Unveiling the Rumoured Pact between Mahinda Rajapaksa and the LTTE
Synopsis
- Introduction
- The Rumoured Pact Details
- 2005 Sri Lankan Presidential Election
- Prominent Key Players
- Housing Project Details
- Procedural Issues
- Political Context
- Conclusion
- Tit-bit
- Reference
Introduction
The story of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015, is not just about leadership but also about controversy. One of the biggest scandals during his tenure is the alleged secret deal he made with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a group involved in a long-running civil war. This essay breaks down the key details of this scandal and its broader impact in simple terms.
The Rumoured Pact Details
Mahinda Rajapaksa is accused of making a covert deal with the LTTE, allegedly involving the proposal of fictitious housing projects to divert funds to the LTTE after his election victory. This deal was purportedly intended to secure LTTE support for Rajapaksa’s win. Notably, the LTTE had forced Tamil voters in the North and East of Sri Lanka to boycott the 2005 presidential elections, which significantly contributed to Rajapaksa's victory. Following his win, all government agencies involved in tsunami recovery were consolidated into a single entity called the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) by November 2005.
2005 Sri Lankan Presidential Election
During the 2005 presidential elections in Sri Lanka, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) wielded significant influence over Tamil voters in the North and East. They coerced Tamil voters into boycotting the elections, who were believed to have a strong preference for voting for Ranil Wickremesinghe. This coercion critically affected the outcome and contributed to Mahinda Rajapaksa's victory. The LTTE's forced boycott drew significant international condemnation.
Despite a strong preference for Ranil Wickremesinghe among Tamil voters, only 8,524 of the 701,938 registered voters in the Jaffna district participated, resulting in a turnout of just 1.21%. The low turnout was due to a boycott of the 2005 elections by Tamil voters, instigated by strict orders from the LTTE. As a result, Rajapaksa secured an easy victory. Had Tamil voters turned out in greater numbers, Ranil Wickremesinghe might have won, potentially altering the course of events and possibly preventing the eventual defeat of the LTTE in 2009.
Prominent Key Players
Basil Rajapaksa = Basil Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother, was a high-ranking politician and served as a political advisor to Mahinda Rajapaksa. He is alleged to have transferred large amounts of money to Emil Kanthan, a significant mediator in the LTTE. Basil Rajapaksa’s role was crucial in managing the financial aspects of the alleged deal.
Emil Kanthan = Emil Kanthan worked for the LTTE and acted as a go-between. He is accused of handling the money from the alleged deal and using it through front companies. These companies, called B & K Holdings, and Everest Civil Engineering Services were involved in the fake housing projects.
Tiran Alles = As the head of the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), Tiran Alles was in charge of the housing projects.He is alleged to have played a crucial role in negotiating a secret deal with the LTTE through Emil Kanthan on behalf of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Shanthi Fernando = Saliya Wickramasuriya, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of RADA, was appointed Chairman of the Ports Authority. Shanthi Fernando, the wife of Sunimal Fernando, Special Advisor to President Rajapaksa, then took over as COO of RADA. In her role as COO, Shanthi Fernando managed the housing projects, suggesting her involvement in the administrative setup related to the alleged deal.
Jayasundera = As the Treasury Secretary, Jayasundera was responsible for managing the government’s finances. He is said to have been instructed by President Rajapaksa to release funds for the housing projects, which were part of the alleged secret deal.
Lalith Weeratunga = As the President’s Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, was responsible for formalising the housing projects. He prepared and submitted a cabinet paper to get official approval for the projects, which was done retroactively after the money had already been spent.
Housing Project Details
# B & K Holdings was given a contract to build 400 houses in Trincomalee.
# Everest Civil Engineering Services was given a contract to build 400 houses in Batticaloa.
Two major housing projects at the center of the alleged deal were B & K Holdings and Everest Civil Engineering Services. Both companies, founded around the time Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed the presidency in 2005, were linked to questionable addresses and dubious credentials. This raised concerns that they might have been established specifically to launder money for a secret deal with the LTTE. The estimated total cost for the housing projects in Trincomalee and Batticaloa was approximately Rs.50 crores. With an additional 400 housing units planned for Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Ampara, Vavuniya, and Mannar districts, the overall cost estimate for the 1,200 housing units increased to around Rs.76 crores.
Procedural Issues
The total cost of these housing projects was around Rs.76 crores, which covered construction and other fees. Shockingly, Rs.15 crores was paid to the companies even before the projects had official cabinet approval. There was no proper bidding process, and the approval was pushed through quickly with a retroactive cabinet paper, showing clear problems with how things were handled.
Political Context
The alleged secret deal with the LTTE in 2005 was likely part of a broader political strategy by Mahinda Rajapaksa. This strategy might have included covert promises to meet some of the LTTE’s demands, such as a substantial sum of money, weakening their rivals, and providing more political space for Tamils. In return for these concessions, the LTTE was expected to support Rajapaksa’s political agenda by boycotting the 2005 elections.
Opposition party leaders, including Ranil Wickremesinghe, alleged that Mahinda Rajapaksa and the LTTE had a secret deal during the 2005 elections involving fake housing projects under the RADA scheme. These allegations were taken to court, and over the following years, several individuals connected to the case were discharged one by one.
Conclusion
The alleged secret deal between Mahinda Rajapaksa and the LTTE, which involved fake housing projects and money laundering, highlights the messy nature of politics in Sri Lanka. The involvement of key figures, procedural irregularities, and their broader impact on Sri Lankan society and humanitarian conditions make this scandal a significant chapter in the country’s recent history.
Tit-bit
// U-Turn //
Critics argue that Mahinda Rajapaksa, a shrewd politician, allegedly sought LTTE support for his 2005 victory. Ironically, the same Mahinda Rajapaksa later defeated the LTTE and ended the civil war without resolving the Eelam issue. There is also a suggestion that the alleged housing project, purportedly used to launder money for the LTTE, might not have been the true agenda. Instead, this could have been a political manoeuvre designed to ensure that Tamils boycotted the elections, thereby easing Rajapaksa’s path to victory. The situation took a critical turn during the Mavil Aru Water Crisis in 2006, when the LTTE’s shutdown of a vital water source left thousands of farmers without water. This crisis reignited the civil war, leading to the fourth and final phase known as Eelam War IV (26 July 2006 – 18 May 2009).
// Known or Unknown? //
Did Mahinda Rajapaksa attempt to deceive the LTTE into believing he was their ally, only to later defeat them? Or did the LTTE support Rajapaksa’s presidential bid in 2005 to gain monetary benefits or further their own political goals? Is there any undisclosed agenda between the two parties? Why did the LTTE cut off the water supply at Mavil Aru, which reignited the civil war and ultimately led to their defeat? The full extent of what transpired is either widely known or remains shrouded in mystery.
Reference
Investigative Report - The Rumoured Pact
LTTE Supported Mahinda Rajapaksa Presidency?
Mahinda in Pact with the LTTE - Ranil Wickremesinghe
Tiran Alles, Emil Kanthan and two others Discharged
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