2009: The Road to Presidential, Parliamentary Polls Early 2010..!!!

2009: The Road to Presidential, Parliamentary Polls Early 2010
by Shamindra Ferdinando


Had anyone felt that the collapse of the LTTE on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon in May would facilitate incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election bid two years ahead of the next presidential poll, a split in the Rajapaksa camp could not have come at a worse time.

The unexpected division within the President’s "A’ team with two powerful players, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former Army Chief General (Rtd) Sarath Fonseka clashing over the events leading to Sri Lanka’s triumph over the LTTE made 2009 an eventful year.

For an Opposition struggling to cope with President Rajapaksa’s growing popularity against the backdrop of finishing off the Tigers regardless of a determined international bid to save Prabhakaran, Fonseka had given hope though beating the incumbent President would be an overwhelming task. The UNP firmly believed that the Rajapaksa administration could not sustain the combined security forces offensive due to economic difficulties worsened by dwindling foreign reserves.

The Opposition also felt that the IMF would turn down Sri Lanka’s call for $1.9 billion standby facility. But to the credit of the Rajapaksa administration, it relentlessly pursued a military option until the Army killed Prabhakaran, along with his family on the banks of Nanthikadal lagoon. President Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa strongly opposed international efforts to throw a lifeline to the LTTE by way of restrictions on arms sales to Colombo and a US bid to evacuate the LTTE leadership and a subsequent UN move to remove the top LTTE leadership from the battlefield. Had they succeeded, a Tamil government in exile would be a reality and Colombo could not have done a thing about it.

A dejected UNP had no option but to reach an extraordinary political agreement with the Marxist JVP to take on the government on the pretext of abolishing the executive presidency. The JVP-UNP marriage had the blessings of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and former Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva, bitter critics of the Rajapaksas, though President Rajapaksa remained confident of crushing the Opposition bid.

2009 comes to an end with the Opposition making a last ditch attempt to oust Rajapaksa. Whoever wins the January 26 presidential poll will comfortably take the forthcoming parliamentary polls.

The following is a summary of the main security, political, economic and international developments:


January

The Army liberated Paranthan, Elephant Pass, Kilinochchi, Pallai, Soranpattu in quick succession close on the heels of veteran political cum defence columnist D.B.S. Jeyaraj’s claim that the 12,000 to 15,000 battle-hardened LTTE cadres remained on the Vanni front. He asserted that the LTTE had the wherewithal to destroy the Army east of the A9. This claim was made in the wake of the LTTE declaration that the liberation of Kilinochchi was only a daydream of President Rajapaksa.

UNP Assistant Secretary Rukman Senanayake hailed battlefield victories while praising the Rajapaksa brothers, Mahinda and Gotabhaya for giving the required leadership. Much to the chagrin of his colleagues, the Kegalle District MP declared that they had met the LTTE military challenge boldly and also successfully executed the war.

Ranil Wickremesinghe accused the government of failing to evacuate soldiers wounded on the Vanni front, a charge denied by the Defence Secretary.

The Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga was killed in broad daylight in Colombo. Wickrematunga, who fearlessly took on the government, was the most prominent journalist to die at the hands of assassins. An armed gang stormed MTV/MBC studio at Pannipitiya. The Opposition accused the government of carrying out both attacks though being denied by the UPFA. But today, the Wickrematunga assassination is an issue at the presidential election with claims and counter claims over the despicable act of killing a journalist.

The government proscribed the LTTE on January 7 as several fighting formation converged on the last LTTE strongholds east of the A9 road. The BBC and several other media institutions continued to attack the government over heavy loss of civilian life on the Vanni (East) front, with special emphasis on an alleged artillery strike on the government hospital at Puthukudiyirippu.

The Navy lost a Fast Attack Craft (FAC) off Mullaitivu in a suicide attack. The January 19 attack was the last suicide attack on the Navy before the war came to an end in May.

The LTTE also thwarted repeated attempts by the UN to evacuate over a dozen Sri Lankan employees trapped in the war zone along with their dependents.

The Defence Secretary ruled out a general amnesty to the LTTE leadership though ordinary cadres could be rehabilitated.

