By Sharmini Serasinghe –
Sharmini Serasinghe
The 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva is currently underway. The report on Sri Lanka will be formally submitted on the 20th of March.
Less than a week before the Geneva Sessions commenced on the 25th of February, former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda’s impending arrest hit the headlines as the 14th accused in connection with the investigations into the abduction and killing of 11 youths in 2008-2009.
Lest it be forgotten, it was he, the then Navy Commander, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda who in May 2009, made the initial explosive revelations of a gruesome abduction for ransom racket by some officers serving in the Sri Lanka Navy. Investigations into the racket began immediately, but fell by the wayside soon after.
Save a few amongst the disgruntled Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora and the incumbent government, no one really gives a damn for these ‘Geneva sessions’ anymore. Even the United States, which was the main backer of the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka pulled out, calling it a “cesspool of political bias.” However the incumbent government of Sri Lanka is pushing for a Resolution in favour of the country to appease the international community.
It certainly defies reason how a Government, conscious of its independence and its sovereign right to make decisions on behalf of its people, free of foreign influence, could make such sweeping pledges to foreign countries with regard to matters relating to national interest.
No nation in the world has ever come forward to co-sponsor a resolution against their own country. But, in 2015, Sri Lanka made history by becoming a co-sponsor of the UNHCR resolution on Sri Lanka. It seems like a typical case of cutting off the nose to spite the face.
Co-sponsorship means the admission of allegations levelled against a country and support for the actions proposed in the resolution. Hence, Sri Lanka is now heavily under pressure to implement the recommendations in the resolution.
For this, the government now needs a sacrificial lamb. They obviously can’t offer Sarath Fonseka for sacrifice at the altar of the current Geneva Sessions despite multiple heinous allegations of war crimes against him, as he’s safely ensconced within the incumbent government and cannot be ‘touched’. So, he is safe, pro tem.
Hence a desperate government decides to make the gallant apolitical wartime veteran Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, the sacrificial lamb. Some amongst the disgruntled Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora would love to see him hanged for his role in accelerating the end of the war in 2009. He did this by changing the primary naval strategy in place at the time which led to the destruction of the entire floating LTTE arsenals on high seas.
During my tenure as Director Communications of the former Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE were requested by the co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor conference to return to the negotiating table in 2006. Both parties agreed and as the official coordinator for the Peace Talks, SCOPP was where all preliminary discussions took place amongst members of the Government delegation. Amongst them, those who stood out from the rest with their dignity, integrity, decorum and class were, Mrs. Ferial Ashraff, Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and Major General Mendaka Samarasinghe.
Wasantha Karannagoda won President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s confidence during the Norway-led peace process. She was especially impressed by his performance as the COM East (Commander, Eastern Naval Area) when he took steps to strengthen government defences in Trincomalee. She went on to appoint him the Commander of the Navy which was a very wise and strategic move she made.
Those like Wasantha Karannagoda tend to have many enemies, as is usual with those with integrity and a conscience who stand up for justice.
Hypothetically, had this highly decorated War Hero holding the rank of four-star Admiral – the first and only Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy to hold the prestigious ‘four-star rank’ whilst in active Naval service – been devoid of integrity and a conscience and had blood on his hands, viz. – abduction and killing of 11 youth, the cold blooded murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge, beaten up the former Editor of The Nation, Keith Noyahr, former Rivira Editor, Upali Tennakoon, Journalist-activist, Poddala Jayantha, journalist Namal Perera etc., – would he not have sucked up to the UNP, got himself comfortably ensconced as a Minister within the incumbent government which would have ensured that no matter who he got killed or bashed to near pulp, he would never be charged?
Now, who should rightfully be the Sacrificial Lamb at the altar of the current Geneva Sessions?
Dinuk / March 4, 2019
Sharmini,
The US-UK human rights endgame in Sri Lanka is military bases for Uncle Sam in the Indian Ocean, more urgent now that the ICJ has ruled that Diego Garcia military base must be returned to Chagossians and Mauritius. .
