- RW’s choice of Sagala builds dissension in UNP
- Key decision for Basil tomorrow; return to Parliament pending
- Rishad gets bail, but on 14-day quarantine period at a hotel
- Navin once again stakes a claim for party leadership
Sri Lanka's geopolitics was once again at play last week with the holding of a tripartite regional confab between Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives in Colombo.
India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval arrived in the country on Friday (27) to participate in the conference.
On the sidelines of the conference, Doval met Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday.
The discussion was focused on issues of mutual interest including regional security.
Doval was to meet with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday (28) afternoon for a one-on-one meeting.
During the meetings, India had reiterated its commitment to further building its relations with Sri Lanka while ensuring regional security.
It is interesting to note that the meeting between the Indian official and the Sri Lankan leaders took place in the backdrop of growing border tensions between India and China.
Given Sri Lanka's close affiliation with China, it is likely that India would work towards ensuring a limitation of Chinese interests in the Indian Ocean region.
Since the visit of a high-powered Chinese delegation to Sri Lanka in early October, led by Yang Jiechi, a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party, Sri Lanka witnessed the visit of the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late last month and now the Indian NSA.
It is also pertinent to note the timing of the tripartite confab, which was held after a lapse of six years.
After being launched in 2011, the conference was last held in 2014 when President Rajapaksa attended the meeting in New Delhi as the then Defence Secretary.
[caption id="attachment_106821" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva (right) receiving India’s National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval during his visit to Colombo, 27 November 2020 (
MOD)[/caption]
India’s NSA and Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi arrived in Colombo on invitation from Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne.
The high-level engagement that covered a wide range of subjects was designed to initiate collective action on maritime security, including maritime domain awareness, legal regimes, training, search and rescue, maritime pollution response, information sharing, curbing piracy, drugs, and arms and contraband trafficking in the Indian Ocean region.
The confab was Doval’s second official visit to Sri Lanka this year. He was in Sri Lanka in January and held discussions with the Sri Lankan leadership on strengthening military ties and countering a “debt trap”, the Indian media reported.
This initiative was launched in 2011 and top officials from the three countries had met regularly until New Delhi’s relations with the former Abdulla Yameen administration in Male deteriorated, according to diplomatic sources quoted by The Hindu.
New Delhi was waiting for the conclusion of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections to revive the trilateral talks, sources had said.
[caption id="attachment_106822" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne (right) receives Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi during her visit to Colombo, 27 November 2020
(MOD)[/caption]
Interestingly, the confab was held months after the Maldives signed a defence deal with the US, and more recently, received a Japanese grant to strengthen its coastguard.
New appointments
Meanwhile, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week expanded his Cabinet with two more portfolios and while assigning one portfolio to himself, the other was assigned to a state minister.
Accordingly, the President on Thursday (26) appointed a new cabinet minister and a state minister at the Presidential Secretariat.
Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekara was sworn in as the new Minister of Public Security. The new Ministry is in addition to his existing portfolio of State Minister for Provincial Councils and Local Government.
The appointment comes following the recent gazette, published last Sunday (22), announcing the establishment of the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Technology.
The Ministries of Defence and Technology will be held under the purview of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in accordance with the revision of subjects under ministries on 20 November, the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated.
Meanwhile, Chamal Rajapaksa was sworn in as State Minister of State Security, Home Affairs, and Disaster Management.
The President has, in a special gazette notification issued on 20 November, taken a large number of state institutions under his purview.
The Cabinet of Ministers is likely to see another addition in the event former Minister Basil Rajapaksa returns to Parliament next year, through the National List of the governing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
While there have been requests by SLPP backbenchers including a letter signed by several such MPs inviting Basil to enter Parliament, Basil has remained noncommittal on the matter.
In a previous occasion, he maintained that he did not have any intention of entering Parliament, as he was able to carry out his work from the outside.
However, Basil has on several occasions told confidants that he would not return to Parliament until he has cleared his name in the cases filed against him before court.
It now seems that the stars are aligning for Basil to return to Parliament with the Colombo High Court lifting the travel ban that was imposed on him.
The case against Basil and three others, over the alleged misappropriation of “Divi Neguma” funds, was taken up before the High Court Judge R. Gurusinghe last Monday (23).
