Columns

• Former President becomes key issue in polls campaign, while Sirisena appoints loyalists as electoral organisers
• UNF proposes State Assembly comprising civil society activists instead of CC; JVP convention gets airtime from state-owned ITN
• Concern over discovery in Ramanathapuram, but security forces assure no room for anymore LTTE terrorism

For Colombo’s state intelligence community, there was a distraction from monitoring the polls this week.It was a report from southern India. Police in the town of Ramanathapuram, in the tongue shaped land mass that ends at the Dhanuskodi pier, arrested three people after a check they conducted on vehicle movements. This pier in the Palk Strait, the narrow seas that divide India and Sri Lanka, is located opposite a similar one on the other end at Talaimannar. They were the entry points when a ferry service operated between the two countries decades ago. This is the path for a project to construct a bridge linking Sri Lanka and India.

Police found in the vehicle GPS equipment, 300 grams of cyanide, 75 empty capsules and seven different mobile telephones. Reports reaching agencies in Colombo said the Tamil Nadu Police raid came after a tip off. Krishna Kumar, a Sri Lankan identified as an inmate of a refugee camp there, and two Indian nationals, Rajendran and Shashi Kumar are now being interrogated at the Q (or Intelligence) Branch of the Police there. The agencies learnt that there was no satellite telephone in the possession of the trio though some media reports had referred to it.

The concern for the local intelligence agencies is whether the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is being revived by their remnants overseas. On the other hand, whether the move was a diversion of sorts in the light of the August 17 parliamentary elections is also not being ruled out. Either way, a high ranking source at Army Headquarters declared, “there is no way we will allow a re-emergence of terrorism. Measures for this purpose remain in place.” Yet, the prospects of re-grouping could still be of nuisance value. They could try to create a fear psychosis, particularly outside the north and east, if indeed there are moves to re-emerge, warned an intelligence source familiar with Tiger guerrilla activity. That has got the intelligence community, kept busy with the upcoming elections, into high gear over the find in Ramanathapuram. They are now awaiting more details of findings by the Indian Police.

This discovery does not come as a surprise. Intelligence agencies have been aware of attempts by remnants of the LTTE to re-group. That has led to different security arms and the Police taking counter measures. They have remained in force. A report on the “possible emergence of terrorism” after the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas in May 2009, seen by the Sunday Times, gives the background. It notes that there is “only a remote possibility” that the guerrillas will reorganise within the country. This is notwithstanding LTTE-linked overseas groups whose objectives are to “facilitate the resumption of an armed struggle in Sri Lanka.” A number of guerrillas who escaped during the final stages of the separatist war are “presently linked” to the overseas groups, it says.

Other than the guerrilla cadres who were put through a programme of rehabilitation, the document notes that about 2,000 cadres both in Sri Lanka and abroad “have evaded arrest and rehabilitation.” This is whilst the Army continues to recover arms, ammunition, explosives and equipment. It points out that “more could still be buried and access to such items by residual cadres and/or self-motivated cadres could prove dangerous.” The document warns that “there is evidence that members of some of these linked groups operating from overseas are trying to regroup themselves having established contacts with local elements and carry out acts of sabotage to disrupt peace and stability.” The document lists three different incidents after the military defeat of the Tiger guerrillas in May 2009.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ministers Rajitha Senaratne and Champika Ranawaka seen in conversation at the rally held at the Viharamahadevi Park on Thursday for the launch of the manifesto of the United National Front for Good Governance. Pic by Indika Handuwela

In March 2012, barely three years after troops militarily defeated the Tiger guerrillas, a member of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), one supporting the then Government, was murdered by suspected guerrilla cadres. It came to light during investigations that a guerrilla who masterminded the killing had been earlier operating under the nom de guerre Kumaran from France. According to the document, arrested suspects revealed that Kumaran moved to India in November 2011 and had addressed a group of some 25 guerrilla cadres “to carry out sabotage activities in Sri Lanka.” It says that he had formed three different groups of three persons each. It is one of these groups that had come to Sri Lanka in March to carry out the killing of the EPDP member. This incident threw light on attempts by the group to revive guerrilla activity.

