Just 15 months later, the first cracks have started to appear in the President Maithripala Sirisena – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s coalition, with a Cabinet Minister from the Wickremesinghe’s government lambasting the President’s brother, Kumarasinghe Sirisena, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) for his lack of accountability and transperency in carrying out his official duties at SLT.
In a letter addressed to Kumarasinghe Sirisena, Minister of Telecommunications Harin Fernando expressed his displeasure in the manner in which the functions and procedures were taking place at SLT, which, Fernando claimed were ‘non-trasnparent.’
“I strongly believe in empowering the management to run their operations with freedom sans undue scrutinisation. However, an integral part of this style of leadership is clear communication and accountability, of which there is none,” Fernando told Kumarasinghe in a letter sent on 05th April 2016, which was also copied to the secretaries of President Sirisena, and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.
Fernando also criticized Kumarasinghe for ignoring his requests on pending board decisions, reviews on major projects, union issues and other information pertaining to spending of public monies, and has ordered Kumarasinghe to immediately organize monthly review meetings, so he (Fernando) could go through all operation, financial and management matters concerning SLT.
“I also want to be kept informed of all pending board matters and decisions, and a copy of the minutes of all board meetings, subsidiary board meetings must be sent to me for perusal. All employment and HR related matters should also be discussed prior to decisions been made,” Fernando told Sirisena. (By Munza Mushtaq © Colombo Telegraph)
Sinhala_Man / April 12, 2016
A bold and long overdue move.
Thank you, Minister Harin Fernando.
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Ben Hurling / April 12, 2016
SLT is another Sri Lankan Airlines in the making?
Successive UNP & SLFP governments have packed these institutions with their cronies and henchmen. While highly skilled engineers and busienss wizards are sweating beneath them with no real power.
Harin is no better than Kumarasinghe and vice versa. All the same.
I see Rosie’s that son Kanishka is on the Mobitel Board. Meanwhile Rosie’s husband Athula is on the Hilton board. Just saying. That is how things work in this country. Everywhere.
Harin or Kunarasinghe. All the same. Same names keep popping up here and there.
Nearly 70 years after we still have people who risk their lives to emigrate using home made Catamrans to Australia. Why? “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind”.
Dear Sri Lankans your stupidity has no bounds! You love to be taken for a ride. Everytime.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / April 13, 2016
Ben Hurling
Keep hope alive.
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Ben Hurling / April 14, 2016
Native,
“Hope is not a strategy”
Cheers!
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trunket / April 13, 2016
Ben Hurling,
Nice one hats off hope you keep it up darling.
I think Kumarasinghe is the secret police and if that is so it’s good.
Watti Amma CBK informed journalist at New Delhi that no one or no nation helped in the change of power smoothly from MR1 to MR2 as per the wishes of the people.
But it was her Viper software that made it happen.
They were furious at New Delhi because she behaved like the East Pakistani Mujubur Rahman.- look at the state after independence 1972 – 2 women fighting like dogs and every boat to Europe carries Bangladeshis. on top of it they live like rats in a trap 10 to a 2 bedroom and breed with 4 marriages.
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Sinchoappu / April 14, 2016
Trunket the lanket.. if Wattiamma – according your knowledge… did not join Sobitha Thera – we would have further been looted by Rajaakshes. Please give the credit where it is due. Her adminsitration Srilanken was brining billions of profits as SWISS air does it today being subsidized to other airlines. But ballige putha et al fished in muddy waters to paint the picture accordingy to abuse the voters for his survivial.
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Sama / April 12, 2016
These are just good Exmaples that Young UNP politicians make every effort to achieve the best outcome.
So does Ranajan. He risks his life.
So does Dr Silva – He makes every effort to explain the reality of the situation of SRILANKEN and its mountain high debts
So does Ajith Perera -making every effort to do his best to be exemplary
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sarath / April 12, 2016
Congratulations Mr Minister, thats the way to tackle the rouges.
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PinkLips / April 12, 2016
Bravo Mr. Fernando Bravo.
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Sama / April 12, 2016
I like this young politician from day one. Ajith Perera and Dr. Harsha De Silva are the other brave ones.
The kind of young UNP politicians are the hope of the nation.
This has nothing do with Presz Sirisena, if his brother would not be a match to SLT, I have no doubt Prez will take due actions.
