadanavi deal, perhaps the President could have been compelled to review his strategies.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya should have referred to former CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando’s declaration about the then President’s direct involvement in renewable energy deal with India’s Adani Group without following a proper tender process. The scandalous revelation in June 2011 exposed the pathetic way foreign investment projects were handled.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ferdinando’s subsequent contradiction that the President didn’t pressure him to hand over Mannar and Pooneryn wind power projects to Adani didn’t make the situation better. Against the backdrop of Indian Premier Narendra Modi’s close relationship with the Adani Group over the years, Ferdinando’s declaration that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was asked by the Indian leader to grant special status to the Adani Group received public attention.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was quoted by Indian media as having said that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s cronyism has crossed the Palk Strait.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contentious role of the Rajapaksa family</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya also commented on the impact the Rajapaksa family had on Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s downfall.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me reproduce verbatim what the respected author’s comment on the Rajapaksa family. “Was he (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) a captive of his family as many allege? Bringing Basil Rajapaksa, a dual citizen dubbed as ‘Aladin’ with his proverbial magic lamp and giving him the finance portfolio hastened the downfall.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In recent interviews with the writer, both Communist Party Chairman DEW Gunasekera and Derana media mogul Dilith Jayaweera, roundly condemned the Rajapaksa family for creating an environment that throttled Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Acknowledging the shortcomings on the part of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, both Gunasekera and Jayaweera asserted that harmful foreign interventions were supplemented by the family.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thoradeniya, too, seems to be of the same opinion.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Galle Face Protest: Systems Change or Anarchy? Politics, Religion and Culture in a Time of Terror in Sri Lanka’</em></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">is a must read for those genuinely interested in contemporary history. Thoradeniya’s invaluable work shouldn’t be exploited, in any way to promote those who had ruined this country. Thoradeniya, in fact, has indicted both the Rajapaksas and the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa grouping as he examined essentially post-war developments.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The only issue that the writer finds difficult to agree with Thoradeniya is his comments on His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith pertaining to the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage and the role the Catholic Church played in the protest campaign. Acknowledging Thoradeniya’s right to be critical of the Catholic Church, the writer would like to point out that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa certainly didn’t address the issue properly. Knowing very well, some people really believed that he (as SLPP presidential candidate) directly benefited from the Easter Sunday massacre, he appointed a six-member committee to study the Presidential Commission of Inquiry recommendations in this regard. (That committee can be definitely compared with the recently appointed Parliamentary Committee to investigate events/circumstances leading to bankruptcy) The President’s move made a mockery of the whole justice process. It should be emphasized that the Catholic Church openly backed Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s campaign as it quite justifiably believed he would ensure an impartial investigation and bring those responsible before the law. President Rajapaksa offered to make changes to the composition of the committee if the Church wanted. But the Church assured it was satisfied with the commission.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Rajapaksa government simply ignored the Presidential Commission findings as it didn’t want to upset political relationships. The writer’s comment shouldn’t be construed as the response of a Catholic. The failure to bring those responsible to justice would remain a permanent black mark on all political parties currently represented in Parliament as well as past and present Presidents. Let me remind them again. Nearly 280 men, women and children perished in churches and hotels. Nearly 500 others suffered injuries and some of them were maimed for life. Interestingly, in the Easter Sunday case, not only some interest parties here, even the Geneva Human Rights Commission, in a way, took a considerate view of Hejaaz Hisbullah arrested in connection with his alleged involvement with those involved in the Easter Sunday killings. The worst single post-war carnage must be investigated and any effort to downplay it condemned.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-22183046856702538692023-07-05T01:58:00.000-07:002023-07-05T01:58:27.680-07:00CP Chief calls for re-alignment of political forces to thwart Ranil<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 477</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/07/5</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/dew-gunasekara.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/dew-gunasekara.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/dew-gunasekara-300x206.jpg 300w" height="516" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/dew-gunasekara.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/dew-gunasekara.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/dew-gunasekara-300x206.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; 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line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CP Chairman DEW G says lawmakers here should be aware of what is going on in the world. The Parliament cannot turn a blind eye to global developments, the former MP said, pointing out that the ongoing Ukrainian crisis underscored the need for greater understanding of international affairs as the rapid developments taking place with the US hegemony under threat. The crisis reflects the global power struggle.</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Veteran politician Don Edwin Weerasinghe Gunasekara or DEW G, 88, wants left-wing political parties, including his Communist Party (CP), to join forces with centrist political elements to meet the growing future right wing challenge posed by ‘Pohottuwa,’ backed incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former CP General Secretary warned those opposed to the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa juggernaut to reach consensus on a tangible political strategy soon or be prepared to face the consequences.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As things stand, Gunasekara declared that UNP leader Wickremesinghe would be the SLPP’s candidate at the next presidential election, therefore urged, what he called, the genuine Opposition to take a stand.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The CP is represented in Parliament by just one MP Weerasinghe Weerasumana from Matara. The first time entrant to Parliament contested the last general election on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peremauna (SLPP) ticket.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having parted company with the SLPP, or the Pohottuwa party, the CP is now a constituent of the Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DEW G acknowledged that left-wing parties, including the CP, couldn’t anticipate any future political alliance with the Rajapaksas’ led party, especially with Basil, an arch right winger, like Ranil, playing such a pivotal role in the family and the party they lead. “Therefore, a realignment of political forces, opposed to the incumbent administration, is a must”, he said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekara didn’t mince his words when he admitted that left parties lacked the wherewithal to take on the government, though the ground situation has changed quite drastically, owing to unprecedented public protests, engineered or not by the West, as in the case of the Maidan rebellion in Ukraine in 2014, forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa elected, with 6.9 mn votes, to flee.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A smiling Gunasekara asserted that the emerging world environment could be quite advantageous to Sri Lanka with the US and its fiat currency dollar likely to lose world dominant position, if proper repositioning of political parties and groups takes place here to ensure a Left and Centre combination surging ahead with the best global economic environment after 1945, Gunasekara assured.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In an interview with the writer at the CP’s recently refurbished office at No 91, Dr. N.M. Perera Mawatha, Colombo 08, last week, DEW G discussed a range of issues, both domestic and international, with the focus on the deteriorating economic-political and social crisis against the growing uncertainty caused by restructuring of domestic debt.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unless left parties reached a consensus with those in the centre, the latter would move to the right to the advantage of Ranil Wickremesinghe, Gunasekera said. “At least 90 percent of the country’s capitalist class is with Wickremesinghe and unless something goes awry, the UNP leader is certain to be SLPP’s nominee with or without machinations by the West.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></i>sought the much respected politician’s views on current issues against the backdrop of the CP preparing to celebrate its 80th anniversary this week.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the onset of the interview, one-time Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms Minister, an Octogenarian himself, emphasized that what the country experienced was an unprecedented critical situation. “We are at a crossroads. We experienced crises in 1952 and in the ’70s, primarily due to external factors. However, though there were certainly foreign influences and interventions, we created the current catastrophe,” the former lawmaker said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekara identified what he called an explosive combination of factors that plunged the country into its worst ever post-independence crisis, namely dearth of foreign exchange even to buy basics, like fuel, drastic drop in government revenue, coupled with a crippling debt due to borrowings at high interest from international bond markets, especially by the previous <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> regime.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Referring to the times of JRJ’s Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel (1977-1988) who presided over Sri Lanka embracing a free market economy in the late ’70s, and his successor M.H.M. Naina Marikkar (1988-1989) at the height of the JVP-led second insurrection (1987-1990), the CP veteran pointed out that the erosion of government revenue began after 1978.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A calamity of unimaginable proportions</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pointing out that in 1978 the government revenue had been 24 percent of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) a gradual decrease began during JRJ’s reign and by the time Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the President, brought in his brother Basil Rajapaksa as the Minister of Finance, in July 2021, the state revenue had dropped to a poor six percent of the GDP. That the Rajapaksa family compelled Gotabaya Rajapaksa to accommodate BR in the Cabinet, even at the expense of the coalition, is a matter that should be addressed separately, the outspoken politician said. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa paid a very heavy price for exploiting the 20th Amendment to the Constitution to appease the family to bring in Basil Rajapaksa, he added.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The drastic drop of the state revenue to just six percent of the GDP meant that the government didn’t have sufficient funding in Rupees, especially due to a drastic cut in vital taxes, no sooner Gotabaya assumed office. “I have never heard of a disruption of an economy in a particular country for want of whatever local currency, though foreign exchange crisis is certainly not a new occurrence. We ran into trouble at a time when the then government was on a money printing spree.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekara attributed the developing crisis to neoliberalist policies adopted in the wake of JRJ’s victory at the 1977 general election. “The change of tax policy in line with neoliberalist strategy brought about the crisis. The gradual change in direct and indirect taxes was nothing but a disaster. At the time of the late Premier Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the direct and indirect tax ratio was 70 to 30 percent. JR reduced direct taxes to 55 percent, Ranasinghe Premadasa to 45 percent, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to 35 percent, Mahinda Rajapaksa to 28 percent (during his first tenure as the President), then to 24 percent and subsequently to 18 percent and Basil Rajapaksa brought it down to 14 percent.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The increasing loss of income, due to a sharp drop in direct taxes, was compensated by corresponding increase in indirect taxes, the former Minister said, added that finally the irect and indirect tax ratio stood at 10 and 90 percent, respectively. Instead of taxing the affluent, those struggling to make ends meet were further burdened, Gunasekara said, alleging that tax evasion at the moment was at its zenith. “There is no point in denying successive governments facilitated the tax fraud. The fraudulent process over the years became part of the system in place,” the ex-MP said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asked whether Parliament, as the supreme institution responsible for public finance, should be held responsible for the current predicament, a smiling Gunasekara said that was the position constitutionally.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“However, the actual situation is different or in other words Parliament is irrelevant. The Finance Minister takes decisions on behalf of the Cabinet of Ministers which exercises executive powers in Parliament. Whoever at the helm, exercises political authority thereby implements a strategy that may not be in the best interests of the country though appropriate as a political tool. That is the reality.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Neoliberalism, or market-oriented reform policies, such as doing away with price controls, freeing of capital markets, and reckless lowering of trade barriers, as well as privatization, brought us to this pathetic situation, the former CP leader said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regardless of the recent crash, the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government seemed to be hell-bent on following the same wretched policies. “If not, President Wickremesinghe and his acolytes wouldn’t have considered USD 2.9 bn IMF loan facility as the panacea for our economic ills. In a way we are now in an irreversible situation,” Gunasekara said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The one-time Chairman of the parliamentary watchdog COPE sarcastically declared without hesitation that he was too optimistic of the much-touted economic recovery plan, based on the much debated agreement with the IMF.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Don’t forget we sought IMF intervention on 16 occasions previously. And the worst IMF intervention is now underway”, the still crisp thinking octogenarian said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament has deteriorated to such an extent that it no longer commanded the respect of the public. That, too, contributed to the overall decline, Gunasekara said, explaining how the Ranil-Maithree-led <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government borrowed heavily from international money markets during the 2015-2019 period, though they have conveniently forgotten their own role in the economic ruin. In foreign money markets, minimum interest was six percent and out of the USD 15 bn taken at such high interest rates as much as USD 12.5 bn was obtained by the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>rule within a short period of time, Gunasekara pointed out.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps if Mahinda Rajapaksa won the 2015 presidential election, he, as the Finance Minister, too, would have sought more loans from international money markets, Gunasekara said, asserting that the then Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P.B. Jayasundera may have pushed for early presidential elections as he was aware of the impending financial crisis. “But I tried unsuccessfully to convince President Rajapaksa not to face the electorate as he couldn’t have won under any circumstances,” Gunasekara said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bid to save Gotabaya</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former Minister recalled how representatives of political parties met at the residence of lawmaker Tiran Alles in the wake of the violent Mirihana protest, in March 2022, to discuss ways and means of saving Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s mandate. According to him, there had been a general agreement of an interim national government for at least a period of one year until some sort of stability could be restored. Among those who had been present were Dullas Alahapperuma and Maithripala Sirisena and other rebel SLPP MPs, Gunasekara said, adding that consensus couldn’t be reached as the President was not free to act as he desired.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The President somewhat struggled to address never ending concerns of the Rajapaksa family,” the ex-CP boss said, expressing disbelief that the premiership was first offered to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and then SJB leader Sajith Premadasa before beleaguered UNP leader accepted the proposal in the second week of May 2022.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekara acknowledged the writer’s suggestion perhaps the UNP leader was the best choice, politically, at the time though he personally didn’t agree at all with the destructive market-oriented reform policies agenda pursued by the incumbent President to please the IMF.