President Maithripala Sirisena has deliberately tried to conceal that his brother Kumarasinghe Sirisena wanted to triple the salaries he gets as Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) and Mobitel.
President Sirisena
Although claiming that his brother draws the same salary as his predecessor, the President did not reveal that in fact, Kumarasinghe Sirisena has submitted Board Papers to both the SLT and Mobitel Boards, requesting that his salaries and those of the directors ‘in the range of around Three Times of what is paid presently’.
The Board Papers are dated March 30th, 2015,( see the documents below) just two months after Maithripala Sirisena appointed his brother Chairman in a move that contradicted his pledge to do away with nepotism.
The Chairman’s current salary at SLT is Rs 450,000 a month and at Mobitel Rs 400,000. SLT Board Directors get Rs 35,000 and month while Mobitel Board Directors get 30,000 a month.
The President, on his own initiative, brought up the issue in the Sirasa TV talk show ‘Wenasaka Arambuma’ (The Beginning of a Change) hosted by Upul Shantha Sannasgala on November 21st, 2015. Sannasgala asked the President “The usual monthly salary of the Telecom Chairman is 1 million rupees but it has been said that your brother draws 10 million rupees — is this true?’
President Sirisena said, ‘My brother draws the same salary that the previous Chairman Nimal Welgama got. He has not taken one more cent.’
This is a lie. Firstly, Welgama did not draw a salary. Secondly, Sirisena deliberately conceals his brother’s attempt to increase his salaries three-fold.
The President did not mention the fact that his brother had sought a salary increase that would have given him a monthly income of approximately 2.4 million rupees (from SLT and Mobitel). The President’s assertion gives the impression that his brother was not and is not interested in increasing it by even a cent.
The President, who has moved to change the composition of the Board, cannot be ignorant of his brother’s self-serving behavior in the Board. As such it is clear that Maithripala Sirisena was trying to deceive the public regarding his brother’s greed.
SLT Board paper – Proposal to revise remuneration for Borad members;
Mobitel Board paper – Proposed Restructuring of Remuneration for Borad members of Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd;
Related posts;
Exposé: President Sirisena In The Thick Of A Multi Billion Kickback Scandal
mj / November 25, 2015
Same as MARA’S tactics. .
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sarath / November 26, 2015
Whatever it is, MY3 shouldn’t have appointed his rouge bro as Chairman of SLT immediately after his appointment as Prez. He too is an expert of Nepotism, not second to so called Mr Cool Arjuna. However, this set is thousand times better than MR & Family’s nepotism, all are rouges.
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Amarasiri / December 2, 2015
RE: Exposé: President Sirisena Resorts To Half-Truths To Conceal His Brother’s Greed
Mahinda Rajapaksa has trained the Sinhala Buddhists well.
Now he needs to go to Tempoles and distribute Free sil Redi,Free sil clothes.
Welcome to the Land of Native Veddah Aethho occupied by The Paras from India.
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G'day Mate / November 25, 2015
Maithripala must replace his brother before he gets himself into a place that will mark him forever as a liar and a sanctimonious humbug who differs very little from his predecessor (when he took over the presidency).
He should set the example that will lead to the other liars and humbugs like Arjuna, to get rid of their family members and friends recently appointed to their ministries.
At least this will help to renew the hope we had when we voted him in.
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anonymous / November 25, 2015
This Kumarasinghe Sirisena, brother of the (‘Kana Pallam’ president) and the self appointed ‘Chairman’ of the once government owned SLT should not be working in this capacity for a start. MY3 is not the best person for the job either. Get rid of both of them I’m the ‘Sorry Lankan’ people would like to move the countries economy and standards forward. End of story.
SLFP and CBK are directly responsible for this stupid blunder of the century.
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Dr.rajasingham Narendran / November 25, 2015
Make hay while the sun shines ! Such golden opportunities rarely come and the opportunity that has fallen on his lap under Yahapalanaya should not be missed! Forget about public opinion and what the President- the Loku Aiya -promised the people. The family is everything in our thrice blessed land!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Douglas / November 25, 2015
Mr President: Please follow the same advice you gave to the Prime Minister in regard to the controversy connected with the Governor of the Central Bank. Ask your brother to resign or you can remove him as you were the appointing authority. Isn’t that much easier than advising others to do something that you want to do?. You are well aware of the CONTROVERSY that arose from the beginning of this appointment to present day ongoing condemnation of your actions in this SLT and Mobitel and you cannot blame any other, other than yourself. So address yourself and to your own conscious and do what you have told others to do. GET HIM RESIGNED or REMOVE HIM. Also get rid of all those questionable characters in those outfits viz Wagapitiyas and Silvas and hand over the business to properly qualified and competent personnel. That course of action would definitely put your already TAINTED reputation as a Yahapalanaya architect. Please remember the fate that fell on your predecessor.
