The Galle Magistrate has impounded the passport of former Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa over CID investigations into the controversial floating armoury.
PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Public Order John Amaratunga and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa | File photo – June 2010
The action was taken after the Attorney General’s Department consulted Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe with a recommendation that Gotabaya be taken into custody together with three others for alleged violation of the Firearms Ordinance and other laws. It is over the floating armoury owned jointly by Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Limited, a fully government owned company and Avant Garde Maritime Services Limited, a privately owned company.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has said that the former Defence Secretary should not be taken into custody. He has stated that an arrest would lead to problems for his government and directed that all other legal steps should be taken. Others whose passports were impounded today (Monday) are Vice Admiral (retired) Somatilleke Dissanayake, a former Commander of the Navy, Major General (retd.) K.B. Egodawala, Chairman of Rakna Lanka and Manjula Yapa, Managing Director of Avant Garde.
The CID is conducting investigations into how former Defence Secretary Gotabaya gave government owned weapons to a private company in reported violation of laws. A key Defence Ministry official whom the Police wanted to impound the passport, Damayanthi Jayaratne had left Colombo for New Zealand where her family is living. She has left before she was arrested. There are allegations that inside help were obtained. It is claimed that she issued all instructions to Avant Garde for handing over of weapons and that private company was enjoying the sole monopoly of renting state owned weapons to private parties overseas. Millions of dollars have been earned by this company. They had provided money and a fleet of vehicles for former President Rajapaksa’s presidential election campaign.
The owner of the Avant Garde company Yapa Nissanka Senadhipathi who retired from the Army is known to be a close friend of Gotabaya and has been spending billions of rupees for different tasks given by him. CID is this week expected to question Major General (retd)Kapila Hendawitharana, former Chief of National Intelligence over the scandal they are probing.
Senadipathi’s role in obtaining the support of important persons in the government has become a huge controversy. His passport remained impounded. However, Police did not object to bail when their counsel made an application to the Fort Magistrate to enable him to travel to Nigeria. In June 2014, Senadipathi had led a delegation to Nigeria which included Chief of the Defence Staff Major General Jagath Jayasuriya, Mrs Damayanthi Jayaratne and Hendawitharana. His power with Gotabaya was so much no one wanted to object to an official delegation going. Now, after Sri Lanka government began investigations, the Nigerian government is investigating whether any weapons from Sri Lanka have gone into the hands of terrorist group Boko Haram.
There was high embarrassment for two people who were openly supporting the Avant Garde case. One was Tilak Marapana PC, who is counsel for Senadipathi and also advisor to the Anti Corruption sub committee of the government. Other is Wijedasa Rajapakshe, Minister of Justice. At a meeting of the committee, when Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the JVP leader and Champika Ranawaka, the JHU leader raised questions, Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath could not keep quiet. He disclosed that Marapana directed him not to object when an application is made to have the passport of Senadipathi returned for him to travel to Nigeria. Gamlath said he checked with Justice Minister Rajapakshe. He had said he was asked not to object and go slow with the case.
This is how Anura Kumara Dissanayake told several public meetings that Rajapakshe was trying to black out the investigation. Of course Rajapakshe has denied this and goes on to give interviews to media that he is innocent. Leader of House Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament that operations of Rakna Lanka and Avant Garde were legal. Presidential inquiries had revealed that the reply which Kiriella read out had been prepared by Defence Secretary K.M.D. Basnayake. He is the same person who had granted leave for Damayanthi Jayaratne to travel to New Zealand.
Millroy / March 10, 2015
There is extremist elements has been penetrated into state organs of after 2015 January 9th that an Anarchist, Trotskyists and Terrorist of JHU and by products of JVP, Tamil terrorist of all round the clock want created instability democracy, which prodigious catastrophe of governances of democracy by hook or crook.
They are committed make crime against democracy at the all the cost.
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Javi. / March 10, 2015
S+M Mule vs T Mule (only exceptions are rare) messy cage!
