Colombo Telegraph can exclusively reveal that President Maithripala Sirisena has taken measures to protect his favourite Senior DIG in charge of intelligence while making the Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and IGP Pujith Jayasundara scapegoats for the colossal security blunder that resulted in the horrific bombings and killed more than 250 people on Easter Sunday.
President Sirisena was informed about the foreign intelligence reports predicting the attacks on at least three separate occasions Colombo Telegraph can exclusively reveal today.
All three briefings were conducted by Head of the State Intelligence Service Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena. Jayawardena met Sirisena personally to brief him on 11th April and 16th April. President Sirisena then travelled overseas soon after the New Year holidays. When the Indians tipped off the SIS once again on the 20th of April about the bombings being imminent Jayawardane tipped off the President over the telephone. At the time Sirisena was holidaying in Singapore with his family after a 3 day pilgrimage to India for blessings.
At no point after the SIS briefings did President Sirisena discuss the deadly serious threats with the Inspector General of Police, the three armed forces chiefs or even his own Defence Secretary sources at the Defence Ministry told Colombo Telegraph. Directives were given by the MoD to police officials to take necessary action to prevent the attacks and inform churches in advance of potential risks Colombo Telegraph was told by high ranking sources. Some sources said it was possible that Sirisena did not fully understand the extent of his security briefing or the high level threats being warned about.
President Sirisena has characteristically blamed officials in the Ministry of Defence and the Head of the Police IGP Jayasundara for shirking their responsibilities and failing to tell him about the imminent threats. “They came with betel leaves to wish me for Avurudu and even then they did not bother to tell me,” said the President when he met media heads and foreign reporters last week.
However officials say this is a blatant lie because SIS SDIG Jayawardane was always in the habit of telling the President about intelligence reports first before informing Ministry of Defence officials or even the Chief of National Intelligence Sisira Mendis.
“There is no way that the President did not know. I can imagine if the Defence Secretary did not warn him. But the SIS chief is his pet and he knew everything. They talked several times a day. There is no way Nilantha Jayawardane did not tell him what he knew,” a senior Government Minister who did not wish to be named said.
One UNP minister said that the President may have decided not to act on his briefings in the belief that the attacks would be small scale ones. “He may have thought he could then blame the UNP for those attacks and that would give him a political advantage,” the minister added.
The Minister said the SIS head had intimidating details about the attacks and the attackers ready to brief officials minutes after the bombings.
Defence Ministry officials however met with the head of the SIS Nilantha Jayawardane, the three forces chiefs and the IGP and other officials to discuss the threat as soon as the intelligence was received by the Ministry on the 9th of April. Directives were issued to the police to take necessary steps to avert the attacks and be extra vigilant. They even told the Police to alert churches to the intelligence reports and the risks involved.
Unable to take action against the SIS Chief who is his favourite President Sirisena has decided to make the former Defence Secretary Fernando and the IGP fall guys in the debacle. He has refused to take responsibility for the lapse even though he holds the portfolio of Defence Minister and Minister of Law and Order in charge of the tri-forces and the police. Sirisena has also never named the SIS head as being at fault for failing to alert him even though it is to the SIS that foreign intelligence is channelled to. In fact if the President is maintaining he was not told by any of his officials SDIG Jayawardane should be the first to take the blame senior officials at the Ministry of Defence said. “We were always second to know about intelligence reports even though the SIS actually comes under MoD. First of all Jayawardane rushes to the President. About half of what he tells the President he later relays to us,” one official revealed.
An official who is on the President’s staff confirmed that SIS Head SDIG Jayawardane is Sirisena’s favourite police officer. “It was actually to make Nilantha Jayawardane a SDIG that the president suddenly cancelled Ravi Waidyalanka’s extension three months early also. He had a good excuse because of the corruption charges against Waidyalankara. But the real mission was to make Nilantha SDIG since there can be only so many SDIGs in the Police Department at one time,” the president’s office official said.
Fahim Knight / April 29, 2019
I totally disagree with Ali Sabry’s endorsement of the emergency law.
It need to be amended , no one under the emergency law should be denied legal councel and not be detained more than an hour without the approval of a Judge .
