Starring Jon, Brad, Puli, Gen.Trond.....

UNP - Tiger fiasco

Below is an excerpt of a conversation between Bradman Weerakoon, Secretary to former Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe and Pulidevan. Weerakoon is bending over backwards to accommodate the LTTE and its import of communications equipment. Even telling Pulidevan to make only a farcical show of paying customs duty which monies he maintains the government will, thereafter, reimburse the LTTE.

Act No. 1

Scene 1

Pulidevan: Pulidevan here.

Bradman: Ah yes, Pulidevan, we might get...... some money more that we expected.

Pulidevan: Ah that's important.

Bradman: Important...... yes very important. They are making such a fuss it's like they want to have an Afghanistan.

Pulidevan: Yes.. Yes.. (laughs)

Bradman: (laughing) we have stolen the show. Now Puli, I spoke to the Prime Minister and also to Austin. The question of the transmission equipment, its ok. It's ok basically.

Pulidevan: Ah, that is good.

Bradman: Only thing is you have to get the licences from the various parties. We are now trying to find a way out of this payment of exemption of duties because the Prime Minister said if you can find a way of doing it because otherwise all the other jokers you know these NGOs will want to get various things duty free.

So you know we have to find a way. Is it possible to make the payment and we pay you later through some other mechanism rather than doing it this way people will immediately get to know and they will say why only the LTTE, we also can get things duty free and you know there can be a problem there.

Pulidevan: Yes, because this is actually the equipment for the peace process.

Bradman: Ah the peace process. Ah.. this is not normal equipment but for the peace process. Let me examine that, I'll speak to these treasury people. Charitha Ratwatte has to say ok.. It's a good idea to advocate the fact that the peace thing is necessary for the equipment.

Pulidevan: Yes, I mentioned that in my letter. If you could go through the letter I have said that. We can send it from Singapore to here then we can work out the VAT and the duties later.

Bradman: Ah right we can even do that - right. That I can get done - Its holding up there..?

Pulidevan: Yes.

Bradman: Ok, I'll try and do it this afternoon Puli.

Pulidevan: Yes, Thank you. If you can get that clearance it will be more feasible.

Bradman: Right, right.

Pulidevan: If you can do it today it will be easy..

Bradman: Right, right I will try and do it this afternoon.

Pulidevan: Right that's excellent.

Bradman: Ok. And I'll try and get your people contacted right. Ok, Puli.. Bye.

Pulidevan: Bye

Act No. 1

Scene No. 2

Excerpts of the conversation:

Gen. Trond: I have been talking to Bernard about the Trinco situation - They will do whatever they can now and I will use all their resources to calm down the Sinhalese part of the population.

He asked if you could give an order to your people on your side just to stay away because then we can probably get things under control.

Pulidevan: Yes. Yes.. I will do. But they are always at the receiving end.

The Tamil people are always at the receiving end.

Gen. Trond: Yeah! So, if that is possible.

Pulidevan: I will definitely inform to the people but we need action, General, for this.

(Conversation indistinct)

Gen. Trond: I think we don't know yet the details but we know that was the reason why they were killed. Well they found a hand with a ring So.. but I think cooperation here is needed.

Pulidevan: And that's one reason. One grenade was thrown - the army opened fire on the people in and around 'puram' junction.

Gen. Trond: I noted what you said. But still ask you to do what you can on your side because the government will do whatever they can on their side.

I think there must be a third party here.. I don't think this is between the parties.

Pulidevan: Yes, we have said we will be careful about this.

Gen. Trond: Yes, I think, I have a very strong feeling also down here that there is a third party who now is creating a situation and are blaming the parties. I think that we should consider that we have a cooperation concerning intelligence and security because we have to stop it. Because this can, you know, this can jeopardize everything.

Pulidevan: Yes. definitely..

Gen. Trond So, I think that we agree on that. I had a very good talk with the Commander of the STF and I will say that, when I talk to Karuna. Because I think the parties here, can think together and be strong. But if the third party is there then we will have a situation again.

So already I will suggest that the parties should communicate and I will come up with a suggestion when we have finished.

Pulidevan: Ah. that's very good..

Gen. Trond: Even before we have finished it, I will have a suggestion from my side.

