UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva has made an official complaint in Parliament that the associates of Australian casino mogul James Packer had been engaged in attempts to intimidate him.
Dr. Harsha de Silva
De Silva, a national list MP for the main opposition UNP has been a vocal critic of the Rajapaksa Government’s tax holiday for a massive casino project proposed at D.R. Wijewardane Mawatha in Colombo.
The UNP MP told parliament today that highlighting the Government’s controversial deals had invited threats and intimidation for opposition parliamentarians. He said that he had been intimidated recently at a television station by “henchmen of the casino king who had vested interests.”
He said the incident had taken place at a local TV station while he was waiting for a debate to start.
“A goon touched me to ask me what my next move was on the casino expose,” he explained.
De Silva charged that if something were to happen to him, James Packer should be held responsible.
“This incident confirmed the danger for those who reveal bad deals between the Government and Casino King James Packer,” he said.
De Silva said that two of James Packer’s company officials had been in Colombo last week. The UNP MP said that the officials had been negotiating for tax breaks with Government officials for the proposed casino complex.
related posts;
Suranee / August 7, 2013
Dr. Harsha de Silva,
Was it not in the late 1970’s the first casinos were established here in Sri Lanka? If it was, didn’t the UNP rule during that period? Were the casinos that were operating during the period the UNP was in power taxed and regulated?
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Don Stanley / August 8, 2013
The Sri Lanka Casino King is Dhammika Perera – a Rajapassa Crony capitalist and Ministry of Transport employee who bought the former Australian High Commission property opposite the Colombo Museum among other money laundering deals..
Yet if you examine the TRANSPORT SECTOR – just go to the Fort Railway station – the islands hub – the PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM IS clearly a ruin – the toilets smell in trains and stations. The bus stand are a mess.. Where are the development priorities – building roads for lamburghini car races – rather than a decent transport system for the people. Likewise the development priorities under Mahinda Chintana are Casinos and tourist hotels for low-end service sector jobs for cheap toursist with a lot of SPIN about Nano technology. Educated people are jobless and leaving Lanka in droves..THis is what Harsha should talk about!
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Suranee / August 8, 2013
Don Stanley,
You raised some important points. But what good is talking? As citizens we should go to the authorities and demand them to solve these problems. I’ve done it many a times and trust me it works.
“Educated people are jobless and leaving Lanka in droves.” Someone told me the same thing the other day. It’s definitely not good news.
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JayGee / August 8, 2013
That’s correct Suranee, but it was also Premedas who took them on and out, remember those jackpot machines that were all smashed up (I think it belonged to a foreigner from HK) and he bolted leaving his empire to a man called Dhammika Perera (DP is Chairman Haylese / Dipped Product of Weliweriay fame) who’s the richest man on the stock exchange today…now the manipulation of the stock exchange by MR&Co via DP is a different issue for another day
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Suranee / August 8, 2013
JayGee,
I didn’t know that, thank you for explaining it to me.
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manel fonseka / August 9, 2013
JayGee – ‘foreigner from HK” — Joe Sim?
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James / August 8, 2013
Suranee — how many years you want to go back ??? …
is the 70’s same as 2013 ?
learn from the past, live the present and work for a better future
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Suranee / August 8, 2013
James,
“how many years you want to go back ??? …
is the 70′s same as 2013 ?” Of course the 70’s are not the same as 2013 but it’s only when we go back to the past can we truly understand how and from where the problem originated and hopefully find a solution to end it if it’s not too late.
“learn from the past, live the present and work for a better future” I fully agree but how many people are willing to do so?
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / August 8, 2013
so you morons with governance,
want to help the casino mafia to get a billion dollar tax holiday for bribe / profit
and give Sri Lankan a upward middle finger.
Still jarapassa mafia’s money working with paid writers?,
Malabari descend will never help sri lanka to raise it head??????
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reviewcric / August 8, 2013
True… UNP ruled during that period, but they paid the taxes they were supposed to pay to work in SL. The issue here is that this casino company coming in has all the benefits! ALL TAX HOLIDAYS AND RELIEF. What kind of DEAL is this!
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Sun / August 9, 2013
WHAT A QUESTION ?
Even if UNP was the ones who introduced us open economic policies, today, the ruling bunch seem to be abusing it, never had been in the past. To that time, we did not have problems with illegal businesses like it is today. Excise department of the country abuse the excise laws today than no times in the past. How would the rulers answers all these ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTtgu0vV8B0
All those sinhala slogans – mathata thitha or the like have been their tactics to deceive the stupid nation further.
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Don Quixote / August 8, 2013
If the casino is going to generate revenue and has an acceptable business plan there is no problem. It should be transparent and monitored properly.
The issue here is threats made to members of parliament by businessmen.
If our locals want to spend there ill gotten and tax dodging money in the casinos good luck to them. It will mostly be the new rich and crooks who go there.