After Ms. Human Rights, Sam Power came and went from Lanka with MCC and IMF in tow to sing hosannas to the Minister of Finance who knows nothing about finance, and Trumpland puppet Bondscam Ranil, a massive amount of 300 acres of Bingiriya land has been set aside to build a mysterious industrial park with NO industries specified. Just like Horana Tire Factory no? We need a land bank, land grab, Land Rights investigation here???
Sam’s visit to praise Mangala who was happily crashing the Lankan rupee on the behest of the Washington Consensus and the IMF debt trap project in Lanka, ( as in Argentina, Greece, Ecuador VENEZUELA etc), seemed timed and designed to distract us from ICJ ruling that exposed the horrific details of how US marines gased the dogs of Chagos islands and forced its peoples out in 1970 to set up a military base. The Human Rights Tall stories and fake narrative that US and UK feed former colonies in Asia and Africa as they continue to exploit then is coming undone with Brexit Britain asked to vacate Chagos islands. The infamous and violent partnership in Crime of UK and US colonial project exposed in the Indian Ocean.
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Native Vedda / March 4, 2019
Sharmini Serasinghe
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On 2 March 2019 Wasantha Karannagoda for the first time involved former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in the case.
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CID detectives have uncovered shocking details of how men directly linked to Karannagoda carried on a lucrative “white van operation” abducting children of wealthy business families and killing them after extorting money from them.
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economynext.com
Mar 02, 2019
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“I have no white vans – Gotabaya
…
….
He says that he is proud to say that it is not a secret that a majority of the intelligence officers working back in the day were Muslims. However, due to mistakes of a previous government, many of those officials were killed in Colombo.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa further said the service of those intelligence officers was the reason behind defeating the terrorism”
adaderana.lk
March 3, 2019 .
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Isn’t it clear without reading between the lines
all are in it together in this profitable business of fighting LTTE the “Tamil” terrorists which gave the smart patriotic Ranavirus the all powerful blanket cover of impunity over all crimes, making many powerful and very rich?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / March 5, 2019
Sharmini, if Karannagoda is such a nice person, he should honorably turn a crown witness and tell the truth about the atrocities committed by his men in the navy as well as those in the government who had command responsibility. No criminal case can be swept under the carpet without the involvement of those in highest echelons of power. They are responsible for abduction and murder of several innocent Tamils simply because of their ethnicity.
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Laxmi / March 5, 2019
Sharm: Thanks but the Karannagoda arrest fiasco is a distraction for the media. Just like the arrests of drug dealers with lots of media and fan fare is to make us feel that there is law and order in Lanka, as Bondscam Ranil and his white collar Criminals are looting and run the country and selling it off their foreign backer, and Mahendran and PTL Aloysius are scot free in Singapore. Meanwhile Singapore helps Lanka to catch criminals in Lanka?!!
Now we are all to have Biometic Health Cards paid for by another American proxy – Japan- another scam by so-called Minister of health- so that all Sri Lankans can be surveilled and tracked by god knows who..?
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Sharmini Serasinghe / March 6, 2019
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam,
Wasantha Karannagoda’s downfall is going to be his blind loyalty to the Rajapaksas. I hope he realises this sooner than later, for his own good before it’s too late.
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Native Vedda / March 6, 2019
Sharmini Serasinghe
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“Wasantha Karannagoda’s downfall is going to be his blind loyalty to the Rajapaksas. “
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Does it mean being a state top security man Wasantha Karannagoda has to keep mouth shut (obeying code of silence) for ten or more years about the Mafia operations that took place under his nose, and he was part of the cover up exercise, and in his defence he is invoking all powerful Mantra, in essence he says “Disgruntled LTTE waging a war against me because I defeated LTTE terrorists single handedly and those bring charges are traitors, working for LTTE, ……….)
