The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando has resigned from his post a short while ago.
Related posts:
Hemasiri Fernando Gets His “Dream Job” As Secretary To Defence Ministry
Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando Resigns
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Naman / April 25, 2019
MS and RW needs to resign first.
Speaker of the House/CJ takes over as Head of Government and appoints a Temporary PM and GoSL
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Ajith / April 25, 2019
MS and RW resigning is not the solution. It is a system and structural failure.
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thamizh / April 26, 2019
the drama unfolds and you can expect more to come in the next few days to cover up their failures. the blues and greens will be pointing at each other and the blame game will only intensify as election nears, while Gota silently builds his base. perhaps it is structural as you say. all the sinhala governments of the past and present helped the growth of islamic extremism in the east with the help of saudi money (kattankudi being the hub) for their political gains and to divide and rule the tamil speaking populations. the entire sri lankan security apparatus was busy harassing and intimidating Tamils, occupying their lands that they had no time to go after islamic extremists even though the writing was on the wall for long time. perhaps the entire sinhala buddhist establishment found the idea of tamil national liberation a bigger threat to their existence than islamic extremism.
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Amarasiri / April 25, 2019
The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando ,
Yes, move on. The dead are gone, may rest in peace.
Can you make a cordial request to your boss Maitipala Sirsena, and his buddy Ranil W to resign as well, and ask to appoint war hero Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka?
The country needs a leader with a track record of defeating terrorists, in whatever shape or form they come.
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Anonymous / April 26, 2019
What has this defense Secretary and President Maithripala Sirisena done about the following?
December 5th 2016 Sri Lanka Mirror –
“Intelligence authorities have now established that during the Rajapaksa regime, a secret account of the defence ministry had funded Thowheed Jamath, BBS and other Muslim & Buddhist extremists groups, ‘Sathhanda’ reports quoting sources at the Presidential secretariat.
This is clear information to prove that Thowheed Jamath secretary Abdul Rasik Rafiquedeeb was an army intelligence member.”
“A close ally of ex-defense security Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, now a retired major general, had coordinated these Muslim and Sinhala extremists, it has come to light”
This article has now been pulled from the internet!
Who is this retired major general?
Why has he not been arrested for questioning?
Why is this information being downplayed and hidden from the public and international community!?
Link to article that doesn’t work now
https://srilankamirror.com/news/796-thowheed-jamath-bbs-both-funded-by-single-secret-account
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paul / April 25, 2019
Glorified security guard reveling in the name of his post. Appoint the only Secretary who actually did some work.
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Native Vedda / April 25, 2019
paul
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“Appoint the only Secretary who actually did some work.”
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Have you decided to dispose all your properties and relocate to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, ………….. ?
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Wish you well.
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clean slate / April 25, 2019
He really did, or more accurately, gave the works.
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john mancini / April 25, 2019
Now the defense minister should resign too.
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Real Revolutionist / April 25, 2019
& the whole govt. please.
NO, no; before that undo 19A & undo everything till 97 & restart without doing 78 (JR’s) constitution.
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Sinhala_Man / April 25, 2019
I won’t quite shout “Hurrah”, but this is the sort of development that one expects after a disaster of this magnitude and gravity.
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I wasn’t even surprised, because 1.27 p.m. today I had a three-minute chat with a guy who holds an important position in the President’s Office. I won’t mention his name at this juncture because I think that he tries to maintain a low profile there. Another powerful guy there is Shiral Lakthilake who is better known to the public, was a UNPer who didn’t get on with Ranil Wcikremasinghe, and is one of Sirisena’s closest advisers.
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Anyway, my friend confirmed the story that was already getting about that the resignation of both Fernando and the IGP, Pujitha Jayasundera had been demanded by Sirisena who couldn’t exactly sack either of them.
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About the middle of last year I met them, and another lady, at their request. They regarded me as a typically disgruntled Yahapalanaya supporter, and wanted to know how Sirisena could hore up his dwindling popularity. I told them that I could not be recruited by them as a columnist, but that I would continue making my independent comments, which were not partisan. I’d tried to keep in touch with my friend, but the last time that I established contact was during the 51 day rule of MaRa.
