Dilrook Kannangara

Victoria Nuland quietly retired recently after multiple failures around the world, particularly in Ukraine. Her services” were never appreciated by the countries that received them! Except Sri Lanka under President Gotabaya. And the timing of the book release could not have been better.

On 22 March 2022, Victoria Nuland, the Under Secretary for Political Affairs of the US Department of State visited Sri Lanka. When she met me, she came across as being conciliatory and wanting to work with my government to overcome the economic crisis that Sri Lanka was facing. Usually, when high-ranking members of Western governments visit Sri Lanka, we hear a lot about what we were not doing right. However, the tone set by this visit was different and I did not hear the lecture that Sri Lankan leaders would normally expect” (The Conspiracy to Oust me from Presidency- How internationally sponsored regime change made mockery of Democracy in Sri Lanka by Gotabaya Rajapaksa).

What is most interesting is Victoria was by Gotabaya’s side when his closest allies, party members, supporters and even family deserted him. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

It’s no surprise that she was nice or too nice for a reason. Just 15 days later, that is, on April 6, 2022 Sri Lanka and USA both approved the new US military strategy for Sri Lanka – Integrated Country Strategy.

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ICS_SCA_Sri-Lanka_Public.pdf

When compared to the ICS, all previous actual and attempted US military domination efforts pale into insignificance. ICS turns Sri Lanka into Asia’s Ukraine to fight against China, etc. All readers are encouraged to read the published PDF on the matter. It will decide the future of Sri Lanka.

Although the events took place about two years earlier, Gotabaya wrote the book and published it in 2024 and it contains his current views. He has still not realized why she was nice to him. Or he always knew it and played along. It is extremely unlikely that he didn’t know in 2022 why she and the US ambassador to Sri Lanka were very nice to him and even so in 2024! Therefore, it must be concluded that he knew very well what USA was after. It’s the repeat of 2007 ACSA military deal with USA signed secretly by the same person on behalf of Sri Lanka.

This ridicules Rajapaksa supporters’ anti-Nuland rhetoric. Why are they anti-Nuland when Gotabaya is not?

Rajapaksa supporters are dishonest and hypocrites when they criticize Nuland when Gotabaya himself disagrees with his voluntary supporters and henchmen.

These events highlight the naked reality of Sri Lanka’s politics. It is full of astonishing deception and deceit. It is the fault of the people too who are too gullible and trusting. It must serve as a lesson. Once an American, always an American. No amount of hair-splitting nonsense can take that fact away. It is a bigger tragedy that the largest party in parliament is also headed by an American (who is the organizer of the party)!

By 2021 Sri Lanka had moved way ahead than Ukraine in 2014 in its path to self-destruct itself. Truth to be told, Tamil Tigers never betrayed their aspirational nation to anyone – not even to India that once nurtured and protected them. The moment India turned against Tamil Eelam Tamil leaders fiercely defended it. In wide contrast Sri Lankan leaders have offered it on a platter after saving the nation from terrorists with tremendous sacrifices. Tamil Tigers only asked for 37% of the island, US military strategy encompasses the entire island without firing a bullet but being extra nice to a fellow American.