By Renuka Bandaranayake and Kapila Karunaratna –
We have been made aware that certain individuals and factions have been perpetrating malicious and false rumours about us in Sri Lanka. The implication of these false accusations and insinuations, especially in the light of the impeachment motion brought unto Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, is that, the apartment at Trillium Residencies was not bought by two of us and later that the funds used to purchase our apartment in Sri Lanka was ill-gotten.
Kapila Karunaratna
We have been working professionals in Australia/Canada for over 22 years and in that time; we have worked in varying capacities but predominantly in senior managerial positions. We are hard pressedand perplexed at the inference that we, being employed by respectable and international organizations would be unable to afford an apartment in Sri Lanka. For over two decades, we have functioned as qualified senior engineers/ Managers in Australia and Canada.
Considering the unfounded and blatantly inaccurate rumours being spread, we believe it is the opportune time to set the record straight.
In relation to Kapila; he is a qualified charted professional mining engineer, with an MSc in Mining Engineering from Russia and an MBA from Australia. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institution of Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy. He is a respected professional in the Australian mining community (the only Sri Lankanmigrant and non-westerner to manage “Superpit”, Australia’s largest open pit goldmine, itsoperation far outweighs any other mining centre in Australia.); He also worked as the Senior Technical Manager at Barrick Corporation Canada, the world largest gold producer.
He is currently a Board Director at Crosslands Resources Ltd (Western Australia) and Okajee Port and Rail Pty Ltd. (Western Australia) respectively. He is also the General Manager Technical at Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd. He has previously held numerous senior mining positions in both Australia andCanada.
In relation to Renuka, a mechanical engineer and a graduate of the Moratuwa University, Sri Lanka.
She is the incumbent Regional Capital Manager of Newmont Mining Corporation, Asia Pacific.Moreover, she is one of the few Sri Lankan female migrants in the mining industry to have reachedsuch a position.
She has previously held positions in the capacity of a Senior Advisor – Project Management and Project Controls Manager – Newmont Mining Corporation and as a Project Superintendent – Managing Project group in Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines respectively.
We migrated to Australia in 1990 leaving all our assets behind in Sri Lanka and throughout the past 22 years have worked hard to garner our reputations and wealth. What is saddening and bitter at this unfortunate time is the fact that, individuals with malicious motives are instilling lies and propagating hate and doubt in relation to our hard earned living.
Furthermore, it was our goal to one day enjoy our retirement in Sri Lanka with our family and thus the reason for the purchase of an apartment. As Sri Lankan’s, we feel a calling towards our motherland and we believe that no matter how distant Sri Lankan’s will be from their motherland that one day they find their way back home. We wanted to invest in the country that we both belong to and live peacefully during our twilight years.
Whilst we are appalled at the baseless accusations levelled against Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake and us, it is imperative that justice prevails and thus our intention with this statement to portray the truth.
Dodo / December 28, 2012
Thanks! Please start a massive media campaign in Australia about the real situation in Sri Lanka with regard to the regime and its violent ways, to correct the racist Australian immigration policies which turns away genuine refugees from Lanka while benefiting from highly qualified professionals like yourself who are part of the “brain drain” from Lanka for clearly understandable reasons.
Please also write to the Australian Govt and ask them to boycott the Commonwealth Heads meeting in Lanka in 2013 and seek to move the meeting to a country where there is no dictatorship.
Sri Lanka is a country today that is run by a family of UNEDUCATED and UNPROFESSIONAL thugs and criminals – Mahinda Rajpakse and his family and all qualified people are fleeing the country because the ruling thugs hate educated professionals as they are envious of people like you!
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Citizen / December 28, 2012
Agreed. The PSC is a DSC(Demons Selective Committee) formed by MR’s family. They are now reflecting the face of uncultured characters (like devils dancing in the cemetry). People in Sri Lanka are in the dark, because lankaenews is banned in Sri Lanka. It is time for Sri Lankans to teach good lessons to devils like Wimal, Dillion, Mervyn, and et al.
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V Andrew / December 31, 2012
What more do you expect from ‘Politically Selected Clowns’?
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Mahela / December 29, 2012
Sri Lanka’s new Mahinda Chintana Constitution:
“By the Crooks….For the Crooks….on the instructions of the Crooks..
….to screw the country and it’s people by those crooks”
Sri Lanka is turned into a “THIEVES HEAVEN” by MARA family……and think others educated respectable people also like those lunatic THIEVES.
JAYAWEVA.
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Villager / December 28, 2012
You got it all wrong Messrs Renuka Bandaranayake and Kapila Karunaratna.
In so far as I am aware we have never heard an argument on whether the CJ’s sister and brother-in-law couldn’t afford or have the right to buy an apartment in Sri Lanka. That certainly is not what the PSC is found her guilty for. Indeed the PSC has found her not guilty for ‘foreign money and etc’ charge. In short, had you bought the same property through another party without CJ’s knowledge, this ‘buying apartment’ charge would never have arisen.
The related issues that the CJ is found guilty are: 1) Not declaring her bank accounts, and: 2) Buying an apartment (through power of attorney) from a company that was restricted to sell its properties by an Supreme Court interim judgement and she getting 1.6m discount and concluding the deal in a manner totally against the same interim judgement.
No point discussing here the other charges that she was found guilty because they are not relevant to your claims here.
I suppose aim of this is also like the letter that her son send to the press at the very beginning. Never mind all this drama will be over by the end of January. I feel sorry for the poor thing.
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sri / December 28, 2012
One does not need a power of attorney to purchase a property and tbe power of attorney the CJ was given by her sister was NOT used for the purchase. Villager, please ask any lawyer and s/he will tell you that any person abroad can buy prpoerty here without a power of attorney. A purchaser does not sign the deed. So s/he does not need another person (in this case Shirani B) who holds a power of attorney to sign. Also, Trillium residencies were exempted by the Supreme Court by a bench headed by Shiranee Tillakawardena (not Shirani B) and therefore could have been sold.
Bank accounts: WE have seen the statement made by CJ’s lawyers on this issue. It is because her explanation was plausible that she was not allowed to cross-examine witnesses.
