By Colombo Telegraph –
Major General Prasad Samarasinghe the former Military Spokesman and Director, Directorate of Media in the Army has provided valuable information to the US and contradicted government’s official versions, according to a cable sent by the US Embassy Colombo. Major General Samarasinghe who is also the Chief Signal Officer (CSO) of the Army and Chief Controller, Centre for Research and Development at Ministry of Defence. He has also been the Commander for three separate Brigades in Jaffna, Wanni and Trincomalee, Colonel General Staff, 22 Division Headquarters, Trincomalee, Colonel General Staff, Directorate of Operations, Army Headquarters, Assistant Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and the Centre Commandant, Sri Lanka Signal Corps. He previously served as the military spokesman to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London on a diplomatic posting.
Samarasinghe - a political insider within the Rajapaksa administration,
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “SECRET” and discuses Sri Lanka’s problem of political abductions and abductions-for-ransom. The cable was written by the Charge d’Affaires, James R. Moore.
The cable, dated July 6,2007, updated the Secretary of State on Sri Lanka’s issue of abductions and asked strictly protect Military Spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe as their source. Samarasinghe was described as a political insider within the Rajapaksa administration.
The Charge d’Affaires wrote “Despite the GSL’s efforts to tout arrests of alleged abductors, critics and some government insiders claim that there is little genuine connection between the abductions and those that the Government has arrested. Military Spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe (strictly protect), a political insider within the Rajapaksa administration, told us that the arrest on June 26 of the five alleged abductors working with Gajanayake was political retribution against those thought to be disloyal to the Rajapaksa administration. Samarasinghe further alleged that the GSL felt compelled to demonstrate concrete examples of progress on abductions to appease the international community.”
Below we give the relevant part of the cable;
VZCZCXRO4601 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #0959/01 1870735 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 060735Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6415 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0269 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7250 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5357 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3892 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1177 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3963 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1163 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3049 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7843 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5498 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0301 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2191 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000959 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PM MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS ABDUCTIONS REF: A. COLOMBO 899 ¶B. COLOMBO 463 ¶C. COLOMBO 844 ¶D. COLOMBO 561 ¶E. COLOMBO 861 ¶F. COLOMBO 809 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has recently made several announcements about its efforts to eliminate abductions in Sri Lanka. On July 4 Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella announced the arrest of 10 suspected abductors in the GSL's efforts to eliminate abductions-for-ransom. On June 21 the GSL arrested N. Gajanayake (ref A), a suspected abductions ring-leader, and on June 26, the police arrested five other alleged abductors thought to be working with Gajanayake, bringing the total number arrested to 16. Critics of the administration allege that there is little connection between those arrested and the rash of abductions-for-ransom, charging instead that the GSL is arresting scapegoats to appease the international community. However, in addition to arrests, the GSL has established a "help center" to assist family members who wish to file a "missing person" report. Minister Rajitha Senaratne, one of a five-member team appointed to oversee the new center, said that he is committed to providing a level of transparency to the GSL's investigations while shielding civilians afraid to file claims against military or police forces. The GSL on June 29 publicly released some of its findings after looking into a list of alleged disappearances provided by the Ambassador. While the Embassy welcomes the GSL's efforts to investigate the whereabouts of those on the Ambassador's list, we have informed the Government that it should take credit for the list rather than making it appear as though it is acting on behalf of the Embassy. END SUMMARY. GOVERNMENT TOUTS ABDUCTIONS ARRESTS; CRITICS ALLEGE POLITICAL RETRIBUTION ------------------------------------ ¶2. (SBU) During his weekly press briefing on July 4, Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella stated: "One ex-Air Force officer (Gajanayake), a serving airman and four police officers have already been arrested and another 10 suspects comprising four Muslims and six Sinhalese have been arrested in connection with ransom cases." Rambukwella further alleged that police have identified the suspects involved in killing two Red Cross employees on June 1 (ref C), but that they had escaped into territory controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He also stated that the police were working with Interpol to arrest a suspected abductions ring-leader who fled to Italy. Noting that those arrested comprised both Muslim and Sinhalese, Rambukwella dismissed critics' allegations that abductions were targeting Muslims based on their ethnicity. Rambukwella also dismissed allegations that United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian Lakshman Seneviratne made in Parliament on June 6 alleging that Rambukwella's security detail was involved in abducting a Muslim businessman (ref D). Rambukwella stated that there have been no abductions in Colombo since June 18 and cited this as evidence that the GSL's efforts to bring abductors to justice is working. ¶3. (S) Despite the GSL's efforts to tout arrests of alleged abductors, critics and some government insiders claim that there is little genuine connection between the abductions and those that the Government has arrested. Military Spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe (strictly protect), a political insider COLOMBO 00000959 002 OF 003 within the Rajapaksa administration, told us that the arrest on June 26 of the five alleged abductors working with Gajanayake was political retribution against those thought to be disloyal to the Rajapaksa administration. Samarasinghe further alleged that the GSL felt compelled to demonstrate concrete examples of progress on abductions to appease the international community. MOORE
Kalu Albert / February 9, 2012
OMG!! another traitor. lol ;) ;) ;)
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shan / February 9, 2012
SEEMS LIKE MR.BLAKE WILL DO ANYTHING TO ACCESSS INTO NEIGHBOURS HOUSE THRU THE BACKDOOR. WHAT A CROOK HAHAHAHA…………
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vis8 / February 10, 2012
Well said, sir….. Mr. Blake and his terrorist-cronies have been humiliated… they can just “yelp”
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PR / February 9, 2012
very very interesting…this guy was a favourite of GR…wonder why he fell out?
