Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
I refer to the Daily Mirror story of 21 July, 2020 (pages 1 and 2, “Summons on Prof. Hoole, 3 others for contempt of court“). In the e-version, the reporter is identified as T. Farook Thajudeen.
I am writing only because many have called expressing concern over the erroneous story fed to the newspapers by the Senior Counsel of some Pastors as stated in the article itself, and the suspicion that the expensive legal team may be politically funded. I am also writing because Daily Mirror has not published my correction, which lapse is critically damaging to me as the Court takes up the case with the distortions in the public domain with no response from me.
The contempt case involves Baldaeus Theological College. When my wife as principal instituted processes for accountability, there was a reaction from “Christian” clergymen who do not take kindly to orders from a woman. They are quite open about saying that a woman as Principal is un-Christian and cite theological concerns even as they fail to account for large sums of money. The relevant clergy tried to sack my wife and Dr. Sam Thevabalasingham, the President of the College and I had stay orders issued from the Commercial High Court.
The contempt allegation is that Dr. Thevabalasingham and I misrepresented those stay orders.
The Daily Mirror news article is faulty and refers to giving effect to a meeting. A Senior lawyer like N.R. Sivendran who is cited as source should know that the reference was to giving effect to decisions at a meeting and not to a meeting itself. He also garbles the story by referring to his own client Selvaraja Jeyaraj of LEADS as the person in contempt of court for misquoting the court decision. What an Advocate for Jeyaraj!
Moreover the clergymen’s Senior Counsel Sivendran is wrong in saying that I am the Managing Director and Chief Editor of a newsletter called Direction which published the news of the stay order. I am not and have nothing to do with Direction except as an avid reader and very occasional contributor. Besides, Direction is a magazine and not a newsletter.
I trust that Mr. Sivendran’s court submissions are more accurate than what he has reportedly fed to the Daily Mirror. I am advised that when a senior lawyer spends time reporting distortions to newspapers, it is going beyond his duty as Counsel and harbors malice.
The College which is meant to be a Christian witness and a beacon of hope to the world is becoming exactly what it is not meant to be. As dark forces help those who mismanaged finances to cover up, a person well known for selling babies to Europeans for adoption in the late 1970s at Rs. 10,000 each has also got into the act. This diminishes the witness role of the college even more.
As for the more serious issues, court is the right place to say more.
GATAM / July 23, 2020
Racist Rajapaksas’ revenge. The good professor stood for the people but now under threat.
As things are now August 5 election is unsafe. It must be postponed.
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SJ / July 23, 2020
I would rather not drag Rajapaksa into everything.
This issue concerns ‘divine’ interests.
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leelagemalli / July 23, 2020
Dear Prof.
:
whoever whatever being doing against you – I really dont think that the people are stupdier than appeared to be.
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Now Rajapakshe’s real face is exposing.
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It is becoming clear that People were misled in order them to come to power. 6.9 millions of voters dreamt of a better leadership. But as of today, Gotabaya has become a refugee in his brother’s camp, whose high criminal mlechcha politics is known to anyone with some sanity.
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SJ,
“I would rather not drag Rajapaksa into everything”
–
1)
What do you make of PM’s total ignorance as a the minister of religious/cultural affairs regarding the demolition of ” that historical building” of Kurunagala city ?
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2)
What do you think as to why incumbent president stays as if he is fed with CLAY regarding the brutal act – even if a week passed since it was destroyed but none of the criminal doers are arrested, nor has reacted police accordingly ?
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SJ / July 24, 2020
LM
I should be paranoid person if I imagine that MR is behind my every suffering.
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leelagemalli / July 24, 2020
SJ,
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You may not be paranoid, but sound to be naive not to see it righ.
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then will you PLEASE share us why the people fell that stupid over the last 15 years ? is it not through media mafia handled by MR et al ?
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I believe it is the media that stand on the way keeping the people in dark. I have loads of information to prove that MEDIA mafia is being mastered by RAJAPKSHE FAMILY also during good governance govt.
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I dont think that MR is the only person, but his criminal energies protected the high criminals over the years.
