but buffalo seems to have made a big mistake by letting the rumor start, this will cost him dear.

Can anyone supply independent confirmation that the LTTE chopped off the hand of the one man who voted in Kilinochchi? (reported in the Asian Tribune and carried on a a number of news sites and the Island newspaper)

That would confirm beyond all doubts that the boycott was enforced, contrary to claims by LTTE spokesmen.

Comment:
Did LTTE have secret deal with Mahinda to enforce boycott?
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Speculation is rife in Colombo political and diplomatic circles about a possible secret deal, prior to the Presidential poll of Nov 18th , between Mahinda Rajapakse and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to have the new President elected through an enforced boycott in the Tamil majority regions of the North – East!

According to preliminary reports there is much speculation that an arrangement was ensured after a series of meetings held between LTTE political commissar Suppia Paramu Thamilselvan and a special representative of Mahinda Rajapakse. The special envoy is believed to be none other than Tiran Alles the chief of the Katunayake International Airport in his capacity as chairman of the Airport and Aviation services Ltd. Tiran Alles who was operations manager earlier became chairman after the resignation of Eastern Province Muslim Congress politician Hizbullah.

According to informed sources Tiran Alles is a blue – eyed boy of Aviation and Ports Minister Mangala Samaraweera who was campaign manager of Mahinda Rajapakse for the Presidential election. He was reportedly commissioned by Samaraweera with the approval of Rajapakse to undertake a series of visits to Kilinochchi in the North and meet with the LTTE hierarchy particularly the political commissar Thamilselvan. It is said that Alles had established and cultivated contacts with LTTE leaders like Thamilselvan, Pulidevan, Nadesan, Para, Balakumaran and others during their several trips to and from Asian and European destinations through Katunayake for peace talks.

According to sources Tiran Alles was mandated with the task of ensuring a boycott5 by the Tamil people of the Presidential polls.
It was realised that given the pacts signed by Rajapakse with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Jathika Hela Urumaya and policies outlined in his election manifesto an open and straight forward deal with the LTTE was out of the question. With the LTTE articulating a strong anti – Mahinda viewpoint for Tamil consumption any possible deal with him would have been detrimental to tiger interests. Likewise the Rajapakse campaign too had a stridently anti – tiger line and charged Ranil Wickremasinghe of having entered into an “Ali – Koti “(Elephant – Tiger) deal to get the UNP candidate elected. INformation leaking out of a Mahinda – Tiger deal before elections would have been counterproductive.

The hush – hush talks therefore focussed on an indirect support being extended instead of open or direct support.
Since it was a foregone conclusion that the bulk of Tamil voters would be voting for Wickremasinghe in a free and fair poll the idea was to ensure a Tamil boycott of the election. This would have prevented Tamil votes being cast for Wickremasinghe. This in turn would help Rajapakse who was expected to get the majority of Sinhala votes. It is believed that the LTTE formally launched an attack on Wickremasinghe to herald a boycott after an arrangement was made with Alles. The political offensive against Wickremasinghe was flagged off by senior leader KV Balakumaran in an interview to “Voice of Tigers” (Puligalin Kural) Radio on Nov 4th.

Thereafter the boycott campaign gathered steam. This in turn led to a national and international backlash against the LTTE. It was pointed out that a Tamil boycott would onlt help defeat the pro – peace, pro -devolution Wickremasinghe and ensure the victory of Rajapakse the hardliner on the ethnic question.

Much international pressure was exerted on the LTTE. Periyasamy Chandrasekeran of the Up Country Peoples Front went as a special emissary of Wickremasinghe to plead Ranil’s case with Thamilselvan. Wickremasinghe wanted the LTTE to refrain from enforcing a boycott and allowing the Tamil people freedom of choice to vote. Thamilselvan then informed the UNP and international circles that the LTTE will not thrust a boycott down Tamil throats and the people would be free to vote for any candidate. This was carried in the media of Nov 16th and the stock market picked up from the doldrums. Yet the LTTE went back on its assurance and stabbed Wickremasinghe in the back by enforcing a harsh boycott through violence and intimidation.

This resulted in a drop of Tamil votes particularly in Jaffna where only 1. 5 % of Tamils voted. The shortfall of expected Tamil votes due to the tiger enforced boycott led to Wickremasinghes defeat by 186, 000 votes. The UNP condemns the tiger act as a betrayal. While analysts and political observers were trying to fathom the reasons behind the LTTE’s seemingly inexplicable conduct of defeating the pro – Federalism Ranil and getting the anti – Federalism Mahinda winning the Colombo grapevine began humming with the tale of a Mahinda – Puli deal.

