Nine Cabinet Ministers and a State Minister took oaths in their new portfolios at the Presidential Secretariat today.
Mangala Samaraweera – Minister of Finance and Mass Media, Ravi Karunanayake – Minister of External Affairs, S.B. Dissanayake – Minister of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage, W.D.J. Seneviratne – Minister of Labour, Trade Union Relations and Sabaragamu Development, Mahinda Samarasinghe – Minister of Ports and Shipping, Gayantha Karunatilake -Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms, Arjuna Ranatunga – Minister of Petroleum Resources Development, Chandima Weerakkody – Minister of Skills Development and Vocational, Training, Mahinda Amaraweera – Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development and State MInister of Mahaweli Development, Thilak Janaka Marapana – Minister of Development Assignments.
Mudson Amarasinghe / May 22, 2017
At last that scoundrel AR is out of Ports! He did everything to sabotage the Hambantota port deal. Also the environment ministry should be changed.
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Simon De Silva / May 22, 2017
Why most abusive Deal Dasa as a minister of Justice is my number one question ?
He should long have been replaced by some one else. That is overdue.
Then only we could see things move getting Rajapakshe to the invetigation table.
President and PM should have to answer these question why they cant put at least one o fthem in jail by today ? this is becoming a headache to the people.
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Concerned / May 22, 2017
Dealdasa’s children are friends with Sirisena’s brat and his corrupt Son-in-law Thilina Suranjith Wewelpanawa.
Also, Dealdasa’s showman Son Rakitha works for Sirisena.
Dealdasa is in safe hands !
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Kalupahana / May 23, 2017
Quite correct Simon de Silva, Ranil and his Corrupt team of Economic Hit men have brought Sri Lanka to a vary dangerous time and place by hoodwinking Sira who is really rather a simpleton on the global economy and world stage.
With TIlak Marapana Sri Lanka will be officially the “Fake Development Hub” of the global South, where so called development projects are designed and implemented to loot the local people and to benefit the Global 1 percent and increase corruption, inequality and poverty.
This is a very dangerous situation. so too the JVP and Anura Kumara must organize massive protests again appointment of Tilak Marapone as Minister of Fake Development Assignments!
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Jagath Fernando / May 22, 2017
Falling short of expectations but better than nothing being done.
Mangala is the best out of the lot for finance and hopefully Eran would be his deputy.
Thank god Abfew new faces for some key ministries.
Unfortunately no courage to kick out useless ministers all together.
All together 92 cabinet, state and deputy ministers in Yahapalanaya govt!!
May be the ministers who got new portfolios should be given new duty free car paermits as well.
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Don Stanley / May 23, 2017
The biggest crook and danger to the current govt. is Wijedasa Rajapaksa. He should have been removed from the post of Minister of Injustice and Buddhism. Wijedasa has been blocking investigations against Mahinda Jarapassa family and cronies, Gota’s Avant Guard scandal, and promoting Sinhala Buddhist fundamentalism and BBS . Wijedasa is working to bring back Mahinda Rajapakse and cronies to power and is their Mole in the Cabinet of corrupt clowns. He should be removed immediately from the post of Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasanaya.
Sira and the people of Lanka have been taken for a giant ride with this so-called reshuffle which has put more crooks in strategic Ministries to further corruption and sale of national assets without due diligence. It is now time to Impeach Ranil Wickramasinghe and his cabinet of corrupt crooks for massive corruption and the culture of impunity. – Ravi. K, Wijedasa Rajapakse, Marapana must go.
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Sunil Dahanayake / May 22, 2017
Dear Honourable President
This is like an strategy of “Changing the pillow for the headache”. Can you solve problems faced by the country with changing the pack of cards ?
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shankar / May 22, 2017
you are right.when it comes to public trust in politicians
1.singapore
27.malaysia
30.china
31.india
40.US
47.vietnam
49.indonesia
85.pakistan
89.srilanka
96.korea
99.phillipines
111.thailand
117.bangladesh
138.brazil
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Eagle Eye / May 22, 2017
Singapore, Malaysia, China and India better than US who is preaching ‘Good Governance’ to the rest of the world.
