President Gotabaya Rajapaksa‘s Government is intensifying its witch hunt against journalists just two months after assuming power in a presidential election.
Sri Lanka Foreign Service officer Gihan Indragupta who is the spouse of New York Times Colombo reporter and former Sunday Observer Editor Dharisha Bastians has been summarily recalled to Colombo on the orders of President Rajapaksa. Colombo Telegraph learns that the Government is hoping the recall will bring the journalist and her family back to Colombo where her name has been dragged into a major criminal investigation. President Rajapaksa and his top defence officials have repeatedly criticised the New York Times for having exposed the alleged abduction of Swiss Embassy employee Garnier Barrister Francis.
The government has criticised the New York Times article as “fake news”, and detectives have said that an alleged telephone conversation long before the incident between the alleged victim and Bastians is proof that they conspired to fabricate a story about the Swiss embassy employee being abducted and interrogated about how a detective in their crosshairs fled to Switzerland with his family. The CID has sought to frame Bastians and others for faking the abduction of a Swiss Embassy local staff member on 25 November 2019.
When the case last came up on 21 January the CID told media personnel outside the court house that Indragupta had assisted to get CID CI Nishantha Silva to flee to Switzerland after the presidential election. Detectives were careful not to make these false claims in open court, where they could be liable to perjury charges, but instead to promote the story through media outlets affiliated with the Government including the two giant private broadcasters Hiru TV and Derana. Indragupta was posted to the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva in September 2019.
The government is at loggerheads with the Swiss government over the abduction saga, with the Swiss government insisting their employee was abducted and interrogated about her diplomatic work, while the Sri Lankan government has insisted that there was no abduction and that the story was fabricated by Francis, New York Times writer Bastians, former CID Director Shani Abeysekara and former Lake House Chairman Krishantha Cooray. No evidence has been presented by the authorities to corroborate these allegations. Instead, the investigation, and this “hunch” has been used by the CID as a basis to obtain and inspect the telephone call records of several journalists including Bastians, Agence France Presse (AFP) writer Lakna Paranammana and Sunday Observer Senior News Editor Anuragi Singh.
Colombo Telegraph learns that CID officers at the Katunayake airport have been ordered to detain and search the baggage of Indragupta and Bastians upon their return to Sri Lanka, to seize all electronic devices, and to await instructions from the Defence Ministry on whether to arrest or detain them thereafter.
Singh and Paranammana have already been interrogated by the CID. Singh was summoned and questioned on Monday February 10th 2020. She was questioned at length about her telephone calls to contacts, sources and other journalists.
The interrogation comes only days after a political trade union affiliated to the ruling SLPP lodged a complaint with the CID that Singh was in possession of Bastians’ laptop computer and demanded the device be seized and investigated by the CID. The CID was quick to move on the complaint. The complaint filed by the SLPP trade union and its president Chandana Bandara accuses Bastians and Singh of concealing evidence pertaining to the Swiss abduction conspiracy.
Last month the CID grilled its former director Shani Abeysekera without any evidence of wrongdoing by him. Abeysekera’s visit to the CID, led to a purge within the building. Former CID director who has not been charged with or suspected of any crime was greeted by his former officers when he arrived at the CID, and one senior officer ASP Kalanasiri, a senior detective with a number of narcotics and human smuggling crackdowns under his belt, was thrown out of the CID overnight on the charge of assisting Abeysekera to leave the CID through a separate exit in order to avoid harassment by pro-Government media. Despite the CID having extended this same courtesy to any military or police officer or former public official who was questioned during Abeysekera’s tenure as Director CID, including former Defence Secretary and current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. IGP Chandra Wickremaratne, CID Director SSP Tilakeratne and de facto CID boss ASP Meryl Ranjan Lamahewa, have made it clear to CID officers that Abeysekera is the “enemy”.
Colombo Telegraph learns that the CID has obtained the phone records of several journalists including Bastians and Singh and also Cooray and SSP Abeysekera. No court orders have been obtained to scrutinise these mobile telephone records, which appear to have been obtained in an effort to identify police officers and others in the public sources who have provided information to journalists reporting on investigations connected to the abductions, murders and disappearances of journalists and Tamil youth during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure as Defence Secretary. Worse still the CID has leaked information regarding the phone logs to media networks that have splashed the data on their news broadcasts in graphic format.
The moves to expose call logs of journalists who are not charged with any crimes, were a heavy blow to media freedom in the country and could compromise the journalists’ other sources and information, putting lives at risk, media activists warned.
Sources close to the investigation told Colombo Telegraph that the CID has been tasked with framing Abeysekera, journalists, and former Lake House Chairman Krishantha Cooray with having faked the abduction of Garnier Francis, expecting that such a pressure campaign will deter them from becoming vocal critics of the new administration.
Since Rajapaksa – the former defence secretary – was elected president the Government has been engaged in insidious efforts to silence critical voices in Sri Lanka.
After the President’s men leaked phone calls between BBC Sinhala correspondent Azzam Ameen and actor politician Ranjan Ramanayake, Ameen was summarily sacked by the UK broadcaster. The removal was so swift Ameen was never even permitted an inquiry or a chance to explain himself.
Several media outlets were raided and journalists called in for questioning at the CID since Rajapaksa assumed office in November. The raids and witch hunts are sending chilling messages to media practitioners in Gotabaya’s new Sri Lanka.
“Every voice that might become a critical one when this government begins to get unpopular in a few years is being shut down. The threat to media freedom is much more sophisticated under Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency. As Defence Secretary he commanded military intelligence death squads to go after journalists, abduct and kill them when necessary – this time it is a very different approach,” said a media rights activist in Colombo who did not wish to be named.
