I will cut my throat if they find evidence I stole even $1 – MR
Posted on June 19th, 2016
Courtesy adaderana
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa attributes his defeat at the 2015 election to resentment against him from Muslims, Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils, and to the Sinhalese harboring unrealistic expectations who took what he delivered for granted.
The Kurunegala District MP also says that he will cut his own throat if evidence is found implicating him of stealing even one dollar. They say I have stolen $18 billion, but if they find evidence of even $1, I will cut my throat,” he said in an interview with Jeff Kingston for the Japan Times.
Rajapaksa is currently on a visit to Japan with several former Ministers, MPs and aids. Excerpts of the article published on Japan Times have been reproduced below: The U.N. estimates that at least 40,000 Tamil civilians died in the final months of the war as the Sri Lankan military unleashed indiscriminate attacks on the Tigers’ last redoubts. The Tigers stand accused of using the civilians as human shields, preventing their departure to safety, while the military is accused of shelling these civilian refugee camps, even in areas designated as safety zones.
Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was commander-in-chief during this brutal finale, is unapologetic about the consequences. He recently told me that it was war and thus victory was essential, an outcome that he says was widely desired and welcomed by the public. Asked how he reconciled being a devout Buddhist and commander-in-chief, he argued that his goal was peace. In his view, Tiger leader Prabhakaran misjudged the situation, hoping that international pressure in response to the carnage would force the state to back off. Prabhakaran, in Rajapaksa’s view, was too full of himself,” failing to understand that this time the state had no intention of allowing the Tigers to regroup.
Although Rajapaksa eradicated terrorism and raised living standards, he lost the 2015 elections. He attributes his defeat to resentment against him from Muslims (9.7 percent of the population, according to a 2012 census) and Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils (15.2 percent), and to the Sinhalese harboring unrealistic expectations who took what he delivered for granted. Asked if he had any regrets, Rajapaksa says he trusted people too much.
Regarding the scars of war in this traumatized nation, he says that he has promoted reconciliation by returning land to the Tamils and investing heavily in infrastructure and development projects in the northeast, helping them to begin restoring their lives after three decades of war. Asked why the Sri Lankan Navy is operating luxury resorts on unreturned land, he says it is important to give them something to do.
It is easy to understand why Rajapaksa is described as the affable authoritarian,” exuding bonhomie and a steely will. He artfully parries awkward questions about the need for justice and accountability for war crimes. In his view, there is no need for an international tribunal because Sri Lanka has the judicial expertise to conduct its own reckoning. When I pointed out that President Maithripala Sirisena has yet to follow through on his pledge to establish a truth and reconciliation commission, Rajapaksa says that starting this process was his idea, having sent a mission to learn lessons from South Africa’s experience, but the international community opposed this initiative.
Pressed to explain what he would do to promote future reconciliation, Rajapaksa offered no vision for healing the wounds other than stressing that the priority should be on promoting economic development and raising living standards. Regarding Asian leaders, he admires authoritarians such as Singapore’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who both boosted the economies of their nations. But he is more skeptical about Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, another devout Buddhist leader presiding over a country troubled by endemic inter-ethnic conflict and religious tensions. I drew attention to her desire to attain freedom from fear, and how Sri Lanka’s lingering culture of war makes this goal elusive.
He agreed it made sense in theory, but expressed uncertainty about how to proceed, adding that now she faces the burden of delivering on her promises. He stopped short of condemning Sri Lanka’s militant monks and extremist Buddhist organizations for advocating and engaging in violence targeting Muslims, but did say that it is not consistent with public sentiments. Asked about continued abductions and the silencing of critics by state forces, Rajapaksa maintained that this is no longer the case. A January 2016 report by the International Truth & Justice Project Sri Lanka — Silenced: Survivors of Torture and Sexual Violence in 2015″ — provides compelling evidence to the contrary.
