In the backdrop of the masses being slapped with back to back tax increases, the Government has sought parliamentary approval for a whopping Rs. 1.1 billion to purchase 32 brand new luxury vehicles for the use of ministers, and deputy ministers.
Gayantha Karunatilake – Minister Media
In the list presented by Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilake on behalf of Minister Finance on Tuesday, Ministers Sarath Fonseka and Mahinda Samarasinghe were allocated Rs. 70 million each to purchase luxury vehicles.
The other ministers whose name was in the list were; Vajira Abyewardena to purchase two cars for Rs. 98,000,000, including one for his Deputy Minister Nimal Lanza. Rs. 91,000,000 has been allocated for Harin Fernando and his deputy minister Tharanath Basnayake, while Rs 35,000,000 each was allocated for Ministers Rauff Hakeem, Wijith V Zoysa, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, and P. Digambaram.
A further Rs 56,000,000 each has been allocated for Deputy Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, and Arundika Fernando while Rs. Rs. 28,000,000 has been allocated each for Deputy Ministers Manusha Nanayakkara, and Indika Bandaranayake, while another Rs. 27,500,000 has been allocated for Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame to purchase a car.
max / June 8, 2016
What a change for 62 lakhs of idiots in SL including myself.
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Amarasiri / June 8, 2016
Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilake
“In the list presented by Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilake on behalf of Minister Finance on Tuesday, Ministers Sarath Fonseka and Mahinda Samarasinghe were allocated Rs. 70 million each to purchase luxury vehicles.”
Not ONLY a no-confidence motion be tabled against your boss Minister of Finance, Ravi, A no confidence motion should be tabled against you as well.
Robber, Thief, Crook,, who wants to burden the people more.
Just like at the cars the Cubans are driving. Use your current vehicles.
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Dodo / June 8, 2016
While the people of Lanka are hit by Floods, Fires and massive tax increases due to bad development and governance policies by A-Yahapalanaya Sira-Ranil-Jarapassa crooked team, 1.1 billion worth of cars is to be dished out for corrupt crooks at the Diyawenna Oya Parliament MEGA PARTY circus to SLFP, UNP stooges. Corruption is bi-partisan in the giant Cabinet.
The putrid political culture in Lanka where corrupt politicians who partying in the stinking and sinking parliament are the root cause of the multiple crises that people face today.
But our cunning and nasty politicians distract the moda masses from their cross party corruption by playing ethnic and religious hate politics. At the end of the day Jarapassa, Sira, Ranil, CBK are all in the same CORRUPT game to DIVIDE, DISTRACT and RULE the masses.
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Amarasiri / June 8, 2016
Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilake
Good News for you. The No-faith motion against your Boss Rabi, put off due to fault in audio system .
The no-confidence motion against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake which was scheduled to be taken for debate and vote in Parliament today( Wednesday)was postponed for tomorrow (Thursday) because a technical fault in the Chamber audio system resulted in Parliament session being adjourned.
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Amarasiri / June 8, 2016
Max,
“What a change for 62 lakhs of idiots in SL including myself.”
The Average IQ of Sri Lanka is 79.
For a population of 15 million voters, yes, there are plenty of idiots.
National IQ Scores – Country Rankings
http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html
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Deshapremiya / June 9, 2016
Max, don’t blame yourself. Same can eb said for the six million others who voted for these thieves. Our people have no other choice when a two party system is monopolizing our political landscape. There is not a single alternate third party of principled intellectuals to help the people. Imagine voting for any leftist party that ruined our economy, destroyed our manufacturing base and local industries by their distribution of wealth and capital nonsense in the early seventies. Then the red brigade with a tattered past now trying to masquerade as angels. We all sympathize our people. No wonder our labour is going abroad and citizens immigrating to other countries out of frustration. I don’t blame them either.
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ballah / June 8, 2016
good news for the 6.2 million fools who elected appa sira and yamapalane…LOL
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Funlover / June 8, 2016
Sometimes dogs also bark the truth out!!
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thrishu / June 8, 2016
NO…….. Don’t give them approval. People should not be paying tax hikes to pay for these disproportionate luxuries for a few. One does not need luxury vehicles to conduct government business; even in countries like UK they buy SKODAS for top rung officials and bicycles for Mayors. In India Ministers could do with home grown Ambassador cars. If our otherwise useless Ministers and MPs are supposed to be serving the people, then force the buggers to set an example by making them do with what they have already got.