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qassim ben qassim / August 8, 2013
Dear Hon Dr. Harsha De Silva ,this is to affirm our loyalty to you ,your the most respected MP by all races of Sri Lanka we have the highest respect & love for you .
No son of a bxxxxxxxxxxxx, of a damned foreigner from a country that was build by bandits, & murderers of the sons of that land & of the last Prime minister who stepped down because she was exposed of her low down misappropriation of party funds,it wont wrong to say she robbed, will dare touch you , if they ever do they wont be having fingers left , they will have to face a civilian force of this country of not less than 10 million people.
Damned foreigner has the nerve to come to our land and threaten one of son of this soil, a highly respected Lankaputhra and loved by the people.
That will be the day ..
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Donald J Gnanakone / August 8, 2013
Harsha is nothing but a “Cry Baby” and wanting attention to himself.
He should grow up and so should the UNP.
Or else they all will be in the opposition permanently.
Anyway, Harsha will know what elections are when he contest the Parliamentary elections for the first time in his life next year as the organizer for the Kotte electorate and from Colombo district.
The Colombo district now has nearly 25% Tamils and 25% Muslims, and possibly higher… Let us see how many from the UNP will enter Parliament as elected MP’s from the C District. lol.
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srilal / August 8, 2013
“Harsha is nothing but a “Cry Baby” and wanting attention to himself”
what sort of a childish statement is this , if Harsha wants to get cheap attention , he has plenty of other avenues , Harsha is one of the few opposition politicians who has earned respect from both side of the isles and certainly doesn’t need any more popularity than what he already has!
Attacking on CBG , is there any one who has attacked CBG than Harsha ? Harsha is an individual who knows what he is talking about and I’m sure he will do just that when ever situation arises.
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Leelage appa / August 8, 2013
And Mahinda mama is waiting to get him on to his side!!!
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srilal / August 8, 2013
without a doubt !
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Sun / August 9, 2013
but he is not like Dayawathi – dayawathi was no consisstent.. until the day before he crossed over to rulers.
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Donald J Gnanakone / August 9, 2013
Sri Lal, You don’t know what you are talking about.
I have the facts, and Harsha can respond to it if he wants either on this rag or via email mail.
I have no idea who you are. Another Royalist?
Let us see how harasha fares in Kotte as there is no back door to Parliament anymore. The back door is firmly closed even for Sinhalese politicians like Harsha. lol.
That could apply to Tissa, Yogarajah and Swaminathan.
Tissa will contest from the Kandy district and win.
Yogarajah will retire as he is old and Swaminathan will go back to his lucrative legal practice.
Anyway, Rajapakses won’t have any elections for another 2 years.
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samson / August 8, 2013
You sound like a real moron Donald . Would you like everybody to keep quite about the highway robbery that’s going on ?
I am not politically inclined , but will glady work for Harsha at the next elections as he is a decent , educated , straight forward young man !! He is a future leader of this country , and we will protect him from idiots like you at all cost .
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ABHAYA / August 8, 2013
MR.GNANAKONE, I PITY YOUR IGNORANCE. DR.HARSHA IS CONSTANTLY BRINGING UP ECONOMIC ISSUES IN PARLIAMENT AND OUTSIDE, THAT AFFECT THE POOR SRI LANKAN CITIZENS AND IN THE PROCESS, ACTION AND INACTION OF THE CENTRAL BANK, PARTICULARLY THE GOVERNOR AS WELL AS THE TREASURY SECRETARY ARE HIGHLIGHTED. UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE POINTS HE MAKES ARE IGNORED OR GIVEN SCANT PUBLICITY BY THE KEPT MEDIA ( NO NEED TO TALK ABOUT STATE MEDIA, THEY TOTALLY BLOCK ANY COVERAGE ), AND PERSONS LIKE YOU ARE ONLY BELIEVING WHAT YOU SEE OR HEAR IN THE ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA ORCHESTRATED BY THE AUTHORITIES. I WONDER WHETHER YOU ARE TRYING TO GIVE A VEILED THREAT THAT THE MINORITY VOTE IN COLOMBO CANNOT BE GARNERED BY OPPOSITION CANDIDATES LIKE DR.HARSHA SINCE THE SO CALLED POLITICAL LEADERS OF THE MINORITIES ARE ALREADY IN THE GOVT’S POCKET AND MONEY TALKS ! HOPE YOU ARE NOT USING A PSEUDONYM AND ALSO NOT A FORMER LTTE ER LIKE KP OR DAYA MASTER.
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Donald J Gnanakone / August 9, 2013
@Abaya, Yes Harsha won’t get the minority votes. You are correct and FYI it is not a veiled threat.
I will be home for the next elections in Wellawatte, and BTW, I have a vote and so does the entire household and employees.
Harsha has plenty of coverage from the Island, Prabath Sahabandu and Ferdinandez, which even the SLFP Ministers do not get. Have you fellows wondered why? LOL.
