The term ‘scapegoat’ has its origin in the Old Testament. It is in Chapter 16 of the Book of Leviticus. God instructed Moses and Aaron to sacrifice two goats every year. One goat was to be killed; its blood sprinkled upon the Ark of the Covenant. The High Priest was then to lay his hands upon the head of the second goat and confess the sins of the people. Unlike the first goat, this lucky second goat was not to be killed but released into the wilderness together with its burden of sin, which is why it came to be known as the scapegoat.
The scape goat that we speak of, has a mysterious power. It captures and captivates the curious and the ordinary demanding the quick fix. The scapegoat serves the immediate purpose of appeasing our collective desire to mete out punishment to, to make an example of deserved retribution to the wrong doer or anyone who makes a good substitute for the villain.
Scapegoating is an escape hatch for the authentic villains. The futile exercise is a chase for inconsequential details. Its purpose is to create disorder to botch the grand total of the foul deed.
The illustration in the official Press release of UK’s Serious Frauds Office says it all. It is a graphic outline of the essence of the global settlement reached by Airbus SE with UK’s Serious Frauds Office, France’s Parquet National Financier and USA’s Department of Justice.
The Aircraft manufacturer has been fined in relation to five counts of failure to prevent bribery. Count 2 relates to its dealings with Sri Lankan airlines.
This Deferred Prosecution Agreement “does not prevent any victims that there may be, from claiming compensation.”
It also contains a vital caveat that we should take note of. The Serious Fraud Office had entered into an agreement with PNF- its French counterpart to probe bribery and corruption allegations in relation to Airbus, its business partners, former and current employees and other third parties.
French law No 68-678 of 26 July 1968 (the French Blocking Statue or FBS) prohibits certain disclosures of information by French persons and entities in foreign judicial and administrative proceedings.
It points out further, that under 694-4 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure, French Judicial authorities are also entitled to exclude from their responses in mutual legal assistance requests, information that would be detrimental to the essential interests of France. In the present case, the French authorities concluded this included making specific contract values public. The French authorities also controlled the supply of documents to the SFO to ensure compliance with the French restrictions on such information. That means the SFO has got only part of the story.
The DPA will be in force until 31 January 2023. The SFO has the discretion to initiate action against any individuals should it be required.
In her judgment, Dame Victoria Sharp President of the Queen’s Bench notes “The seriousness of the criminality in this case hardly needs to be spelled out. As is acknowledged on all sides, it was grave. The conduct took place over many years. It is no exaggeration to describe the investigation it gave rise to as worldwide, extending into every continent in which Airbus operates. The number of countries subject to intense criminal investigation by the various agencies, and the scale and scope of the wrongdoing disclosed in the Statement of Facts demonstrate that bribery was to the extent indicated, endemic in two core business areas within Airbus.”
The five counts in the indictment refers to Malaysia, Sri Lanka Taiwan, Indonesia and Ghana in that order. Each of these counts on the Indictment concerns similar conduct explained in the Statement of Facts that should be read along with the approved judgement.
The judgement concludes that “persons associated with Airbus, not exclusively its employees, offered very substantial sums of money by way of bribes to third parties in order to secure the purchase of aircraft, by civil airline companies.
The judgment explains why persons of interest are not named.
“In the Statement of Facts, the identity of the individuals concerned has not been included. There are ongoing investigations in respect of a number of individual suspects in this jurisdiction and abroad. It is appropriate to protect the rights of the suspects to a fair trial.”
UKEF is the UK’s government funded export credit agency. It provides finance and insurance to bolster exports and international trade. The blurb on their website assures that they “support complex international projects through financing, export credits and insurance.”
The UKEF demands strict due diligence criteria.
“We’ll need to understand how the contract was awarded, including any use of third parties or agents, and will require Anti-Bribery and Corruption declarations from counterparties to the transaction. We may be unable to support the transaction if sanctions have been imposed on any of the countries or counterparties involved in the transaction. We’ll also consider the environmental, social, and human rights impact of the project.”
It is the UKEF that alerted the Serious Frauds Office about the jiggery-pokery they sniffed in the Airbus transaction with SriLankan airlines.
The statement of facts which forms a part of the Differed Prosecution Agreement provides an intriguing narrative of how the ‘Fit hit the Shan”. It is a gripping narrative. It begins with the common place recital. “Sometime between December 2013 and November 2015, SriLankan Airlines entered into a sale and lease back agreement with an aviation leasing company, for five of the A330 aircraft.”
Pursuant to this agreement the aviation leasing company would purchase the aircraft from Airbus and lease them to SriLankan Airlines. Four of these aircraft were due to be delivered in February, July, September and December of 2015.
In November 2014 Airbus employees submitted an application for export credit financing to UKEF in respect of the four A330 aircraft the first of which was due to be delivered at the end of February 2015.
The application required disclosure of any agent or consultant involved in the purchase agreement.
Airbus indicated that it had used an agent on the Sri Lankan negotiations. Airbus at this point wished to invoke the Special Handling Process within UKEF.
This Special Handling Process allowed applicants to disclose the identity of an agent in a manner that the identity of the agent would be available only to three members of the UKEF staff.
UKEF discontinued this practice effective April 2017 in the interest of greater transparency and as a measure of its anti-bribery and anti-corruption reforms.
The special handling process ensured that only a small number of individuals within UKEF would perform due diligence on the agent.
On or around 4 February 2015 Airbus submitted the agent details to UKEF.
A senior Airbus employee had assured UKEF that the information could be relied upon. The statement of facts asserts that the information submitted falsely suggested that the ‘intermediary’ was a ‘he’, and that the consultant agreement accurately reflected the total amount Airbus would pay and the .
