Following the debacle that the party suffered at the recently concluded local government elections, senior members of the United National Party (UNP) and close confidantes of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has urged him to prevail on President Maithripala Sirisena to allow the UNP to form a new government on its own.
Wickremesinghe
According to party sources Ministers Malik Samarawickrema, Kabir Hashim, Mangala Samaraweera and a few others had met with Wickremesinghe and told him that the main reason for the party’s poor performance was the fact that it had not been allowed to implement its economic policies.
They had urged Wickremesinghe to break free from President Sirisena and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which fared much worse. To this end they asked the UNP leader not to renew the ‘unity agreement’ between the two parties which had elapsed on December 31, 2017.
Instead, they wanted Wickremesinghe to ask the President to give them power to implement their economic programme unfettered so that they have an opportunity to go before the people with a less cluttered and confusing track-record.
Wickremesinghe, according to sources, had agreed and was due to take up the matter with the President who he was to meet later in the day.
The UNP has 106 seats in Parliament, a tad short of the 113 required to enjoy an absolute majority. However, Wickremesinghe’s inner circle believe that the party has enough numbers to form a government and implement policies more effectively provided that parties such as the TNA and JVP do not play spoiler.
Lankan No 03 / February 11, 2018
What about central bank issue ..?
It is main reason for all problem…
Of this set back..
UNP is a good party but Ranil spoiled it ….
This is a protest vote to teach a lesson to all …
/
Sunil / February 12, 2018
The inaction against the Rajapaksas spoilt it… both Ranil and Maithripala had plenty of time to do so instead of this blame game…
They still have 2 year to prove to the voters if they are serious about taking action against the Rajapaksas Criminal Network or not…
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Burt / February 12, 2018
Nothing is going to happen. People voted against SLFP to show their disgust at the people My3 brought into the govt. My3’s base is non-existent and there is a real threat to his political future. Most probably if he is smart he will not contest at the next election will now seriously consider abolishing the office of the Executive President.
UNP lost some votes but its base is in tact. They work smart and hard for the next two years they will be fine.
JVP have to start portraying a vision for the future and not get dragged into living in the past.
SLMC is on life support. Unless it looks for new leadership its good as dead.
TNA does not have a real challenge but should not take people for granted and look at expanding.
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Simon De Silva / February 12, 2018
Had UNP been clever, they could have started ground level propaganda already earler.
I think Media mafia held in the country damaged the UNP s image,through BOND scam and let mountaneous allegations on MR men buried in the carpet.
JVP would never win the corrption domanted lanken nation. They have to join hand with UNP and build a coalition so that one can marginalize highly corrpted Rajapakshe forces.
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Uthungan / February 13, 2018
“TNA does not have a real challenge but should not take people for granted and look at expanding”.
True.
It must not hesitate to expand South especially
when it has proclaimed it’s unconditional commitment to ”Eekiya Rajiya or Orumitha Nadu”.
/
mike / February 12, 2018
Sunil – I can assure you in all confidence that Ranilpaksha is not serious about taking action against the RCN (Rajapassa Criminal Network).
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Eagle Eye / February 12, 2018
Sunil,
Balls! Majority of people in the country are not bothered about not taking action against Rajapakses. There are more pressing problems/issues that affect day to day life of people. Lasantha, Ekneligoda, Thajuddin are important for a handful of people but not for the masses.
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words / February 12, 2018
Get a life! There is inaction because they cant prove a darned thing.
People are not gullible fools, they know they were played with this hora hra nonsense!
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Lionel Bopage / February 12, 2018
Hello words,
It is not nonsense. If anyone has common sense, s/he could work out how people, who could not even survive on a day to day basis, prior to becoming Members of Parliament or Members of Provincial Councils, become millionaires and billionaires with unheard of luxuries such as housing, estates and vehicles, being enjoyed by almost all their kith and kin. Does one need more proof than this? Only for those who want to act deaf, dumb and blind “cant prove a darned thing matters”.
It was none other than President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who in 2015 said in public that he had in his personal custody many files related to corruption of some Members of Parliament. What happened to those files?
