Eight state ministers and ten deputy ministers were sworn in this morning as part of the promised ‘scientific reshuffling of the cabinet of ministers’.
Accordingly Lakshman Senewiratne (UPFA) was appointed as the State Minister of Public Administration and Management, and Law while Mohan Lal Grero was made the State Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs.
Other appointments are as follows: A.D. Champika Premadasa (Plantation Industries), Sriyani Wijewickrama (Sports, Provincial Councils and Local Government), Weerakumara Dissanayake (Mahaweli Development), Palitha Range Bandara (Irrigation and Water Resources Management, and Disaster Management), Dilip Wedaarachchi (Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, and Rural Economy), M.L.A.M. Hizbullah (Highways and Road Development).
Meanwhile Ameer Ali Shihabdeen was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and Rural Economy while Dinesh Gankanda was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms. Ranjan Ramanayake who was earlier the Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage, was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment.
The following were also sworn in as deputy ministers:
Karunarathna Paranawithana (Science, Technology and Research, Skills Development and Vocational Training, and Hill Country Heritage), Sarathie Dushmantha (Justice and Prison Reforms), Palitha Kumara Thewarapperuma (Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development), Manusha Nanayakkara (Telecommunication, Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment), Muthu Sivalingam (Internal Affairs and Wayamba Development), Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana (National Integration, Reconciliation and Official Languages), H.M.M. Harees (Public Enterprise and Kandy Development)
President Maithripala Sirisena, prior to the swearing-in of new ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers, vowed that the reshuffle would be done ‘scientifically’.
Yesterday 18 new ministers were sworn in while others retained their portfolios. The ‘vacancies’ were created when 16 SLFP ministers decided to cross ranks and join the Parliamentary Opposition.
Native Vedda / May 2, 2018
Sri Lanka Parliament
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Please note
Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.
-H. L. Mencken
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Silva / May 2, 2018
Still no Law and Order Minister post for Sarath Fonseka!!!
The elements protecting the Rajapaksas in this Government seem to be strong and are going to great lengths to betray their promise to the voters… They will allow a the return of the Rajapaksas and open the doors to international intervention and turn us into an Afghanistan/Syria…
Keep your election promise and finish all investigations into the crimes committed by the Rajapaksas prosecute them and jail them or hand them over to the Hage for trial for their crimes against humanity…
All the problems the country faces is largely due to this governments failure to live up to this promise.
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patric / May 2, 2018
It is noted some readers prefer SF to have gotten the Law & Order ministry to sort out the MR clan. Does that mean he is the only one capable of doing this task? What is PM’s reemit? Is he not to get things moving and apply the law? These readers sadly consider him as the enforcer for only this issue. Can we not find someone else in the parliament to carry out a proper investigation or is it because there is no credible evidence to move forward. Putting someone in charge to put people behind bars as a revenge does not help the cause. It must be someone with a balanced view(if there is one left)
Being the minister of law & order is a serious and a responsible post Enforcing law order must be done in an impartial manner but not to be seen as taking revenge.
With SF I see a person as hell-bent on putting his (enemies) behind bars at any cost for what happened to him. This is not what a person in that position must do regardless of what happened to him. A decent politician must be above such action and behaviour. Sadly what can one expect from the current lot in the parliament?
Also if someone thinks by putting Rajapaksa clan behind bars be the panacea for all ills at the moment in Srilanka is sadly mistaken. Haven’t we got much more to worry other than sleepwalking into oblivion? Our economy is in doldrums due to collective mishandling of our economy by several Governments. As a result, ordinary and poor people are struggling to make ends while this selfish 225 idiots (I say with commitment) are taking care of their interests to the maximum. Me first, parliament second, people next and the country last. The list goes on.
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Mallaiyuran / May 3, 2018
patric,
You’re feeling Old Royal should have justice, irrelevant of victims. Yes that is correct. Until proven guilty everybody is innocent. The position of the law is Victims as well as Old Royal should have justice. Old Royal worked with Chemical Bombs and White vans. When they achieved full authority they kicked out Ponny out of their team, apparently not for any of his mistake. Now you are trying hard to save them. That doesn’t mean there isn’t any logic. But you are putting the argument in the Parliament that should be raised in court of law. Parliament goes by majority’s opinion, but the Court decides on specific facts of the individual case. You need to recognize the difference between how the Parliament decides and how a Court of Law decides.