UKEF informed Airbus that they were not satisfied with the details of the agent as provided. They asked a “series of questions. The CV suggested little aviation experience and why was the agent “domiciled and paid outside of Sri Lanka” There was no mention of the market share agreement of the commission.
On 13 February 2015 Airbus provided answers to questions of UKEF on 13th February 2015. ’The Airbus response referred to the agent as both a ‘he’ and ‘she’.
Airbus once again failed to mention the market share agreement although UKEF insisted on confirmation that there were no other payments from Airbus to the Company of the intermediary.
UKEF asked Airbus to confirm that its agent was not the wife of the ostensible SriLankan Airlines Executive.
Airbus responded on 26th February 2015. Airbus asserted to UKEF that the agent was not the wife of the Executive of the Airline and the agent had no links to SriLankan Airlines. The Statement of facts has a revealing exchange of emails between Airbus and UKEF.
The Airbus employee liaising with UKEF forwards an email from the Sales and Marketing office of Airbus.
“Our research has identified the wife of the SriLankan Airlines Executive as having the same name as the one we have been given.
UKEF reverts to Airbus “Please confirm that this is not a party to this issue and is not your agent. This is a homonymy but certainly not the same person. “
Airbus operative responds “She is not a party to this issue, and she is not our agent”.
The tenacious due diligence official of the UKEF demands a precise answer.
“We assume this is a coincidence, but could you also confirm that your agent has no connection to the airline, its personnel or family members of staff and executives at the airline.
Airbus employee responds, “We confirm.”
On 27 February 2015, UKEF personnel spoke with Airbus employee liaising with them another senior Airbus official but it failed to alleviate the concerns of UKEF.
The Airbus operative dealing with UKEF emailed his colleague at the home base. “The truth is most unfortunate”
The other replied “we know the truth I suspect but is that what we are intending to inform UKEF?”
Internal e mail exchanges at Airbus on 2nd March also involving a very senior official of Airbus vividly reflect the dilemma of the aircraft manufacturer sailing close to the wind. At the highest level they have decided to answer to UKEF and thereby take the risk to be demonstrated that Airbus was not compliant. But how long will it take to convince UKEF?”
On or around 12 March 2015 Airbus withdrew its application from UKEF.
The UKEF reported this and other matters to the Serious Fraud Office on 1st April 2016. SriLankan airlines had been under the UNP nominated board of management for fifteen months.
The Airbus request for financing from UKEF was made in November 2014.
‘Air finance Journal’ the leading financial publication of the global aircraft and aviation industry reported that SriLankan Airlines has worked out a US$650 million financing arrangement on 18th December 2014.
Seabury Consultants hired by Sri Lankan Airlines to advise them on the re fleeting project issued a press release.
“Airfinance Journal, the leading intelligence resource for aviation finance, recognized Seabury Group for the innovative $69 million PDP financing of three A330-300s for SriLankan Airlines.
Seabury Group served as advisers to SriLankan Airlines, which, in July 2013, agreed a combined predelivery payment (PDP) and sale/leaseback finance with operating lessors ILFC/AerCap and Hong Kong Aviation Capital.
The deal was an innovative purchase agreement structure to deal with Sri Lankan claw-back risk and contained an “unusual collaboration” of major operating lessors on a single account.
The airline benefited from the deal because new aircraft refleeting allowed it to operate an increased route network profitably and further enhance Sri Lanka as a destination brand since the cessation of hostilities in the civil war.”
The Auditor General has stated that the airline had selected Seabury as the consultant without formally soliciting comparable proposals from all consultants, without ensuring confidentiality of proposals, and with multiple other procedural errors.
The Serious Frauds Office indictment is straightforward.
Airbus SE failed to prevent persons associated with Airbus SE from bribing others concerned with the purchase of aircraft by SriLankan Airlines from Airbus, namely directors and/or employees of SriLankan Airlines. The bribery was intended to obtain or retain business or advantage in the conduct of business for Airbus SE. “
Refences :
www.judiciary.uk › wp-content › uploads › 2020/01 › Director-of-th.
https://www.sfo.gov.uk/download/airbus-se-deferred-prosecution-agreement-statement-of-facts/#
Frustrated sinhalaya / February 5, 2020
There would be no peace in this country, if real criminals would not be caught by law and order. It s just a joke to even talk about any handligns, so long criminals be kept above the law.
:
I have the feeling, I dont dont about others living in the country, the country has gone back by Rajakashes.But people s thoughts and minds have been looted to the same degree they did it with state funds. Those who earned degrees from the state unis thanks to the tax payers funds have become anti-public – the best example is being given by GMOA, which is a body, that you would not be able to compare with that of their counterpart ones in Europe. They excercise the orders of high abusive vicious politicians neglecting the public heath matters that should long have been set on their top of the agendas. I wonder why the kind of bodies being given to continue with their abuses on and on, – in this country ?
People are either made per,mament fools or dont have the brains to see it right ?
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Jagath Perera / February 5, 2020
Successive governments have shown no interest in prosecuting criminals. The Police unfortunately does not have the skill sets to apprehend white collar criminals. Judiciary has no interest to expedite the process.
The Presidential Commission report submitted almost an year ago clearly identifies the directors of MIHIN and Sri Lankan being responsible for thier losses and frauds. No action taken to date!!
Kapila is supposed to be owning houses in Melbourne CBD and also in Colombo 7. Tax office is sleeping as usual.
Even some of the senior management of Sri Lankan are owning houses in Australia. Tax office should ask for affidavits from all senior managers about assets held worldwide.