I would like Harsha to take on the CB Governor “head on” without beating around the bush as he has done lately. Last 1-2 years. Also related to inward remittances of 6 Billion dollars, he drinks the KOOL AID of the CB G, that Middle East workers are remitting all the funds…. Very smart and brave Eh?
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ABHAYA SILVA / August 10, 2013
MR.GNANAKONE, FROM WHAT I GATHER, YOUR BROTHER GOT THE TREATMENT FROM THIS NEFARIOUS REGIME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER. YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN. I KNOW THAT YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD, CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND ALL THOSE BENEFICIARIES OF THE M.R. LARGESSE WILL CERTAINLY VOTE AGAINST THE LIKES OF DR.HARSHA AND VOTE THIS REGIME TO PROTECT YOUR SELFISH INTERESTS BUT PLEASE CONSIDER THE PLIGHT OF A VAST NUMBER OF YOUR OWN COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH, EAST AND THOSE SCATTERED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. I AM AWARE OF A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR SUFFERING AND APPALLED BY IT. A SMALL EXAMPLE IS LATE MR. KADIRGAMAR’S SON. YOUR IMPLIED CENSURE ON DR. HARSHA IS UNTENABLE TO SAY THE LEAST. I AM SURE DR. HARSHA IS READY AND WILLING TO TAKE THE CBSL GOVERNOR AND FOR THAT MATTER EVEN THE TREASURY SECRETARY HEAD ON BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO COME ON ELECTRONIC MEDIA DEBATES AND ALWAYS ISSUE STATEMENTS, OBVIOUSLY ONE SIDED HARANGUES HIDING UNDER THE COVER OF PRIVILEGE, ABLY PROTECTED BY THE MEDIA HEADS ( KEPT MEDIA ). SO INSTEAD OF CHALLENGING HARSHA, WHY NOT CHALLENGE CABRAL OR PBJ FOR A CHANGE, TO TAKE HARSHA HEAD ON ?
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Donald J Gnanakone / August 8, 2013
Harsha is not criticizing the Central Bank and the Governor Cabraal anymore!!!!!!!!!!!! Why???/
That applies to the UNP as well…
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Sanjay Karuna / August 8, 2013
Suranee, forget about Party Politics. They are not important. What is important is that a Billionaire Foreign Investor is being awarded a Tax Holiday to establish a Casino, in Sri Lanka. Casinos go against the ethos of a professed Buddhist Country. Dr Harsha de Silva is correct. Why are the Bodu Bala Sena and their Associates, who defend all things Buddhist, silent in this Matter?
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Suranee / August 8, 2013
Sanjay Karuna,
“Why are the Bodu Bala Sena and their Associates, who defend all things Buddhist, silent in this Matter?” Good question but you are asking the wrong person (me). But you would probably get an answer if you asked the Bodu Bala Sena the reasons why.
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shankar / August 9, 2013
“Casinos go against the ethos of a professed Buddhist Country.”
Sanjay,macau is also a bhuddhist country and purely survives on casinos with one of the highest standard of livings in the world.If you strictly follow the Bhuddha’s teachings without any attachment to anything including your own hair,we will be just giving away our rightful market share to others.However i cannot see the point of giving packer a 10 year tax holiday,because the whole purpose of allowing casinos is to get revenue for the government.
Usually it will be the foreigners who will be coming and gambling.Most of those who come and gamble in monaco and macau are foreigners.Monaco is 2 sq.km and macau is 28 sq.km and having a high standard of living because of this.Countries like srilana which is 65000 sq.km should give a good fight for these countries that are doing so well on this markets and will also have attendent tourism benefits too.
BTW the per capita income on a PPP(purchasing power parity) basis is for monaco 70000 USd and macau 82000 USD while ours is 6000 USD.You can see from that the tremendous potential in gambling.Who cares if foreigners come and lose their money here,and what is really wrong morally with gambling?It does not do any harm to the country.
Remember what the Bhuddha said of excesses.I think we have to also use that here against his own teachings.We cannot excessively try to use his teachings of having no attachments at all and try to live comfortably and happily also in this world.We have to practise his teachings,but not try to use them excessively too because it could become a double edged sword.You can see what happened to bhuddhism in south asia and afghanistan because it was a too tolerant religion.
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Sumith / August 8, 2013
If this happens to members of parliament what would be the plight of journalists and other critics. Almost all major news sources in Sri Lanka are owned or pratly owned by UPFA. Now Ravaya news is fighting to save it being taken over by UPFA politician.
