By Mahinda Rajapaksa –
Mahinda Rajapaksa MP
Around 40 professional associations and trade unions representing vital sectors of the economy and the public services have been agitating for a reduction in income taxes for many months. In the meantime, the high tax burden has precipitated an exodus of educated and highly trained professionals from the country giving rise to a new crisis. Following increases in the VAT through the budget for 2024, tax policy is set to become a major political issue in 2024.
The call to reduce taxes is based on solid economic principles. When taxes are low, both individuals and corporations have more money to spend and invest and this acts as a driver of the economy. Low taxes was a cornerstone of my government’s policy and it made a major contribution to the unbroken nine year economic boom that this country experienced between 2006 and 2014. So as not to burden the people with taxes, my government of 2006-2014 restricted the overall year on year increase in government tax revenue to around Rs. 100 billion a year. Through careful economic management, my government reduced the debt to GDP ratio from 90% at the end of 2005 to 69% at the end of 2014 thus ensuring the feasibility of the low tax regime.
However, over the past several years there have been well-funded propaganda campaigns promoting a headlong and mindless opposition to everything even remotely associated with the name ‘Rajapaksa’ including the low tax policy. In order to blacken the very concept of low taxes, some even claimed that the Rajapaksa-led governments reduced taxes to help cronies. That is an outright lie. Tax exemptions can be granted only under laws like the Board of Investment Act and the Strategic Development Projects Act in order to attract investors for specified projects.
After 2015, the low tax regime was rejected in favor of a high tax regime. Unsurprisingly, Sri Lanka’s growth rate declined precipitously after 2015 ending up at 0.2 below zero by 2019. Due to bad economic management, the period from 2015 to 2019 saw an increase taxes while at the same time experiencing a precipitous increase in foreign debt. When I was voted out in January 2015, the outstanding International Sovereign Bond debt was only USD 5,000 million. The Gotabaya Rajapaksa government of 2020-2022 paid off USD 2,500 in outstanding ISBs which means that only USD 2,500 million in ISBs now remains from my era.
Over USD 10,000 million in new International Sovereign Bonds were taken between 2015 and 2019. Hence we still have an outstanding ISB stock of USD 12,500 million. It was this USD 10,000 million in new ISBs taken between 2015 and 2019 that broke the back of our economy. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck Sri Lanka a few months after I became Prime Minister at the end of 2019, we wrote to the IMF in March 2020 asking for emergency assistance. The IMF wrote back saying that our debt levels disqualifies us from their emergency relief package.
They then proposed a raft of conditions that would qualify us for IMF assistance but those conditions would have made it impossible for us to face the Covid-19 threat in the manner that we did in 2020 and 2021. The present government is now implementing stringent conditions as part of an IMF programme. Thus one thing led to another, finally resulting in a situation where we now see top professionals holding multiple university degrees and professional qualifications agitating on the streets, demanding a reduction in taxes.
The SLPP which I lead is a part of the government. However the present Head of the Government and Head of State is the leader of a different political party with different policies. In a situation where this country was faced with complete anarchy, Parliament elected a President to serve the remainder of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term. The new President successfully restored law and order to the country. He is now directing government policy as the Executive President. At this moment, the primary duty of the SLPP is to ensure a stable government until the next national elections.
In future, every member of the public should pay special attention to the tax policy and the past economic practices of the political party they vote for. As elections draw closer, once again we see attempts to hustle people blindly and unthinkingly in various directions through ramped up propaganda and social media hysteria. Whatever decision the people make at the next elections should be based on rational thinking, proper facts and correct data. We are still living through the consequences of January 2015 and this country cannot afford another mistake like that again.
*Mahinda Rajapaksa M.P. – Leader, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
gamini / December 20, 2023
Knowing MR’s capability and capacity, this article is the work of some cohort who wants to prop up MR at a time his support base is sagging. If he was this capable in his analysis, he would not have ended up as a failure. to be booted out by the electorate.
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nimal fernando / December 21, 2023
“to be booted out by the electorate.”
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Wrong again! ……. it was Ranil who was booted out by the electorate.
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Mahinda was chased out by the Aragalaya. :)))
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leelagemalli / December 20, 2023
The nation’s beast through his popularity politics ruined this nation not giving the facts be established for the beneifit of the masses.