All fingers in a hand cant be equal -that we know.
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Funlover / April 12, 2016
Sirisena wants just to remain President. The country can go to hell. Otherwise why cant he give the thuttudeke Kumarasinge the boot? That’s my reading. Take it or leave it. There’s no fun in it for citizens.
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Sama / April 13, 2016
Absolutely, no right thinkers will deny him being continued as Prez. But he should not apoint any of his men to the parliament at critical age of srilanken party politics.
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Backlash / April 12, 2016
The Minister is merely reminding an official under his watch of the rules of the game. Absolutely nothing wrong. Except that members of the Sirisena family may be in the mistaken belief they and their actions are above scrutiny – merely because the President is their close relative.
It is Sirisena – the garu janathipathi thuma who must remind his twisted son, daughter, brother and whoever – that GoSL is not their private property. Sri Lanka is no banana republic anymore.
Backlash
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John / April 13, 2016
You are absolutely right – we don’t want to slip back to the era of family corruption and this Govt ended it. So, its duty of the Prez to nip in the bud act on any perceived excesses.
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Bruno Umbato / April 12, 2016
Very interesting fight among equals …
One is a Sira who is taking the institution to cleaners asking more and more… Latest being $5000 rent for a house in Colombo … What else could expect from the only ‘educated’ sira from Sira clan … All others have proven themselves to be the experts in robbing sand, casino , ladies, rice …
Other is ballon Harin who does not know ‘digital’ being the digital minister whose only hope is the balloons… Problem is balloons are coming down crashing on his head … What a guy to lead the digital revolution in SL… listen to his b.s. talks he gives … These boisterous unskilled ‘yamapalana’ lying ministers like Rajitha, John ‘bass’, oneshot Gon Ranjan, pa. cha. Ranawake, balloon Harin, Maru Siras, Ravi K … are leading the country … Ranil beats them by selling the country left and right … South of the country to China which has no respect to Ranil and trying to squeeze his balls if there is any, North of the country to India to satisfy bringing him to power, Trincomalee to Americans for joint naval operation against China (these operations had been refused by Australia, Japan and even India as they do not want to act against China)… Mangale who as foreign minister living outside the country signing whatever documents given to him by his masters while Maha Sira decalring his famous ‘I do not know or I came to know it by reading the paper’ ….
Oh! What a country!
When voters are fools who can be taken for a ride after ride, countries move one way … go down … Neve go up!
That’s why the country should be called third world because voters are third rated Simons who want to live in the pit with worms … Otherwise, how could one explain the ‘regime change by India and west’ even with so many faults of the last government knowing the personalities of the alternative government!
Isn’t’ it interesting that ‘Regime change’ executed while almost all indicators a country should care was going up year by year under the last government…
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BBS Rep / April 12, 2016
Well done Harin.
Keep the bastards on a leash. Inefficiency, mismanagement and corruption should be stamped out of the Yamapalanaya government.
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Jayagath Perera / April 12, 2016
The paragraph quoted below of the letter written by the Minister is relevant:
“I strongly believe in empowering the management to run their operations with freedom sans undue scrutinisation. However, an integral part of this style of leadership is clear communication and accountability, of which there is none”
However, when the minister say he has to be kept informed of all pending board matters, copies of minutes of board meetings etc. ISN’T THAT UNDUE SCRUTINISATION?
It appears that there is a mix up of priorities. Just because the minister is unaware it cannot be described as non-transparent. On the contrary as a matter of courtsey and decency Chairman Kumarasinghe must provide essential information in a form a report periodically even without being asked so that the minister should not say that he is kept in the dark.
In this matter I think there are faults on both sides. After privatisation of SLT, the middle managers of SLT think no end of themselves. They take the corporate bosses like the chairman for a ride. They do not want any information to go out because their incompetencies would be highlighted. Some of these Chief Officers and Chief Executives of subsidiary companies are indeed Cheap Officers. So the subordinates seek political patronage and ministers want to take decisions. Party politics has nothing to do with this.
Let not ultimately the SLT become another CTB and a real headache to everybody. CTB started deteriorating by not being receptive to customer needs. In spite of privatisation, SLT is not receptive to customer needs. Monies are collected promising new connections or transfer of connections but it takes ages to provide the service. This is an area that both Minister Fernando and Chairman Kumarasinghe should address as this is a real shame. About 50% of the shares belong to the Government and is this the way that public are treated?
