Making a presentation to foreign diplomats in Geneva on January 21, presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunge contradicted President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the number of troops deployed in the Northern Province. Weeratunge is in Geneva as part of the campaign to fight against the impending resolution at the Human Rights Council in March 2014.
Weeratunga
On Sunday, January 19, President Rajapaksa while opening a hospital constructed with private sector donations claimed that there were only 12,000 Army personnel in the entire Northern Province. Speaking at the opening of the Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital president Rajapaksa added that the strength of the Army in the North at the end of the conflict was 70,000.
Yet making his presentation to Geneva diplomats just two days later Weeratunge says that there are 80,000 Army personnel in the North as of October 2013. Illustrating with a graph the Presidential Secretary claims that that there has been a reduction of 30 percent of Army troops from the peak deployment of roughly 120,000 in December 2009. Interestingly the graph shows that the number of troops in the North in fact increased after the end of the war in May 2009 to peak in December that same year. Weeratunge’s numbers do not consider the Navy and Air force personnel deployed in the Northern Province.
The Army currently has four Security Forces Head Quarters in the Northern Province, namely Jaffna, Wanni, Kilinochchi and Mullaittiyu. Among these there are 14 Divisions and 3 task forces. By convention a Division would consist of between 10,000 to 30,000 troops. The Army deployment in the Northern Province is as follows;
Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna (SFHQ-J)
51 Division, based in Jaffna
52 Division, based in the Jaffna Peninsula
55 Division, based in Elephant Pass Military Base, Jaffna Peninsula[32]
Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni (SFHQ-W)
Area Headquarters Mannar, Mannar
21 Division
56 Division, operating in the Vavuniya District
61 Division, operating in the Vavuniya District
Security Forces Headquarters – Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN)
57 Division, operating in the Kilinochchi District
66 Division, operating in the Kilinochchi District
68 Division, operating in the Kilinochchi District
Task Force 3, operating in the Kilinochchi District
Task Force 7, operating in the Kilinochchi District
Security Forces Headquarters – Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT)
59 Division, operating in the Mullaittivu District
64 Division, operating in the Mullaittivu District
65 Division, Thunukkai, Mullaittivu District
Task Force 2, operating in the Mullaittivu District
Independent Divisions
53 Division, based at Mankulam
58 Division, based at Paranthan (formally referred to as the Task Force 1
bo / January 23, 2014
Nothing wrong with troops staying in the North. Too many masquerading terrorists about still active plotting with the likes of Rita Sebasthian. Even British and American forces remained in Germany for 50-years after WW2, and American’s are still there; so thaat’s good enough precedence to follow in SLK.
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Palmsquirrell / January 23, 2014
The Brits and Americans did not have control over the local populace in Germany like the SL Army has in the North and East. In West Germany, Germans had self determination and ran their own affairs.
Another reason for American and British presence was the Cold War and containing the Soviet threat , because you will recall Germany was split into a West and East Germany.
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Rattaran / January 23, 2014
This hymie apologist’s attempts to hide the war crimes of the tribe throughout history (as Mel Gibson famously said, all world’s wars past and present were waged by them)will not be successful.
He will be smoked out from his hiding place – B&B soon.
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Liberal One / January 24, 2014
Look at these idiots who defend US troops been deployed on other sovereign nations but oppose Sri Lankan Army been deployed strictly inside our legitimate borders.
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Palmsquirrell / January 24, 2014
Saying “US troops deploted on other soveregin nations” is meaningless because the situation with each country where American troops are stationed is unique to that country.
In Japan, the Japanese central government has authorised America to have a base there, which not only greatly benefits the local economy but also is a defense umbrella for Japan against China. In Afghanistan the Americans are there because Al Qaeda , who was protected by the Taleban , attacked the US on 9-11.
