By Amrit Muttukumaru –
Amrit Muttukumaru
The centerpiece of Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Presidential Election campaign and that of the General Election campaign of his NPP was to combat corruption and hold wrongdoers accountable through credible investigative and judicial processes. It is now more than 6 and 4 months respectively after the Presidential and General Elections. This time period is more than sufficient to demonstrate whether he is sincere in combating corruption. AKD and his NPP have dismally failed in this task.
In the context of some ‘open and shut’ cases of egregious corruption being ignored, what we see are some political lightweights being remanded for relatively run-of-the-mill misdemeanors and two or three members of the Rajapaksa family being summoned to the CID for what appears to be ‘fishing expeditions’!
Alleged Rajapaksa Corruption
Instead of mere talk at public rallies, if AKD is serious about getting to the bottom of alleged corruption under the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, all he has to do is demand from Dr. Harsha de Silva that he makes available to the authorities the cupboard full of files he publicly claimed with responsibility to have of outrageous corruption in the construction of expressways, illicit drugs and money laundering in locations such as St. Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles and Dubai. Given below is the link (11:15 onwards):
This is a person who at the very least is projected as the Finance Minister in the event of a SJB government.
To keep the focus on the alleged BMW duty fraud, many other instances of alleged corruption will be overlooked for now.
Alleged BMW Duty Fraud
It is well known that one of the most corrupt institutions in government is Sri Lanka Customs. This does not mean that everyone there is corrupt.
In this context, I refer to a scandalous case of corruption where the Customs Department has been dragging its feet for more than a decade.
I can do no better than quote the news item in the state owned ‘Daily News’ of 9 June 2018 captioned “Customs begins probe into undervalued BMW’s”
“Sri Lanka Customs has resumed an investigation into an alleged massive fraud amounting to Rs.16 billion when importing 1,675 of BMW vehicles.
This is considered as the largest ever customs fraud in Sri Lanka. The alleged fraud had taken place by presenting forged documents to the Customs after concealing the real value of 1,675 BMW vehicles.
The vehicles worth more than 25,000 USD are not exempt from taxes. But, tax exemptions had been received for BMWs worth over USD 30,000 each by furnishing fictitious invoices which placed the value well under US$ 25,000 when Chulananda Perera was functioning as the Director General of Customs.”
It is nothing short of shocking there has been no closure and accountability for this case which originated more than a decade ago.
Implications
The lethargy/refusal of Sri Lanka Customs, state agencies such as the ‘Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption’ and indeed successive governments to touch this case even with a barge pole must be viewed in the context that it will prise open the hotbed of corruption in Sri Lanka which involves politicians, bigwigs in the private sector, senior bureaucrats and professionals particularly auditors and lawyers.
In this mix is the businessmen controlled mainstream media which themselves are lethargic and at times neglect to publish some cases of corruption.
I know readers will scream that I have mentioned the media despite quoting the media! The ground reality is that in some instances such as in the alleged BMW duty fraud, some mainstream media although compelled to report, for the most part will not undertake the required follow-up due to business reasons which include advertising and patronage. Is not this case originating more than a decade ago and still festering evidence of this?
Should not the first order of business in this alleged fraud be the naming of recipients of the 1,675 BMW vehicles? Is it not such parties that create the demand that lead to terrible corruption in this country? This is precisely what is avoided by all and sundry – even politicians of different shades.
Of course the naming of the politicians and public officials who have sold their permits must follow after naming those creating the demand.
AKD’s Secretary holds the key
AKD has a golden opportunity to demonstrate his anti-corruption credentials through his Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake who has been a long standing senior officer at ‘Sri Lanka Customs’.
According to the Presidential Secretariat website he commenced his Customs career in 1997 as Assistant Superintendent.
The ‘Daily FT’ of 24 September 2024 reports:
“Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was yesterday appointed as the Secretary to the President, the Government Information Department announced. Dr. Kumanayake had previously served as the Deputy Director of Sri Lanka Customs, focusing on research areas such as Corruption and Integrity in Customs”
I reiterate: “Deputy Director of Sri Lanka Customs, focusing on research areas such as Corruption and Integrity in Customs”
It will be seen that AKD’s Secretary is well placed to unravel this case which the state owned ‘Daily News’ of 9 June 2018 has described as:
“largest ever customs fraud in Sri Lanka”
Under no circumstances am I stating that the Secretary to the President has any involvement in this alleged fraud.
