The debt ridden national carrier, SriLankan airlines is dragging an equally debt ridden government into a fresh crisis having no way of paying up a nearly US $ 1 billion debt.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe disclosed that within the next six weeks, his government will have to decide if the government had the capacity to absorb this debt, else the future course of action that should be taken to address this issue.
“Minister Kabir Hashim has informed me that this debt could be higher,” Wickremesinghe said.
The national carrier ran into huge debt under the chairmanship of Nishantha Wickramasinghe, the brother in law of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Early this month, Wickremesinghe revealed that his government was trapped in an almost Rs. 10 trillion debt, mainly left by the previous Rajapaksa administration.
Hasitha / March 23, 2016
The staff strength exceeds 6000
Now and the human resources is hiring management trainees? You need to reduce staff not recruit for the sake of recruiting or for the sake of keeping the hr staff occupied!
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baba / March 24, 2016
lets sell it ! lets sell it! sale sale sale
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Don Stanley / March 24, 2016
It is mind boggling that not a single corrupt crook for the Mahinda Rajapaksa family has been convicted for LOOTING THE NATIONAL Institutions and wealth.
Mahinda Jarapassa’s brother-in-law was CEO of Sri Lankan – an incompetent and corrupt fool. Both Nishantha Wickramasinghe and Mahinda Jarapassa should be HELD ACCOUNTABLE – tried and found guilt of FINANCIAL CRIME and locked up and their assets ceased to pay off the debt of Sri Lanka.
The FCIU has been doing a useless dance for years with nothing to show and should be closed down. The Political Corruption which is bi-partisan and cross party. with Ranil-Sira and Jarapassa all implicated by now is sickening.
The media is useless on addressing and exposing corruption in politics.
CT Editors rather than showing silly pics of Daham better to do a proper story and investigative report on failure of Financial crimes unit to prosecute those responsible after the Weliamuna Report and what is so called civil society doing about bi-partisan political corruption?
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S.Modaya / March 24, 2016
Quite true Don!
Instead of being Jailed, the financial Criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa is staging rallied in Hyde Park while Sira and Ranil are tango in the Parliament of Corrupt morons!
What a bloody rotten Circus politics in the Miracle of Modayas is!
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Veddah / March 24, 2016
If you know sooooo much, please make an appt with FCID. They would very much love to hear everything you know. Why you idiot shout in newspaper. Take mum go see FCID.
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Upul / March 25, 2016
Your name exactly suit the comment you have made. What you are doing is ruining the country by sucking up to the previous regime’s ALI BABA and his clan of thieves.
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Uthungan / March 25, 2016
Correct. Not a single corrupt crook has been convicted for Lootng the National Institutions and wealth.
Why, what is the secret?
There is no honest intention or willingness on the part of Yahapalnaya Sira & Ranil.
That is the fact. eg.. Why did Ranil interfere and let BurunWansa and his wife escape from punishment for holding two passports and a diplomatic pp.?
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baba part / March 24, 2016
lets sell it ! sale sale sale
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Leelagemalli / March 24, 2016
These are serious issues.
Rajapkashe clans still make jokes on the their huge mistakes. At least the buggers should have to accept their failures at this critical juncture of the country.
It is like leaving kakka and asking is others to remove it for them.
Shameless buggers will have no respect to anyone.
1 Million us dollars – meaning -142 million in rupees -meaning- 1420 lacks in Rupees.
1420 00 000 rupees.
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Leelagemalli / March 24, 2016
appologies.
1 billion meaning 1000 million… can you imagine ?
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Banjiappu / March 24, 2016
lajja nathi parrah… even dared to ridicule it out.. not seeing own blunders let alone today.
1 Billion is 1000 million…
142 000 million in lanken rupees.. Meeharaka has eaten the tax payers funds.
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Amarasiri / March 24, 2016
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,
RE:Govt. In Deeper Crisis, As SriLankan Unable To Pay $ 1 Billion Debt
“The debt ridden national carrier, SriLankan airlines is dragging an equally debt ridden government into a fresh crisis having no way of paying up a nearly US $ 1 billion debt.”
“Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe disclosed that within the next six weeks, his government will have to decide if the government had the capacity to absorb this debt, else the future course of action that should be taken to address this issue.”
The Average National IQ of Sri Lanka is 79. The Average IQ of the politicians, is not much different. So, what can be expected? The results speak for themselves.
Immediately start merger talks with other carries, and give the full management control to other carriers.
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EW Golding / March 24, 2016
Amarasiri you often mention the 79.
What reliable source do you have?
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Amarasiri / March 25, 2016
EW Golding
“Amarasiri you often mention the 79. What reliable source do you have?”
1.) National IQ Scores – Country Rankings
The intelligence scores came from work carried out earlier this decade by Richard Lynn, a British psychologist, and Tatu Vanhanen, a Finnish political scientist, who analysed IQ studies from 113 countries, and from subsequent work by Jelte Wicherts, a Dutch psychologist.
Countries are ranked highest to lowest national IQ score.
http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html
Rank
——– Country
———————– %
————-
1 Singapore 108
2 South Korea 106
3 Japan 105
27 Barbados 80
27 Bhutan 80
27 El Salvador 80
27 Kenya 80
28 Guatemala 79
28 Sri Lanka 79
28 Zambia 79
29 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 78
29 Nepal 78
29 Qatar 78
2.) Lynn_Vanhanen_estimated_IQ2012 Sri Lanka IQ=75 From Graph.
Quick Post: L&V’s National IQs predict GMAT scores across 173 nations
http://humanvarieties.org/2014/02/02/quick-post-lvs-national-iqs-predicts-gmat-scores-across-173-nations/
Regression Plot: The regression plot for GMAT scores and L&V’s (2012) Estimated National IQs is shown below.
https://humanvarietiesdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/gmatregressionplot.png
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sama / March 24, 2016
Even if the burden left by Rajakshe Regime alone by srilanken this much, why do the rulers let Rajapakshe to stay scot free yet ?
