Government tries to visit Geneva at JHU expense

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Political analysts say that the sudden Cabinet reshuffle that was held on the 18th was aimed at sidelining and reducing the powers vested with the JHU General Secretary, Minister Champika Ranawaka. It is said that Ranawaka’s powers have been slashed following an assurance given to the Indian government.

The Rajapaksa government that completely ignored the international community during the impeachment of the Chief Justice has now come back to its senses since Sri Lanka has to once again go before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in March. External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris was sent to India and the External Affairs Ministry’s supervising MP, Sajin Vass Gunawardena was sent to Britain in order to minimize the growing international displeasure against the Rajapaksa government.

Sajin during his visit to Britain had met with the Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Alistair Burt as an urgent damage control measure. Sajin had also met with several MPs of the Conservative party. He had entertained them at the Park Lane Hilton in London and had begged for their support for the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) that is to be held in Sri Lanka at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Peiris who visited India had met with the Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and several key government officials and begged that the Indian government would not take any action against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions in March. The External Affairs Minister has promised to India that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution would be implemented as soon as possible. He has assured that measures would be taken to silence the campaign carried out by the JHU within the country calling for the repealing of the 13th Amendment. He has also revealed that the first step would be to silence the head of the JHU, Minister Champika Ranawaka.

The Indian officials had then questioned Peiris about Minister Wimal Weerawansa who has equally opposed the 13th Amendment. Peiris had smiled and asked the Indian officials not to take any notice of the jokes made by Weerawansa. The External Affairs Minister has added that the President new how to get Weerawansa to even speak in support of the US and other Western nations if necessary.

Peiris has also said that the government took the responsibility of silencing movements like Bodhu Bala Sena that is currently raising a voice in the country.

In a bid to win India’s support, the government as a first step removed Ranawaka from a key cabinet ministry and appointed him to a third level ministry like Science and Technology.

The government had also summoned the Bodhu Bala Sena to Temple Trees for an urgent meeting in order to please the Indians.

Political analysts believe that the Rajapaksa government is once again engaged in the exercise of trying to fool the international community before the March sessions of the UNHRC.

However, they note that the government would have to face far serious consequences than on previous occasions. The process is now in place with the announcement by visiting US officials stating that a new resolution against Sri Lanka would be presented before the UNHRC in March.