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kk / August 8, 2013
If Harsha wants to talk about Casino, he should immediately resined from UNP
UNP crated casino culture in Sri Lanka, This guy climbed to UNP tree (by Ticket not by votes of the people) signing BAILA to the people now
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gamini / August 8, 2013
Logic and sanity of this guy is amazing. He claims it is the UNP that brought in Casinos, therefore Harsha should resign from the UNP. Well the Guy who brought the Casinos is Sirisena Cooray and he is no more with the UNP. Rightfully shut from the UNP by RW. He also claims Harsha has entered Parliament from the list and not from the vote, thus he should not sing Baila to expose MR but allow MR to continue providing the crooks with Tax Holidays as well. His Bila is no different to blaming the JRJ Constitution but MR taking undue advantage of the Constitution to use the Powers vested not to govern the country in a Democratic manner but to suppress the masses rights and build his family fortunes and these DONKEYS do not see the villainy. What a set of Jokers that constitute this society?
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kk / August 9, 2013
Thanks for your clarification, Harsha is not against the casino but only against the income tax revenue
It doesn’t matter who brought the Casino Sirisena Cooray or JR but important thing is it brought under UNP government and UNP party, if someone is representative of that party then he or she is responsible that it doesn’t matter current or past member
Ahaka yana ni redda asse dagena kagahanawa kanawo kiyala
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gamini / August 9, 2013
Yes, Casinos are part and parcel of Open Economies. If they are only run with supervision properly taxed for the benefit of society but not allowed to run free for their gain only paying the Corrupt Leaders. It is thank to the Open Economic Policies of the UNP that we have gained IT knowledge and Computer literacy even to communicate via Webs like this. I think it would do you good to get out of the ‘Amuda Mind set’ and desist from blaming the UNP for the sake of blaming.
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kris / August 11, 2013
Yes, Casinos are part and parcel of Open Economies. If they are only run with supervision properly taxed for the benefit of society
Cat jump out from the sack
Tell me any country in the world running casinos without any negative effect to the society, most of the develop countries running counselling services parraral to the casino business, lot of families broke their life style duo to addiction to the gambling
IT knowledge is not due to open economic, use internet and check that before you write baila
Why you feel jealously that UNP brought the casino but they couldn’t bring big fish like Paker to SL and UNP couldn’t take their share
Name few UNP politicians not corrupt when they were in power -Talking Baila
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gamini / August 12, 2013
Kris do not display your ‘Amuda Mindset’ here in this Forum. There is nothing in this world that is totally good or totally bad. Even the very food we eat while it is nourishing on the one hand will help a cancer to grow on the other. There are no virtuous societies where Humans inhabit. If there are virtuous societies Then Humans have to be all Gods. Further if Humans are all virtuous then there need not be a Police force or for that matter the requirement for any Lawyers as there will not arise disputes to settle. Almost all the Developed countries have gambling and Casinos but are managed not allowing crime to overtake the societies. Here in Sri Lanka even without Casinos there is enough Crime even at the very top level. So what are you talking and trying to project this country as a Virtuous society?
You state that ‘IT’ is not due to the Open Economy? Do you mean to say that, let alone ‘IT’ the society here, prior to the Open Economy did not know the existence of, Computer, Photo Copy Machines, Television, Videos etc. Telephone calls between Towns were trunk calls and only the affluent had telephones and they were status symbols. What Bullshit are you Talking?
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kk / August 13, 2013
There is nothing in this world that is totally good or totally bad
Talking Baila,Then why you and Harsha screaming in here about tax incentives, you know the truth but like a hyena you try to cover up with UNP
At least now you have internet , go and do bit of research about before 1977 what sort of computers , telephones, and other technology used in the other part of the world, go and check Russia , China communist countries without open economy what sort of technology they have used
looks to me still you are in Amude that is why mesmerise with open economy
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Benjamin Anthonio / August 8, 2013
Yes it was , ,but do you realise the situation is not the same in the country today ? so you are trying to say with a tongue in the cheek , just because The UNP approved Casinos then ,you are in agreement to whatever the present government does and intents to do do ? including killing innocent civilians, robbing the rights of protesting to safeguard drinking water, and also the casinos in question today are not those small scale ones ,and further I wonder if you are aware that games of chances were flourishing even during The SLFP regime long before ,like the Tropicana , sanorama, etc, a place to gamble & prostitution.. and the Casinos that are in question today are maga ones , with it will come the big boys of mafias, then the ruthless Loan sharks of China, it is no point trying to make sense to a people , who are prejudiced against a political party purely in belief that the minority will benefit when such a party is in power and relish with Joy to see a party that oppress a minority even at the cost of the country been raped to rags . well one day a lot of people are going to pay a huge price..
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Aney Apochchi! / August 8, 2013
Suranee:
You should try and invent a different red herring so that we don’t see how you are trying to divert attention.
Dr Harsha’s experience is a sign of what’s to come. Colombo is being taken over by CRIMINALS much as Las Vegas was set up by them. They also have their own hit-men such as the PS Chairman who murdered Khuram Shaikh. Remember whose buddy that man is and the level of protection provided? If they can do that for a lowly PS Chairman, think of what they’d be able to do for Mr. Packer who is putting BILLIONS OF DOLLARS in their pockets!