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None of them were happy with that development which we refer to as “Sirisena’s coup.” I fear that I will have to complete this comment later when the electricity is back to normal. Please don’t insert anything as a “Reply” to this particular comment. I’ll come back to say much more.
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Analyst / April 25, 2019
Sinhala_Man
Your slip begins to show a bit more now. You may be a good thing for us with your yarns and bed time stories , but sometimes a little bit boring old man!!
Anyway ! Bring it on more to identify the colour of your Slip!!!!
Cheers old Fa….t ,….. you have already named yourself as an old F…..t in the past so it can’t be too shocking !!!!!
I know my kind of writing may not be your cup of tea, but who cares ? As long as we have one and only purpose that is for the betterment of our nation by expressing our views , all in the name of LOVE , PEACE and PROSPERITY to Prevail in our Nation .
No matter where one lives , we owe this to our country and people, the 3 saintly words mentioned above.
The Power mad Thieves and the Racists of our country who had destroyed our nation and its people May they Rot in Hell.
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Sinhala_Man / April 26, 2019
Dear Readers,
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Now that power is back, I see no alternative to ignoring the comment by “Analyst”, and let his rude words break the sequence of my comments.
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That Srisena has to be thrown into the dustbin of History is without doubt, but how do we set about it? As I understand it, Ranil then becomes President for the of that balance term. I don’t think it a good idea, but our situation is so bad, that it’ll hardly make things worse.
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His term ends on the 9th of January 2020. As I understand it, by then the election of his successor ought to have been done, including all the appeals. I was asked by somebody why the elections can’t be held on the 8th January 2020, since Rajapaksa handed over power in a day.
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No, those saying that forget that the Rajapaksas held the elections more than a whole year early. The Sirisena victory surprised many locals and foreigners, and MaRa just gave in. It is of no importance to bother about the past. For the future, it will be be best if we take this opportunity to fix the inauguration day for the new President for that day once in five years in the future. For now, it may be best if we focus on a violence-free country until the Presidential Elections in October. I’m sorry, if this seems an unspectacular conclusion.
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Analyst / April 26, 2019
Sinhala_Man
Here ! Here ! Well said Sir ! I didn’t mean to be rude and upset you.
Thank you for the words of wisdom. Please continue entertaining us with your wealth of informations such as the very important friend from the President’s office who wishes to be low profile ect..
And may you be blessed with long life and good health.
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Sinhala_Man / April 26, 2019
Thanks, Analyst.
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One of the problems I have is keeping in mind which commentator has been saying what. When so many people are saying so many different things, using pseudonyms, it’s a bit difficult to keep in mind what line is being followed by each. I have the same problem keeping in mind Muslim names. People seem to be called Mohamed Ahmed or Ahmed Mohamed!
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My friend in the President’s Office, like me, joined in the Yahapalana effort in the belief that there was going to be a genuine effort to usher in Good Governance after the 2015 Elections. We have been sorely disappointed.
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As for the “colour of my slip”, if you mean finding out the colour used by a party to identify its programme and candidates, that has never been fixed. It was only in the 2015 Presidential Election that I voted for only one candidate: Sirisena. At the Parliamentary Elections in August 2015, I can’t really remember whom I voted for, but it must have been for the UNP slate, but having studied carefully the character of the individual candidates. Local Councils: JVP.
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For the Presidential Elections later this year, I’m almost certain to get back to voting 1 and 2 only for those who I am certain are honest, decent, and non-racist.
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In my comments here I have tried to explain the rationale behind my pattern of voting.
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/next-presidential-elections-are-the-media-doing-justice-by-the-nation/
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I know that I can get quite boring. One reason why kids get fed up with schools is that teachers get ever more boring as they get older. When I notice something I comment on it. So, I feel that approval ought to be shown by crying out “Hear, hear” in unison, meaning that we approve what we hear. Often heard in the British House of Commons:
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https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/6690/hear-hear-or-here-here
Have a nice day!
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Chamuditha Senanayaka / April 25, 2019
Whose next?
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Good Sense / April 25, 2019
Good Question. How many Defence Secretaries did we have under the “Yahapalana” Government? Why so many?
