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The tweet in Tamil from Democratic People’s Front (DPF) leader Mano Ganesan went almost unnoticed, when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ended delivering his policy statement in Parliament last Tuesday morning.

He had turned to colleague Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, and declared that he found him a disappointed person. The news spread to the Tamil diaspora worldwide and soon questions loomed why. It only took a few more minutes for Mr Sampanthan to explain.

He was heard telling Finance Minister, Basil Rajapaksa when President Rajapaksa ended making the policy statement that the TNA would not take part in the customary tea party that was the next item on the agenda. The words, according to one parliamentarian who heard it, were in Sinhala and were somewhat incohesive. What was clear was that he did not wish to make those remarks to President Rajapaksa himself by attending the tea party since it would be distasteful. That was how the TNA kept away.

Within minutes of Mano Ganesan’s tweet and TNA leader Sampanthan’s assertions, the story became public. The TNA, like all other Tamil political parties, were expecting a pledge from President Rajapaksa, in his statement, to announce details that an ethnic reconciliation programme would be embarked upon by his government. It was to focus on further implementation of provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This was hinted at in a front page report in the Sunday Times last week.

On Tuesday leaders of Tamil political parties were at India House, the official residence of the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. There, they handed over the text of a memorandum dated December 29 to the HC Gopal Baglay, which a leader of a Tamil party said, were ‘non controversial’ matters over which “there was already consensus.”

The initiative, which diplomatic sources said was endorsed by New Delhi had its origins in the role played by Tamil Eelam Liberation Organiser (TELO), Selvam Adaikalanathan. He was in India late last year. That set off a flurry of activity over a joint memorandum.   In his policy statement President Rajapaksa, though it was widely expected, did not make reference to any political solution but only to the Experts Committee appointed by him to draft a new Constitution. He opined that reconciliation between communities could be achieved through economic development.

The issue surfaced at the regular media briefing that followed the Cabinet meeting this week. Here is what two official spokespersons of the government had to say:

Minister of Plantation Ramesh Pathirana; “We have fully implemented the 13th Amendment, as we all know representatives have been already elected several times. Actually, when the war came to an end then President Mahinda Rajapaksa conducted elections in both northern and eastern provinces. There is no concern about it as it is implemented. I am not aware about the letter that the northern politicians handed over to the Indian high commission. as for the agreement implementing the 13th amendment.

Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila; “If our Tamil parties have any concern or worry about the implementation of the 13th Amendment, they should have conveyed their concerns to our President instead of the Indian Prime Minister. We are a sovereign country and not a part of the Indian Union. Therefore, if our Tamil brothers have any issue regarding the implementation of the 13th Amendment, they should consult our elected government instead of outsiders.”

Even if co-spokesperson Minister Gammanpila’s remarks do not represent the official view of the government, it does raise questions. The assertions were made at an official event and rules out any formal government commitment officially to an ethnic reconciliation programme.    Tamil political parties are now not sure about the fate of their memorandum. Those who signed the document are R. Sampanthan, Maavi Senathirajah, C.V. Wigneswaran, A. Adaikalanathan, Dharmalingam Siddharthan, K. Premachandran and K. Sri Kantha. None of the Muslim or Upcountry parties were signatories to the paper.

Government sources believe the prospects of a meeting between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Tamil political parties is most likely  any time now.

Atul Keshap shown the door after meeting with RSS

A one time US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and till recently Washington’s acting envoy in New Delhi, Atul Keshap has been removed from office, claims a leading American website The Wire.

Here is an account that gives details of how it happened:

“When American and Indian media reported the recent news that veteran US diplomat Atul Keshap was appointed to a position within the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC), they all skipped one crucial detail: the now former ambassador’s entry into the private sector fulfils demands for his removal from the diplomatic service which were repeatedly raised by Indian diaspora groups due to his September 2021 meeting with the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“On January 5, 2022, Keshap joined the USCC (the largest lobbying group in America) to head its US-India Business Council (USIBC). “We’re ecstatic to have Ambassador Keshap as USIBC’s next president,” stated USCC’s executive vice president Myron Brilliant. “His deep expertise, and deep global network will empower the organisation to even greater heights and serve our members well.”

“Left unstated, however, is that the 50-year-old Keshap’s new position as a lobbyist – which marks his quiet exit from a 28-year career in the diplomatic service – was, by all appearances, secured in response to the controversy over his RSS meeting which plagued his final months in the US Foreign Service. His last posting was as chargé d’affaires (that is, acting ambassador) to India, a temporary post he held while the US Senate worked to confirm a permanent ambassador.

“On September 8, 2021, he visited the offices of the RSS to meet its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, and pose for photos. This turned out to be his final act as chargé d’affaires; within hours of tweeting about his “good discussion” with Bhagwat, he unexpectedly announced the end of his tenure in New Delhi. Just the day before, he had invited Indian editors for a getting-to-know-you lunch. Did someone in Washington pull the plug on his tenure?

“Within days, Keshap was mired in controversy in his home country as segments of the Indian diaspora – and some others – responded with outrage at his perceived normalisation of what many termed a “violent” and “fascist” outfit which is committed to a supremacist Hindu nationalist ideology.

