A Translation of a News Report in Malayalam ‘Manorama Daily’ published on 12th January 2015 entitled
Rajapakse: I need you to continue my protection!
Wickramasinghe: It can be continued.
Rajapakse: You should not make Sarath Fonseka the Defense Minister!
Wickramasinghe: I cannot guarantee such things.
Rajapakse: You should continue the personal protection to my brother Gotabhaya!
Wickramasinghe: Impossible.
( January 12, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Sri Lanka Government has promised that the attempted coup by the former Sri Lankan President to maintain his Presidency will be investigated. It is reported that Mahinda tried to declare emergency or use the military or the police to undermine the just concluded Presidential Election. It is also reported that it is when all of these attempts failed that Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to hand over power.
It is assessed that Mahinda’s attempts to undermine the democratic process in Sri Lanka is likely to place Mahinda on trial after investigation and such a trial could destroy Mahinda’s political future.
The spokesperson for the new government Rajitha Senaratne, has disclosed how Mahinda, had tried to bring the army onto the streets to undermine the Presidential Elections. Managala Samaraweera another spokesperson for the government has disclosed the details of this incident Samaraweera affirmed that Mahinda vacated office only because the firm positions taken by the Military Chief Daya Ratnayake and Police Chief N K Ilangakoon, that they will not cooperate with Mahinda to undermine the elections.
In the meantime, attempts made by Mahinda to be back in the Parliament through nomination are also facing stiff setbacks. Each political party in Sri Lanka, according to their strength in the Parliament can nominate MPs to the Parliament. But Rajapakse is facing resistance from his own party to secure such a nomination. Nobody seems to be supporting Rajapakse’s bid to be the opposition leader even if he manages to get to the Parliament.
Reports showing how Mahinda’s government has tried to misuse authority for the election campaign have also been revealed. A team of observers from the Commonwealth countries have reported that government publications and media had completely avoided the incumbent president during his election campaign. The report also states that Mahinda had misused all government facilities for his election campaign. In the absence of an independent framework for the Elections Commissioner to operate the Elections Commission was finding it impossible to stop Mahinda’s misuse of office at the time of the elections.
The incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena has guaranteed to the nation that the new government will not follow the previous government’s policies of oppression and will ensure political and societal freedoms therefore, guaranteeing a new era in Sri Lanka.
From emergency to a coup;
Colombo: Highly placed sources in the government have divulged that when Mahinda was certain of his failure in the elections he tried his best to cling onto power. Mahinda tried to declare emergency rule. When it was not possible to directly undermine the elections Mahinda tried to do it indirectly through others.
When nobody listened to the then President, and when he found that vacating the office is the only way around Mahinda called Ranil Wickramasigne ( the incumbent Prime Minister) over telephone, and demanded that the new government should ensure a list of things in favour of Mahinda, failing which Mahinda threatened that he will not vacate office. When that bullying also did not succeed Mahinda had no way other than to vacate the office.
Attempts made by Rajapakse to continue in power
1. Tried to declare emergency in Sri Lanka and thereby to declare the ongoing elections process null and void
• Failed
2. Sought support from the joint operations command (JOC) to undertake a military coup
• The military refused
3. Ordered the Attorney General to declare the elections null and avoid
• Attorney General refused
4. Ordered the military commander to undertake a military coup
• The Commander refused
The following is an extract of the conversation between Rajapakse and Ranil Wickramasinge in which Rajapakse has placed conditions to vacate office peacefully.
Rajapakse: I need you to continue my protection!
Wickramasinghe: It can be continued.
Rajapakse: It is because LTTE is getting more active that I need high personal security !
Wickramasinghe: No, We will continue your protection as a former President of Sri Lanka.
Rajapakse: You should not make Sarath Fonseka the Defense Minister!
Wickramasinghe: I cannot guarantee such things.
Rajapakse: You should continue the personal protection to my brother Gotabhaya!
Wickramasinghe: Impossible.
Rajapakse: I need a big house to stay in as a former President of Sri Lanka!
Wickramasinghe: Impossible, you will get what you are entitled to.
Rajapakse: You should guarantee that there will not be any act of vengeance against me!
Wickramasinghe: Vengeance is not our policy, but I will guarantee you that whatever that is required to undertake a transparent and clean administration.