After certain precautions are taken, you can’t worry about what is going to happen in the parliamentary decision. You cannot reject Ponny because one of the accused may get revenged. There are 850,000 cases pending without proper Law and Order Minister. Old King was the Law Order Minister in Chitanta government, the time when most of cases got piled up. It is well perceived he kept that ministry with him only to revenge his enemies and protect the acolytes. Parliament will not be able to hold 849,999 cases pending for one influential person’s crime must be met with justice. The best Law and Oder Minister ever could be is if he/she bring justice for many of those cases by Appling the Maxim “Justice delayed is Justice Denied”, but still mess up few cases. If 849,999 going to get justice by Ponny but Medamulana will be revenged, I think, the democratic support will be, unlike you, with Ponny.
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Mallaiyuran / May 3, 2018
A minister must be suitable for the post he/she is recruited. Donkey may not take over dog’s jobs. If Ponny is suitable on implementing Law and Order, revenging cannot be logic to reject him. Maximum what he going do is request the AG to keep following up the cases. He is not going walk into Medamulana home, drag somebody to Welikada, throw them in and lock the door. He is not going to be the EP or Defense Secretary of the Chitanta government to do those things.
You cannot reject Ministers because they were in the opposition during the criminals’ rule, and they, not purposefully, but were hurt by accused and you feel they may revenge. The fact is, this government was the opposition to last government. Some of the ministers quit there and came here also. They too would have the temptation to bring their grievances, which were the reason for them to quit. So you should accept the fact, beyond revenge, last government’s opposition party have all democratic rights to form new government & appoint ministers. You accept that Ponny was hurt by accused and you accept it was not accident. Then his case too has to go through the courts. He has to be the accuser in his case. It is not Ponny revenging Old Royals, but it is an instance needs interference of Court of Law. Then what is difference you feel that he being the LO minister and implement the Lankawe’s Laws and another one implementing it?
When Dilrukshi, (she was just professional woman, had no personal grudges against any UNP or SLFP) attempted to file cases, Kegalle Jayamanne died. Denish warned Army may rebel. This is what happened to Lasantha too. When he was about to witness in court about MIG deals, he died. The guy who shot the girl friend got shot to death to witness removal.
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Mojo / May 3, 2018
This is exactly correct – that is why anyone with a balanced mindset can dot be job. Funny is only needed of there is no AG. If someone is protecting the bad guys it’s not he law and order guy but the ones above. Only list minister who did a good job was previous FOREIGN minister Lk.
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Mallaiyuran / May 3, 2018
When New King came to power he said if he had lost, he would have been wiped out-He compared him with Ponny in 2010. Chandrika has been running around to escape from this type of murders. Yesterday Hirunika said if by Ranil’s mistake UNP lose in 2020, all of their lives going to be in jeopardy.
Deal Dasa had to be removed for openly refusing let any cases go against Old Royals. Sagala resigned from that Ministry; PM didn’t want it; Rajitha refused to accept, Ranil tried himself getting somebody. New King tried somebody. We suggested making Chandrika a MP and giving it to her. You can ask “is there nobody else other than Ponny”. Situation is, No, Nobody else apparently there!”. Because not all 8th grade donkeys can be trusted with a ministry as important like as Law and Order.
Ministers are reluctant to take up that job (Law and Order Minister) only because of their fear them being ended with the fate of Dilrukshi and Jayamanne. It is the accused are openly challenging that if anyone can go against them, go ahead and show them the braveness. In that case, if Ponny come forward isn’t he good to go. It is not the Yahapalanaya’s fault that Ponny became the only choice. It is those criminal choose Ponny by dragging Army into their defense. Ponny is the only one has influence in Army to counter the criminals’ influence. They say “Kaluthai Ponnukku Puluthi Marunthu.” If it is a human body’s wound, it may need to be cleaned and dressed. Donkey’s wound get cured by the dirt it rolls in
After that all now if you cry that the poor innocents should not be revenged, it only can tell how dishonest you are. Don’t hide a whole pumpkin inside the rice.
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Sarrij / May 3, 2018
NV
What scientific cabinet?
Patholaya has a degree in Monkey Science ( M Sc. Polonnaruwa. )
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Justice and Fairplay / May 3, 2018
“Eighteen ‘scientific’ State ministers and deputy ministers sworn in”.
