If you are a true Sri Lankan, Then, it should chill your spine.
Posted on February 9th, 2010
John Kerry is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (US) This is A part analysis of John Kerry Report on Sri Lanka
Stunned by the unexpected annihilation of the terrorists in Sri Lanka and fearing consequently a grave threat to US security interests in the region, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (SCFR) hastily scrambled two of its staff members to visit the island nation in the first week of November 2009 with a mandate to evaluate the fall out of the terrorist debacle on US policy in the island and geopolitical, in the region; the two member team were required to made recommendations immediately to stem the alarming deterioration of US leverage on the island.
Arriving in the island at a time when security sensitivity remained high, the evaluating team travelled the country during their weeklong stay with the approval and support of the Sri Lanka Government.
In reciprocation of this courtesy it is to be expected that the report would be couched in veiled parlance. On reading the report one cannot but be taken aback that, coincidentally, LTTE fortunes have a direct correlation to US policy on the island and to US geo-strategic interests in the region.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Foreign policy objectives
On December 7, 2009 John Kerry, the Chairman of the SCFR, circulating the two member report among the rest of the committee members, makes comment by stressing the strategic importance of Sri Lanka to the US particularly, as the report emphasizes, the geopolitical location of the island; he goes on to add the need to maintain a strategic alliance with the island and the need to re-evaluate US foreign policy in the wake of the military defeat of the LTTE.
It would appear that the US, placing reliance on a fundamentally flawed assumption of the military invincibility of the terrorists, laid all their strategic chips on the LTTE, sadly ignoring other foreign policy tools that were at their disposal. As the report states, Rajapaksa did the unthinkable and the unexpected; his achievement was one of the few instances in modern history in which a terrorist group had been militarily defeated.
When finally Washington realized the vulnerability of the terrorists, in the face of the rolling Government juggernaut, and the fragility and folly of their chosen ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”single agendaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ policy option, desperate attempts were made, finally at the level of the White House, to rescue and salvage US interests by endeavours that included attempts at coercing Sri Lanka to negotiate a truce with the terrorists.
Much of the chagrin with Rajapaksa flows from his recalcitrance to comply. US foreign policy collapsed in the waters of the Nanthikadal lagoon.
Washington admittedly cannot be too happy with Blake who is seen as the chief proponent of the failed policy which has created a temporary power void for the US in the immediate region.
The report is extremely critical of his single agenda policy which has resulted in shortchanging US strategic interests in the region. Wearing his new hat, Blake, it is to be anticipated, would have his time cutout, repairing the damage to US interests in the region, perceived as his responsibility, and further, initiating action to vindicate his previous miscalculations.
Team mission
It was in this backdrop that the special team from Washington was dispatched to Colombo. Their mission: To make recommendations to prevent further erosion of US security interests in the island and increase US leverage in Sri Lanka for securing longer term US strategic interests, expanding the number of tools available at WashingtonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s disposal.
Serious dichotomy of views
The urgency of the mission also suggests a serious dichotomy of views in Washington. On one side of the coin Blake, described in certain circles, in oxymoronic terms as the smiling ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Ugly AmericanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, pursuing the failed hard-line policy of all stick while on the flip side, a breath of fresh air from the new Obama administration, wishing to engage in more-carrot-and-less-stick policy.
The visiting team did a quick situational analysis, weighing the ground situation, the strategic importance of the island, the weaknesses and consequences of US policy hitherto pursued, the strengths and vulnerabilities of Sri Lanka State, the US strengths in the island and the tactical options at the disposal of Washington.
The report describes Sri Lanka as being located geographically at the nexus of the maritime trading routes connecting Europe and the Middle East to China and the rest of Asia.
All of ChinaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s and JapanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s energy resources from the Persian Gulf, as the report identifies, transits Sri Lanka and the island has the potential to control or impede the free flow these resources to China, an emerging global power, or to Japan, a strategic partner of the US.
Free flow of trade
Furthermore, half of the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s container traffic passes through Sri Lanka and the island has again, as indicated before, the potential to control or impede the free flow of trade in the Indian Ocean.