There is a thing called the PEO TV. If you have the service it is good and there are so many good features. But how many instances are there of abject failures and customer dissatisfaction and problems not attended to? The PEO TV is not PURE as it should be for some of the customers and it is POOR TV.
The list of poor services is endless.
In my view both the Minister and the Chairman should not fight each other but get to gether to solve the problems of a sick corporate giant who behaves like a Dog in the Manger, as it neither provides the expected service and value for money nor does it allow other service providers to do so using virtual monopolistic conditions.
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sach / April 12, 2016
harin is an uneducated fellow a stupid man, the way talked about ETCA proves that
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Funlover / April 12, 2016
The Minister didn’t know that this bloke is being paid US$ 5000 per month as housing allowance? (LEN 4th April).
The son and brother are both digging the grave of the foolish Sirisena. Anichcha watha sankara. Saadhu, saadhu saadhu saa.
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Cruul / April 12, 2016
Well SLT usually is exploited by every regime, like CEB, and Air Lanka and many other state controlled entities. Mangala camp wanted it to all for his cronies and bed-buddies. Now all the UNP media is up in arms against Kumarasinghe since UNP doesn’t have any control over it’s budget. This is one thing that MS did right; resting SLT’s control away from Mangala camp. Kumarasinghe Sirisena may have his own agenda but from the looks of it it is the UNP/Mangala websites like LankaEnews are the ones making all the noise.
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Ananda / April 12, 2016
Well done Harin!
It’s about time action is taken against the dictatorial actions of Kumarasinghe and the lack of transparency in his administering of SLT. This is not to mention his disproportionate salary and other perks granted just because he is the brother of Maithripala.
The problem was caused by Maithripala’s nepotistic appointment of Kumarasinghe immediately after he became president in spite of not being qualified to deserve the position and there was no outcry from the public – mainly due to the relief of being rid of the crooked gang that was in power.
It’s not too late for Maithripala to get rid of this disgrace and set a precedent in order for him to get rid of the other crooks he appointed to positions in parliament.
Better late than never to restore some credibility in his administration.
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Diogenes / April 12, 2016
Down with all parasites! Send this hippopotamus to wherever he came from!
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Ravin / April 12, 2016
At last a young Minister with guts to put this Man Kumarasinghe in his place because he thinks he can get away with impunity because he is the Presidents brother. This man was not selected to head telecom by advertising the position. His local airy fairy qualifications are a bunch of rubbish.Our Sri Lankan engineers who have qualified from the best Universites in the UK such as the Imperial College London M.I.T. and Caltech in the U.S.A. wanted to apply for this job but red tape and nepotism prevailed. Halted by these crooks. Yapalanaya Bullshit was only a pipe dream and these aplicants were stopped in their tracks. Ranil Just ask your President to sack this Yako before he becomes another pain in the neck like what is happening in the Arjuna Ports Ministry where bare faced nepotism is at its worst.Ranil please don’t let the people down by having tete a tetes with Mahinda on the sly to ensure his clan of crooks from being prosecuted for the millions of Dollars transacked from the poor. Have some guts man . we expected better from you .
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SB / April 12, 2016
For your infomation I know even the biggest private sector company CEO’s do not get get a free house.Most big Companies provide a car & Driver that is all. I know of one old company who have flats which are rented out to outsiders at avery nominal rate .They they give their CEO acommadation as they have no takers for all the flats that they have .To pay the CEO telecoms USD 5000 per month is a matter that should be taken to corruption bodies .The puppet Directors who have approved this should also be taken to court.
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Anura / April 12, 2016
It was the brother & crowd who pushed away Mangala from the ministry for they knew he was a hard nut, and wouldn’t play balls with them. They were under the impression they could have their ways with this inexperienced young minister.
Hats Off, to the minister for his firmness and doing his job.
Unless the President checks his brother, he the very person whose actions going to bring him down.
The small brother should keep in his mind that SLT is not their personal property, it’s majority owner is the treasury, hence the real owners are the people. Every action of him and others, with all the government institutions, are well scrutinized by the people.
