The UNP leadership is not yet decided on the possible candidate to fill up the vacant national list position, whilst the party members stay divided on the issue, party sources said.
Two potential candidates to fill this vacancy are Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Rosy Senanayake, it is learnt.
Both were unsuccessful candidates at the last general election where Fonseka’s entire party received only 28,626 votes from the total country and 5238 votes from the Colombo district. Fonseka’s personal votes were not counted as those were not deemed necessary by elections commissioner. In contrast Rosy polled over 68000 votes from Colombo district becoming one after the last selected candidate of the Colombo list.
Fonseka’s nomination for the vacant national list position is being promoted by Ministers Malik Samawickrama, Chandrani Bandara, Champika Ranawaka and Rajitha Senaratne while Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Ravi Karunanayaka, Harin Fernando and few others are promoting Rosy Senanayake.
Two key arguments are being forwarded against Fonseka by his opponents. One is the fact that he is a serving soldier drawing a monthly salary from the army. The second argument is a judgement by Mark Fernando which blocks a defeated candidate from one party being nominated through nationalist of another party. Legal action is imminent if Fonseka is appointed, party sources said.
At a meeting of UNP cabinet memebers last week, interestingly Women’s Affairs Minister Chandrani Bandara had promoted Fonseka on four consecutive occassions that prompted an uncomfortable response from the leader. “Why is this Women Affairs Minister so interested in bringing that man who is well known for violating the rights of his own wife,” one minister had asked. It is clear jealousy against Rosy by one of her own colleagues, this minister told Colombo Telegraph.
However, Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to get him further details of the Mark Fernando judgement.
taraki / February 6, 2016
All that these people want is power and perks. Neither of them should be given the post.
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bo / February 6, 2016
OK then give it to Taraki :) Let us see what you have done for the Nation
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taraki / February 7, 2016
No thanks bo. Give it to Amarasiri, at least he will be able to get his Thomas Paine article published.
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Lanka Watch / February 7, 2016
Taraki, Amare,Sumane and other patriots.
The best option is to appoint Justice Wicky CM.NPC as he has
one foot in TNA boat and the other in TPA and he will be ever
willing to join the Govt.
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taraki / February 8, 2016
I hope those boats don’t drift apart, he will be singing soprano.
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Snowden Edward Asange... / February 6, 2016
How about appointing MR?..Ding Bat !!.
I say Rosy deserves the post…BUT at this time id like to see Wijedasa Rajapaksa stripped of his Justice Ministry and SF appointed…It would be a nice twist and a good turn of events.. His 1st job…TAKE AWAY ALL THE SECURITY PRIOVIDED TO GOTA…2nd Drag the bugger by his colar n make him wear a jumper…stay in line for his meals n provide a cell without a fan….NO STAY AT MERCHANT WARD… did he not say that he could send SF to gallows? Wow what a twist of events….
Karma is a byatch…..time to bite gotas ass n his balls IF he has any…bugger n MR. might be shitting in their pants….RW the shrewd politician along with MS should make SF. come in n give him powers or make him the Secretary of Defense…
poor gota….
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Ben Hurling / February 6, 2016
Sir,
FM Fonseka’s appointment is being opposed by following people:
Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Ravi Karunanayaka, Harin Fernando
What a motley crew! I don’t trust any of these monkeys.
They have every reason to worry. If an uncompromising, zero-tolerance, iron-fist attitude against corruption, lies & criminality infiltrates & takes hold inside “Yahapalanaya” government via Fonseka.
Cheers!
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AM / February 7, 2016
What have they done as a service to the nation.At least SF worked in army and provided an excellent service.Wade Dasa come on.
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Ruwan R / February 7, 2016
No one opposed SF appointment, maybe only Wijeyadasa is upset :)
others were trying to get Rosy in does not mean they oppose SF.