From 70’s to the end of the last war , we have some miserable memories of victims of all communities.
Some people abused the law and used it to take revenge and in some cases to take advantage of sexual assaults and a lot of incidents were blamed on security , most of it todate are not been proved, which means most of the accusations against our Security forces were false and the real crimnals are free, very unfair.
The danger of the emergency law is criminals too can abuse it and have abused it in the past.
So I kindly request HE The President to move a motion to amend the law in a away that no innocent citizen suffers or no Criminal abuse it to take revenge.
Our Emergency law is out dated and not in line with human rights .
No Innocent must suffer of pay for the crimes of real Terrorists.
Our international image is most important.
May God bless Sri Lanka with peace and protect it.
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nimal fernando / April 29, 2019
Friends, Lankans, countrymen, lend me ye ears
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Sirisena is first and foremost a Lankan ……… no different from any one of us ……. this is who we are; this is our essence.
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Look around ……. is there any other leader with different traits? Has there been a leader with different traits in the last 71 years?
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Tsk tsk what makes you think Lankans will not be Lankan?
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Deshapremiya / April 29, 2019
In the light of all these events now unfolding it is now and was always clear who had to take the responsibility
Now it would be pertinent to see what action as citizens we can take legally taking our rights stipulated as per our constitution against public officials including politicians when they deliberately fail in their fiduciary obligations towards the public and as citizens take appropriate legal action
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Amarasiri / April 29, 2019
CT,
Years ago, Amarasiri conferred the Titles of Traitor, Sevalya, Mala-Perethsya, Pachaya, Patholaya etc., some noticed, and many did not. For years many Muslims have been warning about these Wahhabi-Salafi outfits such as Tauheed Jamats, and they were ignored. In the meantime, the Sufi, Shia and Ahmedia Muslims were attacked by the Satan following Wahhabi Salafies and their clones.
The authorities did nothing.
The Sinhala Buddhist Terrorists attacked the Muslims and Christians, and the Authorities did nothing . Years before, they attacked the Tamils and the authorities did nothing.
Recently, specific information and warnings were given, by the Indians as well, and Sirisena and the Traitors, did nothing,
So we have 300 dead, may they rest in palace, and 500 injured, may they recover fully, and a whole nation of 22 million psychologically injured and in shock.
The Traitor Sirisena and cronies are still there. From their viewpoint, the people are fodder and disposable.
Sirisena, the Trojan Horse, the Gift, ( in German, poison) , to the people of Lanka.
When will the parliament, impeach the Traitor?
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maalumiris / April 29, 2019
“When will the parliament, impeach the Traitor?”
Never. All he has to do is hand out a new set of Car Import Permits to the MP’s and everyone will be happy
When-oh-when will we get administrators who actually have some love of country ????
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Soam / April 29, 2019
This guy is not only a fool , but also dangerous. He should be impeached and sent to jail for serious security lapses. How long the Good Sri Lankan can put up with this imbecile.
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Underling / April 29, 2019
This guy is not only a fool but worse than Nero. He is happily shopping for his son’s wedding while innocent people are killed. We are bigger fools for letting him get away with a scapegoat.
“The fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves, we are underlings…” Shakespeare.
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Analyst / April 29, 2019
Soon after he was informed of the imminent danger to the country and its citizens he took off with his family for their safety.This shows the utter selfishness of this Silliest Poliitical leader of the entire world.
I just can’t understand the mentality and the stupidity of the majority and the minority people Ho gave this leadership position.
Utter callous behaviour of a SELFISH LEADER.
ONE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED STRIPPED NAKED AND THROWN TO SHARKS.
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anonymous / April 29, 2019
“ONE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED STRIPPED NAKED AND THROWN TO SHARKS.”
Unfortunately, the ‘shark keeper’ is under severe pressure at the moment, here and in his own country as well. Not enough funds for the upkeep of the sharks ‘Ditta Damma Vedaneeya’ hawk is after him. Now the two brothers are planning the ‘Mother of All Coups’ with his (ex) previous murderous clan in uniforms
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Samath / April 29, 2019
How can we impeach this guy while other guys in parliament alsi aid and abate in same way as of him.
