by Shamindra Ferdinando
Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, the senior most armed forces officer based in the east, will take a state-owned television to courts over what he described as ‘distorted and politically motivated coverage of the deteriorating security situation in Trincomalee.’

He claims some of his colleagues based in the navy headquarters, Colombo and a section of the government are also involved in this vilifying campaign.

Claiming a news programme aired on September 5 is defamatory of Karannagoda, his lawyers have written to the television station’s management threatening legal action unless their client is paid damages within two weeks.

Recipient of Rana Sura Padakkama in 1986 and Uttama Seva Padakkama ten years later, Karannagoda is in the centre of a political storm since Kadirgamar warned of dire consequences if the government ignored the LTTE threat.

However, government sources said Kadirgamar and a section of the navy top brass including Sandagiri and Karannagoda are engaged in a politically motivated conspiracy to scuttle the peace process.

In his letter of demand, the Commander Eastern Naval Area (COMEAST) underscored the fact that he stands by his presentation to former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar at President’s House on August 4. Based on the presentation, Kadirgamar revealed the setting up of 13 new camps targeting Trincomalee, particularly the harbour after the Oslo-arranged cease-fire came into effect. Karannagoda, the navy’s number three counting 32 years of service, claimed that his presentation (report) was based on ‘all possible information and intelligence gathered by the army, airforce and intelligence services. Subsequently, the army indicated the number of new camps can be as high as 17, he said.

Karannagoda vouched for his report as government spokesman Minister G. L. Peiris dismissed opposition claims of an LTTE build-up in Trincomalee. Peiris last Thursday denied Kadirgamar’s claim of a threat on Trincomalee and assured the public of a contingency plan to meet a crisis in the east.

Responding to allegations that he directly handed over his report dealing with the situation in Trincomalee to President Kumaratunga, Karannagoda said he did not bypass the normal channels of command.

"The report was handed over to Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri. And the August 4 presentation was made on a directive given by Vice Admiral Sandagiri," he said.

He also said that a signal sent to the navy headquarters too has been twisted. "I have never said that heavy weapons have been moved to Corongupangehan camp (Manirasankulam) set up in our area in violation of the cease-fire agreement. We (COMEAST) asked for aerial reconnaisance to verify a report on the deployment of heavy guns at this particular camp," he said.

Karannagoda had also been accused of making erroneous claims over a period of time. "Let me give you an example. I had been accused of turning back my fast gunboat in the pretext of the presence of Indian warships off Trincomalee in 1985. But I never went out to sea in 1985 as I was based at shore establishments in Trincomalee and subsequently in Colombo.