{"id":48999,"date":"2016-10-16T01:33:14","date_gmt":"2016-10-16T05:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=48999"},"modified":"2016-10-16T01:33:14","modified_gmt":"2016-10-16T05:33:14","slug":"fake-twitter-and-facebook-accounts-in-ravi-karunanayakes-name-used-to-spread-false-story-about-president-sirisena-taking-over-law-and-order-ministry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=48999","title":{"rendered":"Fake Twitter and Facebook Accounts in Ravi Karunanayake\u2019s Name Used to Spread False Story about President Sirisena taking Over Law and Order Ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Rasika Jayakody<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Maithripala Sirisena\u2019s speech at a military welfare event in Colombo, on Wednesday, created an unexpected controversy in the country\u2019s political sphere.<\/p>\n

In his fiery speech, the President hit out at the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Bribery Commission for carrying out investigations to benefit what he termed as political agendas.<\/p>\n

Expressing his strong displeasure over producing former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and three former Navy Commanders before court, the President said the independent commissions should function in a responsible manner, within their frameworks.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a purpose and policy for setting up independent commissions in the country. Those serving in the independent commissions should know their scopes,\u201d the President said to an audience full of former soldiers and their family members.<\/p>\n

He also said, \u201cI express my strong displeasure and condemnation over taking three former Navy Commanders and producing them before court. If there is a problem about the Defence Ministry and various other agencies, there is an accepted way to investigate them. As the President as well as the Defence Minister, I should have been informed in advance.<\/p>\n

The people who elected me as the President wanted political reforms, protection of law and order, supremacy of law, freedom, democracy, human rights and fundamental rights. When I am executing these things, I will not be submissive or under obligation to anybody. As the President I am bound to ensure the national security, to protect the tri-forces, give necessary facilities to them and protect their honour.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would never allow the weakening of the Security Forces. If the intelligence officials now in remand custody have allegedly committed any offense they should be tried in courts, after getting them released on bail. If not ensure their early release. The suspects have their fundamental rights to secure bail and get their case be heard before the courts of law.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the intelligence officers were first arrested, I was informed that they would be in remand only for two weeks. Then they said it was only for a month. Then it turned out to be six months. But, they are still in remand!\u201d<\/p>\n

Unreported<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, there was a part of the President\u2019s speech that went unreported in mainstream media. Towards the end of the speech, the President said the present government would not collapse, although some parties were attempting to create problems. Many reporters who covered the event turned a blind eye to the latter part of his speech, as they were busy sensationalizing the President\u2019s remarks on corruption investigations.<\/p>\n

Be that as it may, the President\u2019s speech, without doubt, ruffled a lot of feathers among political circles. Especially the groups supporting the President, such as civil society representatives and human rights activists, were surprised to hear the President\u2019s statement as they strongly pushed for action against Army intelligence unit officers, allegedly involved in attacks on journalists, under the previous regime.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, one of the key promises of President Sirisena\u2019s election campaign, in January last year, was to prosecute those involved in attacks against journalists. Civil society leaders urged the public to vote for President Sirisena to mete out justice to the families and loved ones of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Eknaligoda who suffered for many years without proper investigations. In that context, those who demanded justice for Wickrematunge and Eknaligoda expressed serious concerns over the President\u2019s remarks on Army intelligence wing members.<\/p>\n

Concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n

A day before his speech, the President invited the Prime Minister and a group of senior Ministers for a special meeting, after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. At the meeting, the President expressed his concerns over the manner in which the former Navy Commanders were taken to court over the Avant Garde investigation.<\/p>\n

He said the Bribery Commission should have informed the President, who is also the Defence Minister, before taking action against former Navy Commanders. A Cabinet Minister who was present at the meeting on Tuesday, told the Sunday Observer that the President at the meeting did not make any remark on former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.<\/p>\n

Some ministers too expressed their concerns on corruption investigations at the same ministers. For instance, Minister Champika Ranawaka said the Police were chasing behind \u2018haalmesso\u2019 (sprats), without trying to net \u2018big fish\u2019.<\/p>\n

Therefore, one has enough grounds to believe that the President\u2019s remarks on Wednesday was not a knee-jerk reaction. However, the most damaging outcome of the speech was that it gave rise to many rumours and speculations on the national government\u2019s political future. Some even went on to assume that it damaged the goodwill among members of the ruling alliance in an irreparable way.<\/p>\n

One of the most \u2018popular\u2019 rumours was that the President was planning to take over the Ministry of Law and Order, held by Minister Sagala Ratnayaka. Interestingly, a senior Cabinet minister also ran into an unexpected trouble as a result of the rumours emanating from certain corridors of power.<\/p>\n

