By Amrit Muttukumaru –
Amrit Muttukumaru
Although we the commoners have to await the Bond Commission Report being placed in the public domain prior to commenting whether there is a silver lining for our beloved country wallowing in the mire of virtual unrestrained corruption, Cabinet Minister Faizer Mustapha has affirmed:
“Bond Commission had clearly said that there was no involvement whatsoever by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the bond controversy.”
This is preposterous since at the core of the alleged Bond Scam are the following indisputable facts:
Core of Bond Scam
1) ‘Conflict of interest’ arising from then Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s son-in-law, Arjun Aloysius – owning/controlling PTL (Perpetual Treasuries Limited) – a Primary Dealer.
2) Arjuna Mahendran – a foreign national being handpicked for the position of Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) by the Prime Minister although aware of the ‘Conflict of interest’. The PM himself confirmed this in his affidavit and while testifying before the PCoI.
3) The CBSL the issuing agency for Treasury Bonds which normally falls under the Ministry of Finance being brought under the purview of the Prime Minister.
4) The PM continued to have Mahendran as CBSL Governor although he was aware that Mahendran had reneged on his ‘assurance’ to him that his son-in-law (Arjun Aloysius) will sever all links with PTL prior to his appointment as CBSL Governor.
5) The PM robustly defended and endorsed Mahendran for a second term despite the widespread perception of Mahendran’s role in the alleged Bond Scam.
6) Being fully confident on the propriety of the issuance of Bonds, the PM robustly defended the same in Parliament despite the evidence that subsequently transpired before the PCoI.
7) During his testimony at the Bond Commission the PM stated: “Mr. Aloysius did say to me he need bit of time to dispose his share holding to get good price. (shares of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd or shares he held in other entity in the name of PTL). I met him (Aloysius) at one or two parties, and there he told me that he was pursuing his interests in Mendis distilleries.”
What is at issue is the integrity of the CBSL. How can the PM who is also responsible for the CBSL even consider a “bit of time” to resolve a ‘conflict of interest’ concerning the Governor and that too articulated “at one or two parties”?
Other Issues
1) R. Paskaralingam is Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister.
It was revealed by the Chairmen and senior officials concerned of the Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank and National Savings Bank during their testimony at the PCoI that then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake had ‘instructed’ them at two meetings convened by him in March 2016 “to make bids at the treasury bond auctions at lower interest (yield) rates” resulting in their respective banks being deprived of ‘substantial profits’. It was alleged during their testimony that these ‘instructions’ were given in the presence of the PM’s Senior Advisor, R. Paskaralingam.
The PM in his affidavit denied any knowledge of such meetings and in his testimony also denied any knowledge of his Senior Advisor attending such meetings. If indeed Mr. Paskaralingam attended these meetings, would it not have been SOLELY in his capacity as Senior Advisor to the PM? Is there not a major management failure in this respect? Surely the country does not need the services of McKinsey & Company to arrive at this conclusion!
Those who testified included: Chairman, Bank of Ceylon (Ronald Perera), Chairman, People’s Bank (Hemasiri Fernando) and Chairman, National Savings Bank (Aswin de Silva)
2) Dr. Harsha de Silva is Deputy Minister, Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs where the Prime Minister is the Minister in charge.
On his role in the controversial ‘footnotes’ saga in the alleged Treasury Bond scam, ‘The Sunday Times’ of 30 October 2016 reported as follows:
“As is clear, the thrust of these footnotes is to make clear that Mahendran has not been responsible of any impropriety.
The UNP is confident that it can, through the documentation Deputy Minister Harsha de Silva has received, prove its case that its man Arjuna Mahendran is not to blame.”
Response to Journalist on ‘Footnotes’
“Minister do you at any point now regret the footnotes on that COPE report? Going by what is being revealed now, do you regret it or was there a lack of information at that point?”
Watch his response from (21:25:40) – what does it indicate?