Conclusion
The ‘naming’ of recipients of the 1,675 BMW vehicles and the politicians and public officials who have sold their permits will go a long way to stop corruption in its tracks. I have a hunch this will not happen.
It is persons such as these recipients who create the demand for most of the terrible corruption in Sri Lanka.
It is hoped that affluent NGOs such as Transparency International Sri Lanka, Verité Research and Advocata Institute who talk the hind legs off a donkey on good governance and a corruption free country will pick up the baton and put pressure on AKD to make good on his promise to combat corruption. I have a hunch this too will not happen.
Let us see whether the country’s only stand-alone business newspaper ‘Daily FT’ published by WNL will carry this article? I am not holding my breath!
nimal fernando / April 12, 2025
The cleanest pol/leader ever to walk the face of Lanka, Mr Clean …….. is giving the other clean pols of all sides, a clean bill of health. Everyone is nothing but clean: they all got enormously wealthy through nothing but God’s and DTG’s help! ……… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZXp62dFGO8
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All the comments look like Jit and Deepthi wrote them! …….. hard to disagree ……. :)))
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Now, let’s see the intellectual honesty of the Lankan elite …….. who can find targets as way back as Mao, Sirimavo, Pol Pot, Pharisees, ……. you name it ………..
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nimal fernando / April 12, 2025
Is a great Lankan economic-wisdom like Ranil up to this guy or is it amature hour? …………… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkN-3pVVDzg
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surath / April 12, 2025
Good reminder. Let’s see whether any party Viz the Customs, the Govt, the NGOs, or the media men would respond. The System thrives!
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Ajith / April 12, 2025
“Alleged BMW Duty Fraud Is Test Case For AKD”
Not only this but there are many cases that are the tests for AKD and NPP including ” Thaiyiddy” illegal building by Gotabaya Government, Buddhist Priests and Military.
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deepthi silva / April 12, 2025
Very good article.
There are these rogues everywhere thinking they are very smart, playing the system.
Another area where rogues go to get respectability is as sports officials of sporting associations.
Very many of these so called promotors of sports are very wealthy but cannot explain their wealth.
Some of them have never done a job, never run a business office , pay very little tax , but have overnight become extremely wealthy.
Obviously they have earned black money. Some of them even have Swiss bank accounts.
How ?
Should not the government and the Tax Department get active ?
Should such rascals be allowed to bring a bad smell to sports by their association with it?
Their corruption and bribery is reflected in elections at sports bodies where they are elected for decades. Why are these wealthy manipulators in sports ?
As a basic requirement, all sports officials must be asked to provide their Tax number and if the Minister thinks it fit should ask for a forensic audit of their wealth.
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SJ / April 12, 2025
“Should such rascals be allowed to bring a bad smell to sports by their association with it?”
Will it make a difference to the existing stench coming from match fixes and shady sponsorships.
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Jaffna Man / April 12, 2025
Thank you Amrit.
We elected AKD to bring about change. He must.
I have touched on this BMW scandal and pointed out how lawyer uphold corruption:
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/ranil-wickremesinghes-promises-the-parrot-that-waited-in-vain-for-the-fruit-to-ripen/
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whywhy / April 14, 2025
Jaffna Man ,
” We elected AKD to bring about change . He must . “
Before the election , what was India to AKD ? And Now ? Before the
election , did you ever see Vijitha Herath , Handunneththi and Bimal
in full Coat and Tie in parliament ? And Now ? Change has happened .
When Modi arrived AKD allowed his security to open the door for him .
Jaffna Man , slowly slowly they change and the system will follow
suit but Trump is the hurdle now . One thing is certain that they are
determined not to be involved in corruption but again it is not going to be
that hard either because no new investments , no new corruptions !