The island lends itself naturally to be an effective choke point, the control of which provides a strong bargaining platform in global rivalries; shades of Somalia where sea terrorists, often referred to as pirates, directed by some unidentified power, impede shipping in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean.
In fact the report makes reference to some acts of piracy off one of the myriads of islands that lie to the West of Sri Lanka.
New great game
The US, as the report explains, has a competing interest with India and China in securing this maritime route; Sri Lanka says the report, is a key piece in a larger geopolitical dynamic, commonly described as the new Great Game.
Potential to destabilize India
The Washington report also identifies the potential of Sri Lanka to destabilize India; it states that the communal tensions in Sri Lanka Sinhala-Tamil or Hindu-Muslim, have the ability to undermine stability in India, particularly Tamil Nadu, home to sixty million Hindu Tamils.
Two thirds of coastline
Unfortunately for the US, the structure of their foreign policy in this region, based on the invincibility of the terrorists, crumbled dramatically when Rajapaksa annihilated the terrorists.
If the LTTE had succeeded, the US would have gained control of two thirds of Sri Lanka coastline, enabling them to secure Persian Gulf energy resources to Japan, interfere if and when the need arose, with the flow of these same resources to China, selectively interfere with free trade in the Indian Ocean and undermine stability in India by provoking Tamil and Hindu sentiments in Tamil Nadu.
The Sea Tigers, the naval arm of the defeated terrorists, which had alarmingly become a very potent force, had the hallmarks of a nascent ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”pirateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ organisation.
To make matters worse not only did Rajapaksa destroy the cornerstone of US policy in the region but he was, as the report identified, responsible for the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s drift towards China (and the non Western world), considered one of the biggest challengers to US hegemony of the world.
All this threatens US National Security interests and Rajapaksa is considered a threat to US National Security.
US policy, the report states, has to be re-charted. A regime change is considered imperative; Rajapaksa must go.
The problem however is that Rajapaksa is popular across the length and breadth of the country and his GovernmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s annihilation of the terrorists has made his popularity soar. As the report identifies, there is no political leader in the country to match his popularity. Wickremesinghe, in the report, has been identified as a very close ally of the US who has consistently urged the US to take Sri Lanka to the war crimes tribunal.
As the report admits, Wickremesinghe lacks the charisma to battle Rajapaksa nation-wide. Fonseka is identified as the only individual who perhaps could challenge RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s popularity nationally, having been the Commander of the troops that defeated the terrorists.
Engagement of Fonseka by the US
Blake engaged Fonseka at the height of the war. He persuaded Fonseka to apply for Permanent Residency in the US which would lighten FonsekaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s financial burden of educating his children. Fortune smiled on Fonseka when out of a 6.4 million applicants, Fonseka was one of the chosen few of a mere 50,000 to be accorded permanent residency in the US.
It is not clear what prompted Fonseka, just prior to setting off to the US in September 2008, tell Bryson Hull of Reuters ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Tigers will go underground rather than fight to the last man.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ This was contrary to the thinking of the troops on ground, battling the terrorists and the Rajapaksas who were determined and confident of defeating the terrorists totally.
Was Fonseka coerced to say this or was Fonseka out of step with what was happening on the battlefield? In November 2008, when the Army was bogged down in a do or die battle for Killinochchi and Muhamalai, and the future of the war in FonsekaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s mind, was not clear, the Commander of the battling troops left his Motherland and his troops, dying in their hundreds at the time, to tour Washington on his being accorded permanent residency of another country.
This created adverse morale repercussions within the Army; fortunately for Sri Lanka, Fonseka was far removed from the battlefield. Was the timing of the visit sheer ignorance or was he already being influenced by Washington? Fonseka is perhaps the only permanent resident of the US, with perhaps the exception of PakistanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Musharaff, to be accorded such a reception in Washington.