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Devanampiyadasa / April 25, 2019
Hemasiri F cooked his goose when, in the glare of global publicity vide
BBC, he amateurishly downplayed the Eastern Sunday blasts describing them as “isolated incidents” My word, did he not know we are talking of nearly a thousand lives!!! Unless the man was poor in English, this certainly was not a language that should be employed by a senior, educated official of the type of office he holds.
And now comes the news the death toll has been reduced from nearly 350, as announced earlier, to about 250. The Govt will have to get spin master Naseby to come down and justify the re-calculated figures.
BTW, don’t we know Sri Lanka is notorious in the books of the UN and the world to play about with figures of the dead in the hands of State militia.
Poor Aiyo Sira is in mara soup – as they say in the mudukkus of Colombo. Poor fellow. He just returned from another eating-drinking session in Singapore.
Devanam Piyadasa
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JD / April 25, 2019
What about Ranil hindering the Investigations and not letting the arrest of WAhabi extremists. Did they punish the Muslims killers of Digana Drivers. No one reminds it. Just say Sinhala people attacked Wahabi make shift mosques.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / April 25, 2019
Saaadhu Saaaaaaadhu Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaadhu…….
This is a first step. Now bring in Hon. Gotabhaya Rajapakse and allow him to manhandle every terrorist Monkey.
I do not condone Racism, but as we can see Racism is a necessary evil and it is also the better evil between itself and terrorism.
Ask yourselves, the next time you stand in line at a breakfast buffet, who would you want standing next to you? A Sinhala racist or an Islamic suicide bomber?
Some of you fellas here are so stupid that you might just as well select the latter. LOL!
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Jo / April 26, 2019
This is a very urgent matter, RSP. Please for once spare us from your mental diarrhoea.
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RJdeS / April 27, 2019
Despite considerations of Party loyalties ISIS Agents Hisbullah and Rishard B should be immediately arrested and subject to professional interrogation both by our CID men and those from other connected countries. If Godaya Sirisena interferes he should be arrested too.
Nearly 300 dead and 500 grievously injured is no joke. The guilty and their supporters must be unearthed, publicly exposed and subject to the most severe punishment – including death and the confiscation all stolen wealth.
R. J.de Silva
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Truth Speaker / April 25, 2019
Sacrificial goat, poor man. He wanted this dream job badly, he got it and now he’s gone. salute him instead of ridiculing him. And don’t be surprised if this is a part of a deal and he is appointed ambassador to USA tomorrow!
This resignation is only a stepping stone for more luxury, more money….
Also this failed bunch of losers will hide behind this resignation to go on as usual.
Why isn’t the moronic Deputy Minister of Defence who just yesterday said that he knew nothing and the terrorists belonged to ‘respectable families’?
How about the IGP, PM, President?
Never, in this Arshikland!
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Douglas / April 25, 2019
” RESIGN” – That was a huge BONUS that was given to this guy by his “Big Boss”, the President. I hope the Three Member Commission that has already commenced working on the task assigned will “ROPE IN” this “BUM SUCKER” as the No. 1 ACCUSER and hand him over to Law Enforcement . Before this “PSYCHOPATH” goes to “Next Life”, let us see him rotting in a “Jail Cell” in Sri Lanka. That will remain in rule books as a life long lesson to all those “BUM SUCKERS” who seek “Dream Jobs” for which they are not fit and capable. We have already given that “BONUS” to one suck “SUCKER” in the “Sil Redi” case.
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Rajash / April 25, 2019
The President is not going to resign .
There is an online petition to impeach him
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kumaran / April 25, 2019
Sirisena, Wickremasinghe et al should just resign or be thrown out. That MUST happen. The government must be handed over to the Chief Justice who will dissolve Parliament (and P.Cs), appoint a small care-taker Cabinet of PROFESSIONALS. The Judiciary, and the law enforcement authority will then be under the C.J.
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Kugan / April 25, 2019
Is it good enough,should be accountable for should serve in severe imprisonment he totally failed his duty.
As well the head of state.
Or our own game chairman for UL
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Pon Kulendiren / April 25, 2019
Resigning posts will not solve the crisis. First the President should resign He is responsible for a these mess
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / April 25, 2019
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I had a three-minute chat with a guy who holds an important position in the President’s Office. I won’t mention his name at this juncture because I think that he tries to maintain a low profile there.
