By Hilmy Ahamed –
Hilmy Ahamed
“Sirisena has betrayed a nation. Has he got any conscience? The next parliament needs to impeach him”. This is probably what is there in the minds of 6,217,162 voters.
The common opposition that facilitated the election of Maithripala Sirisena as the President, has had the shortest parliamentary life in recent history. While there was consensus among the common opposition that parliament would be dissolved after 100 days of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration, the government and the President could not bring forth the promised reforms of the hundred-day programme due to a hostile opposition, which commanded the majority in parliament. Sirisena-Wickremesinghe cabal tried to implement the 100-day programme by extending the 100-day deadline. The 180-day failure, forced the president to dissolve parliament. Now, elections have been announces and many political analysts predict that the UPFA will have an uphill task against the United National Party and its partners. The desperate ones in the SLFP have played their trump card by bringing the former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa to the B team as a contestant. Mahinda probably believes that he could end up as the Prime Minister and his former job as President would only be a bullet away, or so said President Sirisena.
A large proportion of those who voted to make Maithripala Sirisena President, believe that the once humble President Sirisena has shattered the hopes and aspirations of millions of Sri Lankans with his shameful betrayal of their January 2015 vote. It is believed that that Ranil Wickremesinghe and the daring politicians who crossed over with Maithripala to challenge Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2015 would not be let down by the majority of Sri Lankans at the forthcoming elections. The average person on the street is convinced that the noble ideals of the common opposition would succeed again on August 17th 2015 with or without Maithripala Sirisena. A strong and stable government would be formed thereafter where necessary constitutional reforms could be implemented to strengthen Sri Lanka’s democracy.
The total silence from Maithripala Sirisena on Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-entry as a candidate to contest the parliamentary elections of August 2015 was the most chilling episode of this drama. The President probably attempted to give the impression that he was doing his best to stall Mahinda Rajapaksa, but the majority of the Sri Lankans who voted for the president risking their lives to elect him, as their choice will be disgruntled. President Maithripala stands accused and probably will go down in history as the man who saved the party and destroyed the country.
How can President Sirisena justify the reentry of Rajapaksa? Only six months ago, he branded ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the biggest megalomaniac who stole billions of the people’s money. Maithripala’s betrayal of Mahinda Rajapaksa after his (appa) hopper meal is no match to the sadistic betrayal of the common opposition voters who gave him over 6.2 million votes. If Maithripala is allowed to continue as President after the August 17th election, he would end up as the most unhappy President since JR Jayewardene brought in a new constitution in 1978. He has none other to blame.
The vast number of SLFPers who risked their lives to support Maithripala has been left in total disarray. The youthful politicians in Arjuna Ranatunga, Faizer Mustapha, Hirunika Premachandra and Duminda Dissanayake probably have learnt their bitterest political lesson from this principle less politicians. Maithripala who spoke and acted like a saint has become their biggest traitor, in the minds of the majority. Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister or leader of the opposition will not forgive these youthful politicians for their treachery, when they deserted him to support Maithripala. Will Maithripala at least protect them from the wrath of Mahinda Rajapaksa? Or will he sacrifice them again. They probably have the option of joining the UNP or some other coalition as their last resort.
Maithripala will stand accused of destroying the future aspirations of these capable young politicians who have not been tainted with corruption or other vices.
K.A Sumanasekera / July 10, 2015
Has Hilmy thrown in the towel already?…
He says they had 6.3 Million votes in Jan 8 2015….Right.
There were only 5,8 Million poor Dalits.
So why is Hilmy panicking?.
I heard the Madam shooted off to London yesterday because she is pissed off.
But the rest are surely must be in the Island.
Wonder whether Hilmy barracks for Hakeem , Baththudeen, Sally or Ranil?
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Bruno Umbato / July 10, 2015
When Sira backstabbed MR after eating hoppers with him, people like Hilmy found all the virtues in the world in Sira …
He was the greatest saviour of human rights, democracy, purity, decency, truth ….