It is believed that Tiran Alles undertook an urgent mission to Kilinochchi after reports of a boycott relaxation and met with Thamilselvan. Alles had been able to “persuade” Thamilselvan into revising tiger stance again and enforcing the boycott. Alles returned triumphantly to Colombo after ensuring an enforced Tamil boycott that shattered Ranils chances of victory. Darisha Bastians writing in the “Daily Mirror” of Nov 22nd said that Rajapakse had hugged Alles openly and thanked him for making the victory possible. This is what Darisha wrote –

“Small wonder then that when Friday dawned and a Rajapakse victory was confirmed, the new president-elect violently hugged Aviation Authority Chairman Tiran Alles as he walked into Temple Trees and thanked him for making it all possible. Alles, whose support had been solicited by Minister Mangala Samaraweera had been the chief negotiator with the LTTE on the UPFA’s behalf.

Alles, following a series of dialogues with the Kilinochchi leadership, finally ensured that the rebels called a boycott of last Thursday’s poll, effectively snatching certain victory from Wickremesinghe and handing it over to Rajapakse on a silver platter. ”

A website run by the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization also referred to a representative of Mahinda Rajapakse being present in Kilinochchi to pressurise the LTTE into enforcing a boycott. The website stated that Rajapakses special representative was Tiran Alles.
It is also noteworthy that a Sinhala newspaper in Colombo had carried a story some weeks ago about a possible deal in the making between the LTTE and a special emissary of Rajapakse.
Chandrasekeram a well – known LTTE sympathiser has been pissed off by the tiger betrayal and in a statement called upon the LTTE into reviewing its strategies.

Tiran Alles is the son of former DS Senanayake College principal Ralph Alles. The well – known educationist was not re-instated as Principal after he returned from a foreign trip. This was apparently done on a directive of Ranil Wickremasinghe who was Education minister then. Despite pressure on behalf of Alles by Ranasinghe Premadasa and Sirisena Cooray Wickremasinghe remained form and refused to relent. This action by Wickremasinghe many years ago has not endeared him to the Alles family.

Political and diplomatic circles in Colombo were alerted to the Alles connection in the LTTE boycott after reports of the warm embrace of Tiran by Mahinda and the profuse thanks extended to him began to circulate. Strenuous attempts are being made by Diplomatic and media circles to find out more details about the suspected LTTE – Mahinda deal. What the terms are is not known yet. A western diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said that he suspected a financial arrangement was more likely as a political arrangement was virtually impossible under pevailing circumstances where both sides maintain mutual hostility openly. He also said that it was unknown at present as to whether LTTE supremo Velupillai Pirapakaran was aware of the deal or whether the high flying Thamilselvan had gone behind his leaders back.
A colombo newspaper editor said that efforts were being made to contact all parties concerned and find out the truth. “If our investigative sleuths uncover concrete evidence about a Mahinda – Tiger deal and its terms then the shit will hit the fan” he said. “Both the Sinhala and Tamil people must know the truth behind this. Did the new President whose election campaign accused Ranil of having a deal with the LTTE enter into a secret deal himself with the tigers? Did the LTTE which provided various reasons for the boycott enter into a deal with Mahinda to ensure his victory through an enforced boycott? The people must know the truth” the editor said.

The verdict was given on who will lead Sri Lanka for the next six
years-Not by its citizen’s but Hon. Prabhakaran. LTTE has influenced the outcome
of all the presidential elections since 1994.
1994- Gamini Dissanayake was killed – Chandrika Won 1999- Chandrika was bombed ? Chandrika Won (Sympathy Vote) 2005- Tigers forced a Boycott ? Mahinda Won This shows how pathetic we have become politically? A terrorist
leader deciding on who should rule us. Sri Lanka’s well being will be the last thing in Prabhakaran’s mind.
In 1999 even in the event of Chandrika succumbing to her injuries Ranil would not have won- because the Presidential election gets cancelled in the event of incumbent getting killed during the elections. Only chaos
& anarchy would have prevailed. I am sure Prabhakaran, did look at the constitution before sending that human bomb. All what Prabhakaran needs is a Politically, Economically & Internationally weak Sri Lanka. And this ? the southern Sinhalese people have given to Prabhakaran. LTTE has eliminated Lalith, Premadasa & Gamini physically and their latest stunt is eliminating Ranil Wickramasinghe politically. The saddest part is that he used the Sinhala people s
pawns in his latest maneuver-which the Sinhalese in the south didn’t even realize! (Yet) The Sinhalese will soon come
to realize their greatest mistake & by that time a Visionary Leader who would have trapped the LTTE internationally
& forced a peaceful solution on them and brought economic glory would have retired from politics. Prabhakaran must be having a mighty laugh at the stupidity of the Sinhalese People. The thing can be described in Sinhala: “Oorage malu oorage anga uda thiyala kapanawa. My addition is “oora danneth naha-Oorata hari joli!” It means doing something detrimental to some one using the same person as a tool. My addition is that the person being used as a tool doesn’t even
now this & enjoys the act! Now let’s take a look at the reason why Prabhakaran rejected Ranil Wickramasinghe:

Is it because- Ranil Can’t clap, speak or smile properly?
Ranil will sell Sri Lanka to foreigners as alleged ? (by critics)
Ranil’s alleged sexual preference? (by critics)

Answer is a big NO!!