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Now turning to the Kurunegala incident
– why cant he be neutral and let the police to do the job respecting prevailing law and order ?
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Why does he support drug traffickers and high criminals on and on ? We have prima facie evidence to prove that Mahinda Rajapakshe protected ” NIMAL LANZA” from being arrested and be punished by the law. It is a public secret that NLanza is the drug kin pin to Negambo area.
:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kidRti12Q24
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SJ / July 24, 2020
LM
An individual may be a burglar who raided the houses of every victim that you knew of, but that does not mean that he burgled all houses.(Karl Popper has more on thus.)
If we are obsessed with pinning the blame on someone for all thhe crimes on the land, we risk getting paranoid.
*
I will rather enjoy my naïveté and sanity.
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leelagemalli / July 28, 2020
SJ,
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Please let me clear you why people’s thoughts and minds would not go beyond the crime friendly tactics of the society.
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Law and order restrict to books and paragraphs only no matter even if the leader’seyes are directed to them – that is why I am telling that the leaders in power or as opposition should focus on – LAW AND ORDER other than anything else. THat is how civilized western countries continue with their sustainable solutions to comparable problems.
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This is why I added above that MEDIA MAFIA which is even more powerful than DRUG/Alcohohol mafia in the country is yet today being handled by RAJAPAKSHE et al. Consequence is people keep in dark on factual infomation even about crucial issues.
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Burt / July 29, 2020
Actually you don’t need to be behind everything evil. You only have to create the environment. Which the Rajapaksa and Trump has done well. Only difference being Americans learn from their mistakes and change course while Sri Lankans keep doing the same thing expecting a different result.
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S. C. Pasqual / July 24, 2020
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leelagemalli / July 27, 2020
Controversal SCP,
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thanks very much for making it short.
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Divine forces should work on the rascals Rajaakshes sooner than later.
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We have been known septagenarians that would work so gentle and honest. But what have Rajaakshes as Septagenarians been doing to the very same nation but misleading the very same communities again for their political survival. I always think older you become, wiser you are, but when looking at Rajaakshes, I turn to my dogs and cats – they are much wiser.
:
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leelagemalli / July 28, 2020
Dear Prof.
:
PLEASE check the video below.
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How RAJAPAKSHES did it with a son of an innocient mother. If this would have been case with one of mine, I would have gone mad today.
:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX2x3Wg9Qa8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX2x3Wg9Qa8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX2x3Wg9Qa8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX2x3Wg9Qa8
–
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Jack / July 23, 2020
Professor Hoole has respect from public as he stand for the rights of election commission defying threat from the governing politicians. But I see he constantly try hard to show his muscle by publishing news article. He can can get more respect by adhering to his official position than trying to quarrel for petty unnecessary issues. My feeling is, he in the future want to be an another corrupt politician with perks perk like current 225. (Cars, houses and foreign travels etc)
Let’s wait and see.
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old codger / July 23, 2020
Prof. Hoole has this enviable talent for keeping himself in the public eye. His academic brilliance is only matched by his combativeness . So sad.
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Sinhala_Man / July 27, 2020
Dear oc, you are right.
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Jack, I’m sure that you are a good and honest man, but I feel that you have got it all wrong about Prof. Hoole’s intentions and “ambitions”.
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He is very much involved in Politics right now, but I’m sure that he has no wish to be one of the 225 Members of Parliament. He is not a “politician”. He’s approaching the age of 70. I’m sure that he will soon retire from everything to do with “Politics” having helped us a lot.
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He is highly educated. That means of outstanding intelligence, otherwise how to get all those qualifications and knowledge? However, he is somewhat lacking in common sense. This is an article that he should never have written.
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However, I have been studying this “case” or “matter” or whatever one may call it, and I wll put my focussed thoughts on this on a little later today, at the bottom of this page.
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Nathan / July 23, 2020
Jack, When you yourself are having a doubt, ‘Let’s wait and see.’, what for would I contest it. Hooles are not politicians. Take solace!
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / July 23, 2020
Dear Mr Hoole
I really envy your position you as a person employed in the civil service of Sri Lanka and were allowed to write all you did in the past to date?? Your posts indeed a very honourable position entrusted to oversee our elections as fair and free etc. A very well defined job scope I am sure you took pride to your best of your ability respect.