President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana, appearing on behalf of Basil Rajapaksa, had said that his client needed to travel overseas on official business, as he is chairing a Task Force Committee on the Economy appointed by the President.
A letter issued by the Secretary to the President confirming this was also submitted to the court by Marapana.
He had further pointed out that Basil had not violated the bail condition imposed on him that he should report to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) every three months.
Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige, who had represented the Attorney General (AG), had not objected to the request.
Accordingly, the High Court Judge had ordered for the travel ban imposed on Basil Rajapaksa to be lifted and had directed that the Controller of Immigration and Emigration be informed of this decision.
However, the judge had further ordered the defendant Basil Rajapaksa to inform the court before leaving the country.
Meanwhile, the decision on whether Basil and the other respondents should be charged or acquitted from the allegations levelled against them, is to be made by court tomorrow (30).
Tomorrow would be a decisive day for Basil, especially on his final decision on returning to Parliament.
UNP crisis
After weeks of silence, the United National Party (UNP) last week was back in the spotlight over the re-emergence of what seems like the leadership crisis.
The issue started with the discussion on the party’s nominee to fill the vacant National List slot in Parliament.
A group of party members including MPs Navin Dissanayake and Arjuna Ranatunga, along with several others, have been pushing for UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to be nominated to the party’s vacant National List slot.
However, Wickremesinghe last Monday turned down the request by several party members for him to enter Parliament through the National List.
Wickremesinghe last Monday met with several party seniors at the party headquarters and the discussion had commenced with Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene detailing the outcome of his visit to Kandy and Anuradhapura where he had received the blessings of the Maha Sangha and met with party activists and organisers in the area to launch the party’s restructuring process.
Wijewardene had pointed out that many members who had met him in those areas had expressed their displeasure at the party’s failure to take any form of disciplinary action against members who have violated the party discipline.
He had added that the delay in commencing the restructuring work was also frustrating to some of the members.
After listening to Wijewardene, the discussion had focused on the National List slot.
Several members who were gathered had requested Wickremesinghe to enter Parliament through the National List, to which Wickremesinghe had said he had no interest in filling the slot.
UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam had then said that the party needed to name its nominee to Parliament since the media had also stated that the name would be announced during the week.
Wickremesinghe had responded saying he had not made any statements to the media about entering Parliament from the National List and noted that the position should either be filled by an individual who has already been listed in the party’s National List or a “young member” should be given the opportunity to represent the party in Parliament.
At this juncture, Anoma Gamage had said that if the Party Leader was not interested in filling the slot, the Deputy Leader should fill the vacancy.
Wijewardene had once again maintained that he had no interest in returning to Parliament through the National List since he wanted to focus fully on the party’s restructuring process.
Wickremesinghe had also expressed his agreement to Wijewardene’s name, but had not pushed for it, knowing very well that focus needed to be placed squarely on the party reforms.
However, there was no final decision reached on who should fill the National List slot.
Akila’s resignation
When the discussion moved forward from the party’s National List slot, UNP General Secretary Kariyawasam had handed in his resignation letter to the UNP Leader, stating that the party required new blood to rebuild.
Kariyawasam had on a previous occasion also offered to step down from the post of UNP General Secretary.
When asked why he had decided to resign from the post, Kariyawasam had said that he had managed several national elections, but had not had the power and freedom to carry out his work.
He had further noted that he did not even have the power to take action against errant party members.
However, Wickremesinghe had not accepted Kariyawasam’s letter, although the latter had left it on the Leader’s table.
After the discussion, Kariyawasam had travelled to his constituency in Kuliyapitiya.
Navin’s claim
Meanwhile, a group of UNP seniors including Ravi Karunanayake, Navin Dissanayake, Arjuna Ranatunga, Mervyn Silva, and several others had organised an adhistana pooja at the Ruwanwelisaya Temple in Anuradhapura on Wednesday (25) to invoke blessings on the country and to ensure the successful defeat of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The organising of the event was assigned to Silva while Dissanayake invited UNP organisers in Anuradhapura to attend the event.
Dissanayake has also called the party’s Mihintale Organiser and invited him for a meeting last Monday in Colombo. During the meeting, Dissanayake had told the Organiser that the party had to be rebuilt and that he had the necessary requisites to stake a claim for the party leadership.
