19 March, 2024

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Hey, Maithri & Ranil, Cast Aside Your ‘Opposition-Mindset’, You’re In Power

By Vishwamithra1984

When avarice takes the lead in a state, it is commonly the forerunner of its fall.”  ~ Alexander Hamilton

Mahinda Rajapaksa along with the national media, the so-called free media, which was nowhere to be seen during Rajapaksa’s regime, the media that was under siege time after time under the cruel determinations of the regime’s virtual second-in-command, Secretary of Defense, has assumed dimensions disproportionate to the actual, now seems to be controlling the national conversation. Not the Government. The so-called ‘Joint Opposition’, the dregs of the last regime, the group of Opposition MPs whose financial and social integrity has come under a barrage of accusations, allegations and investigations, whose integrity is very much under scrutiny and question have taken the fight to the Government’s front door. They have managed to set the Government on the defensive and each and every time, in the parlance of sports, the ball has belonged to the Opposition. It is certainly not a very pleasant situation for those who replaced the Rajapaksas.

On the other hand, the platform that the present Government, Maithri/Ranil Combo and Party carried out the campaign on, seems to be crumbling down. The very charge of the then Opposition, corruption and nepotism, has crept into the new personalities of the now Government. It is time that the Government of Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe strapped their boots and take the ‘ball’ into their own hands, so to speak.

Addressing the ‘Progressive Congress Annual Strategy Summit’ on Saturday February 4th, Massachusetts’s Senator Elizabeth Warren began thus: “we are all gathered here in a moment of crisis; a crisis for progressives, a moment of crisis for Democrats and a moment of crisis for America”. There is an eternal truth about politics and people. People like Mahinda Rajapaksa don’t come to power when things are going right. Nor do they continue to be in power, corrupt the innocent, enrich themselves, gather enormous personal wealth, manhandle media men and women and resort all other methods of draconian governance without the masses being unaware.

The voters, the victims, who put them in power must hold themselves accountable as much as the culprits. The voters simply cannot let themselves off the hook. Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the “Common Man’s Party”, which embraced bigotry and extremism, which embraced uncommon rich man and his ugly avarice, which incorporated the riches of local drug lords and corrupt middlemen, was hijacked by the Rajapaksas and their loyal henchmen. The Bandaranaikes and Kobbekaduwas are forgotten. The Rajapaksas treated them like yesterday’s trash. S W R D Bandaranaike, with all his political weaknesses and expedient tendencies, kept the Party at least away from the political imposters and charlatans. What happened to the SLFP after S W R D’s demise is another story altogether, yet the Rajapaksas have to be taken into account for the destruction of the image of “Common Man’s Party”. At least for the time being, Maithripala Sirisena appears to have wrested the Party away from these political hooligans like the Rajapaksas, and the Welgamas. But if President Sirisena continues to dilly-dally taking stern disciplinary action against those SLFPers who continue to disregard the Party line and go astray, the dissolution of the “Common Man’s Party” is imminent.

This crisis in the SLFP has certainly slowed down Maithripala Sirisena. But he must not allow that predicament to be built up to the level of a national crisis by abdicating his obligations to his voters in particular and his country at large. Failure of the current Government will be seen as a landmark failure of the current system of governance. Yahapalanaya or whatever one might call it, it should not be allowed to fail. Accountability and transparency on the part of those who are vested with governmental power cannot be sacrificed for political expediency and administrative convenience. The corrupt practices that have been entrenched in a system for the last three to four decades, particularly the last twenty years will take over the system and overwhelm the national character. It may have already happened and if not, it is on the threshold of happening.

History is our witness. Time after time it has been proven beyond a shadow of doubt that a lethargic, apathetic public is the first cause of national decay. In this regard, the responsibility of the United National Party (UNP), the main coalition partner of the current political administration, cannot be overstated. As a political party which has been maligned and disparaged by its opponents, especially the traditional SLFP, after coming to a historic partnership with the SLFP, today willy-nilly is feeding the urban gossip mongers with enough material to keep its own head above the water level. The ugly image that is being attributed to the UNP and the resulting ill-effects of a politically explosive financial swindle, such as the so-called ‘Bond-Scam’ could be devastating both in the short and midterm run.

