President Maithripala Sirisena’s extreme arrogance in denying charges that state officers under his command have been dragging their feet on the investigations into the killings of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Ekneligoda makes him liable immediately to a charge of contempt of court, Colombo Telegraph learns.
Responding to a question posed by Azzam Ameen in an interview for the BBC interview on January 24th 2016 to the effect that the court had observed the lack of collaboration by the Army Commander, the President vehemently denied the charge, saying that ‘ whoever may make such allegations, the court or whoever it may be, that is wrong.’
The statement tantamounts to a comment made during the course of an ongoing inquiry and is sub-judice. The legal rule of sub-judice prohibits the making of any statement in relation to an ongoing case which may prejudice the final outcome.
The President’s tone in making those comments were offensive and arrogant also may amount to scandalising the court which is a separate charge of contempt. “If the first citizen of the land talks in such a manner regarding the authority of court, what hope does yahapalanaya and the Rule of Law have?” an observer asked.
Is stark contrast to the lackadaisical attitude of the investigators and court regarding the murders, an arrest warrant was issued against Galagoda Atte Gnanasara yesterday, on charges of contempt of court. He has been charged with commenting, threatening, and insulting witnesses of the ongoing inquiry into the murder of Prageeth Ekneligoda.
Voter / January 26, 2016
The man is going from bad to worse, adding arrogance to the list of ‘negatives’ in his developing character as president.
How ‘power corrupts’ is now on display and hopefully we won’t be subjected to any ‘absolute power’ in the near future or we will sliding back to the days of the previous bunch that we were so happy to be rid of.
It’s high time that someone close to Sirisena and who cares for him, advise him on his innumerable gaffes that are increasing with amazing speed.
Looks like the poor man can’t come to terms with his position. Another example of ‘Godayata Magic’???
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Leelawathie / January 26, 2016
This is no right.
Just CT is against Sirisena, we must not our two cents worth against him not thinking twice.
I heard him saying that Ekanaligoda wife is not specialist… that is very right. We have to investigate the cases, but not just doing them inaproapriate manner. As every one is clear, if there are prima facie evidences only the court can go for a verdict against.
I also had the feeling wihle watching and reading about Ekaniligoda story – that had rather lot to do with their pvt life- even Ms Ekaniligoda was abused by some politicians for their vote gains.
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Sinhala_Man / January 26, 2016
Dear Leelawathie,
I agree with you. A couple of days ago we were given the entire interview with the BBC. It was disappointing – Maithri’s performance. What has CT achieved by putting this excerpt on?
They have trivialised the issues relating to Telecom, Mobitel and Hutch. Also, it was Maithri’s DUTY to have commented on the “Parakramabahu Song”. Who is going to believe that he hasn’t heard it? Well, if he hasn’t, he’s again failed us, because we want a President who knows what is happening in the country.
Ms Sandya Ekneligoda is one hell of a tough woman, but I think an honest and single-minded woman. I’ve met her – on the 30th Dec. 2014. I’m no politician, but few could have been more committed to seeing the end of the Rajapaksas than I. This had be achieved by associating myself with some group, and so I went along to the “Birthday” of the NSSP. It was no tamasha or party. Bahu was not feeling well, and a glass of plain tea was brought for him (I’m telling you this because when I got home I was asked whether we had feasted); that was all the refreshment that was served. On the contrary, we were asked if we could please contribute to party activities, however little it was.
There may have been a hundred and fifty people in the “New Town Hall” – which I that day discovered was on Greenpath (now again called Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, after the Rajapaksas turned in to “Nelum Pokuna Road). Anyway, I found myself seated next to a lady, who, on inquiry, turned out to be Sandya E. She was then quite sure that her husband was alive still.
I think that she was there this year as well, but I didn’t speak to her. Whatever their private lives, murder has clearly been committed for political reasons. Thajudeen has been murdered because he said he knew where Gamini Fonseka’s grand-daughter had a birthmark.