No matter facts would lie aside, he continued with his his racism led popularity games in order to excercise his greeidness to the power.
Grand parties were destroyed for their comeback. However, it ended up with anarchial state. by July 2022.
Rajapakshes should be accountable for their deliberate revenge from this nation.
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Even today the bugger shamelessly continues to stay in power, not being able to relinquish it. In civilized culture leaders after their terms see it forward. Dr Merkel s living today after 16 year long political life is out of press. She loves to enjoy her reitrement by reading books and engaging with her domestic pets.
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Raj-UK / December 22, 2023
LM
Dr Merkel is respected as a great leader & deserves a blissful retirement, proud of her contribution to Germany but humble as some of us are in comparison, we can also look back & say ‘we did it our way’, knowing that, at least, we are not cursed by many for generations to come. My father, who was a simple head master, had only his meagre pension in his old age but was happy & content because he believed he had contributed to the success of his pupils even in some small way, therefore, to society. Unfortunately, that dedicated generation is no more but I will always remember his advise, that despite accumulating enormous wealth, with which we may measure success, when the time comes to ‘raise the final curtain’, we will look back & question if our lives on earth have been worthwhile. If so, we can be truly happy but if we are to repent, we will be unable to die in peace with a clear conscience.
Cont.
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Raj-UK / December 22, 2023
Cont.
MR & family have acquired vast ill-gotten wealth, most of which, is stashed away abroad but like the hidden Nazi loot, some will be lost for ever or enjoyed by others. MR may repent in his final days wondering if it was worth it but till that last gasp of breath, he seems to be unable to let go of his greed. In colloquial terms, even after death, his soul will continue to hover as a ‘perethaya’. In fact, I wonder if his ‘spiritual’ advisory monks who surround him all the time ever really thought of the after life which they preach.
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leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
Dear Raj,
Thank you. Even though some psychopaths scolded you for having an IQ below 65, your current opinion is well thought out.
Your current post is an eye opener for the readership. Dissenting commenters abuse their “choice of words” but that’s their nature. Those people are stuck with their psychosocial problems instead of bringing facts.Best example is often coming from UVA province a person who is forced think him being a scholar ? my foot. . We are compelled to read them, since that is part of our rotten culture.
.-
tbc
/
leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
cont.
.
2
I am proud that your father is a role model for you and the rest of the family. I had a good mother who guided my life like a compass. Since my early 20s I have evolved on my own. She was the Goddess of my life and will forever remain so. I have become a volunteer charity worker for her today, and this is the reason why I travel to the motherland from Europe several times a year. I am not a Sinhala-Buddhist but a person trying to become a Buddhist. My last visit to my home country was from the last week of November to the middle of December.
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Going back to your current comment, it is the same people (70% of the rank and file) who allowed MARA to be overrated as the FAKE savior of the nation due to lack of common knowledge.
It is simpler in developing countries than in developed countries to create a false perception with the support of religious extremism. And south asian region is highly vulnerable for that.
Our average will not question “why”, last week I could not believe my eyes, some female supporters of SLPP (carried to the convention like cattle in trucks) argued that Mara is their leader forever. ???????
I was speechless. South and other provinces are filled with the kind of ultra stupid people even today.
tbc
–
/
leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
3 Uganda, Nigeria, Maldives, Pakistan, and several other countries that have built roads and other physical structures have received equal or greater injections of Chinese investment. But most of these countries have not raised their heads. Most of these countries have one thing in common, stupid leaders the chinese chose, have siphoned off enormous wealth for their families.
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The same people are being used as his human shields further. MaRa SHOULD BE aware of what he is doing. Or he is intoxicated not knowing it even today ?
This was common among the primitive tribes of Africa and Latin America. Mugabe was popular in racist Zimbabwe but destroyed the country by widening their ethnic wounds forever. It was the mlechcha media mafia that carried the message of our country and did not expose RAJAPAKSE-DANGER in time.
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Sinhala_Man / December 24, 2023
“leelagemalli”
.
MaRa, MaRa, MaRa, MaRa, and more MaRa.
.
