2015 alleged Sri Lankan coup d'état attempt

In 2015 a coup d'état was allegedly attempted in Sri Lanka by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in order to remain in power after he had been voted out in the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election. Rajapaksa, who was expected to easily win a third term in office lost to Maithripala Sirisena, a former ally and member of the Rajapaksa administration.[1] Though ultimately there was a peaceful transition between governments, some government officials claim Rajapaksa made an attempt to deploy the army and police to stop the counting of votes when initial results showed he was heading for defeat.[2]

2015 alleged Sri Lankan coup d'état attempt
Part of 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election
Date 9 January 2015 Location Sri Lanka Result Coup aborted
Belligerents
Rajapaksa Loyalists	Government of Sri Lanka
Commanders and leaders
Mahinda Rajapaksa	Maithripala Sirisena
Casualties and losses
None

Background

The presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa, from 2005 to 2015 was an increasingly authoritarian regime[3] characterised by the diminishing human rights in the country, nepotism, weakening of government institutions, slow progress of national reconciliation in the aftermath of the Sri Lankan Civil War, and controversial ties to China.[4] In September 2010 Parliament, which was controlled by Rajapaksa's UPFA, passed the eighteenth amendment to the constitution, removing the two term limit on presidents, allowing Rajapaksa to run for a third term.[5]

There was speculation in mid-2014 that Rajapaksa would call another early presidential election: on 20 October 2014 Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella confirmed that the election would be held in January 2015.[6][7] On 20 November 2014 Rajapaksa issued a proclamation calling for a presidential election at which he would seek re-election.[8][9][10] The following day election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya announced that nominations would be taken on 8 December 2014 and that the election would be held on 8 January 2015.[11][12]

In response to the degrading democracy in the country, the United National Party (UNP), along with several other parties and civil organisations, signed a Memorandum of Understanding and decided to field the then Secretary General of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Maithripala Sirisena, as the Common Candidate for the 2015 Presidential Election. Sirisena, a former health minister under Rajapaksa, pledged to appoint UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister if he were to win the election.[4] Sirisena was declared the winner after receiving 51.28% of all votes cast compared to Rajapaksa's 47.58%.[13][14] The result was generally seen as an upset.[15][16][17] When Rajapaksa called the election in November 2014 he had looked certain to win.[18][19][20]

Plot

Athuraliye Rathana Thero and senior figures in the Sirisena campaign, MPs Rajitha Senaratne and Mangala Samaraweera, allege Mahinda Rajapaksa attempted to stage a coup in order to stay in power when it became clear he was going to lose the election.[21][22] According to Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Rajapaksa attempted a coup d'état hours after the announcement of the election results.[23][24] They allege that Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Defence Secretary, summoned Commander of the Army Daya Ratnayake, Inspector General of Police Nugagaha Kapalle Illangakoon and Attorney General Yuwanjana Wijayatilake to Temple Trees at around 1 am on 9 January 2015.[25] Rajapaksa allegedly pressured the three officials to deploy troops, annul the election results and declare a state of emergency but they refused.[26][27] According to the Colombo Telegraph Rajapaksa also wanted to dissolve parliament.[28] Unable to convince them, it was only then Rajapaksa decided to concede defeat and summoned Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was slated to be Prime Minister, to assure him of a smooth transition of power.[29]

Aftermath

The Sirisena government launched a probe into the alleged coup by Rajapaksa.[30][31] The government argued that Rajapaksa attempted to seize the poll-counting centers when Rajapaksa realised that he was losing the election.[32] One of the witnesses, the Attorney General, admitted to Criminal Investigation Department the coup attempt made by Rajapaksa. The Attorney General refused to act on behalf of Rajapaksa and many believe the story of an attempt is accurate after Attorney General orders an investigation into this coup.[33] Former army chief Sarath Fonseka also claims that the Rajapaksa had moved nearly 2,000 troops into Colombo from Northern Province three days before the election results were announced. Fonseka claimed that the troops were ready take action on coup.[34]

However the cabinet spokesperson of the new government stated, during a press conference held on 24 March 2015, that there was no evidence to prove that such a coup was attempted during the night of the election.[35] A spokesman for Rajapaksa has denied the allegations as baseless.[36][37] The army and police have also denied the allegations.[38]

See also

• 1966 alleged Ceylonese coup d'état attempt
• 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis, an attempted coup by President Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa

