Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya has awarded the right to monitor social media during the upcoming Presidential election to the Information Technology Society of Sri Lanka (ITSSL), an organisation with strong links to the ultra-nationalist group, the Body Bala Sena (BBS).
Deshapriya
ITSSL Chairman Rajiv Yasiru has worked for several years for the BBS, managing its digital and social media. He has since attempted to forge a career for himself at the intersection of social media and technical translations.
Yasiru has also been working for many years to gain access to social media giants, registering protest in 2018 that he was not invited for talks with Facebook officials and Secretary to the President, Austin Fernando when the tech company sent representatives to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of racial riots in the Kandy districts, exacerbated to a large degree by the BBS itself.
Deshapriya, who was hailed for his independence during the 2015 elections, seems to have a different agenda this season and is already mired in controversy after it was revealed that several friendly overtures were made to presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The fact that he has awarded the rights to monitor social media during the election to an organisation linked to the BBS has raised serious questions.
The Elections Commissioner Chairman has also been slow to act on allegations of voter fraud brought against Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and has previously been accused of manipulating and leak information to the media before making decisions with the rest of the Commission or issuing officials publications.
Reports are that the Elections Commission Chairman has also promised Gotabaya Rajapaksa that he will hold the election on November 23, a date considered favourable and auspicious by astrologers for the SLPP presidential candidate.
Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has thus far failed to respond to questions posed by this platform. (By Lakshman Jayaweera)
Sita / September 13, 2019
This is why this country keeps getting more racist, backward, and can never progress.
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Steve / September 13, 2019
Sita,
Absolutely correct. Deshapriya openly stated sometime back that the Sinhalese were happy with what happened to the Tamils and Muslims during riots. What a shameful and disgraceful statement.
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Amarasiri / September 13, 2019
Elections Commissioner,
Are you an independent commissioner or another Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist”, who distorts Buddhism and is an insult to the Buddha?
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edwin rodrigo / September 13, 2019
Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist”: All SB’s except Amarasiri are Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist”. Macko is just another Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist” who is trying to help a fellow Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist” Gota to come to power so that Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist” people will be safe from non Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist” people. So stop barking.
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Issa Town to Gudaibiya / September 13, 2019
edwin rodrigo,
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Didn’t the non Para-Sinhala safe-guarded you from economic hardships in the country created by Para-Sinhala for their own benefit?
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edwin rodrigo / September 14, 2019
No
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Lima / September 14, 2019
Amarasiri is correct , election comm is also para sinhala para buddhist as demonstrated by elect comm. this guy Deshapriya biased now to Gota for his own benefit , who aids robber / murderer , the so called same people do same.
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Eagle Eye / September 13, 2019
It looks like there is something wrong with Amarasiri’s brain because he is doing something that a normal person does not do. Amarasiri is a Sinhala Buddhist name. But all the time he keeps on slinging mud at Sinhala Buddhists. No Sinhala person with a sane mind will say Sinhalayo came from India and hence are ‘Para’. It is like what we call in Sinhala ‘Uda Balagena Kela Gahanawa’ (looking up and spitting).
This guy is not only saying that Sinhalayo are ‘Para’, he is cooking up stories using DNA data conducted by someone else. What he says contradicts the conclusion of the researchers. To do such a thing this person should be out of his mind.
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Amarasiri / September 14, 2019
Eagle Confused Eye,
Amarasiri’s brain nor the eye is NOT confused about the observations, data and performance of Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhists”, in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, Illegally occupied by the Paras.
However much the Catholic Church promoted the Sun going around the Earth based on the Bible and the Ancient Greeks, based on illusions, the Earth moved around the Sun and spun on its axis.
Similarly, however much the Eagle Confused Eye and the Confused “Academics” promote, Un-Ethically, that the Para-Sinhala are Also, Natives along with the Native Veddah Aethho, the historical data, archeology, the historical chronicles , and Modern Mitochondrial Genetics, the Haplo Groups, ALL CONFIRM, that the Para-Sinhala and the other Paras are indeed Paras.
