By Colombo Telegraph –
“The new Opposition Leader said the JVP wants to be ‘the second party in Sri Lanka.’ If President Kumaratunga‘s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) continues to be ‘run by Bandaranaikes,’ there is a good chance that in ten years it will disintegrate with many members coming over to the UNP. Wickremesinghe admitted that his party is taking stock of what went wrong (indeed a meeting of party luminaries was breaking up as the Ambassador arrived) but had reached no conclusions yet.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
Ranil and CBK
A Leaked “CONFIDENTIAL” US diplomatic cable, dated April 19, 2004, updated the Secretary of State regarding a meeting the US Ambassador had with Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable was signed by the US Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead.
Under the subheading “Parliamentary Machinations” the ambassador wrote “ Wickremesinghe confirmed that parliamentary infighting and jockeying will begin the moment Parliament reconvenes this Thursday (April 22). The first issue will be selection of a Speaker. Wickremesinghe seemed confident that the UNP would prevail in this first skirmish and confirmed that former Minister of Justice and Buddhist Affairs W.J.M. Lokubandara would be the opposition candidate. Beyond that, Wickremesinghe said he will wait for the inevitable contradictions in the winning coalition to play out and look for opportunities to hurry the process along. He told the Ambassador that he is confident the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) will stay with the UNP — at least for a while. If the other side is unable to get a majority, the coalition can limp along but ‘it will become increasingly difficult for them to sustain in the months ahead.’ Wickremesinghe also appeared confident that his side could block any effort to convene a constituent assembly.
Placing a comment the ambassador wrote; “Receiving the Ambassador in the bare-walled, spartanly-furnished offices of the Opposition Leader for twenty minutes, the former PM seemed tired and was his usual terse self. He clearly appreciated and reciprocated the Ambassador’s thanks for the close working relationship the U.S. and Sri Lanka had during his tenure as PM but nodded in agreement when the Ambassador underlined that we hope to have a similarly fruitful relationship with the new government. We recommend that the Deputy Secretary call the former PM to make the same points.”
Read the relevant part of the cable below;
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000662 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT DEPARTMENT PLEASE ALSO PASS TOPEC NSC FOR E. MILLARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04-19-14 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON CE SUBJECT: Former PM sees economy as key factor in electoral defeat, expects the winning coalition to find tough sledding Refs: Colombo 647, and previous (U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead. Reasons 1.5 (b, d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told the Ambassador that perceptions of economic well-being (or, rather, the opposite) had been key in his parliamentary defeat on April 2. He is skeptical the winners will be able to get back to the peace table with the LTTE anytime soon. Wickremesinghe plans to watch the winners stumble over the inherent contradictions in their coalition and profit from the disarray, perhaps beginning with the selection of a Speaker when Parliament opens this Thursday. The Ambassador expressed thanks for the excellent cooperation received from the PM's office while he was in power. We recommend a call to Wickremesinghe from the Deputy Secretary making similar points. END SUMMARY. SIPDIS ¶2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, called on former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe April 19 to thank him for the excellent cooperation in the U.S.-Sri Lankan relationship which occurred under his tenure as PM and to get the now-Opposition Leader's views on what went wrong in the election and how the victors will fare in the months ahead.
Parliamentary Machinations -------------------------- ¶5. (C) Wickremesinghe confirmed that parliamentary infighting and jockeying will begin the moment Parliament reconvenes this Thursday (April 22). The first issue will be selection of a Speaker. Wickremesinghe seemed confident that the UNP would prevail in this first skirmish and confirmed that former Minister of Justice and Buddhist Affairs W.J.M. Lokubandara would be the opposition candidate. Beyond that, Wickremesinghe said he will wait for the inevitable contradictions in the winning coalition to play out and look for opportunities to hurry the process along. He told the Ambassador that he is confident the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) will stay with the UNP -- at least for a while. If the other side is unable to get a majority, the coalition can limp along but "it will become increasingly difficult for them to sustain in the months ahead." Wickremesinghe also appeared confident that his side could block any effort to convene a constituent assembly. ¶6. (C) The new Opposition Leader said the JVP wants to be "the second party in Sri Lanka." If President Kumaratunga's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) continues to be "run by Bandaranaikes," there is a good chance that in ten years it will disintegrate with many members coming over to the UNP. Wickremesinghe admitted that his party is taking stock of what went wrong (indeed a meeting of party luminaries was breaking up as the Ambassador arrived) but had reached no conclusions yet. Comment ------- ¶7. (C) Receiving the Ambassador in the bare-walled, spartanly-furnished offices of the Opposition Leader for twenty minutes, the former PM seemed tired and was his usual terse self. He clearly appreciated and reciprocated the Ambassador's thanks for the close working relationship the U.S. and Sri Lanka had during his tenure as PM but nodded in agreement when the Ambassador underlined that we hope to have a similarly fruitful relationship with the new government. We recommend that the Deputy Secretary call the former PM to make the same points. ¶8. (U) Minimize considered. LUNSTEAD
gamini / November 21, 2012
If RW has predicted this in 2004 and the reality is dawning now, what a Prophecy? Whoever believed Mangala, Wijedasa Rajapaksa and a host of senior SLFPers are supporting overtly and covertly RW today. In the end all the Corrupt rogues of Politicians irrespective whether they are UNP, SLFP, JVP. CP or the Left Parties, will remain with the HUMBUGTHOTA and the rest will fall behind RW. Anyone for Humble Pie?