Its plainly because Ranil was the only formidable threat for Prabhakaran. He was the only match to Prabhakran in the
south (other than Chandrika), in terms of being a smart cookie. Prabhakaran installed a person as the president (a
nice guy to everybody at all times but hardly a visionary-who will be a prisoner of JVP & JHU). A prosperous economy,
political stability & renewed international support to SL under Ranil would have been a nightmare for Prabhakaran.
Some people call President Rajapakse’s victory as a B’day gift. But that gift nothing but trivial compared to the gift in advance that we have given Prabakaran (whose B’day falls on the 26th of November). What more can Prabhakaran
expect from us!! It is natural and expected that most of the people who backed Ranil are frustrated. Ranil is the easiest
scapegoat they can find. But will a change of leadership solve the problem? I strongly believe we shouldn’t let Ranil go.
His experience & leadership is yet to be utilized fully. We deserve much more from Ranil & Chandrika. They have many
more years of politics in them. Aren’t we being foolish by sending our leaders home just because of a terrorist leader decide he shouldn’t rule the country?

Thanks to Prabhakaran we are running out of Leaders!

Only silver lining of this election result is that the prefix-”Traitor”, which was always used with Ranil ickramasinghe, has been cleared. And we should also keep in mind that some of us can fool the poor village folks over and over and over again? But can we fool the

1. The LTTE
2. Fundamentals of economics….

Therefore a time for people to realize their mistakes will come VERY SOON. 48.5 % of Sri Lankans who live outside North & East who voted for Ranil shouldn’t be disillusioned. It will be giving in to terrorism. Let us protect our leaders and put up a common front. Now there is speculation over who will become the Prime Minister. My suggestion is let Prabhakaran select the Prime Minister too!

They are in politics for the power, the perks, and the priviledges that go with office. It is just another career. When elected they are content to busy themselves with the humdrum administrative work and little projects, which is fine for a developed, mature economy, not for a near basket case like Sri Lanka.

Ranil was about the only man who really believed in a big vision and had the capacity to deliver. He is finished now. The UNP can win- just appoint strongmen like SB and Sajit Premadasa- but they lack the vision and so does everybody else.

We seem doomed to muddle along (on a best case scenario) or descend to another Zimbabwe (worst case scenario, possible if Chintanaya implemented to a great extent)

sooner he lose the parliment and become lame the better for sri lanka. i would give him 1.5 yrs at most.

The proof ofthe pudding is in the eating, lets see what he delivers. Examining delivery in the light promises made and hopes raised should prove to be interesting, especially after a year or two.

I for one am stoked over Mahinda’s win.

Ranil was in bed with the Christian fundamentalists and this was revealed when two notorious and sectarian Sinhala Christian fundamentalists – Oswald Gomis (aka parasite – thus called for real reasons not insult) and Lalith Kotelawala sided with him by trying to evoke religious discord and division among Sri Lankans (as we all know this is a speciality of Christian fundamentalists). Thus I am glad Mahinda won and handed defeat to Sinhala Christian fundamentalists and their hangers-on. The Catholic Church needs to learn to keep its nose out national affairs and concentrate on “the flock” instead of trying to promote Christian fundamentalism and the forces of fanaticism hell-bent on trying to Christianise Sri Lanka at the cost of religious harmony.

If Ranil had won, the Sinhala Christian fundamentalists in government would have had a free run to do whatever they pleased. Last time when they were in power they opened the doors to foreign Christian fundamentalist groups to enter Sri Lanka and create religious havoc. We all know what that lead to. Then one Sinhala Christian fundamentalist in charge of defence forced all police stations to keep a Bible on display. The order was rescinded after protests. Pretty soon they would be trying to strong-arm creationism into our school classrooms.

Besides that, Ranil wanted to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Portuguese invasion of Sri Lanka – yeah, you know, when Buddhist and Hindu temples were smashed up and Christianity was forced down the throats of Sri Lankans and Buddhists and Hindus were oppressed, harassed and killed for their beliefs.

So heck yeah I am glad Ranil lost.

Im also a silent observer of this blog. Just I want to say, please dont insult to the religious leaders. Indi, As a editor why are you silent about that??

I’m really frustrated by lack of blogging in universities .It is the ideal place because there are a lot of politics going on and they access to internet.I guess it is the language barrier because inside universities political climate is crazy.(It not a bunch JVPers out there .The full spectrum is represented)
It’s great that you added Kathika to the blogroll in kottu(I haven’t read but I plan to read).
Remember when Ranil said something about “Pasdun Rata” there was a big noise ?Well other guys makes those mistakes all the time.Nobody calls on their bluffs .That’s the difference.
When it comes to Sinhala media (I don’t know Tamil) ,the ignorance is shocking (again the languge barrier plays a big role.The material available to them is limited due to the language)