Category: News

Sri Lanka’s security forces abducted men and women from the ethnic Tamil minority and tortured them in custody long after the end of a bloody civil war in the South Asian island nation, a human rights group said in a new report.

The 26-year civil war between separatist Tamil insurgents and government forces ended in 2009. Rights groups accuse both sides of abuses during the conflict in which 80,000-100,000 people died, according to United Nations estimates.

In its report, the London-based International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) which has been documenting alleged abuses in Sri Lanka, cited details of 123 Tamils who said they were beaten, burnt, suffocated and sexually assaulted by Sri Lankan authorities between 2015-2022.

Sri Lanka rejects the ITJP allegations, a government minister said on Wednesday.

The report, titled ‘Disappearance, Torture and Sexual violence of Tamils, 2015-2022’, which will be published on Thursday, said 11 of the 123 were allegedly detained after Ranil Wickremesinghe took over as Sri Lanka’s president in July 2022.

Wickremesinghe was appointed after large-scale protests triggered by a spiralling financial crisis forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and later resign from his post.

“The analysis in the current report confirms … arbitrary and unlawful detentions between 2009 and 2015 were systemic and structurally entrenched, (and) could just as well have been written about the seven-year period between 2015 to 2022,” the report said, adding that the alleged victims were seeking asylum in Britain.

“It is unlikely to stop unless the international community exerts greater pressure on Sri Lanka to deal with security sector reform and to root out those officials responsible for this culture of violence directed against Tamils,” said Yasmin Sooka, ITJP’s executive director.

Asked by Reuters about the report, Tharaka Balasuriya, state minister of foreign affairs, said Sri Lanka had taken multiple steps since the end of the war to address human rights concerns and promote reconciliation including releasing land to Tamil owners, limiting the military to camps in the north and east of the country, and appointing officials to look into cases of people reported missing.

“We look at human rights as a continuous process… and we are committed to engaging with international partners including non-governmental organisations to take the reconciliation process forward,” Balasuriya added.

Sri Lanka is also working towards appointing a commission for truth, unity and reconciliation, as outlined before the United Nations Human Rights Commission, he said.

(Courtesy Reuters)

The Election Commission (EC) is to accommodate requests made by several international organisations such as the European Union (EU) to observe the upcoming elections including the Presidential Election, in a timely manner.

Local election monitoring body, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections, had recently requested the EC in writing to urgently make necessary arrangements to invite a delegation of election observers representing the international community.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that several international organisations such as the EU had recently met him, and had expressed their willingness to observe the upcoming elections, particularly the Presidential Election.

“A delegation from the EU and representatives of several other organisations met with us recently and handed over formal letters expressing their interest in coming as observers. They informed me that they would like to be informed once the election schedule is confirmed,” he said.

He further said that requests received from several such organisations prompted them (EC) to plan a structured communication process with them. “We’ve taken the necessary measures to manage these requests. We’ve sent letters to those who reached out to us, letting them know that when the election date is announced, they will be informed in due time with formal notices.” While the exact timing of the elections is yet to be determined, he estimated that the country is “six to seven months away” from the polls.

Since its inception, the EC has played a significant role in ensuring a fair and transparent election process. Among its key responsibilities are voter registration, processing nominations, managing logistics, and election monitoring. It usually invites both domestic and international observers to monitor the electoral process, with regard to elections, particularly the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa reasserted yesterday that his party still believes the general election should precede the presidential elections but President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a contrasting stand, according to an informed source of the party.

Mr. Rajapaksa addressed the parliamentary group of the party and spelled out his opinion in this regard. Earlier, he met with the President and held talks about the latest political developments.

According to the SLPP, a fair number of its MPs stand for the conduct of the snap general election ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for October, this year in terms of the Constitution. The next parliamentary election is scheduled for 2025 only. However, the President has the constitutional authority to dissolve Parliament prematurely and declare a snap election.

Mr. Rajapaksa is reported to have instructed the MPs to brace for any election no matter what. The MPs were reportedly asked to start political work in preparation for any election that might come first.