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Native Vedda / May 24, 2017
Eagle Eye ———————“Singapore, Malaysia, China and India better than US who is preaching ‘Good Governance’ to the rest of the world.” ——————————————You are a very stupid man/woman, Sri Lanka should be preaching ‘Good Governance’ to the rest of the world.”. Why is it not doing it. You know why, it is because there are 21 million incompetent people like you competing for the top jobs where make or break decisions are being made. And people like you after pulling a few strings indeed find your place at the top. ——————————————-Stupid people like you expect all six Nobel prizes to be awarded to you every year until your death.
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Burt / May 22, 2017
MS did this shuffle keeping his eye on the next election for the SLFP and to screw-up the current govt and blame it on the UNP.
I have nothing against Mangala but is a good fit for Finance Ministry? Dr. Harsha De Silva would have a better fit.
Worst is not what he did but what he don’t do. Rajapaksa should have been removed from the Justice portfolio. Has he achieved anything?
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Native Vedda / May 22, 2017
Burt ————————————— ” I have nothing against Mangala but is a good fit for Finance Ministry? ” If the head of the Kleptocracy Mahinda Rajapaksa was good as Finance Minister (23 November 2005 – 9 January 2015) anyone else is better. Don’t worry its only state finances, its neither yours nor mine.
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Burt / May 22, 2017
MR held the finance portfolio but that did not mean it was good for the country, it was good for his family alright. Unfortunately its another Rajapaksa holding the Justice portfolio in the current govt and no one will know how bad it was.
State finances matter more than yours or mine because we have the ability to move them around if we think its not managed proper but when its state finances no one other than the politicians that have control over it.
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sama / May 22, 2017
This morning I got ot know that Suriyawaewa stadium is an another white elephant. What these men thought at thhe time, they abused state funds as getting them built – without any feasibility and quality assuarence is the million dollar question today.
Why the media men biased to Rajapakshe would not question him yet today is the other question. If I were one of the ministers, I would have made top of the issue. Then we could collect those sum from his deposits.
Ballige puthas governed the country to looting it to the core. That is becoming the truth today.
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Eagle Eye / May 22, 2017
Sama,
“Ballige puthas governed the country to looting it to the core.”
Are you referring to the ‘Bank Robbers’? If so, I am in full agreement with you.
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janaka / May 23, 2017
Yes a freebe bribe trip to Disney land.
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K A Sumanasekera / May 22, 2017
Who robbed the Ash Melon……Puhul Hora Karen Dane…..Heheheheheheheeeee…
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K A Sumanasekera / May 22, 2017
Wonder what happened to the Porty Ports Minister… Did he steal an Ash Melon too ….Or was he too smart to oppose Dr Ranil, giving Chinese 15,000 acres, as compo for insulting the Chinese Government and the President who visited Magamapura?….
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Native Vedda / May 22, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera ——————— The Ministry of shipping should have been given to a Muslim as tradition demands. This is blatant racism against the all Muslims and in fact an insult to Global Muslims, and should be rightly condemned. Will you join me in condemning the government? Peace be upon you.
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NAK / May 24, 2017
Never knew NV had his thongle clipped!!!
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Upali / May 22, 2017
If the ministers are not performing they should be removed.
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Take That / May 22, 2017
Sri Lanka’s public servants are also to blame for many of the problems in the economy. They are good for nothing officials who only have degrees which are not worth the paper they printed on. They don’t understand English and are in retreat when they meet for negotiations. This is the problem of the education system and medium of instruction. President will have to get down from his high horse and explore importing good officials for the Finance Ministry. Perhaps he can do it when he travels to Australia. Seriously!!!
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s.c.perera / May 22, 2017
10000/= pay hike, low price petrol, additional support for children and women, etc ..all are good points add up to Ravi’s account. Then what went wrong?
Is the world best finance minister in 2016 not good enough to us? Are we mad or are they mad?
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srinath gunaratne / May 22, 2017
Your guess is as good as mine! It’s a crazy world.
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Jim Softy / May 22, 2017
You can pay money to a magazine or some non existiong NGO. They will put you as the best or your enemy as the worst. So Ravi Karunanayake became the best finance minister with the scandle ridden finance ministry.