By screaming about everything, the significant and the trivial get scrambled together. I’m afraid that that is what CT is doing: is it to prove their motto that “truth is a process”? The future of our country is too important to play around with like this.
Also, the interviewer was too tame: throwing the volleyball up, for Maithri to smash it (metaphor deliberately chosen because it’s high time that we acknowledged that games like volleyball are all that the hoi polloi can afford. Not Enrico Iglesias concert tickets @ Rs 35,000/=).
Please click on this to see how the BBC has conducted a very recent interview in English:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03fyn5p
See what I mean?
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Amarasiri / January 28, 2016
Sinhala_Man
“Ms Sandya Ekneligoda is one hell of a tough woman, but I think an honest and single-minded woman. I’ve met her – on the 30th Dec. 2014. I’m no politician, but few could have been more committed to seeing the end of the Rajapaksas than I.”
Thanks for the eye witness information.
So, who are the culprits? Who will gain and who will lose? Read between the lines.
Through the Grape Vine, Bulath Vine, Vettila Vine News.
Another clue regarding ‘disappearance’ of Eknaligoda.
According to information revealed in investigations carried out the CID suspect that journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda had been murdered in Akkaraipattu jungles or in the ocean after he was abducted and extensive investigations are being carried out to determine exactly the place where he was murdered.
However, important evidence that Mr. Eknaligoda was blindfolded and taken away from Giritale Army Camp to Akkaraipattu area has been found by the CID.
Evidence has also been received that the mobile phone of the Army Colonel who was in charge of the group that took away Mr. Eknaligoda from Giritale Camp had been active in Akkaraipattu area several hours after the incident.
It has been revealed that the relevant Colonel had had telephone conversations with the other parties connected to the murder of Eknaligoda.
Two Army Colonels and four other s have been remanded regarding the abduction and disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.
Several in Buddhist monks’ robes carried out a protest when the suspects were brought to Homagama Courts and the secretary of Bodhu Bala Sena Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thera was remanded for contempt of court during the incident.
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Leslie Mostley / January 26, 2016
Aiyo Sirisena is far too ignorant of the nuances of matters sub-judice.
The country bumpkin will walk from one controversy to the other as time goes. High UN officials are already openly calling the loose cannon unreliable and short of calling him a liar – a reputation that was a monopoly of Mahinda Rajapakse. That is our new President and the founder of the Yahapaalanaya doctrine.
As JRJ laughingly told a close friend who had spent over 2 hours in petrol queue weeks after CBK took over “you elected a school girl and now you come and complain to me” Let us braise ourselves to a whole series of faux pas by the gamey simpleton as the months and years pass. Square pegs in round holes, did you say?
L. Mostley
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dhammika / January 26, 2016
What we see here is an uneducated, uninformed , plain arrogant man who believes that he became president by his hard work. Wrong MS, you have no credentials to prove anything except agreeing to run with the support of UNP and minorities and social media with the support of generation Y. You have not been humble enough to understand the aspirations of Gen X, Y and other ethnicities. You will fall harder than MR did, carry on man, good luck
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Seelawathie / January 26, 2016
How do you define ones s being educated ?
Why do you call MS as uneducated ?
Please add definitions – that can help the readers further.
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Sinhala_Man / January 26, 2016
Seelawathie, I was about to make a near identical comment.
Frankly, I was very disappointed with this interview; I saw it all a couple of days ago, and said so. Now we have an excerpt. Why? We are thereby robbed of the context.
Just today I had to explain to (a very intelligent) Frenchman how “madu walige” was expanded to “deserve the horrendous medieval punishment of whipping with a toxic sting-ray tail”.
Dhammika and Leslie Mostley, I grant that you both write good English; my own writing of English may give you cause to say that I am “uneducated, uninformed, and ignorant of the nuances of matters sub-judice.” Well, I have little respect for Law and Lawyers. However, the fact is that none of us can match Maithri for command of language – only in his case it is the so-called “vernacular” (please check the etymology of the word).
