21 April, 2025

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WikiLeaks:President Has More Respect For Gota Than For Basil

By Colombo Telegraph –

“Although he trusts them both, our contacts say the President has more respect for Gothabaya than for Basil.” US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

President "would not change even a roadside checkpoint" without first consulting Gothabaya

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. The cable is classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” details the Presidend Rajapaksa’s decision making process. The cable was written on May 15, 2007 by the US Ambassador to Colombo Robert O. Blake.

Under the subheading ambassador Blake wrote “President Rajapaksa relies on his brothers, Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa, for advice on security matters and political affairs respectively. Although he trusts them both, our contacts say the President has more respect for Gothabaya than for Basil. An embassy contact told Pol Off that the President is insecure in his job because he knows that Sri Lanka, as a “semi-feudal” society, still has great respect for aristocracy. He fears that because he is not from an elite family, but rather from a village in the deep south, support for him within the SLFP is a thin veneer that will last only as long as he is in power. This perception of disloyalty within the SLFP has caused him to rely even more heavily on his brothers for support and advice. Many Embassy contacts from both the ruling and opposition parties have expressed frustration with the level of influence Basil and Gothabaya have on policy.”

“According to Embassy contacts, the President, who holds the portfolio of Defense Minister, makes all defense and security decisions in consultation with Gothabaya. One Embassy contact told Pol FSN that the President “would not change even a roadside checkpoint” without first consulting Gothabaya. Gothabaya has nearly full autonomy on military decisions. He and Army Commander Fonseka have a close relationship and work well together; Fonseka was one of Gothabaya’s commanding officers when he was in the Army. The other military commanders follow Gothabaya’s instructions faithfully for fear of being replaced. Key presidential decisions that reflect Gothabaya’s influence include appointing Sarath Fonseka as Army Commander, closing the A-9 highway to Jaffna, and appointing Victor Perera as the Inspector General of Police.” the ambassador further wrote.

Related news;

WikiLeaks: Rajapaksa Trio Powerful, But Increasingly Isolated

WikiLeaks: Discord between the brothers -half to Basil, half to Gota

WikiLeaks: Basil is corrupt, limited educated and expelled from school

Below we give the relevant part of the cable;

VZCZCXRO5144
OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLM #0698/01 1350532
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 150532Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6029
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0380
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0087
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7068
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5157
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3729
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0943
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3800
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2880
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7654
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5335
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2019
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000698

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CESUBJECT: PRESIDENT RELIES ON BROTHERS FOR POLICY ADVICE AND
POLITICAL COVER
Brothers Offer Advice on Security and Politics
--------------------------------------------- --

2.  (C)  President Rajapaksa relies on his brothers, Defense
Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and Senior Advisor to the

SIPDIS
President Basil Rajapaksa, for advice on security matters and
political affairs respectively.  Although he trusts them
both, our contacts say the President has more respect for
Gothabaya than for Basil.  An embassy contact told Pol Off
that the President is insecure in his job because he knows
that Sri Lanka, as a "semi-feudal" society, still has great
respect for aristocracy.  He fears that because he is not
from an elite family, but rather from a village in the deep
south, support for him within the SLFP is a thin veneer that
will last only as long as he is in power.  This perception of
disloyalty within the SLFP has caused him to rely even more
heavily on his brothers for support and advice.  Many Embassy
contacts from both the ruling and opposition parties have
expressed frustration with the level of influence Basil and
Gothabaya have on policy.
4.  (C)  According to Embassy contacts, the President, who
holds the portfolio of Defense Minister, makes all defense
and security decisions in consultation with Gothabaya.  One
Embassy contact told Pol FSN that the President "would not
change even a roadside checkpoint" without first consulting
Gothabaya.  Gothabaya has nearly full autonomy on military

COLOMBO 00000698  002 OF 004

decisions.  He and Army Commander Fonseka have a close
relationship and work well together; Fonseka was one of
Gothabaya's commanding officers when he was in the Army.  The
other military commanders follow Gothabaya's instructions
faithfully for fear of being replaced.  Key presidential
decisions that reflect Gothabaya's influence include
appointing Sarath Fonseka as Army Commander, closing the A-9
highway to Jaffna, and appointing Victor Perera as the
Inspector General of Police.

