The appointment of five new Governors have raised disturbing questions over President Maithripala Sirisena’s commitment to holding free and fair elections as all newly-appointed Governors have strong political involvements in the provinces to which they have been appointed.
Sirisena
The tradition – the unwritten rule – is that the Governor is from outside the province for which he is governor, especially when the appointee is an active politician. This is to avoid problems in conducting free and fair elections with a Governor wielding immense power to interfere and obstruct the work of the Election Commission during elections.
Two of the most glaringly offensive appointments involve those of M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, National List MP from Katankudi and State Minister of Highways and Road Development as Governor of Eastern Province, and that of Azath Salley, the flamboyant former UPFA Deputy Mayor of Colombo.
Hisbullah has resigned his MP and Deputy Minister posts effective 4 Jan, 2019, to be free to take up his new appointment as the Governor of Eastern Province where he has vested electoral interests. Salley, active in Colombo’s Municipal politics, is also in a position to interfere in elections within the Western Province.
Even the appointments of Sarath Ekanayake as Governor of North Central Province is questionable given that he was active as the Chief Minister of the neighbouring Central Province. Likewise, Peshala Jayarathna Bandara as Governor of North Western Province will wield influence in the North Central Province where he was Chief Minister.
It remains unclear as to how the Elections Commission will handle the elections that are due this year and the next with partisan Governors in charge of provinces where they are politically active.
“After showing a total lack of commitment to democracy, fairness and good governance, and to the Constitution since 26 October 2018. We naturally wonder what tricks President Maithripala Sirisena is up to now in making these appointments and what other tricks are in his bag for the remaining four Governorships?” an informed political source questioned, raising concerns over the President’s objectives.
Muslim / January 6, 2019
Ranil and his guys are merrymaking while Sira and the Rajapaksa group are having the last laugh.
Chandrika should take a lead role to destroy the traitors of the SLFP party.She must come forward and save
the party before it is too late. Why the fear in coming forward to to save the party ?
/
Babalathappu / January 6, 2019
I have the feeling that you TOO are heavily caught ASATH SALLY syndrome. Sally has now become the sillest, breaking his all various kind of permenant rhetorics against former goons. If the man is sane, how can he ever support SIRISENA men further? Not just a portion of lanken society, but nobody else, lanken SUPREME court made it clear that SIRISENA broke the law and became unconsititutional in terms of sudden dissolution of parliament. Lot more cases against his silly actions are to come. We will hear them in the days to come.
.
RW is not merry making but he is very patient and cant make magics in today *s situation. Sirisena has further been abusing his power to paint UNP as very unfriendly towards the nation. : Sirisena does not seem to give a damn regarding the burnings issues of the poor people. He just thought of grabing an extension, thus he has been working on getting that done. By hook or crook. He has nothing more to loose.
.
Lanken press in between make HEADLINES of the every fart being left by most abusive egocentric man of the nation -Rajakashe. And publish personal vendetta -spats of UNP MPs but nothing about mother in law treatments regarding ministerial appointments standing against PM s recommendations.
:
The worst – where on earth AN INFORMANT of a country let send harmful information just becasue SIRISENSA, for our bad luck, as a President himself holds the ministry of LAW and ORder? Meaning right at this moment, not any other ministers but SIRISENA himself abuses his power to core, not knowing the constitutional limitations. As a BARBER would do it, SIRISENA is obviously doing what he thinks is right until he is removed by PEOPLE s protests.
:
Country is made to a mess by SIRISENS as the mad soldier is given the brutal weapon.
/
Fouzi / January 7, 2019
But do not ignore the fact that Azzath Salley has been appointed as Governor of the Western Province and Hizbullah as the Governor for the Eastern Province. Both are from their own home bases. These appointments have been made by President Sirisena with the ulterior motive of the Presidential Elections, due this year. Wonder, how the Elections Commissioner will be able to conduct free and fair elections !!!
/
Native Vedda / January 6, 2019
Muslim
–
Aren’t you happy the man M. L. A. M. Hizbullah who is from the Islamic Republic of Kattankudy is being appointed the Governor of Eastern Sri Lanka, a province of the Kandyan Kingdom?
–
Only recently he said UNP and SLFP had 100 and 103 MPs respectively now been appointed Governor.
–
I remember him saying to his supporters that he did what had to be done in the East to tame Tamils. Is Hopper Sirisena trying to fish in troubled waters?
–
Is Tiruvengadam Vellupillai Prabaharan having the last laugh in Mullivaikkal.
–
Please visit his Youtube rhetorics.
/
Andare / January 6, 2019
LOL. Chandrika has already come forward but the question is who else will join her ? Currently She is controlling a group of SLFP MPs who managed to get into Parliament thanks to the national list.. She has absolutely no power among grassroots SLFPiers. She better join UNP now.
/
Native Vedda / January 6, 2019
Sinhala_Man
–
I repeat where are your wise, educated(?), compassionate, liberal, secular, non political, honest, committed, listening, visionary, humility,…………………. .