The second incident was in December 2012 in Colombo. The arrest of a guerrilla cadre, the document says, “Unveiled an organised LTTE network operating from Chennai, funded by a group positioned in Europe.” Six guerrilla cadres which included a female who had undergone a rehabilitation programme were arrested in Jaffna. Four more guerrillas were arrested in Chennai at the same time by the Police there on information provided. One of them had been identified as an electronics expert. The Police there also recovered two laptops, electronic circuits, cables, wires and some documents. The document notes, “It was also revealed that the LTTE overseas elements had attempted to recruit youth with IT knowledge and youth from the fishing community with experience in deep sea fishing to facilitate future operations in Sri Lanka.” Their activities were laid bare after the arrest of a further six youth from Jaffna. Police in Tamil Nadu had also raided a safe house in Chennai and arrested four more persons. This had led to the dismantling of the cell that operated in Chennai and Jaffna.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, General Secretary Tilvyn Silva and Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath enjoying a happy moment at the JVP convention held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. Pic by Amila Gamage

A third incident, the document says, was in March last year. The arrest of a youth distributing “handbills inimical to national unity” was arrested by the Pallai Police. It says, “this led to the unravelling of a local covert LTTE network run with financial support from overseas LTTE cells operating from Europe. Their financial transactions were discovered. It points out that “Investigation resulted in the arrest of 83 suspects comprising rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated cadres and youth mostly from the North and East areas.” The document adds that three guerrilla cadres died “in a confrontation with security forces in April last year when attempts were made to apprehend them.” These three guerrillas, it notes, “were assisted by LTTE elements based in Switzerland, UK and India” who maintain links with a leader living in another country. It adds, “The security forces and Police also recovered buried arms, ammunition, claymore and three mine detectors used to search for buried LTTE ammo dumps.”

In the light of these developments, state intelligence agencies in Colombo are not taking any chances. Both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are being regularly briefed of developments. An intelligence source said, “There was no cause for any alarm since the security forces and the Police have continued to maintain vigilance. Further measures will go into place after a detailed report is received from India on the outcome of the Police investigations.”

Sirisena told what to do
On the local political front, it was only a week ago that President Sirisena declared in his address to the nation that the people should elect those who are suitable to march forward with the January 8 mandate. That was the United National Party (UNP). He also ordered that a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday (July 15) be called off. He had two visitors at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday. They were UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha and SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. The duo were to complain that Sirisena was appointing party organisers to different electorates and they were learning of it only from the media. Yapa urged Sirisena that in future when he had to deliver an address to the nation he should not speak impromptu but to do so from a prepared text.

That advice appears to be after a meeting Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva had with Sirisena at night, soon after his address to the nation. The latter is learnt to have briefed UPFA leaders. The Opposition Leader had cautioned Sirisena that if he continued to make statements like the one he did, the SLFP would be split in the middle. Later, he had told UPFA leaders that Sirisena had explained his position and how he faced criticism from even members of his own household over the issue. A source said Sirisena had only smiled at the suggestions made by his party seniors but made no comment. Later, Yapa also requested Sirisena to summon a meeting of the Central Committee. He agreed and it will be held on Thursday (July 30). Sirisena flew yesterday to Male to take part as chief guest at the National Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives.

In deciding to appoint electoral organisers on his own, Sirisena continued his political assault on Rajapaksa. His aim appears to be to isolate Rajapaksa in the SLFP. Whether he would succeed in the endeavour remains doubtful. However, his actions have been felt strongly by the UPFA leaders. The latest appointment was that of Chandana Kathirearatchchi as co-organiser of the Kesbewa electorate. The appointment of Kathirearatchchi, a former backer of Mahinda Rajapaksa, has now infuriated Gamini Lokuge, the organiser of that electorate and a close ally of the former President. Others considered anti-Rajapaksa who have been named as co-organisers or organisers are Prasanna Solangarachchi (Avissawella), Indunil Wegodapola (Matale), Sirisena Wijemanne (Laggala) and Ananda Prematilleke (Wariyapola).

In addition, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, a Sirisena loyalist contesting the Matara District has also been appointed as acting organiser in the Matara electorate. This is in addition to being organiser for Hakmana within the same district. The move has infuriated one time Minister Dullas Allahapperuma, a staunch Rajapaksa loyalist. A similar appointment of a UPFA candidate for the Gampaha District has raised a controversy. The person is said to have a Police record of being an Island Reconvicted Criminal (IRC), a dubious title for those committing three or more criminal offences and being convicted. Sirisena’s move is to slowly but surely purge Rajapaksa loyalists from being party organisers. That it came in the backdrop of urging Sri Lankans indirectly, to vote for the UNP has further angered the UPFA supporters.

