President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has pressured members of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka to resign, as his Government faces an internal crisis after he made the unilateral decision to scrap the independent regulator for public utilities.
The Government was in a dither last week after Senior Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara publicly slammed the President’s move to scrap the PUCSL saying it could disrupt ongoing projects and consumer programmes in the pipeline which could make the incumbent regime unpopular.
Nanayakkara urged Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is the subject minister in charge of the PUCSL to step in to prevent the disaster. “As the Public Utilities Commission is an institution under your Ministry, any decision related to it must be taken by you,” Nanayakkara said in a letter to the Prime Minister on Thursday.
Speaking based on confidentiality, senior CEB officials told Colombo Telegraph that the President has since realised that he cannot unilaterally disband the PUCSL. However determined to proceed with certain power projects with China that the Commission would almost certainly block for lack of transparency etc, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed his Secretary to immediately procure the resignations of the PUCSL Members, highly placed sources told Colombo Telegraph.
Colombo Telegraph learns that Secretary to the Treasury has already secured the resignations of two PUCSL members, who were told that unless they resigned voluntarily, they would be forced out by the regime. The other three members are expected to submit to pressure and resign from their positions on Wednesday (9).
The resignations would leave the PUCSL unstaffed and ripe for being completely dismissed by the Government which may not appoint a new Commission at all, or put political lackeys in place to rubber-stamp the President’s every whim.
In Parliament this week, Opposition Lawmaker Dr Harsha De Silva slammed the moves by the President to cripple PUCSL.
Dr De Silva revealed that the subject minister was not even aware of such a letter being sent from the Secretary to the President dissolving the Commission.
Surprisingly, even Government politicians have stepped into defend the role of the PUCSL.
Set up by an act of Parliament in 2002, the five-member PUCSL was intended to be an independent regulator, with the independence of its members guaranteed by provisions which ensure that Members serve for a fixed term of office and cannot be removed except in exceptional situations such as misconduct, and that too, only upon an address of Parliament.
The independence of such commissions would be completely negated if commissioners are removed and re-appointed immediately upon the assumption of office by a new government, opposition MPs point out.
CEB officials expressed hope that the Chairman and the other two Members of the Commission would refuse to give into the pressure exerted on them and continue to act as a watchdog over public utilities including the corruption riddled energy sector.
The PUCSL is the economic, technical and safety regulator for the electricity industry and the regulator for petroleum products and water supply. (By Janakie Mediwake)
a14455 / December 8, 2020
There are too many commisions and nothing gets done. The Country is going under blackouts due to these commissions doing nothing . This kind of inefficiency has to be removed.
I agree with Gota in this.
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Native Vedda / December 9, 2020
a14455
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” The Country is going under blackouts due to these commissions doing nothing .”
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Why do you unnecessarily worry too much about blackouts haven’t the clan and single handed generals won the war for you. Be grateful to them.
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“There are too many commisions and nothing gets done. “
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True, let one person collect commissions and then divide among their b***s carriers appropriately. I suggest one stop shop (10, 20, 30%) Basil who should be dealing with contracts and rest of it.
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Justice4SriLanka / December 14, 2020
You are wrong, think about the whole nation, not just about yourselves
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Native Vedda / December 14, 2020
Justice4SriLanka
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I am sorry are you talking to yourself?
Whom did you aim your typing at?
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“You are wrong,”
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Why?
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” think about the whole nation,”
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Isn’t it why we spend our entire life asking the nation to send the crooks and murderers not only home but where appropriate to the prison. By the way does nation mean Mahinda as Dayan wanted us to believe. He typed, on FEBRUARY 19, 2015 in COLOMBO TELEGRAPH under The Rising: Nugegoda Feb 18th:
Excerpt:
“Throughout the meeting was the rising chant from the crowd, “Mahinda! Mahinda! Apata Oney Mahinda! (“We want Mahinda!”)”. So Wimal was probably right when he said to rapturous applause “Mahinda is not a name, Mahinda is a country!”
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Did you mean Mahinda when you mentioned whole nation?
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“not just about yourselves”
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If we thought, only about ourselves we would have joined the hangers-on carrying Gota’s b***s and venerate his clansmen.
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leelagemalli / December 9, 2020
a14455 / December 8, 2020
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Whatever Gota would do, you guys would not say no to him. That is the difference between you and us. Slaves would not see it right easily.
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What is efficient in today govt ? With allt he mandates being given to them, bitch s sons have failed to settle even tiny issues. They talk high but proved to be born idiots. Gota does not even care the little about the real issues of the people TODAY.
