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PREMADASA OF SRI LANKA did TIOt say)
(What Bradman Weer
,
J.S. MORRISON & SONS Middlesex, England
"
,、

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"Wicked people will have their way, if good people гепаіп silепt"
獸
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T Richard zy
by the Premadasa Government.
Fw 65% If Ill friend ryטmטוח In
who was u, un thrown into the Sea

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கொழும்புக் தமிழ்ச் சங்கம்
கொழும்புத் தமிழ்ச் சங்க நாலகத்திற்கு நிதிருமதி:ள்வி
اللسانتا البقايا العشرار الله
ք. Ճ 8 , 2 CO4,
This book is dedicated to
General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and thousands of our valiant soldiers who have died as a result of the arrils and ailmunition given by President Premadasa to the Tigers;
The ten Parliamentarians of the UNP who led the impeachment motion against Premadasa, risking their lives and sacrificing their seats in Parliament;
The Free Media Movement and the fearless individuals and organisations that strive to ensure the freedom of the news media in Sri Lanka, denied our people by President Premadasa,
The people of Sri Lanka, many of whom live in mortal fear of a dictatorial regime of a political murderer and thug.

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॥ PREFACE.
F. For most of my life I served as a public servant in Sri Lanka. I am now retired and live with my family in England, During my carcer as a public servant in Sri Lanka, I was intimately associated with the machinery and administration of government. Since joining public service in 1952, I served in several ministries and later in two public corporations. Until Ranasinghe Premadasa became President of Sri Lanka in 1989, I had never imagined that a leader so Tuthless, dicta teorial and brutal could ever, come to power in Sri Lanka, given its long history of democratic tradition.--
I was also amazed at how the government news Illedia (Lake House papers, television and radio), almost entirely either controlled or intimidated by Premadasa, succeeded in implanting in the minds of the Sri Lankan people a convincing picture of humility and benevolence, both of which were entirely alien to his true character. The reality of the matter is that Premadasa is a monster, Worse, that he exercises power Linder the guise of a Buddhist of such extreme piety that even his close admirers say in jest that he is in imminent danger of becoming an arah at (enlightened being) and disappearing into thП HIT.
Although I am now living in England, I keep abreast of events in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan newspapers (including those regularly attacked by Premadasa) are freely available in London. I also travel to Sri Lanka at least twice every year. Many of my friends, some of whom are still working in the public or Corporation sector, have inforilled me about the sad things that are happening in Sri Lanka,

Since I have no job to lose and do not live in fear of Premadasa, I do not wish to remain silent, as most of Illy countrymen are forced to do. I have a wealth of experience of, and infortilation about Premadasa which I wish to record for posterity for the benefit of our people.
As always with biographies, one has to justify their being written. Pre IIlada sa has benefitted from a wealth of biographical notices by way of newspaper articles. The public is inundated with reportage on the working habits of the President (18 hours a day), his simple clothing, his vegetarian and teetotalling habits, and even his celibacy. In fact, every possible positive attribute that could be given any man was given this God King of Sri Lanka by his media Goebbels, A.J. Ranasinghe and the Editor of the Surday Observer, H.L.D. Mahindapala. The only information not wouchsafed us has been the regularity of his daily bowel movements and the subject
latter of his deals.
Premadasa was a living lie, invented by himself for himself. The reasons for this are primarily that although he made his humble beginnings an issue to his political advantage, he was deeply ashamed of them and resented anyone knowing the true facts about his past. He therefore invented his past, his Schooling and even his ancestors. This was one of the most elaborate acts of political fiction ever foisted upon an unsuspecting public. But where it came apart at the seams was When Premadasa, like his predecessor J.R. Jayewardene, began to make it known that he was destilled for nirvana after this life. He had painted of himself portraits without sin. He has cultivated a thick growth of hair lovingly dyed black and dresses in impeccable white clothing. A life that, to the public, was puritanical, austere, LI na SS Liming and almost godly, Anyone

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Imaking any attempt to make known any part of the truth of his real character or his past was immediately picked up and usually shot or disappeared without trace.
While Premadasa was able to ensure to a large degree that the Sri Lankan public could be fooled all the time, the international public was more difficult to appease. He was very concerned that Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike was still by a long chalk the Sri Lankan best known internationally. He was also aware that his predecessor J.R. Jayewardene's image as an elder statesman of Asia could not be challenged or matched by himself. For these reasons, Premadasa wanted, while he still controlled events, to have published an "authorized biography" of himself. As evinced by the fact that it was written in English (later translated into Sinhala), this was meant largely for the international Teadership and the SAARC leaders and observers. The fact that no respectable Sri Lankan publisher was Willing to publish it (it was eventually published in New Delhi after Several approaches to Sri Lankan publishers failed) speaks for itself.
Bradman Weerakbon, a long tille Crony of Premadasa's, whom I know quite Well, Was chosen to write it. Weerakoon has merely written of the "facts" as Premadasa wished them to be presented, and the "author" was little more than all amanuelsis in the production of the book. Even the title was determined by the President: Premadasa of Sri Lanka. But there are many important things about this great personality that Weerakoon omitted to mention: whether that was by accident or design only he can tell, and the public can only guess.
It was mostly for this reason that I decided to title this book Prerra dasar of Sri Larika: what Bradaray Veerakoor did riot say.

Many of the facts, cycnts and storics related in this book have: been published at one time or another in many Sri Lankan and international newspapers, journals and books (other than the Lake House Group, which is controlled by Premadasa). The others are a matter of documented public record. Since much of the information has been previously published and Premadasa took no action to correct it or file legal action for defamation against the publications concerned, we can safely assume that he will not now take action to stop the circulation of this book. If Premadasa bans this book or orders the police to investigate its publication, it will only sell more. No one, not even Premadasa, has yet invented a form of Sales promotion superior to that of prohibition.
I have also read many of Premadasa's speeches since he became President in January 1989. He is a master of personal and political invective and abuse. He enjoys belittling and insulting his critics and opponents, and even their wives and children. The time has now come for a simple person like me to tell the country the truth about him. Let us hope that we will not end up on one of his tyre-pyres or suffer the same fate that befell my journalist friend Richard de Zoysa and Dehiwela municipal councillor Lakshman Perera who were both killed for allegedly being critical of Premadasa. They were also Writing a satirical play, allegedly about him. We also hope. We will not be assaulted like Aththa newspaper cartoonist Yoonoos or its sub-editor Bennet Rupa singhe.
One further point of relevance in my writing this book is as a challenge to Premadasa's future official biographers, for indeed, there will be many. There is a Bradman behind every Benz at Sucharitha and they will be queuing up in droves to write up the official biography of their hero. Let them answer what I

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have said here if the Te is no truth in it.
Almost all the material presented in this book represent independently verified facts. In a few instances I have presented information that has not been verified but have been received from sources very close to Premadasa. In these latter cases, I have always made it clear in the text that the material is unverified by use of phrases such as "it is said" or "I am informed by a source close to Premadasa." Obviously I cannot divulge the names of these sources. They know the truth about him and they know the lies that Premadasa frequently utters about his personal life. All these sources have provided Ine with affidavits or documentary agriccirilents that they will give evidence substantiating their stories in court if Premadasa decides to take legal action on this book.
My only objective is that this book will give the Sri Lankan public a better understanding of this "great man" who is now Iuling the country, like a dictator and destroying it. I am also thankful to several officers of the Sri Lanka Customs and other public servants who helped to import the printed book to Sri Lanka.
To Bradman Weerakoon I have this to say, I have sought here to provide future historians with a base from which they could erase the falsehoods and lies you have uttered and embellished in your biography of one of the most Vile and Vicious politicians whose wickedness it has been the lot of this nation to bear. Rarely in our long and eventful history have we been visited by such a personification of evil. It is not just the widows, the orphans and the countless mothers whose sons LLLLLL aLLLLL LLLL LLL LLLLC LL LLLLL LLLLLLLLS S LL LLLLL LL LLLLLL mail. His life haunted our homes more than his death ever will

Soon, as with Hitler and Idi Amin, history will sweep Premadasa and his legacy under its extensive carpet. But We LLLLLL L LLa aLLLLL LLLL LL LLLLaLL LLL LLL LLLLH LLLLLL GLLLLLL ever to forget. Few who opposed him survived. For the thousands of innocent people in Sri Lanka who endured and waited these long years for this curse to be taken away from amongst them, who waited for the dawn of the 1st of May 1993, their longing has found fulfillment. I have written. Challenge me if you will.
To those who wish to speak or write eulogies of Premadasa my simple message is a quotation from Tennyson,
The moving hand Writes, and having Writ moves on, Not all your piety nor wit can rub out one word of it.
As the author, I am dispensing with the copyright to this book. Accordingly, anyone is welcome to print or photocopy additional copies and circulate this text as widely as possible.
5th April, 1993 R.W.PERERA

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IMPORTANT NOTES TO READERS FROM THE AUTHOR
This book was written prior to April 1993 and was intended for release in early May.
On 23rd April, 1993, Lalith Athulathmudali the leader of the Democratic United National Front was brutally gunned down and killed when he was addressing a political rally at Kirillapona - a suburb of Colombo,
The Premadasa government was widely accused of complicity in the murder of Athulathmudali. Public opinion in Sri Lanka is that Athulathmudali's murder was politically motivated and that it was executed with Premadasa's knowledge by hired killers in a conspiracy involving Sirisena Cooray and the Dehiwela Mt Lavinia Mayor Susil Jayasinghe. The OIC Kirillapola Police admitted in court that orders had come from above not to provide protection or security for Athulathmudali's meeting at Kirillapona on that day.
Barely a week after the killing of Athulathmudali, on May Day, Premadasa himself was killed in a bomb blast at Armour Street in his own Colombo Central electorate. Ironically, another person who died in the same bomb blast was SSP Ronnie Gunasinghe who, allegedly under orders from Premadasa himself, killed the well known journalist Richard de Zoysa. For me personally, as a close friend of Richard's, and for his mother Dr Mrs Manora ni Sarawanamlutu, there is an clement of poetic and divine justice in this. SSP Ronnie Guna singhe was not officially attached to the President's Security Division, but on that fatal day gods saw to it that he was beside Premadasa so that two murderers went With Oile b}Il).

The new President, Mr D. B. Wijetunga, has already dismantled and abolished a number of illegal and improper institutions established by Premadasa. The following are some that number among theIll:
(1) The illegal Gestapo-style police "investigating unit" that functioned under former DIGS A.C. Lawrence and his kinsman Sylvester Joseph has been abolished. It is Only now that victims of these monsters are emerging, With tales of horror, sadism, thuggery, abduction and ewell I I1 L1 rider,
(2) The tapping of telephones by the National Intelligence Bureau of political opponents and critics has been stopped. Premadasa lived on and enjoyed this illegal activity, receiving daily transcripts of what his opponents were saying on the telephone.
(3) Tarnas has and "celebrations" that were conducted by Prelladasa at huge expense to the government have been done away with. Premadasa's annual birthday and wedding anniversary (23rd June), popularly called the Gari Udawa, have been dispensed with.
The State Illedia - especially the Rupilvahini and SLBC - have been given a measure of frcedon, which Premadasa Inever permitted and new appointments of impartial officers have been made to both institutions.
The one-man show that Premadasa ran has been done away with. The new President has correctly directed that each cabinet minister and his secretary should

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exercise the constitutional powers vested in them with regard to the administration of their ministries without interference from the executive,
(6) On a smaller scale, President Wijetunga has also taken away the replica of the gilded royal throne and footstool of the kings of Sri Lanka, which Premadasa had manufactured in gold in Singapore at a cost of more than Rs 12 million, Mr Wijetunga has also disposed of the form of address relished by Premadasa. "Sirilliath."
Despite Premadasa's death, I decided to publish this book which had already been completed by the end of April, 1993, I felt that in the interest of the nation and as a warning to future political leaders, Premadasa's death should not prevent me from exposing the wicked, illegal and crude things he did.
There are grave doubts as to who killed Premadasa, and why, It is known that his Presidential Security Division comprised more tham 300-clite commandos, Despite this, he was killed by an assassin at a range of less than 10 ft. His own security were unable even to identify his corpse; the government-controlled television showed them throwing his body into a van together with the bodies of others who died in the bomb blast. Premadasa's body was eventually identified only as it lay with several other bodies at the police mortuary. This is a tragic indictment of the officials responsible for the President's security. But in fairness to them it may be said that Premadasa used his security people for other work of a political nature and they forgot the main purpose of their job - namely to guard the life of the President.
1)

Another disturbing feature is that the man suspected of killing the President (Weerakumar alias Babu) was a Tamil person Well known to President Premadasa. For over two years he was all accepted visitor at Sucharitha (Premadasa's private residencic) as a friend of the President. He had travelled throughout the country with the President, even in the presidential helicopter, and even gone to his private estate (Kahabiliyawatta) at Ambanpola in the Yapahuwa area. Babu had even bathed with Premadasa in village streams and slept in adjoining rooms when Premadasa travelled out of Colombo, An impartial inquiry will reveal that in fact, Babu was the LTTE liaison officer assigned to Premadasa by Prabhakaran, to ensure close contact between the Tigers and the President at all times. For over two years, since the middle of 1989, Babu was the contact and go-between with Premadasa and Prabhakaran.
Then why should Babu kill Premadasa'? The motive appears to be that Premadasa had reluctantly agreed to India's request at the Dakha SAARC meeting of April 1993 to declare Prabakaran as being officially wanted in connection with the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, Prabhakaran is the first accused in that murder trial now going on in Madras. He could not forgive Premadasa's betrayal and therefore ordered Babu to kill Premadasa. So Premadasa, who befriended the LTTE and gave toils of arms and millions of rupees in aid to the LTTE, was ultimately killed by them, giving further truth to the adage that "Those who live by the sword also die by it."
One would recall that Prabhakaran never forgave Rajiv Gandhi for humiliating him & forcing him to agree to the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1988 and decided that Rajiv. Illust die. A suicide bomber later took Rajiv Gandhi's life. In a similar Flanner, Prabhakaran killed Premadasa for agreeing to betray him.
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Thc khi het Versit. Il is that Bilibu was used by important picople Within the UNP government to kill Prelladasa because the people were critical not of the UNP but of Prelladasa personally. Accordingly, there was a conspiracy within the government to dispose of Premadasa. The names of the conspirators are Well known to the public. People talk of the Sinhala movie "Maru Sira" when they now want to refer to what is rottel inside the UNP.
After Premadasa's death, the other members in the UNP intensely disliked by the public are his close henchmen like Housing Minister Sirisena Cooray, Colombo Mayor Ratnasiri Raja paksc, Dehiwela Mayor Susil Jayasinghe and the Janasaviya Minister Mallimarachchi. These persons they say are the "Mafia' or the thugs and criminals within the party. They also object to Ministers like A.J. Ranasinghe and AZWar but they are not taken seriously, but were regarded as court jesters.
The public are also pleased that President Wijetunga has kept Hemma Premadasa in check, Her Lunsolicited offer to enter government at Premadasa's funeral was spurned. Hema's Conduct at the funeral ceremony, where she unexpectedly took the microphonic and delivered a long-winded political speech instead of a vote of thanks, was viewed by the general public with contempt and distaste but such is her nature and шрbгinging.
Hema Premadasa, together with the Hubert Jayakody financial empire of her son-in-law, is regarded as the Imelda Marcos of Sri Lanka. While Hema and daughter Dulanjali wept at Premadasa's coffin, son-in-law Rohan Jayakody kept his flower shop Shirohala, next to the Holiday Inn Hotel wide
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open during 1st May to 7th May (during which an official period of mourning was declared and all other businesses closed) and did a roaring business in selling flowers and wreaths for the father-in-law's funeral. The Jayakodys are regarded as financial Vultures and did not hesitate to make money even on the remnants of a corpse while the public saw them on television apparently weeping with emotion at the slain President's coffin.
As repeatedly shown on Sri Lanka television, Premadasa went
to his grave pleading "Assassinate me if you wish, but do not assassinate my character." However, people know that it was Premadasa who was the greatest character assassin in living memory. Here are some illustrations:
(i) It was Premadasa who abused the character of
S.W.R.D. Bandarinaike from 1956 Until BATIdaranaiko was assassinated in September 1959. Premadasa called him "Sevala Banda", "Sewalaya" and "Depitu KattuWa" but he invited both Mr and Mrs Bandaranaike as chief
guest to Sucharitha.
(ii) It was Premadasa who in the early 1960s spoke disparagingly about Srimavo Bandaranaike's entry into politics saying that the seats of Parliament will have to be washed once a month if she wins,
(iii) It was Premadasa who alleged that Anura Bandaranai ke was not S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike's Son but the offspring of Duncan de Alwis who was a Secretary to Mr Bandaranaike, thus alleging that Anura was an illegitimate child and that Mrs Bandaranaike was party to adultery,
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(iv) It was Premadasa who cursed Upali Wijewardena in Parliament in December 1992 saying that a person LLaLGGL La aLLaLa L GGaaLLLLL LLLLCLL S S LLLLL LLLL HHHLLLLLLLSLS later Upali died when his LearJet, which had taken off from Kuala Lumpur, exploded mysteriously over the Anderman Sea (remember, that Sirisena Cooray had, a short time earlier, been Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Malaysia).
(v) It was Premadasa who character assassinated Lalith Athulathmudali in Parliament (24th September 1991) by saying that Lalith was in the pocket of Israel as a Mossad spy.
From the above, it is clear that the best-knowl postindependence political character assassin "of Sri Lanka was Premadasa, And, when he pleads with others not to character assassinate hill, one is reminded of the mall who killed both his parents and pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was now an orphan.
Premadasa's acid tongue and filthy language and his art of character assassination is too well known. Indeed, it was sweet revenge and hubris or god's will that the guilty party was forced to beg of others not to do until him what he had done to others all these years.
This book is not all attempt to assassinate Premadasa's character, such as it was. It is merely all attempt to place before the public the true facts concerning the life of this mail, which, as presented to the public by his propaganda artists such as Bradman Weerakoon, was almost in its entirety, a Wörlk of ficti)

Willed Lith Most Sri Lankans point the accusing finger for the murder of Lalith Athulathmudali at Premadasa himself. They say that it LL tta LLLL La LaaaLLLLL altaLLttaL LLLL LLLLLLLaLaS LLaLLaaL HLLLL is that Premadasa himself did no plan it or kilow of it but the murder was committed by those close to him "in the belief that the boss wanted it done." But when Premadasa got the news of Lalith's killing he was h(IIified and is said to have held his head in his hands and cried out "What have they done? This is my end!"
This second version is reminiscent of the wish of King Henry VI of England to be rid of his one time friend the Archbishop of England (Thomas Becket) who had later turned against him. The King is supposed to have said: "will no one rid me of this turbulent priest." Some noblemen loyal to the King had then killed the Archbishop thinking that the King had wanted hill killed. Similarly, in Illic modern titles, army generals close to the former President Marcos of the Philippines are said to have killed Opposition leader Aquino in the belief that Marcos had
wanted him killed. Could a similar situation have arisen in Sri
SLLaLLLLL L LLLLa aLLKLLtttLLta LaLaLL LLL LLLL LLLLL S LLLLLL
Attilatildal
Corruption of the Premadasa family PreIIliadasa's death resulted in massive revelations of nepotism, corruption and abuse of privileges by family members. Mrs Premadasa had been using over 47 luxury state vehicles - the latest models - ranging from Mecedes Benzes to BMWs and Jaguars, and also had a large security staff, Waluable items (antique furniture, priceless paintings, etc.) had been lifted' or stolen" from official residences like Temple Trces and President's House occupied solely by Mrs Premadasa. The First
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Lady also had 42 telephones for her private use, several (f the Ill with IDD facilitics. The bill for one year alone exceeded Rs 3.5 million. We have given in the appendices to this book a list of the telephonics and the telephone calls together with details of costs, Also found in the appendices is the monthly provisions list for her household. It shows that while she pretended in public to bę a wegetarian, the bill for mutton alone was enormous, Rosy Sella Inayake, the former beauty quiccil and fashion adviser to the First Lady, made enormous profits by being also the official confectioner to the First Lady,
The independent Press also reported that over Rs 300 Illillion rupees (in Rs 1000/- and Rs 500- Ilotes) was found at Sticharia, the President's private residence, This entire SLIII was taken away by Mrs Premadasa although the monics consisted of political funds' handed over to Premadasa by well-wishers. Some papers put the cash found at over Rs 500 Innillico Ill, These a II counts are not difficult to imagine because over the four year period the public will recall newspaper and Rupa Wahini news items, where. Premadasa was seen receiving Well over Rs one Inillion each from businessmen (both local and foreign) and other benefactors and dignitaries.
But if the money at Sucharita was a political fund" how did Hema Premadasa take it? It should have gone to the Party. TāE is the is:55 Luc.
Premadasa had always maintained that he was a common
man - the poor man's President. He had not inherited Wealth like thë Senal Inayakcs, the Bandaranaikes and the Jayewardencs. He was never employed or was not in a profession. His 43 years of political life - first as a Municipal Councilor, then MP, Cabinet Minister, Prime Minister and President, would not

have officially carned him a wealthy salary. Accordingly, the Premadasa family cannot claim to be wealthy unless they were corrupt. It would be interesting for Mrs Premadasa, Son Sajith and daughter Dulanjali - all of whom were never employed - to file a declaration of Income and Assets to see their net worth individually, 'Sucharita' and their Rosmead Place house - both private residences have been superbly and exorbitantly done up into huge and magnificent mansions presumably by the use of state funds. Who Will investigate all this? Not only should there be an impartial Commission of Inquiry as to how and by whom the President was killed but also as to the accumulated current Wealth of the Premadasa family. Elsewhere in the text there is. El 11 aCCOLI It Of the Jaya kedy Cmimpire.
The 12th May 1993 issue of Asia week carried a cover story of Premadasa's reign under the title "Rule of Fear - Behind the Illask of the People's President." The import of this issue of the Imagazine was foolishly banned by the government, but the independent Press carried it in full both in English and in Sinhala translation. Later Opposition Parliamentarians got the entirety of it incorporated in Hansard by quoting it verbatim with the Speaker's consent. Here are some excerpts from AHS is 'e'e'ki.
"Premadasa had presided oveT come of the Ille)st Vicole Int periods of the country's 2500 year history. In him was the key to understanding everything that was good and evil about contemporary Sri Lanka. Anyone who looked could find equal measures of both in the man. But in the end, it was the dark side that WOI (Lit., "The whole nation was angry", says a longtime political
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analyst, "We needed someone to focus our anger and häired II. PIEmil dEls had tij klic:..."
Poct, author and visionary, Premadasa believed in all things mystical A vain Tilan, his black hair dyc Would
often drip down his face in the hot sun. A champion of the free I market, he thought hic could prowide: cweryon:
LLL a aHHLaLS aLLL LLaLLLLLLLaLHH LLaa a0aLLaLaLaa LLL LLLLaS aL a
did, above the caste syster that dominates Sri Lanka.
Paranoid and ruthless, he would stop at nothing to
achieve is deal.
For many, the dream turned to a nightmare. When his death was announced, hundreds across the country lit fire crackers in celebration. Still, some Wept. Thousands of Ilou IIlers filed past his casket at his house on Sucharita Road. It was fitting that his body was taken there first rather than to the elegant Presidential House, where his higher caste wife, Hema lived without him.
Until late in his career he tried to suppress any mention of his pala caste -designated for village laundrymen - which is near the bottom of some 60 Sinhalese castes, When he first beca me president, journalists were warned that anyone who named his caste would be "out of the country in 24 hours." He liked to compare himself to the great Dutugemunu, the ancient Sinhalese ruler who killed the Taniil King Elara. But only at his house in Kehelwatte, one of Colombo's oldest and poorest neighbourhoods, could he be himself. "His heart was (there)," says a long time friend, "These were his people."
S

Withinı thle: sle.azy, latı les of slı eds ald Shacks Cəf hiss youth, double-Cross Was an art and Scanis à Way of life. He learned both and with brilliant organising skills tried te Lise them for god.
Early in his career Premadasa was befriended by several powerful businessmen. One was S. Rajendram, the Tamil founder of the Maharajah Organisation, today one of the country's richest groups. All other was Sinhalese land developer A.K. Dhia TT1ladasza. Both prospered under the UNP's economic liberalisation prograr 11. More recently Dlılarının adalsa and Maharajah's aLLLL LL LLtttLaLlLLLa LLLHLHCHH L aaLLLLLLL LLL0S 0KSaa forces," They had access to Premadasa's close confidant, Secretary of Finance R. Paskarillingal, a Tamil who was considered the second most powerful nian in the country, UNP politicians used the enicrgency Tule to Lake out political oppo Ilcils, While Premada sa turned a blind eye, Some sily he give the
Igls.
Olig such case was the milrder of Journalist Richard de Zoysa, Police suspected de Zoysa had friends along the JWP students at Colombo University, the rivenent's urban base. On the night of Feb 18, 1990, LLLHLa aamCmmmCaaSK SLLLHLL LKCLLCCa LLL LLLLLC and a confidant of Premadasa, was having drinks with Deputy Defence Minister Ranjan Wijeralne. At One point, says a senior police officer, Wijeratine called Premadasa and told him of a plan to pick up the journalist. The Text day de Zoysa's tortured body Was favur End floating off a beach so Li th of Colombo. Wijcratic was killed in a carbon by explosion in March
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1991. Gunasinghe died with Premadasa in the cxplosion last Week.
In thirteen T1 inths of talk5 iIl Colobo, Premildasa offered the LTTE more than any other Sinhalese leader had. The Tigers used the time to regroup, while the Sri Lankan arily was confined to barracks. In June 1990, four IIlonths after the Indian troops withdrew, the Tigers accused the president of "saying one thing and doing another." War broke out again, and Premadasa was blamed, "Every time one of my mcil gets his leg blown off," said an army captain in 1990, "I think of
TPresidelt."
In his last speech just days before he died, Premadasa pleaded for mercy, "You can assassinate me," he said, "but don't assassinate my character, I all not a Illurderer. They accuse me, but they have no proof." People made their own judgements. Said one embittered oppositionist regarding Prema dasa's murder: "We are Buddhists. We believe that you have to suffer the consequences of your crimes, either in this life or
Cather III:. "
I had at the outset dedicated this book to individuals and institutions that had wanted to preserve democracy in Sri Lanka. Without changing that page of dedication, which has already gone to press, I would like to add the name of the late Lalith Athulathmudali as one of those to whose memory I dedicate this book, If Prelladasa called Lalith a conspirator, would say that "Lalith was the noblest of then all" and he had every reason to do what he did in his fight to oust Premadasa and his evil empire of thuggery, murder and coercion.
2I)

Premadasa: an urban product
"A plaining expert, who was a Sri Lankan and who had worked in several countries under an international organization expressed his desire to be of some service to his own country. He had approached an internationally Well known Sri Lankan economist and indicated this Wish to him.
"At that time (1968) I was the Minister of Local Government. The said economist (Dr Gamini Corea) who himself had later held a top job in the United Nations sent this expert to Ine with a strong recommendation.
"I asked this planning expert three questions:
'1. Have you walked on a gravel road in a village?"
2. Have you bathed in a stream or river running through
a village'?"
3. Have you spent a night sleeping on a natin a village
Hut?'''
His answers to all three questions were in the negative.
"Then I told him 'you are not fit to do any planning for the Illasses of rural Sri Lanka."
The above statement is extracted from the book Peraniaga Lakura (Early Signs) Written by Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1976, Thc book was an outline of Premadasa's socio-political philosophy.

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LLLL S S LLLL HmL SS LS LLLLLLLHaHL LLLlmHaa LLLLLLLlLLLLSLSSS LLraaLLLLLLLLH S LaaaLLLLLLL L E L L aLLLLLLS LLLS S LaaLS SLaLaaL LLLLLaaLLaa LLLL L LL Lauka for more than four years the YW, sice 2nd January 1988. LL LLaaLLLL L LLLCHLmmLLLlLLLS LLLLLLLLS S S L LLLL LLLLLLLLSL LaLL LLL LH S gravel road in a village; if you have not bathed in a village stream or river; if you have not spent a night sleeping on a mat in a village hut," ther, whoever you may be, you are lot fit to LL LLaCC CLLCCa LLL LS HmHLLLLLLLS LLL LLCL LLLLLLLLS LLGLL LLL LL possess these qualifications you have no place in the des' pillent of Sri Lanka with its seventeen million people With a recorded history of Over 2500 years.
This is the thinking of our Leader who his low become a self-proclaimed "One Man Show" or (as has been said) a "One Man Showman." Since independence we lesser mortals have knowl political leaders like D.S. Senanayake, our first Prime Minister, his son Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kentalawola, S. W. R.D. Bandaranalike, Sirinnavo Bandarainai ke and J. R.
CLLLLLLLS LLLCLC SS LLLLLS LLLLa LLLS SLLL LLLLHHHH S LLLLLLa LtaaLLaaLLaLLLL the Illassics or rural Sri Lanka. They also fell for then and did much more for them. But they did not express the view that unless you have Walked oil a gravel road is a village, bathed in a village stream or slept in a village hut - you were unequipped, inexperienced, unknowledgeable, useless and HLHHLLLLLLL LSLSL LLLLL LLL LLS LLLLLLLLS S LLLLL LLLLLL L0L LLLLLS LLL LLS Excellency President Ramasinghe Premadasa thinks so. He is the oracle. The last word. Only an individual with a "cult
mania" would express such a view. This type of absurd
thinking can be ignored if not for the fact that the main behind the thought is today the Executive President of our country.
What is most interesting is that the person who talks of village life and experience as an essential qualification for national

planning was himself not born in a village. Premadasa did not LL H LmLma LLL LLLLCCC L K LLCaTS TLS LL LLLLL LHHLSLS aa S child, walk on gravel roads in Willages or bathe in Village streams. It is cqually interesting that unlike D S Sella Ilayake, Dudley Senana yake, Sir John Kotel wela, S. W.R.D. Bandara naike and Mrs Sirinawa Bandaranaik - Prerhadasi has never contested a village or rural constituency - except for an unsuccessful bid for the Ruwanwella seat in 1956 in which he was roundly tro Lunced.
Basically, Primadasa is a urban product. Born in Colombo - all his early life experience in Colombo - both at a social and political level. In local politics it was the Colombo Municipal Council that TI LIIT ( Lircd him. III national Politics, he con tested and won as a member for the Colombo Central constituency which has always been a UNP stronghold. So While our former leaders contested rural clectorates - D.S. Sella Ilayake and Dudley Schanayake (Mirighma), Sir John Kotela Wela (Dodangaslanda), S.W. R.D. Bal II daranalike and Mrs Sirillälv" }, Bandarainaike (Atta nagalle) — Premadas Walls not by TI in al village and also lever contested and won a village or Tural Scat in his entire political career. This alone shows how deceptive and false he can be. Because when he gave the advice referred to above to the planning expert - the recipient of that advice would naturally have thought that the Innan giving such Eldvice: would indeed have becil born and bred in a village ald acquired his political Islaturity and cxperience in a rural clectorate. The expect opposite was the truth,
As stated carlier, this little all'ecdote was tak(II) froIII) ()11e of Prenadasa's own books, Peraniaga Lakila (Early Signs) published in 1976. This anecdote was examined and analysed at some length merely to show that Premadasa continues with
3.

Page 16
LLL LLmmLL LL LLLLLLa LLLLaLLLL aLLLL LLLLLL LLaEaaLHGL LLLSS S LLLaLLLL if not challenged or examined - the general public accepts as the truth. It was Adolf Hitler's propaganda chief, the Heitorious Dr Goebbels who said that if a lie is ut tered (often enough and aa0S KLLLLLLaLS CLaCmLL LLLL LLLL L L L LSL L LLLLLS L LLLL0 LLLLLL LLLL LL LLLLL S LLLLL L L LLLLL S S aaLLLLLLLaL LLLLLLLLSLLLLLL Littored by people like Premada sa must not be allowed to thrive by going LI In challeringed.
Illustrations of Preminadasa deceiving sinple willage folk Let us give a more Tecent example of Prema dasas Ways of deceiving innocent people. In January 1993 Prenadasa was the chief guest at the opening of a TCW, garrilent factory - his latest Craze - which also requires a clock-tower to satisfy the 'monument-fixation of this great development-orientated leader. To this ceremony in a rural area, he had taken along with him Professor Cyrill Porina III Peru T11a — a Sri Lankan physicist who had become rather well known in the USA for his scientific achievements. At this opening ceremony, Presiladasa introduced Prof. Ponian per Lima to the audience as if the Professor had recently arrived in Sri Lanka from AIllerica and that thic Professor had been so impressed with Prema dasa's development programme and his ga Tпепt factory idea that he had accompanied Premadasa to this ceremony. That Was What the rural audience. On this occasion believed,
LLaLLLLL LLL LLL LLLL LaaaaLLLLLLLaa LLLLLLLlLaL LLLL LLLLLLLLS
But the actual facts were just the opposite, Cyril LLLHLLLLHHLCLCLmHHmHa LLLLL LHL LLL LLLLHHLLLLSSSLLSS S LLLLL LHL LGLLLLL LLLLaLSLL L C LL LLS LLCCLLmtLLLLtLLL CLLLLLL L LLL aaaL LLLLLlLLLLaa (and as broadcast later that day over SLBC and Rupa Vahini). Prof. Poinamperuma had come back to Sri Lanka from LGLGLLL LLLS LL LLLLLLLLS LLS S 0LLLSL LLLLL LLLL LLLS LLLLLLaL LLLL
3.