Do you see what Professor ANI E, has said here?
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/is-true-system-change-in-sri-lanka-only-a-fantasy/
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Finally the pantomime of governance is most vividly seen in the executive branch where a deeply unpopular unelected individual who notwithstanding being routed in the previous election and with no moral authority whatsoever to hold the highest office, now struts around blissfully oblivious to the absurdity of his position, having been hoisted to it by despicable erstwhile political opponents in parliament with whom he has formed a precarious alliance for purposes of mutual survival.
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Raj-UK / December 23, 2023
LM
I was merely responding to your example of Dr. M. She was highly respected among leaders of the world & she can now enjoy retirement, content with her life. Can vast wealth bring that kind of satisfaction of a life well lived? Now that I am older, & maybe, wiser, I can understand my father’s point of view.
I can’t understand if MR is trying to vindicate himself from the Supreme Court ruling by appealing to the public, in which case, he must be assuming the public to be stupid, but then again, Trump is the front runner in the Republican race for nomination, despite his narcissism & pending law suits, so can’t blame MR for trying. Hypocrisy or not, MR’s advice that future decision ‘should be based on rational thinking, proper facts and correct data’ & the ‘country cannot afford another mistake’ is what I have been saying too but many NPP supporters are unable to accept any criticism, even getting personal with the comments. MR was also charismatic, just as AKD, but NPP can differentiate themselves by coming up with facts & figures, clearly laying out their policies, objectives & naming their members responsible for key areas, such as, finance & economy, industry, public & social services, etc. so that the public can make an educated decision.
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2023
Raj,
I respected Dr. Merkel from the day she was elected. She had a vision that no other leader had. Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union, is also a good leader. Although the first female prime minister came from Sri Lanka, Germans have produced good female leadership in the last 50 years.
.
Similar reactions are seen in the popular leader of our developing country, Mr. Mahendra Rajapaksa, and I feel the same about Trump’s reception in that developed country. Both abuse the folly of rank.
.
Surprisingly, Trump and his court cases met the same fate in that developed country. It will not happen in Germany though. That I know for sure. It is paradoxical but true. I work for an American company, and although we don’t discuss their politics, their thoughts and minds are truly unique. Some are more religious than average. Most of them have no knowledge of world geography. Some of my colleagues questioned whether Sri Lanka is Singapore….can you imagine?
–
tbc
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2023
cont.
Don’t you feel that the biggest obstacle to real change in our country is MaRa’s power intoxication? If he dies, it will definitely be good for the nation.
–
or if his loyalists can speak to his conscience, we can hope for a better and quicker change for the good of this country.. I really don’t think NPP is the only option for our cause, first they should learn to understand the cross section. . Our society. . AKD is a good orator but lacks practical knowledge as a leader.
If AKD was elected caretaker president last year, would he be dealing with the leaders of different countries and the IMF authorities? Definitely not. The need of the hour was to save people from starvation. All this is now out of our common mind. Last year, we fell deep and were just moments away from becoming a Somalia.
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our people are heterogeneous in their thoughts and minds and that is why they are behind many political parties. If you would that focus on that Gewindu Kumarathunga or the like, they would never allow anything to be privatised. Nor would VASIDEWA with his decades long experince ever allow going to IMF.
:
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Sinhala_Man / December 24, 2023
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
/
SJ / December 23, 2023
“scolded you for having an IQ below 65”
I did not know that.
Is Raj aware of it?
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leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
SJ,
Yes, he even commented on it.
All blessings be upon you, you have never come to such a level to attack any of us. The same narcissist makes every effort to forcefully take away love and care, which he will never surely receive.
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Raj-UK / December 24, 2023
SJ
It’s probably true that my IQ is below 65. In fact, I may even flunk an IQ test if I have to sit for one today but I am almost at retiring age & its expected that we lose brain matter faster as we age, so no worries.
Enjoy Christmas & hopefully 2024 maybe better for all of us.
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SJ / December 25, 2023
R-UK
I did not say anything about your or anyother’s IQ.
As a comment here suggested that (if you read it carefully) I made an observation on that comment.
Exercising one’s sense of humor will make the one and many others happy.