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Mallaiyuran / April 15, 2025
WhyWhy,
“Jaffna Man , slowly slowly they change and the system will follow
suit but Trump is the hurdle now . “
Trump may stand on the door forever. He may open the door and invite NPP to trade with America. Visited Hearth and Handunneththi will be the first Messengers to America. All what ADK administration have to do is hold on Chinese contracts for some time. Israel will import Rapist Army soldiers to fertilize Barron Israeli farms. The issue Evil is cleaning there is no change took place from what ever he was doing. I am not going to designate it as neither right nor wrong. That doesn’t fit in to my ability or education. I am just to let you know some more corners to visit to evaluate whether change took place or not. Two days ago, the Aanai Party Seyalaalar said if his boss was in power this time, he would have settled all the tariff maters with one call to Washington DC. But Evil Emperor said it is he and his people will have to decide in future what should be the place of America in the tarde.
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Mallaiyuran / April 15, 2025
Sorry, Firefox posted for me. Can you read as “Trump may not stand forever”. Today I saw a news saying that Israel is going to fix the Langkang’s Rapist Air Force, old Israeli sold planes. That is better deal for AKD who still less Dollar than he needs. In this case, it could be a semi barter. The news was saying that this planes repair deal from India and China for new planes. Instead of reaping the old planes, Israel may be a good candidate to modernize the local farms, which heavy foreign dependency was one killed the Gothapayal’s government because he imported Poop instead of fertilizer. Israeli do the world’s best no nonsense farming using the Hamas as their farmworkers. Now they are going to test with our Rapist Army instead of Hamas. They really, really could fix the Langkang farming, where farmers go on more labor strike than industrial factory laborers.
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SJ / April 16, 2025
“Instead of reaping the old planes…”
How does one reap them planes?
Using a harvester perhaps?
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whywhy / April 16, 2025
Mallai ,
Trump is playing ‘ Good , Bad and Ugly ‘ all in one . Any country
that put all its eggs in one basket is in trouble . It is always troubles
that are being designed from all corners of the planet . Trump
message to EU is ‘ pay your bills first.’ I think Trump is struggling
between Austerity and Free Trade . A country that heavily depended
on illegal labour for its economy , can not suddenly switched to
affordable labour for local manufacturing . Aanai Seyalar has forgotten
that his boss can do wonders even with Charles and Macron . His one
call to Douglas Peiris , once upon a time solved problems as well .
Thanks Mallai . Your views are important here .
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hanchopancha / April 12, 2025
Thank you very much Mr. Amrit Muthukumaru for your contribution. Unlike other contributors you are committed, principled dedicated and stand tall on your principles. The Chinhgalese are the only race in the world who will sell their mother and father for mere quarter of a penny. It is in their blood. It is ingrained into the minds. You have touched only the tip of the iceberg. Trailing after the Waters Edge fraud it became a trend to raid valuable properties or soft targets whose owner is domiciled overseas on account of employment usually without a male member. This property was invaded by procuring the services of the Nawala Nihal underworld. Police complaint was lodged at the Welikada Police Station and when police questioned alleged party he said he procured the property from Nawala Nihal who had control of the place by being in charge of Dirty Works Department of Presidential Detail.
TBC
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SJ / April 12, 2025
“The Chinhgalese are the only race in the world who will sell their mother and father for mere quarter of a penny. “
*
May I know your selling price is? I am not buying, just curiosity.
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SJ / April 12, 2025
May I know what your selling price is? I am not buying, just curiosity.
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Mallaiyuran / April 14, 2025
Mr. CEO of the Nariya Brand H2S Factory and Cholera output importing manager, keep an eye on your Munthanai Holder. With his borrowed scientific intellectualism, being jealous of your unbelievably illuminating capacity, in order to discourage you he is downplaying your prospects of becoming the first Trillionaire of the world by producing the Hydrogen Sulfide powered cars in your gas factory. Because of his wholesale nature of trading scientific quotes, he never gets time to think how the world is using science to harness nature. He is telling you H2S is a highly toxic gas. That comes from a half-baked understanding of science. Further, he never heard that the contemporary gasoline powered cars, too exude toxic output, but the international (Other than Scotland) engineers learned to use catalytic converters and minimize the effect of the exhaust.