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Slaves would never change their attitudes even if their mothers would have been abducted and raped by Rajapkashe rascals. Now we should pose the question, what Gota has achieved within the last 12 months. Can anybody with some sanity please help this guy with some facts.
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We all attacked POLONNARUWE donkey for all the messe, but now with GOTA being so called President of the slaves, people have just started talking abilities of Siriena.
Sirisena never allowed GODA wedamahaththayas and myths be spread so that the easy targets of county be fallen from frying pan to the fire. But looking at the manner, how POOR people tested for PANI BEEMA today, I thought, ETHIOPIANS behave better.
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a14455 / December 9, 2020
leelas
here read this you idiot.
http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Triple-power-projects-get-Cabinet-nod/44-709950
3 power projects approved in a day.
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leelagemalli / December 10, 2020
a14455 / December 9, 2020
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Please contact your brother down there, he can still educate you. You the kind of slaves would trust them on and on. We were compelled to see them on TV screen yestreday.
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Rajaakshes rascals could do lot more good to the nation immediately after heroic forces liberated the land from rebells. Anyone with some sanity would not have any arguments against it. But Medamulana rascals being pompous men, let srilankens be eternal debtors to China: Evenf if medamulana bitchs sons became untouchably wealthy, whole lot of people in the country became poorer. If anyone would please check the accounts fo Rajapakshes, would easily clear their doubts.
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Yesterday, Mr Kiriella shared, that everyone could disclose their own assets as he once did. Why cant Rajakshes do it …. `Why should we the srilaenkens let Rascals to abuse statefunds for their SUKAWIHARANAYA ?
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GATAM / December 9, 2020
I agree with Gota on this. No fan of the failed president at all. A disgusting coward who ran away in the midst of war. Most things he does are total failures. But the poor fool is right on this one.
Sri Lankans do not suffer Sinobhobia which is a serious mental illness requiring medication and therapy.
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Ferryman / December 9, 2020
But do not confuse the Commissions by Statute, and Commissions of Inquiry set up ad hoc which are only to gain time or tarnish some others you want to target.
Commissions like Consumer Affairs Authority, Human Rights Commission, PUCSL, Central Protection Authority, are a few that have done some useful service against political pressure. Law Commission and Commission for Women are failures due apathy and lawyers happy with current abhorrent system.
So do not throw the baby with the bathwater. These are balances we need to check corruption and eliminate action if against public interest. So if at all we need to strengthen them and not remove them.
May be the HRC is next to go.
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Ferryman / December 9, 2020
These are essential features of a democracy. If not working properly, then needs to strengthen, not easy way out and scrap them, so CORRUPTION SETS IN.
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SJ / December 9, 2020
“However determined to proceed with certain power projects with China that the Commission would almost certainly block for lack of transparency etc, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed his Secretary to immediately procure the resignations of the PUCSL Members, highly placed sources told Colombo Telegraph.”
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The President’s determination to proceed with power projects with China is possible.
The President wanting to be rid of the PUCSL is already known.
But evidence linking just the two is missing.
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If it more coal power, regardless of who installs the plants, it is a bad thing and must be stopped.
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Ferryman / December 9, 2020
Not only coal after CEA approvals, I would add that a proper evaluation of “cost to returns” is made in the public interest. That was one of the PUCSL functions.
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SJ / December 9, 2020
F
There are a few cost components that are generally forgotten in energy projects.
The environmental and social cost. People talk about pollution etc, but more needs to be done in evaluation.
Disturbance to communities and their livelihood is something that came up in connection with the Trincomalee coal power project, and made an impact.
Hydro-power projects have huge human cost in proportion to the size of the project. The same applies to wind and solar power, but to a less extent.
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Ferryman / December 9, 2020
Yes agreed. A lot of considerations needed. Cost to return is one for which PUCSL was needed. That is why other Commissions and Authorities need to look from their different perspectives; CEB, Planning Ministry and Finance Ministry should not rush in. Just closing down watchdogs is not a solution, but enables half baked projects implemented with serious consequences to follow. But there are obvious “other reasons” for the haste, and the people will repent later.
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Native Vedda / December 9, 2020
a14455
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” The Country is going under blackouts due to these commissions doing nothing .”
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Why do you unnecessarily worry too much about blackouts haven’t the clan and single handed generals won the war for you. Be grateful to them.