Wake up Villager.Don’t be sorry for the “poor” thing. Be sorry for MR and his dictatorial regime. Be sorry that the turn has come.
Shirani B has learnt the hard way, what many knew right along and which gullible people like Villager (actually an elite) will never learn.
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Kumudini / December 30, 2012
It is very possible and a plausible explantion that being professionals and having worked in Managerial capacities for twnety years that the money has being genuniley saved and earned . There is no question about this . However if they have worked for less than 10 years this would be very difficult to accumulate with other living expences in a foreign country . The question is not whether or not there was a conflict of interest when she was presiding in cases where trillium residencies were concernd when she had purchased this apartment for her sister and brother in Law.
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Upasiri / December 28, 2012
Kapila, I agree with you if you are working in the Australian mining sector specially at kalgoorie, your remunurations are very high and with your earning you two can buy a property in Sri Lanka without borrowing money from a Bank. As I live in Australia for the last 30 years, the money we earn as professionals is more than enough to buy a property in SL with our savings.Appointing your sister as the power of attorney is not prohibited by the Leagl requirements in Sri lanka. But Rajapaksa like to fish in the muddy waters, appointed your Bil to a position he should not have accepted. But now the time to seek ways and means to come out from this trap as Impeachment of CJ, is like killing two birds with one stone to criple the judiciary to run a dictaor ship. I wish you good luck and hope Mahinda will give in to the pressure.
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Matilda Ellepola / December 28, 2012
Do not ever come to Sri Lanka as you will be ended up as the same fate befall to one Danuna Thilekaratne, Son in Law of Gen Fonseka.
This regime is brutal and will find one way or other with cooked up stories and please inform your issues to the Australian Govt agencies for protection.
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Aney / December 28, 2012
Villager .
F*** the CJ or how she brought a property using the power of attorney.
Look at the broader picture. If this is the way a CJ is treated with no chance to defend and using documents of a bank who should not have made such infomation publlic as they a priviledged docs what chance have the ordinary citizens got.
This is what happend in Banana republics
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Villager / December 28, 2012
Aney,
What f…… broader picture you are talking about? If you’re a sucker for NGOs and their paymasters, look up and spit. But I am not that type.
The way the CJ has bought that apartment is nothing but day light robbery. Such things are done only in banana republics. If you do not like MR, ok, that is your right; but you cannot cover up the wrong that this lady had done or portray her cheat as right just to take revenge from MR. What you say is just because she is CJ, we should overlook her cheat. No chance.
You didn’t understand what I wrote above. So, I shall explain this sore deal in detail for those who are interested to learn the truth.
Remember! CJ’s attorney Neelakandans had send a written answer to PSC at the very beginning. In it the reply for this charge in verbatim is; “In the circumstances there was no restriction for the sale of any of the housing units of Trillium from 6.5.2010. In the circumstances from 6.5.2010 the housing units in Trillium residencies were in effect not a property in the list of properties in case 262-2009 that could not be alienated.”
But the PSC report that is out now says that Neelakandan’s answer is a lie.
The court documents attached to PSC report shows that the bench headed by justice Thilakewardena had issued an order that says: “This Court also directs the Committee of chartered Accountants to pursue all negotiations for the sale of other properties by advertising and calling for quotations with a view to obtaining the highest going prices on these properties. No properties to be alienated without the express permission of this Court. For the moment, the properties to be disposed would be ….”(property CJ bought is also there in the list) And evidence by Court registrar and Justice Thilakawardana proved the authenticity of that order.
In Justice Thilakawardana’s evidence, she had said an interim order was given and strictures were placed to enable 9000+ depositors to get the most from all the company assets.
That means these apartment sales are no normal sales. Sales proceeds were to be used to pay back 9000+ desperate depositors 26 of them had already committed suicide. Management should have advertised all the apartments and sold each one of them to highest bidder. Not just that, each sale should have reported back to the SC before writing deeds. Nothing of the sort was done. When the manager of the company was questioned at the PSC, whether he was expecting a favour back from the CJ he kept quiet. Now you tell us as per that Sc order whether Rs.1.6m discount is ok or not.
Then a petitioner had prayed for a bench of five to continue the case. And justice Thilakawardena referred the requested to the CJ. Instead of assigning five to the bench, the CJ changed the then existing bench of three to a different bench of three headed by herself. Documents of PSC proceedings show the new three judge bench headed by the CJ had done all it could to disregard three and half years of hard work by earlier three judge bench and manipulate the proceedings for her to buy an apartment.
All this will be public knowledge soon. Those who think MR will succumb to pressure by black coats they are sadly mistaken. They are biting a little carrot.
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Bedrock Barney / December 29, 2012
Villager, I am with you on the discounts and the reconstituting of the benches, she is caught behind on that one. Yet, what of the process ? The constitution of the PSC committee itself? The majority is of the opinion that the whole process contravenes international best practices. Given that she is clearly guilty I wonder why the Govt shot itself in the foot with this ungodly rush?
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Villager / December 29, 2012
‘The Process’ that you are talking must be same thing that CJ’s lawyer retinue are talking about. If you are talking about latima house declaration, not even the UK has made it its law. I do not know which majority is of the opinion that the process is wrong. Majority people now know that not just their MPs by CJ is also corrupt. Please read C.A. Chandraprema’s articles here and you would know what I mean.
Whether we like it or not, there is only one provision to impeach judges of the apex court in Sri Lanka. Articles 107 (2) and 107 (3) of our constitution explains it clearly. And Standing Order 78 shows, how the Parliamentary Select Committee be appointed and conduct its investigations. And that procedure was followed for two judges and three CJs earlier. So why should it be different now? Even if the government wants to introduce latima or some other new way to judge the judges it has to amend the constitution first.
But I wouldn’t blame the government for not amending the constitution right now when there is an express way to rid of the CJ who would clearly be an impediment to its progress.