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LOL! Does anyone else other than me refuse to believe this pound of Bologne?
The guy wants to keep a low profile at the President’s office but at the same time holds an important position at the President’s office. LOL!
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K.Pillai / April 25, 2019
This hiring and firing of high positions, local and or diplomatic with or without approval by the Constitutional Council of SL, is yet another sign of breakdown of Law & Order.
We do not have a single leader who will dare address this.
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Eagle Eye / April 25, 2019
Participating in the debate in Parliament on gazette declaring a state of emergency Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told that the entire government would have resigned if a disaster like the Easter Sunday carnage had happened in any other country, but such things would never happen in Sri Lanka. Field Marshal Fonseka severely criticized both the government and the opposition for allowing the deterioration of intelligence services.
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Ad / April 25, 2019
This bloody MS is stuck to his shit. Why cannot he let go his cord?
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Sim / April 25, 2019
The Law and Order ministry should be given to SF for a bright future
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Michaael Winter / April 25, 2019
This guy should go for a brain transplant. He was one of the administrators during the time LTTE was breaking our defence s at will. He was only second to Austin Fernando who told the LLRC in response to a question about Norway (Solheim) forcing in to war management, that ‘he wouldn’t listen’! This fool similarly said that he didn’t expect such large and coordinated terrorism attacks.
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The most incompetent politician ever, Ranil Hamu presiding over a gang f fools like these, TNJ will probably have a few more hits before this (non) government is over.
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JD / April 25, 2019
For these Resignations, International community, UNHCR, NGOs, Anti-sinhala buddhist Sri lankan living both overseas and Sri lanka should be responsible. They all were busy bashing Sinhala buddhists, Bashing BBS and the Ven. Bhikku ghanasara. So, the politicians moved backward because they would lose. Prominent Muslim politicians, Rajitha Senarathne like Politicians who wants votes from Muslims were bashing sinhala buddhists from every side. Here is the result. Simply it is NGO money and Anti-sinhala buddhists to go with that killedd and maimed about 1500 and two people have to resign. Ven. Ghansara talked about Muslim extremism and Expansion. He was jailed becuse a christian woman was asked “why you are doing this to which she said it is not me, it is the NGOS asking me to do that”. So, Mangala and his bosses are responsible.
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Sim / April 25, 2019
The first Defense Secretary to resign after a major disaster
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Sinhala_Man / April 26, 2019
Dea Sim,
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While that statistic is true, what else do we observe?
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This happened in a wholly comfortable situation. There need not have been any pressures on these people except what they created themselves.
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Ranjith(SPRRW) / April 25, 2019
Post glittered as per the officer’s abilities But nobody can be glittered holding glittering post that made somebody else glittered.
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kebab / April 25, 2019
This chap Hemasiri Fernando who sounded so uneducated and arrogant during that interview with foreign journalists was for more than 10 years Chairman of our ridiculous Olympic Committee which has become a den of thieves operated by racketeers and shady businessmen looking for status.
During this period Sri Lanka did not win medals but officials including Hemasiri travelled all over the world and earned large amounts of money. There was no accountability. The Sri Lankan Olympic Committee corrupts officials of other sporting bodies, government officials and even journalists by giving them free air tickets and other benefits including spending money.
Now the Olympic committee is saying they are not even accountable to Sri Lankan laws ! They should be allowed to corrupt the sporting world as they wish !
This chap was also made Chairman of the Peoples Bank and also the BOI.It seems those who know how to corrupt and also play to the egos of politicians can go a long way in this country.
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Real Revolutionist / April 25, 2019
Please tell people whether you demanded this position or somebody demanded/forced you to accept it some time back.
Resignation takes time only in such situations.
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Champa / April 25, 2019
An URGENT message for Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and Wimal Weerawansa.
(This is my second comment followed by the first which should read first.)
1. The country should get together to demand the Prime Minister to step down.
2. All the evidence right in front of our eyes shows he, US and India were behind the deadly suicide attack.
3. The reason is to pave the way for signing the SOFA between GOSL and the US in MAY. They are fully aware that Sinhalese will be dead against the Agreement. Therefore, they planned to create chaos in the country.