Now, Sira was forced to give nomination to MR due to the demand of OVERHLMNG majority (probably about 96%) of
SLFPers, normal people think it is democracy of the party … Hilmy think it is betrayal!
What a narrow world these people live … But, they write like true paragons of virtue …
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Upali Wijewardene / July 10, 2015
Sumanasekera, Hilmy or no other need not throw in the towel. We will prevail and this time there is no mercy for MR. He would be the first to be hanged after many years. I volunteer to be the hangman if they cant find one. We should also put this bloody traitor Maithri in the same death row
Your F… 5.8 M is now less than 2.5 because of the hora votes that was included. Would anyone vote MR now, knowing that they would not be killed for not supporting him
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 10, 2015
[Edited out]
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upul jayasooriya / July 10, 2015
Well said Upali. Please add the bloody racist Sumanasekera [Edited out]
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Amarasiri / July 10, 2015
Upali Wijewardene
“I volunteer to be the hangman if they cant find one.”
Don’t worry. There will be plenty, for that position. It will be one of the hardest positions to get.
Think about the honor of being the person who hanged MaRa, aka Mata.
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tinpotjihadi / July 10, 2015
[Edited out]
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pakiyasothy jeevendran / July 10, 2015
Sumanasekera, Hilmi may have thrown in the towel, but I have my undees down, so come this way so that I can show you what it be for some thing to be stuck from behind
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 10, 2015
Do you work for Ranil or Mangalan?…[Edited out]
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pakiyasothy Jeevendran / July 10, 2015
Yes, Sumanasekera, I work both Mangala and Ranil.[Edited out]
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 11, 2015
Good on you mate,
Any chance of getting in to the UNF ( new UNP ) National List.
You can become a monitoring MP for both..
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Peace Lover / July 10, 2015
ask athal sumanasekera to bring some butter too ;-)
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pakiyasothy Jeevendran / July 10, 2015
[edited out]
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 11, 2015
P,,,Lover,
Do you use butter now,!!!!
You know what mate, when your Yahaplanan Madam was around, we couldn’t afford Butter even for our Mackeral Sandwiches,,
You must thank Rajapaksa for importing butter after your mate Prabakran stopped us using our valuable FX to buy AK 47s..
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Sellam / July 10, 2015
I remember, I made my comments on CT before the 8th January presidential elections, that Rajapaksa is one side of the coin and Sirisena is on the other side of the same coin. Has it been proved now or one has to wait and see what happens just after the elections. As for me I am not concerned at all what happens next.
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Muniyandy / July 10, 2015
Re. your last sentence, why? Has the doctor diagnosed that you are suffering from terminal cancer?
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NASS / July 10, 2015
it was said that MR camp has indeed, threatened MS, Either you give MR nomination or you will be dead.this was threat according to some. It may be true he was succumbed to threat.
yet, public know well that MR and co have stolen the country and they do not trust them at all.
Do we need more predication now. I think small parties will once again decide PM in a hung parliament. Tamil have their own PMs.
Upcountry Tamil will go with their own man.
Muslims will go with UNP except a few with Muslim congress in Eastern province.
Sinhalese vote will divided as last time
but this time MR will get less than last time
why people trust UNP more
frauds of MR is know into public
most of MR’s cohorts can not be trusted.
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Ajith / July 10, 2015
The real victims of this Mahinda_Mithiri coup are Tamils and Muslims and those Sinhalese who truly beleived on good governance, rule of law and justice to all. Most people believed that the current president is a true believer in good governance. People were happy when Basil Rajapakse was arrested, Gotapaya was investigated that President is keen on good governance. People also believed that when Maithiri said that there were few attempts to murder him. International community believed that democracy is coming back, law and order is improving, justice system is improving , improvement in press freedom. So, EU sanctions on fish export ban removed and UNHRC report delayed, US foregin secretary visited, Indian Prime minister visited. Now it is becoming clear everything is a drama planned by Mahinda and Maithiri.