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Dodo / March 24, 2016
Rather than convicting those responsible for stealing from the people of Sri Lanka, and ceasing their assets to pay off potions of the National Debt, the Sira-Ranil government is playing politics with Mahinda Rajapaksa who along with Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Basil, Namal and Yoshita should have been jailed long ago for Financial Crimes.
Even Yoshita was bailed out
Ayahapalanaya government is turning out to be as corrupt as the previous regime. UNP and SLFP politicians stink and it is time for the JVP and TNA to take over the struggle to clean up politics in the Diyawenna Parliament of Corrupt morons, thugs and murderers and educate the stupid masses about how corrupt their in SLFP – Sira and Jarapassa – leaders are.
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Amarasiri / March 25, 2016
Dodo
“…the Sira-Ranil government is playing politics with Mahinda Rajapaksa who along with Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Basil, Namal and Yoshita should have been jailed long ago for Financial Crimes.”
Sira and Ranil do not know how to shoot.
They just, talk, talk. Somebody nee to teach them how to shoot the bad guys.
When you have to shoot…Shoot! Don’t talk
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZXlhSgq7us
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Peterappu / March 24, 2016
Mr PM;
HOW MANY MORE DAYS WE HAVE TO STAY BITING OUR NAILS…… ?
NOTHING SEEM TO BE DONE AGAINST ANY HIGH CULPRITS, instead them being given more space than had been to move around ?
ONCE nails are run out. , WE NEED TO INVADE PINNAWALA:::THIS HAS NOW REACHED TO ALL NO GO LEVELS
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Hinniappu / March 24, 2016
Ranil is a humble person. Today he celebrates his b day with few – no extra vaganzas. Had MR been in Power, he would have eaten all the sums of tax payers giving whole scale dansal party. That is the greater difference.
Not even Mugabe behaved the way Rajapakshe did.
But still Rajapakshe supporters stay intoxicated…. world wonders sadly.
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Analyst / March 25, 2016
You Prime Minister and the President have honoured and pardoned bathe criminals for all the crimes and the loots
Committed by the MARAs .
So you have caused this mess for us. If you have skeletons hidden in the cupboard don’t include us , which MARA is threatening with, Apparently your brother too involved in some Colombo Land Fraud.
So there you go !! Unable to solve anything . That family left us empty to starve while you and him and all looking after your selves.
We expected you to recover the LOOT from wherever they were hidden by Maras.
You and the President is losing all the respect you received initially.
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Native Vedda / March 23, 2016
Ranil Wickremesinghe
“Early this month, Wickremesinghe revealed that his government was trapped in an almost Rs. 10 trillion debt, mainly left by the previous Rajapaksa administration.”
Could we have an analysis of what this 10 trillion debt made up of.
More skeleton in the cupboard perhaps.
Would you consider Gotabaya’s offer of rescuing Sri Lanka? He could lend this country some spare change, from MIG deal, Chinese loans, VP’s cash and gold, ….
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Samuel Jayaweera / March 24, 2016
NV,
as Leelagae malli says, these are very serious issues.
I wonder why MR challenged the rulers few days ago ? ….
Not even taking anything serious. Why do the rulers allow former president to even make jokes on the loans…?
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Point of View / March 24, 2016
His big Brother can mortgage/sell the Marriott in Dubai to help lend some cash !
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Peterappu / March 24, 2016
All those properties belong to Raja are forced to auction…. so that the nation could finally find their inner peace.
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Jagath Fernando / March 24, 2016
Some suggestions from a previous employee.
1 review route structure and eliminate all European routes
2 position as a regional airline with good connections to Asia and Middle East.
3 reduce staff appropriate for 20 aircraft.
4 carve out catering, engineering and ground handling and expose losses in passenger traffic
5 review agreements with flight attendants so that monthly payments amounting to Rs 500,000 per attendant is no longer payable. Cabin crew cannot be paid higher than cock pit crew.
6 enter into a JV with a larger airline
7 rationalize fleet
8 restructure the debt
9 restructure board and senior management
10 improve efficiency and productivity
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shankar / March 24, 2016
jagath
you have some excellent points.Ranil should pay you 5 million rupees for giving this input,which is peanuts compared to what will be saved if your proposals are adopted.
however i am looking at it in the long term.What is the use of having this airline,getting into a mess,putting it right and again getting into a mess sometime in the future because we the taxpayers are sleeping payers who only wake up everytime they ask for more money and we find out that as usual our money was inside a bucket with a hole underneath through which they put their fingers and take it out.I’am afraid the same thing will always continue with every government.So don’t you think it is better to sell it off and leave the running of business to businessman and get the politicos to govern which is what they were elected to do.They were not elected to run enterprises.
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Jagath Fernando / March 24, 2016
Shankar
It is important to have an airline to control prices. If we don’t have a stake in the airline, the prices can go through the roof.
Also for your info, even at USD 40 per barrel for oil, they are yet to make any profits. Even March 2016 is supposed to be a loss. MIHIN is getting close to breaking even at USD 40 per barrel but not Sri Lankan.
Also we have never made any profits from passenger traffic since the departure of Emirates.
Jagath
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shankar / March 26, 2016
jagath
“Also we have never made any profits from passenger traffic since the departure of Emirates.”
that’ my point. we should never have departed form emirates. maybe the time is ripe now to arrive at emirates.
as for prices that you mention,just check the air asia website.with all the cutthroat competition we don’t need an airline to get better prices.
http://www.airasia.com/au/en/home.page?cid=1
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AJ / March 24, 2016
Point 5. As a employee I know for a fact that pilots earn lot more than cabin crew.. And they are defend toy not paid 500.000 for attendance.