They too either announce they know of it or they security team knows or their father knows and adviced not to go to the church.
Now they target Muslims and their Arabian cultural imports as a scapegoat while let the bhudhist cultual practice that lead to several killing and burning is untouched.
Even terrorism prevention also politicized by the government. Medical doctors take this opportunity to vomit their religious hatred of Muslim and their culture by demanding them to remove the head covering showl completely in some part of hospital at the entrance of the hospital itself.
We need to give social and cultural education that priorities values over cultural biase and hatred. When our medical doctors and president and priminister’s mentaliry is such corrupt how can we expect ordinary citizens.
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MM / April 29, 2019
President Sirisena has to resign immediately to solve all these issues.
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Valerie / April 29, 2019
It really shows the calibre of.people when you do not act according to the responsibility that has been given to you. You do not hold the trust or faith the people have placed in the Government as a body not individual or party. Has anyone of u ever proved being patriotic?
The common man has.
The lower ranks of forces have. While those who should are.enjoying temperory illusions.
Oh sri lanka my heart breaks for you
You who provided us with shelter food and tried to keep us united.
The blood soaked earth cries out onto deaf ears….is no one out there? No one?
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lion / April 29, 2019
this guy should be shot in public.
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paul / April 29, 2019
In pubic might be better.
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Native Vedda / April 29, 2019
lion
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“this guy should be shot in public.”
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Why?
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Jack / April 29, 2019
Because he is responsible for 250+ deaths of innocent people.
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Native Vedda / April 29, 2019
Jack
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Was he responsible for day to day operations of possible or actual security breach? What hell were those actually receive the early warning from Hindians? Even if the government sack the ones who were responsible for day to day security they know if and when the government changes they are back in office.
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By the way killing won’t help you put the corrupt system right.
Don’t waste time because the officers are still celebrating their victory over LTTE. It will take a few years for them to realise the party should have stopped on
19 May 2009.
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Dilkie / April 29, 2019
He is a blatant liar. So are all the MP’s whose Security divisions were informed. Why did not The IGP take action with the powers he has?? Why why!! Dehiwala churches were protected. So much damage and death. How do these guys sleep at night? . How do they face the public? My heart has gone numb with sorrow.
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Sriyani Mangalika / April 29, 2019
We are at a very critical state and yet Governed by such an irresponsible person. I knew his nature. I was warning people. Laws are to protect people. If people’s lives are at danger for the sake of protecting law?? This is a very severe situation to the whole country and we all are at danger. We all know former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka won the severe battle against brutal terrorists. This government do not want to respect him and get the service. What I have to say is if some one have an agreement with the international to ruin this country such person /persons could never get out of the agreement. Please observe what is happening if you have common sense.
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Amila / April 29, 2019
If he was informed as per the article. He should step down or impeached. He may create further trouble in country as he was doing since late october last year. Also he seems to be a person not able to work with any officers.
He has appointed the third secatery to slfp, appointed fourth defence secatery n appointed the fourth presidential secatery as well within this short period of time. So you can understand what type of a person he is right.
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Gratiaen. / April 29, 2019
We would like to know whether S/DIG Nilantha Jayawardena corroborates this reportage of this CT news.Until such time,we cannot believe this hearsay news.
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Christopher Seneviratne / April 29, 2019
Why cant we as people of this country impeach this idiot president of our country. God help us. Some one courageous enough tell him for the good of this country to go.
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roger / April 29, 2019
there is no failure in the part of intelligence or the IGP. It is the failure of Sirisena. Defense secretary Hemasiri was an idiot, cannot expect any sensible action from him. Had he resigned before 21st this may have been averted. He and sirisena should he charged for criminal negligensce
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Parakum / April 29, 2019
Is this a part of the BIG political change MS forecasted going to happen after New Year?
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Jayantha deAlwis / April 29, 2019
With ref to the warnings given to the President, I can guess two probable scenarios: a) President is down right stupid and does not understand the importance of issues. b) Intelligence Chief must have briefed the President in English language (as in Sri Lankan culture), which he is unable to comprehend.
