Amidst serious allegations that incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena was involved in a bribery scandal when he was a cabinet minister, Sirisena in a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald has said, “no knowledge of the incident” and requested further details to “ascertain the involvement of any of his office staff.”
Sirisena has also said he would co-operate “in any investigation” in Australia and “will also instruct the relevant local authorities to investigate”.
“Mr Sirisena did not respond to detailed questions.” the Newspaper said.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Australian Federal Police is currently carrying out investigations involving the iconic Snowy Mountains Engineering Company (SMEC) where it is reported that the company’s overseas staff allegedly bribed officials to secure a US $ 2.3 million aid funded sewerage project in Sri Lanka in 2011.
Company emails also reveal Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and his adviser allegedly demanded political ‘donation’ to be paid by SMEC when Mr. Sirisena was a cabinet minister.” the Newspaper said.
Based on the investigations, the emails show a plot to skim the money off a World Bank-funded dam project in 2009. According to the Newspaper, if the company had made the ‘donation’ Sirisena was to approve the awarding of the dam contract to SMEC, which was worth US $ 1.8 million.
Related posts:
Sirisena In Soup Over Bribe Scandal Involving Australian Company
Ru / August 25, 2016
I can tell you one thing this man is very good at.
1. to say i dont know
2. to pass the ball to another
3. make sure someone else is found falted
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Antany Peter / August 25, 2016
Politicians all are good at
1. to say i don’t know
2. to pass the ball to another
3. make sure someone else is found faulted
These are characteristics of a politician ;~)))))
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Dinuk / August 25, 2016
The ADB’s so called waste water project for Colombo should also be investigates.
So many roads have been dug up for months and trees cut down while pedestrians and traffic are inconnvenienced.
Kanatta Colombo’s cemetery has had all its trees cut down and Kittulwatta road is dug up. Wijerama Mawatta has been dug up for the last 6 months..
The UDA, Colombo Municipality which is full of thieves and the Road authority must be investigated.
These so called aid project of World Bank and ADB are really all about rent seeking and corruption with no over sight monitoring and evaluation of waste and corruption.
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len / August 31, 2016
And you keep blaming the West for everything but live in the West.
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Sarath / August 25, 2016
Mahinda now playing his foreign cards,. bangkloth Mahinda do have friends of thief from Australia / India and China to do these kind of cheap tricks n blames :) and a bunch of local looses to chant haioo,.. for money.
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Virtex / August 26, 2016
My wife asks me why I am laughing while reading a news website. I say that I am reading the comments put at CT articles. Keep putting more Sarath. Say that MR has bought over the Australian government.
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tatcher / August 26, 2016
The bogeymen warlord rulers elected by the swollen head.
the voter must be disenfranchised for any good to befall the island.
Alternatively wipe it off the map and bring in new settlers like America was made.
Trump would love the idea of getting rid of creepy people.
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Burt / August 26, 2016
” Say that MR has bought over the Australian government. “
It is not far fetched considering that some Tamils were able to include “Tamil Eelam” as an option for place of birth is an official national survey.
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colin / August 27, 2016
remember the boat people trying to flee down under.
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Antany Peter / August 27, 2016
According to the Australian media it had happened in 2011. Why the Australian media took so long to reveal this? Perhaps Australia was too scared to play with the Sri Lankan government for boat full of refugees. Now Australia is revealing this, because the current government is leaning towards China.
Most likely the decision was made by Five Eyes, Australia has no choice but revel this to satisfy the US and the UK. I don’t believe easily the Australian media, because I couldn’t even publish a comment about the straggles of Aboriginal people between 1996 and 2008.
Please be mindful, the West is extremely good in destroying others by dirty propaganda. Between 1536 and 1541 Henry VIII disbanded Catholicism by dirty propaganda, in order to get married second time in a church. Because the Pope didn’t allow him get married second time in a church while his first wife was alive.