President J.R. Jayewardene who had gratefully accepted the offer and made Prof. Ponnailperuma National Advisor on Science and Technology. Thus from 1978 onwards Prof. Pomnamperuma had been in Sri Lanka and had been associated with Sri Lanka's development programmes.
But, Premadasa omitted out all these facts when he spoke about Prof Ponnamperuma being present with him on the
occasion of the opening of the new garment factory. He deceived his simple rural audience and made them believe that Prof Ponnamperuma had just come to Sri Lanka and was fully
supportive of his own (Premadasa's) programmes. This is another illustration of how Premadasa conducts his campaigns
of subtle deception: simple but ingenious. Unless checked and
exposed, he will continue in this fashion. The people around
Premadasa either stooge him or are too frightened to correct
him or advice him against this type of deception.
There are mally other statements of Premadasa's which are equally deceptive and Intrue but before we expose them, let us briefly take a look at his origins, his background and his rise to political power. Let us also lake a critical assessment of
what he has done for the past four years as Executive President
of Sri Lanka. Obviously, this is not an eulogy of him. Every King has a court jester for that, and God knows Prenadasa has his fair share of jesters. Failing the Hon, A.J. Ranasinghe or the Hon. Mr Azwar, His Excellency can always now call (even at 4.00 a.m. in the morning) on H.L.D. Mahindapala. Like the well known battery, Mahindapala is the EVEREADY editor of the Sunday Observer. The man with the poison pen. A man who (for journalistic purposes at least) can be trusted with a "Hit ist." リ
ாழும்புதரிசி"
25

Page 17
The "hit list" explained LLLLLL LLLLCLLS CLLLCCCS LLLLL LLLLCLLL LL LLLLL LL LLCLLCa LL LLL term "hit list." It is a ter III used by hard-core criminals. LLLCLLLLLLaL LLLLLaLLLL LLLLLLLLS LLLL LLL LLSS Laa00LL S LL LLLL HHHHHHHLLL aLLLLLL LLL LLLLLL aLLCLaL LLLLL KaaCaa LLLLLLS LLLLLL HLaLLLLS LLLLL LHLH placed on a "list" and the criminal leaders hire people to "hit" LL aaLLLaaL LLLLLLLHHL La LLaEra LH aLL LLLSLLLLHaa LS LLLLL SLL LLLLS
Fr In the Criminal underworld, the term "Hit list" Hlas Tow GHHHHLLLLLLL LLLL LL LLLLLLaL LLLL LLLLLLLLS C aLaLLL LaHaaLLLE LLLLLLLLS democratic ideals do not properly function - like currently in Sri Lanka - those that oppose the political leadership can be placed in a "hit list." Such persons call be members of the political opposition, businessmen or even journalists,
Without killing people outright, there are other ways of fright Cning and tanning your political opponents and rivals.
Anothic device is to kidnap or abduct the Ill, keep then hidden
for a number of days and assault them and beat them up during their period of captivity and then release them. This has a severe psychological effect on the person kidnapped and his
in IIlediate family, his wife and children and their immediate
friends. It also seriously affects the political leaders for whom
thic kidilla PPCd person Illa y have bee I'll working or supporting.
During the pcriod of captivity, every one of them is tense and
kept in suspense - Ilot knowing What has happened to the kidnapped person - whether he is dead or alive. Under CLLCLGLmmLLLLmmtLL SS LCLLLLLLLLLSS S L0cLLL S LLLL S S LLaLaLLLaLLS S LLLLLL kidnappings are taking place.
The best known case of a Sri Lankall journalist in a hit list
under the Premadasa government is the case of Richard de Zoysa, Everyone now knows what really happened to poor

Richard de Zoysa, a highly respected Sri Lankan journalist and human rights activist who was also an international correspondent for a well-known French newspaper. He was suspected of "anti-government" (read "pro human rights") activity in 1990 and was murdered supposedly by a Assistant Superintendent of Police on the Orders of President Premadasa. LLLLLL LLLLL S LLLLY 0LL LLaaLLLL aLaaLS LLLLH LLLLLL LLLL GGLLLLSSS murder and his lawyer Batty Weerakool has also published a book on the subject. The truth will only conic out after the end of the Premadasa government. Then only can there be a full, open and impartial inquiry into the murder of Richard de Zoysa. Ironically, ASP Ronnie Gulasinghe who killed Richard and was positively identified by Richard's mother, Dr Mrs Manora ni Sarawanamutu, as her son's abductor (she was a witness to the abduction) instituted defamation proceedings against her. On the basis of these Proceedings, Prei Tadasa ordered the gover Ilment to halt the inquiry into Richard's murder oil the grounds that it was sub-judice. The police officer who was in charge of the inquiry, Superille ident LLLLLL LLLLCaCLC LLLLL LaLLLLL LL LL a CHLLC LCCLL CLCCLLaLaL a insisted on producing Ronnie Gunasinghe before a magisterial identification parade. Despite il War I all being issued for his arrest by the Moratuwa magistrate, Ronnie Gli la sighe not Only refused to appear in Court but continued normally with his police "dutics." For his loyalty to Premadasa he was given an un precedented, ilegal and un procedural double promotion to the rank of Senior Superill tendent of Police, thereby Outraliking the police officer who was investigating the charges against him and forcing the latter to resign. After SP Gamini Perera's resignation he continued to receive death threats against him and his family, as a result of which he is now a political refugee in Canada, O terrora, OFI Cres. This call happel only in Sri Lanka.

Page 18
B'iad Ilıman Weerako On's book o 1 Prema ds:l Among the most recent newcomers to write eulogies on Premadasa is his former Secretary and International Affairs Advisor turtled Biographer - Ila Ilicly Bradrill Weerak son. Once a respected Sri La Ilıkalın and International civil ser Want, LLLLLLL S LLLLLLLLH S SSLLLLaL LLLL LLLLLL S S LLL LLLL0LL LLLLLaLLLL biography of PTC hadasa. It is well known that this biography was hurrically written for distribution at the aborted SAARC LEHLLLLLLL S SaL S LHHLaaL S S LLLa S LLLL S S LHl S LLLL HaaLLLLL S LLLLLLLLmLLLLmtLLS chairmanship in Colombo in November 1991. Premadasa got a nasty surprise when the SAARC meeting had to be postponed because India and Bhutail refused Ilot attend. The biography, which had to be printed and published in India, was
WelclS5 cc Sci.
LLL LLLLLL CHLH LLLH HHLLLLL LLLLLLLaa LLL LL LLLLLL aLTLTLLLE TLL TTLL Lanka, But it is not a self-serving culogy like the oile Written by Bradman Weerakool. Unlike Bradman Weerakool, I have received Ilc benefits or privileges from Prelladasa. Bradrilal Weerakoon worked for many national leaders including Mrs LLLLLS S LLLLLLLLSLLLL LLLL S000000 LLLLL LLLaLLLLLLLaa S becilme Prime Minister, Wecirakon has always served hin. In 1984 he retired from the Sri Lankan public Service and accepted an intellational job in London in matters relating to family planning. In 1989 he resigned from this job saying that he was returning to "Work for the rural people of Sri Lanka." His first appointment under Premadasa as President was as chair Illan of Air Lanka. This was a far cry from Working for Elıc, Tural people of Siri Lanka, Bradmalı Weerako on was UInComfortable at Air Lanka because eWell als chairma II het had to contend with the R. Paskarallingam - the all powerful boss of the Treasury who is Premadasa's Number Ole Hit Man and also Rohan Jayakody, then Premadasa's son-in-law, elect, who
28

Walls al Ild still is a directo T Colf Air Lanka. Bradman WeccTakoon then became the Advisor on International Affairs to Premadasa. He has done well for himself. His son (who is married to Foreign Secretary, Bernard Tillekeratic's daughter) also has a good job in Sri Lanka's foreign service and is presently Fist Secretary at the Sri Lankan Embassy in France. Bradman also used his influence with Premadasa to get an appointment for his brother Ronnie Weerakoon as Sri Lanka's ambassador to
Egypt.
It is equally interesting to note that Bradman Weerakoon wrote his biography of Premadasa while on a state-sponsored "holiday" in Cairo and in Paris. He acknowledges this fact in the Preface to his book. When his brother Ronnie Weerakoon Completed his three year term as Ambassador and returtled to Sri Lanka in 1993, Bradman had Ronnie Weerakoon appointed as chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Indeed, there are more and more favours that his faithful servant and biographer can get from his master. The court of a IIIs of the Weerakoon family is now the familiar fox terrier that has been immortalized by the record company label "His Master's Voice."
Later on in this book we will look further into Bradman Weerakoon's biography of Premadasa. Initially, we are grateful to Weerakoon for suggesting part of the title to this book. We felt it would be good if we related to our readers some important biographical facts about Premadasa which Bradman conveniently omitted to state in his book. That is why we have titled this book Prertada sa of Sri Lanka - what Bradman Weerakoot did not say, We think it is a good title. We trust COLIIT readers agrec,

Page 19
This book is a critical assessment of Premadasa's four year tenure as Executive President. It also deals with his political career and also refers to the III peacht Tlent Moti II b) TO Light against him by the Sri Lankan Parliament in August 1991. None of Sri Lanka's national leaders since independence in 1948 used the Dharmapada or other Buddhist texts for political purposes. Premadasa has been the Olle exception, Wery few of his speeches misses a quotation from the Dhar Flipada. His Presidential Manifesto in December 1988 Inade full list of this well-known Buddhist text. But Tecently Prema dasa quotes the Dhamrapada less in his political specches ar'd has chose to quote western leaders like Abraham Lincoln - One of the best known American presidents. Butlet us remind Premadasa that it was the same Abraham Lincoln who said that "You can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people Soric of the time, but you cannot fool all the people, all tile title."
When engaging in his day to day political propaganda. Over the government- controlled media - the Lake House newspapers, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Rupiavahini and ITNPremadasa should take heed of the above words of Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln's - you cannot fool all the people all the LLLLLLLLS LLLLL S LLL LLLLLLa LLLLL S LLLLL LLLLLLLLS SLLLLa LLuLLL HH LLL Premadasa administration.
Prenadasa's Early Days
No doubt Premadasa's rise to the top in Sri Lankan politics came through hard work and a considerable amount of patriotic dedication, Born оп 23rd June, 1924, Prema dasa was thë eldes son of a riddle class trade, Richard Silva, in Kesel Watte in LLLL ELLS ELLLLLLLLLL S aLLLL LLL LLLL LLLaLLLL LLL LLLLtLLLLaa LaLLLLLLLS LLLLLLaL Silva originally cal III le froT 11 Kosgoda in the Galle District. Premadasia's mother, Ensina Hamine, Came from Ba LLIW itil,
3[)

lorina in the Kalutara District. Although, Premadasa now refers to his father as Richard Ranasinghc, there IIc wei was an Incestor of his by the name Ranasinghe. This is a recent invention of Premadasa's. We will say nore about this latter later on in this text,
Stories about Premadasa's birth and lineage, The brief account of Premadasa's birth and parentage which wo hawe given above is the official version given in books published about him. However, it is relevant to Ille till lät There are many other Current stories and rumours su TTOLJEnding his birth and ancestry. One of the most popular of such stories is Premadasa's connection to the family of Asoka Gunasekera who is at present Secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
Premandasa's link with Asoka Gunaselkera According to reliable information Premadasa is an illegitimate child of Asoka Gunasckera's father. It happelled as follows. Today, the Hayleys Group have a large Warehouse behind Ananda College, Colombo. In the period 1900 - 1930, those premises were the residence of Adrian Soysa - a wealthy businessman S LLHHaaS S ELLS SLLL LLLHLLaaL aaHaLLLLLLLS SLaLL LLLS S LLLLLLaaaLLL LLa aLLaLLLHH LLLLL LaLLLLHtLHS SLLLLLLLa LS LLL
account of Adrian Soysa in the famous book Twelftieth Ceir try Impressions of Ceylon edited by Arnold Wright aid published In 1907,
A trader who purchased tobacco from Adrian Soysa for re-sale in the Balapitiya area was Adiris Mudalali. This Andi is Mudalali was Asoka Gunasekera's father.

Page 20
In those days many domestics for household work in Colombo homes, came from the Horana area and Ensina Hamy (Premadasa's mother) who was born in Batuwita, Horana Worked as a domestic in Adrian Soysa's mansion III Colombic). On his visits to Adrian Soysa's house, Andiris Mudalali (Asoka Gunasekera's father) had developed an intimate relationship with Ensina Hamine which resulted in an illegitimate child (Premadasa). Because of this Ensila Hanline had to leave Adrian Soysa's employment. She was assisted by the Reverend Medananda who was the chief priest of the temple at Keselwatta, Rew, Medemanda (like Andiris Mudala li) also hailed from Balapitiya. It was Rev. Medemanda who later also helped Ensina Hamy to marry Premadasa's 'official' father Richard Silva, a native of Balapitiya.
Although Premadasa Inever spoke well of his mother and did have serious altercations with her (which aspect is discussed elsewhere in this text), his mother's background as a servant in a Colombo household resulted in an attitudinal complex. One recalls that one of his pet political speeches was to attack Colombo-based families that employed TLI Tal People Els domestics. "I will soil put an end to the day. When Young women from rural areas are brought to Colombi) te work als servants in the households of the rich. They are not only lowly paid but are often sent home with rounded bellies meaning made pregnant)." Subconsciously, was not Premadasa thinking of the sad fate that befell his own mother Ensina Hamy, when he repeatedly expressed this view? Was Premadasa's determination to eradicate domestic employment of young girls (as opposed to employment in garment factories) based on what happelled to his owl mother?

It is said that because of this close (and illegitimate) family link, Asoka Gunasekera has enjoyed high public office and its privileges, which all seem rather unusual. Perhaps he is the only secretary of a Cabinet Ministry who is lot a public servant. By career, Asoka Gunasekera is a lawyer. In September 1977, he had wanted to be the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication in the J.R. Jayewarderic government but the Cabinet had not approved the
appointment due to doubts about Asoka Gunasekera's conduct as a lawyer associated with a financial transaction relating to monics misappropriated from stamp fees entrusted to him by | ii Lilit:Tit,
Premadasa (who was then the most prominent cabinet minister under J. R. Jayewardene) pressed for Asoka Gunasekera's appointment at that Cabinet meeting but Jayewardene stood firm in his refusal and prevented Asoka Gunasckera becoming Additional Secretary of a Cabinet Ministry. This was done by the Cabinet deciding that no person other than from the traditional public service can be appointed to the post of Additional Secretary of a Cabinet Ministry. Secretarics could be so appointed but not Additional Secretaries. And since Asoka Gulasekera was not from the public service, he could not be appointed Additional Secretary.
But Asoka Gunasekera continued in the Ministry as Coordinating Secretary, Even though the Minister changed, he continued and functioned lastly as Co-ordinating Secretary to Minister D.B. Wijetunga who was then the Millster in charge of Posts and Telecommunications and later the Prime Minister. Regardless of this, the Minister and Secretary to the Ministry were instructed to takic orders only fronil Gunasek,Cra.

Page 21
It is known that even D.B. Wictunga protested mildly (any other form of protest would have resulted in purgatory) at the appointment of Asoka Gunasekera as his Co-ordinating Secretary in the Ministry of Posts and Telecoill Illinications. Premada sa insisted however, that he retali Guna sekera as CoOrdinating Secretary and Wijetunga's acquiescence was part of Premadasa's rationale in making him Prille Minister.
In the latter part of 1987 Asoka Gunasckera went abroad with his wife and family and lived abroad until Prelladasa became President. No one knows why he left. He had said that it had been the recipient of death threats from the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). But the truth will be known Cly to him and
Prema di Sa.
LLLLLL S LGLLGLLLLaLa SLaaLHLHa S LLLLLLLLS LLLlaa S LLLL SLLLL SS LLLL appointments was Asoka Gunasekera as Secretary to the Ministry of Posts and Telccom Illunications. Thus, from being a co-ordinating secretäry for 12 years fTC)rılı 1977, Asoka Gunasekera now became a pcinancint secretary in January 1989. It is significant that he is the only Iloil-public servant to LLLL LLLaLLLL HCCL LL LLL S LLLLLLLLCa LrLGLLLGGLLLLSS LLLLLL LOLOLaSL realized at the time Prenadasa's notives for dig this
Tapping telephones of political opponents and critics
As Secretary of the Ministry of Telecommuniciliticals, Asoka Gulasekera was responsible for purchasing from a Paris-based multinational cxpensive and highly sophisticated equiplicit for surveillance and tapping of telephones. It is said that it is this suphisticated equipment (for which Gunsekera pocket ed a LLLLLLLHHHHHH LHHHHHHHHLLLLLLLLmHSS aLLL LLLCLS LLLLLLLH LCCLL LLLLL LLaLLLLL LLL LL Political Secret Service team that operates from a the headquarters of the National Intelligence Bureau at No. 1 ().

LT aa aaaS LLLLL LLLS LLLHtt LmmmmLa aLaLaLLmLLL LL LCL LaaLLS S S aLLLL mmaaLSKHHCSaaaLLL LLLLLLLLS S LLLLLaL LLLLLLLLS LL Premadasa and anyone Prelladasa feels is less than totally loyal to him. The officer in charge of this operation was Superintendent of Police Deva Corca. Every morning Primadasa is given a transcript of relevant telephone aliversations that have taken place the previous day. A copy of the same transcript was also given to Mahindapala to be used against his opponents in the observer. He even has his Wife's conversations taped because he wishes to keep a tab on what Hema Premadasa is up to - both in relation to her moral conduct and her business dealings,
Pro Iliadasa attaches the highest significance to intelligence on the activities of his political opponents and critics from these taped telephone discussions. According to police officials, Premadasa's daily mood depend on what is contained in the transcript of the taped conversations that are put before him. One recalls that President Nixon faced impeachment in the United States some years ago not only because hic at tcmpted to Eug the headquarters of the Opposition Democratic Party, but LC0 S LLLLL LLS LLLLL LCLLLL LLLLHHLLLLLLL0S LLLLL LLL LLLLLLa House office.
It is also noteworthy that Asoka Guinasekera's brother - also a la Wyer -- Was Illade a President's Colul Insel by Premadalsa, If Colle looks at portraits of Premadasa taken in his younger days, there is an unmistakable resemblance to Asoka Gunasekera. However, there is no valid proof of the above statements concerning any link between Premadasa and the family of Asoka Guna sekera, These mlatters arc left to the public to form their (Wii conclusions. In his political career, Premadasa has also related many stories about individuals about which there
35

Page 22
is no valid proof. Accordingly, he illust not get hurt if thers do the same thing about him. As stated earlier, there is also the Well known saying: "There is no sinloke without fire."
All these rumours can be cleared up by the production of Premadasa's birth certificate. Some say that his birth certificate LSL LLL rLLGLLLLLLLS LL LLL LLL LLLLL S 000 LHa 000KKS LLOLLL LLLLLS aaLLL certificate is not an old one and should be freely available to clear any doubts and to confirm the official version of his birth and lineage. Surely, Premadasa has With hill, a copy of his birth certificate and call use it to dell () lish these unlours. In fact it is surprising that he was able to be nominated as a presidential candidate without producing his birth certificate as the Constitution requires that candidates prove that they are LLLLLL LL LLL LLLLLLLLS SLLLLLLLL LLLLLLaL LLLLL LaL LLLLLLLL accepted without adducing such proof.
The Ranasinghe part of Premadasa's name It is also noteworthy that as a habit Premadasa did not use the manne Ranasinghe un til quite recently. He always went as "R Premadasa." He also signed all documents as "R. Premadasa" and subsequently invented his father's name, Richard Ramasinghe. The Felicitation Volume published when Premadasa became Prime Minister in 1978 also gives his father's name as Richard Ranasinghe from Hegalle, Kosgoda,
Il till: Gille: Distric L.
It is said that the "Ranasinghe" part or Prenadasa's name has been commenced for numerological reasons. The name "R Premadasa" by itself was not lucky in numerological terms. From the point of Vicw of numerology, the letters were not long enough to add up to a lucky number, Hence the current

use of the name Ranasinghe Premadasa in all references to him. It was for similar reasons, they say, that Premadasa got the official print media - the Lake House Papers and all Gowernment publications to cha Inge from Sri La ka to Shri Lanka. This is an unconstitutional act because the constitution LLLa LLLL LLL LLLLLLLLS LLLL LLLLLLLLLL LLLLL LLaLLL LaLLLLS L LLLLLL C Presidential fiat,
Premadasa's father As regards Premadasa's father, although Premadasa's references to him now go as Richard Ranasinghe, his correct name was Richard Silva. This is evident from his obituary notice that was published in the Dinariina newspaper of 5 August 1959, (Premadasa's father died on 3 August 1959). The said obituary notice was as follows;
"Silva. The death is announced of R. Richa Tid Silva Mudalali (businessman), The husband of J.A. Ensina Hai Illine, father of R. Premadasa, R. Sangadasa, R. Rupawathie, R. Somawathie and R. Ariyawathie. Cremation to take place at the Kalatte Cemetery Colombo on 5 August at 5pm. All relations and friends please take notice. (No. 15 Sucharita Place, Colombo)."
This death notice of Premadasa's father identifies the name of his own brother - R Sangadasa and his three sisters - R Rupawathie, R. Somawathie and R Ariyawathie, .
While Premadasa's brother Sangadasa works as a Public Relations Officer (PRO) for cabinet minister Wincent Perera, little is
known or heard of his living sisters.
The strange thing is that Premadasa says he is a common man
37

Page 23
and a friend of the poor, But on the other hand, he wants the public to believe that he is descended from a high class respectable family. This is the irony. Many attribute this attitude to a mental complex of Preliadasa's. As G.M. Premachandra of the DUNF publicly states at political rallies, it is a sickness on Premadasa's part (Ledak, ledak).
On 13th September 1991 in Yapahuwa, one of Prenadasa's close business stooges, Mr (now DeShabadi) Kumar Dewoitira - Chairman of TriStar Apparels, named hisgar IIlent factory opened by Premadasa as The Richard Ranasinghe Memorial Garment Factory.
In the Daily News supplement of 13 September 1991 commemorating the factory opening, there is a photograph of Premadasa's father. In this photograph the father's head has a HHLHHLHHL LLLLLLLa LSL S LaHHLSaS LLLLS LLLL L LLLLL LLLLLLLLSL HL LLa0S days by people of higher standing and social status. Without disrespect to Premadasa's father, the story goes that this comb has been deftly set on the father's head by an artist at the behest of Premadasa. There was no comb in the original photograph of Richard Silwa but Premadasa had got the comb put in later to show his higher social status and lineage. So both the cort and the Ratasi ghe name are Premadasa's introductions. Again it must be emphasized that this analysis is done not to disparage or ridicule Premadasa's parents but only to show a fraud that Premadasa has very Cunningly
perpetrated.
Premadasa's mother Premadasa's mother died several years after the death of his
father. There are rumours to say that there were altercations between his II other and Premadasa and the nother had left
38
 
 
 
 
 

Premadasa's home at Sucharita and g() Illic to liwe With her daughters who were living in Dehiwela.
The much spoken of story is that Premadasa did not care for his mother and neglected her. On one occasion the mother in financial desperation had sold the old newspapers that were in
a LaaLaLLLLS LLLLLLLLL LLL LLtlL LLTLLLLLLLLS S LLaLaLLaaS SaS LLaL preserved those papers for the political events they contained. Also, Some of those Inı ewspapers Contailed Flirticles allıd speeches written and made by Premadasa on various occasions, Premadasa had been so angry at this loss that he had hit his mother for this foolish act and hurt her at Il badly. The mother had the filed a case against Prelladasa in the Magistrate's Court at Hulftsdorp for assaulting her. People talk about this case but there is no available court record. Thus this story cannot be proved and has to remain a Turlour. On the other hand, if there was a court case, Prellalasa and others close to him will know about it. It is noteworthy that in books and felicitation wolumes published about Premadasa, there are several references and tributes to his father, but there is little or no mention of his mother except to give her name and that she hailed from Batuwita in the Horana district. There is also LL LlLlLLLLaa LL LLL LLLLLtLHH LLLLLLaL S LS SLLLS LLLLLLa LLLL LSL II1) th12r.
In other parts of this text we have related several stories that Premadasa has related in public speeches about his parents - all of which are so strange that they are unbelievable.
Why discuss Prenadasa's lineage?
Why is the truth about Premadasa's lineage important? Truly, the issue is поl whetheГ РТепаđasa is a пап оf low birth, a T low caste. Those facts are not in issue. In modern day society
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Page 24
and especially in politics, such criteria should not matter, What is important is a politician's integrity and honesty. It is indeed creditable for a common man to achieve the highest position in the land. But he need not lie about his lineage and ancestry, It is in that respect - and that respect only - that this issue is discussed in this book. It is not an attempt to sling mud at Prelladasa because he is not from a well-known family or from a high class or caste like the former leaders of this "country. The crucial issue is whether the President has lied about his birth and origins - his ancestry and his lineage? If he has lied, then it is a serious charge that can be levelled against him. A person who is ashamed of his origins and who has lied to cover up his origins cannot be trusted and relied upon to lead a nation.
On the 8th of June 1993, Anura Bandaranaike, speaking on the vote of condolence on Premadasa in Parliament stated:
He was born without a silver spoon in his Illouth. Unlike previous rulers of this country, D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, 'I'lly father, Illy In other and J. R. Jayewardene, who all came frk highly-placed families, born to great Wealth and fame from birth, formally educated at the best local schools - Premadasa was born to an ordinary poor family with no wealth and Ilo family background. He was also handicapped by caste. However, he turned these disabilities into strength by sheer will, determination, courage änd grit,
()

Prenadasa - the common man's President When we speak later of Premadasa's Schooling and education, we will examine in detail the assertion that he was an "old boy" of St. Joseph's College Colomb), AS Tegards his birth a Iud lineage, we do not wish to embark on such a close examiliation because we feel that it is unnecessary for the purpose of this book to do so. The objective of referring to Sile of the rumours about his birth and lineage is lot to denigrate of try to disparage Premadasa by saying that he was not born to a well-known or influential family like the Senanayakes, the Bandaranaikes and the Jayewardenes, who have held the highest political office before him. Premadasa himself has campaigned on the basis that he is not from a "Walau wa" and that he is a common mail from among the masses. That his rise to power was like that of Abraham Lincoln's - "froll log cabin to White House." It is, however, interesting to lite that after hic became President in December 1988 F'Teml Eldals: St Coppad talking about being a product of the masses. In a book Written about the impeachment motion against Pre-Illadasa, S.B. Dissanayake, SLFP MP for Nuwara Eliya District says (at p,44) "Although Premadasa has said he is from among the common people and from a poor family, he has always concealed from the people all facts about his birth and lineage,"
Replica of King's Throne installed at President's House
People now know that Premadasa got for himself a replica of the throne used by the last King of Kandy Sri Wickrema Raja Sinha. The original throne is in the Sri Lanka Museum in Colombo. Premadasa got an exact replica made in Singapore at a cost of more than Rs 12 million. It is on this that he sits when receiving ambassadors from foreign countries. The public has seen pictures of him on Television and the newspapers
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(with the representatives of the three service chiefs standing behind him) while he is seated on the 'royal throne'. It is pertinent to ask why as a common mail, (which Premadasa claims to be) he wants a replica of the throne of the last King of Sri Lanka and why he wants all this pomp and pageantry of the three services Chiefs standing behind him when accepting the credentials of new foreign allbassadors.
None of our earlier leaders did this. They did not sit on make shift thrones and get the service commanders to stand behind them. They also accepted credentials of foreign anbassadors but did it in a simple way without all this ceremony that Premadasa demands. (It is well-known that television viewers were amused when they saw this small mail seated on a replica of a royal throne in this fashion and then getting up to accept the credentials of foreign ambassadors). Even the Foreign Minister (Harold Herat) and Premadasa's secretary (K.H.J. Wijedasa) have been asked to stand stiffly to attention to show their obedience to "the King" and the whole event looks so Iudicrous. The ambassadors must be having a hearly laugh at Premadasa's Small-minded insistence on such pomp and pageantry, Sri Lanka is a poor third World Country. Why should we insist on Such unnecessary ceremony Whell accepting foreign ambassadors. Some of these ambassadors represent countries which are aid donors to Sri Lanka and every year we depend on them to fund our development programmes, Our people remember With What simplicity President Jayewardene performed this same task, But that is not the way and thinking of Premadasa - the common Illan's Presid:lit
4

