Speaking on the efficiency of the Maithripala-Ranil led government, Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake was quoted to have said that the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation run by his recently appointed retired police sergeant brother in law T.M.R. Bangsa Jayah, has shown a significant growth of revenue as high as 35 percent since January this year.
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation’s (SLIC) Managing Director Bangsa Jayah the former police sergeant and brother in law of the Finance Minister Karunanayake, was appointed to his post after the new government assumed power. “I have nothing to do with it” the minister was quoted.
The SLIC comes directly under the purview of the Ministry of Finance.
In a miraculous turn of events at SLIC, the Finance Minister was quoted to have told Lanka Business Online “it’s better to appoint a go getter rather than an inefficient professional. In insurance you have to appoint go getters rather than inefficient people and the revenues have increased 35 percent for the past four months.What more do you want? You should see how efficiently the Insurance Corporation runs now” the Finance Minister was quoted to have said.
Sri Lanka Insurance website says;
MR.T.M.R.BANGSA JAYAH APPOINTED AS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SRI LANKA INSURANCE
Mr. T.M.R.Bangsa Jayah is a retired commissioned Police Officer, who has experience in the Police service for 29 years. During his career with the Police Department he worked as the Chief Security Officer for the Deputy Speaker and North- East Governor.
He is a product of St.Anne’s College, Kurunegala and has studied further in Aquinas College, Colombo. During his school period he has excelled in sports including Cricket and Soccer. He is a member of School Cadetting Team and has held rank of Company Sergeant Major. After his schooling he has completed his First In Laws at the Law Faculty, Colombo.
Mr.Bangsa Jayah has experience in construction industry for more than 15 years and he has been a principal partner in a well known piling company.
Eshantha / June 17, 2015
Please correct that police sergeant story, Mr Bangsa Jayah was a commissioned officer – so he was not a police sergeant, it is a misrepresentation of his school cadeting career (where he was a Sergeant of the platoon)
Ii am sure CT has better journalistic standards than this
By the way, I have nothing to do with Ravi K or Mr Bangsa Jayah, am just a normal reader and my assertions have been drawn from your article
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Ram / June 18, 2015
Would you like to tell us what his rank was ?
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Lanka Watch / June 18, 2015
Ram – Whatever rank he held in the Police, this job is for a person experienced in Insurance work and not for one who has
done security work for the govt. Nepotism & corruption goes hand in hand and it cannot be eradicated, not only in Sri Lanka but no where in the world. John F Kennedy, while, he was the President
of USA,appointed his younger brother, Robert, as Attorney general and nobody questioned him . He was not the best among thousands of Law men in the US, but nepotism brought him to this position.
Better half(s)play an important part here by offering jobs to their relatives,irrespective of what qualifications or experience they have but how close they are to them, matters. They are not answerable to the people and husbands are forced to take the blame & oblige and this is human.What MR did was,he went too far in accommodating members of his family and his extended families and his cronies as well,thus paralysing the Govt.from functioning
efficiently.One good example was the appointment of his Brother-in
law as Chairman, Sri Lankan airlines and he not only ruined the airline but brought disgrace to the family as everybody knows and he moves freely,shamelessly. May be he is still entitled to first class free travel on Sri Lankan airlines. Understand MR did not like the appointment but he had to oblige.
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Just saying / June 17, 2015
As a son of a former and late government servant, I have to say that what my father considered a conflict of interest or as he would say ‘It is just not done’ seems to have evaporated with time.
However, when a party or parties come to power on a platform of whiter than white, to appoint any relative, even if he was an expert on the subject which is not the case here, would be consider very inappropriate. However, the Hon. Minster seems to think otherwise even though the ‘go-geter’ is out of his depths.
If Yahapalanya means jobs for the boys, how can anyone find fault with the Rajapakse’s who professed of nothing similar and audaciously admitted of bypassing many regulations in getting to what they want.
We are being asked to accept that politics is politics and favouring those near and dear, irrespective of their credence, is here to stay.
Arjuna Mahendran seems suddenly quite okay
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Ben Hurling / June 18, 2015
This is UNP’s behaviour with a mandate for 100 days to govern.
