Remove Mahinda, will take care of Namal - US ambassador tells GL

Jan 23, 2017

At a one-to-one meeting last week with G.L. Peiris, US ambassador in Sri Lanka Atul Keshap has noted the joint opposition would gain nothing by recognizing ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa as its leader any further. Peiris has conveyed this message to Mahinda. The US diplomat also said the JO could not go forward with Mahinda and that it would be in trouble if it did not let go of the ex-president. Also, he has said that the US government could assist in realizing Mahinda’s hope of nurturing his son Namal as a national level leader.

Peiris announced details of the meeting he had with the US ambassador when the JO leaders had a discussion at Mahinda’s official residence at Wijerama Mawatha last week, also attended by Mahinda. However, Mahinda nor other JO leaders have commented on Peiris’ revelation.

Last week, ‘Sathhanda’ reported that Mahinda is due to name his successor within two months. Therefore, the discussion Keshap had with Peiris, chairman of the JO’s political party Podujana Peramuna, could have been one conducted with the knowledge of Mahinda, say JO sources.  The newspaper also said Peiris would be named as Mahinda’s successor.

Now, what Mahinda wants to do is to protect his family only and this has caused dejection among many JO leaders. He wants to get ex-first lady Shiranthi cleared of financial crime charges and see that Yoshitha is freed of the accusations he is facing. Shiranthi had wanted to make Yoshitha the commander of the Navy. However, the accusations against him will darken his future and it is now a family problem.

Shiranthi’s father was one of the most senior Navy officers in the country, but he could not become its commander, due to his being a catholic. Therefore, she wants to see her son elevated to that position.

The so-called nationalistic US opponents in the JO such as Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila have accused the US of having helped to overthrow the previous regime, but the truth is that they will have to engage in politics under Namal’s leadership with the assistance of the US. The US has not given consideration if its citizen Gotabhaya Rajapaksa could become leader of the JO, as he is getting ready to enter politics with Chinese support. A group loyal to the incumbent president, including Milinda Moragoda, is supporting Gotabhaya in that regard.