Daham Sirisena, son of President Maithripala Sirisena, who came in for a lot of flak for accompanying his father to the UN General Assembly although he had no official representative status has posted a ‘rebuttal’ on his Facebook page (where he describes himself as a public figure). The following is the full note posted by the young Sirisena;
Dear friends,
What is nepotism? The real meaning behind it is the abuse of power with influence favoring one’s children, relatives and friends especially by giving them occupations. Open your minds to this definition and take a moment to think whether this is being practiced in Sri Lanka now. Many have been criticizing my visit to the Delegation, saying that it is nepotism and that i am unjustifiably abusing my father’s power. Let me put my friends’ minds at rest, by firstly saying that i was officially invited to the Delegation since my mother couldn’t attend. Secondly by attending the event i got the opportunity to attend the youth-led event of SDG which made me understand the goals which is needed for the country to be more prosperous. How could my attendance be a negative effect to the country? How could my attendance be the downfall of the country? I urge you all not to compare me and my family with the past regiments as we are far different from them.
At the event The officials stated that, next time to bring in more youths with more innovative ideas which could in turn enrich our country by seeing my presence. I believe that this is a great opportunity to give positive recognition to our country.
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Indian PM Narendra Modi Meets Daham Sirisena At UN
Switzerland President Meets Daham Sirisena
confu tao / September 29, 2015
Daham, a pathetic attempt at trying to justify your presence at the UN. you had absolutely no right to be seen in the corridor’s or halls of the UN which is confined to official delegates only. You were not part of the Sri Lankan delegation, you have no qualifications to be anywhere close to events of this nature, and your presence has only resulted in demeaning the dignity of your father and the country. Can you tell us who is paying for your expenses on this trip? Seeing you in the presence of these dignitaries shaking hands with them is very embarrassing to the viewers and raises suspicions that the new president is going the way of the deposed king. Please remember that being the son of the president does not entitle you to any perks or benefits, and if this is not nepotism, then what is. your definition of the word definition is not accepted by any reasonable person as we all know that you have abused your father’s position to creep in to this august assembly. You are going to be closely watched in the future for abuses of this nature by the citizens of Sri Lanka and if you have any respect or decency or honour it will be best if you do not participate in government delegations by creeping in from the back door.
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mori / September 29, 2015
Who wrote this bullshit on your behalf, Dah-rum? And which ‘Regiment’ you are talking of, Singha regiment? What makes you think you are a youth? A youth is someone under 18, not a 25 year old. Gosh, you have a lot to learn boso. ‘Nepotism’ too heavy for your two brain cells, huh? What a clown. Well no surprise there, Clowns beget clowns !!!
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Gamunu / September 29, 2015
You say “by attending this event you got the opportunity to attend the youth led event of SDG ?
What qualification do you have to attend this event? There are far more richly deserving youths in Sri Lanka who has done so much for sustainable development (which is the agenda this year Who would have loved to attend an event like this?
But what makes a person like you, who assault innocent people in front of their wife’s and play havoc at night clubs think you deserve this opportunity? The only qualification you have is your father is the President?
And then you have the audacity to ask people what is nepotism?
This clearly proves how illiterate you are …
Added to the above your father appointed his brother as Sri Lanka Telecom chairman two weeks after his victory
Mr president if you have any love for your country and for your children , first and foremost educate them properly before you bring them to the lime light by taking short cuts… We have supported you before the elections but some of the things you have done since general election is disgusting ……. People tolerated a lot of these things under MR regime, only and only because of the War Victory… But you Mr President has a long way… So far as much as your talk is interesting … You don’t walk your talk ….
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Rozanne / September 29, 2015
You are totally wrong regards saying that people who comment are supporters of the previous regime. I have seen that most of the comments are from us who wanted the change for MS to be brought in. However from the start he has not been the person we wanted. First looses appointed to parliament against the wishes of all who brought him to power.