Whether this is true or false, majority of Srilankans have not changed their stand on good governance, rule of law and justice to all. I am sure many more are people are frustated what is going on between Mahinda and Maithiri. People are not fools and teach a lesson to those who lie to the people.
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Rohan / July 10, 2015
A Lankan Spring comes to an end? I challenged here whether the majority Sinhalese would stand up for decency and democracy. Not many did, but with the leadership of a few brave ones, Mahinda’s power base was crushed. But, somehow, like in Egypt, this bloodless coup has been defeated. Ranil and Maithreepala should take responsibility for this.
I genuinely believed that Sirisena would keep the cleaner version of SLFP, and let Mahinda run with his crooks under UPFA. With UNP, I thought, cleaner SLFP will run Sri Lanka for years to come to recovery.
Although the fat lady has not sung yet, things do not look good.
I hope sanity prevails.
UNP may win more seats, and may set up the government with other anti-Rajapakse forces. But, even if half the news that comes out is true, Maithree will lose all his credibility and trust of the people.
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Rajash / July 10, 2015
Sinhala politicians have been betraying Tamils since independence.
No one cared.
Now the Sinhala politicians are betraying the country as a whole.
Everyone if crying foul.
There is no crdible politicians left to save Sri Lanka
“Now they come for me and no one to save me”
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sumith / July 10, 2015
If MY3 still thinks he put country 1st and he is playing chess game with MR well he playing a dangerous game.
If MY3 had betrayed 6.2 million people his political allies of Jan 8th, well he has to live with it for the rest of his life.
Let’s see what is the verdict of the people in August election.
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Peace Lover / July 10, 2015
MY3 seems to be one of the biggest betrayers in Sri Lankan history post 1948
I assume that class and upbringing matter after all ( though I would not like to advocate that view)
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rew / July 10, 2015
Seems very much so.
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Native Vedda / July 10, 2015
Peace Lover
“I assume that class and upbringing matter after all ( though I would not like to advocate that view)”
Please reconsider your assumption.
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 10, 2015
Dear Native,
Don’t tell me you are a dalit too ,like me …
To get offended by Vellala P.. . Lover’s comment…
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Upali Wijewardene / July 10, 2015
Sumanasekera, you sure are one of those untoucables, and you probably stink too
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Native Vedda / July 10, 2015
Upali Wijewardene
“Sumanasekera, you sure are one of those untoucables, and you probably stink too”
Untouchables don’t stink. Without them the entire South Asia would continue to stink.
Be grateful to them you upper class/caste twits.
White man says you all smell. Go ask him.
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Upali Wijewardene / July 10, 2015
Native, now I know what breed you come from. [Edited out]
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Native Vedda / July 10, 2015
Upali Wijewardene
“Native, now I know what breed you come from. [Edited out]”
We don’t share your DNA hence ours must be far better than yours. By the way why do you Edit out your own typing?
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Upali Wijewardene / July 10, 2015
Stupid Native, it is the CT moderator who edits out things which you are. Shows your level if literacy
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 11, 2015
Dear Native,
I guess now you realize whom you barrack for.
Simply because they have a smattering of English they think they are a different breed.
I can’t talk about your community,
But it has always been the case with my community even after the British left. .
UNP Ranil gives them the leadership and encourage their behaviour.
UNP leadership team itself has the attitude that the great majority of the inhabitants are dumb asses, because they are not like you mate, who made those derogatory comments about the poor , rural people across the nation.
I don’t need to digress on the bull shit the Ranil Govt did for the last 6 months.
Poor people are out of jobs, Development projects stopped,Govt institutions are being readied for sale to foreigners and the list goes on and on.
Are these actions meant to make the Dalits sorry ( Untouchables ) smell better so that they are acceptable to our “Upali Jayawardenas” in Colombo or overseas or wherever they may be?..
Think about it mate….