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“There are too many commisions and nothing gets done. “
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True, let one person collect commissions and then divide among their b***s carriers appropriately. I suggest one stop shop (10, 20, 30%) Basil who should be dealing with contracts and rest of it.
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Justice4SriLanka / December 14, 2020
Again you are wrong
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a14455 / December 9, 2020
Since Norocholai there has barely been any power addition to the grid. The Fools in the commisions are fighting with the CEB . I am not sure who is at fault . So remove these unnecessary commisions that is hindering any work
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Ferryman / December 9, 2020
Any power addition to the grid.??
Yes, yesterday they inaugurated the Manner Wind Turbine project with sustainable energy use. Not coal, but these are good projects.
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a14455 / December 9, 2020
Hey pumpkin
100 MW of max wind power does not cover the countries needs by a long shot. particularly when it is something like wind-based which is not available all the time. Do you probably know it be is unable to accept it?
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Ferryman / December 10, 2020
For the record:
2005 – 2015 only one project, the coal power Norochochlai (which has become a Karachchalai due frequent breakdowns) was added to the grid. There were some small thermal, renewables and hydro supplies added by private sector.
As against this the older hydro units ( Victoria by UK, Randenigala by Germans, Kotmale by Swedish, Kelanitissa by OECF Japan) do not suffer frequent breakdowns like Norochchalai by China, and which is the newer one.
So that regime has nothing to crow about, when compared to the Mahaweli Scheme prior 2005.
But then this is digressing from the main issue of opening doors to corruption, by knocking off PUCL.
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Mallaiyuran / December 9, 2020
Dear Dear Dearest Moda abcd12345,
Your two weeks memory is over. I don’t know if that is happy new or sad. First, give your microphone to CBK; she will remind you the things. CBK contracted China to install brand new machinery for $250M 300MW plant. China was working on that. Great Train Robber Old King cancelled CBK’s contract and gave to back to China at $450M, to use only prison workers to bring abandoned machinery and fix. This type of generators supposed to last 25-50 years. Happily & fortunatly, so far, no year that Chinese thing ran 3 months, continuously, without break down. So this created a friction between Old and China. China shut off 50 computers for Modaya Lion disrespecting the mighty Dragon. Old gave Colombo Pong Cing and made peace. That contract is still not finalized. Ranil asked to do environmental study on that after the project start. China fined $280M, i.e. $30M more than Nuraicholai original coast. Ranil sold Hangbangtota Harbor and five villages spread land to cooldown China.
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Mallaiyuran / December 9, 2020
Now China wants electricity and water for Harbor and Land. So for water, they are burning Singaraja Forest to get Nilwala Gin Ganga through because Uma Oya failed wiping out in billions of poor tax payers money. For electricity, China wants to install another 300MW coal plant in Karuwela Pittiya (Curryvepilai Pitty). Cost of it is kept hidden. This electricity and water for China is because of cancelling CBK’s $250, 300MW project of 2004. America, when Secretary Pompeo visiting, asked to allow GE to Build 300MW LNG and directly hook to grid rather than giving it to China. Because, as per its usual hacking habits China broke, at least two times the power plants’ computers, GE said it will manage the plant & supply uninterrupted five year power, less than current coal cost. Then suddenly an iron curtain fell on that story, so we don’t know the rest. Lankawe paid penalties to China on Nuraicholai, on Colombo Pong Cing, on Hangbangtota Harbor and Pahatu Tower (That’s I remember now). These penalties alone enough to install two new CBK‘s type 300MW new machinery plants. In contrast it is these Chinese companies paid penalties and faced blacklisting in the world over.
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Mallaiyuran / December 9, 2020
China did some work for Western Government too. But the Moda Land is the “Aruthali Pillai” (Widow’s children) for the barber China. That is where it practice all its games.
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Ferryman / December 10, 2020
Serious contradiction.
……..I am not sure who is at fault ……………
If not sure, why not scrap the CEB as well because that might be the culprit. Also commissions do not gain but financial gains to CEB might be stopped by the PUCSL.
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Ferryman / December 10, 2020
Serious contradiction.
……..I am not sure who is at fault ……………
If not sure, why not scrap the CEB as well, because that might be the culprit. That way, shortsightedly, eliminate the problem but not solve the problem. Also commissions do not gain but financial gains to CEB might be stopped by the PUCSL.
Why I said earlier :
If not working properly, then needs to strengthen, not easy way out and scrap them, so CORRUPTION SETS IN.