Former chairmen and board members should be questioned about acting in the best interest of the company over the years.
Don’t forget that Kapila was brought back to Sri Lankan as Chairman even during the 52 day government !!
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Simon De Silva / February 5, 2020
Not just srilankens ( I means ones with some knolwedge) became clear
–
Lasantha the editor of SUNDAY leader was broad day murdered by Rajapakshe men
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Ekanaligoda was abducted and sent missing by megalomaniac Rajakashe
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Bhratha Lakshama – AKA Hirunika MP s father was broad day murdered by Rajakashes
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Rugby Player, an another innocient YOUTH in Rajapakshe sons’age was brutally murdered down – the misterious killing was painted as VICTORY of Rajapakshe family….. and yet today that muslim mother who lost his own son, being kept like tantalus torments not being able to see any justice::::: Sirisena the KING BP blocked it being investigated further – to protect Rajakshes for their comeback. All is public secret nevertheless people to adulate BPs again and again… is SEEN exclusively in SRIlanka.
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11 young boys that were getting ready to leave for UK for their higher studies were abducted and killed… tamil mothers mourn tremouring colombo areas yet today, but who cares about the grief of mothers ? I think RAJAKSHES should be hung by their balls, by any nature or any other means if the people to feel it some confort … I think we cant be proud of OUR nation::::
If yes even some idiots that killed millions should and could be proud of.
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Dinuk / February 6, 2020
Why is Sajith Premadasa silent about the bondscam and Airbus scam rather than calling for investigation, arrest and prosecution of all and particularly the politicians who have Command Responsibility for these crimes?
The Rajapaksa family with Nivard Cabraal is implicated in both the first Greek bondscam and the Airbus scam and the loss from both these deals must be calculated together. Bondscam Ranil should have been impeached long ago but cowardly Premadasa turned a blind eye to Ranil’s financial crimes. This country is doomed.
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D. P. / February 5, 2020
Jagath Perera,
Anyone with a brain the size of a mustard seed knows who the “Nanny Goat” is. The question is whether the Kapila couple is ready to reveal the the names of those who used Kapila couple as the point persons or else, following the example of many high-ranking officers of former MaRa regime, would volunteer to be the “escapegoat” couple! It is possible that MaRa knew about the ongoing British litigation and therefore, rearranged the chairs in the CID as soon as possible in order to assure that the woman will not be forced into a plea bargain! If this is the case, the next parliamentary election will be a “do or die” contest for MaRa.
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D. P. / February 5, 2020
….it is revealed in the parliament today (Feb 5) that Kapila couple has fled the couple before the arrest warrant was issued. Now, the police has no choice but to uncover how the loot was distributed from Kapila’s Ausie account. Since Australia is decent democracy, the won’t be difficult. The only question is the willingness of the CID which now operate under GoRa – unofficially.
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Upul / February 7, 2020
Why is wasting time making comments, when we all know Chandrasena and wife were only the front for real thieves.
Of course, they will never be caught.
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Lanka / February 5, 2020
The Australian residential address of these white collar criminals could be disclosed to the Australian tax department. Australian citizens (Even PR ) have to declare their worldwide income and pay taxes and not only that sources of funds have to disclosed when deposited in the banks.
https://www.whitepages.com.au/ is a good source to find their residential addresses.
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 5, 2020
Lanka,
you are totally wrong.
=
as for the taxation issue, the Australian tax office allows an accountant of your choice to forward the tax returns or any correspondence.
therefore there’s no need to have anyone’s physical home or work addresses.
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Telstra and the other phone providers allow one and all the privilege of not wanting their home or mobile numbers being listed and published in any telephone directory.
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in this nation, under very stringent privacy laws one cannot get any information about another without the other party’s consent.
the only exception is on credit checks.
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Australia and the other developed countries are a different kettle of fish to your namesake which thanks to the political gurus are nothing but a sad sorry shit bucket.
this is a fact.
=
cheers, R. J.
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anonymous / February 7, 2020
Jagath,
You forgot to mention the names ‘Gotha and Mara’ who are the topmost fraudsters and criminals, are delegating the procedures. What more can you expect from a system headed by these two and their murderous goons?
Don’t be afraid to come out with the truth about the ‘Jarapassa’ family outfit. They are only afraid of the truth being revealed in the public.
/
Craig / February 5, 2020
Kapila and wife cannot be found as of press reports today.
Why is the AG releasing info on an impending arrest without first monitoring the movements of the persons to be arrested? It is useless for the CID to collect evidence without making sure the culprits can be arrested. Have they searched for him at MR’s home?
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Good Sense / February 5, 2020
I tend to agree with the point of view expressed by Craig. There is a precedent for this. During “Yahapalana” times, then wanted man, now acquitted and is the PM’s Secretary, Gamini Senarath, is alleged to have hidden at first in then two Ministers’ houses in the Southern Province and in one, he was at the Dinner table where the Prime Minister of the day too was at the Dinner Table. So this cycle of “catching crooks” continues. Only we the humble citizens get titillated by this type of news item. To the high and mighty, political parties immaterial, this is nothing. Apply the correct “REMEDIES”, you are finally acquitted, otherwise, 20 years Rigorous Imprisonment. (In some cases you are told well in advance that the remedy would be availed on appeal and not on trial court stage.) MAN! In this country to get a blessed approval something must be passed under the table. The cancer of Kleptocracy has spread far and wide in the polity of this country.
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Lal de Mel / February 6, 2020
The Airbus deal, the recent Forensic Audit and the sentence passed on the Chief of Staff of the former President show the rampant corruption in apex of our political parties. I hope people will reject the rogues and vote for candidates and parties that promise good governance free of corruption at the next election.