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the run-up to the July 2022 calamity, Gunasekara had advised and warned Gotabaya Rajapaksa of the impending economic crisis but was ignored. “Obviously Dr. PBJ and Basil Rajapaksa were at the helm of economic matters. They shaped the damaging policy,” Gunasekara said, recalling him warning Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding the impending economic crisis at the first public meeting held in Matara following the handing over of nominations for the 2019 presidential election. “The CP organized the Matara meeting where over 5,000 attended. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena were among those present. I handed over a printed booklet that dealt with the impending crisis and measures to be taken to Gotabaya. Obviously, he didn’t bother with it.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Responding to another query, the one-time Prison Reforms Minister said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was overwhelmed by the Rajapaksa family. “That is the ugly truth. The family didn’t allow the President to proceed on his own path,” Gunasekara said, explaining how the ill-advised Cabinet decision to abolish a range of taxes at the first Cabinet meeting chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, enactment of the 20th Amendment to pave the way for Basil Rajapaksa’s re-entry into Parliament, chemical fertiliser ban and cancellation of the Japanese-funded Light Rail Project, without consulting the donor, caused immense damage.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former Minister said that the unveiling of a comprehensive and far reaching alternative economic development programme that dealt with repositioning of Sri Lanka’s foreign trade and economic relations by the CP coincided with their 80th anniversary. Gunasekara emphasized the responsibility on the part of the decision-makers to focus on human resources development, especially against the backdrop of the brain drain and the general perception that there was absolutely no hope of an economic recovery.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekara said that the vast majority of those who now represented the Parliament, as well as the executive, refused to accept the heavy impact the restructuring of domestic debt was having on the public. Whatever the economic recovery plans under discussion or at the onset of implementation, we lacked the wherewithal and political consensus, Gunasekera said, adding that the issues at hand should be addressed accordingly.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekara also discussed the continuing failure of Parliament to respond to the growing threats, with quite formidable external interventions taking place right under the noses of the political leadership. References were made to USAID and UNDP interventions at the highest level.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Need for urgent reforms</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekera urged political parties to give sufficient time for new entrants. The ex-lawmaker said that sufficient time should be allocated for new MPs to address Parliament on important issues. How could they deal with a particular issue within three minutes, Gunasekara asked, acknowledging that he wouldn’t have achieved current status if he was denied adequate time.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekera recalled how he entered Parliament in 1986 in the wake of the death of Sarath Muttetuwegama, 51, lawyer, killed in a car crash at Ratnapura. At the time of his death, Muttetuwegama, married to Manouri, daughter of Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, represented the Kalawana electorate.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekera said that the decision-making Central Committee of the CP nominated him to fill the vacancy created by Muttetuwegama’s untimely death. There had been provision for a political party to nominate a person to Parliament, within a month, following the creation of a vacancy, and Dew Gunasekera was the CP’s choice though not unanimous. One member of the decision-making body had voted to appoint Manouri Muttetuwegama. In case, a particular political party failed to reach a consensus within a stipulated period of time, the then Election Commission would have called a by-election.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Touching the table, at where he sat, Gunasekara said on the day he took oaths as an MP, the then CP Chairman Pieter Keuneman advised him how to conduct himself in Parliament right here. “We were in this room. I was told to address Parliament while looking at the direction of the Speaker to prevent being disturbed and distracted by opposing MPs. Keuneman stressed the need to be fully prepared to address Parliament. I was also told the importance of having the address in point form and being logical. Perhaps the most important advice was to keep in mind that as an MP he should address the electorate not members of Parliament.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Towards the end of the interview Gunasekera said that he was not sure whether Gotabaya Rajapaksa wanted to contest the 2019 presidential election or the family fielded him due to Mahinda Rajapaksa being disqualified by the 19th Amendment barring a third term. Gotabaya was not like other Rajapaksas and his wife a humble and gracious lady who never stepped on the toes of anyone. They were never extravagant and basically lived a simple life but Gotabaya Rajapaksa never realized the pitfalls in the political party system here.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Referring to the Matara meeting, immediately after presidential nominations where he advised SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, ex-MP Gunasekera said that the President’s response to concerns raised by the CP at a meeting he chaired on 20 December, 2020, deeply disappointed him.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The meeting had been called to discuss the government response to the Covid-19 threat. “On behalf of the CP, our General Secretary Dr. G. Weerasinghe urged President Rajapaksa not to force Muslims to cremate Covid-19 victims as the decision was not backed by scientific reasons nor by the World Health Organization. The President and others present there were warned of dire consequences of such a drastic decision. But Dr. Weerasinghe’s plea was ignored.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekera said that he took advantage of the opportunity to warn the President of the impending economic crisis again. The ex-MP recalled him telling the President that unless he addressed the issue at hand none of those 6.9 mn voted for him would remain when the troubles erupted. “The President didn’t say anything but smiled nicely.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gunasekera criticized the Mahanayake Theras’ response to the developing crisis. Underscoring the responsibility on their part to rein in politicians, Gunasekera said that the emergence of the likes of ‘Pastor’ Jerome Fernando and Natasha Edirisuriya should be examined against the backdrop of the pathetic conduct of politicians and most religious leaders.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Commenting on the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aragalaya</i> and related developments, Gunasekera confirmed that the US Ambassador Julie Chung advised Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to succeed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He said that National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa’s recent declaration to that effect was based on what he told the MP.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wickremesinghe’s emergence as the President, an Office he couldn’t have won at an election, highlighted the ruination of the political party system and the dearth of leaders. The UNP, being restricted to just one National List seat, and the SLFP down to one elected MP (other 13 elected on the Pohottuwa ticket) highlighted the collapse of the political party system, as hitherto known, and further deterioration of the situation.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-70447131290787825112023-06-27T23:51:00.000-07:002023-06-27T23:51:30.149-07:00Lanka warned of Extraterritorial jurisdiction<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 476</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/06/28</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; 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font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-117425 lazyloaded" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lakshman-kadiragamar.jpg" height="236" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lakshman-kadiragamar.jpg" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; float: left; font-size: 30.4px; height: auto; margin: 20px 20px 20px 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="200" />Actually LKI owed public an explanation as to why it never addressed the accountability issue and related matters in spite of it being the toughest foreign affairs challenge faced in post-independence era. There is no harm in addressing a variety of issues of interest but the failure on the part of the LKI to examine this issue by initiating a wider discussion is inexcusable. This criticism also applies to the Kotelawela Defence University (KDU) as it continues to ignore this vital issue.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Three years after Sri Lanka formally withdrew from an accountability resolution moved against our own country, instigated by the West and the US in particular, the UN body has reiterated that Sri Lanka’s political and military leaderships are under investigation in ‘third states,’ therefore subjected to extraterritorial jurisdiction.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A treacherous <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government co-sponosred the US-led resolution at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">UNHRC is certainly a club for the rich and powerful, who can kill millions of innocents and render millions more homeless in places like Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, etc., by staging turmoil by way of rebellions, regime changes and invasions on false excuses and even commit outright war crimes, but getaway scot-free if you are a member of the self-appointed international community. But a country like little Sri Lanka has no such luck simply because we simply defied the above criminal international community and managed to defeat the world’s most ruthless terrorist organization, despite their underhand nourishment given to it by repeatedly claiming that our security forces were incapable of militarily defeating the LTTE.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif issued the unmistakable warning on 21 June at the 5th session of the HRC. The Jordanian (and her country is a well-known servile follower of the West) dealt with the 2015 US-Sri Lanka joint resolution on reconciliation, accountability and human rights.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nashif declared that a special team assigned for Sri Lanka that had been established in their Geneva Office to continue to make progress pursuant to resolution 51/1. She stressed: “The team is in the process of providing concrete support to several jurisdictions that have ongoing criminal justice investigations. It is conducting proactive investigative work on key cases and collecting, consolidating and analyzing information and evidence from a variety of UN and other sources, which is preserved in a repository so as to be used for future accountability initiatives. Victims continue to be placed at the heart of this work, including through our active engagement with victim organizations and civil society more broadly.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader Dinesh Gunawardena, who announced Sri Lanka’s withdrawal in March 2020 from the treacherous 2015 accountability resolution, in his capacity as Foreign Minister, is the Prime Minister today. Perhaps Premier Gunawardena should explain the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government’s response to the latest UN declaration.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who gave the go ahead for the signing of the 2015 Geneva resolution, is the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces today. President Wickremesinghe, accompanied by First Lady Maithree, was in Europe when Geneva issued the warning. The delegation included National Security Advisor Sagala Ratnayake.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maithripala Sirisena, under whose watch the co-sponsorship of Geneva resolution took place, is a lawmaker representing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) while war-winning President Mahinda Rajapaksa, too, represents the same party in Parliament. The war-winning Army commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka represents the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Unfortunately, none of them at least bothered to exercise their privileges as members of Parliament to counter unsubstantiated allegations.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Obviously with the full blessings of Washington, the Canadian Parliament, in May last year, passed a resolution claiming Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka, unchallenged<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b> A year after the Canadian declaration, retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, MP, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, has suggested that Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, should move a resolution in Parliament to counter the Canadian move. In response to the writer’s query, the Foreign Ministry assured that the suggestion would be dealt with, in consultation with President Wickremesinghe.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the absence of a cohesive mechanism to counter the Geneva project, the UN has exercised maximum pressure on Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, successive inane governments have simply kicked the can down the road by quite conveniently failing to address war crimes accusations head on by simply exposing to the whole world the double standards of the UN body. By remaining silent those unfairly targeting us have only been given further opportunity to pursue high profile political project meant to introduce a new Constitution at the expense of Sri Lanka’s unitary status.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We as a country should get someone competent to take our case to the world full time, putting aside whatever our political differences.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Except for forthright lawmaker Gevindu Cumatatunga, no one in Parliament has ever declared that the proposed new Constitution should reflect Sri Lanka’s triumph over separatist Tamil terrorism. The leader of civil society organization ‘<i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yuthukama</i>’ strongly pushed the Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration to take the eradication of terrorism into consideration in post-war reconciliation process. Unfortunately, forced by circumstances, and Western intelligence services, and some of their key diplomats working in not so mysterious ways against it, day and night, the erratic GR administration didn’t heed such advice.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The latest Geneva declaration should be examined along with the Canadian declaration of genocide, though for a few days some tended to believe Ottawa was divided over its Sri Lanka stand. But, in response to a specific query as regards the genocide charge, the Canadian High Commission in Colombo reiterated their commitment to 18 May Tamil genocide remembrance day.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Role of LKI</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One-time Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, on 19 June, 2023, received appointment as Executive Director, Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies. The appointment was made by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Management of the institute. Other members of the board are Suganthie Kadirgamar, widow of the slain much-loved Minister, Rajan Asirwatham, a member of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s delegation for talks with the LTTE, Thusantha Wijemanna, one-time legal advisor to External Affairs Ministry, and Malinda Seneviratne, former CEO/Director, Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aryasinha retired in September 2021 having last served the country as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Washington. Before taking up that appointment in December 2020, Aryasinha served as Foreign Secretary for nearly two years during a turbulent period.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The appointment of Aryasinha took place at a time Geneva has taken an unmistakably dangerous course against us, with Nashif declaring relentless pursuit of Sri Lanka, now at the mercy of Western powers due to an unprecedented financial crisis, leading to IMF loan facility in March this year, entirely on its terms.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that it was Aryasinha who endorsed the Geneva resolution, in 2015, after some behind-the-scene arm twisting by the then shameless <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government. In spite of his strong opposition to the resolution, Aryasinha, in his capacity as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, had no option but to accept the resolution following instructions issued by the then Foreign Minister, the late Mangala Samaraweera. The then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe gave the go ahead for the US-led resolution. President Maithripala Sirisena, too, gave his tacit support in terms of the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> agreement.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps Aryasinha, now at the LKI’s helm, can pave the way for an in-depth examination of the entire gamut of issues – ranging from UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts’ investigation into the circumstances Sri Lanka brought the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to a successful conclusion in May 2009, to the most recent declaration that universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction would be applied against Sri Lanka.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The incumbent government shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the UN backing for investigation and prosecution of the alleged perpetrators and support to the relevant accountability processes in third States, as well, as what it called fair application of targeted sanctions against credibly alleged perpetrators. The reference is very clear. Nada Al-Nashif obviously referred to sanctions imposed by the US and Canada, as well as other countries, including Australia, on the war-winning military. Among those who had been sanctioned were former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva and Maj. Gen. Chagie Gallage.