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joe / January 24, 2014
What happend to GL peris. He told a big lie to Hilery Clinton two years ago. GL wont be able to visit USA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEtgNld_3e8
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Davidson Panabokke / January 23, 2014
They don’t deprive the German locals of their houses, farms and economic activities:
’The military continued to compete economically with small businesses run by conflict-affected people who were trying to become independent of aid. It also reportedly cultivated crops on land which IDPs had been told they could not return to….’’ – Global Overview 2012: People internally displaced by conflict and violence, Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 29 April 2013, http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/DB8A259305B071A8C1257B5C00268DDC/$file/global-overview-2012.pdf
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jansee / January 23, 2014
bo:
That is not the reason dud. The Rajapakses want a big army as safe deposits to be used against the Sinhala people who revolt against them. However, they cannot keep such large numbers in the South as people may become suspicious. If the army takes hold of swathes of land in the south, the people will revolt and the Rajapakses are worried of that. Such a large army will become restless and desperate if not adequately fed and paid. So, the helpless Tamil lands created under a bogey of terrorism is a crafty idea they hatched. The Tamils are not their enemy, nor are the Tamils any capable now to go against the army. This army would be unleashed on you Sinhalese fools when it becomes necessary for the Rajapakses. You saw that in a way last year, don’t you? The target are you fools.
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Liberal One / January 24, 2014
Then stop bitching about the army presence since our safety is the last concern of you
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joe / January 24, 2014
You didn’t get the point. The president was lying. Very good leadership.
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Sena / January 25, 2014
But the North is not another country or is it?
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Mr Retort / January 23, 2014
Bunch of bluffers and conners
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Ajith / January 23, 2014
It is not surprise that there is a difference in the accounts. The record of “LIES” of Rajapakse regime is well known. The difference between 12,000 and 80,000 is 68,000. If we apply the same facts to the number of people massacred by Sinhala forces, then it will be definitely more than 40,000.
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joe / January 24, 2014
Ajith, The president is not good in Math but he is very good in fooling Srilankans.
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Thiru / January 23, 2014
What Weeratunga says are lies, what Mahinda says are lies, what they say about war crimes and genocide of Tamils are all damn lies.
The Sri Lankan regime thrives on lies. Where is the sovereignty of the people the Sinhala elite and the political establishment talk about?
It is a land like no other, land mis-governed by liars!
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ron / January 23, 2014
couldn’t have said it better Thiru !
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Sirimal / January 23, 2014
Lalith Weeratunga is self conceited guy. This many of us noticed clearly. Cant be better – birds of a feather flock together. Now what is the point of his travel to Geneva ? Can anyone explain me please ? Cant they all these carry out through a tele/video conference ? Do they the current regime have got surplus of funds to waste in this way ? No doubt they waste a lot for unnecessary foreign trips. Who to pay for that if not the common man?
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Don Quixote / January 24, 2014
Weeratunga has taken the once proud civil service of Sri Lanka to the lowest ebb ever !
Why is he doing a politicians job ? He is basically trying to defend the Government and not the Country on the international stage.
All the Country has done wrong is to continue to tolerate this tyranny but it is the perpetrators’ the GOVERNMENT who are under fire.
Is it because the great GINPAPPA is afraid of certain failure ?
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Sama / January 24, 2014
If senior diplomats CLEARLY fail, can a secretary do more to save his president ?
Silly acts by all means :(
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The Professional / January 24, 2014
When uncommon things happen due to no fault of common men,exceptionally uncommon men, who are elected by common men to decide for common men, may do uncommon things such as sending uncommon representatives to Geneva when it is common practice for Permanent Representatives stationed there to attend. One thing is very clear. The Permanent Reps appointed to look after the common practices appear to be incapable of looking after uncommon things. What is boiling in Geneva is an uncommon thing. Under such circumstances nothing wrong in sending uncommon men to represent the country.
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The Professional / January 23, 2014
Politicians the world over enjoy the freedom to talk about things that they do not know and escape without being prosecuted. Bureaucrats have to be accurate or show some degree of accuracy. If not they are hanged or kicked out. LW is a graduate in mathematics and statistics and he is also a bureaucrat. Prez MR is a lawyer and a politician and therefore know what the phrase “lies, damn lies and statistics” means. So Thiru and Ajith need not worry and get angry.
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mike / January 23, 2014
MaRa is NOT a lawyer! The late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle knew that. NaRa is a synthetic lawyer and the entire population knows that??
