Archive for December 1st, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Gotabhaya Rajapakse is indeed a very, lucky man. The circumstances of his escaping unhurt indicate it was truly a miracle which saved the Defence, Public Safety, Law and Order Ministry Secretary and younger brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Rajapakse was on his way to “Temple Trees” for the National Security Council meeting. President Rajapakse had returned from India the previous day.
The nine – vehicle motorcade was going along the Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatte towards Galle road.The convoy had to cross Sir James Peiris Mawatte at the junction known as “Pithala Handiya”.
The traffic was stopped by Special Forces personnel in charge of Rajapakse’s security for the motorcade to pass when a red three – wheeler bearing the number WP – GH 0617 tried to cut in and ram into the motorcade. The male auto – rickshaw driver found it difficult to get close because of the heavy traffic.
The assassin then manouevred himself between two civilian vehicles and moved in. The escort defender jeep in front of Rajapakse’s bullet – proof BMW vehicle collided with the three – wheeler when the explosion occurred. It is not known whether the explosion was triggered off by the impact of the collision with the jeep or whether the assassin detonated the bomb deliberately.
The explosion hit the Special Force outrider riding abreast of Rajapakse’s vehicle on a pilot trailer motor cycle. The bike was thrown more than 20 metres.
Both the motor cyclist Lance cpl Wijeratne of Kurunegala and the Jeep driver Lance cpl. Piyasiri of Galle were killed along with the suicide bomber.
The defender Jeep and motor cycle bearing the brunt of the explosion was a Godsend to Gotabhaya’s BMW vehicle. The full force of the explosion was minimised to some extent.
[Gotbaya Rajapakse was seated in the BMW car that escaped from the attack - TamilNet Photo]
The bonnet, headlights, tyres and windscreen of Rajapakse’s vehicle were damaged by the blast. The driver too sustained minor injuries. But both Rajapakse and his personal bodyguard seated in the front seat were unhurt.
Rajapakse seated in the left side of the vehicle’s backseat was thrown to the right side due to the explosion’s impact. He was apparently dazed and lying still on the back seat.
Some glass splinters had grazed Rajapakse slightly. His right eyebrow was cut.A few, tiny drops of blood were seen on his shirtsleeves and collar.
The defence secretary’s Personal Security officer HD Kapuhena saw his boss’s situation and jumped over the seat to the rear. Kapuhena put his body armour over Rajapakse’s torso and a gas mask over his head.
The explosion’s impact had caused the vehicle doors to be jammed. Kapuhena was shouting out that the doors should be opened when other security men in the convoy rushed to the BMW.
A crowbar was brought and the doors broken open. Kapuhena with his arms around Rajapakse took him to another jeep and put him in. The defender then sped off towards Galle road. From there it went along Galle road towards “Temple Trees”.
Kapuhena and other security personnel fired shots rapidly in the air as the vehicle proceeded to clear the way quickly. This in turn terrified ordinary people in Kollupitiya who thought a gun battle was on between the security forces and tigers in Colombo. Several parents rushed to schools and took their children home.
Meanwhile an agitated Mahinda Rajapakse shouted over the telephone to security officers that Gotabhaya’s safety had to be ensured.
A visibly upset Mahinda was relieved only after he saw Gotabhaya at “Temple Trees”. He embraced Gotabhaya tightly with moist eyes and remained speechless for more than a minute.
Mahinda recovered later to exclaim “They cant kill you. You cant be killed” in Sinhala.
Several VIP”s including Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana rushed to congratulate Gotabhaya on his miraculous escape.
The Defence secretary’s wife who was attending a Seva Vanitha Unit meeting at the Air Force headquarters was informed of the attack and rushed to her husband’s side.
Gotabhaya told a journalist that it was God who had saved him.He also issued a press release.
The defence secy then went to a hospital for a check up and went home. He was advised to rest and promptly went to sleep.
Ms. Rajapakse told callers that her husband was sleeping and could not be disturbed.
Meanwhile security officers cordoned off the area of explosion and stopped traffic till late into the night.
Fire fighters were called in to douse the flames engulfing some vehicles after the explosion.
Seventeen vehicles including two passenger buses were damaged. Eight of these underwent extensive damage. The damaged vehicles belonged to both security forces and civilians.