BTW what happened to those thousands of luxury cars sitting around in hidden car parks and those allowed to be taken home by ejected politicians? Force hem to return those assets, and give them to the needy ministers and government servants. It is disgraceful and this fake Yahapalanaya government repeating the same greedy and gluttonous policies and activities of the MR regime. Presidnet Maithreepala, what happened to your austerity measures that you demonstrated at the Oaths Ceremony, all forgotten now?
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Patriot / June 8, 2016
A small pittence compared to the value of hand shake without gloves with the Queen, smooching John Kerry, Abe, Merkal etc etc. The Dalits don’t mind they love to see the political masters drive around in luxury vehicles and leave the push bike and the bullock cart tax free for them. Wow what a sacrifice (Kepa Kira) as per Batalanda Ranil.
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Funlover / June 8, 2016
You exchange ideas with Sumanaya while playing marbles? Anyway truth is truth. Well done!
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Ben Hurling / June 8, 2016
What a disappointment that FM Sarath Fonseka has earned himself this awful reputation as well. Must say, I expected better judgement from that guy in this area.
The other corrupt clowns on CT’s list do not surprise me at all. Sorry. I blame the stupid Sri Lankans. They get what they deserve.
Cheers!
PS:
Gayantha Karunathilake, Colombo General Hospital’s stinking, over-crowded, badly ventilated, OPD section needs a few extra chairs. For retired, poor seniors. Will you present a request in Parliament for an allocation?
Few months back I met an elederly gentleman outside Colombo OPD. Who needed a Three Wheeler to get home. He was jsut so weak. He could not afford the ride home. Looked very much like my Grand Father who is not among us anymore. I had to chip in to send him home.
I bought a degree of my conscience back cheap. With a very heavy heart though. Not for my cash donated. But, the looting of SL by a few. For whom everything is in abundance. Abominable!
Shed a tear for your country.
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bo / June 8, 2016
Yes I agree with Jim. This is a great opportunity for SF to show some humility and caring, and to show leadership on the need for austerity when people suffer, but sadly he missed the take; there is still time to give this leadership and show that he would be a great people’s man.
On the other hand this phenomenon of ostentatious squandering of national revenue demonstrates the way the society behaves, especially our Sri Lankan populace. If a VIP comes visit the community in a humble transport, people think they are crazy or ignore them, whereas if they come in a flamboyant limousine then they must be gods even if their farts exude the same smell as the remainder of the populace’s.
Some other idiots keep the ancient Royal Transport the Jumbo as a status symbol yet seek non-Royal shiny plastics, glossy painted 150 MPH vehicles in a country where one is lucky to be able to exceed 36 MPH legally, due to overcrowding in urban roads, or pot holes and puddles in country roads. What do you call all these? Squandering national assets by people with bird brains!
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Funlover / June 8, 2016
Last week a 40 yr old Sinhala lady well known to my family had a serious heart ailment. She was referred by the Kalubowila Hospital for tests to the General Hospital. After the tests the doctor at the General Hospital diagnosed the problem as a congenital abnormality requiring surgery. Her case was registered and she was informed that she is number 1579 in the surgery waiting list.
Any comment about our “caring” representatives will be superfluous. But the Ra-Siri combine are well assured of bountiful curses from the general public.
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kumaran / June 8, 2016
What comment can anyone in Society make??!! WE the voters must refuse to pay taxes, file legal action against the State for misuse of funds etc. where violence is not allowed to play a part. The Customs and the Port workers should not unload these vehicles from the ships on arrival.
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Coconut republic / June 8, 2016
Total rubbish!
All these things to be revoked or pay 50% tax as minimum. NO govt has done anything for the interest of the public.
Mr President and Prime minister….just don’t encourage this shit since 98% of the politicians are daily costing our economy each minute in millions and they want everything free. my foot!
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Thomas / June 8, 2016
Remember the song “There is a hole in the bucket dear Liza….
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Panduka Manawadu / June 8, 2016
If you read the names of the recipient of these luxury cars, most of them are former MR’s men. This clearly demonstrate the reason for failure of this hybrid government.
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Paul / June 8, 2016
Most of them? Why can’t Ranil discipline his UNP men?
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KA Sumanasekera / June 8, 2016
Is Meeharaka as same as Natatamiya?.
After getting promoted to Elite Class for the prowess in Golf and sculling Single malt, my Sinhala is not up to speed.
UNP Heavy Hitter Dr Wije said ,he didn’t have to get permission from a natatamiya to make the invitee list for his son’s wedding , when the TV host asked Wije about some comments the UNP Field Marshall has made.