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justanotherfool / February 6, 2020
No problem. They can all give you promises. They are free of charge.
However, don’t be foolish enough to believe them to be delivered.
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Ben Hurling / February 5, 2020
Sir,
Two problems:
1. SLFP Pohottuwa & UNP have way too many PATRIOTS wrapped in the national flag
2. Stupid electorate keeps electing PATRIOTS from those two outfits. BLOODY IDIOTS.
Jot this down. Despite the very serious criminality exposed in this case. Nobody will be punished. The arrest warrant issued against Chandrasena couple is an EYEWASH to diffuse the pressure.
Cheers!
/
Amarasiri / February 6, 2020
Ben Hurling,
“2. Stupid electorate keeps electing PATRIOTS from those two outfits. BLOODY IDIOTS.”
BLOODY IDIOTS?
Do you mean imbeciles, mean IQ 79?
Well, most of them follow Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism”, where they prostrate to saffron clad monks, and their prostrations, and the imbecility increases due the Prostration Effect.
This is cause and effect.
The effect is further extended by electing crooks, the Para-crooks by the Para-imbeciles.
/
Native Vedda / February 6, 2020
Ben Hurling
–
Watch out Gota is out and about military medals pinned on his chest.
He has more right to be first among the patriots.
Since Majority of the majority has elected him, he has more rights than all of us.
–
His keynote speech is all about terrorism, …… in the absence of terrorism he will be happy to create one and fight it to destroy it for the sake of patriotism which will keep them in power, big security contracts, ….. …..
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You are making a very big mistake by criticising the clan, praise them if you are going to be well settled in the rest of your life.
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rajash / February 6, 2020
Abraham Lincoln famously said
“You can fool all the people some of the time,
and
some of the people all the time,
but
you cannot fool all the people all the time.”
The exception here is the Sinhala voting public
you can fool all of Sinhala People all of the time
and the Rajapakses know that
in one of his recent public utterance he said
Sinhalese are not Modayas any more
and you know what the Sinhala Modayas believed it !!!!!!!!!!
/
Angered sinhalaya / February 6, 2020
I cant agree with you more. We should have made that much of KARAMA to be treated this way. I wish all these men would have been kept in Jails for the levels of high crimes they deliberately perpetrated then.
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Those who made the country empty- I mean abusing state funds and making the country like Angola – being squeezed by loads of debts to China and others- are today heroes.
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That BP Ajith Kabral is not yet arrested is a WONDER to me – has got his balls to go for it ? and following that BP NIMAL lanza as drug trafficker be puinished accordingly ? So long their elections camapaigns are funded by DRUG traffickers ballige puthas would not do anything. This is a now beyond bearing.
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Even if cost of living is sky high not allowing the destitute to cov er their three meals, not a single pledge is fullfilled by Gotabaya. Neverttheless those who made him the leader – say… he held a good speech in Independence day ?
–
Every leader more over MOST abusive Mahinda Rajapakshe the looter of PUBLIC funds for his own SUKAWIHARANAYA::: made good speeches, but did he walk the talk ? Never, BP enjoyed and is enyjoing further not having done the little to the poor but to his henchmen and SIVURU wearing skin heads. Latter are alike to blue flies being found JARAWA (excrements or cadava) heaps on road sides, but a leader should have done somthing to the nation right ?
–
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Amarasiri / February 6, 2020
Rodrigo,
Goats, scape goats, nanny goats and imbeciles.
72 years after independence, when the British, mean IQ 100, handed over governance to the Paras, mean IQ 79, the Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist” monks, who are an Insult to the Buddha, who took over Buddhism, and who installed themselves as the 3rd Gem of the Triple Gem, transporting that hegemony to the land of Native Veddah Aethho, have taken center stage, and dictated to the politicians that they want to maintain their Monk hegemony.
The imbeciles , mean IQ 79, who have been fooled in the illusion of Nibbana, extinction, have been fooled by the politicians using the monks, promising them hegemony, and have come to power.
So far, over the past 2,300 years, not a single Para-“Buddhist” imbecile has achieved Nibbana or attained extinction. Their low mean IQ of 79 is not conducive to sorting this deception. So , they prostrate to the monks, not knowing that they are pissing in the wind.
The Cunning politicians use the monks and “Buddhism “ to fool them and get elected, and in the meantime they along with their cronies in the tribe fleece the imbecile masses, mean IQ 79.
The same can be said about the Wahhabi-Salafis and those Wahhabi Ulama, who are fooling the Muslim masses. Per prescient Hadith of Najd, the Islamic Sources, the Wahhabis follow Satan .In fact, the Wahhabi graduates of Saudi Arabia scored the lowest GMAT scores in the world, 330, whereas the Sufi Turkey, got 540 and Shia Iran got 520. This is data, not Hadith.
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Amarasiri / February 7, 2020
Frustrated Sinhalaya,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/caption_story/Ex-SriLankan-CEO-wife-remanded/110-182665
Both Kapila and his wife are remanded for taking $2 million out the the $16.5 million Airbus paid as “ Santhosam”
Who took the balance $14.5 million? The tribe? Who in the tribe got it?
Eagle Eye might know.
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MirakRajBanda / February 5, 2020
Gota was so furious to learn his brother, current prime minister, former president Mahinda Rayapakse lied him the Airbus deal when he was the defence secretary and gulped the who amount to himself without sharing within the clan (as usual) unlike MIG to Shangri La deal.
Fair enough one gets angry!!!!