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Sinhala_Man / December 23, 2023
leelalgemalli What are your thoughts on Ranil, the great supporter of the Rajapaksas?
.
What a lot of words, comments, and Green thumbs!
.
Signifying nothing?
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leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
This is not kindergarten. Grow up please !
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I hope for the sake of Christmas and upcoming new year, you will become normal and stop persecuting annonymous commenters.
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Your comments (SINHALA MAN s comments) are mostly hurtful and stupid. Either about the generation tree or some gossips are filled in them. You have been making efforts to find love and care as a psychopath. Unfortunately, there is little we can do. Therapy could help you understand the world better. Please go for it… thank you.
:
I don’t see anything wrong with the INCUMBENT president in the current context.
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All I know is that he is the most targeted president by VARIOUS rivals/enimies in the world today. Mlechcha people full of Sri Lanka can kill him anytime. Sri Lankan politics after the MARA administrations is like the “garbage heaps of Vanathamulla”. For some pathological reasons you are not matured enough to realize that.
–
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chiv / December 20, 2023
“In future every member of the public should pay special attention to recent court ruling and past economic practices of the political party / individuals, they vote for. As elections draw closer , once again we see Kaputas attempts to hustle people blindly, and unthinkingly in various directions through ramped up propaganda and social media hysteria, which I never complained, when it was beneficial to me.”
Mahinda Rajapaksa, M.P. – Leader, SLPP.
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old codger / December 20, 2023
“After 2015, the low tax regime was rejected in favor of a high tax regime. Unsurprisingly, Sri Lanka’s growth rate declined precipitously after 2015 ending up at 0.2 below zero by 2019. “
Aiyo!, again no mention of what happened between 2019 and 2021? Was it not dear Gota Malli who even got rid of PAYE? Whatever MR might have done is he going to live long enough to do it again?
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Ruchira / December 20, 2023
He has produced two write ups within the recent past justifying the economics during his tenure and how successful it has been economically, while in both write ups conveniently ignoring what Gota Malli did.
.
I think the Supreme Court verdict is clear on what specific actions resulted in the economic crisis. None of which is addressed by MR in any of the two articles he has produced since the verdict was given.
.
If you noticed their recent convention, Basil referred to their previous govt as “Panduwa” and I didn’t see Gota’s presence there at all. Seemed like he was on the notable absentees list.
.
Wonder whether Mahinda and Basil are strategically trying to distant themselves from Gota and wash their hands off with a view of launching Basil as the next Presidential candidate?
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old codger / December 21, 2023
Ruchira,
“Mahinda and Basil are strategically trying to distant themselves from Gota and wash their hands off “
One cannot deny that they are the best politicians in the country, whatever else they may be.
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Mahila / December 24, 2023
OC,
Without an Iota of Doubt!!!???
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leelagemalli / December 20, 2023
“Aiyo!, again no mention of what happened between 2019 and 2021? Was it not dear Gota Malli who even got rid of PAYE? Whatever MR might have done is he going to live long enough to do it again?”.
.
So long mlechcha media would nt become serious , people stay eternally fools.
/
Native Vedda / December 21, 2023
old codger
–
“Aiyo!, again no mention of what happened between 2019 and 2021? “
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Even the biggest robbery took place between 2005 and 2015, estimated at $18 billon and being parked outside the island, according to late Mangala Samaraweera. .
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Reducing The Tax Burden is very easy, bring back stolen billions by just one family and divide it among the 5.1 million households, each would get about $352. This is to start with.
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During the 28 years, the war economy made many in the armed forces, politicians, merchants of death, analysts, ….. very rich.
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Can’t we go back to them and assess their individual earned income, household expenditures , and their accumulated assets during their time working for the state, …… including benami properties.
–
Let us have some very stupid comment from SJ.
/
leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
*******************************************************************
Dear NV, Manel Akka, OC, SJ, Nathan, Raj, M1, HT, Jit, Hancho Ramona and all,
.
May your Christmas and holidays be unforgettable !
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Also to all those who chased me down and hit me with the word of their choice, have a blessed holiday season.
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True Buddhists don’t even hate their enemies, they pray for them. I am trying to become a Buddhist from within and will achieve mine in the coming years. It certainly gives me inner peace.