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Jagath Fernando / March 24, 2016
AJ
Hope you have had a look the agreement signed with Flight Attendant Union by the corrupt Nishantha Wickramasinghe.
If you haven’t happy to share a copy with you.
All the allowances agreed in that is not sustainable and when crew take up the quota of flights the earnings are over Rs 500,000-00.
Jagath
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Manju / March 23, 2016
There are so many unwanted costs associated in this airline. As an employee I see these everyday but there is no one to correct these,
1. Unnecessary duty travel for staff. A bunch of hr staff went on some award thing unnecessary to Singapore if I am not mistaken. We don’t need awards now, we need to reduce the cost of the airline.
2. Vehicles and allowances provided to senior managers and heads. This is absurd, there was a time when some heads were recruited they were asked which vehicle they prefer and the company rented as they wish! Is there any formality or process in this? Can’t the vehicles be removed and ask them to use their private vehicles parked at home comfortably.
3. No need to provide entertainment allowances for managers, that’s is an unwanted allowance added.
4. Unnecessary and not critical projects to be stopped. We need to focus only on the main operations. For example projects like green is not a need. The cost for this unit include manpower wages, their duty travel expenses, other related project costs etc. we can run the airline without this at the moment. We need to focus on the main stream.
5. Unnecessary recruitment. As the above comment from hasitha, I agree 100% that we don’t need management trainees at this crucial moment. Just imagine the cost it will involve. The cost for advertising, the cost of employees involved in screening, etc. we have enough and enough labor to run ten airline now. We don’t need more staff. They can’t change the game, the current management has the change the game. Head of hr can come up with attractive names only, no policy at all and no common sense. He should think why we need management trainees at this stage.
Absurd thinking as usual.
6. The it department and hr departments are highly over staffed. Infact hr people are located in two offices. This is so pathetic.
The list can go on and on. I don’t understand why the directors can’t understand what we see. Directors should never depend on the heads or the management, they can mislead easily.
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Barathan / March 24, 2016
PM says that within 6 weeks the government has to decide whether the govt. can absorb $ 1 billion debt. Why should the govt. accommodate such a huge debt when Sri Lankan Airlines doesn’t take any step in the direction of austerity?
How can Rs.145 billion be absorbed when the national debt is Rs 8.5 trillion as disclosed by the PM only 3 weeks ago?
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Nimal / March 24, 2016
When Airline is belonged to Government everyone tries to get something out of that for his or her benefit irrespective of what will happen to the Airline. If there is a private owner who invested money always thinks to earn income pay debts and manage people and get best out of them. This is same with CPC CBE and Water Board, Chairmans are appointed to do what minster wanted. Appoint their people and use all the facilities they can get. Unless people understand this nothing will happen.
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Spring Koha / March 24, 2016
Manju
I congratulate you on your keen observations and excellent suggestions.
However, the only thing is that with a clearing of the horse-shit-smelling debt that has been piling up for years imminent, management has decided to go all out to pile up the last bit of excreta.
These are what we call the ‘nava-gilunoth-band-chune’ days.
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Analyst / March 24, 2016
Oh Wow!
Just do it or just get the hell out of it.
You have had more than a year , at least show some initiative rather than leaving us with guess work ??
You and your government knew that you took over Bankrupted or the empty coffers left behind by the former regime.
Where are the expected business ventures, your / my country folks can only REJECT anything good for our country , same as the ECTA,
PLUNDER THE LEFT OVER LIKE THE PREVIOUS RULERS DID OR PUT UP AND SHUT UP..
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Wow / March 24, 2016
according to the previous government we did have enough money as foreign reserves. The central bank agreed so. You can’t exactly say “empty coffers”. The new government took up $ 6000 mil in debt within an year and there’s no indication of what happened to that money. They gave off 10000 to each government employ not caring about what it does to the economy. And here we are, the country heading towards bankruptcy. The only thing this government has been doing is complain about the previous government. When you can’t do something, blame the others. That’s the whole yahapalanaya motto. Well what can you expect when the president himself says “i don’t know, no one told me” on national issues?
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thrishu / March 24, 2016
This PM keeps bellyaching about the debts that the previous regime and its acolytes have incurred on behalf of the nation. I have yet to hear one word from him as to what he is going to do about the irresponsible previous President, and their extended family members and friends who were holding positions of power and had placed the country into debt to that magnitude. It was totally unacceptable the way they had acted irresponsibly, with total disregard for the citizens welfare, present and future generations. It was negligence, dereliction of duty, all traits of behavior triggered off by their desire to satisfy their corrupt practices and personal greed to acquire wealth.
Now PM, you first tell us what you are going to do about those culprits. The Nation expects you to arrest them first and set up investigations, and keep them locked up until the truth is revealed and all borrowed and squirreled away fortunes are brought back to the country.
Do not find excuses to load the already squeezed citizens into paying more taxes or paying through their noses for all the essential food, and services. Let the culprits pay for their misdeeds; seize all their assets in Sri Lanka first and liquidate them. We do not want to make those remaining vultures hanging on to you, to be the next set of instant billionaires running all the way to the banks on our backs. PM, get your act together, and stop bellyaching!
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Native Vedda / March 24, 2016
thrishu
” I have yet to hear one word from him as to what he is going to do about the irresponsible previous President, and their extended family members and friends who were holding positions of power and had placed the country into debt to that magnitude.”
Name one politician in this part of South Asia being successfully prosecuted and jailed for corruption and mismanagement of an economy.
Don’t expect too much from fellow South Asians. They survive by networking and the support of their extended family. This is about scratching each others back.
