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
Janaka Hapuarachchi / April 23, 2012
shame on you Lakshman, now you are licking Rajapaksas legs and ass.
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Gowrie / April 23, 2012
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?
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Sena Rathanayake - Kolonne / April 23, 2012
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?? :) :) :) :) :)
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gamini / April 23, 2012
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?
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Shai / April 23, 2012
We know about it, Its a known secret. Thats why what ever they say or do never get the minority vote
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suz / April 24, 2012
why no justice for murder binladen by citizen of us?
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Vitha / April 23, 2012
Gota is a US citizen. Therefore, USA must take him to Courts and put in the jail for life.
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junta / April 23, 2012
“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!
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Lalith / April 23, 2012
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.
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ranjan / April 23, 2012
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.
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silva / April 23, 2012
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.
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NAN / April 23, 2012
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
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suz / April 24, 2012
us citizens murdered bin larden ,where is justice? if us navy can do why cannot gota?
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gamini / April 24, 2012
Must be because Gota is also American.
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ColomboCharlie / May 10, 2012
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.
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gamini / April 24, 2012
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.
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lal / April 24, 2012
raja hora and kuddu gota is the main culprits behind these abductions and murders.
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CW / May 9, 2012
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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