Are they with Maithripala Sirisena now? Or did Mahinda Rajapaksa have a file of Maithripala Sirisena as well? Otherwise why did Maithripala while hiding Commission reports of some racketeers, only reveal some?
If he is genuine, he should present to the general public all the commission reports hitherto hidden from them by the leaders of successive regimes in Sri Lanka.
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punchinilame / February 12, 2018
These results are a Blessings to SL – for MS/RW will make a strong attempt to lock up all
corrupt leaders, as their (MS/RW) political fate, lies only in such action, without any more
deals and henchmen activity……
/
Kalu Nangi / February 12, 2018
UNP is a good party but it has got its name tarnished due to unrelenting attacks it faced from many fronts; President blaming the UNP, JO and JVP tearing UNP to shreds, Sirasa attacking UNP 24 x 7, PAFREL’ and all other do-good NGO’s (who have conveniently forgotten MR’s misdeeds) attacking Ranil, Dr. Dayan Jayathilake and his federal phobia linking UNP to the Tamil diaspora, etc., etc. It is a wonder that the UNP could even clinch 2nd place in the overall results!
The majority of Sri Lankans became so brainwashed and carried away they ended up voting for PJP’s murderers, rapists, money launderers, looters, cheats and pseudo patriots.
/
Sinhala Man / February 12, 2018
Dear Kali Nangi, my school mate,
.
I’m in a bus.
.
Pardon any typos, but the blame must be laid at the feet of Ranil. Won’t he hand over leadership to someone youn?
. .
Just 5 days ago he promised free WiFi to all villagers. MaRa pounced on it. WiFi not fertilizer.
.
My3 has one huge fault. Easily put on the defensive. I voted JVP because he reinstated the throat cutting Brigadier
.
But My3 is no crook.
/
Kalu Nangi / February 12, 2018
Dear school mate,
My3 is playing to the gallery. That is worse than being a crook. He cannot be trusted. He learnt that art from MR, having been his devoted slave and ‘yes’ man for a number of years.
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Leonard / February 12, 2018
So what you are saying is same people last time voted for UNP and now didn’t vote for them because they are brain washed? Ranil and the UNP who came on a mandate to be clean the government cozy up to MS. were they got brain washed? Murderess, rapist money-launderers, looters, cheats, pseudo patriots’ and thieving RB Governess’s they never disappeared they join Ranil & some from his own party UNP.
This excuse is so Clintonian it is from Hilary Clinton’s play book blame everyone and every thing from racism, Jealousy, been dimwitted to out side influence its never my fault.
For once Ranil should show he has at least one vertebra in his spine and own up to his shortcoming’s and step down instead of hanging on to the babbles of power and destroying the party and more seriously the country.
Only thing happen is People show their disdain for the ruling party by voting back the one they got rid short while back.
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Disgusted / February 12, 2018
Kalu Nangi, This is exactly what happened to SAITM when multiple agendas used issue to create chaos to topple govt. Brainwashed and threatened Prez. could not sort out answer and abolished it. Now no Prez. to correct it and the confused UNP has no vision. It is realistic state students and their parents who realise the truth and asking for nationalization into state. 1% of the robbed money could do it but UNP liberalism cant add up robbed trillions and students future destroyed.
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Ben Hurling / February 12, 2018
Kalu Nangi,
QUIT GIVING EXCUSES FOR UNP LOSERS! As if they are fragile little girls. They are in politics to run this country. If they cannot take the heat, they should get the heck out of here. So a new force can emerge. Before Mahnida Raja brings back his blood-thirsty goons to Temple Trees again. How many murderers, rapists, money launderers, looters, cheats & pseudo patriots have the UNP brought to justice in 3 years? NONE! An abominable record. Makes a total mockery of the citizens behind the 8th January 2015 revolution. Admit that is the problem. IF YOU HAVE ANY BALLS? Cheers!
PS: Why is the UNP so fearful of Mafia Killi’s Sirasa? Where’s your backbone? Killi is so rotten. We cannot have such a person controlling the democratic conversation in our country. He has dirt all over him. Put Killi behind bars! Work for a 21st-century free media policy that will raise the bar in a nation that aspires to a liberal, open democracy. QUIT WHINING!
