6 SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2015 7 Editorial

Editor-in-Chief: 2429231 The greatest betrayal: Final part News Desk: 2429232, Business Desk: 2429234 Features Desk: 2429228, Sports Desk: 2429236 Fax: 2429227 Advertising : 2429361-9 e-mail: [email protected] Chandrika’s salute to Website: www.sundayobserver.lk Prabhakaran turns costly Peace or misery – voters should decide Voters in will have to make an important decision in four days time – an election that would not only decide on the next Head of State but also the future of the country’s hard-earned peace. If one were to study the line-up for Thursday’s Presidential election, it is crystal clear that it will be a contest between those who love the country and those who don’t. In other words, it’s a battle between those who wish to retain the country’s hard-earned peace and those who are hell-bent on capturing power at any cost who care two hoots for the hard-earned peace enjoyed by one and all. The unholy Opposition alliance, which supports New Democratic Front (NDF) candi- Traitor will fi nally meet his waterloo date , has spelt out their intentions. They are trying to use Maithripala as a scapegoat to achieve their vicious ends. A closer look at those who lead the unholy alliance speaks volumes. by K.M.H.C.B. Kulatunga As we had stated last Opposition leader is the undisputed ‘best loser’ in election his- The traitor will finally week, the TNA announced tory, with his party - the UNP, losing a record 29 elections under his shaky leadership. The meet his waterloo by Friday its stance on the last UNP has not won a single Presidential election since 1988 and Wickremesinghe would after the masses verdict at moment. As expected the even invoke the devil to change that dismal record and overcome the growing challenge the 2015 Presidential elec- former Tiger proxy party from within the party to hand over the party leadership to his energetic deputy leader tion would be announced. which had been remote controlled by Prabhakaran . He has packed all his bag- Whither Sajith gage and even obtained from his jungle hideouts, Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is wallowing in malice. From air tickets to a Western announced that it would the day she was compelled to nominate her then Prime Minister as destination. He has already support Maithripala. Premadasa? the SLFP’s candidate for the 2005 Presidential election following the overwhelming sup- obtained Schengen visa, This was an unusual port he commanded in the party, Kumaratunga has spared no pains to defeat Rajapaksa. along with that if the Brit- trend in Sri Lanka politics. Her unbecoming conduct reflects a bandit queen as she always abhorred the admin- ish and the US, keeping his Be it the TNA or any other istration of President Rajapaksa whereas she should have looked at it positively as her travel options open. major Tamil political party, successor was a fellow SLFP senior. Having ruined the country for 11 long years, Kuma- Unlike has not directly supported Comparing the then UNP leader pala comes to power. Hence, Sajith ratunga could not stomach President Rajapaksa’s immense success - winning the battle who face the challenge even a Sinhalese candidate at a R. Premadasa and his son Sajith is making a calculated move,” he against terrorism and leading the country towards new economic horizons with mega after he was abandoned by national election. This is who is incidentally the incumbent said. the first time that the TBA, development projects. Hence, Kumaratunga’s seething anger to settle a political score is the common Opposition Deputy leader Sajith Premadasa, deputy leader, a senior UNP ex- Also keeping unbelievable silence after his defeat, Maithripala or a major Tamil politi- arguably the most favourite senior minister said that there is a sharp in the UNP national organizer perhaps understandable. Sirisena will not have guts cal party for that matter, figure in the UNP, is keeping an difference in how the father and the who had once said Former Minister has the notorious track record of changing political to face the challenge single is supporting a Sinhalese unbelievable silence, sticking his son had acted during the lead up to that if the UNP leader Ranil Wick- parties on not less than eight occasions. Crossovers for personal benefits had been the handedly. With his mentor candidate at a Presidential political activity only to Hamban- the 1977 general election and 2015 remesinghe and deputy Sajith Pre- hallmark of Senaratne’s political career. He was unseated from Parliament for indulging in Chandrika Bandaranaike election. tota district. Presidential election. madasa are not willing