Last Sunday, hours after 2012 had dawned; life was lazy in the streets of Colombo and suburbs. Traffic along the main highways, choking even during holidays, had trickled down to a few vehicles. Most shops remained closed. Revellers who danced their way into the New Year in crowded hotels seized the holiday to sleep it out. So did most of those who watched the New Year dawn on television programmes. Some of the overtly enthusiastic contributed to the unprecedented rise in accidents. They had either consumed too much alcohol and begun another year with brawls or hurt themselves lighting crackers.
Though activity at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was minimal, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives and intelligence sleuths were on the ready as night fell. Hours ahead of midnight, Dr Champa Somaratne (39), her daughter Udini (18) and son Amandaka (13) stood in the queue to clear immigration formalities to board Cathay Pacific flight CX 700 to Bangkok at 1 a.m. on January 2. From the Thai capital, the trio who held Australian passports were to later connect to a flight to Melbourne.
Instead of having their passports stamped so they could wait in the lounge until boarding time, Dr Somaratne, who is practising medicine in the suburbs of Melbourne and her children were whisked away to a room. There, they were interviewed by CID detectives and intelligence sleuths. She faced a barrage of questions. Her baggage was checked. Detectives found copies of letters addressed to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) and some diplomatic missions based in Colombo. In them, she had complained of persons in vehicles or motorcycles following her when she stayed at her sister's palatial house in Piliyandala. The sister was attached to a state organisation. She had originally planned to leave on January 29 but cut short her stay on account of this.
 |
| JVP Central Committee greeting the general membership at the special convention at Tissamaharama. |
The focus of the interview, the Sunday Times learnt was to determine her relationship to Premakumara Gunaratnam who once lived at 211/26 Anguruwella, Kegalle. Police records show he also went by three other names - Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Dayalal, Wanninayakage Daskon and Kumara Karunaratne. A onetime key player in the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), as 'Kumara Mahattaya,' he led the extremist wing now fighting the old guard leadership. Police records also show that he had emigrated to Australia years ago after obtaining a passport in the name of Ratnayaka Mudiyanselage Dayalal of 141/53, E2 Seevalipura, Borella. Issued on October 23, 2000, the passport bore number M 1938494. He has given his date of birth as November 18, 1965.
Detectives who waited to interview Dr. Somaratne had a dossier on her background. She had been the leader of the group of JVP candidates who contested the 1994 parliamentary elections unsuccessfully. Then the JVP fielded candidates as the Sri Lanka Progressive Front (SLPF). The group secured only 4,990 votes - 0.7 per cent of the total votes polled. Thereafter, she had served as a doctor at the Chest Hospital in Welisara, Ragama. She had lived together with her husband at the Medical Quarters in the hospital complex and also at 72/5 Etambagahawatte Road, Talapathpitiya, Nugegoda. Who was Dr. Somaratne's husband? Was it 'Kumara Gunaratnam,' now the elusive leader of the JVP extremists or is it another person altogether? The question seemed important both for detectives and the intelligence sleuths.
Dr. Somaratne denied any knowledge of a 'Mr. Gunaratnam' being her husband. Repeated questions and denials went back and forth. She said she had not been in touch with her husband for over two years. In accordance with Australian law, she said, such a period of separation was grounds for the annulment of their marriage. She was now considering herself separated from her husband. She said she had known her husband as 'Mr. Daskon.' The issue was resolved after detectives produced a photograph. This photo was published exclusively in the Sunday Times of September 18 last year. The caption said "Premakumara Gunaratnam (Kumara) heads the extremist wing of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)." Dr. Somaratne said that the person in the photograph was her separated husband. That was a far cry from what the detectives and intelligence sleuths wanted to know -- was Kumara still hiding in Sri Lanka or has he fled? Since she claimed she had no association with him for the past two years, they were up against a wall.
Questions then focused on Dr. Somaratne. She was reminded that she had not honoured the bond she had signed with the Department of Health seeking overseas leave for two years. She had agreed to return. When she did not, a Vacation of Post order had been served on her. Detectives also found in her possession a National Identity Card (NIC) issued by the Department for the Registration of Persons. Those holding foreign passports were not entitled to Sri Lankan NICs and possession of them contravened the law. In this instance, however, she was a Sri Lankan who had later obtained citizenship in another country. Government officials say there are several instances where Sri Lankans who had obtained foreign citizenship continued to use the NICs when they come to the country.