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In fact, LKI owed the public an explanation as to why it never addressed the accountability issue and related matters in spite of it being the toughest foreign affairs challenge faced in post-independence era. There is no harm in addressing a variety of issues of interest but the failure on the part of the LKI to examine this issue by initiating a wider discussion is inexcusable. This criticism also applies to the Kotelawela Defence University (KDU) as it continues to ignore this vital issue.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mannar mass graves</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka never really exploited the exposure of the blatant UNHRC lie over Mannar mass graves to counter unsubstantiated lies propagated by interested parties. The Western propaganda project regarding Mannar mass graves at one point threatened to overwhelm Sri Lanka but the then <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government was determined to keep quiet about it.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights obviously threw its weight behind those propagating lies. The UN became part of the lie. The Mannar mass graves was accommodated in the annual report of the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Commissioner went to the extent of referring to the Mannar mass grave site in her latest annual report (section 23) submitted to the UNHRC. The following is the relevant section: “On May 29, 2018, human skeletal remains were discovered at a construction site in Mannar (Northern Province), Excavations conducted in support of the Office on Missing Persons, revealed a mass grave from which more than 300 skeletons were discovered. It was the second mass grave found in Mannar following the discovery of a site in 2014. Given that other mass graves might be expected to be found in the future, systematic access to grave sites by the Office as an observer is crucial for it to fully discharge its mandate, particularly with regard to the investigation and identification of remains, it is imperative that the proposed reforms on the law relating to inquests, and relevant protocols to operationalize the law be adopted. The capacity of the forensic sector must also be strengthened, including in areas of forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology and genetics, and its coordination with the Office of Missing Persons must be ensured.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What Bachelet never expected was the US report on Mannar mass graves to go against its strategy. A report by a reputed Miami-based laboratory on the Mannar mass grave samples cleared the Army of the responsibility for extra-judicial killings.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The remains of over 300 men, women and children were found, beginning early 2018, and resulted in high profile accusations of battlefield killings and extra-judicial execution of civilians. Although in terms of the Indo-Lanka Accord that was forced on then President JR Jayewardene by New Delhi, the Indian Army, too, had been deployed there during July 1987 to January 1990, but the know-all UNHRC bluntly pointed the finger at the Sri Lanka Army. During the Indian deployment, the Sri Lankan military was confined to barracks, not only in Mannar, but also the entire northern and eastern administrative districts.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The carbon testing report from the internationally recognized US laboratory concluded that the victims likely died up to 615 years ago — predating even the first European colonization of the country by the Portuguese. That was the end of the sensational Mannar mass grave accusation. But as expected the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that once served as the LTTE’s representative in Parliament, rejected the US report.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A TNA lawmaker, representing the Vanni region, called for a fresh testing in another lab in some other country. Our Vavuniya correspondent Dinasena Ratugamage quoted Mullaitivu District MP Nirmalanathan Sivamohan as having said:” This is not to say that we do not accept the reports sent by a lab in Florida, US, but given the importance of the Mannar grave site we need to get a second opinion.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The MP insisted that the lab in Florida had not attempted to identify the victims and further tests were necessary to determine the identity of those in the graves.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A section of the local and foreign media spearheaded a high profile campaign on the basis of Mannar mass graves. Some Colombo-based diplomats, too, supported the project. The then German Ambassador in Colombo, Joern Rohde, visited the site on 27 November, 2018. The German envoy’s visit was followed by a British delegation on 11 December, 2018. The British visit took place close on the heels of the discovery of two pieces of human bones, bound by a cable, on 07 December, 2018. The recovery prompted some ‘experts’, as well as those engaged in excavating the mass grave, to speculate whether some of the people buried there had been tortured before being killed. Interests shown in the Mannar mass grave site by those countries, pushing for full implementation of the Geneva Resolution, unfortunately co-sponsored by the then servile government in Sri Lanka, in October, 2015, strengthened the campaign directed at the Army. A section of the Catholic clergy, too, facilitated the project meant to blame the Army over the Mannar mass grave.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the propaganda campaign over the Mannar mass graves, the Foreign Ministry and Army Headquarters did absolutely nothing because the then government cooperated fully with the Geneva project. The <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government response to Mannar was in line with its handling of Lord Naseby’s revelations in October 2017. Even to date, Sri Lanka never made a genuine attempt to use the House of Lords member’s disclosure to our advantage.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the basis of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) records obtained with the intervention of the Information Commissioner’s Office, Lord Naseby challenged the very basis of the October 2015 Resolution. Sri Lanka refused to take advantage of the revelation that countered two major allegations (1) killing of 40,000 civilians on the Vanni east front and (2) Sri Lanka political and military leaderships deliberately targeted the civilian community.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The British disclosure coupled with wartime US Defence Advisor Lt. Colonel Lawrence Smith’s declaration in support of Sri Lanka, in June 2011, two years after the conclusion of the war, would help Sri Lanka to build a strong case.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The latest UN warning again highlights Sri Lanka’s pathetic failure to set the record straight. Sri Lanka should place all available information before the international community even if they won’t accept our version.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How govt. ignored JD’s assertion</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of Sri Lanka’s celebrated career diplomats, the late Jayantha Dhanapala, discussed the issue of accountability when he addressed the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), headed by one-time Attorney General, the late C. R. de Silva, on 25 August, 2010.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dhanapala, in his submissions, said: “Now I think it is important for us to expand that concept to bring in the culpability of those members of the international community who have subscribed to the situation that has caused injury to the civilians of a nation. I talk about the way in which terrorist groups are given sanctuary; harboured; and supplied with arms and training by some countries with regard to their neighbours or with regard to other countries. We know that in our case this has happened, and I don’t want to name countries, but even countries which have allowed their financial procedures and systems to be abused in such a way that money can flow from their countries in order to buy arms and ammunition that cause deaths, maiming and destruction of property in Sri Lanka are to blame and there is therefore a responsibility to protect our civilians and the civilians of other nations from that kind of behaviour on the part of members of the international community. And I think this is something that will echo within many countries in the Non-Aligned Movement, where Sri Lanka has a much respected position and where I hope we will be able to raise this issue.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dhanapala also stressed on the accountability on the part of Western governments, which conveniently turned a blind eye to massive fundraising operations in their countries, in support of the LTTE operations. It is no secret that the LTTE would never have been able to emerge as a conventional fighting force without having the wherewithal abroad, mainly in the Western countries, to procure arms, ammunition and equipment. But, the government never acted on Dhanapala’s advice.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Instead the Mahinda Rajapaksa government squandered over USD 6 mn on a foolish US project in 2014 that didn’t help Sri Lanka at all. That project was meant to thwart the 2015 US resolution in Geneva. The rest is history.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-6686887234141073172023-06-21T05:38:00.000-07:002023-06-21T05:38:29.730-07:00Costly UNDP ‘lessons’ for Parliament<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 475</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></h3><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"> <span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Published 2023/06/21</span></span></h2><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_116454" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #777777; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem; margin: 5px auto 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 660px;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-116454" class="wp-image-116454 size-full ls-is-cached lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Azusa-Kubota-and-ranil-wickramasinghe.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Azusa-Kubota-and-ranil-wickramasinghe.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Azusa-Kubota-and-ranil-wickramasinghe-300x199.jpg 300w" height="432" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Azusa-Kubota-and-ranil-wickramasinghe.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Azusa-Kubota-and-ranil-wickramasinghe.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Azusa-Kubota-and-ranil-wickramasinghe-300x199.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 12.8px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="650" /><p class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-116454" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">President Wickremesinghe meets UNDP head Kubota at the Presidential Secretariat on 16 June(Pic courtesy PMD)</em></p></div><p align="LEFT" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Close on the heels of Colombo-based UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota’s meet with Speaker Abeywardena, in the company of International expert on parliamentary development Kevin Deveaux, she held talks with President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday (16 June). The discussion centered on UNDP help to build capacity of the Parliamentary Oversight Committees and youth engagement in public policy. The President’s Office last week rejected a controversial report on the proposed privatization of national telecommunication provider Sri LankaTelecom (SLT) by the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security. The SOC report has placed the government in an embarrassing position. Instead of addressing the issues raised by SOC, chaired by retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, MP, the government has simply rejected it out of hand on the basis of former Public Security Minister Weerasekera’s failure to consult the relevant security authorities.</strong></p></blockquote><p> </p><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/costly-undp-lessons-for-parliament/#" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Tweet This Post"><li class="mvp-post-soc-twit" style="background: rgb(85, 172, 238); 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font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">UNDP Resident Representative in Colombo, Azusa Kubota, accompanied international expert on parliamentary development, Kevin Deveaux, to meet Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena at the Parliament on 14th June. They were joined by Policy Expert and Head of Governance, UNDP Colombo, Chandrika Karunaratne.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Japanese national Kubota took over the UNDP mission in Colombo in January this year in the wake of the forced removal of Gotabaya Rajapaksa who handsomely won the last presidential election in November 2019. She had been the UNDP’s Resident Representative in Bhutan from 2019 to 2022.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to a brief statement issued by Parliament, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa, Deputy Chair of Committees Angajan Ramanathan, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, Assistant Secretary General Hansa Abeyratne and Speaker’s Foreign Affairs Coordinating Secretary Dr. Chamira Yapa Abeywardena were present on the occasion. Dr. Chamira Yapa Abeywardena is the Speaker’s son.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The trilingual media statement didn’t indicate as to why UNDP brought in the former Canadian lawmaker, a lawyer by profession here at a time Parliament is in deepening turmoil. There is no doubt the UNDP wants Deveaux to advise the Sri Lanka Parliament. Interestingly, the UNDP has engaged an ex-Canadian lawmaker for its high profile project here at a time controversy surrounds the Canadian Parliament passing a resolution, claiming Sri Lanka had committed genocide against its Tamils and a declaration of punitive sanctions against former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa over unsubstantiated war crimes allegations, especially during the last phase of the war to defeat “the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit” the LTTE.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Did Parliament seek UNDP’s assistance or did the UN intervene on its own? The UN has had a murky past here, especially during the war years when it only posted Westerners. One such Resident Representative even went to the extent of wanting to declare its compound in Colombo a refugee camp for Tamils obviously to create a new problem for Sri Lanka. Luckily for us our then much loved Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, later assassinated by the LTTE, had the guts to tell the world body, obviously manipulated by the West, where to get off.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bankrupt Sri Lanka is at a crossroads. With political parties unable to reach consensus on a tangible recovery plan over a year after outspoken Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe acknowledged Sri Lanka’s inability to meet her obligations, Parliament seems to be the mother of all problems.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Responding to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island </i>query in this regard, Kubota has sent us the following response: Kevin Deveaux is here in his capacity as an expert consultant. Deveaux is also a former UNDP parliamentary development advisor supporting all of our programmes in the world. The former Canadian lawmaker is here as part of the integrated economic governance mission which looks at our current Parliament development programme and advises on future activities. As you know, we have a longstanding programme with the Parliament. The meeting was a courtesy call to initiate the exercise.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">UNDP’s efforts should be appreciated. However, UNDP Colombo that had funded projects implemented by Parliament here cannot be unaware of the pathetic status of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary democracy. Further funding wouldn’t make any difference as long as those at the helm lacked political will to take remedial measures. Sri Lankan leadership, regardless of who exercised the power at any given time since 1977, seems hell-bent on pursuing corrupt practices, regardless of consequences. The accusations exchanged between the government and Opposition benches repeatedly prove that Parliament is the worst offender and directly responsible for the unprecedented economic crisis.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Parliament standards hit a new low late last month when first time entrant Ali Sabri Raheem of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA), was caught trying to smuggle in gold and smartphones worth Rs 74 mn and Rs 4.2 mn respectively, through the VIP channel of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). The arrest was made after he arrived from Dubai, his sixth visit to that destination since 01 March, this year! The following day, he coolly entered Parliament and exercised his vote in support of the Opposition when the government successfully moved a resolution against the then Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission Janaka Ratnayake.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having declared the UNDP’s involvement with Parliament for over a decade at an orientation workshop for youth representatives of Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament, at Waters Edge, Battaramulla, on 13 June this year, Kubota must surely be ashamed of the developing situation. Speaker Abeywardena has declared that he didn’t have the power to deal with the errant MP who seems to have visited Dubai more than his electorate Puttalam since March, this year.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Addressing the event at Waters Edge, Kubota explained the UNDP’s role here to the gathering. The audience included President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also serves as the Minister of Finance as well as Defence, Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Kubota stressed that the UNDP backed initiatives to strengthen Parliament. Such initiatives were meant to foster democracy and promote what Kubota called sustainable and inclusive development.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The President’s Office quoted Kubota as having said that UNDP’s global collaboration with parliaments around the world focused on strengthening all their core functions. “These functions include lawmaking, oversight, representation and budget scrutiny. While doing so, we hope to further enhance the inclusivity and representation of the people. We promote a greater oversight of transparent governance processes and to improve the effectiveness of its functioning. The current programme we have with the Parliament of Sri Lanka is one of such flagship partnerships in the Asia Pacific region.