Making tactical adjustments, changing talking points, while embracing the same old barren policies and stinking principles would not help the UNP. Ranil and his cohorts must realize that when the gauntlet tightens, it does not differentiate between the UNPers and SLFPers. Racial extremism stirred up by the Rajapaksas was tolerated by the UNP because they feared the backlash from the Buddhist clergy. It tightens all and sundry- it includes anyone close to the current coalition. Voters will not show any mercy.

At the same time the voters must be continuously reminded of what they are enjoying today and the negatives of the past regime that they would gladly miss.

Following is catalogue of such alleged misdeeds:

  • Computer purchases for Mahindodaya labs in excess of Rs. 5.87 billion.
  • Issue of 1000 diplomatic Passports during 9 yrs. of rule.
  • 3 PSD Officers: Brig. Capt. & Major in money Laundering during MR Regime
  • Transactions of Tourist Board Officials Rs. 5.7 mil.
  • SL Insurance re involvement of a Doc. & ex-Minister
  • State Engineering Corp Rs.4.7 Mil. Transaction
  • Diary Printing by an ex-Minister Rs. 1.4 mil.
  • D A Rajapaksa Museum construction Rs. 110 Mil. under Def. Secy. Signature, undertaken by Navy
  • Purchase of Gower Pvt. Ltd. by a Parliamentarian
  • 40 luxury vehicles rented by State Eng. Corp. see http://www.lankaenews.com/news/1840/en
  • Fraud of Rs. 91,635,591/- Million in Fort Magistrate Case No. B/3088/216 with W. Weerawansa remanded. http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2017/01/22/fcid-to-file-further-b-reports-in-courts-against-the-renegade-wimal/
  • Rs. 3117 Mil paid by a Chinese Engineering Co. into 6 Banks A/cs.
  • Commonwealth Games Trip of 140 persons & exp. of Rs. 358 mil. thereof
  • Rs. 12,500 mil. found dumped in Temple Trees during Dec.2014/Jan.2015 (see 54 below)
  • Prof. S. Wijeyasooriyas allegation re the sale & distribution of 40 Kg. Gold, also Siriliya A/c.
  • Air Force Commander’s dealings in the hire of Helicopters to Crain Ltd.
  • J C Weliamuna Committee Rpt. on Lanka Airlines still in the hands of the PM of Sri Lanka.
  • An ex-CJ admitting corrupt (?) verdict on “Helping Hambantota” Case! Read: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/08/28/helping-hambantota-appeal-to-a-fuller-bench/
  • An MR Coordinating Secy. holding multiple jobs arrested with 10 Gold Biscuits,(1106 gm.) by FCID
  • CICT paid Rs.19.41 mil. to Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation on 21-5-12 before Colombo South Terminal Contract commenced.
  • JVPs petition filed in Supreme Court re 193 charges against K.P. & his assets disposed during MR Regime
  • Min. Rambukwella`s Rs. 20 Mil. Ex President’s Fund plus Insurance obtained over Med. Treatment in 2012.
  • Illegal renting of Fisheries Harbor by then Minister of Fisheries R. Senaratne, under previous Govt.
  • One man Commission Report by ex- S.C Judge Nimal Dissanayake on Elephant Robbery
  • Rs.372 Mil. Fraud by Diplomat U Weeratunga in 2006 in MIG purchases under then Defense Secretary. See latest: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170108/columns/udayangas-16-bank-accounts-frozen-total-balance-rs-225-million-223301.htm
  • White vanning by the past regime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgn0k-V31Q0&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1
  • Vithanage Rpt. Re Security Forces Hdqrts. Bldg. and overpayment of Rs.173Mil.by D. Secy.
