The auspicious and the suspicious

MR frets over tomorrow's planetary change

We are in a country where astrology plays a key role and all attention is now focused on the impending planetary change that is to take place tomorrow (16).

The change in Saturn  has become so important that even television channels telecast programmes where well-known astrologers are making  predictions of the impact the change in the planets will have on the country and its people.

According to astrologers, it is almost after 29 years that a change in Saturn will be  experienced. The last time Saturn entered the Leo star sign was in 1976. Therefore, astrologers predict that like the last time when such an event took place and there were some marked changes; this time too the country would experience drastic changes in the political, economical and social spheres.

Astrologers have also predicted that the country will experience large scale disasters, deaths, riots and other events that would put much pressure on the people during the first few months following the planetary change on the 16th.

However, according to astrologers, once the initial stage passes and the country will  experience a political change, it will  once again be an era of peace and harmony.

More problems?

People however keep wondering if the impending planetary change would further deepen the burdens shouldered by them. The masses are already heavily burdened with the rising cost of living.

While the people are left to worry about their survival under the present circumstances, politicians are worrying about  a totally different  factor - how to hold on to power.

Whenever ministers raised the issue of the planetary change with President Mahinda Rajapakse, the response had been a dismissal.  "What nonsense, various people come and tell me all sorts of things. I don't take any notice of what these astrologers say," he had reportedly said.

Although Rajapakse expressed such sentiments about astrology in public, his close associates are well aware of the prominent role that astrology plays in his life.

Advice

It is now being revealed that Rajapakse had even sacked Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi, and created for himself an unwanted issue, because he was following the  advice of several astrologers.

Astrologers have informed Rajapakse that the bad period (erashtaka) experienced by Samaraweera for the past seven and a half years according to his horoscope would end with the impending planetary change on the 16th. They have  also said that Samaraweera would then experience a Raja Yoga and would be destined to hold a key post in politics.

With all the predictions of Samaraweera's future success, Rajapakse has become so uneasy that he has begun to keep a close eye on Samaraweera's movements.

Rajapakse has also found out that Samaraweera is closely associated with several astrologers and that he too was seeking advice on creating a drastic change following the planetary change of  July 16.

The President's growing uneasiness about Samaraweera created the opportunity for people like Dulles Alahapperuma to create a rift between Rajapakse and Samaraweera.

Wishful thinking

Finally, with all these predictions and advice, the President ended up by sacking  Samaraweera and his close associate Sooriyaarachchi from the government long before July 16.

Following the sacking the President believed he was successful in bringing them down.

The final stage of an erashtaka is known to be a troublesome period for the bearer of the horoscope. After seven and a half years, Samaraweera's erashtaka is to end on the 16th.

However, the President's astrologers have  informed him that the Saturn change on the 16th would be the beginning of an erashtaka period for Rajapakse. They said that the high positions achieved by him during the last three years would be challenged during the period following the 16th.

The members of Rajapakse's family  worried over this piece of information have dedicated their time and energy to visit astrologers all over the island to seek their guidance in minimising the ill-effects of the change of Saturn. So dedicated are they to the cause that in some instances, journeys to meet astrologers are made in helicopters.

Every morning at 4 a.m. simultaneous poojas are held in different locations with their beneficial effects to be directed towards Temple Trees.

Imported astrologers

The Rajapakses have even resorted to flying down astrologers from India for their predictions and advice.

The astrologers who are flown down from India are given two horoscopes - one of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and of Samaraweera. The first question to be posed to the astrologers is how they would fare during the bad period experienced by Rajapakse following the Saturn change on the 16th.

Much to Rajapakse's annoyance, almost every local and foreign astrologer has predicted that the period of change  following July 16 will  be good for Wickremesinghe and Samaraweera.

To add to Rajapakse's headache is the addition of another horoscope - that of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

According to astrologers, like Samaraweera, the erashtaka period experienced by Kumaratunga is to end with the planetary change on July 16th.