Eighteen persons were injured. Of these Thirteen were admitted to hospital. Eight were security men while five were civilians. Three of the injured were admitted to the Nawaloka Hospital and the others to Colombo National Hospital
Among injured civilians were Foreign Ministry Secretary HMGS Palihakkara and former Treasury secretary Charitha Ratwatte. The injuries were minor. They were travelling separately and were not part of Gotabhaya’s motorcade.
The severed head of the suicide killer was found in the back of a doublecab about 25 metres way from the explosion.
Several poojas have been organized to thank the almighty for the miraculous escape of Gotabhaya Rajapakse
Meanwhile the United States condemned the assassination bid and urged the LTTE to enter talks.”The attack bears all the hallmarks of an operation by the LTTE,” the US embassy in Colombo said in a statement.”We once again call on the LTTE to renounce terrorism, to give up violence and to join in negotiating a peaceful solution to Sri Lanka’s conflict,” it added.
Police also announced that the thre – wheeler’s registered owner had been traced. The owner was Anthony Bernard Christopher of Kadawatte.
Police also said that the mobile phone of the suicide bomber was now in Police custody.
The statements of more than 20 eyewitnesses at the explosion site have also been recorded.Twenty-seven year old bus driver I.S Weerasekera, who operates on the 112 Kotahena-Maharagama route, said his bus had been stopped at the traffic lights by the Special Forces to make way for the Defence Secretary’s convoy when he suddenly heard a big bang and saw flames.
“Suddenly I heard a huge blast and soon after saw clouds of smoke followed by blazes rising from under the mango tree. Then a bike in flames came hurling towards the bus. I ducked to avoid being hit, and the windscreen was shattered”, he added
It is also reported that Police have taken into custody around 15 Tamils in Colombo for questioning.
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December 1st, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse was trapped in his vehicle and could not get out of it after the abortive suicide bomber attack on him in the morning of December 1st.
[A Sri Lankan expert investigates at the site of a suicide bomb attack on a defence ministry convoy in Colombo. Sri Lanka's defence secretary, the brother of the president, narrowly escaped death when a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew himself up in the heart of Colombo, police said.(AFP/Sanka Vidanagama) Via Yahoo! News]
The doors had jammed due to the impact of the explosion which killed three persons and injured thirteen people.
Security officers had then brought a crowbar and broken the door open with it.He was then put inside a defender jeep and whisked off to “Temple Trees” to meet his agitated elder brother and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.
The suicide bomber suspected of being a tiger assassin had driven an explosive laden three – wheeler into the motorcade travelling along Dharmapala Mawatte (Turret Road) In Kollupitiya.
Initial reports said that f our identical bullet – proof BMW vehicles with tinted glasses were in the convoy taking Gotabhaya to “Temple Trees” for a national Security Council meeting.
The secretary to Defence, Public Security and Law and order was in the third BMW with an escort Defender jeep in front. Two commandoes on motor cycles were riding abreast of Rajapakse.
The three – wheeler was trying to manouevre between two civilian vehicles and ram into the convoy when the explosion occurred causing extensive damage to the motor cycles and defender jeep.. One motor cycle rider and vehicle driver were also killed.
The front portion of Rajapakse’s vehicle was greatly damaged and his driver injured.His bodyguard however was unhurt and promptly attended to Gotabhaya’s needs.
Rajapakse wearing a bullet proof vest was unhurt. His cheek and temple were grazed slightly by glass splinters. There were a few tiny drops of blood on the sleeves and collar of his shirt.
“God saved me,” Rajapakse told “The Island” newspaper within moments of the blast;. “My bodyguards broke open the door and helped me out,” he said, adding, “Commandos reacted swiftly as they observed the vehicle coming towards the convoy.”
Mrs. Gotabhaya Rajapakse was at a Seva Vanitha meeting organised by the Sri Lanka Air Force when the incident happened at 10. 39 am. She rushed to “Temple Trees” and was greatly relieved to see her husband safe and unhurt.
After meeting Mahinda Rajapakse the younger sibling went to the Hospital for a check up and then went home. He was advised to take rest.
He remained inaccessible to the media and well – wishers with Mrs. Rajapakse saying Gotabhaya was sleeping and could not be disturbed.
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December 1st, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse was overjoyed at the escape of Defence, Public Security and Law and Order Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse in a suicide bomb attack on December 1st at Kollupitiya.
[TamilNet Photo]
The Defence secretary was not merely a Government official alone but also the favourite younger brother of the President.
The proverbial saying about blood being thicker than water was very much evident as Mahinda embraced “Gotha Malli” tightly and hugged him speechlessly for more than a minute.
