Senior defense and political columnist Iqbal Athas in an interview this morning said U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo cancelled his visit to Sri Lanka because the U.S. failed to persuade Sri Lanka to accept SOFA/VFA – the Status of or Visiting Forces Agreement.
Iqbal Athas
“His visit to Sri Lanka was to be for 3.5 hours, during which he was even planning to visit Trincomalee. However it was called off last minute,” Athas told adding, if Pompeo’s visit had gone ahead. moves were in place to close down shops, put up black flags and stage a harthal in the area.
The U.S. Embassy however said Pompeo’s visit was cancelled due to scheduling issues.
“Pompeo ended up cancelling the visit because they could not persuade Sri Lanka to accept SoFA,” Athas said this morning, speaking lengthily of the dangers of defense commitments Sri Lanka has made with the U.S. resulting in a grave blow to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.
Making a ‘one-time-only’ appearance in the Pathikada current affairs discussion this morning he revealed details of underhand moves by the U.S. to ensure passing of SOFA.
Athas notes the U.S. has informed the Government of Sri Lanka there is no need to even formally sign the SOFA/VFA and that a letter from GoSL would suffice stating that Sri Lanka agrees to all the points and conditions laid out in the SOFA.
“This preposition by the U.S. – the fact that a letter by itself would suffice to activate SOFA – speaks of the deterioration of our security system,” Athas pointed out.
The senior columnist also revealed details of the way U.S. exploited ‘divided loyalties’ of officials in state service to carefully manipulate the government into signing the defense pact ACSA (Acquisition and Cross Services Agreement).
Athas said the copy of ACSA agreement tabled before the cabinet had been craftily submitted in a way that the Sinhala and English versions were different to one another.
“The Sinhala copies had only eight pages but the English copy contained 83 pages… Most of the Ministers read only the Sinhala version,” Athas revealed. The new ACSA was signed as an open ended bilateral pact as opposed to the same agreement signed by Gota in 2007 which expired in 2017.
He also notes – as extensively pointed out in his weekly Sunday Times columns – that U.S. deployed a whole host of government officials including then Foreign Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam and even then Foreign Minister Mangala Samraweera, to push forward ACSA.
“I know of an instance that Kariyawasam flew down from Washington to specifically expedite the approval,” he told this morning.
Athas points out that by hoodwinking the cabinet and getting the ACSA signed, Sri Lanka has committed itself to accommodating a US military footprint and to move troops and ammunition any time in Lankan territory in respect of a combat issue.
“Why are we opening our country up for this and creating suspicions in our neighbourhood?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, President Sirisena during his meeting with the media heads this morning stressed about how he is completely against the ACSA and the SOFA and would not allow SOFA to be signed.
Matilda Ellepola / June 26, 2019
No mention of a former Lt Colonel of Sri Lankan Army who got medically condemned and ran away like a coward to realise his American Dream by working as a 7-11 store clerk?
that dude was the first to sign as then Sec of Defense … Athas do you know this?
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Eagle Eye / June 26, 2019
Matilda Ellepola,
The Lt.Colonal who ran away recovered, returned to Sri Lanka and screwed Demala terrorist outfit LTTE headed by megalomaniac Prabhakaran.
It is true that Gotabhaya signed an agreement which contained eight pages to provide certain facilities to US Army because USA provided vital information about LTTE’s floating armories that helped Sri Lankan Navy to destroy them. That happened when the country was fighting a war with Demala terrorists. The time frame of that agreement was ten years.
The agreement signed by the Unpatriotic National Party Government contains 80 odd pages and has a time frame of 99 years. So far they have not released this to the public. Batalanda Wadakaya’s underhand work.
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Eagle Eye / June 26, 2019
Matilda
The Lt. Colonel served SLA for over 15 years after joining as a 2nd Lt. before relocation to USA. Did you father/brothers/husbands serve in SLA at least for one day?
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Matilda Ellepola / June 26, 2019
My extended family have served the nation in Armed Forces / CAS after getting in with required qualifications and not like this so called ex-Lt Colonel a 10th grader who got into the Army with Mrs B’s political influence / family connections and not a single brother of the family have passed A Levels.
Also note this coward cheated GOSL with discarded MIG Aircrafts from Ukraine using a non-exist 3rd party company in the UK and Lasantha W had to give his life for exploit the rogue.
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JD / June 26, 2019
I think, MAtilda Ellepola’s extended family may have helped LTTE a lot.