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 10, 2015
P Lover,
Didn’t you say the other day that you drink Kassippu?…
Only kidding mate,
I know you are a vellala ….Right,
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Peace Lover / July 10, 2015
who says Vellalas cannot drink Kassipu?
btw,when you say class and upbringing its not about caste MR K A sumanasekera its about family values and discilpine
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Piranha / July 10, 2015
I hope and pray that Sirisena does something at the last minute to thwart the ambitions of Ali Baba and his forty thieves. I hope he splits the SLFP from UPFA thereby allowing the SLFP and the UNP to fight the Rajapaksa faction in the UPFA.
It is possible that Sirisena has something up his sleeve to torpedo the Rajapaksa bandwagon. I can only hope.
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patriot / July 10, 2015
all optimists think the same way as you, piranha. Don’t you think that the real Sirisena who won the election on the 8th of January was taken in a white van on the 9th to feed the sharks at Gota’s residence and replaced with the puppet duplicate Sirisena who did contest in support of MR.
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Tea Kettle / July 10, 2015
Thank you, Hilmy for your thought provoking articles.
The time has come for a trifurcation of Sri Lanka, a radical rehaul of the state where Muslims and Tamils have an equal say through separate units under a consociational umbrella. The Sinhalese leadership can never be trusted. I felt that Wigneswaran was a racist but in retrospect, he was correct on Sirisena. Lets hope the UNHCR report in September will help check the Sinhalese establishment.
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Pacs / July 10, 2015
Any dealing with The Tamils should be open and Transparent.
Already he has betrayed the Tamils.
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Srinath / July 10, 2015
Should ve known better
Once a betrayer, always a betrayer!
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Upali Wijewardene / July 10, 2015
He has dug his own grave and it is for the people of Sri Lanka to bury him. There seems to be no end to the threats of the Rajapaksa clan. We need to make sure that they have no place in the future Sri Lanka. Ranil needs to make sure that he saves Sri Lanka not only from the Rajapaksa but also from minority dominance. We need to create that balance through the UNP who need to work with the JVP and other political parties. A national government as proposed earlier by Ranil and Sirisena is probably the only option.
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Amarasiri / July 10, 2015
Hilmy Ahamed
Et Tu Sirisena; A Betrayer Like No Other!
Yes. He belongs 6 feet underground, as he himself said it.
Sirisena, the Spineless, Nut, Wimp, Liar, Coward and Traitor Succumbs To Pressure and Huge Bribe from China, Ranatunga’s Nominations Accepted & MR To Contest From UPFA
Mr. Maitripala Sirisena, Shame on You, Shame on You! Instead of becoming a Leader and a Statesman, see what you have done!
This shows that you are a
1. Spineless
2. Wimp
3. Coward
4. Liar
5. Bribe taker
6. Traitor to 6,200,000 Sri Lankan voters.
Shame on You Srisena, Shame on You.
Instead of calling Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cronies, who are Liars, Crooks, Robbers, Thieves and Criminals you join them especially their head MaRa.
What a shame! Shame on you!
Mr. Maitripala Sirisena, you should have called them “Nuts”, yes Nuts. Instead you have become a NUT!
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gigurawa / July 11, 2015
Amarasiri
Same words, dame disjointed sentences. same vituperations; for the sake of a few CiA dollars
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Waltzing Matilda / July 11, 2015
Hey Gigu Pala, “Same words, dame disjointed sentences. same vituperations; for the sake of a few CiA dollars…”.
Not unlike you huh? Except the dosh comes from MR, right?
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / July 10, 2015
Possibilities of this outcome were becoming increasingly apparent for a long time. However, there was a lingering hope that it would not. I am not sure yet whether MS has let us down deliberately or has walked into a well laid trap. Either way, what has happened cannot be pardoned.
What was rotten, could not be changed with the ease as many of us expected. The rotteness has asserted itself, hopefully (?) to be put into retreat by the people with their vote, once again.
