28 March, 2024

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WikiLeaks: Gota Is The Abductor – Lakshman Seneviratne

By Colombo Telegraph –

Lakshman Seneviratne

“Opposition United National Party legislator Lakshman Seneviratne, speaking in Parliament, accused Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, Colombo Deputy-Inspector General of Police Rohan Abeywardena and former Air Force Squadron Leader Nishantha Gajanayake of orchestrating abductions. Ambassador raised U.S. concerns about the new trend of Muslim abductions with Foreign Minister Bogollogama on June 13 .”  the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from WikiLeaks database, which details the emergency regulation debate which took place on June 6, 2007. The cable is classified as “SECRET” and written by the Ambassador Robert O. Blake on June 19, 2007.

Quoting then opposition MP and present Minister of Productivity Promotion Lakshman Seneviratne Robert Blake wrote “On June 6, during an emergency session of Parliament, United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Lakshman Seneviratne accused Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, Colombo Deputy-Inspector General of Police Rohan Abeywardena and former Air Force Squadron Leader Nishantha Gajanayake of orchestrating abductions. Seneviratne stated that Gajanayake, a retired Air Force officer whose last assignment was as Executive Assistant to former Sri Lanka Armed Forces Commander Donald Perera, was Gothabaya’s personal link to the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP, or “Karuna faction”) in Colombo. He added that Gajanayake arranged abductions using the TMVP on orders from Gothabaya and with the assistance of police officers acting under Abeywardena. Although Seneviratne did not differentiate between Muslim abductions and Tamil abductions during his condemnation of the Defense Secretary, he did lodge specific accusations concerning the abduction of a prominent Muslim businessman against Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella’s security detail, leading to angry exchanges in Parliament. Seneviratne stated that a Muslim businessman’s brother told him that Rambukwella’s bodyguards lured the businessman to a hotel in Kandy and then held him for ransom, demanding a ‘colossal’ sum of money.”

Related news;  WikiLeaks: Justice Minister Hakeem Knows Who The Abductors Are

Below we give the relevant part of the confidential cable;

VZCZCXRO9010
OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLM #0861/01 1700544
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 190544Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6287
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0214
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7197
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5304
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3844
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1104
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3915
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1139
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3001
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7783
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5443
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0260
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2136
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 02 COLOMBO 000861 

SIPDIS 

SIPDIS 

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND PM
MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ABDUCTIONS PLAGUE MUSLIM COMMUNITY 

REF: COLOMBO 842 

Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d). 

1.  (S) SUMMARY:  Muslim businessmen have been subjected to
abductions for the first time in recent weeks, marking a new
and disturbing trend.  Following numerous complaints from
Muslim community groups, Ambassador called on Sri Lanka
Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem (strictly protect), who
stated that support for abductions of Muslim businessmen
comes from "the very top."  Opposition United National Party
legislator Lakshman Seneviratne, speaking in Parliament,
accused Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, Colombo
Deputy-Inspector General of Police Rohan Abeywardena and
former Air Force Squadron Leader Nishantha Gajanayake of
orchestrating abductions.  Ambassador raised U.S. concerns
about the new trend of Muslim abductions with Foreign
Minister Bogollogama on June 13 (reftel).  END SUMMARY. 

EMBASSY RECEIVES AN INFLUX OF COMPLAINTS
---------------------------------------- 

2.  (C) In recent weeks the Embassy has received several
anonymous letters from Muslim groups alleging that they are
being targeted for abduction for ransom.  One such letter
from the "Muslim Community in Sri Lanka," with no return
address, states that "within a short period they have
kidnapped and collected huge sums from Muslim businessmen."
Several Muslim leaders have alleged that Muslim businessmen
are being targeted for abduction now that most prominent
Tamil businessmen have either paid off paramilitary groups or
fled the country. 

MUSLIM LEADER STATES ABDUCTIONS COME "FROM THE VERY TOP"
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 

3.  (S)  Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and Minister of
Posts and Telecommunications Rauff Hakeem (strictly protect)
told Ambassador on June 14 that he believed that those
carrying out abductions receive "patronage from the very
top," but did not elaborate further.  Hakeem stated that he
has received many complaints from his constituents recently
about abductions for ransom among the Muslim community but
that victims were "petrified" to come forward and make a
formal complaint.  According to Hakeem, some prominent Muslim
businessmen have decided to leave Sri Lanka until the threat
of abduction subsides.  In reference to government-sanctioned
abductions of Muslim businessmen for ransom, Hakeem said that
the Muslim community "has never seen this before." 