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Anusha / February 11, 2012
very true, he shows other people that GR will do anything what he says, even this man’s wife also tells people that GR does anything ……………this man will do anything to gain benefits……………..dirtiest woman and a man i have ever come across
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Bodinayaka / February 9, 2012
What else in this cable? One conclution is C.T. guys and US guys try to paint a picture. There are no secret. Or else they are all together illuminating terrorist and still they are together. Tell us what is there about abductions? The real secret have no leaks my friend,
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Palawatta - kandy / February 9, 2012
soooooo many traitors now. Basil, This man, way to go!!
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Peter Casie Chetty / February 9, 2012
You can trust the US at your own risk. They have still the most devious people in Governance on earth.
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Janaka / February 9, 2012
if this man comitted this crimes, then the solution is simple.
hang him or put him against the wall.
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shan / February 9, 2012
ONLY ONE GOT CAUGHT SO FAR & I AM SURE THERE ARE MORE SPIES HIRED BY MR.BLAKE (INCLUDING TNA-SAMPANTHAN ALSO AN INFORMANT TO THE DIASPORA TERROR NETWORK HAHAHAHAHA….). THESE ACTS ALL ARE MONEY TALK BUDDIES…….. YOU GOT MONEY? YOU CAN BUY PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING FROM SRI LANKA…. HAHAHAHAHA. TRUST ME THEY KNOW OUR WEAKNESS HAHAHAHAHAHA.
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Dias silva / February 9, 2012
KP BOUGHT Gothapaya Rajapakse & SIBLING FOR DOLLARS 800 MILLIONS AND GOT IT TRANSFERTD TO THEIR FOREIGN ACCOUNT. . HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TREAT THEM ?
DIAS
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Bodinayaka / February 10, 2012
Are you CBK? LOL. and your Caps lock is in left hand side ..
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Palitha / February 10, 2012
Fully agree with you. Activate Death Sentence, which solves most of the problems. Unfortunately, we are extremely slow.
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Das / February 9, 2012
Even yesterday an abduction has been reported in Dehiwela.
The Law & Order situation is the worst among third world countries.
It is also reported that Gotabaya was in india praying at the Shrine of Sai Baba on indeoendece day.
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Pingback: WikiLeaks: A Top Sri Lankan Major General Is A US Informer | CookingPlanet / February 9, 2012
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thalagoya / February 9, 2012
Theses are all crab from US.
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gajan99 / February 9, 2012
USA is lying. Who was lying is in Jail.
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sostamils / February 9, 2012
on the basis of above and many other reports we need international independent investigation ,
to achieve this , I need your help in the name of humanity ,
would you please watch the following two you tube videos ,
and
1) GRUESOME AND Shocking video from Channel 4 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y9qRA847Tn8
2) Channel 4 video PM is talking about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XADVagA2MUk
3) Even more at http://iiicampaign.com/welcome/
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Bodinayaka / February 10, 2012
When the news headline is “Hambanthtta port is not deep enough” you know what sort of a media it is as well as who hold the strings and who is the puppet. On the other side Caracass s media is a requirement to the world like prostitutes, thugs and wine stores. LOLz
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Janaka / February 10, 2012
Wich Sri Lankan killing fields is Channel 4 talking about?
the Genocide comitten by the british army on Sri Lankan people?
you known the murder of all men above 18 in the UVA province, and steal everything that the people had.
rape manny Sinhala whomans and children.
or the Genocide committen by the dutch or Portugal on Sri Lanka?
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meranchi / February 9, 2012
any action will take against to him…..?