to contest business transactions with the Government while being a Member of Parliament. Howev- Kumaratunga getting ready Hence, it is obvious that It was reported that Sajith had “It was the then deputy leader 2015 Presidential election, that he er, the then UNP government undermined the Court’s decision by re-appointing Senara- to fly back to London, the TNA has secured a told his confidants that he cannot R. Premadasa who single handedly is ready to face the challenge and tne to Parliament from the national list. Hence, he does not have an iota of self-respect Maithripala knows that bonanza from Maithripala. dis his own political grave by brin- took upon the challenge of bringing become the UNP candidate. in his political conduct. There are many allegations regarding his conduct as the Fisheries he would be isolated after In their lust for power, the ing Maithripala Sirisena to power. the UNP back to power after seven But Ranil make a strategic move Minister for irregular dealings with foreign trawlers reaching Sri Lankan shores. the impending defeat and Opposition alliance has Whilst trying to give an impression years. He went around the country, to avoid growing pressure against agreed to anything and his party leadership by deciding to Maithripala Sirisena, whom the vicious Kumaratunga and the West are exploiting as would suffer similar fate that he is respecting the party’s junction to junction and addressed like Fonseka. everything that TNA had decision to support Maithripala, thousands of pocket meetings. support Maithripala without field- a scapegoat for a regime change, is not the innocuous Grama Sevaka the masses knew Just when Maithripala demanded. Hence, the Sajith has never addressed any of But his son is not doing likewise ing a UNP candidate for a Presi- several decades ago. Those in Polonnaruwa would vouch for his adamant and dictatorial got some self-satisfaction TNA leader R. Sambandan the NDF candidate’s meetings out- because he known that it would be dential election for the second suc- conduct, even pressurising his voters in the area. He supported his brothers to make hay after some political meet- was more than happy to side Hambantota district. the end of road for him if Maithri- cessive time. while the sun shone in their business – both legal and illegal. ings, Chandrika shattered sing the agreement with had always been a blind supporter of former President Kuma- his dreams with a contro- Maithripala. ratunga and his presence in the unholy alliance is no surprise. Soon after he supported versial speech in their Jaf- With the TNA President Rajapaksa at the 2005 Presidential election and secured a powerful ministerial fana rally last Tuesday. announcement last week portfolio, Kumaratunga brainwashed him and made him quit the UPFA Cabinet. Since Chandrika benignly that they will support then, he has been a political refugee in the UNP. referred to the late blood Maithripala, photographs of Prabhakaran and Mai- Moreover, the TNA and the SLMC have joined forces to achieve their separatist agenda thirsty LTTE terrorist leader, megalomaniac thripala Sirisena side by SLMC’s separatist since President Rajapaksa would never agree to even in his wildest dreams. SLMC leader Velupillai Prabhakaran as side had appeared in key Rauf Hakeem demanded a separate administrative district for Muslims in the East and 'Mr Prabhakaran' several Tamil Tiger haunts in both threatened to quit if his demand was not met. The President said a firm no and showed times at a Presidential elec- Toronto and London. agenda him the door. tion rally held in Jaffna on To many observers in The TNA, which had never supported a Sinhalese leader at any election, is showering December 30. both capitals, this did not lavish praise on Maithripala and have called upon the people in the North and the East to Addressing the rally in come as a surprise given support his candidature. Maithripala’s secret pact with the TNA has made R. Sambandan English, Kumaratunga had that Suren Surenthiran of and his men overjoyed as they have been given a firm assurance on all their demands. said lands coming under the TGTF, the hilariously The SLMC is another traitor gress (SLMC) is engaged in an granted equal Hence, the TNA is now trying to win their demands democratically as the LTTE had failed High Security Zones in the named Transnational Gov- in the unholy alliance after Presi- unsuccessful attempt to realise rights and space North would be returned to ernment of Tamil Eelam, to achieve them despite three decades of armed struggle. dent Rajapaksa had flatly rejected one more goal in the internation- for all communities with the aim the people, when Common had stated