The UNP Field Marshall is one of those MPS and Ministers who are ripping off the public purse to buy luxury vehicles as if there is no tomorrow..,
Ammata Digital Harin putha also has bought a super luxury one, costing LKR 70 Million, paid by the Yahapalana suckers.
Dr Wifje in his response made some startling revelations about Avante garde.
Income to Srilankan from Avante garde has halved, The other half going to Yahapalaa supporters in Singapore and Malaysia.
7000 ex Soldiers lost their jobs and their families are destitute.
The losses from Aavante are mainly in US Dollars.
Which has compounded the Yahapalana balance of Payments problems
Now they want LKR 6 Billion all in FX to rest the bums of these halfwits in Mercs and Beemers.
Where is Bodhi Sira..
Sorry my Elders tell me he has just announced that he is fighting to eradicate LTTE from the planet.
But our LTTE Preme just demanded that Army should clear out not only from Kosgama but also from Eelaam territory.
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Thumpane Banda / June 8, 2016
Our journalists tells so many stories with millions, billions , usually with so many zeros. We get really confused with those zeros. Why can’t you get us images of those documents, cabinet papers? Most of new smart phones have cameras, scanning software..
I like to collect those images and put in a safe box to compare with new scandles.
Even 2000 years later, people can see these images and get some understanding on how their forefathers lived 2000 years back..
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Paul / June 8, 2016
Some day in the future the people will line these vultures up together with MR and his friends and shoot the lot.
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junis / June 9, 2016
Wishful thinking.
That day is a very long way off. The people are back boneless and in the end they will be lined up and shot.
If you need to line up these morons and shoot them then you need to hire mercenaries from syria, iraq and libya. Can you pay them ?????????
Not with lankan bananas.
You may be lucky to shoot them if you can get VP to rise from the dead but then that’s a long shot.
Vote them back to power again so that they can suck your blood, sucker.
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DEMART / June 8, 2016
CANCER HOSPITAL authorities and poor people beg to collect Rs. 50000000/= to buy
a P E T scan machine for the hospital to early detection cancer cells. But to
buy super luxury vehicles for these IDIOTS [ with the blessing of MY3 AND R.W.]
they have enough resources. What a shame?
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justice / June 8, 2016
In addition to the Rs 1.1 Billion, and the millions for the three ministers, there is the recurring monthly cost of maintenance and fuel.
A common pool of sturdy vehicles and drivers for official transport of all MPs would be ideal, cost wise.
Meanwhile, the poorest of poor women travel to the middle east, to provide a roof for their families and/or meals, and
the ordinary Lankans brave the difficulties of public transport daily.
These allocations for vehicles for MPs, with the present state of our economy,is totally immoral.
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mewan / June 8, 2016
This is not the fault of the government. They know regardless of how much the public get screwed they will not do anything meaningful other than express their anger in forums like this. And why would they care about it? Next week this will all be forgotten and people who go on foot and bicycles will be timidly giving way to for these cars to speed on while admiring their splendour. They will be only too happy to see their elected (and in most cases non-elected) representatives parade around in super luxury cars while they try to wiggle their way into crowded buses and trains.
I was just wondering what 70 million rupees could buy for Sarath Fonseka. That is nearly 350,000 British pounds. A top of the range Land Rover is about 50,000 pounds and BMW 7 series about 70,000 and an Aston Martin about 150,000. Why he needs 350,000. This useless excuse of a man has the arrogance to come on TV and say that he needs a car to fit his status. Yet there is no real public out lash against him.
In UK the ministers have been asked to make real savings each year some amounting to 10% of their budgets. As someone mentioned here they use only the cheapest but reliable cars available in the UK for ministerial work. All journeys have to be justified on a cost/benefit basis. This requires them to take the train for long journeys. This is how responsible governments that are answerable to the public operates. If this kind of opulence is shown, those ministers will be soon out of a job.
Before they expend these insane amounts of foreign exchange to buy unnecessary luxury, people should demand that each minister show what they have done to earn or save net foreign exchange. What has SF done to deserve spending that much foreign exchange when the country is begging for money? Better yet, what more can he do with a 70 million car that he cannot done with a Toyota?
If this cannot be done, then I think the public should take ownership of these vehicles and demand that they be sold to private buyers (who are likely to be crooks anyway if they can afford cars at these prices!) and return the money to the treasury.
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thrishu / June 8, 2016
“……. I think the public should take ownership of these vehicles and demand that they be sold to private buyers”.