“By telling the people through their preferred partisan media organs that dominate the public airwaves and drive their propaganda all over the country that these journalists have questionable links and trying to frame them for criminal conspiracies, they are ensuring that these journalists’ careers are killed in the local media space” the activist said, adding that at this time out of fear local media watchdogs were unable and unwilling to issue statements of solidarity and support to journalists on the Government hit-list. “In fact some media is going out of its way to make sure the journalists are widely discredited. The future is going to be very dark,” the activist concluded. ((By Janakie Mediwake)
Words / February 11, 2020
Ms. Bastian should definitely be questioned for her obvious role in the phony Swiss abduction saga!
Shame on her! Traitors to their motherland!
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Shan / February 11, 2020
Are you that naive you believe people who have killed journalists, threatened them, kidnapped them, and so many missing? The traitors are the ones in power who are being vindictive, and vicious. They are demonizing her, and her family, and Sri Lankan idiots are falling for it, as usual.
All part of this mass purge of journalists and reporters, before they regain power, and an attempt to silence them and make sure this time around they will be too afraid to speak the truth. They are preventing free speech and the truth from coming out. Traitors to the country.
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DM / February 13, 2020
If you think 6.9 million Sri Lankans are idiots, why don’t you leave the idiots alone and disappear to the west and the so-called paradise? Journalists and reporters are not the only humans on earth. Also the people who died on the 21st April, and so many poor people in Sri Lanka who’s lives have been stolen by Yahapalana. We all witnessed the outcome of free speech and freedom during the last 4 and a 1/2 years, that’s why the so called idiots in your mind took a land sliding decision. Don’t overestimate your understanding and outlook of the world, but learn to respect the others outlook as well.
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Shan / February 13, 2020
It seems you have a serious problem reading comments, where in that comment did it say 6.9 million Sri Lankans are idiots? The idiots are those who are gullible enough to believe the government propaganda, and calling other’s traitors. The idiots are those who believe liars, murderers, and corrupt thugs, in the government.
Try not to be a drama queen and jump to the wrong conclusion.
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Justin Case / February 11, 2020
I agree, Mr Words that if there is clear evidence of any wrong-doing, the alleged perpetrator should be questioned.
But don’t you think the laws of natural justice should require appropriate charges to be framed and filed in court, and then a summons issued to the alleged perpetrator to attend court and respond? Why would the authorities see it as appropriate to act in a way that seems a manifest abuse of power and blatant victimisation of the alleged perpetrator’s husband, who is entitled surely, to not be treated like a pawn? HAVE THE AUTHORITIES LOST SIGHT OF DUE PROCESS IN THEIR HASTE TO USE MEDIA AND OTHER PROXIES TO STIR THE POT ON THEIR BEHALF? ISN’T THIS A BLATANT ABUSE OF POWER AND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT JOURNALISTS SHOULD ONLY REPORT PER THE OFFICIAL SCRIPT?
Has anyone read the B report submitted at today’s hearing of the case in question? Does that have any semblance of common sense? Is it not a mockery of due process and proper prosecutorial procedure?
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Old codger / February 12, 2020
I wonder when CT will get banned?
The baiyas can binge on Derana and Guru . The rest of you get your proxies ready. Download Orbot before Gota bans Google play.
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mike / February 12, 2020
Words – Dumb-a, if your “words” are scrambled we would be able to send a SWORD right up your rear until it hurts! Loser!
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K.A. Sumanasekera / February 11, 2020
I thought Indraguptha is a Journalist !!!!!!!.
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Even a Srilankan Army Colonel was arrested for providing private security to Treasure Hunters in Mullative, looking for Mr Prabahakaran’s Gold Vault.
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Which is fare enough I guess.
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Poor Taxpayers can’t afford to pay these Government Officers to do outside work as well..
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 11, 2020
If Gihan Indraguptha goes back to Sri Lanka he is a fool. False charges will be made against him and remanded to be held as a hostage to get his wife and family to Sri Lanka. It is rumoured that Dahrisha Bastians has left with information relating to abduction and disappearance of persons committed by Rajapakse brothers and is in London. This is good chance for Indraguptha to seek asylum and get it, as he is likely to be persecuted by Sri Lanka for the stance taken by his wife to expose criminals.
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Tamil from the north / February 11, 2020
KA Sumanaya, VP’s treasure vault was robbed by Shiranthi Rajapaksa, so go and ask her.
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Adrian / February 12, 2020
Tamil from the north, what was VP doing holding on to the thalis and money of his ‘beloved people of Tamil Eelam’? Was he planning to invest it for them in Kotalawala’s ponzi scheme?
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Tamil from the north / February 13, 2020
@Adrian, unfortunately in your case every Tamil is a supporter of the LTTE. Mutts like you have ruined the entire Sinhala race. VP put a gun to people’s heads when he took the Thali and if you cannot understand what the Thali owner was going through when she had a gun to her head, there is no point in having a discussion with you. Do you know what a Thali means to a Tamil woman? Do you think these Tamil women gave up their Thalis because they loved VP so much? There are LTTE terrorists working for the Rajapaksas (Karuna, Pillayan, Iniyabarathy, KP Pathmanathan, etc.,) and they have tremendous amount of information of what VP was going to do with all the gold in his possession. So go and ask the biggest thieves in south Asian history, the Rajapaksas and their 40 thieves and they will give you the answer.
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Lak DeSilva / February 11, 2020
Yes, future is going to be very dark for spies and foreign agents. People will make sure of that exercising their right not to support such stupid wankers in business or politics.
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D. P. / February 11, 2020
Lak de Silva,
Do you know that the biggest foreign spy within the Gvt is GoRa & his family? BaRa is also a US citizen. Also, a vast majority in the forces are paid Chinese agents. Kapila Hendewitharana was caught on tape for discussing favors with China.