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paul / August 25, 2016
4. saying ” I saw this in the Newspapers today” ;-)
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Antany Peter / August 25, 2016
It had happened in 2011; why it took so long for Australia to reveal the truth? Perhaps Australia was too scared for boat full of refugees. Now Australia is revealing the truth, because the current government is leaning towards China. Most likely the decision was made by Five Eyes, Australia has no choice but revel the truth to satisfy the US and the UK.
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len / August 25, 2016
Anatany not bitter that you got kicked out of Australia for your LTTE connections now are you?
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Antany Peter / August 25, 2016
Convicts would not dare to touch me. No chance in my lifetime for them to deporting me under the accusation of supporting dangerous creatures of Asia. THEY DELETED MY CITIZENSHIP FOR EXPOSING THE STRUGGLS OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE. I AM TOO SMART, I GAVE THEM BACK WITH INTEREST BY ENLIGHTENING THE CHINESE DRAGON.
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siripala / August 26, 2016
“”ENLIGHTENING THE CHINESE DRAGON. “”
The chinese have one colour yellow.
yours is papa mugabe the idiot box.
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Antany Peter / August 27, 2016
Trust me the dragon will deal with you by wiggling its tail in due time.
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siripala / August 27, 2016
A glowworm??
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
tunapahai kuddu Angoda.
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len / August 31, 2016
What you give back is idle threats to damage and incoherent rantings. Chinese wouldn’t touch you with a barge pole. Be grateful NZ given you a home because they are generous bunch for supporting uneducated underprivileged refugees.
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Antany Peter / August 26, 2016
Australia wouldn’t touch me, because I have sacrificed my life for others.
“Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty.” ~ Nelson Mandela during the British Red Cross Humanity Lecture, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, England, 10 July 2003
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siripala / August 26, 2016
MUGABE BLAH, BLAH , PLONK, PLONK..
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Antany Peter / August 27, 2016
You will go down quickly, if you continue to fool people like me.
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siripala / August 27, 2016
Down Under
Travelling in a fried-out Kombi
On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
She took me in and gave me breakfast
And she said:
Do you come from a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder
You better run, you better take cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfR9iY5y94s
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len / August 31, 2016
Promises promises Antany you have threshing me for the last 5 years to with all sorts of unprecedented hard ships including a jail but not even a powder puff and I live in New Zealand.Your fantasy world more likely to be in Charlie and the chocolate factory.
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max / August 25, 2016
What a lame stupid excuse Mr. Clean (?) president! In fact, a proper investigation should start into your mudalali brothers in Polonnaruwa how they earn loads and loads of money during your career as a politician. And the latest news that your daughter had bought a mansion in a prime spot in Colombo city to the tune of many millions of Rupees, also should be investigated.
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srinath.gunaratne / August 25, 2016
Dont worry, when the governments changes, they will also be investigated like now!
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words / August 25, 2016
Liar!liar!
Hora! Hora! Hora!
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ru / August 25, 2016
“The minister … wants to know whether SMEC could make a donation for the elections,” an email from the SMEC manager states about his meeting with Mr Sirisena.
The same email states: “[Mr Sirisena’s] Coordinating Secretary said this is the way it goes prior to signing the cabinet papers. He wants us to produce an amount/percentage on the contract value.”
In a statement overnight, Mr Sirisena said he had “no knowledge of the incident” and requested further details to “ascertain the involvement of any of his office staff”.
The President also said he would co-operate “in any investigation” in Australia and “will also instruct the relevant local authorities to investigate”.
The SMEC Sri Lankan manager also wrote he wanted to “inform the minister/co-ordinating secretary” of the size of a suspected kickback to be paid. In another email, the manager said he needed to “prioritise” certain payments to unnamed parties “since the signing of the contract would depend” on it.
In a statement, SMEC confirmed there was a “request for a political donation”.
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Ajantha / August 25, 2016
What else Bodhi Sira can say. What he can only say is “I dont know” as he has done many a times. This man is a crook. now he Bodhi Sira has revealed what he promised to do.
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Gunarathna / August 25, 2016
Not me – somebody else – he is adopting pacha Ranawaka’s tactic.
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sr / August 25, 2016
May be a verbal request just for fun so don’t take it seriously.