Just imagine what would happen, if they were to be elected for 5 years. Nepotism will rule supreme once more.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / June 18, 2015
Ben Hurling
“Nepotism will rule supreme once more.”
Nepotism never stopped since 1956.
Now you see the point that I have been making for donkey’s years or many moons ago.
The state has to be restructured, democratised completely and should held responsible for its past, present and future mistakes, and serve the people, not other way round.
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J.MUTHU / June 18, 2015
U r right veddah let Tamils go free and rule them…..no matter what u shout only forward Tamil ealam and sinhala Buddhist lanka only solution…
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Ben Hurling / June 19, 2015
Native,
How come MY3 has not appointed you as one of his advisors? I believe you would make a superb advisor on state restructuring & democratisation affairs.
However, you might have to compete with such young & energetic intellectuals such as Ratnasiri & Dimu. Both excellent ex-PMs, who had to be dragged out of office. Cos’ they insisted on serveing us beyond our wildest expectations.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / June 19, 2015
Ben Hurling
“How come MY3 has not appointed you as one of his advisors? I believe you would make a superb advisor on state restructuring & democratisation affairs.”
Have you heard of male victims of domestic violence? You will, if I ever aspire to become an adviser to politicians.
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poosa / June 17, 2015
He will pile Sri Lanka Insurance also
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ameer / June 18, 2015
“He will pile Sri Lanka Insurance also “
Very Soon; Just you wait Mister (H)iggins. Just u wait……
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Lanka Watch / June 19, 2015
Poosa – He may have insured the present govt. against ‘theft’ of MPs.
by the opposition.
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justice / June 17, 2015
We already have an OLevel qualified policeman who rules on constitutional matters and keeps order in parliament – the Speaker.
One more does not matter as long as he eliminates corruption & waste,
and maintains discipline.
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Just saying / June 18, 2015
The Speaker was elected by the people first and then by the sitting MP’s – there is no comparison. The question here is whether it is correct to appoint one’s brother in law to such a position where his relationship with the Minister would cover any misdeed or incompetence.
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cwe takaran hora / June 18, 2015
“We already have an OLevel qualified policeman who rules on constitutional matters and keeps order in parliament – the Speaker. “
Don’t forget, he was also a security guard and cycled daily to his workplace for his night duty.
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Lanka Watch / June 18, 2015
Justice – In that case there is no need for higher education in Sri Lanka. To get an entry level job in white collar segments in USA or Canada,one needs a Masters degree but in SL, I suppose G.C.E (ordinary level) education would suffice to get a CEO level jobs in Banks, Government and commercial establishments. Once a person is educated, he or she is able to grasp a subject and fit into any organization, unlike an ordinary educated person, who falls back on h/her experience in the same field or depend on others to execute their duties and they just warm their chairs with perks attached. You may have read in the papers that, in the current parliament, about 40% of the MPs have not passed the G.C.E ordinary level and chaos caused in the parliament is due some of them have no understanding power on complicated subjects. No doubt ,there are exceptions in every field but they are in insig-
nificant numbers, mostly successful with experience and not through
their level of education.
Conservative India,who wants everything made in India is now going in
a big way to recruit US educated men & women to fill in high profile
jobs, vacant in govt. and commercial establishments and many educated
Indians are returning to their mother lands as jobs are available for them with good perks. This is the success story in Indian economy now.
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Ram / June 17, 2015
If what Ravi K says is true he would certainly make a better Finance Minister that Ravi K.
” he has completed his First In Laws at the Law Faculty ” What exactly does this mean ?
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Dr.Goebells / June 18, 2015
Ram
If ‘first in laws ‘ meant LLB , he would have retired as an SP at least . What was the last rank he held in the Police ?
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Gratiaen. / June 17, 2015
Mr.Bongso jayah is a well experienced Commissioned officer in the Police service before retirement.He was a very good Prosecuting officer as well. Hope he will perform the duties and responsibilities in the new post to the entire satisfaction. I wish him well.