The reason Dissanayake had focused his attention on the party’s Mihintale Organiser was because he had not attended the meeting organised by Wijewardene in Anuradhapura last week.
However, after listening to Dissanayake, the Organiser had immediately called Wickremesinghe and informed him of what Dissanayake had said and his decision to stake a claim for the party leadership.
Wickremesinghe knew immediately that the battle for the party leadership was once again re-emerging with the final face-off going to be between Dissanayake and Wijewardene.
Sagala returns
In the midst of the UNP crisis is one figure – former Minister Sagala Ratnayaka. His close affiliation to the UNP leadership had caused many rifts within the party, resulting in the sidelining of many party seniors through the years.
It is learnt that Ratnayaka’s involvement in key activities at the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha, has caused much displeasure among party seniors including Kariyawasam.
A senior UNPer noted that Kariyawasam has been disgruntled for a while with the party leadership’s actions with regard to getting Ratnayaka to intervene in all key party decisions.
Additionally, Wickremesinghe had assigned Ratnayaka to also take part in the party reforms process along with Wijewardene. This move has irked many UNPers, who claim they expected to see the party taking on a sincere position with regard to party reforms.
However, Wickremesinghe’s recent actions and Ratnayaka’s involvement in key party affairs have caused much displeasure among the UNP’s rank and file, who claim they are fast losing hope of ever resurrecting the party that has been decimated by the incumbent UNP leadership over the years.
Strengthening alliance
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which is a key coalition partner of the SLPP Government, has once again returned to the political platform.
This time, the SLFP is working towards strengthening its alliance with the SLPP.
Leaders of the SLFP and SLPP last month held a discussion on ironing out differences faced by the grassroots level members of both parties. The district leaders and organisers were asked to set up a mechanism that would help the two parties to strengthen their alliance.
The SLFP that has been holding separate news conferences, last week joined with the SLPP and held a joint news conference.
The SLFP and SLPP seniors have also directed party seniors at district level to form joint mechanisms when engaging in political work as well as securing powers in the local government bodies that are currently being led by the Opposition.
Maithri’s bombshell
SLFP Leader and former President Maithripala Sirisena meanwhile dropped a bombshell at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday attacks by saying that he believes the incident had foreign assistance.
Sirisena had reportedly claimed that he believed the attacks were devised by a foreign force.
The former President appeared before the PCoI last Wednesday (25) for a second straight day to testify and the Commission had recorded a statement from him for nearly seven hours.
Sirisena had testified before the PCoI on multiple occasions in October as well.
However, Sirisena had made another interesting statement while testifying before the PCoI on Wednesday. When questioned whether his children had accompanied him on the trip to Tirupati in India before the Easter Sunday attacks last year, he had said he could not remember.
However, the following day, on Thursday (26), Sirisena had responded that his children had accompanied him on the trip in question.
Bail time
Last week also saw former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen being granted bail by the Fort Magistrate on Wednesday (25).
Bathiudeen was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 19 October for allegedly violating the Presidential Elections Act by misappropriating public funds to the tune of Rs. 9.5 million when he was the Minister of Industry and Commerce.
The former Minister was accused of misusing 222 buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) to transport internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Puttalam to polling stations in Silavathurai, Mannar during the 2019 presidential election.
However, despite being granted bail, Bathiudeen remains under the care of the Prisons Department since he is undergoing a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
Following the detection of Covid-19 patients among the inmates where he was being held, Bathiudeen was subjected to a PCR test. Although the tests have come out negative, medical experts have requested prisons officials to hold Bathiudeen on a 14-day mandatory quarantine period. Accordingly, he was held at the Magazine Prison till Friday (27).
Bathiudeen was transferred to a hotel in Mount Lavinia to complete his quarantine period following a request made by the Speaker of Parliament from the Health Minister.
Bathiudeen’s wife had requested the Opposition Leader to permit Bathiudeen to complete his quarantine outside the prison since he has been granted bail. The Opposition Leader along with several other Opposition MPs had then forwarded the request to the Speaker.
The Court, while granting bail, has imposed an overseas travel ban on Bathiudeen and the bail had to be signed by close family members to ensure the former Minister would be available for law enforcement authorities.
Meanwhile, Batticaloa District MP Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias “Pillayan”, who was imprisoned in connection with the murder of former Batticaloa District Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham, was released on bail on Tuesday (24).