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Point of View / March 24, 2016
Only one with balls is Chandrika ! So let’s forget about anyone else doing anything drastic to get out of this mess !!
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nishan / March 24, 2016
“The Nation expects you to arrest them first and set up investigations, and keep them locked up until the truth is revealed”
That’s not how the due process and the law works. Those who voted for yahapalanaya need to decide whether they voted for revenge or for justice. Some of them seem to want shortcuts and the rule of law ignored because “their people” are in power. This is the mentality that gets Sri Lankan into problems whichever party is in power.
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Spring Koha / March 24, 2016
thrishu, of course you are right.
But, a little birdy tells me that the Yahapalanaya bunch are treating the Liberator party with velvet gloves because they are very unsure of the people they have in the fragile Yahapalanaya set up, even at this stage. Truth to tell, about 30% of those hanging onto MS’s arya-Sinhala will not hesitate to run back to the Liberator if and when the going gets tough. I tell you too that Satakaya Man will run amok because he is very upset about the way Yoshita Putha has been treated.
Another thing sir, durians will smell fragrant when compared to the stink when the Liberator and Gota return.
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Ex UL staff / March 24, 2016
Very True.Instead of putting the blame on Rajapakse regime for everything,let us hear what PM is going to do about SriLankan.For the last one year or so many a comment has been made as to what is wrong with the Airline but not a single meaningful action has been forthcoming from this Government.PM himself is responsible for continuation of the Mismanagement of the Airline by his direct involvement in appointment of a Board of Directors full of his school cronies/political associates and to make it even worse by consenting to appoint new CEO/CCO once again on affiliations rather than on proven ability.
It is very easy for anyone to pontificate from the Parliamentary chambers,but needs real courage to do what needs to be done given the magnitude of the situation.
For heavens’ let Country’s interests take precedence over one sinking state Body.
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justice / March 24, 2016
The US $ 1 Billion increases daily with losses accrued on each flight of this ‘white elephant’ called a ‘national’ airline.
Why not sell off all the assets after worldwide advertisements, give ‘golden handshakes’ to all staff ?
Why should all citizens become more indebted each day?
Hire two private charter aircraft for urgent travel.
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Sylvia Haik / March 24, 2016
The Airline was doing quite well under the management of the Emirates but they were sacked by President Mahinda Rajapakse because they wouldn’t decant fare paying passengers to accommodate Mahinda and his cohorts to fly them somewhere. The double whammy for SriLankan Airlines was that Mahinda Rajapakse treated it as his own taxi and never paid for anything. The Airline should take him to court to get their money with interest.
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laugh it off / March 24, 2016
Every time Ranil Wickremasinghe was in a govt his one cry was about debts, debts & debts. Yes ! Sir, if debts have been chalked up by the previous govt then its your sole responsibility to bring those responsible to book. If you cannot, then keep your damn trap shut.
You were voted into power to bring this country out of the mess it is in. Isn’t that the reason ?????????????????????????????????
You were not voted in so that you can make damn flimsy excuses with regard to righting the wrong that has been done. !!!!!!!!!!!!
You have a choice now. Either you can put SRI LANKAN AIR LINES right to fly forwards or keep making excuses and let SRI LANKAN AIR LINES fly back wards. If you can’t do either then its best you bugger off home together with your cohorts ( Bunny boys ) and let someone else do the job.
We the citizens are fed up of your nursery rhymes such as ” here we go round the mulberry bush ” and ” Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way “.
You can fool some people some time but you cannot fool all the people all the time like the previous govt did.
From the present state of the country it looks like you and your “Bunny boys” are heading straight down the pallang and that “Kool and the Gang” are looking forward to coming back again.
If that happens then your career in politics is over and you will have to seek refuge in Christmas Islands with your “Bunny boys” for company.
So Mr.PM its high time you bent down tightened your laces, pulled up your socks, adjusted your underwear, and buttoned up your trousers.
We are fed up of all this tommy rot, Sri Lankan airlines, Blackouts, Thajudeen case being dragged over and over, Prices of daily essentials going up, Erosion of law & order, Murder on the roads & highways, Cock ups here and fock ups there, etc etc etc…………………..
Decide what you want and if you need our help to set the traps to catch the rats we will do that for you. If not then we will give you a bit more time to get your house in order before Kool & the Gang start knocking on your front door with eviction orders.
Yours sincerely
Percy Patholawatte.
Bandakka Batuwatte.
Manel Murunganayakke.
Mangala Saaranaweera.
Polthel Lampusinghe.
Athula Atheypatthu.
Andare Aanamaalu.
Kasthuri Kothamalli.
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shankar / March 24, 2016
the one i like here is kasturi kothamalli.can i have a photo please and a horoscope also.Is she vellala or govi?any assets(other than the two up front)?
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Analyst / March 24, 2016
Yahapalanaya and CT thank you for giving us the opportunity of Freedom of speech. We are only harassing the Yahapalanaya to act and rule smartly .
A year ago we had no such power to express of the governments failure or success. We were muzzled by the dictators.
The country needs smart intelligent , selfless, Patriots to rule us , NOT the kind of greedy , selfish , Leaders in the name Rulers to rule us.
PM and the Prez. stop whinging and get on your bike !!
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shankar / March 24, 2016
“government will have to decide if the government had the capacity to absorb this debt,”
ha,ha,ha.joke of the year.taxes have been increased because the govt says there is no money and as a result of the subsequent price rises a good chink of votes is lost at the forthcoming local government polls with mahinda getting his chance back to push in through the door and share some power at the grassroots level and from there work his way up at provincial and national levels,and this PM says he has to wait and see whether he can absorb $1million debt.Presumably the IMF loan request was increased from $1 billion to $1.5 billion because if $1 billion goes to the airline from the original request, nothing is left for the other loss making enterprises such as CPC,CEM etc.
