Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 Canada

13 January 2013

Hon. Bob Rae, PC., OC.,OOnt, QC., MPƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Interim Leader of the Liberal PartyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
House of Commons, Ottawa

Dear Bob:

This is in reference to your comment ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Canada Must Hold Sri Lankan Government Accountable – letƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s see whether we can get this right, now that you had taken upon yourself to poke your nose into Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s internal affairs one more time.

Canada Must Hold Sri Lankan Government Accountable, you said.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That is a daunting spurious command for Canada to express, when Canada has so far not shown accountability to the killings of innocent peoples in Sri Lanka and prolonging the Tamil Tiger terroristƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Eelam war which went on for 27 bloody years which could have endedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  at least 20 years earlier, if Canada under the governance of your Liberal party did not allow the Tamil Diaspora to stuffƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  2ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  million dollars each month in to the Tamil Tiger war chest for 13 Liberal Party governing years to buy sophisticated war weapons to kill.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  So Bob, the nasty game of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-accountabilityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ you demand from Sri Lanka can be played by two people. I for one, as a Sri Lankan-Canadian will not let you get away that easily.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Stop painting yourself and political-Canada lily-white Bob, because you are not and neither is Canada!

Canada Must Hold Sri Lankan Government Accountable, you said.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That is a daunting spurious command for Canada to express isnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t it, when Canada has so far not shown accountability for the Tamil Tiger terrorists bringing down the Central Bank building in the Fort in Colombo with a truck bomb packed with high-explosives on 31st January 1996, killing 114 people and maiming for life another 1,338 people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The explosives that were used in that truck bomb were bought from the state owned UkraineƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Rubezone Chemical FactoryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for $7.5 million with a cheque cut from a Tamil personƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s account in a Bank in Vancouver in 1994. The explosives included 10 tons of hexagon a plastic Semtex explosives and 50 tons of trinitrotoluol (TNT).ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  These same explosive materials were used to destroy the faƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚§ade of the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of BuddhaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Tooth) on 25 January 1998, killing 12 innocent civilians and maiming 13 others.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So Bob, the nasty game of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-accountabilityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ you demand from Sri Lanka, can be played by two people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I for one, as a Sri Lankan-Canadian will not let you get away Scot-free on that one.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Where is CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-accountabilityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of being culpable of murder of thousands of innocent people in Sri Lanka by aiding and abetting the Tamil Tiger terrorist war? Stop painting yourself and Canada lily-white, Bob!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It certainly wonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t cut mustard with me.

I took umbrage when the Canadian Bar Association too poked its nose into Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s internal affairs and complained to Foreign Minister John Baird, as you have, on the impeachment proceedings of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Canadian Bar Association seems to have been misguided with that complaint thinking that Hon. John Baird, CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Foreign Minister was indeed the Canadian Viceroy of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  WhatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s all this crap, Bob?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is hilarious and please donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t flex CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s muscle on little Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lankans know that Canada is no friend of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And this has been soƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for a long while.

Now let me get to the basics of your complaint and put our scholastic diplomas and degree black-gowns and mortar boards aside and divert to our knowledge of Civic lessons of High School days.

Bob Rae says:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Sri Lanka has a duty to uphold democracy and the rule of law.

Asoka Weerasinghe says: According to what I was taught at High School in Colonial Ceylon (Sri Lanka), for a Democracy to govern its country there has to be a Constitution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And Sri Lanka as a Democracy is governed according to its Constitution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And this Constitution that was adopted to govern in 1978 was not written as a High School Civic class project but drafted by smart Constitutional Lawyers, and there was a reason for every Article to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in it, which was incorporated in the Constitution for good governance.

There are Articles in the Constitution to guide the country by the law.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  According to the 1978 ConstitutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Article 107 (3),ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Parliament should compile a procedure to investigate on an impeachment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This can be done under a law or Standing Orders. If that is what happened what is your problem, Bob?

Let us be clear on this.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Article 107(3) defines the power of Parliament to sit in judgment over judges of superior courts: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Parliament shall by law or by Standing Orders provide for all matters relating to the presentation of such an address, including the procedure for passing of such resolution, the investigation and proof of the alleged misconduct or capacityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  So what seems your problem?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That Article 107 (3) has been in existence since 1978, for 34 years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This was not a creation in November 2012 to get at Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranaike.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  DonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t you and I understand High School English to read and synthesize such a statement?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Come on Bob, you guys are just waiting and wanting to destroy that islandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  nation because their present leaders have ignored you lot ever since you guys supported the Tamil Tiger separatist war and wanted to stop the military demise of their leaders on 19 May 2009.

According to the 1978 Constitution, the impeachment motion should be signed at least by one-third of the Members of Parliament.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The charges should also be mentioned in it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This is a procedure basically to educate Parliament rather than making a complaint.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They educate parliament about charges.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Thereafter, the Speaker should direct the investigation to a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) according to the Standing Orders.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  If this was the procedure adapted on the present case of impeaching of the former Chief Justice (she has been removed), then what is indeed your problem, Bob?

The impeachment motion against the Chief Justice was placed on the order paper of Parliament on November 6, 2012, with 14 charges proffered against her;ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  this was done upholding the rule of law as spelled out in the Constitution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  So whatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s your problem, Bob?

The next step according to the rule of law: after it was presented to the Speaker, he decided to appointƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to probe into these charges.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This was according to the rule of law.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  So where is your problem, Bob?

The PSC consisted of seven Government MPs and four Opposition Party MPs, as would in Canadian Parliament sub-committees.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  So where is your problem?

The Chief Justice and her lawyers walked out of the proceedings, which was their prerogative without defending their case.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That was a pity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They have now decided to internationalize their internal problem, which I recent bitterly, as they have drawnƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  people likeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Bob Rae who has a dislike towards the present administration to come up with his two cents worth of wisdom.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Right Bob?

The bottom line Bob is, procedures in impeaching the former Chief Justice (she has been removed by the signature of the President) has been keeping with the Constitution and Standing Orders, and the Judiciary cannot change the Constitution, whether pressured by the Canadian Bar AssociationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s appointed Canadian Viceroy to Sri Lanka, Hon. John Baird, the Foreign Minister of Canada, or the Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Bob Rae.

Thus, in my opinion,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the Sri Lankan Government has dutifully upheld democracy and the rule of law by removing the Chief Justice through the constitutionally enacted procedures for her impeachment,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  which had been existence for 34 years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The case is closed.

I know you have taken every opportunity to slam Sri Lanka, and this is another one of those, isn’t it, Bob?

My High School Civic lessons tell me to read around the subject and come to a judicious conclusion.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I believe I have, but I doubt that you have being an arrogant know-all Canadian parliamentarian on Sri Lankan affairs.

Bob, do I now chalk this impeachment exercise which was carried out according to Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Constitution and Rule of Law, as one more attempt of an International and INGOƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ conspiracy to try to change Mahinda RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s administration, whom all you foreignƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka meddlers hate his guts for killing the Golden goose that laid the golden egg for all you Tamil Tiger lovers who fought to separate Sri Lanka in to two.

Sincerely,

Asoka Weerasinghe (Mr.)