Possible FETO infiltration in Sri Lanka

The statement of the Turkish Ambassador to Sri Lanka made on the occasion of the fourth-year commemoration of the failed coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016, attempted by FETO (Fetullah Terrorist Organization), did not receive the attention it deserves due to the August General Elections and subsequent political events. “The Island” on July 20 carried the full Statement of the Turkish Ambassador to Sri Lanka Demet Sekercioglu under the caption “Sri Lanka warned of possible FETO infiltration”. The Ambassador stated inter alia: “FETO had established itself in around 160 countries including Sri Lanka, through schools, businesses, NGOs and media houses. The organization which has lost its backbone in Turkey, has been trying to maintain its presence in these countries”. She further stated that “FETO was also present in Sri Lanka through an affiliated school and some business organizations”.

“The Island”

on 20 August reported that law enforcement officers have taken into custody a journalist for allegedly facilitating smuggling of weapons from Naula to Colombo during the Corona lockdown. The report added that another journalist is under investigation. The stock of weapons found included RPGs, LMGs, T-56 assault rifles and pistols. The day following “The Island” Editorial titled, “Scribes from hell” called to uncover these “rogues in the garb of journalists” and asked the pertinent questions that alert the security personnel, “Why was such a huge stock of firearms and RPG launchers delivered to the underworld? Were criminal gangs planning a destabilisation campaign in retaliation for the ongoing operations against the underworld? Were they planning high-profile political assassinations?”

Police investigating this incident of smuggling of weapons should pay attention to the statement by the Turkish Ambassador to Sri Lanka, and probe whether these operations are linked with FETO as the Ambassador had stated that the modus operandi of FETO “is same all around the world”.

As a seemingly charitable educational organisation FETO initially started its operations establishing schools. Its sympathisers strengthened their power and infiltrated into critical positions in the state system of Turkey. The movement got donations from various funding agencies. Media houses were established to shape public opinion.

Sri Lanka has a very strong NGO movement which has stretched its tentacles to every field such as politics, research, international relations, human rights, peace building, reconciliation, good governance, election monitoring, environment, art, literature, culture, media … the list is too long to mention. Some of these people held critical positions in the Sri Lanka State under the Yahapalana regime. They did the job of the midwife in the establishment of the yahapalana regime in 2015. Paradoxically they also brought the downfall of the Sirisena-Wickremasinghe combine in 2019 and 2020 respectively, by their over ambitious projects and infantile activities. Some of these organisations own media houses of their own. It’s very strange how they publish weekly broadsheets when there is no readership at all for their publications, and how they organise high profile public meetings at star class venues. Films in Sinhala language are being produced portraying mainly ravages of war, internal displacement and ethnic strife to be exhibited specifically at international film festivals, and to obtain the logos of those particular film festivals to add validity to their efforts. Art Exhibitions are being held in prestigious galleries depicting militarisation (so-called “Barrelism” and “Neo-barrelism”) and domestic violence. (For these brainwashed artists an ordinary ‘manna’ knife kept in the kitchen to break coconuts is also a tool of violence). In the 90s under the aegis of a weekly in the alternate stream, NGOs of Sri Lanka debated the possibility of turning their movement into a political party. Some of them became top advisors in the Yahapalana regime and framers of constitutions. Although they thrive with US dollars, Sterling pounds, Deutsch marks, Swiss francs and Japanese yen, it is better to conduct investigations to find out whether there are other sources of funding.

SLMC leader and SJB MP Rauff Hakeem told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating the Easter Sunday attacks that Zahran Hashim had no links to ISIS, and the Easter Sunday attacks had been masterminded by another force that wanted to destabilise Sri Lanka and Zahran’s group was used only as pawns. If it is so, it is the duty of the government and its security arms to check who were the rooks, bishops, knights, queens and kings before another pawn reaches the other side of the (chess) board and gets promoted/converted into another queen. Does Hakeem refer to any FETO connections?

SENA THORADENIYA