Navy report submitted to President – Defence secy EP CM abusing uniformed officer
Posted on May 25th, 2016
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi has sought advice from President Maithripala Sirisena in respect of Eastern Province Chief Minister Z. A. Nazeer, who had been accused of humiliating Captain I.R. Premaratne, the senior officer-in-charge of Sampoor base ‘Vidura’ in public on May 20 at the opening of a science lab and computer unit at Sampoor Maha Vidyalaya.
Nazeer represents the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), a constituent of the UNP-led ruling coalition.
Defence Secretary Hettiarachchi yesterday told The Island that, having studied a report that dealt with the incident from Navy Headquarters, he had submitted it to President Maithripala Sirisena. Asked whether he had received a complaint from Navy Headquarters, Defence Secretary Hettiarachchi said that he had accepted a report, which was immediately forwarded to President Maithripala Sirisena.
Governor of the Eastern Province Austin Fernando, who was the Chief Guest at the Sampoor event, declined to comment on the incident. Chief Minister Nazeer also rebuked Fernando for not being aware of protocol regarding guests to be invited to the stage.
Captain Premaratne is the senior officer in charge of Trincomalee South.
A high ranking Navy official told The Island that Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne had submitted the report yesterday. Earlier, Navy headquarters interviewed Captain Premaratne.
SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem told The Island that he had received a call from Defence Secretary Hettiarachchi on the issue. Minister Hakeem said: “I also inquired from CM Nazeer and he is sincerely sorry about the incident.”
Minister Hakeem said that CM Nazeer regretted the use of harsh words on a navy officer. Responding to a query, the SLMC leader alleged that some interested parties had been trying to exploit the incident to cause a rift between the SLMC and the security forces. Minister Hakeem said that the issue could be sorted out soon.
CM Nazeer lashed out at Captain Premaratne, alleging that he was denied due recognition at the event. CM Nazeer also pounced on Governor Fernando, when the latter tried to calm him, An irate CM declared that he respected the US Ambassador Atul Keshap, who had been on stage next to the Governor much more than those present there.
Trincomalee-based sources told The Island that CM Nazeer had been furious as he hadn’t been invited onto the stage along with Governor Fernando and US Ambassador Keshap. In fact, Governor Fernando had invited CM Nazeer after seeing that he was inadvertently left out by the compere, sources said.
Sources said that Ambassador Keshap had been embarrassed as CM Nazeer rebuked Captain Premaratne and Governor. Ambassador Keshap had been there on the invitation of Governor Fernando.
May 25th, 2016 at 10:26 pm
We need a Sinhala version of Prabhakaran to take on the Sinhala Traitors first!
May 26th, 2016 at 10:58 am
Nazeer has let the cat out of the bag, when he said that he respected the US Ambassador, more then anyone else on the stage. Isn’t he clearly trying to impress the US Ambassador, for whatever reason he has in mind?
May 27th, 2016 at 4:00 am
When treacherous Sirisena, Ranil, CBK and Mangala have betrayed our armed forces by accepting the US resolution and condemned our armed forces as having committed war crimes which actually they never ever committed, what do you expect from those who are subordinate to them? There is no evidence that our armed forces ever even broke any international laws during the last stages of the war. The defence secretary has stated that our armed forces are equal to the terrorist prabhakaran and so we should not commemorate the war heroes day. Quite a number of naval officers are imprisoned by this government with no evidence whatsoever to imprison them just to please the US imperialists, the UK, Canada, Norway, Sweden and India. The naval cordon around the Northern seas have been removed and the Indian fishermen is devastating our marine eco system. Contra brand, illegal immigrants, illegal drugs are pouring in due to there being no naval cordon. Naval camps are being dismantled at an alarming rate in the North and the East. UN representatives are allowed to storm naval camps such as at Trincomalee. Why was the US ambassador even allowed anywhere near Trincomalee. The US wants to set up their naval and air bases in Sri Lanka. That is why they want an eelam. Why are we so concerned about subordinate persons conduct when we should be asking Sirisena, Ranil CBK and Mangala why they are betraying Sri Lanka first? These traitors Sirisena, Ranil, CBK, Mangala should be told in no uncertain terms to stop these treacherous activities against Sri Lanka first before we focus on any subordinates who are working under them.
May 27th, 2016 at 4:01 am
Why was the US ambassador invited to this event? The US ambassador should never ever have been invited to this event. It is the US imperialists who have brought a resolution against Sri Lanka the US resolution and is trying to using totally false accusations concocted up by the LTTE supporters domiciled in Western countries to condemn our war heroes in courts of law using foreign judges, prosecutors, investigators. The treacherous Sirisena, Ranil, CBK and Mangala are the ones who have placed our war heroes in such a perilous situation. The treacherous Sirisena, Ranil, CBK and Mangala are also trying to partition Sri Lanka by way of constitutional changes by providing further powers to the provincial councils inclusive of land, police and fiscal powers. The treacherous Sirisena, ranil, CBK and Mangala are trying to merge the North adn the East to try to create an eelam by stealth. These moves are extremely dangerous to the unitary status of Sri Lanka and should be defeated. Then there is the defence secretary who has equated our ranaviruwoes to the LTTE terrorists such as Prabhakaran and suggested that safeguarding our independence and freedom should not be commemorated. Naval camps in the North and the East are being dismantled rapidly to please the US imperialists, the UK, Norway, Canada, the EU, Sweden, India and the TNA racist separatists. The most strategic naval camp at Sampur was dismantled too. The naval cordon which existed around the Northern seas has been dismantled and Indian fishermen are devastating the Sri Lankan marine eco system by illegally fishing in our waters using illegal fishing methods and large trawlers. Contra brand, illegal immigrants, illegal drugs in the meanwhile are now I am sure easily reaching Sri Lanka after the naval cordon around the Northern seas was dismantled. There are quite a number of naval personnel, army personnel and army intelligence personnel in prison without any evidence whatsoever at the behest of treacherous Sirisena, Ranil. CBK and Mangala to please the US imperialists, the UK, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the EU and India. When Sirsena, Ranil, CBK and Mangala are behaving in such a treacherous what do you expect from those who are subordinate to them?