How long people are going to tolerate crooks, criminals and war criminals running and ruining this island is a difficult question to answer. They too deserve to be kicked around for not producing the right environment for intellectually honest, able, wise, …. people to take over not only policy making, but also the running of the state..
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” The CID notes that its probe has revealed that the lives of these five abducted youths could have been saved, if Admiral Karannagoda had acted soon after receiving information about them. – http://www.sundaytimes.lk – March 03, 2019″
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Wasantha Karannagoda is/was one link in the corrupt chain, maybe a honest man, however when lives were threatened for cash, he kept quiet. What was in it for him from Dr Gota or others?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / March 6, 2019
Dear Sharmini, if Karannagoda is exhibiting blind loyalty to the Rajapakses and not acting on his own, then nothing is going to happen to him. Ranil W gave an undertaking to Mahinda at the time of change of power that no harm will be done to him in order to make him relinquish his post. This promise is being kept and this is the reason why nothing has been done to Mahinda and his cohorts who should have been behind bars for their crimes by now. All these hullabaloo about Karannagoda will die a natural death, because if investigated properly, hands of Rajapakses in many crimes will come to light.
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K.Anaga / March 9, 2019
Karanagoda a was not blind when he initially exhibited loyalty to Rajapakses. He became blind to their atrocities only there after.
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Bubbuladewi / March 8, 2019
When he realise it, it can take long. The kind of obsequeous men would never do enough to see it right.
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No matter their silence could do lot more harm to the nation, nevertheless they continues their usual operandi. This i think is an issue GENETISTs to tackle with… Lankens, I mean our race (Sinhalayas) would not notice it until all the damage would become beyond bearing.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / March 12, 2019
Dr GS
Now, who should rightfully be the Sacrificial Lamb at the altar of the current Geneva Sessions?
is the question raised by Sharmini?
and with your ever so loving human rights statement above I agree we should be putting all who killed others in SL at the Geneva including the TNA??..is all what I have been saying?????
Do you agree???? are you from Jaffna?
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JD / March 4, 2019
DINUK: that week also the exact week that made FOUR YEARS COMPLETE to the BOND SCAM. there were some protests showing placards asking where is the investigations. Besides, IMF/MCC began COMPACT in 2016. They were preparing to sign the agreement in November 2018 which was scuttled. If that COMPACT was signed Sri lanka would have been in big trouble. they would not leave by what ever the means. So many changes would have happened.That is a long story. Local Newspapers are not publishing
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Rarityminds / March 4, 2019
Even the best ever Heart Surgeon after performing few surgeries of life threatening patients, on his way back home, he would rape an innocient girl, the law should on him considering the good surgeon to be a rapist.
Likewise, no any room for the excuses, if investigations prove that these admirals are caught in flagrante delicto, they should be made criminals before the law. Basta.
Those mothers that lost their young son and their torments of tantalus should see its end sooner than later.
I believe, it is the genetics of our sinhaalyas that made them criminal.
One of my friends from Tokio added, if lankens would be able to see them suffering from a kind of so superiority complex, – then they can predict the nation can achieve their goals towards economic develpement sooner than later.
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Don Stanley / March 5, 2019
Dinuk, In addition to Bingiriya, Trumpland’s puppet Bondscam Ranil has said, “we seek 4,000 acres in Trincomalee. Five thousand acres have been allocated for Hambantota. Another ten thousand in Moneragala and one thousand acres in Kalutara. There are 100 acres of Mawathagama. 600 acres will be inspected in Kuliyapitiya.”
The land grabs to set up infrastructure for Trumpands military bases and supporting infrastructure continue in Lanka as in Chagos islands- in the name of Human Rights and Security ..
Although there is no Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coming to Sri Lanka after the loss of investor confidence caused by the Bondscam in the CBSL Prime Minister Ranil is requisitioning massive amounts of strategic lands for industrial development despite Lanka’s labour shortage, lack of skilled industrial labour and
PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE: Filling up paddy fields and land grabbing for Industrial parks for fictional Volkswagon car factories and tire factories is on going for FAKE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS of Bondscam Ranil and his butterfly mafia whose economic development plans are dratted in Washington by Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to benefit Trumpland has said that Sri Lanka’s export income will be doubled in the next four years but not a single name of a real investor for whom all this land is being grabbed is specified.