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We would beg to ask how transparent is the UN about its own internal governance, especially inside the UNDP in particular when it picks heads to third world countries.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to ask the Speaker’s Office about the total amount of UNDP funds spent on various projects meant to strengthen Parliament over the past decade. Obviously, as Kubota disclosed at the Waters Edge event, the UNDP had intervened in Parliament during the tail end of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term. Had the UNDP funded projects achieved desired results? Perhaps, the UNDP should at least confidentially assert the situation.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What ails Parliament?</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Utterly corrupt, extravagant and incorrigible political party system has ruined Parliament. That is the ugly truth. The parliamentary system has deteriorated to such an extent the Parliament now appears to have developed an in-built system to protect those engaged in corruption at every level even though the judiciary from time to time delivered far reaching judgments.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There cannot be a better example than the Supreme Court judgment (SC [FR] 209/2007) on Attorney-at-Law Vasudeva Nanayakkara MP vs the then Finance Minister K.N. Choksy PC and 30 others in respect of the controversial sale of shares of Lanka Marine Services Ltd (LMSL), a wholly owned profit-making company of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). The three-judge bench comprising then Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva, R.A.N.G. Amaratunga and D. J de S. Balapatabendi, on 21 July, 2008 reversed the sale of LMSL shares to blue chip company John Keells Holdings Limited. The apex court found fault with Dr. P.B. Jayasundera for working in collusion with Susantha Ratnayake the then Chairman of John Keells for the benefit of the conglomerate and ordered him to pay half a million rupees to the State. Click the line for the LMSL judgment (https://whistleblower.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/LMS_SC_Judgment.pdf)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By the time SC delivered this judgment Dr. P.B. Jayasundera who executed the deal during the UNP-led UNF government in his capacity as the Chairman of PERC (Public Enterprise Reforms Commission) served the President Mahinda Rajapaksa government as the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. Petitioner Vasudeva Nanayakkara at the same time served as a member of the Cabinet. Dr. PBJ continued as the Finance Secretary till 2015 whereas Vasudeva Nanayakkara served as a Cabinet Minister. All forget that the Secretary to a particular ministry is the Chief Accounting Officer.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, our political party system conveniently forgot this judgment. Had political party leaders took notice of that judgment, they would have been accountable to Parliament. Unfortunately, the SLFP-led UPFA disregarded that judgment. In fact, the Rajapaksas brought back Dr. P.B. Jayasundera as the Secretary to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa following the November 2019 presidential election. Then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Susantha Ratnayake as Chairman of BOI.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the custodian of public funds, the Parliament should have acted on the LMSL judgment. The failure on the part of Parliament to go the whole hog should be examined, taking into consideration the fact that Vasudeva Nanayakkara couldn’t have moved the Supreme Court if not for the thorough inquiry conducted by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) under the leadership of lawmaker Wijeyadasa Rajapakse. At the time Wijeyadasa Rajapakse investigated the LMSL deal, he hadn’t received the title of President’s Counsel.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Had there been a consensus among an honest group of MPs backed by the civil society, disclosures made by parliamentary watchdogs could have paved the way for lawsuits. Instead, political parties represented in Parliament seemed to have reached a general agreement that such disclosures wouldn’t end up in court cases. Strangely, the usual rabble-rousers, the plethora of Western funded NGOs, who scream bloody murder on issues of interest to their pay masters, were dead silent on issues like these</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">KJ’s USAID project</strong></p><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_116455" style="border: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 0.8rem; margin: 5px auto 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 710px;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-116455" class="size-full wp-image-116455 ls-is-cached lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/kushani-rohanadeer.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/kushani-rohanadeer.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/kushani-rohanadeer-300x222.jpg 300w" height="517" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/kushani-rohanadeer.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/kushani-rohanadeer.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/kushani-rohanadeer-300x222.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 12.8px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /><p class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-116455" style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 12.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Secretary General, Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera addresses the meeting attended by Deveaux. Jaffna District SLFP MP and Deputy Chair of committees Angajan Ramanathan sits next to Rohanadeera (Pic courtesy Parliament)</em></p></div><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The UNDP’s impact on Parliament cannot be discussed without taking into consideration an unprecedented agreement between the USAID and Parliament finalized in 2016.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In early March, 2016 USAID (United States Agency for International Development) sponsored a conference for members of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and officials from the Finance Ministry and the Auditor General’s Department.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The conference was meant to help strengthen overall transparency, accountability and effectiveness of governance. At the time of the launch of the project, Karu Jayasuriya served as the Speaker with the UPFA’s Lasantha Alagiyawanna and JVP’s Sunil Handunnetti as Chairmen of COPA and COPE, respectively.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately such projects didn’t make any difference. Recently Lasantha Alagiyawanna, who had been re-elected as the Chairman of COPA, declared that instructions issued by him in 2016 to revenue collecting authorities hadn’t been carried out even in 2023. Therefore, the public can safely assume that successive governments allowed the deterioration of public finance by turning a blind eye to rampant corruption at every level.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">USAID projects here align with their much-touted free and open Indo-Pacific -in other words countering growing Chinese influence in the region.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In late Novenber 2016, USAID launched a Rs. 1.92 billion (USD 13 mn) three-year partnership with Parliament here to strengthen accountability and democratic governance in Sri Lanka. The US Embassy quoted USAID Mission Director Andrew Sisson at that time as having said: “This project broadens our support to the independent commissions, ministries, and provincial and local levels of government.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Among those present were Chairs of the Sectoral Oversight Committees and Independent Commissions. Did the USAID and Parliament achieve intended targets? If those high profile projects were successful, Sri Lanka wouldn’t be in its current sorry state. Having to kneel before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the 17th time, Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst post-independence crisis. Perhaps Parliament and USAID should disclose a comprehensive audit on the USD 13 mn project against the backdrop of its failure. The US Embassy is on record as having said that the project enhanced capacity building of the Sectoral Oversight Committees and staff, and improvement to the Parliament’s Standing Orders.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Karu Jayasuriya, now the Chairman of NMSJ (National Movement for Social Justice)l owed the country an explanation regarding the status of foreign-funded projects implemented during his tenure as the Speaker.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Impact of other projects</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to ask those at the helm of government leadership whether various foreign funded projects improved good governance and achieved their other objectives. Perusal of USAID overview of Sri Lanka pertaining to governance indicated the ongoing projects and funds made available <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[1]</b> USD 19 mn social cohesion and reconciliation project implemented by Global Communities (July 2018-Dec, 2023) <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[2]</b> Analysis of social cohesion and reconciliation implemented by US Institute of Peace at a cost of USD 700,000 (Aug, 2018-Feb, 2024) <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[3]</b> USD 15 mn project implemented by Chemonics International Inc. to strengthen the justice sector, including the Justice Ministry and Office of Attorney General (Sept. 2021-Sept. 2026) <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[4]</b> USD 17 mn project carried out by National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute and International Foundation for Electoral System in support of Parliament and other government institutions, including the Election Commission ( June 2020 – June 2024) <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[5]</b> USD 14 mn worth project in support of civil society meant to achieve good governance reforms and strengthen accountability. Implemented by Management Systems International (Feb. 2018-Aug. 2024) <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[6] </b>USD 7.9 mn scheme to strengthen media implemented by International Research and Exchanges Board Inc. (Aug. 2017-April 2023) <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[7]</b> SAFE Foundation implemented programme at a cost of USD 3.9 mn aimed at combating human trafficking (Oct. 2021-Sept. 2026) <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[8]</b> USD 1.6 mn project to enhance protection for those threatened by gender-based violence (Oct. 2021-Sept. 2026). Implementing agency Women-on-Need <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[9]</b> USD 3.6 mn project for the benefit of plantation community implemented by Institute of Social Development (June 2022-June 2027) and <b style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[10]</b> a staggering USD 19 mn project meant to strengthen the civil society unnamed private agencies (Sept. 2022-August 2027). Click the line for USAID statement: :https://www.usaid.gov/sri-lanka/democracy-human-rights-and-governance</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka needs to keep track of foreign funding for various projects in line with overall national security objectives. There is no denying the fact these high profile projects haven’t achieved intended objectives those engaged in the NGO industry benefited immensely. The recipients of massive foreign funding during the war to secure a negotiated settlement ended up richer while the LTTE leadership perished on the Vanni east front thanks to the numerous sacrifices made by our security forces. A Norwegian government study released in 2011 disclosed the vast amounts provided to well over a dozen NGOs to facilitate a negotiated settlement with the LTTE leadership that was utterly confident of a convincing battlefield victory over the Army.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Foreign investments here, both in the public and private sectors have to be closely examined to ensure funds are not misused. In respect of EU and USAID funding, it would be pertinent to ask whether those who implemented those projects achieved desired goals. Any foreign funding should be investigated taking into consideration the 2016 revelation that the US funded the 2015 change of government here, having earlier failed to ensure General Sarath Fonseka’s victory at the 2010 presidential poll.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No less a person than the then US Secretary of State John Kerry revealed in 2016 that the State Department spent a staggering USD 585 mn ‘to restore democracy’ in Nigeria, Burma and Sri Lanka in 2014/2015. Who in the NGO and civil society network did receive US funds here? What were the projects utilized by the sponsors and did any political party or political party leaders receive funds?</p></div></div></div></div><p> </p>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-24941441691447021212023-06-18T06:27:00.000-07:002023-06-18T06:27:02.303-07:00Weerasekera’s report on SLT pits Executive against Legislature<header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><h3 style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 474</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: 16px; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/06/14</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px -380px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 380px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/parliament-of-sri-lanka.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/parliament-of-sri-lanka.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/parliament-of-sri-lanka-300x197.jpg 300w" height="426" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/parliament-of-sri-lanka.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/parliament-of-sri-lanka.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/parliament-of-sri-lanka-300x197.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; 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font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having strongly opposed the privatization of Sri Lanka Telecom, the Sectoral Committee on National Security made the following recommendations:</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(a) SLT is already partially privatised with international companies holding 44.98% of the stake and the government holding 49.5%. Further privatisation would expose the country’s critical communication infrastructure/sensitive information to private entities whose profit-oriented interests can compromise national security. Hence privatisation of Telecom is not recommended.</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(b) Anyone/organisation who had been blacklisted/helped terrorists/extremists in any form should not be allowed to buy any share and have any control over our national assets.</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(c) State can buy back the other large shareholder of Telecom as provided for in the agreement, divide the segments into sensitive and vulnerable, excess lands and buildings, critical infrastructure and the business. Whilst retaining the first segments affecting National Security, the state can divest the others holding a major share through Private Public Partnership ensuring critical infrastructure is protected and all government regulations are adhered to. This way the government can exit from doing business whilst making profit and ensuring National Security.</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka Telecom shares fell 7.8 percent on Friday (09 June) during trades following the release of the SOC report.</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There hadn’t been a previous instance of a President having to publicly challenge a report put out by a Sectoral Oversight Committee or any other watchdog committee.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Several hours after the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security tabled a report on ‘The effects of the privatization of Sri Lanka Telecom on National Security’ in Parliament on Friday (09) the President’s Media Division (PMD) countered the controversial assessment.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The 11-member SOC, led by one-time Navy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, included war-winning Army Commander the then Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, MP. The SOC comprised Sarath Weerasekara (SLPP), Chamal Rajapaksa (SLPP), Chandima Weerakkody (SLPP), Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka (SJB), (Prof.) Channa Jayasumana (SLPP rebel group), Charles Nirmalanathan (Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi), Sampath Athukorala (SLPP), U.K. Sumith Udukumbura (SLPP), (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda (SLPP), Major Sudarshana Denipitiya (SLPP) and Nimal Piyathissa (JNP)</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi is the leading party in the TNA, one-time ally of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The UNP and JVP with just one and three members in Parliament, respectively, are not represented in this particular SOC.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The controversial SOC report, though some asserted caught President Ranil Wickremesinghe by surprise, the writer firmly believes the the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government knew what was coming. It would be pertinent to ask whether all members of this particular SOC fully read the report available in Sinhala, Tamil and English before the former Public Security Minister tabled it.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The then CBK administration partly privatized the SLT in 1994. Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation of Japan secured 35% of the SLT but those shares were bought by a Netherlands-based company, called Global Telecommunications Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd. As of today the Malaysian Company holds 44.98% of the stake and the Government holds 49.50%.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">President Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to divest the remaining shares in line with his disputed strategy that the government quit business altogether. With a countrywide customer base of nine million, the income revenue of SLT in 2022 was Rs. 108 billion and the profit was Rs. 8.46 billion.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Acknowledging the SOC’s unprecedented warning over national security threat posed by total privatization of SLT and the factual content of the report, the PMD issued the following statement: “…the Government believes that it lacked a logical or scientific data analysis pertaining to the subject matter. To address this deficiency, it is necessary to examine the operation and regulation of information and communication technology service providers in Sri Lanka, analyze financial data related to the sector, understand Sri Lanka’s national ambitions in this field, assess the available capital capacity, and conduct a comprehensive study of global trends.