There is bound to be widespread anger, frustration, hopelessness and fear, as an immediate response. MS has to bear the brunt of these collective feelings, unless he uses the trump card- give up his leadership and membership of the SLFP/UPFA and lead a new coalition for reform. Let him try even at this late stage not to be recorded in history as a man who let down a country and a people. He will be called many names- traitor, whimp, fool,cheat, spineless, Judas, etc.-in the coming days and in years to come. This will be his crosse to carry, even when he is no more, unless he changes course now.
I hope the good men and women who worked hard to topple MR and his government, do not retreat because of anger, frustration and fear. Fear of reprisal from a possible MR led/influenced government after General Elections, should not induce a retreat. There should be a fight back with greater vigour.
Let us not lose faith in the good sense of the people. Most of them are shocked, worried and sad at the turn of events. Not any less than the pro-good governance activists. Please do not let them down. They are our only hope and asset now. Help the people turn the approaching tide of evil. We have to make sure we work with less rotten polticians, until we can elect the best among us to poltical office. This is a long haul.
Let the people vote out the more than half-rotten politicians, who will be contesting. Expose them, while educating the people of their rottenness and the principles of good governance. Campaign for the better men and women, who will be contesting for office. Let us vote for a party that has not had a party at our expense, for a long time, in the hope that they have learned their lessons. Remember they also had parties at our expense before, though on a relatively smaller scaale. But let us also remember that the persons we elect as MPs will influence the party we elect, to govern us better than we were before. Our media has to play a more mature role and bear the larger and much desiredd objectives in mind. The freedom accorded to the media in the past six + months has been used like that of the donkey.
The people are our allies. They have to be made aware about the lies, fabrications, exaggerations and false promises that will be thrown at them. The Election Commissioner has an epochal responsibility to ensure that the people vote without fear and their will is reflected in the results.
Ven. Sobita Thera has to continue leading the campaign for good governance with greater vigour, despite his frustration and anger at the turn of events. As a learned monk, he should be able to subdue his frustration and anger better than us. He has to continue reflecting the national concience and our thirst for good governance.
We have to work for the future and translate our bitter lessons into action. If the good governance advocates lose hope and become fearful, the people will flounder and hope (not MS) will be buried seven feet deep.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Sumeda Ratnayake / July 10, 2015
WHY? WHY? WHY? did Sirisena do it? Was it the bags full of dough that was passed on by the noodles? Was it a threat of a bullet from Gota? or was it just simple stupidity? Whatever it is, he definitely is six feet under on the 18th of August. Rest in Peace Sirisena
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upul jayasooriya / July 10, 2015
From a village cow to the top of the world, that is what we did for Sirisena. An absolute blunder and an unforgivable mistake the voters made.
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fazeel Hussain / July 10, 2015
Yes, and his coalition partners would be the snakes. That is what Sirisena has to offer to the minorities for electing him. He is like no other. He makes one feel that Mahinda could have been an angel
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Amarasiri / July 10, 2015
Sri Lanka says Mahinda Rajapaksa officials hid more than $2bn in Dubai
Millions kept outside the country by people ‘closely related’ to former regime says new cabinet spokesman
And Yet, Matripals Sirisena gives nominations to Mahinda Rajapaksa and cronies…. Is he getting 50% of that… How Much did the Chinese give..After all Mahinda Rajapaksa gave money to LTTE Velupillai Prabarkaran..
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/20/sri-lanka-says-mahinda-rajapaksa-officials-hid-more-than-2bn-in-dubai
Sri Lankan investigators have located more than $2bn that was secretly transferred to accounts in Dubai by figures close to the administration of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government said on Thursday.
Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said the funds represented about a fifth of the total amount of so-called ‘black money’ that the authorities suspect was illicitly stashed abroad.
“We have information that more than $10 billion, more than our country’s foreign reserves, is kept outside the country by those closely related to the last government,” he told reporters.
A former top official in Rajapaksa’s administration dismissed as “nonsense” the government’s suggestion that the money found was evidence of corruption.
President Maithripala Sirisena, who defeated Rajapaksa in a January election, has ordered an investigation into all financial deals sealed by his predecessor. Rajapaksa and his former government officials have rejected allegations of corruption and nepotism and said they are ready to face any investigation.