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len / November 26, 2015
Next thing Arajuna Mahendran will ask for salary increase.
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Backlash / November 25, 2015
The greed and the self-serving conspiracies of the Rajapalses, Sirisenas and the Ranatungas!!! Where is the time and the will to reduce the heavy burdens of the man in the street in the country – suffering for long under the unbearable weight of increasing and unengaged weight of the Cost of Living.
This country suffers more because of the crooks who end up as Ministers and those in high positions – sans efficiency, ability or learning. That most of these dregs come from rural and the lower ends of society with grandiose promises of “helping our poor brothers and sisters to a better life” once again proves our voters are nothing but serial suckers. Sadly, our people get a government they deserve.
Backlash
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justice / November 25, 2015
CT has ‘blown the lid’ off the president’s bluff about his brother’s avarice.
Earlier, since the 1980s, there were regulations laying down the remuneration of employees of corporations/state enterprises.
What happened to them?
Has the constitutional council approved the appointment of the board of directors of SLT & Mobitel?
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sarrij / November 26, 2015
What constitutional council?
The president is the constitutional council.
The people seem to be asking foolish questions. They seem to be in denial of the “con job ” that has been imposed on job.
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Amarasiri / November 25, 2015
RE: Exposé: President Sirisena Resorts To Half-Truths To Conceal His Brother’s Greed
Question: Are Both The president and his Brother Sinhala Buddhists?
[Edited out]
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Sam / November 25, 2015
Amare:
Do you honestly think that there is a specific religion or a ethnic group that is more greedier than another group? From what we know there was Rs:500 million scam at the Central Bank that many people of different communities and religions were involved..
Please be open minded..
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abey / November 25, 2015
What matters is what he gets. President cant be held responsible for the brother asking for even a 10 fold increase.
However, th president is wrong to have appointed him in the first place
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Lankan / November 25, 2015
Bloody Sirisena rogues…
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Uthungan / November 26, 2015
Let us at least hope that one day by chance one of them will read the comments in CT and by keeping their ears tuned to the groundswell of public opinion, a real ‘Yahapalana’ govt,would become a reality.
But such hopes will always remain just dreams, unless we are prepared to effectively deal with the situation instead of making comments.
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EDWIN RODRIGO / November 25, 2015
MS has to take the complete blame for this.
He swears at Ven Sobitha adahanaya that his reign will be only for 5 years. Not satisfied with that, he repeats the same thing again at a press conference.
Unlike us, Kumarasinghe believes his brother and being an astute businessman, theorizes like this.
I expected my brother to be there at least for 10 years like MR. But looks like the man is going to throw away the throne (or is it throw away the thrown?) in 5 years. If I make 1 million a month, I would have made 24 million in 10 years. 24 divided by 12 is 2 million. So my salary should be increased to 3 million.
If the reader is smart, he would have added 2 and 2 together and come up with 2. But this is 3! Don’t ask me how he got the 3. Exercise your bovine brain cells and you will come up with the right answer. After all it is not rocket science guys!
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Aenna Penna / November 25, 2015
If you make proper enquiries of how the Yakapalanaya’s Sirisena did when he was in charge of the Mahaweli and later the Health Ministry you will know the reason how the family became, from virtual paupers to their current status of billionaire Rice Mill owners, hoteliers and land owners. If Kumarasinghe malli has any learning worth its salt he should offer to meet the media and the public at a duly publicised discussion at either the OPA, ICES or CPA. There he can explain why he wants such a ludicrously high salary in a virtually bankrupt economy. This demand of a killer-salary is another way of draining the country’s meagre resources, these crooks know, now that other forms of bribery might get exposed when change of regimes occur.
What shameless and poorly educated thieves masquerading as “leaders”
experts and super managers.