However, I’m uneasy with the interview; Maithri’s attitude has certainly changed. In my earlier comment, which has yet to appear, I have implied respect for Comrade Drs Vickramabahu Karunaratne (two PhDs – does that make him educated?), who is honest and consistent. But we don’t like him because he tells us uncomfortable truths.
And so we admire Junius Richard J. who I remember pontificating to us that they had learnt “History” at Royal College: at what level? SSC? HSC? or was it Matriculation? My humble grandpa, who also had sat those exams, in English, was quite willing to accept that such study fell far short of what could be described as “scholarship”.
I was hoping that all those who imagined that neither Sinhala nor Tamil was worthy of being considered a sophisticated language, had migrated to be third class citizens in “English-speaking countries”. The majority of comments about Maithri prove otherwise.
However, having granted that Maithri is educated, sophisticated in thinking, and intelligent, I still find this performance of his deeply disappointing because of his newly acquired arrogance.
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Native Vedda / January 27, 2016
Sinhala_Man
“I was hoping that all those who imagined that neither Sinhala nor Tamil was worthy of being considered a sophisticated language, .. “
Both languages are similar and at the same time different. The contrast makes each language interesting.
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Sinchoappu / January 27, 2016
No this is no right.
Tamil langauge is in the aspect of phonetics – sounds not similar to sinhala.
If you are in the mind, then dutch and german should also be similar… ha hah… german average can understand some dutch… that makes easier dutch while being in Germany.
NV, I dont think TAMIL and SINHALA are similar. I wish I could speak tamil – unforutnately, the lanken school system did not allow us to learn it. In Europe, specially in Switzerland, they offer italian, german, french in addition to English. So almost the average are conversant in many langagues.
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Voter / January 27, 2016
Sinhala Man – I’m not sure how to interpret your views, as they contain both admiration for Maithri, as well as “disappointment” and “unease” at his performance, arrogance and dishonesty.
You ask, “Who is going to believe that he hasn’t heard it (that Parakramabahu song)? Well, if he hasn’t, he’s again failed us, because we want a President who knows what is happening in the country”. I agree!
You also say that, ” The future of our country is too important to play around with like this”, referring to CT’s exposures, but it would be more appropriate if this statement was directed at Maithri, given his recent behavior.
Your admiration appears to be about him being “educated, sophisticated in thinking, and intelligent”, but this is highly questionable in view of his actions.
I find I agree with most of your comments on CT , but I fail to understand your logic on your responses to this particular post.
Thanks to CT we are getting a lot of information that we wouldn’t be privy to otherwise.
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Sinhala_Man / January 27, 2016
Dear Voter,
Thanks for your perceptive observation; yes, I myself am unsure as to how our “revolution” is panning out. When one has reposed so much faith in an individual it is difficult to jettison all hopes of success.
You have indicated that you have begun to respect the comments I make; if that is true of some other sensitive and honest readers as well, perhaps I shouldn’t comment so much – say nothing until I’m sure of myself. Who has the time to read all that appears?
Will you indulge me a little more, however? There was a very civilised exchange of views that I had with “Frank” three weeks ago, but before looking at that please see what I say below this link:
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-song-dance-about-enrique-iglesias/
I have ended that genuine exchange of ideas with just one word: “Yes”, taking it for granted that both he and I agreed that the guillotines to be set up were metaphorical. I had earlier been wary of endorsing his call for mass protests because “each protester has a different issue in mind”, and it may “spill over into chaos”.
I had also drawn attention to a very balanced comment by “Mano Ratwatte” whom I conjecture to be a first cousin of Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga. I had also referred to a “very fine article” by Uditha Devapriya, one which, in the event, hardly got discussed. Well, he had put on another article that I saw in the early hours of the morning. When I BEGAN my response to you, the comment that I made had not YET appeared, together with a favourable comment by Amarasiri:
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/chandrika-kumaratungas-point/
I had made a hurried comment, and it is there, but it needs refining. So, this is the point: before the discussion takes a wrong turn, we have to say something, but it may be that we’ve been purblind.