  • 11 Dept./Com./Board/State Secretaries for corruptions, as detailed hereunder:- http://www.lankaenews.com/news/1423/en
  • Auditor Gen. Rpt. on SLBFE under Dilan Perera spending Rs.925,309/- on balloons ex-Mattegoda
  • The real value of Suriyawewa Cricket Stadium estimated at Rs. 852 ml by valuation officers though the previous government claimed to have spent a staggering Rs. 4,500 ml. on the project, says Hon. Ravi K.
  • Over-valued rice purchases by K. Attapattu of Sathosa and related malpractices.
  • FCID updates – No.64/15 Basil R. Rs.396 Mil. In 3 Property purchases
  • FCID No.17/15 Yoshita R in 8 Transaction totaling Rs. 707 Mil.,
  • FCID 138/15 Namal R in 16 transactions totalling Rs. 347 Mil.,
  • FCID 82/15 Champika Karunarathna Rs. 5 Mil involving Extortions.
  • Dr. P B Jayasundera questioned over an allegation of importing 100,000 metric tons of rice from an Indian Company against the Cabinet Decisions, incurring loss of Rs. 5 billion.
  • Ministry of Agriculture building rent of Rs. 21 Ml. a mth. and Rs. 402 Mil. sought now for furniture and conversions, owned by Jayasinghe Tours & Transp. with an mishandled Agreement? See details: http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20160701CT20161030.php?id=3940
  • Rs. 315m of government funds spent on the Grand Hyatt Hotel construction in Hambantota, but with no construction!
  • Rajapaksa Regime`s 2 visits to Seychelles costing Rs. 100 Mil., using 3 charter flights with 97 members and hiring of 68 luxury vehicles etc. etc.
  • Tiran Alles & others in approx. Rs.650 Mil. misappropriation of 2004 Tsunami (RADA) Housing Funds- Colombo H.C 5.No.8377/16. Details here: http://www.lankaenews.com/news/1669/en by its Courts Correspondent & Updated here : http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/11/27/investigators-helpless-over-alles-deal/
  • COPE Report on CB Rs.1396 Mil. for 3 Foreign Consultation Firms, Rs.6100 Mil. lent to failed Financial Institutions & Rs. 122 Mil. building purchased in Brazil. etc. – etc. during previous regime.
  • Charges by COPE on Media Secy. Bopage involving Rs. 100 mil. of corrupt transactions at NHRDC in 2014
  • Sathosa Rice imports worth Rs. 17 Billion from India by previous Govt and present Govt as reported here: http://lankanewsweb.net/news/item/4040-rishard-educates-with-a-technique-to-consume-an-enhanced-meal-from-rice
  • Encashment of 18 cheques totalling Rs. 218 Million by Presidential Staff during MRs Rule. (10/9/16 LankaTruth
  • Two CEB Deputy General Managers in charge of Uthuru Wasanthaya under investigation in approx. Rs.40 Million fraud.
  • C Ratwatte & 4 others in alleged financial frauds of Rs. 10,720 million under Public Property Act, under. Arrest by FCID. Details: http://www.lankaenews.com/news/1630/en
  • Diyawadana Nilame FCID file no. CR5/27/2015.M. C of Kandy Case No. E 34983/15 re selling of lands belonging to the Maligawa etc., http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/09/26/fcid-hands-tied-on-allegations-against-dela/
  • Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nimal Lanza is alleged to have accumulated a large sum of wealth during a short period and hence he has been accused under the money laundering Act.
  • Daisy Forrest (94 yrs.) aunt of Shiranthi re purchase of lands for Rs. 49.52 Mil from 9 others – see http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/10/10/probe-on-how-yoshitha-grand-aunt-built-palaces-in-mt-lavinia/