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gamini / August 8, 2013
Aney Appochchi,
Just do not waste your time in trying to advice this Suranee type who question whether the UNP taxed and regulated the Casinos trying to ridicule Harsha for questioning the MR govt and exposing the scam. This Suranee is smudging the threads of this blog with her discharges to shield and cover MR and nothing else. Well it will not be long before Men will Pause at her when she stops. So for the moment take it on the BUM.
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Suranee / August 8, 2013
Aney Apochchi
Me, trying to divert attention? Sri Lanka was facing some if not many of these problems before the present government came into power. It was because of the war these problems were not exposed since most of the media was too busy covering the ethnic conflict.
So what you’re saying is it was only after this government came into power hitmen came into being? Going down memory lane I tend to recall the UNP had a few of their own hitmen a.k.a thugs.
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Sanjay Karuna / August 8, 2013
@Suranee
“most of the media was too busy covering the ethnic conflict.”
Here we go again! If I remember right, it was not an ‘Ethnic Conflict’. It was Prabhakaran and his followers trying to get a portion of northern Sri Lanka for themselves so they could be free of perceived Government Oppression. The Government called them Terrorists and other Sri lankans differentiated between them and the Ethnic Tamils who were happy to live in the rest of Sri Lanka.
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Suranee / August 8, 2013
Sanjay Karuna,
“It was Prabhakaran and his followers trying to get a portion of northern Sri Lanka for themselves so they could be free of perceived Government Oppression.”
How about the Tamils who were forced to live under Prabakaran’s rule? Were they not oppressed? Why were many of them forced to give up a member of their family to Prabakaran? Didn’t many of these Tamils even go to the extent in hiding their children yet Prabakaran’s henchmen would somehow find them? Weren’t many Tamil parents killed by the LTTE when they refused to give up their children to the LTTE?
Would Prabakaran have treated these people well if he had succeeded in getting his eelam or would he have forced more children to be recruited into his terrorist organization so that he could have a huge army and use them to spread his terror (through suicide bombings, etc) to other parts of the country and eventually take it over?
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Pace / August 8, 2013
I’m completely against casinos. Most of the country would be against them. Unfortunately the BBS stay silent!
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gamini / August 9, 2013
BBS cannot protest as their life blood flows from the very sources of these Syndicates in the west.
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Sun / August 9, 2013
I listened to Gnasara´s speech he made after the news that ONE PAPER brought that he was the one to have ordered army to attack protesters at Weliweriya – there his tone was not aggresive as he usually has been. There the wording he used were really acceptable. Meaning nothing else, pseudo monk Gnasara is an another actor not second to the ruling president of the country. May be BBS has signed a pact between ruling coalition and them because BBS seems to address only hand picked issues by them. Attacking muslims further as it is the case with govt – they go on saying no ” we are not against muslims brothers”. Go on saying that muslims restaruants treat sinhala customers unhygenic foods mixed their spit – in the same time, they ask if anybody would prove that BBS has attacked any muslim shops or other locations, Ghansara would leave the sanga. – just paradoxial views by BBS… again and again.
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Sun / August 9, 2013
Many countries on the west also run casinos but the rule of law in those countries works to the word. In a culture- where innocent civil folks are shot dead, priest in church are shot, youth asking to kneel down on church primises are being assualted, introducing new facets of casinos can only excellerate the already increasing crimes in the country.
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bganendra / August 8, 2013
HARSHA: Why is BBS,and other Buddist organisations keeping quiet. Do not give up. The educated citizens, not the Mervins, wants you in the UNP to topple the Govt. Take GLP, Cabrals,and the Secy Treasury, by the Throat. You were sponsored by SIRASA/MTV, but discard them as early as possible. THEY ARE A DISGRACE TO YOU
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Helena Waidiyasekerta / August 8, 2013
Very interesting to know what the BORU BALU SANGAMAYA is doing in the destruction of Buddhism, they don’t seem to be seeing the destruction these evils will bring upon the society at large including our youth many of whom are now hooked on drugs by the drug barons in this pariah island.
The BBS is only after hallal, killing of cattle, and permitting killing of humans, and destroying and desecrating places of worship, those punks are getting their priorities for this island all mixed up as you can now see these saffron terrorists are all mentally deranged and must be sent to the mental asylum before they set fire to this country.
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Thondamanaru / August 8, 2013
“Unusuma Wedi Wela” da manda ? Professoraya rathwela…………
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Qassim Ben Qassim / August 8, 2013
Hon.Dr.Harsha,
Does not need anyone’s attention , people who have a clear conscience understands clearly what a great asset this man is to This country , how many are there , except,another few ,like Hon, Kabir Hasheem ,Ranga, Karu Jayasuriya, & Anura Dissanayake, Dr.Wijabahu ,Azzad sally ,Dr.Sarath Amunugame are just a few you can hand pick,
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hora ragar / August 8, 2013
This will help the money launderers and the pimps like Mervin the vermin. he can now bring in prostitutes to fill the corridors of the casino as well as the corridors of power. The wonder of Asia will be further enhanced with more drug barons, pimps, prostitutes, criminals and crooked politicians and monks expending their ill gotten funds to satisfy their carnivorous appetites in the name of religious concerns!!!