Although requested, to date Dr. de Silva has not clarified this position.
3) Ms. Rosy Senanayake is Deputy Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s ‘Core Team’ at ‘Temple Trees’.
It was alleged at the Bond Commission that COPE documents relating to PTL CEO Kasun Palisena’s testimony was given to ‘PTL owner’ Arjun Aloysius by “Rosy’s son” identified as “Kanishka Senanayake”.
This has been denied by Ms. Senanayake on the grounds she was not a COPE member after the August 2015 parliamentary elections. Does not the question arise whether in her capacity as ‘Deputy Chief of Staff’ in the PM’s ‘core team’ she would have access to COPE reports? Although requested, to date she has not clarified this position.
Unusual Decisions
Despite all this, did not the PCoI take some unusual decisions in regard to the PM?
1) Unlike in the case of other witnesses, the PM was given questions in advance by the PCoI to enable him to provide answers by way of affidavit.
2) Unlike in the case of other witnesses, the PCoI decided to invite the AG himself who wasn’t involved in the investigation up to that point to personally lead evidence for the first time. Up to this time, Messrs. Dappula de Livera and Yasantha Kodagoda – Senior Additional Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor General respectively lead evidence.
3) Unlike in the case of other witnesses which included former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake who were grilled by Messrs. Dappula de Livera and Yasantha Kodagoda, limited questions were posed to the PM. The PM was at the PCoI reportedly for less than an hour to clarify matters arising from his affidavit
4) Much is being made that the PM ‘volunteered’ to come before the PCoI although ‘not summoned’ like the other witnesses. The media has even reported that PCoI Chairman – K. T. Chitrasiri (Supreme Court Judge) “emphasised that the question of compelling PM Wickremesinghe to appear before the commission had never arisen”. I respectfully ask (i) in view of the facts and circumstances should not the PM have been ‘summoned’ like the other witnesses? (ii) if not why? (iii) what does this indicate?
Conclusion
In the above context, if Cabinet Minister Faizer Mustapha’s assertion:
“Bond Commission had clearly said that there was no involvement whatsoever by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the bond controversy” is factual, this in conjunction with the appalling state of governance, terrible corruption in high places and impunity clearly indicates the presence of a ‘Deep State’. It needs emphasis the PCoI is a ‘Presidential Commission’ in which two of its three members are sitting Supreme Court judges.
A consequence of this are the ‘fly-by-night’ FDIs the country is attracting in recent times which include some who were even nabbed at the airport with undeclared cash. The only exception are the controversial Chinese investments which are largely driven by geo-political considerations.
After nearly 70 years of independence the country has come to such a sorry pass that we have to suffer the ignominy of:
“The US State Department” reportedly fielding “a Resident Legal Advisor in Colombo to provide anti-corruption and asset recovery training and also support the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC)”
It is noted that when the PM came before the Bond Commission to testify as its last witness, he was “accompanied by his attorney President’s Counsel Faiz Mustapha” who is the father of the said Cabinet Minister, Faizer Mustapha.
Jim softy / January 6, 2018
Ranil is the Alibaba. there is no question. When he said, I beat the president to the AG’s office. He accepted that he was a thief. There is ample evidence to prove it. Unfortunately, For law makers in Sri lanka, Law making and obeying the law are two different things. It looks Dr. Harsha De Silva is a honest guy. but, he left footnotes on the COPE report. video does not let the viewers hear his comment. I think, COPE team was asked to leave foot notes. IF so who did that. Why president doe snot take action to get rid of thieves. He can ask law enforcement to hurry up.All over the world, corrupt ministers, PMs and president step down, prosecuted, some run away.
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Dude / January 6, 2018
Just saw the video of Mr. “Bullshit”, aka. foot note artist, Harsha de Silva.
What a shocker! What a pompous prat and Tosh artist you have become Dude Harsha! You are full of self-righteous arrogant BULLSHIT!
