By Tisaranee Gunasekara –
“We can neither ignore the catastrophes that affect us nor simply leave their solution to others” Orhan Pamuk (For Rushdie)
Hours after Sri Lanka became a satellite-owning nation, a train collided with a three-wheeler at an unprotected railway-crossing in Ambanpola, killing 6 people, including 4 children.
There are around 900 unprotected railway-crossings in Sri Lanka, which cause several accidents a month. According to railway authorities protective measures are not possible at these death-traps due to lack of funds. The regime, which has the wherewithal to own a satellite and is planning to build a network of express-ways crisscrossing the island, cannot spare any money to provide basic rail gates for unprotected railway-crossings.
That is Rajapaksa governance – irrationally inane; concerned only with the interests and needs, whims and fancies of the Ruling Family and their kith and kin. Whatever the Ruling Siblings and their nearest and dearest want, they must have, from untrammelled power to garish spectacles, from a budget airline and a satellite to an impeachment. Power is their plaything and money is no object.
Mihin Lanka is the most expressive symbol of this Family-first mode of governance and its mounting costs to the nation. According to the Auditor General’s report, Mihin Lanka’s losses for the current financial year amount to Rs. 2 billion. The same government will spend just Rs. 1billion on child development and women’s affairs and Rs. 437million on re-settlement in 2013.
Again according to the AG’s report, the cumulative losses of this Rajapaksa airline, in its 5 year existence, amount to Rs. 8.5 billion. With that money, every Mihin passenger could have been given a free ticket and probably a free meal as well! That may have cost the nation less than this endless financial pandering of a white woolly mammoth.
Though Mihin never made a profit (or broke-even) in its life, its directors increase their own salaries with gay abandon: “Although the company is running at a continuous loss, the annual remuneration paid to the six-member Board of Directors have increased over the years. Rs. 11 million has been paid as remuneration last year – an increase on Rs.4,9 million paid for the previous year” (Daily Mirror – 27.11.2012). The CEO of the perpetually loss-making Mihin, Kapila Chandrasena, is also the CEO of the national carrier. He gets paid Rs. 500,000 per month by Mihin and Rs. 500,000 per month by Sri Lankan – a grand total of one million rupees per month from public funds (compare this with the salary of a university professor, for example).
The following table provides a bird’s eye-view of Mihin’s performance and its cost to the nation:
| Year | Treasury Grants(Rs. Million) | Financial Year | Losses (Rs. Billion) |
| 2007 | 207 | 2007/8 | 3.1 |
| 2008 | 500 | 2008/9 | 1.3 |
| 2009 | 2,882 | 2009/10 | 1,2 |
| 2010 | 1,508 | 2010/11 | 940 (million) |
| 2011 | 406 | 2011/12 | 1.9 |
| 20012 | 507 | ||
| Total | 6,010 | 8.7 |
So Mihin has devoured 6 billion rupees of public funds in its five year existence.
The Chairman of this financial Bermuda-triangle is the same as the Chairman of Sri Lankan Airlines. He is Nishantha Wickremesinghe, Presidential brother-in-law, and the man who publicly admitted that he is harbouring a stash of smuggled foreign currency – and got away with it.
Mihin’s real performance is coming to light because we still have an independent Auditor General. Some years ago, the Rajapaksas tried to install an acolyte as the AG, but retreated (for the time being) in the face of stiff opposition from within the Auditor General’s department. Once the impeachment-travesty is over and the Rajapaksas have their very own chief justice, they will move to obliterate the few remaining non-Rajapakasised spaces in the Lankan state, such as the Auditor General’s Department. Once thos AG’s Department becomes like the other AG’s Department (that of the Attorney General, who is yet to instruct the police to implement the arrest order against parliamentarian-cum-Rajapaksa-acolyte Duminda Silva), Mihin can become the most profitable airline in the world. Abracadabra!