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LankaScot / April 15, 2025
Hello Mallaiyuran,
How many tuk-tuks in Sri Lanka have Catalytic converters? Petrol and Diesel fumes (I am not talking about Exhaust Fumes) won’t kill you instantly like H2S at 1000 parts per million. H2S is inherently dangerous and requires special handling precautions. https://tft-pneumatic.com/blog/working-with-hydrogen-sulfide-h2s/
I worked on an Oil Installation called Brent Spar in the early 1980s where a couple of Technicians died from H2S exposure in the Utility Shaft. Here is a similar event 20 years or so later, that involved repairs in the Utility Shaft but this time from Hydrocarbon Vapours. https://www.shellnews.net/brent/shell-brent-scandal-fatal-accident-report-18-july-2006.htm
You said “He is telling you H2S is a highly toxic gas. That comes from a half-baked understanding of science”. Explain what is the” half baked understanding”. A couple of times I have been on Lifeboat Evacuations from an Oil Rig during a high H2S Event. Every Year in Qatar we had to Complete a Course on H2S Safety, same in the North Sea Oil Industry.
Best regards
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Mallaiyuran / April 16, 2025
LankaScot
Sorry for my mistake. I didn’t know you meant replacing tuk-tuks with H2S engines. But I meant making cars with H2S. Is that being your assumption, your Munthanai client becoming a Trillionaire by changing tuk-tuks’ gasoline engines to H2S.
I can’t believe that your brain is damaged by not being able to understand even those puny notions of science but farting against Lester! Please don’t bring back the same thing again and again, o H2S poisonous property. Modern science has turned medicine into the world’s unbelievably dangerous substances like Uranium, Radium, snake venom, Scorpion venom, ……….
Please don’t exert too much pressure because somebody will have to make an emergency call to export the things coming out.
Your comments suggest you are more capable of running many H2S cars than your mate, so why don’t you start a H2s car factory yourself.
Read something, before you just baffle man or hold your Munthanai to protect your comrades!
Get well!
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SJ / April 16, 2025
“I didn’t know you meant replacing tuk-tuks with H2S engines. But I meant making cars with H2S.”
That is a business proposal from the beans based H2S plant itself.
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LankaScot / April 16, 2025
Hello SJ,
Is he seriously deranged, or does he use Google Translate for all his Comments?
Best regards
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SJ / April 16, 2025
I doubt if Google translate is so incompetent.
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Mallaiyuran / April 14, 2025
Furthermore, don’t worry about any environmental lawsuits, The Bathiudeen saw and Mig Import fame PC will save you and Cholera Poop importer Gothapayal with one rope.
“Did Einstein ever accept the uncertainty principle?
No, Albert Einstein did not accept the Heisenberg uncertainty principle as a fundamental physical law. He famously disagreed with the idea of inherent uncertainty in the quantum world, famously stating, “God does not play dice”. This disagreement stemmed from his belief in a deterministic universe where everything had a definite cause and effect, which contrasted with the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics “
Could you comment on the above quotation and in the event, you beg to differ, please link with Mappings?
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LankaScot / April 15, 2025
Hello Mallaiyuran or is it Lester in disguise.
Try not to use ChatGPT for your quotes. Try it in your own words using your own understanding of the issues. As Roger Penrose says “My own view is that to understand quantum nonlocality we shall require a radical new theory”.
Erwin Schrodinger “I don’t like it, and I’m sorry I ever had anything to do with it”
In the Foreword (1997) to the Book Einstein’s Miracoulous Year, Roger Penrose says “I would, myself, side strongly with Einstein in his belief in a submicroscopic reality, and with his conviction that present-day quantum mechanics is fundamentally incomplete” Page xiii.
This was Lester “Even Einstein was initially skeptical of QM”. I replied “No he was not initially skeptical of QM. His Nobel Prize 1921 was for his work on the Photoelectric Effect based on his 1905 Paper. This Paper proved the Quantum Mechanical Nature of Light. You can read it here https://einsteinpapers.press.princeton.edu/vol2-trans/100
See how people like Lester twist things?
So the question for you is “Do you think that the Laws of Physics are Deterministic or Probabilistic?
Best regards
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Mallaiyuran / April 16, 2025
“So the question for you is “Do you think that the Laws of Physics are Deterministic or Probabilistic? ‘
The nature of any law is deterministic. Maybe you want to change your question.