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Senguttuvan / November 21, 2012
Ranil is one of the few politicians in the country who can see many years ahead. He has the education, the upbringing and the calibre. He is not wrong in this assessment. But that space will be filled in by other pseudo-nationalist Sinhala groupings in so far as the
radical Buddhist clergy is kept out of politics and confined to work on things spiritual and non-material. That I suspect is the very reason of their having entered the Sangha.
By that time there will be very little left of the country. I fear a fair portion of the Sinhalese also would have fled merely to find a place where they can get 3 meals a day, a decent house and a fair living for the family – all of which promised but failed to be delivered by our “leaders”
Senguttuvan
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mahadenamutta / November 21, 2012
Dear Senguttuwan,I agree with your comment except the closing para.I am living in this golden west for the last 23 years and I would have returned HOME TO MOTHER if not for my Children who were born here and who would not have the rights in Sri Lanka what they have here.”About the Three meals a day,a decent house and a fair living for the family Theory of yours ,The best example is my self ,working full time 8 hours a aday 22 days in the month getting a low salary and still had to depend on the job dept.allowance(calculated according to the 60% of nett Previous income and this NOT the famous DOLE)IF NOT FOR THIS RESPONSIBILITY OF MY CHILDREN I WOULD RATHER EAT ONE MEAL HOW MUCH IT MAY BE HUMBLE AND DRINK SOME WATER FROM A ROAD SIDE TAP IF THAT IS MY MOTHER “” MOTHER SRI LANKA “” CAN AFFORD TO GIVE ME !!!
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Leela / November 22, 2012
Starting towards the end my teenage, I too have lived in the so-called emancipated west for almost two decades. In a way, we were fortunate at the time for there were good enough prospects and opportunities there to rise-up to one’s expectations. Clearly, those are bygone days now.
In spite of Westerners all out efforts to rob oil in daylight in Iraq and Libya, it is clearly evident that entire west is on the way to economic downhill all the way. Today, destitution, poverty and deprivation reign all over once so-called exuberant western world. But for Eelamists who engage in human trafficking, drug running, extortion and etc etc, it’s a god given wonderland.
If one wants to learn RanilW’s brilliance and foresight they should have read the Leader and listened to Sirasa that his erstwhile backers Fedric Janz edited and Maharaja owned. Fortunately for us, RanilW hadn’t foreseen the crumbling of his government and the party thereafter.
Mahadenamutta, you shouldn’t take too seriously uttering and muttering by desperate, racist and bigoted people.
Leela
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gamini / November 22, 2012
Leelo, I trust you read the character certificate of your beloved MR under another thread? What have you to say for that? What are you trying to infer above reference Maharajahs, Frederica Janz and RW not knowing his govt. crumbling? Please state your case without going round the bush. Maharajahs have been exposed by RW for their duplicity, being party to slander RW all this while. Now the Maharajahs are honemooning with MR and Mervyn getting screwed in style.
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mahadenamutta / November 22, 2012
Dear Leela,How could I keep quite when these people keep GLORYFYING THE WEST AND RUNNING DOWN OUR MOTHER COUNTRY AND TWISTING THE HER ARMS SO MONSTOROUSLY TO KEEP THE WESTERNERS HAPPY AND PAVING THE ROAD FOR THEM TO COME DOWN ON US DICTATING TERMS HOW WE SHOULD LIVE OUR LIVES;RUN A GOVERMENT OF OUR OWN;TO RUN AN ECONOMIC WHICH SUIT US IN OUR OWN COUNTRY TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MOTHER LANKA?
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Sam / November 22, 2012
Quoting from you leelooooo ” Clearly, those are bygone days now”
Assuming that you lived in the UK for two decades, can you compare the system that you hve in SL with that of them. Do we have a law respecting system in SL ? Do we have a system that the qualified are given their due place in PRESENT day SL ? Do we have fair and independent court investigations in sl ? Do we have impartial constitutional AMD getting passed in Parliament to the manner in the UK ? Do you we have a system where through dicussions the politicians or authorities can work on any good thing in SL – given the created circumstances by rulers today ?
Sure almost every european country is affected with global problems today than in the past, but none of them are comparable to those of lankens or other developing countries.
