By Colombo Telegraph –
“Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told his United National Party parliamentary group that the President’s brother and advisor Basil Rajapaksa, Presidential Chief of Staff Lalith Weeratunga, and Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera were implicated in the alleged pre-election deal with the Tamil Tigers to assure Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election. They should therefore also be arrested, just as former Airport Authority Chairman Tiran Alles was. Alles’ sworn statement to the Terrorism Investigation Division reportedly accuses all three of having engineered a multi-million dollar payoff to the Tigers. Until June 13, Alles was held under arrest in National Hospital, where he was receiving treatment.” the US Embassy informed Washington.
- Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database which details the secret agreement with the Tamil Tigers to suppress Tamil votes in the 2005 Presidential election. The cable was written on June 14, 2007 by the US Ambassador to Colombo, Robert O. Blake.
Under the subject “SRI LANKA: OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS FOR ARREST OF PRESIDENT’S BROTHER, CHIEF OF STAFF, AND TREASURY SECRETARY” the ambassador wrote “United National Party (UNP) Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, citing the same grounds used by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to arrest Tiran Alles (ref A), has called for the arrest of the President’s brother Basil Rajapaksa and other members of the President’s inner circle. Alles has documented his own involvement and the involvement of Basil and others in a secret agreement with the Tamil Tigers to suppress Tamil votes in the 2005 Presidential election. Alles reportedly placed a sworn affidavit and a video disk of at least one secret meeting with the Tigers in a secure location for his attorney’s possible use in his legal defense. On June 13, Alles was released on bail, but while he was in court for his hearing, his house was reportedly ransacked and the video disk stolen. Two recent Supreme Court decisions have also opened the door for Alles’ defense attorney to move to unfreeze his bank accounts and gain compensation for the cancellation of his license to sell mobile phone services in Sri Lanka’s Northeast.”
Related stories; WikiLeaks: Tiran Filmed “LTTE-Rajapaksa” Deal
Below we give the relevant part of the confidential cable;
VZCZCXRO5025 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #0844/01 1651036 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 141036Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6253 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0458 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0195 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7176 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5283 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3831 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1081 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3902 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2988 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7762 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5422 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0247 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2119 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
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000844 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS FOR ARREST OF PRESIDENT'S BROTHER, CHIEF OF STAFF, AND TREASURY SECRETARY REF: A. COLOMBO 788 ¶B. 2006 COLOMBO 1622 ¶C. COLOMBO 824 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: United National Party (UNP) Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, citing the same grounds used by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to arrest Tiran Alles (ref A), has called for the arrest of the President's brother Basil Rajapaksa and other members of the President's inner circle. Alles has documented his own involvement and the involvement of Basil and others in a secret agreement with the Tamil Tigers to suppress Tamil votes in the 2005 Presidential election. Alles reportedly placed a sworn affidavit and a video disk of at least one secret meeting with the Tigers in a secure location for his attorney's possible use in his legal defense. On June 13, Alles was released on bail, but while he was in court for his hearing, his house was reportedly ransacked and the video disk stolen. Two recent Supreme Court decisions have also opened the door for Alles' defense attorney to move to unfreeze his bank accounts and gain compensation for the cancellation of his license to sell mobile phone services in Sri Lanka's Northeast. END SUMMARY. RANIL CALLS FOR BASIL'S ARREST ------------------------------ ¶2. (SBU) Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told his United National Party parliamentary group that the President's brother and advisor Basil Rajapaksa, Presidential Chief of Staff Lalith Weeratunga, and Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera were implicated in the alleged pre-election deal with the Tamil Tigers to assure Mahinda Rajapaksa's election. They should therefore also be arrested, just as former Airport Authority Chairman Tiran Alles was. Alles' sworn statement to the Terrorism Investigation Division reportedly accuses all three of having engineered a multi-million dollar payoff to the Tigers. Until June 13, Alles was held under arrest in National Hospital, where he was receiving treatment (ref A). ¶3. (S) A UNP source told Pol Chief that Tiran Alles had executed an affidavit detailing Basil Rajapaksa, Jayasundera and Weeratunga's involvement in the arrangements with Emil Kanthan, a prominent Tamil businessman and suspected LTTE intelligence officer, some time ago. Alles has deposited the original in a secure place accessible to his attorney. Further, Alles had recorded at least one of the meetings between Kanthan and Rajapaksa's election team (Basil Rajapaksa, Jayasundera and Weeratunga ) with his mobile phone's video camera. (Note: at least one of the meetings reportedly took place in Alles' office.) According to the source, Alles also kept a copy of the video in a secure location. Several Embassy contacts report having seen at least parts of the video. ¶4. (SBU) On June 13, Alles was released on one million rupees bail (roughly 90,000 U.S. dollars) under stringent conditions that include a weekly check-in with the TID. While Alles and his family members were in court for his bail hearing, his house was reportedly ransacked. The burglars seemed to pay special attention to Alles' home office. Alles' close friend, former Port Development Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, was quoted in the Daily Mirror alleging that the video disk was taken. In addition to the video, Alles stated that one million rupees was taken from his house. Despite this, Sooriyarachchi added that Alles has "important things to disclose, which will be done in the near future," implying that Alles may have other copies of the COLOMBO 00000844 002 OF 003 video. BLAKE