Meanwhile, SLPP MPs who hold ministerial responsibilities in the government stand for the presidential elections to be conducted first. Earlier, Mr. Rajapaksa told the media that he would not leave room for any rift with the President over his stand.

Hundreds of Sri Lanka ex-soldiers recruited by multiple teams were dying in their hundreds in the killing fields of the Russia-Ukraine border amid drone warfare, according to a fighter who escaped the region.

Over 200 Sri Lankan ex-soldiers are believed to have died and a similar number are being treated in hospitals in regions like Donetsk, he said in an interview broadcast by Sri Lanka’s Derana Television.

The retired soldier said he went to Russia after paying 1.6 million to recruiting team made up of retired senior military officers who said they were to be ‘camp helpers’ providing support services

The kingpin behind the recruitment operation appeared to be an Indian national named Ramesh, he said. They were also received in Russia by a Tamil speaker, he said.

Sri Lankans who arrived on tourist visas and were then asked to sign a contract in Russian language for the ‘Wagnet’ (sic) mercenary group supervised by an Indian lady who appeared to be a lawyer who assured them that it was a one-year camp helper contract.

Escalating Recruitment Op

He and 33 other Sri Lankans were then taken to a training camp in Rostov where they underwent a 14-day course. There were about 70 Sri Lankans in the training camp at the time he was there/.

He had learned that around 600 to 700 Sri Lankan may have been taken to Russia over the past few months, most of them in the past three months.

About 200 to 300 are believed to have died and a similar number are in hospitals in areas like Donetsk, he said.

There were a larger number of mercenaries from countries like Cuba.

The recruitment process had gathered pace in the last three months, after only 3 or 4 were believed to have been recruited each month last year, he said.

Daily 10 to 15 tourist visas were being issued in Colombo, he said. The passports came back with the stamped visa within a week and they were dispatched to Russia in the next two days.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told reports Wednesday that there was no official count of citizens fighting for Russia or Ukraine, but attempts were being made to help them.

“We don’t know,” Minister Sabry told reporters. “None of them go through formal or official channels.

“So your guess is as good as mine.

“We are trying to see what we can do wherever possible. We can deal with the government of any other country. We are being asked to deal with a mercenary group which is not a formal government. It’s a very difficult task.”

Cash Extraction

The soldier said he had to pay 1.6 million rupees to his recruiters while sending ex-soldier to almost certain death, he learned from fellow Sri Lankans that other recruitment teams charged less.

Some had been charged 350,000 rupees, while others were charged 1 million. It was not clear whether other recruiters told the ex-soldiers that they would have to go to the frontlines.

When his group protested that they were hired as camp helpers and refused to take up active duty the Russian officials had said they had to go to the frontlines as a one year contract had been signed.

At the mercenary camp he was told that recruiters were paid the equivalent of 2.5 million Sri Lanka rupees for each person sent to Russia.

They were then broken up into three teams and sent to the frontlines.

His group was shifted around four camps where he encountered Sri Lankan soldiers who also showed him dog tags from dead colleagues. Families back home were apparently not informed of their death, he said.

At the frontline, the Russian soldiers or mercenaries were high on drug ice, apparently to maintain their fighting spirit and Sri Lankans were not in a position to refuse to go to battle any longer for fear of being shot out of hand, he said.

Drone Fodder

That night they were ordered to take over a Ukrainian ammunition dump but he refused to go without knowing about the terrain. After his insistence, he was taken to a signals room where terrain was shown to him through a drone camera.

Asked about possible risks to guard against he was informed that there were only drones and snipers and not to worry.

As soon as they stepped out of the bunker, five Ukrainian drones hit them and one Sri Lankan was hit as they jumped back in.

The fallen Sri Lankan was heard screaming and groaning in pain but no one helped him. He then went out with another Sri Lankan colleague under drone fire and dragged the wounded Sri Lankan back into the bunder. He learned later that the wounded person was in hospital.

They were then pushed out of the bunker and told to take the ammo dump. They entered the ammunition going through open ground under drone fire, where one person died and a Pakistani was wounded.

Killing Fields

They gave him what first aid as they could with the medical kits they had and also injections that they had to relieve his pain.