Premadasa's early education
LLLLLS S SS SS SSLLLLCCH SSLLLLL S LLLLLLGLLLLaLaSLSLLLLLS S LLLLLLLLHHHS S LLLLLL Felicitation volume published in 1978 when Premadasabccame Prime Minister, breaks down his education into two main stages, namely early education from 1927-1931 and formal education1 from 1931-1943. According to this samle Felicitation Volume, his early education was at his own home and at the temple and at Sunday School.
As regards his formal education, the Felicitation Volume states that Premadasa first went to Harvard Girls' School in Pettah, Colombo and thereafter, he had gone to Lawrence College, Matadana, Colombo. The exact dates of entry to either of these schools is not known and is not specifically stated in the Felicitation Volume. The hook merely says that he attended these two schools between the period 1931-1943.
About Premadasa's Schooling at Harvard Girls' School and Lawrence College, there is no dispute or doubt, because there are a few Sri Lankans of Premadasa's age who relember him as a school boy at these two institutions.
However, grave doubts have been cast when Premadasa claims (as does the Felicitation Volume) that after Lawrence College. He had his secondary education at St. Joseph's College, Darley Road, Colombo,
Was Premadasa's alma mater St. Joseph's College, Colombo?
This has remained a big question mark in Premadasa's life. Premada sa has done his ut I nost to show the public of Sri Lanka that his alma mater was St. Joseph's College, Colombo. Recently in December 1992 at the Royal College prize giving
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he had said that old Royalists normally monopolised the position of Chief Guest and as a "Old Josephial" he was gracing the occasion. But past students of St. Joseph's of Premadasa's vintage cannot remember him at all, at St. Joseph's.
The purpose of casting doubt about Premadasa's SO called schooling at St. Joseph's College is not to denigTate him or to ridicule hill. On the other hand, Prelladasa hill self claims that he is a common man of humble beginnings and We should all be proud of this fact. But what is regrettable is that the man who claims to be a commoner is unnecessarily trying to assert that he was an old boy of St. Joseph's and that this school was his Alma Mater. Premadasa could do well without insisting on this claim which is clouded with serious doubts, More will be said later about this matter, But if the leader of a country Were to lie about a matter such as his schooling, there is very little left to believe in him thereafter, As an anecdote and for purposes of humour, it is low well known that there are several old boys of St. Joseph's College who have offered an open bet or wager of Rs. One million to any member of the public of Sri Lanka who call conclusively prove that Premadasa attended St. Joseph's and was an old boy of the school. Up to date, no one has come forward to claim this bet,
Some critics who have been more charitable to Prelladasa on this issue suggests what could have happened about 1 Premadasa's claims to have attended St. Joseph's. According to
them, it may have happened as follows:
"It is true that Premadasa Was educated at Lil WTCIce
College, Maradana. The records however reveal that Lawrence College was closed down as all educational
44

institution a few years after Premadasa entered it. Thus, for a short time students who were attending
Lawrence College had to be resettled in other
educational institutions, St. Joseph's College was situated close to Lawrence College. In this way, it may have happened that for a very short period of about six months or one year, Premadasa - a student of Lawrence College found himself at St. Joseph's College. But it is unlikely that Premadasa would have spent many years at St. Joseph's and the major part of his schooling would have been only at Lawrence College,”
Is Premadasa's schooling important?
People may well ask "Does it really matter which school Premadasa attended?" Why are people making such a fuss over this issue? What does it matter whether he went to St. Joseph's Or mot? After all, Premadasa who is now 69 years has often proudly said that he is a full-fledged graduate of the
University of Life or jivana rakshalawa.
On the other hand, we are not here challenging Premadasa's competency or his ability as an individual. We also readily concede that he is well read both in Sinhala and more recently in English and that he is a very able speaker whatever the occasion. All such matters are not in issue. The issue is one of honesty, integrity and credibility of the individual. Has
remadasa lied about his schooling? And here the basic |uestion is, was St. Josephs' College, Colombo his alna nate NGIYAKING by him? There is no dispute that Premadasa had his
tly childhood education at the temple and sunday school. ere is also no dispute that he had his primary and postmary education at Harvard Girls School, Daill Street, Pettah
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Eind at Lawrence College, Skinners Road, South Maradana, Colombo. The only issue is about his secondary education at St. Joseph's College.
In the Felicitatien Wolu me referred to earlier, it is said tlıat hic: went to St.Joseph's at the age of fifteen years, That would be in 1939, since he was boIII in 1924. The sa Illine Felicitation LLLG LL00 SLLL LS KLLaL S S S LLLLLLGLLLLL LLLL LLLLLaLLLLLLLLH LL 1931. Accordingly, he would have spent a period of 8 years schooling until 1939 at the above-Ilentioned Harvard Girls School and Lawrence College and then entered St. Joseph's in 1939 at the age of 15. The Felicitation Wolume adds that Premadasa Completed his education in 1943 at the age of 19. Accordingly, he would have spent 5 years at St. Joseph's College from the age of 15-19 between the years 1939-1943.
One will agree that truth and belief is based on reasonable asSLIII ption. With its high rate of literacy and quest for education, there are few in Sri Lanka who have not been to a school, Nor does one attend school alone. There are so mally other boys and girls in the same classroom. St. Joseph's being only a boys school, there would have been several other boys attending the school about the same time Premadasa attended. For the five years between 1939-1943 he would have gone through many grades and met IIIany other students at St. Joseph's and acquired many friends. Many schoolboys of that age establish close friendships with some, while others remain LLLLLL LLL00S SYLLLtLtLL L LLLLL LLLLLLLLS LLL LLLL LLL LL0L LLL LL class tests and other examinations and also for public exarlinations conducted by the Education Department, St. Joseph's was no exception, and being a well established school of high reputation, would have insisted that its students did sil for public examinations. With Premadasa's outgoing

personality, surely he must have also taken a very active part in the extra-curricular activities of the school. Premadasa has gone on record to say that he played soccer for St. Joseph's and that he even captained the college soccer team. Also with his literary talents acquired at the temple school, SLIrely Premadasa must have also contributed often to the School's magazines - at least the Sinhala editions, These are activities that normal children engage in at school and Premadasa surely must have engaged in such literary activity and sports, St. Joseph's was also quite close to his home at Kesel watte. Thus hic had all the time to take part in the School's extra-curricular activities unlike some children who lived far away and had to travel long distances daily to attend St. Joseph's in Colombo.
■ is also interesting to note that Premadasa celebrated two important events in his life while attending St. Joseph's College. In 1940 he celebrated the first anniversary of the OYLLLLYLLLLLYYLKS LYL LLLKLLLLLLS SLLLaLLS S LSLS LLL LLLLLLLLSL SLL aLaL S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike - a popular political figure even at that time - to be the chief guest on this occasion. Again in 1941 for the second anniversary celebrations of the Sucharita SLLLJLLLLSLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLSLL LLLLL LLaaL S LSLLSLLL0S LLSLLLLLLaLLLLS aaL Dr. E.W. Adikaram as the chief guests. Premadasa's Felicitation Volume proudly asserts that Bandaranaike attended the ceremony accompanied by his newly married wife, Si Timavo, and this was the first public function Sirinitiv'}
anda Tanaike had attended since marriage.
Now all this happened while Premadasa was still a student at St. Joseph's College because according to the Felicitation Volume he completed his formal education in 1943, i.e. at the age of 19. After joining St. Joseph's College in 1939 there is no mention of any other school Premadasa attended. So he
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would have becil at St. Joseph's in 1944) and 1941 when the anniversary celcbrations of the Sucharita Moverie II were held.
As a result of these public events, Premadasa would have been even bcter known to staff and students of St. Joseph's College during that period. It is at this point that the cracks in this story of Premadasa's schooling at St. Joseph's appear. When this lie was invented, onic would hawe Tever have thought (or expected that if the story is carefully looked at and subjected to a microscopic cxamination. The lie will surface and the truth Wii || LIII d.
No one can remember Premadasa at St Joseph's There are no students who attended St. Joseph's during the period 1939-1043 who remember Premadasa at St. Joseph's, If Prenadasa played soccer for the school it is unlikely that school boys of that period will forget that fact, Bcing selected to play in the soccer team of a leading school like St. Joseph's LLLLLLLLS LL LLLLL LLLLLLLHLGLLLLSS LLLL LLLL SLLLS LLL LLLL LL Premadasa in any of the School's magazines of that period. Surely,if he represented the school at soccer, then it is no IIllal that the School's magazines will have a record of his name and the year. Also, it is custoriary for school children to keep school documents such as class reports, photographs and other material of their days at school. Premadasa should therefore have with him some documentation of his five years at St. Joseph's College,
Because hic is the Exccultiwic President al Id il view of SLI diden disappearances fir attacks oil persons who have openly opposed or criticized the Premadasa government, one cannot expect any staff member of St. Joseph's College to make any connents about Premadasa's schooling at St. Joseph's.
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Another interesting aspect of Premadasa claiming to be an old Josephian is that until the UNP election victory in July 1977, Premadasa did not claim or associate St. Joseph's College as his old school. Premadasa had written several books prior to July 1977 such as Ray Miri Muthu (Gold, Gems and Pearls) in 1971, a lovel Pemwathiya (Sweetheart) in 1976 and a collection of poems and lyrics, Rasakavi, Sithuvili (Pleasant houghts) in 1976. In 1976 he also wrote an expose of his personal socio-political philosophy called Peraniaga Lakulia (Early signs). In none of these publications did Premadasa indicate or refer to St. Joseph's as being his alia frater.
It is also interesting to note that in 1974 one Deva Yasapala Silva published a biography of Premadasa under the title Sir Wada Haraia Malak (a fragrant flower). But even in this first biography of Premadasa there is no reference to St. Josephs College being his old School as Premadasa now claims.
To take this story further, in 1955 Premadasa was elected Deputy Mayor of the Colombo Municipality - a high office. In 1966, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Local Government in the Dudley Senanayake government when the Federal Party's Tiruchelvam resigned from Cabinct. On none f these important occasions did St. Joseph's College honour remadasa or invite him for any of their important functions ch as a Prize Giving or even a Sports meet, it is customary for an old school to so honour one of their old boys when they achieve a position in political, public or social distinction. But his did not happen. On none of those significant occasions did CIliadasa acknowledge St. Joseph's as his old School, Neither d the school recognize him or honour him as an old boy.

Page 29
Origin of Premadasa's claim to be an Old Josephian According to Well informed sources Premadasa' claim to be an old Josephial arose in the following way. Immediately after J.R Jayewardene's landslide victory in July 1977, several of the country's well knowl schools began holding felicitation ceremonies to honour their old boys and old girls who had been elevated to high political office and who had been appointed Cabinct Ministers in the J. R. Jayewardene Cabinet. Other than Mrs Willala Kannangara, there were no old girls but there were several old boys.
For example, Royal College, Colombo had a big reception to honour President J.R. Jayewardene and Cabinet Ministers like Lalith Athulathmudali and Ranil Wickremasinghe who were old Royalists. Similarly, Trinity College, Kandy honoured EL B Hurulle and Gaillini Dissanayake who were old Trinitians. St. Joseph's College did not want to be left out of this series of felicitation receptions for old boys. Accordingly, St. Joseph's also planned such a reception. The old boys they were thinking of including in their list of invitations Dewa Inayagam (Ministe of Home Affairs) and Shelton Jayasinghe a Deputy Minister of Industries, Premadasa's name was not in this proposed list of invitees. Subsequently, to the surprise of some it was "discovered" that Premadasa had also been an old boy of St. Joseph's College." The final invitation list for the felicitation ceremony thus included Premadasa who was then Minister of Local Gover Ilment, Housing and Construction and also the
Leader of the House of Representatives,
Premadasa no doubt must have been very grateful to the Rector and staff of St. Joseph's College for having included his name in their list of famous old boys. His fear was that while the other prominent members of the Jayewardene government
5.

| Would be recognized and honou red by their old Schools, hic would have been left out. The fact that he did not have any educational qualifications was not that important as not being able to refer to a good school as his old school, Even Sri Lanka's first Prime Minister DS Senanayake did not attain any educational qualifications but D.S. Senanayake did go to St. Thomas' College and was always recognized and honoured as an old boy of St. Thomas' College. So when St. Josephs' decided to accept Premadasa as an 'newly discovered' old boy of the school, Premadasa was greatly relieved.
this lagnanimous gesture on the part of St. Josephs' Premadasa responded quickly and equally maglia Ilimously, He built for the school a huge new stadium at its Darley Road emises. It is now called "The Premadasa Stadiurn'. By this dium Premadasa's link with the school was established in brick, mortar and cellent as well.
It is significant that from the title of assuing office as Princ Minister in February 1978 and even as President, Premadasa LLLLLL LLLLLL HLC LCLLCLL LLLLLLa LLLLLL LLLS LLS LL HLS exception was the Premadasa Stadium at St Joseph's College. Why did he want this? This was the one link of association which, in his own mind, he knew was not truc and which he feared the public Enlay doubt, Therefore, in teorder to c::Fishiririe the lie, he had his name given to the school's stadium.
Preniadasa's complex about being an "Old Joe."
What Premadasa did next about his being an old boy of St. Joseph's was even more surprising. Without keeping quiet LLLLLL aLLLL LLLS LL0mmL LLL LLLL LL LLLLLS LLLLLLLLmLmLL LLLLLL SLLG aLCLL LL SLLLLLLLL LLLLCa LLLLLL LLLL taa LLL LLL LL LLLLLSS S L SS SLLLBHLLS LLLSL S LLLLL LLLLLLLK LaLLLLL LL
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amusement and wonder to the senior staff of the College and certainly to old boys of St Joseph's, none of whom can remember Premadasa at St Joseph's, They lewer Tealised he was an old boy or recognised him as one of their colleagues or old boys until the school suddenly " claimed to have "discovered" this after the general elections of July 1977 when he became the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Construction under J.R. Jayewardene. As stated earlier, even when he was first appointed to the Cabinet by Dudley Senanayake in 1968, as Minister for Local Government, St Joseph's College omitted to felicitate him as an old boy, No doubt they had lot received instructions to this cffect
Since the latter part of 1977, when Premadasa was officially recognised and honoured by St Joseph's as an old boy, he has on several occasions graced major school events such as the annual prize giving, as chief guest. At these events, he has related amazing stories about his schooling at St Joseph's. To add authenticity to his links with St Joseph's he has spoken of how he was interviewed by Rev. Father Le Goc and Rev Father D.J. Anthony when he was admitted to the school. He has told surprised audiences how he played for and even captained St Joseph's at soccer and how once he hurt his toe while playing soccer for the school. Premadal sa has als C) attributed the leadership qualities he says he learnt to his schooling at St Joseph's,
Premadasa's famous interview on alleged admission to St. Joseph's The interview with Rev. Le Goc on his admission is a fantastic inventi OIII of Prie:Tiada sa's. Other tha Il Premål dalisiä, tlılere are IIC) living persons today to vouch for this interview, or to corroborate that it ever took place.
52

Bradman WeerakoOn, On whom Premadasą CIT Ilow depend for matters other than adivising on international affairs, has LLLCLaLL S uLLL KCLDLLLLLLLL aLLLLLLLaLLCS LLLL LLLLLLL LLL LLLCLLLL LLLL gammLL LLLLLLCLLLL LLLS aaGCCTaa LL LLL L it in his Prerrada sa of Sri Lanka. Page [8 of that book relates Llis ft Illus "illte: "Wiley," is fillows:
The other story is of his entrance to St Joseph's College. The College at that time had started an oriental languages course. Richard Ranasinghe wished his son to follow this course. But St Joseph's was strict on admitting only Catholics to the school. Moreover, it was Tid-ter. In and children were not normally admitted at that time. The interview with the Rector Fr. Le Goc was short and crisp,
"What's your nationality?" asked Fr. Le GOC. "I (Tri s. Sir Haese." "What is your religion?" “TürüB凸s战” "Do you attend classes in religious instruction?" "Yes, I do, on Sundays." "Are you proud of being a Buddhist?" "Yes, Faf her." "Why do you like Buddhism so much?" "Because the Buddha taught kindness, Because he ta Light Ius to he merciful, even to our eremies." "Why do you want to join this School?" "I Tu Yarıf to study fiarther."
Fr. Le Goc was satisfied. He entrusted Premadasa to Fr, D. J. Anthony, a senior teacher of the College, with the words, "Premadasa shows much promise, Who knows where he will end?"

Page 31
Bradrilan Weerakoon has thus given credence to this interview by incorporating it in his biography of Premadasa. He has not named his sources. There are two other interesting facts in the above passage from Weerakoon's book.
LLLLLLLLSS S LLLLLLLLS LLLLLLaaL L0LLGS LLL LLLLL SLS LLLS LLLLLLGCCLSS Ra Fiasinghe (he was never known by that name and his death certificate bears this out), Premadasa found the caste connotations of the name "Silva", with its Portuguese flavour disiteful and found it necessary to adopt the less distinctive "Rahasinghe."
Secondly, Premada sa talks of how proud hic is to be a Buddhist LLLLLL S S LLLLL LaLLLLLLLHH LLLLLL LlLLLLLLL LLa LLLLLLS LLLLL LLLLL LaLLLLLLL
well know that missionary schools (especially Catholic schools) were not given to promoting or even accepting Buddhism at that time and it is very unlikely that a new entrant to the school would proudly boast of dogmatic Buddhist bclicfs in his eageIIless to get admission to a well-known Catholic school in (C) [3] b) 0.
The other interesting item that emerges from this so-called interview is Premadasa's statement as to why he likes Buddhism so much, Premadasa alleges that he said: "Buddha taught people to be illerciful - even to their enemies," and that is why he is a strong Buddhist. Premadasa's political critics and opponents will be amused at this utterance. They know with what brutality and vengeance Premadasa treats them. As I will show later in this text, some of his critics are now Crellated or lying in unknown graves. Others are being persecuted. Their lands and properties have been illegally and forcibly acquired, their telephones tapped and their movements kept under constant surveillance. It is a lic for Premadasa to say that he
34,816 S4

has followed or even understood Buddha's precept "To be петсiful even to one's enemies." Premadasa's dictum Was not
that the quality of mercy is not strained but that thic quality of
Wengeance knows no bounds,
Like many other incidents in Premadasa's life (which the
Aththa newspaper has also recently highlighted despite engendering Premadasa's Wrath) it is clear that this interview on his so called admission to St. Joseph's College is an
ingenious invention of Premadasa's. It is Premadasa who
invented it and it is he who relates it. No other living person can confirm that such all interview took place or if it did, what transpired during the course of it.
Apart from this "interview", a Felicitation Volunie that was published when Premadasa was appointed Prime Minister by
President Jayewardene in February 1978 also gives St Joseph's
as the school where Premadasa received his secondary education. This Felicitation volui IIle, which is en titled Rariasinghe Prenadasa - Prime Minister with a Vision was published by Ajantha Wijesena, one of Premadasa's closest
associates un til he became Presidcnt in 1989. (Later (OIT) in this
text, more will be said about Ajantha Wijesena who later proved an embarrassment to Pre-Inadasa, However, it was Ajantha Wijesella's company Artek Ltd of No. 60 Maligawatte Road, Colombo 10 that printed the Felicitation Volume on Premadasa).
Ajantha Wijesena and Premadasa
When Premada sa was Prime Minister, Aja Eltha Wijesena Was his most trusted confidant. Ajantha Wijesena the played the part that Paskarallingam now plays. He was then the all powerful chairman of the Building Materials Corporation and
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he also ran Premadasa's Sevana lottery. But during the Presidential Elections of December 1988, Premadasa was made to realise what all embarrassment Ajantha Wijescna had become. So he decided to have nothing to do with him and after Premadasa became President, Ajantha Wijesena was a forgotten figure and now lives luxuriously in London having purchased a mansion there for 750,000 sterling pounds in lic inner suburb of Marble arch, and spending his ill-gotten gains. At times, Ajantha Wijesena is found reminiscing about his life with P:Illadasa and relates spicy anecdotes about "Preme" and "Hema." He will, indeed, be a better and more circumspect biographer if he ever finds the courage to write a book about his former b055.
In Ajantha Wijesena's Felicitation Woline, it is said in several places that Prenadasa received his post-primary education at Lawrence College, Skinners Road South, Maradana and his Secondary education at St Joseph's College, Darley Road, Colombo. The dates of his education at St Joseph's are not given in the book but Dr Ananda Guruge who writes about Premadasa's life in this Felicitation Volumne says that Prenadasa entered St Joseph's at the age of fifteen. The LLGGGLLLLL SLSLLLLCLEE LLLL LaLLLLL LLL LLLLLLL LLL LLLLLLLaL to St Joseph's by Rev. Le Goc and Rev. D.J. Anthony and it LLLLLLLLS LLLLL S LLLLL LLLLHH LLLLLLa LLLLLLLH LLLLLLLLaaLt SLSLLLL LLLLLLLL0L LLL inspiration and guidacc."
Ananda Guruge and Premadasa It is worth mentioning here that like Bradman Weerakoon who has low Written Premadasa's biography, Ananda Guruge who wrote Sc}) glowingly of Premadasa in this Felicitariovi Volume . has also been well rewarded by Premadasa. Premadasa (as Prime Minister) saw to it that after Guruge retired from his

UNESCO post ill Paris that he was continued as Sri Lanka's Ambassador te UNESCO. This created ELI1 a musing situation for Sri Lanka in Paris because We then had two official LHHaLLLLLLLLC L LLLLLLLLSLLLLLLaS LLLLL LLLLLLLlLLLLLLL LL LLLLLLLaaa aLaL aaa other, our Ambassador to UNESCO only. The normal practice was that our Ambassador to France held the other position as Well. But Premadasa persuaded President Jayewardene to lake an cxception in thic case of Ana II da Guruge. After Premadalisa beca mic President, he conce again combined both posts and Ima de Guruge Anmbassador to France as Well as Arlinbassador lo UNESCO. And when Guruge's term in France expired (after oric extension as well), Guruge was sent as Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Washington. By giving these high and important appoint Ellents to Guruge, Prelladasa did not care tuppence as to what the foreign service would think. The Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary were not even consulted. Another of his biographer's had to be rewarded and kept War in and happy.
It is not suggested that Ananda Guruge is unqualified to hold these posts. What is important is that Guruge retired from Sri Lanka's public Service Several years ago and has not been involved with the development effort in the country since 1977. Also, there are several deserving persons in the traditional foreign service who can be appointed to these ambassadorial positions. Why overlook them to reward an unofficial biographer?
Conclusions on Premadasa and St. Joseph's
The above analysis of Premadasa's schooling at St Joseph's Collcgc may hawe been a long diversion in this story of his LLS L S LLtlLlLLLLLLL LLaLLaLLL LaLalaLLLLLLLaL a aL00LLLLLL SLLLL 0 Joseph's College was Premadasa's allra frater is simply not
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Fue, III fact, like mos biographical material con him published by his pet circle of flatterers, it is a contrived and diabolical lic.
LlHLLLLLLCa S L mmL LHLL L LC LLLLaCCa L aLaaaa LLLL LaLLLLLLLS to whom they relate it will take the story for granted and lever challerige its tILI till and aut helticity. This ha PPC Ils often, But often little mistakes can expose individuals. This is What happened to the famous English Writer Oscar Wilde, Oscar Wilde filed all action for defamation alleging that he had been falsely called a sodomite. He was winning the case but at a crucial point in his cross-examination by opposing counsel, Oscar Wilde made a small mistake - a SIT all slip. He pretended he was younger and gave his age as two years less than his actual age. He did it on purpose but felt it would go unnoticed. Thereafter the entire case changed against hill. He was ultimately disbelieved and later proved to be a sode Inite and convicted and sent to jail. All this happened because he lied about his age. Just a two year difference,
Oscar Wilde's story is related here to show that there is "Finally
LL LLLCCL Ha LLLLL aS LLLLLLLHL LLGLLL LLLL LL LLL Joseph's College was his a tria Later he did not expect ally one to challenge it. He may also have thought it unimportant SO that people will not lake any fuss about such an assertiol. As aLLLLL aaLLLLSSY LLLLLLLlla LLLLLL LL LLLLaaa LLL LLLLLT LLLaLLLLLLLS LLLLL can lie about anything else as well. That is the issue which one LLaLaLL LLLS LLLLLaLLS L L LaLLLLLLLaL LLLL LLLa LLLLLL LLLLLLLLS LLLLLL
Preniadasa says cannot be taken for granted. Nor illust he think that all people are so gullible that they will accept Els true everything lic StlyS.
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There are two other matters worthy of mention. If Premadasa had in actual fact been a famous old boy of St Joseph's, the school's management and staff would have involved him at a
very early stage in the School's activities - at least from about
the mid-1950s when he became Deputy Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council. Premadasa was an urban politician and his electorate, Colombo Central, was in close
proximity to St. Joseph's College. It would have been natural
for the school to look to an old boy like Premadasa in many of its development activities. Old boys of schools do get involved in helping their schools and Prenadasa would not have been an exception to this practice. Even when Premadasa got his first Cabinet appointment uilder Dudley Senanayake in 1968 as Minister of Local Government, St Joseph's College did not go to him for any school function or matter, The absence of the involvement of this famous old boy from the school's development since he allegedly left it in 1943 is most surprising.
Next, it is customary in the publication of a Felicitation
Welle about a famous individual for a staff member or another old boy of the school to write a few words about the individual who is felicitated in that volume. This is the common practice. It happened when a Felicitation Volume was published about J. R. Jayewardene, alnost 20 years Preladasas Senior, Several articles appeared in that boÖk ön J.R. Jayewardene which were Written by past and present teachers of Royal College and past students of Royal College who knew "JR" as an old boy of Royal College. But in Premadasa's Felicitation Volute which was published when he became Prime Minister there is not one article by a member of the St Joseph's College staff or by an old boy of St Joseph's College about Premadasa and his schooling at St Joseph's. This alone
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shovs that His schöoling EL ( St Joseph's Was in1 , " dko Labt and Ink) one was willing to Write about it. Surely a little mention of the person's schooling and School life is an ideal subject latter for a Felicitation volume? But this was missing in Prema dasas Լելել:
Perhaps even Ajantha Wijescna, who was responsible for the HLLLLLLL SL LLL LSLLLLLLTGGGTLT LSLLTCLLS LLLL LLLL LL LLLLL LLLLLL Premadasa at St Joseph's was too difficult a task to accomplish With CTC dibility! When hic Was Prime Minister, the rilai person "marketing" Premadasa Was Ajantha Wijesc na Who also ran Prema dasa's Sevena Luttery. Even Ajantha Wijesena felt that to invent a story of St. Joseph's being Premadasa's Alma Mater Would be counter productive because it was a too much of lie for ally reasonable person to believe.
The Sanne Photograph with two different captions
It is also interesting to note that the openly Waledictory Felicitation Volta rye () in Premadasa published whic II he became LLLlL LLTLLLLLL LLLLGLLCL aLLLLLLLmmmLLL LLL LLLLLLL LL 0 LLLLaL man in white long shorts and shirt and long socks and black shoes Seated Lin a table. In the Feliciration Volumre, the Caption under the photograph only states "At the age of 18" - meaning LLL LLLLL LaLLLLLLLL LL LLCLGLaLLLLL LC K LL LLLLLLa LLLGLLLLLLL L 00 years, Irl Bradman Weerakoon's biography of Preliadasa published in 1992 for the SAARC Conference in Colombo (lie 0HHC L LCLCGGGmGGGCHT 0L LCCCLLLLLCLLLS LLL LLaaaLLLLSSS LLL aaLLLS Under this sarile photograph now says "Premadasa as a fifteen year old school boy, attending St Joseph's College."
Several issues arise froll this attempted deceptiol. Surely a
LaCLaL S LS S S LLLLLL S LLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLS LaS LLLLL LLLLLL LCCLLLmmLmLaL LLLL 00 HmLLC LLLCLLS S HLLL LLLLLL 0aL aaLLL LLLL LL
BI)
 

Felicitation Volume and seen this photograph in that book. Bradman Weerakoon would thus have been awarc of the material difference in the captions. In the Felicitation i Volute the caption of the photograph says "Prenadasa at 18 years." In Bradman Weerakoon's book under the same photograph it says Premadasa at 15 years. There is a very big difference in three years and looking at the photograph it certainly looks a photo of a man of 18 years and not 15.
econdly, in Bradman Weerakoon's book the caption says the
photograph is that of Premadasa at 15 years "as a school boy attending St Joseph's College." It is curious that in Felicitation Volure, there is no statement under the photograph that it was
taken when Premadasa was attending St Joseph's College.
It is quite clear that the caption under the photograph as given in Bradman Weerakoon's book is a lie. The book was published mainly for international consumption - to be distributed as complimentary copies to SAARC leaders and other delegates from Ileighbouring countries. Such readers ould naturally have believed what is said in the caption to the photograph.
Thirdly, in Bradman Weerakoon's book this caption has been deliberately introduced to clearly show that St Joseph's College was Premadasa's alma mater. What both Premadasa and Bradman Weerakoon must remember is that when you tell lies you get caught because even minute details expose the lic have reproduced this photograph from both texts with the different captions so that the readers of this book. will appreciate the significance of this deliberatic lic.
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When Premadasa as chief guest attended the 125 year celebrations of St. Benedict's College, he boasted about his days at St. Joseph's. He told an amazed audience how he was the captain of the St. Joseph's College soccer team when they beat St. Benedict's and that he had hurt his toe when playing the winning goal. He also said that he was in the St. Joseph's College debating team which had beaten the St. Benedict's debating team. Therefore, Premadasa said "Coming to St. Benedict's College for its Prize giving was like coming home." When he was so speaking, distinguished Old boys of St. Benedict's College who were in the audience were holding their heads ill disbelief, Sorlle had II uttered, "we cannot believe that this man cal lie like this."
Premadasa's Lack of educational qualifications Whatever school Premadasa Inay have attended for purposes of education, there is no record whatsoever of his having passed any public examination, Nowhere has Premadasa offered any explanation as to why he did not sit for any public educational examini Illation, Hic hals however, Inow assigned til Hill self tille portfolio of the important Ministry of Education and Higher Education. It Will be recalled that prior to the impeachment motion, this portfolio was held by Lalith Athulathmudali who is undoubtedly the person who had the highest academic and educational qualifications as a UNP cabinet minister.
Here again, the reference to Premadasa's lack of educational qualifications is not emphasized merely in order to ridicule him for that reason alone, Sri Lanka's first Prime Minister, the revered D.S. Senanayake (always remembered as the Father of the Nation) also had no tertiary education. But D.S. Senanayake did not for that reason look down upon educated people. On the other hand, he used educated people not only
52

for administration byt also for the political development of the country. But Premadasa is just the opposite. To Premadasa, the sight of an educated person is like showing a red cloth to a frenzied bull. One of Premadasa's greatest shortcomings and inferiority complexes is that he is very uncomfortable in the presence of educated people and therefore resents their company. This may be a problem with an individual's character but it has a siad arld woeful effect when that individual is the leader of the country,
Sri Lanka may be a poor country but it is a country - however poor - where education is held in high esteem and at a premium. The very village folk whose cause Premadasa is so given to being the champion of mortgage their properties and even delay the marriage of their children so as to give them the best education possible. Sri Lanka is proud of its high rate of literacy and excellence in education. In that context one cannot understand a leader who takes such all attitude towards educated people. Some of Sri Lanka's best known public servants and administrators have come from poor homes. They rose to eminence because of their educational attainments. Premadasa's resentment of educated people even made him propound his famous principle that a Bacs (a skilled and experienced crafts Illan) call casily replace and outclass an educated and qualified engineer,
It is Premadasa's resentment of educated people that Illade him LLLLLLLLS LLL LLLLLLLLS S LLLLL LaLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLL LLa SLLLLLLLa Dissanayake - both qualified lawyers. President J.R. Jayewardene recognised their talents and capabilitics. He gave them the necessary scope and encourage Illent to conceive and accomplish massive development programmes such as a free and liberalised economy, a free trade zone, the Mahapola

Page 36
University scholarship schemics, the huge Maha Welli Development programme and the Swarrabhooti or land grants Schelic to the landless,
In fact, if one reads Premadasa's Presidential election callpaign speeches during the period October to December 1988, Premadasa always said that he will be able to implement his Powerty Alleviation Programme (Jarasa viya) only beca u SC the country had already been vastly developed by scheriles like the Mahaweli programme, the Free Trade Zone, the Mall:El Pola scheme and the free and liberalised economy. During his Presidential campaign, Premadasa always acknowledged the vast development programmes initiated and accomplished by Lalith Athulathmudai and Gamini Dissanayake. He also Tade use of both these younger leaders to address public meetings and work tirelessly for his success at both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in December 1988 and February 1989. Thereafter, it was a different story,
Both Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake Were persistently ridiculed, persecuted and made to feel unwanted in the Premadasa, administration. At Cabinet meetings their ideas were openly ridiculed or ignored by Premadasa. Premadasa encouraged other ministers who stooged hill (Renuka. He rath, Mallimarachchi and their ilk) to openly attack Athulathmudali and Dissanayake at cabinet meetings, These attacks Were preplanned and well orchestrated by Premadasa. Premadasa als) interfered with the running of their Ministrics. He directed the Secretaries of their Ministries to report directly to him and not to the ministers. He often embarrassed then by crude remarks and utterances in public which were intended for thcII). It was ingratitude of the highest order,

Everyone knows that apart from Sirisena Cooray's efforts, Premadasa's victory in December 1988 and February 1989 can
an extent that they had no option but to move out. In Dissanayake's case, Premadasa went even further. He
be his stooges and yes-men. The decision making must come from him. All eyes and cars must be directed to the President's Office. Independent decisions by individual Ministers were not only taboo, but were attacked in the crudest terms and were considered subversive. The servility Premadasa expects is readily received from Ministers like Renuka Herat, A.J. anasinghe and Azwar. Even Sirisena Cooray is well accustomed to Premadasa's style of leadership. But Premadasa could not and would not receive the unquestioning obedience
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hic expected of his subordinates from Gairmini Dissal Illyalke liud Lalith Athulathmudali. They had minds of their own, porhaps largely due to the objectivity of intellect bestowed then by their superior cducation. Both were lawyers. Both were eloquent debaters in Sinhala as well as English. Both Were aLLLLLL LELLLLLaaLLLLLLLLlLlL LLa LLLLL LLLS LLLlLSaaaS L LLLLLLLaaLLLLLS LLLLL commanded high respect from among the MPs, public administrators and the general public. III fact, it would It be incorrect to say that Lalith Athulathriudali, who had a distinguished academic background, a sharp Wit and a lively sense of humour, was educationally the most qualified individual ever to take to politics and function as a parliamentarian and Cabinet minister in Sri Lanka.
In this background, Premadasa felt extrenicly uncomfortable. He lacked the visionary ability to collective of large-scale programmes and reforms and most acutely, a Sense of humour. His envy of Dissanayake and Athulathrilldali Wils (PCI) and public irritant. Hic made no secret of it, It had a considerable impact on Prenadasa's mind. He felt uncomfortable. He could HLL LLaHaLLLlHS LLL LLLLLLa LLLL LaLaL SLS LLLLLLLLm LLLLLL LLLLH LaLLS persons other than those who say "Yes," to anything he says. One was expected merely to listen to hiri and then agree wholeheartedly with him. Team work is a concept completely alien to him. Another UNP Cabinet Minister who openly did Ilot stooge Premadasa was young G.M. Preillachandra, who had secured the largest number of votes in the Kurunegala District . :ıt the Presidentialı ild (Geleral Election:55,
We now turn to Premadasa's political career - its origins and development.
 