Mewan what a great idea! Mr President, since you are a great believer of simple and non-ostentatious living, please take this suggestion from Mewan on board as the government policy. It will be a sure way to get voters on to your side. Start with seizing and selling MR’s fleet of luxury wagons, PMs recent luxury limousines and over the top super luxury cars and 4-wheel drives of Ministers, MPs and provincial hangers on. Give them all moderate cars, or even better 3-wheelers that could run about in urban areas much faster even with fat and overfed Ministers and MPs sitting at the back. After all, the poor have been priced out of their 3-wheelers, Minsters and MP could now make use of this surplus road space.
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moderate / June 8, 2016
This is highway robbery by the lawmakers!This is a way to STEAL money from the treasury! This is not YAHAPALANAYA! We thought Basil was stealing when he takes money for election work! Palpita bought ‘Sil redhi’ a pious deed indeed?? Although like Saradiel/Robin Hood—-stealing from the government (also the people)to give the people! What a paradox. Now Yahapalanaya is stealing money ‘legally’ from the people (VAT) for personal comfort again to go from A-Z!! Who is going the insure it? Again the people’s VAT!!!! And my great hero of yesteryear SF a beneficiary is justifying it! OMG I didn’t realize that the drug baron has been rewarded for assaulting a reporter or has he decided to fund the Yahapalanaya campaign? My dear Ranil Aiya, Aiyo ey’ Mey maragaathe?? Do you think the people will tolerate all this? Do we want Wimal, Dinesh, Aluthgamage, RRR back on our backs or is there a mutual understanding to see-saw of powersharing? Damn you and all politicos! Ranjan, Harsha are you benefitting? Why are you silent???
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Diogenes / June 8, 2016
All Sri Lankan politicians are traitors! May they all rot in hell!
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maalumiris / June 8, 2016
This is the ONLY reason that Yahapalanaya came into being
Not for Good Governance,
Not for Love of the People and Downtrodden Masses
Not to rescue the Motherland from clutches of Rajapakse
Not to put an end to corruption and waste
Not to Bring Together the Peoples of Sri Lanka
But to get a new car !
Thank you to all voters for Yahapalanaya – you have made some people very happy !
Now, get on the next bus and proceed to your destination
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eldorado / June 8, 2016
For fucks sake stop this bloody madness. Can’t you realise what you are doing in the eyes of the citizens of the world.YOU ARE ONE SET OF JOKERS ! On the one hand you are going around with a begging bowl to the IMF, WORLD BANK,CHINA, JAPAN, ASIAN BANK et al saying the Country is on the verge of economic collapse and we need to be bailed out, and on the other hand you are attempting to buy billions of rupees worth of luxury vehicles for yourselves. Is it that all these months these buggers did not have vehicles to run around in ?
Lightning struck football fields in France and Germany they say as retribution for the criminal acts those Countries carried out against those poor migrants. If that is the case it should also strike all those who are corrupting themselves at the expense of this Country.
Never again EVER will I go to the polls and vote for liars like you. YAHAPALANAYA MY BLOODY FOOT !!
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Snowden Edward Asangge.. / June 8, 2016
You lot help yourselves to EVERY PERK. That is available…Show me one time…just one time the parliamentarians voted against a bill that was giving them luxury…NONE alwats passed without objection…when poor teachers n givt employees are to be given a rause ALL U A holes shoot the bill down..you’ll say u need SUPER LYXURY VEHICKES to help the constituents BUT the real reasin is to use for personal n family use…PPL. need to get onto the streets yt show opposition to this madness…..So Ravi jacked up vat n taxes for the poor to pay for the luxury of these few Maniacs… I sugges throwing stones on these vehicles …S
HAME ON YOU ALL
Ti be eating n make merry at the expense of the poor cituzens..
A holes..
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Lanka Watch / June 8, 2016
No one understands as to why the govt. wants to earn the wrath of the people by buying luxury cars for top politicos at a time the country is
reeling in financial difficulties. Are our car technicians not capable
of doing the repairs of the existing govt.fleet of cars. Some times it
is difficult to understand as to why the govt. reverses the priorities.
Day by day they are loosing their vote bank as judges are the people and they can see with their own eyes how the govt. is digging their own grave, not minding the consequences of jnt.op effortlessly cashing in on govt’s weaknesses.
There are 540 members in the Indian Parliament and none of them use
foreign made cars for their official functions and foreign cars are
used when foreign dignitaries arrive in their country.Why not we learn a few austerity measures practised by the Indian parliamentarians.
India has a strong economy and they can afford to spend more on luxuries for the parliamentarians but they don’t.becasue it is a waste
of public money.