So, while acknowledging some lack of deductive logic, I must plead with CT not to sensationalise the trivial.
I have “dropped five names” above, in this comment: I have met none of them, nor know their personal contact details. However, I see a need for us to establish real-time links with people belonging to other social groups. So, I have spoken to Izeth Hussain, and Rajan Hoole – whom I haven’t met for 45 years. I think that we have to so prepare ourselves since it does look as though we have to keep a tab on those who become “professional politicians”.
Many thanks, again, Voter.
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MsMarathoni / January 27, 2016
Please add your thoughts – dont stop doing so. I find yours are REALY interesting, while many others just add not going through the points accordingly. Thanks
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MsMarathoni / January 27, 2016
This was refered to Sinhala Man. Thanks
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Voter / January 27, 2016
Sinhala Man – thanks for taking the trouble to explain things.
I did check the link – in fact I had read your exchange with Frank at the time it appeared. Very civilized indeed!! Unfortunately this can’t be said about a lot of the comments that are made on CT – oh well, another demonstration of (the majority of) our ‘national character’??!!
Keep on commenting, as your views are well worth reading, even if one may not agree with everything you say. But then that should be what these types of fora are for, right (but let’s keep it ‘civil’)?
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MsKitchibitchi / January 27, 2016
I simply believe it is too early to draw the kind of conclusions.
At the time, Belarus was focused by Previoius regime, nobody knew why it was belarus…. a state that is not even known to to western leaders but located in Europe.::::
But the issue and other others had to do lot with state security – is becoming clear to this day. May be as a country that fought terror for decades will have no other choice than do the same as others follow in terms of state security. Likewise, I would not want to only criticise the way many add their thoughts.
I noticed it myself, for the articles on frequent suicidal rates – there were no enough commentators, but just to criticise Prez or anyone – there are multiple amounts of commentators.. why ? I think many in the country are only on criticising the other… mostly not for valid reasons. think about… MsKitchibitchi from Switzerland.
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Plato. / January 26, 2016
Well then.
Arrogant Sirisena has contempt FOR court.
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anonymous / January 26, 2016
Picked the wrong man for the job. CBK to be blamed. Kick him out as he is another ‘Majara Sena’.
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Amarasiri / January 26, 2016
RE: Arrogant Sirisena Insults Judiciary
“President Maithripala Sirisena’s extreme arrogance in denying charges that state officers under his command have been dragging their feet on the investigations into the killings of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Ekneligoda makes him liable immediately to a charge of contempt of court, Colombo Telegraph learns.”
Gamarala Comes to Town!
We had no problems in the Village. What are you talking about.
Gamarala, this is a City, a Country.
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 26, 2016
Suren Surendran got the UNP London to make Bodhi Sira the Prez, instead of Batalanda Ranil for nothing.
Sira thought it will be all plain sailing for him, and make Daham a future PM after he retires as the last Prez of the last Sinha- Le.
Sira thought BBC will be his new friend and Media Rep to make him the darling of the West.
And Sira even got down BBC C4 to do another Documentary.
After letting Ranil arrest the whole Military, Intelligence Unit, destroy the real FX earner and an employer of War Veterans , allowing the UNP to take revenge on the Armed Forces for the dis appearance of the Journalist, and bringing on the ultimate insult on the Sangha by introducing a Penal Code to control Samaneras, the great majority of the inhabitant population have become not only irate but they are just about to explode.
And the White Judges and the Hybrid Courts haven’t even appeared yet.
To top it all the the GMOA which is their traditional ally is pissed off because Ranil’s new mate and enforcer Rajitha wants to get a medical degree for his daughter in law.
Even the BASL is barking about the impartiality of one of their own, who was given the gig of Police Spokes person by Batalanda Ranil.