/
EW Golding / February 5, 2020
Rubbish, Gota is/was not so stupid.
He full well knew about this and other corruption full well.
Mr MirakRaj Bandara, are you trying to tell us that Gota did not know what all Colombo has known for years?
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Amarasiri / February 6, 2020
MirakRaj Bandaranaike,
So, MaRa was not sharing the loot with the tribe? What are the tribal rules regarding the sharing of the loot? Does the tribal chief has the final say?
/
raza / February 5, 2020
GMOA is neither a Trade union nor an association, but part of a vicious political organisation. They have yet to establish the Bonafide.
/
Nick Fernandes / February 5, 2020
Buffoon, You have aptly named yourself!
Keep it up Mulatto.
/
chiv / February 5, 2020
See the list of the countries which are now questioned. Malaysia probably will take action. They already did so with ex PM $ 1 Billion bribe, today his wife will be facing charges of corruption. Taiwan , already has evidence ,where politicians and higher ups were incarcerated for “white collar crimes” (like South Korea). Indonesia not sure, if they did it will be capital punishment /death sentence. Ghana lately they have been transparent and going after corrupted politicians. And then we have our Silly Lanka where no one is accountable for anything, not even for murders,rape, embezzlement, or corruption. Let me remind you the similar cases. Udayanga is still absconding even after interpol search. The whistle blower Lasantha is no more. GR one of the accused is our President and must be the only country where the new CEO Ajith Perera finds fault with the probe report ,just like our Govt finding fault with Intelligence Dept/Judiciary. Truth is RW and Ajith P were covering up the old crimes, because they too wanted to continue this practice and try getting the left overs. What a country ?????. Then we have voters who want to bring them all back, at any cost. True Patriots.
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Plato. / February 5, 2020
Kapila Chandrasena and Wife,who have been identified as the fraudsters have vanished. Police are unable to arrest them. Kapila is MaRas man,like the saying MY MAN IN ISTANBUL!
Well,is Kapila the scapegoat? or the sacrificial Lamb?
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Amarasiri / February 7, 2020
Plato,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/caption_story/Ex-SriLankan-CEO-wife-remanded/110-182665
Scapegoats attested.
This is not the Plato’s Republic. This is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, currently governed by the Para tribe from Bharat, and the tribe decides on who us going to the scapegoat, just like the Priests of the Old Testament .
Looks like Kaila and his wife will be sent to the wilderness, with the sins of the tribe, the priest and tribal chieftains will keep their hegemony.
/
George / February 5, 2020
There is nothing to be surprised about this scandal. Sri lanka itself is a scandal and after 72 years of independence , God knows from whom the entire land is mired in scandals. Most probably sri lankans like and enjoy scandals and being involved in cleaning cesspits.
Pity !!!!
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DPJ / February 5, 2020
During approximately the 150 years of rule of this country by the Englishmen, they built an extraordinary structure of roads, railways, buildings to house different government departments, gardens, and many more. What did Bandaranaikes, jayawardenes, Wickremasinghes and Rajapaksas build during the last 72 years. Banda introduced the Sinhala only, discarded English, Sold the tea and rubber estates to their con men and destroyed the whole economy. The Buddhist priests in connivance with the rulers destroyed everything in Buddha Sasana. In return today one has got BMW. The Rajapaksas robbed the country left and right. From 2005 to 2015 3 trillion rupees have been sent abroad. The Suddas gave us the freedom. But the Rajapaksas stole it from us. It became a way for cronies from other countries to rule us. Recently 6.9 million mee harak voted a foreigner as the head of the state. When these goats realise all this it would be too late.
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Chethiyasena / February 6, 2020
DPJ
At independence the country’s population suffered high illiteracy,
plagued by deceases like malaria, polio , cholera , leprosy, filaria etc. all of which have been totally eliminated now.
SL ranks relatively high in UN Human Development Index.
Almost the whole country is electrified now – potable water and sanitation is almost universal- not to mention free education and free health care.
Has an excellent road and working and reliable public transport system.
Unemployment rates are very low.
Population growth rate, infant and maternal mortality rates are on par with developed world levels.
Look at the mega schemes – from Gal Oya – Mahaweli etc.
They all happened under the various post independence leaders- sometimes thanks to them , sometimes despite them.
Just don’t praise the colonial ‘masters’ for everything.
Our post independence leaders have done a lot – but not quite enough and done some real asinine things like the closed economy of the 70s and instigating the 80s racial riots etc.
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An Observer / February 5, 2020
I feel that it would be fair and reasonable to arrest the Chairman, CEO, Board Directors, and the Minister who served in Sri Lanka Air Lines during 2011 to 2015 in order to get to the bottom of this day light robbery by the CEO and his wife. It may be reasonable to assume that the CEO must have acted on the instruction of the Chairman and the Minister.
This is what happened in the “Sil-Redi” case, Bond Scams and many other cases by both previous administrations.
The corrupt politicians give illegal orders and then hide behind these officials to avoid prosecution.
It is laughable to learn that MR is bringing an act of parliament to release the public officials who were justifiably convicted for mis use of public funds by following the instructions given by MR and other Ministers.
Unless we address the real issue and punish the corrupt politicians we will never solve these corrupt activities.
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citizen Perera / February 5, 2020
Kapila Chandrasena should reveal the names of who benefited from this monumental bribe. Chairman, MR and his sons would have got their fair share. Ranil is also responsible for not implementing the Weliamuna report which contains all the details to prosecute the then Chairman. Ranil and MR are two sides of a coin corrupt to the core and protecting thieves. These are the people who have made this country sink to the rock bottom. They will be cursed as long as they live.
