The appointment of a new Cabinet has arrived at a fresh deadlock with President Maithripala Sirisena refusing to appoint crossover SLFP MPs and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to Cabinet positions.
President Sirisena
At the Central Committee meeting of the party held at the Presidential Secretariat last night, Sirisena had assured his party that he would not appoint crossover MPs and former Army Commander Fonseka who has severely criticized the President since the outbreak of the political crisis.
President Sirisena, at the Central Committee meeting, had specifically mentioned the names of Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Indika Bandaranaike and Lakshman Seneviratne who crossed over to the ruling party in Parliament. On a previous occasion, the President informed the UNP that he will not appoint Piyasena Gamage, A.H.M. Fowzie and Manusha Nanayakkara as Cabinet members.
The UNP, however, has shot back at the President saying it is the United National Front (UNF) that will make final decisions on the ministerial portfolios. Informed party sources also added that the UNP would continue to negotiate with SLFP MPs willing to work with the UNF government.
“Three SLFP MPs joined the UNF yesterday. Three more will join today or tomorrow. With them joining the government, the SLFP, headed by the President, will have only 15 members in Parliament. A person who has only 15 members in the House cannot dictate terms to a party that has 109 MPs,” a senior UNP Spokesman told Colombo Telegraph this morning.
The President has also informed the UNP that he will not relinquish the Police Department and the Ministry of Media. The UNP, however, has vehemently opposed the President’s move, insisting that the two ministries should come under the UNP’s purview.
UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told the media this morning that under no circumstances would the UNP agree with the President’s demands on the Law and Order Ministry and the Media Ministry.
Ajay / December 19, 2018
Hey rogue President, you were found by the supreme court to be in clear violation of the constitution. You’re only a lame duck President until you’re impeached and incarcerated. You have forfeited the people’s trust and respect. Therefore you have no moral authority to dictate terms to the PM or the parliament with regard to the appointment of a new cabinet. You have no right to pontificate about political ethics after trying to buy MPs with money, and endorsing the fake cabinet of fake PM Mahinda full of underworld criminals. You have indeed gone totally cuckoo. Your behaviour is out of control. Please leave the citizens of this country alone and seek psychiatric help.
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Amarasiri / December 19, 2018
Sirisena,
You said you would resign, if Ranil W becomes PM. Now Ranil is OM, and you are putting up new conditions, because your balls got dissolved and the Supreme Court unanimously confirmed that. Would you be happy to have one of Ballls of the Fake Former PM? He certainly does not need 2 balls. If not, can get you two donkey balls larger than the Fake PM balls.
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Simon De Silva / December 19, 2018
Amarasiri,
Sirisena s day are numbered.
He will have to face it sooner than later. He has no any kind of praise from any parties right at the moment. Sure ballige putha Rajakshe led groups accuse him of being betrayed. And UNF led groups would not want even see the bugger a day further.
Tihs country is taken to all depths by this man, and his not knowing the least about any norms.
We the ones who thought it was only Rajakshes to be accountable, attached you and the like some good commenters, there I too thought things would change iwth the time for the benefit of the masses, but today, I got to know Sirisena would not give a ministry to Gernal Sarath Fonseka, which I believe is not acceptable at all.
There on the other hands, those men lately joined to SLPP claim to be SLFPrs in order to protect their rights int he parliament. How can we bear all these ?
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Thiru / December 19, 2018
Man who violated the constitution and the rule of law is dictating terms to the parliament and the government.
Instead, he should be indicted for his crimes. How cheeky can he be!
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Steve / December 19, 2018
Another gridlock? Constitutional experts please let this forum know who finally decides on cabinet appointments. We don’t need a bloated cabinet just to satisfy crossovers, who are merely time-servers.
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Suren / December 19, 2018
Sirisena you are utterly not fit to stay in that scared position any longer for you violated the constitution and done illegal acts which was confirmed by the highest court of the land. Hence, if you are the man of honour, please gracefully vacate that position and leave the country to mind it’s business. If you don’t, soon people would take you out from that place. All had enough of you for the last 51 days, and don’t test the people’s patients any more. Just a remainder, you or ask your minions to walk around and ask the people who they feel about your cowered acts, and all are deadly and terribly upset about all what you, MR and junta did for the country in last 51 days.
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Lankan / December 19, 2018
To clean up the rubbish;
1. Impeach Silly Pol booruwa
2. Sarath Fonseka for Law and Order
Show some leadership please for godness sake! Generations to come will thank you.