*******************************************************************
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ramona therese fernando / December 25, 2023
Stop crying Leelagemalli. All is forgiven on Christmas day. 🌲🌴⭐
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leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
OC,.
What is wrong with main stream media yet today in our hell? Gota s absence in that Donkey convention was not even mentioned by lanken media ? Why is powerful JVP silent on that?
.
Not just drug mafia but media whore houses [ Hiru and De-rana TV CHANNELS] should be targeted in order to help changing the conditioned BP mind set of the masses. President is one seat representative but rascals are the majority to decide for him. .
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May our human beasts be blessed with brains. 😀🙂🙃
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leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
Dear OC,
.
I have been following and praising their raids against drug traffickers. I have no doubt, MaRa’s cronies are really opposed and we will definitely have some planned killings here in the coming days.
–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96mfmLnWT8
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I am not against shooting the traffickers on the spot because they have been involved in killing the youth of this nation for the past 15 years. Even the police in EU countries will kill criminals on the spot. Those drug kinpins in DUBAI and those countries should be hanged. Their assets should be confiscated and made part of the state revenue.
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Rajaksha’s closest drug lords should be ready to answer the cases filed against them soon on how they got rich.
In coming days surely Mahinda Rajapaksa will stand against this onslaught of “justice” which is going on misleading the nation, because if this attack gets rid of the underworld thugs close to the society, the current government will get more respect from the people. The Mahinda Rajapaksa of this nation is Palhora.
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Ruchira / December 20, 2023
Author states: “…some even claimed that the Rajapaksa-led governments reduced taxes to help cronies. That is an outright lie.”
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If his reference ‘Rajapakse led governments’ also include Gotabhaya’s one, I think the complaint was that certain ad-hoc tax policy measures created convenient loopholes for a select few to exploit and profiteer from. Who these certain select few is well known to everyone.
.
Subsequent reference to tax exemptions: “Tax exemptions can be granted only under laws like the Board of Investment Act and the Strategic Development Projects Act in order to attract investors for specified projects.” is nothing but a mere tact of deflection. A rather unbecoming act, especially for an ex-President of the country.
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leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
The author of the article is half a corpse and his conscience is very questionable. In fact the bugger et al, publicly supported VAT increase, however, in the aftermath he is telling the opposite. Why on earth did the bugger act like that if he is to VAT redutions ?
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His grab to holding onto power has been misinterpreted by him as “people ask him to continue”: No main stream media questions it either.
it’s a ploy to get away with all the serious crimes he’s deliberately committed.
And it is paving his bastard sons to hold on to power and ruin this nation further.
–
tbc
/
leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
cont.
.
Even his dead body will be marketed by his greedy henchmen (various high criminals) for their political survival and corruption. Fake Public Perception humanshielded him. Fake man with fake politics BASED on racism and blatant lies.
.
I thought MaRa or even a worst criminal would finally respect it for the sake of the nation that faced the unexpected, however his public performance on December 15th , hint that the bugger would hold on to power until his last breath.
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ramona therese fernando / December 20, 2023
MR,
–
You did not invest in the development and workability of the nation. Instead you magnanimously doled out the assets and loans of the country to your circle of supporters to build first world fancy highways, grand airports, and fast cars. All these were done without installing proper channels of management and control.
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Lots of the nation’s money went offshore during your tenure. Billions of US dollars went into foreign investment schemes and offshore accounts in an attempt to roll Lankan money and get one up on the established global commercial and banking systems. Nothing came out of your risky enterprises. Much was lost.
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Money that stayed inside went to all kinds of hare-brained enterprises that never fulfilled their purposes. There was no regulation, no auditing, no supervision, no accountability.
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We know you meant well compared to Ranil, but what you did was not too bright. You should retire and not use any remaining consolidated assets of the Lankan people that is safeguarded by your Pottuwa, to try and come back to power. You do not have the aptitude to lead the nation again.
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Ranil is far worse than you of course. He has no respect or regard for the Lankan worker. Imposing taxes on starving people so he can fulfill his elitist first-world ambitions is horrifying! His day is coming soon, and in a very bad way.
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leelagemalli / December 23, 2023
Dear Readers,
.