emadasa's early involvement in public Life Premadasa's father, Richard Silva was a very close and strong | supporter of late A.E. Goonesinghe, the founder and leader of
Young Premadasa had formed an organization called Sucharitha (good character) with the school boys of the locality Linder the guidance of Sunday school teacher-cum
We refer to them briefly in a later part of this text.
Prema dasa in municipal politics To use a biblical term, young Premadasa's baptism in politics was in 1943 at the age of 19, when he campaigned very hard for A.E. Goonasinghe at the Municipal election for the Borella ward against Pieter Keuleman of the Communist Party.
In the Colombo Municipal elections of December 1949, Premadasa (aged 25) contested the St. Sabastian ward as a candidate of the Labour Party with the support of its leader, A.E. Gooniasinghe. Despite being defeated badly, Premadasa continued with his organization, and when the man who defeated him had to resign from the Municipal Council meIIlbership with three others on the findings of the Bribery Commission (the M.W. H. de Silva Commission), Premadasa once again as a candidate of the Labour Party, romped home
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at the by-clection. This was (Il March 19th, 1950. The date is significant because it is regarded by Premadasa as the date om which he first entered the political area. Every year on this day, a series of celebrations is held to commemorate this event. As at March, 1993, Premadasa has been forty three years in politics.
When A. E. Goonesinghe (who was then a Cabinet Minister) was trounced at the 1952 General Elections (he was the fourth ill the thrcc. Inc.mber Columbo Central constituency) thic Labour Party breathed its last, Premadasa, the young MMC, joined the UNP then under the leadership of Dudley Scina na yake,
In 1954 the UNP Iloiliilated Picadasa to contest the post of Deputy Mayor. The Colombo Municipal Council had 15 UNP LLLLLLLCS S KCGCLLLLL LLaHHTLL0L LLLLL LHHHS CaaLLmmLLLL (Ral, malayakc), This Independent member was a syrılıpathizer of the UNP but hic Was an adW CISELTy (of the UNP mayoral candidate V.A. Sugathadasa. He (herefore decided to vote for DIT N. M. Pcircra, the Oppositico1 candidati: for Mayor, but woted for Premadasa for the post of Deputy Mayor. Results of both electics were 16-15. Dr N M Percra bccanic the Mayor and Prelladasa the Deputy Mayor.
Premadasa started losing his public popularity after he became
Deputy Mayor. Many supporters of St. Sabastian Ward accused
him of becoming "bossy" and "arrogant." These allegations
Were justified in the light of the results of the next Municipal Elections in Dece:Illber 1959,
LLGLL SSSSSS aaaS atHLS LLa SLLLLLLS LLLLLLLLS SLLL LLLLLLL SS hurliliating defeat at the country's General Elections in April 1956, began its "resurrection" with the local government
{ዀ$$

elections at the end of the same year, It maintained this position at the Colombo Municipal Council elections of 1959 tԼյլ):
In the 1959 Colombo Municipal Council Elections, Colombo's strong left-wing party was routed by the UNP, The Left leaders - Dr. N.M. Perera and Pieter Keuneman together with their followers were roundly defeated. But there was Oile "surprise" for the victorious UNP. Ranasinghe Premadasa, the UNP Deputy Leader in the Colombo Municipality was defeated by the Communist Party's L.W. Paditha (the only seat that the Communist Party won). Panditha had earlier been defeated by Premadasa for this Same Seat in 1954, But in 1959, PalIIditha was able to defeat Premadasa despite all the other Communist Party candidates losing their seats in the Colorillic Municipal Council.
th. UNP leaders were perturbed by the defeat of Premadasa who was then the best young Sinhala orator of the party and a capable election organizer. The UNP managed to get him back to the Council at a by-election, when the UNP stronghold of Cinnamon Gardens fell vacant after some time. Ironically, LLLLLLLa LLLLLL LLLLLLLK L L Ll aLLL LLa LHHLmH HLLLLH L LaLLLLLLL was, on this occasion, voted in by the clitist and WestcIIorientated residents of Colombo's most affluent constituency,
Premadasa at the national level
At the 1956 General elections, Premadasa had been nominated by the UNP to contest the Well-known LSSP leader N.M. at Ruwanwella, the latter's "pocket borough." Premadasa's main slogan against N.M. Perera was that while Premadasa stood for the "Sinhala Only" policy, N.M. Perera was committed to parity of status for both Sinhala and Tamil.
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Premadasa was defeated in his first attempt to enter Parliament. And in his current political wicw, there is Il trace whatsoever that only as fall T back as 1956, hic: advocated a "Sinhala only" policy. Today as President, Prelladasa has conveniently chosen to forget the strong anti-Tamil stand he took on "Sinhala only" in 1956. He has conveniently forgotten his communal policies and communal slogans on which he first contested national Electi S.
At it General Elections of March 1960, PreIliada sa was LLaLLaL SLaL LLLLLaLL LLLLL LaL LLLKJLaaLaaL S LLLLLLaLaaLLLL LLLLLL constituency. However, when Parliament was dissolved in three months and fresh General Elections were held in July 1960 Premadasa failed to make it to even the third place. The reason given for his defeat was that public opinion went against him in the whole island after a specch he made at an election rally at Ratnapura. At this meeting Premadasa is alleged to have LLLLLL LLLLLL LLLLLLLLS LLLL LLL LLLLLLLHHLLLLLLL LLLaLLLLLLLS S L particular and women in general. Even though Premadasa later deniedmaking this statement, the late Sarath Muttetuwagama said at a public rally "Premadasa's indecent speech helped to defeat the UNP in sevel out of the eight scats in the Ratnapura district and even in the only one they won Kolo ille, the majority was just 45 votes."
Twenty five years later when Prema dasa as Prime Minister made a speech casting aspersions on character of a rival politician al Irld Tallising doubts rega Tiding the pater Inity of an Opposition member, Muttet uwagama, then a member of Parliarient quipped "it reminds Inc of his 1960 Ratlapura speech."
7()

Premadasa's marriage to Hema Premadasa married on 23rd Julie, 1964. The bride was Hema Wickrematunga, who hailed from Bandarawela. The date of his marriage, 23rd June is significant because it was also the date of his 40th birthday. Now the annual Garr, Lala war celebrations, an orgy of waste and extravagance, is held from 23rd June for one week. This is in fact little more than a big birthday celebration or far asha for him. People have forgotten that his wedding was also on his birthday. Accordingly, the annual Gann Udawa celebrations is not only a birthday celebration, but is also the celebration of his wedding anniversary. Premadasa never mentions this Wedding anniversary aspect at Gar Udawa celebrations. Only his birthday is emphasised but not his wedding anniversary. So in one sense it is clear that the Garr Udawa ceremony is the most colossal Gover Illnent celebration
at gover III ent expense of a man's birthday and Wedding anniversary,
Premadasa's first Cabinet appointment At the 1965 General Elections, Premadasa contested the three
member Colombo Central constituency and was elected as second MP. In the UNP government that followed, led by Eudley Senanayake, Premadasa was appointed Deputy Minister (then called Parliamentáry. Secreta Ty) for Local Gover"Il II-lent. It is said that one of the individuals who had supported Premadasa's appointment as a Deputy Minister in the Dudley Senanayake government was C.P. de Silva, who was a SLFP stalwart who crossed over to the UNP in late 1964.
In September 1968, Pಿ: ag (this first.applyin LinkInt (K) Ministerial office. This happe 鷺
Government, M. Tiruchelwa m broke away frem the UNP
Government with his "Äijä 閭 WE10 WELS 71

Page 40
Deputy Minister, SLI Ciceeded TirLL Chelwam a S Minister of Local Goweriment,
Froil then on, despite the defeat of the UNP in the May 1970 general elections, Premadasa's political career was secure. The results of the 1970 General Elections had been an Lin imaginable surprise to the UNP. A United Left Front had LLLLLL LLL LLL LLLLLL LLaLLLLL S LLSS GL 00 LaLLLLL LL Parliament. But Premadasa was not only one of the very few to rea, his seat, but he had increased his majority and had EVen COIIle first in the three-ITlember Colomb0 Central constituency. And during the seven year rule of Mrs Bandaranaike from 1970 - 1977, PreInada sa functioned as the Chief Opposition Whip with J. R. Jayewardene as the Opposition Leader (Dudley Senanayake had died in April 1973).
An early ilustration of Premadasa's mania for publicity Beginning from his days as a Municipal Councillor, Premadasa tended to give priority to publicity and rhetoric at the expense of useful, altruistic work. Senior journalists talk of the time when Premadasa would rush to newspaper offices soon after making a speech in the Colombo Town Hall to plead for a 'splash' in the paper for his contribution.
This mania for publicity increased when Premadasa was made Minister of Local Government in 1968 during the dying days of the Dudley Senanayake Government which ran from 19651970. Using his official position as a Minister (he was Concurrently a Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting), Premadasa began to tout himself as a "doer with the connivance of a few friendly newspaperimen.

They picked on the making of Poor ful Palai (instant concrete bridges) as the new Minister's distinctive contribution, when in fact the Highways and Construction Ministry's Ratmalana depot had been turning out these bridges for quite Some time without 'a' fuss. Premadasa's Goebbelian attempts to get personal publicity for himself at the expellse of the Prime Minister and | other more senior Ministers like M.D., Banda, U.B. Wanninayake and I.M., R.A., IIIiyagolla, who had toured the length and breadth of the country and launched a successful grassroots campaign to revive agriculture, irked the UNP membership, Many of them had quietly sacrificed their wealth, time and energy as genuine patriots and were low being upstaged by a man they considered to be a political "ConIlla II."
Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake took the matter up at all inner party meeting in a characteristically open and firill, but friendly way, "I say Prene," he said, "We all like you. But we built up this party Oil honesty, self sacrifice and genuine patriotism. We don't have to rely on cheap stunts like Poor st Palam. We don't believe in deceiving the people." Dudley Senanayake was strongly supported in this criticism of Premadasa by party stalwarts like M.D., Banda, Iriyagola, Wanninayake and Gama ni JayasLIriya, who was the II the Party Secretary.
This was a semi-public rebuke for which Preliadasa level forgave Dudley Senanayake. It is said that Premadasa walked out of Sri Kotha and began to sulk in his modest flat it Rosmead Place, The Prime Minister sent Gamani Jayasuriya and Wanninayake to bring Premadasa back and get hin fo withdraw a letter of resignation that Premadasa had submitted after this public exposure and humiliation that he suffered at

Page 41
the hands of his leader, who could forgive anything, but not attempts at hoodwinking the people in order to get cheap publicity.
Though the letter of resignation was withdrawn, Premadasa could never, after that, look Dudley Senanayake in the face. Former UNP Minister Gamani Jayasuriya has told his friends details of this incident on several occasions. He was the Secretary of the UNP at that time. Jayasuriya has made it known that he still has with him the letter of resignation that Premadasa sub II litted. While Jayasuriya is acclaimed for his honesty and integrity, he is reluctant to publicly confirm this incident because his SOI) is Illa Tricid to the sister of Rohan Jayakody, who married Premadasa's daughter Dulanjali. In other words, Gamini Jayasu riya's daughter-in-law is Hubert Jayakody's daughter. She is the lady who is in charge of the massive Carnation and cut flower project for which the Nuwara Eliya race course has been given on a nominal lease to the Jayakodys. It is a massive extent of about 43 acres of prime urban land in the heart of Nuwara Eliya town.
Preliacsa the show-Ila II For Some reason best known to himself, Prelladasa has a kink to tie up any development work with some celebration, commemoration or show, For instance, Premadasa proudly claims that it was he who as Minister for Local Government, was responsible for the mechanization of the Rural Roads and Bridges Department of the Ministry. He symbolized his ground design of Pooftu Palam (pre-fabricated bridges) by installing twenty two such bridges simultaneously in twenty two districts On 22nd March 1969. For greater public and media attention, he chose the date Well. It was the 17th death anniversary of Sri
74
 

Lanka's first Prime Minister, D.S. Senanayake. This "showman" character of Premadasa has never left him. It is part and parcel of his daily life, To him there should be no development without an accompanying "show." There must also be no development without an accompanying local name-tag. "Sevena" for his lottery, "Udagama" for his housing and "Jamasaviya" for his poverty alleviation – are good modern illustrations.
During 1968-70, from pre-fabricated bridges, Prema dasa also attempted pre-fabricated houses, but soon gave up this idea because it was not feasible. People will Tellember that in the period between 1977 and 1979, Premadasa, as Prime Minister, started a craze for roundabouts and overhead bridges for pedestrials in the Colombo city, all painted in his "trademark" colour - orange. As can be observed, very few people use these overhead bridges which are mainly found in the Maradana area, but they were constructed at a huge cost.
However, there is one project which Premadasa commenced in his first Cabinet portfolio as Minister of Local Government in September 1968, which truly deserves recognition. That was the Maligawatte National Housing Scheme in Colombo, Which is perhaps one of the best public housing schemes in the country, so far.
LLLLLLLLa LLLLLL LL LLLLL LLaLLLLLL SLLLLLLLTLLLLLLLLS LLTLLLLS
In 1972, during the period that the UNP was out of office, Preliadasa attempted to build up a separate power base by organizing a "Citizens' Front" (Purawesi Perarilla). It is said that he organized this lovement as an attack on the UNP leader Dudley Senanayake who had restrained him earlier when
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Premadasa was seeking IncCessary publicity. With his prefabricated bridges. At one of the UNP conventions, Premadasa was met with such hostility for his separate Citizens' Front Illoverinent that he soon abandoned it. Premadasa's attempt to confront the leadership of Dudley Senanayake by his so called Citizers' Front was one of the reasons why Premadasa and his Wife Were jeered and hooted and almost assaulted by mourners When they went to pay hollage at the funeral house of Dudley Senanayake, when the UNP leader died in April 1973.
Prematlasa insulted and assaulted at Dudley Semanayake's fuınıeral i OLu.5e The UNP hardliners never forgot or forgave Premadasa. When he tried to lead a breakaway from the UNP with his Citizens' Front (Puertawesii Peram Lurra), They considered it as a pertsonal insult and betrayal of Dudley Senanayake, the much lowed UNP leader who had also been a personal benefactor to Premadasa. In fact, Premadasa will not deny that his first plot of land was also gifted to him by none other than Dudley Senanayake. The UNP leader gave Premadasa a block of land from his own property near "Woodlands" at a very small price LLLa LL LLLLLLLK LLLHH LLLL LLLLaLL LLL LLHLLLL LLL LLLLLLaL aaLLL LLaaLLLLSSS This was all the more reason why UNP loyalists disliked Premadasa when he for Ilcd his Citizens' Front, Thus in April 1973 when Dudley Senanayake suffered a Tlassive heart attack and died and when Premadasa visited the funeral house at "Woodlands" he was jeered and hooted. Their disgust towards Premadasa (who was also at that tille accompanic d by his wife 'Hema) was so great and prolonged that some mourners at the funeral house started to strike Premadasa with their hands and feet, Sensing that the situation was getting out of control, it Was Dudley's own brother Robert Senanayake who, out of sympathy, came to Premadasa's Tescue and pulled the couple
75

to a bedroom of the funeral house and then saved the Ill frcill LLLLaLLLL LLLLLLLLS LLLLLLLL S LLLLL LL LlL LL S LLLLS LLLHHLLLLLLL aLLSaa secretly through a back door,
After this incident, Premadasa did not feel it safe to attend Dudley Senanayake's funeral When it was held at Independence sina: and which was attended by over One million people - perhaps the largest crowd everseen in Sri Lanka. It was at this funeral (from which Prenadasa was forced to keep away), that J. R. Jayewardene made his famous funeral oration ending it with a paraphrased quotation from William Shakespeare's well own play Hallet. "Good night sweet Prince, may the host of Devas sing thee to thy sleep." Today's leader of Sri Lanka because of his conduct in the political arena, was prevented by the people from attending the funeral of his leader and
cofactor.
is also said that the massive heart attack from which Dudley cIlalayake eventually died was caused by anxiety generated S LLaaLLLL LLLL LLLLLLLL0S LLLLL LLLLLL aLLLLL aLLLLLLS LLLLLLLHH LLLLL published by Premadasa promoting his Citizens' Front which was brutally critical of Senanayake. This is in stark contrast to the IIlanner in which Premadasa himself dealt with Lalith Athulathmuldali and Gamini Dissanayake when they criticized Premadasa during the impeachment of September 1991.
Premadasa the photographer
There is an amusing story about the charismatic leader Dudley Senanayake and his fondless for Mrs Hella Premadasa. They say that Senanayake liked buxom Women and Hema Premadasa fitted the bill well. Also, Hema was only too willing to be Wooed by and thus win the favour of the leader of the UNP at that time. It is said that Dudley Sellanayake himself, a lover of
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photography, when he used to visit the Yala and Wilpattu wild LLLLLL aLLLLLLLLLa aLLLLLLLaLLLLLLLaS LLLLL LLLLHHLLLLLLLSaaa LLLLLL LLLS LLLLLLa SLLL the bungalow in the sanctuary. And in order to spelld more LLLLa aaaaa HLa LLLLLLLLSB LLGHtLlLClaSS S SSS S LLLLL LLL LLLLLC LLLLLCCCLtLtLLLLLLL LLaLLL LaL LLLLLaLLLL LLLLLLtLL L LLLLm LLLLLL a La LCL with a camera or two to photograph wildlife. This Premadasa did only too willingly because by Ilow, he was spreading a story that photography was his hobby and that his leader Senanayake had also given hill one of his best cameras. Dudley Senanayake must have been chuckling to himself as Premadasa was striving to become a successful photographer, More recently, Premadasa does not speak publicly of this hobby,
Premadasa's long years in political opposition When assessing Premadasa's character adjudging his actions, We must not forget that Premadasa had – until 1989 – Spent a greater part of his political life - about 30 years, as an Opposition politician. Premadasa himself admitted this ill his inaugural specch as President on 2nd January, 1989. About an year later in a speech at the B.M.I.C.H. Prenladasa equated politics to climbing up a very greasy pole. He said it was difficult to get up and sometimes you come de Wil in the attempt to get up. Premadasa said this before his impeachment motion in Parliament in August 1991. The impeachment process, which is now following him like a shadow, shows that Pre-Inadasa has still not got to the very summit of the greasy pole he spoke of. We will refer to the impeachment motion against Premadasa in another part of this text.
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Premadasa and his Gall Uda was Premadasa was elected as the deputy leader of the UNP in 976 and this paved the way for him to be appointed the C. of the House after the UNP Victory in 1977 and eventually as Prime Minister after J.R. Jayewardene became President under the new Constitution in February 1978.
1978, soon after he was appointed Prime Minister, Premadasa launched a Scheme named Garri. Udawa (village reawakening)"To uplift," as he said, "the most downtrodden sections of the rural population." The first (rai Laava Was launched on 23 June 1978 at Yapahuwa close to a property which Premadasa now uses as his private holiday home and estate. This is called Kahambiliyawatte and is situated at
Ambanpola.
According to leading economists, the Gam Udalwa sche Ille had no economic planning whatsoever and made no economic sense. It did not create job opportunities, or lead to agricultural or rural industrial development. It was a scheme to house a small percentage of the people living in Cadjari and mud huts in small telements with electricity and other amenities. In no electorate could any Udagaria accommodate even five percent of those living in huts, not to speak of those living even | without a hut.
It is interesting to note that about the same time that Premadasa launched his Gam Udawa Housing Programme, the highly respected Marga Institute of Sri Lanka headed by economist and former public serwant Dr Godfrey Guna tilleke had published a research paper on "Housing in Sri Lanka." In Lihat publication, Dr Godfrey Gunatillekc clearly argued against t large-scale housing programme by the public sector because
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of its high cost and lack of productive value. To Prelladasa LLLHHLSS SaLLLLL LLLLHHLCLLL Laa LaaLLLLLLLLHHa rSLHHLLLLHH aLa SLLLL LL consequence. In fact, the more the ceonomists that argue against any project of his, the more persistent Premadasa. Would be in implementing it.
The opening of any Udagaria, in any place in the Island even
with 25 houses was considered a "lational festival." Coloured
posters printed in tens of thousands were put up throughout the
Country. Elaborate invitation cards were sent out in thousands. The country's best singers and artists were mobilized to entertain at the public Tally (Jana Hamuwa) after the | inauguration. On some occasions the money spent on printing, travelling, entertainment and subsistence came near to or exceeded the cost of the construction itself.
At every Udagaria, a Sucharitha oath was taken by all who attended the rally. Thousands of copies of this oath are printed and distributed to the audience who are made to solemnly
repeat it, led by a teenager, who is made to read it like a religious preacher. Apart from pledging to abstain from all Discharitic (bad decds) like gambling, consumption of liquor etc., the audience would vow to abstain from eating meat and fish tC.
When villages for fishermen were opened, the entire audience including fishermen and the minister for Fisheries are Compelled to take this solemn oath of pure vegetarianism.
Udagarias were show-biz extravaganzas. They were unrealistic acts of sheer hypocrisy.
8)

part from the houses, some of the structures built in onnection with these Udaganas are now abandoned. Cattle aze on the sites, a few of which have fallen victims to the jungle tide." The Dambulla Udagaria site is a good example,
At every Udagamia, whether it was at Hambantota or at nuradhapura, bus loads of "representatives from Colombo Central" (Premadasa's electorate) were imported in large numbers.
Several rich muda lalis (local businessmen) in Colombo rganized these "pilgrimages" and they were accompanied by Inc. of the leading casino owners and mafia bosses of the apital. All of them joined the chorus readily to pledge from bstaining from "gambling, drinking and eating fish and meat."
As stated earlier, the first Gari Udawa ceremony was held at Yapahuwa in the Kurunegala district oil the 23rd of June 1978, which coincided with Premadasa's 54th birthday and also his wedding anniversary.
Every year there will be a Gann Udawa ceremony in a chosen lace from 23rd June to 3rd July. The ceremonial ground is a Mini Disneyland." It is considered a national festival, a arnival, an exhibition, providing entertainment of all kinds and cluding the presence of leading singers and musicians. To or rural folk, a visit to the Gani Udawa Exhibition is like oing to heaven and coming back.
aily cleaning of the Gam Udawa exhibition ground is done the employees of the Colombo Municipal Council, using the ehicles driven all the way from Colombo. Work on the stages, avilions etc. is done by the State Engineering Corporation,
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coming from. Colombo. Water supply is the responsibility of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, also from Colombo. All these bodies are State Corporations, that come under Premadasa, who was the Minister for Local Government and Housing and also later Minister of Highways,
At the end of every annual Garri Udawa ceremony the place of the next annual ceremony (to be held 12 months later) is a IIIIOLIIced,
During the Gari Udawa annual ceremony all hotels, rest houses, lodging etc. within a twenty mile radius from the site are fully reserved for over 20 days for the visiting government officials from all parts of the island.
All vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Construction are mobilised. Special buses from Colombo and many distant places are organised during the tell days of pomp and ceremony. Special trains are run from various parts of the island to the nearest railway station, from where special buses wait to transport the passengers to the site, The Gari. Udawa Anniversary has more facilities than those provided for the annual Kandy Perahera,
Premadasa was so obsessed by his Gari Uda was and his Janasaviya, that he completely ignored agriculture, the mainstay of the country's economy. As the English poet Goldsmith wrote, "A bold peasantry, every country's pride; when once destroyed can never be supplied."
Premadasa loyalists argue that Giant Udawa is not a carnival and that the 15 Gari Uda was held so far have resulted in massive infrastructure development of those areas. The besi
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way to satisfy both loyalists and critics is to have an economic evaluation. All major development projects such as the Mahaweli, the Free Trade Zone etc., faced exhaustive critical evaluations which disclosed both their strengths and their shortcomings. So why not the Gam Udawas and even JarićTSA? Viya.
Premadasa's oil petition to the OPEC countries
During the decade he was Prime Minister Premadasa always attempted to implement unrealistic and bogus short cuts to solve Ilassive political, economic and environmental problems,
When the price of petroleum was raised by OPEC countries in the late 1970's Premadasa decided to launch a campaign to submit a petition signed by all Sri Lankans to the heads of Arab nations to supply crude oil at a reduced price. "Our Muslims enjoy all privileges. Even our Foreign Minister (A.C.S. Hameed) is a Muslim. So the Islamic countries will sympathize with us," was his pet theory.
officials down to the Village level worked day and night to get the signatures from people most of whom did not know what all this was about. Over one and half million signatures were collected, However, no one knows as to what happened to this It must have ended up gathering dust in a government store house. If one looks at the newspapers of that time, the reader will realise what a great hoax the Oil Petition came to
be.
Premadasa and artificial rain When Sri Lanka was having a very bad drought in 1980, Premadasa read about Thailand's efforts to artificially precipitate rain by cloud seeding. He lost no time in contacting
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Bangkok for assistance. Even though the project was in all experimental stage, the Thai government were loath to displease a request from the Prime Minister of a friendly country. So they despatched a few meteorological experts.
Amidst publicity on a grand scale, some helicopters flew with seeding equipment over Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) and "chasing" of clouds was reported. Even though there was no change whatsoever of the monsoons and droughts, the Prime Minister addressing a public Garri Udawa rally said "King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe sent Welivita Sangaraja to Thailand and brought the pure higher ordination to Lanka (Upasarpada) two centuries ago. Today, I have been successful in getting rain from that country. Once that is successful there will never be a drought in this country." IIIlocent and gullible peasants cheered their "belowed" Prime Minister, Bradman Weerakoon, who is now his international advisor and biographer, was then the Secretary to the Prime Minister. Weerakoon, who knew better, also looked on happily while the people were cheering the Prime Minister who was bringing rain to them. Even able public servants like Bradman Weerakoon were not willing to tell Premadasa not to fool the people in this way. Even Weerakoon understood that the best approach to take with Premadasa was to stooge him and say "yes," to all his ideas and views.
Wastage of funds by Premadasa's pet schenles Thc damage to the national economy alone by Premadasa's Lilplanned "pet schemes" is beyond any estimate. The Mattegoda Housing Scheme is but one example.
At Mattegoda (15 miles from Colombo) 1,122 houses in three
categories were built. The cost was calculated at Rs 525,000, Rs 315,000 and Rs 165,000 respectively. The houses were
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offered to the public on hire purchase basis. One fifth of the cost was to be paid on allocation aid the balance to be paid in monthly installments over 30 years.
For example, a house costing Rs 525,000 was to be allotted on the payment of the initial deposit of Rs 105,000. After that the monthly instalment would be Rs 3,950 for 30 years.
Naturally, there were only a handful of takers at this cxorbitant price. Only twenty percent of the houses could be disposed of during tine year.
Finding no "market" Premadasa decided to offer the houses to Government and quasi-government employees without charging interest, on installments. The monthly instalment of Rs 3,950 was reduced to Rs 1,145 and for the (ther eategories also on the same proportion. All the houses were so allotted. However, the original occupants objected (naturally) to this discrimination and stopped paying their install illents, Subsequently their instalment were also reduced waiving off the iliterest.
The houses were completed in 1984, Thc (ccupants Were expected to pay installments up to the year 2015. But to their dismay they have discovered that they will be lucky if the houses lasted till the turn of the century. Architects have called his homes "match box houses" because of their Cir Constructik) Ill.
At a meeting of the Residents' Association, one of the occupants (now a retired senior police officer) said, "The allottees have lost. The government has lost. Only the contractors and their bencfactors have gained."
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This discovery is being shared by many of the "lucky Ones" who were allotted houses throughout the country.
LLLLLL LLLLH LLLLmtLLLLLLL LLLLaLaLaL LLLLL S LLLLL LLL LLLLmLLLLmH LL0 PITESicile LLLL aaS HLHLa LLLLLLaL LLaaLLLL H LLaaLLLLLLLaL 0SL000SS LLLLLLaHaLLLL was free to implement all his pict schemes with no control whatsoever from the financial, administrative or parliamentary authorities. The period 1978-1988 showed the full mobilization of a lic resources within the Ministries of Local Gover Ilment, Housing and Highways for the Gai Udawa ceremonies.
FTIT 1989 onwards Premada sa, as President, "commandeered" the resources of the entire gover Ilment for this purpose. There was to be no restriction in the usage of helicopters, cars, buses, jeeps and trucks for this a Fasha. There was no J.R. Jayewardene to check-this extravagant and exorbitant waste.
It was also after becoiling President, that Premadasa was able to execute his pet scheme of being the sole advisor to all administrators, specialists, lawyers, I hedical ILICI, Surgeons, engineers, Inedia personnel and even nurses. He knew CW cry subject and considered himself an authority for others to follow a III d emili u late. Recently, in March, 1993, a t a I elmi wirt) lil Illici tal seminar, Premadasa said, "Blindness in people is caused by the lack of oxygen." He added that it is because of the harm LLLLaLLL LLa aL KHLLLLHHaHHLLL aLLLLL LLLL LL LL0 LLLLLLLCCLCH LL aLLS While the second statement may be true, We Wonder on what incidical advice Premadasa associated blindless with the lack If oxygen.
SÖ

district where the mobile is held with all pomp and glory. The telewision and radio are Set up in adwalcę for On-the-Spot
a previous campaign to save energy. The government officials obtain all their travelling and per diet expenses, and all the
hotels in the vicinity are booked and paid for by the State.
Provincial Councils should make arrangements to devolve administrative powers to the grassroots' (presumably village)
level.
districts for a whole week regularly? This is perhaps a more telling indictment of the efficiency of the central administration
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highest administrative officer in the district), without giving the officer any opportunity of offering an explanation, and summarily ordered that the official be transferred. The public humiliation of the Gover Ilient Agent was aggravated by the coarse, strect language that Preliadasa uses on such occasions.
But this was one occasion that Premadasa overshot his target of pleasing the "gallery." The Government Agent whom Premadasa humiliated was one of the most popular officers an in the people of Amparai. A few days after the incident, the people of the district organized a massive farewell for their government agent. Thousands of Eulath. It rulu (betel leaves) and presents were offered to him by the humble peasants. Among the speakers were mer Tıbers of the Malla Sa gha and other popular personnel. They were all angry and sorry that their G.A. had bec dealt with it is all ner.
The Sucharitha stooges and control of television and radio Premadasa converted the cIltire government-controlled news media establishment into "Premiidasa & Co. Ltd," by appointing his stooges as chairmen, directors, editors and producers, One glaring cxample was the SLBC.
Hudson Samarasinghe, an announcer of the SLBC, was "compere" at all Gain Udawa ceremonies. He was appointed at Premadasa's insistence as the "Head of the Prille Minister's Unit" of the SLBC in 1979. While acceding to his Prime Minister's desire to have a "PM's Unit" in SLBC, the then President (J.R., Jayewardene), who had also been advised by Premadasa to have a "President's Unit" at the SLBC had replied, "There is no necd to build up my image as the people have given me a clear mandate."
SS