However I always wondered how you managed to keep your job for this long without being challenged not because we were expecting you to keep things to yourself but there is a sense of team work/procedures for how to deal with all the scenarios you have openly shared with us in CT??
I can tell you I could not do that in anything I did as a job all my life and last that long in a job?? Well done.
But to then drag the head of state into this sounds a bit puzzlingly even from your side a very neutral person??
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umberto / July 24, 2020
Mr Thiagarajah Venugopal
To start with please address Hoole either as Prof, Hoole or Dr. Hoole and Mr Hoole. I am surprised that even with your British education you have missed this simple etiquette. I have been reading your comments in CT on many subjects. You have tried to defend Rajapaksas. I think you have acquired this strain from your father “Turn Coat” Thiagarajah , who became an MP under Tamil Congress banner and then switched to SLFP to financial gain. You talk a lot about Srilank’as future, as if you are a Srilankan citizen. Are you still a British Citizen holding duel Nationality , like your mentor Gota?
Please desist from criticising political parties of North and East just to show Rajapaksas you are with them , like your dead father.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / July 24, 2020
Dear Hon Umberto
Welcome to my world and I totally agree with your positive input for the betterment of our human destiny let alone SL destiny. I hold very little power to make the paradigm changes but can expose the same duplicity in this forum it is unravelling now. Welcome welcome Hon Umberto……..I did have several others earlier not sure all the same with different names with the same pay masters to rob us all whatever left of it??? We will have the journey and see how this goes shall we??
I am typical of all the Tamils/Sinhalese/Muslims who all did not have a say in the matter earlier because we did not want to utilise the only means that was available to us that is to take up arms to defend our communities from the FP/TULF/TNA killers..because most of them were children when they were taken away to training camps in the first place….so is the Mother Lankan Soldiers who were charged with the responsibility to defend the Nation be it with all the uprisings we had in our Nation a full time occupation that was never necessary from 1970m onwards.
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Jack / July 24, 2020
Please try not to use personal attacks. Forum should be professional and based on facts. you all are decent people.
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SJ / July 25, 2020
“you all are decent people”
Jack, that is a heck of an assumption.
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SJ / July 26, 2020
The comment on Mr Thiagarajah is an uncalled for insult.
What evidence has Umberto that he joined the SLFP foe financial gain?
The highly personal assault on Venugopal is, to put it mildly, in uncivilized language.
*
Why is it that more Tamils descend to such low levels on these pages than do Sinhalese?
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / July 27, 2020
Dear SJ
I set out not only to speak my rights in my own country but also to expose the same that was (they – not the Tamils) practised in Jaffna to kill my Tamil dream and all my fellow Tamils dreams too that were allowed in the ballet only but have was taken away at gun point right under the nose of the FP/ITAK/TULF/TNA over the last 70 years. I have a bit of a soft spot for the children who ended up in the Tamil Nadu training camps and died in the horror as I know many from various groups who grew up with me too. We tried our best even took the bullets to prevent such carnage am very proud of no man cancer take away……it is exactly what I was expecting that is to here someone justifying the killing of a fellow man then it comes with the clause because sold something/traitor/turncoat just as the rest the Nation being hearing for the past 70 years.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / July 27, 2020
Then to exercise the right to be around the world/get married/make love and sit around all other atrocities that get committed by the countries we live in and come and comment exercising the so called freedom in this forums is the best punishment I can hope for, then to be saved by the GOSL(every government there was), saved by the armed force and to be paid by the SL tax man the daily food/subsistence allowance is the ultimate punishment?? destitute belongs there as we can care for all is the message from us the Sri Lankans and is part of the rehabilitation exercise we Sri Lankans are doing……does not look like is well received to date does it??? specially without a name and address and an IC details speaks for itself?? How can the same empower the war affected people is the question one need to ask in every elections?
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SJ / July 27, 2020
TV
I do not share many of your views.
But I resent the kind of abuse that you are subjected to because you say things to the discomfort of a few.