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Eagle Eye / September 14, 2019
There is no difference between Ancient Greeks and Amarasiri.
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Amarasiri / September 16, 2019
Eagle Confused Eye,
It is all Greek to you!
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Eagle Eye / September 13, 2019
Amanasiri,
“who distorts Buddhism and is an insult to the Buddha?”
Native Sinhalayo preserved Buddhism by documenting Buddha’s teachings for the first time using Sinhala alphabet in First Century BC at Aluvihara Temple in Matale while people in your traditional homeland across the Palk Strait killed Buddhism. Buddha must be thinking why the hell I decided to be born in this rotten country instead of choosing Sinhale where people are trying to protect my teachings despite all the challenges they face in doing that.
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Jay H . Chambers II / September 13, 2019
Eagle dear,
“instead of choosing Sinhale where people are trying to protect my teachings”
What teachings are you talking about? Like letting the Loku hamuduruwo rape young samaneras but make a big fuss when a couple of them are slapped for misbehaving?
Or worshipping trees ? Or keeping low castes out of some Nikayas?
Wow, what great teachings!
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Amarasiri / September 17, 2019
Jay H . Chambers II.
RE: Eagle Confused Eye
“What teachings are you talking about?”
It is all Greek to Eagle Confused Eye. He cannot distinguish between Buddhism and Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism” . It is all blurry to him, because he keeps prostrating tho the trees, statutes and the monks. .
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Anonymous / September 13, 2019
Here we go! Getting ready to throw the election to Gotabaya Rajapaksa to protect him from criminal prosecution!?
People should come out strong and vote against the SLPP and prevent this…
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Muslim / September 14, 2019
Your results will be rigged by this man Desapriya we will not have a free and fair election if this man is EC ?There is no justice in Sri Lanka .
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Buddhist / September 13, 2019
Where was Deshapriya when he was taken by Gotabaya during the Presidential election? Where was he kept? why was he kept? Has this made him a supporter of Gotabaya this time?
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Sinhala_Man / September 13, 2019
This is disconcerting, to say the least.
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I don’t like this at all, but I must think this one out.
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On the face of it, this is appalling.
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Colombo Man / September 13, 2019
Is BBS an illegal organisation?
if not, it is perfectly all right to engage ITSSL for social media monitoring.
Of course, ITSSL should be overseen by a multi-party multi-ethnic committee representing the entirety of the Sri Lankan population.
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Roman Leslie / September 14, 2019
Colombo Man, it is not about the legality of an organization. Then will you be ok if this was awarded to someone connected to a Tamil organization or that moulavi clan jamiathul ulama ( hope I spelt it right)
Wake up Colombo Man, the illicit liquor is making your brains work properly. If an organization has a bias the it should be alarming to someone normal but in this country wonder of Asia my foot
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Surangi / September 13, 2019
If this is true very shameful. I really believed this man to be an honest person who used to shout at the top of his lungs in mid to late seventies at Peradeniya University. He had a nickname for that. I thought he still has genuineness in him unlike the S.B. and Vasudeva like fellows. This is unbelievable. This is similar to MR, who organized a “Padayathra” and mothers front during Premadasa time against disappearance, corruption. Once he got the power he became the worst corrupted ruler ever in Sri Lanka. Is this the human nature? Do people get sold like this? It seems everyone has a price, no dignity at all. I can understand that with Mahinda R. as he is not so educated, and a politician, but Mahinda D. is a well educated man with good brains. Still I want to believe this is untrue. Please, please someone prove this is wrong information.
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Justice and Fairplay / September 13, 2019
If this is true it just says there is no quality anymore in the public service in SL.
Sri Lanka has declined noticeably during s this last decade and its leaders have no interest in making it a truly multi ethnic, multi cultural, pluraristic society.
It makes the country ripe for increased outsider influence.
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nalmen / September 13, 2019
lije ranil he too is looking for future prospects after retirement
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Real Revolutionist / September 13, 2019
If BBS is described as ultra nationalist, how can TNA & MC be described?
Shall we call them ultra racist!