It is definitely the CJ who started all this by issuing a press release to accuse the President for interfering with the judiciary and (JSC) refusing to meet him after obtaining a request from the secretary to the President in writing. Clearly it must be a deliberate move to take on the government and the President. Knowing what NGOs and their backers have been doing since the end of the war to fix Rajapakses, I have this they have given some carrot for the CJ just as they did to SF. Perhaps it was a tit for tat response by CJ for MR forcing her hubby to resign from NSB.
If I were the President I would do exactly the same what he has done to date on this matter. This impeachment must be away and done with quickly, otherwise this lady would put all sorts of obstacles on the entire country.
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Gune / December 31, 2012
Villager is correct.What about the Rs. 1.6 million discount which CJ Shiranie received. There is no question that Renuka and her husband are very rich in Australia. But there are 14 charges against these CJ Shiranie.
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Aney / December 29, 2012
The usual facade NGOO. Big picture you will never see it. My issue is not what the CJ did but the way the inquiry was held.e.g who will want t to deal wwith a bank or what investor will have faith if banks give out information. How did th e117 get account details.
What protection has an ordinary citizen got as parliament can pass anything
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Kumudini / December 29, 2012
REf to Daily news to your answer to divulged bank details . It is
mandatory procedure for fraudulent dealings . (SL Signatory regarding this in the UN convention )
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P.B / December 29, 2012
You must be a villager typical Sri Lankan one who sits on his grey matter , you just can not decipher ,right from wrong. You must be in awe of Mr Karunaratna’s qualifications as well. At best you must have gone to Law college, when you fail the exam you bribe the examiner with a bottle of arrack and pass! Some others sit in the library and with principals help answer questions for the exam and get 98%!!!! No wonder you vote for Rajapaksa
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Villager / December 29, 2012
P.B.
You’ve got it all wrong. I have studied only up to A/L in Sri Lanka. Thereafter all my studies and research were concluded at institutes and universities in the UK followed by decades of hard work there. Hence, your wretched visualizations do not fit with my CV. Anyway, now I have settled down in Sri Lanka and reached a stage where I do not care much about qualifications or riches I possess but associates and memories that were associated with those times. This I am doing as an exercise to let unwise and misguided to know the truth.
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Senguttuvan / December 28, 2012
The most damning allegation is the transfer of black money here – alleged to have found its way to SL banks in the classical laundry
fashion. This can easily be establshed by proper examination of books
at the Ausralian side. If wrong-doing is established, it raises a
bigger question as to how the party concerned here came by such large
sums of undeclared money in a period less than about 5 years. If the
inference is proven, our already bruised system of justice becomes a joke – and a buyable commodity, as often alleged already.
Hansard records show many instances where that great and learned Parliamentarian Dr. N.M. Perera remarking along the lines “when rogues fall out – what emerges will be foul-smelling odour of ill-gotten gains”
Senguttuvan
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / December 29, 2012
The sums involved are not large in terms of incomes in the west and property values in Colombo. Rs. 30,000,000 is equal to about US dollars 240,000. Such a quantum of money is involved in many personal transactions -Property, vehicles etc., in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka rupee exchange rates are in league with the Japanese Yen and Italian Lira and create illusions of big money in a poor country. Singapore has a per capita income of US dollars 54 ,000, whereas our rulers take pride in ours being US dollars 2000 . The cost living dictates that at bare minimum and with much belt tightening a small family will need Rs 30 ,000 per month to meet all expenses. This is equivalent to an expenditure of US dollars 2880 per year. At bare minimum there is a per capita deficit of US dollars 880.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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K.A Sumanasekera / December 29, 2012
What is reader Sengutuan on about here?.
Kapila “Super Pit” Karu must be on at least a Million bucks a year as the Chief in charge of the Superpit, for the average wage there for a truck driver who carts the dirt out of the pit is 150 thousand plus Aussie Dollars per year.
Trillium apartments which sell around 200 to 250 k is small change for a guy who is a king pin in the Mining Industry as he claims and , where big miners market value is more than twice our Lankan GDP.
Trillium is marketed by Celinco and surely , payment could have been made to their account in Colombo .
Evidently there are no restrictions in Australia to send money overseas as long as the remitances are made through Banks or licensed money exchangers.
The 64 Million question is why Super Pit Kapila sent the money to the SIS and got her into this hassle ,jolly well knowing that she is the CJ of our Supreme Court
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Wuliangguobinjiu / December 30, 2012
KASum: “why Super Pit Kapila sent the money to the SIS”
It’s the most natural thing for families anywhere in the world to do when they are far apart. Who can one trust today? At best the family but none other.
The amount is 120k cost of apartment is peanuts. GP’s in the UK and EU earns £150-180k to £300k per year at the upper end and on retirement some get around ½ million per year with the private insurance etc. A 2 bed in the west end of London cost £2 million.
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Kumudini / December 30, 2012
Basic salry of a newly qualified graduate is 25,000, if they are lucky. The people who earn 150,000 -200,000 per annum are the super elite like Rebecca Brooks or the Directors of Companies , some senior consultants, and some GPS who are partners in their GP surgeries. Where do you ge this information from ???? I have never known anyone getting half a milliion on retirement . Maybe you hob nob witht the higher echlons of societylike company directors and bankers.
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Curious / December 30, 2012
What is reader Sengutuan on about here?.
Mischief as always! Enjoys stirring the pot and adding more chillie powder. On whose behalf? RAW!
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Netizen / December 28, 2012
Sri Lanka was, up until recently, a sovereign democratic nation state in the international community. But today, the incumbent ruling family has transformed the country into a fiefdom. Concomitantly, the status of her citizenry too has now been reduced to vassals. And the new name of the country is “RAJAFUCKISTAN” whose capital today is Medamoolana;}. The impeachment motion was the last name in the coffin of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
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Iqbal / December 28, 2012
Renuka and Kapila will be offered VIP treatment had they shown any willingness or desire to join the Rajapakse brothers and possibly made ambassadors or even cabinet ministers, but, defending their perceived challenger, CJ, may put their lives in danger. Beware of any accident involving their vehicle in Australia. A plan for it may be hatched by one of the brothers. Also remember a leading former LTTEer KP is treated like a VIP for joining the brothers whereas many child soldiers about whom the government shed crocodile tears are locked up for years without any charge or accountability.
