Tiran Alles - the quintessential dealmaker

Tiran Alles wears several hats – a businessman, two-term, non-elected parliamentarian, and more importantly the Public Security Minister. Perhaps, more than any of these roles, it is in dealmaking he has excelled most.

Former US President Donald Trump once wrote a book titled “The Art of the Deal” and he always boasted of his ability to strike deals. However, Trump’s deal making mastery pales in comparison with Tiran’s proven track record of forging deals.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was the biggest beneficiary of Tiran’s legendary dealmaking forte. It was widely reported in the media that Tiran used his rapport with the LTTE to broker an arrangement between the Rajapaksas and the rebels during the run up to the 2005 Presidential Election. The popular rumour after the election was that Mahinda Rajapaksa had warmly hugged Tiran after his victory at the 2005 Presidential poll. 

The controversial politician recently urged policemen to use their weapons without fear to eliminate criminals, a remark which deserves utmost condemnation in any civilised society. The notorious statement was severely criticised by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and the prominent group of lawyers even called for the dismissal of Tiran. The condemnation by the BASL was widely covered in the front pages of English newspapers but not the Sinhalese press. 

Last year, the dealmaker was in the news when the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists exposed that he owned properties in London via two British Virgin Islands companies. Interestingly, the NPP which portrays itself as the flag bearer against corruption remained conspicuously silent when the damning allegations emerged even though they went to town on the Pandora Papers’ exposures on the hidden wealth of Thirukumar Nadesan and his wife Nirupama Rajapaksa three years ago.

The relationship between the JVP/NPP and the newspaper owner goes back a long way. Both Tiran and Anura Kumara Dissanayake came to the Parliament via the National List at the 2010 General Election from the then Democratic National Alliance. Under Tiran’s watch, the Police have been accused of undertaking operations like Yukthiya to score political points. The NPP was vehemently critical of Tiran’s predecessor Sarath Weerasekera during the latter’s tenure over the transgressions of Police, but remains unmoved when the same type of misdemeanours occur under the purview of their one-time political associate. What is the deal between the NPP and Tiran Alles?

More than a decade ago, Tiran made use of his supreme dealmaking skills, when he secured the release of General Sarath Fonseka from prison in 2012. He meticulously negotiated with the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure the release of the former Army Commander; however, he and Fonseka fell out thereafter. Later, Tiran’s relationship with the Rajapaksas flourished.

Tiran’s relationship with President Wickremesinghe is quite interesting. The former’s dad was the late R.I.T. Alles – the prominent educationist – was Wickremesinghe’s teacher at Royal College. However, during the latter’s tenure as Education Minister, he sacked his former teacher from the post of Principal of D.S. Senanayake College. Nevertheless, with the passage of time, the pair patched up their differences and Senior Alles was given an advisory position with regard to education reforms during the UNF administration from 2002 to 2004.

More than a decade ago (2012), Wickremesinghe as Opposition Leader ridiculed Tiran in the Parliament and stated that he had created a world record by refraining from speaking in the Parliament for two years. Tiran then angrily responded to Wickremesinghe to which the latter replied in a lighter vein by pointing out that he made a parliamentarian, who had remained silent at the legislature for the past two years, speak up.

Tiran’s latest deal - outsourcing of processing of visas for visitors to Sri Lanka has sparked widespread debate and allegations of corruption adding pressure on the Government-led by Wickremesinghe. On his part Tiran has justified the initiative as fair and much needed for Sri Lanka. With Opposition benches in Parliament yesterday ripping off the visa processing deal and likening it to the infamous Bond scam - also during the earlier tenure of Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, there is likelihood of the latest deal coming under further scrutiny with calls for transparency and accountability.