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Raman / March 6, 2019
Donstanley dear,
So now you have started talking to yourself (Dinuk).!!! Please do tell us what you will NOT do for publicity?
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Douglas / March 5, 2019
Sharmini Serasinghe: You are in a hurry to pay “Tribute” to this “14th Accused” in the abduction and killing of the 11 people and its related ransom collections by his own troops. You also say: “May 2009 made the initial explosive revelation…..investigations commenced immediately… but fell by the way side”. Isn’t it now for the family members of those “11” to find out WHY the “Investigations fell by the way side” especially when Mr. Karanagoda was the person who made the “initial explosive revelations”? What is Mr. Karanagoda’s EXPLANATION for that “fell by the way side” and what did he do from that “May 2009” to date? Why can’t he (Karannagod) DIVULGE the “TRUTH” behind that “Investigations fell by the way side”. So in his choice to “REMAIN SILENT” he (Karannagoda) is “LIABLE” and remains an “ACCUSED”. His contributions to war efforts (as explained by you) do not give any “EXEMPTION” to commit CRIME. Please tell him to tell the TRUTH and he owes that DUTY and OBLIGATION towards those family members of those “11”.
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Mallaiyuran / March 5, 2019
I like to know why Sharmini Serasinghe is connecting UNHRC resolution singing and Wasantha Karannagoda. Like Ranil, is Wasantha Karannagoda another relative of Sharmini Serasinghe? Anybody knows about that?. She seems to attempting that Ranil didn’t sign the Resolution 30/1, but it was done by Mangala. So some everything here!
Whether Wasantha Karannagoda is a scapegoat or he is Black Sheep carried out the murders, it doesn’t matter, If there is accusation he faces the Court. If the Lankawe Sinhala Jury only courts are honest, they admit Wasantha Karannagoda at the Hotel Hospital, like they did it with the other criminals.
Sharmini Serasinghe seems to be worried, at least one of the wishes of Tamil Diasporas’ going to come true. That is why she is dying hard to save Wasantha Karannagoda even if he is guilty. She is just the typical Sinhala Intellectual, the strange species destroyed the beautiful Island, Ceylon. .
It is absolute comedy, to have him saved, Sharmini Serasinghe is trying to frame him against Diaspora, LTTE and thus makes him a War Hero. The game she is playing is she is honoring Wasantha Karannagoda as a spectacular SLFPyer, even crowned by Chandrika, but down grading Fonseka as only a traitor UNPyer, so not a war Hero.
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Madave Lal / March 5, 2019
It fell by way at the CID, not at the Navy. Karannagoda very rightly handed it over to the CID since it is a murder case. On his reporting it to Gotabaya, DIG Anura Senanayake came to the Navy to investigate it.
These present investigators are concluding the investigation without taking evidence from those two. And also without giving a chance to Karannagoda to tell his version with regard to the bogus evidences recorded from Welagedarage, Sinnaia and Shamal Fermando.
Present investigators are trying to say that Karannagoda started the investigations only after receiving Min.Filix Prera’s letter , which was about 40 days later than the investigations were started by Karannagoda and the CID.
What a way to make one of the best War Hero a traitor ( by the real traitors )
If not for Karannagoda’s out of the frame action to sink over 10 LTTE ships full of arms and ammunition, Fonseka would have been still fighting the war. The turning point was made by Karannagoda.
Please do not try to tarnish his gallantry record. If you do not know the truth fully please wait till the court case is over.
The preset action is NOT avoid the Court case, but to avoid unreasonable arrest ( to show these traitors’ masters in Geneva )
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Native Vedda / March 5, 2019
Madave Lal
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By any chance you are a close friend or relative of Wasantha Karannagoda?