Fonseka returned to the country after over month. Immediately on his return, in December 2008, he made that now infamous speech, quite inappropriate, unexpected and uncalled for, about corrupt politicians, political jokers and LTTE links in Tamil Nadu, which embarrassed the Rajapaksa Government no end and nearly provoked Delhi, who had resisted US pressure to intervene in the Sri Lanka offensive, to reconsider their decision.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Was Fonseka naive or did he make that calculated statement at the behest of his adopted country? Is he a captive of his own doing or is he a loose cannon? This statement provoked a sharp retort from Neduraman who warned the Government of Sri Lanka that the actions of Fonseka suggest that the nation may witness Army rule in the near future which would be disastrous for Sri Lanka-India relations.
Creation of the rift
Rumour Street had it, from about early 2009, that Blake had urged Fonseka, notorious for an inflated ego, to increase the strength of the Army. Fonseka complied by pressing the Government, in the aftermath of the war, to increase the strength of the Army to 300,000 (It is presumed that this is his opinion even at present).
Rumour Street also had it that the same sources leaked it to the Government that they had intelligence that Fonseka was planning a military coup.
The rift was created and the first step for a regime change had begun. In the meantime whispers to both sides, from the different mouths of the same source, continued and the rift widened.
Reportedly, it was conveyed to the Government that Fonseka, still in uniform, was harbouring Presidential ambitions and to Fonseka that he could easily be the top honcho, barring his safety; it was suggested to him that if he made an implicative confession, to his country of adoption, regarding the conduct of the war, that would serve as his life insurance; this, he was apparently assured, would be released only if some harm were to befall him.
A highly controversial trip to the US was arranged in November 2009 with Blake choreographing the moves.
The much publicized statement of Fonseka to a newspaper recently, is reportedly a transcript of a recording that was made in the US which found its way into the island in the pouch of a roving envoy, this, reportedly again, was played to a journalist who had the privilege of listening to it but not permitted to take a copy.
Through a grapevine it was leaked that the journalist does not have a copy of the recording.
One conceivable danger is that if a stone is thrown by the adopted country at Fonseka at any time, it would be construed that Rajapaksa was responsible for the stone giving justification for the incriminating statement to be publicized and Rajapaksa running against a wave of public emotion; a classic case of three birds with one stone.
US moves in the Sri Lankan election
US manoeuvres in the Sri Lankan election is to effect a change in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s geopolitical position. This calls for a regime change and the ouster of Rajapaksa.
To this end they have instructed the non charismatic politicians to keep out of the fray; they have successfully divided a country which eight months ago was united; they have been able to weaken the Rajapaksa team by corrupting one of the team with a permanent residency; they have been successful in fielding against Rajapaksa, Fonseka, a candidate who has a trifle more appeal than the old political war horses of the Opposition.
The battle is how to present a coarse, humourless General as an erudite individual of some refinement and polish and to dent RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s unbelievable popularity in the country.
To this end, as carried by the Asian Tribune, a massive USD 140 Million has been pumped into the country through conduits that include NGOs which the Kerry report has identified as being friendly to US interests.
US expectations from Fonseka
Mavil Aru in Sampur was the beginning of the end for the terrorists. There has been much bafflement at reports that the previous status quo in Sampur, located on the Southern rim of the Trincomalee harbour and considered ground vital for the control of the harbour, is being restored.
There are indications that the essence of the Wickremesinghe CFA agreement of 2002, which concede control of the North and the East and nearly two thirds of the coastline of the island to the terrorists, is being reintroduced; the CFA enabled the terrorists to build up their illegal state infrastructure which resulted in thousands of soldiers having to lay down their lives simply to dismantle it.
Also there are indications that KumaratungeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s infamous and ill fated Post Tsunami Operations Management (PTOM) of 2005 which gave equal status to the terrorists and the government of Sri Lanka in the management of Tsunami related funds, and created that insidious mechanism-referred to as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Co-ChairsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ (EU, Norway, US, and Japan) which eroded our sovereignty and legalized these countries to interfere at will with the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, is being surreptitiously brought back.
On the last occasion the JVP with Rajapaksa fought against it and had it thrown out at the Supreme Court.
This time however the JVP, heavily dependent on Japan for their funds, appear to be consenting partners.