References

1. Press, Associated (11 January 2015). "Sri Lanka to investigate alleged coup attempt by former president". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
2. "Did Sri Lanka's former president try to stage a coup to keep power?". The Independent. 11 January 2015.
3. "The Guardian view on the end of the Rajapaksa era in Sri Lanka | Editorial". The Guardian. 11 January 2015. Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
4. Abi-Habib, Maria; Bastians, Dharisha. "Sri Lanka Faces Constitutional Crisis as President Unseats Prime Minister". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
5. "Sri Lanka MPs vote in sweeping powers for president". BBC News. 8 September 2010.
6. Warnakulasuriya, Deepal (20 October 2014). "Presidential Election due in January-2015". The Nation (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
7. "Presidential poll in January confirmed". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 20 October 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
8. "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Proclamations, & c., by the President BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT Proclamation" (PDF). The Sri Lanka Gazette (1889/31). 20 November 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
9. Parussini, Gabriele (20 November 2014). "Sri Lankan President Calls for Early Elections". The Wall Street Journal.
10. Mallawarachi, Bharatha (20 November 2014). "Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa calls snap election amid row over his wide-ranging powers". The Independent. Associated Press.
11. "SL presidential election to be held on January 08, 2015". TamilNet. 21 November 2014.
12. "Presidential poll Jan. 8; Nominations on Dec. 8". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 21 November 2014.
13. Ben, Doherty; Munk, David (9 January 2015). "Sri Lanka election: president Mahinda Rajapaksa concedes defeat — live". The Guardian.
14. Sundarji, Padma Rao; Jacob, Jayanth Jacob (9 January 2015). "Mighty Rajapaksa stunned, Sirisena is new Lanka Prez". Hindustan Times.
15. "Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa suffers shock election defeat". BBC News. 9 January 2015.
16. Koutsoukis, Jason (10 January 2015). "Sri Lanka election: shock result as president Mahinda Rajapaksa is tossed out". The Sydney Morning Herald.
17. Pasricha, Anjana (9 January 2015). "Sri Lanka Swears In New President". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
18. Hume, Tim; Athas, Iqbal (9 January 2015). "Sri Lanka's Mahinda Rajapaksa concedes defeat in presidential elections". CNN.
19. Kumar, Nikhil (9 January 2015). "Sri Lanka Looks to Chart a New Course After Ousting Mahinda Rajapaksa". Time.
20. "Sri Lanka election winner Sirisena pledges to reform the state". The Japan Times. 9 January 2015.
21. "South Asia Sri Lanka to probe Rajapaksa 'coup' attempt". Al Jazeera. Agence France-Presse. 11 January 2015.
22. Mallawarachi, Bharatha (11 January 2015). "Sri Lanka to Probe Alleged Coup Attempt by Ex-President". ABC News. Associated Press.
23. ""Army Refused Last Minute Orders To Deploy Troops In Capital City" – Rajitha". AsiaMirror.lk. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
24. "Army refused orders to deploy in Colombo- Rajitha". 10 January 2015. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
25. Jayasekera, Sandun A. (11 January 2015). "Video: UNP - UPFA trying to destabilise". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
26. "Sri Lanka's new govt to probe Rajapaksa's 'coup' bid". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 11 January 2015.
27. Burke, Jason; Perera, Amantha (10 January 2015). "Sri Lanka's new president promises 'no more abductions, no more censorship'". The Guardian.
28. "Gota Flees To Maldives By Air Force Plane". Colombo Telegraph. 9 January 2015.
29. "MR Plots To Prevent His Regime's Corruption From Being Revealed". Colombo Telegraph. 11 January 2015.
30. "Sri Lanka to investigate Rajapaksa 'coup and conspiracy' attempt". Deutsche Welle. 11 January 2015.
31. "Sri Lanka to investigate 'Rajapaksa coup plot'". bbc.com. BBC World. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
32. "UNP – UPFA trying to destabilise". DailyMirror.lk. 11 January 2015.
33. "AG tells CID to probe alleged 'coup' plot". adaderana.lk. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
34. "Fonseka claims 2000 troops sent". Colombo Gazette. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015.
35. "ජනවාරි 8 දා කුමන්ත්‍රණයක්‌ සිදුවූ බවට තහවුරු වී නෑ". Divaina. 24 March 2015.
36. "Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa 'sought army help after poll defeat'". BBC News. 1 January 2015.
37. Aneez, Shihar (11 January 2015). "Sri Lanka army defied order to keep Mahinda Rajapaksa in power, says aid". The Sydney Morning Herald.
38. Fairclough, Gordon (11 January 2015). "Rajapaksa Sought Help 'By Force,' Opponents Say". The Wall Street Journal.