Comment On Sajin-Nonis Affair

Sajin Vass Gunewardena | Photo Business Today

By Tamara Kunanayakam -October 3, 2014

Tamara Kunanayakam

The 

questions that everyone should be asking is: “Why now?  Why in New York? Why in the context of the UN General Assembly? Why during the Human Rights Council session in Geneva? Who benefits from the crime? What is the mission of Sri Lanka’s diplomacy?”

Sajin Vass Gunawardena, the man who runs the Foreign Ministry, andKshenuka Senewiratne, his number two, are two sides of the same coin.

The assault of High Commissioner Chris Nonis is only one in a series of Acts in a Tragedy that opened in Geneva in 2009 with the same cast of villains, followed by other Acts also in Geneva in 2011 and 2012, and still others played out in Rome and Paris.

The method they used then to disarm Sri Lanka’s representatives was mobbing, now they have advanced to physical thuggery, and these top “diplomats” continue their devastation not only with total impunity, but enjoying high patronage, promotions, and financial advantages.

At a crucial juncture in the history of our country when unity and cohesion are national priorities, and credibility and allies international priorities, such hooliganism on the part of Sri Lanka’s top “diplomats” raises questions about the very nature of the Sri Lankan State and its state of decay,Their modus operandi may have changed, but their objective hasn’t . Their actions have always put Sri Lanka on the defensive in the position of the Accused. There is a striking coincidence between the defeat of the West along with the LTTE in 2009 and the beginnings of this Tragedy.

It is urgent that the parliament, the parties that represent the people, and the people themselves put an end to this public humiliation of the nation if the country’s sovereignty, independence, and dignity is to be defended.

So Who Is Sajin Vass?

Sajin Vass Gunewardena | Photo Business Today

By Sonali Samarasinghe -October 3, 2014 

Sonali Samarasinghe

A man is often 

judged by the company he keeps. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is no different. Already the President has come under heavy fire for his association with Ajith Nivard Cabraal, and questions have been raised regarding various business dealings of Cabraal and how it would impact on the nation’s economy given Rajapaksa’s recent appointment of him as governor, Central Bank.

Now it seems that President Rajapaksa’s blue eyed boy and his coordinating secretary to boot, Sajin de Vass Gunawardena comes with a dubious track record dotted with remand time, fraud bureau investigations, unpaid loans and unfulfilled promises.

President Rajapaksa’s style of choosing his advisors and close allies become even more pertinent given that Sajin de Vass Gunawardena was refused a place by Ranil Wickremesinghewhen the then prime minister was told that Sajin had a criminal track record. Wickremesinghe was to advice the young man to clear his name first.

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