–
This is the cumulative effect of having a corrupt, racially skewed state, parochial politicians, competitive racism, smart ass patriots, academics who are partial to crooks, war criminals, ………….. myth making historians, unaccountable armed forces, stupid state functionaries, ……………….
–
Academics get very very angry with those who point out the truth.
/
Amila / January 6, 2019
Sirisena now does not have the opportunity to contest any future elections due to violation of constitution so he will do his level best to destroy unp as well as pohottuwa. Ranil manage to get the pm post due to collective effort of unp back benchers, jvp, tna, many social movements, most of general public and pressure from international community. If about another 5 – 10 unp members crossed over to sirisenas side, ranil would have lost the game. Problem is he never learns. This is why since 1994, he has unable to win presidential elections. Even after gettingpm post, it seems he is playing same old song rather than hitting back at mr and sirisena to eliminate them from political arena. Meantime siri will for sure try to change pm again soon.
/
Ranjith / January 6, 2019
In every action of Sirisena, it absolutely and abundantly shows that he is morally and otherwise very corrupt and man of high vengeance. Now he put another spook in the operation of government, like tying the leg of man, holding the rope and asking him to run. No one knows who are his advisors. This is his ulterior motive to stall and sabotage the smooth functioning of the UNF administration. First off, let him show, what kind of paper quailifation – degree – he has to sit on the top chair as president. His brother’s as chief of SLT or all these governors’ and rest of his team, also all his Ambassadors like the baggage porter embassider to Qatar. One rule for him and another for others. Lot of them with high paper qualifications failed miserably. It’s not the paper qualification what matters, it’s their integrity, past performances and their proven abilities as movers and shakers to get the required goals and results what’s expected out of them. Abe Lincoln became the greatest President of US, Edison became the greatest inventer in the history, Henry Ford car legend perfected the modern day essambally production and vehicular technology, Andrew Carnegie the father of entigrated steel making and the man set up the top and famous Carnegie Mellon University, Bill Gates, Steven Job etc are without degrees and formal education. and did wonders to the world and man kind. Now, PayPal fame billionaire, Peter Thyle has set up a fund, out his own money, to fund thousands of students, who have the drive. determination, stamina, strength, burning desire and passion etc to purse their dreams without going to college. According to him the colleges rob their dreams and waste best part of their lives which could be put to better use to them and the world.
/
Native Vedda / January 6, 2019
Amarasiri, Sinhala_Man, Amila, Ranjith, rajash, Craig,
–
Now M. L. A. M. Hizbullah who is from the Islamic Republic of Kattankudy is being appointed the Governor of Eastern Sri Lanka, a province of the Kandyan Kingdom, don’t you think he is better than the previous governor Mrs Deepthi Bogollagama?
/
Libertarian / January 6, 2019
A butcher by profession with no knowledge of political acumen and administrative abilities has been appointed Governer of Western Province. He is a Kuliyata Buranna who needs only bone to be dangled in front to wag his tail and political direction. God save Western Province
/
rbh / January 6, 2019
Lack of commitment to democracy the failure of principle, Nobody can make you inferior without your permission. ( code of polite behaviour in society ) this what happened, wasting time nothing discovered the value for the People.If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.
/
Rwkd / January 6, 2019
Shame! Shame! Shame!. Is there no end to the ridiculous and dastardly acts of this individual called the president
/
Mallaiyuran / January 6, 2019
Hezbollah Eastern governor, Rishard resettling of displaced, Hakeem Higher Education, Ranil Northern Development Minister………….
Ranil, as he promised, certainly following every foot step of Don Stephen, The Adam of the Lankawe’s sins.
Isn’t that why Dayasiri and Dilan has said in their reply to Sumanthiran that “soon Sumanthiran will learn who Ranil is- The greatest cheater – The foxy (Nariya)… “
/
Buddhist / January 6, 2019
When an unethical, uneducated, constitution violating President Sirisena has powers no one can do anything. Only solution is for the voters to pressure their MP’s to pass an impeachment motion to kick Sirisena out.
/
MAMS / January 6, 2019
Sorry I have been busy yesterday so no time to read thru all comments. From what I see, this guy who is only educated up to grade ten or max twelve is working on his level of education. He doesn’t have a university degree from Srilanka but who knows if he got one from elsewhere.
The crux of the matter is he wants to have a crack at the Presidential election due this year contrary to his pledge on assumption of . Elsewhere I read his intention to field brother Dudley and daughter Chaturika.
His enmity with UNF that catapulted him to Presidency is understandable since RW informed his intention to contest years ago. His greed for power saw no bounds thus using or wielding powers he had or didn’t have is of no use.
Best at this moment is to keep all materials, video clips and statements made at the time of last presidential election pre & post and play back when he contents again. This is how US, Canada and most advanced countries fight such cunning foxes. Teach Sillysena his own way so he will never dare to violate the sanctity of constitution of Srilanka.
/