Ranil Embarrassed by Al Jazeera
Top politicos’ new security need
Doctors refute Ranil and the UNP
Ranil’s Ferrari Involved in Accident
Did Lalkantha get permission?
Minister of Agriculture K.D. Lalkantha, a well-known and often controversial figure, is recognized for sparking new political discussions. He is known for openly expressing his views without hesitation, earning a reputation as a politician who stays firmly grounded.
Recently, Lalkantha has gained increased media attention after photographs of his meetings with foreign diplomats surfaced. He first met with the Vietnamese ambassador, followed by a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner, Santhos Jha.
The issue at hand is not Lalkantha’s meetings with these ambassadors but whether he sought approval from the President or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as required by a directive issued by the Malimawa government less than three months ago. This directive was introduced in response to the rising number of meetings between Malimawa MPs and foreign envoys in Sri Lanka, as well as the growing interest of diplomats in engaging with government MPs.
The ban imposed
Another reason for this ban was the knowledge and fear Malimawa members and ministers had about some embassies. They had firsthand experience how some embassies were behind the ‘aragalaya’ which overthrew Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government and made him to flee the country. There was a direct accusation against certain embassies aiding coups in the past. This prompted the government to impose a ban on meeting with foreign ambassadors immediately after they formed the government.
Nevertheless, against this backdrop, Lalkantha’s meeting with ambassadors appears in the media. This raised eyebrows in many whether Lal Kantha had obtained permission to do so or not. Some speculate is LaLKantha act in this manner as he thinks such permission is not needed for him because he is a senior member of the party and the government or if is this a sign of brewing conflict within the government.
A powerful person on a strange path
The present government assumes power venting many popular promises in the political stages. Removal of luxury vehicles, security, privileges, pensions to the MPs and Ministers among others. However public vent doubt about the fulfillment of these promises accurately. The opposition publicly accuses the use of Range rovers and similar types of luxury vehicles by the ministers.
Recently a strong person in the government has demonstrated some changes after assuming office. Normal practice is if any politico receives an invitation after accepting they attend the ceremony without laying down their own conditions. Contrary to this ‘Inside politics’ column reports this particular politician after receiving an invitation specifying some conditions which are to be met before he attends the ceremony.
He has requested three seats behind his seat to be assigned to his security officers, the seat left to his special security, two podiums to be set up in the stage with microphones and one to be assigned only to him and other one to other speakers.
Chinese Ambassador
Last week, a ceremony was held at a newly opened five-star hotel complex in Colombo with the participation of the Chinese Ambassador, and this powerful figure in the government was also invited to it. There too, this set of conditions was presented to the event organizers by this powerful figure in the government; the organizers had arranged the seats according to his conditions. However, it was noted the Chinese Ambassador, using the podium reserved for the politico to make his speech, it is not known if this was a mistake or purposely done.
Many drew their attention to this matter very closely last week. Accordingly, they came to know that this powerful figure in the government had recently presented a similar set of conditions and participated in another meeting held at a five-star hotel in Colombo. When looking at the photos of the event, it was also seen that the seating arrangements were made as mentioned. Many expressed their opinions on this. It is noted a Special Secretary can request to be seated next but, there is no tradition of making conditions for three security guards to reserve seats behind politico. They also felt that such behaviour could not be expected from a government that came to power promising that it would not provide security and privileges to politicians.
Close shave
‘Inside Politics’ column reports on the fourth tranche received from the International Monetary Fund. The proposal regarding the provision of this third tranche to Sri Lanka was scheduled to be presented to the Executive Committee of the International Monetary Fund in Washington on February 28th. However, due to some last-minute oversight in the coordination activities of the Ministry of Finance, the officials of the Ministry of Finance were unable to provide the IMF with several essential decisions to obtain the fourth tranche. Under this situation, the IMF had decided to either postpone the crucial discussion regarding Sri Lanka that was scheduled to be held on the 28th or refuse to provide the fourth loan tranche to Sri Lanka.
A message to Anura
However, the IMF representatives informed the President about this situation at the last minute. The President, who was paniced, immediately called the Finance Ministry officials in the middle of other duties to discuss the matter and took steps to submit the decisions to be made by the Ministry to the IMF. It was only after this that the IMF decided to release the fourth installment of the amount to be given to Sri Lanka. If this had not been the case, the installment due to Sri Lanka this time would have been delayed and the government would have been in dire straits.
Ranil’s Ferrari
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has become a political invalid after his massive defeat in the presidential election, seems to have acquired the spell of the planet Saturn these days, as can be seen from the issues falling on his head one after another. Ranil, who realized in advance that the UNP would be unable to find a candidate in the next local government election after the defeat in the presidential election, somehow tried to tie the UNP up with the SJB, remove the phone and present UNP candidates for the local government election under a common symbol. However, Ranil’s knot, which was understood in advance by Sajith and a few others, was firm in its stance that SJB should not join the UNP, and Ranils attempt failed.