If a society has been misled for decades by targeting the psyche of the common people, it is not easy to dilute the false public perception of their psyche-targeted society. This is where we are stuck today. The media is even worse at changing opinions or turning to the truth.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXZQomvJn4Q
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He is placed on a SWING above them, like the honorable man sitting above in this video, and all the audience sits on the floor in reverence.
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The audience is mesmerized by the melancholic melodies of oriental music.
In the eyes of Europeans this is a great joke and they never realize it
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In Sri Lanka, the all mlechcha man, MaRa’s situation is similar to that of the man in video, who is foolishly sitting on a swing and humming tunes. … …
The typical low-grade South Asian mindset is controlled by unseen various forces. That’s why “real change” in this island nation is limited to fantasy.
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ramona therese fernando / December 23, 2023
It’s different now. Masses have been to foreign lands, seen how they operate, and worked too hard for their money only to have it utilized for gross ambitions of the Ruling Class and Monied Elite.
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And unlike India, Sri Lanka being smaller and Buddhistic, is more interconnected and aware. Masses cannot be swayed anymore by experimental monetary promises and silly delusions.
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Mahila / December 24, 2023
“(Part)
“And UNLIKE India, Sri Lanka BEING SMALLER and BUDDHISTIC, is MORE INTERCONNECTED AND AWARE.”
If that be a ‘TRUISM’, HOW COME THEY VOTED TO POWER THE ROGUES, LOOTERS AND THIEVES BACK AGAIN IN 2019 and with 2/3rd MAJORITY, THE SCAMPS WANTED, FOR GOVERNING, WITHOUT EVEN WHIMPER, let alone QUESTION on Stage Rally or Meetings!!!???
If as claimed they are More Cohesive than India, and resorted to do that act that they collectively committed, THEN serious DOUBTS had to be entertained and ACCEPTED as to the ability of Sri Lankans to think rationally and comprehend the developing situation, PRIOR TO COMMIT INEPTLY THEMSELVES TO VOTE THE “NOMENCLATURED” ‘ROGUES’ TO POWER AND OFFICE!!!???
Given that circumstances and the wild act committed by the electorate in 2019 PE and GE thereafter, I am convinced, Sri Lankans have been the 2nd best, whether INDIA is DEVIDED/SPLIT or Sri Lanka is UNITED IN DIVISIVENESS, THEY ARE ONLY 2ND BEST!!!??? All due to inadequate or Improper Education and Erudition last 75 years – Buddhist, Catechist, Hindutva or OTHERWISE IS TOTALLY Irrelevant!!!??? Result Cataclysmic with intolerable suffering!!!
(TBC)”
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Mahila / December 24, 2023
(Part II)
Dr Colvin R De Silva is proven correct, both in 1956 and 1978 along with Dr N M Perera!!!???
Everyone at that time decried those appeals as anti-nationalistic!!! How true bets assessed NOW!!??
In 1947, SL erudition – Literacy, Numeracy, General Knowledge was held in high esteem, than India!?
How come, this NOW??? Total 180º ABOUT-TURN!!!??? Bad rulers or Governance!!!???
TRUTH AT TIMES as elusive and hard to Believe and accept like BITTER medication but altruistically, the ONLY AND BEST WAY to eradicate most Maladies??? It’s GIVEN THAT BE THE CASE!!!???
WHEN WOULD OUR COHESIVE, UNITED VOTERS LEARN AND CORRECT THEMSELVES!!!???
HOPEFULLY, NOT ON THE NEVER-ENDING SYNDROME, PLEASD NEVER REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKE – BECAUSE Humans are intelligent and learn from past mistakes!!!???
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Mahila / December 24, 2023
14 years later, Lakvijaya !, 2, and 3 AND 20 years almost to the day after Hambantota Development Fund contribution by Tsunami Fund Privatisation, (Boxing Day Tsunami 2004) which only funded RE-ELECTION FUNDING of R. Bros., Inc. 2005, 2010,2014, 2018, 2019, 2020 (6 Major elections – National) to lead the country many a time to DISASTER!!!!???? ONLY USE WAS FUNDING Rs 5000 TO 11.5 MILLION VOTERS AT EVERY ONE OF THOSE ELECTIONS and also, PC elections and LGE
Rs 57.5 billion per election X 6 ELECTIONS = 345 billion SL Rs!!!???