After Premadasa became President, the SLBC bade farewell to all accepted broadcasting ethics and practices, and was solely dedicated to the Premiadasa Chintanaya. Hudson Samarasinghe became chairman of SLBC and monopolised all air time for Prenadasa's coverage. A.J. Ranasinghe, the State Minister in charge of broadcasting and television, openly said "I shall even wash the President's toilets and carry his toilet bucket or make soup out of his footwear and drink it with relish."
On 24 March 1992, Minister A.J. Ranasinghe publicly proclaimed (at the opening ceremony of a re-developed Sarasawi Film Studio) that "President Prenada sa is my God and my heart beats today because of him." He added: "President Premadasa is a great leader who stands un paralleled in Sri Lanka." The public treat A.J. Ranasinghe as a joke. The media look to him for entertainment. In the olden days kings had court jesters and A.J. Ranasinghe is Premadasa's court jester. Some court jesters had a lot of Wisdom, which they displayed by their wit. But A.J. Ranasinghe has neither wit nor wisdom. One's regret is that Premadasa permits Ranasinghe to behave in this manner and allows these public ut terances. If it was J.R. Jayewardene, by now Ranasinghe would have been reprimanded and asked not to make a fool of himself. He probably would not have been appointed to public office in the first place. The poor reflection is on Premadasa, whom Ranasinghe praises in public in his capacity as a Minister. If the boss does not check the subordinate, the boss Illust take the barle. If the subordilate makes all ass of himself, the reflection is not only on him, but on the boss as well for not correcting him or reprimanding him. However, A.J. Ranasinghe carries on regardless. -
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LLlHmLLLLLLL LaL LLLLmmLLLLLLL aLLLLLLL0S SlCaaaaLLLLL LLLLlLLLLLLLLS aa SLLLLLLL LLLLLL LLLLtLLtLaLL L SLS L SS LLmmLS L LLLS LL LLLLS 00S LLLL 00 LLLLLLLLSL S S LLLL S LLaaSLLLaS LLLLLLa S SLLLL LLLLLLLES SLLLLLS SLLLL S S SLSL
LGLLLSLLLS LLL LLLS LLLL LLLaLLLCLS LLLS LL LaCmalLLH LS LKS LLLLLaaLLL LLLL L LLLLLLLCS llaSS L a CLLCLa SLLL LLLHHtlLlLCL were put on the air regularly. On the rare days on which the President does not make a speech, the news bulletil cnids in Iss, till Oil Lites.
Rupa Yahirii goes further in attempting to please their "Leader." However, it kept to the accepted TV and radio practice of not exceeding the programs - particularly the Ilcws, even though at times 90% of the news is devoted to the speeches or activities of the President.
After the ill peachment motion, Rup avahini had to change the whole systell. Once a speech by the President (who was the accused) went on television for 78 minutes at a single stretch! For this to happen, several program nics, including a popular TV dra, līd b bildlcd.
The Lake House papers have nothing () report or comment (in LLLLLL LLLL SLLLLLLGGLLLLLLL LLLLCLLLLCLS LLLLL LLLL LLLLL LLL LL condemn the Preside. It's oppoilents and critics,
LLLLLLLmmLLLLmlaS LCLL L LLLLLLaLaa LLLL La LSLLLL LLaaLaa "Mii"
H.L.D., Mahindapala is the son of all ambulance driver and was "Educated at Zahira College. Afte:Tlcaving school hic ta Light a St Thomas's Prep, School, Colombo, until 1957. He then joined the Associated Newspapers (Lakc House Group) as a trainec reporter in the Observer. He rose rapidly through the ranks of thu newspaper, his forfe of carrying tales to his superiors

servirrig hinn Well throughout. Soon hic was serving as Pcrsonal Brand boy for ESIIlond Wickremesinghe (Ranil Wickremesinghe's father), particularly catering to Esmond's "extra-curricular" amorous activities.
He then latched on to the Dudley Scranayake callip and built up a strong reputation for tale-carrying there too. He was primarily responsible for the Dudley-JR rift, thanks to his flair for being able to concoct a scurrilous story at the drop of a hat. He invented a story, which he related to Dudley in intricate detail, that JR was given to relating slanderous stories about Dudley, This Cassandra of journalism (I use the Word loosely) made his contacts with Dudley through Robert Senanayake, whose friendship he was not slow in dispensing with when JR succccdcd Dudley as leader of the UNP. When the SLFP won in 1970 Mahindapala fled the country. His poison pen had treated Mrs Bandaranaike less than kindly and he was not ready to stay behind and take his medicine. He was helped to migrate to Australia by Dudley Senanayake, who put in a word for him to the Australian high Commissioner.
In 1968, while Working at the Observer, Mahindapala started all affair with a Mrs Ranji Murugupillai, a buxom lady who was a clerk in the Milk Board, She was a Tamil Catholic from Vavuniya. She was at the time marticid to Ivor Murugupillai who was a press officer in the Health Ministry. In order to consolidate his rollance, Mahindapala got the husband transferred to Kandy and thereafter, when he himself was forced to leave Sri Lanka, he got Ranji Murugupillai to elope with him. The husband filed action for divorce against her on the ground of desertion and one is not sure whether Mahindapala ever married Ranji, who now lives with him but has been unable to bear him any children.
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Within Lake House, Mahindapala is better known as Madapala (mud-slinger). Mahindapala both hates and fears J.R. Jayewardene and Mrs Bandaranaike. He is now Principal Mud Slinger for Premadasa and writes under the name of Laikaputra (Son of Lanka). What few people know is that this great patriot revoked his Sri Lanka citizenship and is a citizen of Australia. He is not eligible for dual citizenship but carries an illegal Sri Lankan passport. His employment at Lake House is also illegal as he has no work permit to work in Sri Lanka. It is also ironic that Laikaputra is an employee of the Australian government, to which he has sworn allegiancel His terms of employment include a Rs 70,000 per month paycheck with the compliments of the Maharajah Organization Limited, He showed his loyalty in kind to the Maharajahs by his protracted and bitter attacks against their rival Ken Balendra, Claimal of John Keells. Balendra had evoked the Wrath of the 'Rajah's when he promoted Boeing against the Maharajah's Air Buses with Air Lanka, Mahindapala and his wife have made more than ten first class round trips to Australia during the past two years, some paid for by the government, others by the Maharajahs. He still maintains a house in Wictoria, Australia.
In his short stint at Lake House Mahindapala succeeded in attracting to the Observer the largest number of defamation cases ever filed against a newspaper in Sri Lanka. The paper is now virtually financially bankrupt.
His hatred for J.R. Jayewardene stems from an earlier attempt by him to get employment in the Lake House Group, when l, R. Jayewardene was President, JR blocked this by telling Bodinagoda, the then Chairman of Lake House not to touch Mahindapala, Mahindapala's hatred for JR was well known to
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LLLLLLLLaa S aLLLL S LLLL S S S LS S LLLLLLaaa S LLLLL S SS SS 000OS Mahinda pala was able to achieve his drea III1 a Ild beetly Illic: ct.li L T of a major Sri Lankan paper. He was initially 'cruited by Preminadasa as a sub-editor in the Observer but hic stoon edged Out Harold Peiris, the thic Edit) and succc.cdck to the influcIntial post of Editor of the Sturday (Obser:L'er. His conduct at the Suriday Observer as a Premadasa Stooge reached such heights that even his former journalist fricnd, the much respected Manik de Silva (Chicf Editor of the Daily News), is now not on speaking terms with Mahindapala.
While at the Observer, Mahindapala also assiduously cultivated Siriscna Cooray and K.N. Choksy, who wiclided considerable influence with Premadasa. But his main strength was always
the President, whose principal hack writer he soon became,
Few people kilow that prior to returning from Australia, Mahindapala was a close friend of Lalith Athulathmudali. When it became clear that Athulath Illudali was being sidelined by Premadasa however, Mahindapala was not slow in ditching his old silver for new gold. So I he was carrying on a slanderous campaign against his old friend and patron, dubbing him "Lies and Deception." In this respect, Mahindapala's betrayal and character assassination of one of his closest friends and a political leader whom he admired and respected speaks Volumes of the true nature of the man.
Premadasa and LTTE Leader Prabakaran
During the eighteen month period of the PremadasaPrabakaran "honeymoon" betwccin March 1989 and September 1990, the Lake House papers were given specific instructions to give maximum publicity to Prabakaran, the LTTE's
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propaganda chief Anton Balasingham, his wife (the Australianborn Adette) and one of Prabakaran's senior deputies, Yogi.
When an unconfirmed report of Prabakaran's death appeared in a newspaper, the Lake House Press on specific orders from Premadasa rushed a copy of the Daily News to Jaffna with a photographer and a photograph of Prabakaran reading that Daily News was published in the following day's Lake House paperS.
When Mrs Balasingham was interviewed by a correspondent for the Women's pages of the Striday Observer, the entire interview, including pandering statements made by her in praise of her hero "Thambi" (Prabakaran), was published in full. The President instructed that this interview with Mrs Balasingham be translated and published in the Lake House papers, both Sinhala (Dilariina) and the Tamil (TVrakara).
In November 1989 C.W. Gooneratile the SLFP parliamentarian asked the following question in Parliament on Premadasa's honeymoon with Prabakaran. The question was unanswered.
C.W. Gooneratne (SLFP Colombo District) raising an adjou TTN ment question asked;
LL LLL LLLLL LLLLLaLLLL LLLL LLLLLLL LLL 0LaLLL LaL LLLLLaa LLLLa
(a) that very recently the wife of the LTTE leader W. Prabakaran arrived at Katunayake Airport in Sri Lanka together with her children , (b) that the wife of Prabakaran and her children were transported from Katunayake with full security by helicopter to the jungles of Nedunkerni in the North to meet W.

Prabakaran, who was already there? (c) that while Mrs Prabakaran and her children were waiting to be transported to Nedunkerni, they occupied a hotel in Negombo for half a day? (d) will the Hon. Prime Minister reveal to this House how such a matter which poses a grave threat to our National Security took place and as to who is responsible for such a grave crime against the State especially when our heroic soldiers are being killed, Illaimed and injured by the thousands by the LTTE and what action he would take against those responsible?
?'tטחIf not why
The British High Commissioner expelled by Premadasa On Saturday 11th May, 1990, when the British High Commissioner David Gladstone, reported to the police at Dick Wella, 120 miles south of Colombo, Some localgovernment election malpractices, Lake House was instructed to search through, past copies of Illa saral and a special report was lade with a statelt from Millister Sirisena Crayas the General Secretary of the UNP. The Sunday Lake House papers were published with this episode as the leading story over the UNP victory at the local elections. The first page of the Sunday papers were taken to Sucharitha (the private residence of Premadasa) for approval before printing. A short title later the Gover Illnent of Sri Lanka declared the British High Commissioner persoria rior grafa and he was expelled from the country.
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Was Premadasa the only possible UNP candidate for the presidential elections of December 1988 This is one of Premadasa's loudest boasts. He is low going about beating his breast and proclaiming loudly that the UNP was in a quandary in finding a Presidential candidate in December 1988. After the impeachment motion, in the socalled Throne Speech to Parliament on 24th September, 1991 (when he was jeered and hooted by the Opposition) Premadasa said:
"Members of our party were in a predicallent about finding a candidate for the Presidential elections contest in 1988. The former President as the leader of the Party requested me to offer myself as a candidate. Not a single one of those persons who talk big like heroes today came forward to rescue the UNP on that occasion. Not a single one of them came forward fearlessly for the defence of the Party and democracy. They were actually slivering in their boots. It was who volunteered to face the situation."
statement in his recent work of political fiction. In pages 55 and 56 of his book Prenada sa of Sri Lanka, Bradman
Bradman Weerakoon appears to have taken the cue from this
Weerakoon Writes:
 

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ESTLIET I 15 Eagloss. IsısıļEĻILĘ IsoleWoĂpusē, Ņūfāq EsiɑļāIA.
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In the above paragraph Bradman Weerakoon states that J.R. Jayewardene had decided to dissolve Parliament prior to the conclusion of the presidential elections. This is an blatant lie, and Bradman knows it. Jayewardene's decision to dissolve parliament was made long after Premadasa was chosen as the Presidential candidate. The dissolution of Parliament, which Premadasa strongly opposed (because he wanted to make use of the UNP's two-thirds parliamentary majority after his election as president), was announced by Jayewardene in IllidDecember 1988, just a few days prior to the Presidential clection on the 18th.
Was Premadasa the only available presidential candidate? Those in the UNP and even the public know how utterly false Premadasa's assertion is. It is a lie that can emanate only from Premadasa's power-crazy, egotistic and sick mind. The true story, in a nutshell, is as follows.
A new President had to take office by February 4th, 1989. LLLLLLL LLLLLL LaLLLLLLL LLL LLL LLLLL aLLL LaLLLLS LLLLS L LL true that the incumbent President (J.R. Jayewardene) was toying with the idea of going in for another (third) term. For him to do this Parliament would have had to pass a constitutional amendment because the Constitution restricts the term of office of a President to two terms, Although Jayewardene had the two-thirds majority in Parliament necessary to effect the amendment, there were other COinSideratio Ills,
At that time (August-September 1988) when these issues were being finalised J.R. Jayewardene's popularity in the country was at an all-time low. He was old (82 years). Public opinion on the Indo-Lanka Accord was said to have gone against him.
8

He had agreed (pending a referendum) to a merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces to form a single council. The Indian AFITly was on Sri Lankan soil and the JWP had used this fact to instill a reign of fear and terror in many parts of the country. Accordingly, the consensus among the UNP Ministers, parliamentarians and even the rank file was that Jayewardene would not win a third term. "JR" himself, quite independently Calle to thic Sa Ille ColclLISiC).
Then arose the question, "Who should be the UNP's presidential candidate?" It was at this point that Premadasa invented this great lie that there were no candidates who were willing to come forward and that all the other UNP leaders "were shivering in their boots."
The term "shivering in their boots" was the English translation of Premadasa's throne speech to Parliament on September 24th, 1991. The original sinhala Words he used read "Oyagolla wewula Wewula bayawela sitiya," A literal translation should read "they were shivering and frightened."
To whom was Premadasa referring when he uttered these Words on 24th September 1991? Undoubtedly it was Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake. These two were regarded as leading Ministers in the Jayewardene Government and they were truly the only other contenders for the
Presidential II lisätil i 1988.
Everyone in the UNP hierarchy knew that once Jayewardene finally decided not to stand for a third term, both Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake would be very keen to enter the race for the candidacy. Thus, the contest for the UNP Presidential nomination in late 1988 was divided between
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three contenders-Premadasa, Athulathmudali and Dissanayake. But all three of them knew that to win, the ultimate choice had to be unanimous and had to have the support of the other two who failed to get the nomination.
By way of seniority in the Party Prime Minister Premadasa had the best claim. Next in seniority came Gamini Dissanayake while Lalith Athulath muda li had built an image for himself as Minister of National Security and had also been injured in the Parliamentary bomb attack by the JWP in 1987.
Premadasa soon let it be known that he would not agree to LaaLLS LaL HLHHLLLLH LLLLLL LL LLL LLL LLLLaLOLL LLLLLa La single choice of the UNP and unless all possible contenders supported him. Ultimately, Jayewardene was able to persuade Dissanayake and Athulathmudali to stand aside as he argued: "If Premadasa does not get the nomination low, he will make it look as if he has been discriminated against because of his caste." Premadasa was delighted by this compromise, which was exactly what he wanted, and eventually his candidacy was proposed by J.R. Jayewardene and seconded by both Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali.
It is a diabolical lie for Premadasa to Ilow say that in December 1988 the UNP could not come up with anyone other than himself to contest the presidential elections; that the entire UNP looked to him as the saviour of the Party and democracy. This is a load of rubbish, as Preladasa himself well knows. But Premadasa thinks that if he keeps on repeating the lie, history will eventually write it his way,
The first time that Premadasa made this assertion publicly was after his "Impeachment." Prior to that he had not said it. Both
1)

Gamini Dissa Ilayake and Lalith Athulathrillidali have at several public meetings refuted this lic. They have reiterated the fact that both of them were quite willing to, and in fact did offer themselves as candidates to contest the Presidential elections for the UNP. These refutations and the correct position as stated by Lalith Ath Lulatihmu dali and Gamini Dissanayake, hawe not been published in the Lake House group of newspapers because Premadasa will never permit such a view to be published. However, they have been reported in the independent newspapers like the Island and the Sunday Tires.
Prior to the "Impeachment" only one other official government publication stated that Premadasa was UNP's only Presidential nomince. This was a publication entitled The 9th Parliament of Sri Laika published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd, which is completely controlled by Premadasa himself. Ironically, page 9 of that publication, which was issued about the time of the Impeachment, states as follows:
The UNP realised that the only man who could lead it to victory was Premadasa who had the Ilational image, grit and determination as well as the physical courage to face an election where the candidates ran the real risk of assassination, Ironically, two other contenders for the UNP ticket for the Presidency jostled eventually to sponsor Mr Premadasa who was his party's unanimous choice.
The last sentence of the above statement is once again a S LLLLLLaLLaLHH LLLL LaL LS LLL SLG0 LLLLLLLLLS LLL LLL LLLLHHLLL but refer, no doubt, to Garnini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali. To state that they "jostled eventually to sponsor Mr. Premadasa" is a deliberate un truth no doubt
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inserted into this book on the specific direction of Premadasa himself. The word "jostle" has obvious connotations - but Ilo such thing happened. Once Premadasa was decided upon as the candidate, it was agreed beforehand that the two other contenders (Gamini and Lalith) would second Premadasa's name that was to be proposed by J.R. Jayewardene, There was no question of "jostling" to do so. This is typical Premadasa style of ridiculing his past colleagues who refused to bow down to him and serve him menially like some other Cabinet Minist's continue to do.
An event to show how small-minded Premadasa is. In the same way that Premadasa now says that he was the only LLLLLLLL SLLa LLLLLLS SLLLL SLLLLL SS a S LLLaLLLLLLL S LLLLL LL December 1988, he also boasts that it is he and his persuasion and efforts that resulted in the grant of British aid of over E100 LLLLLaL SLLLLL LaLa LLLLLLLLaL SL La LLLLLLS LLL LL LL Mahaweli development programme. Both stories, ably spread by Prema dasa, are diabolical lies. We пow deal with Premadasa's boast that he got British funds for the Wictoria Project.
After the J.R. Jaycwardene government assurned office in July 1977, the World Bank and other investment aid agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recollmcilded to donor countries that Sri Lanka be given foreign financial assistance to implement many of it's development programmes. Western countrics had confidence in the Jayewardene government and its efforts to develop the country. This was the main reason for their agreeing to give aid to Sri Lanka.
The largest post-1978 development project was the Mahaweli schemic, of which the Wictoria Dam (near Kaldy) was one of
O

the major components. The dam, which was completed in 1984, rises 400 ft. from the river bed. It is nearly as high as the Sigiriya rock as seen from the Matale plains. The total cost of construction of the Victoria Dann was about £137 million of which £110 million sterling pounds was total grant aid from England.
As to how this huge amount of aid from Britain was obtained LL LLaL LLLLLaLLLL LLLLH LLL GHLHtLLL GLLLLLLL aLLLLLLLaLGLLS LLLL LLLLLL LL gives a brief but authoritative account is Glimpses of Maha weli, published in 1985 to commemorate the compliction of the Victoria multi-purpose reservoir project. Printed by Lake House Printers & Publishers, the booklet was issued by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development.
The one foreign individual to whom Sri Lanka should be most grateful for mobilising British aid for the Victoria project is the late Judith Hart, Who Was Minister for Overseas Development in the Labour Party government. On page 14 of Glimpses of the Mahaweli, Judith Hart recalls how the Victoria project came to be funded by England:
"I remember so well the first beginnings. My policy as Minister for OverSeas Development was to find ways of helping the poorest. Most of the poor in the Third World struggle to make a living on the land. They need many things - roads, expertise, Schools and clinics, But fundame Ital is the necd for Water ald power for irrigation to make the dry lands fertile.
Your Ministers came to see mille. I wiwidly recall how
they sat and told me in my office in London of their plans for the dam. "Can Britain help?" they asked. I
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saw it at conce: as right for to Lur Aid Prograni mc, for it would bring water and power to help the poor people in a poor country, That is its pLI I pose.
It was ad is the largest single project ever urder take by Britain. I have always called it Illy first Jumbo Project - and how appropriate that is for the country of the elephant. Minister Gamini Dissanayake will remember that my Cabinet colleagues agreed that it should go ahead and that I told him that Britain would go ahead with the Victoria Dam whether or not the World Bank and other countries joined in other stages of the scheme. Our British engineers were very quickly in Sri Lanka and the real Work began, You have worked so fast and so well and now here it is, a reality."
But then something happened, the Labour government in which Judith Hart was Minister for Overseas Development, was defeated and Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister as leader of the Conservative Party, The question arose as to whether the new Conservative government would honour the Labour gover Ilment's earlier pledge to aid the Victoria project,
FoT 11 er Sri La Tıkan Finance: Minister Ronnie de Mel picks up the story. He says (Glimpses of the Mahaweli, p. 22) "It was La L LLaaLLLL SLLLLLLHHLCLLLLLaLLLL LLL LLLLLLL LLLL LLLLaLaLaL LSL LLLLL La Victoria Dam. But when the Labour Party government in England was replaced by the Conservative Party government of Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher, the question arose whether the new government would continue with the promised grant for the Wictoria Dam, I inct the British Ministers several LLaLaS DLLLLLL LLLL La LLLLLLaL LLLLLaLLS SLLLLLLHHL LLLLL LaLLLLL LLaaLLL
1().

Support the Victoria Project, After Weinity mi On this Qf negotiations, Britain finally agreed to give an outright grant of 100 million Sterling pounds."
It is without doubt therefore that it was the personal efforts of Mahaweli Minister Gamini Dissanayake and Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel that were responsible for negotiating this huge grant of over £100 million to construct the Victoria Dam. A number of senior officials of the Mahaweli and Finance Ministries were also involved in the aid negotiations which, as Ronnie de Mel confirms, took nearly twenty months.
The announcement of the final decision by Britain was however, Illa de by Prime Minister Thatcher to Premi Eidalsa wheri he represented Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia in July 1979.
At this IIlecting, Mrs. Thatcher, in a gracious IIlood, sent Premadasal a note saying that British aid for hic Wictoria Dam of the Mahaweli Programme had been finalised and would definitely be given. It was a mere formality, but Premadasa now uses this event to boast that it was he (Premadasa) who
negotiated this entire aid package from Britain. His Felicitation Volune expressly states:
"July 1979 - 'attends Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia and negotiates major aid programme for the Accelerated Mahaweli Project with the British Prime Minister culminating in British co-operation in the construction of the Victoria וחו:D
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To carry this false boast further, Bradman Weerakoon in his biography of Premadasa gives the following account at pp 5051:
In 1978, soon after the government was formed, President Jayewardene had approached the Labour Government in Britain for funding of the Victoria Dam, one of the five projects of the Mahaweli Scheme. The preliminary approvals had been given. But soon thereafter Harold Wilson's Labour Government fell. The Conservative Government of Mrs. Thatcher facing an economic crunch were not looking at Overseas Development Aid that favourably. It was then that Premadasa decided to put on the pressure. On the way to CHOGM, he first stopped in London. Seeking the customary courtesy call on the Prime Minister (which was in his case invariably granted) he met Mrs. Thatcher and Lord Carrington at her No. 10 Office and pleaded the case for Victoria. Thatcher was impressed with the way he put it. But try as he might, he could make no real progress in London.
Premadasa knew he was going to have a further chance of meeting Margaret Thatcher in Lusaka. Thatcher was under extreme pressure at CHOGM and the frontline states, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya, in particular, were cornering her for quickening the pace of Zimbabwe's independence. Premadasa worked behind the scenes and at the Conference table to work for a compromise acceptable to Britain. He moved closely with Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. The seating order around the table helped, since the alphabetical order put Sri Lanka and Tanzania together, Mrs. Thatcher was mindful of the support Sri Lanka gave during the meeting. Each delegation had been provided with a comfortable villa in the Mulungushi enclave, specially prepared for the CHOGM delegates. There was a good deal of inter-villa
15

entertainment and Premadasa invited Mrs. Thatcher to lunch with him, along with a few others on the third day of the Conference. Although she was indisposed that day, Mrs. Thatcher came for the lunch. On leaving, she handed Premadasa a little card-the size of a postcard-on which were typed these words:
ہے (بسیاہی سہیلیم/.\/ کرنا / ہر مl لہیم (} SFI LANKA
I a III glad to be able to tell you thalt. We are now in a position to offer a UK contribution to the Victoria Dal Sch. III.e. This would be ii r the foTTL of a grant of up to f. 100 Tillion over six years towards the costs of the design and construction of the Dam and power Station. It would of Course, ble Subject to nor Tial UK grant conditions.
t Cخ } cל المعہد( .)J.
,%75/)(?“ b ہے جسے دسہرہ/
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Once again his faithful servant (and now biographer) Bradman Weerakool has helped Premadasa to try to make a truth out of a lię,
It is on record that Premadasa did not meet Margaret Thatcher in London on his way to Lusaka to discuss British funding for the Mahaweli project. The aid negotiations were taking place between officials of the British gover Ilment and the Mahaweli and Finance Ministries of Sri Lanka. All that Premadasa in fact did was to play the role that he himself says he played in the J. R. Jayewarde Ille gover III ment, that of a peor. He merely took delivery of a note from the British Prime Minister that British aid for the Victoria project was confirmed.
COIN the other hand, Brad Illa In Welcralkoolin's account shows how Premadasa's Inind works. The British Prime Minister had handed him a note, but Premadasa noticed that it was a typewritten note - with nothing to indicate or confirill that it was personally from her. Upon receiving the original note (in memo style as is usual in British government and parliarllentary practice), Premadasa read it, left his seat at the meeting and walked up to Mrs Thatcher. Oile Illight have expected him to hawe poured out expressions of, a nation's profuse gratitude. But he did not. He merely handed her a pen and asked if she would be kind enough to address the note to him and sign it. Members of the Sri Lanka delegation who witnessed this say that Thatcher was visibly taken aback. She retained the Ilote, conferred with her officials and sent it on to Premadasa some moments later. According to these witnesses, it was very clear froLIl Thatcher's attitude that she was surprised by Premadasa's departure from protocol. It was equally clear that she could not recall the Ilanlle of her Sri Lankan counterpart, and one of her aides was seen spelling it
18

ut to her so she could write it correctly,
remadasa is now using this document to show that it was he who negotiated this British aid package for Sri Lanka, A Web of lies such as this can be woven only by an artful craftsman of falsehood such as Ranasinghe Premadasa. The ever-faithful Bradman Weerakoon has, as usual, unhesitatingly lent his name and reputation (such as it is) to add credibility to this fabrication.
J.R. Jayewardene's organization of the UNP after Dudley Senanayake's death On Dudley Senanayake's death in April 1973, J.R. Jayewardene |tဗုံးပု the leader of the UNP. With his great organizational skill J.R. soon got down to the task of making the UNP the most popular party in the country. He had a difficult political nvironment in which to do so. Premadasa played an important part in assisting Jayewardene to make the UNP the strongest political party in the island by 1977. The political events of that period are yet well within the memory of Ilost readers of this text and need not be recounted here.
Premadasa becomes the Deputy Leader of the UNP Towards the middle of 1976 it became increasingly clear that general elections would have to be held very soon. Mrs Bandaranaike's government had become increasingly unpopular primarily because of her restrictive, leftist economic policies which resulted in shortages of essentials such as food, clothing, fuel and educational materials. Her abysmal human rights record also contributed to her growing unpopularity, insiderably assisted by her folly in nationalising Lake House ind sealing the Dawasa newspaper group.
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A few months prior to the general election of July 1977, at a meeting of all the UNP candidates who were to contest the forthcoming General Elections and who had been summoned to Sri Kotha, J.R. Jayewardene in his usual style pulled a rabbit out of his hat. He suddenly asked that the General Secretary of the Party (at that time Daham Wimalasena) to distribute ballot papers to all those present, J.R. then asked all present to cast their ballot and vote for the individuals whom the entire group of UNP candidates considered to be the most popular and acceptable leaders of the UNP next to J.R. himself who was the leader. By asking the candidates to cast their ballot Without prior warning or canvassing, J.R. Jayewardene wated to test the inner feelings as to the individuals who commanded respect and leadership within the Party and thus in the country as a whole. The result of this sudden and secret ballot Was not surprising. Its outcome was the selection of the most popular leaders of the UNP next to its leader J.R. Jayewardene, Premadasa topped the ballot by receiving 118 votes and Gamini Dissanayake came next with 110 votes. This secre ballot effectively anointed Premadasa as Deputy Leader of the UNP at the General Election which were held in July 1977 The outcome of the elections was not in doubt, Everyone knew that the UNP would win. What was surprising Was the huge landslide - 141 out of 168 seats. The SLFP of Mrs Bandaranaike was decimated and reduced to 18 seats. The Leftist parties were routed and their leaders, like Dr N.M. Perera and Dr Colvin R. de Silva lost badly and had to bid goodbye to national politics.
Premadasa's conduct on accepting the Presidential Nolitibi OI 10 October 1988
Elsewhere in this book we dealt with the lie that Premadasa is spreading that he was the only candidate the UNP had to Pul
11)

forward for the Presidential election of EDecember 1988. According to Premadasa all the other so called leaders of the UNP were "shivering in their boots" and were frightened to COIIle forward a Ild contest.
We have shown that the truth of the matter was just the opposite. Both the MahaWeli arld Lands Millist:" (Gallini Dissanayake and the Minister of National Security, Lalith Athulathmudali were ready and willing to be the UNP's Presidential candidate. But everyone knew that any fighting and division within the UNP would be disastrous at this time. They all knew that the UNP candidate for the Presidential election had to be a unanimous choice. In this background, both Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulaith muda li conceded the nomination to Premadasa for two main reasons. Firstly, Premadasa was more senior than either of the Ill. Secondly, they Wanted to ensure a unanimous choice so that the UNP could Win the elections. Accordingly, as stated earlier, Premadasa's name as Presidential candidate was proposed at a Working Committee meeting of the Party by J.R. Jayewardene and seconded by both Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Ath Lula thin Ludali.
Thereafter Premadasa should have immediately begun his official campaign. But, possibly because of astrology and the interpretation of his horoscope, Premadasa decided to g) (Il Ell official visit to China as Prime Minister. The Chinese visit was in September 1988 and Premadasa, the UNP Presidential candidate returned to Sri Lanka about the end of Sep 1988.
On 10th October, 1988, at a massive rally at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo, of all island leaders and supporters of the UNP, Premadasa started his official campaign for Presidency.
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It was at this meeting that incumbent President J.R. Jayewardene paid a glowing tribute to Premadasa and gave several reasons why Hic was the Luna nimous choice of the UNP for President. In the best traditions of Parliamentary politics, both Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali also endorsed J.R. Jayewardene's statements and told the UNP supporters gathered at Sugathadasa Stadium that "Together We will ensure a victory for Premadasa on 18th December, 1988." Ranjan Wijeratne, who was then in charge of the Party as its General Secretary also paid a tribute to Premadasa and said that the Party would ensure his victory,
Thereafter, Premadasa rose and outlined his carefully prepared presidential manifesto. This had some general reference to his poverty alleviation programmes now popularly known as "Janasaviya." Premadasa then dropped a bombshell. While explaining the future policies and programmes he would implement if elected President, Premadasa made three astonishing statements as part of his election pledge:
First, he would immediately after his election take steps to send back the Indian troops (the Indian Peace Keeping Force inducted following the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord) from Sri Likā.
Second, that he would take steps to replace the Indo-Lanka accord signed between J.R., Jayewardene and Rajiv Gandhi, with a new Indo-Lanka friendship treaty (the Indians have politely ignored or sidestepped several overtures from Premadasa on this issue).
Third, that he would ensure that there would be no possible merger between the Northern and Eastern Provinces as
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Indicated in the Indo-Lanka Accord, and to which President Jayewardene had agreed temporarily, pending formal determination by a referendum (as this has yet to happen the temporary merger still stands.)
All the UNP leaders present were taken by complete surprise. It is said that when J.R. Jayewardene heard these pledges of
remadasa's his face went pale and ashen. He was astounded. Indeed, he had been tricked by the very Prime Minister whom e himself had nominated as his party's candidate for the residency.
remadasa had given no earlier indication to Jayewardene that e was going to negate the bold steps his Leader had taken just ne year previously.
ayewardene was both shocked and surprised. He had two ore months to serve as President but there was nothing he ould do at that Ill Oilent or later, to contradict what Prelladasa had publicly stated. Moreover, many of the delegates at the Sugathadasa stadium (orchestrated by Premadasa loyalists) pplauded the Three Pledges, "Sponsored applause" is a specialty. Applause and cheering at his public speeches as are predictable as the electronic applause of the less amusing BBC sitcoms. This was vintage Premadasa, Even in his formal acceptance of the UNP's nomination, he was able to be disloyal to his leader and had ridiculed Jayewardene by edging that he would undo the very things that JR had done just one year ago.
at Premadasa did on 10th October, 1988, at Sugathadasa tadium was characteristic of the man. Premadasa is only for remadasa. Nothing else matters. He knew that Mrs
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Bandaranaike, who had already started her campaign as the SLFP Presidential candidate had pledged to take all the three steps that he himself now pledged to take on 10th October at the UNP sessions at Sugathadasa Stadium. Although he was disloyal to his Leader by these three pledges, Premadasa had taken "the Wind out of the sails" of Mrs Bandaranaike's campaign. The SLFP's main themes were
(1) Abolish the Indo Lanka Accord of July 1987;
(2) Expel the Indian Army in Sri Lanka from Sri Lankan
soil;
(3) Prevent any permanent amalgamation of the Northern
and eastern Provinces as required by the Accord.
Now, on 10th October, at Sugathadasa Stadium, Premadasa had also pledged himself to implement the same three pledges. Mrs Bandaranaike was now left to abandon these three major issues and to find other issues to defeat Prenadasa. It was a bold stroke, typical of Premadasa. Gratitude and loyalty to Jayewardene was unimportant, What was important was Premadasa's victory at the polls on 18 December 1988.
No individualism under Prema dasa
One of the established principles of human nature is the desire to bc appreciated. Appreciation can only come from others, Many national leaders have been successful because they were LLLLLL LL HHHHHHLLLLLLL LLaLLLLL LLLLL LHHLLLLLLL LLLLL LLHHHSLLLL LL LLLLLL others you have first to be willing to see the other man's point of view and see things from his angle as well as your own. A successful political leader has said, "I considermy ability to arouse enthusiasm among men as the greatest asset I possess,
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The Way to develop the best in man is by appreciation and encouragement. There is nothing else that quickly kills motivation in a person as criticisms and lack of appreciation by his superiors."
ach individual, especially in an educated country like Sri nka, has a desire to feel important. Everyone wishes to feel hat hć (I shë has Contributed ideas älld Wiews and wants to cel his importance in whatever work he is engaged in. Owever humble onc's circumstances may be, this is a human
esire. As Britain's well-known Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said, "Talk to a man about himself and he will
istČIl fill I HILI IS."
President Premadasa, despite all his experience and his soalled wisdom and ability, lacks these qualities. He has become Solo performer. As everyone, including himself says, he has aaaLLHa S S S S LLEYJHEL ELGGS LLLLL LLLL LL LLLLLLLLS S LLL ignored. They have been relegated to the position of rubber stamps. The only views that prevail today in government are remadasa's. He is the Oracle - the last Word - on all II latters. e decides when and where who should speak, and what hould be said. He next decides who should speak before and fter him and also what the other speakers should say. He Isonally draws up the agenda for every public meeting he tt elds.
All sense of individualism has been destroyed by Premadasa. ther Cabinet Ministers, however senior and knowledgeable, are not encouraged to express their opinions and views. The ublic administration service has also been frightened into utter ubmissiveness, Educated, talented, trained and experienced ublic servants now remail silent rather than present a view
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that may not find favour with "H.E." They all await directives and orders from the Presidential Secretariat. They will not act Only their tywyll i Initiative.
A good example is the Finance Minister's annual budget speech. Years of Parliamentary tradition are now ignored. The budget speech is drafted by Paskarallingam, Premadasa's confidant and Finance Secretary, and also Premadasa's Secretary as the Minister for Policy Planning. The speech is given to the Finance Minister only on the day on which he is to present it to Parliament. The Finance Minister is given absolutely no knowledge of the contents of the Budget speech in advance. By doing this, Premadasa has destroyed a well established Parliamentary procedure and practice. He has made the Finance Minister's Budget speech - perhaps the most important in Parliamentary government - a big joke.
Another examplc is the public disgrace that senior cabinet minister Festus Perera faced when Premadasa blasted him in front of morc than 200 public officials. When Festus PeTCra, as Minister of Public Administration, stated that there was a delay in establishing Provincial Secretariats, PTema dasa, who was chairing the miceting, pou Inced on him, saying, "If you can't do this, I will," implying that Perera was qualifying for dismissal from the cabinet. The humiliation was painful because it was done publicly, in front of the Minister's entire staff at a Initional collfirect.
Premadasa is so engrossed with his own importance. There is no subject he does not know. There is no topic on which he cannot speak. His speeches are long. They are all Sermoils and lectures - always talking down to his audience is if they were children listening to Santa Claus, Does not Prenada sa realise
11