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Muhunthan / December 28, 2012
Mr. Villager, don’t worry yout turn will be next very soon. I respect your views, but can you tell me how can PSC members make statements to a CJ of the country “baba..” ” nona” etc. give 1000 pages of documents and ask her council to revert within 24 hours.
By the way we must respect professionals and not like MR son who got his law accreditations.
Bet me this MR’s government is over before the end of 2013 or before because in Sri Lanka people are supreme and not screwed MR
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / December 28, 2012
Please let us know who negotiated the terms for the purchase of the Trillium property and clarify whether the role of the CJ as a sister and sister-in-law was strictly limited to paying out the money sent by you to her, to the owners of the said apartment.
Your financial capability to buy the said property is not being questioned. What is being questioned is the probity of the CJ . While the manner in which the CJ is being treated and the circumstances surrounding the impeachment are unacceptable, the principle accusation involving her role in the Trillium apartment deal has to answered in a clear and definitive manner. The people need to hear your side of the story .
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Villager / December 29, 2012
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran,
Without doubt, the PSC report confirms that it is CJ’s husband who first contacted the manager of Trillium that lead to acquire the property concerned in CJ’s sister and her husband’s name. Besides, the PSC inquiry details also describes an incident where a minor official had not bestowed due respect to the CJ when she was having an inspection tour of the property and that official being fired for that reason subsequently. Is that not enough to show CJ’s involvement in this purchase.
I agree that full courtesy for CJ is a must and if someone didn’t do that he should have been fired then and there. As for me, I wouldn’t have any respect for her now because to my mind she not just found guilty by PSC she is no different to those fat bellied MPs. For me, she is political animal now. Look at what she had done before going to PSC. So treat her like to an MP. But, this impeachment is not about those matters.
This charge is about CJ had negotiated to buy a property from a company overlooking all the strictures placed on it by an interim order by the very same SC, and the basis that the CJ had changed the bench that inquired the case against that company that owned her property for three and a half years. Technical arguments, natural justice are all well and good at ordinary courts where they drag cases till cows come home.
The point I am trying to raise here is, both the CJ and her husband has visited the property many a times and negotiated the purchase for her sister. The fact that the CJ has her sister’s power of attorney do everything to do with the purchase of this property is enough to substantiate it. It is immaterial whether CJ’s sister and her husband visited it or not. CJ and her family alone visited it or how she found the money to buy it is an unnecessary argument. Those being foot dragging arguments, I suppose, she was found not guilty for two charges.
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eureka / December 28, 2012
Why on earth did you take so long to write this letter please?
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / December 28, 2012
Correction: it should be brother-in-law instead of sister-in-law.
Dr.R.N
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douglas / December 28, 2012
Villager- I think you are wrong in stating “2. Buying an apartment…
against same interim judgement”
The truth is on 6th May 2010 i.e. much prior to Mrs.Bandaranayke was appointed CJ)the sale of housing units of the Trillium Residencis had been excluded from the Fundamental Rights Application bearing No 262/2009. The judgement recorded is as follows”
“The court also directs the the Committee of Chartered Accountants to pursue all negotiations for the sale of other properties by advertising and calling for quotations with a view to obtaining the highest going prices on these properties. No properties to be alienated without the express permission of this Court. For the moment the properties to be disposed would be (1) Pioneer Tower (Head Office Building) (2) Trillium Residencies (sale of housing units) (3) Celestial residencies”.
The quetion is: Is CJ guilty of buying one or any unit from these properties even with a discounted price, that being with the scrutiny of the Committee of Charted Accountants?
I am raising this question not on behalf of CJ, but with a view to protect anyones rights to buy the housing units coming under this Court order.
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Villager / December 29, 2012
douglas,
Please refer to my reply to Aney above where my answer for your question to me is embedded as well. Also what I have mentioned in my writing to Dr.RN.
In my opinion, if you or I were to buy a property that is complicated in a legal battle that drags on and on, we should read all the interim orders very carefully if the case is proceeding and the final judgement is yet to deliver. There is more common sense there than law, I suppose.
Is ignorance is an excuse in the eyes of the law? Can we place the blame on accountants and violate the interim order for our benefit? Why do buyers pay and employ lawyers? And the CJ has access to the best of the lawyers; she should have abided by that interim order to the letter when buying and getting discounts for that property at trillium for her or for her sister. I think the CJ is corrupt. It’s just silly to compare the CJ with MPs.
The other point is having bought a property from trillium should she change the bench that heard HR case against owning companies of trillium and appoint herself the chairman of a new bench. Why? The lady has no answers; that’s why she ran way.
Besides what do you think of CJ’s attorneys for impeachment today being the same attorneys for those trillium owning companies. At least for the credit of the government, those MPs who signed the impeachment were not appointed as members of the PSC.
If not for those reasons I would not think for a moment the CJ is guilty for buying a property at trillium.
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Chandra / December 29, 2012
Villager (Aka Leela)
It would be interesting reading the list of Trillium Residences sold during the same period with the names of the purchasers and the discounts given.
Perhaps, then one would really understand if indeed the CJ obtained a “true” discount compared to the other purchasers.
Chandra “Marco” Page
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Villager / December 30, 2012
Chandra,
Read that ‘interim order’ and decide for yourself whether discounts should be given and how sales have to be concluded. Being the the CJ, who we expect to be the epitome of our law accept discounts when there is an order to collect maximum money to pay 9000 depositors and ignore the procedure laid out by SC. One need not be a law scholar to understand the ‘interim order’ and CJ’s action to decide on this.
Next, read Justice Thilakawardena’s evidence to PSC, a part of it is in Silumina today, and learn whether trillium director Ratnayake who gave the discount to the CJ had been an accused in HR case concerned and was reported to CID by SC for violating interim orders which action had ceased later on.