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Furthermore, the Government has reassured that the policy decision taken will not compromise national security, contrary to what is indicated in the report.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hence, the Government will take a final decision during an upcoming Cabinet meeting, considering this report along with recommendations from the information and communication sector.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Additionally, the President emphasizes that the current government’s policy is focused on providing opportunities to the private sector, distancing it from direct government involvement in business.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Politics of privatization</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Sarath Weerasekera received the leadership of the SOC on 08 March , this year. One-time Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa proposed Weerasekera while U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, also of the SLPP, seconded the naval veteran.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having retired in 2006, Rear Admiral Weerasekera successfully contested the Digamadulla district on the then UPFA ticket at the 2010 parliamentary election. The decision to issue a report against privatization of SLT seems to be in line with MP Weerasekera’s patriotic zeal. He was the only UPFA lawmaker to vote against the 19th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in early 2015. In spite of the then President Maithripala Sirisena personally appealing to the rebel UPFA parliamentary group, Weerasekera declined to throw his weight behind what was touted as the panacea for constitutional problems.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Responding to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island </i>queries, MP Weerasekera explained that his committee highlighted the danger in the government losing control of the vital telecommunications sector. “The issue at hand cannot be discussed without taking into consideration political, economic and social developments that led to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s unceremonious exit last July,” the 71-year-old parliamentarian said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Weerasekera said that he didn’t want to repeat the SOC report but the government couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for examining all aspects before fully privatizing the telecommunication sector.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Referring to the statement issued by the PMD, lawmaker Weerasekera said that the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by President Wickremesinghe, should be held responsible for whatever the consequences of the privatization.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">President Wickremesinghe, who holds the finance portfolio, repeatedly declared his intention to privatize even the profit-making public enterprises as part of his economic revival strategy. However, the success of the UNP leader’s strategy entirely depends on the SLPP stand on privatization. Having elected Wickremesinghe as the eighth President at an unprecedented vote, the SLPP is deeply upset over the former’s failure, so far, to accommodate about 10 ‘pohottu’ members in the Cabinet. Can the SLPP back Wickremesinghe regardless of the blunt report on SLT, endorsed by its own party men, including rebel SLPPers?</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, the composition of the SOC seems irrational as seven out of 11 all barring three happened to be members of one political party.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps, 15 political parties represented in Parliament should state their stand on the proposed SLT privatization. Of those 15 political parties, nine are represented by one member each. UNP (National List MP Wajira Abeywardena) is among them.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There had never been such a controversial SOC report since the introduction of the system. The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the Prime Minister, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament; and Ministers of Cabinet appointed under Article 43(2) of the Constitution cannot serve on SOCs appointed in terms of Standing Orders 111. SOCs have the power to examine any Bill, any subsidiary legislation, including Regulation, Resolution, Treaty, Report or any other matter relating to subjects and functions within their jurisdiction. There cannot be more than 20 SOCs at any given time.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yugadanavi fiasco</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-115456 lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/president-ranil-wickramasinghe-sarath-weerasekara-and-prof.rohan-samarajiva.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/president-ranil-wickramasinghe-sarath-weerasekara-and-prof.rohan-samarajiva.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/president-ranil-wickramasinghe-sarath-weerasekara-and-prof.rohan-samarajiva-300x111.jpg 300w" height="260" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/president-ranil-wickramasinghe-sarath-weerasekara-and-prof.rohan-samarajiva.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/president-ranil-wickramasinghe-sarath-weerasekara-and-prof.rohan-samarajiva.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/president-ranil-wickramasinghe-sarath-weerasekara-and-prof.rohan-samarajiva-300x111.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 17.6px; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" />Now that PMD has declared the final decision on SLT privatization would be taken at the Cabinet, let me discuss the Yugadanavi deal that was challenged in the Supreme Court by three members of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Cabinet.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There hadn’t been a previous instance of ministers moving the Supreme Court against a decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers. Although the apex court dismissed petitions without giving reasons, disclosures made by petitioners, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Attorney-at-Law Udaya Gammanpila bared the ugly truth. There hadn’t been a previous instance of any Sri Lankan government entering into such an agreement at midnight. The agreement signed on 17 Sept., 2021 at the behest of the then Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is in the public domain.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The consideration of the petitions concluded on 23 February, 2022 before a five-judge bench consisting of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Vijith Malalgoda and L.T.B. Dehideniya.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The three daring ministers revealed that the government sold 40% of shares of West Coast Power Limited to New Fortress Energy of US without following proper procedures. They declared they never approved the deal. Unfortunately, the Dullas-Prof. G.L. Peiris-led group remained silent. Had they, too, raised the issue perhaps the Rajapaksa brothers could have reconsidered the decision. By the time the Dullas-Prof. Peiris group decided to oppose Ranil Wickremesinghe’s election as President, it was too late. The SLPP was in disarray. The party appeared to have accepted Wickremesinghe as its saviour, hence the decision to vote against Dullas Alahapperuma, who served the Rajapaksas diligently.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some of those who had served President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Cabinet at the time Sri Lanka entered into the controversial Yugadanavi deal (a section of the media calls it New Fortress deal) are in the current Cabinet. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena is among them.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The SOC Chairman said that he initiated the inquiry into the proposed sale of SLT on his own as he felt the urgent need to do. “No, the Parliament didn’t intervene in this matter.” The former minister said so when the writer asked him whether the Parliament directed him to examine the issue at hand. MP Weerasekera insisted that he had secured the consent of all before tabling the report.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Before tabling the report on SLT in Parliament, the SOC Chief took up the Canadian declaration of genocide in Sri Lanka and travel ban issued on military and political leaders over accountability issues. The former Navy Deputy Chief of Staff questioned the lapses on the part of successive governments in countering unsubstantiated war crimes accusations that led to the co-sponsorship of the Geneva Resolution by the then <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> government in October 2015, a treacherous act, indeed.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Weerasekera stressed that the responsibility on the Foreign Ministry and of Parliament to counter the despicable Canadian move meant to please particularly Canadian voters of Sri Lankan Tamil origin, who are an important vote bank there. <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana </i>partners, the UNP and SLFP, also owed an explanation and public apology for the great betrayal of the war-winning armed forces, he said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The SOC Chairman said that the move to sell the remaining government-owned shares should be closely examined against the backdrop of other external investments in key sectors, including harbours as well as the country’s bankrupt status.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Responsibilities of Cabinet, Parliament</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ministers exercise executive powers in Parliament. Therefore, they are not subject to the scrutiny of SOCs or watchdog committees. Secretaries to ministries in their capacity as Chief Accounting Officers of respective ministries are answerable to Parliament in all matters pertaining to finances. However, in a case of perceived national security threat as alleged by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, perhaps the entire Cabinet of Ministers should be held responsible.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The bottom line is can the Cabinet of Ministers go ahead with the sale of SLT without a proper re-evaluation of the SOC report that quite strongly advised against the privatization of the national telecommunications provider, on national security grounds.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The examination of the proposed sale of SLT has reminded all that other SOCs can engage in similar exercises in terms of Standing Orders 111. The statement issued by the PMD underscored President Wickremesinghe’s inclination to go ahead with the sale of SLT, regardless of the warning issued by Parliament. The SOC’s National Security assessment represents the considered view of the Parliament.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Therefore, it cannot be simply dismissed as an opinion of a hardline nationalist lawmaker. Even during the naval career of Weerasekera, there were occasions he resorted to actions not acceptable to political leadership in the interest of the country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Weerasekera’s report should be carefully examined by the Cabinet of Ministers and Parliament. The Cabinet of Ministers shouldn’t be simply a rubber seal. But there had been instances of the government even sidestepping the Cabinet in taking far reaching decisions. There cannot be a better example than the utterly disloyal act of co-sponsoring the Geneva resolution against one’s own country without parliamentary or Cabinet approval.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">More recently the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government and the Opposition clashed over refusal of the government to take the Parliament into confidence in the run-up to the finalization of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ex-Telecommunications’ DG responds to SOC report</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Meanwhile, former Director General of Telecommunications Prof Rohan Samarajiva roundly dismissed SOC assertion. Declaring that there is absolutely no basis for SOC’s claim that privatization of SLT threatened the national security, Prof. Samarajiva said national security is important. But it has, for too long, been used as a cheap slogan to mask parochial interests, he said.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In response to <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island </i>query, the outspoken civil society activist and one time Marxist, sent us the following statement: “It should be obvious that a country whose export industries are not competitive and whose government is bankrupt because it spends more than it brings in as revenue year after year will grievously compromise its security and leave itself open to external interference. If not for the reforms that were undertaken in the telecom sector from 1997 to 2003, our export industries would be hamstrung by expensive and poor-quality services. For example, one reason we had no BPO industry in 2003 was the SLT monopoly. Once it was ended the investments came in, jobs were created, and the export earnings realized. Removing the residual advantages enjoyed by SLT so that a more level playing field is created will allow all our export industries, not limited to the BPO industry, to be competitive. The state makes more from the taxes paid by the entire telecom sector than the below-par profit share currently remitted by SLT.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is no evidence that complete managerial control by NTT, the minority owner of SLT, during the worst years of the war, compromised security. Under 100 percent state ownership and management, national security was compromised because those in charge had not invested in redundancy for the country’s then single international gateway on Lotus Road, a location that had been subject to repeated terrorist attacks. It was after partial privatization and under regulatory direction that this glaring omission was rectified.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;">National security is safeguarded by identifying specific threats and responding to them appropriately as above. If the problem is data, the solution is the setting in place of effective safeguards by law and regulatory oversight, not having an unqualified presidential sibling as Board Chairman, which was a demonstrated outcome of state ownership. Independently of who sits on the Board, it is possible to require that specific officers in sensitive positions be Sri Lankan citizens who have been subject to security screening. This need not be limited to SLT, but to all major operators.”</span> </p>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-59074858922526725392023-06-18T06:20:00.000-07:002023-06-18T06:20:25.954-07:00Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act jolts Opposition<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 473</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/06/7</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Broadcasting-Regulatory-Commission.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Broadcasting-Regulatory-Commission.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Broadcasting-Regulatory-Commission-300x198.jpg 300w" height="430" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Broadcasting-Regulatory-Commission.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Broadcasting-Regulatory-Commission.jpg 650w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Broadcasting-Regulatory-Commission-300x198.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; 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color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="mvp-post-soc-com mvp-com-click" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); color: #bbbbbb; float: left; font-size: 18px; height: 28px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 38px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-2 fa-commenting" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New laws contemplated by the government appears to have caused much concern among Opposition political parties for obvious reasons. The constitutionality of the proposed Broadcasting Authority Bill is expected to be challenged in the Supreme Court. The whole process of law making raised quite a stir in the wake of the recent shocking Supreme Court determination that one-third of the Bill titled ‘Central Bank of Sri Lanka’ is contrary to the Constitution and several dozens of amendments are required to pave the way for its passage with a simple majority. It also shows that our judges have a backbone and are not easily swayed by the incumbent all-powerful Executive President, who is only there on a ‘contract’ to complete the remainder of the previous President Gatabaya Rajapaksa’s term after he was ousted by violent protests instigated from outside.</span></strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, continuing to struggle on the economic front, is keen to consolidate its position, both in and outside Parliament.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The media has emerged as the major challenge to the government due to the failure on the part of the Opposition to adopt a cohesive political strategy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Both the government and the Opposition seem to be in disarray and unable to come to terms with the continuing political-economic and social crisis, fuelled by external forces.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The move to introduce a controversial Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act should be examined, taking into consideration current political and economic challenges faced by the incumbent administration.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Did the Justice Ministry or the Media Ministry, at least, informally consult President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the Minister of Defence, in addition to being the Finance Minister and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, on the proposed Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act, at least after being so thoroughly educated by the highest court in the land on the ‘Central Bank of Sri Lanka’ Bill? A section of the Opposition believes the President hadn’t been aware of this move.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, former External Affairs Minister and SLPP rebel Prof. G. L. Peiris and Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda didn’t mince their words when they alleged the whole exercise was for the benefit of President Wickremesinghe. Prof. Peiris has alleged that the President intended to rein in media in line with his overall political strategy to consolidate his power whereas Jayagoda explained how the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government launched the project soon after the UNP leader’s election as the President in late July last year. Jayagoda insists that the Cabinet has cleared the Bill.