Describing the accounts found in Dubai, Senaratne said: “One person from a leading family held $1.064bn. Another account under a parliament member’s name had over $500m and a secretary to a very important person had over $500m jointly with another person, who is very famous for corruption.”
Senaratne did not say who held the accounts, as the probe is still under way. He said it had also identified large withdrawals, including one of $600m, from accounts belonging to people who had worked with Rajapaksa’s government.
“We have given these details to the US and Indian financial intelligence agencies which are helping us in the investigations,” he added.
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His assertion was dismissed by a former government official and Rajapaksa ally, who declined to be named.
“In the context of money laundering, you can’t take $600m at once,” he told Reuters, adding that the government should name the holders of the alleged accounts.
“Why can’t he say the names if they have the information?” the former government official said, describing Senaratne’s comments on Thursday as “absolutely nonsense”.
Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption body has so far barred former central bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Sajin De Vass Gunawardena, a parliamentarian close to Rajapaksa, from leaving the country because of corruption complaints. Both have rejected allegations they misused public funds.
Senaratne also said the government had cancelled an $85m airport runway project awarded to Colombo-based Access Engineering Plc, which won a number of infrastructure contracts during Rajapaksa’s time in office. No comment was immediately available from the company.
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Bruno Umbato / July 10, 2015
Dear Amarasiri,
People gave your yahapalana government the time to find all these corruptions … But, nothing substantial came out … Lambognies, gold horses, planes, real estate … Still, u guys repeating what you said before the election …
Ask Rajitha the problem of EU fish ban due to trawling by foteign vessels …who gave permission to that, Amare? It is your true paragon Rajith … You still quote what Rajitha says … It shows the bankruptcy of you rather than your enemies … Don’t try walking naked … Quoting Rajitha S is like that … Few knew Rajith before .. Now, almost all srilankans know who Rajitha is …. There is not a cabinet spokesman in the world now or before like Rajith Senarathna who could utter lies, filthy lies and total lies ….
So, please do not quote Rajitha because you would loose your decency ….
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Lanka Watch / July 10, 2015
Hilmy – Some powerful foreign force has twisted his arm as he, having taken strong stand against misrule in the past, would not have given into local pressure, doing a summersault. We need to get to the bottom of it to find out as to who the foreign force is, as he has to answer 6.2 million voters,who voted for him to eradicate Corruption,political
thuggery, nepotism and bring back democratic rule, satisfying all communities. The reason for the “U” turn will never come out of his mouth and he has left the people in the lurch. His worthy assistant Dr.Rajitha, who jumped the ship with him , too maintaining stoic silence.
There must be something serious that would have happened for this big mouth, not protesting against the take over and still promising good
governance.
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Lanka Watch / July 10, 2015
Hilmy – Some powerful foreign force has twisted his arm as he, having taken strong stand against misrule in the past, would not have given into local pressure, doing a summersault. We need to get to the bottom of it to find out as to who the foreign force is, as he has to answer 6.2 million voters,who voted for him to eradicate Corruption,political
thuggery, nepotism and bring back democratic rule, satisfying all communities. The reason for his “U” turn will never come out of his mouth and he has left the people in the lurch. His worthy assistant Dr.Rajitha, who jumped the ship with him , too maintaining stoic silence.
There must be something serious that would have happened for this big mouth, not protesting against the take over and still promising good
governance.
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frank / July 10, 2015
Maithripala is a shameless betrayer. On the day of the elections my heart was beating so fast as the election results came in. There was I suffering palpitation after palpitation anxious if he would lose & end up jailed or killed. Like thousands I was a vociferous social media campaigner for him to chase away the ruthless Rajapakse REGIME. &on the 3rd of July when I learnt that MS had approved his nomination I sufferred so much with this sense of betrayal, I could not believe it. Again i suffered palpitation after palpitation . Now I have just lost faith in all politicians. Feel bitter & cynical only.