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Lanka Watch / June 20, 2015
Who is this Gratiaen – Were you the IGP at the time Tuan Bongso was in the police for you to have given a character certificate.
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Mervyn Silva / June 18, 2015
Ravi K is[Edited out]
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 18, 2015
How Cooool….
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Matilda Ellepola / June 18, 2015
Another O/L qualified 7Eleven store keeper in US who ran away from Generals Denzil Kobbekaduwa and Vijaya Wimalarathne during war is getting the credit for the War victory and not the real heroes on the war front like FM- SF?
Let this chap have a go with the insurance too then.
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Bert / June 19, 2015
He was not a store keeper. Though we call them store clerk , they do general labor work at the store.
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Saman / June 18, 2015
This is the naked nepotism by UNP-rule by ‘good governances and rule of law’.
There are enough educated people in Sri lanka such positions.
Unfortunaly suitability depends on his or her relationship with Ravi Karunayake of UNP.
Where their that politics works on UNP, how that power corruptions of politicians undermined democracy by political governances of UNP.
This is call new changes by UNP-Ranil-Ravi rule!
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Jega / June 18, 2015
To obtain a double digit increase in profitability and to maintain it is extremely difficult, wonder how a company of this magnitude profitability increased by 35% over 6 months…this is a bloody joke!!!
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Milland / June 18, 2015
UNP-Ravi [Edited out], that is his politics , other wise he want be member of UNP -MOF.
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 18, 2015
Srikotha has sent a SOS, calling all working committee members to attend a Crisis Meet tomorrow at 9 AM.
No apologies will be entertained.
Must be a bis ass crisis this one..
Is the unelected PM going to sack himself after sacking the Finance Minister?.
Or just sack the Finance Minister and Mahendran.
And call for a general election?.
Is the right for the PM to call Elections .in Dr Danapala’s list?
Is it legit if the PM is not really an Elected PM?.
Could Ranil get an opinion from Sarath instead of Siripavan?
Will the President happily accept Ranil’s resignation but sadly turn down the call for Elections?.
Because Siripala , and now even DMJ and Rathne ( not the reverend mind you ) will be happy to hold the post , sorry hold the Fort till April next year?.
Elite, Anglicans and the Vellalas will have a sleepless night, while Wahbis will be sleeping tight..
Where is our Samare nowadays..
He is looking more and more like Foreman Material now .Sorry I meant PM material…
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Frank / June 18, 2015
Not only Ravi, even Azad Sally has appointed his Brother-in-law, Rizvie, who
is not a qualified person, as a Director of the Regional Development Bank.
So, like these cases, there may be so many more, which we are yet to come across.
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Dumbo / June 18, 2015
Lankaputhra Bank- Riza Hamith, a part qualified accountant appointed as director.
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Pot Shot / June 18, 2015
Readers of CT know that I am anti MR and I favoured a change of government. However I must say this.
Its highly disappointing to know that Ravi K who was so vociferous of nepotism in the former government, appoints his BIL when there are so many better qualified people who are impartial in their support who could have led the Insurance Corporation. I can almost hear Ravi K shout out to me “saying MR employed over 90 people of his family and I only employed one, so it is ok”. This is what I say to him:
Mr Ravi K “its not 90people from MR or 1 person from your family that matters but the threat to fundamental ethical standards of good governance because a conflict of interest is not judged by numbers but your conscience” Frankly, i don’t think you have one and I wish you lose the next election and belong where MR belongs-political isolation.
RW, Please take note! you are messing up big time by turing a blind eye to Arjuna M, Ravi K and the doings of a few others.
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Sinhala Banda / June 19, 2015
Pot-Shot, you are hitting the hot-spot nicely here.
Enjoy the UNP Principles of Yaha-Paalanaya (I always call it Gava-Palanaya)of [Edited out] singhe
I am just wondering how LLB qualification would help Bonga-Jayah to manage an insurance corporation. Ican remember Pumbasena also appointed one of his brothers (one Gamaralage) to another big post too at the beginning of this broth-government.