“”They are committed make crime against democracy at the all the cost.””
don’t worry he won’t live long in that democracy stuff like sovereignty.
Rajapassa spoke/s Sinhala to `God Buddha`;
He speaks Islam to Women;
He speaks Tamil to Dogs.
Get the blood hounds off the streets and find Pluto.
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Arsath / March 11, 2015
WTF?? can you say this in English please..
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Javi. / March 11, 2015
SinGayLish,
common sense is for middle class.
common problems is for common people.
nonsence is for your one and only minority in the USA- eusence fearing the teabaggers kkk.
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Fiat Justicia / March 10, 2015
The government must has changed after
the January presidential elections.
Sri Lanka’s media has not.
They are still servile to Gotabaya
and the Rajapaksas. Take today’s
morning newspapers. Except the Island
(which supported UPFA) is the only
paper that says Gotabaya’s passport
has been impounded.
All others speak of a travel ban. What
does this mean. Only when Gota’s passport
is impounded that there is a travel ban.
For all others, it is the passport being
impounded.
Even the UNP Government led Daily News
has come out to whitewash the Gotabaya
story. So this is the line they are told
to follow and not hurt Gotabaya.
It began with a heavily pro Gotabaya
news organisation (possibly he is a partner
there) sent out an SMS about the travel ban.
How much they talk about media freedom? Why
mislead the people with this bullshit?
/
J J Pathiwille / March 10, 2015
Now it is high time to prove these allegations against members of the former regime
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Lanka Watch / March 10, 2015
It is now abundantly clear now that there were some secret agreements
reached verbally, between RW and the out going President, on the night the alleged coup, was to take place.(9th Jan early morning).It is suspected that RW agreed protection for the ruling family and to ensure
no arrests of the “royals” are made, just after the hand over,and Gen. Fonseka not to be appointed as a defence minister and so on, were the conditions laid down by the former President to hand over the govt.to the newly elected President, without a show down.
The current President cannot be blamed as most of the organizing committee members would have gone hiding for fear of arrest in the event MR won and they would not have known, even now, as to what really
transpired between RW and the former president. RW played a double game
here to protect his position as PM and one wonders why he elected to proceed to temple trees,instead accepting the offer by MR to talk it over the phone. Who will walk into a den at the unholy hours, when all the big guns were there, not realising what can happen to him and how come he was spared as he was the main man behind the coalition. Were
they expecting him at temple trees ,even if MS won or lost ?.
There should be something, much more to it and people will be foolish to expect that high profile cases like above, will be solved in a manner acceptable to the people, who got affected by the former regime
and they will certainly pressure Mr. Sirisena to initiate an inquiry.
RW has clashed with Indian,govt. clashed with minorities calling CM.NPC
a liar, got his junior minister of defence to warn the N/E Tamils that
armed forces in full strength will not be taken off N/E for ever, not even 10 days, past the EP election, where the Tamils voted en block for
Mr. Sirisena and finally,he indirectly exposed himself as a friend of the former regime to the general public and what next for him is the question.
Presume its a one time (6 months)short term premier ship. At the recent
TV interview, he has stated only around 5000 civilians perished in the last days of the war, while UN quotes 40,000 dead,(Usually UN quotes less) and 100,000, says the people around the scene. PM of a country should have a grasp of these matters before facing a TV interview , viewed by millions.
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Das / March 10, 2015
You must give him a chance.He wanted the AG to carry on with the investigations and told not to arrest.He is still facing political uncertainty.
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EDWIN RODRIGO / March 10, 2015
See how the hounds are after Ranil for practising the art of of compromise, the hall mark of a good politician. Had he done the other thing, the other set of hounds would be after him for resorting to political venegeance.
“He has stated that an arrest would lead to problems for his government and directed that all other legal steps should be taken.” The key phrase here is the last 7 words.
As ‘Point of View’ has said Gota would not survive one night in jail.
Let us be fair. After all whatever Gota’s sins may be he has also done some great service to this country during the war and we cannot put him in the lion pit with a good conscience. I am for justice, which I am sure will be achieved finally. But the path to final justice are many.