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Latimer / August 8, 2013
casinos are not bad,ask Singapore.Just pay the minimum tax due is all the MP says a very reasonable request…keeping in mind NOW taxes are wasted on ego projects,upkeep of a handfull.
Singaporeans pay S$100 every time to enter prevent local population being gambling addicts
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Taraki / August 9, 2013
True, but Singapore has an efficient and corruption free government, police, judiciary etc. Has Sri Lanka?
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justice / August 9, 2013
He should have told the goon to get lost.
What is he excited about?
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QassimbenQassim / August 9, 2013
@Latimer-OMG -What a misfit comparrism -Singapore & Sri Lanka -how can you even dream of such a comparison -Singapore is rated as no 2 in The word,it is also rated as one of the most well run Country in the World & for your information Singapore never put the cart first and the Horse second , first they built the country from scratch, they did not have land for agriculture ,no drinking water, with as little space as 710 km², a country with Zero resources, they got their priorities right , first and foremost they understood the most important need of secular politics in a multi cultural society , so they went all the way to create a mechanism to make sure that there will be a permanent solution for religious & ethnic harmony,kept religion completely out of Politics , a country with a majority of Buddhist out of which 33% are Theravadins , they made sure these Monks remain within the walls of the Temple and do not interfere with Politics , while nurturing a moderate freedom they also created a strong policing mechanism to check that freedom not letting it get out of hand, thus creating a relatively secured environment where all people of the country can live without fear & work with joy and be 100% productive.
They went out of the way to create one of worlds best public transport,singapore is suppose to be the only country in The world that the Railway makes a good profit,their transport system is amazing with a train service available every 3 minutes and a bus service available every 5 to max 10 minutes, then they solved the housing problem with complete transparency and distributing it just and fairly, then they open thier doors wide to the world and made sure the Investors are fully protected and established a none swaying economic policy that gives the foreign investor complete confidence & made sure no ethnic violence will ever take place (which is the most important part) & The government tells the Monks how to behave and what their duty is ,the monks and priests do not dare try to run a mock in singapore, then They along with a sincere hard working dedicated people started to build the country to what it is today , they first built the nation it took them approximately 40 odd years , they made sure they have a declared reserve of 200 billion dollars (which they did not have to even touch during melt down) once the country was steady and people were well educated and well prepared ,by with the keeping of the English language as the country’s main working language , which every singaporean can speak, read and write fluently and preserving the mother tongues of all races, and freedom & respect of all religions & practices of them ,no anti halal or prohibition of beef nor pork,nor alcohol,but all very systematically monitored & even the Casinos came into existence only about five years back & the main attraction is not the casino but other entertainment within it a lot of leisure activities. so remember singapore did not first start a casino to build their Country , that came last and it is very well monitored with strict conditions, and when Malaysia was trying to bully Singapore in selling water ,which singapore has been depending from Independence , they did not get the army to shoot the people ,they immediately started working on an alternative and with few years they managed to become self sufficient, they now have thier own water, they are also going full speed to establish green energy , and just because a Minority is doing well in business they do not abduct ,and demand ransom or murder them nor get the Clergy to spread hate filled with lies, there are couple of times when a few religious groups tried to intimidate another religious group and insult that religion , they were severely punished and two of such religious groups are todate banned in Singapore, and corruption is almost zero,,,,,,,,,,, any women can walk on the road without fear even late at night- so please do not even dream Sri lanka can even show a candle light to Singapore,,
This is how sri Lanka will remain forever ,a fact we need to accept and live, there will always be oppression of the minority ,and any errors made by the majority and their government will always be blamed on the minorities as if only they engage in crimes and the entire Majority are all saints, every government no matter who will be decided by the clergy and controlled by the clergy , and their will always be bloodshed and corruption , we may have modern road , and whole new infra structure everyhting, but we will still lag behind ,until a sincere daring Politician declares the country as a complete secular and put the monk behind the Temple walls, and establish equality and justice to all people, and establish an environment where all can live practice thier faiths beliefs without fear, be able to do business without intimidation and live a life they want with the hard earned money and the country is made into a confederation(same as the Swiss) , where peoples power is fully established & not control by Government henchmen and hippocratic clergies and getting their priorities right ,by first and foremost establishing a extremely efficient Public transport , subsidised housing for the poor and middle class of all people without favouritism and supporting small businessman from all races without prejudice & providing the freedom for all to rent buy and live and do business anywhere in the Island ,,
Will ever such a man supported by the people & politicians ever be born in sri Lanka, ask the question yourselves, -what may happen is , more and more educated civilised people will leave the island and the the criminals will take control and rape the country until someday it turns out to be the fearful mexico of Asia is the only thing I can honestly visualize.