Leave the other elections as small change – Gratis to R. Bros., Inc.!!!???
Tax Payers and all citizens are repaying them in style as VAT!!!???
Some idiots are crying VAT is too HIGH!!!??? My Foot!!! Oouch!!!??
WHAT A COMEDY, COMIC, SET OF CLOWNS – REPRESENTING SOVEREIGN Sri Lankan PEOPLE!!!???
Would these 225 clowns be re-elected 2025 or before, when GE is held!!???? Going by previous comical experience, BIG YES!!! One doesn’t need much ingenuity to FOOL THE FOOLS!!!??? Given the Pirivena education, it seems not a hard exercise for Magician, ‘MaRa the Appache’ because he has higher qualifications – JPUM – Junior Pass U—– Matriculate!!!???
Don’t get elected, then Wonder of Asia!!!???
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Ajith / December 20, 2023
This country was ruled by only two political parties namely UNP and SLFP. I am not prepared to accept the statistics given by both political parties including what is presented here in the name of Mahinda Rajapaksa. The truth is that the country become bankrupt in 2022 and country’s current debt amount is around 100 billion US dollars. So both SLFP (SLPP) and UNP (SJB) are responsible for the current status of the country. Both UNP and SLFP are disgrace to democracy and to this country.
The so called democracy started with one family called Senanayake and that family eliminated in 1965 and Jeyawardena family still continue. In 1956, SWRD thought his family should own this country that continued until 2005. Rajapaksa family started in 2005 and wants to continue now.
Enough is enough for family run business. The country need to get rid of all family run political parties. The world has changed a lot. This country need to change, otherwise the country may fall in the hands of another country/countries for next thousand years.
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Good Sense / December 21, 2023
His Former Axcellency Percy Mahendra Rajapakse got an opportunity to defend himself in a court case concerning the bungling of the economy and was determined as a violator of fundamental rights. He now through this article is saying EITHER the same story he told the court in defence OR an after thought virtually blaming the increasing the ISB in the 2015 to 2019 period and the COVID pandemic. OK! The “Sahodara Samagama” got elected promising to remedy the malady of the previous “Yahapalana” regime. Weren’t you negligent in not taking into stock of the situation that was there when you took office? No one can say that you could not foresee what was coming just as much President “Aiyo” Sirisena cannot say that he did not know anything about the Easter Sunday Attack and now required to pay Hundred Million smackers. Percy and Company too must accept the liability but was lucky to be determined that no compensation is payable excepting the costs of the case. Many knowledgeable told opined on the need to restructure the debt and other issues at an early stage and were ignored. That is the callous conduct of the “Sahodara Samagama” leading to shortages.
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Douglas / December 21, 2023
Ajith: You are spot on. No doubt these “BANDITS” must be chased away.
In that struggle, we need to find out who could best handle that job. Next, we have to AWAKEN the people to bring that “WHO?” to “POWER” to handle the job. It is being done at the moment. Hopefully, the “56%” that has gathered momentum will continue to grow. Please note, that I said “Hopefully”.
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nimal fernando / December 21, 2023
Buddy Mahinda,
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You were nothing but an assistant to a librarian (not an assistant librarian as you fib.)
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You just conned your way into the presidency ……… your handiwork, the results are plainly there for everyone to see ……… when a con-artist takes on work way out of his depth, in any field, that’s what happens. …….. (Like …….. Native can never be a Casanova and to his credit he knows it!)
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The only talent you still have is conning ……. and you are still trying desperately to play your last cards ………..
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Native Vedda / December 21, 2023
nimal fernando
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” Native can never be a Casanova and to his credit he knows it!”
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That is why I envy old codger.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / December 21, 2023
The power-sharing between these two parties, like a swinging pendulum must come to an end, if the country is to survive without the more than 50% of the population predicted to descend into poverty by 2024. These rascals have been fooling the idiots and herding them like buffaloes from one major camp to the other. So, these parasites fear that if an Aragalaya or even the NPP wrests back control of the country and give sovereignty back to the people, their blood-sucking days will be over for good. So, they will try every trick in their toolbox to make the herds again vote for either of these two parties who are very good friends with each other and work together to rape the country.