Let us be patient and civilized and not become a frenzied lynch mob.
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Ben Hurling / March 10, 2015
EDWIN RODRIGO,
1. Law is not available for compromise.
2. Arresting criminals by long arm of the law is not political vengencce.
Era of backroom deal making must be ended.
Cheers!
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Lanka Watch / March 10, 2015
Well said Ben, perpetrators of crimes against humanity should be
investigated and punished for their sins, irrespective of what
connections they have or how powerful they are. This is what
democracy preaches.
/
Native Vedda / March 10, 2015
Ben Hurling
How about plea bargaining, would save time and costs?
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 10, 2015
You are absolutely right. This government has received a a date to unscramble a scrambled egg, without destabilising the country. This no easy task and requires intelligence, widom, delicacy and finesse. Ranil did right.
Let us thirst for justice, not blood.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 10, 2015
Correction:
— received a mandate to—
Dr.RN
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Lion / May 5, 2015
You would not be saying this if you given a ride in a white van. Whatever he could not do in America, he does in Sri Lanka, a third world country where even ‘grease yakkas’ can be created to frighten the public, and it is accepted.
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yakmuna / March 10, 2015
Defense secretary Basnayake (Bassa) is a plant by Gota.Remember on the day he assumed duties as Def Sec his first comments to the media was that he got the blessings from Gotabaya. This Bassa never thanked the President for appointing him. Surely this guy is behind covering Gota and Yoshitha.
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punchinilame / March 11, 2015
This kind of support for Gota existed throughout the Regimes time, as will be seen here.
[Edited out]
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Ameer Ahmed / March 10, 2015
Jim Softy – How funny? Are you saying all the readers
of CT are LTTE rump? Come on!! Find something more
convincing to say if you want to be a cheer leader.
Not any bullshit. Your slip is showing badly.
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commando 695 / March 10, 2015
Paddy
Totally agree with your comment. Totally.
This guy is an IDIOT by any strech of immagination.
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Ceylonese / March 10, 2015
Gutless Royalist
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rew / March 11, 2015
Gutless where ever he schooled
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Javi. / March 11, 2015
premature, premadasa pass_lingam’s measles boy sajith
playing the God Buddha card.
ever asked how the hitchhiking frog alla lingam `Hop(ped) In`?
Kili: Courage to be Different.
a conductor says `Hop On`.
Choksy,Aban,Renuka,Harry & they are beyond your realm of being a Ceylonese bourgeois.
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dcn / March 10, 2015
P.M. may be right in asking the CID to investigate fully before any arrest is contemplated. However, through fear ir favour, he cannot let lose the wrong doers. The whole episode of granting leave to suspects by the present Defence Secretary, allowing the release of passports of the main man in the case etc all look very disturbing for the public who supported this government to come into power.
We expect some kind of dynamism, efficiency, spead and of course transparency in handling this case which is of much interest to the public. There cannot be any personal attachments of friendship and/or relationship taken into consideration by any Minister, M. P.s, or the Police, CID in deciding the fate if this case. If done so, it would reflect badly on the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe abd the supporters would lose all tge faith in him.
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BBS / March 11, 2015
“”transparency in handling””
“I beg your pardon?” trying to stop the onslaught.
[Edited out]
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Shamil / March 10, 2015
Ranil should remember that he got the PM post only by President MS without having majority in Parliament. But it seems like he is destroying all the actions against Rajapaksas. MS still have time to use executive power to implement Yahapalanaya 100%. And he should not support either UNP or PA in the election. People should think wisely without party politics. Ranil will be thrown away like what happened in 2005. He is the only one think he is cunning politician. FK Ranna Ponil.
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Srinath.gunaratne / March 10, 2015
Boru chodana, boru show, Private sector always pay political parties, it is not a secret and it happens in UK too. It heppens in UNP too. Just do something usefull to the country without wasting public money on boru commission.