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Native Vedda / December 19, 2018
Lankan
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I am bit of a sceptic when it comes to Ranil’s ability to steer the entire country into a new brave world. He has to look over his shoulder every second that he is in office. First he has to find courage to challenge the crooks, fascists, racists, war criminals those who were born with the silver spoon in his/her/its mouth, those who from politically connected family, within his own party, then of course challenge the opposition.
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Then of course educating the masses and the stupid racists in this forum and elsewhere.
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How does one stop the stupid Sri Lankans creating new problems/conflicts before sorting out the previous ones?
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The problem that is allowed to linger for many years is the political party’s reluctance to deal with Sinhala/Buddhism (Fascism). Every crook, criminal, war criminal, racist, bigot, irrespective of party affiliation ……………………. invokes his loyalty to Sinha/Buddhism and finds it as the best and convenient place to hide with impunity as if doing the right thing according to law and moral principles is Blasphemous. Chapter II of the Constitution probably gives them the invincibility, justification, incentive, ……….. to continue to indulge in illegal, immoral, …………. criminal …………. activities.
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Therefore one must find and destroy their hiding places.
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Vanguard / December 20, 2018
“First he has to find courage to challenge the crooks, fascists, racists, war criminals those who were born with the silver spoon in his/her/its mouth, those who from politically connected family, within his own party, then of course challenge the opposition.”
Ha Ha Ha Ha… keep dreaming friend. He is not mad neither is he going to commit political sucide.
Would be nice to see, though.
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sunil / December 19, 2018
The President has been elected by the entire country and it is his constitutional prerogative to form a government in collaboration with the UNP.
If the President vetoes some individuals so be it. If UNP does not like it, go for an election and get two third majority and change the constitution.
All parties must be under no illusion that they are loved and revered by the Sri Lankans. At best, the politicians are perceived as a set of rogues.
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shankar / December 19, 2018
“A person who has only 15 members in the House cannot dictate terms to a party that has 109 MPs,” a senior UNP Spokesman told Colombo Telegraph this morning.”
that is not the way to look at it.Look at the constitution and what it says about the role of the president in the appointment of the ministers.I vaguely remember something like the PM will choose his cabinet in consultation with the president or something like that.If that is the case then the president is not just a rubber stamp.So i think ranil may have to agree as sira may be within the constitution.
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Nihal / December 19, 2018
Lessons learned last fifty days are seem to be not enough.
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Upul / December 19, 2018
This is classic idiotic behaviour. Without any power, MS is trying to dictate terms. It will be smart for the UNP to play along and then go the Supreme Court for a final verdict.
It looks like MS is trying to score points and maintain some semblance of relevance. Someone should have told him of the consequences of his stupid decisions before he implemented them, on Oct 26th.
According to him, he was being advised by leading legal luminaries and experts!
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shankar / December 19, 2018
“The President has also informed the UNP that he will not relinquish the Police Department and the Ministry of Media. “
again you have to look at the constitution whether he has the right to appropriate ministries and put them under him.I don’t think so.If the constitution has not granted such powers go to courts.
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RuwanL / December 19, 2018
Cross overs should not be tolerated be it from any party as we the voters voted the parliamentarians from the part we prefer as each party has policies that are unique to the party! It is a shame that this was tolerated and approved by Sarath Silva some time ago! Those ministers who lost at elections should also not be brought in through the back door till the next election Soysa lost his seat came through the back door and switched to the UNP! He should be kicked out of the party!
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concerned citizen / December 19, 2018
According to the changes made to the constitution can the President disagree to the ministerial proposal submitted by the PM, or is it still decided by the president.
if so can the UNP go to courts on this matter as well if the president hangs on to this.
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Don Stanley / December 19, 2018
Quite correct, good decision by Sira for once!
The horse trading bi-partisan UNP-SLFP corruption racket in the Cesspit of corruption called the parliament of Sri Lanka headed by Bondscam Ranil who should be impeached for looting the Central Bank of Sri Lanka must end.
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Lapatiya / December 19, 2018
UNP should not give in to this “Sevala Man’s” demands. Before he said even if the 225 parliament members signed he will not appoint Ranil as PM. Finally he had to appoint Ranil as PM. Same way UNP should do something to get rid off of this corked mad man as it is very clear that he will not allow UNF to govern the Country. Chathurika Sirisena can write another book as “Pissu Kelina Janadhipathi Thatha”
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Simon De Silva / December 19, 2018
This man proved him to be a dictator.