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Ben Hurling / February 12, 2018
Sir,
On which planet do these arrogant idiots live? They just suffered a massive electoral humiliation. YES! Now is the time to form a new government on your own. Dear UNP, people think you are an ineffective bunch of rogues, clowns & cowards. How many Rajapassa criminals have you put behind bars so far UNP? NONE! Instead, you have just had your A**, properly kicked by that uneducated, Criminal-in-Chief, Mahnida Raja from Hambantota. Have you NOT any SHAME?
/
Native Vedda / February 12, 2018
Lankan No 03
–
Could you find out when the grand horse trading is going to start?
What is the price Basil is prepared to pay for each horse?
/
Burt / February 12, 2018
Central bank was a NON-ISSUE created by My3 for short term gain. Ranil should force the AG to take it to court under the prevailing laws of the land. They will not get a conviction.
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Leonard / February 12, 2018
Burt you are correct Central bank is non issue not because that they will not get a conviction because of corrupt politician’s this include Mr. Clean will see to it justice will not prevail at any cost to the country.
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nuwan / February 12, 2018
Its because of people like Malik, Kabir, Sagala, Mangala and PM that the party did very badly. Plain for everyone to see. Who even elected Malik?
But ITAK in the North and East must be equally in shock for its reduced Numbers, and loosing some areas.
/
Real Revolutionist / February 12, 2018
The best thing for UNP to do is inviting MS to the UNP & make him the UNP leader.
People may see a better leader in MS than RW.
Thus the 2 helpless; UNP & the president can come together to gain strength.
Unless there’s no hope.
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Bakaladasa / February 12, 2018
Both MS and RW have lost their own (home) electorate which means both will never stand a chance to win any future election leave aside the Presidential. Looks like in the next election, both MS and RW have to be appointed from the National list. During the last regime people really wanted a change because the leader became a dictator and his ministers were corrupt to the core. Now the people are again looking for a change because the present leader is harmless but useless and his ministers are corrupt.
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Silva CC / February 12, 2018
As long as the Colombo 07, – 5th Lane Bovine is around there is nothing stopping GOTABHAYA from becoming next President….!
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Dinal / February 12, 2018
VOC Facebook platform has let the cat out of the bag!?
Carefully disguised Rajapaksas biases maybe!?
/
Dodo / February 12, 2018
If you didn’t know that you must be a dodo.
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Champa / February 12, 2018
What a joke. Read your own 19th Amendment, UNP.
According to 19th Amendment, only the two political parties in the Parliament which have the highest number of MPP can form a government, if a single party has no majority. That is why the unity government agreement is between SLFP + UNP, not UPFA + UNP. 19th Amendment doesn’t allow UNP to join with any other parties and form a government. Ranil is trapped in his own web. Good for him. Otherwise he would have divorced or impeached MS long time ago with the help of JO/JVP/TNA, and become the President without an election and govern the country for the rest of the unused period of office, as stipulated in the Amendment. I am envy of his brain. Fortunate for Sri Lanka it didn’t work thanks to his own 19th Amendment. That is why I believe my country is protected by some mysterious benevolent spirits.
Someone says MS could be impeached by JO+others. How could they? MS would sack all SLFPers in the JO from the party for conspiring against him, get the next in their lists and save himself, as he cannot dissolve the Parliament.
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Chan / February 12, 2018
After 1989, there is no party got clear majority. But had stable Government. After that 2010 is the last time a party got clear majority. So I do not see what the explanation above ???
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 12, 2018
This is going to happen. MR has no ill feeling towards RW, but hates MS for his treachery. Time has come for MR to level the scores with MS. Ranil is going to India to appease them and buy time in finding a solution to Tamils. He will play his old record that if you give anything to Tamils, MR will come back. This may not take any followers because without anything done to Tamils, MR has won.
India knows Ranil’s bluff but they are helpless. India has played its cards all wrong in Srilanka and are in this sorry state with their PM begging SL to consider them favourably. India will ask TNA to support RW led government in order to side line MS. MR does not mind RW continuing in power and will pitch his stand at the next election. MS let down those who brought him to this state and is doomed. I will not be surprised that there will be an impeachment against MS supported by MR.