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Amarasiri / February 6, 2016
taraki
“The UNP leadership is not yet decided on the possible candidate to fill up the vacant national list position, whilst the party members stay divided on the issue, party sources said.”
This should be a no brainier.This is the National List, nit the local list.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, is a National Hero, suffered at the hands of the MaRa and his cronies, helped liberate the land from the Terrorists LTTE, and Maha Mootal Velupilai Prbakaran tried to kill him, finally got killed because of Fonsekas’s strategy and Vision.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka got over 4 million votes, as a presidential candidate, and Sri Lankans from all walks of life voted for him. Spent 2 1/2 years in jail over trumped up charges.
Rosy Senanayaka, is a local politician, who could get reelected.
This should be a no brainier.
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shankar / February 6, 2016
Rosy should get it.With 68000 votes she is a much better people’s choice than fonseka whose entire party go only 28000 votes.Rosy is not perfect but compared many other parliamentarians she is streets ahead and deserves a seat.
Mark fernando’s judgement clearly shows fonseka is ineligible for a UNP seat.
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bo / February 6, 2016
But SF as an individual has recorded nd validated 45 lakhs of votes. Party might have been a non-runner, but the man has proved his capabilities as a strategist and decisiveness in leading the final years of the 3-yr war. Let him clean up the on-going lawlessness in the country. That is a No: 1 priority; we deal with social issues once the country returns to the rule of law.
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anonymous / February 6, 2016
Bo, you forgot to mention the ‘Computer Jilmarts’, faxing the intercepted results, stolen & destroyed ballet boxes and more by the ‘Jarapaksas’.
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shankar / February 7, 2016
bo
agree with what you say,except that it is in the past.At the present he has not got elected.That is his own fault the swollen headed bugger thought as usual he is the sun,moon and earth and his party will get a resounding victory because of him.he spurned the UNP at that time but is now shamelessly trying to use it.Bugger can’t even run his own party let alone the country.military and governance are two completely different things as churchill found out to his cost and mahinda too.
poor rosy on the other hand went house to house but lost her seat by a few votes to mano ganeshan who got the tamil votes ahead of her.many tamils too,including my mum voted for her because she is not a racist.She has always been a UNP’er and not a cross over scoundrel.
Let fonseka get elected properly by joining the UNP first and ditching any grandiose shemes he has for his megalomania.
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anonymous / February 7, 2016
Shankar,
I go a much better idea. Let SF and MR contest for the vacant seat in an all island voter participated election. Unlike Pavitra Wanni, I will bet my house in SF and leave the property the minute the results are announced. Deal or No deal?.
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shankar / February 7, 2016
anonymous
deal.I have no fixed abode as i scrounge off my friends and live in their garage,shed etc as and when i am travelling which is most of the time.However i have a cave to myself in kashmir where i meditate 4 months of the year in the cool season and i will vacate it for you if SF wins.
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anonymous / February 7, 2016
cool,
The perfect location for a person walking the path towards ‘Nirvana’ by the sound of it. Cave in Kashmir!, the most beautiful place on earth (Switzerland of Asia). Thanks Shankar, hopefully, the idiotic politicians in ‘Silly Lanka’ will agree to our one off ‘Casino Club Implementation’.
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Shrikharan / February 7, 2016
bo
“But SF as an individual has recorded nd validated 45 lakhs of votes.”
No buts. Don’t break the system. In my opinion neither Rosy Senanayake or Sarath Fonseka is morally eligible to take the seat.
Both lost the elections and thus rejected by the people.
But out of the two Rosy stands a better moral right as she is firstly a UNP candidate and she worked for the party but Fonseka is form another party. Selecting Sarath will certainly cause lot of bitterness among the party members and that will reflect badly on the party. Further Rosy scored much more votes than Sarath Fonseka and the total vote for his entire party is far less than what Rosy got on her individual count.