Dude Harsha you should “SHUT UP” before you end up in jail> When you end up in jail for writing foot notes to justify the Bond Scam, please take you corrupt boss, RW to Jail with you!
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Sarrij / January 8, 2018
D.
Agree, this guy is a con artist. This was a circus act.
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oldcodger / January 8, 2018
Mr. Muttukumaru,
You seem to have dropped your usual line of “biggest scam in post-independence history”. Good. Your points this time are better considered, having taken in the corruption aspect.
The biggest scam in post-independence history was Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime, which has left us with a mountain of debt , fake highways, fake hotels, fake airports, fake harbours, fake airlines, and fake stadiums. This is the DIRECT CAUSE of the bond issue.
Why don’t you investigate the inaction on those issues?
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S.Modaya / January 6, 2018
CT Editors Brilliant work!
Great Clip and photo of team USA in Sri Lanka govt – Dr. Harsha the foot note man, book author for Bond scam Sujeeva Senasinghe, with MCC funded training at Harvard, and Avant Guard Scam architect Wijedasa Rajapaksa who asset stripped the SL Navy with US citizen Gota!
All talking about corruption. A Miracle of Modayas indeed!
Of course there are other deep state moles – Tilak Marapona and RW himself.
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Samuel Jayaweera / January 6, 2018
Here it is a problem of interpretation
Real palhoru are scot free. Decent personalities are attacked.
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thrishu / January 6, 2018
Decent? LOL This guy must be trying to whitewatch RW and RK and their political minions at the COPE committee that tried to bailout Palhoru MK 2.
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Burt / January 6, 2018
You have started this document correctly saying that we cannot make an informed comment on the report as we are not privy to the complete report.
There after your seven points are just grasping unto straws.
I am not going to waste any ones time going through but will just take the first couple.
1. Does the CB have regulations that prevent a primary dealer being related to CB Governor? If no nothing was breached.
As the said bonds are not through auction but placement was Mahendran and his son-in-law party to the negotiations.
What were the others in the said negotiations doing? Warming chairs?
2. A .M . foreign national hand picked for CB governor. So what? Governor of the Bank of England is a Canadian.
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oldcodger / January 7, 2018
The first Governor of the CB was an American.
Did Mr. Muttukumaru question the appointment of another American citizen, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, as Defence Secretary?
Why all this fuss about a loss of 300 million per annum , when Sri Lankan Airlines lost 29 billion in just ONE year (2015) ?
Yes, there was corruption, insider trading and nepotism, but doesn’t all this mudslinging amount to obscuring REAL losses?
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Singhalese pundit / January 6, 2018
If he is a man of principle he should resign with respect. There is no harm in accepting mistakes.but what is wrong is to deny it and stay in power with all gultiy feeling ..
His conscience will tell him that he made a mistake and yet ; his political ego will tell to stay in power .
What self contradictory delima is this ?
Suppose such exposure happened to any MP/president what would be the fate of their posts?
They would have resign without any second thought.
This is Sri Lanka.
We have a different style of politics.
Vote JVP to clear all.this .
Do not fool public
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K.Anaga / January 6, 2018
He is the’ PRINCIPAL’ of politics and how can he resign?
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Rajiv / January 6, 2018
Singhalese pundit,
Ranil has no conscious(Batalanda)
He has no shame
Ego the size of the globe
MS was also a party to the scam because he dissolved the government in August to bail out the UNP. If he did not, the second(larger) scam would most likely not have happened.
Harsha was the footnote man. As clearly indicated in the article and Harsha’s statements, he exonerates Mahendran.
Sujeewa was the other footnote man. He cleared Mahendran in his book too. While the PCoI investigation was going on Sujeewa was passing information to Aloysius.
“Chief of Staff” Rosy was also passing valuable information-thru her son- to Aloysius.
But, the biggest indictment is that this commission, which comprised 2 sitting judges, did not have the balls to make an independent decision.