Rumour Street has it that the US has instructed Fonseka to deny the Indians the Uranium rich soil stretching along the coastline of Mullaitivu and to give access to the US to mine this monazite for a pittance.
The news on the grapevine is also that Fonseka on the dictates of the US has agreed to allow the Norwegians access to the recently staked area, abounding with mineral resources, on the sloping continental shelf off the coast of Sri Lanka.
Considering the strong link between Blake and the Diaspora, it is not surprising that the political arm of the terrorists is supporting Fonseka who time and time again has insisted that Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhalese and who insisted that the Tamil persons in the IDP Welfare Centres should be detained indefinitely as there were 20,000 terrorists hiding among 280,000 civilians.
Executive Presidency
The Kerry report has identified the Executive Presidency as one of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s strengths which enabled it to overcome the terrorists and which Rajapaksa refuses to dismantle. At the moment the three eggs of Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are in three baskets. The dropping of one basket will not crack the other two eggs. To weaken the Sri Lanka State that it may never in the future do the unthinkable of defeating an invincible terrorist group, the US through the NGOs are attempting to put the two eggs of Executive and Legislature in one basket so that when the legislative egg breaks, the executive egg will automatically break.
The battle lines are drawn for January 26 the battle is not between Rajapaksa and Fonseka but between Sri Lanka and the US. On May 18, 2009 Sri Lanka won an historic proxy war on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon defeating the scourge of terrorism and the threat of neo colonialism. On the 26th, the battle is even more crucial; Sri Lankans have to defeat the neo colonialist if they are to protect their victory at Nanthikadal.
The sovereignty of Sri Lanka is being challenged and is at stake; the battle is even more difficult than on May 18, with the US throwing in 140 Million US dollars, buying up one of the key players of May 18 and having the historical comprador class doing, as usual, their dirty work.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Spine chilling story, but as for now most of this drama has been played out, it appears the writer has analysed past events perfectly. One can not blame Sri Lankans for not seening through these plans because they had been so well laid.
Sri Lanka must learn from the past events. Firstly, Mr. Rajapaksa’s madate ends on 20th November 2016. During his Presidency, his life will always be in danger. It is his duty to make sure a strong leader takes over in the event of his death, god forbid, if that terrible event befalls Sri Lanka.
Secondly, Sri Lankans must never forget who their true friends are. In the moment of need, UK and USA were hell bent on saving the worlds most vicious terrorist group. The countries which helped Sri Lanka were China, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam,Middle Eastern nations, Napal, Burma, Russia, Bangaladesh, partly India and number of other asian nations. They are the true friends.
Finally, now that Rajapaksa’s Royal Flush has beated all Prabakaran and Fonseka cards, USA and UK will be trying to destabilise Sri Lanka, this by challenging the election results by planting stories in media and diplomatic circles. Every moment these baseless charges surface, Sri Lankans must redicule them, and expose these rascals to the world.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
By Mahinda Weerasinghe
This tale is true of the last part of the unfolding drama. But USA stepped into the debacle plodded by other more wily actors at the latter part of the game. Just as in South Vietnam after March 1954 when the Catholic power France, lost the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in north western Vietnam; Catholic Church manipulated President Kennedy (A Catholic) through Cardinal Spellman to intervene in South Vietnam. Thus 15% Catholic were controlling South Vietnam and consequently all its Presidents were Catholic with a single exception. The fall of South Vietnam is now history, but its real history; how USA was manipulated and blundered into Vietnam was never really explained to the public.
But the Tamil Catholic Church through its proxy ‘money bags’ the Norwegian Foreign office prepared the turf thus creating the ideal situation in Sri Lanka. Note; the Norwegian common man is unaware what’s Norwegian foreign policy is! And again was USA manipulated to blunder into Sri Lanka?
The idea was; though terrorism keeps Sri Lanka destabilised and poverty ridden, thus hindering also India’s economic progress. Periphery of the countries surrounding India i.e. Pakistan, Nepal, Burma and obviously Sri Lanka are kept destabilised as being part of the larger plan. Then on May 18, 2009 Sri Lanka won an historic proxy war on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon defeating the scourge of terrorism and the threat of neo colonialism. This turned everything upside down.