Aenna Penna
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daya weerasinghe / November 25, 2015
Isn`t this nepotisme…!?This brother of the president,is he qualified for the job or he got this job because hes the presidents brother.!?This is not a good governance,this is the same old crap with different names.
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Cynthia / November 26, 2015
Daya—Ask Daham about nepotism.
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Siri / November 25, 2015
Oh Mr. President, it’s real shame, all naked, and in black and white. Please get ride off your brother from that place before he put more shit in your face. Really he has gone to the extreme in abusing his position for his greed, when millions of fellow countrymen are struggling to exists.
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Pot Shot / November 25, 2015
We have elected a bunch of liars and cheats. The only noticeable relief we ever got is that there are no white vans to pick us when we make such comments.
Nothing has changed !!!!!!! Shame shit just a different day with different politicians.
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anonymous / November 25, 2015
[Edited out] We are sorry, the comment language is English – CT
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roger / November 25, 2015
what is wrong with you all? He is the brother of the President who risked his life for you and me by challenging MR. Since he is the president now why can’t he allow his beloved brother to have a thumping salary.
You all are biased, when President takes his son on a holiday to New York why cant that poor chap attend UN sessions? what’s wrong with that? what can he do in the hotel room when Pa has gone for the conference (he was denied the chance of watching some goooood movies)?
You Sri Lankans always complain. Here is a president and his cabinet (who risked their lives) trying to do their best to out do MR within a short time. Don’t you appreciate that? Learn to give and take. If you want to earn enter politics or send some one in your family to politics. you also will get your time. How long did MS wait to achieve this state. Patience is important.
Again you complained about ‘captain fool’. What can poor captain fool do? Can he trust you and me? He knows well that you cannot even trust people who eat hoppers with you. That’s why he had to appoint his brother as CEO. (I don’t know why MR appointed his brother as the defense sec, it will be a good idea to interview MR on that matter of nepotism. He may have some good ideas for ‘yahapalanaya’ characters.)
so do not complain, be patient, enter politics ……. that is the only way forwards. Next election you have a chance of starting a ‘yahapalanaya 2’ campaign …. good luck
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Sinhala_Man / November 26, 2015
Dear President Maithripala Sirisena,
Please read all this carefully. There were occasions in the past when we had misgiving about some of the things that you had done. We excused many of them, using that euphemism that has come to us down many generations, “exigencies of politics”. Now after thirty comments have appeared on this story, there isn’t a single comment that makes an excuse for you.
Millions of us reposed total faith in you; I’m sure that many of the thirty who have written in so far, may still be willing to grant that you are “better than the Rajapaksas”. You don’t want such back-handed compliments, do you? It is also significant that the very few disapprovals that have appeared for the thirty comments are ones that cannot be explained. For instance, “roger’s” comment that I’m responding to, is dripping with sarcasm. The person who disapproved may have missed that aspect of the comment; it is your duty to take account of the varying levels of understanding of the people whom you have to represent. YOU cannot exercise a prerogative for humour in your official acts.
Many have disapproved of the comment by “abey”; he, like me, is possibly one who stuck his neck out for you without any reservation, but note that even he says “However, the president is wrong to have appointed him in the first place”. Four days ago, I have said that, “it’s the one thing about Maithri that I’ve been uneasy about”
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/expose-president-sirisena-in-the-thick-of-a-multi-billion-kickback-scandal/comment-page-1/#comments
My comment was part of what had become a serious “private” exchange of ideas with an even more principled and sensitive supporter of yours, “Justice & Fairplay”. Maithri, you are still not without supporters; although the initial comment by “Justice & Fairplay” was disapproved by some, our later comments have not been disapproved. On the other hand, this may have been partly because readers had finished with that particular blog:
“Of course I could be naiive and extremely foolish, but I believe that one day, a GOOD man will lead us, and from then on we won’t have scum in the top seat. I had hoped that man would be Sirisena. Let us wait and see…..”
After all these details have emerged, he has NOT yet made any excuses for you: Maithripala Sirisena: the writing is on the wall for you!
There are many who have not assessed this story properly, who say, when one engages them in casual conversation, that “since Kumarasinghe is qualified, this appointment is all right.” I’m beginning to feel that they are mistaken. Your brother may have handled timber competently; fast evolving information technology is a world apart from the expert felling and processing of trees that have been going on for thousands of years.
