Americans didn’t believe Mangala’s version of Fonseka

             

“We assume that at least some of Samaraweera’s claims about Fonseka’s ‘liberalism’ are exaggerated and meant to impress us.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The Colombo Telegraph found the leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. The cable classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” recounts details of a meeting Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis has had with General Sarath Fonseka’s chief campaign strategist Mangala Samaraweera on January 6, 2010. Ambassador Butenis wrote “Mangala Samaraweera’s defection to the opposition is old news, but it is only now that it is probably causing the greatest heartburn for the Rajapaksas. With his intimate knowledge of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s thinking and methods, Samaraweera is as much of a danger to them in the presidential campaign as ‘traitor’ General Fonseka. The key to this appears to be Rajapaksa’s rigidly and fear of alienating his base. While known as masterful campaigner and the king of divide and conquer, Rajapaksa has offered no new significant initiatives during the campaign and has done little to reach out to Tamils other than to kiss their babies. Fonseka, on the other hand – presumably under the guidance of Samaraweera and Ranil Wickramasinghe – has re-invented himself, dramatically reached out to the minorities, and promised great reforms for Sri Lanka.” “We assume that at least some of Samaraweera’s claims about Fonseka’s ‘liberalism’ are exaggerated and meant to impress us. Nevertheless, the general and his agents are making promises that it would be hard for them to walk back. The 10-point program signed with TNA leader Sampanthan would radically alter the government’s relationship with Tamils and would represent a major step toward national reconciliation. Similarly, their telling us about their plans for a truth and reconciliation commission – though not announced publicly – puts them on the hook with the international community. The next few weeks will tell whether this strategy is a winner, but in the mean time it has breathed new life into Sri Lankan politics and brought issues to the fore that had been all but buried.” the ambassador further wrote.