Now add insult to injury, BBC sends Mr Azzaam Ameen to question the President about his relationship with the High Court,the judiciary and its functions…
Does Sira need this?..
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JeffK / January 27, 2016
Well said our half eduacated psuedo elites and the common man does not understand it but we are a proper banana republic been manipulated by our former colonial masters. Every time we break away from their hold we grow steadily only to be duped and stagnate for the next 10 years.
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Thiru / January 26, 2016
“Makeka thamai uppe aanduwa” This is how we rule! Take it or get disappeared in a white van.
The SinhaLe will never change its blood to a human one! This is the law of the jungle lion-style: Might is right.
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madhavi / January 26, 2016
Whatever the lackeys of yahapalanaya among CT readers say, Mr. Ex-Presi, your absence is felt today, more than yesterday!
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Lehrer / January 27, 2016
Only for those who yearn for a powerful proud nation. Only thing needed to understand this was a mistake is to read governments own central bank reports
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Shantha / January 26, 2016
So has Sirisena sold his soul to the Devil, by making a pact with the Rajapaksa regime?
Why are they reluctant to bring those responsible for the many crimes of murder and corruption to a court of law, and get justice for the families?
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taraki / January 26, 2016
Insulting the Judiciary? One corrupt bastard insulting another lot of corrupt bastards. Who cares? The puthujjanas still go hungry.
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Nagananda / January 26, 2016
I think it is unfair to ridicule Sirisena for taking a firm stand against the judges down the line, because it is the judges who are responsible for undermining the integrity of the judiciary, by pleading for favours from the President and the Prime Minister.
The most notable incident in this regard is the seeking of favours by the serving Chief Justice from the Executive, shamelessly betraying the people’s judicial power that the Chief Justice agreed to compromise with the Executive for his private benefit.
In this regard I invite the readers to read the following proposal that I submitted to the Constitution Reform Committee appointed by the Prime Minister, revealing the sad state of the judiciary in the Republic of Sri Lanka.
‘Considering the recent (30th Jan 2015) statement made by the Prime Minister in the Parliament, wherein the disgraceful conduct of the serving Chief Justice was revealed to the Nation, who had callously compromised the judicial power of the people with the Executive, agreeing to make any Court Order to please the executive, and also to appoint judges to please the executive, it is strongly proposed to have a clause (transitional provision) in the new constitution to reconstitute the composition of the judges in the Superior Court system, which is of paramount importance to restore people’s trust and confidence in the judiciary. The government has already conceded that the people of Sri Lanka have lost their trust in the judiciary before the international Community [ref: paragraph 6 of the UN Human Rights Counsel Resolution (A/HRC/RES/30/1) adapted in Geneva on 01st October 2015 without a vote’].
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Leon / January 26, 2016
Why call MS uneducated because he is not educated. His arrogance shows the level
of his education.
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Devasiri / January 26, 2016
Now only way is removing MY3 with help of Mahinda and teach him lesson for cheating voters. May be Libyan type of uprising against MY3.
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Upul / January 26, 2016
This new President’s true colours are being shown by him little by little. His true picture could be seen by the way he instantly showing the angry, arrogant, comments about the things that he doesn’t want to hear. What he should realize is that the people, who elected him, can also chase him out.
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Ghanapala / January 26, 2016
Only way out for you guys is to genetically modify a leader for you. Then at least your thrid generations can have good leaders.
I dont see relatively bad in the current president as a person. He reduced his expenditure in billions. He risked his life for the nation. He is first president to have agreed go for changes in EXECUTIVE presidency. By today, he has allowed PM led Parliament to take action rather not involving in matters direclty. Megalomaniac Rajapaskse abused it to core as nothing could help – today, Ghaanasara to become WILDSARA is due to the deliberative negligence of Rajapakshe.
Besides lanken folks in general are born stupid gullible sort – they would let anyone manipulate them easily. Best example is the last election results. They the majority folks would not sensing how we coudl achieve higher values.