Mihin’s sorry saga is symbolic and symbiotic of Rajapaksa-First policy making. The 18th Amendment, the Divineguma Bill, the gargantuan military and the impeachment, for instance, are aimed at strengthening Rajapaksa rule and ensuring dynastic succession. Mihin, like the unsuccessful bid to host the Commonwealth Games, the 2013 Commonwealth Summit, the MRMR Port and the Mattala Air Port, is a behemothic sop for the Olympian vanity of the President. Then there are night-races and tax-free racing cars for Namal Rajapaksa and a satellite-cum-space programme for Rohitha Rajapaksa. If Sri Lanka suddenly decides to become the world-leader in ice-hockey, engage in Saturn-exploration or buy the world’s biggest aircraft-carrier, it will because some Rajapaksas has a fancy in that direction.
According to ‘Sri Lanka Human Development Report – 2012’, “Public investment on education fell from a peak of 2.7 percent of GDP in 2006 to 1.9 percent in 2010”.Sri Lanka spent more on education during the war than she is doing during post-war. This insanely irrational development makes perfect sense when considered in the context of Familial Rule. The Rajapaksas are not interested in education; naturally. They are interested in beefing their military might and implementing megalomaniacal projects. And that is where the peace dividend is going.
Knowing the costs and dangers of Rajapaksa politics and Rajapaksa economics, are we willing to risk Rajapaksa justice?
Rajapaksa Law
Rajapaksa leadership has strict policies to control the growth of family power within the SLFP. For instance, a close cabinet-ministerial kin cannot become a chief minister. This excellent rule applies to all SLFPers, except the Rajapaksas. And in that exception, its real aim becomes clear: preventing the growth of another SLFP political family which can challenge the Rajapaksas, someday.
The aim of Rajapaksa laws will not be better governance or greater order; the aim of Rajapaksa laws will be shoring-up Rajapaksa power and punishing Rajapaksa opponents. This is evident in the conduct of the police and the Attorney General’s department which become deaf and blind when a Rajapaksa kith or kin commits a crime while vengefully persecuting Rajapaksa opponents. This is manifest in the way the impeachment is being conducted. This is obvious in the scurrilous pamphlet against the CJ.
Post-impeachment, unjust laws will join despotic politics and irrational economics. Rajapaksa kith and kin will be able to commit any crime without ever having to fear the courts. Rajapaksa opponents will be hounded, incarcerated and perhaps even executed, perfectly legally (since the hangman is to make a comeback soon). The resurgence of Northern dissent – manifested in the recent protests byJaffnastudents – will be used to give a patriotic coating to these bad laws.
For those Lankans with an adequate income, island-life is still mostly good. But good life cannot survive for long, in the company of bad economics and bad politics. And good life would be impossible in a country which is a breeding ground for bad laws and perverted courts.
In the end the impeachment is really about us, our security and our future. Are we going to allow the Rajapaksas to do to the judiciary what they have done to politics and economics?
Are we going to prove that there is no sleep like the feigned sleep of the cowardly and the indifferent?
Patta Pal / November 29, 2012
This empire will crumble very soon by its own hands, not anyone else’s. There is only so much abuse even the worst dictator can get away with. When one seems unbeatable, where power is at its height, wham!! and the whole crooked and badly constructed veneer of strength will crumble faster than the Twin Towers.
It takes a long time to go to the top. Perhaps 40 years of sham and networking. It takes just a few moments for it all to disappear, without a trace, when the legacy left to us will be a list of white elephants and shame on the face of the numerous sycophants over whom we can have a hearty chuckle at their adoration of an impostor!
The nation will have to suffer a little longer for their foolishness is letting it get to this state of ruin.
All the real development we see in SL today is despite the rulers. If we did not have them we will have a higher quality of life and NO CRIPPLING DEBT! where all the jewels in the crown will have to mortgaged to the Chinese and we reduced to being their serfs!
It called the game of life. The real problem is only for those who see it for what it is, and are frustrated at how blind the electorate is. The blind are actually happy to sacrifice their lives for the regime. They like suffering. Don’t expect logical reasoning from Sri Lanka.
They say that is a conspiracy from the West and should be destroyed!
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Selwyn / November 29, 2012
As usual a very factual analysis by TG. Awaiting more.
Finally, the Auditor General’s Department too will soon be in the hands of this ‘power’ greedy Executive, Clan and Cronies. However, be assured that this crazy scenario will change soon due to the folly of this same greedy gang.
“Power is born in the choices you make and can be lost in the same way”
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Power corrupts everywhere, that’s a universal.