Each of us need to do our bit to make this space suited for serious discussion.
You are unduly polite to people who do not mean well.
I think that you can be firm and just as polite as any other decent person, no more.
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a14455 / July 24, 2020
He is right, These guys blame anything and everything on the Government. I dont see any relationship.
Baldaeus Theological College has no relation to the Rajapaksa’s or for that matter even the Daily mirror.
My guess is that this complaint is about getting funds for his legal troubles.
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Berti Kolla / July 26, 2020
Dear Venu,
The Independence commissions were the result of right thinking people of Sri Lanka including the right thinking Sinhalese and Tamils (Muslims Included) and not by the Western Democracies dominated by Jews. In India the white skinned Brahmins are jewish in origin before Jesus Christ. Hope Venu you are not white skinned unlike the Dark skinned Tamil Christian Prof Hoole. More than 50% f the Kandyan Kingdom are of Telungu ancestry. Hope you are not one of them too.
Read the new development in Tamil Nadu. History Archeology and scientific research.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / July 27, 2020
Dera Berti
I may completely disagree with all what prof says but always respect my fellow man as my family always…never ever think anything else.
Funny you should mention Telungu as my Father was a ‘total’ Indian product….he was sent their from the age of 7-8 to Hyderabad to the first ever boarding school ever where you were taught to fend for yourself from a very young age.
1916; Born in Sri Lanka (His Mother travelled from Malaysia to her family in Sri Lanka to give birth to my Father. Note My Grandfather settled in Malaysia in 1890’s)
1926; Sent to India to study from age 8++ and placed in a hostel at a very young age away from his family in Sri Lanka & Malaysia. He grew up in Gandhi’s era in India.
1936; Completes BA
1938; Completes MA
1942; Completes M Lit
1942; He takes up teaching at Karaingara Hindu College
1942; Married to Maheswary – they made 6 children and the first child to die at birth.
1943/44; He stood before the Soulbury Commission
1952; Stood for election (Member of parliament) as an Independent candidate in Kytes during 2ndParliamentary election since independence.
1954: He evaluated the Federalism vs the Separatism and published a write-up on this for clarity.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / July 27, 2020
1942; Married to Maheswary – they made 6 children and the first child to die at birth.
1943/44; He stood before the Soulbury Commission
1952; Stood for election (Member of parliament) as an Independent candidate in Kytes during 2ndParliamentary election since independence.
1954: He evaluated the Federalism vs the Separatism and published a write-up on this for clarity.
1966; Publishes a Book titled “The Economic Development of Ceylon”.
1970; retires from his carrier as a Principle of Karainagar Hindu College
1970; 7th Parliamentary election elected MP for Vaddukoddi as a Tamil Congress Candidate and defeats late Mr Amirthalingham.
1972; He publishes a small article titled – Indra and India Lessons Learned
1972; He defects to SLFP government
1972; Failed Assassination attempt in Colombo by a Tamil gunman.
1977; As an independent candidate Looses the election to TULF candidate
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / July 27, 2020
1981; Finalised the doctorate thesis title “Sri Lanka and South Asian Economic Corporation – A Conceptual and Institutional Framework for Accelerated Development” at Madras University, India.
1981; Stood as a UNP candidate for the first District Development Council election for Jaffna on the invitation by our late Honorable Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa and his government.
1981; After a campaign meeting he was assassinated by a Tamil gunman in Vaddukoddai at an Age of 65 few weeks before the Tamils get to vote for an alternative path based on economic development where TULF also stood in the same election.
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SarathP / July 24, 2020
I read the travails of the Anglican church with sadness. My grandfather was an Anglican, I attended an Anglican school, and admired the easy going liturgy and beliefs of the church. But, in recent years, I have been aware of all that happened at the Kurunegala diocese and the unsavory incidents at a number of Anglican schools, thanks to Panini/Sinhala Man.
In a small community, I hope the clergy and laypeople learn to get along. I greatly admire Prof. Hoole and he deserves better.
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Sinhala_Man / July 25, 2020
Yes, Sarath, we cannot but feel nostalgia when we look back.
