President Maithripala Sirisena has disregarded requests from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to give Sarath Fonseka the Law and Order portfolio and instead sworn in Ranjith Madduma Bandara as the subject minister, Colombo Telegraph learns.
Fonseka
Earlier, Wickremesinghe conferred upon himself the portfolio which he is said to have handled unofficially although staunch party loyalist Sagala Ratnayaka had held it. It was to be a temporary arrangement, he said.
It was reported that although Wickremesinghe had urged the President to appoint Sarath Fonseka, Sirisena had only said he would consider it.
In an unprecedented development, several DIGs had made representations to the President pleading that Fonseka not be appointed.
Fonseka, meanwhile, is said to have drawn up plans to appoint persons to key positions in institutions he expected to be in charge of.
Burt / March 8, 2018
Sirisena is either bought and paid for by the previous govt politicians or this guy does not have a backbone to stand-up to the Rajapaksa’s.
Either way he is a disgrace for the office he holds.
/
Ben Hurling / March 8, 2018
President has BETRAYED January 8th. He has has now proven beyond any doubt what a shameless, spineless, DEAL-MAKING CROOK he is. His days are numbered.
PS: All Rajapssa era killers and thieves can now feel relaxed.
/
nimal fernando / March 8, 2018
Sirisena is the culprit for the mess in the country. He is worse than Ranil and get away with his crap sco free.
–
Sirisena is not a doer; just a talker. At least Ranil has tried to do something – appoint Fonseka – but gets vetoed by Sirisena.
–
Fonseka would have been better that anyone; certainly better than any of the Rajapakses.
–
After all he finished the war; didnt he? :))
/
Barathan / March 8, 2018
January 2020 will betray the President.
/
ruwan / March 8, 2018
One of the riches businessmen in SL bought him off.
/
bulath / March 8, 2018
none other than his sibling who is gotas side kick. When sira refused to see his brother who came to see him soon after his voctory and not participating in the funeral of his misbehaved brother who was hacked to death were really a play for the gallery and sibling rivalry than any thing to do with priciples which gamrala doesnot have
/
Raizuh Langai / March 8, 2018
Or was it Rajapuksha trip to Bangalore for Kodiwine brought this result.?
/
ThanthaiChelva / March 8, 2018
SLPP is going to win all future elections and rule SL. This is a fact whether we like it or not. It is natural Sirisena fears for what may happen then.
/
paddy / March 8, 2018
Sira will live to regret his decision of not giving SF the post. SF would have cleaned ‘the stables’ but now the ‘stables’ will come to haunt Sira at a later date.
/
max / March 8, 2018
By hook or crook, legally or illegally, grilling Gota is not Law and Order. Good that President is not diagnosed with such a bad mentality. (But, thinking of his appointments to the OMP, I have a serious doubt about my assertion).
/
Ad / March 8, 2018
MS should be investigated.
/
Burt / March 8, 2018
Ad:
By whom? The police, judiciary and even the medical examiners office is bought and paid by crooks.
People are taken for a ride while these guys are accumulating wealth the next seven generations to come.
Still fools keep protesting even at the sound of international involvement in the justice system
/
anonymous / March 8, 2018
Definitely. But by whom? It’s got to be by an international court along with MR & GR clan.
/
Champa / March 8, 2018
That’s good. At least one headache is over!
/
Rabok / March 9, 2018
Appointing SF would have been the biggest disaster – people of this country would never have approved it -though the short sighted Rajapakse haters still daydreaming a country without Rajapakses – common people are more matured to see beyond and smells better – how many votes he received SF received during last election
/
Buddhi Perera / March 8, 2018
Who is our president? Rajapakse or rice mudalali? [edited out]
/
Words / March 8, 2018
Let’s be realistic here.. neither the UNP nor the SLFP want a crazied , uncontrollable and revengeful man who could only muster 5000 votes in a position of authority
Once a snake.. always a snake. Foneska has an axe to grind with the UNP as well who used him and cast him aside!
The UNP put his name forward knowing for sure that Sira would reject it
The new guy.. a newbie to this post is going to be controlled by Ranil.. he might as well just retained the portfolio!
/
Sinhala_Man / March 8, 2018
Dear Words,
–
I’m seeing your comment with 6 people having approved, and 24 having disapproved. By now, Sarath Fonska is widely respected by Sri Lankans.
–
I have read the arguments FOR appointing Sarath Fonseka, and arguments AGAINST appointing him. I have never voted for Fonseka, not even in the 2010 Presidential election.
–
In that election, I voted for three “minor candidates” whom I knew to be honest and decent, knowing that they would never get anywhere near being elected.
–
I didn’t consider voting for Fonseka at any stage because I felt that an Army Man cannot govern a country. Right now, I may even vote for him as President. In 2010, upto the very last week I had thought of giving my THIRD preference to Mahinda Rajapaksa, knowing well enough that such a preference for him would never be counted. So far, no Presidential Election has necessitated the counting of any votes except the FIRST Preference.