But Australian media have had an interest; have to be cautious.
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ranjith / August 25, 2016
take and bank no knowledge is needed.
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TootyDeAlwis / August 25, 2016
He saved money from his Grana Sevaka salary to send his son and daughter to England for higher education.
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Paul / August 25, 2016
Aiyo Sirisena. Once a corrupt MR man, always a corrupt MR man.
‘The AFP’s top corporate crime investigator, Peter Crozier, urged CEOs and the public to realise that corruption robs the world’s poorest people and benefits the corrupt elite.’
http://www.smh.com.au/business/australian-companies-linked-to-bribe-scandals-in-sri-lanka-and-congo-20160823-gqyzlp.html
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Pacs / August 25, 2016
The Age reveal the going to be west’s attitude towards SL.
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Dr Subhodini Mariampillai / August 25, 2016
In late 80s when I was the MOH Manampitiya Hospital, this grama sevaka sirisena used to give me way by taking his push cycle to a side when he sees me walking on the footpath of the paddy fields. He was so poor those days, and so humble to hierrachy
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Leo / August 25, 2016
He still has that inferiority when he meets a foreigner or an english speaking person. Ranil certainly picked the “right” common candidate :)
Politics apart an under-developed country can’t afford a leader like this.
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naren / August 25, 2016
O.K. Leo, Let us bring back Rajapassa to start off from where he left.
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Leo / August 25, 2016
Sri Lankan people are free to do anything they like. I just point out that while we are having a stagnating economy other countries are speeding away.
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Tani / August 26, 2016
Leo –
If you are not Sri lankan, at least do the favour of stop posting unworthy comments and let the Sri lankans handle the “inferiority”, “english speaking person” “underdeveloped country”, “stagnating economy’ or whatever.
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Piyadasa / August 26, 2016
Leo –
If you are not Sri lankan, at least do us the favor of stop posting unworthy comments here, let Sri lankans here handle it all – “english speaking person”, “inferiorty”, ‘underdeveloped country”, “stagnating economy” whatever.
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Raja / August 25, 2016
Did Ranil know this before hand? Did he use this as the bargaining chip to get the obedient servant of Maharaja to contest against him? Did he gave the tip to the Australians to avenge the removal of Arjun Mahendhran? Ha ha forget the nose diving economy. These are fun times.
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srinath.gunaratne / August 25, 2016
Problem with Ranil like JR is, he is not taking action against corruption, even though he is clean.
I wonder why American and western proxies make this an important point to UNP, because under their company laws it is illegal for them to bribe to get business!
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rabbi- la / August 26, 2016
if he was clean then like boris he would travel by bicycle. His top class muslim boys do the pickings for him .JR was same.
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S.Fernando / August 25, 2016
Ranil should immediately reach out to Australians and do damage control. I smell Namals black money behind this media.
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srinath.gunaratne / August 25, 2016
Ha haaa haaa haaaaaa,
Yaha palana pioneer,
Ha haaa haaa haaaaaa,
People thought Mahinda was the only corrupt!
All these xxxxers should be connected to a lie detector in front of live audience and create a TV program!
Come on Australia, Please follow this up and show the true colors of these serpents!
Isn’t independent police appointed by independent commission not going to start an independent investigation?
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bo / August 25, 2016
“In a statement, SMEC said the company’s internal investigation this year found no “payment to any person in response to the request for a political donation” and that any payments made were not improper. SMEC has referred its internal inquiry to the AFP.
“Company accounts reveal that $A27,000 – a large amount of money in Sri Lanka- was withdrawn in cash by the manager, who appeared to agree to pay kickbacks to an unnamed “party”.”
(Reference:
http://www.smh.com.au/business/australian-companies-linked-to-bribe-scandals-in-sri-lanka-and-congo-20160823-gqyzlp.html)
So, company denial does not matter: 25 Lakhs in petty cash could easily change hands without any documentation. Not a large sum in the order of bribes in Sri Lankan society today and between 2005-2015.