in an Al Jazeera Rauf Hakeem’s request for a sepa- al conspiracy to make Sri Lanka of uplifting the living standards Mano Ganeshan, another LTTE sympathiser, too has also joined the Opposition alliance Opposition Candidate Mai- interview earlier this month rate Muslim administrative unit an unstable country,” he added. of all Sri Lankans. We also hope for the same reasons. He knows only too well that Wickremesinghe will ensure that he thripala Sirisena is elected that the ‘defeat of President in the Eastern Province. Addressing a press briefing at to build our nation in a peace- gets the lion’s share when dividing the country. President. Rajapaksa’ would enable Sri Lanka Freedom Party the SLFP Headquarters last week, ful environment and not cre- One should also take a closer look at the few ministers and parliamentarians who had Referring to the late them to take him before (SLFP) General Secretary and Minister Yapa said: “We have ate another ethnic clash in the crossed over. Most of them had failed to deliver the goods. They are, by and large, oppor- LTTE leader as 'Mr Prabha- war crimes tribunals.‘Based Petroleum Industries Minis- already granted equal rights and country.” Yapa said the SLMC’s tunist politicians with a track record of changing political parties for personal benefits. karan' on several occasions, particularly upon the per- ter Anura Priyadarshana Yapa opportunities to all, in all parts demand is extremely similar to Generally at any election, the ruling party has more money to expend than the Opposi- she had further stated that formance of the President with the Tamil Tiger front said that the SLMC demanded of the country while ending ter- the LTTE demand for Eelam. tion. But for the first time in election history, the Opposition alliance has infinitely more the new administration Mahinda Rajapaksa in the groups in Europe, and there Government to offer them a rorism which affected the entire “They are trying to push sepa- than the UPFA. Two Western countries and a few INGOs are spending lavishly on Maithri- would cede full powers to past - we decided that we was no doubt therefore separate administrative district nation for over three decades. In ratism in Sri Lanka and create the Northern Provincial would rather repose our that the Tamil Tigers were an unstable situation that would pala’s campaign as this is their last chance for a regime change and to get rid of a Presi- for Ampara, Kalmunai and Pot- such a situation, establishing a Council (NPC). faith in the joint opposition behind this declaration of tuvil. But the President was not separate administrative district harm peace, harmony, reconcili- dent who does dance the fandango round the West. She had said that even candidate Mr. Maithripala fealty to Maithripala. willing to betray the country for for Muslims can cause damage to ation, social and economic devel- President Rajapaksa’s fearless conduct and charisma had always proved to be a head- though she tried to bring Sirisena rather than expect A day after the Toron- the SLMC vote and showed the peace and unity in the mother- opment. Hence they have now ache for some Western leaders. They are supported by the LTTE rump to wreak ven- about greater devolution of what has not happened in to and London cam- ‘You know door to Hakeem. But Maithripala land. “This unjust demand of the joined hands with the Common geance against President Rajapaksa as it was under his political leadership that their powers during her tenure the past 10 years to happen paigns by the LTTE Sirisena eats his camp agreed to give even more SLMC can be a threat to the unity Opposition which has no clear megalomaniac leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was liquidated. Therefore, the Tiger rump as President, she could not hereafter,” TNA leader R. cohorts, Maithripala and embraced Hakeem and his of Sri Lanka. vision,” he said. has embarked on an ambitious mission to avenge the President who had shattered their do so, since the necessary Sambandan told the media and UNP leader Ranil what we men to the unholy alliance. President Mahinda Rajapaksa dreams. political support was not at a press conference in Wickremesinghe came own words “The Sri Lanka Muslim Con- freed Sri Lanka from fear and The Opposition’s media propaganda machine is working overtime to project ‘huge forthcoming from other Colombo last week. to Jaffna to herald this popularity’ for Maithripala. This is a calculated move to mislead the masses that the politi- parties. Kumaratunga who Observers stated that ‘pact with the Tamil want also said future President this is code for stating that Tigers’. cal wave is swaying towards the NDF candidate. But lo and behold, the