I noticed you are impressed by the language of the author. There are folk who are better than any booker prize winners like Fareed Zakaria the boy from Bombay Editor of TIME http://tinyurl.com/36e85 purchased by headhunters and formerly of Newsweek.
They have quality articles and are not exile rubbish with back handers.
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srilal / November 30, 2012
CNN, Time magazine suspend Fareed Zakaria for plagiarism
http://www.samachar.com/CNN-Time-magazine-suspend-Fareed-Zakaria-for-plagiarism-milmNwbaebi.html
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Cheers Srilal.
You would have read the comments in your own link dated 11th August.- A passage in Zakaria’s column read, “Adam Winkler, a professor ….. Alabama in 1839 and Ohio in 1859. Similar laws were passed in Texas, Florida and….etc.
He had to resign in the aftermath of inquiry and he definitely would be back in 2013.Dont forget it’s the zionist jewish press and he is for secularism as a mode of survival.
Now take a break – The whole world is a copy. If not for Eureka there wouldn’t have been E=MC2 etc its just patent rights to create the billions. In a highly populated world full of stress there aren’t Shakespeare’s with I.Q. of 220 and yet took much off Latin however less than the French and Spanish.
The folk who had him convicted are generally guilty themselves. In the Raj. R. case the judge who convicted R has left and become a defence lawyer and says he is sorry for the gross mistake having heard from a dozen retired judges. God is something man cannot conceive. Zac is anyway better than the refugee press so he is.
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srilal / December 1, 2012
Dear Wuliangguobinjiu ,
i just wanted to let you know about the plagiarism fiasco and i have nothing against Zakaria , often i watch his programs on CNN and i reckon he does a splendid job .
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Wuliangguobinjiu / December 17, 2012
Thanks Sri lal dont get me wrong either just saw your reply late too. adios hombre!
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Safa / November 29, 2012
Funny thing about Mihin Lanka is that if you go online and book a flight it is more expensive than Sri Lankan. For instead Bangkok return is LKR 80,000 for Mihin but only 30,000 for Sri Lankan. So it may be concluded that Mihin is not a budget flight. Maybe it is a way of raking in the shekels into the Mihins pockets by showing losses. The CEO is paid 500,000 per month for making losses when he should be sent home. Mihin is Mahins family business it seems.
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Safa / November 29, 2012
Thinking about my above comment maybe Mihin is meaant to carry out some illegal business activity (freight etc) for the family. Sajin Vaas may be behind this.
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Sundaree / November 29, 2012
As one who has no idea about the Mihin, I woul dlike to know it it pvt airline ? Or belong to the state. Whose funds are being used for the airline ?
At the beginning of the year, there were articles that they will open Mattala airport at the end of the year, nothing was read or heard about that since then ? Does anyone know anything about this ?
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Safa / November 29, 2012
Mihin Lanka was incorporated on 27 October 2006. It’s three directors were Sajin Vass Gunawardena (CEO), Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (Chairman, brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa) and Roshan Goonatilake (Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force).It was launched without the approval of the Cabinet or the Civil Aviation Authority and its three aircraft were leased without a tender process.
The Auditor General had observed that although the company is running at a continuous loss, the annual remunerations paid to the six-member Board of Directors have increased over the years. Rs. 11 million has been paid to Directors as remunerations last year – an increase on the Rs.4.9 million paid for the previous year. According to the Auditor General’s report, the Mihin Lanka Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is also the CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines is paid Rs. 500,000 a month by each of the institutions as remuneration. Mihin’s cumulative losses amount to approx. half of entire PAYE tax revenue paid by citizens in 2010
Mattala Airport is another White Elephant of the Govt. A port in the middle of nowhere and now an airport in the middle of nowhere.
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Safa / November 29, 2012
CEO of Mihin is BIL of Mahin!
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Sun / November 29, 2012
In the first world, if a head of state would abuse collosal amouths of people ^s funds, they resign from the position. This was the case with former president of the Germany. Accusation were not about abusing statefunds but just keeping it to him not declaring about the bank loan and the related stuff – not even comparable to the degree of corruption levels that present day srilanka is facing. Not even comparable to that of 0,00000001% of what SRILANKEN president is involved… See the difference, he gave his resignation just for the petty issue raised by the opponents.