Still I say the party should respect the people’s verdict and not select either the two. Let these two win the people’s support and try win the elections next time or let them not contest and opt for selection through nomination list. The party must be fair by those who opted not to contest and waited hoping to be elected through the nomination but it is unfair by the party to deny them their due chance and give the contested and rejected candidate a second chance to enter parliament. If the party cannot be fair to its own members I don’t see how they could be fair to the public at large!
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AM / February 8, 2016
But if Fonsy had contested under UNP then results would have been quite different.
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Sam / February 6, 2016
All depends on PLAYING politics or getting the job DONE
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Sam / February 6, 2016
and who can handle the MARA GOTA CHALLENGE !!
Clowns and stooges like Wijedasa Maha-Paragna (Great Sage!!!) will drag the party and country to defeat.
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thondamanny / February 6, 2016
Rosy need to be given the due honour as he had received 68K+ votes whereas Fony’s entire party received lesser than votes received by Rosy.
UNP wants another sore looser in SF ?????????????? pathetic
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Shrikharan / February 6, 2016
In my opinion both Rosy Senanayake and Sarath Fonseka should be disqualified. They want ‘heads I win tails you lose’. These people cannot accept defeat in its stride. Real cowards.
These people then should not have contested elections and there is no chance they being rejected by the people, when it is fair to nominate them. But now when confirmed being rejected, but to enter parliament is really creeping through the back door. This shows their UGLY moral caliber, in spite their deceptive physical BEAUTY. Looks are deceptive and beauty is only skin deep. This is the respect they give to the peoples verdict and such people are selfish and people should never elect them.
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Backlash / February 6, 2016
Both names mentioned are totally undeserving. That both could not win in the constitutional sense is sufficient not to consider them. Fonseka is a desperate fellow for power and positon – a notorious HR/War Crimes perpetrator – a near-illiterate who cannot enrich the Parliamentary culture. The proud Rosy thinks the UNP and the country owe her a favour!!!
The vacancy should ideally be filled by one envisaged by the framers of the Constitution – a scholar, a learned person from outside the hustle and bustle of the political arena – who can enrich Parliament with their learning, knowledge and expertise. Has the breed gone into extinction. How about either Prof. Savitri Gunasekera, Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Dr. Deepika Udugama – to give weightage to women representation. It is time to clean up the Legislature with quality and be rid of undesirables.
Backlash
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Plato. / February 6, 2016
To check-mate the Rajapakses,Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is the man of the hour.
In the long term however,knowing the mans Temperament and other factors he could well turn out to be like Ivan The Terrible!
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Arssath Uthumalebbe / February 6, 2016
Why Azath Salley is off the list?????????????????????????????????
This should be given to Azath only.
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Amarasiri / February 6, 2016
Arssath Uthumalebbe
“Why Azath Salley is off the list????????????????????????????????? This should be given to Azath only. “
Nobody comes close to Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka, Rosy Senanayaka, Azeth Sally or anybody else.
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Shan / February 6, 2016
So it is Ok by everyone when we have a person drawing salary (plus other perks) from Army but doing nothing but attending ceremonies. Those who complain about MR drawing two salaries should complain about SF too. At least MR was elected by people.
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Jim softy / February 6, 2016
ROSy [Edited out]
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Jim softy / February 6, 2016
SF should be the appointed one.
SF lost because, Rajapakses worked behind the curtain to defeat him.
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Jamaica / February 7, 2016
Rosy is the most deserving person here. Being a brainy and talented person, she worked for the party for over 30 years. SF is honoured already with his FM post to the maximum. He is a soldier, but not a politician. Only a foul mouth.
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Abbas / February 7, 2016
SF deserves to lead the anti corruption anti racism drive in this new born nation trying to stabilize from the communal drive of BBS lead and funded by R dynasty. Credit has to be given to his leadership in the victory over three decade war in the North. Also the rigged Presidential election where his final count reached over 4.5 million votes should be taken in to account. Last election was tooth and nail fight between to main rival parties should not be a measure of SF’s standing. That election was a true test for the standing of racism spilled by BBS where its leader received a mere 600 plus votes and its sponsor was routed unceremoniously (frequently seen in Welikada Prison). It was an outstanding victory for Sahajeevana – thru’ unity and harmony. SF is capable of strengthening it.