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Velu / December 21, 2023
OC,
You claim they are best politicians SL has produced. You should show your head/brain and get the help sooner than later. I Think you are one among the 6.9 millions, they will still vote for MR clan just like you. People look for politicians just like themselves, god help the fraud and corrupt > 90% literate populace.
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old codger / December 22, 2023
Velu,
The description “politician” is not a compliment. Politicians mostly want to get themselves re- elected. Statesmen do what’s good for the country. The Rajapaksas are the best at getting themselves re-elected. Don’t you agree?
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SJ / December 23, 2023
oc
The difference between comments on ‘right v. wrong’ and ‘successful v. unsuccessful’ is not easy for quite a few to appreciate.
You have to curse the R’paksa family to no end before uttering anything that points to their strengths, or you risk being branded as a R’paksa stooge.
*
Being a politician is a craft like being an astrologer or a kattadiya. Society craves them.
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Hamdhan / December 21, 2023
Well since you bought up old stories, i thought of sharing some. I remember when you came to power in 2005, 12-15 Rs was the bread price and when you were dumped in 2015 it was flying somewhere above 60 Rs. I dont even want to bring up the petrol prices (which you cleverly raise during crickets matches), dollar rates, gas prices and all because its too depresseing to even think of that. And if you read this you would see how your tax reduction, vanity projects & corruption magic burdened the public. This was the real gift you gave the country and its people. So stop your crocadile tears and go back to your hole and Rest and in peace.
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Raj-UK / December 22, 2023
Mahinda old pal
I am a bit confused. I am not an economist & my IQ is probably low, so, if I understand correctly, the supreme court delivered a judgment, that you, your brothers & your cronies were responsible for the gross mismanagement which brought the country to its knees. Didn’t you get a chance to state your case in front of the judges, if that’s the case, its a great miscarriage of justice by blackening your good name, or are you talking rubbish in the hope of convincing the presumed gullible public?
When your brother scrapped PAYE tax, you were the PM & what good did it bring to the country? Your cronies made money from the pandemic, from Chinese ‘organic’ fertilizer that was never unloaded, & the list of corruption is endless. So, before you talk of ‘every member of the public should pay special attention to the tax policy in the future’, at least do your lot pay their fair share of tax, albeit, ill gotten, even now? You must be delusional when you advise that ‘public should pay special attention to the tax policy and the past economic practices’. However, I fully agree that ‘Whatever decision the people make at the next elections should be based on rational thinking, proper facts and correct data…’ Certainly, ‘this country cannot afford another mistake like that again’
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SJ / December 25, 2023
R-UK
The Chinese organic fertilizer scam is a fib that our media to is hanging on to.
The Agric. Dept’s lab claimed the presence of a toxic bacterium and the consignment was not accepted.
The supplier rejected the claim and had samples tested by independent sources outside both countries, and there was no such organism. The company was unhappy about the slur and the matter went for arbitration in Singapore and nothing is known since.
Nobody here made money on the deal, although the supplier is keen on clarification of the charge.
People who readily accuse government institutions of fraud and falsehoods, have somehow remained quiet.
The Agric. Dept has yet to submit the details of its investigation demanded by the party concerned.
Attempts are on to ‘shape up ‘ matters, as it can strain relations between governments.
There is something fishy in this matter as shortly after a supply came from a neighbouring country called organic ammonia fertilizer pellets, which was really not organic, and its application did much harm for lack of familiarity with the material.
There was money made there I suspect, but nobody likes yo talk about it.
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SJ / December 25, 2023
BTW
I do not think that MR had much to do with the matter as it was GR’s wise men who made policy in those few months.
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Naman / December 22, 2023
We all know that current and the Past rulers did not work towards the progress of the country –>Economically.
The economic progress can not be achieved if the minorities are to be continued to be marginalised.
The Law and order is STILL not being APPLIED equally to SL citizens. Economic instability will contine unless the majority race starts to treat their minorities with due respect and care.
The way the various Governments of SL treated the Tea/rubber estate workers over the last 75 years had been deplorable.
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