As soon as that Quisling Ranil Wicramsinghe and his Catholic Cabinet is taken out of the equation, Sri Lankan should take rapid steps at growth. People of Lanka must remember the biggest adversary which hinders their progress is; not Jaffna Tamil racism, but the Catholic Church’s holy war against Buddhists and Hindus.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Following is an article I wrote in 2004 just before the parliamentary election of 2004. These words are very much relevant today too, although many good things have happened in the intervening time since the election of President Rajapakse. The forces that were in operation in 2004 are still in operation. It is for the politicians and the Sri Lankan electorate to understand these forces and act accordingly.
It is interesting to see how our weaknesses are manipulated by these very same forces. This is a clear case of Uurage Malu Uuraage Anga Pitama Kepeemak! Ranil W and his brand of traitors have destroyed the General whom they despised and thought not good enough to lead the Salvation Army . This is why Ranil W has a spring in his stride and a Mona Lisa smile on his face the last few days.
In the coming days Sri Lanka should be mindful of the designs of
a) the Western Christian Nations
b) the Hydra headed Christian Church
c) the Indian Establishment and her interests in the region
Sinhala Buddhist Vote – Road to Independence from Christian Domination
Ratanapala
Lankaweb, February 18, 2004
________________________________________
CBK has dissolved the parliament and the parliamentary elections are due on 2 April 2004. The country will go on to elect lawmakers to the 225 seat House of Representatives or the Parliament. It is important that those who get elected truly represent the electorate.
It is obvious that the untimely passing away of Soma Hamuduruwo in December last year has much to do with the present political situation in the country. Over a million devotees of Soma Hamuduruwo who came to attend his funeral on their own volition no doubt showed the moribund political leaders of Sri Lanka that there is a silent majority who are not happy with the established Christian political leadership and their anti Sinhala Buddhist set up in the country. This show of force is quite in contrast to the commandeered lorry loads that came to bring Ranil W from the airport recently (on his return from seeing Uncle Sam) or for that matter all other organized political events of our country.
Subsequent to the Thero’s funeral the Sri Lankan establishment went into a frenzy of alignments and realignments and in the process the President who has continued to fail the nation saw a ray of hope to continue in power by aligning with the JVP. The JVP were quick to come to cohabitation with the PA and the expressions of Buddhist sentiments by the JVP leader are an expression of their own concern for the situation on the ground.
The Sri Lankan electorate is comprised of a constituency of nearly 70% Sinhala Buddhists. This constituency has come to realize that over the years they have been duped and taken for granted by the entrenched Christian political establishment of the SLFP, UNP and their affiliates. As mentioned before the situation in the country is reminiscent of the Din Diem era in Vietnam in the 1960s. If we are not careful all the hopes and aspirations of the Sinhalese Buddhists will finally end up with the communists in a turn of events similar to that of South Vietnam. Initially it was the Vietnamese Buddhists who rebelled against the Din Diems. Due to their disunity and the treachery of the Vietnamese Christians and Uncle Sam, the spoils of the war finally ended up with the Communists! This is of course unless the Marxists in the JVP realize that they have to change with times and accept a more realistic philosophy closer to home and to our own realities, in the context of a modern world.
In the aftermath of the Sept 11th, Ranil W’s administration instead of exposing the LTTE Terrorists to the world for what they are, went on to layout his Ealamist agenda and give a breather for the then depleted forces of the LTTE. Today in his own admission the LTTE has quadrupled their forces and arms. It is reported that 12 ship loads of armaments were allowed into the hands of the LTTE – a traitorous act. Ranil W went to reward them with communication and mass media equipment in collaboration with the Tiger sponsors the Norwegians. The last two years of the Ranil W’s administration brought a ceasefire between the LTTE and the GOSL armed forces. It is important to note this is only a ceasefire and not genuine peace. It is also a ceasefire during which the enemy strengthened while the GOSL Armed Forces did nothing – these were called “Confidence building measures” by the GOSL Chief Negotiator – the double turncoat G L Peiris.