Your trip to US is now justified by you but it is not at all necessary and civil society does not accept same.
You do not have to be displayed with the heads of states and diplomats even if you visited the UN with your father, while this is not the case with the children of others heads of state. Is it not so ! Which head of states son is doing the same as you ?
In the first place if you cannot even accept that you are out of line you will always continue to justify your powerful actions. The civil society did not want the presidents children to be where they are not entitled to be and now your father has done just that. It is a shame. We are in a pathetic situation and you guys are enjoying and abusing the power !
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Shake Spear / September 29, 2015
I can help you improve your written English – for free.
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Hard truth / September 29, 2015
Well, well. Granted, this is not the LEVEL of nepotism practiced by MR and CO. Granted, things are much better now under Yahapalayanaya with regards to nepotism. Anybody who criticizes the current government should not lose sight of this fact. Nevertheless, this IS nepotism and this is INDEFENSIBLE. The childish utterings of the son only makes it worse and insults our intelligence. And no, stating this does not make me an MR supporter, as long as the difference in scale is clearly acknowledged and true MR supporters are not given the opportunity of using the criticism as ammunition.
Daham may have learnt a lot from this trip but that is not the point. Youth may have been encouraged to participate but that is not the point either. The point is that there are thousands of other youth who might have wanted to participate and might have learnt more than Daham did, and he was given this opportunity without a transparent selection process. Besides, people of this island are not idiots, and we can easily read subtle messages a person gives out. The very appearance of this guy and his facebook page indicates a spoiled brat not very different from the MR lads, and his status does nothing to inspire confidence. Even his claim that he is a ‘public figure’ is wrong, because he has earned no public position, status or esteem by merit: he is just the president’s son.
As another commentator said, the people of this island must now identify the redidues of ‘MR culture’, which survives the man himself, and get rid of those who are seeped in that culture from the political arena.
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Wise man / September 29, 2015
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
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Pawan / September 29, 2015
Dear Sir,
Do yourself a favor and fire the person who asked you to respond to these charges. He is less smarter than you (for agreeing to respond). Then fire the person who drafted your response. If they are one of the same, then who needs enemies with friends like that. Demote them or cut them off your staff. What you need is a good set of advisors who should have asked you not to join the delegation in the first place. Clearly you nor your father have a set of advisors to help you judge simple things of this nature. You will be a brilliant Sri Lankan politician! as you thought it was justified for you to attend this event at TAX PAYER cost!
Your credentials don’t suggest you deserve an invitation for a youth conference hosted by Rajapaksa regime (That’s how poor your standing is in society). Find new support staff and get your act together. Sri Lanka is running out of patience!!!!
Your father’s luck does not justify your excesses!
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Ravi / September 29, 2015
Looks like another Namal R. Idiot trying the educate us on the meaning of Nepotism. He needs to explain why his daddy used public funds to take him to the UN, what is his position on the Govt, Is he a paid employee of the people? [Edited out] you jackass, we don’t need to hear from you, stay home or find a job.
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Tilal Wijewickrama / September 29, 2015
Nepotism is proven beyond from your useless response. You are another leech sucking the national blood under the guise of a youth representative. Bloody cushy life, that is how the sons of former strongman represented and responded to similar allegations. Well sona Rajapaksas did not have even a small Beetle shop when MR entered into politics, neither your family or your dada’s family had Beetle shop in Polonnaruwa when your Dad entered into politics. We voted your father into power to get rid of MR and his nepotism driven family members. Now we wonder, have we repeated the same mistake.
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Marupalanaya / September 29, 2015
If Namal Rajapaksa said the same thing what is the difference ? Wouldn’t he be insulted with bad words?
Can you criticise the Rajapaksas if the same justification very well could be given by them ?
Do not be seen with your father at any international functions. Otherwise the people will give an answer to your father at elections.