After four days they were asked to return and leave one soldier with the Pakistani fighter. An older Sri Lankan fighter who was also slightly wounded elected to stay with him.

After they returned to the Russian bunker braving drones, they were sent 1.5 kilometers back from the frontline to rest and were told to return for a second operation in the night. They were fed and kept under armed guard.

The Sri Lankan ex-soldier and two others then escaped in the night while going to the toilet by distracting the sentry. He later learned that his two friends were captured.

The Russian used drones to track escapees and re-capture them. He however lay low and later managed to escape to Moscow with the help of Russian and Ukrainians in the Donetsk region and contact the Sri Lankan embassy.

He said he decided to speak out to stop others from falling into the same trap. Sri Lankans were also fighting for Ukraine, he said.

The 2024 May Day saw-according to some newspapers-41 May Day rallies, meetings or seminars being held throughout the country. Other newspapers lowered the number to 22. Pride of place was given to Colombo where the UNP, JVP/NPP, SLPP and SJB held their rallies. All four parties had big crowds but the attendance was highest at the JVP rally. Furthermore the JVP rallies in Matara and Anuradhapura also had large crowds. Compared to the “Thun Sinhala” rallies the JVP rally in Jaffna was a poor show.

The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) which is the largest trade union representing plantation workers of Indian descent held its rally in Kotagala. The CWC is a constituent of the Government headed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. CWC General Secretary Jeevan Thondaman is a Cabinet Minister in the Government. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the chief guest at the huge CWC rally.

President Wickremesinghe brought “glad tidings of great joy” to the workers gathered in Kotagala. He announced to a wildly cheering audience that the daily wage of plantation workers had been raised from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,700. The 700 rupee increase amounted to a 70% pay rise. The president displayed a copy of the Gazette proclamation to the people. The plight of the plantation workers has prompted many to describe them as the “wretched of the up-country earth”. The daily wage increase would no doubt provide a degree of economic relief to them.

Ranil Wickremesinghe also addressed the UNP rally at Maradana in Colombo. There were no grand announcements as in the case of the Kotagala rally. President Wickremesinghe spoke about the difficult situation in which he took over as President and of the economic progress achieved so far. Ranil repeated his appeal to the main Opposition parties to cooperate with the Government in uplifting the country economically. He urged the SJB and JVP to work with him in implementing the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) once again, Ranil made no pointed reference to the forthcoming presidential election or about his plans to contest polls.

Both the SJB and UNP May Day Rallies were disappointments in another sense. Prior to May Day there was much speculation in the media that a number of MPs from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) would climb the SJB stage on May Day thereby indicating they had defected from the SLPP. Likewise there was speculation that some SJB Parliamentarians would mount the UNP stage on May 1st. Neither of these anticipated crossovers took place.

No SJB Crossovers

I do not know why the much-touted appearance of SLPP Parliamentarians on the SJB stage did not happen. Despite the speculation, I had not written anything about it as I felt it was highly improbable. However, I did refer to the possibility of some SJB parliamentarians mounting the UNP stage on May Day in the second part of this article published last week. As such I probed the nonappearance of the Telephone Party MPs and learn the reasons for the non -event.

Apparently arrangements had been made for fourteen MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to cross over to the Government side by appearing on the UNP stage on May Day. Ten of these were persons who had been Cabinet ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers in the “Good Governance” Government headed by President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe from 2015 to 2019. The SJB hierarchy had suspicions about this. Some SJB Bigwigs were engaged in “sweet and sour” talks with the potential dissidents to prevent them from pole vaulting.

In an unexpected turn of events the crossover did not take place. This was not because of pressure by the SJB high command. It was due to the intervention of President Ranil Wickremesinghe himself. When Ranil got to know about the crossover plan hatched by his UNP colleagues, he had vetoed it. The UNP leader had communicated with his party deputies involved in the exercise and told them to call it off. He had also got in touch with some of the SJB parliamentarians concerned and asked them to delay their defection plans.

