Thursday review by Upul Joseph Fernando
The petroleum minister, who was in charge at the time, informed President Ranasinghe Premadasa of the upcoming oil shortage. President Premadasa immediately got to work. This happening was clearly described in an article for the Daily FT on 2022.06.17 by Lathief Farook, a well-known author about Muslim ties.
” I will give a nice illustration of the pleasant interactions that day between Middle Eastern and Sri Lankan politicians. It was very obvious that there was a risk of an oil shortage during the Premadasa administration. President Premadasa called Iraq ambassador Abdul Ali to the temple trees right away to discuss the situation.
It was about 8.30 o’clock. Listening attentively to Premadasa’s explanation, he informed him that it was nighttime in Iraq and that he would communicate with the president of the Iraqi oil firm to secure a nice response for him in the morning. Premadasa revealed to the Iraqi ambassador the home phone number of the Iraqi oil company head, much to his total surprise. Premadasa called the oil firm president at his home and asked the ambassador to talk with him.
Ambassador was in shock but spoke to the president of the oil company. The oil firm president told the ambassador that Sri Lanka is a friendly nation to us and that two oil tankers that were scheduled to depart Basra Harbor for other destinations tomorrow instead he said he would reroute them to Sri Lanka and send additional ships as well. Sri Lanka and the Middle East have a relationship like this”.
Lathief Farook made reference to this. Premadas put a lot of effort into cultivating this bond. He did not become a slave to Arabic nations while deporting the Israeli “Mosad” secret service from Sri Lanka. He condemned the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.
Mahinda has excellent relations with Middle Eastern nations, as did Premadasa. He has gained the hearts and minds of Arab countries as the President of the Sri Lanka-Palestine Friendship Association.
Arab countries voted against to the human rights motions at UNHRC on Sri Lanka . He designated Minister Fauzi as his representative in these negotiations. Fawzi spoke with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, deputy prime minister, and minister of defense affairs two days prior to the UNHCR vote and requested to support Sri Lanka .
Saudi Arabia adhered to its promise to Fawzi. The Crown Prince was then thanked in a letter that President Mahinda wrote via Fawzi. Mahinda fostered this relationship with the Middle East from 1970 to 1977 while he was still a young member of parliament. However, during his administration, Aluthgama anti-Muslim riots broke out, and Mahinda’s government shielded the Sinhala organizations responsible for this incident, which caused Arabia to lose faith in Mahinda.
Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations voted in favor of the tiny Sri Lankan nation at the human rights commission despite being pressured by the United States to vote against it. However, Mahinda’s Podu Jana Peramuna’ labeled all Muslim countries as terrorist organizations following the 2019 Easter assaults.
This was a key reason clause put forward and used by Udaya Gammanpila, a pillar of Mahinda’s Podu Jana Sandnaya, aimed to suppress Muslim extremism.
“Today, oil money is the driving force behind the spread of Islam extremism; as a result, organizations that profit from oil should be outlawed.” Udaya Gammanpila , 15.03.2015
Uday Gammanpila, the oil minister for the government of Gotabaya, traveled to oil-producing nations and pleaded for oil. Kanchan Wijesekara traveled to Qatar today to beg for oil, despite the fact that the leader of the “one country, one law front,” Galaboda Aththe Ganasara, had described the Qatar charity as a terrorist organization that supported terrorism in 2021.
This Qatar charity fund and Maithree- Ranil governmet’s housing minister Sajith Premadasa had a very close friendship. Sajith was invited by this Charity for a oration which Sajith did for this Galaboda Atthe Ganasara abused Sajith.
“The “Qatar charity” organization was founded on March 3, 2018. Sajith Premadas, the leader of the opposition, spoke as the organization’s keynote speaker. Poor people, how are they supposed to provide leadership to them? I find this to be unbelievable. I’ve included a photo of Sajith cutting the ribbon to launch the charity office in front of everyone.”
The Rajapakse-loyal anti-Muslim media establishment went on the rampage when Galaboda Atthe Ganasara delivered this speech. They broadcast the video and claimed that “Qatar Charity” is a terrorist group and that Sajith Premadasa has ties to it.
Currently, Rishad’s party MP and current government minister Kanchana Wijesekar are in Qatar to discuss the purchase of oil. They bargain with the “Qatar foundation.” President Gotabaya Rajapakse, who receives guidance from the leader of the one country, one law organization, Galaboda Aththe Ganasara, sent them there.
Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition, met with ambassadors from Islamic nations when Sri Lanka had an oil shortage. After discussion, he informed them that several Islamic nations would be willing to provide oil. The Rajapakse stooge social media and other media institutions that support them humiliated this.
Lathif Farook’s revelations about Ranasinghe Premadasa and Ganasara’s revelations highlights only person who can develop confidance among middle eastern countries is Sajith Premadasa. But that is not under a government where Rajapakse’s presidencies govern. it will be possible under a all party government or people elected government after an election. Until people realize this all have to be in oil ques.
Upul Josheph Fernando