Has press freedom improved under his successor? Rajapaksa doesn’t think so, saying the media is controlled by the government and is subject to various threats. He also brushes aside accusations about the murder and disappearance of journalists on his watch. When asked about a journalist whose posthumous final column implicated Rajapaksa in his anticipated murder, he points out that in parliament Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, his political rival, accused a prominent ex-general of ordering the hit.
Twelve thousand Tigers were released from detention without trial,” says Rajapaksa, adding that there are no more political prisoners in Sri Lanka except for him and his family, who are subject to harassment by the media and government. He bitterly complained about his son’s arrest, and that he has not been allocated an official bungalow — a privilege extended to other ex-presidents. And corruption allegations? They say I have stolen $18 billion, but if they find evidence of even $1, I will cut my throat,” he says, claiming that evidence has come out implicating the current president.
Asked about future plans, Rajapaksa pointed out that now he is barred from seeking a third term as president, but, flashing his signature smile, did not rule out running for prime minister. Politicians never retire,” he says
. -Agencies – See more at: http://www.adaderana.lk/news/35723/i-will-cut-my-throat-if-they-find-evidence-i-stole-even-1-mr#sthash.CVNlYQ5b.dpuf
June 19th, 2016 at 3:37 pm
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa MUST contest for Prime Minister at the next elections. When asked Rajapaksa has also said that – “Politicians never retire.”
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa attributes his defeat at the 2015 elections when answering a journalist of the Japan Times as to the reasons for his defeat, that it was due to resentment against him from Muslims, Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils, and to the Sinhalese harbouring unrealistic expectations who took what he delivered for granted is – “VERY TRUE”. Mahinda Rajapaksa did not wish to tell that, mostly it was due to the treacherous back stabbing done by the leader of the ACMC, Minister Rishad Bahthiudeen, leader of the SLMC, Minister Rauf Hakeem, the ungrateful Faizer Musthapa, Minister Hisbullah and Eravur UC Chairman Ali Zahir Moulana and nominated MP Amir Ali in the run-up to the presidential elections in 2015.
I am very happy that the Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Japan declares that the Yahapalana government was brought to power on January the 8th, 2016 (Presidential elections) and the (General Elections) of August 17th., 2016 by the MUSLIM and TAMIL votes. That is the fact and real TRUTH. But politicians in Sri Lanka are NOT willing to accept the REALITY and the Sinhala votes which is divided between the 74 % of the Sri Lanka population is FIGHTING between themselves that it was one side or the other of the Sinhala votes that made President Maithripala (under Hansaya) to win and or Mahinda Rajapaksa (under the betel leaf symbol) to lose at the presidential elections. Mahinda lost to Maithripala Sirisena by 400,000 votes. These were the tipping the balance votes. The UPFA fought with the United National Front for Good Governance and secured 96 parliament seats contra the UNFGG secured 106 parliament seats. The 400,000 votes majority came to President Maithripala Sirisena from the Muslim votes viz-a-viz the Aluthgama/Beruwela violence and a large portion of the Tamil votes from the North. Still a fair amount of Muslims voted from the East for Mahinda, though he lost. When balancing the Sinhala votes of both the UPFA and the UNFGG, the difference of around 10 parliamentary seats majority for the Maithripala-Ranil UNFGG government came from the TNA and Muslims voted Muslim candidates who contested under the UNFGG (Elephant) symbol. So Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is quite correct to say that the Maithripala/Ranil government was brought to power by the Muslims and the Tamils. The Tamils have gained much with this victory, but the poor political orphans who believed and trusted the Yahapalana campaign have been thrown into the political dust bin by President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremasinghe. Those so-called Muslim party leaders and their stooges and the leader of the TNA have benefited much for themselves. The Sinhala people have ONLY being fighting, sad to say and losing a country that could have progressed to prosperity by the grace of God AllMighty. