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MP’s regime-change conspiracy theory confounds US ambassador
By HIMAL KOTELAWALA
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung has expressed her disappointment over a book authored by a Sri Lankan MP detailing an alleged US-backed regime-change conspiracy, which Chung said should be labeled fiction.
“I am disappointed that an MP has made baseless allegations and spread outright lies in a book that should be labeled ‘fiction’. For 75 years, the US [and Sri Lanka] have shared commitments to democracy, sovereignty, and prosperity – a partnership and future we continue to build together,” Chung tweeted Wednesday April 26 evening.
The ambassador’s remark was a thinly veiled reference to a recently published book by MP Wimal Weerawansa, a Marxist-turned-nationalist politician with a penchant for conspiracy theories that allude to US-led Western imperialist forces looking to destabilise global south states like Sri Lanka. The firebrand MP, widely seen as pro-China and pro-Russia in his foreign policy outlook, was also an influential cabinet minister of several governments headed by former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
On Wednesday, at the launch of his book Nine: The Hidden Story, Weerawansa spoke of an alleged plot to assassinate then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the youth-led Aragalaya anti-government protests of 2022. The protests, which for weeks sustained their peaceful disposition, intensified after pro-government elements launched an unprovoked attack on peaceful protestors gathered at Colombo on May 09, which then led to retaliatory mob violence island-wide. One government MP was killed and the residences of several legislators were torched in the chaos that ensued.
At Wednesday’s event, Weerawansa claimed that a conspiracy was hatched to assassinate President Rajapaksa and top military officials and have the Speaker of Parliament take over as head of an interim government. This scheme was to unfold around the second week of July before Rajapaksa resigned after fleeing the country, according to the MP’s purported revelation.
The former MP even claimed that the absence of former Army Commander Gen Shavendra Silva from the country the previous day was suspicious. He added that allegations of human rights violations levelled at Silva by the United Nations were, in fact, aimed at controlling him.
Chung, in a move somewhat uncharacteristic of a senior Western diplomat in Sri Lanka, took to Twitter to flatly and sardonically reject the MP’s claims. This Chinese embassy in Colombo, in contrast, has been noted for not mincing its words when responding to comments made by local politicians.
The Defence Ministry, meanwhile, also released a statement on Weerawansa’s remarks on Gen Silva’s movements around the time of the alleged plot. The ministry said the general had flown to India to take part in a Deputy National Security Advisor Level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave, a security conference organised between friendly countries in the South Indian Ocean region, held on July 07.
“The Ministry of Defence emphasises that under the directions and approval of the then President of Sri Lanka and the Defence Ministry, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and former Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva participated in the Meeting representing the Government of Sri Lanka,” the Defence Ministry said.
It said the MP’s comment was “baseless”.
Political analysts speculate that the particular strain of nationalism, which is far from fringe, represented by the likes of Weerawansa is now languishing in the post-Aragalayala political wilderness, many of them having abandoned the Rajapaksa camp, at least on the surface, for the time being, due to its seemingly irreversible unpopularity. This group, commentators note, is unable to hitch its wagon to any viable alternative that stands for the same ideals and objectives that the Rajapaksa-led camp which it once proudly called home. The public’s appetite for “international conspiracies” is also no longer what it once was in light of Sri Lanka’s worst currency crisis since Independence, analysts say.
Others, however, while dismissing outlandish conspiracy theories, point to growing US strategic interest in Sri Lanka in the post-war years that saw Chinese influence in the country increase under successive Rajapaksa governments.
In a separate development, the US State Department announced Thursday morning that the US government has barred entry to Sri Lanka’s war-time Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and his wife. (Economynext)
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