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Thanos / February 12, 2018
Is Mr. RW going to step down from the UNP leadership? Simple as that. I don’t mind him being the PM, but the UNP as a party looking into the future needs a new direction. Mr RW can run the Gov with 106 since TNA which holds 16 seats is very unlikely to ally with anyone. It may support the UNP on certain bills but TNA in no chance in hell will support the UPFA. UNP can cut a deal with the TNA so that TNA will abstain from voting in certain cases. If TNA abstains, then the opposition simply does not have enough votes to defeat any bill (106 vs 103). JVP may also abstain. So RW can indeed run a minority government. But this would backfire colossally if the UNP is unable the improve the economy. Best thing indeed for the UNP right now is to focus solely on the economy until 2020. They should focus of recovering looted wealth from the past decades instead of putting people in jail. Political/constitutional reforms will have to wait until after 2020 since Sinhalese won’t care about MR or GR if their bellies are full. Sinhalese have a very short attention span. If the economy is doing really well, if booze cheaper, if prostitution legal, then they won’t care about MR and GR in 2020. All the necessary reforms, war crimes and corruption tribunals can come after 2020.
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Sunil / February 12, 2018
“ Best thing indeed for the UNP right now is to focus solely on the economy until 2020. They should focus of recovering looted wealth from the past decades instead of putting people in jail. Political/constitutional reforms will have to wait until after 2020 since Sinhalese won’t care about MR or GR if their bellies are full. Sinhalese have a very short attention span. If the economy is doing really well, if booze cheaper, if prostitution legal, then they won’t care about MR and GR in 2020. All the necessary reforms, war crimes and corruption tribunals can come after 2020.”
Thanos, that is back to saying we need more time next it will be 2025 then 2030 and so on…
Let’s see action within these two year or let’s stop lying to the public…
While the above is happening the criminal cases should be put through this special court that is being set up.
They can and have to happen simultaneously.
If not the public will have no faith in this government.
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Thanos / February 12, 2018
Sunil, you missed the point. I would certainly prefer to prosecute the crooks, drug dealers, war-criminals right now but that will only strengthen the Sinhala-Buddhists nationalism which is very dangerous. With SLPP’s victory they have a new lease on life. Even if you take away MR’s civic right and jail GR, another, (most likely an ex-military person) will run for the 2020 election on a purely Sinhala-Buddhist platform and if they get more than 72 percent of the Sinhala-Buddhist vote, all is over. No coallition can topple it. The key is keep to Sinhala-Buddhist vote split. Giving them a reason to unite will be disastrous and right now, prosecuting MR & GR will do exactly that. This is why the UNP has to focus on the economy until 2020 and ensure everyones bellies are full. Understand the key value here is around 72 percent of the Sinhala Buddhists vote. Keep it below that and the minorities have some safety.
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Sunil / February 14, 2018
“ I would certainly prefer to prosecute the crooks, drug dealers, war-criminals right now but that will only strengthen the Sinhala-Buddhists nationalism which is very dangerous.”
Actually the opposite would happen it would cutdown any possibilities of any fascist elements from re-emerging. Sri Lanka has a strong international backing at the moment and any signs of any call to violence to protect the Rajapaksas would probably lead to swift international intervention.
And this intervention will stop anything similar from ever emerging again in this country.
Only if these dangerous elements are kept under control and away from the rule of the nation will Sri Lanka have any chance of a positive future.
It is wrong to allow dangerous elements to hold our nation hostage…
/
sach / February 12, 2018
I think UNP idiots should read this..
Thanos, UNP has NO capability. RW has NO capability. They cant even come close to MR+GR+BR in terms of ability, efficiency, intelligence. UNP is behind them………….UNP will certainly create conditions which will force majority of SLns to vote for a Rajapaksa candidate
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Uthungan / February 13, 2018
Even if the UNP and the TNA get together, it is very doubtful that Ranil has a plan or committed people to improve the economy.That said, then there is the question of sustaining law and order in the country if work to improve the economy is to begin.