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Ronny / December 28, 2012
Mr. and Mrs. Karunaratna, what are your qualifications and professional experiences when compared to that of Mervyn, Rajitha, Weerawanse, Dilan and also Mahinda, Gotabhaya, Namal et al. They are highly qualified doctors with several “land” titles. You have just one “land” title and that is also through a “Power of Attorney”. Look at the languages that they know. You only know refined English and also Sinhalese but these politicians know even Greek very well and some know even Chinese, Persian, Arabic, Zulu, Tagalog, etc. etc. and those words just flow through their teeth like “venom”. If there is a debate between both of you and with just one of them and you will not be able to talk even two sentences and you will have to just get up and go like your sister.
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Villager / December 29, 2012
Ronny
What has professional or academic qualifications has got to do with impeachment? We the people who elect practical people as MPs are not obsessed with qualifications. We have a saying ‘pandithayata adande yanna ba’ For whatever reason, Mervyn, Rajitha, Weerawanse, Dilan, Namal, Mahinda and etc were elected by the people. Even st John of the UNP said Gotabhaya is doing a fantastic job.
As far as I know, two of the best leaders of this country and the UNP D.S.Senanayake and R. Premadasa had not passed even matriculation. Did it matter? NO.
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Ane Manda / December 29, 2012
Unfortunately, those leaders had something that none of the people you mentioned have – Common Sense ;)
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Ronny / December 29, 2012
Villager, then why are professional and academic qualifications are stipulated for vacancies in managerial levels. Are you qualified or atleast suitable to be a bank manager or any other post if you haven’t got the required qualifications. These politicians are elected as you say but there is a BIG QUESTION MARK as to how they got so many votes since there had been so many malpractices and riggings, etc. etc. When Mervn Silva contested from Colombo District he got only a mere 2,000 and he was the last but through thuggery and with the manipulations at the polling booths and counting centres and at the Elections Secretariat and as the ruling party was the PA with a well planned and calculated manipulations, he and others whom the Rajapakses wanted got a few lakhs! Do you believe that the Sri Lankans are such fools to vote for a thug like Mervyn. Also, the results were out well before the elections took place – you know how it all happened. Similarly, the Impeachment verdict was given even prior to the commencement of the PSC met. All the dictatorial rulers died or were killed like dogs. The volcano may erupt at any moment and there are no clean drains in Colombo as all the drains are clogged with muck.
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Kumudini / December 30, 2012
Also John Major was a bank cleark before he was elected as PM . He was dedicated , and delivered a first class service to the UK . DID people in the UK question his qualifcations? Only the stupid SL are obsessed with qualifcations, Any one who has the opportunites can be educated but only the people with intellegience matters , That is seriously lacking in the so called educated of SL . They bask in their qualifcations but sadly lack logic or analytical skills .
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P.B / December 29, 2012
Did you know the story of Mervin Silva, going to , Kelaniya and saying , I am. A Lion I am Mervin, All the people gathered at the venue were wondering if his mother went to the jungle or if the Lion came to his house!!!!
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Ronny / December 29, 2012
P.B., I think you are mistaken. It was a rabid dog in Lion’s garb.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 8, 2013
CORRECT,
DOGS AND THEIR CLAN SHOWS TRUE COLORS.
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Jayantha / December 28, 2012
Ms.Renuka and Kapila,
We Sri Lankan Sinhalese share our CJ Her Ladyship Shirani Bandaranayake, her family and also your sorrows, grievences and injust brought upon her’s and your family by the undeucated, uncultured President, who does not know the values of educated and respectable communities both in Sri Lanka and abroad.
We all know the history of President’s last generations, their employments, his home towns, the kind of people he moves both locally and Internationally…… and how his father was called in to politics by SWRD Bandaranaike while SWRD passing the paddy field D.A.Rajapakse was ploughing and called to join him for politics.That’s the beginning of Rajapakse family’s political carrier.
If you look at most of the comments and views under various newsletters in Colombo Telegraph, you will see how the general public view and feel about the current political climate in Sri Lanka. Their views and comments are pretty much real and genuine……and also very sad and sorry.
Simply because of the Greed for power and False Pride of a Single ruling family now trying to make Sri Lanka another Banana Republic.
Sri Lanka which was occupied, administered and Built with so much knowledge and effort with infracture projects as to Railway,Trolly busses, Tar roads, electricity,pipe water, Tea, rubber ,Coconut plantations,Hotels, Bunglows, parliament, Schools, education,Hospital etc,…etc built all of these and more by the British and handed over to us FREE in 1948…..but still the same ungrateful Govt. political thugs bash them while destroying country’s knowledge, infracture, knowhow, health and politics.
Ever since these Political thugs occupied the Parliament, our country went down the hill…..and now it has become a Shit Bucket…..all because these uneducated, uncivilised thugs occupying a chair that is not belong to them.
THAT CHAIR BELONGS ONLY TO EDUCATED, HONEST, CULTURED AND REPPECTABLE CITIZENS WHO WORK FOR CITIZENS…… AND NOT FOR OTHER THIEVES TO THEIR OWN POCKETS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS..
But unfortunately now it is occupied by most corrupt,unjust,power hungry lunatic thieves……which we need to chase out soon.
Now they try to get into the last remaining SUPREME COURT CHAIR….AND TO CORRUPT THAT ALSO……WHICH WE SRI LANKANS WILL NEVER ALLOW.
Please be assured that 2013 is an year of change…..and change for good for Sri Lanka.
Also please keep your Dreams Alive…as the liberation has already begun…By the Real Patriots.
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vajja / February 22, 2013
Day dreamer or mud slinger,
Your all facts are wrong. i.e. SWRD did not take DA Rajapaksha into politics. When DM Rajapaksha, (Nirupama Rajapaksha’s grand father) died, he was forcibly invited to politics by the progressive people and he won the bye-election without any other contestant.
So, be decent when you write in a public forum.
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K.A Sumanasekera / December 28, 2012
BIL’s headline even is misleading.Isn’t it?.
Reading it,one would think that the BIL is really helping the inhabitants of the Motherland by investing in the Economy to give it a bit more gas.