Maithripala, you have many qualities that we admire. I still see you as being an essentially decent man, who speaks eloquently in Sinhala, which is my mother tongue, and I respect you for that. Many of us were willing to extend that respect to the rest of your family, including even the rather asinine Daham. Now, I begin to feel that your brother is incompetent! Let us even grant that English is not essential for Information Technology. Unlike you, Kumarasinghe appears so devoid of self-criticism that he must have been unaware of the shockingly bad English in which he has expressed himself. Maithri, your wonderful command of Sinhala clearly demonstrates your disciplined mind. Only your notorious enemy, K.A Sumanasekera, seems to commented on the shocking mistakes in English; that must have been because the others were focussing on the substance, and because those scanned papers were difficult to read.
If I have written at length, and written late, it is because I wanted to be sure that there was justification for what I was writing. Now, I tell you, that your brother should not be retained even on his present remuneration; he ought never to have been appointed. Get rid of him fast: he has demonstrated his incompetence!
This is a democracy and you must remember that on the 8th of January 2015, some 4.8 million people voted against you; I’m sure that a sizable number of them realised within days that they had been duped by the Rajapaksas and swung round to supporting you. Now, I tell you, there is a swing AGAINST you, and with good reason.
This is “normal politics” in any country: your political opponents have seized on this story, and I found it listed among the “Most Popular” on their website:
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2015/11/22/expose-president-sirisena-in-the-thick-of-a-multi-billion-kickback-scandal/
Only one response there, probably because others found that what they read there was only what they expected! It is up to you to study other criticisms of your governance that appear there, some of which we still would disagree with.
Up to the end of your Presidency you will have boot-lickers; if you want to retain some credibility now, please do what has been suggested above, by Douglas on November 25, 2015 at 5:45 pm.
Ignore these comments that have been made in plain, unambiguous language, and it is not you alone who are doomed; you would have destroyed all of who have hitherto been working constructively for the common weal.
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Justice & Fairplay / November 27, 2015
Sinhala Man, I agree with every word you have said in yours above.
I am hopeful that the President remains true to his much publicized ideals, and does not soil his repute on his last lap.
Hope springs eternal.
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Sinhala_Man / December 2, 2015
Maithri, whom we once thought so good has now returned to the country; let’s hope he does “something” about all this.
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Lanka Watch / November 26, 2015
Roger – If I remember right, President told emphatically that none of
his relatives will contest the parliamentary election – 2015,in his
propaganda meetings, but today we find them everywhere as political appointees. Some countries cannot stop nepotism. President started it and it continues with other minister bringing in their relatives and mind you, without reqd. qualifications. This makes it easier for MR to stage a come back because most of the things he did, are repeated by this Govt. and eventually, there will be no difference between the two groups in the style of governing the country. Nepotism & corruption will thrive in whichever Govt. that comes into power in Sri Lanka. What a let down of the promises made to the people prior to the election.!
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Shrikharan / November 25, 2015
So we will join Mahinda Rajapakse who will now champion against nepotism.
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Barus / November 25, 2015
Wonder if this man eats CURRENCY NOTES for breakfast, lunch, and dinner !
How much more does he need to say I AM CONTENT. Probably, his desires are never-ending.
Is this guy fit to run a telecom company? Most certainly NOT.
He should have stuck on to hugging trees at the State Timber Corporation
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EDWIN RODRIGO / November 25, 2015
When I heard this, I got the same disgusting feeling that I had long ago, when as a 12 year old, I found out that my mother was having sex with my father. Years later as I learned about birds and bees, I forgave my mother for her sins.
I suppose years from now, I will forgive Sirisena also for his sins, as I learn that this is all about the birds and bees of Sri Lankan politicians.
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chimpa / November 25, 2015
If the contents there is correct, it is really bad. We expected a administration of equal opportunities for every one. If this type of things are happening, it looks every one is same. Shame
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Kuttayan / November 26, 2015
The simple way to evaluate reasonableness of his salary is to assess what he can get in a competitive job market without any influence or connections. The competitive market would be a private sector position. Anyone can bet that this guy with a Degree and a AAT qualification cannot go beyond Rs.100,000 per month… this also could be the upper band!
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 26, 2015
Wonder what our Custodian of the Elite and their Dialect , Mr Emil Syntax Poorten thinks about the concluding para of Kumara Sira’s plea fora pay rise?.