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Javi / January 24, 2014
“LW is a graduate in mathematics and statistics and he is also a bureaucrat. Prez MR is a lawyer and a politician and therefore know what the phrase “lies, damn lies and statistics” means.”
prof the bandit that serves alcohol at Friday Forum and canvassing to sell kasippu at parliament why haven’t you followed your relatives and suggest
Auto Urine Therapy to both MR and LW??
The statistical average of all the frogs is not equivalent to each and every frog!
Maths is for today’s Sakuntala Devi or 5 times world champion coached by house wife mum Viswanathan Anand.
Lawyer we can all see are nothing short of `parasites`
Politician who speaks the truth and sandwiches with lies- like RM said and now LW says.
LW=MR= RUMP!! Now pump it up moron.
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The Professional / January 25, 2014
What is this Friday Forum? Is alcohol served at its meetings?
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Javi / January 25, 2014
Don’t forget when we encountered the first time regarding Singapore by Dr Nirmalan. good luck
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The Professional / January 25, 2014
Who is Dr. Nirmalan?
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Bensen Burner / January 23, 2014
Showing the statisics with the aid of a graph would have made it worse.
Perhaps he used the graph to illustrate that the number was less than 12,000.Bensen
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bganendra / January 23, 2014
Can you win a War by telling the truth ?
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Sirimal / January 23, 2014
yes, but not killing civilians okay ?
if you killed unarmed civilians deliberately, d.m it is then not a victory – but a disaster/slaughter/genocide
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Thiru / January 23, 2014
Different members of the regime say different lies:
Since lies are fabricated, they forget there is a need to be consistent in lies, otherwise the lies will become contradictory and will be exposed.
They need a minster to coordinate the lies so they remain consistent across the regime of liars!
When the government and opposition teams go to Geneva in March, they must be cross examined: The opposition fellows may turn out to be liars too!
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Fathima Fukushima / January 23, 2014
Tamils started the lie business now govt. follows them.
Match a lie with a lie!!
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jansee / January 23, 2014
They (the Rajapakses) need you, too.
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chandra / January 24, 2014
Fathima (Lorenzo)
Lieing or is it ignorance comes naturally to you?
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Off the Cuff / January 23, 2014
since we are triply blessed we can occupy any land LOL
Kind regards,
OTC
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jansee / January 23, 2014
Off the Cuff:
The island country does not look like it is triply blessed. With even statistics cooked up, it looks more like a banana republic. MR is so desperate that he is making his rounds visiting other countries with a begging bowl.
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Sirimal / January 23, 2014
This is an another proof – that these buggers change the numbers arbitrarily. They may feel that readers and IC are stupid as they are.
My suggestion:
1) Send MR home (or UNO should make the way him to be responded before international war crime tribunal; if convicted even put him life long in jails
2) SL Army should be removed replacing with UNO Army (this is a must if the wounds of northern sri lankans to be healed off)
In Germany, there are still US army barracks (Karlsruhe, Hamburg, Berlin) ; numbers of them today are though not as before, but there are american army units in Ramstein and Stuttgart and several other place even today. No more Russian and British troops are in Germany today
3) Abolishing Executive presidency, call for a free and fair election under the supervision of international monitoring committees.
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Sirimal / January 23, 2014
The following article clearly indicates that even PM of the nation makes public statements without talking to the president of the nation directly. This is the level of PRIME MINISTER under MR.
PMs statements CLEARLY point out his opinions in terms of the rule of law and order IN THIS COUNTRY seem no seriously concerned by top leadership. I thought PM is the second most respected post in the country. Hey Guys read this please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By Saman Indrajith
Prime Minister DM Jayaratne told Parliament yesterday that even a prime minister of a country should be hanged if found guilty of importing heroin.
“Hang me if I am guilty. It is so unfortunate that ethanol and heroin are smuggled into this country. I have not even seen heroin in my life. It is said that one of my secretaries sent a letter seeking demurrage waiver for a heroin container. I do not say that was right. It cannot be approved of. Any minister or secretary sends hundreds of such letters. When people come to us seeking for assistance we give them letters. Even if an MP had come to me asking for a letter recommending duty wavier I would have given it. But in this case the request did not come to me. A letter given by one of my secretaries is used by my detractors who claim that the Prime Minister imports heroin.”