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The Oracle / May 22, 2017
So the FM became the new FM and vice versa . His pleas and threats have obviously fallen on deaf ears .
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Annesley Dias / May 22, 2017
what happened to Dealdasa. FCID, CIABOC, CID all Dead.
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Burt / May 22, 2017
Another Rajapaksa has all these entities held by its balls. If you know what I mean.
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Nagananda / May 22, 2017
Ravi K had already inflicted a heavy damage to the Public Finance and he went to the extent of introducing a new bill to to repeal the Exchange Control Act, removing all penal sanctions provided in the existing law against money laundering and illegal export and import of gold and foreign currency notes.
It is quite apparent that this change was proposed by Ravi K to save himself from been charged again on an amended indictment served on him for the foreign exchange fraud of over three million US dollars he was involved and charged before the High Court.
The man who sent that money to Ravi K is serving 11 year jail term in the US and thanks to Yahapalana group of Companies Ravi K was excused and discharged from the case without facing a trial.
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srinath gunaratne / May 22, 2017
Ravita hena pal eka, Eeeyaa
Giving Mangala to finance is replacing dumb from dumber!
How can you develop a country with idiots like this? What about Amunugama?
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Mike / May 23, 2017
srinath gu
Amunugama is good only for “tongue lashes” !
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Nimal / May 22, 2017
Holding the nation’s purse – Finance Ministry – is not an enviable job. The former finance minister of the U.K., Gordon Brown was severely critized by his own top Conservative party ministers, and rank and file of that party as well as the opposition. Only the person stood right behind him was the PM David Cameroon. When they took over the British economy was in a sorry state. With all odds, he carried forward the task the PM entrusted to him with his solid backing.. After his leaving and the economy was returned around, all his critics, including the opposition gave him a glowing tribute for the good results his policies achieved for the British economy. Mangala is experienced man, a person who could work with any one and knows all in both parties of the government is a good fit and highly able to get the President’s and PM’s mandate to get the job done for the nation. He has proven his cababilities in his former capacities as Foriegn Minister, and Minister of Telecom and Media.
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Jim Softy / May 22, 2017
With the former finance minister, at least his and his immidiate family’s economy grew up substantially. Sri lanka journalists are infamous reporting crap and not reporting what needs to be reported. In that sense, nothing will be reported.
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Uthungan / May 23, 2017
Nimal you have got it completely wrong about Gordon Brown former Finance minister and later PM. He is a Labour Party man and was Finance Minister when warmonger Tony Blair as PM colluded with US President George Bush to destroy Iraq.
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Native Vedda / May 24, 2017
Nimal Man——————————————————–Your age must be catching up with you. It was George Osborne who was the anti people ideology driven Chancellor of the Exchequer (from 11 May 2010 – 13 July 2016) under David Cameron.
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K.Anaga / May 22, 2017
The premier too should be changed for failure to take action against those who were listed as ‘Corrupt’ in the former government,as promised .
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Adrian / May 22, 2017
What a set of cabinet ministers. How many of them lead honest family life? How many of them suffer from following disorders, procreation, recreation, dementia, sociopathy, sexuality, etc.etc. Virtually a full set for Angoda treatment.
Second innings of plunder to begin.
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Thanga / May 22, 2017
At last the long awaited cabinet reshuffle has taken place. While hard working ministers should be rewarded, but others who are inefficient and ineffective should be removed. It is time that some of the unpopular measures that the govt. took like the import of luxury vehicles, the giving away of 15.000 acres of land to the Chinese should be reversed. President Sirisena should think like a president and act like a president and not seen just warming his seat. His image has been damaged because of his vacillation and the inability to take bold decision. The ultra-Sinhala Buddhist forces are once again raising their ugly heads. These are the very same elements that caused the down fall of the previous government. According to newspaper reports the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) have become standstill. People who elected this government are now complaining about the snail’s pace of those investigations. Two and half years have lapsed, but not one culprit has been sent to jail. Corruption has been a longstanding problem in Sri Lanka and it got worse during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family rule. Now people are losing faith in the government and they should not be blamed if they turn against the government at the next poll.