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Eagle Eye / June 27, 2019
Lady, we are not interested in extended family, only immediate family i.e. those categories mentioned earlier. If you have, give us the names. If not, think of who the traitors are.
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Amarasiri / June 26, 2019
CT,
The land of Native Veddah Aethho is full I’d Oata-Traitors.
Attas has is pointing out some of the Traitors.
Notice that they all are Para-Sinhala Para-Buddhists, who are insults to the Buddha.
The current Paras are inviting new Paras.
Did Buddha teach to be Traitors? No!
Paras, the curse of the Land of Native Veddah Aethho.
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rbh / June 26, 2019
A Letter has no condition and no limits set up, open actions and agreement sets limits and condition, approach foundation of all actions.When country are divided, what is the solution. After 30 years the super power will use as trump card no one will be there to answer.
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Eagle Eye / June 26, 2019
Ranil Wickramesinghe claims world has recognised and accepted Sri Lanka since Jan 2015. Yet, the new fad is for foeiegn visitors to spend no more than 5 hours. First PM Modi, then Pompeo. Who next? Why not tell them no visit required unless visit is fit at least 24 hours? Is there no limit to servility ?
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Lalith / June 26, 2019
So what if US forces come? Didn’t Japan Korea Thailandtaiwan develop becoz of US military? They did not lose their sovereignty. Their militaries are much stronger as a result. Our journalists prefer Chinese convicts it seems! What a joke
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Jay H . Chambers II / June 26, 2019
Lalith,
Yes, Thailand has a vibrant sex industry. If US troops come here, our women don’t need to depend on the Moslem Middle east.
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Mallaiyuran / June 26, 2019
The Sri Lankan Airline, which’s back bone was broken up by Old Royals suckers, would have straightened up its back. (Thailand has the best airline.)
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Jack / June 26, 2019
Lalith,
So what if US forces come. ??????????
Thank God a trillion times they are not coming and pray to God they wont come.
We Sri lankans do not wish to have Girly Bars at every street corner , Drugs pushers down every street, shops selling Porno stuff, Pimps loitering every five yards along the roads,
“Wankers” like you wanking off looking at Porn on your mobile phone, Brothel houses mushrooming up all over and all other American shit that the devil can provide.
Take a look at the Philippines and find out what US bases did at places like Subic Bay & Clark Field.
Japan , Thailand, Taiwan & Korea developed because their leaders were men of vision & integrity unlike the Arseholes & Morons people like you vote into power.
Their militaries are stronger because they don’t buy stuff from junkyards and accept throwaways like we do.
Chinese convicts has nothing to do with this topic ???????????????????????
And Oh !!!! by the way the above countries did not loose their sovereignty like us as we lost ours in 1948. We are governed today by India, China, the West, and the damn stinking US because our leaders like you are born Arseholes .
To end it all dear Lalith please be aware that there are things called toothpaste and soap.
Buy both, brush your teeth , take a bath, groom yourself , take a peek into a mirror and then voice your comments.
Goodbye Arsehole and Good Luck.
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Nosey Parker / June 27, 2019
Very well articulated Jack .
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srilal / June 26, 2019
Iqbal Athas has forgotten how he was rescued by the then US Foreign Secretary Bill Richardson ; moreover , he had been a target by the MR regime few years ago .Albeit , he talks like he was born yesterday.
Eagle Eye , could you show us the source of your claim that the agreement lasts for 99 years , please !
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Nadeeka Abeyrathne / June 26, 2019
Eagle Eye .. ( i assume you are either Weerawansa or Gammanpila)
Dont be a fool in talking about 8 pages or 99 pages., Sri Lanka in present situation with ISSI threats need the intelligence sharing with countries like India / USA etc.,
We here from leftists like NM/Wasu/Weerawansa/Dinesh etc that Sri Lanka will be the next US state and nothing happened for 71 years, I vividly remember when VOA started in Iranamadu those guys were shouting with a big noise.
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Douglas / June 26, 2019
The PEOPLE of Sri Lanka have been “DUPED” by all their “Representatives” and the “Professionals” who work in “Companionship” with them. Look at the names that have been mentioned – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cabinet of RW. Who is he? Is he a “Representative” of the PEOPLE voted to the Legislature? Who is Prasad Kariyawasam? Is he working for the Government/State of Sri Lanka? How did he become an “Adviser” to the Speaker? Who are these Cabinet Members who read only the Sinhala with few pages and not the 83 pages of the English version? Why such an important “Agreement” (by whatever name it may be called) was not presented to the “Peoples’ Representatives”? I only heard, a fairly (a short) analysis by a JVP, MP. Where were the others? Isn’t this a “Repetition” of the “19th Amendment”? That was like “Nangi Pennala, Akka Dunna” in my village usage. Why all those who speak of “Mahajanayage Paramaadipathya” – “Peoples’ Supremacy” do not carry these actions of “Betrayal” of the country to the attention of the PEOPLE? The only answer is: All of them are “HUMBUGS” who make a “Good Living” by sucking the blood of the very PEOPLE whom they “SHOW” to “Represent”. My foot.