Street thugs or coconut pluckers such as Weerawanse have consolidated their political powers due to lack of law and order in the days of Meeharaka Rajapakshe. All in all, today, anyone to expect everythign to be changed at once is a joke so long people would remain as meeharak further.
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Douglas / January 27, 2016
I note that most of the opinions expressed are “Anti Sirisena” and all due mainly to the ‘Lackluster” and connected “Lackadaisical” manner in which the on going investigations are being carried out. To add fuel to fire, I also see, mainly the Opposition (combined plus) agitating that NOTHING has happened even after one year. Fair enough; because during the Presidential and General Elections the claims and promises by the present Governing parties were that all such “Mega Corruptions” and other “Injustices” would be investigated and appropriate action would be taken against the alleged accused. However, it is true and must be admitted such activities are dragging on a snail speed. WHY? (1) The investigation machinery (including the personnel) is ill equipped and lack the required “know how” to deal with such highly COMPLICATED so called “High Tech Mega Deals” and “Hierophantic” crimes that were committed. (2) All these investigations have to end up in the Judiciary – the place at which nothing can be left to be challenged or subjected to doubt and allowed to be quashed for “Impropriety” or lack of “credible evidence”. Already we have heard one such remark by the Judge who is handling the “Eknaligoda Disappearance” case where some army intelligence officers are in custody. It is going to be same with, I believe, of the “murder” of Lasantha Wickramatunga. So goes with so many of the “High Tech Mega Corruption and Deal” cases.
In the midst of all this “hue and cry” for the delay; there is another “Huge Cry” very surreptitiously “orchestrated” and aired by the very parties who are being investigated and their “COHORTS”. Why that recent development? It is nothing but to jump start the Investigative Machinery to commit mistakes and distract attention to details; so that when in Judiciary, they know very well all such accusations and allegations could be thrown out of the door by confronting and relying on unsubstantiated evidence. So let us NOT allow that to happen by jumping into a “Rage” and directing uncalled for criticism at this critical time.
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Mehan / January 27, 2016
Ayyo gamarala! The all powerful colombo elites will never be comfortable with you as head of state and already working to undermine you. You are just the condom they will use to eff the security forces, buddhism and unitary state.
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Sinchoappu / January 27, 2016
What is the situation for Modi in 1600MIO-populated India ?
I heard him holding a speech – he cant even pronounce some words in ENglish or any other langagues – but the folks back him…. your bird brain should go through the kind of facts – but facts.
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John Stewart Sloan / January 27, 2016
I think it’s all very sad.
When the new government came in the people of Sri Lanka and the international community had such high hopes that justice would be seen. However, more than one year after no one has been prosecuted, the Rajapaksas still roam free and, at the moment, it is highly unlikely that anything will happen.
Mahinda will die of old age before he is arrested and charged with anything bigger than a speeding ticket.
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Sinchoappu / January 27, 2016
Please be patient.
Mahinda et al will be arrested in the near future no doubt.
Yesterday arrest of Most babaric sangaya of the day (his nature is like that of a cobra or sometimes Gorrilla) but had to surrender the law and order. Was that not a win to the current govt ?
Those uncivlized monks that went amok at the place should also be arrested and warned them – the way they have been used to is not incompliat with lanken prevailing laws.
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Rajash / January 27, 2016
was this inter view before or after the arrest warrant for Ganasara?
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Nirmala N / January 28, 2016
Rajash[Edited out]
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Ram / January 28, 2016
Ranil W INSULTS Sirisena on channel 4 on 26/01 who had the previous week denied Foreign involvement on the investigation and reconciliation process. Jon Snow tells us that the majority of the people who surrendered or were ‘captured’ (290,000+) were missing. This is the quality of Ch 4 ‘journalism’.
In the UK the Prime minister Cameron has been protecting his own troops from the lawyers who want them taken before the courts for their misdeeds in Iraq during and following the illegal invasion there. Snow of course wants us to do the exact opposite and betray our troops.
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