MS may deny knowledge genuinely or pretentiously because he might not have stateed the amount, and as said he had left it to his Coord-Sec. However, it is time that he also opens up the account that the Coord-Sec used. This is one specific case where MS is being stained with institutional corruption. As the Party Secretary then, and Party President now, and a former key Minister in MR’s cabinet he cannot deny the fact that he had a birds-eye of what criminal activities have been going on with respect to institutional corruption and MARA slush funds.
Mr President, this is a God-given opportunity for you to come clean, Mr Clean; don’t hide behind that pathetic excuse that all politicans use,”I had no knowledge; I was unaware” stuff. You have left MR regime because as you said you could no longer stomach their corruption. So, now use your power of an exec Pres, come clean, arrest the criminals and clean up this country for F….sake! If you did not, MARA will use this Australian investigation as his drumbeat, and beat you out of the office into a grave 6-ft deep that you once worried about.
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KalaVeddha / August 25, 2016
Araliya Restaurant in Polonnaruwa owned by the Son in low during Maharaja Rajapakse’s regime. Hotel. Paddy business. Educating two of his children by copying Bandaranaikes and other Radalayas in England. Where did that money come from? They all have dirty secrets. This guy may be nice on the ethnic issue but he is a weakling and Ranil is running roughshod over him and so is the USA.
They are just biding their time to topple him and have a totally pro US regime under Ranil whose Daddy was reputed to be a CIA agent. Everyone knows who USA actively spent money in 1960 elections to support UNP. Everyone knows who they gave money including all the cash to the UNP for 2015 elections. Everyone can see the US Ambassador now behaving almost like Dixit with his pronouncements. They are claiming their dues like the Pied Piper of Hamlin.
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Hamlet / August 25, 2016
I know for certain of someone was offered a job in a Sri Lankan Company, in 1975 with a Sri Lankan Salary and an extra Deposit in a Swiss Bank.
This was the Accepted Form in those days! It has evolved since then!
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Sinhala Banda / August 25, 2016
MS is not an exceptional individual, His image was created by the media. Reality may be different. However we should not forget he too is a graduate of “SWRDB School of Corruption”. All SLFP politicians have graduated from this school with very high marks. It is strange the only exception is SIRIMA RATWATTE BANDARANAIKE, a honorable, good ,decent lady. I know that for sure and she vehemently refused to follow the lessons of “SWRDB School of Corruption”
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Scab Poorten / August 26, 2016
As a person who hates the guts of SWRD (for making Snhala the national language), and his wife Sirima for introducing land reform, I agree fully.
If this country is to develop again, we should beg the Portuguese, Dutch and Britsh Jews who ruled here for 500 years, making this country prosperous through those years, to come back. Though we have an American Jew named Keshap here as viceroy, wearing an Indian garb, he is ‘ketching up’ things a little bit. We need more ‘ump’ from the land of the free and the brave!
Please America, come and reverse the order of things in this country. The heathens are not civilised enough yet to rule themselves.
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sr / August 26, 2016
Sinhala Banda
“MS is not an exceptional ……… Reality may be different”
Agree, people should understand it.
However I must say if SLFP is SWRDB school of corruption, UNP should be called JRJ high school of corruption.
All joined politics after 77 are corrupt.
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jim softy / August 25, 2016
Were these two projects implemented and projects were completed ?
Or all these were talks ?
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jim softy / August 25, 2016
Even if this is the truth, when this amount is considered, I don’t think there is any Rajapakse who did not steal. Rajapakse had about 150 of those from the extended family. They all may have to be investigated. There are many other cabinet ministers who have amassed wealth that can not be accounted for their salaries and perks. Still some assets are in their friends, relatives, Department higher ups names.
Making Fuss on AUS$27,000 or even 50,000 is not important.
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Daya / August 25, 2016
Perfect. Just imagine SLFP having to go to elections under this man in 2020? When that happens the once seemingly invincible SLFP after the war victory will be reduced to the level of JVP and UNP may very well close in on the 2/3 majority.