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Punchinilame / November 29, 2012
“Power is born in the choices you make and can be lost in the same way”
Agreed, but we Lankans have to wait a generation or more for this to happen as ground conditions indicate.
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Sun / November 29, 2012
I personally believe that the political situation in the post war episodes int he country should be beyond WEAK. And this is the reason why we get to hear/read predominantly only about ABUSES – practising broad day light buy ruling politicians. Going back to the era that Premadasa governed the country – people to that time, did not criticise him to the manner that growing masses are doing so today about the current incumbent/cabinet/ and family. Not much on his good charactor is being seen on the media except state media these days. Why the nation is fallen to this much of appalling levels is the quetion. May be as one of the commentators added yesterday to an another thread, that freedom of expression is better in Burma than in SL today. The psychosis that people suffered in the late 80ties seem to have returned again by 2012.
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Anil Fernando / November 29, 2012
The CEO was charged wth credit card fraud in the US
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douglas / November 29, 2012
It would be interesting to trace back the “back-ground” of the 1st CEO of Mihin Air – Mr. Sajin Vas Gunawardane.
From where did he come? What was he doing (e.g. employment etc.)before becoming the CEO? Where did our HE The President meet him and with what knowldge of him he put him in this seat of CEO? In the very 1st year of operations the public purse was drained of R. 3 Billions and what did the COPE do to protect our funds? Where is this CEO now? and the present position he enjoys is because his only capability is to gobble the Public Funds?
Can someone in the know, appraise us, we, “simple Simons”.
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justice / November 30, 2012
Sajin Vas Gunawardene was a wharf clerk at Dubai Airport when MP Mahinda Rajapakse was passing through,and befriended MR and impressed him so much that MR got him down and on Sajin’s suggestion,gave him finances to commence Mihin Air.
Sajin contested in the south and became an MP.
Now Sajin “supervises” the External Affairs Ministry – including minister GLPeiris.
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Patta Pal / November 30, 2012
A boot licker who took care of HE when he went to Dubai on a trip and SVG was living there at the time. So he was handsomely rewarded for this by a grateful HE. A boot licker he remains to this day. A leopard does not change its spots after all.
The one faithful servant of HE who will perform any task, however distasteful. There are plenty of examples in history, Rasputin comes to mind. After all when history is written truth will tell.
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Jayantha / November 29, 2012
I think the whole Golden Key fiasco was planned and carried out by some very powerful VVIPs for their evil purposes. It was the pure rumor that made it collapse. Central Bank could have easily bailed it out and could have rescued both investors and the customers…but it did not. Now somebody is planning to buy GK assets and others relating to it for pennies with various phony corporate names and settle the depositors.
I have a strong feeling the Divinesuma bill and the GK settlement have some connection…..Only time will tell.
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Ppp / December 4, 2012
Golden key happened because of a lady of over head bridge fame who withdrew 950 million rupees at once.
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Jayantha / November 29, 2012
UNP parliamentarian just brought out the news that Central Bank has bought a second floor 12000 ft property in NY, USA Last year fro US$Five million (5) + sum amt. This was revealed only after the UNP minister brought this up in the parliamnent. Also CB say they have rented out to our foreign ministry for a monthly rent of US$68,000.
When you look at the whole picture…first it is our foreign exchange of US$5 million spent to buy and again spend US$68,000 a month to pay rent on the same building.
Both 5 million and the $68,000 are unthinkable.
US $68,000 MONTHLY RENT IS RUPEES 8,840,000 (Eight million 840,000)
Can you ever imagine this rent is paid anywhere in the world….for SL foreign ministry……for a month….plus utilities and condo fees.
The reason is In NY you can buy a 5 bedroom luxury house for US$1 ( one million) or…could rent a 5 bedroom luxury house for $6,000 per month.
Please do your math and see how many houses either could be bought or could have rented for the price CB paid. Mind you still the govt. have to pay property tax, condo-apt maintenance fee, all utilities (electricity, gas, water, AC/heating) etc….every month.
This is bought while CB has a US$6 billion debt ….plus Interest on loan.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Jayanta: Even Soho of London cost more than $70k for 12k sq ft. While there are other streets of west end with a commercial value which cost even more.