It has been 10 years since the kidnapping and murder took place. A person holding high position should have come out his guns blazing. Instead he has been trying to play his patriotic card.
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Any uniformed person worth his salt should behave honourably, conduct in a manner that not only respect the uniform, code of conduct, as a human being. It looks like he is part of a large Mafia network respecting only code of silence.
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Sharmini Serasinghe / March 5, 2019
Lest it be forgotten, it was Wasantha Karannagoda, the then Navy Commander, who in May 2009 made the initial explosive revelations of a gruesome abduction for ransom racket by some officers serving in the Sri Lanka Navy. Investigations by the CID into the racket began immediately, but fell by the wayside soon after.
The question is, WHY did the investigation fall by the wayside and who put a stop to it!
Would it have caused a domino effect and led to all types of skeletons tumbling out of the closet had the investigation went ahead unimpeded?
Would Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who was Secretary Defense in 2009 have the answers!!!!!!
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Simon De Silva / March 8, 2019
Why dont local media or any responsible authorties question GOTABAYA ? He should be the key component of the information about the incident. He had been the secretary of defence to that time and he owes a lot regarding this and other crime investigations. Why doest the media seem to be scared of questioning Gotabaya?
If we have the key person to be interorgated, should we make further round about in getting the info ?
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Harold / March 5, 2019
Do not connect military valour with murder. After a court case if Karanagoda is not guilty, so be it. If not the judge can mitigate the punishment consudering war heroics. The CID does have evidence. If not the SG will not pursue a high profile accused. Remember 11 kids were murdered.
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Plato. / March 5, 2019
Sharmini.
I wish you did not hold this brief for this notorious as well as a famous EX:Navy Commander.True he has been named as a War-Hero.Will that give him the impunity and Licence to commit crimes on the sidelines to the main war? The CID HAS UNEARTHED EVIDENCE-DAMNING EVIDENCE!
Bad enough abducting for ransom; But killing them under his watch does not make him a War-Hero but a War-Criminal.
Sharmini you have held excellent briefs for cases as well as causes previously on these pages: Anyway, Elephants do slip
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Agnos / March 5, 2019
Ms. Serasinghe,
Let us accept the fact that Karanaagoda showed ‘dignity’, ‘decorum’, ‘integrity’, ‘class’, etc., in their dealings with you at the SCOPP. How does that lead one to conclude he wouldn’t have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity?
There are plenty of men who act brutishly when they hold power over subordinates and bully their victims, and all of a sudden act like gentlemen in front of their superiors and co-workers, especially ladies. I don’t know where Karanaagoda would rank in relation to Gotabhaya and Fonseka in terms of their war time abuses. But if the CID really has evidence of Karanaagoda’s involvement in white van abductions and murders of innocent youths, then he will have to face justice.
Neither his Navy rank, nor his respectful behavior in front of ladies and superiors, can absolve him of responsibility for grave crimes. Your argument has no merit.
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rbh / March 5, 2019
Every thing is beyond the reach of proof. Not prediction , as said in this heading
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chiv / March 5, 2019
Sharmini I have to agree with Native and some of other commentators on this. Are you not surprised there is not one single case involving the servicemen has seen an end in Lanka. It may be SF, GR, this guy, FCID person, Jegath, Shavendra,navy, air force —–etc——etc. Why should your guy be different?????????? As long I am concerned, currently in Lanka all politicians and high ranking service personal are guilty of CRIME unless otherwise proved. As I mentioned elsewhere in Lanka there is light at the end of tunnel but the tunnel never ends. Recent “inquiry commission head of disappeared “!!!!!! , Mr . S. Peiris admitted to crimes committed by both parties and recommended compensation (not legal action?????) to reconcile. What does it mean??????
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Chandra / March 5, 2019
Without reading her article even halfway one would be relieved that she is attempting to veer away from writing bs.