What worries me the most is not the “Rise”..
Even our Dalits in the Diaspora who have jobs, collect LKR 4 to 6 mil or even 10 Mil a year.
Could be even more now that the Yahapalnaya has jacked up the LKR to 145 for a Dollar.
My worry is how Bodhi Sira and his custodians and guardians of the Sinhala Buddhists are going to protect our Urumaya when Sira’s own Bro hasn’t got much competence in the Queens Dialect,
And the White of Batalanda PM & Managalan is not going have its proceedings in Sinhalales.
How can our poor Dalits , mainly from the South explain to those Big Wigs from London, Ontario, Jo Berg and even Singapore that they didn’t do War Crimes, Genocide, Widow Rape and even stealing Thalis from Thamil women in the North.
May be Batalanda Ranil and his Minders set it up so that there won’t be much activity in the White Court, except our war heroes just put in a leniency plea in Sinhala and hope the BASL blokes will translate it for them correctly.
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Spring Koha / November 26, 2015
Yet another nail in the coffin of ‘yahapalanaya’.
We have simply exchanged one set of crooks with another.
ALL of those appointed would not have been if it was decided on merit.
Ho hum! back to square one.
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Malcolm / November 26, 2015
I.O. Sirisena
Don’t worry about what the media say or what the opinion of the people. They can do nothing about it now.
This is a golden opportunity and do not miss. You get this sort of chances only once in a blue moon. As somebody earlier said ‘make hay while the sunshines’.
You are on the right course! Good luck to you and your family!!
Yours faithfully
Humble citizen
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BBS Rep / November 26, 2015
Ah well, it is we who should be blamed.
Time and again we let ourselves be sucked in by Sri Lankan politicians. No matter how much hammering we take at their hands come another election we vote for another Sri Lankan politician. We allow them to pull the wool over our eyes again and again. We appoint thieves to positions of power and when the thieves thieve we complain.
It is we who brought this My3 rogue to power, CT included. We knew he was a close associate of MARA and CBK; both well known Tsunami horas, for a long time. We allowed My3 to hoodwink us. My3 even hoodwinked Sobitha Thero. And now he is laughing all the way to the bank (Swiss banks mind you) along with his siblings and other family members.
Sri Lankan politicians will always be Sri Lankan politicians. Utterly corrupt, dangerous and impervious to all decent humane values.
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Lanka Watch / November 26, 2015
Understand if a 10% increase in salary is sort by the chairman SLT for
himself and the rest of the board but imagine the guts he had to ask for a 3 fold increase . If this request is true, the President should
rein in, his brother in order that he, the president does not become a lier to the people, to whom he promised good governance and eradicate
nepotism & corruption in the country and have a tap on the expenses of the state. This is the trouble when members of the families are taken
in to serve the Govt., they demand more and more and embarrass the
ministers who obliged them with govt.jobs as they tend to think it is ‘appe Anduwa’ and ignore people’s opinion in such matters.
It is heartening to note that Indian PM Mr. Modi has not lost the grip
after two years in power and keeps corruption & nepotism at bay, while our govt. started off with a bang, warning everybody that corruptors,
people resort to nepotism and political thuggery will be dealt with
severely but they themselves encourage it now.
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BPerera / November 26, 2015
It seems that it has been proved the President has lied to protect his brother. So much so for Yahapalanaya! He seems another wolf in a sheep coat! The problem is all the people who shouted for yahapalanaya and supported him are silent , enjoying ministerial posts . In fact the other political thieves who did not support him also are enjoying ministerial posts and at the expense of tax payers money.
Rathana himi and Champika also very silent protecting their own purses!
BPerera
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Plato. / November 26, 2015
In the Civilized World,a Head of State would have been Impeached! Not for the appointment of his sibling,but for lying about matters related to the appointment.
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Maggi / November 26, 2015
Pretty sure he gets paid way more than that. For such an established companies and being the chairperson of two big firms in Sri Lanka, he must be getting paid much more. False documents in my opinion
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Jayasingha / November 26, 2015
The finance minister is right when he says SLT / Mobitel can afford to absorb the additional taxes instead of passing them on to the consumer when we see that these institutions can afford to pay their Chairman and Directors thumping salary increases.
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