MS has committed a great sin. He will have to suffer for this. He deserves to be 6 feet below for dealing such a blow to 63 lakhs of voters.How can a man betray 63 lakhs in just 180 days?& his silence on the whole matter is deafening. At least have the courage to explain to the ppl who voted for him & ALSO MADE HIM PARTY LEADER OF THE SLFP
why he betrayed them.
He’s the worst tyrant in srilankan political history. I wish I & many more like me had voted for MR so that MS would b 6 feet under the ground( in his own words) & had not lived to betray us.
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Boom Boom / July 10, 2015
Write what you want thambi,
The Islamist mafia got together to oust Mahinda Rajapakse on January 8, and now Newton’s Law is operating, with the patriotic Sinhala-Buddhist and other anti-western forces taking corrective action.
It might hurt you, but prepare for the worst.
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shakeel / July 10, 2015
Boom Boom. clean up your bum and wait. We will come for you on the 18th of August and show you how the Thambi 3/4 can penetrate.
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Vibhushana / July 10, 2015
Well, one has to practice what one preaches isn’t it?
Unless there is a criminal offence no one can legally block giving a nomination to a previous leader of a party.
So Sirisena did the correct thing. Its upto the people to judge whether Mahinda Rajapaske is suitable candidate.
Giving nomination is one thing. Getting elected is another challenge for Mahinda. His party then must get the most seats. After that his party must produce him as their preferred candidate for PM. Then he is selected as the PM.
The hardest of challenges for Mahinda would be to get selected as the PM. This last hurdle will be the prerogative of the President.
The president should give the opportunity on merits. The fact that one has already served as a PM is a demerit point. There are few other demerit to go along with that too.
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Shrikharan / July 10, 2015
Maithripala Sirisena has let down the people. He betrayed every one including his party. For him to say he has to protect his party splitting does not hold water as he already split the party when he broke off from his ranks to contest as President. If he was so faithful for his party he should never had done what he did. He did a dirty trick stabbing his boss behind his back capitalizing on the anti Rajapakse sentiments and ‘winning’ the elections. Maithripala Sirisena actually did not ‘win’ the Presidential elections. It was Rajapakse who narrowly ‘lost’. Now Maithri has stabbed the people who risked to vote and elect him as the President. How can he deliver the promise of a clean Government nominating the very same people he accused of stealing the wealth of country and ran a Government with full of vengeance and hate.
We now know the man but we are too late and his character has shown and is not a surprise. He is a man no different to any corrupt politician and it was revealed when he stabbed the man who fed him for the past ten years. If he was so concerned on the bad deeds of Rajapakse why he kept silent so long till Rajapakse went for elections to come down strongly against him. This dirty man enjoyed all the benefits of the Rajapakse Government he could and when Rajapakse can be of no use simply crushed him to the dustbin. Oh no sadly mistaken Rajapakse is a man not so easy to dump into a dustbin. Wait and see who will end up there. We should not take the recent betrayal to the people of the country by him as something out of character. No, not so, betrayal was is character then, now and always. We should have rejected him when he did the dirtiest thing to his party and boss who fed him. He betrayed and stabbed his boss and his party more than 8 months ago when he contested against Rajapakse and we cannot accept his flimsy excuse he had to give nominations to Rajapakse only to protect his party.
Mahinda Rajapaksa certainly is a dirty and heartless man but he had a backbone and was a leader. Maithripala Sirisena has now proved he too is a dirty man but without a backbone. It is now sure Rajapakse will win and thereafter Rajapakse will be the ‘President’ and Sirisena will be only a ‘rubber stamp’. The country is now worse off, if so it would have been better off Rajapakse would have won the Presidential Elections and Maithripala Sirisena would have been dumped into the dustbin and never allowed to surface out. That is certainly true of Rajapakse as a man with back bone and self-respect and would have never allowed a man who stabbed him and the party to lift his head again. It is now the beginning of the end to Maithripala Sirisena.
