Rear admiral ( Dr ) Sarath Weerasekera VSV RWP USP Former Public Security Minister

This is regarding the editorial of The Island on 19 th May 2026, titled Defeat of
Terrorism- Triumph of hypocrisy”.
I fully agree with the Editor when he says that Terrorism need to be eliminated in all
its forms and manifestations. Terrorism is generally defined as massacring
innocents to achieve a political aim”. Hence, whether the cause for terrorism is
justifiable or not, terrorism per se, cannot be justified and thus, should be
eliminated.
However I have different views with the rest of the editorial and believe that it
would be published in letters to editor”’ page.
The editor says what Rajapakshas did to the country was like saving a damsel in
distress and abusing her . Elaborating same, he says that Rajapakshas have thought
leadership to defeat terrorism was a special license to do as they pleased and sought
to politicise and monopolise war victory to accelerate their dynasty building
projects. He continues to say that the post war MR admin became a government of
Rajapakshas by the Rajapakshas and for Rajapakshas. In short the implication was
that Mahindar Rajapaksha (MR), after defeating LTTE, has done nothing except
furthering his and his family’s political interests.
MR,even during the critical period in war against LTTE , handled the economy
professionally. There was an upward trend in SL economy from 2005 – 2009
showing GDP growth from 24.4 billion dollars in 2005 to 42.5 billion dollars in 2009,
doubling the 2005 GDP. During 2010 – 2015 showed Sri Lanka’s strongest
economic performance with economy growing from US $ 56.7 billion to US $ 80.6
billion.
The annual growth rate was over 7.4%, per capita income more than tripled ( from
US $ 1200 to over US $ 3600 ) elevating SL to lower- middle income status. National
poverty level declined significantly, dropping from over 15% in 2006 to below 7% by
2012. Unemployment declined to 4 %. Transport and energy sectors received
significant boost. Massive power generation projects such as Norochchole coal power
plant and Upper Kothmale Hydro power plant were completed.
The expansion of Colombo port, development of Hambanthota port, Mattala
International Airport and building of expressways ( Southern and Cbo- Katunayaka )
greatly improved country’s transportation capacity and brought SL clear to a goal of
being a dynamic Maritime and Aviation Hub.
The above statistics of the Central Bank does not prove the fact that Rajapakshas
only looked after their interests after the war. Hence the proverbial Damsel” that
the editor was referring to, was not abused as he claimed, but had been looked after
very well.

Excesses may have happened and it happens everywhere in every field. But the fact
remains that MR defeated the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world and
developed the country with roads, rails, ports, airports, expressways, bridges, power
plants, stadiums etc. which deserves appreciation.
The editor then says MR suffered a humiliating electoral defeat in 2015, again came
to power in 2019, but mismanaged the economy, indulged in corruption and
bankrupted the country. That too is far from truth.
The foreign exchange crisis that culminated in 2002 was not due to mismanagement
/corruption of Gotabhaya Rajapaksha (GR) government but mainly due to excessive
foreign borrowings during 2015-2019. By 2019 Nov, the economy was already in a
precarious state, with the IMF itself warning that SL was highly vulnerable to
external shocks.
The editorial never mention about Covid 19, the worst global pandemic the GR
government had to face. During this period the government revenue fell by approx.
Rs 534 billion. ( revenue lost from import restriction of motor vehicles, Covid
lockdown and closure of liquor shops were Rs 136 billion, 323 billion and 75 billion
respectively.) At the end of the MR regime in 2014, the outstanding ISBs were US $
5.3 billion and the reserves were US $ 8.2 billion. By the time GR came to power, the
outstanding ISBs were US $ 15.2 billion and the reserves were US $ 7.6 billion. In
2020-2021 GR never took any ISBs but settled them in time.
The decision to maintain debt servicing was not just about protecting the country’s
image in financial markets but to ensure critical health and humanitarian support
including vaccines, medicines, and essential supplies continued to flow into the
country during the worst global health crisis in the country.
It’s a pity that the public who remained silent when mountain of foreign debt were
piling up, launched an Aragalaya to expel the leader who settled the debts without
borrowing any fresh debts. Was it hypocrisy or treason ?
The claim that the tax reduction implemented in Dec 2019 caused a significant loss
of revenue was also not correct. When the economic activity is deliberately halted by
a global pandemic, with borders shut, businesses closed, citizens confined to their
residences, production at the lowest, no tax rate high or low, can generate revenue
from transactions that are simply not occurring.
The economic downfall was not due to mismanagement or corruption but due to the
promulgation of bankruptcy ( debt standstill ) by CB on the advise of former CB
governor Ananda Kumaraswami and consultant Shantha Devaraja. That decision
undermined the on going efforts to stabilise the economy. I consider allowing such
an announcement was the mistake done by GR.
It halted IMF staff level already agreed loan, Indian Credit Line of US $ 3 billion
and suspended WB and ADB loans. Also China had to halt the loans already