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KA Sumanasekera / February 7, 2016
Colombo Elite, Anglicans and the Vellalas in particular must be really cheesed off..
FM Fonny said he will kill 1000 Thamil Tigers a month, soon after liberating the East. It is is on record.
And Fonny did what he said with our brave Soldiers cleaning out the Big stable of Tiger Commanders in one hit, in Puthidikuruppu .
And the LTTE boss was dispatched soon after in Nanthikadal.
Although the FM was away that day stitching up the final commission papers overseas , he claimed victory as his and his only, until the younger Commanders who did the hard yards disagreed.
Which really pissed Fonny .
Fonny in return dobbed in the whole lot to Ms Pillai for that matter, alleging the brave Commanders shot poor Nade and his buddies who were carrying White Flags.
Even as late as last year the only descent Minister in the Yahapalana Government Dr Wijedasa Rajapaksa openly said that this Field Marshall collected LKR 85 Million as commissions from Military purchases.
But this almighty Tiger Killing brave FM didn’t challenge Dr Wije let alone threatened to go to court asking for One Billion LKR ,unlike the Fat Boy Yahapalana Minister.
No wonder only 5200 Colombo Elite voted for the Field Marshall.
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Lanka Watch / February 7, 2016
Rosy should be talked into , by Ranil and convince her to agree to
accommodate Fld. Marshal Fonseka as an MP in the ruling coalition
as the ruling ‘junta’ seems to support him, over Rosy.
Rosy is a senior UNPer and did an excellent job of work for women’s rights as a minister and she lost a sure seat in the last election
due to UNP accommodating some of Rajitha’s team in the Colombo electorate at the last moment and Rosy was sportive enough to give into Ranil’s plan, knowing very well that she could lose her seat.
There should not be any vote or debates on this issue as the women folks can go against the UNP, en block for side lining Rosy.So,there should be a gentleman’s agreement on this matter as she is missing
her second chance to become an MP, for no fault of hers.
TNA looked into female representation at the Parliament and nominated a lady through the national list, instead of their own spokesperson,
Suresh, who lost the election and like wise, UNP should go in for a lady to have enough female representation in the Parliament, unless she agrees whole heartedly to step down in the interest of her party.
One should not forget the UNP policy then, was not to accept anybody
as MP who lost his/her seat in the last elections. Policies change
suddenly to suit the circumstances.
On the other hand, can PM Ranil and the President, who are under
severe stress over pressure exerted by UN(War crimes) & India,
(reqst. for unlawful fishing in SL waters) and a divided cabinet of 100 trouble makers, handle the infighting, in addition, between the Justice minister and Mr. Fonseka, if he is given a ministerial position.
Over to PM Ranil and good luck to you.
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Yehiya / February 7, 2016
Mr. Sarath Fonseka need to parliament today. This seat vacant must go to Rajith & Ranawaka alliance. Wijedasa several times mislead the Premier from former Chief Justice matter onward.
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anotherbuddist / February 7, 2016
Who cares who gets elected. Both are going to sell our nation. Just say:
‘Eeny, meeny, miny, mo,
Catch the tiger by the toe.
If it hollers let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.’
AND BE CALM AND CARRY ON. We are Sri Lankans (Colombo variety) and we know to how dodge the bombs.
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Amarasiri / February 7, 2016
anotherbuddist
“AND BE CALM AND CARRY ON. We are Sri Lankans (Colombo variety) and we know to how dodge the bombs.”
Sri Lankans (Colombo variety), 300,000 voted for Wimal Weerawansa, aka Buruwansa, of 2/2=0, Mathematics Fame in the Colombo district.