Pulidevan: Yes

Gen. Trond: It's quite obvious this is not the work of any of the parties.

Pulidevan: Yes

Gen. Trond: This is something - someone else..

Pulidevan: Hmm. But what about our forces?

Gen. Trond: They are used. I think even among your people comrades are being used. I think on both sides there are people who don't like what is happening and they wear your uniform or they wear the governmental uniform so they are among us so we have to beware of that - so that's why I think there should be co-operation between the parties.

Pulidevan: Yes

Gen. Trond: You have to protect yourself.

Pulidevan: Yes. Thank you and Mr. Thamilchelvan told me General will be involved in this.

Gen. Trond: I will. I can assure you I will stay here.

Pulidevan: Yes. That's very important for us.

Gen Trond: Yeah. I will be here.

Pulidevan: That's very good General. And if you could pay a visit to Trincomalee.

Gen Trond: I will. When I am finished in Amparai, I will go to Karuna and then I will go to Trinco.

Pulidevan: Ah, that's very good.

Gen Trond: OK.

Pulidevan: OK. General.

Gen. Trond: Fine. Ok Bye, Bye.

Pulidevan: Bye, Bye.

Act No. 1

Scene 3

Wiretap one: Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg and Pulidevan from the LTTE.

In this wiretap the ambassador gives information about the communications equipment and informs him that the Norwegians will pay for the added cost. This reveals a discussion between Westborg and Pulidevan about the transmission equipment that has been "dealt with and explained and arranged with Mr. Bradman Weerakoon."

A total of six tons of equipment was delivered to the LTTE in 2002 including V-Sat equipment used in satellite communications. The conversation also revolves around a document that has been signed by Thamilchelvan and another is requested to be mailed to the ambassador's residence and not to the embassy. Westborg specifically instructs Pulidevan to send the fax direct to his residence at Gregory's Road and not to the embassy.

The conversation goes thus:

Westborg: Did you get the fax?

Pulidevan: Mr. Thamilselvan accepted fully what you have suggested in your letter - so actually we are now trying to send it to you. I got the signatures so now we are trying to send it to you.

Westborg: Very good. Very good.

Pulidevan: Excuse me, Ambassador the lines are very poor..please speak loud and clear. Can we send the fax to 674146? Is that ok ambassador?

Westborg: No, you cannot send it to that number because that is not working. You can send it to the embassy number. You have the embassy number, I suppose.

Pulidevan: Please tell me the number Ambassador.

Westborg: I don't have the number here now. If you have a paper with the embassy letterhead then you will find the fax number at the bottom.

Pulidevan: Yes, yes we can find it.

Westborg: So you can send it there. Now Puli, what I was trying to do was to basically understand or write it down if I have understood you correctly - do you feel that I have understood you correctly?

Pulidevan: Yes, hundred percent.

Westborg: Very good. Thank you! Then we can go ahead.

Pulidevan: That's why I am sending that with the signature of Thamilselvan

Westborg: Excellent. Then we will go ahead. Then we have to find a way to send it - you know my address.

Pulidevan: Yes. Ward Place Colombo 7?

Westborg: No, send it to 65.

Pulidevan: Excuse me 65?

Westborg: Yes, 65/1, Gregory's Road.

Pulidevan: 65/1, Gregory's Road?

Westborg: Yes. Colombo 7.

Pulidevan: Colombo 7, I will do it.

Westborg: That is my residence. Because I don't want this one to go to my embassy I want it to go to my residence. So I pick it up.

Pulidevan: I will definitely do it that way...

Westborg: Very good... Excellent...

Pulidevan: So, Thank you very much for all your efforts Ambassador...

Westborg: We keep it going. We keep it going. And we will cooperate. I also need to tell you... that you know about the transmission equipment? I have dealt with and explained and arranged with Mr. Bradman Weerakoon how to deal with that issue. OK?

Pulidevan: Yes, I received that confirmation letter from Mr. Weerakoon.

(Both laugh)

Pulidevan: Thank you for all your effort.

Westborg: That's pleasure. And the Norwegian government will have to pay for the difference, right.

(Both laugh again)

Westborg: OK. Very good, very good, Bye.

Bye, Bye.