How can a man whose mandate came in through UNP but the very same man to treat them that way just because UNPrs would never want to make him the COMMON candidate for the next presidential election ?
Sirisena is obviously the most abusive lanken leader who lost his credibility to minus levels not having proper knowledge as a leader in this country. Not just his education, but general knoweldge about the simple things seem tob e the problem with his leadership today.
He makes it very clear, that he would not APPOINT Fonsekar as a minister even if the war won hero could be an able person to bring ELPHAHNT-human conflict in to the end. See, if this bugger SIRISENA is a people’s leader how could he react against his own people this way.
I think only way out would be to bring AN IMPEACHMENT and get this man away from lanken politics.
Not just that, he should be kept in a jail for his rest of life, after getting a report of the Psyhologists and psychitrists to see, the man s behavoiur is within sanity levels:
We lost that much during last 50 days alone, with lanken economy is put on the life support.
Alone in Jan 2019, the lanken GOVT has to pay a debt installment of 1000 million US$. The rest during 2019 itself are going to be over 6000 of US$.
Where would they get these loans from, us being now kept even on B2 category by Moodies rating system ?
Why ballige puthas of SIRISENA and RAJAKASHE nature seem to have not the least knowledge on these grave problems that the country has to pay as a result of their POWER greedy politics ?
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Bitchson / December 20, 2018
I challenge you to say “Why ballige putha Prabakaran”. Otherwise shut up.
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rbh / December 19, 2018
Experts has shown the path how to cross over, Emotions can run high when politics enter the conversational ring, Now all are following.
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critical thinking / December 19, 2018
until MAIthri is impeached, this gridlock will continue in Sri Lanka .. All this drama is to protect his life, his greed for a second term, his misuse of power is clear indication this executive system is no good for SL. yet, 22 million Sri Lankans do not have bravery to come streets as French people who came to streets just for demanding to reduce oil price,
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Desperate Sinhalaya / December 19, 2018
Coming colour is no good :
In the days to come there will be a common alliance being made these days to sack SIRISENA. Those who now talk loyal to sirisena will certainly join hand with anti-SIRISENA UNF led forces.
I have no doubt, that SIRISENA will have to end up either in a jail cell or a hospital room not being able to keep the association to any human beings.
If the man would have been mentally healthy, would he ever continue to be the JOKER to the world ?
Srilanka is reported to be one of the oldest democracies in the asia. The world would be very unhappy when talking anything about the lanken politics today, looking at the manner RAJAKAPKSHE and SIRISENA treat the people. Theyare not at all conerned about grieving people s issues rather stay struggling to their power gain tactics.
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Suranga Gunasekera / December 19, 2018
Makes sense to all the parties.
SLFP can claim they withdrew because they didn’t want to support the Tamils.
UNP can claim they are willing to work with SLFP, but because MS didn’t give them a choice they had to work with TNA.
The truth is that both parties are getting ready for the elections next year.
Eventually MR will become the Opposition leader, TNA and UNP will form the government, MS will gain more popularity.
Only reason they don’t like General Fonseka is, he being a cabinet minister will make things worse for them in terms of guarding their dirty secrets.
No major party cares about us, but only focused on how to claim power.
For us it’s personal but for them it’s just business.
Think before you vote
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Sinhala_Man / December 19, 2018
This is all very subjective; therefore as a very ordinary voter may I express my equally subjective views.
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I am one who voted in My3 as President. Still consider him honest and decent, but out of his depth: naive. He had no business to hob nob with the Rakapaksas after being elected with my vote.
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He is morally right to reject the crossover guys.
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However, I consider Fonseka a must for the cabinet.
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If my comment is crazy, it’s only because so much else seems equally crazy to me.
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Samson Gunawardhana / December 19, 2018
Sinhala Man,
SIRISENA behaves as if a child would easily become offenede.
How can he ever behave so ? And how many more weeks should we tolerate the guy and his abusive nature this way ?
Fonseka had planned all the way along to bring good systems in order to protect those people that have been captured by Elephant-Human conflicts. Anyways, now all is thrown to the waters.
I am very sad to see this situation. I know MP SF personally. I know how honest he has been.
We have been thrown to all the low levels to date.
I am speechless , so fed up of lanken politics.
Greetings from Switzerland.
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Vanguar / December 20, 2018
“Still consider him honest and decent, but out of his depth: naive.”
I agree with you, I thought he was not so naive, but the sophisticated 100 days BS and stuff was pure UNP hype, without substance.