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Gamarala / June 8, 2016
On the one hand these MPs and Ministers get together and INCREASE THE TAXES OF even BASIC VEHICLES like Toyota Prius cars used by general public and allow themselves to own SUPER LUXURY VEHICLES – TAX FREE at the expense of the tax payers money.
I earnestly hope the voting public will remember to punish these people who promote these malpractices at the next election.
Shame, Shame, Shame
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Sithum / June 8, 2016
To all my friends who talked so big when they wanted this government.
I hate you all.. you are the reason for the ruin of this country from bad to worse.
I can’t blame the politicians.. I only blame the voters from now on.
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shamesrilankan / June 9, 2016
Don’t blame the politicians. Blame the damn shit sri lankan voters.
They deserve what they get and more.
“Sinhalaya modaya, kavun kanda yodaya.”
The more kavun they are given the more modayas there are.
May the politicians strip you all of your underwear.
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Adrian Van / June 8, 2016
So let’s cut to the chase here… You buggers want to feel important driving a car or been driven in a car that doesn’t belong to you?.
You want to be respected, looked upto, worshipped even (like most illiterate Sri Lankan’s do) been in the car?.
Why are all you people so complexed, inferior and self absorbed?.
What have you done to deserve this car?. Why is this car so important to you?.
Is the car you been driven now in so broken down that you get stranded on the road?. What happened to all the previous luxury cars that are been bought every year via every budget?.
So your telling me that this is the only way you can afford this car by becoming in politician?.
You people are pathetic souls. Hell has reserved a special place for all of you’ll. No puja, no sacrifice in any temple is going to save you.
When karma hits it pours. It’s all a matter of time.
Ps: audit all these pieces of shit before and after they join and leave the government. That’s if they ever leave. Parasites!!!.
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Jon / June 8, 2016
RANIL IS GOING TO GET THE BOOT DURING THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.
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Deshapremiya / June 8, 2016
“RANIL IS GOING TO GET THE BOOT DURING THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.”
Why do we have to exert any energy to boot Ranil out when such a dumb idiot will boot his own a!se.
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idiot srilankan / June 8, 2016
These politicians have all hypocrites. They say something when in opposition.Once they begin to rule they do the opposite.
I was told by an elder. In the past until late 60 or 70s MPs were given only first class births to travel in the train. THAT WAS TO MIX WITH THE PUBLIC and to know their problems and help the public.Now they travel in the high speed luxury vehicle with tinted glass and we don’t know who comes in the vehicle. Sometimes they come in different vehicle.The politicians always cheat the voters.We are cheated all the time.The tigers never change their stripes. God save SriLanka Idiot sri lanka
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Deshapremiya / June 8, 2016
We need to organize for a mass revolt. People need to collectively organize and withhold paying any form of taxes to this government because people are supreme and those elected members are the servants. Not the other way around.
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Md / June 8, 2016
Maara joke .. You buggers loot and we pay!!
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Funlover / June 8, 2016
The luxury vehicles for the prostitute MPs and Ministers are just plain bribes from the Ra-Siri power intoxicated duo to defeat any and all no-confidence motions in Parliament to perpetually keep themselves in power.
Bastards all!
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Shrikharan / June 8, 2016
We have seen so many comments here in the Colombo telegraph condemning such an approval for luxury vehicles.
Lets be honest about ourselves. What will each of the commentators do if you were in their shoes of being a member of Parliament? Will you say and do the same as you are saying here now?
We have such good people here writing so much speaking against corruption and abuse of privilege and so it is us who should have been selected to Parliament and the present lot in the parliament should take the role we are doing now, and they will have no room to write anything bad of the utopian Parliament run by the one time CT commentators.
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ramona therese fernando / June 9, 2016
Nonsense, JVP-type persons will be most authentic towards the Common Masses! We need politicians who have studied mostly in Lankan Uni’s. and know the Lankan system thoroughly. And we also need politicians to also have that same deal for their children.
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south of the border / June 9, 2016
get yourself examined at Angoda !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ramona therese fernando / June 9, 2016
Intimidated by the authenticity of Sinhala culture, aren’t you!
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Hamlet / June 9, 2016
Shrikharan:-
“Lets be honest about ourselves. What will each of the commentators do if you were in their shoes of being a member of Parliament?”
The Question is, does One become an MP to Serve the People, or to obtain the Power to Gain Riches for Oneself!
I can’t understand Why anyone would want a Super Luxury Car, when an Everyday Vehicle would do the Job just as well!
In a so-called ‘Buddhist’ Country why would anyone want to create Envy and Jealousy in another, by flaunting His Wealth in the Face of those who voted Him in?
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