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chiv / March 5, 2019
Some Lankans seems to be perplexed how this guy could have made the original complaint when he was one of the accused murderer. As a child I remember well, in our village following physical altercation the perpetrator is always the first one to reach the police station to make a complaint (against innocent victim). In Lanka politicians and their proxies have fine tuned this tactics to higher levels. So it is not a surprise when SF or this guy turning out as accusers.Even MR and GR are claiming to know some murderers , didnt GR claim recently in Lasantha, s case. So Sharmini with all due respect to you, Common Sense is the word. After witnessing these bull shit tactics for years , we Lankans are now quite familiar in identifying one.
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K.Pillai / March 5, 2019
Sharmini Serasinghe’s laudations here to Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda sounds artificial.
Et Tu Shamini?
PS: Hope it does not turn into an eulogy.
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chiv / March 5, 2019
In my opinion this is one of most heinous crimes/murders where eleven youth were murdered after kidnap and ransom. This was master minded by service personal because no other individual or group could have done this at that time. This pattern of crimes were actively staged even before and after this incident.(kidnap/ransom/murder). The cover ups too indicate the involvement of higher ups including politicians and service personal. The difference is others were political (Lasantha/Joseph Pararagasingam/Ravi Raj ) and these heinous murders are for personal gains. Sharmini remember Krishanthi and the struggle to get justice for the poor soul. In case of politicians the truth may be ultimately revealed because of their back stabbing, where as service personal are not known for whistle blowing.
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kali / March 5, 2019
Sharmini,
I am truly amazed at the standard of your article and beacuse of CTs cap I will split into two as I cannot let you get away with it..
For your information UNHRC was set up to keep every nation on check so that every citizen feels safe and has a recourse to Justice .. But you seem to trample on it.
1) Less than a week before the Geneva Sessions commenced on the 25th of February, former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda’s impending arrest hit the headlines as the 14th accused in connection with the investigations into the abduction and killing of 11 youths in 2008-2009.
Lest it be forgotten, it was he, the then Navy Commander, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda who in May 2009, made the initial explosive revelations of a gruesome abduction for ransom racket by some officers serving in the Sri Lanka Navy. Investigations into the racket began immediately, but fell by the wayside soon after.
*** Your asserion of his track record and innocence is unbelievable. First of all this is all a drama just before the UN session which is now a yearly RITUAL to fool UN.. Every promise Sinhala Lanka gave jas been broken.
By defending him without the Due Process taking its course you seem to be acting as JUDGE & JURY. That is not upoholding RULE OF LAW which is in short supply.
2) Save a few amongst the disgruntled Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora and the incumbent government, no one really gives a damn for these ‘Geneva sessions’ anymore. Even the United States, which was the main backer of the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka pulled out, calling it a “cesspool of political bias.” However the incumbent government of Sri Lanka is pushing for a Resolution in favour of the country to appease the international community..
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kali / March 5, 2019
Moderator I know you have a soft spot for Sharmini but for god sake let truth be heard. She is a Grandma
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Anan / March 5, 2019
If Wasanda karunnagoda. Not guilty, why he not opening his mouth? Where was the school students? To day Tamil students get Kill for money, Tomorrow Sinhala Students will Kidnappe, then only Srilanka Cilivization will understand, if today / Tomorrow, Wasanda Karunnagoda can Reintroducing, one day he will answer what he had done.the President know who was guilty, but he be quite, god is there, any one who can speak for Wasanda Karunnagoda, one they hidden the true, ture never died, wait and see?
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K.Pillai / March 5, 2019
Sharmini Serasinghe is worried, and wants us to worry, that Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda is being prepared to be the ‘Sacrificial Lamb At The Altar’.
Wasantha a lamb? Insult lambs? The GoSL of the time chosen by the ‘Elites sans Frontiers’ never sacrifice their pets from the Uniformed Services.
There maybe ‘pretend sacrifice’ of day-old chicken or dead small fishes.
The main thing is “Machang Not to worry”.