Will they be now calling themselves “Scientists”?
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Herbert Thambiyah / May 2, 2018
What bloody scientific.
Back benchers like Marikkar, Buddhika, Mujib ur Rahman, and a few dynamic youngsters should have been given posts.
Old wine in new bottle.
A failed state and no hope for our children.
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Isharath / May 2, 2018
Finest wines have no place in SL politics. By the time the opportunity comes across, the wines have already become vinegar – truly hopeless.
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Ajith / May 2, 2018
So, all the 16 SLFP ministers who lost their ministerial posts should have taken ministerial posts under Mahinda with substantial pay awards to compensate their earnings including salary, commision from ransom etc. They are now employed by the richest person in the island.
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Ben Hurling / May 2, 2018
Mother of all jokes!
Cheers!
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Janaka from Matara / May 2, 2018
Wonder why people like Buddhika Pathirana never even get a mention.
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nalmen / May 2, 2018
judging from the combinations it is obvious that the president did not study science in school
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Lankan / May 2, 2018
waste of public money to protect posts for MPs . what a group of idiot who the country . Put them all behind bars for misusing the public trust given to them in the Election. we needs an iron man to control these people. Most of them do not have basic GCSE A/Ls and what is the future of Sri Lanka If they change post like this ? who cares ? Give JVP power to do something ? or someone good people.
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Dr. Dharshana W / May 2, 2018
Well, I don’t think anybody cares two hoots as to who these axx hxxes are, either in cabinet or as deputies/ or state positions.
To me, this government is well past it’s sell-by date and any actions from the government are stale and unappreciated.
Can someone with a little bit of sanity from within the government come forward, and give them strategic directions for the next 1 1/2 years.
These idiots digging their own graves not six feet under, but a whole lot deeper.
Cheers!
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Estate Labourer / May 2, 2018
Did the President who claims to have adopted a ‘scientific approach’ in choosing the Ministers take into consideration each candidate’s academic qualifications?
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Dan / May 2, 2018
Good reflection of scientific knowledge of the President & the PM.
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Steve / May 2, 2018
Scientific appointments ? Looks more like picking from a hat. The luck of the draw.
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Sarrij / May 3, 2018
S.
More likely, picking from the toilet bowl !
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DAYAL / May 2, 2018
GHARMISTHA SOCIETY. GOOD GOVERNANCE AND NOW SCIENTIFIC CABINET-ALL TO CHEAT PEOPLE, EMPTY SLOGANS.-
-SAYAL
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Mrs Udubaddewa / May 2, 2018
This is Sinhala land (Sinhala Rata).
Kuweni was a Hela woman. She bore kids to Vijaya ( Prince from Sinhapura, son of King Sinhabahu). Thus, emerged the Great Race of the Civilisation – the Sinhalese (Sinha + Hela = Sinhale).
Until 1815 this entire nation was named as Sinhale (note the Kandyan Convention).
Historians like Indrapalan, Hoole, Sachi Ponnambalam, R Kumaraswamy, Kumari Jayawardane try to distort this History.
Tamils came in large numbers during Dutch period and established in the North. Read my above clips.
The Great Race Sinhala has ruled from time to time not only this land but also parts of Burma. Indonesia and South India.
When Rev Mahinda arrived 5 BC he converted the whole land to Buddhism who were until then worshiping different gods. The whole country became Buddhist. There were NIL Tamils and Muslims then.
The Greatest Person this Sinahala Land has produced is Anagarika Dharmapala.
Read the Great Chronicle Mahavamsa daily. It is like sipping good old red wine bit by bit. I do read it.
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Backlash / May 2, 2018
Mrs.U
I thought the Greatest Person this Sinhala Land has produced is Champika
Ranawake.- with Udaya and Dinesh G running for Silver and Bronze. Have you heard of Johnson’s celebrated comment “Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels”????
Backlash
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edwin rodrigo / May 2, 2018
Mrs Udubaddawa, I agree with you almost completely, except in one detail. You say, “Tamils came in large numbers during Dutch period and established in the North”. May I make a slight correction? It is not Tamils per se who came, it was the hordes of Kallathonis who came in swimming, boating and by any other means available, to escape the hell hole that was Tamil Nadu.