Just privatise all the ruddy state enterprises and then the government can concentrate on governing the country without having to always clean up previous government’s messes.Also bring in a law that states that private enterprises cannot be talen over by the state and enshrine that in the new constitution.That will stop any future government taking over private enterprises as what happenned to emirates airlines when it became srilankan airlines and our politicos had a gala time at our expense. now people have to pay for the gala parties by price rises.also a law like that most importantly will give private enterprises the incentive to invest in the country.
“The national carrier ran into huge debt under the chairmanship of Nishantha Wickramasinghe, the brother in law of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.”
so what is the problem here?one wickremesinghe is having to clean up another wickremesinghe’s shit.what are eurasian cousins with same genes there for?
or are the eurasians expecting us sons of soil to clean up their shit with more price rises.because of their fair skin we look up to them and give them the job of governing us thinking they are superior,but this ranil is a born loser and every time he gets the job or nearly gets it,he gives it away again.
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jim softy / March 24, 2016
Ranil Indirectly saying He is going to Sell Sri lanka air lines.
All those are pre planned. that is US wanted.
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Vibhushana / March 24, 2016
The networth of Chamath Palihapitiya the Venture Capitalist is USD $ 1 Billion.
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-fabulous-life-of-facebook-millionaire-chamath-palihapitiya-2015-6
USD $ 1 Billion is a large amount for many ordinary folks. It should not be a problem for nation.
It should not be a problem especially when 1 guy from Sri Lanka can make that much in another country.
I think there is so much negativity of late.
When the boy from Polonnaruwa got on stage many were happy. Then we began to see some testosterone producing pair of testes on stage.
Finally some manhood was introduced into the midst of plebs, plonkers, homosexuals and cross dressers.
Just last week the Finance Minister said he cannot. He then asked USA for help. The energy minister said he cannot – asked the Germans and the Japanese for help. The Prime Minister said he cannot and asked for Singapore for help etc.
It seems this culture of the party is one that says “we cant” all the time.
Obama screams “yes we can!”. The Sri Lankan donkey screams “no we cannot”. What people look forward to is some positivism. produce some can-do attitude for once please!
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Bruno Umbato / March 24, 2016
There is no point of asking these suckers to be more positive because they have nothing to be positive about themselves. Many top people in UNP have no families … I was very recently shocked to see a list of theses top people’s lives where the biasness towards the single/homosexuals/ childlessness of them … I am not against any of these but deviation from the average among the society extremely shocking … It’s no wonder they have no sense of prosperity towards the future generations because they have none … What a pathetic set of voters in SL who get them into govern them … Results are open to see … They are having nice time enjoying their single lives … Look at how Ranil is joking by challenging the skill of Hindi when he was asked a very very important question … I think this supposed tobe economic wizard has no clue to turn the economy around … So he has transformed himself to a pathetic joker …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW9Si6ReXK4
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Low visibility / March 24, 2016
I agree with many comments made here including the one about excess staff and recruiting more. It’s 7400 staff and still counting so the place is heavily overstaffed (or is it overstuffed ?). Extra recruitment or still recruiting foreign pilots was and still is the pet hobby of the management as its lucrative business. A 73 yr old Pakistani is retained as a simulator Instructor on a juicy package when several senior local pilots were overlooked so where is their austerity? There’s huge scale wastage & corruption at every department but none was addressed by the board of directors, apparel business Chairman or the new ceo (yet another relative of Ranil) with no previous business experience. He rakes in in excess of 5million per month ! For what ?
By now the staff should’ve been clipped to around 3500, all perks removed till the airline is back on its feet, salary cut of 15-20% from all senior staff and cabin crew (who are overpaid thanks to Kapila Chandrasena folly), all non revenue making destinations stopped, 90% of ticketing via internet and break the neck of that Mafia, stop corruption in unaccounted weights being loaded in aircraft for mutual benefit etc, etc.
SADLY NON OF THE ABOVE WAS DONE FOR THE PAST YEAR
The airline is losing height at a rapid pace and is absolutely rudderless.
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watcher / March 24, 2016
PM always blame some one for his miserable lack of expertise… SL need good political administrators and not stooges with out any brains except sucking up to colonials .
His biggest mistake is to upset Chinese and this moron has never learn that China is a power house and old colonials are not..
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Adrian / March 24, 2016
Repeating the same chorus. Take legal action against the corrupt immediately, cut down expenses, recover the loot, let experts manage.
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Pathum / March 24, 2016
I strongly agree with the overstaffed issue. Seriously why don’t people have a common sense? We don’t need more staff now, we need to reduce the exiting staff. What is the point of human resources knowledge of this so called head? He should be proactive and suggest the airline board ways to reduce staff. This is all SriLankans money. This money can be used in critical projects in the country but not to send these rogues on foreign trips. I can also suggest few points.
1. Introduce a attractive vrs scheme but market it properly. Senior manager business partnering or head of hr can’t get any respect from staff, so maybe the executive director can action this.
2. Hiding unwanted staff with lumpsums- it department, hr dwpartment( useless green project, some hr manager analytics woman-mistress of a big shot, fly smiles executives who are doing nothing, interns – friends’ daughters of head of hr who get paid and using office transport.
3. Remove unwanted projects such as green project, human resource development ( we need to manage hr first before developing),
4. Separate SBUs with minimum number of staff. Engineering, apt services, inflight etc. dedicate a small hr and finance unit for each SBU, and then you don’t need huge departments which reproduce overnight.
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N Wiamaladasa / March 24, 2016
Primer-minster have political habit to that every things blames and passing into account of the previous Government run by MR led ruling parties.