If a property of the matter or event is described by a law, then that is final, and that area is deterministic. It has always been the early scientists of a topic, by being able to crack some early secrecy of the relevant subject, too enthusiastic about what they saw, and they trumpet the existence of imaginary laws and misdirect some laws, without understanding the entirety of it. The principle of uncertainty is one like that. I am waiting for somebody to start to release an experiment testing how vacuums bear sub-particles, and how they become alive. That is the foundation of nature, as per Hinduism. If the principle of uncertainty is true, the existence of the universe is uncertain. Otherwise, if you take a piece of gold in your hand, it could be nothing other than a piece of rotten iron. I am not talking about the value of it to nature or the universe. I am talking about the value of it to living personalities. Universe consumes matter as digested sub-particles. For living personalities only, the final product has any value, so gold is not gold for it when gold is in its earlier formats, sub-particles inclusive.
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Mallaiyuran / April 16, 2025
In science, the truth of deterministic physics of sub-particles only supports the true existence of massive objects in the Universe. Otherwise, as professed in Hinduism, the Universe is only Maya. Maya is not comparable to the decay of Uranium-235, which reduces by half over a period of 700 million years. Maya is not the prediction of death of something in future. It is a clear demonstration of nothing to have existed, ever, in the past or will exist in future. The sensing of the existence of that is, some sub-particles in the human body malfunction by the probabilistic nature and detecting some ghostly world outside of it. So, our only option through the door of science, at this time, is assuming all physical laws are of the nature of deterministic. We don’t believe Kali Matha opened her eyes to see a devotee standing alone in her presence. Similarly, we do not believe that when a scientist holds a gold bar, it suddenly transforms into a pound of iron rust due to the probabilistic nature of subatomic particles. If any technology is needed, theorems are not yet propounded, those will be presented in due course. So, there is no rush to hang Galileo Galilei. So, one can be well ready to accept and agree with what is going to be understood and invented in the future. Until that transcending to see the truth, a relief to the anxious soul.
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SJ / April 16, 2025
LS
Eureka!
It is Lester.
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Mallaiyuran / April 16, 2025
LankaScot,
Sorry for my mistake. I didn’t know you meant replacing tuk-tuks with H2S engines. But I meant making cars with H2S. Is that being your assumption, your Munthanai client becoming a Trillionaire by changing tuk-tuks’ gasoline engines to H2S.
I can’t believe that your brain is damaged by not being able to understand even those puny notions of science but farting against Lester! Please don’t bring back the same thing again and again, o H2S poisonous property. Modern science has turned medicine into the world’s unbelievably dangerous substances like Uranium, Radium, snake venom, Scorpion venom, ……….
Please don’t exert too much pressure because somebody will have to make an emergency call to export the things coming out.
Your comments suggest you are more capable of running many H2S cars than your mate, so why don’t you start a H2s car factory yourself.
Read something, before you just baffle man or hold your Munthanai to protect your comrades!
Get well!
/
Mallaiyuran / April 14, 2025
Again, poop importing, selling Pharmacy items?
My I know how much Siri Ma O and Bathiudeen pay to get you as their water boy? He is a Tamil. Its $400B. Total bill to kill to create a rapist defense force, get designated as rapist force not by just Raping Tamil population, but including reasonably Sinhalese too, Import MIG, Thermobaric, Cluster and Chemical gas, and getting Kefir and Devora from Israel. The cost of going to the moon and importing Rice to Feed the Sinhala Intellectuals is not included. Unless all these were done, he would still be a Soulbury constriction’s free citizen.
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SJ / April 15, 2025
Some solids too now after all the blowing.
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Mallaiyuran / April 16, 2025
Why, did they stop selling corks in Langkang now? It seems to be you are running out of options to cork your top and bottom holes. Why don’t you visit to a timber yard; there only something suitable to stop your cholera river may be selling?
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SJ / April 16, 2025
“cork your top and bottom hole”
In your case, is there a difference between the two outputs?
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whywhy / April 15, 2025
SJ ,
Serious customers only ! No window shopping .
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SJ / April 15, 2025
ww
Thanks.
But there may be others interested.
