by Kumara Kaluarachchi
(July 24, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Battle hardened soldier Janaka Perera has entered the murky politics. I was somewhat surprised of his choice of political Party, UNP and the office he is contesting, the Chief Minister post of North Central province. Having said that, I respect Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera’s right of politics and the informed choices he make.
Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera has demonstrated his bravery, integrity, efficiency and administrative skills during his Army days and his tenure as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner for Australia and the ambassador for Indonesia. General public of Sri Lanka has a very high regard for him. We, people of Sri Lanka have already written off Sri Lankan politics and Media to utter idiots. Ordinary citizens (such as me) of Sri Lanka are very happy that people of Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera’s caliber enter in to politics. It does not matter which political party they belong to. What we need is people with education, intergrity and proven track record. Perhaps some more professionals and decent educated people will follow Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera’s steps and rescue Sri Lankan politics from current “politicians” such as Mervin Silva. My only worry is that Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe’s foot in the mouth disease that affects him seriously during election campaigns. Imagine Ranil calling Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera as PereRaala in one of those election rallies?
I am happy that the voters of North Central province have a better choice than their counterpart in Sabaragamuwa. Is it a tragicomedy that the very same UNP hierarchy that fielded Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera for NCP has decided to field Ranjan Ramanayke a.k.a one shot a.k.a Kuruwita Raala as the CM candidate in Sabaragamuwa? What credentials Ranjan Ramanayka has to be the CM? Getting accused of rape? Pleading guilty for non-setting of hotel bills (Yes, he pleaded guilty and settled the outstanding bills of Rs. 752,000.00 to Hotel IndraManel in Theldeniya)? Playing the street thug “One shot” in the cinema? Or, quite conveniently, all of the above?
The UNP is elated that Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera is leading them in NCP. I wonder what happen after the elections. If Mr Perera is elected as the CM, will the UNP replace their “Serial looser” leader with this wining General? Or will the hierarchy of UNP push Chief Minister Perera in to the political Siberia in the wilderness of North Central province and hang in to their “Nayakathuma”? Will any of die hard UNP chaps who sing songs of Mr Perea, has courage to confront their serial looser and his cronies to elect Mr Perera as the leader of UNP?
(The Writer is an Editor of the Lanka Journal web site)
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Home Unlabelled Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera (PereRaala?), One shot KuruwitaRaala and UNP
Maj.Gen (retd) Janaka Perera (PereRaala?), One shot KuruwitaRaala and UNP
By Sri Lanka Guardian • July 24, 2008 • • Comments : 2
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Dear Editor. Do not publish this e.mail but pass it on to Kumara for clarification purpose only.
Dear Kumara. I too agree with you that some educated people should come and contribute into politics in Srilanka, It is in the national interest of our Srilanka to do so. However, I have recieved a e.mail about Maj.General JP. please confirm us about this e.mail. We are worried if this e.mail is circulated to discredit Maj. General Janaka Perera.
THE COMMENTS WRITTEN ABOUT MAJOR GENERAL JANAKA PERERA.
Posted by Ranjit Perera.