Buying a holiday pad in a luxury Condo at a “Mate”s rate using the powerful SIL is rather “speculation” in the current booming Economy of the Motherland.
BIL’s & SIS’s CVs look very impressive and even dinkum Aussies will envy them.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 8, 2013
DO YOU FEEL JEALOUSY OF THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS?.
BECAUSE, YOUR BOSSES DO NOT HAVE A DECENT BRAIN TO BE EDUCATED.
THEY GOT CUNNING BRAINS, ONLY TO LOOT FROM WEALTHY AND EDUCATED.
OH I FORGOT.
LOOT THE NATIONAL TREASURES TOO.
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Senguttuvan / December 29, 2012
Hats off to you, Sumane. The effort of BiL to win friends, tears
and a following has fallen flat like that attempt by the son of the legal luminary. Or to use your apt expression “run out of gas” The Sinhala, Tamil and Islamic “Modayas” will get their thinking-gear at the right times and can easily make out between right and wrong.
Looks to me like its a lost game for Mamma and Papa – which even
a thousand acts of genuflection at Bodhi trees at Kelaniya and Anuradhapura might not help.
Happy holidays/Senguttuvan
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Jayantha / December 29, 2012
If Anybody knows know how President Rajapakse started his active political carrier……I found that he based it on Two main foundations
They are…….
A)MR stole Tsunami Helping Hambantota Fund…
B)MR used some of that money to Bribe VP to stop N and E voters voting for UNP RW and also hoodwinked both JVP and LSSP parties for MR’s side….and as a result RW lost the 2005 presidential election.
After Bribing VP, President Rajapakse learnt the value of BRIBES.
2)Therefore MR started to bribe all opposition parliament members and as a result over 100 crossed over to his side.
3)Then MR Bribed Buddhist Clergy…giving them super luxury cars and SUV’s, land, building Viharas, Pansals, Buddha statues, foreign tours, well fed them with food and meals, media and TV coverage spending immensely.
4)MR also made sure that all corporates and businesses who supported UNP and other opposition parties does not financially fund them anymore….and if they did so they will have to face his wrath.
MR Frauduntly collapsed Golden key empire since Hon.Lalith Kotalawela was a UNP Financial supporter, Also acquisition of Sugar plantation and the factory which was under Mr. Jayawardena, acquisition Daya gamage sugar plantation, acquisition many UNP and opposition supporters Hotels, Businesses, and others through stock market etc..are mainly to Financially deprive and weaken the opposition parties.
Do you know that in order to contest only for PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION, a candidate has to spend over 60 million rupees…..leave alone for general election. Just a coloured single off set poster could cost around rupees 400.00 each. Therefore opposition parties found it hard to spend this much of huge sums for elections, while MR supporters not only spend hundred times more than opposition spends but also used state resources and bribed voters to their party. Also with voter intimidation and harassing and bribing election commissoner made MR won all elections.
Do you know that for MR last birthday…. paper ads alone he spent over Rs.750 Million…..Listen to UNP MP.Dayasiri Jayasekera talk about it in Parliament.
So this is how MR suppress all opposition parties……either acq1uisition of their supporters businesses or bringing false litigation on fradulent charges.
5)Also MR acquired all opposition Media institutes such as…Press, Radio, TV, foreign ministry personnel, media personnel and reporters and artists, bribing them with laptop computers and car loans etc. under his control and started bashing all opposition parties, and used them for his propaganda machine….a sign of absolute dictatorship.
Also MR.used white vans, police, thugs and hired killers to intimidate opposition party supporters, activists and reporters.
6)MR also replaced both Ex CJ’s…once with Sarath Silva and again with Asoka Silva….and made sure they get all the full benefits when they retire for the help they did for him to get out of Tsunami Scandal, bribed opp.MP’s to cross, obtained 2/3 majority in the parliament and brought in draconian 18th Amendment.
7) Also MR gave high post to current CJ’s husband Mr.Kariyawasam as Chairman NSB, and took photos with her during Namal Rajapakse’s Law Graduation to get outside attention and favours from her…..but due to her strong ethical standings, he couldn’t convince her….and then MR applied his “Condom Theory” on her. That is what this CJ impeachment is all about.
8)Also MR changed and sent all the Best Servicemen who are affiliated with opposition parties on early retirement and replaced them with his goons.
9)When you here and see Daily Mirror Yapa – Rohitha Bogalagama Video clip…you see that yapa say he brought the 16 witnesses to clarify the validity of documents….and by this we note that the documents were collected only after the CJ trial began…. which say that the 117 who signed the motion without knowing the charges. Also CJ’s lawyers confirmed this.
10) Therefore since MR made sure to weak opposition to such an extent, that no opposition will challange him for next few generations…he want to make sure this last CJ barrier also to be wiped out for good so he could have his total absolute dictatorial regime for ever…….MEDAMULANA MAHARAJANO….SA..U …SAAA..U. SSSSSSAAAAADD………..UUUUUU.
Therefore we as citizens have only this last opportunity to safeguard our Liberty, rights and deomcracy only by protecting CJ from impeachment and also the opposition should think deep on the gravity on this issue.
Come January 3rd…we could see if Govt. and the opposition PSC 11 go in front of Court of Appeal…and see the outcome.
Come Jan. 9th Parliament CJ hearing begins and we all request Govt. to broadcast the Debate LIVE on Radio, TV and Internet.
Also we could witness who are the Parliament “Betrayers” of people who want to sell their pride respect and conscious for a dictatorial MR regime SANTHOSAM.
Parliament CJ Impeachment Live TV, Radio coverage is a MUST.
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Kumudini / December 30, 2012
Jayantha you have so much inside information . How come ??? Did you witness these personally when the bribes were given ??
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Jayantha / December 30, 2012
Kumudini……
I don’t know where you live…..or what newspapers you read…..