After that, as usual, Ranil did politics through newspapers using the media institutions that were friendly to him and his family, even though he did not have the public’s vote. Most significantly there was Ranil’s dealings not only with the local media but also with the international media. After being left helpless in a conversation with a German media channel, Deutsche Welle, Ranil, who had not learned a lesson, agreed to engage in a conversation with another major international media channel, Al Jazeera.
Ranil took his wife Maithri along for this discussion, which was held about a month ago. However, during this discussion, Ranil had to face great embarrassment amid a crowd. The reason for this was that the journalist kept asking Ranil questions about the Batalanda torture chamber. Although Ranil tried to evade the question by saying that the Presidential Commission Report on the Batalanda torture chamber had not been tabled in Parliament, the journalist who was conducting the discussion immediately arranged for another journalist in the audience to display the relevant commission report. With this Ranil became a global embarrassment.
We said in February
Since this interview was a failure, Ranil never said a word to the media about this. But on February 16, the ‘Inside Politics’ column brought a special report about Ranil’s failed Al Jazeera interview. For the first time, we revealed to the country the humiliation that Ranil had to endure.
‘While asking a few questions about Ranil Wickremesinghe’s short-lived presidential rule, journalist Mehdi Hassan decided to ask a controversial question. It was the story of the Batalanda torture chamber that was much talked about in 1989. Al Jazeera television reported it as follows.
Mehdi Hassan – Mr. Wickremesinghe, let’s talk about this issue that is more important than other issues. Let’s talk about Batalanda. This past cannot be forgotten. Did you know about the torture chambers or not?
As the journalist asked the question, it was felt a heavy weight falling on the floor of Conway Hall. For those who knew, however, for those who did not, Batalanda refers to the torture chamber that was allegedly operated during the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) insurgency in Sri Lanka in the late 1980s. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was a powerful figure in the then United National Party, has long been accused of involvement in these human rights violations. But he has consistently denied the allegations. But under Mehdi Hassan’s relentless questioning, he had no choice but to deny it. Hassan’s sharp questions and unflinching interview style filled Conway Hall with anticipation. He raised his voice again.
Mehdi Hassan – Did you know about the torture chambers? Or not? (He questioned sternly)
Ranil Wickremesinghe – It was a turbulent time. I focused on governance. We had to protect the state. That’s all.
A political reporter who has been exposing the story of Mehdi Hassan’s Al Jazeera television interview recently analyzed how Ranil was beaten in London. He also analyzes that the discussion that took place in Conway Hall was not a traditional debate, but a political autopsy. He also says that there was no one other than Ranil Wickremesinghe at the autopsy table. The commentator had stated that Ranil Wickremesinghe had hoped to regain his global respect in the ‘Head to Head’ program, but he had almost literally and figuratively fled from the scene. And therefore, Ranil’s mask was said to have been exposed again in front of the crowd gathered in Conway Hall.
When the journalist pointed out Sri Lanka’s ongoing struggles with corruption, economic mismanagement and political instability on Al Jazeera, Wickremesinghe had nothing to offer but vague sarcasm and an unmistakable sense of inferiority. At one point, a clearly frustrated Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a fit of rage:
‘I don’t want to answer these kinds of questions. Is this a YouTube show?’
‘No, Mr. Wickremesinghe, this is a global platform. You cannot escape accountability,’ Mehdi Hassan said.
By the end of the television program, Wickremesinghe’s public image was crumbling. He did not answer many questions directly and was seen to be acting somewhat impulsively. The audience watched as Ranil Wickremesinghe struggled uncomfortably, his confidence evaporating with each sharp accusation. There was no applause from them, and they were seen to be in a state of stunned dismay. The man who once appeared to be the steady hand guiding Sri Lanka through stormy seas has now been revealed as a leader unable to face his past or even justify his present.
– ‘Inside Politics’ – February 16
Bimal’s insult
However, Al Jazeera took the initiative to air this conversation with Ranil on Thursday night of the 6th. At the same time, this humiliation that Ranil suffered became the main topic in Sri Lanka from Friday morning. The best attack was made by the Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake in Parliament. Quoting a story that Ranil himself had made, Bimal said that a Ferrari had hit Al Jazeera and crushed it. Bimal sarcastically said that Ranil’s head had been damaged in the accident, which is why he is reading nonsense these days.
Doctors and Ranil
Amidst all this, another political scandal broke out in Ranil’s head last week. That was after the discussion held by the Government Medical Officers Association with Ranil. Although the doctors went to meet Ranil to discuss their salary discrepancies, a statement issued by the UNP media unit after the meeting said that the government medical officers had invited Ranil to return to parliament.
However, this statement issued by the UNP media unit did not last even 24 hours. This was after the relevant statement was circulated in the media and the Government Medical Officers Association, which made a statement to the media, stated that its association had never made such an invitation to Ranil and that the UNP media unit should immediately correct the statement. However, there was no response from the UNP side.
SJB to all
The Election Commission has already made all the plans to announce the date of the local government elections in the near future. Accordingly, all the major parties are currently holding discussions and seminars on how to contest the local government elections.