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Qassim Ben Qassim / August 9, 2013
Wishing CT ,its Journalists & all readers of all faith, good health, wealth,Joy ,and most of all Peace, on this special festival of Muslims to people of all faiths,,
May God Bless you & Bless Sri lanka with peace & harmony,,
Eid Mubaraak..
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K.A Sumana sekera / August 9, 2013
How did this half wit become the Shadow Treasurer?.
Crown Colombo is going to give direct employment to 6000 Colombosiders.
And that is after completion.
Not even counting thousands of construction jobs,
And these are well paying jobs for the Brown Sahibs progeny.
Our rural poor, who BTW are great najority and Sinhala Buddhists for that matter, would be lucky to get a few cleaning jobs.
Even then they won’t find a place to stay in our new Habor City.
Singapre lobbied big time to get this Casino.
Even our Aussie Diaspora will vouch that Packers are not into thuggery and Mafia Tactics.
And this Harsha the potential Treasurer of a Western friendly (or could it be West installed ) Govt in future is accusing young James of sending hitmen to do him in.
Nice way to build confidence and attract vital Foreign Investments.
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Qassim ben Qassim / August 9, 2013
@ K.A Sumana sekera, so Aka leela.Aka Lester you have today decided to change your ID sumana sekara, good continue with your usual conceptualization, and keep talking to yourself- cause we are not interested wasting our bandwidth on you…
There have been many of this soil like you, who have sold the country to foreigners.. it is nothing new.
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Vizzy / August 9, 2013
I cannot understand Mr Sumanasekera’s logic. Mr S, You actually agree with this Casino Project? have you got no shame, morals or ethics? THIS IS BAD for the country. People can get jobs and earn money in a better way for sure. You are so blindly loyal to the R family it is amazing and pathetic and your arguments are always so illogical. You are a true son of the Rajapksas.It is people like you who are supporting this bandit amily and putting the country in the dumps, that t cannot recover now.
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Surath / August 10, 2013
Harsha is another IMF acolyte like PBJ. His criticism of this regime has been that it does not follow the IMF directives to the letter. If the UNP comes to power he will the IMF’s boy in the treasury .
My question to Harsha is that while all his criticism of this regime is welcome, can he specifically spelt out what the UNP alternatives will be? For example, what is the UNP poliicy on Casinos, levy on fuel, taxes on food and consumer items, city beautification, tourism, etc. etc.
Just criticizing won’t do. Show your alternative policies.
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Ranjith / August 10, 2013
We saw Premadas UNP era where casinos were given to likes of Prsident. Joe Sim was a freind of Premadasa. We enjoyed that time the casions at Galadari, Taj, Then all the casinos at Galle Road & opposite Poolice Park.THESE CASINSOS WERE OPEN TO FOREIGNERS & LOCALS. THERE WAS NO RESTRICTION ON THE LOCALS.
All of sudden Joe Sims caSinos were smashed up on Premadasas` orders. Why? Can any one explain?
Suggest to Govt. like in Singapore restrict to Foreign Passport holders & to locals on payment of a fee & identification.
When S`pore wanted to start casinos there were protests from the locals then they brought tight regulations. There are 2 registered casinos & at the entrance and at all places inside there are Boards sating that in case of family members find there people are ruingin the family to telephone the authorities so that after an enquiry he or she be banned from entering the casinos.
This will help the Country both tourism & economy.
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abhaya / August 10, 2013
poor baby .. give him a military escort.
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Qassim Ben Qassim / August 10, 2013
For all those on head over heels on this Casino issue, remember fir make up your minds, you can not have the cake and eat the cake,, first make this country currently terrorised by a few Monkey Monks (Making a monkey out of a great philosophy of a “Noble Being ” a complete secular country and stop making fish of one and fowl of another , let people eat what they desire that is basic human right, but if you find animals scared which certain citizens consider it thier staple food , if you can not agree- then no Casinos for you ,no red lights ,no leg shows,no hip waist jeans showing the puxxxas, no nightclubs ,no night clubs ,no arrack taverns ,& no imported Liquors & No Monkey Monks running a mock – what do you say? are you willing for this?
Just to name a few.
1)SINGAPORE is a multi-religious society and a secular democracy
(IR) is a Singaporean casino-based vacation resort. The term “integrated resort”
2)Indonesia is a secular country
Malaysia’s Landmarks Bhd., backed by Asia’s largest gambling company, hopes to build Indonesia’s first legalized casinos in a $3.1 billion resort project
3)Turkey is a Secular country
The Istanbul Casino Hilton
4)Malaysia a secular state
Casino de Genting,
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QASSIM BEN QASSIM / August 10, 2013
Reuters News (8 Feb 2010) :Casino
operators in Singapore will pay an effective
tax of around 12 percent on net revenue from
gamblers, giving them an incentive to draw
Asian high rollers away from Macau where
the tax is just under 40 percent.
Two other types of taxes are levied on casino
gambling.
