The relationship between India and Sri Lanka has seen many ups and downs in the past – from high points such as the agreements of 1964 and 1975 relating to Tamils of Indian origin in Sri Lanka or the demarcation of maritime boundaries which confirmed the Sri Lankan ownership of Katchathivu in 1976, and reaching lows such as India’s ‘Parippu drop’ violating our soverignity in June 1987, or President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s quit notice to the IPKF and the cancellation of the SAARC Summit in 1991.
Since January 2015 the relations between India and Sri Lanka have taken an upswing and during the last three and half years there were several significant agreements on cooperation in many spheres.
The strength of the ties and close friendship became evident from the speedy clarification of events relating to the unexpected hiccups which occurred, due to media interpretations given to the cabinet discussion on the alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena.
The two governments at the highest level took action to explain the actual position and dispel doubts, if any, or the possibility of disinformation or misinterpretation. President Sirisena and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation on the very day after the media reports appeared. The two leaders held a very cordial discussion, during which the developmental activities in Sri Lanka were discussed. Premier Modi assured the President that India would always assist Sri Lanka’s progress and prosperity.
The Prime Minister said that the close friendship and cordiality would continue to be strong and expressed appreciation over President Sirisena’s efforts to maintain close relations with neighbours as well as other countries.
President Sirisena thanked Prime Minister Modi for India’s continuous support of Sri Lanka’s development and progress. Following this, Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinhe held a press conference and refuted media reports that President Sirisena had made reference to the involvement of Indian intelligence agency RAW in the alleged plot to kill him and the former defence secretary. He added that the President did not utter a word about the Indian government or accuse RAW in connection with the alleged plot.
Asked why such news appeared in the local and foreign media, the Minister said that it may be a result of certain persons who want to create friction between Sri Lanka and India. ‘This can be an action taken deliberately by a certain group aiming to create unrest between the two countries. Sri Lanka and India have long been friends, and certain persons may want to harm the relationship,’ the Minister said. Although the issue of unwarranted attempts to create a rift between India and Sri Lanka is solved, there is a need for speedy investigations of the alleged assassination plot. Last Thursday (Oct 18), two Presidential advisors charged that there was an attempt by certain politicians and officials to belittle the investigations into the alleged attempt to assassinate President Sirisena and former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and thereby thwart the successful conclusion of the probe.
They said that though there was steady progress with the investigations, there were also attempts by certain sections to make it appear that there was nothing to investigate and that police informer Namal Kumara was not credible. They also questioned as to why certain politicians put aspersions on police investigations and the Government analyst’s work. It is the duty of the police to carry out the inquiries to find the absolute truth behind the allegation. Thereafter the law can take its course and legal action taken against those who attempted the plot. Until then no one should jump to conclusions on the authenticity or falsehood of the alleged assassination plot and disrupt the investigations.They added that if the plot was real there may be political or other motives for the crime. President Sirisena was also concerned about the allegations and he informed the Cabinet that he wanted to know the truth. Any allegation of coup attempts or assassination plots cannot be taken lightly as there were instances in post-independence Sri Lankan history that changed the destiny of the nation, and two national leaders - Prime Minister S W R D Bandaranaike in 1959 and President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993, had been assassinated. When the alleged plot to assassinate President Sirisena and former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was revealed by a police informant Namal Kumara at a press conference, many people were shocked, though some others dismissed it as the work of a prankster. He alleged that Deputy Inspector General Nalaka de Silva was behind the assassination plot.
Though, initially there was no serious action from police, once the matter was brought before the Fort Magistrate’s Court, a travel ban was imposed on Namal Kumara and DIG Nalaka de Silva because of the ongoing investigations. In a rare show of unity, Government and Joint Opposition MPs demanded in Parliament that DIG Nalaka De Silva be arrested and investigated over his alleged involvement in the plot. Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that the CID had obtained the mobile phones of Namal Kumara. ‘Namal Kumara, while addressing a press conference, alleged that he had audiotapes of DIG Nalaka Silva conspiring to kill the President. The matter was reported to the Fort Magistrate. Court orders have been obtained to secure the video and audio records from media organisations in the event Namal Kumara had made those allegations,’ he said.
The fact that at least two weapons belonging to the Police Terrorism Investigations Division had gone missing and they were authorized by DIG Nalaka de Silva also has given credence to the assassination plot theory.
According to the alleged audio records of the telephone conversations played during the press briefing, the activist was ordered by DIG Nalaka de Silva to tarnish the reputation of certain highly regarded police officers.
Since an informant and a suspect had given information about the plot, it must be thoroughly investigated as it has serious implications on the democracy of Sri Lanka, police impartiality and national interests.
(The writer is the Director of International Media and Research at the Presidential Secretariat.)