Other than the two relatively minor lapses, Dr. Somaratne, it turned out, had not contravened any Sri Lankan law. Moreover, the Australian High Commission, though on holiday last Monday, was tracking her case closely. By the time the protracted interview was over, it was early Tuesday morning. Dr. Somaratne and her two children were booked on another flight, this time on Sri Lankan Airlines UL 888 headed for Beijing with a stopover in Bangkok. It departed at 1.20 a.m. on Tuesday January 3. Since the economy travel ticket had stipulated conditions, the Government of Sri Lanka had to bear the cost of the surcharge for re-validating the three tickets. "She was tough and was to the point when questions were put to her. She was composed and did not show signs of distress," a detective involved in the interview said. Dr. Somaratne and her two children left Sri Lanka still leaving behind for the Police Department and intelligence agencies a big question unanswered -- where is Kumara?
"We do not know Kumara Mahattaya or Daskon mentioned by you. Kumar Gunaratnam who was associated with the JVP for long time is now involved in the people's struggle," a leader of the radical group, Pubudu Jayagoda told the Sunday Times. The response came when I asked whether he was the leader of the extremist group. Excerpts of the interview appear in a box story on this page.
The Sunday Times (Political Commentary) revealed in its issue of September 18 last year that the JVP was split in the middle between the old guard and an extremist faction. For the first time, details of how this took place were revealed. The person heading the extremist group, 'Kumaran,' later to be known Kumara or 'Kumar Mahattaya,' was sought by the Police over allegations that he had travelled to Australia on a forged passport. For the first time, he had left on May 30, 2006. He had returned thereafter and had been in Sri Lanka a few times, according to Police records. Officially, he was last known to them as a wanted person after a breakout from the Welikade Prison on December 13 1988. He was being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for attacking the Pallekele (Kandy) Army camp with seven other JVPers in 1987. This was during the second armed rebellion the JVP waged.
However, Kumar's importance and the need to interview him further became more important after the events that followed the major split in the JVP. He has triggered off alarm bells in the security establishment. This is after members of the radical group were openly making contacts with youth in the North whom intelligence sources describe as having "militant tendencies." Questions are being raised whether the radical faction is poised to engage in "acts of violence or other anti-democratic acts" by joining hands with groups in the north. It is in this backdrop that two northern activists who were supporting the radical group, Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganathan have gone missing.
Posters in several parts of Colombo and suburbs blamed it on the Army. However, Military spokesperson Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi strongly rejected the accusations. He told the Sunday Times, "After we heard about the disappearance of the two activists we too asked for any information which will help track them down. But so far we have not got any trace of the missing persons. Also, posters have sprung up in the north (and in Colombo and the suburbs) blaming the Security Forces for abducting the two youth. That is not correct. It is a false allegation. There is no evidence to make such allegations'.
When the Emergency Regulations were in place, the Army was placed in most parts of Jaffna. But the situation is different now. Most of the troops have been withdrawn to camps and only the important positions are guarded by them. This gives the opportunity for persons to carry out such an act."
The irascible official government spokesperson, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, said the duo were not kidnapped but "would appear in Courts soon."
Jayagoda said "Lalith and Kugan were political activists in the north. They were not involved in violent politics. They peacefully took the message to the people in the north."
Another cause for concern is from where the radical group is receiving their funding. Security sources point out that the group had their first major political event at the Sugathadasa Stadium in November last year. The event was the first public indication that the JVP had broken in the middle into two factions, each with a formidable strength. An example they cite is the Rs 400,000 they spent to obtain the stadium on rent. This is besides costs involved in transporting cadres to Colombo in buses. Similarly, they add that district wise meetings held by the radical group to win over grassroots level support has also cost a considerable amount of money.
However, Jayagoda said, "They are making various allegations. Initially media reports suggested about an armed struggle. Later they said foreign groups were backing us. Then they said the LTTE was funding us. It is not us who are engaged in anti-democratic practices and violent politics."
Added JVP's Anura Kumara Dissanayake, "I cannot comment on how their funding comes. It is not correct to comment on it without knowing the details." Edited excerpts of answers he gave to questions posed by the Sunday Times appear in a box story on this page.
Adding to these factors, security sources say, is a suspected link between the radical group and the overseas groups that once backed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Suspicions in security circles have heightened after a one time JVP General Secretary Lionel Bopage attended a seminar on Accountability in Sri Lanka organised by the UK-based Global Tamil Forum in Sydney in late October last year. The event coincided with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Perth, Western Australia. Since Kumar is known to be shuttling between Australia and Sri Lanka, questions were raised whether there was a nexus. Police believe Kumar was in Sri Lanka when internal rivalries between the feuding factions of the JVP heightened in September last year and thereafter. They suspect he went underground after fears that the Police may want to question him on several matters including some matters which they claim border on "national security issues."