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jehan / February 5, 2020
gots also got his cut, he was a director.
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Buddhist / February 5, 2020
Where are the Buddhist Monks, Pohotuwa thugs and GMOA murderers? These guys who jumped up and down as the Yahapalana Govt could not bring former governor of Central Bank from Singapore are now quite when Gota-Mahinda Govt cannot even catch a guy who is in Sri Lanka.
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ajith / February 5, 2020
We should understand why the National anthem was not sung in Tamil in the Independence Day? Simply they can fool Sinhala people by showing that they are patriots to Sinhala and to cover up their big deals at the expense of people money. Just imagine how an ordinary PM can pay 500 million rupees to buy a Tamil MP if he has not received billions from big deals like this. Wait and see that MCC will be signed with big deals going into the hands of top family.
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Douglas / February 5, 2020
This “FRAUD” was under investigation for nearly four (4) years by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office on an “Alert” given by the UKEF. Do anyone with even a mustard size brain, think that this “Investigation” was not known to especially the Sri Lankan Authorities who were “BENEFICIARIES” from the Air Bus Deal. The Sri “Lankan Authorities” definitely included the layer from the very “TOP” (Presidential Level) down to the “Management Level” personnel in the SriLankan Airline. Just imagine an Airline the size of SriLankan ordering 16 aircraft plus to receive a special “Presidential Suite Kit” to be fitted to one of those . This “Massive Fraud” was committed with the full “Co-Operation” and the “Knowledge” of these “Authorities” mentioned above. From the two investigations (Weliamuna & the Presidential Commission) the facts were laid out clearly as regards the “Management” of the Airline since the then President now the PM made a unilateral decision to take over the outfit from Emirates control. Next “COLLABORATOR” in the “CRIME” was no lesser person than the ex PM – Ranil W. He too with his “Arrogance” style of Management and “Deal Making” tendencies, completely “IGNORED” and “BLOCKED” all proposed action against the culprits. Now that the very “PERPETRATORS” in power all these “Tsunami” type public out cry will be made to fade away slowly and steadily. The “SLAVES” are happy. Why? The President has “ORDERED” an investigation. Do the “SLAVES” know that it is “Fodder” fed to keep their flock happy and supportive till the next battle – The Parliamentary Election. Let us wait and see where the “STORM” will “HIT”, but for sure it will fade away as a “Breeze”.
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paragon / February 5, 2020
All frat no shit.right hand order for full investigation and arrest.left hand ignore the order of arrest and arrange a suitable place to hide in a safe place.you can fool some body for some time.but you can’t fool every body all the time.THIS IS A HIDE AND SEEK GAME TO FOOL THE SINGALA VEERAYAS.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / February 5, 2020
Boniface Buffon Rodrigo,
I think this whole Airbus fiasco was carefully orchestrated by the US of A to give it’s own struggling Aircraft Manufacturer Boeing a new lease of life.
After the Boeing 737 MAXs started falling off the sky, the Boeing stock price tanked by about a 25% from it’s peak. Not only that at every Air Show EADS subsidiary Airbus was stealing all the good business and there were hardly any orders for Boeing at the last Paris Air show.
Uncle Sam knew it had to do something to resurrect this situation. It exposed Airbus dealings so that Boeing could live another day.
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Simon De Silva / February 6, 2020
Shemale Perera@ aka most known Refugee after LEAVING the country for IMPUNITY@ …. unlike you guys, but the man who fucked Rajafukse became Army commander today….. entire world knew all these BPs killed as a butcher would do it.
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you guys keep on trying to covber it as was the case with that BP – Rajafucker Relative former so called UKraine HC- my foot, the kind of men to represent us in external affairs – but did the same with MIG plane purchase.
Our poor guys Lasantha W was stabbed to death under the command of BP Gotler after leaking the news. Today the murderer of Lasantha W is the president of srilanka – the commander of the ARMY and other two forces ? My foot, are we all standing on our heads ?
.
This says all about the truths of today s srilanka. So if anyone would keep hopes, it will be just a LIFE LONG dream… there will be nothing but CRIMINALS would get more in the days to come in our lovely country – we called motherland.
:
Can we introduce ourselves as SRILANKENS to anyone ? perhaps to Swaziland or Belarus folks… but not to any civlized world.
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apita aba saranayi !!!!!
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Tamil from the north / February 6, 2020
Shemale Regi boy, what is an uneducated ill witted army donkey talking about intelligent things? Don’t you have any toilets to go and clean?
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / February 6, 2020
So, you think these are “intelligent things”?
LOL!
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JD / February 5, 2020
It is very common and is the usual practice they give commis in every business. If you give business them, they give you some Santhosam. In this case, the total santhosam is EURO 17 million. Out of that, they may have already paid $ 2 million, probably not too as they did not buy anything. As politicians become part of the scandle they may not allow the arrest too.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / February 6, 2020
JD,
Do you know who are world renowned for extending their arms for Santhosam?
Go to Nuwara Eliya and throw a few hundred rupees and watch how the estate Tamils come with their extended arms asking for Santhosam.
Go to Jaffna and do the same and see how the girls up there come and not only ask for Santhosam, they want give Santhosam too.
LOL!
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paragon / February 7, 2020
MR.SHAMAL
why do you need to go to all the way to jaffna to find santhosam.santhosam is very cheap to get from your own kind available from colupitiya to katharagam all alone galle road in so called massaage center operating under the guise of small textile shops ran by the widows of soldiers killed in north-east.
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 7, 2020
Red. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera,
u sick old uncle who thrives on polluting the minds souls of your own Yakko young souls whose bodies are openly penetrated by the old aunties cum uncles and they are the ones who bring in the much needed foreign exchange to the shitty sorry bankrupt nation.