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Dr C P Thiagarajah / February 9, 2012
He is the real Buddhist. Those who committed the genocide cannot justify things by hiding the facts. Let the international community carry out a full scale investigation by taking evidence from those involved in the massacre both the victims and the bastards.
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Raju Sampankiraj / February 10, 2012
you are ryt sir…..
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Janaka / February 10, 2012
this has nothing to do with buddhism.
if he did this, he did it because of monny, power, and greed just as citizen Sarath Fonseka did.
besides, there is no war with out death.
no war without casualties.
if the goverment did nothing, and the war continiues, then after 10 years there are more civilians dead then it cost in 2009.
if the goverment had this commitment in 1999 or 1992 even less civilians would die in the war then in 2009.
how longer the war continiues, how more dead people it will bring.
see the big picture.
and this war was not spearheaded by religion, that is something the west and the christians want to make of it.
this war was in the begining an ethic war, and later turned out in an war against terrorism.
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NAK / February 10, 2012
What interantional community? the bastards who started our misery?ask them to fly a kite and you can join them!!!
If you have any thing against buddhists or buddhism come out with it, whitout hiding behind other issues.
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Sarath / February 9, 2012
The top advisor to the President is not only an informant but also a US resident. Even the Defense Secretary is a US CITIZEN who by the way has pledged allegiance to the US!
So, where’s the news? Anyone who is shocked by this revelation should take a look this country’s history; the damned place is full of snitches.
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beau / February 9, 2012
Let Prasaad Samarasinghe speak out regarding the information published by thie leaked Wilki Paper. Then we know who is fabricating what against whom?
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Nimal / February 9, 2012
One way to get a green card.Bloody marvellous!
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Raju / February 9, 2012
This is always the case. People who appear to be above board have been using their privileged position to make money including the former commander Fonseka. They rattle their illusions on very sensitive matters to give a different twist favorable to nations who is waiting to undermine Sri Lanka. If this is true this guy also should be dealt with a court case and punished accordingly. We have to set an example to the men of the Army that they have a responsibility to uphold truth, not jungle law as Fonseka did. We do not want drunkards and womanizers and tractors running the highest echelons in our defense forces. No wonder Sri Lanka is throttled by the west with this information. Who was Prasad Samarasinghe before he became the media spokesman? But he had betrayed the nation.
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sostamils / February 9, 2012
reference above and all other relevant issues , an international independent investigation is necessary.
this is supported by British Prime minister as well .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y9qRA847Tn8
all world leaders including India and Srilanka should support this other wise a situation will arrive like that of Hitler’s time referred by pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984).
I quote “First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak out because I was Protestant.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
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Janaka / February 10, 2012
You should known how manny Tamils who live in Sri Lanka are against you and your eelam ideology.
manny Tamils in Sri Lanka are my friends, and are against the Diaspora and the western nations just as that manny Sri Lankans are.
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Sri / February 9, 2012
A Canadian citizen is being sent to jail, because he broke the law, in spite of the fact that he repents for having committed a crime, while trying to help liberate his nation and not for selfish purposes.
A US citizen, Gothapaya Rajapakse still on the spree, after having committed so many murders, is not brought to justice, WHY?
Only the Govt of USA knows!
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Dayanidi / February 9, 2012
Everyone knows American politics, They always tries to create problems to achieve their goals,
Why R. Blake coming and going to Sri Lanka, Something fishy behind his movements.
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Venus / February 9, 2012
Because our proud nation is bent on them with a begging bawl.
That’s it.
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rajakaruna - panduwasnuwara / February 9, 2012
After Sarath Fonseka told of the White Flag story to The Sunday Leader, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the BBC Hard Talk programme that the General was a liar and might be hanged for betraying the country.
Read; http://colombotelegraph.com/2012/02/04/basil-a-traitor-and-rajapaksas-delegation-to-the-us/
GOTABHAYA, are you going to hang this man Prassad too??
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Janaka / February 10, 2012
if he committed crimes against the state then he must be hanged, or put against the wall (firepeleton).
in manny country’s including US you get death penalty for this crime
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vis8 / February 10, 2012
Too bad, eelamists…….. you have been beaten outright…… Cant accept it yet????? Get a life, terrorist-losers!
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SHAN / February 10, 2012
SOME WESTERN COUNTRIES CAN’T HELP KEEPING THEIR DI@k IN THEIR PANTS & KEEP WORRYING ABOUT OUR BACKYARD, WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS TO SORT IT OUT………… & WHEN ARE WE ALL GOING TO LEARN TO TELL THEM TO GO TO HELL….. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
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