Tissa reveals secret Ranil-Maithripala agreement

Health Minister Tissa Attanayake today alleged that in addition to the agreements reached with various political parties and organizations in public, Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena has also signed different deals with those parties in private.

The former UNP General Secretary, who recently crossed over to the government, claimed that he possessed the documents of such an agreement reached with the United National Party (UNP).

He stated that the agreement, which was allegedly signed by Maithripala Sirisena and UNP Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe on November 01, contains several clauses which could be harmful to the country.

Attanayake stated that according to clause No 2.6.5 in the document, the number of army troops stationed in the Northern Province will be reduced by 50% and that clause No. 2.7.1 agrees to the removal of all High Security Zones (HTZs) and the handing over of those lands to the original owners.

He also said that in another clause (2.7.2) the Common Candidate has agreed to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamil people by providing power devolution which goes beyond the 13th Amendment.

Other conditions in the document (above), which was released to media at the press briefing today, include the cutting of defence expenditure by 40% and the allocation of those funds for the development of the Northern and Eastern provinces.

He also said that Maithripala’s decision to launch a domestic inquiry, into allegations of human rights violation in Sri Lanka, after he is elected as the President is a dangerous matter.

Maithripala’s policy statement, launched on Friday, states that Sri Lanka has not ratified the statute that established the international court, and that he would therefore institute an investigation by a local independent court.

Attanayake claimed that Maithripala’s initial policy statement did not include this decision.