Gajanayake's complaint that has backfired on the Rajapakses

The arrest of former Air Force Officer Nishantha Gajanayake for his alleged involvement in the abductions for extortion racket in the country has become a key topic of discussion as he is a prominent figure in the local political scene.

The latest in the Gajanayake saga is a statement made by him to the CID on February 12 dragging the name of former Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi. That was just three days after his removal. The police conducted further investigations based on the statement by Gajanayake and informed of its progress to courts as well.

However, on July 5, the CID informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court that although investigations were held following Gajanayake's statement, the police did not have sufficient evidence to pursue the case. The CID therefore requested court to dismiss the case.

At the media briefing held on Thursday, July 12 by Mangala Samaraweera and Sooriyaarachchi, copies of the statement made by Gajanayake to the CID were released to the media.

What is significant to note here is that Gajanayake made his statement against Sooriyaarachchi before his role in the extortion racket came to light. But what the statement did help to bring to the surface is his contact with the Karuna Group and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse. It should be kept in mind that the February 12 statement was made to help fix Sooriyaarachchi and take the wind off the sails of the SLFP rebels' campaign. But what it has done is expose the government's dealings with the Karuna group.

What should be also noted is that the police in recording his statement does not even take down his proper address.

Following is an English translation of the complaint made by Gajanayake when he was still a favoured son of the authorities: 

I, Acting Officer in-Charge of the Colombo Crimes Division, Police Inspector Iddamalgoda hereby states that investigation was held into the complaint made by K. D. Nishantha Gajanayake, who lives near the HNB bank at Baseline Road, Dematagoda on February 12, 2007 in line with the aforementioned crimes.

The above mentioned complainant has stated that he had retired from the force as a wing commander on January 1, 2007. While on duty it was Air Force Sergeant Deshapriya who handled this matter  - that he met with members of the Karuna faction currently engaged in the east through him, gathered intelligence accordingly. He also got to know former Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse through him. He accordingly looked into LTTE activity within the Ports and Aviation Ministry. He was also sent a message to meet with Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi through this sergeant and that he could not meet him although he set off to meet him with the sergeant.

By this time the sergeant had also informed him that the night Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi was sacked from his portfolio, he had called and said "The government is trying to give the works to Karuna Amman after getting work done by him. Therefore you leave that group and join us."

He had also said that he had informed this to the Defence Secretary and was willing to make a statement on it and even video it.

He had also informed the Senior DIG of the 4th Division and on his instructions had informed the Colombo Crimes Division.

Brigadier, Director Operations, Army Headquarters, Colombo 3, G.W. Don Udaya Ainsley Perera had also made a statement on it. He had said that it was he, together with the army chief who were involved in planning present and future military operations, that the recent military successes were under his direction, that all successful military operations in the east were under his director board, that they were able to successfully liberate the east from the LTTE control and find a large haul of weapons belonging to the LTTE, that the morale of the three forces have been high and that the withdrawal of the terrorists was a clear indication of their demoralised state.

In this backdrop, former Minister Mangala Samaraweera and former non cabinet Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi said at a media briefing on February 15, 2007 "Although the LTTE has to be put down as a terrorist organisation, the war should have been fought in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. There is no point in going to the east. This is an unimaginable war. They go and attack. When attacked they withdraw. We are going to reveal all this. There is an agreement in a tape recorder.

"It is in order to reveal these that we tell you earlier that at the right time we would say the real motives behind the war. According to the agreement we believe that people from the government may even destroy Karuna by February 15, 25." It was Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi who said this.

As the army's operations director, he dismisses the agreement and the conspiracy stated by Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi, it is denied because he is involved in all offensives planned against the LTTE terrorists and because he is aware of the military strategies, that he believed that false statements made like this would give strength to the LTTE at a time when successful operations carried out by the forces and would push the likes of Karuna Amman out of mainstream democratic politics that he has entered to now, and has further reiterated that Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi's statement was made deliberately to push Karuna Amman away from the mainstream democratic politics that he has entered and to further strengthen the LTTE that is currently engaged in a war with the security forces.