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was a STATESMAN, not only a politician. BUT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT HE WILL NOT TOLERATE THESE unscrupulous MUSLIM POLITICIANS GETTING INTO HIS FOLD AT THE NEXT ELECTIONS TRYING TO SELL THE MUSLIM VOTE BANK TO HIM. THE MUSLIM VOTERS WHO VOTED AGAINST MAHINDA AT THE 2015 PRESIDENTIAL and GENERAL ELECTIONS GOING AFTER THESE DECEPTIVE MUSLIM POLITICIANS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO SEE THE TRUE PICTURE OF MISGUIDANCE AND DECEPTION THAT WAS TRUST ON THEM THEN AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN MADE USE FOR THE SELFISH AND PERSONAL GAINS OF THESE LEADERS AND POLITICIANS. THE MAJORITY OF THEM WILL NEVER AGAIN VOTE THE UNP, OR AGAINST MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA, EXCEPT THE HARDCORE TRADITIONAL MUSLIM UNP SUPPORTERS. THE HARDCORE UNP MUSLIMS SHOULD NOW BEGIN TO POLITICALLY UNDERSTAND THE REALITY AND START CHANGING THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STATEMAN. Do not the Muslims remember what the TNA Leader R. Sambandhan said in parliament recently – Mahinda Rajapaksa is a “STATESMAN” who should be involved in solving the ethnic issues. Is this NOT a shroud and cunning political statement made by the Tamil Leader keeping room for supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa in any future elections, if the need/situation arises for the benefit of the Tamils? Then the Muslims/Muslim voters (pamaramakkal the pooraaligal and the saadaranamakkal) should also learn from this, to be prepared for the future, not be inclined to their political parties or their deceptive and hoodwinking leaders, Insha Allah.
Noor Nizam. Peace and Political Activist, Political communication Researcher, Former SLFP District Organizer, Trincomalee District and Convener – The Muslim Voice.
June 19th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
“Politicians never retire,”
Good news for Mother Lanka.
You should come back and protect her with all the blessings from the Universe!!
June 19th, 2016 at 5:50 pm
What a great deal of harrassment former President Mahinda Rajapakse & Family and Others who are with the right thinking People of Lanka, have put up with for the sake of the country.
This is the second war in MR’s life – putting up with the bs from Yahap & outsiders. Mahinda Rajapakse : Truly a great person and leader ! Live long and Prosper, dear former Pres Mahinda ! It would be Lanka’s good fortune if you do become the PM here.
Our good wishes are always with you and others who struggle for a lasting Peace, Prosperity & Integrity in Lanka.
June 19th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
Allow me to dispute one answer Mahinda gave. I agree with the rest.
[Quote] He attributes his defeat to resentment against him from Muslims (9.7 percent of the population, according to a 2012 census) and Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils (15.2 percent), and to the Sinhalese harboring unrealistic expectations who took what he delivered for granted. Asked if he had any regrets, Rajapaksa says he trusted people too much. [Unquote]
The first part is true. [Quote] He attributes his defeat to resentment against him from Muslims (9.7 percent of the population, according to a 2012 census) and Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils (15.2 percent). [Unquote] Mahinda should have stopped BBS from attacking mosques and Muslim shops which was totally uncalled for. These BBS instigators were not even imprisoned and they even invited a controversial Buddhist monk from Burma.
Overall, these South Indian immigrants never voted for Mahinda in large numbers. Even in 2010, Mahinda lost all Tamil and Muslim majority electorates. It was foolish to pin hope on these South Indians who are more concerned about South India and Saudi Arabia than Sri Lanka.
However, the next statement is not true and even appalling. I’m utterly disappointed with Mahinda for making such an incorrect statement. [Quote] and to the Sinhalese harboring unrealistic expectations who took what he delivered for granted. Asked if he had any regrets, Rajapaksa says he trusted people too much. [Unquote]
Sinhalese made all the sacrifices to win peace with only a handful of Tamils and Muslims supporting it. Therefore, it is absolutely fair for them to expect a lion’s share of economic benefits. As the saying goes, you don’t remove a honey comb only to taste the little honey that drops on your hand in the process. 26,000 Sinhala men and women sacrificed their lives not to allow Muslim and Tamil Chief Ministers to replace the Tamil LTTE leader and not to turn this country into a secular state.