He was none other than Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake whose name was used for rumour mongering by some party, on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Using Facebook and Twitter accounts purporting to be official social media profiles of Ravi Karunanayake, a social media operator posted a story saying the President was planning to take over the Ministry of Law and Order. This story was widely shared by many journalists on social media platforms as it came from a seemingly credible source.
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Karunanayake, however, was quick to deny the story, distancing himself from the Facebook and Twitter accounts used for rumour mongering. He also alerted the CID and the Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) of the incident.<\/p>\n

Fake Facebook<\/strong><\/p>\n

Issuing a statement explaining his position, Karunanayake said, \u201cIt has been brought to my notice that a fake Facebook account accompanied by an interconnected Twitter account under the names of Ravi Karunanayake Lanka Intelligence and Ravi Karunanayake@RaviKofficial, implying them as the official Facebook account and official Twitter account of Ravi Karunanayake, Finance Minister of Sri Lanka.
\nI have no connections whatsoever with these two pages which publishes news detrimental to the interests of the national unity government and the coexistence of the Sri Lankan society. I have informed my officials to lodge a complaint with the CID in this connection. It has also been brought to the attention of CERT, a national centre for cyber security which functions as a division of LK domain registry with academic partners to provide computer emergency response services to the public and private sector institutions in Sri Lanka.\u201d<\/p>\n

JVP<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) took a strong position on the President\u2019s statement saying it could weaken ongoing investigations into serious bribery and corruption allegations. In fact, it was the JVP, as an opposition political party, that brought many serious bribery and corruption allegations to the attention of law enforcement bodies after the new government came to power.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Thursday the JVP said, \u201carbitrary comments\u201d by the President led to weakening of the institutions established to investigate serious allegations. They said the President should refrain from making such comments and affecting the morale and independence of those investigative bodies.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the defeated Rajapaksa regime is attempting to misinterpret the actions of law enforcement agencies investigating corruption in order to create a certain impression within the military, the response to that would be to defeat such attempts, rather than seeking to demoralise or weaken institutions working on corruption cases,\u201d the JVP media release noted.<\/p>\n

The JVP asserted that the allegations against the CID, the FCID and the Bribery Commission could not be taken lightly as the President himself had raised them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe President must then make it clear to the country exactly whose agenda these agencies are working towards,\u201d the JVP statement said, adding that some corruption allegations against top-brass members of the current administration were not being probed by the law enforcement bodies.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can only assume that these cover-ups are also happening according to someone\u2019s political agenda,\u201d the party said.<\/p>\n

Civil society<\/strong><\/p>\n

A day after the JVP condemned the President\u2019s statement, Puravesi Balaya (Citizens\u2019 Power) and several other leading civil society organisations convened a press conference in Colombo to voice their concerns on the issue.<\/p>\n

Before the press conference, its organisers expressed fears that an influential group was attempting to sabotage their event by \u2018planting\u2019 stooges to disrupt proceedings. However, the press conference took place without any interruptions and the civil society leaders were able to express their views freely.
\nProf. Sarath Wijesuriya, Gamini Viyangoda, Saman Rathnapriya, Joseph Stalin and K.W. Janaranjana – some leading activists who supported the President\u2019s election campaign in January last year – addressed the briefing held at CSR building, Colombo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are forces attempting to derail investigations carried out by independent commissions. We all should look after the officers who put their lives on the line to carry out these investigations. We cannot put them at risk,\u201d Wijesooriya asserted while addressing the press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t discourage the officers involved in the investigations. It will make a serious impact on law and order of the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Sobhitha Thera were alive today, he would have been utterly disappointed to see such developments,\u201d the civil society activist said, pledging they would never allow the Rajapaksa camp to regain control of the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not topple this government. But we will make sure that the current government is on the right track,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Strengthening Wijesuriya\u2019s argument, Puravesi Balaya stalwart Gamini Viyangoda said the executive should not, in any way, interfere with anti-corruption investigations.<\/p>\n

\u2018We urge the President and Prime Minister to be accountable to the people, not to their own political agendas\u2019, Viyangoda pointed out.<\/p>\n

Rathnapriya and Stalin also highlighted the need to protect what they termed as the \u2018January 8 mandate\u2019. They said both the President and the Prime Minister, the two \u2018centres of gravity\u2019 of the national unity government, should pay attention to fulfill their duties to the nation, without pursuing individual agendas.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a group of artistes representing the two civil society organisations decided to boycott a meeting with the President scheduled for Friday night. They openly stated they would not attend the meeting in protest of the President\u2019s statement on corruption investigations. The gathering, however, was organised to discuss problem faced by artistes involved in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n