Also, Sri Lanka Air Force Sergeant 5766, K. M. Saman Hemantha Deshapriya of No. A/4/1, Air Force Quarters, Guwanpura, Borella has verified the statement made by complainant Nishantha Gajanayake.

He had said that he has served in the Air Force intelligence unit for the past three and a half years, that he is currently attached to the intelligence unit of the air force chief, that Wing Commander Nishantha Gajanayake was there while he was serving in the intelligence detail of former air force chief, that he received intelligence from the LTTE as well as Karuna Amman's faction, that he reports to Wing Commander Gajanayake and follows instructions, that he continued to maintain contact with the leaders of Karuna Amman's faction, that they requested for his help in their political activities, that they requested him to make arrangements to meet with the former President, that he was in close contact with Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi because he represented his hometown, that he had also informed this person of his close contacts with Karuna Amman's faction, that this person after becoming Ports Minister had called him and asked him to meet with him along with Wing Commander Gajanayake, that he went with Gajanayake to meet with him but could not meet him although they spoke over the phone, that he contacted Sripathi to inform him of the LTTE members who have entered the port.

Meanwhile on February 9, 2007, upon hearing that ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi and Anura Bandaranaike were sacked from their portfolios on state media he had tried to call Sooriyaarachchi but could not get through to him, Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi had called him after a while, then he had asked 'What have you done, Sir?' "Even I really don't know what happened," he had said, he had also said, "What you are doing won't work. End the mission. They are trying to give the works to your Leader Karuna Amman. So tell Amman that there is a conspiracy inside to destroy him after the work is done. Therefore, inform Karuna Amman of it."

Then when asked, "Sir what will happen to you?" he had been told to leave Karuna Amman's group and join Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi and work with him and this was conveyed to Gajanayake.

This is a punishable offence under Clauses 114 and 120 of the Sri Lanka Penal Code.

Also, Air Force Sergeant Deshapriya has said that Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi has from his mobile No. 0777771414 called him on his mobile No. 0785201236 and told him all this. Therefore it is kindly requested from court to issue orders to the billing manager to give details of the calls taken and received from January 1, 2007 and thereafter by these mobile phones to the officer in-charge of the Colombo Crimes Division or to an officer assigned by him to continue with the investigation.

Also, it is requested for a date to investigate and report the progress and it is also kindly requested to consider these files as highly confidential as the investigation has to be conducted in a very secretive manner.

Officer-in-Charge,
Colombo Crimes Division,
Dematagoda.
February 20, 2007

Basil plays  troubleshooter

President's brother and advisor, Basil Rajapakse returned to the country several weeks ago after a long stay in the US to play the role of saviour and help his brother President Mahinda Rajapakse out of his present plight.

Since his arrival, Basil has been involved in various tactics to salvage his brother and the government from the predicament they are in. He even ordered the arrest of Nishantha Gajanayake who was accused of masterminding the whole abduction and extortion scenario in the country.

He did everything possible to redeem the government but it so happened things did not go as planned.

Gajanayake was arrested by the CID and upon being interrogated, had come out with some damning details. He even gave names of members of the security forces who were connected to the abductions and extortions. That only helped substantiate the allegations made by the opposition, media and international human rights groups.

Accounts in Bahamas

It was also alleged in parliament that the large sum of money collected by Gajanayake through the extortions was transferred to the account of a top official in the Bahamas.

It has also been revealed that Gajanayake has had close contacts with JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa and was also involved in several deals with him. Due to the damning evidence given by Gajanayake to the CID, a question has been raised in parliament as to whether the CID would continue to investigate into the details given by Gajanayake due to the implication of government members.