Latest comments

  • 0
    0

    It looks current family conflict goes to 2007 at least.

    • 0
      0

      its like now King Kashyapa and Mugalang. but with public money.

  • 0
    0

    All lies. No family conflicts in Rajapakse family.

  • 0
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    we don’t care, Rajapaksas are uneducated uncultured rascals anyway. ;)

    • 0
      0

      exactly. not even O/L qualified. ” ata pass” rascals.

  • 0
    0

    What’s wrong with these dirty Americans ? Why do they spy on our leaders like this ?
    Shame on the hooligans go & give them information or what ever they want for money.
    For you American bastards; Yes! our Best leaders namely Sirima/Premadasa/Mahinda are considered uneducated & the worst JR/Chandrika considered educated ; so what ?

    • 0
      0

      Banda, Gota and Basil are American citizens as well. So Blake has a duty re them. You have to understand it. war crimes investigation coming as well ,

      • 0
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        So Simpson; American democracy is spy on all it’s citizens ?

      • 0
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        Thannk you Simpson Remind these idiots their curupted leaders also Americans.these f… do not know about any politics or any thing .They only know what theire leaders put in to their heads about west.Do these idiots know China is tousand times harmfull to Sri Lanka than west.no not like As long as basil make 10% from china

    • 0
      0

      Banda, do you know what Jaliya Wickramasooriya, SL ambassador Washington report to Sri Lanka

      • 0
        0

        Yes; Jaliya W reports everything about Obama; his wife; his daughters; his families; his cast etc. etc. get a life Mr. Simpson please…
        You don’t get it do you?; what these bastard Americans want to do is to spy on Rajapakse family ; create a rift & topple the Government. They did it many other places. You can kiss their back but not us; who love our country!

      • 0
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        Do you know it idiot simpson.? Thanks for chosing the name.

    • 0
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      Exactly! Americans now realized the fact that they can topple our gov only by Libya- like movement. They love to exploit any political rift to drive the interbred-rascals like Simpson here crazy. In the same principle, the US tried to exploit the growing rift between Gota and SF, once two good friends. We don’t now see the war crime charges against SF that frequently appeared during the war. This is exactly the same old game the US (CIA) played on other countries toppling governments.

      • 0
        0

        So, CIA asked Mahinda to respect Gota than Basil? :) :) :) :) So CIA put Fonseka in Jail. hehehehehe

      • 0
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        CIA asked Rajapakse family to loot public funds…..

    • 0
      0

      looks like you are living in Amerixa toooo…………..lol

      • 0
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        Exactly Shiranthi!

      • 0
        0

        you wanna come to America i will get you a Visa

  • 0
    0

    NGO, VICKI LEAKS, RED CROSS, what ever name they have, behind the name is the same intention to create a conflict between the brothers and topple the government. Entire world can be against this United country. No one can touch it. Keep the hands away from us. We do not need you. We do not need your advise or help. Thank you.

    • 0
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      Linde inna gembek vage wenna epa Perera

      • 0
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        you are the one inside the well not him….sorry

    • 0
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      good one…..love it

    • 0
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      Perera, If you don’t any of them near you where can GOSL borrow money to run the country? FROM YOU……….

      • 0
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        Dear Shiranthi by reading many of your responses; one can only understand you are not only living in an “American dream”; but sadly mistaken state of mentality. Please read more carefully & think twice before you comment on sensitive issues on your selfish “singhalesh”
        (?) way or rather stay away.

      • 0
        1

        Dear (Banda) Friend,
        Typical Banda = Rajapassa talk (threatning)
        If I didn’t stay away are you gonna send a white van after me?

  • 0
    0

    well US Embassy has got that right….anyway..it is not only president…..we all have that respect for Gota…the man who made it all possible…..it is only the ‘tall trees get the most wind”…keep it up….