election result on Maithripala Sirisena would Mahinda Rajapaksa is the Friday will demolish all those myths. legislate for greater devolu- enemyb- and that the senti- his own contradictory statements made “Sirisena is looking forward to solicit from The Opposition employed the same tactics at the 2010 Presidential election to no avail tion of powers. ment follows closely the from time to time. the assistance of the SLFP to rule the and Sarath Fonseka was projected to be the most popular candidate in all those ‘surveys’ Days after, Chandrika’s Tamil diaspora and Tamil “Sirisena previously said country while creating a national Will it be and social media sites. Eventually, the truth emerged victorious and President Rajapaksa shameless speech boomer- Tiger rump line that the that he is going to remove government. But he will never receive Maithri’ won the election by a thumping margin of over 1.8 million votes. Similarly, Maithripala anged on Maithripala as President, if defeated, could the Execu- tive Presidency the assistance of the SLFP as he wishes more and more people in be taken before war crimes within 100 days after since the SLFP is not a political party another would end up as the facebook President while President Rajapaksa would emerge the true winner again. the South, even his close tribunals. h e becomes the without a policy and the SLFP has no The masses still recall that at the 2005 Presidential election campaign, their solitary supporters, had expressed The instant reaction of President of Sri intention of forming a national gov- objectives when Maithripala displeasure. He immedi- jubilation in London and Lanka and then ernment after destroying the opposi- Sirisena wins. CMC expectation from the winning candidate was to wipe out LTTE terror which had brought ately rang Chandrika and Toronto was predictable, about untold agony for the entire nation, irrespective of race, religion and political affili- he says that he tion,” the minister said. What are these objectives? politely asked her to be his and our photographers is going to limit “Anyone can come to the govern- That is what we have wanted ations. Significantly, President Rajapaksa eradicated terrorism by May 2009 and led the strategic advisor and not a who were physically pre- the power of ment and accept its policies. The SLFP from the incumbent President election? country towards economic prosperity in the next five years. speaker. vented from taking the pic- Exec- will never go for a national govern- for the last 10 years. You all know Remember the costly blunder turned the Mayor of that would Despite waging a relentless battle against the most brutal terrorist outfit in the world They also played another tures that had come up in ment,” de Silva said. what it is. which the UNP did at a previ- Colombo did not allow the happen as amidst mounting pressure from a section of the International Community, President gimmick to mislead the Tamil Tiger shops and res- “The Common Opposition Can- (TNA) Supposing those are not given? ous Local Government election UNP to do what they want, promised. Rajapaksa and the UPFA Government embarked on massive development projects - a Sinhalese voters. taurants, stated that there didate has no clear vision about the leader Parliamentarian R. Samban- When Maithripala Sirisena for the Colombo Municipal though the original understand- Considering the mastermind unique achievement which could not be matched. Fearing that Chandrika’s were some poster-like future of the motherland. He is merely dan has told Foreign Correspon- wins, the Executive Presidency will Council (CMC)? After the ing was for all elected members behind the whole operation It is abundantly clear that Maithripala and his the opportunistic politicians in the speech would lose his vot- pictures hung up on walls, working to the dictates of Opposition dents that what the TNA wants be abolished. Thereafter, we will UNP’s nomination was rejected of the independent group to – Chandrika Bandaranaike, Opposition are taking the voters for a good ride with numerous promises, including a ers in the South, Maithri- of SLMC leader Rauff Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and for- is to achieve their final objectives gain what we want through the for some reason, the UNP got resign and name UNP represen- most UNPers say that the 10,000-rupee monthly salary increase for public servants – the same figure pledged by pala also got well-known Hakeem with Prabhakaran mer President Chandrika Bandaranaike under a future ‘Maithree’ govern- means of Parliament. Our problem hold of an independent group tatives as replacements. Hence, former President could not be LTTE