Sri Lanka bashing to destabilize the country

Dr. P. A. Samaraweera

The war and the Presidential election have ended but there seems to be no end to Sri Lanka bashing. The election was an interest not only to the people of Sri Lanka but also to foreign countries who were involved in the country’s politics in one way or the other. For some, the significance of the war that ended terrorism was too much to put up with.

The foreign countries involved in the elections have now started preaching the Government how to deal with the opponents.

According to evidence, some had hatched a plot to topple the Government just after elections. So this week, 14 top Army Officers had been sent on compulsory leave, as they had ‘actively participated in political work’ during the elections and they have been considered a direct threat to national security.

Because of the alleged involvement of the Army in a conspiracy and based on a previous Supreme Court ruling, the Army escorts provided to Gen. (Rtd) Fonseka had been withdrawn. Therefore, the US Assistant Secretary of State Phillip Crowley has said, “... We are watching carefully and we are in touch with Sarath Fonseka regarding his security... We will remain in contact with him to clarify his future intentions...”

Then we have Erick Solheim, Norwegian International Development Minister a supporter of the LTTE and who brokered bogus peace talks, displaying his interest about the unrest in the country during and after the elections.

The latest is the Vice-President of the EU who had urged the Government, to investigate irregularities during the election campaign and to provide security to all candidates and so on. So far the only surprise is that these countries have not asked the Government, to reinstate the Army Officers who participated in politics and whose ‘conduct was not becoming of a gentleman’.

Here are some obvious reasons why these countries wanted a regime change. Firstly, because there are manipulations by groups who have vested interests in Sri Lanka. For instance, LTTE funds are still intact so the Tamil diaspora and LTTE sympathizers are influential.

Secondly, we have the bankrupt political parties backed by proxy LTTE parties who want to consolidate power.

Thirdly, there are the so-called human rights activists, peace councils, arms manufacturers and so on who obviously do not want to see an end to the war. Therefore, they want a regime change in Sri Lanka. And as it did not materialize they are looking for ways and means of destabilizing the country and keep on hounding the Government.