No wonder the White man wants foreign judges in Sri Lanka
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Perriamama / January 6, 2018
The PM is a crook and it’s unfortunate it’s taken this long to be exposed.
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Real Revolutionist / January 6, 2018
perriamama
& the president is a budding crook?
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Rajash / January 6, 2018
the whole political establishment is made up of crooks..from MARA to My3 to Ranil
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Rajiv / January 6, 2018
Real Revolutionist,
The President IS a Crook. Nothing budding about that.
Until MSira accepts responsibility for dissolving parliament to save Ranil’s behind, he is firmly entrenched in this scam.
I know, I know. Pigs will fly before MSira accepts responsibility for anything.
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kolla / January 6, 2018
The conclusions of the Commission are like Kekkilla Kings orders.
The entire criminal fraud was based on the actions of now aging, but one time nicely rounded and comely Arjun Mahendran , a fast talking impresario.His long and intimate relationship with RW, the most devious man ( if you can say that with confidence, if not- an evil thing)this country has ever seen must be understood before examining the Bond scam.
Mahendran does nothing without sharing that with RW and other way too. Every time RW is in power Mahendran is there. When RW is in Singapore , Mahendran spends the whole day ( and night)with him.
Only such intimacy would have led to a fraud of this scale within only two weeks of Mahendran’s appointment. It was pre-planned between RW/Mahendran/Alloysious. RaviK is such a bungling and crude idiot the subtlety of the fraud would be beyond him.
Mahendran and Ravi K were not such great friends, Their friendship is new and only through the RW connection.Even Alloysious was introduced to RaviK by RW. These three(RW, Alloysious ,Mahendran) used the stupid RaviK and gave him some lollipops to suck on.
Mahendran was appointed Governor by RW. The Central bank and all the Banks were under RW. The EPF was under RW. The public defense of Mahendran/Alloysious was led by RW.
So why is Ravi K only guilty ? Ravik the fool just jumped into the slush and enjoyed a rent free apartment and maybe gave that undated letter on RWs instructions.
Ravik ‘s foolishness could be seen even in the way he gave evidence at the Commission. Just compare that comic performance with the lying, diversions and deception of RW at the Commission.
The whole fraud was committed by RaviKs boss none other than old royalist,” high class” , “English speaking” , globe trotting rascal poof RW.
Kikilla King is still alive in this country guys !
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Gema / January 6, 2018
I read the following in a prestigious Sri Lankan Daily:
“President Sirisena himself has been accused of a big “deal” over the purchase of a Russian Naval vessel and a much heavier spectrum deal that is said to be over Rs.03 billion given without any tender procedure by the TRC that comes under President Sirisena.
For both deals it is said two top men, the Navy Commander Admiral Travis Sinniah and ICTA CEO/MD Muhunthan Canagey were moved out most unceremoniously by President Sirisena.
It is any one’s guess, the UNP campaign would also have its share of name calling on corruption. The LG elections this time may be one that would expose many corrupt personalities.”
As CT readers we would like to know: Who is trying to fool who?
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whywhy / January 6, 2018
Gema ,
George Bush Jr of USA and Tony Blair of UK together with the
rest of the West went to Iraq under the guise of finding
weapons of mass destruction .The result of that lie is still going
on in the Mideast . In the US , Bush was re-elected and in UK
Labour replaced Tony with Brown . The world today depends on
LIES for survival . Most sophisticated lies are coming from the
best of the crooks who lie in front of a large audience who love
to hear the best ever lie to counter the opponent ! Such is the
politics in Srilanka so far .But, there’s a wonderful opportunity
this time around . Both major players stand in front of the
public , pants down screaming at each other for plundering
people’s money and best of all , an election is already round the
corner . Robbers on one hand stand pants down and the losers,
the public , have been handed both the trophy and the whip ?
And those who did the role of police , the JVP, asks the public
to give them the trophy now and if they do well , the whip
later on after seeing results ! Sounds good huh !