When MR opponents and goons run riot in the country disturbing the peace and normalcy, the question is, with a police and army which is more prone to be sympathetic to the MR because of it’s essentially SB village roots that task is going to be almost impossible.
Under those conditions TNA will be very wary about cultivating a relationship with the UNP unless it has forgotten learnt lessons from past history.
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Janaka from Matara / February 12, 2018
The biggest factor for this loss is My3. Rather than giving leadership to the collective forces that made him the president in 2015, he decided to nurture a personal power base at its expense. Bond scam is something serious. But the link between it and UNP bosses that he advertised & screamed big time is not really there -or at least unproven. He weakened UNP and he confused whatever the little support he carried on his own in 2015.
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thrishu / February 12, 2018
Good for MS for exposing the rogues. He has done a meritorious act, so he will survive. Hell to the rogues whose hearts are burning alive at the present time.
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Burt / February 12, 2018
My3 is not going to survive if he is going on a SLFP ticket supported by UPFA for the next election.
The biggest loser in this election was My3 and he earned it.
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whywhy / February 12, 2018
Janaka ,
You got it wrong on the job of MAGE THUNA mate ! He was not
made president to give “leadership to the collective forces” as
you believe , instead , Ranil brought him for the service of cutting
SLFP into pieces . like the one MARA did to him in instalments !
But it doesn’t work for everyone . It is MARA special ! Ranil is made
to LOSE , anybody can approach him but only thing is you must be
very very very patient ! Such an art !
/
Perriamama / February 12, 2018
Ha ha don’t these people remember the many “victories” Ranil led the UNP to ?
Want Ranil to go it alone ha ha ha The “leader” who has led the UNP since 1994!
The last time the UNP won the presidency was when Premadasa won it in the late 80s.
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Native Vedda / February 12, 2018
Perriamama
–
“Ha ha don’t these people remember the many “victories” Ranil led the UNP to ?”
–
Of course non, however we do remember VP led defeat in 2005.
The sad thing to remember was the day Dr Mahinda didn’t have the support of VP on 8 January 2015.
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Prasanna / February 12, 2018
It is premadasa who is responsible for the UNP’s sad state of affairs. Ranil did manage to pull it through not once but twice in 1999 and 2005 , but thanks to the dog prabhakaran the SLFP came in as the dog preferred war over peace. Cunning fox eh Ranil ?
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Voter / February 12, 2018
Perriamama, When Premadasa won presidency after JR’s private medical school, he felt the pulse of millions of students and their parents and families and nationalized NCMC and brought peace. The situation is identical now but with business and political agendas, hated by the voting masses as unrealistic rejected elitism.
If PM wants to win the next round, now should drop his neoliberal privatization medical education scheme with scams to follow. Students, masses, and even Karl Marx and IUSF challenge the deaf and dumb PM with no true local voter input. Mistake of Prez. if not corrected by putting destroyed SAITM into state medical faculty, will be a massive voter rejection of elitists. Rajas are biding their time to use for massive victory.The tragedy is that UNP is blinded by their own agendas. If Sajith leads in this, mass voters for UNP will return.
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Singhalese pundit / February 12, 2018
It’s action that talks not words.
UNP failed to take action…
People don’t know what exactly happens inside the circle of government…
So; internal dispute and power struggle cost them all ..
You can not rule the country if do not follow the rules of law…
So many laws are broken…
One justice to politicians 2nd for public…
Do you think public do not know that all cheats and looting behind the scene. They know that well..
Yet they cannot do any thing but express anger like this..
But do not think both parties are clean but all are thieves….
It’s a queison of who are lesser evil among them all..
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thrishu / February 12, 2018
The President was elected at a Presidential Election with 6.2M votes. He is still and Executive President and not a figure head who should be at the beck and call of fakirs like kabir or snakes like malik. It is the latters greedy conspiracy in collusion with the lead members of the UNP government that ended up as a mega central bank robbery and stealing the assets of poor peoples pension funds. The people voted to oust the roguish gang, so it is time the greens pack their bags and go home. MS will stay where he is until the next Presidential Election if there is going to be one. Hopefully some strong man will come and send the rogues to jail after having confiscated all their wealth.
