With the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a major uproar in Sri Lankan politics in 1992. This was due to the release of files from the Soviet intelligence service, the KGB, which revealed how the KGB had provided funds to Sri Lankan politicians. A letter from the then KGB chief, Vladamir Dryuchov, to the then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev regarding funding for the Sri Lankan opposition, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, was leaked to the media. In that letter, the KGB chief had stated that he had provided secret funds to help the SLFP win eight times more seats in the 1989 general election.
In 1992, a list of Sri Lankan politicians who had received KGB funds was published in the state media. Among them was the name of the opposition leader, Mrs. Bandaranaike. She denied the accusation. The letter written by the KGB chief to Gorbachev states that funds were given not only to the SLFP but also to pro-Soviet politicians of the ruling United National Party. He further states in the letter that the opposition leader, Mrs Bandaranaike, thanked the KGB funds and assured them that she would use the KGB funds to obstruct the pro-Western foreign policy of the UNP government through the members of parliament elected from her party. The Premadasa government, in power then, took advantage of this letter and launched a severe attack on the opposition. Gorbachev’s policy on the KGB intelligence service made all politicians who relied on the Soviet Union helpless.
This upheaval in Sri Lankan politics in 1992 is now being fought based on the US Aid file. Trump has stated in his Twitter message that US Aid money has been given to create political instability in several countries, including Sri Lanka. The SLPP says that Trump’s Twitter message proves that America gave money to fight against Gota’s government. Wimal Weerawansa has been saying since the time of the ‘aragalaya’ that America is behind the ‘aragalaya’. By now, a list of names of Sri Lankan politicians who received ‘US Aid’ is also circulating on social media. Namal Rajapaksa has demanded an investigation to find out how US Aid money was spent in Sri Lanka.
Trump has embarrassed US Aid just as Gorbachev embarrassed the Russian KGB in 1992. Politicians who received ‘US Aid’ to stand up for America are also helpless. There is a suspicion that Trump is an avatar of Gorbachev.