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Appuhamy / September 29, 2015
Attend any thing at your private expense not at public expense. This is what your father said at election.You have no official capacity to represent Sri Lanka.
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truth finder / September 29, 2015
My dear Maithripala and Daham!!
please don’t justify a dirty deed! You are abusing your father’s powers! Isn’t it corrupt to use tax payer’s money when the there would be more than another million in your category of a youth! Was there transparency in your selection? No!! Who invited you? Your father asked the ambassador in the UN to invite you! We are in a corrupt country,remember that Namal etc made a precedence. Go back and pursue your studies without ruining your father’s profile which rapidly eroding!
It will be a pity if you don’t read comments! Count the positive ones in your favourite and the negative ones!the are all people who supported your father (not you!) expecting for a change!!Daddy! Please restore our confidence in you we have no one else to support in this absolutely corrupt country!!
I am in a dilemma whether to greeT ….. “YahapalanayaK or “Subha Anagathayak “!!!!!
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Dhammika Heenpella / September 29, 2015
[Edited out] We are sorry, the comment language is English – CT
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wasalaya / September 29, 2015
Live it up while its last Champ!
This is third world politics and if you don’t like it go live in the First world
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Spark / September 29, 2015
When godaya’s get high posts, they do not know what they are doing. Mahinda did it bcos typically he was a yakko from the south. Sirisena is doing it bcos he is still a raw godaya, but don’t know why Ranil has not advised him. Just one question to Daham, how many leaders to the UN bought their kids with them and made them sit inside the UN while in session? Don’t feel embarrassed, answer this truly. Lucky u and ur father did not chew betel while the session was on.
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Naga Ramalingam / September 29, 2015
Luckily Daham did not say that he accompanied his father to make recommendations to the UNHRC report on behalf of Sri Lanka! His explanation and definition about Nepotism further revealed his ignorance and lack of general knowledge. This is the trajectory of Nepotism. His sister Chathurika is also meddling with government servants under the pretext of assisting projects in villages. All government servants will put ‘salam’ to these brats and groom them ready for the next election.
Daham, at least now you learnt the real meaning of Nepotism. One of the sad features of Nepotism is getting privileges without even realizing it!
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eldorado / September 29, 2015
Here is a man from Polonaruwa, an ordinary man, a man who is a son of the soil, who has enjoyed most of his life at his village home with his family eating home cooked meals, who has been suddenly thrown into the saddle of the President of the Country and is in the glare of International political publicity, on the International stage. He is probably blinded by it all and is savoring the well being of attending an exalted position in the highest assembly of the globe although he pretends he knows it all and puts on a facade for the sake of Country and self. He has made quite a lot of bulls where protocol is concerned,due to ‘not knowing’, remember the Queens handshake, but boxes on unconcernedly and this is another one . He wanted to give his son an opportunity to “see the world”,like any father would, and so he took him along. That I believe was his motive, nevertheless one he should have thought twice about, he should have been advised. Still, he is the President of the land, and wanted to make use of the opportunity that came his way.He will make many more bulls, but the motives behind all these ‘bulls’will be a simple mans reasoning, and not ‘mala fide’ plotting. Like was said, he would not know the meaning of ‘Nepotism’. I would give him a little more time to sort himself out but we should continue to point out the “do’s and dont’s” so that he will quickly learn. Let’s hope there are no major issues which will upset the “Apple cart ” in the meantime.
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MirakRajBanda / September 29, 2015
Ugly face of ”Nepotism” shows again and need to be chop in the bud!!!
I started to realise it’s part of our culture and it’s hard to get rid off so easily.
I congratulate CT to stand firm over this issue which some see a silly matter.
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Vanguard / September 29, 2015
Dear Sir
I respect all persons, so let me make some constructive criticism about this entire episode.
In public life, public relations, and appearances can be very important, regardless of whether something was right or wrong. So I advise you to think deeply about how to conduct your public life in a way that no one will be able to fault your conduct.