GGR should be deducted 7% GST (Cap.
117A) before casino tax.
Corporate Income Tax: 17%.
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MACAO
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As the largest casino city around the world,
Macao heavily relies on casino industry.
Casino tax is USD5.4 billion in 2008,
accounting for 70% of total Macao
government revenue.
Casino tax policy is a very important issue to
=========================================================
MALAYSIA.
25% casino duty for domestic casino operator, Genting Group,
=======================================================
SRI LANKA ZERO???????????????????????????????????
WHERE IS THE LOGIC?
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Qassim ben Qassim / August 10, 2013
I really do not understand the philosophic logic of these Theravadins..
The want to eliminate a community just because their belief is different ,just because thier dietary is different , just because thier code of dress & Law embedded with thier religion is different & they refer to it as Culture clash, while they have adopted complete western clothes , western culture , and western law British ,,, What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander– they need to be made to understand….
But no;;;; they want to promote & encourage what thier Lord & master abhorred most- Drinking Intoxicants, Gambling etc.,, which has destroyed so many families – why hate a community who want to restrain from such evil ,why insult ,and spread lies against a community ? when you yourself do not practice what you preach?
If A Clergy can Consume alcohol with the robes on & use vocabulary from the gutters in his drunken madness & even disobey the law the police ?
what is so wrong in another community eating meat which is thier staple diet? in Indonesia /malaysia & Turkey where there are NONE Muslim Citizens who have Idols in their temples ,and catholics with Idols in thier Church & even allowed to have Pig farms & eat pork, because they are not just tourists ,or foreigners doing business or working, they are rightful citizens of those countries & enjoy full rights to excise thier culture,belief ,and dietary( for heaven sake I don’t want t hear the Bullshit some talk about the demi taxes- these are secular states ,so know your onions pls.. ), you can not demand that in Saudi- because it is a 100 % Muslim country ,they are not obliged to ,if Sri Lanka is a 100% Buddhist country and if we are expats -yes then it is understandable, just because they claim that hundreds of years ago our ancestors came from arabia or whereever ,I do not give a damn even if they were from Timbuktu – so were the Sinhalese ancestors , came from today’s bangladesh, we Muslims ,Sinhala Christians ,Sinhala Catholics , Sinhala Buddhists ,Tamils ,Burghers ,Colombo chetties, The Telugu speaking people,The malayalis ,sindies ,Gujaratis ,Borahs , etc, who are more than two generations are 100% lawfully sons of this soil ,& nobody can change that & they have the complete rights to live anywhere in the Island ,do legal business , practice thier faith , consume the dietary of their choice agreeable to their pallet, and dress what they like as long as it is modest.
If this can not be achieved as a citizen’s fundamental right, it has to be taken to an international level even if necessary to an International court to determine ,but it wont be required if we have a Leader who understands the needs of his people and is just and fair ,he will deal equally with all his citizens, mere words saying
we are all Sri Lankans , we are one & then trying to deny the very fundamental rights, is no more than comedy of errors.
I personally don’t care about anyone’s opinion , what matters for me is we have elected democratically an executive President & he has a responsibility to safeguard and protect our properties ,including our places of worship and the freedom to choose what to wear & what to eat.
The Biggest mistake goons like Rizvy Mufti ever made was giving prominence to a bunch of buffoons – Muslims should have approached the President directly and insisted that they will only discuss with him , it is completely the foolishness of the community at large for giving prominence to the wrong people, while ignoring The President who is the only sole executive of this land today.
Now it is to late we have become slaves to every tom dick and harry,, The Muslims I assure you ,you and I have no more future in this land. nor our children
It is nothing to do with the present government alone, no matter who comes to power in future ,our situation will get worst ,never better ,it will be worst than this,,mark my words you can write it down in your diary, but never so with The Tamils, The Tamils will definitely achieve thier goals through Karuna,KP and Douglas. you gave in and that is it,, no halal for you nor no balal for you,, finish ,, kaputhai-Qalas,, evaria..
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Qassim ben Qassim / August 10, 2013
As for the Muslims .who were arrogant to argue saying everyhting is under control, an eye witness just call me and said a man was cut into pieces with a sword while the Police watched on.
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Grandpass Muslim Prayer Centre Attacked, Armed Forces Deployed
August 10, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH
Armed forces have been deployed in Grandpass after a well known masjid or Muslim prayer centre in the area was attacked a short while ago. Upto five people injured including two policemen so far, according to reports onsite.
According to eyewitnesses about 10 Buddhist monks suspected to be from the Ravana Balaya group, allegedly attacked the mosque despite the police guard.
The area remains tense after a few houses were also attacked on the Swarna Chaitya road in Grandpass where the mosque is situated.
The attack took place soon after Maghrib or evening prayers, sources told Colombo Telegraph.
The Ravana Balaya group called for its relocation within one month. Security forces personnel have now been stationed around the mosque to assist the police to keep calm.
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