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Julampitiye Amaraya / April 29, 2019
We , The people were fools to keep These selfish rogues in parliament.
We should have sent Some KINNIYA BUFFALOES to Safeguard Sri Lankans to the Diyawannaaoya Sanatorium. At least Buffaloes would have bellow to inform us about the dangers before hand happening.
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Roshi / April 29, 2019
He is playing innocent while being the main culprit. Shameful behavior.
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Chris / April 29, 2019
What a sad state our country has descended to under this President. A man who swore at the Dalada Maligawa he would wipe out the enormous crime and corruption forced upon the people by the previous regime and leave after one term. The people of Sri Lanka have been patiently and in silent shame for electing this person suffering his a short span of six months that this immoral and utterly corrupt and dangerous man monster of a politician just imagine what the next disaster will do to our country has plunged our nation into an abyss of utter disaster. If we fail in our duty to stand up to this and remove him from office the next disaster he creates to cling to power will wipe all of us out completely. There is no excuse for Sirisena to remain in power anymore by playing false statesmen and crucifying scapegoats. He must be the first candidate for the capital punishment he wants to reintroduce to Sri Lanka. There is no greater crime than what he has done to 250+ innocent human beings whose flesh and guts remain scattered on walls and streets today due to his callous and criminal breach of duty. There is no escape route for Sirisena from this crime scene. He has been caught in the act. Impeachment and criminal charges must follow and the parliament must set up a committee of inquiry immediately for the purpose now.
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Deva Kahanda-liyanage / April 29, 2019
I am bloody furious and depressed to see the inefficient and corrupt leadership in Sri Lanka. No wonder there is a saying: “What can a monkey do with a mirror in its hand”? This is the present scenario that the country is now facing with Incompetent, Senseless leadership at all levels! The President’s, as well as the Parliamentary, with the Hyenas! These leaders have hijacked a whole country and anyone can see the results of their governance.
My question is! Who are to be blamed? Of course, the people who voted for them!
The sad and pathetic state of affairs!
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Christopher Seneviratne / April 29, 2019
One thing must be said to Maru Sira, What Winston Churchill told Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain the British Prime Minister of that era. Go for the good of Sri Lanka. He is a bare faced liar
which be told to go.
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Chandra / April 29, 2019
Mr Sirisena, please resign and go home.
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Native Vedda / April 30, 2019
Chandra
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“Mr Sirisena, please resign and go home.”
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Haven’t you noticed Hopper Sirisena will come back through the revolving door in different guish and different avatar.
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Once he’s gone do you want the national hangman Gota to replace him?
Its a good idea. However I doubt Canada and Germany would relax their immigration policies/rules to accommodate further 21 Million people.
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Kamal Nanayakkara / April 29, 2019
I dont know why any if the bombers did not going into the parliament building while a session was on. At least that would have got rid of some of the idiots there.
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Mallaiyuran / April 30, 2019
You Don’t need ISIS for that because you have already the Lemon Puff Veeriya inside. But the problem is, because he is a Wijeya Veera JVP; He doesn’t know the job.
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Buddhist / April 29, 2019
WE do not know who are the members of the commission appointed by Sirisena. PM should ask the commission to investigate 1. When did the |President know about the attack; 2. Why he did not inform the PM; 3. Why he ran off to Singapore on an unscheduled visit after knowing that there is going to be an attack and without appointing an acting Minister 4. Why the Security council was not called. We need to know the answers to this Mr. PM.
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Mano / April 29, 2019
I cannot accept a person who had led the Final assault and FINISHED OFF THE TAMILS AND THE LTTE is a naive or a FOOL. It appears HE and all the TOP BRASS had colluded with the Masters of the BOMB BLASTS and now trying to paint a NEW picture to cover all the killings and the bloodstains. their compliance have caused.
This is the blessing yahapalanaya has given to this country and its people.