SLFP\u2019s response<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the UNP and the civil society leaders were dissatisfied with the development on Wednesday, some SLFP stalwarts in the ruling coalition sounded upbeat as they saw it as an opening to form an \u2018SLFP government\u2019, in the future.<\/p>\n

Even the SLFP MPs representing the Joint Opposition left aside their differences of opinion and held press conferences to express their support to the President.<\/p>\n

MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, a Parliamentarian supporting the Rajapaksa camp, openly backed the President\u2019s statement, calling his supporters to strengthen the President\u2019s hands. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, another Parliamentarian facing multiple bribery and corruption investigations, also joined Abeywardena. They said it was the beginning of the downfall of the national unity government formed after the Parliamentary election last year.<\/p>\n

However, other parties supporting former President Rajapaksa\u2019s political agenda were skeptical of the President\u2019s statement, saying it could be a \u2018nicely orchestrated drama\u2019 to hoodwink the SLFP.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe SLFP is on the verge of a major split. The rally held in Rathnapura last week showed the strength of the Joint Opposition group. The President, as the Chairman of the party, wants to retain his ground level supporters. So, we suspect that he is trying to attract them by criticizing the UNP. It can be a move to weaken the Joint Opposition,\u201d a stalwart representing the Joint Opposition told the Sunday Observer on Friday, when asked about his views on the current state of affairs in the national unity government.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government has postponed the Local Government election. The date for the election is not yet fixed. The government keeps buying time using electoral reforms. The SLFP is aware that it does not have slogans to attract their traditional supporters. Probably, this is a \u2018drama\u2019 to draw their support,\u201d the Parliamentarian opined.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the Local Government election,\u201d he said, \u201cthey will conveniently forget their anti-UNP sentiments and work as a ruling alliance. Party supporters at the grassroots level will be hoodwinked,\u201d he said, on a prescient note.<\/p>\n

UNP meets President<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most of the UNP MPs were in a state of confusion after the President\u2019s speech made headlines on Wednesday and Thursday. They received numerous phone calls from their supporters and the MPs were not in a position to give them convincing answers. Meanwhile, a press conference scheduled at the party headquarters was cancelled at the eleventh hour on Thursday. Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando was due to address the press conference.<\/p>\n

It was in this context that President Sirisena held a special meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wcikremesinghe and several senior Cabinet ministers over the national unity government\u2019s way forward.
\nLaw and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam also attended the meeting at the President\u2019s Office on Thursday.<\/p>\n

The President speaking to ruling alliance members said, he previously informed law enforcement bodies to inform him, before taking action against top brass members of the military. He explained to them that this process had not been followed when the Bribery Commission sued three top-level officers of the Navy over the Avant Garde investigations.<\/p>\n

The President was also dissatisfied with the manner in which the Commission handled the investigation involving State Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, an SLFP stalwart representing the national unity government. The Commission last week filed a case against Fowzie for the alleged possession and use of a vehicle owned by the Disaster Management Centre while serving as the Minister of Disaster Management.<\/p>\n

However, the President stressed that there was no threat to the stability of the government and everyone should work together to achieve the government\u2019s collective goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe meeting was very positive. Everyone was on the same page about the future of the national government. There is absolutely no threat to the political stability of the country and the President stressed the need for unity,\u201d a senior Minister who attended the discussion told the Sunday Observer.
\nHe said the independent commissions would function as usual and the investigations into large-scale corruption allegations would proceed.<\/p>\n

Denied<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Minister also denied speculation that Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe, Director General of the Bribery Commission might resign from her position following the President\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is abroad at the moment. We will discuss her issues when she comes back. But I don\u2019t think she will resign,\u201d he said. After the discussion, the President and the Prime Minister attended the opening session of the annual perahera, organised by the Sri Walukaramaya Temple in Colpetty. The UNP Ministers looked satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, as the President had allayed their fears and concerns. The meeting, however, brought a tumultuous political week to an end as it convinced the ruling party stalwarts that the President did not intend to jeopardise the \u2018existence\u2019 of the national unity government.<\/p>\n

Courtesy:Sunday Observer<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Rasika Jayakody President Maithripala Sirisena\u2019s speech at a military welfare event in Colombo, on Wednesday, created an unexpected controversy in the country\u2019s political sphere. In his fiery speech, the President hit out at the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Bribery Commission for carrying out investigations to …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Fake Twitter and Facebook Accounts in Ravi Karunanayake\u2019s Name Used to Spread False Story about President Sirisena taking Over Law and Order Ministry’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48999"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48999"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49000,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48999\/revisions\/49000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}