By end January, the total area under LTTE control was reduced to about 400 square km.

On January 25, the Army liberated Mullaitivu on the north-eastern coast following a year-long operation. The 59 Division fought some of the fiercest battles on the Vanni (East) front and paid a heavy price to seize the town, which the Army lost in 1996. The Division crossed Anandakulam and Nagacholai forest reserve to reach the outskirts of Mullaitivu before a daring lagoon-borne assault facilitated the final assault. Following the liberation of Mullaitivu, the then Army Chief Sarath Fonseka declared that 95 per cent of the war was over.

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s sudden visit to Colombo late January fuelled speculation that New Delhi wanted President Rajapaksa to stop the offensive, though the Foreign Ministry emphasised that military action would not be called off.


February

The Army captured last of the seven LTTE airstrips at north-east of Piramtharukulam in the Puthukudiyirippu area The Army also thwarted an attempt to blast Iranamadu tank bund but the LTTE launched a major counter-offensive targeting the 59 Division. The LTTE caused heavy losses on the Army though it failed to sustain the offensive due to swift counter-attacks by the Army.

Hot on the heels of battlefield victories, the government comfortably won Central and Wayamba Provincial Councils taking all electorates in the two provinces.

The LTTE massacred 21 men, women and children at Kirimetiyaya in the Inginiyagala area.

UNP National List MP K. N. Choksy declared that he would not quit his seat to pave the way for S. B. Dissanayake to re-enter Parliament.

The LTTE carried out its last air attacks on Colombo and Katunayake. The SLAF shot down both aircraft but the Inland Revenue headquarters suffered heavy damage forcing the government to shift offices temporarily.


March

The government turned down a US offer to evacuate LTTE leadership to facilitate an end to hostilities on the Vanni front. Large groups of civilians fleeing the LTTE sought refuge in the government-held area.

While the Army advanced on the enemy, the government stepped up diplomatic efforts in South East Asia in a bid to arrest Kumaran Padmanathan aka ‘KP’ widely believed to be responsible for running a vast LTTE arms procurement ring.

Navanetham Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Refugees alleged that 2,800 civilians, including children may have been killed and 7,000 wounded since January on the Vanni front. The government vehemently rejected the allegation as the Army stepped-up the offensive.

The government also survived a US-EU spearheaded anti-Sri Lanka Resolution at Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva. It was perhaps Sri Lanka’s greatest diplomatic victory achieved against tremendous odds.

President released Mary Juliet Monica , the wife of Pubic Estate Management and Development Minister Milroy Fernando, sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on March 2, 2005 for abducting and murdering Charlotte Teresa Fernando, believed to be Milroy’s mistress and her domestic aide Susanhewage Teckla alias Seelawathie. Monika Fernando and 2 foreign women, both over 60 years of age found guilty of heroin smuggling were among 13 women released on March 8 to coincide with the International Women’s Day. Since the introduction of the executive presidency about 100 convicts have received presidential pardon. Among them were Gonawala Sunil and Manohari Daniels by the then Presidents, JRJ and Ranasinghe Premadasa, respectively

Auditor General S. Swarnajothi accused Parliament of failing to act on his findings, particularly in the state financial sector though being submitted late last year. He also said that the Draft National Audit Bill which would strengthen the state audit was still with the Legal Draftsman.

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) headed by Vijitha Herath, MP, investigating INGOs and NGOs operating in Sri Lanka revealed PNNOS South Asia paid a group of Sri Lankan journalists to report on ‘conflict issues’


April

The Ceylinco Group withered under pressure as depositors and investors launched protests. The Ceylinco Success Educational Services Limited, another branch of Lalith Kotelawela’s group hit by deteriorating financial crisis.

The Fort Magistrate sentenced three national athletes, including Prasanna Sampath Amarasekera, a Gold medallist at regional, level and a member of Sri Lanka’s 400 metre relay team to the Olympics to one year rigorous imprisonment suspended for 10 years and fined them Rs. 100,000 each on their pleading guilty to human trafficking charge.