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K.Pillai / January 6, 2018
We, the Lankan silent majority is left to speculate as to what is in the report.
Is Minister Faizer Mustapha preparing us for something? What is it and why should he?
A silver lining is that unlike so many other reports this has seen the light of day. Our confidence will be enhanced if the full report is released straight away. After all it will be made public one day. Or will it be?
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Sarrij / January 6, 2018
Sri Lanka is in the same boat as Zimbabwe where the law of the jungle prevails–“survival of the fittest.”
The “Bond Gate Issue” was an exercise in futility. The Mr Clean cons but remains as PM cunningly.
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Lakmal Wije / January 6, 2018
In SL, commissions, inquiries, tribunals and reports, are meant to be just the opposite in a western or a matured democracy. While generous funds are spent on these institutes with lavish spending for members, in SL standard, final outcomes are about 50% int. standards. Not bad. But following through those reports by politicians and ruling elite(PRE) is almost 0%. That’s because those commissions are instituted mainly to take the public, IC, constitution and law and victims, in a maze of puzzles in a deceitful manner until matters are forgotten or brutally suppressed. We have had many hundreds of commissions or what not last 70 years, just to distract and waste time from the core issues. SL PRE are masters of deceit and double talk. Our diplomats play the same deceitful games with UNHCR, UN and all other Int. arena very well and get cheered by local as heroes. Its mind boggling how our PRE and Diplomats take IC players for a ride, while confessing the same in private as ” Rich, stupid West believed us”. In return SL diplomats are paid generous benefits and luxuries.
Many “all party conf’s”, commissions and reports on ethnic issue for last 70 years, but with ulterior above reasons, created all the misery we experience today. None of them meant to solve any single issue. Created for just the opposite reason, to save the perpetrators and injustice. It is the name of the game of PRE. These commission are a way to enrich friends and family too. Mainly PRE uncles and grandpas get paid lavishly while retired. Way to go SL for next 100 years.
Many lobby groups and politicians in USA, UK and IC were generously paid by SL, just to sweep things under the carpets. Not to solve any burning issue. Due to extreme lobbying IC, UNHCR and UN, all turn a bling eye to SL’s deceitful commissions on ethnic and all issues after independence.
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Ravin Daniel / January 6, 2018
Great comment.Every word what you have said is spot on.Most people still think there is still hope for Srilanka.Billions been borrowed and billions been wasted.I see the politicians saying that everything is fine.Politicians are having a good time.Within a couple of years they have become millionaires.It has become a lucrative business for all of them.No one will ever change this system.It is a gang of thieves.Road accidents/Narcotics menance/illelgal activities are norm of the day but there is a responsible minister to tackle these problems.Look at the vehicles which they are been driven.BMW/MERCEDES/PORCHE/LAND ROVERS/ with all the back up vehicles.The poor man / taxpayer are working to keep up these noncence.What a country.People really really thought there will be a change from 8.Jan.2015.Change .what change.
Most of the leading politicians in the Parliament are almost 70 years old.They will never retire.That is the taste of corruptioin.Free meals.Perks and a good life.Most of them in front of camera what they say is utter Bull shit.You can see that from their faces and body language.Everday in the morning they stand in front of the mirror and they will be laughing and saying what a good actor am i.Sad .
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Eagle Eye / January 6, 2018
Rajitha and Champika had objected to the appointment of Mahendran. In response PM had given an assurance that he will take the responsibility for his decisions. The Commission has put the blame fairly and squarely on Mahendran. Didn’t Mahendran tell the Commission that he acted on instructions from PM? So according to the assurance given by PM, he should take the responsibility and resign. But that will never happen. If that happens sun will rise from the west.
President is also guilty for the Bond Scam because he covered up the thing by dissolving the Parliament probably on orders from PM before COPE report was presented to the Parliament by DEW Gunasekera.