No matter which party contests the local government elections, this time the contest is not between anyone else, but between the Compass and the SJB. Compass has already decided to contest all local government institutions including the North and the East in the upcoming local government elections.
All LG bodies
Also, at the SJB Management Committee held last week, the SJB decided to contest all local government institutions in the North and the East under telephone symbol. Although many thought that the SJB would discuss the merger of the UNP with the Management Committee this time, not a word was discussed about it in the Management Committee. Nor was any member prepared to speak a word about it. Although some groups had expressed their views in the past that they should contest together with the UNP and contest under a common symbol, none of that was seen this time. Everyone was of the view that the UNP had become extremely helpless under the current situation, that their village branch networks had been broken, and that therefore the SJB should contest the local government elections on its own.
Sajith clearly stated that 5 years had passed for the SJB by now and that this was a good opportunity for the party to become stable at the village level and at the grassroots level. Sajith also pointed out to the group that a strong and massive political journey could be taken through that. Accordingly, Sajith requested all those present to prepare plans on how to contest the local government elections.
Government’s game plan
After this management meeting, several electoral organizers from the Central Province met with Sajith and took steps to inform him of a special matter. They pointed out that the government was preparing to hold the Dalada exhibition during the election campaign period, and that the government had planned to gain undue political advantage through it. They pointed out to Sajith that the Malaima representatives were taking steps to gain political advantage in the villages by using buses to bring people to the Dalada exhibition. Accordingly, Sajith took steps to make a special statement in Parliament the very next day in this regard. Sajith said that everyone wanted a fair election and that certain religious and cultural activities should not be held during the election period in an unethical manner and that those religious ceremonies should not be disrespected by holding certain religious and cultural activities in an unethical manner.
We are done, sir
While the SJB has decided to contest the entire country, the UNP is struggling to find candidates for the local government elections at the village level. Accordingly, it is reported that these days, former strongmen of the UNP are continuously making requests to the SJB MPs to somehow create the necessary atmosphere for them to contest together.
Also, a former strong minister, who is known to joining various parties and switching parties in the past, has met Ranil and stated, ‘We are done, sir.’ Accordingly, it is also reported that this former minister has later met and discussed with Duminda Dissanayake of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to somehow form an alliance with the UNP. Duminda had clearly informed this strongman that the SLFP would not contest together with the UNP and that if the UNP wanted to, it could contest together with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party under the chair symbol. It is also learned that the UNP strongman who was disappointed with Duminda’s announcement has left empty-handed. Accordingly, the SLFP is now contesting this Local Government Election alone under the chair symbol.
Tamil Alliance for Colombo
Significantly in this Local Government Election the Tamil National Alliance has decided to contest the Colombo Municipal Council for the first time in its history. With the assumption of the post of General Secretary of the Tamil National Alliance by former MP M.A. Sumanthiran, it is reported to the ‘Inside Politics’ column that many major changes are currently taking place within the party. The first change can be cited as the decision to contest for the Colombo Municipal Council alone.
Sajith-Malima Discussion
Amidst all this, a special meeting was held between Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several JVP MPs and Ministers at a five-star hotel near Colombo last Tuesday night. This star hotel is the Mount Lavinia Hotel. Last Tuesday night, the muhurat ceremony of the film ‘Thangamale’ by Upul Shantha Sannasgala, a character known throughout the country, was held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, and Sannasgala had invited a group of JVP MPs and Ministers and Opposition Leader Sajith. Along with Sajith, Prasad Siriwardena, a young MP from Gampaha, was also seen attending.
Normally, at such an event held at night, Sajith would spend a short time saying goodbye to the guests and then leave, but what was special about that day was that after the event ended, Sajith spent time in the pool side area of the Mount Lavinia Hotel chatting with JVP MPs until 3 am.
Broken Promise
The current Compass government made several promises to the people while in opposition to taking power. It also took steps to denounce and attack leading politicians in various ways. In particular, when Mr. Sajith Premadasa distributed smart classrooms and school buses to children in villages and difficult schools under the Sakwala program, Compass disparaged it by saying that Sajith was going inside the schools and talking about politics in front of the children. The leaders of Compass also said that under a Compass government, no politician would be allowed to participate in school ceremonies.
However, after the government was formed, Compass implemented it and imposed a rule that politicians could not go to schools and participate in ceremonies there. But the special incident is that the Compass MPs and Ministers themselves violated this rule.
School Politics
Once, photos of Eranga Gunasekara, a deputy minister of the government, attending a school function were published in the media. Last week, Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake also attended a function held at a school in Matale, violating the order. It was seen that the MPs of the Compass were also present.
In this regard, last week in Parliament, SJB Kalutara MP Jagath Withana questioned the heads of the government. There, Jagath said that although opposition MPs cannot attend school functions, there is no problem for government MPs and Ministers to attend school functions. In particular, the MP said that although he himself spent money on the school where he studied and built a swimming pool and many buildings, today he is also unable to attend a function at his school. However, Jagath Withana, who claimed that government ministers attend school functions, also stated that an inquiry has been conducted against the principal of the school that invited him.