“In life, particularly in public life, psychology is more powerful than logic.”
Ludwig Quidde
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Raja / September 29, 2015
To me this is nepotism of the highest order.
If not, why did you then criticise, Namal Rajapakse, an elected MP of the Sri Lankan Parliament, when he accompanied his father on similar missions? You are not even an MP and what qualifications or experience do you possess other than being the son of the current President? Aren’t there extremely clever and desrving Sri Lankan youth leaders to fulfil the role you have mentioned?
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Lotuseater / September 29, 2015
Ridiculous arguments and bad English. Sounds like a Sri Lankan MP in the making.
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EDWIN RODRIGO / September 29, 2015
Can someone please comment on whether there is any precedent to this? If so, what are they?
Also, what are the rules, norms and traditions that the UN follows on the members of the delegation from a country? For instance can one take one’s gardener to the UN so that he may listen to someone speaking on WFP, Agriculture etc.? (subjects that are of critical importance to our country the same way that youth affairs are).
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mahinda / September 29, 2015
Do not bullshit with public funds
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Piyal / September 29, 2015
Daham, I f you love and respect your farther, please keep out of his political engagements as he would like to end his political carer at the end of his term as a well respected politician and not as a cursed one. Piyal
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Sam Silva / September 29, 2015
UN General Assembly attendance is for official Govt delegations. What official Govt or diplomatic position does he hold. His name would have been added to the Sri Lanka delegation list on the request of the President. UN will not question the official role of the delegates. It is illegal and wrong for the President to take his son.
At least when MR took Namal to official visits- he can say Namal is an MP. Earlier President’s daughter attended an official govt meeting in Polonnaruwa. We are awaiting the Govt answer to what her official role was? Daham and the daughter taking “Yahapalanaya” for a joke
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Spring Koha / September 29, 2015
By all the gods that watch over us, is there no one who can give the President proper, decent advise?
This visit to the UN is a business trip. It is not a state visit. The limited seats in that hall are for those qualified to be there. You are not qualified by being the son of the President, per se. Neither is it to our credit to have Mr Mangala Samaraweera looking like a bloody babysitter.
Is everyone around the naked President just saying ‘the clothes look great O almighty one’? Those effeminate and ineffective advisers are the ones who should take at least some of the blame for this highly visible indignity.
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sam / September 29, 2015
[Edited out]
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Dinesh / September 29, 2015
Daham, do not give cock and bull stories and excuses. If you did a mistake accept the mistake and say sorry and make sure you do not do that again. People would have appreciated and respected you more. Who is giving you advice? Is it that moron Mangala Samaraweera or the “Pragchaya” Wijedasa Rajapakse? Just shut up and say sorry and move on..we have more serious business in this country to resolve than spending time and resources on you and your trips to accompany your father? At a minimum you should now pay for your first class or business class air ticket and hotel stay to the SL Treasury ?…. CT good job keep it up.
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Psycho / September 29, 2015
Who is this buffoon, Daham?
Is this today’s trying reinvent what nepotism means.
Shame, Shame,Shame. Self appointed youth ambassador hanging on to dads Kapati coat.
This fellow needs a kick in the ass so too MY3 for brining shame to my motherland.
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Rabok / September 29, 2015
Bloody hell – do you think all the users of FB are idiots like you – and they are waiting your bloody explanations to find out the correct meaning of “Nepotism”- What the heck do you know about international relations – Sri Lankan voters had seen enough
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backlash / September 30, 2015
Kollo,
Did your father instruct Wijeyadasa R to help you draft this message.
The Ingreesi looks familiar. It would have saved a lot of trouble if
you sent this message out in Sinhala – a language in which you could be a little more proficient. Surely, there is nothing wrong with that. We are all proud of our mother tongue, aren’t we. Particularly when the papa and the issues can never reach the desired heights learning the language, the one in which the Bandaranaike children excelled.
What does that explain.
Backlash
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