By Veluppillai Thangavelu –
Veluppillai Thangavelu
Isaac Newton third law says for each action there is an equal and opposite re-action. What that implies is that for each force there is a reaction force that is equal in size, but opposite in direction.
Isaac Newton law of motion not only applies to the physical planet, it equally applies to the spiritual world. In common parlance, the word karma describes the complete chain of moral cause and effect wherein the sum of a particular person’s actions in this and earlier states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. This principle of spiritual causation is discovered in most religions. The principle is also identified in Western society embedded in maxims like “what comes about, goes around” and in Biblical scriptures such as “A particular person reaps what he sows.”
Men and women who are in high and responsible positions, if they go against righteousness, righteousness itself will get transformed into a destroyer. Whoever deviates from righteousness, whether or not they are person or states, they are accountable for their own actions.
The Rajapaksa loved ones which strode the political stage like a colossus unchallenged and unquestioned before January 09 have been dethroned and reduced to the status of Alibaba and forty thieves who robbed the treasury at their whims and fancies. No a single anticipated the collapse of Rajapaksa’s empire to fall this soon and in this inglorious fashion. Undoubtedly not Rajapaksa and his astrologer.
Everyday we now hear news stories about Rajapaksa family’s unbridled corruption, bribery, nepotism, waste of public funds, selective law enforcement and authoritarianism. Beneath Mahinda Rajapaksa the white van culture flourished and death squads hunted down and murdered rich businessmen for ransom. A lot of fled the country to save their lives although others disappeared with out a trace. An air of nauseating fear gripped Thamils and Muslims businessmen in Colombo. Even if the accusations against Rajapaksa only half correct, it is nonetheless an unprecedented disaster for good governance.
The most recent to be hauled up ahead of the Monetary Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the former first lady. One does not know the precise charges against her, but Namal Rajapaksa claims “My mother has always stayed away from politics. Does she deserve this harassment? ‘Yahapalanaya’ seems just a facade for this government. Vengeance is not ‘good governance.’
Namal makes use of the word vengeance forgetting how the Rajapaksa family members treated Sarath Fonseka. Right after hailing him as a war hero and the greatest army commander in the globe, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa went following him like hungry wolves. Sarath Fonseka was arrested as component of a political vendetta after he unsuccessfully challenged Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election in 2010.
He was held incommunicado at the navy headquarters amid lurid allegations by the government that he was plotting to overthrow the president. He was court marshalled before two Military Courts on trumped up charges and sent to jail exactly where he wore prison uniform, ate kiri bath on tin plates and carried water can to the toilet like any other prisoner. To his credit he never asked for any special privileges from his tormentors. He was stripped of his rank, medals, uniform, pension and his name was erased from all military records.
Today, due to twist of fate, Sarath Fonseka is a decorated field marshal while his tormentor Mahinda Rajapaksa is just an ordinary citizen, not even a Member of Parliament and facing corruption charges!
I am no fan of Sarath Fonseka who is accused of committing war crimes, but I resent the uncivilized way he was treated by Mahinda Rajapaksa. So Namal must be cautious to talk about political vengeance for the arrest of his mother.
There is also news of another member of the Rajapaksa royal household Pushpa Rajapaksa, spouse of Economic Development minister Basil Rajapaksa, receiving a deposit of Rs. 500 million to the foundation run by her from the Colombo International Container Terminal, a Chinese building firm. This firm has obtained a contract to construct buildings in the Colombo Port City.
Since January 09, there has been a spate of arrests of Ministers, MPs and stooges of Mahinda Rajapaksa on charges of fraud, corruption and theft of government property. Prominent amongst them is the high profile Basil Rajapaksa, the former Minister of Economic Improvement on suspicion of misappropriating Rs.70m from the Divi Neguma rural development funds to hold a conference. Yet another Rs. 70 m was misappropriated for his brother’s election campaign he was in charge. He is also accused of printing and distributing 15,000 Divi Neguma almanacs to promote former president’s campaign.
As minister in charge of Economic Development and reconstruction efforts in the northern and eastern provinces, he wielded enormous powers. His Ministry was placed beyond the reach of the Auditor Common anything unprecedented in the annals of history. It was a legal ruse to escape audit of monetary transactions and accountability.
Basil Rajapaksa was arrested on April 23, 2015 along with the second suspect, Secretary of Divi Neguma Ministry Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka and former of Divi Neguma Project Manager Gen. R.A.A.K. Ranawaka.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa is accused of supplying the wherewithal for Garde Maritime Solutions (Pvt) Ltd a subsidiary of Avant Garde Safety Services (Pvt) Ltd, and incorporated on the 24th June 2011 below the Firms Act (reference: NO.7 of 2007) of Sri Lanka. Avant Garde Maritime Solutions (Pvt) Ltd entered into a joint venture with Government Owned Company Undertaking (GOBU) of Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd (RALL) of Sri Lanka to provide infrastructure facilities for international maritime safety services. The Parent Organization Avant Garde Safety Services (Pvt0 Ltd is the biggest security organization in Sri Lanka employing over 6,500 personnel. It has an unblemished record of more than 17 years of service and delivering land based safety to numerous organizations such as key blue chip businesses, most of the banks and economic institutions, which includes Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Avant Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Restricted provides extensive range of total risk mitigation solutions to the global maritime industry and also engaged in the company of supplying of total logistical assistance to vessels transiting the Indian Ocean. Avant Garde Maritime Services has developed a network of facilities in strategic locations to ensure maritime security businesses are assured of obtaining weapons and related things for passage by way of piracy danger area and handing more than them to be under the handle of AGMS / RALL officers at the relevant location ports before repatriation of sea marshals. AGMS is a Signatory Organization of the ICoC (International Code of Conduct), secured SAMI (Safety Association Maritime Industry) membership and in the procedure of acquiring affiliated to international maritime agencies.