PM what did you do last 15 Months to review and revitalization Economy of ours and pace development of GDP? Nothing.
Yourself has been that incompetent answer any single problems been challenge by national economy last 15 months.
This is not way to the working relationship with developing economy of the country.
Yours metholodlgy of approach of economic problems will have been that already laid foundation for New Impending Economic Catastrophes in an Island.
Do not forget that is your responsibility of mandate granted by voters Two elections 2015 January and 2015 August 17. You said your mandate only valid ,only you are mandate will be eligible delivered that which you have been promised and you are going fulfil mission undertaken by Two mandates.
This negative approach has been created uncertainties and instabilities of foundation of US 80 billion worth of infant of national economic of Sri lanka.
You coalition partners and your “good governance ” and “rule of law” fail to delivered any positive result will be impact life of People of Sri Lankan by any way.
Take US President Mohammed Barak Obama- in 2008 US adiminsation had been undertaken massive debts of US trillions of Dollars after 2008 Wall Street collapse of Bush administration of US giant economy.
But Mohammed Obama never escape his responsibility and accountability recover and put into correct track to US economy in his 8 years White House to be safeguard “US led American democracy”.
Ranil W… of UNP defector -leader of that ardent follower of US ,UK and EU system of Imperial -capitalism , why not that learn lesson form his Political Gurus!
I have to say last 15 months Local and Foreign debt has rose up to US $ 5 to 6 Billion dollars doing nothing. Foreign reserves lost to the rock bottom. Not only that a single projects have not been start by your leadership of “UNP-Capitalism”; and even unable carry incomplete jobs done by MR ruling parties last 9 years since 2005 to 2014.
This shows in sphere of an ours economy how is that you are incompetent and your ruling Government inactivity of bailout developing well done 7.8 increased of GDP growth 2014.
This is way you run economy and mismanagement of Economy, Finance, fiscal policies, Nation currency of Rupee and proposed Budget, Tax system is unavoidable catastrophe is threatening Sri lanka.
We have to have extremes measures are necessary to combat it.
We want people mandate that you have not taken any action avert ruin of our nation and so on.
Now you are seeking IMF bailout package due to the lack of oversees Investments ,your government seek IMF assistance for funding arrangement after 2009-2010 of previous government led by MR ruling parties.
UNP-Ranil W… purely depend on Indian and US EU Japan capital, that rose days has gone for ever. New realities has to meet ongoing globally investment and funds are shifted in hand of Easter Asia countries that China is leading on this area.
Stop you anti-Chinese policies. You cannot challenges Chinse People Republic at any way! Ranil W…of UNP your are too small for that.
I do not believed that Sri Lankan majority will NOT follow your extremist economic policies. And against it an obvious majority people are not with in support for impending catastrophes of economy of Island of Sri lanka.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 24, 2016
Why do we need a nation flag carrier flying the skies, if we cannot afford it and do not know how to run it?
In this day and age, no business should try to something that others could do better and cheaper. Let us do what we can do well, better. Governments that cannot do what is expected of them atleast at minimum levels of efficiency and effectiveness, should desist from engaging in business enterprises.
Sell off Mihin Air and give part ownership of Sri Lankan to some other airline to get a share of the profit, as we did under the agreement with Emirates. MR’s ego, which aborted that deal, has become a ‘White Elephant’ too.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Mallaiyuran / March 24, 2016
The man had transferred $18 billions to foreign banks. His Brother-In-“Low” ran the Lankawe’s AirLine which moved the paper packs to foreign Banks. Now it has earned $1 Billion loss. Ranil Mahatta has given a promise to Old King to save him. So, Ranil Mahata is looking for to absorb the loss through the taxes from people, not from the money of the man who robbed the country. Mr.PM Mahatha cannot have cake and eat it too. He either save the Old King and give up the voters or give up the Old King and show some sympathy for the taxpayers. Not everything can be in the way he wants.
The problem was the Sinhalese was not ready for power change. They never felt they didn’t want the Old King any more. They were not ready to vote for UNP. But it was the Attanagalla Princess cooked up another Masala Dosai. She, for her political revenge, pumped too much of ethylene to ripen the young fruit. New King Was caught by Old King on many things. Both have been suspecting each other and have been maintaining the file on each other. Like the Kathigamar’s case, New King too was targeted by Old King. The boy with IQ 69 beat the DIG’s son. Things were culminating. Watching all these, the Princess put the deal to split the New King from the Old King. Part of SLFP votes, Part of UNP vores, Part Tamils votes and Part of Muslims votes were casted to form the New Royal. Princess’s this game is not a political process churns out a strong leader. This is the process has created a horse cart with four horses pulling on all four directions. This recipe is to a dysfunctional government and it is working as expected.
The real climax will be when they sit together to form the new constitution. problems, like the Port City sovereignty loss to China, country’s debt, developments, unwanted high numbers in ministry, so many murders’ and billion $ of fraud’ investigations and even the rise of the “chest beaters” are being ignored and sidelined to put together a drama to show the IC that they are really busy working in changing the constitution so the past 10 years will not repeat again. That is time the Tamils and IC who were waiting to see the constitution changed to solve the country’s problem are going to be fooled.
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hany azzam / March 24, 2016
let’s sell the airline along with the people responsible for the disaster. MR & GR can be the pilots. NW the co-pilot. Madam the chief stewardess, Namal can be the chief steward and the siblings and all the girls whom they loved before will be part of the cabin crew. You can give free tickets to their henchmen as passengers and send them on exile or even over Russian air space………………..