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Mallaiyuran / March 5, 2019
More than 325 skeletons have been found in Mannar mass grave. This includes, Children and women. The fake OMP got into that and more damage done. An expensive Carbon Dating test was carried on 5 samples. Ranil’s government appears to have ordered not to release the results to public as March 2019 UNHRC sitting was coming. Can Sharmini Serasinghe write an essay to make these guys to release result to UNHRC before it close the session, so it can fine tune the next resolution?
Can Sharmini say if Mangala’s budget was dated to distract the UNHRC discussion at home or not? This budget was ready to present at the start of last November. Coup was reversed in December start. Why is it being presented three months after, in the middle of UNHRC sitting?
UNP thugs are more fraudulent than the SLFP +Slap Party) War Criminals
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / March 6, 2019
Result of the carbon dating on skeletons is on the website of the company which did the testing. Now the official report has gone to the Mannar courts. These murders took place in around December 1984, when I was serving as Medico-legal officer in Jaffna. There was a bomb blast outside Murunkan post office resulting in deaths of many soldiers. Soldiers went berserk killing and wounding several people in the vicinity. Some of the injured were brought to Jaffna hospital, including the post master who was shot through his shoulder shattering it. Subsequently army arbitrarily arrested several people including Fr. Bastian of Vankalai church and they are all missing, being killed by the army. There was an army camp at the site of the present excavation, where those killed were buried.This was brought to light by chance at this former CWE store house when people were digging the ground..
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Pygmalion / March 5, 2019
Mallaiyuran.
Has Sharmini abandoned the core values that she had espoused earlier? We know that she is a Ranil supporter. Ranil is also a pal of Rajapakse. There is something fishy. I am at sea with respect to her defense of this Admiral who is essentially a man at sea!
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Sdes / March 6, 2019
Of course, Karannagoda has been made a scapegoat by the Govt to appease the UNHCR and the pathetic diaspora.
As usual, the eelam extremists are barking, with their tails up (in the comments section)
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / March 6, 2019
Whatever else he might be, the man is certainly not a “lamb” (on the premise that lambs are innocent and harmless). Reading all the comments so far, very few people seem to be supporting this desperate attempt to portray him as a lamb, and their views are backed up by what seems like hard evidence. I believe he and any others guilty of crimes need to face justice. If he proves himself to be innocent, then good for him..!
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Spring Koha / March 6, 2019
Sharmini Serasinghe
Re your final searching question: Now, who should rightfully be the Sacrificial Lamb at the altar of the current Geneva Sessions?
When The Great Liberator got the bit between his teeth (after the death of Balasingham?) he gave a signal to his Enforcer Brother – ‘shit or bust’ – do whatever it takes to finish them off, and don’t worry about taking any prisoners.
As a recall, in those dark days, not even a butterfly could fart without Brother Enforcer knowing about it. Every detail of every action, significant or collateral came to the notice of Brother Enforcer.
If honour has anything to do, the buck stops at the very top.
So, there you have the answer to your question: The Great Liberator and his Brother Enforcer should do the right thing; take the stand and face the charges.
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Douglas / March 7, 2019
Sharmini Serasinghe: Did you hear what transpired in courts? There are several witnesses now CONFESSING into the abductions and ransom collections. Interestingly the “White Van” belonged to the family of one of the victims, which the “Navy” took away and changed the “Number Plate” and paited “WHITE” to indicate that it was a “Navy Vehicle” and used for “Abductions”. Did you HEAR of the findings by the CID as to why this “War Hero” made the first complaint against his own “Personnel Assistant”? I don’t want to write it here; but sufficient to say that it is “connected” with this Navy Chief’s wife. This Karannagoda only wanted the CID take that man into custody and the matter was allowed to “Go by the way side”; but the ABDUCTIONS” continued with his and the “BOSS’S ” ” BLESSINGS”. Leave aside UNHRC” affair. This “GOON” along with so many others, including the “BOSS” sitting at the helm of Defense Ministry MUST be rounded up and made ANSWERABLE and RESPONSIBLE. What have you got to say now?