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Amila W / September 13, 2019
This Real Revolutionist seems to be a sample piece of village modayas. Don’t know what the bugger is doing here, should be in Kubura…
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Real Revolutionist / September 13, 2019
Amila W
Well, there’re fools in both village & city.
Real Revolutionist is a Sri Lankan, whether city or country isn’t important.
He is an allrounder.
If you are right to say BBS are ultra nationalists; reason for creation of that ultra nationalism?
Check whether this BBS exclude Tamils & Muslims in their nationalist concept.
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Steve / September 13, 2019
With a white beard he fears white vans !!
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BukiPaala / September 13, 2019
We won’t be surprised IF Mahinda Deshapriya declares the most likely winner of PresPol2019 as GR in the next few weeks
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M C Spencer / September 13, 2019
Should not the referendum on the abolition of the JRJ executive presidential system and the change over to the former Westminster System be also conducted simultaneously on 23 Nov 2019 as per JRJ’s present 19 times amended constitution requirements as per the interpretation of Mr. Laksiri Fernando and not Nihal Jayawickrema? Or is it a farce and the need the present setup to continue to save the clan and cronies from going to jail and create more wealth for their progeny?
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sapumal / September 13, 2019
Deshapriya is official who is holding a position as the chairman of the elections commission. He is bound by the laws of the country and and shall not use his powers to implement his own judgements at any given time. If he do that he should be punished with the maximum penalties. Election fraud and , bias decisions will not make this country better at any cost. It will drain rest of the democracy which we restored. Remove this organizations and take independent decisions. Learn from civilized world. Act like a saint. We will never, ever let you us down.
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Sandy / September 13, 2019
‘ To conquer a Nation, first
disarm the people ‘.
( Adolf Hitler)
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Bawa / September 14, 2019
‘All political power grows out of the barrel of a gun’ – Chairman Mao
BTW what do you call a Chinese cat? Chairman Meow.
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edwin rodrigo / September 13, 2019
Looking for a social media group with absolutely no connection to political and religious organizations is like Patachara, under the advice of Buddha, looking for a house where no deaths have occurred, so that she may resurrect her dead child.
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Patachara, a very intelligent woman finally realized, as Buddha expected, that death is inevitable for all.
..
Question is would our interlocuters be as wise as Patacara and realize that life is neither perfect, nor fair.
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IQ / September 13, 2019
No wonder ! Deshapriya has become current Deshapriya! So its every thing happening in the paradise.
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Julampitiye Amaraya / September 13, 2019
By the way,
His Honorable name is DESAPRIYA.
I Was Thinking if it becomes DESHA APRIYA.
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jayt / September 13, 2019
First and last solution is to shoot and kill Sinhala Modayas voters who vote for these foreign agents and help foreign spies achieve their goal. Sinhala Modayas are product of British introduced political System. Sinhala Modayas do not give dam about the country or people who died for the country, only they care about is bribe given by these agents who were brought to SRi lanka by British during British colonial period.
Second solution is Sri lankan should kill these agents and their family members. Finally, one good thing will happen which is “when police releases the names of deaths, you will hear this “Subramaniam is brother in laws of Rajapakse. Appapilai is nephew of Ranil. and Kumaraswami is husband of Bandaranakes’ daughters. Lastly, Sinhala Modayas will say ” We did not know they all had Demallas relatives. At least, at the end, Sinhala Modayas will learn the history of British who engineered and installed these fake Sinhalese before they leave Sri lanka
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Lankan / September 13, 2019
My opinion is that it’s only a minority of Sri Lankans who are honest and decent enough to want the 225 MPs and President to go away for good.
The majority don’t really care. They are themselves likely to engage in corrupt and illegal activities for financial gain. Maybe it’s down to poverty and hardship in most cases.
In the case of those who are already well off, the fault may lie in the upbringing, or rather the lack of it.
My prediction is that the voters will not usher in a change and so the likes of Nagananda Kodituwakku and the JVP leader, who are begging the people to vote for change, would simply have wasted their time.