The rental prices in downtown New York and London west end are due to rise at the start of 2013
800 sq ft house in the west end can cost anything between £2k-3k per month apart from service charge which would be another £500. 2 bed room new apartment at the gateway to Europe kings cross was sold for £30million to European company for the use of its staff on transit. A Ukrainian shipping company bought a penthouse (4 bedroom) between two hotels overlooking St James park for £136million last year – there is a lot of money to throw and it’s with a few folk.
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Jayantha / November 30, 2012
binjiu…
So you say now CB is in buying and selling business…..
Don’t forget…Greece bonds, hedging, CW games, rupee float, gold auction etc, etc,… do what you know and know what you do.
Don’t let the dogs out….
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Jayantha
Heard of Rothschild’s, Goldman Sac’s and now the J.P. Morgan’s they have run the world from WW1 when G.S. informed the British royalty that Britain had lost the war and immediately acquired silverware below half price. The PIGS and Euro are their way of bringing Germany down to its knees, persecuting them yet being the controller. CB is not even a speck in the ocean of financing- regularly even the British lottery at £2 awards a jackpot of £150million. Start eating cassava properly prepared its good for cancer
Rajaporkistan, Cabs etc. are no different from anyone else when given the opportunity its just that it does not get published or revealed. Sr. Bush and Cheney stole $80billion of Iraqi Oil via Kuwait and the UN asked Kuwait to pay and K refused and then the famous hand bag nudged Saddam and Bush so the rest of gulf war is history. We are in the Oil industry whether its middle east or China Oil not the house maid export stuff to think of dogs.
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Jayantha / November 30, 2012
binjiu:
First nobody herd Cassawa cures cancer other than contain belly full of starch.
Second I have to spend double the cost of purchase to boil it.
Third let me know whatever deal that CB speculated…brought any profits…. From one to five harbours and now even the profit making one in Colombo is struggling.
Please do not ever compare CB to GS or HR or JPM ….they are hundreds of years ahead both in technical, financial and speculation….CB is an ever limping state overall.
Plezase don’t import inferior unusable cheap oil. It damages economy, reputation and moral.
Please atleast respect house maids for bringing in foreign exchange. Don’t curse the hand that feeds you. You will have to repent one day.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Jayanta,
I never said it cures as no one has found a cure but Cassava does stop the spread of cancer(there are artificial methods to s the spread but they are expensive new tech) if boiled to a certain temp and eaten regularly- see alternative medicines John Hopkins where the old man PM is convalescing. Don’t spend double the cost to boil if you don’t have cancer. Try solar panels for the roof from your Chinese friends as they are the cheapest due to the ensuing panel war with the US.
Good old days of shipping making profits are over since there are other modes of efficient transport and infrastructure to go with it. Look at the Swiss a landlocked nation having the 2nd largest container freight services in the world.
The problem is the men in power and in white present the glorious past which no one has seen and puke anywhere since they are not accountable to anyone.So the crap and obivious H-dotha betta.
The clean tea taster Harry would never have married unsafe oil he just made a mistake later in life- nice simple guy,
Thanks none of us live there since there are definitely better places on earth- with the beaches; touch the clouds from the hill and quality life. In the 70’s SL was made popular by the hippies for a long cheap holiday in the south but is dying now with most of those cheap holidays paid for by the western tax payer being cut. The Europeans, Spain is still a great destination and tourism is Spain’s largest export item.
Your poor housemaids are just the cannon fodder of respective governments. If the people of SL have any self-respect the dollar won’t be undervalued like it was in Communist China (there is trouble there now since unemployment is on the rise). Instead of 130 if it was say 160 all those poor multitasking women even the garment workers would get more but living off them like this is nothing less than pompon men beating others bushes. I have always worked for self so the question of biting has never risen except when I have had to give on credit and run behind so I bit the prick as a last resort ;)
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Lester / November 30, 2012
You have to ask why the Sri Lankan economy simply doesn’t collapse, in the face of such absurd mismanagement. The answer is: high-interest Chinese loans, loans from the IMF/World Bank, and very high remittances from Sri Lankan maids in the Middle East. Essentially, the Rajapakse’s are gambling with other people’s money. Of course, this doesn’t preclude the possibility of bankruptcy. Sri Lanka will have to learn to be productive again, or, in the long-run, it will sink in a quagmire of debt, not unlike Iceland and Greece.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
No Chinese loans are short term low interest while IMF/WB/ADB are just the opp.If it declares bankruptcy it just spins in a new currency and Thomas De la Rue would be ready for that overnight- thats how it works-The west is not broke only very high end art over million euros/sterling sell easily while most dealers have gone bust. So the money is in the hands of very few in the west and its the same with SL, india China etc.