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Lak DeSilva / February 12, 2020
Hmm… President Gota during his 20 years of military service has received awards for gallantry from three Presidents of Sri Lanka, J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa and D.B. Wijetunga. These include the gallantry medals, Rana Wickrama Padakkama and Rana Sura Padakkama. So this is a foreign spy according to you. Anti-national wankers like you who supported LTTE terrorists before and after they were sent 6ft under by Gota are patriots. Telling me not to believe my lieing eyes, but listen to BS from a complete moron. Okayyy!
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Amarasiri / February 11, 2020
CT,
The tribe, the Mafia tribe, is saying that we are in charge, and do not criticize us.
However, you imbeciles who elected us can prostrate to the saffron clad monks, who hijacked Buddhism and supported us to be elected by the imbeciles, mean IQ 79.
Sadhu, Sadhu , Saa.
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Amarasiri / February 11, 2020
CT,
“…..elected by the imbeciles, mean IQ 79, “,
“Sadhu, Sadhu, Saa”
Only imbeciles will say that.
In Sri Lanka, however, the audience intones “Sādhu” three times only for the part of the sermon which related to attainment of Arahatship or Nibbāna, for that is an occasion of exultation when a congratulatory note of joy, such as “Sādhu”, is called for.
PS. No Para has attained Nibbana or Arahatship, in the Alan’s of Native Veddah Aethho.
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shankar / February 11, 2020
” Swiss government insisting their employee was abducted and interrogated about her diplomatic work, while the Sri Lankan government has insisted that there was no abduction and that the story was fabricated by Francis, “
According to hercule poirot aka Dr.gnana sankaralingam in a comment in a earlier article mademoiselle francis was not abducted near the swiss embassy as she claimed,but had gone to a apartment in colpetty whre her daughter’s teacher was residing and that was where the interrogation took place.So there was no abduction,only an interrogation done by intelligence officers who had set a trap for her there.The more serious charge of abduction is concocted by her maybe with the coaching given to her by others and the public would want to know who that is and why she lied.If she lied about abduction how can we believe her story about sexual assault etc.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 11, 2020
You seem to display your ignorance of forensic medicine. Sexual assault does mean rape, and she had not complained about it. Sexual assault includes also verbal sexist statements and physical contact. Even a man touching a woman without her consent amounts to sexual attack of molesting. With advanced technology you cannot lie. No one allows himself to be abducted against his will without a struggle which leads to injuries. Since the lady did not complain of injuries or did not have any, the charge of abduction will fail in courts. Absence of any CCTV evidence and contradiction about usage of UBER vehicle proves corroborates with that. Just because the lady had lied about abduction does not mean that what she said about interrogation under duress including abuse, molesting and threats at the home of the teacher of her daughter is not true. Problem here is that agents of government have got caught with their pants down and are trying to cover up. Lady teacher and her husband who lured the lady into their house with false excuse of getting a visa to Switzerland are complicit in this crime. Failure to arrest them and be subjected to independent investigators and hiding the full recording of CCTV in Palmyrah Court which will expose other players in this crime are signs of miscarriage of justice. All this is because government is angry that the lady employee despite knowing that Nishantha de Silva had applied for a visa to Switzerland, had not tipped off the government about it, resulting in him leaving the country with files relating to abduction and murder committed by Rajapakse family.
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shankar / February 12, 2020
dr.gnana
“Lady teacher and her husband who lured the lady into their house with false excuse of getting a visa to Switzerland are complicit in this crime. Failure to arrest them”
arrest them for what?What is the charge?They are inside their own house.She has come willingly there.Questioning her or threatening her is not done by them.
“Sexual assault does mean rape, and she had not complained about it.”
rather confusing.Did you mean does not mean rape.also do you mean she did not complain about rape,only sexual assault?I also did not mention rape.
ps.is sqeezing a womans bum sexual assault.I do it but so far no charges.I think you are wrong because it depends on who does it.If the woman likes the person who does it then there won’t be any sexual assault charges.If she does not like the person then all hell will break lose.Trump has even grabbed pussy he says.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 13, 2020
Please do not try to cover up a crime. Abetting in a crime is also a crime. Just because a known visitor had come to your house, you have no right to commit crime on her. Secondly if crime had been committed in ones house by a third party, the owner of the property is answerable. In this case she did not go there uninvited, but on specific reason to discuss about getting visa for the family of the teacher. If the teacher was not known to the employee, she would have never gone to the house. Here, employee was cleverly lured by the teacher. Secondly those who did the interrogation also had come to the house of the teacher invited by her or her husband. So the teacher cannot say that she is not responsible for what happened. It is reported that the husband of the teacher is a military intelligence officer in the army. Does this not ring a bell of some untoward incident. To say that the teacher and her husband have acted on their own is naive. They are the front line suspects, and need to be arrested from whom details of other accomplices could be got. This is another instance where criminals are being sheltered.
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shankar / February 13, 2020
dr.gnana
” In this case she did not go there uninvited, but on specific reason to discuss about getting visa for the family of the teacher. “
why should she do that.She can’t go to peoples houses to help them with visa’s.She has to tell them to come and meet her at the swiss embassy.
also you have not answered my question what is the teacher to be charged for.Aiding and abetting a crime is not a specific charge.You have to say what is the crime.If the intelligence officers are asked why they went to a house to interrogate instead of officially calling the woman to their office,then Ms francis also should be asked the same,why she went to the house for official work.
if she says she was sexually assaulted and threatened it is upto her to show some evidence of it because already she was caught with a lie of abduction and being bundled into a car.She has to show some injuries at least of molestation.besides your logic that the teacher can be responsible for a crime just because it was in her house is laughable unless it can be proved that the teacher witnessed a crime and condoned it.Just imagine you invited some people for a party. a female goes to the toilet and comes back and says that someone said hello,how are you and when she looked up it was one of your guests grinning after removing a tile.This happened when i threw a party with my incorrigible uncouth friends.Another time a chap was thrown into the swimming pool fully clothed mobile and all.Are you saying if a complaint is made to the police they are going to arrest me for inviting those donkeys?
