‘Prez exploited Wimal’s claim to his advantage’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Patriotic National Movement (PNM) Secretary Dr. Wasantha Bandara said on Tuesday (04) that Sena Thoradeniya’s ‘Galle Face Protest: System Change or Anarchy?’, reiterated accusations pertaining to the alleged high profile US role in an operation that ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July 2022.

Dr. Bandara said that Thoradeniya’s work was meant to strengthen National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa’s ‘Nine; The Hidden Story’ that dealt with apparent India backed US effort meant to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Instead, they ended up having Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President, Weerawansa alleged.

Referring to US Ambassador Julie Chung’s swift denial of MP Weerawansa’s shocking allegations, the PNM Secretary said that the Ambassador would find it difficult to challenge the latest publication as the award-winning writer addressed the issues at hand authoritatively.

Dr. Bandara said so at the launch of Thoradeniya’s latest book, at the National Public and Documentation Services Board on Independence Avenue in the presence of Ven. Dr. Madagoda Abeytissa Thera. Among those present were Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, Constitutional Council member Dr. Anula Wijewardena and dissident SLPP MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana.

Dr. Bandara said that the two books should be taken together and examined to ascertain how US had exploited a deepening economic crisis to oust a popularly elected President. This would be of pivotal importance in view of the impending challenges, Dr. Bandara said, pointing out that President Wickremesinghe was in the process of implementing the US agenda.

Referring to the recent declaration by President Wickremesinghe in the UK, that he had been under pressure to quit the premiership in a bid to deprive him of the presidency, in case President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned, Dr. Bandara said the UNP leader was trying to exploit MP Weerawansa’s claim. The President wanted to deceive the public that the US and India wanted to block him and pave the way for the Speaker, Dr. Bandara said. The PNM leader said that Speaker Abeywardena had never contradicted MP. Weerawansa’s claim pertaining to US Ambassador Chung making the daring request at his official residence after making an unannounced visit.

“Their original plan was to eliminate the President and set up a Presidential Council, under the Chairmanship of Speaker Abeywardena. However, that move went awry and they implemented plan B. The UNP leader became the President in line with plan B,” Dr. Bandara said.

Dr. Bandara said that the UNP leader was likely to contest the next presidential election. The country would definitely face a catastrophe if the incumbent President won the next presidential poll scheduled for later next year, Dr. Bandara said.

Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera said that the destabilisation of Sri Lanka by way of unprecedented economic-political-social crisis had been intended to facilitate a US intervention. Although President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had refused to implement the MCC project, the US project was on track, Dr. Amarasekera said.