According to Basil (economic affairs minister), over 85% of borrowed funds were allocated to the north-east since 2010 (at least until 2013 when he made that statement). Even Mahinda admits it.
[Quote] Regarding the scars of war in this traumatized nation, he says that he has promoted reconciliation by returning land to the Tamils and investing heavily in infrastructure and development projects in the northeast, helping them to begin restoring their lives after three decades of war.[Unquote]
How about Sinhalese? How about Muslims? Why weren’t they resettled?
From 2010 to 2014, Sri Lanka borrowed $35 billion from external sources. Very little was invested in Sinhala majority areas. Most was wasted in the north-east (95% Tamil and Muslim) and Colombo City (73% Tamil and Muslim). All nationally worthwhile development works started before 2010.
Had Mahinda spend development funds equitably (90% on areas outside the north and east) and resettled Sinhalese and Muslims (not just Tamils), he would have won not just in 2015 but also in 2021 as well.
In 2010, he won 68% of Sinhala votes but in 2015, it fell to 58%. Even in 2005, he won 61% of Sinhala votes. The only reasons for Mahinda’s defeat were the reduction in Sinhala votes percentage for him and fraudulent voting in the north and east by Tamils and Muslims.
Mahinda didn’t trust people after 2010. Instead, he trusted his daft advisors and astrologers far too much!
Sadly, Mahinda hasn’t learned the lesson, still. I’m afraid voters will not be very kind to him until and unless he realises it is the Sinhala people that make kings of this country. Divided Sinhalese can be sufficiently unified to win more than 50% overall very easily, if a leader takes up Sinhala interests without wasting time on minorities.
On the good side, Mahinda was never an authoritarian. He held elections when they were due – the main feature of a democracy. He became the leader of the group of largest number of democracies by population – the British Commonwealth. He allowed even the worst media groups (Channel 4) against the country into the country on their bogus fact finding mission. He never killed or imprisoned those who talked foul against him. In Japan those who talk foul of the Emperor (a democratic right) are imprisoned!
June 20th, 2016 at 5:19 am
I am a Sri Lankan Tamil from Jaffna. However I consider Mahinda Rajapakse as the best leader of Sri Lanka after independence. What he had achieved during his ten years in power, had not been achieved by any other leaders before him. The present leaders in power are a spineless creatures who happened to be pushed into power with the assistance of foreign hands. I agree that (most of) the Tamils and Muslims never happened to support the SLFP in general, and Mahinda Rajapakse in particular. Maithri Srisena, although said to belong to SLFP is indeed a UNP sponsored candidate, thus dividing the SLFP votes in some considerable numbers. Together with the majority of the minority votes and the divided SLFP vote banks plus with the UNP votes in total made it possible to defeat Mahinda Rajapakse.
My only prayer for the country of Sri Lanka is that Mahinda Rajapakse’s return to power in some form or other soon to save the country being mortgaged to the interest of foreign powers. May Lord Ganapathi bless him with good health and the strength(political and mental) to lead the country again.
June 20th, 2016 at 7:14 am
Mahinda liberated my homeland from Tamil butchers for me to live in peace against too many odds. He did a miracle by ending a 30 years of war with the help of war heroes and the true patriots to Mother lanka. He may have done mistakes but he did something to the country to remember for many years to come where no other leader has done. We need Organizations like Bodu bala sena to safeguard our race and religion. Tamils and Muslims are both same. They both trying to take as much as possible by hanging to every govt which is in power. They don’t love our country but to grab our land as much as possible with the help of their God fathers India and Middle East. If our Sinhala brothers and Sisters are united no need any help from these two ungreatful groups.