There were also rumblings between UPFA groups contesting the Gampaha District. Two factions were at loggerheads — and entering the fray to resolve issues is former Minister Basil Rajapaksa. All UPFA candidates have been invited to take part in the meeting. Basil Rajapaksa, who earlier represented the Gampaha District, did not contest. This is in the light of a provision in 19A which prohibits those holding dual nationalities from contesting. He is also a citizen of the United States.

Corruption investigations continue
If allegations of corruption have formed the subject of speeches by both the UNP and the UPFA candidates at election rallies, the outcome of investigations into several important cases will hinge on the results of the August 17 polls. Though the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is not making arrests in view of the polls, investigations are continuing. Officials of the US Department of Justice were in Colombo this week as part of their operation to assist the FCID in some high profile investigations. They have already made a few visits. It is the outcome of assistance offered by US Secretary of State John Kerry when he visited Sri Lanka in May this year. One of those under probe is Udayanga Weeratunga, Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Russia. Acting on a court order, FCID detectives on Friday searched a twenty foot container shipped from Moscow to Colombo by Weeratunga. They were declared as his personal effects. He had called over at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Teheran, whilst on a visit there, to ask diplomats there to seek the assistance of the Foreign Ministry. He was advised that he should first surrender the diplomatic passport issued to him. On Friday, detectives seized the power units of four desktop computers in the container. They are being sent to the University of Moratuwa, so the hard disc could be examined. Detectives also seized pen drives and a set of CDs. Thereafter, the container was sealed and left at the container yard of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

UNFGG manifesto: More changes to 19A
This week marked the release of the manifesto of the United National Party (UNP) under the banner of the United Front for Good Governance (UNFGG). The partners of the front, had first gathered at the Viharamahadevi Park in December last year. That was to declare support for then presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena. Last Thursday, in a canopy outside the Open Air Theatre, decorated with buntings green, red, blue and yellow, the same group met again, this time to make public the UNFGG election manifesto. Among those gathered were UNP national leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Karu Jayasuriya, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary Champika Ranawaka, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem and leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Mano Ganesan. Among those representing civil society groups was Ven. Maduluwave Sobitha Thera, leader of the National Movement for a Just Society.

Sinhala copies of the manifesto were released. Premier Wickremesinghe pledged more amendments to 19A which was approved by Parliament in May. One such change would be to rename the now existing Constitutional Council. It is to be converted to a State Assembly. It is to comprise civil society representatives who will be empowered to play a key role in state administration. The Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will not be members. There will also be a consultative assembly of civil society representatives. The latter would also be involved in the proposed cluster village system.

Wickremesinghe had earlier proposed the setting up of a Council of State. This was during the early stage of discussions on 19A. He said it would comprise representatives of recognised political parties and independent groups. Thirty six members, of whom not less than ten are women, were to be appointed jointly by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition with the approval of the Constitutional Council. Chief Ministers of all the provinces were to be members. Twenty seats in this Council were to be apportioned amongst recognised groups in Parliament, in proportion to their representation. This proposal, however, was not approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Under the proposed State Assembly, Wickremesinghe said, every parliamentarian would be part of the administration. He announced several measures to improve the economy and to build a new Sri Lanka within five years with a million jobs being made available. He said the minimum wage in the private sector would be placed at Rs 10,000. Some of the other highlights in the manifesto:

• Anti-corruption drive: Constitutional safeguards will be provided for the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). The Police Ordinance of 1865 will be replaced with a new Police Act.
• Clauses relating to Fundamental Rights in the Constitution would be further strengthened.
• Provision to be made in the Constitution for the President to exercise his powers on the advice of the Prime Minister and a Cabinet of Ministers. They will be answerable to parliament. This way the supremacy of Parliament will be safeguarded. The special powers that are enjoyed by President Maithripala Sirisena will continue in the same manner.
• The present system of elections will be abolished and a mixed system consisting the PR and the First Past the Post system will be established.
• The Right to Information Bill and the National Audit Bill will be enacted by Parliament
• Rs 2,500 salary hike for the private sector with a Rs 10,000 minimum salary structure.