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Nosey Parker / June 26, 2019
We are ruled by a bunch of self serving traitors, who are prepared to sell this country and all it’s people if they they get the right offer . Most of them have no family so they don’t care about future generations either .
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Buddhist / June 26, 2019
The same politicians who complain about the SOFA are the ones who were complaining about Chinese getting Hambantota and related security dangers. Isn’t it better to have both Chinese and US checking out each other than having only one big supper power in SL?
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JD / June 26, 2019
I think, MAtilda Ellepola’s extended family may have helped LTTE a lot. Ranil was given a chance to prosecute those. wht did Ranil do. He got caught in a bond scam which is forgotten now as he is the acting Defence/Education minister. Country’s Economy gone to dogs again after the bond scam, after the NCM or the Lctober coup by NGOs. Now, it is Wahhabi time.
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JD / June 26, 2019
This article is saying only a half of the story. I think is Mangala Prasad Kariyawasam’s group’s member. So, the OCtober group occured becazuse of the KAru Jayasuriya, Mangala, PRasad KAriyawasam Advises. that is why Ranil, IT is not me and IT is them. There is another story related to this Malik Samarawickrama had bought lot of dollars 3.5 million of those via the middle east. So do not know whether it is our own earned via Drug imports/trade. I think, money is ready to run the election campaign.
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Mallaiyuran / June 26, 2019
We said this as early as June 20th, based on Ranil’s sarcastic quip. https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/our-opponents-thought-we-would-be-completely-destroyed-after-easter-attacks-pm/comment-page-1/#comment-2283176.
Ranil, who laughed on June 20th at Sec. Pompeo, two days later, praised America having him helped to fight any attack after April 21st. Yesterday, all Media were talking about American, $2 billion sovereign bond loans. This was facilitated by American and British Banks. Unlike Chinese loan lender Exim Bank, which is Chinese government property, these are private banks, not connected governments. So Ranil’s comment of “Our Opponents foolishly thought that we were destroyed by April 21” is a one beyond with double meaning talk, but a multiple meaning talk.
Lankawe main problem with SOFA/VFA is, if a meritocratic foreign entity operates in Lankawe, it will facilitate Tamils to recover from Sinhala Only and Standardization and control the revived Ceylon once again. So they need to keep the West out of influencing Lankawe economy, either through FDI or through military bases. While going to US bond, Ranil booked for additional $1 Billion loan from China. Though American bond do not give any control to American-British governments over Appe Aanduwa, Chinese loans does that. China captured the Colombo Pong Cing and Hangbangtota harbor with this “fishing rod called Chinese loans”.
The question is if Yahapalanaya or the Appe Aanduwa has solved any problems by dodging giving Visa to Secretary Pompeo? No point in long research in Lankawe politics for the answer for that. Further somebody feel Lankawe politics is Chaos system. Nevertheless there is some truth too. So no systematic analysis can reveal of what is going to happen in future. So, we will avoid that quagmire, but use rather commonsense outlook to evaluate things.
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Mallaiyuran / June 26, 2019
Nowadays, Country has many natural-growth problems; but Tamils’ one was artificially created from 1948 by Sinhala political parties for their power brokering. Current UNHRC and Human rights issues are born out of it. To use China’s veto in UN, Old Royals pawned Lankawe to China. It scared Americans because it was American satellites, Kefirs & Devoras defeated the LTTE. Now there is no way get China out, but only way left is to claw more into the China loan. This is because of country’s economic situation, which is the result of abusing the country’s magnificent labor from 1948. From Kings’ time to 1948, TN, Kerala, and Andre were main source of labor supply to Lankawe. Though some technical experts and priest class were in that export, main class was average hard labor class. But from 1983 to until now more than 2.5 million super class labor were exported by Lankawe. None of the governments ever introduced any inclusive program to include all kind workers to work for the country. Instead they opted for Chinese prisoners to workers & Chinese loans. Now it has invited America and India & induced to go for aggressive phase. From Don Stephen to Ranil, Lankawe politicians did not have capacity to solve problems, but create additional one to make appear the existing one as miniscule in front of the more dangerous new one.