Wickremesinghe had explained the reasons as to why he did not want a SJB crossover at this point of time to both party leaders as well as potential SJB defectors. Ranil said that he was planning to contest the Presidential election as an independent non -party candidate backed by an assorted alliance of parties, groups and individuals. He would declare his candidacy in June or early July. When that happened Ranil wanted everyone including SJB MPs to support him by joining the alliance backing him. As such he did not want crossovers at this juncture.

Vadivel Suresh

This was why the SJB Parliamentarians did not appear on the UNP platform as expected. Nevertheless some top SJB figures were conspicuous by their absence on the SJB party stage on May Day. As far as the UNP Mayday was concerned only one MP elected on the SJB ticket in 2020 was present on the UNP stage. This was Badulla district MP Vadivel Suresh.

The outspoken Vadivel Suresh has been estranged from Sajith Premadasa for several months. Suresh had organized a meeting of Tamil plantation workers in the Badulla district. Sajith was scheduled to address it. Thousands of worker had forfeited their half-day pay in order to attend the event. Sajith had backed out at the last minute saying he was ill. To Suresh’s chagrin, the Badulla district MP discovered that Premadasa had lied to him about being sick. The leader of the Opposition had gone to a meeting with Sinhala people in the Moneragala district.

Angry over this deception and the shabby treatment meted out to the Badulla district Tamil plantation workers, Suresh demanded that Premadasa apologize to the workers. Sajith agreed but did not do as he promised. Suresh therefore began functioning independently. He has been voting with the Government in Parliament. More importantly Suresh is the General Secretary of the influential Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU). This has now been brought back under the aegis of the UNP. Hence Suresh’s appearance on the UNP stage was no surprise but not much notice was taken of it.

Gayashan Nawananda

There was however another surprise. Though MPs elected on the SJB ticket did not cross, a single MP elected on the SLPP ticket did cross over on May Day. Moneragala district MP Gayashan Nawananda mounted the UNP stage on May Day. Moreover he brought 800 supporters along with him for the UNP rally. Nawananda, a nominee of Vasudeva Nanayakkara on the SLPP List in 2020 has declared himself an independent after the “Aragalaya”.

Nawananda’s presence with 800 supporters was indeed a pleasant surprise to the UNP. Since President Wickremesinghe did not want defections or crossovers at this juncture, Nawananda was not lionised as he ought to have been at the UNP rally. Speaking to reporters the Moneragala MP said it was President Ranil Wickremesinghe who can steer the country forward during these trying times. The MP said his support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe should be considered as his support for the country.

Ranil’s Strategy

Ranil’s decisive action in stopping or postponing the SJB MP crossover at this point in time is due to his evolving strategy in facing the 2024 presidential poll. As stated in the second part of this article last week, Ranil Wickremesinghe intends to project himself on a personal level as a presidential candidate because he regards himself as the best choice. He does not want to be a party nominee. Ranil told Party members that this election would not be a party vs party election. It would be more of a clash between personalities.

Therefore, Wickremesinghe would not have a party label. Instead, he would be an independent non-party common candidate (Nirpakshika Podu Apekshaya) backed by a group of parties, organizations and key individuals. He would come forward as a “national candidate” backed by people from all ethnicities, religions, regions and all walks of life. In short, Wickremesinghe would be an independent candidate backed by a coalition or alliance. He will have the backing of the alliance but will not be an alliance candidate.

What is noteworthy is that Ranil will be an independent, non-party candidate and not a nominee of the coalition or alliance. This coalition or alliance would not be a collection of political parties alone. It would be an assortment of parties, segments of parties and party individuals. People may join forces cutting across party lines or political alignments. Party members and groups would “De-align” from earlier stances and “Re-align” in support of Wickremesinghe.

There was a time when Ranil was toying with the idea of getting some MPs of the SJB to join his Government. He interpreted that move as a re-unification of the UNP rather than the fragmenting of the SJB. Most MPs of the SJB were from the UNP or aligned with the UNP who had split with the grand old party and hitched their wagons to the Sajith Premadasa star only because they wanted to win elections. Very few of them were hostile or opposed to Wickremesinghe.