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critical take / February 17, 2020
What Dr. gnana is saying has truth. The defence put up by Garnia’s counsel is that she was lured into the apartment of this teacher and there men interrogated her. The reason the lady teacher is not arrested is
1) The teacher is Tamil, Catholic and has impeccable credentials
2) The teacher rejects this version of events completely. She says nothing like that happened inside her apartment. Commenter Shankar is in the wrong there. What Garnia is saying is that these men upon learning that she was a breast feeding mother committed an act of gross abuse. You can imagine what that act is. If the teacher has invited her friend to her apartment and there allows a group of men to question her by force and looks on while they commit abuse on her breasts, then the teacher is an accessory and a suspect. But circumstantial evidence supports teacher’s version of nothing having happened
1)even though no cctv inside the apartment, the loby, entrances covered by cctv, which shows no outsiders entering during relevant times into teacher’s apartment
2)teacher is shown on cctv accompanying garnia to the exit after her visit and they appear relaxed and cordial. garnia does not look like a woman who was subjected to an act of violence and betrayal
3) garnia tries to get a three wheeler rom the complex but fails and then she walks into the road insearch of wheel. which is not like a woman terrified after an ordeal.
4) again teacher’s tamilness and religion and hitherto impeccable credentials as a teacher of a convent school is versus garnia’s earlier record of lying about being bundled into vehicle near school
5) garnia claims the incident of torture interrogation happened at a certain time in evening but at that hour she is on camera coming out of apartment with teacher friend
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Menik / February 11, 2020
The first thing a dictator does when he gets into power, is silencing the media, and making them the enemy. This is the only way for their crimes to go unreported, and unnoticed, and this is the only way to keep the nation in darkness and ignorance .
Journalists report, criticize, and highlight crimes, and any leader who feels threatened by what is reported, has too much crimes to hide, and much to be afraid of.
Their job is calling for elected leaders to be held accountable for their actions.
The Rajapaksa’s have a previous record of targeting the media, harassing them, and threatening them, and many have fled the country in fear for their lives, some are still missing, and let’s not forget the poor man who predicted his own murder – Lasantha.
To this day those responsible are walking among us, and have even been elected to high office.
Leave the journalists alone. This is their profession, and it is up to them to write their opinions, and report on what the government does, There is NO democracy in any country, if the journalists are silenced, and they have to fear for their lives. If leaders have nothing to hide, they would not be afraid of what is written, even if they disagreed with it.
Good luck to Dharisha Bastians, her family, and other journalists, who are doing what all other journalists are doing, on a daily basis, in other democracies around the world.
It is called freedom of the press.
Silencing the media is a clear sign that there are crimes being committed, by the leaders in a nation. The present thugs in power for only a few months, have openly waged war on journalists, and we should be all afraid that it does not bode well for our democracy. The last time CT was shut down.
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Menik / February 11, 2020
“What else do we have to expose and investigate corruption and maintain informed citizenry? When all levels of government and justice system are abusing power, where can people go with claims of that abuse? Only the press.”
― JoeAnn Hart, Stamford ’76: A True Story of Murder, Corruption, Race, and Feminism in the 1970s
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Adrian / February 11, 2020
Menik,
.
‘The first thing a dictator does when he gets into power, is silencing the media, and making them the enemy’
.
Yes that’s what your hero Lee Kuan Yew did, and look at Singapore today. He also imprisoned the Opposition.
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Sanjay / February 11, 2020
What a joke, you are equating LKY to this clown. Gota and his brother did imprison their opposition, Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka will never reach the same standards as Singapore, our people don’t have the mentality to put country first, it is their pocket first. The fish rots from the head.
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Tamil from the north / February 13, 2020
@Adrian, it is so laughable that a mutt like you cannot tell the difference between the father of Singapore and a mass murderer!!!!
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JD / February 11, 2020
Definitely, nowadays, media should have some discipline as they are partial and they also work for money. Besides, some journalists are CIA agents. When she was appointed ManaGALA’s RTI commission as the chairperson, I thought definitely she is there to find who are partial to CHINA.
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Mithun Ranawana / February 11, 2020
The writer Janaki Mediweka seems to be inhabiting a different universe!
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According to her, there is no evidence against SSP Abesekara and the ‘Gota’ is simply harassing her! Has she not heard of the Alfonso tapes?
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For her information, the tapes provide CLEAR evidence that this law abiding policeman was prepared to wash pots and pans of Alfonso, if he promised not to spoil the case against Duminda Silva he had managed to fix with the corrupt ex-judge wpman Ranawaka.
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Swiss government has agreed that there was no abduction. Bastians is up to her neck in organising the stupid fake abduction.
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By the way, Bastians is not an employee of the fake news sheet NYT, but a free lance ‘stringer’ for it.
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She has tarnished the good name of all journalists of this country and she deserved condemnation and legal prosecution for her crimes. Evidence is clear!
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Shan / February 11, 2020
It does not matter who D. Bastians writes for, obviously she could not write freely in her own country. You must get your conspiracy theories from Hiru TV and Derana. No one knows exactly what happened, and it would be wise to not believe the government propaganda, like idiots believing the charmed sweets making Sinhala women barren.. Before prosecuting anyone else, how about prosecuting the butchers who killed Lasantha, Thajudeen, and kidnapping Prageeth Eknaligoda? How come you are not outraged about the worst crimes? You must approve of it.