Start reading Lankaenews, srilankaxnews, TV, radio, and just talk to public……and see the general public movement, buildings, vehicles, clergy, 4 million rupee watch, millions of rupees foreign currency in houses, Govt.MP’s houses and their children’s overseas education, overseas.travel,hospital stay,Charter Plane loads govt.officials, posters and cutouts….etc…etc…
Also use common sense….Lamborghinis, laptops,govt official vehicles, clergy luxury vehicles and their enormous build, buddha statutes every corner…also the biggest and tallest buddha concrete statues under construction….dana….what do you think all these for…
Good luck.
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Kumudini / December 31, 2012
I get it. You have accumilated this information from lanka enews . That says a lot about the credibility of your information !A very intellectual news site !!!!Typical SL mentality as expected.
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Jayantha / January 1, 2013
Of couse Yes.It is part of my news gathering. Not the only source.
Where else we could get….after your big boss took over all the the opposition newspapers and changed them into MARA propaganda news machines.
Atleast likes of LEN publish truthful news….not MR bogus hilarious news.
Also I advice you to read these news sites and compare yourself.
Good luck.
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ananda mayadunne / December 29, 2012
Dr. Narendra is right. What is needed is a transparent process that is only possible if Parliament FIRST devises a proper mechanism that enables detailed investigation, authoritative verification, and an independent decision regarding whatever charges are made against persons in high office like the CJ. Many democracies, from India to USA to France to Germany have such mechanisms. If Sri Lanka does not have the expertise in-country (I firmly believe that we have all the expertise we need in-country and in the diaspora), then we can obtain advice from any number countries. I am comparing our country with such countries and not with those countries whose regimes are the new friends of the Rajapakses like Swaziland, Burindi, Burma, Haiti, none of which have any long tradition of civilised democratic practices. If the SL government and Pariament as a whole (not merely the governing coalition), with expert assistance, can FIRST devise such a mechanism, then all these charges can be verified and decided on with transparency and with the confidence of the citizens of the country.
The current regime DARES NOT set up such a mechanism not because they are too dumb and uneducated to do it (yes, they are dumb) but because any proper, detailed investigative process will ultimately expose so many other corrupt and illegal actions by a plethora of actors including the ruling family and its shady henchmen.
Instead, having panicked at the local and international hostile reactions to its resort to the crude and un-finished impeachment process currently in place under the JR-UNP devised constitution, the Rajapakses are now at its usual game of throwing up whatever make-shift ‘measures’ they can hurriedly devise (as third-rate thieves do when confronted with a difficult ‘break-in’) to further hoodwink people. The last thing the regime wants is any kind of genuine process. They and their crony capitalists would be the first to be exposed, not the CJ.
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kautilya / December 29, 2012
Sumanasekara
Your slip is showing
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Kiri Gamarala / December 29, 2012
I think the public debate is going off the track. Questions on
1. Whether the impeachment process was right?
2. Whether the ratification of Sri Lanka’s Fourth Report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) submitted to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations in 2002 by the parliament of SL has impinged the constitutional provisions on impeachment of a SC Judge? (in the report the GOSL has accepted that proceedings of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the impeachment of judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal are subject to review by the courts.)
3. Whether the Executive President has powers to have the PSC Report reexamined by an independent committee and whether his decision to do so is a delaying tactic or a strategy to allow a natural death to Impeachment motion so that CHOGM would go ahead as planned?
4. Whether the 117 MPs who sighned the Impeachment Motion, have the right to vote after the debate on PSC Report, if they have not declared Assets and Liabilities?
Go unanswered if the learned readers of CT drag themselves into arguing on matters that have no relevance to core issues.
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Patriot / December 29, 2012
How did the mr 10 percentage company managed to buy the celestial tower for Rs 4 billions when there was an offer of Rs 7 billion . Lets have a another PsC
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Sirisena Yatawara / December 29, 2012
I am not Rajapakasa support at all in my life time.Even I am not SLFP er , but we to come have with truth,Rajapakasa Family is enaging with Politics since 1930 time of during State Council. D M was first elected by State Council after passed away of D M R , D A R had been suceeded in Member of State council after D M R.
DA R was first set of Members of SLFP with Banadaranake leadership.
DA R was very humble person with typcical root of Sri Lankan rural Culture of Buddhist Civilization.They were NOT political thugs or Lumpans like UNP -JRJ and Premadasa’s type of VULTURE POLITICS IN SRI LANKA.
I belive Rajapakasa’s are within the frame work of Parlimentary Democray and they evaluated the value of Ballot and ELECTORIAL VERDIT OF PEOPLE.Even after defeated of LTTE terrorism -WAR BY MR GOVT,Sri lankan, REMAIN still in the Path of ELECTED BY PEOPLE FOLLOW POLICIES.
The change of Government by verdict of ballots has not been change by MR ruling Party.
The issue of Corruption charges of CJ in INDISPUTABLE in Rule of Law viloated by Shiranee Banadaranayake and her husband. Her Charges of Impeachment are insissolubale.
There may be differeant opinons of CJ’s impeachment of Rule Of Law and Fairness of Justice is depend on in their class basis and political affliations.
I personally belive CJ’s misused her power of Judiciary and to become RICH within her TENURE OF CHIEF JUSTICE.
Look at Her and husband role of engage of literal dream is relised Finiancial Transaction of buying and selling of properties,and Bank transaction are more greedy of investemt on Lucaritive busniess in Bankrupt Ceylinoco Groupe of Companies obtain ownership propeties with far sight vision and calcuated manner to become RICH WITHIN SHORT PEROD OF TIME. I STRONG BELIVED CJ HAS MISUSED HER JUDICAIL AUTHORITY MONEY METHODS OF INVESTMENT BANK SYSTEM OF WALL STREET TO BECOME RICH -FASTTRACK PATH OF CAPITALISM IN EXPENCES OF INDEPEDANCE OF SRI LANKAN JUDICIARY.
Needlees to say nacked attacked foundation and pillar of Justice of Law & Rule of Law has undermine Sri Lankn foundation of legal system by unpredital, whimsical behaviour of Sharnai Banadarake and her husband.
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Sirisena Yatawara / December 29, 2012
correct word read as indissoluble, sorry for wrong word of –insissoluble in my comments sorry.