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AJ / March 24, 2016
Some suggestions from a current employee
Run Catering, Ground handling, Engineering, Cargo and Avaition School as separate units (they generate money)
Reduce staff from HR, IT , and all sections etc… To a manageable level (by about 25% -35%))
Get rid of all advisers who are doing nothing and earning from the airline
Get rid of political appointees who are in management positions
35% pay cut starting from management downwards (higher the grade more the cut)
Cutting down on the current fleet (getting rid of older aircrafts)
Closing down Paris and Frankfurt
Adding more frequency to Middle East and Far East
All CBA to be re evaluated
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Shariff / March 25, 2016
AJ, few corrections and ideas for you. We can turn this company in 16 months if you use people wisely.You are right the senior management advising the board and CEO are the same rotten lot.must get rid of them,without sending them to MIHIN. Cargo is making huge losses,except catering making profits because of their monopoly.The other departments are very lucrative. again if managed by correct available people it can do better.Must give marching orders to all political appointees.We should have ideally 7 to 11, A321 aircraft and master our own region first,and get the feed from Middle East and the Far east, instead we went for A350s capable of flying 17hrs nonstop.We should look at flying to more destinations like Iran,more Indian points, daily to China and Middle East. Have a backup plan if something drastic should happen in the Gulf. have more A330s to all destinations more than 4hrs.We also need to give a international flavour on board and on transit Colombo…..can go on but we need a sincere,caring God fearing RUTHLESS person to bell the cat.
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Daham / March 24, 2016
“The national carrier ran into huge debt under the chairmanship of Nishantha Wickramasinghe”
Mr Wickramasingha,the PM, just blaming is not enough. Send these rascals to jail or otherwise hand over the PM and the presidency to two other capable people.
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Piyadasa Yalagala / March 24, 2016
How is that ours economic development become slow down or totally standstill since 2015 January 9th after MS being to President; under UNP-Ranil W… policies of mismanaging of economic that undesirable things happen ? If UNP-leadership practise isolationism from China and anti- Chinese activities outfits were very closed to that closed door policy again the very vital that interest of US and Indian capital.
Ranil W… is only not that think about the country or nation , his power agenda never permitted him to think that key factor of whole political interest of an Island.
His political power elites are that including RAW and CIA predicted until 2034 last years UNP will be power. That is spectre of capitalism horrifies by UNP-Neo-liberal line of thinking.
If we practise closed door(anti China) policy again ,it will be absolutely impossible for us to approach the four times of current GDP in 2034.
I am opposed investment by lopsided policy of US and Indian influence and penetration of political power shifted to UNP handful culprits were starting closed door policy for huge development Investment from China. That was immediate cause of standstill and slow down of growth of GDP -Island since 2015 January 9th.
There are some new theories for it explain what Neo-colonial capitalism in terms never used by Sustsnibility of development of capitalism.
We have to drawn up new development and trends of BRICKS type of self-determination -economist policies will produced more result than
the so-called that EU export plus growth.
Our experiences has enabled us to answer new question that arose under the new circumstances shifting new world order of which trade and capital by BRICKS.
I am compelled to stressing to need uphold the cardinal principles of Sustsnibility Path of development ,haven’t we?
We are honestly upholding capitalism has certain role to play in future but that is base on self-determination of economic integrity after de-coloinilaztion after second world war 1945.
UNP bourgeoisie that misled and misinterpreted New Globalization
I have first to raised the question of economic and political reforms in my mind among other things, reform of political structure of “constitutional changes” by UNP proposed anti- national and anti-unitary character of devolution proposal are basically double counting options of US and Indian intervention as similar as 1987 Indo-Sri Lankan accord.
The TNA Muslim Congress and UNP allied that Proposed double coincidence of wants constitutional by UNP originated New structure of State will change secular democracy and unity of all nationalities since our survival an Indepanadnace nation since 1948.
If we fail to do so that will stunt the growth of economy and impede our drive for modern capitalist sustainability and its modernization.
Political reform of constitution still under discussion because TNA MC and UNP deliberation are unknown ‘type of democracy’ that why is very complex issues.
Since every political reforms measures will involve wide ranges of foreign power US, Indian UN-Human Rights and LTTE diasporas have profound repercussions in many arrears of our structure of state and affects the interest of countless NGO’s individuals ,as per we shall inevitably ran into many obstacles.
Therefore for UNP “constitution reform” and its political structure of State especially important for our nation us to proceed with caution.
The UNP led liberalization of politics and economic itself is neo-colonial in nature .There is no such thing present capitalism in that stage of developing their production and distribution of “liberalization”.
Ongoing current UNP’s policies and system is NOT in suited national economic development and its growth. It will be adverse balance to our development and democracy.
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F. De Silva / March 24, 2016
There is absolutely no meaning to what you have stated. It all sounds like chutney coming out of the mouth of some one after a couple of shots of arrack. Either you are reading too many books or none at all.
Its best you keep your lopsided statements to yourself because if any of the above is adheered to then the country will head straight over the bridge into the sea.
If you have been trying to express your command of the english language, yes ! you have done well, but need to progress another 1000 miles. Good Luck.
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Mocking Bird / March 24, 2016
We The Citizen ,say yes Sir,Yes Sir( MahindaRajapaksa) Three Bloody fools Sir , with you Sir,
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What about forming mass Citizen suicide cult , game over no?
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The Foreign Debt Crisis Of The ‘Yahapalana’ Government
By Mahinda Rajapaksa – In announcing increases in the VAT and income taxes, and the reintroduction of the capital gains tax the Prime Minister said in his special statement to parliament last week that the government has been compelled to increase taxes in this manner because my government had got the country into a debt trap. The country is now facing an unprecedented economic crisis and we should examine how and why things came to such a pass.
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Druvi / March 24, 2016
Enough revelations Mr.PM. We want RESULTS. Why are the looters of the Treasury still free??? What have YOU done so far to bring these buggers to justice? What are you going to do about this massive debt? Why have you NOT recovered a single penny from Percy & Company?
