Gotabhaya very ‘unpopular’, outgoing US Amb tells MR Inquires about recent visit to Beijing…
Posted on June 12th, 2018
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
June 13, 2018, 12:05 pm
Outgoing US Ambassador Atul Keshap has told former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that his brother, Gotabhaya was very unpopular.
Indian American Keshap has based his assessment on information received by him, a spokesperson for the former President’s Office told The Island yesterday.Career diplomat Keshap succeeded Michele J. Sison in March 2015. He took over the mission in late August 2015.
Keshap paid a courtesy call on former President Rajapaksa at the latter’s Wijerama Mawatha residence on Sunday evening.
Keshap has also inquired about Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s recent visit to China ahead of Viyathmaga 2018 annual convention on May 13 at the Shangri-la, Colombo.
The spokesperson said that Keshap had also referred to the then Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Indian American Nisha Biswal meeting with the then Defence Secretary Rajapaksa in early Feb. 2014. Keshap alleged that Rajapaksa hadn’t treated Biswal courteously.
Ambassador Keshap spearheaded high profile US project to adopt Geneva Resolution backed by Colombo to pave the way for foreigners including Commonwealth judges on a judicial mechanism to address accountability issues.
Following the meeting with Biswal before she left for Jaffna, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told The Island that the official hadn’t been properly briefed by the US Embassy in Colombo.
Fielding a query by The Island, the spokesperson for the ex-President categorically denied that the outgoing US Ambassador had warned the former President Rajapaksa against fielding Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Joint Opposition) presidential candidate. He said the question of Gotabhaya’s candidature had not figured in talks.
Chairman of SLPP and former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on Monday told The Island that former President Rajapaksa would announce their presidential candidate at the most opportune moment.
Meanwhile, UPFA MP Udaya Gammanpila told the media on Monday (June 11) that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa could renounce his US citizenship anytime.
Addressing the media at his Pita Kotte office, Gammanpila explained the simple procedure in giving up the US nationality as and when one wanted to do so.
US embassy on Keshap’s meeting with MR
A spokesperson for the US embassy said: The Ambassador meets routinely with political leaders, civil society and community leaders. The official said so when The Island sought clarification as regards Tamil media claims that outgoing US Ambassador Atul Keshap had warned former President Rajapaksa against fielding Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as presidential candidate. The Island asked the embassy whether this particular issue was taken up with the former President?
June 12th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
Another Indian American scum giving his two cents worth. America is sending these Indians here to please India and do the dirty work for the Indians. Whether they are American citizens or not, Indians will be always Indians. Their loyalty is to India. Just look at the Indian origin Sri Lankans. They are hell bent on destroying the country that fed them, educate them and gave them a better life. About Gota, this scumbag is scared as he knows Gota will not give a shit about those ‘so called’ diplomats who are enemies of Sri Lanka, and look after only the interest of country, it’s citizens and the brave patriotic forces. Keshap has stupidly endorse Gota as of next president like Ava Mangala did.
June 12th, 2018 at 5:41 pm
All the more reason why Gotabaya (in the absence of a fresh clan) should be the next president (if EP remains unfortunately). Sri Lanka must not accept this type of emisaries again.
June 12th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
The UNPOPULARITY of Gothabhaya with the US Ambassador just QUALIFIES him EVEN MORE to be ELECTED as the NEXT EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT of our Resplendent Motherland!
Emba Sinhalayeni! RISE as ONE to ELECT Gothabhaya Rajapaksa as the NEXT EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT of Sri Lanka!
We the PEOPLE of Sri Lanka are the ONES who should ELECT a President to SAFEGUARD our Motherland; not the AGENTS of the Neo-Colonialist Powers of the Western World plying their Machiavellian Agenda to SUPPRESS the Developing World and PERPETUATE their World Hegemony!
June 12th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
Another Indian colonial parasite!! That Nisha woman thought this country was ruled by them and they can do and say whatever they wont. It was good what Gota did in ignoring that scum bug.
All these drama makes Gota more qualified for the job. Enemies of Mother Lanka are already worrying and trying to stop Gota coming to the driving seat.
providing opportunities to bring up the life hood of this Island nation by placing Gota in the driving seat for the next 10 years is the destiny of Mother Lanka. No one can change it…
June 13th, 2018 at 2:17 am
To hell with Athul Keshap and Nish Biswal all Indian Parasites from the USA.
Time USA kicked out all these Indian Parasites back to India.
June 13th, 2018 at 5:54 am
Who the F**** is this Indian/US parasite to lecture us who we can or cannot elect as our President…???
This is the results of Yahapalanaya idiots licking the ass of US Ambassador for the last three years. These transplanted US Indians work as slaves of US, and they send these morons to South East Asian countries as US envoys to exploit the countries in the region.
Sri Lanka should completely reject these US/Western interferences, especially when it comes to choosing our future leaders. They have NO business telling us how we should run our own affairs.
If they don’t like it they can go to hell…
June 13th, 2018 at 8:02 am
Gota is undisputed and by popular demand is our one and only candidate for 2020 presidency.
Who the hell Aathal Ketchup to comment or criticize on Gota and our affairs in Sinhale?
This Obama remnant is a Federal agent, belongs to creators of I.S. group who played key role in regime change in our country the Sinhale should not be cared at all.
Get lost from my Motherland, you look after your own problems in that stinky shit USA where millions live homeless, food less, jobless, poverty, lack of education and many shortfalls.
Be Aathal Ketchup in yankee land !