I can’t help but add what I know about Janaka Perera so people can make up their own minds. While in the Army, Janaka followed a Course in Tactics conducted by me to help those sitting the Captain to Major promotion exam. Janaka was the only person I am aware of who completely failed this course, ever, and later failed the Captain to Major Exam. In fact, he failed this exam, which includes practical field tests on military tactics thrice, and having reached the maximum number of years in the rank, would have had to leave the army, if his father had not pleaded with a certain senior officer (Maj Gen F) to try and help him. He was pushed through that year as this Maj Gen said he felt sorry for the father! This is first-hand knowledge. Perhaps Janaka may have matured later, in battle as some do, but what I hear second-hand is that Janaka as a senior officer attached his command HQ to that of the Junior Commander who was doing best, or leading the battle, and then manipulated the credit for success to his benefit. This happened at Weli-Oya, at the re-capture of Jaffna, and in every other battle he is supposed to have won. If you do not believe this, ask the Army. To my knowledge, the only military operation that he personally was forced to plan, in Muttur, was an utter failure that resulted in the loss of a large number of troops. After that, Army HQ made sure that planning was never done by Janaka. In fact, he was completely sidelined. Why is it that Sarath Fonseka (who was also a student of mine and did pass that same exam at the first try) and all other senior and junior officers treat Janaka with contempt? Sarath was in Jaffna during the infamous episode when it was thought that the LTTE would recapture Jaffna, and the troops would be massacred. This was in fact a LTTE propaganda victory, as there was no fear at all among the troops of this happening. The commanders on the spot had the defence well in hand, and also, the LTTE was a spent force by the time they reached Navatkuly where their advance was completely halted. It was the LTTE propaganda that caused the Army Commander in Colombo and President Kumaratunga to panic (being so soon after the Elephant Pass camp had fallen) and they decided to send a senior officer to help stabilise the situation. Janaka was the only one available, but instead of leaving immediately, he spent 48 hours travelling to Kataragama to offer pooja before going to Jaffna. Some say that he was hoping that Jaffna would fall by that time, but I think that is just vicious thinking. On arrival, he was told by Sarath Fonseka that everything was under control. However, Janaka immediately set about planning a withdrawal of the troops saying that he had been sent to save as many troops as possible. At this point another senior Officer at the Pallaly Camp in Jaffna, a Colonel P (now Maj Gen), telephoned a person he knew at the Ministry of Defence and said that Janaka was trying to force a withdrawal that was not necessary. When this was brought to the notice of Kumaratunga, she asked Anurudha Ratwatte to go immediately and do what he could. When Anurudha Ratwatte found that there was no need to withdraw, he countermanded Janaka’s withdrawal orders and permitted Sarath Fonseka to carry on with the defence. Later, Janaka made sure to host the media and take credit for having saved Jaffna. As someone else has pointed out in this blog, just ask Anurudha Ratwatte. The capture of Wijeweera was similar. It was an operation planned and conducted by a very capable officer, Colonel H ( Now Maj Gen), and when they were about to set off on the operation, Janaka heard about it and asked the Army Commander General Waidyaratne to permit him to accompany the troops, which he first refused, and later permitted. Janaka merely went along for the ride, but made sure, as the senior officer, to take all the credit. All this can be verified from Gen Waidyaratne’s report, which still exists, unless it was ‘censored’ by Janaka. During the UNP regime he was appointed Military Liaison Officer to the Ministry of Defence, because of his father’s very close political connection with the UNP, and particularly with President Premadasa. During this period when he had access to Ministry records, it is alleged that he falsified many officer’s personal files, cleaned up his own personal file and destroyed records that described his inefficiency. Today, the perfidy of the man is evident by his attempts to condemn the Army he served in, not through any patriotic feelings, but to serve his political masters and his own political agenda. Janaka has loyalty only to himself and the present. He may feel vindicated because the Army hates him and for all his posturing, but that does not make what he is doing right. Janake has manipulated the media very successfully to build himself up as a brave soldier. When he had to move with his troops through ground that was mined, he had his soldiers carry him on an improvised palanquin saying his knee hurt. The real reason was that he wanted to avoid stepping on an anti personal mine. He didn't mind if one of his soldiers stepped on it.So much for his bravery. If Janaka Perera is a real "war hero", who wanted to wipe-out LTTE, how could he contest for RW, who signed a deal with LTTE against MR, who fights LTTE fearlessly. He should be a fake hero or an complete idiot ! Those who praise Janaka’s military proficiency, should check these with the military and the personalities involved, as otherwise you will be adding more praise to a bogus hero created by media sensationalism. His agenda? Becoming Chief Minister is just a stepping-stone to becoming the President of the country. Do you want such a person as the President?
Mr Kaluarachchi, I totally disagree with your following statements:
“Janaka Perera has demonstrated his bravery, integrity, efficiency and administrative skills.”
“Janaka Perera is a man with education, intergrity and proven track record.”
I have been working with Janaka for over 10 years in the army and I know very well what type of a crafty and cunning man he is. He is a man who manipulated the media very successfully to build himself up as a brave soldier. Janaka will resort to any underhand measure by “hook or by crook-mostly crook” to polish his image. In short he is a “BORUWENMA JEEWATH WUNA MINIHEK”. He has loyalty only to himself and the present and NOT to our motherland.
During the UNP regime he was appointed as Military Liaison Officer to the Ministry of Defence, because of his father’s very close political connection with the UNP, and particularly with President Premadasa and NOT due to his efficiency, integrity or bravery.