that his audiences are invariably forced". They have not come of their own free will. All occasions at which Premadasa delivers his 'ser Inons' are govern Illent-organized functions. Often the function is followed by a musical entertainment, where popular and well-knowl artists and singers (paid for by the government) are brought from Colombo. In order to listen to the musical entertainment, the audience has to first suffer in silence and listen to Prelladasa. He goes on an oil, lecturing to them on every possible subject that comics to his mind. He talks politics Ilost of the time but Illixes religion and Culture with politics. He has memorized a few key stanzas of the Dharmapada (Buddhist scripture) and now repeats then as ifi Fitzri in every speech he makes.
Every government function at which Premadasa speaks (such as the recent opening of garment factories) has been converted into an election meeting - an election campaign. After Premadasa - one of his biggest stooges - Ossie Abeygunesek era a fo IIIner Opposition Parly leader, Lakes Over and continues the political harangue. The task citrusted to Ossie Abeyguncśckera by Premildasa is to sling mud at Premadasa's political opponents. Other senior UNP Ministers arc ignored. They are Ilot given all opportunity to be heard, The agenda and the list of speakers are carefully checked by Premadasa and the older of speakers is also controlled by him. Premadasa will even go to the extent of deciding the seating arrangements and the exact position where the lecteIII should be and how the microphones and the loud speakers should be situated. Some foolish people who stooge Premadasa think that this minute attention to such little details on Prelladasa's part is a sign of his greatness and ability. But in actual fact it shows how small minded Premadasa is. He cannot trust or rely. On others to attend to such things. This is because he never
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permits them to decide. He destroys all sense of individualism in those around him and expects them to give leadership in governing a nation. It is equally a sympton) of his inability to cInvision larger issues.
To continue the story about Premadasa's lectures at statecontrolled and stage-managed functions, the same cvening the lecture is delivered, the whole event is shown on Rupavahini in all three languages (Sinhala, Tamil and English). Every day the plc of Sri Lanka are forced to see him and hear him on Rupa wa hini. Television wiewers would love to scc some worthwhile programmes instead, but this is denied them. The continuous sight and sound of the President is nauseating, but viewers have no choice except to turn off the television.
The Rupa vahir i pcrforma Ince is the In continued on statecontrolled radio through the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Premadasa's entire speech is then broadcast over and over again. As in the case of television, the only option for listeners is to turn their radio sets off. Radio listeners and television viewers are so disgusted that many, including small children say, "Here comes the Kai II. Kara (Dirty Mouth)," when Premadasa appears on television or Ridi,
A contribution about PreInada sa by a well-wisher. At this point, we ourselves do not wish to sound like Premadasa, So We will take a break and give our readers another viewpoint written in another's language. Here we quote a contribution by a wcll-known jou TInalist about Prerinadasa's life experience.
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R. Premadasa first came into the UNP's national politics in 1956 when the UNP, after it's electoral rout, wanted speakers who could attack and willify S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Premadasa himself had been fielded as a UNP candidate in the impossibly difficult seat of Ruanwella against Dr. N.M. Perera and, predictably, had been defeated. By about 1958 S.W.R.D. had become very unpopular mostly due to his indecisiveness, divisiveness within the party, the mounting racial tensions and the deteriorating economy. On the debris of this failure, the UNP mounted a campaign against the MEP Government and after the removal of Phillip Gunawardene and William Silva from the cabinet, it was very clear that it was only a matter of time before the government fell. It was a government that was drifting without any purpose,
Until the UNP mounted this campaign Premadasa was another
minor politician hanging around at Sirikotha. He contested a municipal ward in the Hulftsdorp area, and lost to L.W. Panditha of the Communist Party. Thereafter, this mail who claims to be a symbol of the Common Man, was given nomination by J.R. Jayewardene and Dudley Senanayake to the Cinnamon Gardens Ward, which he won at a by-election. Thus, one of Premadasa's early representative offices was obtained through the patronage of the voters of Cinnamon Gardens, home of Colobo's social clite,
Premadasa got into the national campaign mounted by the UNP against S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. The Party hierarchy thought him suitable only as an entertainer. Soon he became arguably the best and ablest political entertainers on the UNP platform.
His speeches had a set pattern. He would refer to S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike as Sevalaya, Sevala Banda, and Para Nethi Eka
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(a man without a backbone). However, it was this same LS LS LSLSLLaaLLLLLLL LL LLLLLtLLLLLLL LLL LLLLL LL LLta LLa chief guest at the celebration of the first and second anniversary of his Sucharita Movernet in 1940 and 1941. He LLLLLL LLLLaa LLLL LLLS LLLLLLaLL LLL LLLLLLLLS DLLL LLLL LS S S LLLLtaa relationship between him and Mrs Bandaranaike. The Vulgarity of these statements were a rich source of political amusement at the time. On average, Premadasa would speak for about one hour - all jokes, and light-hearted or vulgar banter. His obsc ... in with providing music, dance and song to political audiences started with this experience of his.
One of his favourite stories was about a king who appointed a donkey as his Prime Minister. The king had wanted to know froll his cabinet of ministers when the rains would fall. Nobody could provide an answer. Finally one amongst the ministers started to predict accurately the onset of the rains. The king asked the minister one day what his secret was. The minister explained that he had a donkey in his house who throws its hind legs up, looks at the sky and brays whiclever rains are due. In this way the minister could accurately forecast the weather. The King had thereupon stated that hic will appoint the donkey to be his Prime Minister as the donkey performed the most useful task for him. Scated in the Prime Ministers chair in Parliament, Premadasa would ask, "Is this why Bandaranaike, like the Donkey, was also appointed by the King!"
Premadasa went round the country with the UNP team
ridiculing, and lampooning S.W. R.D. Bandaranalike un til his assassination in September 1959.

In March 1960 he was nominated by the UNP to contest Colombo Central and was elected third MP. In July 1960, he
lost the seat. He was beaten to fourth place in the threemember constituency. Sir Razik Fareed, Pieter Keu naman and Fali Cafoor were elected. In 1965 he won Colorbo Central once more and was elected second MP, next to Falil Cafoor. His Parliamentary career started after this, in 1965. In 1970 he succeeded as the First MP and retained this position with a huge majority in the July 1977 general elections.
The speech that Premadasa Inade in Parliament when he was first elected in March 1960 is worthy of mention. Here he stated that if Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike, who had just started to campaign for the SLFP (after the assassination of her husband), won the elections, Parliament would have to employ a special employee to clean the chair she sat on (the PM's chair) every month. This low reference to the menstrual periods of the world's first "lady prime Illinister-to-be" resulted in his being shouted down violently by the Opposition. Even Dudley Senanayake made it known that he was very angry about this speech. But Premadasa's speech showed the true breeding of the man, "Cleaning the chair every month" was in fact a reference to a caste - perhaps unintended and psychological - the role of a Dhoby. Why did Premadasa choose this particular reference? Hic should best know the answer to it.
Within the UN Pitself, Premadasa was always in the centre of intrigue. He was largely responsible for the Dudley-JR clash, SIleaking oil, and carrying tales, to both of them. It is said that J.R. Jaycwardene got Premadasa assaulted wice. Orice he was hit with a slipper at Sirikotha by Ranee Adikari, the present LLLLLLLK LLLL KLLLH HLaS aaH SLSL aLLaLL aL LLLLLLLLS LLL LGLLLLL occasion he was severely mauled by one Punchihewa and a
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group of UNP Youth Leaguers at the Ratmala Illa airport when Dudley Scranayake arrived from England and Premadasa was also there to receive him. It is also said that when Dudley Senanayake died, Premadasa was performing hooriyar (ritual curse) against him in India (Premadasa was carrying on a campaign called Purawesi Peran una against the UNP at the time). When he visited Dudley's house, "Woodlands" to pay his respects to the body of the dead leader he was physically threatened and hooted by the UNP supporters there.
The Job Bank of the UNP: a Premadasa proposal Premadasa now maintains that jobs and employment must be given on merit and not on political grounds. Firstly, there has been very little generation of employment after Premadasa became Executive President in January 1989, Premadasa's presidency failed to generate the huge development and cmployment-friendly projects that were initiated under President Jayewardene from 1978-1988, such as the Mahaweli development scheme and the Free Trade Zone. Premadasa's main programme has been Jarasaviya, which did not create employment but gave a dole or a free wage to those already Linemployed. The only jobs created by Premadasa have been the garment factory employment - mainly for young girls. With not more than 500 per factory and with 100 factories established so far, not more than 50,000 jobs have been created by these garment factories (not counting the jobs lost at factories that closed down because of the 200-factory project). Apart from this project, the only other major jobs created by Premadasa have been among school teachers: about 30,000.
Thus it is clear that thc Premadasa Presidency from January 1989 will be remembered as a period of unemployment and spiralling cost of living. The Jayewardene era softened and
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上
reduced the impact on the Ilasses of increases in cost of living by generating more employment in each family. More people got employment in each family or household. This additional employment generated more income and thus more money for each family to meet cost of living increases, But this has not becce1 so Lunder PTeadas:i.
Apart from highlighting the absence of Employment generation under Premadasa, it is noteworthy that it was this same IIlan, who now talks of "employment on merit only," who introduced the (in)famous Job Bank scheme of the J.R. Jayewardene government. Many people still think that the Job Bank was Jayewardene's idea. It was not. The original cabinet paper formulating the Job Bank scheme was put up by Premadasa in 1978, when he was Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government, Housing and Construction. Premadasa will not deny this because this fact can be verified by the relevant documents and Illinutes in the Cabinet office. So, like the oil petition which was a joke, the Job Bank scheme which ignored Illerit and first gave jobs to UNP supporters was also one of Premadasa's proposals and ideas. Today, he has conveniently forgotten this fact when he talks of employment only on merit. This is another example of the double game he plays so often, However, Premadasa must not forget that there are good students of history who are capable of exposing the skeletons in his cupboard.
Premadasa's crude speeches
As stated earlier, Premadasa's early recognition and rise in UNP politics was really dire to the fact that he was a very able Sinhala orator. His temple education had bequeathed him a rich vocabulary. He had mastered a simplicity of style, delivery and cadence easily understood and attractive to ordinary folk. In
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Dudley Sananayake's UNP since 1952, Premadasa was regarded as the Party's best "mob orator," But the Party hierarchy and the audience looked to Premadasa not only for humorous utterances, but also for Vulgar ones.
Premadasa was carried away, and got used to the habit of making crude remarks which usually evoke the mirth of the baser clements of society. But this style came ultimately to be resented by Ilost people, especially as he became more senior in the Party and older. In addition to his remarks on Mrs Banda Tanaike's menstrual periods referred to earlier, Premadasa's tongue achieved particular notoriety as a result of two individuals he had particular cause to dislike, Aunura Bandaranalike and Upali Wijewardena.
As Prime Minister, Premadasa went out of his way, shielding himself with parliamentary privilege, to make disparaging stateniments about A II LI Tal Bandara IIa ike's paternity, thereby not only insulting Bandaranaike but also his mother, Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike. To cilist aspersions on Anura Bandara Inalike's paternity necessarily implies infidelity on the part of Mrs Bandaranalike, who was narriced to S. W.R.D, Bandaranalikc:.
Again in Parliament itself, Premadasa openly cursed Upali Wijewardena only a few weeks before Wijewardena disappeared on 13th of February 1983 in his LearJet on his return to Sri Lanka from Malaysia. Without mincing words, Premadasa castigated Upali Wijcwardicina adding that those who oppose him (Premadasa) are cursed. Premadasa's speech in Parliarient as Prime Minister is reported in Halsard of 24th December 1982 on pp. 2253-2255. Having attacked Upali Wijewardena for allegedly carrying on a campaign against him in his newspapers (sald and Diaia), Premadasa said:
12-4

"I categorically state that Upali Wijewardena will sooIII get the treatment he deserves and learn a bitter lesson. He has exhausted my patience. I cannot wait any longer. He does not know me, Until Ilow I was silent, In future he should be careful. What I have said I have Ilot failed to implement. Any person whom I have cursed has never survived, I am also not a person who says one thing and does just the opposite. My warning to Upali Wijewardena is not only directed to him but to the entire Society and class to which he belongs."
This attack by Premadasa on Upali Wijewardena has been loquently commented upon by Denzil Peiris (the former Editor of the Observer) in the Saudi Gazette of July 2, 1983 in an article under the heading "The curse that killed a tycoon."
Premadasa's influence over the media Of all Sri Lanka's political leaders since Independence in 1948, renadasa knows and appreciates the colossal power of the media, Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of literacy in Asia, Free education since 1944 has been the main reason for this. While newspapers and radio are the most important, since 1981 when television was introduced, Rupavahiri and ITN have had a great impact on the minds and opinions of the people - especially the rural people who look to television for
laxation, entertainment and amusement.
Even when he was Prime Minister, Premadasa tried to control the media by having his "special people" installed in the Lake House newspapers, SLBC and even Rupa vahini, President Jayewardenc was aware of this and did his best to prevent or at least reduce Premadasa's growing influence over the statecontrolled media. It is well known that as Prime Minister,
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Premadasa gawe houses to journalists who looked after his interests and also had special media units attached to him paid for by the Ministries and Corporations under him.
Although during the Presidential election campaign of December 1988, Premadasa hoodwinked the masses by claiming that he was only a peor in the Jayewardene government, as Prime Minister he wielded immense power. J.R. Jayewardene seldom interfered except in the rare instances in which he felt that Premadasa was going way too far. When Jayewardene contested the Presidency in October 1982 and again campaigned for the referendum of December 1982, Premadasa organised a separate campaign to show that next to J.R., he was the Supreme leader in Sri Lanka, There were as many books and magazines, badges, caps and other propaganda and promotional literature about Premadasa as there were about Jayewardene, who was then President. Even his opponents readily concede that Premadasa's propaganda machine was exceedingly well managed.
After he became Executive President on 2nd January 1989, Premadasa went to extremes in promoting his ego, establishing an image as the best political leader Sri Lanka ever had. He put his stooges in to Lake House, Rupa Vahiri and the SLBC. Bodillagoda was replaced as chairman Lake House by a lawyer, Sunil Rodrigo - a staunch Premadasa supporter and a close friend of Sirisena Cooray, Edward Goonewardena, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police was put in charge of Security and personnel at Lake House. Goonewardane was a disgrace to the Police. He had had to resign from the force because of all incident in which he hill self had Written an anollyIlious petition and pretended that it had been written by JVP sympathisers in the Colombo University. He had then

aided the University to win the recognition of President layewardene. His boss, IGP Cyril Herath however, knew Edward Goonewardena better. Cyril Herath noticed the similarity in the handwriting in the anonymous petition and Lihat in Edward Goonewardena's personal file. The handwriting perts of the police also confirmed that they matched. Herath's suspicions were proved right when Edward onewarderla later admitted that he himself had written the etition and falsely accused the university students. In the wake f the resulting public outcry, Goonewardena had to retire in lisgrace. It was such a person that Premadasa appointed to one if the top jobs at Lake House. Premadasa is safe in such oImpany. Another was H.L.D. Mahindapala, about whom we
law writtel elsewhere ill this text.
At SLBC, Premadasa put Hudson Samarasinghe in charge as airman. Hudson Samarasingle no doubt hils talent. He Contested the general elections of February 1989 calling Himself Purchi Prenadasa (little Premadasa). Samarasinghe as been a Premadasa loyalist for the past 15 years and his main job (apart from being employed as a Sinhala announcer na SLBC) was to act as "сопреге" of Prema dasa's election lectings and propaganda Tallies, Currently, the story is ampant that there is now open Warfare between Hudson Samarasinghe and Premadasa's right-hand man Sirisena
Cooray. It is interesting to note that while Hundson
Elmara singhe remains a fawo LITitle of MTS, Hemma PreImadasa, it s well known that Sirisena Cooray and his wife hate the very name of Herna Premadasa. Immediately her husband became resident, Непа Рrспасlasa took steps to have Sirisena Cooray
ave the Mayor's residence in Colombo purely because of her ersonal dislike of the Coorays.
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Appointinents in the state media have been carefully controlled by Pierradasa and the posts of editors of major newspapers and journals such as Siiriria and The Observer were made overlooking all senior and experienced journalists in the newspapers' staff.
By his speeches, Premadasa Inade it difficult for any political reconciliation in the country, or for a national gover IIIllent. The Lake House newspapers, SILBC and Rupa valiri, which implicitly follow Premadasa's orders, made the very concept of a national government (to solve the ethnic War) an impossibility.
The state news Inedia pleased their "boss" by publishing manufactured news and commentarics by "ghost writers" like "Laikaputra" and "Anurudha Tilakasiri." Whenever the Prenadasa troupe lashed out at his political opponents in Parliament, con stage cor through media, they appear to have forgot tell the statesman's dictum: "There are no permanent friends or clcmies in politics." It is an open secret that the gowęIIlment-Controlled media (the Lake House papers, television and radio) have been ordered not to report any news or give any coverage to opposition parties other than ridiculing the Ill and Illaking the public believe that the opposition is in disa Tray and is full of in-fighting.
After the impeachment motion was announced in late August 1991, Premadasa used the govern Incılıt media to assassina te thic characters of his political adversaries in the crudest manner. He well accused, through thic mcdia, his rivals of being financed by "Casino Kings," conveniently forgetting the huge donations Inacle by "Casino Kings" to his own "Selvala" (=shady!) Fund, Also, as Prime Minister, it was his Ministry of Local

Government that had granted permission for the operation of asinos and jackpot parlours in the City of Colombo and other main cities of the country.
At the State Opening of Parliament on 24th of September 1991 on the eve of the 32nd anniversary of Bandaranaike assassination (25th September), Premadasa compared the hreats to his government by the impeachment motion with those of the conspiracies against the government of late S.W. R.D. Bandaranaike. Premadasa will never miss any opportunity to compare himself with great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Anagarika Dharmpala, D.S. Senanayake and D. B. Jayatilaka.
In the address referred to above, he claimed that Jarasaviya as successful beyond all expectations. Ignoring his elections pledge of giving Janasaviya to 1.4 million families from 1989 (by the device of "expanding" it to 11 tranches extending over a decade) the President claimed that 53% of the Jarasaviya recipients of the first round are now employed (self or otherwise) earning a monthly income of over Rs 1,500. Another 32% were said to earn over Rs 1,000. Only an significant minority of 13% was still unable to earn a substantial income. If these statistics are correct, it is a great achievement Illo doubt, But Premadasa's statistics were Imewer endorsed by even the Central Bank or any independent authority. In fact, he never made known the source of his data
One glaring example of false publicity was that of the housing targets. A one million house target was announced in 1980. By the time of the Presidential election (1988) this target was claimed to have been exceeded ("beyond all expectations") and a new "target" of 1.5 million houses was announced.
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There are 160 electoral divisions in the island. To reach the one million new houses target the average number of houses built in each electorate should be 6,250, Let the people of each electorate, including those of Katana (Raddoluwa), Homagama (Mattegoda) and Maharagama (Rukmalgama) where large housing complexes were completed do a little "research" and find out whether the target of 6,250 houses has been achieved in any electorate, including that of Colombo Central with its enormous housing complex at Maligawatte.
In the same way the people of the "first-round Janasaviya" divisions, including such places as Divulapitiya, HanWella, Walallavita and Embilipitiya should "research" the accuracy of the "53%, 32% and 13%" claims.
The people's anger against the LTTE, together with Premadasa's treachery of 1989-90 by secretly parleying with and re-arming the Tigers, also paved the way for a un precedented Political Lunity against Prennadasa. This Lunity is not strange by any means. Who is the politician with an iota of patriotism who will forgive or forget the actions of a head of state who adminits that he dolated a TTT-ls, al Ilmu Inition, explosives, hardware and cash with the most brutal, inhuman, blood-thirsty, and fascist terrorist organisation the World has yet seen?
How the Sri Lankan President should conduct himself
J.R. Jayewardene was the first elected Executive President of Sri Lanka. He recognised that it was an office of considerable power. Being the first Executive President there were few Conventions or precedents to guide him as to how he should act. In a speech he gawe on 31st May 1978 (a few ramonths after he became President) at the convocation ceremony of the
13)

University of Sri Lanka at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo, President Jayewardene said:
I am the first elected Executive President, Head of the State, Head of the Government. It is an office of power and thus responsibility, Since many others will succeed me I wish during my term of office to create precedents that are worthy of following.
Firstly, I will act always through the Cabinet and Parliament, preserving the parliamentary system as it existed without diminution of any of their powers;
Secondly, I will not create a group known as the President's men and women who will influence him;
Thirdly, I will implement laws and decisions passed by Parliament impartially, without political party or family bias;
Fourthly, I will neither encourage nor countenance political victimisation,
It is the nation's regret that President Premadasa has not followed any one of these undertakings.
Firstly, Premadasa does not consult his Cabinet of Ministers in taking important decisions affecting the country: he decides on his own, Sometimes (but not always), he consults his confidante and Finance Secretary Paskaralingam. Cabinet meetings are held, but it is well known that no Cabinet Minister dares to qualify, oppose or criticise any views
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expressed by Premadasa. Former Mahaweli Minister Gamini Dissanayake learnt a bitter lesson. He attempted to speak his own mind at Cabinet meetings and was sacked. (It is well known that Gamini Dissanayake was sacked from Cabinet by Premadasa in his reshuffle of 26th March 1990. Just six days earlier, to add insult to injury, Premadasa had sent Dissanayake a magnificent bouquet of flowers for his birthday which fell on 20th March, wishing him "A happy, prosperous and long-lived political career").
Premadasa also ignores the views expressed by Parliament. He will never forgive the Opposition for the manner in which he was treated when he addressed Parliament on 24 September 1991, a few weeks after the impeachment motion. Normally the President's address to Parliament is both televised over Rupa vahini and broadcast by the SLBC but on this occasion it was not done because of the hostile reception he received in Parliarlent.
Secondly, Premadasa has created his own group of political and social stooges who always pay homage to him and say "Yes," to all his views and proposals. His inner circle of stooges among politicians are Ministers Sirisena Cooray, A.J. Ranasinghe, Azwar, Renuka Herat and Mallima ratchi. Among the business cronies who colle Within the term "Presidents Men" are H.K. Dharmadasa (Nawalloka Mudalai), Killi Maharajah and his brother R. Rajah mahendran (The Maharajah Organisation Limited), Hubert Jayakody and his son Rohan (HuJay International) and K. Aloysius (Fred Lanka Trading Company).
Premadasa is also well known to favour those who only openly support him. Apart from helping family members such as
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Hubert Jayakody and Premadasa's son-in-law Rohan Jayakody (Hubert's son) he has also helped Hema Premadasa's family. More will be said about these matters later on in this text.
J.R. Jayewardene's Fourth Precept - no political victimisation — has been exactly the opposite with Premadasa. Hic instilled fear and respect not love and affection, by threats and wictimisation. He was revengeful and windictive, not only to his political opponents but to any businessmen whom he suspected of associating with his critics or opponents. Even social service organisations and NGOs were not spared. His persecution of | the Sarvodaya leader Dr A.T. Ariyaratne is a good example. For an able public servant who served Premadasa like an alsatian dog but was disgraced, we have the example of | Ya Sasiri - GLI inawardeİılar. He was a former go We Thrillecint age:Int who later managed Premadasa's Foster Parent Schemic. Premadasa was fond of him and gave him several official positions, one of which was a directorate of the Bank of Ceylon. On one occasion, because Gunawardena questioned a request of the President about assisting a customer of the bank, he was dismissed from all his positions and had finally to retire from the Public Service. "Ingratitude" is a ter Ill that T. GLI Illa Warden I10 w WC1|| LI Ilderställds.
Kluckle-Duste" Premiadila Sl. We now reveal a true story of a litigation in the District Court of Colombo (case number 36707/Money) which clearly shows how Premadasa (i) gave false cwidence and was disbelieved in court; (ii) made a false complaint to the police implicating another person in criminal activity; (iii) tried to conceal the fact that his driver had a criminal record and was a jail-bird; (iv) tried to conceal that his car was carrying deadly and illegal weapons (knuckle dusters and clubs); (w) invented a false story
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to injure others.
People still remember how a man who was once considered the most powerful person in the whole world, President Richard Nixon of the United States of America, had to resign his presidency in disgrace because he had lied about knowledge of a criminal conspiracy. For this simple lic, Nixon had to give up his Presidency. The American people booted him out,
In S. Lanka, we have as our Executive President a IIlan who was called a liar in open court by an eminent judge.
It'OdLIctiOII One of the most remarkable cases relating to Premadasa's political career concerned a rivalry between himself and L.W. Pandita, a stalwart of the Communist Party, Pandita - who had retired from politics and who was then an elderly man, was LaLaLLLL 000 LLLLaLL LLL LLLLLLLaaL LtLaLLLLLLLa LLLLLaLLLLLLLS LLLLL murder was never solved and remains a mystery to this day.
In 1952 Premadasa left A.E. Goonesinghe's Labour Party and had joined the UNP under the leadership of Dudley Senalayake. In 1954, he contested the Colombo Municipal Council Elections as a UNP candidate for the St. Sabastian Ward and he was successful. The opponent he defeated at this election was L.W. Pandita who contested the seat for the Communist Party,
There is a very interesting court case in the District Court of Colombo arising out of that election. The official court record of this case, an obvious embarrassilent to Premadasa, has "disappeared." The case details are however, found in the court register and copies of the judgement are available from
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attorneys who appeared in the case. Judgement was delivered by the District Court of Colombo on 18th June 1957. For a case of 1957, the court record cannot be considered to be an old one and should still be available in the District Court
registry,
Fortunately although the court record is missing from the District Court registry, a true copy of the judgement is available. It is from this true copy that the following facts are Iciated.
The District Judge who delivered the judgement against Premadasa in that case was Mr Justice W. Sivasupramanium. He was a highly respected judge who was later promoted to be a Judge of the Supreme Court. In those days judges were less fearful of politicians and they gave judgement according to what they considered on the evidence to be true, and false,
Premadasa (then 30 years old) was in the initial stages Of his political career. Therefore, his true character, his ways and his conduct are well displayed by the facts of this case. It is truly said that whatever he does, a leopard car not change his spots, Similarly, this 1954 case reveals Premadasa's true and inner most character. For some unknown reasons, this case record has not been used against Premadasa in his political career. The reason may be that the case record was missing from the District Court registry and the few people who did have a copy of the judgement did not make it available for public consumption. Now the true facts can be revealed.
Facts of the Case
The case concerned the elections to the Colombo Municipal Council in 1954. Premadasa was contesting the San Sabastial
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Ward as the UNP candidate. His main opponent was L.W. Pandita who was contesting from the Communist Party. One Ramanayake, who was a influential person in the San Sabastian area, was not supporting Premadasa, Ramanayake was a UNP sympathiser and on earlier occasions had supported UNP candidates but for personal reasons he had decided Ilot to support Premadasa on this occasion.
1st July 1954 was nomination day. Premadasa and Panditha had IIe with their respective supporters to hand in their nominations. Premadasa raised some objections to Pandita's candidature but they were overruled by the presiding officer,
LLLLLL LLLLHHLLLa aLLa LLLLLL LLLLHHLHHL LL LLLLL La LLLLaHtat LLL Hall after handing in their nominations, both were garlanded by their respective supporters. A short while later, when the candidates were leaving in their vehicles, there was an incident on the main road near the Towl Hall. Bottles were thrown and some members of the assembled crowd of supporters were assaulted by others,
As a result of this incident, PreIlladasa went to the Cinnarillon Gardens Police Station and lodged a complaint that Ramanayake had led a gang of thugs who were supporters of Pandita and that in the incident that took place, Premadasa's car had been attacked and damaged by these thugs. He also HaLaLaLL S S a SLLL LLLLLLaL LLLLLaaaHS SLLLLL LLaaLLS LLLLLLaLaLLaLS Premadasa's statement to the Police was supported by statements made by Reuben who was the driver of his car (EY 8820) and Martin Singho, one of Premadasa's supporters who had accompanied him to the Town Hall on that day,