Just keep observing the new UNP cabinet and how they will ruin sorry run the country in the next few months. It’s a win win all around for the President.
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Adrian / December 19, 2018
If the intentions of all Crossover MP’s is to strengthen the government to serve the Masses then they should come without any expectations. PM also should form his 30 Cabinet from within the UNP members who have stood with the Party during the crisis.
What is good for the Goose is good for the Gander. MS gave MR a free hand to choose his Cabinet & swore in all the UNP crossovers as Ministers & Deputies, then what is all this fuss about RW’s nominees? Besides he doesnt want SF because he was critical? That is personal & his actions must be condemned by all for creating chaos in the country not only SF.
He wants to retain the Law & Order Ministry to ensure that the cases against his new bedfellows can be suppressed. Appoint SF as the Law & Order Minister he will put all these Horu inside.
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R Fernando / December 19, 2018
What is his principal in not advocating crossovers ?He performed the biggest political crossover in the entire history of the world , as far as I know. Has anyone heard of a President who changed sides ?He also accomodated UNP crossovers & gave them cabinet portfolios.
“Pot calling the kettle black” is an understatement in this regard
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Naman / December 19, 2018
MS need not get worried if he has not committed crimes and he should be outside the ministerial Posts.
Law and order ministry should go to Fonseka. Police can be under Ranil
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MAMS / December 19, 2018
Who can break this deadlock? God in heaven, please intervene in the impasse since we have a sillysena at the helm of affairs. Country is losing opportunities by the day to move forward and meet its obligation.
Sheer jealousy is seen all over his face. Sira don’t make this a Banana Republic. Think about 22 million people’s future instead of your EGO.
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Chitra / December 19, 2018
Still cannot get their act straight. The drama, and power games continue at the people’s expense. Sillysena having a tantrum again?
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Gratiaen. / December 19, 2018
Write your comment here…This is a hell of a situation!!!How could the PM run the Govt:with this type of a Prez???
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chiv / December 19, 2018
MS is there from day one to sabotage and see UNP not succeed with any of their plans and fail.If every appointment and proposals need his approval then there is no way UNP could run the government. Also if he decides to keep certain ministries under his preview , it will turn our two opposite forces trying to move in same direction. Given his personality traits of resentment, vengeance, greed, crooked thinking, back stabbing —-etc , his sole mission will be to frustrate and see RW fail. Only one of them can be in power but not both. In medical parlance , MS has turned into STD which a person cannot get rid of.(acquired during the honey moon period)
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Robert Lorimer / December 19, 2018
So with both sides claiming the rights, can someone clarify how the law or constitution stands on this issue,please?.Or is it again a case for the courts to rule.?
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Professor ANI Ekanayaka / December 19, 2018
The UNP must take a very firm stand and not budge one inch to accomodate the insane demands of an ordinary peasant turned president. He is behaving like a cheap megalomaniac who has lost touch with reality. The reality is that he should have been forced to resign or worse face punishment after the courts decreed that he had broken the constitution by dissolving parliament. His cheap political conspiracy having miserably failed, and being forced to back down ignominously his situation is humiliating. He looks ridiculous. In a democracy somebody in the position of a squashed cockroach can hardly dictate terms !
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edwin rodrigo / December 19, 2018
This news items confirms my theory that Sirisena is the reincarnation of Rakthaksha Raksha (The Red Eyed Devil) who decimated 7 villages in the Kadawata area about 500 years back. According to Folklore, this Raksha loved to eat human flesh and drink human blood. He took one man a day, everyday from these villages, until he was caught and imprisoned in a bottle by a great Kattadiya. The Kattadiya predicted that he may escape the bottle and come back to haunt the area again eventually.
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Not many know that Sirisena was born in Kanda Liyadda Paluwa one of those 7 villages that was decimated by the devil 500 years ago. Eventually Sirisena’s father migrated to Polonnaruwa area and settled down there. Sirisena grew up there and in dastardly act of revenge set fire to his father’s paddy field, which was about to be harvested.
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The new Yaksha has become more devilish and has now started to take not one but many a day as his food. The latest victims are the 30 member cabinet that he has eaten up in one gulp.
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Simon De Silva / December 19, 2018
See, how he has been behaving today ?
But he started to criticise Rajpakshe at the very begining. How come a man to be stupid this much if his mental health is normal ?
I pray all god to take this man away sooner than later, because entire lanken structure is being destroyed by him day by day.
What we expect is nothing else but some peace until next election is held.
SC has given its verdict that President violated the constitution.
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