Having settled down comfortably with the help of Sinhalyas, they want to claim the land as their own now. That my friends is the root cause of our problems. You can remove the problems by uprooting the root cause.
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Lankan / May 2, 2018
What a donkey!
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JohnSiva / May 2, 2018
Kuveni was a Tamil woman
According to your modaya logic, Tamil people from South India somehow reached Sri Lanka AFTER Vijaya came from northern India? Is there any logic in that? Sri Lanka is only a stones throw from Tamil Nadu
DNA tests have already proven that lower caste Sinhalayas are descended mostly from Tamil lower caste people. And the upper caste govi Sinhalese are Telugu people. These Telugu people actually infiltrated Sri Lanka to take over the Tamil origin Sinhalese and rule over them. The reason why some of you go to great lengths to deny Tamil connection is because your very ‘Sinhala’ identity is based on hatred of Tamil (your own ancestry). The Telugu origin mahanayakka (nayakars are telugu) govi Sinhalese have played their game of deceit well.
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
Mrs. Udubaddawa: YOu are good to lead a women’s brigade, if you prefer even most politicians.
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Mallaiyuran / May 2, 2018
Read the Great Chronicle Mahavamsa daily. It is like sipping good old red wine bit by bit. I do read it
I understand your frustration. It is not Yahapalanaya. Even in the western world medicine is so expensive, these days to buy. Blame the American ….German greedy Pharmaceuticals.
Anyway don’t miss it, if you miss your medicine you will feel suicidal too.
Too advanced condition. Poor fellow!
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James / May 2, 2018
Folks,
This poor lady seems to have a huge chip on her shoulder. She is expressing her past agony/feelings. Looks like some Tamil fellow has screwed her so badly and dumped her. I feel sorry for her.
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Mallaiyuran / May 3, 2018
OOh James, you are still there? I didn’t know that anyway.
huge chip on her shoulder
Yes, I know that. Army’s shells flew all over everywhere in the NorthEast.
Possibly her guy took lager chip, may be on the chest.
I have another idea, if president trump start a war the dollar may from Rs 160, that may help the lady.
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Raj / May 3, 2018
Anagarika Dharmapala was a racist & probably influenced racists like Gnanasara As for Mahavamsa, it is only the writings of an ancient monk. Has the Mahawamsa been historically authenticated or taken for granted as historically correct?
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Isharath / May 2, 2018
Within this brief 5 years how many ministries a minister is changed to? How can a minister have enough time to study a ministry before he can render his service or do reforms? And no minister has any grievances on this point and they all seem happy about it
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Mano Ratwatte / May 2, 2018
What is the difference between a Cabinet Minister and a State Minister for the same subject?
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Mano Ratwatte / May 2, 2018
The Cabinet of the United States Federal Government has 15 people: it also includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
Sri Lanka is far more developed and advanced, so it needs more ministers.
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Buddhika / May 2, 2018
Janadipathi Thaatha a scientific president of sri lanka and the only one of a kind in the world.
A great country headed by scientific politicians who are more advanced in all ways than others.
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Mallaiyuran / May 2, 2018
Ravi didn’t get anything because he was one of the “code breakers” in the Russian Junkyard Warship deal by New Royals. (If Emil comes back then Ranil will be going in. That is highly impossible. So Ravi will not be guilty ever. No reason for hold him out, without charging a case against him in the court. If this was done to one Old Royal Member, Supreme Court would have awarded a million dollar compensation.)
Earlier Deal Dasa was pushed out of Cabinet by UNP back benchers in the parliament. So New King let Deal to get the deal.
Everybody knows why Ponny was discarded.
New King is wielding the power or swinging his Thirukkai Waal same way Old Royals did; only difference, probably and so far less murders.
With this much hate between the two parties, they are making another Unity Agreement, only to keep ministerial position to suck as much as possible before they are put away. Last three years the Unity Government did not do anything, other than protecting Criminals, because of this friction between them. The biggest fall back is, it did not exhaust the opportunities to Constitutional Change, it is for that purposes the International Governments got involved to put together this Unity Yahapalanaya.
I wonder if there is a way to JVP or somebody else who opposes this fraudulent union, to sue at Supreme Court and have it declared void, in the interest of Public. Or somebody has to have the Ministerial numbers in the 19A declared void or illegal because it is detrimental for public well Being.