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thrishu / February 12, 2018
Final results SLPP has won the control of 239 out of 341 local government organizations, i.e. 70%, and 45.3% of all votes cast. Good show SLPP, go home UNP! No more robbing on the way out of please, not even a paper clip!
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shankar / February 13, 2018
Thrishu
you are misleading members here.You know very well in many councils the UNP+SLFP/UPFA have more members than the SLPP.So they will take control of those councils together.not much difference between the voting patterns here and the presidential election in 2015.So SLPP though it has won 239 councils as you rightly pointed out does not mean that they are going to control all of them.
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whywhy / February 12, 2018
Pundit ,
Simple logic ! Among big time thieves , people elected THIEVES
WITH A SMILE AND READY TO SHARE THE LOOT WITH THEM !
/
Burt / February 12, 2018
UNP could not act as My3 was blocking and had his crooks in some of the ministries. He cannot deny this as he did this openly on the UK embassy issue.
My3 lost big time. UPFA and SLFP put together could not get a million votes. UNP stood its ground even after My3 tried to destroy it for the last two months.
The problem is Sirisena and NOT Ranil.
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watcher / February 12, 2018
Burt, the problem is brainless, spineless, godless, rudderless, useless, visionless, aimless, voteless skull which contains stinging “nagaya”, who crazily and insanely also destroyed SAITM to govern Sri Lanka.
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Anonymous / February 12, 2018
For the first time in my 55 years i didn’t vote for the UNP. Nor did I vote for the crooked rajapakshe’s. I instead, like many others put in my protest vote for JVP. I do not support the communist party JVP but at least they are speaking against the people who are robbing our nation.
It is absolutely disgusting that someone like Ranil wikramasinghe who holds one of the highest posts in government can get together with members from his own party (Ravi K, Malik S, Kabir H, Mangal S) and his childhood friend(Arjuna M) and that sakili vesi crook Arjun Aloysius and rob his own people.
Anyone who even thinks about voting for UNP while these people are involved in the party is mentally retarded. Don’t vote blindly for a party that robs your central bank and asks you to pay taxes for it. Our economy is in absolute turmoil because of ponna Ranil. Before voting know your facts. The country has spoken but sadly Colombo remains the one city that blindly votes for the dead elephant.
It’s time for change! It’s clear that Ranil wikremasinghe should either resign or be assainated!
/
Jim softy / February 12, 2018
Assuming what is written here is correct, Earlier Ranil blamed Mahinda Rajapakse’s thefts and he himeself bankrupted the govt banks. I heard even the BOC and another govt Business enterprise made poor profits because of bad loans and bad business. Later Ranil said, Mahinda Rajapakse had taken loans not written in the books. Tgsi tiem Ranil lost he did not gain. Mahinda Rajapakse probably is trying to revenge Maithripala sirisena. Now, Ranil is saying MY3 prevented his program. what program. CIA is ru nning Sri lanka.
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Ralahami / February 12, 2018
Appoint special prosecutor just like in USA with full power to
Arrest any officials who hinder investigation and punish them without fear. If this is not done jungle law will come back . Get the law past when the government has powe r . Also give the AG full power if UNP really believes in coming to power again
Please don’t treat the voters like they are idiots .
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Dan / February 12, 2018
The primary reason for the loss is continuing corruption of the UNP, bond scam, highways, Sri Lankan etc and presence of corrupt ministers in the SLFP.
Public who voted for Yahapalana were let down. In addition govt had no development to show.
Further RW’s Colombo 7 circle do not understand the perceptions of rural Sri Lankans. Selling govt assets even though profitable is anathema to them. MR knew the exact way to exploit this situation.
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Douglas / February 12, 2018
This “Proposed Divorce” by party stalwarts will be the beginning of the end of RW and the UNP in 2020 or even an early exit.
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Good Sense / February 12, 2018
I know for certain that some UNPers did not like this marriage with MY3 from the very beginning. But this was made in “Heaven” and none of the parties can go against it. Basically like the previous one, it feathered its own nests. So this has to be the result, given the choice. The last Government under-estimated its opposition. This Government also did the same. Don’t blame others but blame yourselves for alienating the people, after all they are the Kings.