It’s their paramount duty that every action of them should be in keeping with the good of the country and well-being of the people instead of enriching them.
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Ranjan Fernando / April 12, 2016
It would have been much better if President Sirisena had cautioned his brother soon after appointing him to watch his step rather than ending up with the subject minister writing a stinking letter warning the SLT chair. Don’t know when he will learn this running after the event rather than planning the future.
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Sama / April 12, 2016
as if Pres has nothign better ot be busy with ?
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roger / April 12, 2016
Well done . This chap has to be sent home. The yahapalanaya MS does not know about his currpt brother – stange. MS needs to remember if people were able to send MR home MS is nowhere
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shankar / April 12, 2016
good on you harin.These [Edited out] should get the message that just because they are the president’s brother or son they can’t do whatever they want.
same message is being given to the brothers and sons of former president now through the FCID,but because nobody was allowed to criticise them at that time, unlike what you are doing now,they went on and on and have found out now that give a man enough rope and he will hang himself.
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ajantha / April 12, 2016
much appreciated the decision taken by the Minister. It is happy to note that at least one or two honest Ministers are there in a corrupt government. from top to bottom. I think the whole country will appreciate you
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Commodore / April 12, 2016
Re. Comment erlier we r called a third world country because there isn’t a fourth world.
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paul / April 12, 2016
At least now sack your brother and admit it eas an unwise appointment. Your reputation will soar. But no chance of that with MR2.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / April 12, 2016
Yahapalanaya is slowly but surely taking root. This is an immune response from within the ruling establishment- a self correcting/curing mechanism. It is not a symptom of internal divisions.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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renu / April 12, 2016
Mr. President he cannot be another Gota. The Minister is there to have a control like you are having powers so leave the job to the Minister and let your brother fall inline, without using your powers. We need Yahapalanaya
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srinath.gunaratne / April 12, 2016
It is plain robbery to charge public 5000 dollars for this idiot’s rent, If this is called yahapalanaya, I will sleep with Mahinda palanaya!
Why is it that anyone does not bring this up, together with the renting of the ministry of agriculture building?
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Leon / April 12, 2016
Its no use having good ministers when we have a illiterate idiotic
President.
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pingona / April 12, 2016
Look at the photograph. Kumarasinghe has the Rajapaksa genes. Sirisena is made of some other liquids.
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Upul / April 12, 2016
Well done Harin!
Don’t these idiots see what happened to MR even after wiping out the terrorism in SL? People voted against him to stop the corruption in the country. If this brother of the president is trying to do the same thing, then, I think the president should act appropriately.
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ARTHUR / April 12, 2016
What can we expect from the Grama sevaka catapulted to power by quirk of circumstances?
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Plato. / April 12, 2016
Harin Fernando.
I am with you on this issue.
I have a dirty feeling that this bugger will end up like Nishantha Wickremasinghe!
Bandaranaikes 1956 revolution,I am sure,will not stop at this!
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Plato. / April 12, 2016
Tongue lashing?
He should be horse-whipped!
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Douglas / April 12, 2016
I hear the Trade Unions at the Port did a good job by asking the PM to remove both the Minister and his brother Chairman. This demand was made in the very presence of the Minister. Of course the PM has said he will “consider” it after the Sinhala/Hindu New Year “Nonagathaya”. The same DEMAND must be made as regards this Chairman of SLT who does not behave a in RESPONSIBLE manner, and even letting down his own brother, President MS. Before he turns out to be another “BASIL” in the MR regime, it is best for the President to remove him and give him that job in the Timber Corporation, where I believe he was the GM. I think he has let down everyone including the voters of Yahapalanaya. His GREED has no limits. He must go or be removed and place him elsewhere. Mr President and PM you had enough time to judge him and his performances and had created enough headaches to both of you. If you don’t act fast; you are making another “BASIL”.
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Barus / April 13, 2016
Harin,
Good job mate! But do not stop with the stinking letter alone. Drag this donkey to your ministry and pull his pants down.
Why would this former log seller of timber corp need a $5000 housing allowance? He was used to his jungle hut for so many years!!
E1 Lines, Call termination, are key words this joker knows very well.Why the inbound traffic to SLT dropped dramatically in the last one year.
SLT is a corrupt place run by a bunch of thieves.
Rectify or else, there would be no more growth in the customer base.
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