Gamini / April 3, 2012
To survive in the field of politics today and be successful, one has to be smart and think from your opponents point of view and not on your own strategy how to come through by offering your agenda of work. Otherwise your opponent will scuttle your efforts and you will have to lament being robbed of your vote. While using Sripathie Sooriyaarachchi and Jeyaraj Fernandopulle to the maximum, MR was successful in establishing that Ranil as having agreements with the LTTE to become President in 2005, whereas it was MR that had entered into agreements with the LTTE Prabahkaran. The public a fair majority swallowed this story hook line and sinker. What happened to Sripathi and Jeyaraj the payback of MR was no different to what was meted to Wambotta who helped MR in those days who elliminated so many for MR to come this journey. Tiran Alles escaped as MR was able to lay his hands on the CD the evidence of the agreement MR had with the LTTE VP. Now MR is accomodating KP who helped MR to liquidate VP at the end of the arranged war by the US and the Indians, where MR hoodwinking the US and India massacred the remaining LTTE and the civillians who remained at Puthkudiirrippu without approval. Now the US and the Indians cannot divulge, as to their involvement and also get MR to grant devolution as promised by MR at the beginning. They are playing a carrot and stick method. Very soon when KP comes truimphat in the North as the Chief Minister, MR will have KP for the North and Karuna for the East to protect MR from all allegations from the Tamil diaspora. However although Devolution will not be granted Constitutionaly it will be allowed defacto. This is the current plan as I see the progress.
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Gamini / April 3, 2012
What I fail to understand of Wikileaks is that if the US has been aware of all this information right along, as the self appointed watchdog of Democracy, law and order why have they kept quiet unless for their complicity? They still try to hoodwink the whole world while their back is exposed.
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Jim Hardy / April 3, 2012
Exactly Gamini my vision & suspicion is the same, because Sripathi gave us a clue that he has a trump card, poor fellow died before revealing, now I suspect Jeyaraj & Sripathi were meticulously planned & murdered
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Peter Casie Chetty / April 3, 2012
ranil is not only a loser. He is a bad loser.
Alles and Mangala Samaraweera are in his party now. He has collected all the debris so what he said then does not mean he says the same now. Take him with a pich of salt – if you don’t have to pay for salt. He is not worth it.
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gamini / April 3, 2012
There are none so blind as those who do not wish to see. When factual evidence is produced to expose the culprits there are some dunce characters who try to twist and turn things thinking that they can bluff everyone.
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Taraka / April 3, 2012
Nobody care about this election fraud. What an uncultured rascal? Where is the election commissioner Mr Athathinanda??;)
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Ben Hurling / April 3, 2012
What a corrupt country we live in? Rotten all the way.
President, his clan and henchmen, are all corrupt.
Opposition leader and diplomats are also corrupt.Including Blake “the snake”.
People of Sri Lanka had a right to know these things a lot earlier.
Nobody disclosed these corrupt deals with terrorists to the citizens of Sri Lanka. True owners of the land.
Thank you so much Wikileaks and Julian Assange. No wonder they want to jail you. So that, they can cotinue to cheat the people as before.
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Son of Dalai / April 3, 2012
Alles obviously has multiple copies of the disk which implicate Rajapakse’s involvement with the LTTE. As to why Alles has not been forthcoming with this evidence, one need only look at the fate of Sarath Fonseka, or better yet, Lasantha W. No one is safe from the Rajapakse hoodlums; their claws extend to the Supreme Court, the police, and the military.
On the other hand, there can be no doubt that Rajapakse had an election deal with the Tigers, as written about extensively by Sonali Samarasinghe (who was questioned for four hours by the CID for her work). Note that large sums of money were transferred to the LTTE under the guise of bogus housing schemes:
Mahinda’s note to cabinet
Rebuilding the Nation under
Jayalanka Housing Programme
First Housing Programme
for North and East
The Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) has been directed by me to commence projects for equitable assistance to all needy communities, irrespective of whether they were affected by conflict or Tsunami, in the fields of housing, livelihoods, social and physical infrastructure.
One of the first projects identified for immediate and speedy implementation is the construction of housing units for conflict-affected communities in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticoloa, Ampara, Vavuniya and Mannar districts. Housing requirements obtained from 42 GN divisions in these districts amounted to 1200 housing units. The Board of Management of RADA granted approval to invite offers from consultants and contractors in the area to implement this project. Funds for the project are to be obtained from the Consolidated Fund.
Accordingly, offers were solicited from prospective consultants and parties willing to undertake housing construction in the stipulated areas. GS Builders & Consultants of Vavuniva was selected as the Consultant for the project.