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K.A Sumanasekera / December 29, 2012
Mr Rajaratnam , another “non Western icon” and fondly called Galleon Raja, tried to help his fellow inhabitant Tamils through the TRO, although the latter had a different agenda.
In contrast, Kapila “Superpit” Karu,only spent his dough to buy an up market apartment at a heavily discounted price.
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Citizen / December 29, 2012
Villager,
Big time Rajapakse suckers like you are an insult to Villagers. Villagers in Sri Lanka know the big picture that you want to hide. Big part of the big picture is that Rajapakses selectively use law to get rid of unwanted people on his way to consolidate the dictatorship he has already amassed around his family. In that sense, the Golden opportunity to siphon public funds through the “Divi-Naguma” bill with impunity legalized. He and you got thoroughly p** off to lose that opportunity when the CJ held it unconstitutional. Another big part of the big story is to create a public opinion that law and judiciary is ridiculous but his rule is noble. He has been using doing this through various ways including the 18th amendment. Villagers see this big picture, though suckers don’t want to see.
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Senguttuvan / December 29, 2012
Galleon’s Rajaratnam helped both the Sri Lankan Govt and, as I recall, in one occasion the TRRO for housing/rehabilitation of war-affected Tamils. The latter he made in consultation and with due knowledge of GoSL. The country’s Stock-market received a tremendous boost by his
regular FDIs. His periodical large investments in our blue-chips not only brought in the necessary badly needed cash-injection the country but also created the necessary confidence among other front-line investors in the global investing community. It is said his present fate was a carefully structured plot by some sections of Wall Street insiders to prevent the steady growth of an “outsider” beyond the levels of tolerance there. It is common knowledge Insider-trading takes place every hour at Wall Street on every day of trading. Most go about in the business-as-usual fashion while, occasionaly – like outsider Russian-origin investor Ivan Boesky a few years ago – are found to be truant in one issue or the other. Rajaratnam was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Let us not pour scorn on him just because he belonged to one particular community. The lawful invesments he brought into the country was of great benefit to the country. Let us be decent and show a sense of gratitude to a man who is doing everything within his ability even today to secure justice that was denied for him.
Senguttuvan
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to K.A Sumanasekera / December 30, 2012
Not at all Mr Sengutuan.
Based on your account,Galleon Raja sems more patriotic than our own Sinhala Kapila “Superpit” Karu.
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Senguttuvan / December 29, 2012
Jayantha – History of recent times has many records of scheming anti-people despots in many countries subverting the democratic process in the manner you describe. Examples abound in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. This may bring them and their immediate families and cronies benefits. But this harms the country and the people perniciously. The bigger danger is the imposed damage in weakening the structures of democratic governance – as we have alarmingly witnessed in recent times in the country. The latter cannot be easily repaired as we see today the massive efforts to re-building our English knowledge capacity – destroyed by foolish racially-prejudiced politics of the late 1950s. Sadly, an entire generation may be despatched to a low-quality standard of living and social confusion before we regain some form of our hitherto political health and well-being.
Senguttuvan
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Jayantha / December 30, 2012
Senguttuvan,
Yes I totally agree with you. Infact I wrote a long comment before, based on the information my father told me SL under Britisxh rule. Of couse he was so happy and told me so many good things of them that I don’t have time and space to write.
My Grand father was a planter at a coconut estate in Negombo and my father was a bank employee under them. He went to Christian school under their administration and subsequently joined their bank. He played cricket, football(soccer) volley ball, with British for the bank and have travelled all over country with them and the whole team including other Sri Lankans were treated like Maharaja when they travel. He still have those photos. He say the annual christmas party was the most unforgettable event……with food and booz, music and dancing, hefty bonus and gifts to all the family members christmas raffles, hampers etc.He say the current generation only could dream of the stuff they have done.
You still could see what they have done when you go up country…to the tea plantations, bungalows, hotels, all over.
I still don’t know why Govt. got rid of trolly busses….as they are the most environmental friendly and lowest cost effective transportation..and they gave all these FREE to us when they left.
But see the pathetic situation now….after 60 years of Independence.
Even to put a TWO MILE CONCRETE ROAD….GOSL IS LOOKING FOR FOREIGN LOANS……This is the state of country today…..Today heavy furnace oil increase by Rs:25 per leter…..What will happen to all the manufacturing comapnies who use them. They could go broke pretty soon.
As I said before…..and I will take a bet with anybody…..that ten (10) Qualified European Professionals who are qualified in respective fields will not only do the Job of all Govt. Ministers…….but also will bring us out from those huge losses they are incurring while giving a far more better service to public at a lower cost than what we pay now.
This is a challange to any Govt. official……..because our white sarong …white shirt…. satakaya followere and the goons are mere Modayas in the pond not knowing what is going around even in the neighboring countries.
The annual turn over in the Toyota Company alone is three times more than our Gross domestic product. Just see where we stand and where we heading for…..simply because an uneducated goon is the Minister of Development……and now today the most three senior qualified directors in Tourism sector are leaving due to this satakaya Goon has started to ruin that industry. Very soon there won’t be any tourists….with this As… Hole giving bogus figurs.
Anyways….keep in touch….and see where the country is taken by these Hambantota Nariyas.
Happy New Year 2013
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Real Peace / December 29, 2012
This is how Prabaharan used to run a kangaroo court in Vanni, it’s sad the Sinhalese will now have to live with the ‘Sinhala version of Prabaharan’!
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Senguttuvan / December 29, 2012
Sumanasekera – Even you may agree if someone earned a million US$ an year and wishes to come back to his homeland, in the choice of a luxury apartment he/she will would rather chose one at Colombo 03, 05 and 07 where the very wealthy have invested/live as they return. They are unlikely to chose the backwaters of Narahenpita. As the old saying goes “birds of a feather flock together” Several I kknow have asked
details at Crescat Residences – the “in” place – and other in the areas I referred to.
Besides, if one earns as much as you write, the entire thing is not savings. Living in appropriate places and life-style in expensive Australia eats off much of the earnings.
Senguttuvan
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