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Lester / November 30, 2012
The long-term loans from the Chinese come with high interest.
China is Sri Lanka’s leading lender at present, providing loan facilities amounting to around US$ 3 billion so far but at interest rates higher than that of multilateral agencies for the country’s infrastructure development and other mega projects, with the repayment period running up to 20 years, government officials said.
They noted that long term borrowing from China at interest rates ranging from 2-3% and 6-7% under strict conditions laid down by Chinese lending institutions was the only option available to the Sri Lankan government to implement post-war development projects in North, East and the South.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/110619/BusinessTimes/bt01.html
The IMF/World Bank loans come at low interest, which you will see if you read the rest of the article. On the other hand, the IMF has greater leverage in influencing the monetary policy set by the Central Bank. That can lead to many ugly scenario, as we see now, in Greece, with the austerity measures demanded by the EU banks, as part of the “bailout” conditions.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Lester,
I am really surprised because China has been issuing small loans below $10 billion all over Africa, South America linked with the barter of resources and contracts for infrastructure at very low rates compared with IMF/WB and no other strings attached. The only resource that China is interested in is natural rubber (which is nothing compared to before takeover) but this again is used by multinationals like “ansell” in the free trade zone therefore there isn’t much for the Chinese.
I remember the Chinese minister of trade shooing the Sri Lankan counterpart when he asked for a trade mark of “true cinnamon” saying our interest is just rubber and keep to it. Why doesn’t the common Sri Lankan export chicken legs (the most expensive in China) that it throws away to China or for that matter other throwaway parts of meat??
Anyway, in a democracy if you don’t have money you either go to war or print or both. Your regime is there to stay for another generation as long as…- Lanka was promoted by drug taking hippies of the 70’s and its back to its same stage- low cost tourist to give the nefarious activity some decency. Like the press in exile.
It’s a con-man’s game. It’s a duping game. It’s a game of SHAME.
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Lester / November 30, 2012
You have to ask why the Sri Lankan economy simply doesn’t collapse, in the face of such absurd mismanagement. The answer is: high-interest Chinese loans, loans from the IMF/World Bank, and very high remittances from Sri Lankan maids in the Middle East. Essentially, the Rajapakse’s are gambling with other people’s money. Of course, this doesn’t preclude the possibility of bankruptcy. Sri Lanka will have to learn to be productive again, or, in the long-run, it will sink in a quagmire of debt, not unlike Iceland and Greece.
—
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Patta Pal Quote: “where all the jewels in the crown will have to mortgage to the Chinese and we reduced to being their serfs!”Unquote
Your descendants will be known as Chinese button-eye toilet tissue. LOL!
Raft of office-buying fuels disgust from Chinese – http://tinyurl.com/cjuapk9
It may be more systemic in Sri Lanka, but in China and the US is hardly free from the same vote and office-buying. Power corrupts everywhere, that’s a universal. In the US, government graft and corruption are live and well as in China or Europe.
Multimillionaire American swine ostensibly “run” for President of the United States as a form of buying their way to official power. The average American fool actually falls for the ploy. No poor or even average American has enough money to “run” for President. It’s a rich man’s game. It’s a con-man’s game. It’s a duping game. It’s a game of SHAME. And the masses eat it up because they know they have no other real options, certainly no real choices.
Buying political office in America is the oldest and the only game in town: It’s a form of sociopolitical deception the mechanics of which are nothing more than a charade in the person of casting a worthless “vote” dressed in the myth of empowerment and enfranchisement of “the working stiff”.