UNP Parliamentarian Lakshman Seneviratne said in parliament last week that there were doubts of the CID properly recording details given by Gajanayake.

However, the next tactic resorted to by Basil also boomeranged on him. It  was to commence peace talks through Solheim. Basil expected the commencement of the peace process would stop the international community from exerting pressure on the government for several months.

The extremist elements in the government were none too pleased with Basil's decision and in turn had to face their wrath.

Third plan

While two of his strategies to save the government boomeranged, Basil decided to secretly engage in his third plan.

That was to turn towards the JVP. Basil secretly met Weerawansa and informed him that the government was in need of the JVP's support.

He asked Weerawansa to stop leveling allegations of corruption against the government.

It is Basil's practice to commence a discussion with a person after issuing mild threats and the same happened before the discussion with Weerawansa.

Basil reminded Weerawansa of the times he was involved in deals at Temple Trees with arms dealers and multi national companies, the sexual harassment case leveled against him by a young girl and the fact that the continuance of the Gajanayake case would also implicate his name.

Basil asked Weerawansa to immediately halt the planned general strike by the JVP's trade unions against the curtailment of workers' rights. He had also informed the JVP propaganda secretary that if an election was called after dissolving parliament, the party would be reduced to just nine seats in parliament.

Done deal

Amidst Basil's threats, Weerawansa had agreed to stop the general strike and the allegations of corruption leveled against the government.

However, Weerawansa made one request from the government as well. That was not to associate Norway, Solheim or Jon Hanssen-Bauer with the peace process.

Basil assured that he had already made the necessary arrangements to address the issue. He added that the government would have to continue with its act till the end of the UN Security Council meeting scheduled for September.

Vendors of Thoppigala prepare

Thoppigala dominates the headlines in the media these days. It was just two and a half months back that the government decided to focus the spotlight on Thoppigala.

Thoppigala took center stage as the government used it to shift attention from the mass campaign launched against the President and the government by former Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi along with other political fronts, and of course the deteriorating economic conditions.

President Mahinda Rajapakse and his government have so far gone back on all their promises made to the people and have created a government reeking with corruption. The only saving grace is the much hacked statement, "we are waging a war against the terrorists."

Several weeks ago, President's brother and Advisor, Basil Rajapakse summoned several ministers and provincial councilors to his office at the Presidential Secretariat and asked them to launch an islandwide poster campaign after the security forces gained control of Thoppigala.

One month of it

The state media institutions were informed that they should carry news items of the Thoppigala victory for at least a month after the battle.

This was how the government planned to sell Thoppigala for its benefit.

However, the advisors who planned the whole process did go wrong at one point.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse stated that the security forces have gained control of Thoppigala for the first time in 25 years. Basil also worked on the premise that it was the first time that the security forces have gained control of the area.

The President also believed that his brothers were engaged in securing an area that has never been controlled by the security forces since the war in the north east broke out.

While Basil continued to monitor the whole process from his office at the Presidential Secretariat, the UNP came out with a startling expose.

Calling a press conference, the UNP announced that twice, in 1992 and 1994, Thoppigala was under government control after the security forces and the STF secured the control of the area.

The UNP also released a copy of the statement issued by the army on April 27, 1992 stating that the 7th Sinha Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army had handed over control of the area to the Independent Sri Lanka Infantry Regiment.

The handing over of control was certified by Lieutenant Colonel K.M.D.U.M. Kendaragama. In the same manner, the area was handed over to the STF in 1994.

UNP expose

When this expose was made by the UNP, those masterminding the present Thoppigala scenario had already ordered the printing of 'victory' posters and cut outs stating that the Sri Lanka government after 32 years since the war broke out had secured control of the Thoppigala area.

Basil then inquired into the veracity of the expose made by the UNP and found out that indeed the revelation made by the UNP was true. All preparations made by those who were planning to sell Thoppigala for their benefit were faced with an unexpected obstacle.