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M.Hade Sharef / May 22, 2017
Do we need a reshuffle who cares it will be same as before.
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Mallaiyuran / May 22, 2017
After Kadirgamar, FM and important official at that ministry are subject to constant change. Kathirgamar had lavishly thrown out promises to bend a heavy support from opposing nations of IC to the Chitanta government to carry out its genocide without witness. Old Royal saw him as a threat for that and other reasons, completely wiped him out. Mangala might not have feared for his life, New Royal have not staged any bold action like that so far, but he expected this dressing down.
This constant stirring there tells a message to IC that none of the promises given out in world arena are official ones, but only the opinion of that time person’s in the office, he he was punished for his omissions and commissions. After first sitting of UNHRC(30) of this government, Ranil who were in India criticized Mangala heavily, from India. Colombo Media ran wild speculating when Ranil return home, Magala would be sent home. After a lousy start, Harsha dominated the 34th sitting. Yahapalanaya might have expected a complete repeal but Managa had managed only a two year roll back in the pre sitting negotiations.
Tamils should be keep agitating UNHRC and not allowing it to succumb to the Foreign Ministry official rotation for Lankawe to pull back on their promises.
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Douglas / May 22, 2017
Upul: “If the Ministers are not performing they should be removed”. If your recommendation is implemented , there will not be a Cabinet. We will lose both the President and the Prime Minister too. But I would request you to look at this “reshuffle” differently. Reshuffle or “Rotate” to give an equal or fair opportunity to ROB the public coffers. That would be another face of Yahapalanaya.
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Plato. / May 22, 2017
The Policy adopted by the Govt: at the UNHRC by Co-Sponsoring the Resolution was by no means a personal venture of Minister Mangala Samaraweera; Therefore he cannot be faulted over this.So this reshuffle is based on other considerations.Will the new Finance Minister now locate the whereabouts of the 18 Million[or Billion?] Dollars stashed away by MaRa? You must set a thief to catch a Thief!
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Ramanie / May 23, 2017
World Record! ” model /tailor” Finance Minister of Sri Lanka. Cheers
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K A Sumanasekera / May 23, 2017
Diplomate in Fashion Design from St Martin College London. is the Finance Minister of Srilanka where where the budget deficit is soon to be on par with the GDP …….How cool… …. SL’s New Foreign Minister was charged for money laundering for the convicted Diaspora Tamil, who dudded Americans to the tune of several Billion Dollars and now spending time in the Bronx…Hope Galleon can visit him every time the Bedouin Prince calls for Reports on the progress of his boss’s Batalanda Constitution.
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nalmen / May 23, 2017
what a shuffle
asias best fin min is now all things foreign
a former dress designer is in charge of finance at least he is not a financial crook
mahinda sam should exchange places with ravi-mahnda knows foreign and ravi knows shipping
don’t saraths ministry clash with tilaks?
acting on ranils advice has got sira in a bigger mess
o tempora omores
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Mudson Amarasinghe / May 23, 2017
K A SUMANE.
KUDU DUMINDA – MONITORING MP FOR DEFENCE
RATHARAN HORA ROHITHA- PORTS AND SHIPPING
MR 25% BASIL – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INSURANCE REP ALUTHGAMAGE- MINISTER OF SPORTS.
etc!!
Every one appointed by the former regime either are crooks,murderers or fraudsters,rapists.
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Nimal / May 23, 2017
Yes, thank you Uthungan, it was a typo, and great and serious error. Pardon me. It was George Osborn, and not Gordon Brown. Once again thanks for high lighting it.
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Native Vedda / May 24, 2017
Nimal ———— It is alright as long as you own up the mistake and apologise for it other wise we the readers may consider you as another name dropping Dayan. By the way he was the former MP for Tatton and the Editor of Standard News paper.
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mj / May 25, 2017
As long as Ravi is not closed to money, i am all rights. .
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Rachell / May 26, 2017
Sri Lankan news papers are publishing only President, Prime Minister and Ministers details. Can you see from other countries not even think of advertising politics. Let me people knows the reason for that. Any politician comes they are saying better than others but doing the same shit.
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