tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post8311106465033027349..comments2024-03-13T21:38:21.872+05:30Comments on Sri Lanka Guardian: Maj.Gen. (Retd) Janaka Perera is ambitious but not treacherousUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-18001628228952761542008-07-21T14:36:00.000+05:302008-07-21T14:36:00.000+05:30I can’t help but add what I know about Janaka Pere...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 didnt 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 sould 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?ranjithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16895082832537417277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-12595370668675161272008-07-21T08:30:00.000+05:302008-07-21T08:30:00.000+05:30JP is ambitious, may not be treacherous, but clear...JP is ambitious, may not be treacherous, but clearly confuse Sri Lankan public by siding with 'treacherous' UNP which helped LTTE in every way .. giving same status as SL government, betraying forces in incidents like 'millanium', and most importantly, never criticising LTTE ... I had great respect for JP until he joined this trecherous party. He could gain my respect only if he would criticise the past trecherous acts of UNP and make Ranil utter a single sentence criticising LTTE.Brunohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15408263228679712756noreply@blogger.com