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
So how many now 136 Miniters, Depurty ministers and state ministers. there are some ministers who came from the back door. why others from the 225 are not having any responsibility ?
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
I heard Maithripala Sirisena doe snot know what this “Scientific” means. there are how many professors in the parliament. None of them know what scientific is so had not been selelcted. Can some one point. How many people have a Degree, how many passed A/L. How many pass O/L out of this 136 ministers. Ranil wickramsinghe says even though we have 136 ministers we are not as bad zas Mahinda rajapkse who had 108 ministers.
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
Mahinda Rajapakse says, they did not know the word Strategy. so they used the word Scientific and the strategy is to out smart Mahinda Rajapakse,. There are ministers who are from the national list (one who was accused of bringing a few million rupees of FAKE notes to Cinnamon Garden BOC) .no one knows when they were appointed Grass root level political analysts say, there are more educated and capable people are on the social wel fare than these people will have good lieves because of their new employment. govt will apply for IMF loan to allocate new ministry buildings, and new luxury car permits from Europe (we do not ask GSP from them) and this will be the outlook of the new YAHAPALANA Team of Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil wickramsinghe that will face the election against Mahinda Rajapakse’s team.
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
I heard Sarah Fonseka is not happy because he has a given a development ministry when there is provincial councils, municipal councils, urban authorities, various other specific authorities but he is used to travel by helicopter and no helicopters and Ranil says ecvery time we do not have money.
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
PResident, PM and thr cabinet ministers will order new RED colout bullet proof vehicles because the election is coming. Red colour says get out of the road, Danger is on sight.
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
I heard Anil KArunathilaka is nithappy he did not get a minister position. Eventhough he is christian he had attended bo the Vihara and the church. Ranil has not given him the minister post and when asked Ranil had said you ar enot chrisrtian who can I give the Kalutara District. suspision is that Ranil thought he is going to contest from Mahinda Rajapakse’s LOTUS MOVEMENT.
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Burt / May 2, 2018
The term ‘Scientific’ in the govt concept sounds stupid. Does this word have a different meaning in Sinhalese?
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K.Pillai / May 2, 2018
“Eighteen ‘Scientific’ State Ministers And Deputy Ministers Sworn In”
So this is the sort of Science taught in our schools?
Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha LLD (Commonwealth University in………Belize??? ) is the ideal Higher Education Minister!
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Real Revolutionist / May 2, 2018
There’s nothing scientific in politics.
Please somebody teach the meaning of scientific to the president & all the UNP MPs.
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Mrs Udubaddewa / May 2, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Burt / May 3, 2018
Even Rajapaksa is making fun of the “scientifically” picked ministers.
“Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa quipped yesterday that in the reshuffle of the Cabinet, the only Ministry that underwent a scientific transformation was the Wildlife Ministry.
He said further that the Wildlife Ministry had undergone a biological transformation with which and sensing the arrival of the new Minister the Deer and Sambhur living in the jungles had started to flee.
Mahinda Rajapaksa made this remark in reply to a question posed by a journalist at a religious function held at the Abayaramaya temple in Narahenpita yesterday.
The subject of Wildlife was given to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka along with the subjects of Sustainable development and Regional Development at the Yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle.”
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K A Sumanasekera / May 3, 2018
Sillysena is very scientific Isn’t he ?
Field Marshall Ponny, as my Diaspora mate Mally calls him, got the Gig to protect Wild Life and National Parks.
All what we have in them now are Wild Buffalos and Wild Boars.
Thanks to Mr Pirahaparan FM Ponny’s Army boys had a good supply of protein while fighting the Tigers.
I am sure Ponny must have had a few feeds too, when he was visiting Mullative and Ampare..
So the new Gig suits him to a Tee.
Don’t know much about the rest here, But Thevere is a good fit for Ponny .
Wonder whether Mallika is still in that all Scientifiic Economics Gig, helping Dr Ranil.?.
Will Kiriells still be eligible for the Santhosams which is due for negotiating the Taise deal to take our poor southern Sinhala Buddhists in comfort on the Expressway to worship Dr Ranil’s religious guru in Malwatta.
Wonder whether Silly has Masters or just Diploma in Science.
And Ponny specialized in Botany or Zoology…
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