Why Why Why????????
People are getting disgusted of YOU not Percy.
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Samuel / March 24, 2016
I feel pity with the majority of people commented above as they have nothing but vengeance in their heads against MR. Don’t you think, RW would have hesitated in exposing Rajapakshas if his govt could find any single so called “loot of public money”? Do you think it is possible to hide $18 billion in foreign banks without USA’s scrutiny? What a set of fools who still believe this gibberish from Awamangala?
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Mallaiyuran / March 24, 2016
Aren’t these fools all these time believing that borrowing and paying interest as the growth of GDP. A man can borrow from a bank and start a business for his income. A man can borrow and hide that money in his brother in law’s house. Both are counted as capital growth until the bank come forward and start to account the loan as loss and declare bankruptcy. You show the sudden down in banks’ assets in the end 2008 and start of 2009 in the Western world. If you do $10,000 job with a loan of $100,000 latter one is the capital growth. That is how the CB count the GDP. When the rupee was keeping falling down and Lankawe has been importing all its goods, then the people’s purchasing power should have been experiencing steeply dipping. Where is that statistics from the CB?
When Lankawe is falling fast, Ajith Nivard was fooling all the Modayas as Old Royals were turning the Lankawe into Asia’ magic. Now the magical question is how did they pumped out the $18 billion to the foreign banks. That is the magic of the Asia. Whoever the fools believed in the magic of the Asia has to believe it too.
It is simple. We wrote here that when New King leaves the seat, a $36 billion will be transferred out by the New Royals. There are many signs already on the way for that. China has managed to pay to relevant parties and the Port City Project is back again. When Nuraicholai was about to be repaired by India, all the computers in Lankawe shut down. Old Royals did not call any foreign experts to investigate to find why the computers were shutting down. They just presented the Port City and agreed to sell Nuraicholai to China. New Royals have tried to run he Nuraicholai independently. Transformers blasted. They called the foreign experts to investigate. The reports have not come to any public places like Parliament. But the government has decided give Nuraicholai to China back again. They want to sell the shares of Nuraicholai. A state minister who went to China to talk about having the projects released from China. But when he came back he has told that the Hambantota Port, Matale International Airport, addition 1,000 acres of lands all have to be given to China. You see how the Magic in Lankawe works? You have to start to believe all these gibberishes.
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Karaiyuran / March 26, 2016
What is this Kurangu Mallaiyuran saying? Bloody fool.
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Senthil / March 24, 2016
No surprise, these modias can’t rule even a tiny island. Prabaharan ruled North beautifully even without enough fund. Best option now is to handover the country back to British – if they are still interested – who wanted a bankrupt company or country. I am sure these old politicians can’t bring the country back to normalcy – only way forward is British educated youngsters to take over the country and do a through cleaning and start from the scratch – seek help from Britain to bring back all stolen wealth – you can call it Arab spring or Lanka spring. When I was working in Oman – they told how the British educated son reformed Oman – it is not very late.
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SJ / March 24, 2016
Were you privileged to be ruled by VP?
Ask the parents whose children were dragged away from school for a start?
there were two sets of rules, one for those who could pay another for those who couldn’t.
The Brits cannot rule themselves these days. Do you want to burden hem with more?
It was the British educated sons of yesteryear that ruined this country.
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Native Vedda / March 25, 2016
SJ
“Were you privileged to be ruled by VP?”
Aren’t you a secret admirer of VP?
Don’t you think you should eternally grateful to him for kicking the Hindian army (4th largest) out of the island? This was when the gallantry Sinhala/Buddhist armed forces were hiding behind their women folks.
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Mallaiyuran / March 25, 2016
We all are dragged by army one or other time. Well all left our properties in the south and ran two times back to North and East. We are telling you our first hand experience. You do not want to believe. You want us to believe your secound hand story?
Karumaum!
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senthil / March 24, 2016
It is not fair to ask Srisena or Ranil to risk their life for the mistake majority Singhalese voters made – you all kept MR on your head and still lot of donkeys worshiping him. We handed over the country in junk state to the present government and asking them to turnaround overnight which is impossible – we are suffering for our karma. There is a story- when the army kill Tamils you all kept quiet, then they killed some Singhalese, you kept quiet because it was some singhala person, then when they killed your brother you still kept quiet, then they killed your son, you wake up but this time every one else kept quiet because the person killed is someone else to them. Why them two have to punish MR – why not you who placing MR& Luni on that important position. Why we Tamils have to suffer, we have already suffered enough – please leave us alone.
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Plato. / March 25, 2016
The PM should read the suggestions of Hasitha,baba,Jagath,Manju and AJ in these columns.There is common sense in what they say.
Anyway,MaRa and his brother-in-law Nishantha have done the impossible.
They have converted Jumbo Jets into flying White Elephants!
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Kankun Karunkapala / March 25, 2016
To Laugh it off!
I really enjoyed this part about the Hon Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. It is true and we need to remind him of the impending danger to his career!
……”If that happens then your career in politics is over and you will have to seek refuge in Christmas Islands with your “Bunny boys” for company. So Mr.PM its high time you bent down tightened your laces, pulled up your socks, adjusted your underwear, and buttoned up your trousers. We are fed up of all this tommy rot, Sri Lankan airlines, Blackouts, Thajudeen case being dragged over and over, Prices of daily essentials going up, Erosion of law & order, Murder on the roads & highways, Cock ups here and fock ups there, etc etc etc………………….. Decide what you want and if you need our help to set the traps to catch the rats we will do that for you. If not then we will give you a bit more time to get your house in order before Kool & the Gang start knocking on your front door with eviction orders.”
Thank you!
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