How many preferential votes did Sarath Fonseka or Rosy Senanayaka, each get? Only a fraction of that.
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Spring Koha / February 7, 2016
I don’t know about nice Rosy, except that I wish the lady to be safe and busy, and as always, doing her bit for Sri Lanka.
However, as for the restored Field Marshal, I would say please, please, in the name of god, preserve what dignity and reputation you have, and retreat gracefully. Go and live a happy retirement with your long-suffering wife, and with those nice daughters who shed their tears for you during the time of your incarceration.
If you allow your hubris to get the better of you, all that will happen is that you will be used and abused by devious political scum who will give scant respect for what you have achieved. These political pigeons will simply treat you as they would a statue.
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WalaGemba Raja / February 7, 2016
Mrs. Rosy Senanayake obviously should get first choice as she is the most deserving. SF is not even legal and his candidacy is an insult to Yahapalanaya unless the ‘Ya’ has been replace with ‘Wa’. It is the UNP who should take the blame for Rosy’s loss because her candidacy was scuttled by war mongering thugs who ate into Rosy’s vote base. The UNP also promoted a hoodlum thief and bandit nick named “Horra+nikkers” while abandoning Rosy. Shame on the UNP TWITS!
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Shan / February 7, 2016
I think appointing SF will be a mistake. He is on personal vendetta against MR and his family, especially against Gota. And the way he talks and behaves cannot be part of a good governance. He is already on war with one minister from UNP. You need a person who public view as fair not vindictive.
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AkpMAZ / February 7, 2016
Only person is completely deserving is Mr.Azath who has worked very hard from the begining to bring this new government and he is the first person to work agaist the MR regime with full comitment and suceeded where as the he is the prime reasons for the curent President and PM, it very sad that how they forget Mr.Azath.
Importantly Mr.Azath is next in list and also as promissed by the RW how can they give national list for the lost persons Rosy and SF .
RW must remeber that Azath did the national level campaign to the unp in last election that has concluded sucessfuly with many seats in some other party strong hold area because of azath only – classic example is Mr.Dayagamege has lost twice but this time he won because azath only.
Hope RW do the justice by giving the National List to Mr.Azath
AkpMAZ
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guna / February 8, 2016
Yes yahapalana should not forget people who risked the life to support the present regime at most crucial time. One such desering person is Azath Sally
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Citizen / February 7, 2016
If SF is appointed as minister…those corrupt politicians might have hard time.
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Lanka Watch / February 7, 2016
Fld. Marshal Fonseka is no saint. Its only the Tamils of the North know how many temples and schools he bulldozed, cultivatable lands
he confiscated and owners thrown into refugee camps to expand
security zones and made North a concentration camp with army
personnel placed at every door step. Deprived the livelihood of
the Fisher folk and farmers by not permitting bread winners to do their work without hindrance. Night fishing was banned but Indian Tamil poachers ruled the waves in the Northern sea and robbed the
fish belonged to the Northern people.
Even after the war ended 7 years ago, people still struggle to cope
with the damages done to the province. Culverts under which rain
waters passed were flattened, for fear of land mines, causing floods all over the North, every house has holes dug to keep the big guns, and some houses used for torture, school children are finding it difficult to regroup, damaged temples need millions for restoration works, wells were used for garbage disposal and water all over north contaminated and Mind you, there are still vast no of people, who owned these lands,dangling in make shift camps under severe hardships.
All these happened during his rule as the army commander of the North
and people have not forgotten these atrocities committed during his
tenure. He should apologise to the people of the North if he is given
a minister position, as he has to serve the same people as well.
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R.D. Wickramasinghe. / February 7, 2016
I think this shouldn’t be a contest at all. It is the UNP national list and a loyal member of party needs to be elected. SF is a way hero and everyone respects him for that. But not a politician as such. He speaks out of turn and disrespectful most times. Even critical of RW and govt. Rosy is a hard working leader and someone that got 68 k votes. There were more who could not vote.Her vote base is not only influential educated but also common folk. Big mistake if SD kid selected.
