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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ibnanv" data-source="post: 23755629" data-attributes="member: 218596"><img src="https://www.elakiri.com//www.elakiri.com//www.thehindu.com/news/international/t25h0i/article25241799.ece/alternates/FREE_660/00019X8HE" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><img src="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/t25h0i/article25241799.ece/alternates/FREE_660/00019X8HE" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Prime Minister Narendra Modi unaware of plan, the Mr. Sirisena tells Cabinet meeting.   In a move that might seriously impair Indo-Lanka relations, Sri  Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday accused India’s  Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of plotting his assassination.Mr.  Sirisena, who was speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting, told  Ministers that the Indian intelligence agency was “trying to kill” him,  but that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not be aware of the plan,” The Hindu has learnt from sources present at the discussion. “We were just shocked when he said it,” a source said, requesting anonymity.When  contacted for verification, a senior officer at the President’s media  unit said: “We will verify this and revert.” However, there has been no  response till the time of going to print.Before Ranil visit President  Sirisena’s claim comes days before Prime Minister Ranil  Wickremesinghe’s scheduled visit to New Delhi, where he will meet Mr.  Modi to discuss bilateral matters, including key, India-assisted  projects on the island. However, this is not the first time a Sri  Lankan leader has accused the Indian agency of interference. Following  his poll defeat in 2015, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa held RAW  among those responsible for the change in regime. Mr. Sirisena’s  allegation, sources at the meeting said, came when he raised concerns  over the government’s “indifference” to an assassination plot targeting  him. Reports of the said plot emerged last month when an individual  named Namal Kumara, part of an anti-corruption outfit, claimed he was  aware of a plan to assassinate Mr. Sirisena and former Defence Secretary  Gotabaya Rajapaksa.The CID interrogated Mr. Kumara. The police  subsequently also arrested an Indian national late in September. Local  media reported that the Indian, identified as M. Thomas hailing from  Kerala, claimed he knew of the plot.However, the Sri Lankan  government issued an elaborate denial to the report and clarifications  came from the highest level. Media Minister, Mangala Samaraweera slammed  it as a “disinformation campaign”, urging reporters to be responsible.  At  Tuesday’s meeting, Mr. Sirisena reportedly said “the Indian national  must be a RAW agent trying to kill me. The Indian PM may not be aware.  That is often the case. Trump may not be aware of CIA’s similar moves.” The Hindu,  on Tuesday evening, spoke to multiple sources in government — across  political parties — who attended the meeting, and they confirmed this.  Tuesday’s  meeting also saw a heated argument between President Sirisena and Mr.  Wickremesinghe, when a cabinet paper on developing the Colombo Port came  up for discussion. Sources said Mr. Sirisena vehemently objected to any  Indian involvement in upgrading its east container terminal – a project  that New Delhi has been keen to take up. However, Mr.  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 reportedly  sought a week’s time to sort out the issue, since he would be meeting  Mr. Modi soon. Meanwhile, the President’s media unit on Tuesday  called off a scheduled press meet by Mr. Sirisena’s advisers on the  reported assassination plot. When contacted, Presidential adviser Shiral Lakthilaka told The Hindu:  “We cancelled it because we are awaiting more information”. Asked if it  was connected to Mr. Sirisena’s reported remarks at the Cabinet, he  said: “No, it had nothing to do with that.”<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lankan-president-sirisena-alleges-that-raw-is-plotting-his-assassination/article25241800.ece?homepage=true" target="_blank">https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lankan-president-sirisena-alleges-that-raw-is-plotting-his-assassination/article25241800.ece?homepage=true</a></blockquote>

Verification: Hath warak paha keeyada? (hatha wadikireema paha)

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