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shankar / February 12, 2018
UNP should be patient until maithri wants to divorce.Other than changing man to woman and vise versa maithri can do anything if he wants to.He paid the penalty for not wanting to so far.That does not mean he will not in the future after seeing his future killers coming up again.
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Jim softy / February 12, 2018
Ranil could not win the elelction. He lost. Yet he wants to form his own govt. what a Joke. what about his Ravi Hora is still a MP. Arjun Mahendran never arrested. Did they recover what they gave away. Cantral Babk robbery is still not solved. Is it Because money was given even Maithripala sirisena ?. How About Ranil’s economic programs signed by IMF/MCC/CIA.
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Hela / February 12, 2018
Misdirected postmortems leads to incorrect conclusions hence misdirected solutions. RW needs to accept failure and needs to honourably resign. He can work from behind the scenes like CBK (or what MR does sitting in parliament seemingly doing nothing!). It will be taken very positively. UNP can try to run a minority govt with it’s own policies in a practicable and sensible manner. Let SLFP/UPFA and SLPP fight their own battles. New constitutions, war crimes, Rajapakse looting (if cannot be proven conclusively) et al can wait for another time (there’s no space or appetite for them in the near term. Arresting Rajapakses for political expediency will backfire big time). Only problem is the bond scam………..Can RW escape while sacrificing RK? If not UNP may have to face the “uncomfortable” truth of sacrificing RW too for the good of the party…………….
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Percy / February 12, 2018
If the UNP has to survive they should get rid of the Sirisena baggage.in any case
Sirisena is likely to make the first move and break up the partnership. Problem in both scenarios is that eitherparty cannot compete with Mahinda so if they go alone they will be obliterated sooner than later. BothSirisena and Ranil are blindto the fact that Tamil terrorism has left a lasting impact on the Sinhalese psyche. No one was having the guts to take Velu on. Ranil was happy to concede Eelam as long as he was not targeted by the LTTE and even persuaded the UNP to publicly acknowledge that the south has no answer to the suicide bomb.Cowards are not leadership material and traitors get short shrift from voters. That is the lesson that both Ranil and Sirisena have yet to learn.
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Govinda / February 12, 2018
Divorce is not the solution. Try to keep the promises said before Jan 8, 2018. Punish all the wrong doers irrespective of party differences. There is only 2 years more. Reap it before the sun shades away. Maihtris visions are promising and productive.
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RuwanL / February 12, 2018
The good governance started on a wrong footing with MS appointing his brother as the chairman of SLT and now SLT is in deep trouble! Ranil with his Royal pals started making mockery at some of the projects completed by MR. What he should have done is to make this project successful within the shortest period of time! he waited for 2 years doing nothing and attempted to fund his party by the bond scam! Its time the UNP got their act together and cleaned up the party by throwing some of the oldies out including Ranil and his Royal gang! forget about taking revenge! its time to get together to develop the country without thinking of making money for yourself or the party! Kirialla ,John and Ravi should also be kicked out as they are major rouges!
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nishantha / February 12, 2018
get rid of RANIL,RAVI AND A FEW OTHER THIVES AND THE UNP WILL DO BETTER…..
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kolla / February 12, 2018
Ranil must have the dignity and feeling for the people who have suffered for so long because of him to walk away. Has he got it ?
Dignity ?Watch that Baila dance and also watch Ranil at the Royal college big match !
Feeling for the people ? Show me one example of this !
Now the UNP will show its utter madness by claiming that they lost because they could not implement their (ranil) policies fully ! Meaning, Mahendran to be permanent Governnor, Aloysious as business guru , Ravi as finance minister, Sagala as Defense boss, Charitha as administrative genius , Dias as Srilankan airline boss, and Ranil as the master strategist!
There is no medicine for madness and blindness
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Eagle Eye / February 12, 2018
The UNP led Government came to power in 2015 with the slogan ‘Yahapalanaya’. Eradication of corruption was a main theme in ‘Yahapalanaya’. As soon as the UNP led Government came to power they got involved with the ‘Bond Scam’ which is the biggest financial scandal in Sri Lankan history. During election rallies the gravity of this financial scandal was adequately exposed. Yet at the last election 3,612,259 (32.63%) accepted that corruption is not a major issue by casting their vote to UNP. It is difficult to understand the mentality of the voters who voted to UNP that broke the main promise given to people in the country.