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John / July 10, 2015
….TOO MUCH IN SHOCK TO COMMENT
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Shrikharan / July 10, 2015
Maithripala Sirisena has let down the people. He betrayed every one including his party. For him to say he has to protect his party splitting does not hold water as he already split the party when he broke off from his ranks to contest as President. If he was so faithful for his party he should never had done what he did. He did a dirty trick stabbing his boss behind his back capitalizing on the anti Rajapakse sentiments and ‘winning’ the elections. Maithripala Sirisena actually did not ‘win’ the Presidential elections. It was Rajapakse who narrowly ‘lost’. Now Maithri has stabbed the people who risked to vote and elect him as the President. How can he deliver the promise of a clean Government nominating the very same people he accused of stealing the wealth of country and ran a Government with full of vengeance and hate.
We now know the man but we are too late and his character has shown and is not a surprise. He is a man no different to any corrupt politician and it was revealed when he stabbed the man who fed him for the past ten years. If he was so concerned on the bad deeds of Rajapakse why he kept silent so long till Rajapakse went for elections to come down strongly against him. This dirty man enjoyed all the benefits of the Rajapakse Government he could and when Rajapakse can be of no use simply crushed him to the dustbin. Oh no sadly mistaken Rajapakse is a man not so easy to dump into a dustbin. Wait and see who will end up there. We should not take the recent betrayal to the people of the country by him as something out of character. No, not so, betrayal was is character then, now and always. We should have rejected him when he did the dirtiest thing to his party and boss who fed him. He betrayed and stabbed his boss and his party more than 8 months ago when he contested against Rajapakse and we cannot accept his flimsy excuse he had to give nominations to Rajapakse only to protect his party.
Mahinda Rajapaksa certainly is a dirty and heartless man but he had a backbone and was a leader. Maithripala Sirisena has now proved he too is a dirty man but without a backbone. It is now sure Rajapakse will win and thereafter Rajapakse will be the ‘President’ and Sirisena will be only a ‘rubber stamp’. The country is now worse off, if so it would have been better off Rajapakse would have won the Presidential Elections and Maithripala Sirisena would have been dumped into the dustbin and never allowed to surface out. That is certainly true of Rajapakse as a man with back bone and self-respect and would have never allowed a man who stabbed him and the party to lift his head again. It is now the beginning of the end to Maithripala Sirisena.
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gamini / July 10, 2015
Once a ‘Bambuwa’ always a ‘Bambuwa’.
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paul / July 10, 2015
I take it you are referring to Ranil?
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Vanguard / July 10, 2015
Dear Hilmy
History will record that MS “betrayed” the party and his President in November 2014 first, before anything else. This is why some did not vote for him despite his good intentions. That must be pointed out.
The question is why does President Sirisena still support the SLFP so completely? Perhaps he will be able to explain in the coming weeks. It is a classic battle between the Green and Blue ideologies. President Sirisena has chosen the Blue.
Although a free and fair election is coming the concern is if a freely and fairly elected parliament leads to a dictatorship? It has happenned before. I think the key is to solve the ethnic problem(s) that have poisoned our political process thus far.
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Ranasinghe / July 10, 2015
Maithripala has done the right thing by the SLFP. He did not split the party. If UNP can win without SLFP they can do it. In any case all the other parties are with the UNP, but they are contesting seperately. So, they can join later and form the government. Maithripala too can join them, but Mahinda will be the opposition leader. So no more bond scam for the UNP
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Shrikharan / July 10, 2015
Ranasinghe, in reply to your comment and I quote “Maithripala has done the right thing by the SLFP”.
You may be right but he certainly did split the party more than 8 months ago when he walked out of President Rajapakse. May be he is correcting a mistake he made. But if so he should correct the mistakes fully by handing back the Presidency to President Rajapakse who has proved once again to be leader. He is a born leader. Let not this phylum invertebrate Sirisena guy become a mockery to the eyes of the world being a rubber stamp of President Rajapakse hand back his seat and office to President Rajapakse and go down 6 feet below where he should belong .
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