The Greatest Betrayal - 7 :

Traitor eats humble pie as fantasy comes to an end:

‘Sorry Fonseka’ Operation ends in disarray

by Chamara LAKMAL TILLAKARATNE

Over six million people voted for President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Tuesday’s Presidential Election to teach the traitor and his gang an unforgettable lesson of their lives.

The traitor, who brought the Security Forces in to disrepute and brought disgrace to the country through his controversial ‘white flag’ statement, was comprehensively beaten by the President.

The so-called common candidate ate humble pie as President Rajapaksa secured an overwhelming majority of over 1.8 million votes.

During his notorious 40-day campaign, Fonseka was living in fantasy, which was masterminded by Somawansa Amarasinghe and Mangala Samaraweera, who should be held responsible for Fonseka’s march from grace to disgrace. It was the politically bankrupt JVP which gave the dead rope to Fonseka and persuaded him to contest the Presidential Election. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and SLFP discard Mangala Samaraweera, who had been in political wilderness, found Fonseka, the ideal scapegoat for their survival.

Another set of bankrupt Opposition politicians such as Rauf Hakeem, Mano Ganeshan and Arjuna Ranatunga joined the bandwagon.

Then came Fonseka’s second betrayal, with a controversial and secret pact with the Tiger-proxy TNA. Through the Fonseka-Sampanthan pact, the Opposition promised everything under the sun to the TNA and the Tamil Diaspora.

Left with his only friend?

It was after this disgraceful agreement that the TNA sent signals to the people in the North and the East as well as to the Tamil Diaspora to support Fonseka.

The true colours of the traitor and his shameless agreement with the TNA and LTTE sympathisers were clearly evident with the outcome of the Presidential Elections results. Fonseka only managed to secure a majority in most of the electorates in the North and the East as the TNA has ‘ordered’ the Tamil community living in those areas to vote for Fonseka.

Sampanthan and his other TNA seniors have repeatedly told the people in the North to back Fonseka as the latter has apparently agreed to accept the Tamil homeland concept and also re-merge the Northern and the Eastern provinces.

The people do not need better proof than the North and the East election results in favour of Fonseka as to what the agreement between Sampanthan and Fonseka was all about.

But the far-reaching decision by over six million voters enabled the patriotic forces to beat the Fonseka-Sampanthan pact.

While Fonseka had the fullest backing of LTTE proxies in the North, people in the South rejected him in toto due to the secret pact he had signed with the Sampanthan-led TNA. Needless to say, those promises in the pact would have been harmful to the national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country.

Then came the high drama at Lakeside that is Cinnamon as Fonseka and his goons took shelter at the five-star hotel for another shameless mission. Army deserters were in their numbers adding strength to Fonseka’s third and final betrayal.

They were aiming for a possible all-out attack to capture power. Fortunately, the Security Forces, backed by the clear verdict given by a majority of over 1.8 million voters, were able to halt the disgraceful ‘SF operation’, now famous as Operation ‘Sorry Fonseka’ .

Fonseka’s 40-day march from grace to disgrace is an eye-opener for all. In his thirst for power, Fonseka tried anything and everything under the Sun to capture power at any cost.

But it was the power of the people which ultimately emerged victorious, beating all overwhelming odds.

After a series of great betrayals, Fonseka’s dream of becoming the Head of State came to a disgraceful end.

As the Government has pointed out, Fonseka was gearing for a major operation to capture power and had even challenged to take the democratically elected President to Bogambara prison and also to behead the Defence Secretary and Senior Presidential Adviser.

But at the end, Fonseka looked a fish out of water as his ‘friends in crime’ isolated him.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mano Ganeshan, Mangala Samaraweera and Rauf Hakeem ran for safety, leaving poor Fonseka in wilderness at the hotel.

Fonseka looked furious after that disgraceful defeat and had attempted to put the blame on his media experts. But Samaraweera had apparently hit back, alleging that it was Fonseka’s foul mouth which was instrumental in deviating a guaranteed vote base of over five million. Anura Kumara, his co-media spokesman, too has endorsed this stating that Fonseka should have polled at least five million votes, when the votes polled by Wickremesinghe at the 2005 Presidential election and the JVP vote base were put together. This is apart from the over one million youth who had received voting rights for the first time.

Then what happened to the block vote Samaraweera, Mano Ganeshan and Rauf Hakeem had been claiming for their respective parties?

In actual terms, Fonseka has not gained any votes, but lost over 1.5 million votes, considering the block vote of the SLMC, UNP and the JVP.

A senior UNP Parliamentarian said the real victor is none other than Ranil Wickremesinghe who was smart enough to secure his Opposition Leader’s post.

He pledged to support Wickremesinghe at the next General Election to secure the same post for another six years.