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thumpane gamaya / February 12, 2018
Useless talking of Ranil…next election under Ranil will go into record books for the worst defeat of UNP since its inception. There was an excellent opportunity for JVP to capitalize with present situation…They did not do it effectively….for example their own website could not insert any of the videos with views expressed by famous artists supporting JVP like Sunil Perera, Nadieeka Guruge etc. Poor strategy for Election preparation by JVP. and they seriously under estimated the social media effects. Anura must get more IT literate experts to his inner circle to use social media effectively.
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kulan / February 12, 2018
UNP did the worst chaos in the country. Allowing the 1983 Anti Tamil riots to happen. Later we had the civil war escalating to a brutal form. JVP also started an insurgency under the UNP in 1987 with many people killed. We hope that all will learn a lesson with the recent elections and protect the country from the extremists. for the country to move forward
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Eagle Eye / February 12, 2018
On behalf of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka a private company GIS Solutions (Private) Ltd hosted a web site https://www.slelection.online/ to provide Local Authorities Election results. But they failed to do that. The reason given is “This system was developed to update the map and relevant data automatically according to the results come from local polling stations. But election commission received the data for entire ward through a scan document in hard copy format which cannot be feed to the system. Therefore, please kindly note that the system will not update the information automatically. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
Can the Election Commission tell the people what went wrong and who is responsible for the blunder? Is the Election Commission living in a Digital Age or in 19th Century?
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thrishu / February 12, 2018
Incompetence in every echelon.
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nalmen / February 12, 2018
the unp should divorce ranil not the other way around
maithri is there to stay for another 2 years and nothing can shake him
it is not econ policies that caused its loss but not putting rogues behind bars
the econ policies of megapolis’s rather than rural infrastruture also caused the loss
time the young turks took over from ranils old cronies
that is the way forward if there is to be one
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Burt / February 12, 2018
That’s the last two years of his political life. Better enjoy it while it lasts.
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muthubanda / February 12, 2018
How foolish and short sighted of the UNP inner cabinet to think a divorce will solve their problems. It is not the UPFA that plunged the UNP into both bond scams nor did they mount the strong defence of the Governor subsequently. It is not the UPFA that has dragged its feet on the prosecutions of former leaders of corruption and murder. Indeed in the absence of prosecution for these crimes, the JO has deceived our electorate into thinking they are innocent! The fault in all these are plainly in the hands of the PM so it is time the UNP ditched him.
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rbh / February 12, 2018
All politician have more than 30 to 40 years experience.
the goal of political experience to help build more rewarding and successful life by providing motivational and inspirational material and products to challenge your thinking, and up grading dimensions.
But when our politicians apply there experience the country is suffering.
Unable of political forecasting and overall economic modelling.
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Edwin Rodrgo / February 12, 2018
The Evil Genie. The evil genie that the right-thinking people of this country have put in a bottle with so much risk and sacrifice has been let loose. Operation Rescue Genie, financed by the drug dealers, graft takers, black money, organized prostitution, in fact the whole gamut of organized crime has won.
The game is lost. The horse has fled and you idiots want to close the stable gates now? You would have made me laugh except for the fact that I find it so pathetic. I can tell you what to do. Give up and let those who are still not school boys run the show. You guys owe us at least that.
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thrishu / February 12, 2018
What a pathetic mourner at a UNP funeral. Can’t you accept the fact that near 5M villagers have recognized who works for them, who are the traitors and who are the real rogues. All those crimes mentioned above are just as valid for UNP backers, including the black money imported by the ex-finance minister as revealed at the commission. And who gave MR, Mr Clean certificate?
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2018
thrishu
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“What a pathetic mourner at a UNP funeral. Can’t you accept the fact that near 5M villagers have recognized who works for them, “
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Can’t you accept the fact that just over 6 Million voters have recognized who work for themselves.
Get over it.
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