sympathiser to state taken in the Wanni, when Kumaratunga. He has no clear vision or trusteed as she is hungry for Fonseka in 2010. In contract President Rajapaksa offered Rs. 2,500 in 2010 and the mass- ment. is the Executive Presidency. which had already submitted the UNP efforts to elect the that she has now associa- the latter was alive. a policy framework. They only want to Sambandan had disclosed this What is your opinion about the nominations to contest Independent group went down power. Once Chandrika plays es reposed faith in him, thereby rejecting Fonseka’s unrealistic Rs. 10,000. tion with the Opposition TNA Parliamentarians utive Presi- remove President Mahinda Rajapaksa. when foreign correspondents Rauf Hakeem's demand for a under the symbol a pair of spec- the drain and ultimately, the her trump cards if the UNPers Not to be outdone, Maithripala is following in his footsteps with a variety of promises alliance. Mavai Senathirajah, M.A. dency. But now he is saying Sirisena does not know that Wick- spoke to him after a TNA press separate Muslim administrative tacles. three-wheel driver ran the show. vote Maithripala to become the to woo voters while entering into many secret agreements with the UNP, TNA, SLMC, JHU Accordingly, the TNA’s Sumanthiran, Selvam Adai- that he is going to retain some pow- remesinghe is using him to have execu- conference recently and posed unit? The UNP then canvassed Many UNPers are in two President, none would be able and several others. There could be perhaps an undisclosed pact with the JVP and even Northern Provincial Coun- kalanathan and Sivasakthi ers of the Executive Presidency includ- tive powers which he failed to gain 24 several questions. The questions It is not wrong on their part to votes for the independent group minds whether to vote for to challenge the President elect the LTTE transnational government as the sole intention of Maithripala and his cohorts is cil (NPC) member Ananthi Ananthan were seen with SLFP Senior Vice Chairman ing the powers of the Commander of times and the former President is using asked and the answers given by demand it according to their need. and told its supports in Colom- Maithripala, fearing whether he as he would enjoy legal immu- to capture power at any cost to fulfill the Western aspirations which funds them. Sasitharan stated that she R.Sampanthan at the head and Irrigation and Water Resources the Armed Forces,” he said. Minister de him to cover up the shortcomings dur- Sambandan are as follows: When foreign correspondents bo to vote for the spectacles. would do another three-wheel nity. Under such a situation, the Do people realise the gravity of the situation the country would be plunged into if this has defied the party's deci- table when the TNA leader Management Minister Nimal Siripala Silva questioned these statements and ing her rule,” Investment Promotion Has the TNA signed a pact asked him why does he not state They readily obliged and the driver act, this time at the high- agreement that Maithripala had unholy alliance secures power? Hence, it is up to the voters to decide - whether they wish sion to support Maithripala. and Sumanthiran made de Silva said all slogans Maithripala asked how the public can maintain their Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene with Maithripala Sirisena? these things in public Sambandan unknown independent group est level. Although Maithripala signed would be a mere docu- to sustain the country’s hard-earned peace or not. Stating that she would not the statement about their Sirisena have already been negated by trust on a person who has no confi- said. What we want is not pacts or bade adieu and made a quick exit. headed by a poor three-wheel had promised to make Ranil the ment and Maithripala, under support either of the two show of support at a meet- Prime Minister and step down the expertise of Chandrika, The wily Opposition should not be permitted to rob the country of its hard-earned dence to make a direct decision. agreements but to achieve our driver came from nowhere to main candidates, former ing held at Hotel Janaki in capture power of the CMC sole from the Presidency after 100 could take the entire UNP peace which was achieved through the supreme sacrifice of thousands of Sri Lanka’s LTTE political wing leader Colombo. Some of these with the support of the UNP. days, knowledgeable UNPers membership for a good ride. valiant soldiers. Let’s continue to enjoy the current peaceful environment, sans ethnic or Ellilon’s widow made public individuals have been But the three-wheel drive have serious doubts whether religious affiliations. statement in this regard. very flagrantly in cahoots