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Broadcasting Regulatory Commission and the committee tasked to investigate complaints against television and radio stations would be dominated by the President’s men to such an extent, it couldn’t be expected to discharge its responsibilities in an impartial manner. Jayagoda pointed out how two persons of the Regulatory Commission could take far reaching decisions regardless of the consequences. In case any member failed to carry out directives received from the President, he or she faced the axe.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jaygoda questioned the absurdity in appointing the commission for a period of five years in line with the five-year presidential term. Both Prof. Peiris and Jayagoda emphasized the grave danger posed by the President exercising power over the media regardless of some sections of the media pursuing politically motivated agendas.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Against the backdrop of fierce criticism of the proposed law, Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, on 02 June came up with the face saving reply that no final decision has been taken in this regard.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The former President of the Bar Association said that the issue at hand was still under discussion and a set of proposals, pertaining to the proposed Broadcast Authority Act, were in the public domain. The Minister insisted that the relevant bill is yet to be prepared.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Colombo District lawmaker said so in his capacity as the Chairman of a Cabinet sub-committee tasked with preparing a regulatory mechanism in this regard. The Cabinet-sub-committee consists of Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Ports and Shipping Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The media raised the proposed Bill with Minister Rajapakse at a briefing in the Justice Ministry especially called to address issues pertaining to the Office of the Missing Persons (OMP) established in 2016 during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Rajapakse has assured that media organizations would be given an opportunity to make representations in this regard.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The latest controversy over the proposed Bill with a set of proposals outlining its possible content already in the public domain, should be examined against the backdrop of strong opposition to the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill and Bill titled ‘Central Bank of Sri Lanka.’ In addition to those disputed and much discussed Bills, a major debate is likely over the proposed Budget Office. The text of the Bill meant to specify the powers, duties and functions of the Budget Office is now in the public domain. The government certainly owed an explanation as to why it cannot seek a consensus with the Opposition at the relevant consultative committee/sectoral oversight committee in this regard. The country is in such a desperate situation, it cannot under any circumstances afford further political turmoil.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately, the government appears to be hell-bent on bulldozing its way through the legislature, regardless of whatever consequences.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The recent sacking of Janaka Ratnayake, the outspoken and highly ambitious Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission underscored the government strategy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ratnayake is on record as having said before a parliamentary watchdog committee that he received the influential position for serving the Rajapaksas. But, he was removed by the Rajapaksas’ SLPP at the behest of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Altogether 123 lawmakers voted for the motion to remove Ratnayake whereas 77 opposed. Government member Ali Sabri Raheem voted against the motion to protest against the failure on the part of President Wickremesinghe and Premier Dinesh Gunawardena to intervene on his behalf after he was caught with undeclared gold and smartphones worth Rs 74 mn and Rs 4.2 mn, respectively, while coming through the VIP/VVIP channel at the BIA, where such people are normally whisked through without any checks.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rebel SLPP lawmaker Prof. Charitha Herath mounted a no holds barred attack on the proposed Broadcasting Authority Act. At his regular briefing at Nidahasa Jathika Sabhawa (NJS) office at Nawala. The one-time Media Ministry Secretary explained how the proposed law could be utilized against television and radio stations which refused to toe the government line.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The NJS comprises 13 MPs elected and appointed on the SLPP ticket/accommodated on its National List.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Acknowledging the need and the responsibility on the part of the government to introduce the Broadcasting Authority Act, National List lawmaker Herath questioned the intention of those behind what he called a despicable move.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The country’s radio and television stations are allowed to operate in terms of the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation Act (No 37 of 1966) and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Act (No 06 of 1982), respectively. Herath also explained how the Telecommunications Act applied to broadcasting operations.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The MP said that no one could dispute the need to introduce a new law to regulate radio and television stations. But the proposed Bill now in the public domain revealed the government’s intention to suppress those who would dare to challenge it on whatever issue, lawmaker Herath said, warning the government of dire consequences if it pursued such a strategy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asked to explain, MP Herath alleged that the proposed Act dealt with radio and television stations in a manner that they were yet to be established in Sri Lanka. The architects of the new law conveniently ignored the fact that radio and television stations were in operation here for several decades and couldn’t be subjected to a new law the way it dealt with a new entrant.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The bottom line is that the proposed Broadcasting Authority Act completely ignored Article 14 of the Constitution that guaranteed the freedom of speech and expression, including publication. If the enactment of the proposed Broadcasting Authority Act takes place as it is, that will deliver a deadly blow to democracy. We do not want a North Korea type situation here.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Referring to the composition of the commission, MP Herath questioned the rationale in restricting the total number of members to five and the quorum three. Pointing out that of the five members of the proposed commission, two – a Secretary to a Ministry (most probably Media Ministry) and the Director General of Telecommunication Regulatory Commission were ex-officio, the lawmaker said the President would name three remaining members subject to the approval of the Constitutional Council.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alleging that this commission would be nothing but a highly dangerous tool in the hands of those at the helm of political power, lawmaker Herath said that it could be used selectively against any media organization that took a stand contrary to that of the government in respect of any issue – ranging from national security to what the architects of this destructive piece of legislation called the national economy. The operations of the offending media could be either suspended or permanently closed down, the academic said, urging the print and electronic media to vigorously take up this issue.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MP Herath lambasted the government for seeking to prohibit the media taking up economic issues. Alleging that such provisions were political, the lawmaker said that the issue is who would interpret the term ‘national economy’ in an economically ruined country. Would it be President Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Finance Minister, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe or the International Monetary Fund, he asked</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Prof. Herath expressed serious concern over the proposed committee consisting of three persons headed by the Director General, TRC, to investigate complaints directed at radio and television stations. Pointing out that there is ambiguity pertaining to the appointment of such a committee, the MP questioned how two out of the three-member committee could decide either to suspend or permanently close down operations of an ‘offending’ broadcaster.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Impact on Parliament</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, MP Herath didn’t discuss how the proposed new law could even hinder the coverage of parliamentary proceedings as well as the reportage of shocking disclosures at parliamentary watchdog committees. Depending on the stand taken by the government on a particular issue, in terms of the Broadcasting Authority Act, action can be initiated against a television station for its reportage on a matter even discussed in Parliament.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The UNP may use the new law to suppress reportage and discussion on Treasury bond scams perpetrated in 2015 and 2016 under its watch. The SLPP may find the new law useful to pressure the media over the reportage of circumstances leading to the economic ruin due to a spate of ill- advised decisions taken by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The committee tasked with investigating complaints against media organizations may find even the exposure of serious lapses on the part of the bureaucracy offensive. A case in point is the shocking disclosures made in the relevant parliamentary watchdog committees how the officialdom addressed critical issues at hand. The recent revelation that taxes, interest and penalties amounting to Rs 904 bn hasn’t been collected by the Inland Revenue underscored the need to address this issue urgently.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the media briefing lawmaker Herath explained how the media could be targeted on the basis of alleged abuses in the coverage of issues. In the absence of interpretation of the term abuse of power, the committee headed by the Director General, TRC would be able to find fault with any broadcaster to appease his/her political master. It would be pertinent to mention that just two out of a three-member committee is authorized to decide on the fate of a media organization. Even the criticism of the controversial postponement of the much delayed Local Government polls indefinitely may attract the attention of the Broadcasting Authority as the government propagated the myth that economic recovery should be given priority, therefore election process can wait.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Prof. Herath explained how members of the commission can be removed in case they didn’t toe the government line. Instead of the very purpose a Broadcasting Authority is required to primarily have a level playing field, the one proposed can be a threat to media freedom. In the hands of politicians who pursue destructive self-aggrandizing strategies regardless of consequences, therefore the proposed Broadcasting Authority can be a tool to harm the free media. Prof. Herath regretted that the previous attempts to establish a Broadcasting Authority hadn’t been successful.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harsha takes a strong stand</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) front liner Dr. Harsha de Silva is another MP who came out strongly against the proposed law. The former UNP non-Cabinet minister flayed the government over the move at a media briefing held at the Opposition Leader’s Office on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The top SJB spokesman warned that this legislation, touted as an effort to advance the mass media, actually would serve as a tool for the government to crack down on and manipulate the media to suit its own agenda.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to Dr. de Silva, the proposed Broadcasting Authority Bill contained provisions that enabled the government to exert pressure on and control media outlets that do not align with its ideology. Such measures, the economist argued were fundamentally incompatible with the principles of a democratic society.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“One of the cornerstones of a democracy is the freedom to hold differing opinions. The media cannot be subject to the whims of a particular authority that operated at the behest of the government. The media should enjoy the independence to express their views”, Dr. de Silva asserted. “This right to free expression is a fundamental tenet of any democratic society. The proposed Broadcasting Authority Act aims to stifle the media, and we will not stand for it”.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. de Silva further cautioned that the government’s motives behind this legislation mirror its previous attempts to suppress the media through the failed Anti-Terrorism Act. The MP asserted that, having faced resistance to their oppressive measures, the government is now seeking alternative avenues to fulfill its objective of muzzling critical voices, and the Broadcasting Authority Act is their latest attempt to do so.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The concerns raised by Dr. Harsha de Silva who was once widely tipped to be the Finance Minister of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, underscored the need for a robust and independent media, one that could act as a vital check on governmental power and foster a thriving democratic society. The MP stressed the pivotal importance policymakers and citizens alike closely examine the proposed legislation and its potential implications on press freedom, ensuring that any changes made to media regulations did not infringe upon the democratic principles that underpin our society.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has alleged that the government’s latest bid was meant to create an environment in which only those who propagated the government line could operate.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lawmaker Premadasa has said that the move to throttle the media seemed to be a critical part of the government’s overall strategy and should be considered as an extremely dangerous move against the backdrop of indefinite postponement of Local Government polls. MP Premadasa, like his opposition colleagues Prof. Herath and Dr. de Silva, alleged the licenses were to be issued on the basis of the media organizations’ loyalty to the government.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Censorship</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Several decades ago, Sri Lanka exercised censorship to control the media, at a time television posed no real challenge.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having joined <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Island </i>in June 1987, the writer remembered how print media had to submit all ‘copies’ that dealt with security and political issues to the government censor for approval. Successive governments imposed censorship to cover up military reversals in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and part of the overall strategy to deal with the second JVP-led insurgency 1987-89.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Successive governments harassed the print media and attacks directed at journalists and private media institutions over the years were part of that despicable strategy. Whatever the provocations, the assassinations of journalists cannot be condoned. Perpetrators of such heinous crimes had never been arrested. The assassination of <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Sunday Leader </i>Editor Lasantha Wickremetunga on January 08, 2009 is perhaps the case that attracted the most media coverage though there were many other attacks.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Keith Noyahr, Defence correspondent at the now defunct <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Nation </i>newspaper earned the wrath for his critical weekly column titled ‘Military Matters.’ His abduction and subsequent release in May 2008 exposed the then government though the investigation was never brought to a successful conclusion even after the defeat of that government in January 2015!</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The proposed Broadcasting Authority Bill has taken the government’s battle (whichever party in power) to a new level. Now political strategy is aimed at closing down whole television or radio stations.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-28685267172135788652023-05-31T08:19:00.000-07:002023-05-31T08:19:40.627-07:00Post-war military matters and concerns<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 472</span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></span></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/05/31</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Australian-HC-Paul-Stephens-with-President-ranil-Wickremesinghe.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Australian-HC-Paul-Stephens-with-President-ranil-Wickremesinghe.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Australian-HC-Paul-Stephens-with-President-ranil-Wickremesinghe-300x188.jpg 300w" height="438" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Australian-HC-Paul-Stephens-with-President-ranil-Wickremesinghe.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Australian-HC-Paul-Stephens-with-President-ranil-Wickremesinghe.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Australian-HC-Paul-Stephens-with-President-ranil-Wickremesinghe-300x188.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /></div><span class="mvp-feat-caption" style="border: 0px; color: #606060; float: left; font-size: 1rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin: -30px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;">Australian HC Paul Stephens with President Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on 12 May, 2023. The PMD released a pic of HC Stephens meeting President Wickremesinghe to inform him officially of the proposed handing over of the Beechcraft, previously used by the Royal Australian Air Force.