Prime Minister said he had not been rattled by political mudslinging. “I am not shaken at all and no one could shake my mind even by stabbing me. And I am ready to bow down and apologise if I have done anything wrong,” he said.
“I have not earned any money for years. I have not even touched money. I do not even know who harvest pepper and coffee on my plantations.”
Prime Minister Jayaratne said that special courts should be set up to hear cases related to heroin. “We should follow Singapore and set up special courts to hear cases related to offences of smuggling drugs and give the capital punishment for those found guilty for drug offences. Otherwise, this country would be destroyed.”
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jansee / January 23, 2014
A pathetic liar with a pathetic tale. What goes around comes around. It is so nice to see all these jokers going for each others throats. Is it true that Keheliya Rambukwella has siphoned of tons of money from Rupavahini and is now become a sacrificial lamb for MR. Good for the country.
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crazyoldmansl / January 23, 2014
Lies from the mouth and truth from the aaas this absolute farce…
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siri / January 23, 2014
Why is the secretary to the President – who should be looking after the day-to-day affairs of the President – representing the country on a diplomatic mission? What happened to the Minister/Deputy Minister of External Affairs or to all the “guys and gals” appointed as diplomats? Is this country crazy or what?
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truth / January 24, 2014
They are tired of telling the same lies over and over again. May be they know from previous experience that no one is prepared to listen to their lies anymore.
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Gamma / January 26, 2014
Eye yakku ingirissi do not know. This naki mala hon thuja has to be sent to lie on behalf of the medamulana thugs
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Sengodan. M / January 24, 2014
12,000 and 80,000. What a big difference! What a big lie by the President of the country! What for?
Sengodan. M
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Lynx / January 24, 2014
From where did this author get hold of 10,000 – 30,000 troops to a Division? Should have read further than paragraph 1 in Wikipedia!! In modern forces even 20,000 is rare.
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Thamara / January 24, 2014
Did Weeratunga tell them that they have found who killed Lasantha, what happened to Prageet Ekneligoda, and many other dissapearences? and white vans, unidentified mass graves? Did Weeratunga tell them, the impeachment of the CJ Shirani Bandaranayaka is legal and according to law. Can he explain why so many security camps are needed in the north? What about their new BBS, Ravana Balaya etc who keeps attacking other religious places, can he please explain. MR and the clan can deceive the unintelligent sinhala people. Does he think that he and his govenment can buy the Americans the way they bought the dirty Indian Sharma.? Good luck
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joe / January 24, 2014
Weerathunga is an educated man. I believe he is an ex Royalist. President from a Gamay school. You make your own judgement now.
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The Professional / January 26, 2014
LW is an old Rahulan and a Mataran but was never a member of Rahula mafia, which was powerful during CBK regime.
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Naman / January 24, 2014
The entire Sinhala Armed forces,Navy and Airforce can stay in the North and East but not taking the local civilians lands and job opportunity.They should not enter in to business, or terrorising the law abiding citizens. They should be within law and order.
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Nayake / January 24, 2014
12,000 off the mouth
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Sama / January 24, 2014
Their he should finally LEARN that he- AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY has to behave in compliance with country^s consitution.
This shows clearly – how serious he has been… he has zero vision and wisdom. This will clear to the nation – like a lightning in the days to come. Fall of this regime is NOT that far.
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Sumuthrasingam / January 25, 2014
It is important for the governments to have terrorist threat. It can be used to consolidate support and do war related business. If popularity drops governments can maneuver to raise terrorist groups and then deploy the army.
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T Wickramaratna / January 25, 2014
All are aware of the fact, that GL is a lair. But between the president and lalith, who is telling the truth?
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The Professional / January 26, 2014
“Though truth is one there are many paths and all the paths are correct.”
(http://www.artofliving.org/though-truth-one-there-are-many-paths-and-all-paths-are-correct)
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