By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Courtesy Island

Former UNP General Secretary and Health Minister Tissa Attanayake yesterday told the media in Colombo that the UNP and opposition common candidate Maithripala Sirisena had, in an undisclosed pact signed on Nov. 1, 2014, agreed to implement all UNHRC recommendations as regards Sri Lanka’s alleged war crimes and fully cooperate with the international community for that purpose.

Minister Attanayake said he had documentary proof to substantiate his claim. He distributed among journalists copies of what he called the secret agreement between Sirisena and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. (See the image of the document.)

The UNP and Sirisena had also agreed to reduce the number of troops stationed in the North by 50 percent and dismantle all the High Security Zones and return the lands to their owners, Minister Attanayake said.

Attanayake alleged that Sirisena was trying to please international elements and, therefore, willing to sacrifice the safety of the armed Forces, to help him win the election.

Elaborating on section 2.6-5 of the agreement, Attanayake said the agreement to reduce the number of army personnel located in the Northern Province by 50 per cent had been signed to please the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

Attanayake said Sirisena had promised to probe alleged war crimes and to implement all recommendations given by United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The clause 2.7-1 related to the removal of all High Security Zones in the Northern Province and return of lands to their owners, while 2.7-2 concerns power devolution exceeding the 13th Amendment to the constitution fulfilling demands of Tamils. It further includes, cutting down 40 per cent of funds allocated to the Defence Ministry and to provide the money for the development of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, Attanayake said.

They were planning to betray the victory of the nation and our war heroes, Attanayake said.

Citing international media reports, he said that Sirisena was intending to appoint a judicial panel to investigate war crimes charges against armed forces personnel.

The former UNP General Secretary said the agreement included a clause that the UNP would give its fullest support to common candidate Maithripala Sirisena to win the presidential election and just after Sirisena secured the victory, he should appoint UNP leader Ranil Wickramesinghe as the prime minister of Sri Lanka and Charitha Ratwatte as the Presidential Secretary within 24 hours.

The sections 2.3 and 2.4 of the agreement stated that the Cabinet of Ministers should be appointed with the understanding of the Prime Minister and the President couldn’t hold any ministries except Defence, Attanayake said.

According to the clause 2.5 of the agreement, 20 Ministries should be given to UNP including Finance, Education, Higher Education, Health, Agriculture, Roads and Highways, Power and Energy, Constitutional Reforms, Media, Local Government and Provincial Councils, Youth Affairs and Trade and Ports.

The 2.7 of the agreement says that within 100 days after Sirisena becomes the President, the executive presidency should be abolished, the 17th Amendment should be re-introduced and the 18th Amendment repealed, 19th Amendment to the Constitution introduced to uphold the right to information, replace the current Preference Voting system and replace it with a mixed electoral system.