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Ad / February 11, 2020
This proves that GR is a psycho.
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Shan / February 11, 2020
He is a dangerous psycho. A vicious, vindictive man, who is trying to punish those who criticize him, and he is rewarding murderers by appointing them in top positions. He wants to make sure the Rajapaksa dictatorship will function without opposition, or criticism.
Sri Lankans who voted for this lot just asked for trouble again.
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Sugandh Thomas / February 11, 2020
More precisely, a psychopath. Dangerous.
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JD / February 11, 2020
If Dharshini Bastian is hiding once govt changed, there is definitely something secret there. Why she has to hide ? That is how everything.
It is OK for Swaziland to accept Laundered money. On;y when Politicians bring those and invest in the sotck market yo make black money, legal tender that is wrong.
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Shan / February 11, 2020
Focus and think hard JD, all Sri Lankan journalists go by one ugly murder, that of Lasantha, and they try hard to not be a statistic.
Who does not fear murderers, kidnappers? and white vans?
She would be foolish if she did not learn from what her colleagues went through the last time.
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JD / February 11, 2020
SHAN: I remember you even during the LTTE Times. You were against LTTE but for the Tamil political solution. I say You are UNP to begin with.. If Dharisha Bastian like Journalists lived in CHINA should be sent through some cultural training. She is the result of colonial religions and cultural training. They do not know Sinhale or Sinhala culture. She is typical Portuguese, at ;east by name and work for different agencies including foreign news papers while employed by the govt papers too.
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Renu / February 11, 2020
Is there freedom for Journalism now like in the past? People will have to be very vigilent
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S. C. Pasqual / February 11, 2020
All good news.
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Freedom and wellbeing of the people’s president/government must prevail…..
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Ravi / February 11, 2020
What freedom? We are losing our freedom, and soon a police state will result. Well being? Just like those who were killed protesting their drinking water? Get real.
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chiv / February 11, 2020
“Sham Democrazy” in process. Jeyawewa. Get the people in every rank and file. Get all the services including police under one person. Get the judiciary, AG Dept and “loo and odor under family control.Get all Govt services under one family. Get the independent media out of the way so that from now, there is only one version that is Govt version. Get all the court cases either suspended or dismissed. From now on it will be SHAM elections and democrazy. (back to where we started). Good Luck.
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babalathappu / February 11, 2020
let alone after 3 months since RASCALS lead the country, this has come out. I noticed it day-1 onwards, that there is enomous pressure on the local media about free reporting. Unlike priort Gotler s presidency, today, not even social media would report anything arbitorily against the rulers. Earlier even if good moves were there, Journos did not utter a single word pleasing GOOD GOVERNANCE govt. Today, instead, the very same journos stay as if their hands are tied behind. I think brave journos LIKE Free Jouanlists such as Dilshan and Asan ameer should lead lanken FREE journalist in order to break the silent and report the due to the PUBLIC as had been before or even going beyond. They can make a real chance, if they would consider the gravity of the situation in making in this country today. These are not new to lankens, prior to 2015, over 40 or more journos were gunned down across the country with hundreds left the country for their for their espape. Gotler threatened that LADY successor editor of Sunday Leader, who then left the country for SEATLE, America. Now even she would express her heart out the way how she was attacked by BP Gotler.
The day, Journos would start their free movement, also exposing the BIASED nature of BP Dilip Jayaweera (Derana TV) and Kudu DUmiya s brother TV channel Hiru (the most abusive media institution)…. then many would line up to help you guys. I wish all the best for LANKEN free and hearted journalists
Greetings from Hamburg Germany
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 11, 2020
it is not something new to expect from this illicit kallathoni.
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even in 1989 when he ran away to top up the petrol tanks of the 7eleven customers and be a toilet cleaning coolie in sunny California he was nothing but a prooven mass murderer of his own clan the rebelling Sinhalese youth.
they were burnt alive after being dumped into tires.
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before he could be hauled up before a military court on charges of callous murder and inhumanity to mankind he thought that discretion was the best part than of valor he with his ahimsa bullied suffering wife did a right royal boot.?
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at the moment the first lady looks like a fish out of the water and my guess is if she disappears one fine day she might have been fed to the sharks as the victims of the white vans are forced to alive.?
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bullying or intimidating this fine journalistic couple is something this world-renowned cannibal of a Hannibal must be salivating and rubbing his hands in glee contemplating on what he can and will do if and when this innocent couple of duo fall prey to his draconian orders.
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if they by any chance are able to read this please do not come back to this sad sorry hell of a hole.
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this uncouth unsavory president with his ex-military and current in uniform thugs cum unruly gangsters will endeavor to keep the entire population under their thumbs and walk all over the bodies of the hapless citizens unlike the likes of me have nowhere else to give their bullied sad weary limbs a rest.?
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may all the gods bless and protect all these poor suffering souls.?
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cheers in total happiness.? R. J.
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Adrian / February 11, 2020
LTTE Obergruppenfuhrer von Johnpillai, I hope your German is better than your English. After 30 odd years in an English speaking country you still struggle with the language of the majority. Nevertheless you have made an attempt to learn it and obviously you are using it. A pity you could not do that when you lived in Sri Lanka.
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mokada badu / February 11, 2020
Scary and frightening and leading to a complete dictatorship with no freedom of expression and a
complete destruction of an independent and unbiased media. Sri Lanka will be a pariah state where the citizens rights will be fully suppressed and the politicians together with the army goons will run the country to the ground. Very sad situation and does not augur well for a democratic and free Sri Lanka. Terrible times ahead and only the almighty can help now.
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Native Vedda / February 11, 2020
CT
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Take it easy.
These were just a taste of things to come.