The radical group has now come into even greater prominence after nine members were removed from the JVP's Central Committee. This came at the impressive special convention that JVP held last week at Debarawewa in Tissamaharama. The nine are Pubudu Jayagoda, Dimuthu Attygalle, Dimuthu Bandara Abeykoon, G. Kularatne, Duminda Nagamuwa, Chameera Koswatte, Waruna Deeptha Rajapaksa, Ajith Kumara (Galle District MP) and S.K. Subasinghe.
The 'members only' event, held after the radicals failed to obtain a stay order from court, saw the old guard further consolidating their power. Later, the Central Committee that met in Tangalle to name a new political bureau left out sacked seniors like Jayagoda, Attygalle and Kularatne. It is not clear whether Kumar, who may have been listed under another name, has also been excluded. Talking to the media in September this year, JVP leader, Somawansa Amerasinghe said there were "several Kumars in the JVP," a matter which was repeated by Dissanayake on Friday. He parried the question whether the leader of the radical group was both a member of the CC and the political bureau.
Though with minimal representation in Parliament, and the party split in the middle, the JVP, no doubt will be of bigger concern for the UPFA government. True enough, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) is also split but the worries caused by it would be relatively less or hardly any. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has angered the government once again over its refusal to join a Parliamentary Select Committee until its dialogue with the Government is over. TNA leaders are now in South Africa to attend the centenary celebrations of the African National Congress (ANC). The Sri Lanka government has, as our front page report reveals, rejected Pretoria's invitation.
As for the JVP crisis, on the one hand, the old guard has control over a sizeable section in the trade union sector. On the other, the security establishment is worried more about the radicals who have come under close watch. All in all, a divided opposition appears to be President Mahinda Rajapaksa's biggest political strength.
Purge in the UNP as Ranil gets tough
An unceasing wave of fire cracker explosions ushered in 2012 last Sunday. A week into the New Year, the fireworks within the country's main opposition United National Party (UNP) continue unabated. Political sparks are flying.
The latest turn of events came after UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe returned to Colombo following a New Year vacation abroad. At a meeting of the party's Advisory Committee, comprising senior members chaired by him, a number of decisions were made for the current year. This included filling positions that had fallen vacant with the end of 2011. Wickremesinghe, who was in a buoyant mood, said that no member who faced a disciplinary inquiry should be appointed to any position. He also said that those who attacked the party headquarters Siri Kotha were traitors. So were those who lent their support to them after the incident.
Taking part in the discussion besides the UNP leader were Tissa Attanayake (General Secretary), Sajith Premadasa (Deputy Leader), Gamini Jayawickrema Perera (Chairman), Joseph Michael Perera (Assistant Leader) and Daya Gamage (National Organiser). Wickremesinghe re-appointed Attanayake as General Secretary and the discussion centred on other positions.
Joseph Michael Perera, (Senior Vice Chairman), elected Assistant Leader unanimously on December 18, will now serve in that capacity as a member of the Working Committee. Appointed to fill that position is Kabir Hashim who has till now been an Assistant Vice Chairman. Appointed to the latter office is T. Velayuthan who was Assistant Secretary. Ananda Kularatna has been named the new Assistant Secretary. He is a UNP stalwart from the Hambantota District.
Wickremesinghe said he was naming Ravi Karunanayake (Colombo District) to the Working Committee to replace Mohanlal Grero who has crossed over to the government. Karunanayake earlier served in the WC in his capacity as the National Organiser. At this point, Sajith Premadasa proposed that former UNP deputy leader, Karu Jayasuriya be appointed to the Working Committee to represent the Gampaha district. Wickremesinghe rejected the suggestion and said he would consider such a matter only if Jayasuriya made a request from him. Jayasuriya, who returned to Colombo after a private trip to India, told the Sunday Times "I have never asked for positions but earned them. I do not propose to ask.
I only contested Mr. Wickremesinghe for the leadership post since the UNP Constitution allowed it. That is all."
Wickremesinghe said that he wanted to remove Dayasiri Jayasekera (Kurunegala District) from the post of Deputy Opposition Whip. He said there was disciplinary action pending against him. The Working Committee, which is due to meet on January 16, is expected to decide on the course of disciplinary action to be taken against him. Premadasa wanted the position kept vacant until the disciplinary inquiry was over. Wickremesinghe rejected Premadasa's request and named parliamentarian Ajith Perera (Kalutara District) as the new Deputy Chief Opposition Whip.
