President drops bombshell, alleges RAW is plotting his assassination

President Maithripala Sirisena, on Tuesday, 16 October, reportedly told his cabinet that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was attempting to plot his assassination.

Speaking to The Hindu, sources present at the meeting reportedly said President Sirisena alleged RAW’s hand in his assassination plot, while also asserting that “PM Modi may be unaware of the plan.”

The President’s explosive claims come ahead of a bilateral meet scheduled later this week between the country’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Further, The Hindu reported, quoting sources, that President Sirisena’s allegations at the meeting came after he raised concerns over the government’s alleged ‘indifference’ towards reports of an assassination plot against him.

Earlier last month, reports suggested that the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Sri Lanka had questioned an anti-corruption crusader named Namal Kumara, who claimed to have knowledge regarding President Sirisena’s assassination plot. Kumara subsequently led the CID to an Indian national from Kerala named Thomas, who also claimed to have knowledge of the plot.

These reports were however dismissed by the government, who warned reporters against spreading disinformation.

The Hindu reported that the Tuesday’s meeting also saw a heated argument between President Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe when a cabinet paper on developing the Colombo Port came up for discussion. Sources said President Sirisena vehemently objected to any Indian involvement in upgrading its east container terminal – a project that New Delhi has been keen to take up.

According to The Hindu, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is said to have countered by saying Colombo had already promised New Delhi on collaborating on the project, and it was important to rope in India at the terminal, given that about 80% of the cargo handled at the transhipment hub was meant for India. He has reportedly sought a week’s time to sort out the issue since he would be meeting PM Modi soon.

Meanwhile, following the meeting, President Sirisena’s advisors also called off a press meet scheduled to address the assassination plot, reported The Hindu. However, Presidential adviser Shiral Lakthilaka told the daily that the cancellation had nothing to do with President Sirisena’s claims at the cabinet meeting.