Mahinda is a great leader whom we always wish to have as our country’s leader. He had good guys as well as bad guys in his team of Ministers but overall he did an amazing job handling complicated issues and running the country in a peaceful way. If we have him back we can guarantee a prosperous, peaceful country again for sure.
June 20th, 2016 at 7:38 am
Dilrook,
Former CJ Sarath Silva openly stated that it was his intentionally wrong judgment in the ‘helping Hambantota’ funds misappropriation case that propelled MaRa to power.
The funds so misappropriated were more than 1 USD.
Mario Perera
kadawata
June 20th, 2016 at 1:11 pm
I wish more Tamil people were truthful like Vyasan.
Indeed, Mahinda Rajapaksa was the best thing that happened to ALL PEOPLE …. Sinhalet, Tamils, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Mulims and Christians ….. of Sri Lanka.
He freed us from terror, reunified our Motherland, bound and healed our wounds, and assured all of us of equal treatment before a single set of national laws impartially enforced, and ushered in a period of national development and economic prosperity never seen before in
Sri Lanka.
But he FAILED in one sense: To understand that the divisive minorities would never give up their demagogery and to usd the power of the state to COMPLETELY RID Sri Lanka of the VERY BASIS of their divisive communal aspirations. He hoped economic progress in a reunited country would defuse those feelings and allow him to do that … but the delay only allowed those enemy forces to grow and overwhelm him and his Government.
NOW he must PLEDGE to REPEAL the 13th Amendment, DISSOLVE the Provincial Councils, RESTROY a powerful EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT, RESTORE the Armed Forces to their bases nationwide as needed to protect the nation, REJECT the ETC and the gradual Indianizatio of our Motherland.
If he PLEDGES to do these things, a political party that he leads can rally the Sinhala Buddhists of Sri Lanka and REGAIN power through the ballot. He can be PM and Gota can be PRESIDENT and Sri Lanka will again be on the path to greatness under a Patriotic Visionary Government pledged to ONE INDIVISIBLE Nation, of ONE INSEPARABLE People, sharing ONE INDOMITABLE National Destiny!
June 20th, 2016 at 4:07 pm
We agree with Vyasan & Ananda.
However, it is the Minority Leaders who constantly mislead the Tamils & Muslims. People when left to their own choices, make better decisions. Take the Vadukoddai Resolution (1976) to achieve Eelam through use of Violence – it was the beast created by the Tamil Vellala Leaders, that led to INDIA training the LTTE, the war with the LTTE, and now virtual neo-Colonisation of Lanka with the UNP led Yahap, Ranil being more interested in resurrecting foreign economies than that of Lanka.
We think MR was right when he said some Sinahala people expected quick results re the Economy and were disappointed that his govt didn’t deliver more in their direction.
Re MR Govt. spending on Development : If MR spent more on the Southern areas, then he would have been accused of favoring the Sinhala people, even though more than half the Tamils are in the South with large numbers of Muslims as well !!
Either way, the critics are such, MR would have been faulted on spending on Development, and either way he could not win on that account !
June 20th, 2016 at 7:24 pm
I agree with Ananda on this.
[Quote] NOW he must PLEDGE to REPEAL the 13th Amendment, DISSOLVE the Provincial Councils, RESTROY a powerful EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT, RESTORE the Armed Forces to their bases nationwide as needed to protect the nation, REJECT the ETC and the gradual Indianizatio of our Motherland.
If he PLEDGES to do these things, a political party that he leads can rally the Sinhala Buddhists of Sri Lanka and REGAIN power through the ballot. He can be PM and Gota can be PRESIDENT and Sri Lanka will again be on the path to greatness under a Patriotic Visionary Government pledged to ONE INDIVISIBLE Nation, of ONE INSEPARABLE People, sharing ONE INDOMITABLE National Destiny! [Unquote]
However, what Ananda didn’t say is what if he (or his party) doesn’t pledge these things. In that case, no Rajapaksa can become PM or president. This must be understood very well.
