19 March, 2024

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WikiLeaks: Tiran Filmed “LTTE-Rajapaksa” Deal

“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.)” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

Rajapaksa, Mangala and Tiran

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable was written on June  14, 2007 by the US Ambassador to Colombo, Robert O. Blake.

The Ambassador wrote “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.”

“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 video. Blake further wrote.

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
REF: A. COLOMBO 788
     B. 2006 COLOMBO 1622
     C. COLOMBO 824

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