The government's plan of holding large scale celebrations following what they claimed to be the fall of Thoppigala since the war in the north and east broke out three decades ago was dampened.

The masterminds behind Thoppigala had also made arrangements to celebrate the victory on a national scale through a ceremony organised at the Independence Square under the patronage of the President on July 19.

The event was to be organised by the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry, which is also in-charge of organising the annual Independence Day celebrations. The minister in-charge of the portfolio, Karu Jayasuriya called a meeting with several state officials, the forces chiefs and the IGP to discuss the event. At the meeting he informed everyone that he was asked to organise and event for July 19th to celebrate the victory at Thoppigala by the Presidential Secretariat.

However, the discussion stopped midway due to a problem that cropped up.

The problem was spotlighted by the representative from the army who said that he had already spoken to the commanders in Thoppigala and received information that it would take at least several weeks for the troops to capture Thoppigala.

Not yet

The army officer said the troops would not be able to gain control of Thoppigala by July 19.The Army Commander, he said wanted that message communicated to those planning the victory celebrations.

The discussion ended with the news that the President was scheduled to meet Army Chief Sarath Fonseka the following day to discuss the situation in Thoppigala.

However the masterminds of the Thoppigala plan wanted to hold the celebrations on the 19th as planned since it was an auspicious day.

The positions of the troops in Thoppigala were confirmed by Defence Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Military Spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe when they told AFP in an interview on July 10 that troops had several more kilometers to go to gain total control of the area and that the LTTE too was still engaged in retaliatory fire.

Samarasinghe said that the troops were in an area called Narakamulla and that they had to clear an area of about six to seven kilometers to gain control of the area.

The army believed that just by clearing Tora Bora plateau did not tantamount to gaining control of Thoppigala. Therefore the army informed the masterminds behind the campaign to sell Thoppigala to be patient for several days in order to gain complete control of the area.

Also, the area command of Thoppigala also informed that the LTTE was in possession  of a small multi-barrel rocket launcher and till it was destroyed there was no chance of capturing Thoppigala.

Disturbed by The Morning Leader

Amidst all this uncertainty, the Thoppigala vendors were disturbed by a news item published in The Sunday Leader's sister paper, The Morning Leader. The story was the postponement of the celebrations organised for July 19.

As soon as they read the news story, they inquired  about  the area the army had so far gained control of. They said that a commando unit has climbed the Tora Bora Mountain from the west side of Weli Oya, but said it would take days for the army to gain total control of Thoppigala.

The Thoppigala vendors at the Presidential Secretariat decided to create an impression through the media that the capture of Tora Bora meant capturing Thoppigala.

By 10 a.m. the following morning, it was reported to the media that the army had total control of Thoppigala.

AFP stated that Thoppigala was under total government control according to government spokesmen.

Ironically, the day before, Rambukwella and Samarasinghe stated that it would take several days for the troops to gain total control of Thoppigala.

After stating that the troops would have gained control of Thoppigala, the President made an interesting statement to the cabinet of ministers, which met that evening.

"The Morning Leader newspaper has said that we will not  be holding the national event to celebrate the capturing of Thoppigala as planned on July 19. Therefore, in order to teach them a lesson we must hold the event on the 19th," he said.

Different story

However, at the news briefing held at the Government Information Department at 2 p.m. that day, a response given by the head of the Media Center for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle told a different story.

Upon being questioned of the situation in Thoppigala, he said that the troops have gained control of the Tora Bora plateau in Thoppigala. He also said that it did not mean the troops have gained total control of Thoppigala.

According to Hulugalle, the troops needed several more days to clear the area completely and were unable to give an exact date as to when it would be done.

The masterminds behind the idea of selling Thoppigala believed that the media carnival they planned from within the Presidential Secretariat would help deviate attention of the public from the burning issues faced by the country only to see Hulugalle raining on their parade. for premature celebration