The Army encircled and annihilated a large LTTE fighting formation east of Puthukudirippu in the first week of April as the LTTE rapidly retreated towards the seaside. The 72-hour battle saw, the Army recovering about 420 bodies, including senior commanders, who had been at the forefront of the LTTE over the past decade. It was the single biggest blow suffered by the LTTE in the entire war. As the LTTE defences collapsed, the number of civilians fleeing in boats increased with the Navy rescuing thousands of men, women and children. With time running out for Prabhakaran, the UK called for a two-day suspension of military operations to evacuate civilians. After rejecting the British call, the government authorised the Army to pierce the last LTTE defences to rescue the civilians. The Colombo-based diplomats were given an opportunity to observe the rapid progress made on the ground.

The President visited Kilinochchi for a first hand briefing as the Army went ahead with operations with the UN making a last minute bid to arrange a meeting between UN representatives and the top LTTE leadership. The government rejected the UN call while emphasising that the LTTE leadership would not be allowed to surrender to a third party whatever the pressure brought on the government.

Amidst bloody battles on the Vanni front, the government bagged the Western Provincial Council with Prasanna Ranatunga succeeding Reginald Cooray as the Chief Minister of the council.

In late April, the government ruled out talks with defeated Tigers as the President signalled that a presidential election could be favourable to him. What he never believed was one of the top players switching allegiance to the Opposition to challenge him.


May

The Army recovered Prabhakaran’s body on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon. The recovery of his body triggered celebrations in Colombo and its suburbs and in many other parts of the country. The Army killed several hundred LTTE cadres in battles after thwarting a last ditch attempt by them to reach Mullaitivu jungles. The SLAF flew Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan alias Karuna, now a Minister and Vice President of the SLFP to recognise the body of Prabhakaran. The ICRC revealed that the LTTE made a bid to surrender to the Army through the ICRC though nothing materialised.

The Attanagalle Magistrate remanded JVP MP Piyasiri Wijenayake over the killing of JVP activist Nandana Ballaga in the run up to elections to the WPC. UPFA MP Sarana Gunawardena was also remanded over the alleged abduction of the son of a supporter after he switched his allegiance to Prasanna Ranatunga.

WPC member Hector Bethmage was remanded over the alleged killing of a youth on April 11 though the Police had been initially reluctant to take the politician into custody.

Former Navy Chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda revealed that the LTTE had brought arms, ammunition and equipment with the help of Eritrea.

Sri Lanka blocked an Israeli proposal to send a joint UN-WHO team to investigate the conduct of Sri Lankan forces during the final phase of the offensive.

Hot on the heels of Prabhakaran’s killing, President Rajapaksa declared war on waste and corruption though he is yet to take some tangible measures to improve the public sector finances.

The government called on Malaysia to hand over ‘KP’ as the intelligence services stepped up pressure on the Tamil Diaspora to thwart an attempt to name a successor to Prabhakaran.

June

Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka retired to take over the post of Chief of Defence Staff while Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda assumed the office of the Transport Secretary. The change in the top command and control structure of the Army and Navy facilitated an Opposition move to drag General Fonseka to politics, thereby causing a severe political crisis.


July

The government requested the ICRC to vacate the East as part of an overall plan to reduce presence of INGOs in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The SLAF revealed the dropping of its plans to acquire MiG 29, a fourth generation multi-role fighter now in service in over 30 countries.

The government increased fuel prices with a litre of petrol going up by Rs. 10.

General Fonseka declared that he would not seek a political career. Addressing a packed press conference at the Joint Operations Headquarters, the war veteran said he did not want to lose his popularity within 24 hours.

The government was caught lying about feeding the war displaced on its own. The government was embarrassed by the revelation that the WFP and UN agencies as well as many other donors contributed heavily to a programme aimed at providing basic food items to some 300,000 people.

The government offered a general amnesty to military deserters.

Versatile teledrama actress Umayangana Wickremasinghe called for police crackdown on local porn after an organised gang released a CD featuring a girl who looked like her baring it all.

The government received the first instalment of $ 2.6 IMF standby facility to the disappointment of the Opposition which campaigned against it.

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections warned that President Rajapaksa was rapidly moving towards a one-party authoritarian regime. Dr. Nimalka Fernando said that having provincial council polls on a staggered basis was the ruling coalition’s strategy to throttle the Opposition.


