Veiled threats directed by a VIP of the Government to Sunday Divaina

Defence columnist,

Keerthi Waranakuslsuriya the veteran defence columnist of Sunday Divaina was reporting from Geneva the treacherous role played by the individuals and NGOs et during the sessions of the OHCR for last two weeks. He had been covering the Geneva OHRC sessions for last 10 years and had set a record of 25 years of reporting as a defence correspondent of a Sri Lankan paper.

Keerthi had left Sri Lanka to Geneva when the VIP of the present Government had almost instructed the newspaper owners to be have a tight control over the reporting of the OHRC sessions. When Keerthi commenced detailed reporting from Geneva the irate VIP had summoned his henchmen to check about the whereabouts of Keerthi and publicly stated that

the reports are written from Sri Lanka pretending the origin to be from Geneva. He has commanded some people to visit Keerthis’s house to check where he was.

The latest report filed from Geneva by Keerth W provides information about a number of NGOs and civil society members who were operating hand in glove with the shakers and movers of OHRC in finalizing the resolution against Sri Lanka. He mentions the names of the Centre for Justice and Accountability which had a special meeting with the USA representative to the OHRC, 11 pro Eelam organizations which had submitted a number of petitions to the OHRC members, the Global Diligence a London based organization which had provided legal advice , the collective of Democracy, Sri Kugan’s –brother of TNA MP

Sri Dharan- Eelam radio service in Europe, the Liberation organization which worked closely with the OHRC officials. The MPs of Sri Lanka Parliament , Suresh Premachandran, M..Sumanthiran, and Northern PC members, K.Sivajilingam, Anandi Sasaidhran were seen actively lobbying the OHRC members, M.Sumanthiran had a one to one meeting with the High Commissioner Hussian, A TV station based in Tamilnadu, Kanthi relayed all incidents relating to Sri Lankan resolution to Tamilnadu from Geneva to India.

The report demonstrated the strength of the anti- Sri Lanka lobby and the obvious partiality shown to the anti –Sri Lankan lobbyists by some officials at the OHRC and finally how Sri Lanka was compelled to acquiesce with the resolution of the USA and the West.

The freedom of expression is vital for the good governance propounded by the present Government and it is expected that Keerthi Warankulasuriya will be allowed to continue

unhindered his very useful contributions to create awareness regarding the national defence and security of Sri Lanka

Ranjith Soysa 

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