Janaka is the only person whom I am aware of who completely failed the Tactics exam 3 times which is conducted during Captain to Major promotion. As a result he failed the Captain to Major Exam 3 times including practical field tests on military tactics. Having reached the maximum number of years in the rank, he would have had to leave the army. But because of his father’s connection with a certain senior Major General in the army at that time, he was able to get the promotion as a Major. After that also he was able to manipulate the system and use political and other influence to get his promotions up to Major General.
Janaka as a senior officer assign his command HQ or leading a battle to a brave and efficient Junior officer and then manipulate the credit for success to his benefit. This happened at Weli-Oya, at the re-capture of Jaffna, and in every other battle he is supposed to have won. That is why I say he is a “BORUWENMA JEEWATH WUNA MINIHEK”. As far as I know, the only military operation that he personally involved was to plan the battle in Muttur. This was an utter failure that resulted in the loss of a large number of troops. After that, Army HQ made sure that planning was never done by Janaka. In fact, he was completely sidelined.
After the fall of Elephant Pass camp, there was a fear that LTTE will capture Jaffna also where Sarath Fonseka was the Jaffna Commander. This was in fact a LTTE propaganda victory, as there was no fear at all among the Jaffna troops of this happening. The commanders on the spot had the defence well in hand, and also, the LTTE was a spent force by the time they reached Navatkuly where their advance was completely halted. As there was no other officer available at that time, Army Commander and President Kumaratunga decided to send Janaka Perera to Jaffna to help stabilise the situation. Instead of leaving to Jaffna immediately, Janaka spent 48 hours travelling to Kataragama to offer pooja before going to Jaffna. Some say that he was hoping that Jaffna would fall to LTTE by that time. On arrival in Jaffna, he was told by Sarath Fonseka that everything was under control. However, Janaka immediately set about planning a withdrawal of the troops saying that he had been sent to save as many troops as possible. At this point another senior Officer at the Pallaly Camp in Jaffna, telephoned a person he knew at the Ministry of Defence and said that Janaka was trying to force a withdrawal that was not necessary. When this was brought to the notice of Kumaratunga, she asked Anurudha Ratwatte to go to Jaffna immediately and do what he could. When Anurudha Ratwatte found that there was no need to withdraw troops, he countermanded Janaka Perera’s withdrawal orders and permitted Sarath Fonseka to carry on with the defence. Later, Janaka made sure to host the media and took the credit for saving Jaffna. No one knew that it was Sarath Fonseka who saved Jaffna because Janaka never mentioned about Sarath Fonseka’s name. This is a good example how he manipulated the media very successfully to show the others that he is a brave soldier. That is why I say he is a “BORUWENMA JEEWATH WUNA MINIHEK”. Mr Kaluarachchi, are these Janaka Perera’s demonstrated bravery, integrity and efficiency? Do you still call him a man with education, intergrity and proven track record.
The capture of Wijeweera was similar. It was an operation planned and conducted by a very capable Colonel. When they were about to set off on the operation, Janaka heard about it and asked the Army Commander General Waidyaratne to permit him to accompany the troops, which he first refused, and later permitted. Janaka merely went along for the ride, but made sure, as the senior officer, to take all the credit. The Colonel who did the actual operation to capture Wijeweera remained silent while the whole of Colombo and most of the Diplomatic Corp thought that Janaka was the Ops Commander, thanks to the publicity orchestrated by himself. I know this very well because I was the one who proof read the report. All this can be verified from Gen Waidyaratne’s report, which still exists, unless it was ‘censored’ by Janaka.
Today, the real picture of Janaka is evident by his attempts to condemn the Army he served in, not through any patriotic feelings, but to serve his political masters and his own political agenda. Janaka is a man who would by “hook or by crook-mostly crook” resort to any underhand measure to polish his image.
If Janaka Perera is a real "war hero", who wanted to wipe-out LTTE, how could he contest for Ranil Wickramasinghe, who signed a deal with LTTE against Mahinda Rajapakse, who fights LTTE fearlessly. He should be a fake hero or a complete idiot ! Those who praise Janaka’s military proficiency, should check these with the military and the personalities involved, as otherwise you will be adding more praise to a bogus hero created by media sensationalism.
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