These buggers’ judgement day is not far down. Not only you, majority of us are sick of these Gava-palana crooks too.
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Frank / June 18, 2015
Not only Ravi has put his people in state institutions, Azad Sally has has also
put his Brother-in-law Rizvie, who is not a qualified person, as a Director of Regional Development Bank.
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Plato. / June 18, 2015
Appointing square pegs in round holes and round pegs in square holes had/has been a great tradition in Srilanka like the culinary tradition of Kiributh with Katta sambol and Kollikuttu.
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Pygmalion / June 19, 2015
K.A.Sumane.
Elite,Anglicans and the Vellalas will have a sleepless night,while Wahabis will be sleeping tight.
So,for the former it will be Sivarathri and for the latter Ramazan [though there has been no sighting of the moon!]
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 19, 2015
Looks like Nepotism is propagating big time..
Old Buddy Mahendran who is not even Srilnkan, Bangsa Jeyah , Senior Sira,Asatth Sally’s BIL and the list keeps growing..
Dr Rajitha, the main spokesperson for Yahapalanay as well as the unelected PM’s Cabinet ,is busy in court,trying to fend off Habeas Corpus while the baby son is wearing his LKR 90,000 Leather Shoes and signing the court papers with his LKR 50,000 pen.
No wonder one Ranjan had to front up to the Pres Corps yesterday and tell the journos in uncertain terms that Mahendran will be jailed if found guilty.
But didn’t elaborate on what charges,or where the court case is.
Except implying that Mr Mahendran wants to become a Srilankan and he has even handed his Passport to the Bribery Commissioner.
Wonder whether that lady director of the BC is safe keeping it?.
Is this Rajan the Minister of Justice?.
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Native Vedda / June 19, 2015
K.A Sumanasekera
“Old Buddy Mahendran who is not even Srilnkan, Bangsa Jeyah , Senior Sira,Asatth Sally’s BIL and the list keeps growing..”
After all there is no change in neopotism, a continuation of Gota, Basil, Ganapathipilla, Palitha Kohona, Chris Nonis, ……………
You too can be one of them if you ask Chief Justice Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Vigneswaran for a job.
By the way the plus point is that you can converse with him in Sinhala.
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 19, 2015
Dear Native,
I can understand if Bangsa and Sally BIL were picked by the previous mob, and your buddies gave the gigs to Dr Norris and Dr Kohona.
I am sure you know what I mean,
But for your mate P Lover’s sake the latter are qualified , intellectuals who can sit with your so called Intelligentsia..
They got a bit of class in them too..
Who is Ganapathipillai?…
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Native Vedda / June 20, 2015
K.A Sumanasekera
“Who is Ganapathipillai?…”
Udaya Gammanpila
“They got a bit of class in them too..”
So you hate working class dalits, don’t you?
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 20, 2015
Dear Vellala Native,
In that case I don’t mind you calling him even Baththdeen Sally..
He never betrayed his Sinhala Buddhist people for a fist full of Singapore Dollars, unlike his ex mates.
And he is fighting tooth and nail to save his nation from separation and exploitation by the rotten UNP and its Western backers.
I may have graduated to Elite class in my tastes.
But I am still a working class dalit and proud of it..
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Sinhala Banda / June 19, 2015
Wannakam Sumane!!!!!!!!!!!
You mean[Edited out]? The bull in the china shop with the empty skull full of pig-sh*t.
God bless our country if we have administrators like these donkeys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jim softy / June 19, 2015
Sri lanka needs an overhaul of the political system.
I don’t think Ranil wickramsinghe is the one to do that. He is just old school just like the previous president.
His subordinates are all just waiting for the opportunity to steal,just the way UPFA – politicians did.
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Namini W / June 19, 2015
May I know the qualifications of fonder of St Anthony s late Mr Gnanam, late Mr Darmadasa of Nawaloka, Mr. Hinni Appuhamy of Maliban House etc because they have built empires giving employment to thousands
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Piyal / June 19, 2015
I do not see any diffrence between MR and Ravi K. in justifying the appointment of kith and kin to state and statutory bodies.