Those who helped to elect Gota should have known what was in store.
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In other words, stupid is as stupid does.
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Eagle Eye / February 11, 2020
Native Fake Vedda,
“Those who helped to elect Gota should have known what was in store.”
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Yes! Native Sinhalayo who helped to elect Gotabhaya Rajapakse knew what was in store. If ‘Para’ BPs do not like Gotabhaya, they should curse ‘Para’ Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial parasites who brought Dravida slaves and dumped in Sinhale and their ancestors who willingly accepted the citizenship given by Sinhalayo.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / February 12, 2020
Dear Native.
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Did CT help Gota to become Prez Nandasena?..Fantastic.
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So Indraguptha was working for the Yahapalanaya Foreign Ministry, while the Missus was working for the Swiss Embassy as well as Sunday Times..
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While ASP Nishantha Silva was working for the Yahapalana Cabinet lead by Dr Rani, Dr Rajitha, Mr Ranawaka and their Legal Eagle PC Mr Welitamunne.
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Did Mangaa Samare know about this?.
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Fascinating Stuff .. Aren’t they Native ?..
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2020
KASmaalam K.A. Sumanasekera
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You know I abhor politics and related gossip therefore I refrain from commenting on those hearsay. You too have to grow up.
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By August Mahinda, Gota, Ajith Cabraal, ….. and fellow crooks have to find $6 billion. Hindian’s charitable contribution would make up fill some gap, maybe Hindians could allow some currency swap, ..how/where are these crooks going to find the balance?
Perhaps they can try Seychelles.
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By the way did you see the link below:
https://www.tamilwin.com/srilanka/01/238281?ref=home-feed
I thought he is a card carrying/practicing Sinhala/Buddhist however it now appears he has all along been a secret member of Sri Lankan Hinduttva, just like his brethren from the North, C V Wigneswaran.
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Now what about Vasudeva Nyakka?
Please check his amude where you might find small sachets of Holy Ashes.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / February 13, 2020
Dear Native,
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“Holy Ashes in Vasudeva Nayakka’s Amude”….HaHaHaa
Native you are very funny…. sometimes….
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6 Billion even in USD, is peanuts for our Chinese Bros,
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Don’t you worry about how Gota is going to find the Dosh to pay the Debts..
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Just imagine how much will that Real Estate, the Magampura Harbor and those 20 Thous Acres will be worth in even after 5 years with Prez nandesean in charge
Didn’t you read what the President’s Shi’s FM Sec said after Mahinda asked for a moratorium from Modi?.
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Chinese are soooo happy now that Srilanka is part and parcel of their Belt and Road Project which is going to cost the Chinese inhabitants over 1.5 Trillion US Dollars..
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With the outright ownership of Hambantota now , which your buddy the UNP Supremo Dr Rani handed over to the Chinese Government as a Debt Swap. Prez Shi will guarantee that USD 6 Billion to clear the UNP buddies over due Loan Book.
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Where can Modi find that sort of Dosh, when 300 Mil Hindurvas are still on less than USD 2 Bux a day..
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And I don’t think Modi will be sending any of those aging Russian Sukohis like the LTTE Matriarch, madam Gandhi did to help Mr Pirahaparan.
.
Specially if Mr Modi’s new e Hindurva Drivers try to reach Yarlpanam from the South, crossing the Hambantota Air space with their Parrippu Bombs..
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2020
KASmaalam K.A. Sumanasekera
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“6 Billion even in USD, is peanuts for our Chinese Bros,”
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When did Chinese become your Bros?
Did you enjoy a good satisfactory value for money BJ from cheap Chinese prostitutes while you were kerb crawling in Bambha, Wella, Nawala, ………. ?
Is that what makes you love everything Chinese?
By the way South Indians are your real bros.
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“Don’t you worry about how Gota is going to find the Dosh to pay the Debts..”
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From clan’s kitty?
What a stupid suggestion.
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“Chinese are soooo happy now that Srilanka is part and parcel of their Belt and Road Project which is going to cost the Chinese inhabitants over 1.5 Trillion US Dollars..”
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If so why did the self proclaimed strongman and his bro go to Hindia and beg Hindians to save this island from Chinese loan sharks without naming them? Here is what Mahinda said to the Hindu: “If India agrees to postpone debt by 3 years, we can convince others too”.
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China claims to be a peace loving country, a piece from Pakistan, a piece from ……………. large pieces from Tibet and Hindia. Now it has a piece from this island only for the time being. It would be Mahinda, Gota and his clan that will oversea the island’s accession to China’s Autonomous region or become a special administrative region. On the other hand Hindians are using Salami Tactics, piece by piece, converting or brain washing Mahinda to Hindutva, …………….
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Why should your new bro Chinese help you with their surplus dollars especially when they are facing massive problem at home?
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You have already lost your self respect and never had your imagined sovereignty (whatever that is), ………………… Send more of your women folks to Medieval Middle East Kingdoms, … to earn some foreign exchange to pay the Chinese government owned banks.
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Hela / February 11, 2020
Nice story with loads of hyperbole and innuendo. You can’t whitewash the disgraced CID officer Shani who sold his soul to an arse playing film actor cum politician. You also cannot hide the fact that the Lake House was the mud factory HQ of yahapalanaya nor Azzam Ameen’s blatant electioneering using his BBC credentials.
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JD / February 12, 2020
I also say the same thing. Instead of talking washing dishes to REanjan, Shani Abesekara should have thought of quitting the job and becoming a Boss of a Security agency. Problem is, there are so many officials like that who would eat their crumb sacrificing the whole country.
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Spring Koha / February 11, 2020
Tisaranee gave us an early warning.
Now, sweet Dharisha is humming “don’t let the sun go down on me . . .”