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Peace Lover / March 10, 2015
now K A Sumanasekera will be eternally greatful to Ranil the PM and even offer his posterior as a reward
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pariot / March 10, 2015
Sri Lankans have no future until the demise of Ranil. It that does not materialise in the immediate future then President Sirisena need to take the following actions ASAP.
(1) Remove Ranil and appoint Karu Jayasuriya or may be the present foreign minister as the prime minister. A new cabinet is essential with good honest members from UNP and SLFP if he can find any and from Hela Urumaya.
OR
(2) President should abolish the executive presidency completely, form a new party with honest educated people and contest as the prime ministerial candidate in the next general election making Ranil,Mahinda and Nimal Siripala’s hopes of becoming the PM a dream.
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Javi. / March 10, 2015
“”Presidential inquiries had revealed that the reply which Kiriella read out had been prepared by Defence Secretary K.M.D. Basnayake. He is the same person who had granted leave for Damayanthi Jayaratne to travel to New Zealand.””
Ranil press censor/etiquette!!
“I know you are there, Goota/Basil/Percy/Sashi/Namal/S/?? / And I’m going to find you / No you won’t / Yes I will / No you won’t”
Please don’t bend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qjUVMUfmhk
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you’ll succeed at last
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you’ll succeed at last
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G.R.Perera / March 10, 2015
Ranil is in for a rude shock, come the next election!! Almost everyone i have met is pretty pissed off with the obvious ways in which he is protecting the Rajapakshas and the VVIP’s of the former regime!!
Over 50 days of ‘Yahapalanaya’ and not a SINGLE arrest!!
Bahubootha Palanaya-it should be called!! – He is NOT getting my vote in the next election for sure!!
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Sylvia Haik / March 10, 2015
It looks increasingly like Ranil is in the same club as the Rajapakses and no lesser corrupt. If he doesn’t stop interfering with the judical process that is trying to nail the corrupt Rajapakses, we might as well remained with them and put up with the corruption. At least the Stock Exchange would not have lost the Rs.Billions it has lost so far and still counting. It seems that corruption is etched into our psyche and no matter who we elect, we have to suffer it.
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bo / March 11, 2015
Ranil is the bloke that received a Merc Benz from MoRon a couple of years ago, remember! So he has to do his creeping for MoRon with interest at black market rate; also MoRon may have a file on RW. Disgraceful conduct calling for an investigation of what was discussed with MoRon at the dawn of 9th July at the Temple Trees.
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muslim / March 10, 2015
All rouges should be punished,high class or low class,VVIP s or not.
If it is good governance that this government has been elected for , ,then ,there should not be any interference from anyone from those who wield power.
Why fear the law if you are not crooked?
The relief that has been promised for the people are not forthcoming.
The cost of living is still high,and the government has no control on the traders.
The Tuk Tuk fares have not been reduced,the government has lost
control,on them ,and some drivers are even challenging the government on this
.
This is where you need a Gota to get things done,with white vans,missing persons,and the strong arm tactics.
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D.E.M. Ocracy / March 10, 2015
MR. RANIL WICKRAMASINGHE IF THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING YOU WOULD NOT BE VOTED INTO POWER AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION. I ENCOURAGE ALL RIGHT THINKING CITIZENS OF SRI LANKA TO VOTE FOR EITHER THE JVP, JHU OR DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND VOTE OUT THE UNP. THE SIMPLE REASON IS THAT WE VOTED AND WORKED FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THIS IS WHAT IS DISHED OUT TO ORDINARY CITIZENS –
1. THE CENTRAL BANK SCANDAL WHERE RANILS BUDDY ARJUNA MAHENDRA WAS GIVEN THE POSITION OF GOVERNOR
2. NOT ARRESTING GOTHA(BHAYA) JUST FOR THE SAKE OF CLINGING ON TO THE POSITION OF PRIME MINISTER
3. NO ACTION TAKEN IN REGARD TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE GOLDEN KEY CREDIT CARD. NOT ARRESTING LALITH KOTELAWALA FOR MONEY LAUNDERING …. AS HE INDICATED IN THE TELEVISION SHOW THAT BLACK MONEY WAS INVESTED IN THE GOLDEN KEY.