In summary, the parliamentarians are just a reflection of the ordinary Sri Lankan society.
A glum outlook I know, and would love to be proved wrong, but sadly, highly unlikely.
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Sinhala_Man / September 13, 2019
Dear Lankan,
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I agree with your rather gloomy prognosis. But let us do what we can to tell as many as possible that we must vote strategically so as to send a clear message from us as individuals.
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We have to wait until the nominations have been made to decide how we finally vote, but at least you and I are agreed about the two who stand for change. They are also honest. The media isn’t giving them sufficient coverage, but I’m doing what I can.
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Will this be allowed in , please, monitors:
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http://naga4future.com/contact/
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I called the mobile number listed there, and was able to make certain observations to the polite volunteers who were handling calls. I told them about the habits of my sober Jaffna friend who is a vegan. They didn’t know the term, and this should not be a campaign issue, but I discovered that Nagananda eats only ginger nuts among biscuits. So, he, too, is a principles vegan, but isn’t trying to change our habits!
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We need this sot of leader – a man more moral than any of us!
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chiv / September 13, 2019
A man dumps his elderly deceased mother,s body in a forest because he does not have the money. (today news). This is “the vision”our politicians have for the poor and ever struggling masses. When millions are wasted in just feeding our morbidly obese politicians (not counting the money looted) and the rich becoming filthy rich, (10 % of population , consisting mostly crooked businessmen,who finance and support the politicians ) will have to “resign to their fate”.
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chiv / September 13, 2019
A man dumps his elderly deceased mother,s body in a forest because he does not have the money. (today news). This is “the vision”our politicians have for the poor and ever struggling masses. When millions are wasted in just feeding our morbidly obese politicians (not counting the money looted) and the rich becoming filthy rich, (10 % of population , consisting mostly crooked businessmen,who finance and support the politicians ) the poor will have to “resign to their fate”.
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Mallaiyuran / September 13, 2019
It has been found by that CDF has been using the murdered Tamils’ cell phones, inserting his sim card in that. Lankawe diplomats insist in UNHRC that IC not to interfere in their bestial life of this nature.
What a dirty cheap life is that? Does Lankawe need an election and a president to do these anarchy barbarism? . Didn’t they have any ruler for last 70 years? Barbaric Yakkas are ruling the Wildlife Sanctuary SinhaLE Lankawe. Let it continue until Kuveni curses destroy it fully, if their wish is that.
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K.Pillai / September 14, 2019
The Constitution Council of SL should have awarded the right to monitor social media during the upcoming Presidential election.
Now we have Founder/Leader of BBS_Buddhism, Gnanasara Thera monitoring the media!
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Kugan / September 14, 2019
The reason Prez released the Gunarasa (policing) was to work with Gota.(Champion of war hero)
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chiv / September 14, 2019
BBS will monitor social media. Who will monitor BBS ??? Is it going to be Deshapriya ?????? SLRC is taken over by MS for his propaganda. This is to done to curtail any wide spread anti Gota propaganda. The SLRC chairman has no shame to come out and lie to public “MS took over SLRC to save from bankruptcy ???? You mean just at the end of his tenure MS and Chairman came to know about the financial situation of SLRC. . Madam, fool me once shame on you, fool be twice shame on me .
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K.Pillai / September 14, 2019
We have to find out how he handles the ultra-nationalist Bodu Bala Sena. Will he find their speeches hateful? By the time the furore comes out, the election will be over.
Will he find a Heroic Angel in Gnanasara Thera, the Founder/Leader of BBS_Buddhism?
PS: Deshapriya please note that Gnanasara is smart and has outwitted our leaders on several occasions. .
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Good Sense / September 15, 2019
I am bewildered. Can the chair of a Commission run the institute like his own private entity? What about the other board members? Are they simply sleeping. There needs a better explanation than what is given here, particularly because the board member Prof. Hoole is known to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. The chairman of the Commission is not the Chief Executive. There are occasions where the Chief Executive of some institutions has operated without the necessary board approvals. Such Chief Executives get the short shrift from the board in no time.
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