–
So, what got counted was the vote I gave to my HONEST MAN No. 1.
–
Then the last week of the campaign, I saw how MaRa was bussing in outsiders for his meetings, giving them arrack and “bath packets”. So my THIRD preference went to a losing honest man.
–
My vote did NOT COUNT.
–
Most voters want their votes to count; so they vote for a perceived winner, or the better guys vote for the second strongest candidate.
–
I don’t know when Sarath Fonseka got only 5,000 votes, but I’m sure it was when he contested on his own. Subsequently, he bore up heroically under all that imprisonment and humiliation.
–
Yours was a cheap jibe, by a man who aptly calls himself not DEEDS, but WORDS.
–
I NOW greatly respect Sarath Fonseka.
/
Percy / March 8, 2018
Fonseka is like the drover’s dog.Trained either to attack, run, or ask the master for more. The master has said no. If Fonsekahas any self respect he should challenge Sirisena. After all Almost everyone thinks that he will make a good fistof the job. I bet his early army record where he was disciplined and almost cashiered, went against him. So what do the Tamils/MuSlims and Thuppahi Sinhalese have to Say?
/
Gobba / March 8, 2018
He was good enough to lead the War and win in it, was he , heh ?
/
Janaka from Matara / March 8, 2018
It was not in the interest of MR MS or RW to bring in SF.
Takes me back to my bosses words. “So called developing countries will stay that way. And that is by design. It suits their politicians and the social elite. Dont blame us”. He is an American. As brash, hard and honest as one can be. Guess when one looks at things from outside, one reads them clearer and simpler.
/
edwin rodrigo / March 8, 2018
The Choice: Guys, contrary to what we were thinking, this man Sirisena seems to be a master tactician. What a clever move! Madduma Bandara is the ideal choice. Back in Rajasinghe time, the first Madduma Bandara showed his elder brother how to die. This Madduma Bandara is going to show his elder brother Sarath Fonseka how to do the same. Sit back and enjoy.
/
chiv / March 8, 2018
Congratulations, Lanka is back in international media for all the wrong reasons, Where ever you are the cable/print media is flashing with news of Lanka in fire, Buddhist mob on rampage, comparisons to Myanmar,most of the TV news has Monks as usual on the front line leading the carnage and all the past glories of violence added for tit bits.Enjoy the show while you are at it. Tired of giving excuses/ explanation I decided to take a day off. Better to lose a days salary than facing the embarrassment.
/
Ceylonee / March 8, 2018
Why we still love Sarath Fonseka. !!
A brave man who won the war against Tamil Terrorists thus kept lanka away from bomb blasts and more innocent deaths..
But in CT the most crooked and ungrateful Sin Kele Horas and Racists are against SF are writing bad about SF. Shame on you traitors…….
The Coward Sirisena – a heart filled racist , who only has guts to sit with children will be thrown into rice mall by our lankans in the next election.. After Mayiththiri ya came to power , more than 150 Racist Attacks have been reported . The biggest irremediable corruption occurred.
/
Saman / March 8, 2018
Even though people thought Maithreepala is efficient and good leader, now he has proved himself contrary to what foolishly we thought.
Maithreepala is an ingratitude and extremely ungrateful person. He has forgotten how he was elected and became a president of the country.
More than 95% voters are UNP to elect himself as a president of Sri Lanka three years ago. But unfortunately he has proved his ungratefulness.
He bitterly and destructively criticized UNP and UNP leader during the local election.
Mr. Sarath Fonseka profoundly supported Maithreepala to become a president of the country.
Now he has fogotten everything and afraid of him and try to protect perpetrators and criminals of Rajapaksha family and assiciates of Rajapaksha.
Maithreepala must be utterly ashamed.
/
Maname Simon / March 8, 2018
At last President Sirisena has escaped grave danger to the country and law and order in general. If he appointed that frustrated mad dog Fonseka as law and order minister, he would have gone to arrest Gotabhaya Rajapkse outside the legal process and there would have been riots all over in the country. Now that danger is gone at least. Hope Fonseka will be removed from all government posts and will be arrested for Lasantha Wickramatunga murder, as Ranil has already accused him in parliament. We want Law & Order in this country.
/
Rajash / March 8, 2018
while the country is burning they are deliberating over who should be Law and Order Minister. There is no Law and Order so why is there a need for a Minister. The only reason is another minister provides additional avenue to swindle the country.This time on defense contracts.!!!!!
/
Janaka from Matara / March 8, 2018
Dear General Fonseka. You should resign. Not in bitterness but it is the honourable thing to do. Does not need to be a goodbye for ever, but go without saying anything. You have anyway done enough for the country.
I cannot see this happen unless the prime minister colluded with both MR and MS.