BS you ve been spreading again and again, cant also expect Leela or the ilk of your mentality bearers to think beyond.
How many of the IC – would keep the faith on MR ? Imagine if we would face a natural catastorphe similar to tsunami again, do you think that IC would back our people to that manner as had been 2004 ? No, many would be distant from us… Leelas and Kumudunis would take – considerably more time to realize this – this is typical to you your kind of people, but please atleast try to let that go through your empty skulls.. then the rest of the nation would be thankful to you.
Continuning to stay on the west, I have learnt a lot from them. I would not say, that I have not learnt things from our country, but whenever I get back to Lanka, all what I hear and see – make me sick always asking myself why ? why cant people work to an order.. why the politicians react to so selfish .. why are the politicians in general abusive ? and thousands questions at once…
Though I love my country and our people- but I really dont think that we have proper systems to rise up anyone according their qualifications – in SL even in 100 years, this will be more unlikely if MR would stay in power. His GOVERMENT could win the war against Ltters – MEANS not that he is the leader to bring proper to the country.
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Sam / November 22, 2012
No need to depict you any thing else..
Very recently Mervin ^s son was charged for his crime doings. If this was the case for a common person, he would have been banned not allowing him to leave the country following weeks or months – i DONT know according the ban setting prevailing in the country ^s law frames.. But what we got to see was – Mervin and his son both were touring to Vatican – even immediately after the case was finished ( not even 10days it took to finalze the court case).
If this was the case in the UK, how would they react ? Even William^s brother had been charged once or several times… even PM^s son was charged publicly… several times…
If this was the case for multi milliionare – Boris becker or his sons in Germany – investigations would not have taken like it was with Marvin^s sons.
Today the environment is made any criminal to rise up their heads not the others – ( majority)..could rise up in SL, they can stay mum just looking at the manner – Mervins and Rajapakshes and Leela^s kids taking drugs or doing any wrong doing on broad day light abusing the entire nation.
What do you think of all these Leelooooooooo? Can you leave at leaast ONE CONSTRUCTIVE answer to all these ?
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shankar / November 22, 2012
This is the problem with Ranil,he is waiting for everything to disintegrate without being proactive and try to win elections on his own merit.Like in a game of chess,no attacking moves on his part,but waiting for the other player to make a mistake.If your opponent makes mistakes that can be considered as an additional bonus,but you as a chess player must constantly be attacking and put your opponent under pressure.If guys like Athulatmudali,Gamini Dissanayaka,Ranjan Wijeratna,Premedasa were leading the UNP now you would have seen the difference with those restless fellows making wave after wave of attacks on the opposition.They would never have been content to be twiddling their thumbs in the opposition.
Ranil got the job because they were all killed in the hurly burly violent era of Prabhaharan. That is the difference in first string and second string leaders.The former are restless characters with a burning ambition and never content other than to be no 1. Just because Ranil got the job of UNP leader on a platter he should not think that the highest office in the land also will just fall onto his lap.He has to take more risk if he wants more returns as risk and returns move inversely.Sometimes you lose more with that strategy,but sometimes you win much more too.Anyway what has the UNP got to lose anyway with a more risky strategy as it has hit rock bottom anyway.
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shankar / November 22, 2012
oops!My mistake.Risk and return don’t move inversly,but in the same direction.So if the UNP wants more return,go for more risk.
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Senguttuvan / November 23, 2012
I don’t know whether Mahadenamutta is grateful to the West or complaining about it. His grouse, as it appears to me, is that the West
is rough on MR. In fact MR and his army of sycophants keep hammering away at the USA, Britain and others when they (West) point out his frequent flaws. One wonders if the USA and the West is so bad how come at least 2 siblings are refusing to give up their US residency rights. How come MR himself seems to have made a sneak visit to the USA now – although the Yakkos are told he is in Kazakastan. The story he has gone there (USA) only to see Dimu recuperating might not even convince the Marines. So much for hypocracy practised not only by our rulers but some nondescripts in these pages also – trying to stupidly give the impression they speak for “the clique”
Senguttuvan
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mahadenamutta / November 25, 2012
Senguttuvan,It is neither showing gratitude nor complaining about the west but FACTS FOR THE DIGESTION OF THE GULLIBLE BACK HOME,SPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO SING HOSANAS TO THE WEST:MY GROUSE IS THAT THESE GULLIBLE WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THAT SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER :ABOUT THE FREQUENT FLAWS OF “THE CLIQUE” IS IT NOT OBVIOUS THAT THE WEST IS DOING FAR MORE BETTER THAN WHAT MR AN THE CLIQUE DOES THE WORLD OVER AND NO BODY IN THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS NO BONES TO POINT IT TO THE FACE OF THE WEST??? WHAT A PITY INDEED!!!”
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