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A document has brought the matter into light that to get rid of LTTE renegade commander Karuna, President Mahinda Rajapakse and Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda discussed a plan in June in Geneva.
Head of the Asian Tribune K.T. Rajasingham disclosed the plan by sending an e-mail to Presidential Advisor Sunimal Fernando on October 24, calling for follow up action on a series of issues discussed with the President in Geneva on June 15.
According to him, the discussion was held at the Presidential Suite No 1727, Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva.
"I am attaching the report of the discussion I had with HE President when I met him in Geneva, Switzerland on 15 June 2007 for information and necessary action”, Rajasingham said in his email.
According to the document, President Mahina Rajapakse, Minister Devananda and Rajasingham had discussed a good number of issues ranging from child recruitment by Karuna paramilitary group, role of the Defence Ministry in protecting Karuna, changes in the diplomatic service, and setting up communication networks to counter LTTE propaganda.
In the discussion, both the President and Devananda agreed that Karuna is a liability to the government.
It was also said in the meeting that Pillayan was ready to arrest Karuna but was hesitating because the 'higher ups in the Defence Ministry would not entertain such a step.'
"I suggest let the government get rid of Karuna, a liability and work with Pillayan and his men who are more popular in the east than Karuna," Rajasingham had proposed.
"HE said that he will take up the matter with his defence people and do the needful”, he further said in his e-mail.
In other written communications last week Rajasingham has claimed he had played an important role in the Karuna’s split from the LTTE and his exit from Sri Lanka.
It is worth mentioning here that Karuna was arrested by the British authorities in the posh London surburb of Kensington for entering the country on a forged passport. Karuna has sought asylum when arrested.
Rajasingham also stated that the government obtained a diplomatic passport for Karuna in the name of Kokila Gunawardena on August 30 on which forged passport bearing number D 1944260 Karuna went to London on September 18.
A spokesperson for the Immigration Department said a diplomatic passport to a person who is not holding a designated high office can be issued only following a directive from the President's Secretary.
Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry issued a Third Party Note to the British High Commission in Colombo requesting a visa for Karuna on September 5 in the name of Kokila Gunawardena.
The Foreign Ministry claimed 'Kokila Gunawardena' was to attend a climate change conference on behalf of the government as a representative attached to a department which came under the Environment Ministry of JHU's Champika Ranawaka.
He was described in the visa application as the 'Director General of Wildlife Conservation.'
 SiberNews |