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paragon / December 9, 2020
Not a single government MP will REBEL AGAINST GOTHAPAYAS ACTIONS.It is only possible inside jayawardenapura parliament washroom.not a single MP has the guts to raise even a finger against GOTHA including lokku aiya MAHINDA under the current situation.ALL FART NO SHIT.
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Thiru / December 9, 2020
What you want is what you get – the saying goes.
Sinhalese Buddhist voters voted in the Rajapakse mafia as their saviors.
Be happy to receive what they dish out as governance, blackouts, Chinese control and all. Subjugation of the minorities should make you happy even in the absence of any positive achievement.
What has Appe Aanduwa achieved in 72 years?
Sinhala-Buddhist Mafia rule to modernize the country along the lines of Myanmar.
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upali1942 / December 9, 2020
Beginning of the end appears coming sooner than expected. 2/3rd could boomarang.
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Whimpy Kid / December 9, 2020
Sri Lanka should be ruled with an iron fist – China came out of extreme poverty and became a force to recon because of this.
Western democracy does not suit Sri Lanka – If we need to develop we have to have a highbrid democracy similar to what is in place in Singapore.
If we go for Moda “yahapalanaya” type democracy we will en up with BOMBS going all over the place.
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SJ / December 9, 2020
“China came out of extreme poverty and became a force to recon because of this.”
Mao’s China and After: A History of the People’s Republic by Maurice Meisner is not supportive of Mao or Socialist China but will tell you what lifted China from its extreme poverty.
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Red Cat, White Cat: China and the Contradictions of “Market Socialism” by Robert Weil is most revealing about the capitalist change that overtook China.
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Ferryman / December 9, 2020
Yes it was the vision and not the iron fist.
The Four Modernizations were GOALS first set forth by Deng Xiaoping to strengthen the fields of agriculture, industry, defence, and science and technology in China.
He opened China to foreign investment and the global market, policies that are credited with developing China into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
So it was really proper policy shifts that helped China to rise. What we need is real vision with a long term view, drawn up by experts, and not ad hoc patchy solutions by cabals.
But the hangers on in Viyathmaga and the Cabraal faction with PBJ are calling the shots.
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Ferryman / December 10, 2020
Iron fist not the answer.
Germany Australia New Zealand prospered because Rule of Law with justice applied equally. That is the key – not family nepotism and bandysm. How many of one family here in positions paid by taxpayers , Chief of Staff Private Secretaries MPs etc and very high positions based on false “loyalty” instead of MERIT.
They never released convicted murderers or others because someone was in the forces.
Legislature Executive Judiciary well balanced. How many asking for iron fists will opt to go to these three countries if given the opportunity – 90%?
It is the opportunity to everyone on merit to contribute or prosper without knowing who they will displease and be punished for doing even the correct thing..
So no short cuts – go the correct way. Except, with an iron fist at least ensure the balance of 3 organs of State, then at least there is hope.
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Whimpy Kid / December 9, 2020
Sri Lanka should be ruled with an iron fist – China came out of extreme poverty and became a force to recon because of this.
Western democracy does not suit Sri Lanka – If we need to develop we have to have a highbrid democracy similar to what is in place in Singapore.
If we go for Moda “yahapalanaya” type democracy we will end up with BOMBS going all over the place.
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Mallaiyuran / December 9, 2020
Then why don’t you leave alone the Tamils and you go for Mao & Sri Mao communism.
Even the extreme Cuban Communist, Thero now has become American Biden Imperialist by crossing left, then center left, then center, then Middle center and now American Middle. You know they say, Canadian Conservative party is more left that American Democrats. But Thero is against PM Justin Trudeau.
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Whimpy Kid / December 10, 2020
Good one Mallaiyuran
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SJ / December 11, 2020
WK
At last you found an IQ-matched partner.
Congratulations.
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Justice4SriLanka / December 14, 2020
Hello Wimpy KId,
You are right and I do not know why you have so many dislikes. Remember Sri Lanka is a socialist country, we do not take part in communism well….. not if all of you want to anyway
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Buddhist1 / December 9, 2020
The idiotic MPs of SLPP, SLFP, Vyath Maga and Yuthukama gave this power to Gota under 20A. It was also supported by some ” political prostitite opposition” Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim MPs who took santhosams from Rajapakses. Now why are they crying? They are now displaying how stupid they all are? No one can do anything under 20A other than the President, the Parliament is today a rubber stamp of the President. We see this since the MPs cannot challenge the President they are challenging each other within SLPP-Vyath Maga – Yuthukama. We have seen these MPs makeing statements against the President’s move to abolish a power related body and we have also seen G L Pieris trying to kick Dallas out of his ministry building. Very soon we are going to see more fun and this would end with the people getting on to the street and kicking the Govt out .