4. India says that they’ve tipped Sri Lanka ONE HOUR BEFORE THE ATTACK.
5. In other words, the Prime Minister, with the “calculated absence” of the President in the country, deliberately let the carnage happen. He had one full hour to take action.
6. Ranil is the mastermind behind the attack. About the involvement of US and India, well, we have previous experience them working together in 2015 to ousted Mahinda. We learnt it from the horse’s mouth.
7. Prime Minister’s callous disregard for people’s lives is sickening.
8. After his resignation, the Speaker should take over.
9. With all our might, we MUST STOP the PM signing SOFA with US.
10. Is it safe to take people to the street? Yes. I don’t think there will be any more bomb attacks. If there were, it is the government, not Thawheed Jamaath whose leader Sahran Hashim has already blown himself. Government is trying to create a fear psychosis right now which will go until the SOFA is signed.
11. I am telling MR and Wimal, don’t think about politics or elections. This is not the time. COUNTRY COMES FIRST! May the Sacred Tooth Relics Bless Upon You Two and my country!!!
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Champa / April 25, 2019
That is not enough.
The Defence Secretary, Hemasiri Fernando should be prosecuted for the Easter Sunday massacre.
He “casually” admitted that he was aware of the suicide attack but never expected its magnitude.
This is an outrageous act of irresponsibility. He should be prosecuted.
There are more to this.
India and the US were behind this attack.
India’s involvement is crystal clear.
Their unbelievable generosity in “sharing information” is to cover up their involvement.
What is inconceivable is, India’s revelation that they have informed “Sri Lanka” about the attack even ONE HOUR BEFORE it occurred.
How could that be?
Nowhere in the world “IS” carried out attacks while simultaneously or in advance sharing information about them. They had carried out attacks in 29 countries killing 2043 people, but all those attacks were unexpected.
Sri Lanka’s case is extraordinary.
Our neighbouring country was fully aware of the possible carnage, its locations and perpetrators. This is shocking.
Then the US.
An FBI team is already here. How could that be? Did they send FBI to other countries where there were similar attacks? NO.
Why Sri Lanka only? From CNN reportage to FBI, everything has happened in an unbelievable haste.
It is pretty obvious that all these were prearranged, including the blockage of FB and websites.
Ranil and the US have conspired to create chaos before May as they are preparing to sign the SOFA where 1.2 MILLION ACRES OF LANDS from Colombo to Trinco including two harbours will be “leased” to US government for 200 years!!!
This is not a typical lease, it is a sale.
If a land, sea and air belt over the country is given to US, Sri Lanka will no longer be sovereign and independent.
I have an urgent message for MR and Wimal.
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punchinilame / April 25, 2019
Should not the Presidents closest Advisers stand down too – they too have blood
on their hands?
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Plato. / April 25, 2019
Interesting. This man began his career when Mrs.B.was in Power.
He has been forced to resign when Sirisena is a Head of State.
Mey rata hadanda puluwanda?
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Jambu / April 25, 2019
Out of 64 Mosques in Katthankkudy, 8 peddle violent Jihad.
Some might think BBS had a point all along,
Click my name “Jambu” to see a way of this problem.
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PARAGON / April 25, 2019
WHETHER IT IS CHANDIRIKA,MAHINDA,OR MY 3 they never let the official to deal with any situation as per the official information they receive.CHANDIRIKA HAD ANURUTHA,MAHINDA HAD GOTHAPAYA ,MY3 HAD TWO MANY.they take and decide to suit their political ambitions to arrest or release any body.during MAHINDA,S TIME LOT OF TAMILS WHO HAD NOTING TO WITH LTTE WERE ARRESTED ONLY TO COLLECT RANSOM OR KAPPAM MONEY. official whether from the police and other forces who are not SLFP OR UNP were never let to do their job with out taking any side. who ever carried out illegal orders from politicians WERE GIVEN PROMOTIONS IGNORING THE OTHER GOOD OFFICERS WHO NEVER TOOK ANY SIDE.WHEN THE SITUATION BECOME OUT OF CONTROL AS HAPPENED LAST FEW DAYS THE OFFICIALS BECOME BAD PEOPLES IN THE EYES OF PUBLIC NOT THIS USELESS POLITICAL GOATS.
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