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Jit / April 13, 2025
“…..The Chinhgalese are the only race in the world who will sell their mother and father for mere quarter of a penny….”
–
Well I read an article by a Tamil gentleman I hold in high esteem and it looks there are others too….”Today, in Jaffna, it’s hard to carry a conversation for more than a minute without hearing the word “Kodi” (millions)—referring not to dreams or ambitions, but to land values, uttered amid crumbling structures and a backdrop of decay…..”
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/are-we-becoming-a-handout-society/
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SJ / April 16, 2025
J
Racist bigots do not wait to be revealed by others.
They are too impatient for that, and do it themselves.
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hanchopancha / April 12, 2025
The Police reneged its duty. Consequently, it had to be a civil case. They did not expect to go to courts as the Plaintiff was in the cross wires of contract killers. They filed a Counterclaim by faking documents. It was proved during the trial in the DC Court without ambiguity that they are fakes indeed. The Defendant tried to procure the judge. It was not possible. He got the Chief Justice to subdivide the Court and got a corrupt judge who later was forced out from the bench to write an Order by turning fiction to facts and facts to fiction. The intimateness of the Chief Justice and the defendant is inscribed on the Pedestal of the Statue of Ven. Anagarika Darmapala at Narahenpita junction.
TBC
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hanchopancha / April 12, 2025
The Defense Attorney being an intimate friend of Chief Justice Mohan Pieris hijacked all the court proceedings that ensued and successfully embedded his wishes to the HC and SC Orders. In great anticipation that the JVP/NPP consisting of President, PM, Minister of Justice, the Secretary to Ministry of Justice, Mr. Telvin Silva, Mr. Lalakantha and many others for their integrity were notified of this mutilation of the Constitution by a criminal syndicate. They are under Oath Of Office to uphold, defend and secure the Constitution. In spite of countless pleadings they have remained silent like a dead mule. This is a 180 degree reversal from what they promised the Electorate. The Judiciary is the one and only fortress which protects the citizens and the third leg the country rests on. No doubt the JVP/NPP Government has put the citizens in great peril by a coterie of irresponsible individuals. The people have slashed their nose in spite of the face.
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Naman / April 13, 2025
” businessmen controlled mainstream media”
During more than a decade of rule by Rajapaksa brothers, the newspapers ownerships were taken up of businessmen who were in support of Paksas. Hence, these newspapers aren’t interested to highlight financial and other crimes committed by them. Newspapers should be independent / not being biased.
The State employees who had witnessed the corruptions by the former ministers/PMs/Presidents should come forward and put it to the public in order for GoSL to begin the investigations
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Douglas / April 14, 2025
What the writer insists is and must be in the “Must Do List. At the same time, it must be understood that it is not an “Easy” task. This is well understood by the present government. Please listen to what the President says in the link below.
https://youtu.be/oMITolJwu7Q?si=mukNAnLvewaoELbK
It is not easy to move a machine that has been collecting dust for decades and turned to perform in a sluggish speed. However, things are moving but undoubtedly at a slow speed.
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old codger / April 15, 2025
Douglas,
I have always said that it is Sri Lankan culture that must change, not governments or leaders.
Even the NPP government is going about it the wrong way. Exhibiting the Tooth Relic is not a good start.
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Douglas / April 16, 2025
OC: “Exhibiting the Tooth Relic is not a good start”. I do not wish to express any opinion on this “Exhibition” because it is considered a religious and cultural event. This “tooth Relic” exhibition dates back to BC 304-322. Even in 2003 and 2009, there had been such exhibitions.
My concern is with the “Cleaning” up of the “Political Culture”. That “START” came with the imprisonment of the Chief Minister of the North Central Province along with his Secretary for 16 years. There are many more of such “Cleanings” in the pipeline. That is the “Exhibition” I am waiting for.
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old codger / April 16, 2025
Douglas,
“My concern is with the “Cleaning” up of the “Political Culture”.
Exactly. I don’t see much change in the political culture when the government continues to use religion for its own political ends. Didn’t the NPP claim to be a group of committed secular socialists? But today they are seen playing the Sinhala Buddhist card as well as any previous regime.
On second thoughts, maybe this is a very clever ploy to take attention off the defence deal with India, which according to the Indian media, is unprecedented.