Basil Rajapaksa

Ranil’s attempts to get back some SJB parliamentarians were proving successful when Basil Rajapaksa threw a spanner in the works. The SLPP insisted that if an SJB MP was brought into the Government and made a minister, it must be evenly matched by an SLPP MP also being appointed a minister. Earlier Ranil had resisted all attempts by Basil to get some SLPP stalwarts inducted into the Cabinet. Among these was Kalutara MP Rohitha “Ratharang” Abeygunawardena.

When SJB Kalutara MP Dr.Rajitha Senaratne was about to join the Government, “Ratharang” demanded that he too should be made a minister. Appointing Ratharan as a minister was disfavoured by Ranil. So Rajitha’s crossover was put on hold.

Ranil was dependent on SLPP votes in Parliament but he wanted to have the ministers he preferred in Cabinet. Basil Rajapaksa wanted to keep Ranil dependent on the SLPP. He did not want Wickremesinghe to strengthen himself by getting MPs from the SJB or elsewhere. In this tricky situation Ranil chose not to bring in new ministers. Thus even the UNP’s solitary MP Wajira Abeywardana was not made a minister.

Waves not Ripples

With the Presidential election drawing near Ranil’s evolving strategy to win the presidency too began changing. Instead of getting MPs from other parties to break away and support him as individuals or in groups, Ranil wanted them to do so en masse. Instead of garnering support in trickles, he wants a flood. Instead of creating ripples, Ranil wants a wave. What Ranil wants to implement is a wave strategy to win. He wants a “Ranil Ralla or pro-Ranil wave of support from multiple parties and MPs. He wants to ride the crest of this wave to win the 2024 Presidency.

It must be noted that Ranil has not openly declared his candidacy so far. When questioned, he sidesteps or diverts. As Bill Clinton famously said “It’s the economy stupid”, Ranil too emphasises that reviving the economy is of paramount importance. So when asked about the presidency, he talks about the need to repair the economy and emerge as a non-bankrupt nation first. That is his vision and mission. Contesting the presidency is to continue with that mission. Thus it is open knowledge that Ranil Wickremesinghe will throw his hat into the presidential stakes ring when he is satisfied that a milepost in economic progress has been reached.

Alliance/Coalition

It appears therefore that Ranil will proclaim his presidential candidacy in June or early July. This will be followed by the formation of an alliance or coalition of parties, groups and individuals supporting his candidacy. The spadework would have been done already. Therefore the alliance would be active almost immediately. Thereafter parties and persons can join it or associate themselves with it.

This is where Wickremesinghe’s envisaged wave strategy comes in. The UNP, Dinesh Gunawardene’s MEP, Thondaman’s CWC, Devananda’s EPDP, Athaulla’s NC, Pillaiyan’s TMVP who are all part of the Government will join the alliance and declare support.

On another level the group of SLPP cabinet ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers led by Prasanna Ranatunga would declare support. The “independent” group of SLPP dissidents led by Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and SLPP Backbencher group led by Nimal Lanza will also follow suit.

Ranil’s main target however is the UNP break-away SJB and the Tamil and its Muslim party allies. According to UNP circles talks have been almost finalised in this regard. A large number of MPs from the SJB will start joining the pro-Ranil alliance in groups and as individuals. Thereafter the Tamil and Muslim parties aligned with the SJB like the Rishad Bathiudeen led ACMC, Rauff Hakeem led SLMC and Mano Ganesan led TPA are also expected to join the alliance.

Ranil “Ralla”

This process by itself would be akin to a wave of support for Wickremesinghe who hopes to ride the crest of this winning wave. He does not want trickles or ripples . He wants a wave or a “Ranil Ralla”.

There are however some key questions. Will all the parties and groups back this pro-Ranil alliance “ as expected? Will there be splits in some parties due to this? What will the Tamil nationalist parties representing the North -Eastern Tamils do? Above all, how will the Rajapaksa led SLPP respond to this? Finally what are the chances of the Wickremesinghe Wave-Ranil Ralla strategy succeeding? These questions will be delved into in greater detail in the fourth and final part of this article.

D.B.S.Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com