Dayasiri Jayasekera told the Sunday Times, "I am prepared to face any action against me but will remain a dedicated UNPer. This action is sheer revenge against me for using my democratic right to speak out and contest a position at election of office bearers. A real leader should endeavour to keep all his members who hold diverse opinions together so we can be a strong opposition. This is what the late J.R. Jayewardene did. Sadly, the party is being destroyed every day. I will never quit. I will fight against this injustice."
Premadasa proposed that Mangala Samaraweera (Matara District) be given a "suitable position" and made to serve in the Working Committee in that capacity. Wickremesinghe said Samaraweera did not want to accept any position. Wickremesinghe loyalists said Premadasa's proposal was a transparent ploy. Should Samaraweera be given an official position and co-opted, it would become Buddhika Pathirana's turn to be a member of the WC representing the Matara District. A staunch backer of the so called reformists, he is now under suspension and faces a disciplinary inquiry.
Premadasa had planned to address a meeting of local government representatives in the Matale District yesterday. Wickremesinghe directed that the event be cancelled. He spoke on the telephone to several local body members. However, Premadasa was expected to take part in Sasunata Aruna where he made cash contributions to temples. On Friday, the padlock in Premadasa's room at Siri Kotha was broken open and his room vacated. The UNP deputy leader had retained the key and used this room. It has now been given to Joseph Michael Perera. Premadasa has been told that he could use Wickremesinghe's room at Siri Kotha as done by the former deputy leader, Karu Jayasuriya. He did not have a room at Siri Kotha. The room occupied by Jayasuriya in Parliament has now been converted into an office for use by all UNP parliamentarians.
Having lost their titles, the so called reformists in the UNP are now losing the privileges they enjoyed. Wickremesinghe loyalists say there would soon be changes in the district level leadership. Since being re-elected leader, Wickremsinghe has begun to crack the whip. Like the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the UNP, the grand old party, is now busy with the all-important purge. National issues and woes of the public would have to wait until the "cultural revolution" of sorts in the party is sorted out.
Radical group may join other forces: Anura Kumara
Here are edited excerpts of the answers Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna's Anura Kumara Dissanayake gave:
EXPULSION OF NINE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS: The group who were expelled violated party discipline and attempted to form different teams within the party. This would have been a hurdle to the progress of our party. It was decided to expel them from the Central Committee of the party.
CAUSE FOR THE CRISIS IN THE PARTY: Our party has suffered from several setbacks in the past three years. In times like this, when we are undergoing such a situation those who are not strong enough begin to create problems. They could not face the challenges that had to be faced when we were suffering from setbacks and hence resorted to these attempts.
 |
| Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
ON ACCUSATIONS THAT JVP PRINCIPLES WERE VIOLATED: Those who broke away need some reason to justify their actions. Hence this is one of the reasons they give but the JVP is committed to its socialist policies.
ON SUPPORT FROM GRASSROOTS LEVEL OF THE PARTY: When the breakaway group came forward about two months ago, they said 90 per cent of the party supporters are with them. They used the media to portray themselves as having the majority of the JVP supporters but as was seen at our convention there are only a very few of the JVP members who support them. The majority are with the JVP.
ON CLAIMS THAT THE RIVAL GROUP IS RECEIVING FOREIGN FUNDS: I cannot comment on how their funding comes. It is not correct to comment on it without knowing the details.
ON THE RADICAL GROUP FORMING ANOTHER POLITICAL PARTY: They are free to form another party if they like. The question is will they be accepted by the people.
ON JVP'S OVERSEAS SUPPORT: Yes. Definitely there is support from our overseas members and well-wishers. You will remember when Wimal Weerawansa broke away there were doubts cast about the future of the JVP. Many said our overseas base would erode but when you look back, it is clear that none of this has happened.
ON BACKING FORMER ARMY COMMANDER SARATH FONSEKA AT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: In August, 2010 we did a self-evaluation of the polices followed by the party from 2004 to 2010. During this time we had entered into a probationary arrangement with the then Government as well as backed Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election.
This was with the aim of bringing about an end to the separatist violence by the LTTE. But after the end of the war we have a government that is pressing ahead with capitalist polices. If we had been able to install a government that adopted socialist polices after the end of the war, it would have been a satisfactory situation. We backed General Sarath Fonseka because we wanted to put a stop to the dictatorship that was emerging in the country.
We have done our soul searching and we don't want to go back to the past over and again. Now we assess ourselves from August 2010 onwards. After self-evaluation we decided where we had gone wrong and chose to move forward from there. Political movements change their tactics from time to time and we have done the same.