President had told Ranjan ‘mata sarama endagena Mahinda ekka weda karanna puluwanda?’ (how can I work with Mahinda wearing sarama). Now is he going to work with PM wearing ‘Amude’?.
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Real Revolutionist / January 6, 2018
Eagle eye
Both his sarama & amude are transparent & hope the coming LG elections will be a mirror to reflect his nudity to him.
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Sarrij / January 8, 2018
A A
Good one
Next step- No Sarama, No Amude.
Expose? No Balls.
The truth.
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Dodo / January 6, 2018
Amrit. We live in a work of alternative facts and Fake News, spun by the likes of Ranil and Mustapha! However we have not lost the plot yet! The buck stops with Ranil Wickramasinghe who appointed Ravi K as Finance Minister and Mahendran as CB Governer, to set up and operate a network to scam the SL economy. Ranil also protected the criminals and sought to bury the crime with his 3 men Commission on the Bond Scam.
Ranil will continue to block investigations and the recovery of the stolen funds as long as in office,
Ranil Wickramasinghe must resign or be impeached immediately for Grand Larceny, stealing from the people of Lanka. and Reputation damage to institutions such as CB. Also for looting Sri lankan Airlines further, and planning to sell it to the dodgy Texas Pacific Group (TPG), before the Assie Govt. took it to Court, and marketing the Survey Dept. to Deep State operatives,, and damage to the national economy. Ranil must GO for endless reasons among which is protecting the Rajapaksa family of looters and stopping AG investigations
We live in a world of Fake development, and pretend that development disasters, massive income inequality and environmental disasters represent progress! We live in a global finacial system that is corrupt to the core, legally protects money laundering led by IMF, KPMG, etc.
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K.Anaga / January 6, 2018
Could it be that Justice Sarath N Silva saved Rajapakse. and Justice Chitrasri saved Ranil? What a Life?
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Jim softy / January 6, 2018
IF DODO is correct, Govt wants to issue another round of bonds worth $ 5 billion. Just after that anytime, Srilankan economy should crash.
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Don Stanley / January 6, 2018
Dr. Muttu, Quite right that there is a deep state’s Fake Advisers at work to destroy Lankan National institutions like the Survey Dept. , Central Bank, and SL Navy, which was asset stripped in the Avant Guard Scam.Avant Guard Scam needs another PCoI. to reveal the truth about whick foreign interests that are also pushing fly bi nite Free Trade Agreements (FTA) to de-develop and destroy Sri Lanka’s agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors, institutions and promote brain drain of national expertise
.It was Ranil that appointed the crooks and set up the Bondscam Network. Ranil is the mastermind behind the scam, albeit with the fake Advice of his foreign Deep State advisers who have suddenly woken up and offered to send a Fake ‘Corruption Expert’ to Lanka, who will in due course tell us that it is impossible to investigate financial fraud networks and off shore accounts including those named in Panama Papers! Ranil is working for a deep state security interests and the global one percent and helping them to asset strip Lanka.
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Percy / January 6, 2018
Brazen criminal conduct to swindle the people of SRI Lanka. This is established, proven without doubt, and needs final confirmation by a court of law before these criminals are sentenced.Ranil should by tried by a Special Presidential Commission and dealt with before he does further damaging cover ups.Other criminals like Harsha de Silva, Rosy Senanayale should also be charged and tried. Sirisena should expel the UNP from the Yahapalana alliance. This will be the beginning of the end of the UNP
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RuwanL / January 6, 2018
It is quite apparent that the PM is the key suspect for originating the bond scam as it looks like it has been well planned! He took CBSL, EPF and the ETF under him when he came to power. This has never been done by any PM during the past as these institutions have to come under a minster who is competent in Finance. Why did he do it? Please don’t bring MR’s scams into the picture and try to dilute the gravity of the current problem as these guys are still in power and has not resigned! We sent MR home because of corruption and that is history! Should the PM, Ravi, Malik and Kabir be in power after the biggest ever financial fraud in the country? They should all go home including any minister who has robbed the country. There is ample proof that indicates the above team should be held responsible. Therefore initially we should send them home as keeping them in power is extremely dangerous and have comprehensive investigations on all ministers who were/are in power and send them home.