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We’ve got to respect CT guidelines and stick to the subject. It flattered me to see my name brought in by you. Thanks.
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How I wish Jeevan hadn’t ventured into all this. I will return here before dawn. The CEB has threatened a power cut tomorrow. I’ve got to properly study all this before daring to comment.
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Now I’ve got to move here for a while:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-enliven-economic-revival/
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hanchopancha / July 24, 2020
Bond scam Ranil ensures that Rajapakshes are indispensable.
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leelagemalli / July 28, 2020
Hanchopancha,
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RW has not made it publicly, but Rajapakshes biased media makes it. Ranil is caught by MEDIA mafia being single handedly controlled by Mahinda Rajaakshe et al. This was also the case during the high day sof Good governance. THere that penisless SIRISENA let anything and everything to do with him. TH ekind of men should be hung by their balls for all the destruction deliberately brought wihtin the last good 4.5 years.
:
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singhaputhra / July 25, 2020
actually politikkas puttin g fingers every pla ce in sri l anka
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Sinhala_Man / July 25, 2020
Dear GATAM & Others,
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Please allow me a bit of time to work all this out.
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The contributions made by Prof. Hoole to safeguard our Rights at this time cannot be overstated.
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However, let it not be thought that all this is direct government interference. Prof. Hoole fights on too many fronts and has many enemies who will cause problems for him, which the government will now highlight.
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I don’t know the Northern Province, and I don’t know any Tamil, so there are obvious deficiencies in my understanding. Also, I have little stomach for legalities, Law Courts and their Jurisdictions.
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I will try to find out and get back to CT. Now is the time to stand by this wonderful man, but I do stand by my earlier observation that Jeevan must not take on more than can be handled by one man.
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No_ebTrell / July 25, 2020
I remember a member of the legal team working against Jeewan Hoole was infamous for selling babies. There was a queue of mothers with babies to meet foreigners at this lawyer’s office down Mile Post Avenue in Colombo 3.
It is sad that pastors holding on to power are doing all they can to disrupt the students. Stealing, lying gossiping and malice seems to be what normal nowadays
There was a time when priests had integrity
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Kuviyam / July 25, 2020
How many officers are there in Public Service like Dr. Hole? The officers know that if they stand for truth and corruption-free then they are in bad books of Mahinda dynasty
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SJ / July 26, 2020
Is Hoole in public service?
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Ferryman / July 26, 2020
I read and reread the article and nowhere does Prof Hoole bring in politics of the Rajapakses. The first comment by Gatam refers to the R’s and then it brings a political angle to the other comments. If CT had not allowed irrelevant comments to be included, then the readers can comment on the issues and not personal predispositions..
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Sinhala_Man / July 28, 2020
PART ONE
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As I promised a few days ago, I’ve tried to find out facts about this court case. I’m obvioulsy not the best person to do it, but since nobody else has given these facts, let me give you the results of my searches. As a Sinhalese, I try to find out what’s happening elsewhere in the country – the little that I can do to counter the distortions of my brethren.
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I understand the judge put off consideration of contempt for now because Hoole’s counsel raised points of law that said that this court has no jurisdiction in the matter.
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I did not see any suggestion that the government is funding the expensive legal team of Sivendran and partners. Hoole has enough enemies – it could be anyone. I think if anyone is funding the case it is more likely to be a Tamil party. I will let you speculate.
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Sinhala_Man / July 28, 2020
PART TWO
It seems that dishonest attempts are being made to tarnish Hoole’s name. Subsequent to the Daily Mirror interview given by senior counsel Sivendran, the press corps was promised entertainment in court seeing a member of the Election Commission being punished. They were disappointed.
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Even now unbelievable allegations are being circulated by a Respondent who is a senior Pentecostal Pastor, claiming that Hoole has offered the defendants Rs. 10 lakhs each if they would resign from the college board. The email itself has not been produced. Prof. Hoole is not dishonest to offer bribes and is no fool to make such a bribe offer that can be proved through the email. The worst is that the pastor’s wife and daughter swear that they have seen this email. It looks like the pastor is unfairly dragging his wife and daughter into this controversy as a result of his greed for power.
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