Jaffna & North on ‘fire’ with reports of Sri Lanka VVIPs mystery visits

Controversial reports are emerging on the increasing visits to Jaffna & Wanni by Colombo’s ruling elite organized by questionable character(s).

Northern sources revealed to Asian Tribune that certain vested interest person based in the North enticing the ruling elites to visit the region to safeguard his own interest. The visits from VVIPs from Colombo to the North are now so frequent; these visits are now termed by the Northern audience as ‘Allied Invasions’!

The ‘invasions’ of the Colombo VVIPs have also placed the ruling party Members of Parliament from the North (and their supporters) in a quandary.

It is reported that the MPs are unable to vent their frustrations openly on these frequent visits since the visitors are no less than country’s VVIPs. The MPs say that they are being ‘systematically humiliated’ in their electoral districts by these high profile visits since the visits take place without informing them in advance and more embarrassingly, the VVIPs drop in at the Peninsula without being invited by anyone!

Reports emerges these visits causes unnecessary furore and problems and the high valued elements are falling into the traps laid by the calculative anti-government wolves in the sheep skin.

Similar embarrassing situations arose previously in 1970 -77 era during Srimavo Bandaranaike’s Premiership as the Bandaranaike juniors were often found in Jaffna being ‘asked to drop by’ various Jaffna based groups who had their own vested interests and agendas and who were ready to cater to the ‘visitors’.

Among the top frequenters were Anura Bandaranaiakke and Sirimavo’s son-in-law, Mr Kumar Rupasinghe.

Anura Bandaranaike’s visit to the district always remained a mystery. Even the Jaffna SLFP organizers of that time were not aware who was inviting him to Jaffna and why!

Mr . Anura Bandaranaiakke usually ‘visits the North on the invitation of someone, participates in some events’ but in the end, the district was always abuzz with rumors that Anura toured the Peninsula on a different agenda– pleasure trips which often included women & alcohol on their ‘menus’.

At that time Jaffna MPs belonged the All Ceylon Tamil Congress – C.Arulampalam – Nallur, A. Thiyagarajah – Vaddukoddai, and until 1972 March V.Anandasangaree – Kilinochchi , supporting the United Left Front Government led by Mrs. Banadaraniake. Mayor of Jaffna Alfred Duraiyappah, and this writer (K.T.Rajasingham- SLFP organizer) also experienced these ‘visits’ first hand. Also was C.Kumarasuriar – a cabinet ranking Minister and the Chief SLFP Organizer for the North.

None of us ever received the slightest intimation in advance, of these visits. There was also a group of Jaffna individuals with vested interests –always- to enchant and entertain the visiting elites and they managed to stay close to the political power base.

Mr Kumar Rupasinghe, in the 70’s, opposed the appointment of Chelliah Kumarasuriar being made a Minister with cabinet status and the Chief organizer of the S.L.F.P for the Jaffna district.

Mr Rupasinghe was of the view that Kumarasuriar was a complete outsider and the appointment affected the dignity of the Jaffna Tamil people.

Mr Rupasinghe too however used to frequent Jaffna district with his friends. He was seen meeting the people and was seen associating with the minority Tamils but preaching and propagating the values of human honor and dignity for his ‘Janavegaya movement.’

It is believed that he frequented Jaffna to propagate his political philosophy in the midst of the downtrodden Tamils but more importantly, to assess the mood of the Tamils, for several reasons-the stream of his Janavegaya reports, for one.

- Asian Tribune