(Excerpts from “Temple Trees”Column in “Ceylon Today”)
Only Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and his key media officials are usually associated with the President at his monthly media briefings. However, this briefing took an unusual turn with several ministers, who represented the government at the PSC too attending it. The President sprang another surprise on the media personnel when he arrived at the meeting with former Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama.
Bogollagama, a prominent figure in the previous UPFA government, went into political oblivion with his defeat at the last Parliamentary Election. However, he has become a frequent visitor to Temple Trees these days. Some government political sources link Bogollagama’s increasing appearance at Temple Trees to the speculation the UPFA’s rebel National List MP Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha is on the verge of losing his parliamentary seat. Sources close to Temple Trees believe, in the event of Bogollagama being nominated to Parliament through the UPFA National List, in place of Dr. Wijesinha, he stands a chance of replacing Prof. G.L. Peiris (known to have fallen from the President’s grace) as the External Affairs Minister.
‘Chief Justice’ at Temple Trees
President Rajapaksa, who walked in with Bogollagama, sat down inviting the latter to take the chair next to him. President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, who at this stage set the ball rolling with a few words, called upon the President to address the media personnel. However, the President turned down the request saying: “No, no, I have nothing new to say. I created good news when the media was starved of exciting news. They all are riding that news at a gallop. Now shoot if you have any questions to ask.”
A journalist at this stage asked the President to elaborate on the proposed independent panel to review the probe report of the PSC.
“I mean no slight to the PSC by appointing an independent panel. This is a decision I have taken to satisfy my own conscience. Once I receive the final report of the PSC, I will refer it to the independent panel,” replied the President. Referring to the media coverage of his speech at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka ceremony on Tuesday, the President remarked: “The newspapers have dropped the important parts, which deserve highlighting and given prominence to other parts.”
A journalist inquired from the President whether there was any truth in the rumour making rounds that he had decided to appoint an independent panel to review the PSC probe report, in order to response to calls received from US President Barack Obama and the Commonwealth President. The President, who appeared amused by the question said easily: “Neither Obama nor the Commonwealth Secretary General called me in a long time.” He added with a smile: “It appears nobody wants to speak to me these days!”
Then, the journalists began asking questions relating to the PSC probe into the impeachment against the Chief Justice. His reply given with a glance at Minister Dilan Perera surprised the media personnel present. “The Chief Justice will be here shortly. Hold your horses until then.” The President again addressed the visibly perplexed journalists: “We can discuss that when the Chief Justice comes. After all, there is a thing called collective responsibility.” Just at that moment walked in PSC Chairman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. And then all realized when the President mentioned “the Chief Justice,” he had meant Minister Yapa. “Ah! The CJ has come now we can resume the session!” said the President.
“Your Excellency is there a move afoot to appoint an acting Chief Justice?” a journalist asked.
“No, no,” the President promptly denied. “There is no need for making such an appointment. I will make appointments in the proper manner when the time is right for making them.”
During the discussion on the impeachment saga that ensued, the conduct of the Chief Justice came in for intense flak from the government representatives.
The briefing over, the President invited all present to breakfast with him, and had a brief chat with several journalists. He appeared to be on the verge of opening up on something he could not during the formal briefing.
“When you were asking questions about the impeachment, I held back something I nearly blurted out.” said the President. Then it was the journalists’ turn to urge the President to divulge what he had to hold back.
“I did not want to say this at the briefing,” he began, “because it could upset Ranil. After all, it is our duty to protect Ranil. You know there is no serious challenge to the government as long as he occupies the chair of the Opposition Leader. Therefore, I held back what I wanted to come out with.”
Egged on by the journalists, the President began recounting the story he had held back. “I was at the Khettarama Stadium to watch the final match of the 20-20 World Cup. When I was watching the match, I was told Ranil too was at the stadium watching the match. I asked Mahindananda to convey my invitation to Ranil to watch the match with me.”
The President resumed after a short pause to give emphasis to what he was going to say. “Once Ranil sat by my side, there was no more watching the match for me. He kept urging me to bring an impeachment against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. He said he had received information from reliable sources that Shirani had planned to give rulings against him in several cases pending in courts. “It looks like she is planning to give you also the ‘works’ after finishing me off,” Ranil warned me. He was telling me: “So why don’t you bring an impeachment against her? If you do it, the UNP can pursue the case against her husband,” he said.
The President added: “I am telling you all this in strict confidence. Please don’t write anything about this revelation. After all, we have to protect the Opposition Leader. I also request you to back him whenever and wherever possible.”
Ranil betrays Mangala
It is a well-known secret that there is a deep mutual understanding between Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Mahinda Rajapaksa and when one is in hot water, the other would rush to his rescue. And Ranil would not mind even resorting to betraying his own confidants when the need arises for him to help Mahinda. An instance where Ranil had betrayed Mangala while trying to help the President was revealed by none other than the President himself at a function held in Matara recently.
President Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest at a ceremony held in Matara last Monday to felicitate Ven. Gombaddala Nandarama Maha Thera on his appointment as the Maha Nayaka Thera of the Sri Rohana Parshawaya of the Shyamopali Maha Nikaya. While enjoying a chit-chat with several ministers, including Dullas Alahapperuma and Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena at the conclusion of the ceremony, the President had confided in them that Mangala Samaraweera had sent a confidential letter to the Commonwealth Committee on Membership requesting them to intervene to settle the dispute between the government and the judiciary.
The ministers were naturally surprised to hear this news. But, what surprised them most was to hear the source of this important information. “How did you know that Mangala had sent such a letter?” the ministers had asked. “When Ranil was speaking to me over the phone last night, he told me all about this. He said even he didn’t know about the letter. Then I told him to send another letter distancing the UNP from Mangala’s letter,” was the President’s nonchalant reply. COURTESY:CEYLON TODAY