B&K Holdings (Pvt) Ltd of No. 437A, 3rd Lane, Hirunavukulam, Thandikulam, Vavuniya, which offered the lowest quote for a 500 sq. ft housing unit at Rs 624,725/(exclusive of VAT) was selected as the Contractor for the construction of 400 housing units at Trincomalee. Another 400 units in Batticaloa was awarded to Everest Civil Engineering Services of 113/1, Mill Road, Ukulangkulam, Vavuniya, at the same rate of Rs 624,725.00 (exclusive of VAT).
Housing projects in Trincomalee and Batticaloa are in progress, and the total cost estimate for both projects is Rs 499,780,560/-. With the addition of 400 housing units to be implemented in other districts shortly, the entire cost estimate for the required 1200 housing units is Rs 757,166,000/- (inclusive of consultancy fees).I seek the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to proceed with the construction of the 1200 housing units as envisaged above.
August 2, 2006
Sgd
Mahinda Rajapakse
President
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gamini / April 3, 2012
MR’s track record of embezzlement of public funds goes a long way back before the Tsunami fiasco. After CBK came to power in ’94 the Japanese govt. undertook to build the Japan Friendship Bridge. The old Iron bridge that was removed after onehalf was done of the new bridge it was removed at the request of MR to be installed down South at Beliatte. Leave alone erecting the iron bridge, a good part was sold to the Foreshore Nadar for Rs.11 million. Thereafter CBK handed the investigation to the CID and she hung on to the file to keep MR under her thumb. This fued between CBK and MR had been there from ’91 where at the Padayathra to Kataragama CBK being found on stage, MR had abused CBK in pure filth asking her to leave. This is the scum who the people have elected in preference to honesty and intergrity. Unfortunately the scum in the UNP when they have been exposed have joined the MR regime like ducks taking to water. The only good thing is the general public has got an opportunity to identify the crooks whether they be UNP, PA or JVP.
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Kasun / April 3, 2012
According to the way of anti-gov forces erecting fingers at the government for abductions, they would have abducted Tiran easily for disclosing such secret several years early. If bribery type of incident had occurred as Tiran disclosed and government is abducting their political enemies; why he is in safe?
Although bribing is illegal but if we assumed the government had given bribe to LTTE, then why they destroyed them completely. If they bribed then we should take it as a long-term strategy with the intention of eradicating terrorism. If Ranil came to the power still the LTTE is living with their strong pullers and they would have gone miles towards separating the country.
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gamini / April 4, 2012
The Biggest question is why VP did not help Ranil Wicks, if he was their Benefactor?? Is it because the Terrorist Mentors of VP wanted him to go with MR because VP feared the shrewdness of Ranil Wicks after signing the FAC resulted in the split of Karuna and loosing the East. The fear of VP losing control of the LTTE as Thamil Selvam figured prominently in the Peace Talks, led VP to betray Thamil Selvam. Anyway It would have been difficult to obtain devolution from RW as these Pseudo Patriots would have burnt the Country. Possibly they thought of a strategy to obtain devolution from the devil(MR) himself as RW would not have opposed or created chaos. Hence another approach towards devolution by the powers. MR did not bargain for RW to remain at the helm of the UNP the time arrived for his side of the bargain to be fulfilled. Also these planners know to have another instead of RW as the head of the UNP is also dangerous, because by now MR will be history being assasinated. With RW at the helm of the UNP, MR is safe from being assasinated. Now the plan has gone awry, all are at sixes and sevens wondering what the next step is.
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gamini / April 4, 2012
Even for someone to die the time should be right. May be Tiran’s time is not right. There was an attempt on Maithripala Sirisena’s life by the LTTE a very insignificant character, where the LTTE is concerned, other than the importance that he is next in line for SLFP leadership. However Sripathi and Jeyaraj were not so lucky. Why, what about Mervyn Silva himself escaping from a similar accident as that of Sripathi’s. The problem is that the dumb does not see but blindly believe what is dished from the State media.
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Nimal / April 4, 2012
Atleast when they won they deatroyed LTTE. If Ranil won election he would have given LTTE a piece of the country. Ponna Ranil doesnot have a back bone.
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gamini / April 4, 2012
Ranil Wickremasinghe is accused as a Traitor for having given one third of land mass and two thirds of sea front to VP of LTTE and the Tamils, through the CFA. Now the story is that had he won he would have given. How PARANOID one must be to think so and also call him names to slander. It simply shows the character of these individuals who lack sense and decency to engage in discussions and substantiate their arguments. As the saying goes a dog’s tail can never be straightened. They have a back bone only to heap insult on RW but can never reason if challenged.
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Silva / April 4, 2012
[Edited out]Nimal have been (im?)ill-planted in their sinful mothers’ wombs while leaning against lamp posts along shanty-infested roads in Maradana by astray dogs hence they don’t understand how real humans like Ranil operate politically but only blindly follow and appreciate canine traits of Rajapakshas!
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