The rich always “run”; the rich always win; the rich always have power; the rich always get the best; and, most of all, the rich always break their promises to the poor fools who voted for them. LOL
Fellows Enjoy The Regime its the same everywhere Journalist must sell their work at any cost- always one side is right the other is wrong and the middle stinks. We have to be realistic when 90% folk of SL have an IQ below 70 and are not interested in these journalist especially after the stupid war. Long live the realistic definetly not Colombo telegraph the refugee paper.
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Jayantha / November 30, 2012
Ex Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had couple of very expensive luxury suits in down town manhattan NY bought from world famous real estate moghul for closer to billion dollers. Never herd what happend…..after his death……my car ….my petrol….
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Jayantha,
May be you have seen the movie” dead men tell no tales” just like when you awoke with THIS MADE MY DAY!!!! Les miserables ;)
Kaddafi, was a close friend of bLiar, the British and French governments and made a scene at the UN by throwing the constitution on the floor like a disgruntled drunkard throwing the bible at the priest on Easter day service ha ha. But the blunder of all was when he tried to replace the Moneda Franca $ with his ½ trillion in bullion just like Saddam.
No matter what any politician says all wars are economic.
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Jayantha / November 30, 2012
I agree, but finally it comes to who has the last laugh.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
No matter what excuse politicians dream up for waging war, the underlying cause of all wars is economic in nature. It’s not bullet chess to have the last laugh now but for certain there wont be Oil there in 35years and Obumer is already on plan to stop US imports in 30yrs and in 15 yrs only 50% will be imported since they have the tech in application from the 90’s. When its economic war one just keeps on smiling and the world smiles with you- that’s what the ME is even today.
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Senguttuvan / November 30, 2012
There is much speculation Mihin is kept going despite hefty losses because it is used for gold-drug and other forms of smuggling where scared Customs officials here look the other way. The same sources say how else can Lankan officials purchase expensive Apartments in Singapore, London, New York City, Dubai – among other places. It is understood established smuggler-rings in India, Singapore, Hongkong and Dubai are in ready cohorts with their Colombo “high contacts” They have, it is said, never had it so good than in the past few years. In the words of Dickens it certainly “is the best of times for some”
Senguttuvan
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Safa / November 30, 2012
I agree 100%. This is the real reason for having Mihin Air. It is just a front to cover up some fraudulent activities. Very convenient for the ruling family. Hope this will be exposed in time to come.
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 30, 2012
A train and a truck collision in a suburb of Melbourne Australia, out closest Western neighbor.resulted in one passenger dead and dozens injured.
Qantas,the Australian national carrier is trying to hitch a ride on Emirates to cut the mounting losses amounting to millions.
Share price has dropped from $5,00 to $1.30.
Perhaps Ms Thisaranee does not read bad news about her good friends.
Srilanka under Rajapaksa has progressed in to a US$ 60 Billion Economy.That is no small change in any language.
One of the WB CEO’s was there or a week heaping praise on the way the country is moving towards a US$ 4000 per capita nation.
The UN is in the process of reclassifying Srilanka as a middle income nation.
What does Ms Thisaranee come up with to counteract these achivements.
Spending on Education as a percentage of the GDP is less now than in 2006.
Obviously she hasn’t looked at the GDP in 2006 and 2012.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
KAS:Quote”Obviously she hasn’t looked at the GDP in 2006 and 2012.”
Well over 60% of the folk live at $1 per day in Sri Lankaany idiot understands that than GDP’s etc.
Anyway, The Brits are on the observer benches with Sri Lankan this time over at the UNHCR rather than the fraternity since the local folk want the human rights law abolished so the government has slashed its funding by 80% to make its mark.
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Patta Pal / November 30, 2012
None of this is thanks to the Rajapakses. It is purely from the $8B remitted from overseas to average people in SL. The Rajapakses have actually stifled growth, not added to it.
Don’t forget $8B is the income one gets if one has $1Trillion invested in US treasuries. So China would rather lend to us at 9% than the US at less than 1%. Its common sense.
Sadly people give credit to the rogues, not the hard workers. That is the case in most countries, and is no different in Sri Lanka
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srilal / November 30, 2012
K.A Sumanasekara says ,
“A train and a truck collision in a suburb of Melbourne Australia, out closest Western neighbor.resulted in one passenger dead and dozens injured.”