“In a September 12 webinar joined by six Indian-American organisations, speakers were nearly unanimous in calling for Keshap’s resignation or removal from the foreign service. On September 15, Keshap faced the first of ultimately three protests in three states when a group rallied outside the Sacramento, CA office of US Congressman Ami Bera – who chairs the US House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Asia. This was followed by similar protests in October in Michigan and Texas.

“Meeting with the head of a paramilitary, ideologically-driven organization that promotes extraordinarily racist and, some might say, even autocratic ideas, is highly troubling,” warned Human Rights Watch’s Asia Advocacy Director John Sifton at a September 22 congressional briefing.

“On September 25, ten diaspora groups released a joint statement to President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken demanding Keshap’s permanent removal from the US State Department, arguing that his RSS meeting “disqualifies him for continued service in any capacity as a diplomat.”

Adding a final touch on September 30, US Congressman David Trone sent a letter to Keshap questioning his decision to meet with an outfit that has a “painful history of violence and destruction.”

Trone warned: “As you know, the RSS has long promoted principles of Hindu nationalism, an ideology which threatens the Muslim community and other communities in India…. By engaging with RSS officials and discussing their ideology, the United States could lend legitimacy to this controversial group and further jeopardize the communities that the RSS has targeted.”

Another former envoy to SL makes news, in Pakistan

Another former envoy to Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s Retired Major General Saad Kattak is also making news, in a different area.

The Hindi-Urdu phrase Aam Aadmi  means common man or ‘Average Joe’. For Sri Lankans, the closest equivalent could be ‘Simple Simon’ or ‘Citizen Silva’.

When India’s anti-corruption crusader Arvind Kejriwal in 2012 formed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress Party protested, pointing out that the term Aam Aadmi was synonymous with Congress and the party had been using it to coin catchy slogans to win elections since 1885. In 2004, the Congress Party’s general-election winning slogan was Congress ka Haath, Aam Aadmi ke Saath — “the hand (symbol) of the Congress is with the common man”. Undeterred, Mr. Kejriwal went ahead with the name, contested elections and became the chief minister of Delhi. Since 2015, the AAP has been in control of the Indian capital territory.

Last week, Aam Aadmi made news in neighbouring Pakistan when Retired Maj Gen Saad Khattak, who after his retirement from military service served as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka till September last year, announced the launch of the Pakistan Aam Aadmi Movement (PAAM).

Pic courtesy IBC Tamil

Thondaman has bull luck

During the Thai Pongal festival, the bull-taming sport known as jallikattu is very popular in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu where bull tamers would play with danger in the arena. In the recent past, many tamers faced death as well when attacked by bulls in the ring.

Following criticisms levelled against the ‘sport’ by animal activists in the past, the organisers assured that animals are not tortured and bull tamers go into the ring with adequate preparation.

Ceylon Workers Congress Vice President Senthil Thondaman is someone who is interested in the centuries-old Tamil traditional sport. He has at least two bulls that would take part in the festival annually.

This year, one of his bulls named ‘Matchakaalai’ won the gold coin prize at Palameadu Jallikattu in Madurai District since bull tamers could not control the bull.

Is Media Minister still waiting for answer from his colleague?

It was revealed at this week’s Cabinet briefing that Sri Lanka will be receiving one million metric tonnes of rice from China as a grant. The event was to mark the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact signed between the two countries in 1952.

Last week, Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardena requested China to give a ‘generous’ donation of rice amidst concerns raised locally on food security of the country following the fertilizer ban that resulted in a subtle decrease of yield in paddy cultivation.

A journalist followed it up posing a question to both Co-Cabinet Spokespersons asking whether the donated rice was cultivated under organic farming in keeping up with the government agrarian policies.

Minister of Mass Media and Co- Cabinet Spokesperson Dulles Alahapperuma responded saying that he was not aware of the details but he will have to check with his ministerial colleague Gunawardena before commenting on it.

The next day, a daily newspaper ran a caricature depicting the Minister of Mass Media chasing his colleague to verify it.

Two versions of one meeting

There has been a commonly agreed protocol in place when it comes to issuing press releases or media statements following meetings between top government leaders and foreign dignitaries. It seems that is no longer practiced at the Presidential Secretariat.

Soon after visiting UK’s State Minister for South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday, the President Media Division at the Secretariat issued a statement. This is what it had said:

“State Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad said that Sri Lanka’s programme to empower human rights is making great strides.”

“He further stated that Sri Lanka will be able to resolve all issues pertaining to human rights by moving forward with a pragmatic approach to further strengthen it.” the statement said.

Questions were raised on the accuracy of the statement issued by the Secretariat given UK is one of the leading Core Group members that played a key role in bringing in UN Resolutions on Sri Lanka in the recent past and review on those resolutions are scheduled at this year’s UN sessions.

Hours later, UK State Minister tweeted about the meeting with President which was contrary to what the President’s Media Division reported.

“I met President @GotabayaR of Sri Lanka to discuss global challenges including climate change and economic recovery from #Covid19. I emphasised the need for GoSL to make progress on human rights, reconciliation, and justice and accountability, in line with the UN HRC process and the SDGs.” the tweet said.