Good People we are at the sunset of a very long night for the media.
A very long night during which some very long knives may be drawn.
Once again ‘shit eating pigs’ will be made to squeal.
After all, Gota The Enforcer is a meditating man and reflects on the thought that freedom, contentment, peace and happiness will flow through every aspect of his (and our) life in proportion to the orders he gives. And he will bring his brand of law and order to this warm and sunny land. Gota The Enforcer believes that the it his sacred duty to clear our blessed land of all ‘shit eating pigs’. The cull is about to start.
Those who do not agree had better run for cover right now.
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Lalinda Gunaratne / February 11, 2020
few people IN THE NGO mob are known to be ‘going down’ on Dharshani Bastian! Hands up Sanjana.
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We are sure Spring Kooha, Amarasiri, Native vedda and JohnPulle all wish they could also.
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That’s why they’re weeping!
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JD / February 12, 2020
China has that capability as China is very strong country that can challenge any country. Other than that, the best option is arrest Dharisha like people and send them through cultural familiarization boot camps. There are some like this who escaped the jail, probably inter national community asked them to release them and send to their country. as the govt is scared to western powers, these things are difficult.
I heard, these people were working on a program to cancel GSP.
What a wonderful, we have to buy their rusting garbage on loans. In order to send something back we have to complete their list and TAXI.
The problem is sri lankan always has a Hugh TRADE DEFICIT with them.
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JD / February 12, 2020
sorry, they TAX us and not TAXI.
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chiv / February 11, 2020
Anyone who has followed recent US impeachment hearings will know the initial trigger for such serious hearing (third in history) was , sacking of a genuine diplomat without cause, at Trump,s behest, so that Trump could continue his illegal dealings with Ukraine. This ultimately lead to a hearing. Though Trump was acquitted by his own senators, there is questions left in the mind of neutral/deciding voters and the history will mention him as an impeached president. Where as in our Silly Lanka the whole dept of CID police, judges,witnesses and media , are intimidated, threatened or fired, for doing their job. And as expected the rabble rousing voters have no say on any of these matters.
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JD / February 12, 2020
CHIV: Dealing with foreign countries, that is their normal way. TRUMP used it for his political advantage. Other party did not like it. Generally when the election is closer by, they bomb a country and say we killed terrorists to help the world.
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justice / February 11, 2020
How can a man who enforced State Terrorism become a righteous ruler?
The nation is being transformed to be under strict surveillance and support a would be dictator.
The saffron horde is fully behind.
There is no money for the grandiose plans of jobs for everyone.
Promotions have been given to those who will enforce the new regime.
He will get the two thirds unless the entrenched corrupt are booted out.
The parliamentary election will be the decider, but the opposition is fragmented.
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Eagle Eye / February 11, 2020
Justice,
“How can a man who enforced State Terrorism become a righteous ruler?”
Gotabhaya Rajapakse did not enforce State Terrorism. This is a cooked up story of ‘Koti Diaspora’ who carried out anti-Sri Lanka and anti- Sinhala propaganda campaign around the world.
The truth is Rajapakses gave leadership to the Sri Lankan Armed Forces to send megalomaniac ‘Para’ Demala Piripkaran bellige putha to rot in hell for trillion years for the heinous crimes committed against Native Sinhalayo.
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justice / February 11, 2020
EE,
Read the reports of UN Rapporteurs on torture, rapes and deaths of citizens in prisons, police stations, and disappearances of citizens, journalists & incarceration under the TID by Gotabaya.
Even today, no woman will visit a police station alone.
Many are still in prison, & are called “political prisoners”.
This happens only in one nation – Sri Lanka.
And, about the thousands who have gone missing.
And, about the killings of those with white flags.
Gota got information about LTTE bank accounts abroad & 21 ships from KP whom he got abducted from Thailand – all later unaccounted for. And the Gold Hoard of LTTE.
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JD / February 12, 2020
Justice is LTTE, they lost. still crying out loud.
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 11, 2020
great news from the global radio channels.
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Sudan has agreed to handed over Bashir to the world’s criminal court.
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the next is this sad sorry nation to hand over its biggest kallathoni alien of a president and his band of merry criminals to the said same court where they can be assured of a fair trial.?
this should include all the rajapuka clan.?
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hopefully, during the time of my grandkids or their children, this will happen.?
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in absolute happiness, cheers. R. J.
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Adrian / February 11, 2020
LTTE General Johnpillai, wait until the police drag you to the airport by your balls for funding terrorism. Gay Dutch prisoners are waiting to taste your masala vadais.
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 12, 2020
Adrianna –
why should the dutch police arrest me and why should the gay prisoners await my never to be arrival.?
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why on earth are you and a few other mangy fleas affected mangy gay mongrels are put off by my leaking out the truth.
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I cannot help it, as I come from a well-bred Scottish lineage and my maternal grandfather the late A.M Brodie was an English scholar and was a valued member of the staff at s. Thomas college, mount Lavinia and Jaffna college in vaddukottai in the northern part of the sad sorry country which has had to live with this notorious reputation thanks to the likes of you buggers.?
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cheers, R. J.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / February 13, 2020
Keep up the Good Work Adrian..
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It makes worth reading the CT every morning while having Brekky…
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Eagle Eye / February 11, 2020
ROHAN JOHNPILLAI,
“the next is this sad sorry nation to hand over its biggest kallathoni alien of a president”
—
This is what ungrateful ‘Para’ Bellige Puthas who are in this country or in a Greener Pasture because Sinhalayo gave citizenship to their slave ancestors want to do to our national heroes who took great risks to eliminate ‘Para’ Demala Piripakaran Bellige Putha who with his LTTE barbarians launched a terrorist campaign to massacre Native Sinhalayo. Rest assured, this will never happen. This will only be a dream of ‘Para’ BPs.