The Rajapaksas are not in power. This nasty ‘minority mindset’ must be done away with, you’re in power. The character of this nation is not the character of the Rajapaksas. And that is the truth.

*The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com

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Latest comments

  • 6
    6

    Stop flogging a dead horse mate.

    Hats off to the young indigenous journos who are trying hard to safe guard the nation from this corrupt lot, who have no parallels in our history.

    Did you submit this list to the UNP F******CID ?, Perhaps With such details, you should have given it straight to the AG or BC.

    Isn’t Lansa a Yahapalana Minister?.

    PM Batalanda Ranil’s hand picked DIG and his F ***** CID have only got Weerwansa to show for the Overtime Bill, plus the normal wages the Yahapalana Tax paying suckers forked out for two full years. .

    Unless you take credit for remanding those poor Public Servants, who helped Sil Ammes and the Buddhist Monk who fed that Orphan baby elephant.

    Three forty footers. of apparently VW car kits are sitting in the docks because Yahapalana Customs won’t clear it.

    Even a nuff nuff would know that they don’t need even 5 Acres for even a real VW assembly plant ,specially if they are going to sell them only to Yahapalana suckers for 3 years.

    But Bogus ” W ” Diaspora Selva got 250 Acres of Mahavamsa Land for nothing.

    And Malik gave Loku another 100 acres with a special amnesty according to Colombo media to build Tyres to go along with Selvas Bogus VWs,

    Tell you something mate , UNP PM’s mate paid LKR 20 Lakhs for a single suit to give you Yahapalanay . That was in addition to LKR 66 million he has collected for the stint at the CB.

    Mahendra’s Family trust profit of LKR 12 Billion in just 12 Months of Yahaplanaya will never ever be matched even if Rajapaksas rule for two generations. Perhaps even more.

    • 7
      1

      Vishwamithra1984,

      you shouldn’t go around upsetting people.

      The primary duty of a government is to uplift the living standards of the people. And the Rajapakses did it in spades!

      Mahinda uplifted the living standards of his clan to an unbelievable level. Unlike other rulers he wasn’t selfish, he let it trickle-down to others as well. A large number of people got very wealthy during his reign.

      If he lifted the living standards of his cohorts/supporters/side-kicks who still are a segment of the SL population who are you to question his methods? He has fulfilled the duty of governance.

      My only complain is that he didn’t let the whole population steal their way into wealth.

      I say, Mahinda is a pioneer, he devised a unique method where the whole population of a country can steal their way into wealth and good-life. It’s a pity that he wasn’t given enough time to finish his task.

      I’m brimming with pride that such an economic visionary is a fellow countryman!

      Maynard move over Mahinda is here!

  • 1
    4

    People voted for Sirisena, not Ranil.

    Sirisena must take over the fraud called the Finance Ministry. Otherwise the entire government will collapse.

    • 5
      0

      But Sirisena said that if you vote for him, it is like voting for Ranil.

  • 6
    1

    The problem is that those who were with M.R. are still in the new GoSL. Hence, there is no definite will to take action against the previous rulers. It Is time M.S.+R.W. get the country going in the RIGHT direction. We sincerely hope that they will.

  • 6
    0

    You are a sincere well-wisher who is candid in exposing corruption. Bt whose fault is it if these corrupt politicians come back to power again and again. At lease some corrupt leaders belonging to the last government are still there in the new government.
    The fault lies on the people of Srilanka who think religion and ethnicity are more important than honesty and sincerity. These people get hoodwinked by the politicians so easily. These poor fellows believe the government controlled media. These uneducated masses are deaf and blind when one ethnic/religious group is unfairly targeted. It never dawns in their foolish minds that violence directed against one group will some day be turned against their own group.

  • 2
    0

    Bloody good title.

  • 6
    6

    Yahapalana suckers like Vishvamitra are trying to mesmerize the people into believing that this country has had only two governments – this and the previous. And Ranil/Sirisena battalion just landed form heaven.

    All this is small change to me compared to tyre pyres in 1989, the carnage in 1983 and burning down of Jafna library. A single culprit brought before the law?

    Soma

    • 5
      1

      somaaassss

      “All this is small change to me compared to tyre pyres in 1989, the carnage in 1983 and burning down of Jafna library. A single culprit brought before the law?”

      Well somass history didn’t start with 1983.

      There have been governments in the past since 1948 in which Racists and War Criminals played key role, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1971, ……..

      And don’t forget 1915.

      Do we have cure for selective amnesia and mass paranoia?

      • 2
        3

        NV, history didnt start at 1915 either. Why dont you go and check what had taken place in 1833 as well? That will be bit of painful to you – the darling of Tamil racism – but do that for your own sake!

        • 2
          0

          max moron

          “Why dont you go and check what had taken place in 1833 as well?”

          Lots of things happened in 1833, for example Britain’s Slavery Abolition Act becomes law, as a consequence thousands of domestic slaves in this island were freed, including the ones that were kept in the monasteries, probably your ancestors too.