On 1st July 1954, when Premadasa made this police complaint, he had already been a member of the Colombo Municipal Council and Deputy Mayor and had acted in the post of Mayor. He was also a Justice of the Peace. It is significant that while Premadasa had told the Police that Ramanayake was the leader of the mob that attacked him, when Ramanayake was brought to the Police station, Premadasa went further and pointed his finger at Ramanayake and identified him as the person who led the assault. In view of these facts the Cinnamon Gardens Police took Premadasa's complaint seriously and arrested Ramanayake and locked him up in the police cell overnight, He was released on bail the next day and asked to appear in the Magistrate's Court on the basis that the police were to prosecute him for assaulting Premadasa.
Subsequently, though Ramanayake appeared in the Magistrate's Court on several occasions, the police informed him that they were not filing a case against him. When the Police decided not to prosecute, Premadasa as the original complainant had the opportunity to file a private prosecution against Ramanayake in the Magistrate's Court. This is the normal procedure. If the Police feel that there is no criminal case, then the actual complailant has the right to proceed against the person he made the complaint. But Premadasa, for reasons known only to himself, did not do so and no criminal charges were eventually laid against Ramanayake about this alleged assault.
LLHHLLLaLLLL LLLaLLLL LLLLHL LL LLLLL LaL LLLLLL HLLLLLLL LLLLLLa LLLS LSL had also won the election by defeating Pandita and become the Ilember for the San Sabastian Ward. Hic was confidicunt that the incident was past and best forgotten.
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But a short time later, much to Premadasa's surprise, Ramanayake filed action No. 36.707 Molicy Case in the District Court of Colomlıbel) clair Illing da Images fro 11 Premadasa on the ground of ridicious prosecurity. Ramanayake alleged that Prelladasa had Inade a false complaint against him to the Cinnamon Gardens Police on 1st July 1954 in connection with the incident at the Towl Hall on nomination day, Ramanayake further alleged the police did not later file a case against him because they themselves realised that Premadasa's complaint was a false One. Ramanayake then went on to say that which the police refused to file a criminal case against hill, Premadasa himself had all the right to file a case if his complaint was true. And because the complaint was false, Premadasa had not taken any further steps in the matter. Accordingly, Ramanayake alleged that Premadasa's complaint against him was falsely and maliciously made simply because Ramanayake who was known to be a UNP sympathiser refused to support Premadasa's candidature for the San Sabastian Ward. On the above grounds, Ramanayake claimed damages against Premadasa for having maliciously sought to get him prosecuted by the police on a criminal charge of assault.
Accordingly, in the District Court case, the roles were reversed. Premadasa who was the original complaina.It now became the defendant, Ramanayake, who was originally the accused, was now the plaintiff clairling damages from Premadasa for a false complaint, Premadasa would have been quite surprised, because when he complained to the police on 1st July 1954 he would never have expected events to take this turn and a few years later for him to end up as the defendant.
, , , The clutcome of the case Surprised Premadasa even more. On 18th June 1957 (which is a few days before Premadasa's

birthday which falls on 23rd June) judgement was delivered. | PreIliadasa lost the case and was ordered to pay Rananayake Rs 1,000 in damages. In those days it was a substantial sum, especially for a person who maintained that he had no financial
| Լ11:1IIԷ:
What was Worse was that the District Judge made adverse comments about him. The judge disbelieved Prenadasa and his two witnesses Reuben (the driver) and Martin Singho. The judge added that Premadasa and his witnesses were lying and that they had made a false complaint to the Cinnamon Gardens Police implicating Ramanayake. That was not all. The judge Went to say that in actual fact what had happened on that day was that Premadasa's driver (Reuben) had got down from his car and assaulted some supporters of Panditha's who were hooting and jeering at Premadasa outside the Town Hall; that Premadasa feared that if his driver and his car was taken into custody by the police he would get into trouble because of his driver's conduct. Premadasa's driver had a criminal record ald had also served a jail sentence. Also to Premadasa's knowledge there were knuckle-dusters and clubs inside his car. If the car was taken to the police station, the police would soon discover these deadly weapons inside his car and it would be very embarrassing to him.
To avoid this detection and to avoid his driver (Reuben) getting into trouble with the police, Premadasa had decided to tell a lie to the police that he was attacked by a mob led by Ramanayake. The following are the very words of Justice Siva Supramaniu IIl taken from page 10 of his judgement delivered on 18th June 1957:
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"In my opinion the evidence of PreInadasa that Ramanayake led a crowd and instigated that crowd to assault hill and because of that assault Premadasa had to flee for safety, is false"
"In my opinion, when Premadasa found that his driver (Reuben) had been caught red-handed by the police while assaulting some other people and when the police found deadly weapons in the car in which Premadasa was travelling, Premadasa was then obliged to take the car to the police station. At this point Premadasa invented the story of the attempted assault on him by a crowd supposed to be led by Ramanayake.
I reject the evidence of Premadasa and his witnesses
In this latter."
The Judge also noted that the evidence of the police officers about the incident was different from the evidence given by Premadasa and his witnesses and the judge preferred to accept the police evidence as correct and reject Premadasa's evidence.
Now let us summarise some important facts about Prelladasa's character that arose from this judicial decision.
1.
One of the most important findings of Justice Sivasupramanium was that Premadasa had invented a false complaint against Ramanayake to prevent his driver being arrested for assault and also to prevent the police from discovering the deadly weapons (knuckledusters and clubs) that were in his own car.
I-C)

In other Words, this was not a case where Premadasa by mistake accused Ramanayake of leading a mob. Nor was it a case where someone else had told Premadasa that Rananayake was leading a nob to assault him. The entire complaint made by Premadasa to the Police was based on his own evidence, and the entire false complaint was Invented by Prelladasa himself. No Illob attacked Premadasa. Nor was Ramanayake leading a mob. It was Premadasa's driver Reuben who had got down from his car and attacked others. So the entire false complaint was, as the judge held, invented in the fertile mind of Premadasa (then aged 30) now the Executive President of Sri Lanka. This is what his mind is capable of Inventing false stories (Il the spur of the monent to save his own skin and to put others into trouble.
According to the judgement, the police officers of the Ciri namon Gardens police station who had inquired into this incident were the following (although they Would now have retired from the police, they will recall this case):
(i) Inspector Amarasekera
(ii) Sub-Inspector Misso (iii) Sergeant Dissanayake (ivo) | Sergeant Ekainayake
PItella dasa's JWP conections
All Sri Lankans know about the atrocities committed by the revolutionary Janatha Wimukthi Peiriamuna (JWP). But Premadasa, even when he was Prime Minister, never attacked the JWP by name. His famous excuse was "Where is the proof
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LLLa LLLLLL LLL S LLLLLLa LLaar LLaaLLLL LLLLLLLLS LLLL LLLLa LaS proof." But now that the JWP Teace has been eliminated, he publicly takes the credit for restoring order and condemns the criminal actions of the JVP Premadasa rarely mentions that it was the late Ranjan Wijeratne who gawe leadership to the struggle to overcoille the JWP.
Now it has come to light that the only remaining leader or politbureau member of the JVP, Somawansa Amarasinghe, is a very close family relation of Premadasa's long tie friend and now Minister of Housing and Construction, Sirisena Cooray. Somawansa Amarasinghe is closely connected to Sirisena Cooray's wife. While all the other top JVP leaders were killed by the Premadasa government in 1990-1991, Somawanisa Amarasinghe not only survived but escaped from the island and is now said to be living in India. As to how he managed to escape is another Ilystery.
People were also surprised how Premadasa, as President, was able to hold the Gariudawa celebrations at Kataragama in 1989 and in Mahiya nga na in 1990. These events were held at the height of JVP activity but there was no interruption or any JVP incidents at the Gamudawa celebrations. Why did the JVP leave Premadasa alone? It is true that Premadasa has massive Security but the JWP were known to have attacked or killed or injured other politicians who had security and protection. It is also noteworthy that Premadasa addressed 118 election Illectings all over the island during the Presidential campaign of December 1988. But none of his meetings were attacked by the WP. Why? Now that we know the connection between Sirisena Cooray and Somawansa An artisinghe, the reason why the JWP did not attack Premadas a boccommes clearer and minore L11 desta Indible.

Prema dasa newer employed Premadasa has never engaged in any gainful employment apart from politics, In 1949 at the age of 25 he joined the Labour Party and entered Municipal politics. There is a story that prior to that he had worked in a printing press at Dam Street Colombo which belonged to the father of Norbert Perera, who was recently sacked from the UNP for having (as a Justice of Peace) attested the affidavits of the Members of Parliament who signed the Impeach IIlent Motion.
Perhaps it is this first hand experience that Premadasa gained by Working at a printing press that has given him such a good knowledge of print media. As President he is said to decide on even the typesetting and arrangement of his speeches that are now published daily in the Lake House Newspapers.
Some fantastic stories related by Premadasa It is strange that despite his political acumen and experience, Premadasa has related some unbelievable stories. The Wonder is how he gets away with it. Perhaps, people are so busy with their own lives that they do not care any more about what Premadasa says. Sorlle are bewildered by these stories but laugh then off ill artisement. Others are angry that the President utters such lies but are helpless to correct them, And Premadasa carries on regardless. Let us examine some of these Wici, I'd stories.
The pe 1 story
During the Presidential campaign in October-December 1988, Premadasa took pains to distance hillself from President J.R. Jayewardene. The Opposition then publicly said "How can You Say You are not responsible for anything that happened during the J.R. Jayewardene gover Ilment, because you were his
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deputy and you were the Prime Minister'?" To this Premadasa's ingenious reply was "Under J.R.'s Presidential system, the Prime Minister's post was a mere figure-head appointment. Although I was Prime Minister, in real fact, my powers were no greater than that of a Peo in a government office."
The Sri Lankan people well-know the connotations of this ter Ill. A peon is the office orderly who takes files from one staff officer to another for their attention and is available to assist office staff to attend to daily routine work. A peon also Often serves Staff officers their tea and attend to their other пčeds. Pгепаđasa's statement that he played the role of a peon in the J.R. Jayewardene administration was accepted IIlore in amusement by his audience. But as Mrs Bandaranaike told Premadasa during the campaign, "You were the only peon in the entire world who solicited and obtained an invitation to attend the Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana at Buckingham Palace in London."
Premadasa's Peon story was not only absurd but also insulting to the administration he led during the period July 1977 to December 1988. Next to J.R. Jayewardene, he was the Inost powerful politician in the country. He was also not at all modest in excrcising his powers as Prime Minister. He was concurrently Minister of Local Government and Housing and later Minister of Highways as well. In addition he occupied several offices and official residences. An enormous staff of Over 10,000 officials worked for him. He was also the Leader I of the House of Parliament. No peon in any part of the world Wielded such powers and enjoyed such privileges of office and conducted himself with such pomp and pageantry. Yet, in the presidential campaign of 1988, Premadasa got away with this story that he was only a peon.
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It was also interesting to record that while Premadasa told rural audiences that as Prime Minister he was only a pcon under J.R. Jayewardelle, a full-page newspaper supplement published in support of his candidature stated that Premadasa transformed the office of Prime Minister into a position of tremendous power, significance and meaningfullness [sic]."
Premadasa's estate at Yapahuwa Everyone knows that Premadasa owns a well-developed coconut property (inter-woven with spices and other valuable crops) at Ambanwela in the Yapahuwa area of the Kurunegala district. The estate is called Kahabiliyawatte. It is now protected by a strong security force maintained at state expense, Doubts have been cast as to how a poor man (which Premadasa claims to be) came to own this prime estate, Premadasa himself has provided this unbelievable account in a public speech. According to him:-
"Once I had gone with my parents on a pilgrimage to Anu radhapura. On the way; back in the Yapahuwa area We had stopped our car to have refreshments and for a rest. My father then noticed a public auction of property being conducted nearby. He went up to the auction site. He had money with him. He bid at the auction and brought this land Kahabiliyawatte for a sum of rupees twenty five. This is how I came to own this laid."
So Premadasa came to own this property for Rs 25
This is another unbelievable story related by Premadasa to
gullible rural audiences. He little appreciates that these speeches of his are repeated in the newspapers and some
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members of the discerning public instantly detect their falsity,
And why should the President, unless he had a guilty LLLCLLLLaS HCaCL HaaL L0L LLLLS LLLLLLLLS LLLS LCLLLLS LL SLLLLLHH C coconut estate. All ownership of immiwable property can be traced by any member of the public by examining the records of the Land Registry in each district. Ownership of land is evidenced by registered deeds which show how the land came to be purchased and from whom, the date of purchase and the price paid. Accordingly, Premaldasa should hawe with hill the title deeds to this property and he need not relate unbeliewable stories as to how his father brought this land on the spur of the moment for Rs 25 at a public auction while returning from a pilgrimage: to AIn LI radhapura.
أنمي It is also noteworthy that Premadasa's first Gain Lidawa in 1978 was at Beddalgama in Yapahuwa. That Garudawa site was Very close to his estate at Ambanpola so that people say he conveniently used State funds to develop the area around his property such as getting electricity and water Supply and also improving the road to his land.
Pre.Iliada sa and his baby elephant
Another fantastic story related by Premadasa in public speeches is about how he came to own an elephant, According to Prelladasa, "Once when my parents and I were going by car lo our estate (Kahabiliyawatte) in Yapahuwa, We saw two elephants and a baby on the road. We stopped the car and the bably elephant came up to the car and put his trunk inside the car on IIly mother. As a child I was fascinated by what he did and I pleaded with my father to get the baby elephant. My father agreed to my request and purchased the baby elephant, and I call remember walking along with the baby elephant to

our estate. When we were returning to Colombo we brought the baby elephant along with us to Colombo by putting him in the trunk of our car sic. For sometime we kept the baby elephant as a pet at our Colombo home and I used to play with him. But later we gave the elephant to a friend of the family."
How many readers of this book will believe this story? But it was related by President Premadasa in a public speech to a LaLL aLLLLLLLaaS LLLLLLLHH LLLLLLLaaLLLL LL LLLLaLL aLaLLLLLLLaa LLLLLaLLL LaLLLLLLL smiled in disbelief or disgust as he related the story. The audacity of this lie is that Premadasa, without any hesitation as to its credibility, said that the baby elephalt was transported from his estate in the Kurullegala district to Colombo by car. Can any reasonable person believe that ewell a baby elephant can be transported in the luggage boot or trunk of a car. In another story Premadasa had said that his father's car was a Morris Minor. So, in other words, the baby elephant had travelled over 80 miles from his estate in Ambalpola to LLLHHaL LL aaLLL LLLL SS LLLLLLGLLLLL LLLLL LLLS
His father's CILIt 5 Another unbelievable story related by Premadasa concerns the large number of carts allegedly owned by his father. At a public gathering, Premadasa said:
"In those days my father had about 50-60 bullock carts (at that time owning a bullock cart was like owning a lorry and only a very rich person could own as Illa Ily as 50 or 60 carts). About conce a month Tiny parents and I used to visit my mother's village at Batuwita in the Hora Ila area. On those visits my father used to take about two or three cartloads of rice, curry
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stuff and other groceries like flour and sugar. We then distributed these items to the poor people in the area."
The place that Premadasa's mother came from has now been re-named Mawgaria (mother's village). Premadasa has also added the following statement about his mother: "In those days when my mother used to visit her birthplace, the villagers used to say that the Maisika Uri False has come." The term Maisika IIleans "Her Majesty." This form was a reference to Her Britannic Majesty Queen Victoria who as Queen of England was also Queen of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). By usage, the term was associated with a person of high class and status in Our Willages, And now Premadasa says that this same term was used for his mother as well by the villagers in her area of birth.
The above stories are unbelievable lies. All fables conceived in a sick mind. Since the period referred to by Premadasa is not that long ago, there should be several people of the Batu vita Village who would remember such personalities and such visits and such acts of philanthropy if they were true. But people of the area are bewildered by these statements of Premadasa because they are utter lies. They are Works of fiction conceived and born of his own imagination. On the other hand, the people of Horana area do remember famous philanthropists like the late Wilmot Percra of Sri Palee fame who did so much for the poor in the arca.
Premadasa's physical features and food habits " Premadasa will be 69 years on 23 June 1993. Daily his valet Mohideen dyes his hair jet black so that no trace of any grey hair can be seen. Recently, to please his South Indian (Malayali) soothsayer-astrologer (who it is said also practice the occult), Premadasa shaved off his eye-brows. Television
14:

viewers were surprised on the first few days when they ܐ ܘܢ him after he shaved his eye brows. "What happened to Premadasa's eye-brows" they asked. Then they knew that Premadasa's Malayali soothsayer had got the better of him. Hic will do what his witch doctors recommend, ignoring the consequences. The change of the spelling to Shri from Sri Lanka by Premadasa was done at the request of his Malayali advisors.
Premadasa does not smoke. Neither does he consume any form of alcohol. He eats little and his meals are always prepared and sent to him from Colombo or his outstation residence. Government helicopters are regularly used to fetch his food from Colombo when he goes to the Illral areas for his ceremonial openings and inspection tours.
Absence of diplomacy National leaders are expected to be diplomatic, but Premadasa has on several occasions openly and proudly proclaimed that he is no diplomat. Let us give some examples of this lack of diplomacy:
(1) In the Sri Lanka Il Parliament he has attacked by Ilame India's Gandhi family - both the late Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, India is our giant neighbour and our national leaders cannot afford to publicly abuse India's leaders.
(2) One of the first official acts of Prcillada sa after he became President was to release the nawal officer who physically attacked Rajiv Gandhi with a rifle at a President's House honour guard immediately after the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed. In doing so,
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(3)
(4)
(5)
Premadasa was parlderijpg to what he thought public opinion was at that time, but it was an ill-conceived act from the point of view of diplomacy and international relations, and common human decency.
On 23 September 1991 in the Sri Lanka Parliament Premadasa said that the "Israeli people are murderers." It is one thing to close down the Israeli Interests Section and criticise Mossad (the Israeli intelligence agency) but to label the entire Jewish nation and its people as murderers is to say the least, Illadness. There are over 12 million Jews globally and to brand them as Inurderers is un forgivable. The Teflection is on Sri La Ilıkal as a na titöII.
Premadasa's demand to Rajiv Gandhi that the Indian Army in the North should leave Sri Lanka was made On 1st June 1989 on Poson Poya day at a Buddhis temple ceremony, He chose a, religious occasion and a temple ceremony to make a crucial political statement which could best have been communicated privately so as to avoid ca. Li sing public discom fiture to Indial. The LLLLLLa LLLLL LL LLLLL LL LLLLGGLLLLLLLS
Many people resent Premadasa, using the Dalada Maligawa (the temple of the tooth) in Kandy con 2nd January every year to celebrate each anniversary of his term as President. This most sacred of religious sites in Sri Lanka is used by him for an annual political fatasha, No other leader in the country's 2,500 years LL LlLlLLLLLLLLO LLLL0S LLttHL LLLS LLL LLLLLLLaa LLLLLLaaS HLL
C.
15

Analysis of Premadasa's words and deeds By his conduct Premadasa has shown that there is a sharp distinction between what he says and what hic actually does. In his Presidential manifesto hic proudly asscrtcd:
(1) "Mine shall not be a government of arrogance"
(ii) "Mine will be a government of the non-violent man"
(iii) "I have inherited humility... I will be a humble servant
of the COITII mðII Iman"
(iv) Every IIlother and father can treat me as her or his own Son. Every citizen can consider me a brother and
every child will find the affection of a father in Inc.
(v) In my actions I will always be guided by consultation,
compromise and consensus.
(vi) I will give an enhanced role to Parliament.
(vii) I will strengthen the role of Non-government
organisations (NGOs)
What is immediately noticeable and significant in the continuous use of the words "I" and "minic." Even in drafting his Manifesto his sub-conscious mind was guided by 'one-man show' concept. Normal leaders would have substituted "we" al "OLLIS" for "I" a Ilid "Illic."
Speaking generally, none of the above assertions in the LLLLLLLaLLL LaLLLLL LLtLttCLL LLLLLLLLS LLLL LLLLLLLL LLLLL SLaaa
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shall not be a government of arrogance and it will be a government of the non-violent man," just the opposite occurred. In his four year period of office, the environment was that of a complete fear psychosis. People were afraid to criticize him publicly. The large scale disappearances and killings of youth and the revelations of DIG Udugampola about the use of "Black Cats" (government hit squads) by Premadasa were the reality of Sri Lankan life and not what he assured in his Manifesto. The truth about his desire to treat others as friens, his emphasis on consultation, compromise and consensus, and his stated policy towards NGOs can be best appreciated by his actual persecution of his political opponents and his harassment of Dr. Ariyaratne the Sarvodaya leader.
An illustration of Prenadasa's conduct as Leader of the HOLISe When J.R. Jayewardene became Prime Minister after his victory in the July 1977 General Elections, he made Premadasa, then Deputy leader of the UNP, the Leader of the House of Representatives. As Leader of the House, Premadasa took the liberty to be abusive of his political opponents. In one of his first speeches, he said that "Anura Bandaranaike (then 2nd MP for Nuwara Eliya-Maskeliya) should be hanged in public," Next day in the Sun (Dawa sa Group) newspapers this statement was wrongly attributed to the Prime Minister J.R. Jayewardene.
Making a statement to the House on the next day, Anura Bandaranaike said "when I read the report in the 'Sun' I was shocked and grieved that agentleman of the Prime Minister's calibre and cultural background could make a statement like that. But when I read the other newspapers and found that it was really the Leader of the House (Premadasa) who had made
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this statement, I was not at all surprised but was also mentally | Telic veci."
Premadasa's false life story If one analyses Premadasa's life history and biographical statistics very closely, one will notice the discrepancies and the untri"ths slowly surfacing. Parts of his so-called early period are ingeIlious works of fiction. Premadasa got so used to the idea of falsification that he began to vigorously reconstruct his early family life. He also erected museums for his parents and named them Piyagama (father's village) and Mawgaria (mother's village). Although steeped in supervision and numerology, Premadasa's success grew out of his LLLLLLLCLLLS LL SLLL LLtLaLLaLa LLL LL LL SLLLL LLLLL S consummate actor. Although he was well known for his false greetings and in sincere smile, he always made it a point to address many well known public servants by their first names, thus making then feel very important. It was all play acting.
Readers will Tuccall another III oder II national leader, President Ferdinand Marcos, of the Philippines who was a similar conman. Marcos had got a biography written about himself by well known journalists portraying him as a great resistance leader of the World War II who fought beside American soldiers against the Japanese, The biography added that Marcos was the most decorated soldier in the Philippines Army. After Marcos fell from power, it was discovered that all these stories were false and were deliberate lies written on his specific instructions, Marcos had even used foreign journalists to write these bogus biographies of his, Premadasa was however, not
LLL LLLLLLLL aLaaL LLLLL LLLL LaaLLLL LLL LLLLtLLLLLLL LLLLLaLLS

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Tle Rt. HoIouT";hble R. PreI11a.da sa In July 1979, oil an official visit to London as Prime Minister, Premasa threw a lavish dinner party in honour of the Rt. Hon. Michael Heseltine, then Britain's Minister for Environment in the Thatcher government. To match the status of his guest, Premadasa arrogated to himself the title of Rf, Honourable. This is an exceptional title restricted to Ministers of the British Cabinet and Privy Councillors. The two well-known Sri Lankall national leaders who were conferred this title Were D.S. Senanayake and Sir John Kotelawela, both appointed to the Privy Council by the sovereign.
Bradman Weerakoon was Premadasa's Secretary at this finne LLLLLL LLLLHHL KGLL LLL LLL LLLLH LLLLLL LLLL LLLLLLLLS LLLS LLLHHLHLLLL LLL LLLLLL Prenadasa was not entitled to use this title but did not wish to displease "The Boss". (Menu card for this dinner reproduced end of this book). The Bitish and Sri Lankan guests were openly amused by this acs of cheap subterfuge.
Aspects of Prema dasa's character Premadasa was a workaholic starting his day at 4.00 a.m., to the dread of his immediate staff as well as departillental heads. LL LLLLL LCLLLL LLLLLS S rrLLLLLS L LLLL LLLLLLLL LL LLLLLLLLS LLLLLL example at meetings to be addressed by him to ensure that the lectern from which he spoke was properly sited and the flower vase on the table did not obstruct the public view of him. Some may applaud this quality of minute attention to details while others may agree with Benjamin Disraeli when he said "little things affect little minds."
Premadasa, the master orator, also often got lost in his own
Verb(sity. Sofile of his recent speeches became no more than a barren superfluity of words. He grew intoxicated with his
54

own eloquence and his each speech - whatever the occasion and the audience - bc.came somewhat of a Sermoil. A lesson from the Oracle. He also made each political platform a pulpit. The Dharmapada, the Bible and the Koran were often resorted to by him to ador In his spoken and Written Words. One is reminded of Shakespeare's saying.
The Devil can cite scripture for his purpose; An evil soul, producing holy witness, Is like a villain with a smiling check. A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O what a goodly outside falsehood hath.
As the former English constitutional expert Lord Acton said "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Premadasa, became so intoxicated with absolute power after he becaille President, that he never Walted to abandon it even for a short time. There is moderation even in excess, but it was not so with Premadasa, To hin, disagreement with his ideas and policies was evidence of open crimity and eIIIllity, which in his View, had to be rooted out, "A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats his colleagues." But this was not a quality of Premadasa's. Although accommodation is the essence of successful politics, Premadas a resented Innen, both in politics and in thought, who were capable of vision. He felt safe only with mediocrity.
While being autocratic and dictatorial, he always took refuge under populist programmes of no meaningful economic value (eg. Janasaviya, free school uniforms, etc) and always declared "I am of the poor, to work for the poor."
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Surprisingly, while it is said that superstition is the religion of fecble Illinds, Premadas a was supremely superstitious, He would engage in no enterprise or programme or plan, no function or event without consulting his astrologers - mainly his Malayali soothsayers on whom he relied on blindly in the latter part of his presidential term. As Prime Minister, all his several foreign trips were planned so that he could be away during "astrologically bad times." For instance although by August 1988 he was declared as UNP's Presidential candidate to succeed J.R., Premadasa went on a official trip to China for fifteen days in September 1988 presumably because his horoscope had said that he should not remain in Sri Lanka during that period.
Prelladasa's Morris Milo' car In the early 1950s, Premadasa the Colombo Municipal Councillor announced that he had been gifted with a Morris Minor car purchased by his supporters. He got a photograph taken with himself and the car, together with Dudley Senanayake, who was then Prime Minister. In actual fact, some Colombo nudalalis (merchants) who were helping him and enjoying his patronage had purchased the car for him. But in true Premadasa style the public were made to understand that his voters had bought the car through a "hat collection." Now this car is preserved in a glass case as a museum piece at his Sucharitha residence. What is more interesting is that while outwardly it is still a Morris Minor (a poor man's car), in fact it is a Rolls Royce. This is because after he became Prime Minister, Premadasa got the Maharajah Organisation (as a free job) to strip and completely overhaul and refurbish it with a new engine, a new gear box and luxurious leather upholstery. It is only a Morris Minor in name. This is yet another instance of Premadasa's "Jekyll and Hyde" personality.
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Premadasa's crawing for television publicity From the tile he became Prime Minister, Prelladasi established his own fully-equipped television unit funded by the Urban Development Authority which came under him and was administered by Paskarallingal (then its Chairman). On his assumption as President, this LIII it was enhanced into a full Presidential Television Unit which followed his every public action like a shadow. Even when he visited funeral houses the unit was in attendance and his respects to the deceased was shown the saille evening on national television. It was only the widow L GLLLLLLL LLLaLLLL LLLLHHHHL LLLLaLLLL LLL LLLLaLlLL to receive Premadasa at the funeral house unless the Television Unit was sent away.
Pre I haldalsa, the por II na I n's SawiOLI" In their speeches and conduct, Ilational leaders should at all costs avoid differences of opinions on II latters such as religion, caste, class, and community, This is especially important in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious Society like Sri Lanka. Prema dasa, however, exploited the class issue. He created class distinctions as I 10 0th CT leader had do nie. Highlighting the cradication of poverty he emphasised the distinction between the privileged and the poor, the Haves and the Have Nots.
As the respected Vice-Chancellor of Kelaniya University R.W. Walpola Rahula observed "Premadasa made Sri Lanka the only country in the World where illiteracy and overty became Illeritorious and regarded as qualifications for employment." Poverty and Lillemployment became a Tierit.
Prelladasa always posed as the poor man's saviour. But the
people little realised how the poor man's saviour' lived and the LaLLaa La LLL aLLLLLLLaLLLLSSS SS LLLHLHHH LKS LLLHa LL aLLLLLLLa LaLaa
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Minister in 1978 and later as President from January 1989, he would have received enormous contributions of money from individuals for political and non-political purposes. What has happened to this money? He enjoyed a vast number of official residence and as a third world leader lived more luxuriously than royally in some Western countries.
The impeachment motion against Premadasa In the last few days of August 1991 an event occurred which LL LLLLL LHHLaLaLLSa aarLrLHL S aLaaaaaLaLaL LLLL LLL LLL LLLL LLLaLLLL Premadasa. This was the Impeachment Motion against him which was entertained by the speaker of Parliament (M.H. Mohammed) under Article 38 of Sri Lanka's constitution. The main Persons behind the Impeach ment — Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanayake and G.M. Premachandra - had persuaded forty (40) members of the ruling UNP to sign it. Thus, together with the members of the Opposition they had sufficient numbers in Parliament to successfully pursue the impeach ment,
The Impeachment Motion set out various facts alleging that President Premadasa had been guilty of intentional violation of the constitution, treason, misconduct, nepotism and corruption involving abuse of power of his office. It also alleged that he had committed offences under the Law involving Illoral turpitude and grounds of his mental incapacity to govern the CCI LI Intry.
The events following the Impeachment Motion and its Subsequent failure in Parliament is now part of Sri Lankan political history and need not be recounted here, However, it would not be incorrect to say that Premadasa newer recovered from the Impeachment Motion. It affected his mind. Despite all
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his cunning, hic llad b'Coke the UNP ito two). The DUNF (Rajaliya Party) was formed and in over one hundred public meetings since August 1991, the DUNF exposed Premadasa. It was Abraham Lincoln (whom Premadasa is fond of quoting) who said "A house divided against itself cannot stand. So also a political party divided against itself cannot last. The Party will not perish completely but it must cease to be divided. It must become all one thing or all the other. This is the truth of all human experience." Future elections will show that DUNF will takic at least 15% - 20% of the UNP Wote. This is al slice of the vote that the UNP callot afford to lose.
The writer became aware about an inside story of the Impeachment which is not public knowledge. The idea of impeaching Premadasa originated the mind of no less a person than the Speaker of Parliament M.H. Mohammed. While Mohammed was in London in early 1991, he planned the impeachment together With Ronnic de Mel who was also then living in London, Both of them had worked out the constitutional procedure. They had then contacted Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake and got them to lead the impeachment.
Thus it was the Speaker, M.H. Mohammed, who originated it. Regrettably, it was also the same M.H. Mohammed who decided lot to proceed with it. Premadasa through Thondallan in timidated Mohammed and threatened to expose his activities while hic was Minister of Transport in the Jayewardene administration unless he dropped the matter. Though the Impeachment Motion itself failed, it was the beginning of the end for Premadasa.
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On 24th September 1991 in his address to Parliaillent after the Impeachment Motion, Premadasa said, "You know very well that I am a person who is prepared to stand any inquiry, BLI ( where are the charges? It is also not known who are making the charges."
Indeed this was an absurd statement. The contents of the Impeachment Motion was then public knowledge and for Premadasa o ask "What are the charges'?" was cynical as well as foolish. He was the accused, and the charges were public knowledge. This attitude of Premadasa's to the Impeachment reminds one of a similar attitude he took towards the JWP activities in this country in 1987-1988. The common understanding was that Premadasa was in toe with the JWP and had access to them. But he was frequently heard to ask, "How can you say that the JWP is behind all this violence? Where is the proof' Show me the proof."
Instead of a SWering the serious allegations levelled against him in the Impeachment Motion, all that Premadasa did was to label the dissidents "Traitors and conspirators: rogue elephants who should be tranquilized but not yet killed." Premadasa also published posters and scurrilous pamphlets against them and said the dissidents were funded by "Casino kings" and the Israeli Secret Service Mossad. He planned 200 islandwide Tallies saying that he would expose them fully. But the first rally ill Kalidy of 20th October 1991 was a monumental disaster and all the other Tallies were canceled.
On the other hand, the Impeachment led to the expulsion of the ten UNP MPs and the formation of the DUNF. Ironically it was this party that held more than 100 islandwide rallies and awoke a sleeping "Rip Van Winkle" type opposition which
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heralded the beginning of "நூல் 叛 all.
Preluadasa, the propaganda expert Froll the day he started his political career Premadasa marketed himself, Truly, it can be said that he is one national leader who mastered the art of propaganda and communicating With the people, During the period 1977-1988. J.R. Jayewardene was the only restraining effect on Premadasa in Using the government controlled Inedia. But after he became President in January 1989, Premadasa has used the Lake House newspapers, the Rupa Vahini and the SLBC to project his image in a Way that II.) |lational leader Häls, done before,
So much so, that it is said that Premadasa sleeps inside Lake house, the Rupawahini. ITN and SLBC. Everyone knows that he even decided on the headline to his speeches and their subheadings and arrangement as they appear in the newspapers. The photographs of crowd scenes of his public functions are also meticulously "arranged" under his supervision. Photographs are joined up to make the crowd appear larger illiam it actually was,
Premadasa's early experience of Working in a printing press (referred to earlier in this text) and his masterly command of the sinhala language, helped him to become the greatest mass media expert in Sri Lankan politics. None of his predecessors Could match him in this area of expertise.
In literacy Sri Lanka stands well ahead of its other South Asian SA ARC neighbours (eg. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc.). Premadasa exploited the state-controlled television and radio to the maximum to reach the remotest villages and thus got his speeches and messages across to them.
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Foreign diplomats rarely comment on the internal affairs of countries but Premadasa's exploitation of televisio Welt t) such extremes that the Japanese ambassador could not restrain a critical comment. To Prema dasa's embarrassment, this comment was highlighted in the press because Sri Lanka's television studio (Rupa vahini) came from Japanese grant aid. No action was taken against the Japanese ambassad}T. Hic was spared the fate that befell Gladstone, the British High Commissioner, who was expelled for voicing his opinion about government party election tactics.
Premadasa and "Casino King" Joe Sinn
The "Joe Sim" saga will be a continuing source of embarrassment to Premadasa in future years, Joe Sirin, a shadowy Singaporean, had come to be known as the Casino King of Sri Lanka. He ran his own casinos in Colombo and also had interests in ScWeral other Sri Lanka-based casinos. Premadasa's elmı balı TTai SSiment stell med not So I'll Luch frclərını Silinin himself as his politically high-profile patrons, Hema Premadasa, the First Lady, was one of the leading patrons of Joe Sim's casino empire. She attended Icceptions and functions at the Casinos and the popular gossip was that Joe Sim was very friendly with Mrs Premadasa, A much-published photograph shows Hema Premadasa (in her "at home" attire) with Joe Sim and his family taken at President's House. The location at which the photograph was taken and Mrs Premadasa's dress on that occasion shows low close the friendship was. It is also said that Joe Sinn and his family were regular visitors to President's House owing to their close friendship with Mrs Premadasa, There is also a photograph of Joe Sim getting on the stage at a Colombo Municipal Council celebration, where President Premadasa is seated as chief guest,
12