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Mallaiyuran / June 26, 2019
To take away the IC’s and Locals’ attention from UNHRC resolutions 30/1 and 40/1, they introduced local ISIS (NTJ) attack on Tamil Christians. Fearing about their own security, 9 countries came to Lankawe to investigate the ISIS attack. America’s priority now is not about to deter China capturing Lankawe, but to keep Lankawe from being the most convenient fertile ground for ISIS to multiply. If it is in Libya, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, then America directly attack the ISIS locations because they were not considered countries ruled by citizens. But America has problem with Lankawe on directly attacking ISIS as Yahapalanaya is one blessed by America to come to power with people’s selection.
Though Ranil bragged that his opponents were fool enough to misjudge his ability to turn around the Easter attack, none of his action brought any relief to any of the country’s problems. Without a solution Tamils problem is growing day by day. Internal Race Relation, after long hyped reconciliation, has got bad to worse. Exchange rate, loan burden, productivity, GDP….,,all facing imminent death. Lankawe is a country not with any real friends, not even China, Russia or even Iran. Economic sanctions were so imminent in 2015, over Old Royals’ government as they brought 18A, which enabled the West to label Chitanta Aanduwa as not a people’s government. Yahapalanaya fixed it with 19A and delayed it for some time. But Ranil will be there for more than one more year. There is still a chance the economic sanction illuming once again within Ranil’s time, especially if the new president is dictator. In that circumstances, we are not sure of benefits Ranil achieved by delaying the SOFA/VFA.
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JD / June 26, 2019
Malliuren Modaya: Resolutions are there to fool Tamils and International community countries force Sri lanka to sign Trade contracts.. so the resolution is forgotten.
ACSA has been for the benefit of the USA and Sri lanka had some peanuts because of that. Some of the clauses of SOFA were, I think , included in the ACSA. Agreeing to SOFA makes us a NATO member.
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Mallaiyuran / June 27, 2019
Softy,
“Agreeing to SOFA makes us a NATO member. ”
You are eager & like to become a proud member of NATO, but UNP Ranil doesn’t. At least now the other readers would realize how correct you are when you condemn Ranil always.
(But I am afraid US wants to put you in the team of Hindo – Pacific; i.e. Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Philippines, India. They will not give you license to dug Western Europe and bring it to Hindian Ocean to make you a member of NATO {North Atlantic Treaty Organization}
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JD / June 26, 2019
I listened to the Iqbal Athas TV Talk. I think Thilak Marapana was hired to the foreign ministry, which is now partially relocated to Matara, Because Thilak Marapana proved that he was a very reliable friend when it comes to underhand deals. Marapana protected protect the AVANT GUARD Deal people very diligently. Marapana’s family is also educated lawyers and he may know about the MIG deal too..some how if hired, Marapana would become a better Mangala Samraweera. that is what I guess. I think athas knew that SOFA was for Sri lanka becoming a NATO member. and every NATO country has a SOFA. Japan etc., gave problems because soldiers were involving rapes and killings like things. So, diplomatic immunity gives more leverage for soldiers even if they are criminal characters.
I heard PSC is also for some specific purposes like that. that is US needs to find who come all these became very exposed.
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K.Pillai / June 26, 2019
The real reason for the cancellation of Pompeo’s SL visit will be a secret.
Explanations will come straight off the course notes of ‘Introduction to Excuses 101’.
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Igbal Athas must find out as to what the acronym SOFA/VFA is, from for example, the many high-ups past/present/future from the Defence Ministry, top brass of Uniformed Services, Ministers (including Defence), MPs, and a randomly selected MR family member (provided it is Namal)
It is a safe bet that none will come up with the answer: SOFA/VFA – the Status of or Visiting Forces Agreement.
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Nathan / June 27, 2019
How did Athas come here. He ran away from Gotta, MR van rides a few years ago and presently lives in US. This guy Bandula is anMR Gotta stooge and a racist. How is that now Athas is basically favouring MR gang through this trouble maker Bandula. How is he discrediting the US while living there in safety.
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Lalith / June 27, 2019
The only point against the sofa is that it will encourage the sex trade. One has to only drive around all major cities in Lanka to observe the sex trade is alive and well without help from US troops. What is remarkable is how the jaraapakse stooges resort to filth when anyone challenges their bigotry
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Andare 2.0 / June 28, 2019
Iqbal Athas the FAKE war analyst says what ?
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