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Hancho Pancha / January 6, 2018
If the President has any Balls he should fire his PM immediately and appoint in his place a man with at least some little amount of integrity for the good sake of this country. He can be assured the entire decent members of the population of the country will line firmly behind him.
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Rajiv / January 6, 2018
Hancho Pancha,
The operative word here is Balls.
We all know he has none.
Besides, this will be like one crook firing another crook.
MSira is neck deep in this scam because he dissolved the Government in 2015 just before the COPE report came out, for obvious reasons.
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Park / January 6, 2018
It is time for PM and Ravi to resign or at least give up their positions and become back benchers. What ever said and done Ranil has spoilt his name and he will never have the confidence of the voters again. Its time for him to retire from Politics. President Sirisena has also spoilt his name as he did not fully provide the names and the details of the second Presidential Commission report, may be because the accused in that report are his own SLFP members. By this the President has also lost the confidence of the people but not to the extent where he has to resign. This proves that all the old crocks in politics have to leave and let the young, educated, dynamic politicians take over the two major parties. Alternatively, let all honest, educated, young politicians from both major parties form a new political party.
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Rajiv / January 6, 2018
Park,
Young, honest, educated, dynamic politicians? You lost me after young.
Like Harsha? Sujeewa?
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Good Sense / January 6, 2018
We should not speculate on what is inside the report and nor should we go by Presidential, Prime Ministerial or Ministerial pronouncements. We should press for the release of the report in the electronic public domain as a first step. In printing the report, in well bound books, I am confident the good old type-writer was not used. Everything, every page is in the computer. The few, such as the signature page can be scanned and computerized. This matter is of national importance and as such the President should take steps to publish the same, instead of releasing snippets and to serve as a bargaining tool to control the UNP, its leader & Co.
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Dan / January 6, 2018
President’s statement mentioned that the commossion has determined PM has followed the correct procedure when appointing Mahendran.
However he NEVER mentioned that the PM has been cleared of any involvement.
Either Minister Musthapha has read the report which was not available to others or else he is interpreting the President’s statement incorrectly.
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ramona therese fernando / January 6, 2018
Typical Sri Lankan (Colomboite) response by Harsha De Silva : “Ahhh (with a shake of the head)….so if other people are doing it, so what’s wrong if I do it.” (although he says he doesn’t do it, yet, who are we to caste the first stone……Jeezzz). Such shameful and foolish equivocation cannot fool the country! Fool! This is not the small-time bribing of small-fry government officials for individual purposes (bad as it is). This is the whole treasury of the country of the hard-working common-man’s money, manipulated at the highest levels, on international markets that have actually nothing to do with our markets, but forced on the exchanges all the same to secure the Lankan oligarchic enterprise.
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thondamannay / January 6, 2018
Aiyooooo….How could a Jackal who was the pen keeper be absolved from the loss of chicken??
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Native Sudda / January 6, 2018
It is precisely for these reasons that RW has earned the name ‘ spin doctor’.
It is more than a simple coincidence how all the issues and actions pointed out in this article attributed to RW could have happened in sequence and yet he is saying ‘ I am the good guy’.He is the mastermind who planned and set this scam in motion, but when it went wrong he has gone to the extent of ‘ ordering’ the AG to bring the culprits to the book urgently so he can retain his ‘Mr. Clean’ title.
RW wouldn’t mind people like RaviK, Arjun Mahendran ,Arjun Aloysius et al all facing the guillotine so long as he can protect his own name.
But RW must remember that he cannot pull wool over our eyes all the time and that the ‘ Peoples’ Court’ will deliver its verdict soon decisvly to say who the real culprit is.