What are you going on about ? are you trying to compare the recent Ambanpola Train /Three wheel tragic accident ? in SL rail Authority has declared they have no enough money to fix the rail gates across the country , period ! whereas the current junta regime has enough money to waste on numerous white elephant projects i.e Hambanthota port , air port , 2018 CW game bid , satellite launch , IIFA , birthday celebrations etc.etc…..
“Qantas,the Australian national carrier is trying to hitch a ride on Emirates to cut the mounting losses amounting to millions.”
Again try to compare with Mihin Air ? since the very inception of this phony air line , srilankan people gain any thing or lose every thing ? is this a budget airline ? why do we need another air line when we have SRI Lankan air lines ? no need to waste time in explaining it’s operation & real motives The name “Mihin” itself speaks volumes.
“Share price has dropped from $5,00 to $1.30.”
what is your point , again try to compare with CSE , let me remind you to read some independent journals other than government controlled media , that is only if you want to know the real status of the CSE.
all the other gibberish taken from the CB clown Ajith Cabral ? None of those manipulated data can be taken as independent , hence does not warrant an answer, perhaps your type of ilk can do the in-depth analysis and declare that SL is on the verge of becoming the miracle of Asia,dream on mate.
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ari / November 30, 2012
Hai,.. All those who comment here knows very well what is happening there is wrong and Ranil will not be able to win and even he won become president, he would not do a thing.May be worst.
Then why not support some one who can win and after wining bring these people to justice.What I don’t understand is we know how to object and criticize but we do not get together to bring the regime down and support a person who is capable of doing it.Now what we want is a change and the person who will change this and make sure they will never repeat such thing is SF.First change this process then think of progress.Think sensibly and support some one who dare..No point keep talking…
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Ola hombre!Ari
Stupid as a man, say the women: cowardly as a woman, say the men. Stupidity in a woman is unwomanly.
Stupidity is the deliberate cultivation of ignorance like Sarath foney.
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Patta Pal / November 30, 2012
Where have you been? Even his family has deserted the man. He has no one left but a few like you who think so. He has proved to have NO qualities of a National Leader, though he was a good soldier who obeyed the order given to him when in charge of the Army.
Compromise, conciliation and co operation are lacking in him. It is not his fault, it is just his personality.
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Sunila Mendis / November 30, 2012
Excellent as usual.Cannot understand why Colombo Telegraph allocates time for petty journalists when more readable articles appear in Thisaranee’s and Dharisha bastian.Pro Govt comments are few and rare as there is nothing much to write .
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Darlin de Silva / November 30, 2012
“From Rajapaksa Economics To Rajapaksa Justice” and then to Rajapaksa Demoncracy.
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jerad / November 30, 2012
“Do you Have Allahadeen or Allahadeen” – Dictator film 2012
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
Aladeen by Ali G :)he marries Zoey the Jewish girl because Cohen is a Jew- nice one boy or abortion!
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Gama rala / November 30, 2012
Most Sri Lankans know everything but when it comes to voting the South Sri Lankans favour MR regime. You can’t change these Southern idiots as they are obsessed with MR’s words and actions.
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Jayantha / November 30, 2012
Gama rala;
Haven’t you herd, where ever in the world a southerner always favour a southerner. So Sri Lanka is no exception…..may be something to do with polarity.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / November 30, 2012
You said polarity then everyone in the world must be gay chi chi :) but that is not so because almost 50% don’t vote as they don’t have the confidence in any candidate or can be bothered etc,
Greenpeace voters cross the ballot “no confidence” expecting to be counted.
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anma@yahoo.com / November 30, 2012
CEO is a crook who was arrested by the CID in 1992 for selling stolan airline tickets for the same airline he is a ceo now tyhat happens only in srilanka
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N Satchi / December 1, 2012
Tisaranee Gunasekara
Through all the turmoil’s of this land of our birth, it has produced some outstanding citizens of courage and conviction. Tisaranee Gunersekera is a great example of responsible citizenry. A great champion of what is good for all – a shinning light in the darkness that we all plod. Her consistency in political conduct and governance is rock solid.
Dr. N. Satchi
U.K.
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