</span><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-wrap" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-out right relative" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="mvp-post-soc-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 0px 38px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><ul class="mvp-post-soc-list left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 42px;"><a href="https://island.lk/post-war-military-matters-and-concerns/#" style="border: 0px; 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color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="mvp-post-soc-com mvp-com-click" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); color: #bbbbbb; float: left; font-size: 18px; height: 28px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 38px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-2 fa-commenting" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li></a></ul></div><div class="mvp-post-soc-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><blockquote style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-size: 1.9rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 74px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 592px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 30.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This year’s annual Indian Navy–Sri Lanka Navy bilateral maritime Exercise SLINEX was conducted amidst political turmoil here. The six-day SLINEX, the 10th edition of the series commenced three days after the launch of a public protest campaign near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Pangiriwatte, Mirihana. The two-phased exercise involved several Indian vessels INS Kiltan (Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette) and INS Savitri (Offshore Patrol Vessel), SLNS Gajabahu (Advance Offshore Patrol Vessel/The one in which President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took refuge on July 09) and SLNS Sagara (OPV). In addition, Indian Navy Chetak helicopter and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft and SLAF Dornier and BELL 412 helicopters participated in the exercise. The Exercise featured the Special Forces of the two Navies. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted in Visakhapatnam from 7-12 March 2022.</strong></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Indian Defence Research Wing (government website) recently declared that Australia would provide a former Royal Australian Air Force Beechcraft KA 350 King Air (registration A32-673) to Sri Lanka on a request made by India. The KA350 King Air is a modern twin-engine turboprop aircraft.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The story, posted on 16 May, four days after Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens, officially informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the Defence Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the move, was headlined ‘Australia to donate Beechcraft KA 350 to Sri Lanka upon India’s request.’</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HC Stephens was accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner Ms. Lalita Kapur, First Secretary Brett Zehnder and Defence Advisor Captain Ian Cain. The meeting took place at the Presidential Secretariat, the scene of violent confrontation between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration and the protest movement, a year ago.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Indian website asserted that the Australian move mirrored New Delhi’s bid to strengthen security ties with Sri Lanka as part of its Indian Ocean outreach. According to the website, the deployment is meant to boost Sri Lanka’s sovereign aerial maritime surveillance capability. In terms of the agreement between the two governments, the donor would support the operation of the aircraft for a period of 12 months.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The President’s Media Division (PMD) announced: “The gift of the aircraft is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to strengthening and enhancing the cooperation and collaboration that is the foundation of the strong bilateral relationship between Australia and Sri Lanka. A key focus of this relationship remains the continued cooperation on countering all forms of transnational crime, including drug smuggling, as well as strengthening border management through intelligence sharing and the deterrence, disruption, interception and return of maritime people smuggling ventures under the border security operation, known as Operation Sovereign Borders.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Operation Sovereign Borders is a high profile military led mission, launched in 2013, to thwart illegal entry of would-be asylum seekers. The change of governments, over the past decade, hasn’t undermined the high profile operation as major political parties are committed to block illegal migration whatever the consequences.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The donation of the aircraft is in line with the understanding the two countries reached following a visit undertaken by Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, from June 19-21 last year, amidst deepening political turmoil here. She met the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, as well as Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris. A year later, Wickremesinghe is at the helm and Gotabaya Rajapaksa ousted by a US-backed protest campaign, as alleged by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, a claim denied by the US mission here, but not denied by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, a key protagonist referred to by the accuser.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In April and June 2014, Sri Lanka took delivery of two 38.2 m long Australian patrol boats and they were commissioned as SLNS Mihikatha and SLNS Ratnadeepa. Both vessels are in service today. It would be pertinent to mention that the talks, on the transferring of vessels, were finalized in Colombo when the then Australian Premier Tony Abbott visited Colombo for the Commonwealth Heads of Government of Meeting (CHOGM). The Australian move was made in the wake of the UK going all out against Sri Lanka over the accountability issues.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the following year, the then Sri Lanka’s shameless government co-sponsored the US–led accountability resolution at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against one’s own country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">India, Australia strategy</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In late August last year, Australia announced an unprecedented move to pay for a part of Sri Lankan military’s fuel requirement. Australian High Commissioner in Colombo Paul Stephens tweeted:</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Australia is pleased to be working with India to provide fuel to Sri Lanka’s Navy and Air Force. It will help our long-standing cooperation, against transnational crime, to continue. As Indian Ocean neighbours, all three countries share a commitment to preserving regional security.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">India and Australian joint approach here should be examined against the backdrop of ‘Quad’ strategy in relation to Sri Lanka. However, India pursues its own policy in terms of India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’, ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR),’ as well as ‘Priority One’ partner. ‘Quad’ security alliance meant to counter growing Chinese influence consists of the US, Japan, Australia and India. Sri Lanka has been caught up in the China vs ‘Quad’ battle and Sri Lanka’s dependence on Chinese investments made the situation worse.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The US has included Sri Lanka in its military exercises programme while the other ‘Quad’ member Japan entered into the ‘Comprehensive Partnership’ Agreement in October 2015.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka took delivery of a Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft, from India, in mid-August last year. The SLAF declared that India made available the aircraft in response to a request made during the <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yahapalana</i> administration (2015-2019). India assured that another Dornier would be supplied within two years after the deployment of the first naval Dornier – a short takeoff and landing multirole light transport aircraft with a turboprop twin-engine, in production since 1981.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An Indian statement said: “The aircraft would act as a force multiplier, enabling Sri Lanka to tackle multiple challenges, such as human and drug trafficking, smuggling and other organized forms of crime, in its coastal waters, more effectively. Induction of the aircraft is timely in view of the current challenges to Sri Lanka’s maritime security.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bankrupt Sri Lanka should be grateful for Australian and Indian stepped up assistance at a time the country is experiencing a deepening economic-political-social crisis. Obviously, the crisis here can be a push factor for more Sri Lankans to risk their lives to reach foreign lands. However, the military’s growing dependence on foreign assistance must be a matter for concern for all as there is always the danger of being smothered by the giant neighbour or being unnecessarily dragged into a wider conflict between between the Quad on one side and Russia and China on the other.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recently, India announced further help to the SLAF. The announcement was made during the four-day official visit of Chief of Air Staff Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari earlier this month. The Indian air chief was here on the invitation of SLAF Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the visit, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari laid the foundation stone for the construction of the India-Sri Lanka Friendship Auditorium at the Air Force Academy, Trincomalee. In line with New Delhi’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy,’ the project would be carried out under a 250 mn LKR grant assistance from India. The Indian air chief also donated AN-32 propellers to the SLAF, at the China Bay Air Force Academy, and at the National Defence College training aids were donated to students.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In addition to massive economic assistance provided in the recent past to Sri Lanka struggling on the financial front, the Indian investment, in the defence sector, is rapidly growing.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Deputy High Commissioner Vinod K. Jacob, in late February this year, underscored the Indian investment when he addressed the Indian Navy-trained Sri Lankan military personnel on board Offshore Patrol vessel Sukanya in Colombo. The Indian High Commission quoted Jacob as having stressed that training is the strongest and most enduring pillar of bilateral defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. The Deputy High Commissioner declared that India offered approximately 1500 training slots every year, to Sri Lanka, financed through a special programme with an annual allocation of USD 7 million.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Security sector reforms</strong></p><div class="gallery galleryid-113390 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full" id="gallery-1" style="border: 0px; margin: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><dl class="gallery-item" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><dt class="gallery-icon landscape" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sri-Lanka-receives-Indian-Dornier-at-the-BIA-in-August-2022.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #ef1c26; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-113395" class="attachment-full size-full lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sri-Lanka-receives-Indian-Dornier-at-the-BIA-in-August-2022.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sri-Lanka-receives-Indian-Dornier-at-the-BIA-in-August-2022.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sri-Lanka-receives-Indian-Dornier-at-the-BIA-in-August-2022-300x169.jpg 300w" height="394" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sri-Lanka-receives-Indian-Dornier-at-the-BIA-in-August-2022.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sri-Lanka-receives-Indian-Dornier-at-the-BIA-in-August-2022.jpg 700w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sri-Lanka-receives-Indian-Dornier-at-the-BIA-in-August-2022-300x169.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 2px solid rgb(207, 207, 207); height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="700" /></a></dt><dd class="wp-caption-text gallery-caption" id="gallery-1-113395" style="border: 0px; color: #777777; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.5; margin: 5px 0px 30px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka receives Indian Dornier at the BIA in August, 2022</dd></dl><br style="clear: both;" /></div><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last week’s midweek piece, titled ‘Blind security reforms: Assurance to US on the size of military’, attracted the attention of quite a number of military officers, including the retired. They queried whether a proper and cohesive assessment has been made before the declaration that the 200,000 plus wartime strength (2009) would be reduced to 135,000 by 2024 and 100,000 by 2030.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One retired General, who had served the infantry and considered one of the foremost battlefield strategists, pointed out that the projected downsizing/right sizing of the Army, should be studied, taking into consideration the current strength. “Do not forget we are already down to 160,000 officers and men,” the retired General said, while another pointed out AWOL (‘absence without leave’ seems to be quite a problem). A retired General Officer Commanding (GoC) of a fighting division on the Vanni front emphasized the need to examine how the proposed reduction would affect post-war deployment and what is the land mass of ‘Eelam State’ (north east districts) and in relation to the drop in ground strength.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the absence of a cohesive strategy, in relation to vital sectors, including defence, Sri Lanka seems to have neglected matters of utmost importance. Against the backdrop of a worsening situation, regardless of the USD 2.9 bn IMF package, spread over a period of 48 months, Sri Lanka cannot ignore the need to be cautious and be ready to meet any eventuality. In line with the Army, the Navy and Air Force are also to be slimmer and the fact that the downsizing of overall military strength takes place at a time of great political uncertainty and economic upheaval.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In March, Deputy Indian High Commissioner Jacob underscored the importance of Indo-Lanka relations on the basis of five areas of particular significance in the immediate short and medium term objectives.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Addressing Indian and Sri Lankan military personnel, onboard Sukanya, Jacob declared: “First is the potential for economic and financial cooperation by building on the Indian support to the people of Sri Lanka, in 2022, to the tune of USD 4 billion. The Indian HC quoted Jacob as having emphasized that focus could be laid on areas, such as trade, in national currencies, ease of investments and strengthening financial cooperation. “Second, the two sides are working towards increasing air, ferry, digital and energy connectivity. Third, a new type of development cooperation partnership, building on the existing multi-billion portfolio with special emphasis on vulnerable communities, is required. Fourth, both sides need to enhance people to people exchanges, particularly in tourist movements. Fifth, it is essential to strengthen the cultural, religious, music, movie and sporting links for mutual benefit.”</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Indian High Commission media statements present a clear picture of Indo-Lanka developments. A recent Indian High Commission statement that dealt with a visit undertaken by Indian Navy Ship ‘Batti Malv’ to Trincomalee disclosed hitherto unknown information.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me reproduce the relevant section from the media statement dated 17 May. The statement issued soon after the vessel departed Trincomalee made an important reference to further Indian support. “The visit of the Indian ship Batti Malv, a fast patrol craft, is also significant in view of the potential for cooperation between India and Sri Lanka for augmenting capabilities of Sri Lanka Navy in similar fast patrol craft for efficiently addressing shared challenges for maritime security in the region,” the High Commission stated.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, the statement issued by SLN, on that particular ship visit, didn’t make any reference to the possibility of a similar type vessel being made available to Sri Lanka. The locally built 46 m long vessel, crewed by five officers and 54 men, was inducted into the Indian Navy in July 2006, the year Sri Lanka launched a combined forces campaign to eradicate the LTTE.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since the successful conclusion of the war against the LTTE, in May 2009, India gradually advanced its relationship with a series of military visits at different levels, though the progress was slow. But, over the past several years, there has been a steady enhancement of the relationship which sort of coincided with the deterioration of the national economy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Indian Western Fleet visited Colombo and the China-managed Hambantota port, in the second week of March, last year, as Sri Lanka was heading for an unprecedented crisis over the collapse of supply chains.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Four ships of the Western Fleet under the charge of Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF),</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rear Admiral Sameer Saxena visited Sri Lanka. The indigenous guided missile frigate BRAHMAPUTRA along with frigate TALWAR entered Hambantota port while advanced indigenous destroyer INS CHENNAI and frigate TEG entered Colombo harbour. In spite of being invited to join a reception, onboard INS Chennai, on 10 March, the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa skipped the event. Instead, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris represented the President. The other notable invitee was Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyawardena.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A few weeks later, the Indian High Commission had to deny reports of Indian military deployment here in the wake of the eruption of public anger, near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Pangiriwatte, Mirihana. In brief statements, issued in English, Sinhala and Tamil, the High Commission of India strongly denied, what it called, blatantly false and completely baseless reports in a section of media that India is dispatching its soldiers to Sri Lanka.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The High Commission statement, dated 02 April, 2022, also condemned what it described as irresponsible reporting while expressing the belief those responsible for spreading rumours would desist from doing so.