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Mallaiyuran / December 10, 2020
Buddhist 1,
” Very soon we are going to see more fun and this would end with the people getting on to the street and kicking the Govt out . “
I like to see that. If you tell me the date then I can keep watching the TV on that day without missing.
Friend, how old are you to dream like teen age girls? Have your dinner and go to bed in time before the Royal government nightmares start to descend. If SLFP(Slap party) fall UNP (SJB) helps it to get up. If UNP falls, it gets back up with the help of Slap Party. Please tell me a year when they both will fall down at the same time? I like to hear it.
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Plato / December 9, 2020
Whether it is Political Power or Physical Power [ Ex.Electricity ] it should reside only with the Rajapakse family. This is the message for sacking the members of the independent PUCSL.
Foundation has been laid. Superstructure is coming up fast:
But all plans of Men and Mice……………
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Rajash / December 10, 2020
Whimpy Kid_ Sri Lanka should be ruled with an iron fist – China came out of extreme poverty and became a force to recon because of this.
what a whimp of a statement for the sake of it?
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China is a communist country was a communist country and was always ruled with an iron fist.
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The reason they are a successful economy today is because they adopted free market/semi capitalistic economy model and invited all multinational corporations to invest in China..
Chinese Communist Party or that matter the President of China don’t shut down commissions to their whims and fancy.
Chinese army don’t run their economy – that is left to industrialists and entrepreneurs. Since liberalising the economy China has produced more millionaires than any other country. They have 4th highest millionaires and second highest millionaire in proportion to population
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Sri Lanka has a thriving private sector.
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iron fist to do what ?
crush the economy?
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Thiha / December 10, 2020
China is a communist dictatorship. It does not have independent commissions. It lured greedy companies to move their manufacturing to China by forcing its people to work like slaves. These slaves do not have unions or rights. They work seven days a week 12 hours a day for a pittance. They are forced to live in crowded dorms provided to them by their slave masters and for which the slave masters deduct a chunk of their meagre earnings. Western governments were urged on by their greedy companies to look the other way and allow them to move all the good paying jobs out of their respective countries creating mass unemployment and decay. Western governments were duped into believing that the fairies of unlimited growth will bestow good paying jogs upon its citizens to replace the ones they lost. This never happened. Disillusioned unemployed workers were drawn towards opportunistic con artist who preach a nasty extreme right wing political ideology based on hatred and racism. Sounds familiar?
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Thiha / December 10, 2020
Once China aqquired enough know how it began creating its own companies. It urged these companies to get ahead by robbing patended technology from their rivals in the western world. This was also allowed to happen and ignored for the most part. Gradually as a result of these practices Chinese wealth grew. Western debt also grew. Initially China invested its surplus wealth heavily into western debt instruments. It still does but to a lesser extent. Th e reason for this is some of these so called western countries economies collapsed some others are teetering on the verge of collapse. So instead China decided to buy off assets. It now owns large chunks of land, infra structure, mining, water assets in western countries. This is not by accident. neither is it benign. This is aimed at ensuring that China’s communist party dictatorship can survive and control other countries assets to their own advantage. China now owns one port and most of the other major commercial port. It owns the port city anda prime Shan Gri La Hotel complex including Galle face one. It has saddled Sri Lanka with so much debt that it is one of those countries teetering on the brink of collapse.
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Thiha / December 10, 2020
It has now rightly identified Sri Lanka’s national grid as a problem for their assets to have an uninturupted power supply. Their own coal power plant was rigged so badly that even under their own management it crashes taking the grid down with it. So it wants to get its hands on a reliable power supply. So it got its self imposed dictator of Sri Lanka and manchurian agent to remove one obstacle in its path the independent utilities commission installed by a sensible government dedicated to democratic principles in the past. This was the precise reason the China backed 20th Amendment was rammed thru a moronic spineless supreme court and a mindless shit for brains parliament. Watch and weep as the show continues and Sri Lanka sinks deeper and deeper into hell. The gembas are still happily croaking extolling the virtues of China and the wisdom of its quisling dictator of Sir Lanka.
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Harishchandra / December 10, 2020
Anura Kumara said in parliament that the president has no right to disband this commission so he forced the commissioners to resign.
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