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Jim softy / January 6, 2018
Native Vedda: Very good comment. The answer to what politicians are doing, make the LG election or what ever on coming a vote to their rejection or the dislike of the UNP govt. Don’t vote three wheeler parties as they can not contribute to a govt or as not affiliated with a major party. Even /Kiriella says UNP does not have anything to hide. IF so, Why PM stayed in the position instead of letting him to be questioned. He signed affidavit and did the CLARIFICATION which controlled what he said.
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wannihami / January 6, 2018
Native Sudda, mate, Mr. Clean will survive this just as he survived Batalanda, he is already dancing Kandy Lamissy (Youtube: actually his Baila dancing is not so bad). And there he deflects the Bond Scam!
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ranjit demel / January 6, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Ajith / January 6, 2018
The question is what we have left with in Sri Lanka?
The answer is Nothing other than corruption, corruption,………. We have lost the credibility, integrity, honesty, trust, justice, law & order, governance, sovereignty, independence. Is it an end to corruption? No and Never. We talk today, we forget tomorrow, we ignore other day, we change the chair with the old guy who with another promise and do more corruption. This is the system we are used to and we don’t change.
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T. Darlin Silva / January 6, 2018
“Mr. Most Unclean” should be the name of our incumbent Prime Minister.
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Janaka from Matara / January 6, 2018
The heading of this article is silly enough. The remit of PCoI was not about clearing or indicting anyone. Leave that to the AG’s office. Even then nobody is guilty till a court finds him guilty.
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The Professional / January 6, 2018
It is a scam that created an opening for crooks in YP Government, which includes both united nationalists and united freedom loving people, to divert the mainstream of cash flow in the country to their homes here and abroad. Now that the PCOI has submitted its report the theater is open for Civil Society to stage new dramas conceptualized from different interpretations of observations, comments and conclusions by the Commissioners. Minister Faizer Musthapha, who is a lawyer, and Parliamentarian Pandith Bandula Gunawardhana, who claims to be an Economist, have already interpreted. More opportunities for loudmouths but surprisingly Parliamentarian Sujeewa Senasinghe is silent.
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Dr. Dharshana W / January 6, 2018
In deliberating through all the comments posted ahead of me, I shall conclude as follows:
my top-most attention is on statement made by Rail that “I beat the President to the AG’s Office”.
I see such statements as gasping for breath “just before drowning”, by Rail W.
In my opinion, either he is already drowned, or is just about to be held under-water until his last breath by his political opponents.
Either way, Rail W should not have any political career ahead of him afte this debacle. He has also turned 70 years, and should be a retired as a politician if NOT in Sri Lanka.
In my thinking the following should take place in this same sequence:
1. Follow the steps as suggested by Amrit M.
2. In addition , investigate the several other groups with vested interests as part of the inquiry
3. Launch legal action against all stake holders of the bond scam despite rank and file ( the President needs to take charge of this effort)
4. Make immediate measures to ensure that the current system of bond sales is independent of such personal, or political bias.
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K.Pillai / January 6, 2018
The heart-burns expressed here demand the immediate release of the report.
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Lanki / January 6, 2018
President calls himself a fair and honest person. If so how fair and honest was he when he spoke about the two Presidential Commission reports? He has already received parts of the Mega Rogues PC reports earlier than Bond Commission report and he never came out in public and made statements. Even when he received the final Mega Rogues PC report at the same time he received the Bond Presidential Commission report, he did not mention the names or the acts or the decisions of this report when he spoke to the public. How fair has be been, the people will have to evaluate his partiality. Is it because the Mega Rogue reports have found fault with his SLFP members? There are no two types of honesty, if a person is honest he or she has to act the same way in every situation.
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Plato. / January 6, 2018
Faizer Mustapha should be now removed from the Cabinet for making irresponsible statements. There is a report of the Bond Commission; Who is he to give interpretations of the Report?
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