August

The government brought ‘KP’ to Colombo following exhaustive negotiations with a South East Asian country. It marked the beginning of a major operation targeting the Tamil Diaspora in a post-LTTE era, particularly LTTE-owned assets overseas.

The UPFA comfortably secured the Uva province along with the Jaffna Municipal Council while the TNA captured Vavuniya Urban Council.


September

The Supreme Court paved the way for former Treasury Chief Dr. P. B. Jayasundera to return to office dismissing an earlier SC decision to prevent him from holding pubic office. This followed Jayasundera’s making submissions that the government needed his expertise in a post-LTTE era to handle mega development projects.

WPC Opposition leader Rosy Senanayake defended their decision to tour China with a group of UPFA members at the taxpayers’ expense.

Army Chief Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya denied British press reports that arms of British origin were used in the battle against the LTTE.

Police commandos shot dead Fajji during a shootout on a roof top in the Maligawatte police area.

Business tycoon Harry Jayawardene said that overseas investors would not be keen to invest in Sri Lanka due to the impact the judiciary could have on what he called business related matters.

The government ordered UNICEF spokesman James Elder to leave for being hostile towards Sri Lanka.

Minister Dallas Alahapperuma accused the Opposition of being part of an international conspiracy to change the Rajapaksa administration. The government clashed with the US and some foreign funded NGOs for targeting Sri Lanka over human rights violations.

SLFP dissident Mangala Samaraweera accused the Rajapaksas of transforming Parliament into "money laundering joint."

The Opposition stepped up pressure on the government with a frontal attack on the Rajapaksas.

The Justice and Law Reforms Ministry announced Raj Rajaratnam, Sri Lanka born US-based investor with significant stakes in several companies here both on his own account and through the Galleon Funds he controls, would contribute $ 1 million to rehabilitate detained LTTE cadres.

The government denied Indian press claims that the Sri Lanka Navy had killed 50 fishermen in two weeks. The government said that this was part of their campaign to cause a rift in Indo-Lanka relations.


October

India and Sri Lanka conducted a three-day joint naval exercise off Colombo shortly after Sri Lanka was accused of killing 50 Indian fishermen. The joint exercises belied the anti-Lanka propaganda campaign carried out by a section of the Indian press.

In a surprising move, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused Sri Lanka of using rape as a tool in Sri Lanka’s successful war against the LTTE, a charge subsequently retracted by the US. It was one of the most serious charges levelled against the Sri Lankan forces by the international community after the war ended May.

The government denied TNA allegations that it was planning to change the ethnic ratio in the Vanni region.

The UPFA secured the Southern Provincial Council comfortably though it failed to achieve over 80 per cent vote as speculated by UPFA propagandists. Hot on the heels of elections to the SPC, the JVP hinted that it may throw its weight behind the UNP to topple the President by fielding General Fonseka at the presidential election.

Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan vowed to quit the UNP-led Opposition Alliance if Fonseka was brought in as the Opposition candidate but quickly pledged his allegiance to the war hero following pressure being exerted on him.

Raj Rajaratnam was arrested by US authorities following a painstaking investigation into his alleged involvement in insider dealing.

The US authorities sought to question Fonseka regarding Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s alleged involvement in human rights violations during Eelam War IV. The government thwarted the attempt and facilitated his return to Colombo in the first week of November.


November/December

The UNP and JVP trade unions joined hands in an unprecedented show of solidarity to cripple essential services. This signalled the launch of their political alliance against the Rajapaksas now riding high on the armed forces’ triumph over the LTTE though the Opposition wanted to deny the President and the Defence Secretary the credit they deserved for sustaining the offensive amidst tremendous international pressure on the government. Similarly General Fonseka, too, could not be denied the credit for keeping the offensive on track though taking heavy losses on the battlefront. A final victory over the LTTE would not have been possible without the political and military leaderships targeting the LTTE on all fronts. As we enter 2010, the country faced a new challenge though the LTTE could no longer posed a military threat. The bottom line is that a split in the nationalist camp will only benefit the enemy who may not have a military capability but cause political chaos.

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