UNP CONNECTS ABDUCTIONS TO GOTHABAYA
------------------------------------ 

4.  (SBU) On June 6, during an emergency session of
Parliament, United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian
Lakshman Seneviratne accused Defense Secretary Gothabaya
Rajapaksa, Colombo Deputy-Inspector General of Police Rohan
Abeywardena and former Air Force Squadron Leader Nishantha
Gajanayake of orchestrating abductions.  Seneviratne stated
that Gajanayake, a retired Air Force officer whose last
assignment was as Executive Assistant to former Sri Lanka
Armed Forces Commander Donald Perera, was Gothabaya's
personal link to the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP,
or "Karuna faction") in Colombo.  He added that Gajanayake
arranged abductions using the TMVP on orders from Gothabaya
and with the assistance of police officers acting under
Abeywardena.  Although Seneviratne did not differentiate
between Muslim abductions and Tamil abductions during his
condemnation of the Defense Secretary, he did lodge specific
accusations concerning the abduction of a prominent Muslim 

COLOMBO 00000861  002 OF 002 

businessman against Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella's
security detail, leading to angry exchanges in Parliament.
Seneviratne stated that a Muslim businessman's brother told
him that Rambukwella's bodyguards lured the businessman to a
hotel in Kandy and then held him for ransom, demanding a
"colossal" sum of money.
BLAKE
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Latest comments

  • 1
    0

    shame on you Lakshman, now you are licking Rajapaksas legs and ass.

    • 0
      0

      Janaka, Do You mean The King of “abduction and ransom” Gota made so much money he can afford to have people like these lickers whom Gota uses as toilet tissue?

  • 0
    0

    Now you are above this abductor Gota, You are a minister and he is just ministry secretary. Why don’t you raise this issue in the cabinet ?? are you scared?? :) :) :) :) :)

  • 0
    0

    This is the scum of society who are appeased with position and power. Then they are willing to keep quiet and allow the ruthless to do as they please. Their only interest is agrandisement and nothing else. The only good that happened to the Sri Lankan society under MR is they were polarised under him and have been exposed, whereas earlier these individuals thrived under the UNP. What Humbugs?

  • 0
    0

    We know about it, Its a known secret. Thats why what ever they say or do never get the minority vote

    • 0
      0

      why no justice for murder binladen by citizen of us?

  • 0
    0

    Gota is a US citizen. Therefore, USA must take him to Courts and put in the jail for life.

  • 0
    0

    “Gota is a US citizen. Therefore, USA must take him to Courts and put in the jail for life.”

    In the USA its called “extrodinary rendition”…Gota will be joined by Bush , Rumsfeld & Cheney….hikz!

  • 0
    0

    Not only Gota but everyone who are involved the abductions and other crimes, should be forwarded to foreign governments so when they travel they could be arrested and prosecuted in those countries.

  • 0
    0

    its true gota is behind this, this has been happening quiet sometime kidnapping and ransom. What a shame of this govenment, their days are very near. Very cheap thinking and still in the power all the stupids support them banan government.

  • 0
    0

    asking for ransom, begging on the street is much more decent. shame , shame . this is sri lankan politics. if a poor man rob a loaf of bread he will be jail for months and the hoora police of urs will torture him. what will be the punishment these people. because the law is there law courts and police stations are only for public correct.

  • 0
    0

    UNP PLOT against GOTA.

    Gota is the best defence SEC. of 21st century world wide.

    ONLY DEF: SEC. on planet earth to deliver results

    Thanks to him SL is FREE of LTTE terror scum.

    Some of U seems to have a small memory !

    The LOOSERS blame every thing on GOVT. So another attempt by UNP.

    Thanks to the UNP LTTE almost achieved there PEE LAM.

    Its like blame the Govt. of UK 4 ALL the crimes in that country.

    There are LOTs of Ex- Terras /criminal gangs rooming from LTTE time still in SL.

    So if NOT would not be 4 GOTA: We would have a Pee LAM – cum state in SL.

    So PPL dont fall into cheap PR traps of UNP

  • 0
    0

    us citizens murdered bin larden ,where is justice? if us navy can do why cannot gota?

    • 0
      0

      Must be because Gota is also American.

    • 0
      0

      It was not murder; he was shooting back the the US Navy Seal. Double Tap (one shot to the chest, one to the head) and goodbye to a evil thug. OBL deserved a slower, more painful exit to hell, but at least he is finished.

  • 0
    0

    This time around the Rajapaksa famly in their greed, have bitten more than they can chew. The time appears that they will have to throw out evrything they have swollowed of the national asset. It is not that these foreign powers the Donors are unaware of the first family’s corruption but they allow them to indulge, so they have a hold to get things done as otherwise they will have to forefiet the illgotten wealth. Their greed is so much that inpreference to loosing what they have robbed, for them to enjoy, they will oblige the donors when the time comes.

  • 0
    0

    raja hora and kuddu gota is the main culprits behind these abductions and murders.

  • 0
    0

    What do you all say about John Amaratunga accusing SF of Lasantha Wickramatunge’s murder? You all have very short mamories

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