Batticaloa High Court Judge T. Wigneshwaran released Pillayan and four other suspects on bail.
Pararajasingham was killed during the morning Christmas Mass at the St. Mary’s Cathedral, Puliyantivu, in Batticaloa in 2005.
Shani’s predicament
While several political figures were granted bail last week, the plight of former CID Director Shani Abeysekara, who is currently in remand custody, was much discussed on social media, after he had contracted Covid-19.
Despite reports indicating that he was transferred to another location from the Mahara Prison where he was originally detained, his family members have claimed they are unable to determine his current whereabouts.
However, Abeysekara, after testing positive for Covid-19, had been brought to the Welikada Prison to be transferred to the Kandakadu Covid-19 treatment facility.
Several Opposition politicians had intervened and tried to get Abeysekara transferred to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Colombo. Prisons officials had then explained the inability to do so since Abeysekara was in remand custody and would therefore be required two prison guards by his side if he was taken to IDH and such a move was impossible. The official had explained that the prison guards would not be permitted inside the IDH.
When asked by the media, Prisons officials had later said that Abeysekara was transferred to the Gallella Covid-19 treatment facility in Polonnaruwa.
Meanwhile, the Gampaha High Court on Thursday (26) postponed the decision on whether to grant bail to Abeysekara until 7 December, following vigorous objections to bail that were made by the AG's Department.
The prosecutors have reportedly insisted that Abeysekara would be a danger if released to society, and have said he must remain in custody, despite defence lawyers pleading for mercy stating Abeysekara, a decorated police officer with over 32 years of service, had recently tested positive for Covid-19.
The former CID Director was being held in isolation at the Mahara Prison Hospital where he was being treated for severe diabetes and heart disease when he tested positive for Covid-19 last Tuesday (24).
Subsequently on Friday (26) evening, it was reported that Abeysekera was transferred to IDH on medical advice, according to the Prisons Department.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) had directed the Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya to direct his immediate attention to taking strong preventive measures to protect Abeysekara’s life. “If Abeysekara has contracted the virus, we recommend you ensure he receives treatment at the nearest hospital treating people infected by the virus immediately.” Upuldeniya was asked to respond to the HRCSL by tomorrow (30).
Appeal on Shani’s behalf
Meanwhile, the daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge and family members of a group of missing people have sought urgent medical care for Abeysekara.
The request was made to Commissioner General of Prisons Upuldeniya, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickremaratne, and Consultant at the IDH in Angoda Dr. Ananda Wijewickama.
The letter, signed by Ahimsa Wickrematunge and family members of a group of missing people, had noted that between 2008 and 2009, their immediate family members were murdered or forcibly disappeared.
The letter had noted that investigations that uncovered the identity of those who took their loved ones from them were either conducted or supervised by Abeysekara, in his capacity as a senior officer and later Director of the CID.
“Abeysekara was one of the few impartial police officers who had the courage to seek justice for our families. If every public servant had the backbone, integrity, and conviction of Mr. Abeysekara, our loved ones would still be alive today. By doing his job and seeking justice for those we lost, Mr. Abeysekara’s own life is now in danger. We owe a debt of honour to speak on his behalf and prevent him from being harmed. Mr. Abeysekara has been in remand custody since 31 July 2020,” the letter had noted.
“Abeysekara has twice since been relocated without his consent, most recently to Gallella, on the other side of the country, without any authorisation from any court. Persons placed in remand custody by a court are remanded to a specific prison and are usually not moved without the sanction of court. While Covid-19 health guidelines may permit prison or health officials to transfer a remanded person unilaterally to safeguard their health, this is not what has happened to Mr. Abeysekara. He was forcibly removed from the safety of his isolated hospital bed and denied two nights of sleep by driving him across the country with other prisoners. He is now being held not in a hospital, but in an Army facility at Gallella. There was no medical reason to move him, and we are reliably informed that his health condition is rapidly deteriorating,” the letter had stated.
The letter had further noted that Abeysekara suffers from diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, all high-risk factors of severe illness from Covid-19.
“He needs urgent medical care. Nowhere in the world are high-risk Covid-19 patients forcibly removed from hospitals and driven around for extraneous reasons,” the letter had added. 