It is impossible for any Rajapaksa to win Tamil or Muslim votes more than 20% – that is 5% of the national vote. UNP or UNP and allies will get 80% – that is 20% of the national vote. With a massive population growth rate of these minorities (due to massively high birth rates and illegal immigration) the minority clout will be higher at the next election than 2015.
Rajapaksas have to rely almost totally on the Sinhala vote. To unite more than 60% Sinhalese into one camp (the minimum needed to win a majority of votes), these demands are essential.
It is not the fault of Sinhalese not to unite under one banner. The problem is there is no such banner! How can they unite “under one banner” if there is no banner?
This is what blind Rajapaksa followers must get into their thick heads. I don’t think they have the capacity to understand.
June 20th, 2016 at 7:33 pm
Fran,
[Quote] If MR spent more on the Southern areas, then he would have been accused of favoring the Sinhala people, even though more than half the Tamils are in the South with large numbers of Muslims as well !! [Unquote]
So what? He is accused of many things including corruption, war crimes, stealing $18 billion and other absurd claims. It does not matter to a happy electorate. Only a neglected electorate ride on these things.
At the 2010 election he was accused of war crimes by his own army commander! It did not matter to the happy electorate. In 2005 he was accused of Hambantota Tsunami fraud. It did not matter to the electorate that valued his hardline stand against the CFA.
What matters is the vote. If Mahinda spent 90% of borrowed funds in Sinhala majority areas he would have added just one more accusation against him but would have won the vote and ruling this country now. Sensing the support in the south, Sirisena would never have dreamt of leaving Mahinda and Chandrika would never have returned. All this happened because these highly experienced politicians sensed the dissatisfaction in the Sinhala community. Tamils and Muslims can never be satisfied.
June 21st, 2016 at 12:57 am
Interesting comment, Mario Perera.
I wonder why it reminds me of a yarn I heard many years ago about a man who was filling in an application form and came to a two part question. Part (a) asked, ‘Have you ever been convicted of any offence?’ and part (b) asked, ‘If so, why?’. The man answered, ‘No’ to part (a) and to part (b) he answered, ‘Never got caught’ !
June 21st, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Dilrook,
Even if he won the last elections with the Southern Sinhala vote, he would have been ousted by the Powers that Be with their local reps. !
MR did not even contest the fact that the last set of Elections were cheated, perhaps knowing full well what was going on.
May be this whole matter will ‘resolve’ ONLY after the Big Power/s get what they really want from Lanka. My guess is that till then the Political Circus will go on.
June 21st, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Politically, presently it’s a Heads you lose, Tails I win, situation in Lanka,
June 21st, 2016 at 6:23 pm
Fran, if that is the case (I disagree though), tell him to retire from politics. If what you say is true, even his sons and brothers will face the same predicament. I don’t think he knows what you seem to know. I certainly don’t.
June 21st, 2016 at 6:40 pm
Mario, I don’t know if the allegation is true or not. But Hambantota is a 98% Sinhala district. If he misappropriated those monies, the victims are all Sinhalese.
Sarath Silva has shown he lacks objectivity. Subsequent chief justices (except Shirani Bandaranayake) are no better. In legal circles it is well known Shirani Bandaranayake to be an upright judge (whatever her other issues are). Her correct judgement costed her job. The government was trying to bypass 13A without abrogating it. Divi Neguma units (as envisaged in the bill) are invalid as it violates 13A. It is not the judge’s fault.
June 22nd, 2016 at 3:14 am
Dear Readers,
The situation will probably “normalise” only after the PtB get what they want ! Watch the Circus unfold ….. not much else anyone can ‘do’ at this point in time, except throw out the truth from time to time.
Truth & Justice have gone on ‘leave’ and Fear & Intimidation have sat on the Throne. “Pulling Wool over Public Eyes” through “Manipulated Media & a bought Parliament” are the handmaidens in attendance of Fear & Intimidation.