…alleges SJB, JVP colluding with India, frowns on recognition received by some musicians

By Shamindra Ferdinando

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa has alleged that President Ranil Wickremesinghe pursues a two-pronged strategy to do away with what he called called the collective identity of the society and transform the country into the 29th state of India. The former minister claimed that the country was facing the threat of extinction.

Addressing a gathering at the launch of ‘Rama, Ravana saha Vibhishana nuthana kathawa,‘ at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKI) recently, Colombo District MP Weerawansa declared having gained power as a result of violent public protest campaign, Wickremesinghe pursued strategies inimical to the country.

The One-time JVPer accused UNP leader Wickremesinghe of colluding with the US and India. Weerawansa compared President Wickremesinghe’s current role with that of Vibhishana, brother of mythical Ravana.

Wickremesinghe accepted the premiership from the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in May 2022. The SLPP parliamentarians then elected Wickremesinghe as the President in July of the same year after Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave up executive power after having been forced to flee the country by violent protests stage managed from outside.

MP Weerawansa claimed that with the change of government the US was in a position to decide on the country’s foreign policy. The NFF leader cited a controversial declaration made by the next US Ambassador here Elizabeth K. Horst recently before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with regards to the ban on foreign research vessels entering into Sri Lankan territorial waters.

Horst has declared in no uncertain terms that the US made Sri Lanka make that announcement. The ban covered January 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024.

MP Weerawansa examined this development against the backdrop of other post-Aragalaya developments.

According to MP Weerawansa promotion of LGBT rights (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) was in line with the overall project meant to destroy the Sri Lankan identity. The NFF Leader alleged that the USAID provided funds for a selected group of YouTubers to promote gender-affirming surgery (female to male) among Sri Lankans. Referring to the writings of Russian far-right ideologue Aleksandr Dugin, who had been supportive of the Russian stand on Ukraine, ex-minister Weerawansa discussed the threat posed by neoliberalism. Those who had been opposed to Dugin went to the extent of causing his daughter Darya Dugina’s death by planting an explosive device in her vehicle in August 2020. The blast in Moscow killed the 30-year-old journalist and political analyst on the spot.

In early March 2022 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expelled Weerawansa from his cabinet. Along with him, leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) attorney-at-law Udaya Gammanpila, too, was dismissed over them moving the Supreme Court against the sale of Yugadanavi shares to a US firm.

MP Weerawansa said that President Wickremesinghe was in a mighty hurry to enact laws meant to achieve what he called overall neo-liberal objectives. Declaring that during his 24-year-period as an MP, he had never seen enactment of laws in such a hurry, the former JVPer said that since July 2022 75 new laws had been passed and there were 67 more to be approved by parliament. MP Weerawansa claimed that among those laws which were to be enacted were one on LGBT and another that facilitated divorce.

MP Weerawansa said that the USAID was busy formulating some laws for Sri Lanka as pointed out by Mohan Samaranayake who addressed the gathering before him.

The ex-minister explained how interested parties attacked Buddhism at different levels. The MP explained how some Buddhist monks advised against offering of flowers, a Buddhist tradition as a section of the Buddhist monks was also being used to weaken the religion.

Commenting on the ongoing debate on the birth of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka, parliamentarian Weerawansa alleged that the very basis of Buddhism was being undermined and confidence and faith in Buddhism eroded in Mahavamsa as well as Thripitakaya. The despicable project was so intense, those seeking to destroy Buddhist faith propagated the lie Mahamaya Devi, the mother of Prince Siddhartha underwent sex change.

The MP alleged that President Wickremesinghe was moving with speed to transform Sri Lanka as an Indian state. According to him, the much touted agreements/understanding between President Wickremesinghe and Premier Modi were meant to bring Sri Lanka under Indian domination at every sphere, at every level, including the financial sector, MP Weerawansa said, explaining how New Delhi gradually took over the country.

He said so referring to Unified Payments Interface (UPI) digital payment platform of India in Sri Lanka

Lawmaker Weerawansa claimed in terms of the overall project, India would take over three major Sri Lanka airports while proposed connectivity between the Customs of the two countries, the trade would be handled the way currently practiced in India.

The former minister also expressed serious concerns over the electricity connection between the two countries while pointing out that the new Electricity Act was meant to facilitate the amalgamation of Sri Lankan power grid to that of India.

MP Weerawansa addressing the gathering at the LKI

The Indian operation would be completed with the opening of the proposed land bridge, MP Weerawansa said. Declaring that would be catastrophic, MP Weerawansa warned Sri Lanka could end up like Sikkim. The ex-minister explained the circumstances leading to Sikkim parliament declaration on April 09, 1975 that Sikkim was recognized as part of India through a referendum.

In addition to that above-mentioned threats, India-Sri Lanka ECTA was also to be implemented in the near future, thereby paving the way for Indians to join both state and private sectors here. The Opposition MP said that to facilitate the ECTA strategy, the government would undermine the local industries’ enhanced tax regime.

The parliamentarian also alleged that the proposed establishment of Ramayana Trails in Sri Lanka would pave the way for busloads of Indians to come over the land bridge. Against the backdrop of other developments, Sri Lanka tourism wouldn’t benefit at all as the transaction would be done in Indian currency.

The Indian take over should be examined against the backdrop of New Delhi being part of Quad-military alliance consisting of US, Australia, Japan and India. Weerawansa lambasted the JVP which he represented till 2007, for being silent on the rapid Indian expansion here. Weerawansa accused the JVP of backing President Wickremesinghe’s strategy by being silent.

MP Weerawansa alleged that SJB MP Harsha de Silva of backing the Indian strategy while questioning as to why Dimo provided buses free of charge to SJB leader Sajith Premadasa to be distributed among schools. Dimo wouldn’t have offered buses free to the SJB leader, MP Weerawansa said, asserting that it was part of the scheme.

At the tail end of his fiery speech, the ex-minister claimed that the unprecedented recognition received by singers Yohani de Silva, Ravi Royster and Kanchana Anuradhi in India should be carefully studied. Claiming that Sri Lankan musicians never had such opportunities in India before and the sudden overwhelming response could be part of the strategy-or the seven connectivity points, the MP warned.