Appointing a reletive is the first sign of intentions of a politician to engage in corrupton. The priority of the Ministers’should be the well being of the people and the country at large and not the well being of their relatives or themselves. That is the message given by the people on Jan.8th. These appointments taking place mearly a few months after the fresh mandate is quite serious and is an insult to the voters and the professionals of the country. How can the new Government expect to retain the professionals and attract those who are serving others countries to return and serve their motherland ?
All these clearly reflects that with regard to corruption and bad governance, UNP is the other side of the coin occupied by the SLFP. This is the bitter truth that should be realised by both diehard UNP and SLFP faithfulls. It is time that there should be a paradime shift in the way they think and act. It is prudent that they place their trust on the system and enforcement of rules of law and good governance rather than keeping trust on party or their politicians who shift gear depending on the perks they are offered by the opposing camp.
As the way people raised their voice against the Executive Presidency, they should demand the new rulers to depart from this shameless practice. Otherwise as happened for the past 67 yeas a few hundred opportunists who enter politics and their henchman will prosper while larger majority in the country live a miserable life. Piyal
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Percy / June 19, 2015
There are no commissioned police officers in Sri Lanka.Commissions are given onli in the armed forces. So the press notification from the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation carries a deliberate falsehood. BangsaJayah joined as a constable and after many years was made a sergeant. He was never even a sub inspector.After his sister married Ravi K he has hit the high life. Where are the statistics in suuport of the increased profits of the Insurance Corpn???
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Plato. / June 19, 2015
Native.
Were you referring to German Pillai?
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Native Vedda / June 20, 2015
Plato.
“Were you referring to German Pillai?”
Udaya Gammanpila, MR’s semi/un official b***s carrier.
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Jagath Fernando / June 20, 2015
Sri Lanka. insurance has gone to the dogs over the years with loss of market share to private insurers.
Most profits come from LITRO gas which is a 100% owned subsidiary and a monopoly.
So nothing much to boast about.
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nivardcabaaaal / June 20, 2015
HELLO
THIS IS NOT RAVI’S BROTHER IN LAW
where the hell do you guys get your news from ?
his wife has sisters NO BROTHERS
please CT stop publishing news without evidence
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arjunamaheeend run run run / June 20, 2015
“…………..his wife has sisters NO BROTHERS ” Then, logically speaking, this certainly must be one of the sisters dressed like a brother.
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Hafiz / June 21, 2015
Ravi K destroyed CWE and very soon you will hear the closure of Insurance Corporation.
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Sinhala Banda / June 21, 2015
Hafiz
Ravindran K, the slef-claimed non-elected minister thinks that Sri Lanka is his Puppa’s property.
Not far from now, these jokers will run like headless chooks after the next election and they have no place to hide.
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Ben who?>? / June 23, 2015
native -male Victim of domestic violence ,standing or sitting?
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Shrikharan / June 23, 2015
‘People living in glass houses must not throw stones’. Ravi Karunanayake should not complaint against the former President practicing family bandism. (However MR went beyond all limits to promote family rule.)
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Judy Preena / June 23, 2015
Petty minded people need to get the facts correct before any person is discredited. Bandsajayah was an excellent police officer he rouse up to a commissioned officer from Sub Inspector of Police. I wonder who ever made this story up on Bangsajayah is a police sergeant is a total lie and a fabrication purely to discredit of his super talent and integrity. I have associated with him for many years and now I am in Canada and coming to know of this false allegations is typical of the Sri Lanka dirty politics. Good show Bangsa ! keep going as you know many will surely learn from you in the years to come. /Judy Preena
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Just Saying / June 25, 2015
An endorsement from Judy Preen is like the kiss of death – whilst being a fine athlete, Mr. Preena was a despicable policemen with a record of corruption and illegal activity a common criminal would be ashamed of.
Mr. Bangsjaya’s reputation or even qualifications are not the issue – it is that any short comings or incompetence on his part will be hidden because of his connection to Mr. Karunanayake. It will be hard to find an official at the Insurance corp. who will want to bring up any negativity about the ultimate bosses brother-in-law.
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