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Naman / April 14, 2025
Why don’t the Department of Motor vehicles licensing authorities and Income Tax Departments coordinate and check on their tax returns forms over the last few years in order to check whether their income was obtained legitimately and had been paying the DUE TAXES
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Naman / April 14, 2025
During the last five DECADES, various Governments of SL behaved as if they were the MAFIA heads and made use of the STATE apparatuses and the UNDERWORLD organisations to carry out illegal activities/heinous crimes against those who were OBJECTING or voicing their views
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SJ / April 14, 2025
N
Please tell us when exactly the underworld became a big player.
The beginnings were under JRJ, but the war played a role in strengthening the link between the state and the underworld.
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Raj-UK / April 15, 2025
The German owner of Prestige Automobiles has been in SL for more than 30 years & knows how things operate after hobnobbing with all the dodgy business elites & politicians in the country. Apparently made a packet out of importing bullet proof BMWs for CBK & MR.
Although the BMW model imported to SL on permit were assembled in Malaysia & arguably does not have the same build quality (a certain percentage has to be sourced locally), a price tag under $30 would make it the cheapest BMW in the world, competing with ‘average’ brands. Under-invoicing in the motor trade is known but this was at another level where an export company paid the difference in price from funds not remitted to SL. That it self is money laundering in a sense. If AKD’s PA was a former customs director & it happened during his watch, I will be surprised if this gets hushed up again, so it would be interesting if Mr Amit & other civic minded people keep this saga on going.
Prestige Group also owned a workshop across the road & was at war with the residents who opposed to a workshop in a residential area but the strategy was to hire a PC to keep the case on going indefinitely until the poor residents ran out of money & dropped the case.
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Good Sense / April 16, 2025
BMW case is only a tip in the iceberg. Most probably, BMW and in lots of others it cannot be a genuine mistake or something bona-fide. To me, can AKD stop being a practical politician and stop identifying national priorities? Must he personally poke his finger to everything under the sun? AKD must identify and appoint or cause to appoint capable persons with integrity and commitment to the Bribery and Corruption Commission, both the Commissioners including the staff and certainly not party loyalists, lackeys or “Old-Boys”. Pay them very well and not the measly figures stipulated by the Treasury. Let the Bribery and Corruption Commission investigate matters including this and book the fellows. It appears that there a lot of bogus Doctors in the setup including the chap who could wear the Speaker’s garb properly. The current Secretary to the President is indeed and old boy of the Customs and he should know a good number of tricks that are played on the State and the Public. In fact, the man must be seconded as an expert on Customs Fraud and Corruption to Bribery Commission.
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whywhy / April 16, 2025
Running after corruption , Bribery , Fraud and abuse of power is like
having the tiger by its tail now for AKD and NPP . The moment you
take your hands off , it is tiger’s turn on you . In my memory , if there
was one man on the street canvassing for a politician , he belonged to
gangsters club . Only someone who dared the police took to the street .
Election times had been the Festival Times of Goons all our history .
If that was not the case why JVP got blood on its hands ? And who hasn’t
got blood on his hands in our politics ? No question here that all evils
must stop but , but at what cost ? Any cost ? Even if it leads to despotism
one day ? I have a story here about a man standing for this coming local
election , from JVP . He is a neighbour , sharing one boundary wall with
an elderly and helpless person who is living under my support . And on
top of that this candidate is a relative of this person . And I asked this
elderly person , if this candidate ever came for a visit in many years ?
The answer was frustrating No . Imagine , he is going to be elected to serve
thousands ! I am sure I can stop this man winning but then ? The next man
not a better choice either ! So , why bother ? Our politics is a clean rot .
/
SJ / April 16, 2025
“In my memory , if there was one man on the street canvassing for a politician , he belonged to gangsters club .”
I have more decent memories even in 1977.
/
whywhy / April 16, 2025
Soththi Upali was reportedly active from 1970 and Gonawala
Sunil from the same year or couple of years later . In Matara ,
a man called Thowfeek was in action for either A C Darmapala
or Mahanama Samaraweera . The real trick is to find a
politician’s name who didn’t have a goon to run his campaign .
/