What an end to the high drama of a traitor who was under an illusion. Thanks to the rosy pictures projected by the UNP, JVP, SLMC and TNA, Fonseka was in ‘Presidential Disneyland’ for 40 days!

SF violated election law, says UPFA

UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said they have given a letter to Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake informing him that New Democratic Front candidate Sarath Fonseka had violated election laws by appearing before the electronic media and making open statements about his not being able to vote for himself as a Presidential candidate.

“Presidential candidate Fonseka was telling the electronic media why he did not cast his vote, and that his name was not on the electoral register”, said Premajayantha. Fonseka was making these statements to the media on the day of the polls (January 26) between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., during the time of polling, which is a clear violation of the Election Law, he pointed out.

Premajayantha was speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the Media Centre for National Security in Colombo.“Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe too had made statements supporting this candidate”, he said.

“We have reservations whether Wickremesinghe and former Presidential lawyer and MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa knew or not that Fonseka’s name was not on the electoral list at the time that Fonseka’s nomination for the Presidential election was submitted to the Elections Commissioner, or they all knew this and misled the public of Sri Lanka,” he said.

Minister Prof G. L. Peiris said, “if one does not have the legal qualifications to cast one’s vote or to become an “elector”, one is not entitled to become elected in keeping with Sri Lankan law”.

Fonseka to be discarded by Opposition allies?

by K.T. Rajasingham

Though Sarath Fonseka, the opposition common candidate in the Presidential Election, has come forward to contest the Parliamentary General Election, it is learnt that he might be accommodated as a minor partner in the coalition led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Leader of the United National Party.

The UNP, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, JVP and others came forward to have Fonseka as their common candidate only for the Presidential Election and it is not necessary that he should be also allowed to lead the opposition group in the forthcoming Parliamentary Election.

It is learnt that the Western People’s Front led by Mano Ganeshan, Mangala Samaraweera (Mahajana Wing), and Rauff Hakeem’s Sri Lanka Muslim Congress might, as usual, be in the coalition led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, but it is still not clear whether the JVP would also come forward to ally themselves with the UNP.

In case the JVP decides to contest alone, it would be a foregone conclusion that the party would be defeated in almost all electorates in the country.

It was pointed out that in the 2005 November Presidential Election, Ranil Wickremesinghe polled 4,706,366, which was 48.43 percent of the total vote polled in that election, whereas Fonseka polled only 4,173,185 which amounted to 40.15 percent of the total votes polled in the January 2010 Presidential Election.

Now it is learnt that Wickremesinghe has begun to reassert his position as the leader of the UNP and the leader of the United National Front, the opposition coalition front. Therefore, it is unlikely that the UNF would allow Sarath Fonseka to lead its Parliamentary Election campaign.

It can also be seen that none of the parties that supported him in the Presidential Elections are beside him after the results. Nobody has come forward to give even voice for Fonseka, who is the centre of several controversies, and they have left him to fend for himself.

Now it has become clear that Fonseka’s presense with them is a liability and not a credibility. With so many charges and accusations facing Fonseka, who will feel comfortable to defend him endlessly? Political pundits predict that the retired General will be a loner fighting his own battle.

It is learnt that the Government has enough material to arrest and bring him before the Courts, but they are not in a hurry to make such a move immediately. It is learnt that there are enough implicating materials available with the Government and they will be releasing them on a staggered basis so that the country will be able to know the intensity of the allegations against Fonseka before considering bringing him before a court of law, it is learnt.

Courtesy: Asian Tribune

Plot to assassinate President

Attempt to use retired Army officers and deserters:

Lists sent to arrest several people:

by Rafik JALALDEEN

Director General, Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle said a plot to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his family members and the Government’s top officials by Sarath Fonseka has been uncovered.

Addressing the media last week, Hulugalle said since the Opposition was aware it was heading for defeat in the Presidential Election, a plot was hatched to assassinate the President and his family members either before or after the Presidential Election. “They had hired 70 rooms in two prestigious hotels,” Hulugalle said.

“They have hired retired Army officers and Army deserters to assassinate the President and his family members,” he added.

Hulugalle noted that they were planning to assassinate the President while he was passing the Lake House roundabout to go to Temple Trees and assassinate the Defence Secretary when he was passing the Lake House roundabout to go to the Defence Ministry.

A pre-poll result on a pro-UNP website showed both parties locked on 50 percent. Fearing that Fonseka will be defeated at the poll, they planned to assassinate the President. They also planned to bring a large number of JVP supporters onto the streets and protest against the election result. All their efforts were foiled by the Government, Hulugalle said.