4. NOT HAVING YOSHITA RAJAPAKSE ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF RUGGERITE MR. THAJUDEEN
5. NOT ARRESTING NAMAL RAJAPAKSE FOR INVOLVEMENT IN SCANDALS AND MISUSE OF STATE PROPERTY
THE LIST CAN GO ON AND ON …… AND ALL THIS WAS WAS VOICED ON THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED ELECTION PLATFORMS….. CAN YOU TRUST THE UNP ….. CAN YOU TRUST A PERSON LIKE RANIL WICKREMASINGHE……
COME ON CITIZENS OF SRI LANKA GIVE A CHANCE TO THE JANATHA VIMUKTHI PERUMUNA OR THE JATHIKA HELA URUMAYA OR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO GOVERN SRI LANKA INSTEAD OF SUCH DOWNRIGHT POWER HUNGRY GROUP OF UNPER’S
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Point of View / March 11, 2015
Don’t even joke about voting for JVP, JHU or Democratic Party. It will never happen in our life time.
Maithri and Ranil will overcome these issues. There are elements working behind the scene to destabilise the government and discredit the team.
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Banda / March 10, 2015
Ranil is the biggest obstacle for Yahapalanaya. That he made a secret deal with the Rajapakses is crystal clear. Maithreepala should severely warn him if he continues to protect MR and family. People too will protest his actions if these things go unchecked. He does not have to honour promises done under duress to protect fate of the country on the morning of January 9th. If Ranil continues to act this way he will be rejected by people at the election. Ordinary UNPers are fed up with his double games. Look at his choice of CB governor who was given dual citizenship in one day and the bad choice of the Board of directors at Sri Lankan airlines.
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EDWIN RODRIGO / March 10, 2015
Ben Hurling, Ranil is a politician and he can very well and should practice the art of comporomise. If the law is clear that Gota should be jailed so be it. Go right ahead and jail him and let Ranil go jump in a lake. But the judiciary has to do that not Ranil.
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Lanka Watch / March 11, 2015
President Sirisena should have a serious’one to one’talks with the PM,
on his return from abroad if he wants to protect his respect, party’s respect and more seriously, to protect his vote bank as the elections are around the corner.PM’s Recent gaffes,decisions and statements caused rifts in the domestic and international circles and an appoint- ment that went wrong. He also ridiculed the UN by saying that their estimate of the dead in the last days of war was not 40,000 but 5000/-
in a recent TV interview and made them look fools. He also threatened the N/E people thro’ his junior defence minister that he will keep the armed forces with the same strength in N/E , indefinitely and this was stated ten days after the Tamils took the risk of their lives to vote Mr.Sirisena to power and this statement was uncalled for at a time, Tamil people wanted the President to act on priorities.He usurped
the rights of the President at times, hence the meeting of the two on urgent basis is required.
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gamini / March 11, 2015
It is hilarious to see some of the Gota supporters heaping blame on RW for not taking action against Gota. For them anything to run down RW would do.
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xlntgson / March 11, 2015
It is futile to arrest only 2 weeks can keep, enlarged on bail they will celebrate heroic like Jayalalithaa’s. Of course she paid all tax arrears.
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Fiat Justicia / March 11, 2015
A few of the comments here defending
Ranil Wickremesinghe is quite
understandable. Although I cannot
defend him, I am one of those who
relished the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
It was because he was authoritarian,
corrupt and believed only in family
rule. Gotabaya, Basil, Namal and
other siblings are all key shareholders
of his ignominious defeat.The country
needed a change.
I truly believed the new government
would usher in good governance or yahapalanaya.
What have we got – another bunch of corrupt
wheeler dealers led by Ranil Wickremesinghe.
First came the Duminda Silva case. Nothing
happened because a member of RW’s staff is a
close friend of Duminda. The staffer even
arranged for Ranil to have an interview in
the Hiru TV owned by Duminda’s brother. There
also Ranil spoke about the law taking its
course. It is two months since the government
came to power. Law, like the river, is still
taking its course.