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you buggers with absolutely no moral values have made this once very very respectable island which was a few moons ago a saintly paradise worth its salt for a visit.
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get it out of your little shitty midget that the northeastern and the upcountry Tamil old or young lasses do not come running to you yaks or any other descent requesting for santhosams.?
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that’s a specialty and it is reserved by the Yakko’s who love demanding the so-called santhosams.with the sole purpose of selling their soiled bodies?
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your vile members of the forcibly occupying un-welcome members of the armed forces are the culprits behind the drug and the prostitution curses which they have readily inflicted right throughout the whole island.
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what a bunch of undesirables they are.?
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you eager less ? sumane the menike, JD and a few others with doorsra bowling always receive negative likes with their putrid and petty racists comments.
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a disgrace and a liability to the whole world.
better to have you buggers castrated and then culled by that I mean destroyed to make the whole the whole racist Yakko race who were forced out of Orissa, India for their criminal and moral misdemeanors.?
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cheers, R. J., the one with guts who is just not afraid of the soiled asses of the Yakko race and one who’s admired by the ladies of the Sinhalese race.
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Save ul / February 6, 2020
People dont forget the finance head of sri lankan, who is a total crook is in the middle of this. Along with yahapalana ceo at that time Rakitha duty free man. All this was structured by head of finanace. Truth will come out soon.
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 6, 2020
the makers of France owned a company known to one and as the makers of the airbus aircraft have to be corrupt to obtain orders for their products from various corrupt dubious sources where monies are the common language.
no paisa no can do with the orders is the common moan and a wail.
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during the rajapuk years which thankfully came to death in 2005, my classmate thiru Kumar nadesan the present husband of Nirupama Rajapakse the only daughter of the late Mr. George Rajapakse a decent honest politico whose untimely demise is felt even at this very second.
the daughter took over his electorate and to date has had more losses than wins and at the moment she’s just a stay housewife.
when the rajapuk’s were in power she was sidelined and treated as an orphan.
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when emirates handed over the Sri Lankan airways in 2011 due to a few full fares paid passengers were not allowed by the airline due to the rajapuk freeloaders were deprived of a free ride.=
then the wide arsed overweight mahindan rajapuk took offense and got his officials to renegade on the tight-fisted agreement and spent billions of much needed foreign currency to boot out emirates who were running the previously loss-making air Lanka on a thumping profit basis and it was always in the black.
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after his act of petty revenge, with inferior quality ape minisu staff being appointed the airline sooner than later became in a short period the globe’s biggest making airline.
it still maintains this not so prestigious status quo.
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then when in 2005 shiranthi rajapuka was the most unpopular first lady ever to sit on the royal bog, insisted her brother an uneducated coconut estate planter was appointed as the chairman of the quality profit-making much-admired by all business enterprise.
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they cast the evil lecherous evil eyes on the nation’s pride and joy and from that very second it was and still a down the pallan ride.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / February 6, 2020
I like the bit about the High Priest in Jerusalam..
He must be the one who collaborated with Pontius Pilate to send Jesus from Nasareth to the Cross.-
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Our Yhapalana Cabinet didn’t know how to do Bond Trading.
How would they about those French and European Laws let alone the West Minister Rules , when it comes to their National and Business Interests ,
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This is an open and shut case as far as Srilankan is concerned.
Kapila and the Missus got the Dosh and banked it in CommBank in Sydney.
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All we got to do is ask Scottie from Marketing there nicely, to tell the CommBank to send that money back to Kapila’s Missus account in Standard Chartered Bank ib Colombo..
And take it from there.
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I am sure Scottie will do it , because they are now dead serious against money Laundering because of the threat of International Terrorism to their Nation…
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Also we have that precedent set in Kotte after the Yahapalana Bong Scam.
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PM Dr Rani impounded LKR 11 Billion from Aloysious and quarantined it .
Promising to pay it back to our poor suckers who put their life savings in the EPF?.
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Wonder whether they got any of that back yet?..
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JD / February 6, 2020
Offer Kapila Chandrasena the Sri Lankan Air line CEO position. By next day morning, he will be in Sri Lanka. He is Australia I heard. With Air Line money, he also rented more than one floor of the Dubai Hilton and had a grand party, probably with Sri lankan Air Line money.
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 6, 2020
JD,
wrong again.?
according to the daily mirror have finally surrendered to the CID in the company of many a lawyer.
as to who the legal team members are the billion-dollar query.?
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a little squeaky squealing birdy tells me that they are the followers of the crim rajapuks who are now shitting in their amude of a panty.
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if they are remanded today or tomorrow after being lightly ape minisu questioning they might be remanded in the prison hospital or a luxurious jailhouse suite where all the goodies that one could be dreamt of will be supplied with the compliments of the now suddenly become heavens angels the mighty powerful rajapuk’s.
there are speculations in the right connections scumbag society circles that the kallathoni big boss will order the said court and the prosecuting team to release the corrupt couple on bail with the minimum requisites.
these nanthal pappa perks are denied to the rest of the supposed be crims.
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there are steps being taken to keep the ralapuka’s VIP joduwa together in a padded noise-free suite with no bar to enable them to enjoy their fourth honeymoon in absolute bliss.
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I am now impatient on what fun and games will take place to throat the course of impartial clean justice.?
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so shitty sorry Sri Lanka the place to be is the groans and moans of the freedom-loving corruption-free folk.
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now I regret my folly in running away from this tasteless paradise 33 years ago.
cheers, R. J.