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Sunil / August 25, 2016
Mr. President, just come out with the truth of how the Rajapaksa family demanded kickbacks to approve any project/ or allow new businesses in the country. Don’t wait for the proof to be published internationally and look a fool. If you come out with it first you will win the support of the people while doing the right thing.
Don’t be surprised if more of these start to come up in the future!
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Sharmali / August 25, 2016
Bloody bastard, President Sirisena & his family are well known thugs & rogues.
He was a Minister in the MR regime for 10 years.
You think he just sat at his desk & did nothing?
He kept his Wife at home to look after their so called children, what good has come out of it?
It is a well known fact that Daham smashed a Porsche & is now in the container yard under many other containers , so that evidence will not be leaked.
Sri Lanka being Sri Lanka, you can’t hide anything for Long periods of time.
Don’t pretend to be a Saint, what happened to MR will happen to you, sooner than you expect.
Went to Thirupathi, hoping Lord will solve your problems?
No Buddist temple in Sri Lanka could help you ?
As a Buddist , nothing wrong in visiting other shrines & asking for blessings.
But TRUE BUDDISTS like u should only vist Buddist shrines, no?
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Mugabe / August 25, 2016
They have to provide a future for their children and yet to be born grandchildren. They have to provide and they are expected to provide dowries for their daughters. This is part and parcel of South Asian and African Third world culture and norms. How else do you explain a Sinhala speaking Gamaraala Grama Sevaka sending a son and daughter to UK for education? Did he invest in real estate in London when he was Grama Sevaka and Minister?
Hell no. This is a question of “we look after our kith and kin; if we do not then who else will?”. Give him a break. He must have got a few million dollars in bribes for his family but he did it for his family. Family comes first.
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guru / August 26, 2016
Somebody should go to Polonnaruwa to see his house – it’s a palace
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Sumanawathi / August 26, 2016
Only CT and Lanka C news have reported this big fraud in Sri Lanka. You guys have the guts; bravo. Under Sirisena instructions nothing has been reported by Lanka E News, Lanka Web News, Lankaweb, Mawubima or Lakbima. Shame on these media outlets
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JP Piyadasa / August 26, 2016
Sumanawathie –
U sure is not living here in Sri lanka, it was over local news channels yesterday. Get a life.
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KA Sumanasekera / August 26, 2016
Yahapalana suckers should go easy on the newly converted to Hindu , Bodhi Sira..
Asussies sometimes say silly things ..
They don’t realize the assignment Hindu Sira has been given by the West, Diaspora Surendran and the Bedouinn Prince.
Which is to muzzle the Sinhala Buddhist rural poor, while the Yahapalana PM Batalanda Ranil,fulfils his MOU undertakings, with the Vellalas In Colombo.
OMP has been put in place already, with the help of the new Bender in Parliament, the former Sinhala Buddhist Faction leader of the UNP.
Two more to go .
Which are ,Try the War heroes after the OMP hands over the list to Diaspora with a copy to the Bedouin Prince.
And scuttle the Republic of Srilanka Constitution ,delete Buddhism and the Sinhala Flag and deliver the new Federal Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim Eelaam Verson, before Hindu Sira’s stint ends.
Can’t you see the work load.
Sira’s overzealous staff may have asked for a few Dollars from Snowvy Mountain mob. It is no big deal ..
I mean Sira then was not in the Elite company unlike now, where they make the dough through Bond and Real Estate deals.
Even now we have poor fellas in the South who go behind Whites and ask for a free Dunhill.
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siripala / August 26, 2016
KA Sumanasekera
He… He… He… HeHeHeHeeeeee,
Stupid Dalit worker . Hindu has no conversion and is not a religion.
There are no sinhala hindus anywhere in the world.
Bodhisira and KA Sumanasekera you are SC/ST dalit buddhist.
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jim softy / August 26, 2016
Politics is popular employment for many because you can steal and get rich as a politician.
Every politician is like this they have hgh wealth.
Just get this opportunity to make politicians declare their political donations and control the amount they get.
They are all there because of this political donations business.
Western govts are hypocrites. Every western company give bribes. they bribe even the employees of govt departments with different gifts.
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