Additional Defence Secretary Willie Gamage said Opposition Presidential Candidate Sarath Fonseka has sent a list of names to several places, of those to be arrested including top Government officials, people engaged in the election campaign and some media personnel.

“Since they realised that they would be defeated or barely get 50 percent of the vote they planned to assassinate the President to get a grip on power by using Army deserters and retired Army officers.

“They planned to use retired Army officers who were to accompany the police to identify the people who were opposed to them. A list of names were sent to the Airport to block people leaving the country and another team to round up and ‘arrest’ certain people,” he added.

Gamage said at no other Presidential Election did a defeated candidate conduct himself in such a manner. “This is the first time in history that such a move has been made by a defeated candidate,” he said.

Former IGP Chandra Fernando said there were many conspiracies by the Opposition to win the election using websites, SMS and Face Book.

They have mentioned in a website that the public would see the power of the Army after the Presidential Election.

Queried as to who was that Army, Fernando said there is no secret Army in the country.

“They are talking about their illegal Army who fled from their duties and retired. They were used on several occasions during the election campaign and also after the election. Around 20 Army deserters and retired officers were arrested in Gokaralla. Ten others were arrested outside a hotel when they were with Fonseka. Three suspects who were spreading rumours and sending false SMS messages had been taken into custody.”

“A prominent female UNP supporter is to be arrested in connection with sending these rumours through SMSs,” he added.

Answering a question whether Fonseka would be arrested if the plot to assassinate the President was proved, Hulugalle said a thorough investigation has begun and if Fonseka’s involvement was proved, he will be arrested.

Sangha will thwart any conspiracy, says Ven Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera

by Irangika RANGE and Sulochani WIJESINGHE

The Maha Sangha will rise against any attempt to harm the country using foreign forces using the votes obtained by Sarath Fonseka and TNA Leader R. Sampanthan at the Presidential election in the North and East, Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera said.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo yesterday, Ven Dhammaloka Thera said it is reported that Fonseka is canvassing the international community that the Presidential election was not free and fair. “We request Sarath Fonseka to stop harming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country by further involving the international community,” he said.

The Thera said that Sarath Fonseka is a novice in politics. “We ask him to desist from engaging in cheap politics. “We as the Maha Sangha will treat him as a war hero so long as he does not become a political pawn”.

Commenting on the agreement between Fonseka and

TNA Leader R. Sampanthan, the Thera said Sampanthan has told he does not like self-rule. The Maha Sangha has already discussed with President Mahinda Rajapaksa about this agreement on January 23. “We will soon reveal what action would be taken to prevent a harmful impact to the country by this agreement,” he said.

He said Fonseka should humbly accept the election results which is the verdict of the majority of the people in the country.

“The blessings of the Triple Gem will be invoked for all who worked for the historic victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It shows that Sri Lanka is a country of grateful people and that there is no room for any international conspiracy against it.

Was the hotel Fonseka moved in to, to be his secretariat in transition?

by K.T. Rajasingham

The Opposition Presidential candidate who was squarely defeated in the Presidential Election moved out of the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel on Wednesday night after the day’s high drama.

Fonseka is now occupying the rented house on Queens Road, Colombo on a monthly rent of Rs. 1 million. It was only on the evening of the election day that Fonseka moved into Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel. He booked 100 rooms in the hotel for him, his family, the Parliament Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe and many of his assistants, supporters and personal security members. It is learnt that each room cost US$85 per day. Was the hotel to be his temporary secretariat after the elections?

Unanswered prayers

Before occupying the hotel room, Fonseka sent a message through K. Balapatabendi, a former secretary to President Chandrika Kumaratunga during her first term, to Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to be ready with the swearing-in arrangements for Wednesday morning to enable the former Army Commander to take oaths as the President of Sri Lanka.

The tone and tenor of the telephone call was said to amount to an order and a very intriguing message and the Government thought that they were up to some mischief.

Subsequently, the Sri Lanka Army began patrolling outside the hotel and was providing maximum security to the former Army Commander and his group.Once the Elections Commissioner announced the final results of the election, Fonseka began to pack off from the hotel.

As Fonseka moved out of the hotel, Commander of the Western Province and Puttalam Major General Manawaduge instructed the Police officer on duty to arrest one of the close aides of Fonseka who was very much wanted by the police.

According to a source, the Army and Police are looking for one Senaka Arnold Haripriya de Silva alias Captain Shah Silva, who claims himself to be the private secretary to Fonseka. The Police spokesman said his car was found at the Bodhirajarama Temple in Maligawatte on the evening of January 23.

But the police officer, who was an associate of DIG Vijaya Amerasinghe, the brother-in-law of Fonseka, refused to carry out the instructions of the serving Commander of the Western Province and allowed the culprit to slip.

Courtesy: Asian Tribune