          In the same year Charles Darwin rode horse to Buenos Aires,Santa Fe, and visited Guardia del Monte, Rio Tercero, Parana, ……

          Are you talking about how the Sinhalese betrayed the people of this island in that year?

          • 2
            0

            Dear Native,

            Were Batalanda Ranil ,. Whiskey Madam and Bodhi Sira still around in 1833?…

            How cool…

            • 2
              0

              KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera

              “Were Batalanda Ranil ,. Whiskey Madam and Bodhi Sira still around in 1833?…”

              Their ancestors would have had some slaves, may be your Dalit ancestors.

              Be grateful to your colonial masters for freeing your ancestors from slavery.

  • 4
    1

    A good wake up call to the President & PM but I doubt very much if they will take any notice. Coalition govts. are not known to work effectively & certainly not in SL where a President & a PM of opposing parties will ever corporate unselfishly for the benefit of the country as a whole.

    If the average American can support a joker like Trump & have faith in him to make the country ‘great’ in a misguided way (& in the same way to some degree the average Brit voted for the Brexit), it is not surprising that the average SL too has a similar mindset. The average SL man on the street (I am referring to the majority Sinhalese) has the same nationalistic & religious ideals & are willing to overlook the massive corruption & mismanagement of state resources & are willing to reinstate proven uneducated yobs who have openly accumulated considerable ill gotten wealth into Parliament again & again in the belief that the Sinhala race, it’s ‘culture’ & Buddhism will be safeguarded by them, even if the economy goes down hill. This is a considerable vote base & no President or PM will have the guts take action against the thugs & yobs who can wield power over these voters.

    So life goes on, a lot of hype on reform but as the saying goes, it’s the same wine but in different bottles. We can only hope the wine will be better with maturity.

  • 2
    6

    Is, a known lackey of yahapalanaya, Vishwamithra’s lament is a sign of MR gaining the ground again? :p

  • 4
    1

    max moron

    What do you think?

  • 4
    0

    The naked truth is that our nation lives on a fool’s paradise. Ignoring the truth and hoping it will go away somehow. With the list so long , surely the present MS-RW duo will do something. May be we are asking too much of the Yahalpanaya regime, who were elected to clean up the stealing and, looting of the nation”s coffers by the previous government and the crimals put away for good . We are here two years down the line the score chart shows zero

    Vishwamithra , mark my word , no one will be prosecuted in the near future because we are not preview to the hidden agenda of the past and rhe present power brokers.
    Yahalpanaya government has lost its credibility big time RIP

  • 2
    0

    Can ColomboTelegraph, get the feedback from M.S & R.W. on the above article and to the comments?
    What has been the so called ‘Leader of the Opposition’ doing so far?
    President Trump has declared the Press [MEDIA] as his opposition party and I do hope
    the SL Media will do the SAME in order to see a truly YAHAPALANAYA government.

  • 1
    0

    This guy is writing as if MS+RW+CBK+Mangi, are super clean. In fact he seems to have taken the contract of dry cleaning job down to the underwear of the jokers of yahapalana junta. Some of the so called frauds listed are bogus while culprits of some other frauds enjoy perks and full freedom under this regime. Additionally massive frauds have been committed under this regime are being swept under the carpet. The single criteria applied is if you are with “us” you’ll be free otherwise you’ll be in jail. There was a news item saying that investigations have begun on Priyankara Jayaratne after he left yahapalana junta. Vishwamithra is a lap dog of this pathetic and failed regime barking at the insistence of his masters. They have nothing to show except hunting political opponents. Therefore it is no surprise that they have lost the ability to influence dominant narratives in the public domain.

  • 0
    1

    Excellent collection of fraudulent deals and transaction for personal benefit of Rajapakse’s and his cronies. This why they are shouting so much and inciting the ignorant people to embarrass the government in the eyes of the investors. Tamil and Maithri must fix new balls if the existing ones are disfunctional and appoint Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka in charge of the ministry which will be made responsible for all these corrupt deals and round up all the rascals put them behind bars for the rest of their lives including GMOA top ones

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