In the coming election the Sinhala Buddhist Electorate must have the following foremost in their minds.
– That CBK’s and Ranil W’s agenda for Sri Lanka are both agents of the Christian Church. They are both Christians masquerading as Buddhists.
– That CBK while being the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, carried out programs such as Sudu Nelum to undermine the will and determination of the armed forces. She also conducted along with her uncle several failed military adventures resulting in the death of thousands of our heroic youth. She said the war is un-winnable and made it un-winnable. She has failed twice – once during her own administration and second in the cohabitation administration with Ranil W. Now she is asking for an absolute mandate. This time around the terms must be clear so that everybody understand what the people’s mandate is. It should not be hijacked by CBK or her playmate Ranil W to further their personal agendas or as often turns out the agenda of the Christian Church.
– Let us not forget how CBK brought the LTTE agent Wasantha Raja to head the Rupavahini establishment. Even today her mouth piece is a former Evangelical pastor. These are too important posts to be in the hands of anti Sinhala and anti Buddhist elements. The damage they have inflicted and can inflict is immense.
– Ranil W’s went on to form a majority Christian government.
In the process of finding a true leaders we must first embark on a mission of eliminating from our midst the already known failed leaders. Chandrika and Ranil W fall into this category. Their day as political leaders of Sri Lanka should be numbered. Then there are others who are simply not capable. Anura B falls into this category. In this fashion we must take one by one those who seek leadership and eliminate the chaff so that the finally on the stage we have only those who can by their astuteness, be entrusted the mantle of leadership. If we don’t resort to this process we will continue to end up with failed politicians as our leaders. We will also end up with a corrupt and self defeating crony administration. Overall it is better to open this debate as wide as possible to get the message across to the widest possible audience in order to off load early the unnecessary baggage of the failed, the undesirable and the corrupt. Sri Lanka is today the laughing stock of the world due the inept leadership we have had since Independence. We have wasted Billions of Rupees and the lives of thousands of our youth to keep these imposters to leadership in power!
It is important that those who aspire to leadership realize that they cannot at any stage be larger than the organization that they represent. This happened to the Sinhala Urumaya at the last elections. It must not happen again. It is incumbent upon the Sinhala Buddhist voters to see that their hopes and aspirations are not hijacked by selfish individuals who are bent on self aggrandizement and to find among them leaders who can be made answerable to them.
The country has come a long way from colonial domination and it is time that we got rid of the entrenched oligarchies. In fact it is a slur to an educated and intelligent Sri Lankan nation that we continue to look up to a few families who became rich peddling liquor, livestock and ‘ladies’ during the colonial era to provide leaders. We as a nation are endowed with a multitude of educated and experienced men and women in Sri Lanka and scattered throughout the globe who are ready take on the future leadership. Just as India managed to escape the mantle of the Ghandis, Sri Lanka should escape from looking up to Bandaranaikes , Wickramasinghes and others of their sick breed.
In the first place at the elections the Sinhala Buddhists must refrain from voting in any Christian nominees for the parliament and even worse those who are married to Christians. Sinhala Buddhist votes must not be wasted on Christian nominees for whatever reason. We must let the electorate know who are the Christians and especially those who are married to Christians. Very often their camouflage is so good that the electorate thinks that they are Buddhists. I wonder how many knew that Vijaya Kumaranatunge was a Catholic. Many still believe that Ranil and CBK are Buddhists too.
What we are talking about here is not a slur on the Christian electorate in Sri Lanka. We know they represent a 6% of the Sri Lankan electorate and we have no objection if they get the same degree of representation in the House of Representatives – the Parliament.
The lessons we have learnt by voting into power the likes of John Amaratunge, Jayalath Jayewardhana, Ravi Karunanayke, Thilak Marapane (married to a Christian), Tyronne Fernando and Milinda Moragoda are quite obvious now. They have let down their own Buddhist voters by not only openly working against their interests but vilifying Buddhists as chauvinist and racists at every opportunity. It is time we have learnt this important lesson. Milinda Moragoda even boasted of carrying out a super clean electoral campaign, only to steal the election with naïve Buddhist votes and launch his Christian – Ealamist agenda.