LLL LLLL LL LLLLL LL LLLLL LHHLHHLLLLLLL LLL LLLLLLLLS LLL LLLLLLLLLL love of casinos and her friendship with the Sim family resulted in Premadasa's daughter (now Illa Tricid to Hubert Jayakody's son Rohan Jayakody – Ait Lanka director ELIld "Carnation King") also becoming a close friend of Sim's, Rumors began to spread that Joe Sim had given as presents valuable jewellery to Mrs Premadasa and also extravagant spending money on her frequent shopping expeditions to Singapore (where Mrs Premadasa's brother - a man with little or no education, is now Sri Lanka's Deputy High Commissioner). I havc scen a colourprinted booklet that has been published in Sri Lanka which contains this photograph of Mrs Premadasa with Joe Sin and his family. The booklet also has photographs of Joe Sim with Minister Siriscina Cooray and with Bradman Weerakoon.
The Lawrence Gestapo LLLLLL LLLL LLLLLLY LLLLLL LLLLaL LLLLLLLLLaaa LLL LLLL LL LLLLL LLLL LLLE legal organisation sinilar to the dreaded Savak during the Shah of Iran's time or perhaps similar to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo.
The organisation is headed by A. C. Lawrence, a former Deputy Inspector General of Police. Its office is located on the fourth floor of the National Housing Departilent along Sri Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha. The personnel in this unit were made up of retired Policemen (almost 60 percent) and lower ranks of the Police who are now in active service. The latter category have been hand picked from Police Stations and
H (CID).
All private, confidential Security work is handled by this unit. It is to this unit that Premadasa refers all petitions he received against heads of government departments, corporations, government MPs and members of the United National Party.
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Overt investigations against opposition politicians were referred to the CID or the NIB but all covert inquiries were done by Lawrence and his Illel. The following is the way in which Premadasa's private hit group worked.
Lawrence was assigned a fleet of Pajero vehicles. Sirisena Cooray's thugs were co-opted for special operations. They Would g() in a II LIII-In Lumbered Pajeros to the house/office or location of a target with revolvers and threaten to kill them if they do not stop anti Premadasa or anti Government activity. That was the modus operandi to tackle some types of people including businessmen, club owners and those running gambling shops etc.
LL S S LaLLLHaa SS S LLLS S LLLLLaLLLLSS S LLLLLLLLL S S LL S LL S LLLLa professionals and white collar workers. It is carried out through S.S. (Sylvester) M. Joseph, who was also a one time. DIG. Joseph who was very Well known as a corrupt officer when he Was SP (Colombo South) and thereafter as Collissioner of Police, now lives in a super luxury house at Barnes Place. Earlier he was at Second Lane, Ratmalana and Ian a poultry farm which was attacked during 1983 ethnic violence.
For all intents and purposes, Joseph functions officially as a Consultant to the Ministry of Finance. This is the cover, When Lawrence sends a list of names, Joseph writes to the Special Investigations Unit in the Department of Inland Re:WCII LIIc to concluict investigations in to the persons so. Til med in the list, Sorlle of the names in the list are given to Lawrence by President himself.
II the Special Investigations Unit, the name used for this kind of request (letters from Joseph) is "orders from the Presidential
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Security Unit." When such a request conics, NOT a single office in the Special Investigations Unit sends a fill back to the LLCLLL LaLLLLLLLLH LaLa LLmLmaaS SLLLLL LLLLLL aLL CaaLLK C fine or penalty. If no action is taker, the officers concerned are transferred out. So no officer in the Department will refuse or neglect to act when a file is referred to hirl by Joseph.
There are innumerable cases relating to doctors, engineers, journalists and other professionals who are undergoing untold hardships due to this devious harassilent. There are recognized LLLLLaL LLL SLS LL LaHHLS DLLa LLmHHLHS CCCC LLLL LmL LL LLLLLJS legal unit has been working because they have been acting as Ex: CEJLIGHiltä TLS to thil CSC WictiI'llS
The Investiga tiens Unit Teports är E channelled back (Progress reports, as they are called) to Lawrence. If there are avenues for more harassment, then Lawrence Writes to CD (Rajapakse) asking his Innen to investigate, Rajapaksi keeps a pörsollal touch and chases. Lip' all these investigations.
There are regular meetings (Linder Premadasa's personal instructions) alling the following: Lil WTC FICC, Joseph, Rajapakse, Zernie Wijesuriya (Director, National Intelligence Bureau). Specific cases are discussed by them and the course of action is mapped out.
Lawrence is being paid both by the Ministry of Policy LLLLLmmmm LLLLLL LLL S LLLL LLCCLLLLLLLS S LLLLLLaL LLLLLaCS S LLLLLL working as "Security Consultant." There is very little Work he does. Earlier, he was paid by Air Lanka. Besides, President LCCCLllClCaSLL LLLL LLLL CLLCLLL LL LLL LLLL L LLLLLL Gestapo type unit run by Lawrence are Sirise la CIGray and R. Paskarallinga 11.
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Nawaloka — a Premadasa stooge Dharmadasa alias. Nawaloka Mudalali becamc One of Premadasa's closest allies. With Premadasa's patronage, Nawaloka amassed a fortune for some land he owned near the Colombo Port he got compensation of over Rs 90 million when the land its clf was valued at no more than Rs 20 million, All equipment for his luxury Nawaloka hospital was also imported frce of duty - a concession not available to others. Nawaloka was also appointed a director of the Bank of Ceylon. Apar" from financial benefits, Premadasa bestowed on Nawaloka the country's highest honour "Desabandu." Nawaloka's good financial fortune under Premadasa earned him the nickname "Nawa Loka Bankuwa" (New World Bank).
Many of the present generation Sri Lankans may not be aware that it was this same Nawaloka who supplicd the ammunition that was used by the buddhist monk Ricv. Somarama to kill Prime Minister Bandaranaike on 25th September 1959. It happened this way. Rev, Buddharakkita who was on of the main conspirators in the assassination had suggested that the bullets for the revolvers to be used be got from a Police tLLLLLLLLS LLLL S S LLLLL LLLLHHLLLLLLL LLttrLLL LLLLL S LLLLL LLLLaL businessmen in the Kelaniya area of Colombo who was also Well known to the Criminal underWorld. And Nawaloka had obliged and obtained the bullets from a Superintendent of Police B. W. Percra. It was these bullcts that ent cred the body of Prime Minister Bandaranaike and killed him on 25th September, 1959. All these facts came out at the trial and is "now recorded in Lucian Weeramantry's book - "The Assassination of a Prime Minister." The main who found the fatal ammunition to kill a Prime Minister now holds Sri Lanka's highest honour - 'Desabandu'.
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The Jayan kodys The spectacular success and rise of the "Huejay" Jayakody financial empire which now spreads from Sri Lanka to Tokyo to London - is a good exa IIlple of President Premadasa's powerty alleviation programme (Nethi Bari Aya -- Athi Haki Aya Kireema).
"Huejay" (which stands for Hubert JayakOly) knew Premadasa when he was Prime Minister, Jayakody had gone to Japan (Tokyo) as a young man. He built up a successful business exporting Sri Lankan gems and jewellery. He has now expanded into tea, spices and cut flowers (carnations). The Jayakody's are of goigama caste. Thus there is little information as to the origin of his close friendship with Premadasa who was of the padu caste. Mischievous people have said that the Premadasas (both husband and wife) used to "smuggle" expensive gems into Japan for Hubert on their "official" visits. By 1977 when Premadasa became Prime Minister Hubert Jayakody had become "a good friend" of the Prelladasas, Mrs Premadasa was closer to Hubert than her husband and it was Hema that gradually introduced her daughter Dulanjali as a prospective bride for Hubert's son, ROEI
The talk is that Hubert Jayakody's wife was not keen on the proposal because of the caste issue. Nor was Rohan Jayakody, He regarded Dulanjali as too domineering having inherited her father's qualitics while her brother Sajit had taken more after Hema, Close family friends however, say that Rohan Jayakody's decision to marry Dulanjali was taken prior to Premadasa's election as President, for which Premadasa was grateful and became even more fond of the Jayakody's, From then on life for the Jayakodys became a prosperous bed of
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roses although they are better known for their carnations which they grow and export for sale.
The Jayakody's sold their carnations and other flowers at their shop (shirohana) at Sir Marcian Marker Mawatha, Colombo. The bulbs of the flowers are exported mainly to Japan.
Rohan Jayakody was made a Director of Air Lanka in January, 1989. Air Lanka was asked to have weekly flights to Japan and stop at two Airports in Japan. Flowers exported by Jayakody are carried on Air Lanka flights at concessional rates. Sometimes the flights are delayed to accommodate the shipment of flowers. Thus, these special Air Lanka flights are popularly called "Carnation flights."
Thus, Roha Jayakody, one of the main users of Air Lanka Was Illa de a Director. As a Director, Rohan Jayakody and his family (parents, sister and wife (Dulanjali) are all entitled to free flights on Air Lanka lot to Japan but anywhere in the world. The Jayakody's travel often. (They have a huge house in London also). Air Lanka also carries special items for them. Once a special dress for Dulanjali was flown from London for the New Year's dance in Cloribo,
The Jayakody's flower business is roaring. The flowers are grOWI) on valuable State land given at a very nominal rent - 42 acres of the best land from the Nuwara Eliya race course.
Ab() Lit 400 — 500 pöör Tural girls are employed in the flower project. They are paid under Rs 25/- per day. No one complains about this low pay because the project belongs to the President's son-in-law and daughter. The President has fixed a minimum wage of Rs 2000/- per month for the
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garment factory girls, but the Jayakody's pay only Rs 25/- per day - that is less than Rs 1000/- per month. No pay is given for days OI. Which the girls are absent. They are all casual employees.
Recently, the Jayakody's bought a huge three story house in the heart of London, paying nearly two million pounds. It is said that some of the carpenters and masons that went to repair the Sri Lanka High Commission in London were also used to renovate aid improve the Jayakody residence in London.
Hubert Jayakody was appointed Honorary Consul in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. This is absurd because Sri Lanka has an Ambassador and an Embassy in Tokyo, But now the Honorary Consul (Jayakody) is Ilmore Powerful than ou Tambassador.
But this was not enough for the Jayakody;s. The Sri Lankar Tea Commissioner's office in Japan was closed down and Hubert Jayakody was appointed to represent Sri Lankan tea in Japan.
Part of the Air Lanka office in Japan was given for Hubert Jayakody's use. Of course, he took the better portion of the Coffic:.
Hubert Jayakody has also been given a diplomatic passport. This contravelles all Our Foreign Ministry Conventions,
For the last several years without calling for tenders Hubert Jayakody has also been awarded the contract to Tun the Sri Lanka stall at International Expo exhibitions. Expos are trade LLLLLLLLLLS S LLLLL LL LLLLLLLLL L LLLLaLL LLL LLL LLLLLLL LLL LL World take part. Each country stall makes a huge profit in
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foreign money. Hubert Jayakody ran the Sri Lankan stalls at Expos in Canada, Australia and Spain. No tenders were called and other business people could not compete. To run the Expo Hubert Jayakody also gets all assistance from the Sri Lankan government free of charge. Air Lanka flies out his entire staff (more than 100 people) at concessionary rates. But he keeps all the profits. The Sri Lankan shipping Corporation takes all the goods and materials for the Sri Lankan stall free of charge, Premadasa must explain how Jayakody is given this valuable Expo contract without calling for tenders,
More recently on 5th March 1993, Hubert Jayakody was awarded the contract to run the famous Sri Lanka Tea Centre at Picadilly Circus in London. This is a highly profitable contract for Jayakody. How was this given to him and at what price?
The Jayakody's have also purchased three huge holiday mansions near the race course in Nuwara Eliya. These houses are near the Boat House at the Nuwara Eliya Lake. The houscs are called "Yalta," "Queen's" and "Sinhagiri."
More recently, not satisfied with Nuwara Eliya's cold climate, the Jayakody's have built another mansion at Morawewa Beach in Duwa about 1/4 mille from Negombo town. You can go to it on bus route No. 273 on the Pitipana Road from Negombo and the telephone number to this holiday home is (O31) 3439. It is close to the Welle Vidiya Church in Duwe. A huge wall has been constructed right round the house so that the poor people cannot see the house or the inside of the house.
No tourist resorts have been permitted in Duwe which is a village of about 22 Acres containing 600 families. How did the
17)

Jayakody's get permission to build this house in Duwe. No plans have been submitted to the Wattala Pradesiya Sabha for their approval of this building. Also no property rates are being paid to the Pradesiya Sabha by the Jayakody's. The land on which their house stands is about 1/4 acre,
During the monsoon, the sea water came too close to the house. So what did the Jayakody's do. They contacted the Coast Conservation Dept. and because of the connection to the President - nearly Rs 15 million worth of huge rocks were transported from Colombo and piled up in front of the Wall to the house to protect the house. Huge machinery was also brought to do this job. None of the poor homes and huts of the 600 village families that live in Duwe were assisted in this way. If the sea water caused a danger to their houses it did not matter. The total cost of placing rocks opposite the Jayakody home Could have cost over Rs 20 million if ole takes account of the cost of machinery and labour also. The Jayakody's got all this work done free. So as regards the Jayakody house at DuWe.
(a) The plans were not approved.
(b) The rates have not been paid.
(c) No payment has been made for the work done by the
Coast Conservation Dcpt.
The Jayakody's have constructed a seven storey huge building at Sir Marcan Marker Mawatha Colombo, next to the Holiday Inn Hotel. This building is their Sri Lankan headquarters. The building also contains a posh Japanese restaurant. It os Said that this seven-storey building is an una Luthorized structure and has violated normal municipal regulations but no action is takcil cause of collections to the President.
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La Il Saviya benefits to Heina's family Not only the Jayakodys, but Hema Premadasa's (nee WickTallatunga) family members also benefitted from the Jarasaniya Programme. One brother was sent as Sri Lanka's LLLLLLLLL SL L LLLLLLLLSS a LLLL LLLLL S LLLL C LLLLLLLmCLa because of his well-known homosexual tendencies. Not only did he lose his diplomatic job, but also his newly-married Sri Lankan Wife. Hema then "persuaded" Prenadasa to give hill a lucrative petrol shed at Narahepita, almost free of charge,
Another brother (with Very average qualifications) got a senior staff job at the Bank of Ceylon's London Branch and has been there since 1978 — Inow Timore than 15 years! A third brother who was posted as a clerk to the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore was suddenly Ilade Deputy High Commissioner in February 1989 - one of the first acts of Premadasa as President, No members of the First Lady's family have been left out. One of her few requests that Premadasa avoided granting was to make Rosie Senanayake Sri Lanka's High COImmissioner to Callada!
The Jayakody companics are called the Huejay Group, Huejay means Hubert Jayakody, Following are some;
(i) Huejay International Ltd. (i) Huejay Horticulture Ltd. (iii) Huejay Invest II lents Ltd. (iv) Huejay Multiflora Ltd. „ (v) Huejay Orient Ltd.
They also have a huge building at No. 1662. High Level Road,
Maharagama and they hawe houses in Nugegoda, So Surm up the Hubert Jayakody cInpire is a huge one - all supported by
172

Premadasa. Apart from the huge offices and buildings he owns in Japan, he has
(1) The large flower project and several lake-side mainsions in Nuwara Eliya, "Sinhagiri," "Yalta" and "Queens," to name but three, all furnished by Sotherby's of London and Worth more than Rs 25 Illillion each.
(2) the headquarters building in Colombo.
(3) the house in Duwe, Negombo.
(4) the buildings and houses in Maharagama and
Nugegoda. (5) the Illasion in England.
All his buildings and houses in Sri Lanka are guarded by the Police and other Security Personnel (Special Task Force) at State expenses. The State also provides personal bodyguards for the Jayakody fallily.
The Jayakody's because of their close connection to President Premadasa, also make huge sums of illegal money by acting as commission agents. It is said that in the recent purchases of Seven (7) Air buses by Air Lanka at a cost of nearly Rs 5000 million (5 billion) the commission was shared by Maharajah Corgaıııisationı alınıd the JayakodyS.
his is one good example of President Premadasa's poverty
leviation program Ille. The Jayakodys are true Jarasaviya ecipients,

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Pight of Predass VII sisters.
LLLLLS SSS SS a S L L L L L LSLS LSL S S LLLL L L SLL L L LLLLLC LSLSLS LLL LLLLLL aK aa LLL aaaa KS LK aa Gaaaa LLL LL LCCCaLLLLLLL Presidency, Premadaga's own three sisters – Rupawathie, Somawathie and Ariyawathie - were thoroughly neglected by the all powerful Eldest brother. As a critic of Janasaviya commented" charity nilist begin at hone. Premadasa should LaaL SLS SLLLL LLS S S SLS LS L L L L L LLLLa aLLS aaL GLLL only Premadasa, even Heila, Dulanjali and Sajith ignored the three sisters and behaved as if they did not exist. They did aLLLLLL S LLL L S LSLLaS S S LLLLLSLaa L L L L LlLmt S LLLlLLLLLLL LC aLaaLLL LaL LL LLL LLS S SS S SaLSL SLSLaaSS CK L L L aLLLHH LLLL LLm00L members of the public saw them and knew of their
23; Stelli |
Premadasa sues Upali Wijewardena
Y LSL a SS00000 S SSLLLaS LSLS L L S S Laaaa LLLL LaLHHLLLLLLL LLLLLL Upali Newspapers for defanation. The "Divajna" paper of 22nd May 1992 had reported a speech of Mrs Sirimavo LSaLLL LLaaaa LSLS S aa a S aa LLLL LL LLLLL LL L LLLLL S LLLLLLaa L LLLS politicians were corrupt and questioned how Prime Minister LLLLLL LLLLL LLaaK SLLLLL LLLL mal S LLL LLLL GG LLLS to educate his son and daughter in England. The number of the case fled by Premadasa is 86759. Money District Court of CE,
aCL LLLSL L L L L L LLLLL S La L S L aa LLLLLL LLLLLC CCCC uS S 0 LL L L L mS S LLLL S LLLLLLLaS L GL 0maCL filed a defense stating that the statements Tlade by Mrs LaL Lm L L L L L L LJ LL SaaaLLLLL LL LLL S LLL LL KK aaS LLLL also served several interrogations (questions) which he asked Premadasa to answer Some of the items. Upali Wijewardena
|7

WŁA Inted Premacial sa tG) produce Were:-
LLLLLL L LLaaa amCLLaLL GGGmmLL LLLL LLLL LL LLLLLLLaa England. Where son Sajit was educated.
The Registrar of Births Colombo to produce the birth Certificate of Ratchina lage Preriadasa (for caste Teasons, PľčInžida sa had changed Ranchin na lage to Rent Sithge)
The proceedings in District Court of Colombo case No. 367 (JTWM (This is the case where Premadasa was Caught with knuckle clusters and which is Teferred to earlier in this book).
FriTThe Minister Priedrinadasa's Case against Upali Newspaperis LL L LLLS L LLLLL S LLLL S LL LLLLL S S S LLLLL LLLLH LLL H LL LLLLLLLLS S S L SLL S LLLaLLLL LSLS LLLLLLH SSLLLS LSLS according to Well informed sources he gave Rs. One million from the Presidents Fund to Upali Newspapers to give it to LLLLLLLLSLSS0S S LLL LL aaaaa LLLL LaLLLLL LLL LLLS LLLLLL GLLLLLlHS LLLLLL Prelladasa bolsted how he sued the Upali newspapers and LLLLLL S LLLLLLa SS LLLL L u LL LLLLL L L LS SSLLLL LL LS LS LLLLLL aa case was settled.
Pre La dalsa 's Lesła III en tary case The Daily News of 25th August 1993 reported that Mrs Hema Pre-Iliadasa had filed a Testainentary case in the District Court of Colomb () stal ting that hier la te husbandi hald died without leaving a will all clasking that she be appointed to administer his assets which she valued at Rs. 8.9 million. The following is a schedule of the assets left by Prenadasa and their value Els givel by hiėI.
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Any reader will laugh at the valuations given by Mrs Prema dasa of her husbands 52 асте еŠtate at Ambampola Hпd LS aaLLaLaaS SLS S S SLLLLLLLLmLL LLLL LL S LLLLLL LLLLLLLa Color|bcr sever, All these houses and properties were wastly improved at - state expense and now must be Worth several millions. They have been heavily underValued with the sole object of paying less in stillp duties and death duties. Also according to this petition Mrs PreInada sa claims that the Late President had only Rs 80,000/= in cash at the time he died. No one will believe this, Everyone knows that President Premadasa had over Rs 300 Million in cash at Sucharita. Huge sums of money had been collected and given to him for the UNP's Provincial Councils election campaign and all this -Iloney was with PreIliadasa at Sucharita when he died on 1st May 1993. Even Sirisena Cooray the UNP's General Secretary wants to know who took this was amount of money.
LLLLLS SLLLL LLLLLLLLL LS LLLLL LL LLLLLLLK Lla LLL LLLLLLL LLLLLL taken away all the cash and her valuables that was there, but SLLLL LLS LLLLL S LLLLLLaLL LLLS LLLL LLS aa S LLLLLLLL LL LLLLaLLLL LLLLLL (Collb.
Paskaralinga II and Premadasa Today the greatest danger to Sri Lanka is Paskarallingam. Like Premadasa's, Paska Fallinga II's initials are R.P. and his birthday falls one day before PreIIlad: isa's (22nd June). Paskaralingam is Linning our country. He is above all Cabinet Ministers and nothing :: Il get kleine: in Sri Lank: Linless Paskarallingam gives I approval. In our entire history since independence no single ir diwidual has Wielded st). In Luch power as Paskarallingam. The Well known magazine AsiaWeek has said that "Paskaralingam is the second most powerful man in Sri Lanka nest to R Premadasa". Paskaralingam through ilegal commissions has
| 7

also amassed a huge fortune even larger than that of the Maharajahs and the Jayakodys, All his Wealth is kept in foreign bank accounts in London where his wife and family live. His brother Mahalingam who also lives in London is the contact point with the LTTE. Our sinhala nation will be destroyed by Paskarallingam because he is ready to run away LL SS LLLLLLaLLaLS LLLLLLaSLL LLLS S Ha L LLLLL HH SLl LLLLSLLLLS LL LLLC LL family that lives here. No one knows how he operates. There are enough able efficient and honest public servants in Our country who can easily replace him. Why does Premadasa entrust so much power to one individual? The obvious reason is that like Premada sa, Paskaralingam is also Ek Than of action. He is also extremely efficient and can get tiny directives implemented without delay or question. Because of his long years in public service he knows who is who in the administration. The Cather reas CT is that since Premaldasa became Prime Minister in 1978, it was Paskara lingam who managed Premadasa's overseas funds which accumulated in increasingly large amounts as time went by. It is said that Telecom officials with radic scanners have picked up Paskeralingam negotiating Inoney on his mobile phone. On one occasion in October 1992 Paskaralingam had wanted to bring a foreigner who wanted to give a donation to any premadasa sponsored fund. Premadasa who was at the other end of the phone conversation, had said "yes I need about Rs 500,000 every month to pay the monthly salaries of the party office". Whether this money went to the party pay roll or not, let the reader be the judge. Pre-Inadasa could never trust someone of his own background to look after his ill-gotten gains, so he relied heavily on Paskeralinga III and Paskeralingam knew this and took full advantage for his own personal benefit as well.
177

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Some of Paskaralinga II n's sile III || deals
4000 BLAŠės CJ'ef'ef'eżil LF eller" coles of Fryslery
He was behind the multimillion rupee deal involving about 4000 new buses for the peopolised depots ordered through a Sri Lankan based company in London. Informed sources say LLLLaL LLLLLLLGGLLLLLLLa aCC LGLLLGL LL LLLL LLLL LL LL LLL LL LL a SS000S LLLLTa S LLS SaaaaL KCa LLLS LL LLL CC LL C ClC LLL LTLLLLLLL L L L L L LLLLLLL LLLLmttC L L L L L L L L LLLL denied there involverilent in the order. There were paper Cuttings and photographs in the london newspapers, where Paskal Fillinga III was shElking hands over the samle del with a British businessman and one Ravi Wettasinghe, front Srilanka.
Billion rupee 80 LLaLSK S SLLLLSS SLLLLLSLLLL S S CK LC S CLCLL S 5ίίμμβαγκέι Παίει EyebroWs were raised by the new Wijetunge administration When they discovered that the above project was forced to be accepted by the Ceylon Electricity Board, outside normal tende procedure's, Another Rs 2000 milion project promoted LL LLL LLLLLL aaKaS LLL LLLL LLLLLL aLLLLL La LLL aLLLLLLL basis, This project Would have Inve bele pished withouttle blessings of Premadlasa and Paskaralingam, Paske Tallinga Im WOuld hal We bee F1 vēry Linhappy With the carcellation of this private Sector involved project, where one of his nominees Would have been made a share holder of the power plant COI1 l P)Z.l.Ily".
LL LLLL LL LLLLLLSS SLGGGLSLSL SLLLS LLSLLSCSLYSL0SJS S LSLSLSLSLS S SL S SL SLSSLS LL SLLSLLLLaa L SS S LL L LLaL LLLL LL aaaaa LLL LLL LTCL LLLL LL LLL SSS S a LaLLL Laa S aaaaa a S Laaaa aLLLLLLS S LSL a LL LaL LS S SSS SSSSa SSS SSS SS LSSSLL SSSSSSS SLL LSLSLS CITICT tieri.
| 7

DAHE WOC) foi de
LLLLS L S S S a S S L L S LLLLLLLS S L L L L L S L LL LLLLLL a LLLaLLLL LL LLLLLL S H HH HHH S S S S LSLS LL LLL LL LLLLLLaL SS LLL paskara lingari flotted all practises followed by the treasury, and the petroleum Corporation. It has beer the practise to buy aa C LLLLLL LLLL L a GJ S S La a LLL LL LLLLLLaH the stocks run low at the depots in Sri Lanka. Paskaratinga III is LLLLLLL LLLL LL LLL aK K GGG a L a0 LS L a LLLL LLLLLL a LLLLLL L L S L L S S L LL L a LCCaaC LS Without taking into consideration exchange Tate fluctuations.
These are some of the dels that påskefalingarn has been directly involved in. One Would ask is this all what this man has been fixing. Contrary to this, senior civil servants have LLLL LLGKLLL LLLL Sa LLL LLLLLLa L LaL S L L L L L L LL SS SLLLS amLLaa S L L LSSS S SS LLLLLL S L L L L S S S LLLLLLaa committees who could manipulate tenders in favour of his LGLLaLS LL CCa a LLLLLL LLLLL LLaaaa LL LLL an excellent run fixing tenders in the Telecommunications LLLLLL LL SS S S S S S SLLLL LL L a LL LLLSS S LLL LLLLLL LLLLLL LLLL SS S S L L L J K S SLS S S SSLLL a SSLLL S L aLaaLLL LLLLLL LLLLLLLL LSSLL L CaaaaL LLLLLLLLmmmLLLLL LL LLLLLL petitioned against the appointment of Stooge tender boards to these Organisations, Stյուս մngineers have Even gone to the LLLLLS S LL L LLaCa L L L L S S L L Sa0a L LLaaa S LLLLLL Mohammed as being Piskerallingam's front Ilan. He is also the LHHL LLLL m LLLLLLLLS LLLLL S LLLa S LLL aa LLL LLLL LLLL L LLL the Ministry of power an energy Inter which the largest LLL LLL CLGmaaLa L L L L aa S L L L L L 00LY LLLLLLL Rupees annually. His signature alone is said to be costing the LLLLLLLL LLLL LSa aaaS0 SaSa LLLL LLLLLL LLLL S S LLLLLL Mohammed is said to be in the hands of the Maharaja
17마

Page 94
organisation, who has helped Akiel and his family to build expensive houses in Colombo and with money. Over Seas.
"Vije, Kije, Fije "
l end this book on Prenadaya of Sri Laka with a popular anecdote and it is recorded so that all may share it. When Prelladasa was Prime Minister under "JR", he had asked his Malayali astrologer in South India whether there were any persons who were serious obstacles to Premadasil's succession ELS President, The astrologer had replietil "Vije, Vije, Vije. Premada sa understood the reply and very SClon his Irch erlemy, the business tycoon Upali Wijewardena disappeared in his private plane which had taken off from Malayasia.
Premadasa thanked the astrologer and said surely now the path is clear", to which again the astrologer replied "Aoife, Vije, Vije"
Alas, in a short time the popular film idol and political star, Kijerya. Kunin:Irana tunge was brutally slain äl his Colombo residence.
LLLLLLLL LLL LLLLtraLLLL LLLaLLLLLLLSLLLL LGGLLLLLLL L LLLLaLLLL LLLL LLLE astrologer and asked "are there any people who will prevent me from stabilizing Iny Presidency". The astrologer gave the same reply "{{Vije, Vije, Vije".
Very soon Rohana Wijeweera was captured and killed, but yet
the Malayali astrologer warned Premaclasa saying, "THVije, Vije, Vije".
18[]

Then, state Minister for Defence the powerful Ranjan" Wijeratne was killed by a bomb. Premadasa had stabilised his
Presidency. He then asked the astrologer," who will prevent
my second terrill as President" to which the astrologer gave the
sa me reply "Fije, Vije, Fije". Soon Brigadier "Vjeya"
Wimalaratne was killed. Premadasa felt comfortable, despite
this the subsequent killings of General Kobbekaduwa and
DUNF leader Lalith Athulathmudali, Premadasa felt that he
LLLLLL LLLLL S LLLLLLaLLLL LLLLGL LLL LLL LLL LLLL LLDLLLLLLLSLLLL LL LLLLLLL
was killed On 1st Thay 1993.
His lieutenant Sirisena Cooray was puzzled. He and his boss had attended to everyone that stood in their way. So he travelled to Madras and asked the Malayali soothsayer as to what had gone Wrong. The astrologer stood his ground and said "I have always been right," and added "Wife, Wije, Vije", Not blessed with too much intelligence, Sirisena Cooray was still nan plussecl., "Vije, Vije, Vije", he pondered; Who could this be'. Then one of his more educated aides said why sir, D.B.W.-D.B.Wijetunge.
Sc) as many years ago, the Roman Emperor Julius Ceasar was LLLLGLLLLL SLLLLLLS L LLaa LLL LLLLLLLLSLS L LLLLLLa LLaLLLLL LLLLaaS
the Sri Lankan Emperor, Ranasinghe Premadasa, was warned Wije, Vije, Vije".
End
ISI

Page 95
Ι) INNER
illicitl IT if
Rt. Hon. Michael HeSeltine, M.P.,
Secretary of Staff for the Erzircrafter
given by
Rt. Hon. R. Premadasa, M.P.,
Prire firis fer of Sri Lirika
Monday, 23rd Tully, 1979
RCAL, GARDEN FICTEL
| | 1Ւ||յԼյիվ
 

A close look at this photograph will reveal that the head-coil b has been painted over later.

Page 96
LS LLHLLLLLLL LL LLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLaSSSLLLLLSLLLa LL L0LL LLLLLLLLS LL LLL LLL LLLLLLLLL LLLLL LL LLL0S LLL St Joseph's college.
But "Prema dasa Abinandana" (Tribute to Prema dasa) in which this photograph appeared for the first time did not illentic labout St Joseph's college.
 

Page 97

soos assi fuous. Kļiestuffs als asos,

Page 98
Hema Premadasa with the Joe Sim family,
 

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EĚssssssssss!!!LITIĶI, ĀLIEH IL
[×] LẼJI (58pŢI sinās () III-III-stīIEW - -— 15TH L-Isfi III – Fiuālussae! MT)ĦĦĦđe NopțIstīs, III's) susțısı, LIJIsIE) 58). sors!) CYSTII PāpīFoo Fiŝoj (5
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