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Thanga / April 30, 2019
President Sirisena has earned a reputation for speaking through both sides of his mouth. CT readers will recollect that after claiming that he and his family would have been buried five feet deep had he lost the elections later said it was election propaganda. There was no truth in it he said. When he appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa without dismissing the sitting Prime Minister he claimed he acted on expert legal advice. It turned out it was bad advice given by mediocre lawyers like GL Peiris!
When Sirisena was elected president he told the country that he is a one-term president. Today he is desperate to contest again even aligning with the devils! Right from day one of independence in 1948, we have not produced a politician even half as good as Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. Singapore today is a mini-super-power with GDP per capita (PPP) at US$ 93,900 and ranked 7 out of 229 countries. Sri Lanka is way down with GDP per capita (PPP) at US$ 12,800 and ranked 122 out of 229 countries. These figures speak volumes about the economic performance of both countries.
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raza / April 30, 2019
Most People also feel that PM should have come to know of the planned atrocities, through some source and kept quiet to make poltical mileage against H.E. Srisena. If he lives so much in dark, he has no justification in holding and clamouring the positioon of PM.
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Pon Kulendiren / April 30, 2019
Gramasevaka or the President ?
My dear Gramasevaka Sirisena. I am ashamed to address you as President of Sri Lanka what do you know about Management ., Coordination — analyzing the facts and Decision making? You are not fit to be ahead of State. It was pure luck that you became the President. I would blame the Sri Lankan voters. You have the habit of passing the responsibility to the Officers. It is typical of ministers. Who are you to asses the gravity of the information you received from Indian RAW. Are you smarter than the RAW. Even US intelligence advised you. Few incidents that took place before the Easter attack should have opened brain. It is what happens if you have your favorite officers in top positions because of political reason eyes You behaved like an Idiot with no responsibility for the security of the country You already planned holiday your visit with your family to Singapore and Thirupathy temple.
For you the country is priority 2. It has affected so many lives — you as Buddhist accumulated Karma. You will pay for it one day. I would say it is the Sri Lankan voters should be blamed for electing him as the President.. If Mahinda were voted to power he would swindled the country and became of the king of Sri Lanka. He too is the same boat as you interested in building family dynasty Educated honest man should fill the top position. I am sure that your media men will give a translated copy of this comment as you do not know English The Singhala people may think that I am too harsh on the Singhala Buddhist President., That is the problem in the country I have traveled the entire Sri Lank and know all three languages. At least let voters open the eyes and elect an honest, educated and dedicated man as President. May God save Sri Lanka. I am sure more such attacks may take place as the Terrorist groups know the inefficiency of the Sri Lankan government
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Native Vedda / April 30, 2019
Kamal Nanayakkara
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“At least that would have got rid of some of the idiots there.”
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Maybe not a good idea at all as there are hundred of thousands of their b***s carriers are in the queue to replace them especially the clan, Gota, Basil, Yoshitha, Rohitha, Shiranthi, Srimal, Nisantha, Chaminda, Manoj, Pushpa, Thejani, Bimalk, Ashantha, Dudley, Mihiri, Preethi, Lalith, Madhawa, …………………………….
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paul / April 30, 2019
Sirisena was just continuing the policy of apathy and incompetence that is a feature of all our governments. MR and GR were warned (by moderate Muslims) about Islamic extremism long before Sirisena and they did nothing about it either.
Yesterday the Silumina reported that some Muslim women had been buying vast quantities of white cloth. The Police have found a number of white skirts and blouses that they have made. They were preparing for Vesak. This story was repeated by BBC radio. Now that national panic has set in, the Government has woken up, but it is probably too late.
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raza / April 30, 2019
President is having many ex UNPers as advisors who were against Ranil . These opportunists are not working for the President or his good, but against Ranil. President must understand this and chase them away.
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Pon Kulendiren / April 30, 2019
Even if you change the color of the dress from Black to white the attitude cannot be changed What is in the mind is that turn into action . Suddenly the President and Mahinda dynasty has a praise for LTTE leaders . Whim are they trying to deceive . One day another Pirbaharan will be born as Kalki to bring an end to Kaliyuga . That will be tenth Avatharam . I the land will get dissolved in the Indian ocean. This was predicted by a sidhar
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