requested as China Secure ( the government insurance company ) could not insure
loans to a bankrupt country.
The reserves were carefully used by GR to buy vaccines giving priority to human
lives and due to lack of foreign exchange, procurement of gas and fuel was critically
effected. In the final stages there had been an organised campaign by saboteurs
to steal and hoard fuel. The JVP members publicly appealed to Sri Lankans abroad
not to send any dollars to the country. Anger and hatred was sown in the hearts of
the people calling Rajapakshas thieves.
A protest called Aragalaya established in Galle face. The entire episode was a
grand conspiracy to oust GR who took oath as the President at Ruvanveliseya,
the great symbol of Sinhalese Buddhist culture. The black Vesak lanterns, ridiculing
Buddhist sacred symbols, insulting the Mahanayakas, anti Unitary slogans and
glorifying Federalism and daily free biriyani for the entire crowd by unknown”
sponsors were ample evidence of it’s hidden agenda.
Aragalaya, which established villages and constructed toilets in Galle face and which
forcibly took over of the Presidential Secretariat was obviously illegal. The other
mistake done by GR was to allow it to operate without chasing them away using
force if necessary. Finally GR, the Commander in Chief of the three forces, left
the country without hurting anyone.
Editor says that Rajapakshas squandered an opportunity that presented itself, after
the war, to bring about national reconciliation and defeat LTTE ideology politically.
He says reconciliation has become a victim of hypocrisy.
MR, after the war, launched a large number of development projects in North
constructing roads, bridges, grounds, schools, hospitals, etc. All the roads were
carpeted. During the period 2010-2012 the growth rate in Jaffna was 22% compared
to 7% in the rest of the country. That was the first step he took towards
reconciliation.
Reconciliation needs an equal contribution from both sides. Unfortunately the good
will shown and the enormous economic support provided by MR was never
reciprocated by the Tamil politicians. MR held PC elections ( without abolishing 13A
even with two third majority in parliament ) and allowed them to elect their own
leaders. That was the second step towards reconciliation.
Mr. Wigneshwaran, who studied at Royal college and Colombo Law college, became
a Magistrate, High Court judge, a judge in the Court of Appeal and in the Supreme
Court. Having lived among Sinhalese for more than 65 years, after being elected as
the Chief Minister in the NP, he said that the Sinhalese have no right to live in
Jaffna . Every year he returned most of the funds allocated for Northern
development back to the government revenue without utilising it fully,
ostensibly, to indicate that there was no support from the central government. That
was how Tamil politicians contributed towards reconciliation.

After 2009, hundreds of Tamil students in North have become doctors, engineers,
lawyers, top government officials etc. due to their unhindered education. The
civilians who suffered under LTTE facing abductions, paying ransoms etc. are now
live in peace without any fear. Most of the Tamils have migrated to south and more
than 52% of the Tamil population are now living among Sinhalese without any
problem. The trade and some of the main businesses in Colombo are dominated
by Tamils. What else is required Mr. Editor for the so called reconciliation ?
granting a separate state on a platter?
With all the above, the Tamils in North annually commemorate the very person
who made their lives miserable for 30 years. How would the Sinhalese feel when
they see the terrorists who killed their pregnant mothers, novice monks, infants,
innocent female devotees are being garlanded and felicitated by their Tamil
brethren in North every year?
Yes, the editor was correct. Reconciliation has become a victim of hypocrisy.

Rear admiral ( Dr ) Sarath Weerasekera VSV RWP USP
Former Public Security Minister