Police launched investigations following data received by Deputy Inspector Basic of Police, Southern Range, and D. J. S. Gunawardhana about news on the discovery of a floating armoury at the Galle Port. The armoury belonged to a private safety business by the name Avant-garde. A total of three,154 firearms and 770,059 rounds of ammunition have been recovered from seven containers on the ship named Maha Nuwara. The police unearthed proof linking Gotabaya to Avant Garde Maritime Solutions (Pvt) Limited.
On March 6, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila stated that there was a conspiracy to arrest Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s name is also coupled with the foul murder of Sunday Leader newspaper chief editor Lasantha Wickrematunga on 8th January,2009 on his way to workplace in Colombo.
Lasantha Wickrematunge left a posthumous letter that claimed both he and Mahinda Rajapaksa knew who will be behind his death. For the benefit of posterity let me quote excerpts from his letter.
“In the wake of my death I know you will make all the usual sanctimonious noises and get in touch with upon the police to hold a swift and thorough inquiry. But, like all the inquiries you have ordered in the previous, absolutely nothing will come of this a single, too. For truth be told, we each know who will be behind my death, but dare not call his name. Not just my life, but yours also, depends on it.
Sadly, for all the dreams you had for our nation in your younger days, in just 3 years you have reduced it to rubble. In the name of patriotism you have trampled on human rights, nurtured unbridled corruption and squandered public money like no other President just before you. Indeed, your conduct has been like a little child abruptly let loose in a toyshop. That analogy is perhaps inapt since no child could have caused so a lot blood to be spilled on this land as you have, or trampled on the rights of its citizens as you do. Even though you are now so drunk with power that you can not see it, you will come to regret your sons possessing so rich an inheritance of blood. It can only bring tragedy. As for me, it is with a clear conscience that I go to meet my Maker. I wish, when your time ultimately comes, you could do the same.”
Wickrematunge’s prediction from the grave remains correct as no one particular has been arrested or charged with his murder. A journalist with the Canberra Occasions reported that the particular person referenced at “dare not contact his name” is Mahindra’s younger brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, ex defense secretary.
When the BBC reporter interviewed Gotabaya Rajapaksa in February, 1999 and questioned him about Wickrematunge’s premature death the former went berserk. He behaved like a possessed person with eyes bugging, hands shaking, voice pitch increasing and casting suspicion on all the former presidents. He derided Wickrematunge as a “tabloid writer” who had many enemies and mentioned anyone could have killed him. He stated it was “just another murder.” He ends the interview by calling all dissent and criticism of the government as ‘treason.’
One more prominent minister of the deposed Rajapaksa regime and parliamentarian, Johnston Fernando was arrested on May 05 by FCID on charges of misappropriating state sources. Police Media Spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekera said that the former minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade has been arrested after getting summoned to the FCID to acquire a statement in with regard to the alleged misappropriation of Rupees 5.two million at Lanka Sathosa. According to the police spokesman, former minister Fernando has been arrested under the Public Home Act.
On May possibly 11 Sajin Vass Gunawardena, MP was arrested by the CID for the alleged misuse of public vehicles belonging to the President Secretariat Office. A total of 120 vehicles belonging to the President Secretariat Office have gone missing and Sajin Vass Gunawardena admitted the offence of transferring 22 automobiles belonging to the presidential secretariat for the use of his private firm. The month-to-month lease payments for these vehicles have been paid by the ex President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidential secretariat!
Sajin Vass Gunawardena, a head line news maker, was hand picked by Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Monitoring Minister of the Foreign Ministry. Sajin has been accused of involving in a number of controversies ranging from fraud, crime, remand time, fraud bureau investigations, unpaid loans, spying and unfulfilled promises. He was extensively criticized for his function as CEO of Mihin Lanka and faced several fraud allegations against him.
In September 2014, at a dinner party held in New York, Sajin Vass reputedly dealt a blow to the head of Dr. Chris Nonis, the Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Britain. The blow to Dr. Noni head almost broke his ear drum!
Mahinda Rajapaksa took below his wing politician like Sajin Vass, other beneath globe characters, murderers and drug smugglers to strengthen his voter help.
Mahinda Rajapaksa for the duration of his tenure wasted government funds in forming jumbo cabinet, oversized delegations to UNO, UNHRC and other foreign capitals at state expense. He built the fancy Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport exactly where no planes are landing. He built the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (also known as the Port of Hambatotta) exactly where only a single ship per month is docking. In spite of all the corruption charges against him, he is planning to return to power by contesting the upcoming parliamentary polls as the prime ministerial candidate.
As I have stated before, Mahinda Rajapaksa is out, but not down. He still enjoys assistance from extreme Sinhala nationalists who claim he is connected to Lord Buddha and King Dutugemunu.
If the Rajapaksa brothers succeed in staging a come back to politics, once once more there will be a throw back to the dark era of repressive and dictatorial rule. Democracy will be place on hold for decades.