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 7, 2020
at last a positive comment from the type-less skills of the likes of JD.?
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now that the chandrasenas have been dumped into the buckets of shit and they will to be in and carry the can.?
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when one yak is not worth his or her in commercial criminal or ill-gotten monetary value he or she or they are just unceremoniously thrown to being devoured by the crocodiles and the wolves.?
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chiv / February 6, 2020
As long Lankans have a near “full house of criminals,crooks,anti socials, psychopaths,bigots, racist,rapist, drug peddlers, people with proven criminal records and similar other shitheads, you ain,t have independence or freedom(from immorality). So good luck with the independence day celebrations. We had gala celebrations for 71 previous years , end of which brought us to current shit hole situation.
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shankar / February 6, 2020
there is no hunt at all here.First they tell the guys that there is going to be an arrest warrant and to get out of the country quickly.Then they get the arrest warrant after they have left.Smart move by??
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Siri / February 6, 2020
“Wetath Niyarath”goyam kewe num kata kiyannada? This is exactly what has happened in this country of ours! These people not only hold the political power but also the enormous financial resources to negate any prosecution by the judiciary. They do not have to get a 2/3rd mandate at the general election but it will be bought buy them to do whatever they want in the name of “DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COUNTRY”. Ha ..ha.. ha.. a never ending carnival for for all the corrupts. Poor little paradise and its powerless people!
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Mano / February 6, 2020
Why cry so loud for this petty crime when you are spared of the Para Demala LTTE and their terrorism Permanently and the whole Island is all for Para Telugu Sinhalayas.
Rulers may come and go whether they be sudha or Ariya Sinhalayas, but the criminals are there for ever at the top and bottom of everything..
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chiv / February 6, 2020
Mano, what you said seems to be the attitude of Silly voters of Silly Lanka. The country may be theirs, but after selling all the assets to foreigners , they (voters) will be, left with just a barren/bankrupt land.
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UKCitizen / February 6, 2020
Kapila is a Rajapakse man.
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He was also involved in brokering a corrupt Telecom deal involving the previous President’s brother.
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Don’t be fooled- this guy is being protected – very much doubt you will see more than a lot of Sr Lanka “Big Talk”!
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His linked-in profile shows him living in Melbourne – won’t be too difficult to track him down.
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Alway nice when arrests are announce ahead of time allowing the suspect to escape!
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Herman / February 6, 2020
From 1948 we sri lankans have been ruled by ” Sarong Johnnies ” in parliament.
The other set of Johnnies are the ” Amuday Johnnies ” who covered their Amudays by wearing shirts and pants. These buggers recruited their catcher boys to do their dirty work because the buggers did not know how to do dirty work. They were, and are still so bloody illiterate.
Over the years the population that was once good turned out to be rotten like their leaders the Amudayas.
What can one expect as time goes by ????????????????????????
2500 years of culture !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My bloody Arse.
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Douglas / February 6, 2020
Now “Kapila” and his Wife are in custody. According to what transpired in courts, no details of any “Accounts” have been divulged . Both are in custody, as the Law Enforcement needs to investigate further on the matter, specially re. “Accounts” and the relevant financial transactions. However, there could be many a falls between the cup and the lip. Remember, the “Board of Directors” meeting held in the “Official Residence” of the then Speaker, Mr. Chamal Rajapakse (presently a MP) where this “Air Bus” purchase was agreed upon. The relevant “Board Meeting” minutes were obtained under an “Order” from the “Rights Commission”. I think, CT published an article relating to that “Episode” (of obtaining the Information) somewhere last year. This “WHERE” the “STORY” began and hope the Law Enforcement would address the “ISSUES” from there on-wards up to this “BRIBE” scandal. This Kapila must be given all the facilities to speak the TRUTH; if NOT even “Water Boarding” is recommended, in USA style, that which is known to our present President.
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Lion / February 6, 2020
Douglas don’t underestimate Chamal R when it comes to matters related to the airline industry. He is the master brain behind the establishment of an international airport at Mattala. No feasibility was required, voters in the area requested and the govt provided. Thereafter the govt. had to subsidized airlines to fly to Mattala. MR’s youngest son is following his uncle’s footsteps and sending rockets to the moon at
Sri lanka’s taxpayers expense.
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JD / February 6, 2020
Kapila Chandrasena is a white collar Criminal backed by then LAw Makers probably half of the 225. I read, they both surrendered to the police. Are they now in the PRISON HOSPITAL because that is how Sri Lankan Prison system works for favoured white collar criminals.
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Mano / February 7, 2020
Retd.Lt.Shamal Perera/
Only those begging bowls know who the best givers are./
From the images of the last days of war and during rehabilitation show enough of beggars taking santhosams at gun point and taking santhosam from the female dead corposes./
You may have personal experience if you were among the santhosam beggars in the army that fought a Holy Patriotic War. /
A war universally contributed and acclaimed like states of Silly Lanka./
Cheer up Chiv.!
Our new leadership will deliver all our expectations in complete and in compact packages.
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Native Vedda / February 7, 2020
Mano
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“Our new leadership will deliver all our expectations in complete and in compact packages.”
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Please let me have your answers to my stupid questions:
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Can you please give me the names of people whom you think are the principal members of so called leadership, indicating those whom you consider crooks, war criminals, human right abusers, sand pirates, thugs, commission agents 10%, 20%, ….. wife beaters, phedophiles, rapists, land grabbers, racists, bigots, ignorants, fascists, ….?
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What was expected of them?
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When will it deliver?
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What was made into compact package?
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If your leadership fails to deliver all your expectations how will you take it in your stride?
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