WikiLeaks: Ranil Had No Clue How Karuna Came To Colombo
By Colombo Telegraph -August 23, 2012
Karuna
“At the request of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ambassador met him on ‘an urgent matter’ the evening June 23. Wickremesinghe wanted to discuss recent news reports alleging that United National Party (UNP) MP Ali Moulana had facilitated transport toColombofor breakaway rebel Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Karuna. After an initial denial, Moulana admitted to him that he did arrange for Karuna to come toColomboin early April, Wickremesinghe confirmed. He added that he had first learned about the events only on the morning of June 23. The papers are rife, however, with speculation that UNP leadership had been involved in the planning for Karuna’s transfer.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
Under the subheading “CONCERN FOR MOULANA” the ambassador wrote “Wickremesinghe said that his real concern was for Moulana and his family, given the danger of LTTE retribution. (Contacts said that Moulana’s and Karuna’s families have a long, close relationship.) Moulana has resigned his seat in Parliament, and was planning to leave immediately for Saudi Arabia and then Singapore. Wickremesinghe then said that Moulana would also like to get a visa to go to the U.S. and asked the Ambassador if he could help facilitate that effort.”
“The Karuna/Moulana story is bizarre enough, but the Sri Lankan press and the ruling SLFP have tried to juice it up even more. The government-controlled Daily News headlined the story, “Ranil(Wickremesinghe) Stands Naked,” alleging that Moulana acted with Wickremesinghe’s approval in an attempt to win the backing of four pro-Karuna TNA MPs. The story went on that the resultant turmoil in the UNP would likely cause a split in the party and the replacement of Wickremesinghe by Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya.” Lunstead further wrote.
Placing a comment the ambassador wrote “Ranil was adament (and fairly convincing) in his statements to the Ambassador that he knew nothing about Moulana’s involvement with Karuna. As for Karuna, the question of whether the SLA has him or not has been finally answered they do. On the visa issue,Missionhas not found any evidence that Moulana has ever had aU.S.visa. We see no reason to deny him a visa assuming there are no other ineligibilities. We can deflect any negative comments that might arise, should Moulana receive aU.S.visa and it become public: he is eligible as a Sri Lankan citizen and there are no grounds to deny him.”
See the cable below for further details;
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001074