It is important that the Buddhist electorate spell out in no uncertain terms what this election is about and what it is not about. For otherwise the winner of this election, as has happened many times previously will go out saying that he or she has got a mandate to set in motion the agendas of their puppet masters – the Christian Church. CBK is already asking for a clear mandate. It is up to the Buddhist Constituency to spell that mandate and in black and white. If we fail in this measure she may yet go around the world proclaiming that she has got a mandate to devolve power to the Ealamists based on her unsuccessful “Devolution Proposals” of the yesteryear. Therefore there must be preconditions attached to any support given to UPFA. This election is also about getting an administration where the Sinhala Buddhist can hold the reins of power. In order to do this it will be necessary to see that key ministries are handled by Buddhists who understand the needs of the electorate.
The key ministries such as the Defense, the Interior, the Ethnic Affairs and Rehabilitation, the Foreign, the Mass Media, among others should be in the hands of genuine Buddhists. The same should go out for important foreign missions. The lessons we have learnt from voting into power the present and previous incumbents to these offices in the short periods they held office should be sufficient to prove beyond any doubt the damage they have and can inflict on the nation.
We must work towards gaining control of the Lake House enterprise and the Rupavahini establishment. These are government owned undertakings and their outlook must reflect while not neglecting others, the hopes and aspirations of the majority Sinhala Buddhists. There are enough and more privately owned media enterprises to represent the Christian agenda for Sri Lanka.
The role required from the members of the Armed Forces and Police are of paramount importance. Of all people it is they who have made the supreme sacrifices for our motherland. Their voices from all ranks need to be heard on the political platforms in matters to do with how the war was conducted to date and how we should get ready to meet the LTTE/ Ranil W guns in the future. Our heroic field commanders should not keep silent on matters of national importance. They definitely have a political role to play and there is a necessity to give a political expression to that need to counter the terrorist leadership and militarist agenda of the Ealamists. So far civilian leaders who tried to lead military campaigns have failed and failed miserably. I would say they succeeded most effectively to follow the Christian Church agenda in furthering the Ealamist objectives. We should leave matters on the battle field to the field commanders. This is how the Allies defeated the Nazis.
As long as Sri Lanka’s majority Sinhala Buddhists are deprived of their just representation, to reflect their hopes and aspirations at the highest level of government, there will not be any permanent solutions to the woes of our country; there will not be any democracy nor any human rights worth talking about. If one were to judge the sentiment of the Sinhala Buddhists who came to pay silent homage to Ven Soma Hamuduruwo, it should be quite obvious that the following issues, among others will be foremost in their minds on 2 April 2004.
**Buddhist led government
**Protection for Buddhism and Hinduism, the non predatory religions of Sri Lanka and prevention of unethical conversions
**Protection of the Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity and the Unitary Status of Sri Lanka
**De-merging of the Northern and Eastern provinces
**The role of mediators and foreign funded NGOs. The affairs of a Buddhist nation should not be in the hands of the Ex-Nazi racist Lutheran Vikings and their running dogs the foreign funded NGOs. Let us find a suitable mediator from Asia.
**Media control, representation, coverage and content should not be instrumental in denigrating the Sinhala Buddhist majority.
**Protection for ancient places of historical significance.
It is our hope that the Sinhala Buddhists will initiate meaningful actions in the coming weeks and days to rid the nation of all the vestiges of Christian domination and their Ealamist agenda to balkanize Sri Lanka now and India later. This is why the Buddhist vote in Sri Lanka on April 2 should decide the way forward for Sri Lanka and for the region. If the Sinhala Buddhists vote on April 2, 2004 wisely, to bring real democracy and independence from neo colonial Christian domination and to protect our land and heritage from the Ealamists then for years to come we will be able to call it our finest day since Independence. Most of all Soma Hamuduruwo’s efforts in educating the nation wouldn’t have been in vain!