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Niranjali / February 7, 2016
Rosy is a lady with great potential, done a lot for children, ladies, will be a great blessing to the nation, we can count on her to do a great job for Sri Lanka
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Lanka Watch / February 8, 2016
Niranjali – There is no way out for UNP & PM Ranil to appoint SF as an MP, unless Rosy whole heartedly agrees to step down and give the place to SF. What mistakes has she done, during her long career in politics, unlike her colleague Ms. Hurenika. She was a hard working minister, never involved in political thuggery, corruption nor nepotism.
She is educated, cultured and presentable and what more one expects from an MP.?
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Horikadey / February 8, 2016
Lanka Watch
Nothing personal – only being objective. Rosy “educated”?? It requires more than a GCE (OL) to be useful in Parliament. |As I recall she was a salesgirl in the London SL Tea Centre at Piccadilly. “Her long career in politics” You don’t know what you are talking about. She entered politics – thanks more to her friendship with Ranil W. More to shield her against the large sums of defaulted money she has taken from State Banks for her failed Don’s Restaurant at Alexandra Road – adjoining Horton Place. Has she settled them?
“Presentable” !!! I agree with you 110% She knows to dress pleasingly and speaks courteously. Rememeber she brought fame to the country as Miss Ceylon and Mrs. Sri Lanka. But friend the crying needs of today’s Parliament is much more – in the ability to help produce legislation in a House where the majority of MPs are semi-literate mutts who cannot make our between a draft Bill or Order Paper. She falls far short of the minimum requirements.
Horikadey
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Shrikharan / February 8, 2016
Lanka Watch
“She is educated, cultured and presentable and what more one expects from an MP.?”
She is educated! – what are her education qualification. I am not sure but all I know is she took part in a beauty contest and won the first prize. If this is what you mean by education. I am sure there are many more better qualified people than her!
A cultured person is one who takes defeat in its own stride, and she should give others the chance who opted not to contest and depended in the nomination list selection to enter parliament. She is simply jumping queues. I don’t see any decent culture there.
Certainly she is a better choice than Sarath Fonseka, and the reasons I have tabled in another comment in this same topic.
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Ashen / February 9, 2016
Rosy holds a Bsc in Business Administration from Polytechnic University, UK and she is also an alumni of Harvard School of Law. Just inform yourself before making ignorant comments
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Horikadey / February 9, 2016
Rosy – an Alumni of Harvard School of Law??? Is it the one in
Cambridge, MA. How come she never made the lecture circuit in
Colombo academic circles.
Horikadey
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baludeen / February 8, 2016
[Edited out]
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kasun / February 8, 2016
Everybody has weakness but the fact remains during the so caled iron fist regime only handful persons includin Azath Salley came forward risking their life to Support the incumbent president and worked very hard for the victory of UNP to increase the votes polled particularly the Tamil speaking community. He even sacrificed his contesting. Thetefore Yahapalana should consider Azath Salley as he is next in the national list. President & PM should remember the hard & difficult period to get power.
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Sagara / February 8, 2016
After giving up arms and entering politics, he was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament for the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the party of President Mahinda Rajapakse,[1] in 2008 and sworn in as Minister of National Integration[2] on March 9, 2009. He later joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the largest party in the UPFA, and on April 24, 2009 he appointed a Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.(Wasantha Samarasingha’s Vacant possition)
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Tinks / February 8, 2016
Please send Rosy & not Amari Wijewardene as HC to UK. Rosy will be an asset. Amari, other than being the Prime Minister’s cousin has no qualification for such a prestigious post!!
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CITIZEN / February 8, 2016
Why not leave both aside and appoint Asath Sally? He is a vibrant politician and he will be an asset to the Party!
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