/
Raizuh Langai / March 8, 2018
This is good, 90% of the population can now be hauled before the justice system for petty crimes. The rest – the privileged politicians can plunder the country. Any crime under Rs 10000 is a crime. Anything more than that is a national service.
You scratch my back I scratch yours. But don’t think if & when MR or his goons come to power they are not going to go by the books.
Who cares !
/
Nosey Parker / March 8, 2018
Where is the lady who was bragging that this new government was all her brainchild ?
/
Percy / March 8, 2018
Sirisena has shown that the dog is not dead, there is a slight movement in the tail. In appointing Madduma Bandara he has ensured that Ranil will not run berserk. MB is a well known anti Ranil man within the UNP and supported Sajith P in his abortive bid for party leader.so what seems to have happened here is an alignment of blocs within Yahapalana and to restore some balance away from R W if he gets too big for his boots.
/
Harishchandra / March 8, 2018
Ideal choice, another square peg in a round hole.
/
cholan / March 8, 2018
Why fearing for Fonseka?
Now again he became from zero to hero.
Only Fonseka can stop violence it seems.
/
Percy / March 8, 2018
Janak
Fonseka will never resign. If he does, that will be the end of his politics. Failed to Win a seat at the last election, so he is basically a powerless, spent force. The guy is pensioner material nothing else.
/
anonymous / March 8, 2018
How stupid & ignorant one could be? 75% of the parlimentarians in this banana republic are fraudsters and pensioners. By supporting them and approving their actions, you are showing your mentality in public.
/
Rohini / March 8, 2018
I am shamed to think we have ended Up with a spineless president. He should walk around the city to find out what the people have to say about him… it is obvious he is not interested in the country Nor it’s people …, he just wants to cover his back after he retires. Then again what can you expect from a Gramasevaka … it’s very sad …. obviously all the crooks have manage to buy him over
/
Mewan / March 8, 2018
This country gets what it deserves! Look at how many people are supporting appointment of SF. This man has nothing but revenge and hatred in his mind. This is the man that we as law and order minister, probably one of the most important positions in any country. On top of that, he has never been able to secure public vote. He is in the government thanks to the ridiculous system that we have in this godforsaken place to appoint anyone rejected by votes to public office through the back door, and the mentality that we have ‘enemy of my enemy is my frined.”
People who want this man as the law and order minister has only one thing in mind – to punish Rajapaksa’s at any cost. They are not worried about the law and order of the country at all, but their own narrow political revenge, which is firmly aligned with the mind set of this hateful man. If he has been in good books with the Rajapaksa’s, the same people who now want him as law and order minister would be calling him a war criminal. Now that he is in the opposite camp, suddenly he has become their friend.
There is nothing wrong with the politicians. They know how exactly to play the idiotic public. This type of skirmish would have been immediately put down in any other country. This was not an armed uprising, just a common mob violence. However, due to the weak leadership and narrow political gains, it has been let to escalate into an incident that has drawn international attention. Amid of all this there is only one thing in the minds of our demented public – let’s make this opportunity to get some revenge – to hell with the country.
/
roy / March 8, 2018
The only man capable of bringing law and order is Sarath Fonseka. If they don’t sort it out early there will be a revolution like what happened in many countries making the paradise to hell.
My3 has to be in the back bench ,probably in need of a pair of knickers.
/
Parakrama Abeygunawardane / March 8, 2018
Again and Again Jackal started Baking! What a shame?
/
Lanki / March 8, 2018
As per Sarath Fonseka the weak President did not even have the guts to inform the new Minister that he is to be appointed to the post. This shows the weakness and the backbone less mentality of the President. When Sirisena became |President with promises to voters I was so happy. But my wife said he cannot be trusted. Today what my wife said has come true.
Should a person hold on to a position when the position was given without even any discussion? The whole country, other than Rajapakse and his gang of rouges, is dissatisfied with this appointment. If I was given such an appointment I would have resigned. Shame on the person who accepted it and shame on the person who appointed him. Its time UNP young MPs and back benchers to rise up against this appointment and openly talk about the weakness and the intention to protect Rajapakse family by the President. President has become the biggest TRAITOR to the voters.
/
Boorusena / March 8, 2018
Sri Lanka “benefiting” from the Rajapakse dynasty that created and made Buddhism into a rabid radical force today. Until you sort this main issue out…it will remain a racist sh..hole.
/
Thondamany / March 8, 2018
A balanced Man a people’s choice to send to parliament got appointed.
Madduma Bandara is a good straight forward simple Simon from the UNP..
/
Native Vedda / March 9, 2018
Thondamany
–
If Madduma Bandara is a good straight forward simple Simon what is he doing in politics?
/
Gune / March 8, 2018
An appointment for inaction. UNP! has messed up again.
/
Plato. / March 8, 2018
A onetime Gramasevaka Niladhari is shuffling a Cabinet of Ministers! Srilanka a land like no other!
/