Those who saw the scene were touched at the sight of Mahinda’s moist eyes .Gotabhaya was smiling with relief as his brother clasped and kissed him.
Earlier when reports of an attack on Gotabhaya’s convoy reached him the President was frantic with anxiety. He was seen and heard shouting agitatedly on the telephone.He was visibly upset.
The President shouted out to officers of the security contingent at the expllosion site to inform him about the condition of his brother.
When he was informed that Gotabhaya was safe Mahinda urged the security personnel to bring his brother to “Temple Trees” immediately.
Gotabhaya was put in a Defender jeep and whisked off to “Temple Trees” in a jiffy. Security personnel cleared the way enroute by firing rapidly in the air.
The Defence Secretary was on his way to “Temple Trees” for a National Security Council meeting when the explosion occurred.
President Rajapakse had returned the previous day from his Indian trip.
Many people including Premier Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana rushed to “Temple Trees” to congratulate Gotabhaya on his amazing escape.
Mahinda’s mind was set at ease only after seeing his brother. A much relieved Mahinda was seen telling his younger brother with a smile “They cant kill you”.
Gotabhaya a retired Lt. Colonel and ex – commanding officer of the 1st Gajaba regiment migrated to the USA in the mid – nineties.
He returned last year to assist Mahinda in the presidential election campaign. After the victory Gotabhaya was appointed Defence Secretary and has been virtually master minding the war effort.
Mahinda’s affection for Gotabhaya was illustrated publicly on April 14th this year when family festivity for Sinhala – Tamil New year was telecast. Mahinda was seen chasing Gotabhaya to personally feed him kiribath.
Meanwhile Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, reaffirmed his commitment to the national need of defeating the LTTE’s terrorism in a statement issued after the assassination attempt.The text of his statement was as follows:
“You may already be aware that through the blessings of good fortune, the LTTE terrorists failed in their attempt to take my life today. However contemptible their effort may be, I treat them with compassion.
I take this opportunity to inform you that I am not ready to abandon the responsibility we have towards the country, in the face of such cowardly attacks by the LTTE, and to reaffirm our commitment to the national need to defeat the LTTE’s terrorism.
Far from abandoning our determination and commitment to defeat all efforts of the LTTE to achieve its bloodthirsty aims by grossly misleading the international community; in the face of attacks such as these, I would hesitate to even think of it.
I wish to appeal to all our people and the international community to avoid any action that will demoralize and weaken the determination our brave troops who are ready, at the sacrifice of their lives. To make real the dream of His Excellency the President of building a new Sri Lanka, where all Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people can live happily in peace and harmony.
Whatever obstructions we may face, I wish to emphasize that we should not deviate from the people’s desire to bring about a permanent peace to the country; because peace is the primary need of the nation. I wish to express my gratitude to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the face of this attack by assassins; I wish speedy recovery to the members of the Security Forces and civilians who were injured in this attack; and thank my security personnel who faced up to the challenge of the assassins.
Finally, what I wish to reiterate before you the singular truth that it will never be possible to defeat this great country through the bloody savagery of the cowardly LTTE terrorists. As citizens, I request you to wish all necessary courage and strength to the Security Forces who are your own brothers and sisters, and appreciate the efforts taken by them to safeguard you. I ask you to raise your voice for the cause of peace, to realize your expectations of a peaceful and harmonious Sri Lanka.”
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December 1st, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary HMGS Palihakkara was also injured in the suicide bomb attack targetting Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse on December 1st. The much respected Palihakkara who is retiring from office this year was not in the motorcade of Rajapakse but travelling separately.
Charitha Ratwatte the former Treasury Secretary and close confidante of opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe was also among the injured. Ratwatte too was travelling separately.
Both Palihakkara and Ratwatte sustained minor injuries only it is learnt.
At least seventeen vehicles were damaged in the explosion and its aftermath when security personnel fired at random to clear the area.
Eight of the vehiicles suffered extensive damage. These included bullet – proof vehicles and motor cycles of the security convoy and also the explosive – laden three wheeler of the suicide bomb killer.
Four people including the suicide killer were killed. Two security officers and a civilian pedestrian were also killed.The civilians name is not revealed yet.
The security personnel killed were a motor cycle rider travelling alongside Gotabhaya’s BMW vehicle. The other was the driver of the defender jeep in front of Rajapakse’s vehicle.