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Delhi’s assistance seemed vast with the Indian Navy actively engaged with Sri Lanka Navy in facilitating engagements, like Deck Landing Practice and Co-pilot experience on indigenous ALHand Sail Training Experience onboard INS Tarangini for SLAF/ SLN personnel in March 2022.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In line with India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, spares for SLNS Sagara, SLCG Suraksha and AN 32 are being provided, on grant basis, by New Delhi, to ensure, what the Indian High Commission called, optimal operational availability of the platform and thereby improve security in the region.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka should take stock of overall foreign military assistance to the post-war military as Sri Lanka faced growing international criticism over accountability issues. Canada has taken the anti-Sri Lanka project to a new extreme by declaring Tamils were subjected to genocide. In a bid to appease powerful Diaspora groups, Canadian parliament has targeted Sri Lanka with the declaration that two former Presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, are war criminals, is a clear move to inspire countries, with large communities of Sri Lankan origin, to act in a similar fashion. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka has pathetically failed to counter the Canadian project, built on the preposterous accusation that over 40,000 Tamils perished during the final phase of the combined security forces offensive on the Vanni east front. This is despite even UN internal documents placing casualties in the north, during the final phases of fighting, to be in the region of 7000.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8813766496063445396.post-40385139520854168362023-05-23T20:52:00.000-07:002023-05-23T20:52:38.860-07:00Blind security sector reforms:<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms", verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: small;">SPECIAL REPORT : Part 471</span></span></span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></h3><header class="left relative" id="mvp-post-head" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-wrap left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 12px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-author-info-text left relative" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; margin: 8px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mvp-author-info-date left relative" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;"><p style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published</p> <span class="mvp-post-date updated" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2023/05/24</span></span></div></div></div></header><div class="mvp-post-main-out left relative" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; float: left; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px -380px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="mvp-post-main-in" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 380px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><div class="left relative mvp-post-feat-img-wide2" id="mvp-post-feat-img" itemprop="image" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 820px;"><img alt="" class="attachment- size- wp-post-image ls-is-cached lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/State-Defence-Minister-Pramitha-Bandara-Tennakoon-greets-US-State-Department-official-Afreen-Akhter.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/State-Defence-Minister-Pramitha-Bandara-Tennakoon-greets-US-State-Department-official-Afreen-Akhter.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/State-Defence-Minister-Pramitha-Bandara-Tennakoon-greets-US-State-Department-official-Afreen-Akhter-300x200.jpg 300w" height="500" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/State-Defence-Minister-Pramitha-Bandara-Tennakoon-greets-US-State-Department-official-Afreen-Akhter.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/State-Defence-Minister-Pramitha-Bandara-Tennakoon-greets-US-State-Department-official-Afreen-Akhter.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/State-Defence-Minister-Pramitha-Bandara-Tennakoon-greets-US-State-Department-official-Afreen-Akhter-300x200.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; 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margin: 0px 0px 0px 80px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-body-top" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><div class="left relative" id="mvp-content-main" style="border: 0px; float: left; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><h2 align="LEFT" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; font-size: 1.8rem; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.4; margin: 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 740px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: grey; font-size: 28.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Assurance to US on the size of military</span></h2><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: maroon; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i>By Shamindra Ferdinando</i></b></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Defence Ministry recently quoted State Defence Minister, Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, as having assured US State Department official, Afreen Akhter, that the military would be ‘right-sized’ to perform their classic role.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The assurance was given on 15 May at his office, in Colombo, just ahead of the14th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s triumph over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), when our security forces brought the war to a successful conclusion, on the morning of 19 May with the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) troops wiping out a small group of hardcore LTTE cadres, on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon. Among the dead was LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why did the State Defence Minister make such a pledge? Did Akhter, the Deputy Assistant Secretary, South and Central Asia Bureau of the State Department, seek a clarification as regards security sector reforms? If the military had continued to perform their classic role of being a ceremonial Army, the LTTE could have achieved Eelam. But the nearly three-year long sustained offensive brought the LTTE to its knees, 14 years ago.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Afreen Akhter oversees Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives, as well as the Office of Security and Transnational Affairs.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Her visit was the first by a State Department official, since National Freedom Front (NFF) leader, Wimal Weerawansa, last month alleged, in a published book <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Nine: The Hidden Story;,</i> that the US had a direct role in the removal of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last year. The former industries minister is on record as having disclosed that US Ambassador here, Julie Chung, personally offered Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena an opportunity to succeed Gotabaya Rajapaksa, regardless of constitutional impediment, to bypassing Ranil Wickremesinghe, in an unannounced visit to his official residence.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ambassador Chung swiftly rejected the allegation made no sooner <i style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘Nine: The Hidden Story</i>’ was launched at the Sri Lanka Foundation on 25 April. However, Speaker Abeywardena gave credence to lawmaker Weerawansa’s shocking claim by remaining dead silent.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since the conclusion of the war, the Mahinda Rajapaksa government quietly began downsizing the SLA, which was little above 200,000 at the height of the war. However, the present government officially acknowledged the downsizing of the war-winning, Army on 13 January, 2023. State Minister Tennakoon was quoted as having said that the SLA strength would be further reduced to 135,000 by the end of next year and 100,000 by 2030.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of course there cannot be an issue over the need to gradually decrease military strength in peace time, taking into consideration post-war national security requirements and the pathetic economic situation, confronting the country.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regardless of the developing political-economic-social crisis, it would be the responsibility of the military top brass to brief the political leadership of the ground situation. Post-war national security requirements shouldn’t be looked at only on the basis of economic indicators. That would be suicidal. In other words, the country is in such a precarious situation, political leadership may tend to conveniently ignore basics, especially to please Uncle Sam, the obvious king-maker here now, thereby jeopardizing the country’s national security.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Declaration that the SLA would be reduced to 100,000 by 2030 means the total strength would be cut by half, from its peak.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Defence Ministry statement didn’t refer to any other issue. But that doesn’t mean contentious issues hadn’t been taken up with Akhter during her visit. The US continuing to needle Sri Lanka, 14 years after the eradication of the LTTE’s conventional military capability, despite Washington’s own hands dripping with so much innocent blood from so many of its worldwide military misadventures, to retain its international hegemony, is mired in continuing controversy.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The designation of Sri Lanka’s most successful Navy commander (2005-2009) Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, in late April, this year, over a spate of abductions carried out in 2008-2009, at the height of the war with the world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit, as was even acknowledged by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, highlighted how the Washington establishment continues to pursue an agenda severely inimical to Sri Lanka.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sanctioning of Karannagoda is the latest in a series of US measures directed at the war-winning military here. Among the sanctioned are Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and General Shavendra Silva, the controversial travel ban on the celebrated wartime General Officer Commanding (GoC) of 58 Division formerly Task Force 1, the Numero Uno among the SLA fighting formations that literally took the fight to the LTTE, was imposed in Feb. 2020.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Expansion of SLA</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-112416 lazyloaded" data-sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" data-src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SLAs-paid-strength-from1985.jpg" data-srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SLAs-paid-strength-from1985.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SLAs-paid-strength-from1985-300x262.jpg 300w" height="656" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SLAs-paid-strength-from1985.jpg" srcset="http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SLAs-paid-strength-from1985.jpg 750w, http://island.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SLAs-paid-strength-from1985-300x262.jpg 300w" style="backface-visibility: hidden; border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 17.6px; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 400ms ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline;" width="750" />The LTTE couldn’t have been defeated if not for the rapid expansion undertaken during the then Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka’s tenure as Commander of the Army (2005-2009). The SLA lacked the wherewithal to sustain a large scale ground offensive while deploying sufficient troops on a holding role. For want of adequate infantry battalions, the SLA couldn’t undertake large scale offensives, simultaneously. But the rapid expansion, since the launching of operations on multiple fronts, in Vanni, from 1997, paid dividends soon enough.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka should review post-war developments, taking into consideration the overthrowing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in July last year. The overall failure of the security apparatus to meet the public protest campaign that had been backe, clandestinely by the US, as alleged repeatedly by lawmaker Weerawansa, quickly overwhelmed law enforcement authorities and the military. Law enforcement authorities and the military should have been prepared to meet any eventuality. Unfortunately, a public protest campaign that was launched on 31 March, last year, targeting the private residence of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, exposed the serious weakness in overall government response to hitherto unknown threat.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Military strength should be the prerogative of the government. The Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, now headed by retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera MP, should closely examine the developments and take up matters of importance, both in and outside Parliament. It would be a grave mistake, on Sri Lanka’s part, to consider/implement defence sector reforms at the behest of literally bankrupt external powers, with sinister motives. Defence sector reforms should be in line with overall security-political doctrine, instead of piecemeal restructuring. There cannot be a better example than the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s readiness to enhance the SLA’s strength by nearly 100,000. That decision, taken in the aftermath of Velupillai Prabhakaran declaration of Eelam War IV, in August 2006, was perhaps the single most decisive factor in Sri Lanka’s final victory over terrorism against so many odds placed against it.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 17.6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conclusive factor</strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In spite of the increasing military strength, as the LTTE gradually stepped up the offensive, and, finally, its threat became conventional in 1990, Sri Lanka never gave a real boost to military personnel numbers as explained in the chart published on this page. The period from 1981 to 1987 can be categorized as the Eelam War l. The Eelam War ll and lll were fought from 1990 to 1994, and 1995 to 2001, respectively.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sri Lanka launched Division-sized ground offensives during Eelam War lll that began with the sinking of two gunboats, berthed at the Trincomalee harbour, and the downing of two Avros, with 100 officers, and men all, in April 1995, during an informal ceasefire with the Chandrika Kumaratunga regime. But the military top brass, or the political leadership, at that time, never felt comfortable in executing a real expansion of the SLA.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In hindsight, they never wanted to go the whole hog. Operation ‘Riviresa.’ launched in Oct. 1995. was meant to bring Jaffna town under military control and consolidate government positions in the Jaffna peninsula. The operation that involved three Divisions was the largest combined security forces campaign until the Vanni campaign in 2007-2009.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, the SLA never received the boost it desired during Eelam War lll. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga authorized Operation ‘Jayasikurui’ (victory assured) to restore the overland Main Supply Route (MSR) to Jaffna peninsula. Having launched the offensive in May 1997, the government called it off, in 1999, following unbearable debacles. It was a miracle that the Army did not crumble at the time down to Anuradhapura or even beyond with a Commander in Chief like that, who was nothing but a cunning chatterbox with no sense of time. The government quite conveniently refrained from making a real difference on the ground by enhancing the number of infantry battalions available for ground commanders. According to the chart on this page, the SLA strength had been 117,705 officers and men (volunteers included) in 1996, the year before the launch of Operation ‘Jayasikurui’ and by 1999 when it was called off the paid strength in that particular year was 121,473.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The chart reveals a drop in the paid strength in 2000 to 116,739 in the wake of a series of humiliating battlefield defeats, culminating with the worst single debacle in the entire war when SLA abandoned the strategically located Elephant Pass base. A Division plus troops couldn’t repulse the LTTE offensive and the base collapsed in April 2000. Regardless of the Elephant Pass fall, the following year paid strength recorded a marginal increase. According to the chart, the paid strength in 2001 had been 118,331 while the strength dropped again in 2002 and 2003 during the operation of Oslo-arranged infamous Ceasefire Agreement.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The situation started gradually improving in 2004 and by 2007 paid strength stood at 151, 538. Having neutralized the LTTE in the Eastern theatre, the SLA was on the move on the Vanni west in 2007. That year marked the turning point in the war against the LTTE as the latter was overwhelmed on the Vanni front. The opening of multiple fronts on the Vanni theatre wouldn’t have been possible without the continuous flow of fresh recruits for newly raised Divisions as well as Jaffna-based formations.</p><p align="LEFT" style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be pertinent to mention that Sri Lanka acquired Mi-24 helicopter gunships in 1995, Kfirs in 1996, MiG27s in 2000 and a range of naval platforms since 1980s, though successive governments that ignored the need to expand the fighting strength. During the deployment of the Indian Army (July 1987- March 1990) the military ignored the basic requirement to provide sufficient troops to protect the MSR northwards from Vavuniya to Elephant Pass. The situation was so bad, Vavuniya-Elephant Pass stretch was held by isolated and poorly manned detachments at the time the LTTE resumed hostilities in June 1990 following 14-month-long ‘honeymoon’ between President Ranasinghe Premadasa and Velupillai Prabhakaran.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the time Eelam War ll erupted in 1990, the paid SLA strength had been 60,596 whereas it consisted of 37,759 officers and men. Sri Lanka, in 2015, cancelled the war Victory Day parade following Western pressure. The last Victory Day parade was held in Matara in 2014. The rest is history.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Islander Lankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00217271795281369821noreply@blogger.com