ON WHETHER THE JVP NOW DISASSOCIATES ITSELF FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL ALLIANCE: We joined the DNA to contest the last general elections because we did not want to leave General Sarath Fonseka when he had become politically destitute. The DNA and JVP polices are different. An example is our economic policies. We have different polices on the future journey of this country. General Fonseka is free to take the political journey of his choice. We respect any decision he makes.
ON KUMAR GUNARATNAM: The JVP has had many Kumars. There are some who have been public figures and there are others who have worked for the party behind the scenes. I cannot say with certainly that this Kumar was a member of the JVP.
ON WHETHER THE EXTREMIST GROUP WOULD RESORT TO UNDEMOCRATIC METHODS: We cannot say they will resort to undemocratic means but they may join with other forces to achieve their political objectives.
JVP leaders not marching to the left but going right: Jayagoda
Pubudu Jayagoda is one of the leaders of the radical group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. Here are edited excerpts of an interview:
ON THE JANATHA VIMUKTHI PERAMUNA: We believed it is the best party to achieve social objectives. The need to restore the democratic rights of the membership, defeating the dictatorial rule in the party became necessary. Some officials took control in an arbitrary manner whilst suppressing the opinion of members. They represent the JVP today. Though, they are known as the official party by the Commissioner of Elections, the membership knows the real party.
 |
| Pubudu Jayagoda |
ON THE JVP CONVENTION IN TISSAMAHARAMA: It cannot be considered a convention. It is a conspiracy by a small group. When the dispute within the party was under discussion 226 members were added to the list on October 31, 2011. We accept only decisions made by the majority of the membership.
ON CORRUPTION WITHIN THE JVP: Instead of the leftist ideas or an independent left movement they moved towards working to protect the privileged class. Financial discipline too broke down. The dispute came up because corrupt party officials tried to suppress the struggle in an undemocratic manner.
DECISIONS BY JVP TO FORM COALITION GOVERNMENTS: The independence and the policies of the party were affected. The left parties such as the LSSP and CP too suffered the same fate. They too succumbed to coalitions. In 1965 the JVP was formed to fight against coalitions. At the end what has happened is they say they are marching to the 'Left' and going to the 'right.'
ON ACCUSATIONS OF BEING ANTI-DEMOCRATIC: There are no formal charges against us. There could be more damaging things done by persons who have deviated from the political path and engaged in self-satisfaction.
ON THE ONGOING 'STRUGGLE': It is not a month since we started this mass struggle. It seems many have panicked. They are making various allegations. Initially media reports suggested about an armed struggle. Later they said foreign groups were backing us. Then they said the LTTE was funding us. It is not us who are engaged in anti-democratic practices and violent politics. It is the government. Abductions in white vans are taking place. We are peacefully making our opinions known.
We have a democratic right to do this. The story about foreign spy agencies operating is an old story. All ruling parties levelled this allegation. Even Lenin was branded as a spy for Germany. Rohana Wijeweera was branded as a CIA spy. The people know the truth about it. People fund us. We can give details to the public.
ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LALITH AND KUGAN: They were not involved in violent politics. They peacefully took the message to the people in the north. They saw common ground in the issues faced by the people in the south and north. They are not terrorists. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the post-Cabinet news conference that they are alive and they will return soon.
ON ARMED PARAMILITARY GROUPS: There are several armed groups in the north and east. Groups backed by Karuna and Pilliyan operate with firearms. Even EPDP has armed cadres. We have no dealings with them. The reason we focus on the north -- for a long period people there could not engage in left politics. We are trying to combine the struggle for the rights of the Tamil people with struggle for socialism.
ON KUMAR GUNARATNAM ALIAS KUMAR MAHATTAYA: We do not know Kumara Mahattaya or Daskon. Kumar Gunaratnam who was associated with the JVP for long time is now involved in the people's struggle. People like Wimal Weerawansa and those who decamped from the actual 'Left movement' are making up names and projecting him as a mysterious person. That is a bankrupt effort. Kumar Gunaratnam is a senior member in the party. He is not the leader.
There are no individuals as leaders. It has been mentioned that Somawansa Amarasinghe is the leader of the party. There is no tradition in the party like that. We have a structure. It is collective leadership. Besides the leadership, there are a number of members who do a large amount of work.
ON FUTURE PLANS: There is discussion within the organization. We hope to finalize our proposals. It is not correct to say that it is a secret operation limited to a few. After they are ready we will place it for discussion. Various segments of society will be involved in the discussions.
|
E-mail