    • 0
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      Who calls Gota a tall tree…….he’s a “kanatu gaha”

  • 0
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    “Key presidential decisions that reflect Gothabaya’s influence include appointing Sarath Fonseka as Army Commander,”

    a kind of interesting…

    “Sri Lanka, as a “semi-feudal” society, still has great
    respect for aristocracy. “

    Not anymore!

    “He fears that because he is not
    from an elite family, but rather from a village in the deep
    south, support for him within the SLFP is a thin”

    Its all solid as a rock!

    Long live the RRRRRRRRRRRR’s

    its about time someone pee on Blake for wasting time and money

  • 0
    0

    “Linde inna gembek vage wenna epa”

    pukeye inna panuwek said so…sorry

    • 0
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      Junta, oya imbala baluwada?

  • 0
    0

    “It looks current family conflict goes to 2007 at least.”

    conflict! what conflict??!!

  • 0
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    This is a carefully planned strategy by Anti-Sri Lankan Fronts, well supported by Non-Patriotic groups within the country. Mark my words. I only hope their plans would fail.

    • 0
      0

      What was planed?

  • 0
    0

    Americans know very well that while whole western world suffering from economic melt down & American economy going down the drain under well educated first black president; in Sri lanka so called uneducated & village man not from elite family in their point of view manage excellent economy to the capacity without bowing to their interferences. They want to destabilize the country & bring someone who dance to their tune to power. They spy; spy & spy every possible link including how Rajapakses are washing their backs after using toilet. Ranil doesn’t go even his party fells all times low; hoping Americans; not the voters will do something for him as he is their man same as his uncle; who is so called well educated & ruined our country. They provide all the information to discredit Rajapakses.
    But what they don’t know is those uneducated southern villagers have more brains than they all combined & majority; if not over 75% people of Sri lanka are with them & love them !

    • 0
      0

      Real Banda mindset ;) :)

      • 0
        0

        Is there any problem with that VIDURA? Some so sick and pathotic idiotic people like you does not like it!
        Start learning to pay for what you gain from the Nation idiot! At least to the free education you got from it.
        Americans never gave us any thing unless there is something for them.

    • 0
      0

      Well said!!

    • 0
      0

      Well said. The size of whitephilic rascals who betray anything for few dollars are still too small to drive “american dreams” in our soil, thanks to uneducated villagers. Otherwise, we would have been a colony of LTTE backed by USA, doing slavery.

      • 0
        1

        For Sinhala people “American dream” in American soil is good BUT they don’t like Singhalese people liiving Sri lankan soil to dream like them……what a slefish character

  • 0
    0

    US is trying to create profile for MR

  • 0
    0

    A marked similarity to the caricature “Thompson and Tompson” !!

  • 0
    0

    it’s getting interesting. I wonder what else American Embassy wrote to Washington. Wow the embassy has become a gossip factory. I used to think Americans never talk about others on their back, let’s wait and see how low they will go against MR government.

  • 0
    0

    whatever the conflicts may be within the party, they will not go very far because the ‘brothers’ know that if one falls, all will!

  • 0
    0

    The Unit! Viva MRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR……………………!

    Viva Sri Lanka!

  • 0
    0

    I am sure ,If American embassy issuing free Visa for thousand people in Sri Lanka to go and live in USA.These American heaters are the first to be in line.Ha ha ha.Thats how petritic they are

  • 0
    0

    First the brothers massacred the tamil civilians..
    Just now they have not started to kill their SLFP politicians
    (Eg – Bartaha Lakshaman).

    After some times they would start to kill each other…

    Each leader is driven by the thirst for power..

  • 0
    0

    Correction – Please delete the not in second sentence.

    Sorry for the inconvenience caused

  • 0
    0

    Udarata Banda,
    Don’t generalize. Some people return to Sri Lanka after touring from West Coast to East Coast by land. They don’t stay even if they can. Contrary to what you may believe, there is a lot of racism in the US. I have first hand experience.

  • 0
    0

    Theory of Evolution is exactly correct when you look at these two MONKIES. If this is what people look like deffinitely their decendents of MONKIES(APES)

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