JVP’s national programme
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) also made public its manifesto at a convention held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. The event was telecast live by the state-owned Independent Television Network (ITN). The JVP manifesto and the speech by its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake were to reflect some significant shifts. Titled “The Accord of the Conscientious,” the manifesto has been dubbed as the JVP’s “national programme” for the next five years.
A highlight was a pledge to introduce a new Constitution with inputs from the public. It would be placed for approval at a national referendum. The JVP has pledged to abolish the executive presidency and restore parliamentary rule. The party has proposed to abolish the pension scheme for MPs and their privilege of receiving duty free vehicles. The JVP would ensure that Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers and Malays are treated with equality in political, social and cultural spheres. It has proposed a Commission against Discrimination and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the peace building process. These pledges make clear that the JVP is now laying more emphasis on ethnic reconciliation and is in accord with the thinking of even the United National Party (UNP) and its allies.

The 100 page manifesto seeks to set up a Janatha Sabha (People’s Council) to replace Provincial Councils. Like the UNFGG, the JVP has also pledged to introduce the Right to Information law and the National Audit law. It wants the Cabinet of ministers restricted to 25 and six per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) set apart for education. It has declared that provision will be made to prevent MPs from crossing over. Those who do so will lose their seats.

In his speech, JVP leader Dissanayake clearly demolished the belief that an armed rebellion was the way to capture power. Whilst deeply regretting the party’s violent past, Dissanayake said, “We have learnt that armed struggles (sannada aragalaya) are no longer feasible options. Technology (taakshanaya diunuwela) has developed tremendously. The militaries are sophisticated and are better equipped,” the JVP leader noted. He said in the new era, the JVP would not have a clash of bayonets, but only a “clash of ideas”. Thousands died in the two abortive JVP-sponsored rebellions in 1971 and 1987-89 to overthrow the elected Governments at that time.

The JVP, hitherto a rural-based party was now reaching out to the middle classes with a more humane face to the radical face it had long adopted. The party has won support from a large section of the people clearly miffed by both mainstream parties. A new generation of voters are not familiar with the JVP’s violent past. The party’s exemplary conduct in Parliament has won them plaudits, but the huge portrait of their founder, Rohana Wijeweera wearing a beret might still be a put off to those who can remember the reign of terror both in 1971 and 1987-89 unleashed under his leadership.

That the JVP won air time from ITN was to irk one of Dissanayake’s erstwhile colleagues, Wimal Weerawansa who now leads the National Freedom Front (NFF). He wrote to ITN Chairman Ganganath Dissanayake, asking for live air time for an event where a political book presentation was taking place. Weerawansa received a reply this week. Dr Dissanayake said the air time was provided since it was a convention of a political party. He had said that a book launch by a political party did not qualify. However, he has said that such coverages were made available only when they were satisfied that the times did not clash with ITN programmes. Addressing rallies, Dissanayake countered accusations by saying that the JVP had paid the ITN Rs. 800,000 for the live coverage provided.

Finishing touches to UPFA manifesto
The UPFA will make known its manifesto at a rally to be held at the Pedris Park in Colombo’s Thimbirigasyaya area on Tuesday. Some 5,000 party members countrywide are expected to take part. Among those who were giving the finishing touches to the document on Thursday night were former Tourism Authority Chairman Nalaka Godahewa, former diplomat Dayan Jayatilleke, former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabral and former Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath. The lengthy document offers employees in the state and private sector a minimum wage of Rs 25,000.

There were moves by partners in the UPFA to pledge that a newly elected Parliament would form a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution. However, the move was rejected. Instead, some constitutional changes are being mooted. Also being mooted are electoral reforms before the year end if the UPFA wins. In the process of formulating the manifesto, some UPFA leaders also paid close attention to ITN’s live telecast of JVP’s special convention at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The distraction also led to brief discussions on the JVP’s manifesto. This was at the Colombo residence of Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Unlike at previous polls, the stricter enforcement of laws by Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has led to less cutouts and posters in most areas. In some, due to their absence, it was even difficult to discern whether there would be any election in just over three weeks. However, posters of some stalwarts of the Government are displayed prominently in the Colombo City whilst in the outstations there were some of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Tuesday’s Colombo UPFA rally, to be addressed by Rajapaksa, who, paradoxical enough, is the main issue of the polls campaign, UPFA leaders say will lead to the heightening of their campaign. In marked contrast, the UNFGG campaign has almost reached its peak and is drawing crowds. With only 22 more days to go for the polls, it has been a relatively violence free election. A nation waits in earnest to see who emerges victor and how a new Government will cope with key issues.