Four identical bulle – proof vehicles with dark – tinted glasses were in the motorcade. Rajapakse was in the third vehicle.
The suicide killer was trying to ran his auto – rickshaw into the convoy when the explosion occurred at 10. 39 am damaging the vehicles and seriously injuring the security personnel.
The killed motor cyclist riding alongside Gotabhaya’s vehicle was Lance Corporal PHP Wijerathne of the Sri Lanka Army service corps. Wijerathne hailing from Arawwala, Mawattegama in Kurunegala district leaves behind his wife and child.
The driver of the escort Defender jeep travelling in front of Rajapakse’s vehicle was also killed. He was Lance cpl. NK Piyasiri of the Gajaba regiment. He was a native of Warakkendeniya Neluwa in Galle district.
Apart from those with minor injuries thirteen others are receiving treatment at hospital. Of these eight are security personnel including the driver of Rajapakse’s vehicle. Five civilians are also being treated for injuries.
Three of the injured are at Nawaloka hospital while the other are at the Colombo National Hospital.
The explosion occurred on Dharmapala Mawatte near the Citibank building. The spot was within sight of a school.
Four major roads used frequently by VIP”s converge at the intersection where the attack took place.
The entire area was cordoned off till late in the evening after the incident.
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December 1st, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse’s younger brother and Secretary to the ministry of Defence, Public Security and Law and Order, Gotabhaya Rajapakse escaped unhurt when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the motor convoy in which the retired Lt. Colonel was travelling.
[Gotabaya Rajapakse after the attack - TamilNet Photo]
The incident took place at 10. 39 am on Friday December 1st in Kollupitiya along Dharmapala mawatte (Turret road) near the Greenpath Pithala junction where brassware is sold on the pavement.
Gotabhaya was going from his heavily fortified residence to “Temple Trees” where his brother and President, Mahinda Rajapakse was staying. This was for the National Security Council meeting.
At least four persons including the suicide assassin were killed and fourteen injured seriously in the explosion. Two security personnel were killed and seven injured in the attack.A civilian was also killed.
The suicide killer drove an explosive laden three – wheeler into the middle of the convoy targetting Rajapakse’s vehicle. Though it sustained damage Gotabhaya Rajapakse was unhurt except for slight grazing caused by glass splinters. He was later seen with a few drops of blood on his collar and sleeve.
The mode and manner of the attack pointed the finger at the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
With rumours spreading like wildfire that the Defence secretary was killed Gotabhaya rushed in another vehicle to meet elder brother Mahinda and set his mind at ease. A visibly emotional President hugged his brother closely and expressed relief.
Apart from the suicide killer another civilian was also killed along with two security personnel. Among the injured seven are security personnel and five civilians.The condition of at least three is said to be serious.
Some of the civilians were injured when commandoes in the security escort opened fire to clear the area.. Some vehicles also were damaged as a result of both the explosion and defensive fire.
Gothabhaya Rajapakse served for more than 20 years as an army officer. He was commanding officer of the first Gajaba regiment . He was also engaged in the defence of the Jaffna Fort in 1990 which was subsequently abandoned by the army . The Tiger flag was hoisted on the Fort ramparts by “Col” Bhanu of the LTTE on September 26th.
Rajapakse retired as Lt. Col when his superior officer was Col. Sarath Fonseka the present army commander. Gotabhaya won an American Lottery visa and migrated to the USA. He lived for more than ten years in the US and was among other things an IT director at a law school.
He returned to Sri Lanka during the Presidential election campaign to support his sibling. Thereafter he was appointed Defence Secretary and old army “buddy” Sarath Fonseka was made Army commander. Incumbent Army Chief Lt. Gen Shantha Kottegoda was eased out and sent to Brazil as Ambassador.
Fonseka and Rajapakse have been virtually devising and implementing defence and seurity policies. They are said to be adopting a hard. no nonsense policy against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
A massive security crackdown was ordered in the City after the incident.
[August 14th, Kollupitiya: Picture - indi.ca]
On August 14th another claymore mine attack was directed against outgoing Pakistani envoy about 150 yards away from where the attack on Gothabhaya occurred.
On June 16th Army chief of staff Gen. Parami Kulatunga was killed in a suicide bomber attack on the outskirts of Colombo.
On April 25th Army chief Sarath Fonseka was injured in a suicide operation within the Army headquarters premises.
Many leaders and officials rushed to Temple Trees to congratulate Gotabhaya on his miraculous escape.
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December 1st, 2006