Then came the Avant Garde case. UNP Working
Committee member and close friend of Ranil
Tilak Maarapana is advisor to the Anti Corruption
Committee. He is also lawyer for Avant Garde
owner. Justice Minister Rajapaksa was also
lawyer for Avant Garde. Both successfuly
engineered the slowing down of the CID inquiry.
At the end when CID wanted to arrest the
culprits, the law breakers, the crooks who
have robbed the country and endangerd
national security, Ranil stops them.Is this
Yahapalanaya?
Now comes the Central Bank bond issue racket.
Arjuna Mahendran the UNP appointed governor
was imported from Singapore. He is living with
his son in law Arjuna Alosius. He helped him
make Rs 500 million.
Ranil Wickremasingha is protecting all the
crooks. What is Maithripala doing? People will
not believe in these crooks and vote for them
again.They are NO different to Mahinda Rajapaksa
government which Ranil is so stoutly defending.
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CITIZEN / March 11, 2015
The Government is in a Dilemma, in an OTHELLO fix – To be or Not To Be! Although, the crime committed is, by the absolute abuse of power, is more than evident, the Government is hesitant to apply the law, due to the sensitive nature of the situation. Arresting the former D/S, the Government feels is going to create a dangerous situation for stability of the minority Government. But, on the other hand it is bound to uphold the promise of Good Governance. People electing Maithripala Sirisena as the President wanted effective action against crime; corruption; fraud and robbing of country’s resources by those who held power. For them excuse is immaterial; action is important!
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Pot Shot / March 11, 2015
“The action was taken after the Attorney General’s Department consulted Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe with a recommendation that Gotabaya be taken into custody together with three others for alleged violation of the Firearms Ordinance and other laws”
Can somebody explain to me why the attorney general has to consult the PM? The law is supreme and if anybody is guilty of violating it then that person must be dealt with according to the law irrespective of hos status. We have had enough of political interference in legal matters and it is time that the Judiciary and the executive are separated.
RW should have known better and asked the AG to act according to the law, rather than attempting to influence it. Bloody shame!!!!!
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whywhy / March 12, 2015
Absolutely,in a democracy. But it’s a long and painful
process earned by hard work and through dedication and
sacrifice. Mahinda type of democracy can not be
reformed just like that in three months!Remember that
5.8 million airbags wanted Mahinda to win and the empty
pocket Wimal,Vasu,Dinesh and the racist front liner
Udaya Mapila are hell bent to bring back their “one
man show” hero from ashes!Srilanka is corrupt to the
core and to depend on just any govt institution without
closely monitoring their actions would be suicidal to
the new govt.The lost heroes are madly eager to be
touched by the My3 rule so that their plans can be
set in motion.So, it’s more than independent
judiciary and real democracy.
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whywhy / March 11, 2015
Reports say Sajin’s wife was questioned by the CID and
already Wimal’s wife is having lunch at Welikada.Wives,
be on alert ! New govt rightly knows who were behind
deals and swallowed much of the spoil.It’s rightly
said that “behind the success of every man there’s a
woman.” Same is true with “behind all evils there’s a
woman too.” Husbands stole and wives went shopping!
Most of the time wives are “active” in winning contracts
for husbands.In Gota’s case,not touching him for the
the time being is a smart move.
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FAMOUS449 / March 12, 2015
They are all the same in the same flock of birds; the notorious bunch of thugs and swindlers of national wealth.
They all must be arrested immediately without wasting any more time in the national interest before it becomes too late.
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Justice seeker / March 15, 2015
Is Ranil interfering with Judiciary?
Ranil has no right to say not to arrest Goat.
Arrest warrant should be issued by the court and the arrest
carried out by the police.
I thought freedom of justice is back in place
after MR thug was kicked out by the people.
Ranil should not get involved in legal matters.
Otherwise Ranil should be punished too.
/