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KandyanRadalaModaGembek / March 7, 2019
Very interesting and quite different from the egotistical bombast which announced your arrival after MR lost in 2015(no record of ever speaking out against MR or GR in writings or CT publications before) where you talk about “hear this Kandyan roar” Nevertheless very interesting. I saw the following on a news item. Also we all know SF hated him. Why was that? SF canvassed CBK so hard for his extension and lobbied even some family members of CBK’s to no avail. If she wanted to claim credit for wins, she could have had the wisdom to give an extension to the best smartest Army Commander ever. But SF has a huge narcissistic ego and has ambitions to become President. But why did Karannagoda and he fight? but here is a news story
The court has been told that Karannagoda was driven by a personal animosity against Sampath Munasinghe who was having an illegal affair with his wife Asoka Karannagoda.
Mrs. Saroja Naganathan, whose young son Rajiv was abducted by men under Karannagoda and later killed, asked the court not to grant an order in favour of the former navy chief.
The police Criminal Investigations Department wants to arrest him as the 14th suspect in the killing of 11 young men who are from the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities.
The CID investigations in addition to written assurances by the army, navy and the air force found that none of the victims had any links with terrorism. The abductions had been carried out purely with criminal intent to extort money from their wealthy parents.
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Thangamma / March 7, 2019
With the MyLai massacre of 16th March 1968 approaching its 51st anniversary, we must be cognizant that not one American Christian Soldier was tried for war crimes including mass rape , burning people alive and bayonetting babies and women. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, it does not mean we can ignore war crimes in Ceylon. The Green-berets apparently retaliated against similar attacks by VC like LTTE attacks. But victims are always innocent civilians.
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sach / March 9, 2019
Has there ever been an atrocity of Mylai nature in SL, by the SLA in the 30 year war? While we do know many instances where LTTE did that.
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Orpheus Perera / March 7, 2019
He is a hero! This is all fabrication. Some one has written on my posts that he made 11 children to vanish. Does he know black magic? LTTE trained children to kill, hung cyanide capsules around their necks and sent forward. If any member of any of the forces did kill these children in the jungle they cannot be war criminals. Present generals and admirals and commandments may be UNP. But they should side with their predecessors. Forces can save the country from this members of lost LTTE, DIASPORA, idiotic politicians and drug kingpins by taking the power to their hands. You with your predecessors saved the country from 28 years old war. Now you have to think again without making the victory Futile.
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Native Vedda / March 8, 2019
Odious Perera
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Do you have anything sensible to say in this forum?
What a clever dick you are.
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Its time you learned something about
“Recurring Nightmare State Responsibility for “Disappearances” and Abductions in Sri Lanka .
https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/srilanka0308web.pdf
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“ONLY JUSTICE CAN HEAL OUR WOUNDS”: LISTENING TO THE DEMANDS OF FAMILIES OF THE DISAPPEARED IN SRI LANKA
https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/ASA3758532017ENGLISH.PDF
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Then pass it to the war Zeroes.
In case if you want to remain ignorant ass please ignore these reports.
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chiv / March 7, 2019
When did the LION turn into LAMB. May be one of those miracles in shit hole.
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Mallaiyuran / March 7, 2019
Sharmini Serasinghe basic premise, that Karaganda has been turned into sacrificial lamp itself is faulty thought. Because she is Sinhala Buddhist he cannot understand the “Animal Sacrifice”
Yahapalanaya’s, for which’s victory Sharmini lent her full effort in 2015, election manifesto was “No Leader, No Commander and no Soldier will be prosecuted”. The Only promise Yahapalanaya so far filled was saving the War, Corrupt and Murder criminals. Ranil is still working very hard to dodge the IC on the investigation. Then where did she found UNP is using him as goat?
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Upali Wickramasinghe / March 8, 2019
Sharmini, be careful. People might that you are otherwise motivated. I had a lot of respect for your writing. You just lost it.
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