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If ‘Koti Diaspora’ create problems at the next UNHRC session, Sinhalayo will launch economic war against Demalu. Sinhalayo can survive without ‘Para’ Demalu but Demalu cannot survive without Sinhala customers. Face the bitter TRUTH!
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ROHAN JOHNPILLAI / February 12, 2020
eager less,?
my ancestors were the famous Brodie family who shone in many a great aspect.?
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we were of Scottish descent and a mixed matrimonial alliance or two brought my present surname into the equation.
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I was astounded and am still in shock to learn that you are still 80 years young and still ambling aimlessly in life spurting out your cheapest of the cheapest racist tantrums.
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even though being in some sort of loose connection to a demala thottakari meenachi you still have not forgotten how lucky you have made yourself to be in life.?
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hopefully, she would have forced you up the alter to make your unholy alliance a holy one.?=
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like some in your yak clan, you have made yourself the globes best and biggest hypocrite.?
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by day you clad yourself in your soiled amude of a panty putting out all the racist taunts that your 80 years old feeble soon to meet Saturn fragile body allows you to do so.?
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my humble request to you cease being a petty Ku Klux lowest of the lowest scum in the bag.?
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reform yourself the world’s biggest IRC [ island reconvicted criminal ]
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cheers in admiration, R. J.
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Eagle Eye / February 12, 2020
ROHAN JOHNPILLAI
“we were of Scottish descent”
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Still you are ‘Para’ in the Land of Native Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo. ‘Para’ people like you have ‘Paraya’ mentality.
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Lankan / February 11, 2020
Nothing new .
This is expected .
Wait and see.
More to come .
I hope Ranil and M&S will escape all this.
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Dee gee / February 11, 2020
All biased journalists should be dealt with.
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Stan / February 11, 2020
Very vague comment by a man who cannot think clearly, much less express himself meaningfully!
Who are the biased journalists and how should they be dealt with? You don’t have to name them, a rough identification or hint would suffice.
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shankar / February 11, 2020
The correct thing for the government to do is not to jump to conclusions that this is a conspiracy against the government.There did not seem to be time for ms.francis to plan out anything with others because she was obviously caught by surprise when she was interrogated in the apartment.Her talk of abduction etc could have been a idea she herself came up when she gave a telephone call thinking she could get refugee status or something.So the government should just let the courts handle this matter just like any other criminal case and have a hands off policy on it.gota also has said that it seems the swiss have been duped by swallowing her story.It was only after CCtv’s that the truth came out.
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Buddhist / February 11, 2020
Same old, Same Old…. Tiger never changes its spots, so is Gota.
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Eagle Eye / February 11, 2020
Buddhist,
Sri Lankan Armed Forces erased all the spots of TIGERS at Nandikadal. So there are no spots to change.
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Stan / February 12, 2020
Tigers don’t have spots, only leopards have them!
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JD / February 12, 2020
Hybrid War or unconentional war all about is use every method except military incursions to destroy, debilitate a country and take it under their control. They employ the country’s own people. There are so many politicians too help that in various ways. Some are only for money, some are for prestige, others take revenge. Some of the journalists are culturally, completely foreign and they fo not relate to Sri lanka even though they do not live. So, some programs are required to rehabilitate them. Where is Sunanda Deshapriya. He is adapted to Swaziland, I suppose.
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JD / February 12, 2020
UNP henchmen screwing up Sri Lanka from their foreign work place. Just like Weliamuna, these two will settle in their country. Chicken.
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Purple Rain / February 12, 2020
People who have vested interests are always shopping for “what is up for grabs”, when someone he/she who has built up a reputation through a profession must be vigilant without compromising on any terms or falling into any traps. The one who uses someone for his/her benefit will soon flee when his/her objective is accomplished. The victim of any such maneuver, will eventually fall from grace and will only have himself/herself to blame as in this case.
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chiv / February 12, 2020
Here is another positive outcome for our Silly Lankans to learn, but Amarasiri may be right about , their intellectual disabilities. If so who can help them ??? Kejariwal , a political novice has been elected for the third time as CM of Delhi. He was fighting against a mountain called BJP, and still with his intelligence and political maturity,he outright beat them in their own political game. Out of seventy seats Kejariwal,s AAP won 62 (last time 67). Mind you, Kejariwal had lost all seats just a few months ago in General Elections to BJP. He smartly stayed on the subject of development and issues pertaining to common man. During his tenure he had developed education, health facilities and also provided electricity at subsidized rates to the poor. BJP tried its best to engage him with religious divide (like in Lanka),they even called him a Pak spy, tried causing fear among public, the govt/BJP pumped money, man power and everything in their possession to influence the results , but the people could see the real facts and voted him for the third successive term. Where as in Silly Lanka its all about causing more misery to their neighbors/minorities than development.Hence we see the lies, spin, deceptions, fake stories and other BS churned out daily by Rajapaksa media.
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Uthungan / February 12, 2020
Kejriwal was even called a “terrorist and a Naxalite by Amit Shah and the BJP Hindutva Indian Home Minister and his crony-the fake saffron robed shaven head thug Yogi Adithyanath.
But the sensible voters of Delhi had their heads on their shoulders and voted for Kejriwal’s AAP to make him CM.
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Thondamany / February 12, 2020
menik……………. any chatty.. mutti required to be washed?
Anyone want to seek asylum in the Swiss Alps?
Dharisha kind of appeared to stoop low and may be to the heat of the NYT.
Good catch for the NYT…. they are sleek when it comes to promoting their agenda.
UNHRC witness list hacked….. Many traitor names who sought asylum appear in the open market.
Exposed………………….. No more secrecy……………. Was it retribution ?
/