Maithri-Gota union planned by China? 

Jul 31, 2016

Western diplomatic missions in the country strongly believe that the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) is behind moves to build a political relationship between president Maithripala Sirisena and die-hard anti-Indian, ex-defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, sources close to these missions say.

The middleman in this is Milinda Moragoda, president of Pathfinder Institute and international affairs adviser to the president. He maintains ties with the CICIR.

President Maithripala Sirisena has already declared that he would not contest the next presidential polls, and an operation is on to get Gotabhaya to succeed him as the SLFP chairman. Several websites reported that this was revealed by Gotabhaya himself at a discussion organized by his Viyath Handa organization. His advisers have told Gotabhaya not to create clashes with the president, and to reach a consensus with him. Accordingly, he has decided not to take part in the march.

Western diplomatic missions are of the view that China is interested in building this relationship through CICIR between the president and Gotabhaya, who is very close to China’s government, in order to fulfill its geopolitical plans for the region. Moragoda last May signed a MoU with CICIR, and six representatives of Pathfinder Institute had left for China to take part in a discussion at CICIR. This institute is considered very influential in the formulation of China’s foreign policy and is functioning under the supervision of the ruling Communist Party. It has a staff of around 400, including 150 senior analysts who carry out analyses and make recommendations on China’s national policies. It conducts studies under its Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies on Sri Lanka. The CICIR has direct connections with China’s defence and foreign ministries, and such institutions had been formed to serve wants of China’s intelligence quarters. It has resident representatives in several countries who regularly send information to a special unit at the defence ministry by way of SMS messages, foreign media has revealed.

A closest friend of Sirasa TV owner Killy Maharaja, Moragoda too, had suggested Indrajit Coomaraswamy, an ex-employee of his institution, as the Central Bank governor, and the appointment was made with the consent of all the parties concerned. It is Sirasa TV that carries out a media contract to create a positive opinion among the people of the country with regard to the port city project, the biggest project undertaken in the country by China.

 - Sathhanda -