The second round of discussions between President Maithripala Sirisena and the United National Front party leaders ended unsuccessfully with the President continuing to reject the UNF’s nomination for the Prime Minister’s position, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Sirisena
The meeting took place at the Presidential Secretariat at 8 PM with the participation of all UNP party leaders who attended the first meeting last Friday.
Speaking to media after the meeting with the President, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said Sirisena informed his group that Ranil Wickremesinghe would not be appointed the Prime Minister even if he received the support of all 225 MPs in Parliament.
“This is a grave threat to democracy. The meeting without any outcome due to President Sirisena’s stubborn attitude,” a UNF party leader who wished to remain anonymous told Colombo Telegraph after the meeting.
The UNF party leaders walked into the Presidential Secretariat with a new-found confidence with the interim order by the Court of Appeal preventing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his group from continuing in office.
The UNF party leaders pointed out to Sirisena that Wickremesinghe, the UNF’s nominee for the Prime Minister post, had the support of 117 MPs in the House. Despite their statements, Sirisena said he would not reappoint Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, bringing the political crisis back to square one.
justice / December 3, 2018
It is high time to impeach this president.
He lets personal prejudice to impede democracy, tradition & the Constitution.
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Simon De Silva / December 4, 2018
He does not care about the norms, but his dislikes against honourable Ranil Wickramasinghe.
No valid reasons either why him to behave so.
Onlyreason I see is he cant just get on with educated people.
Meaning we need to fight to remove this bugger from our sight and go for Presidential Elections.
Enough is enough… go out of our sight.. Mr SIrisene
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Radical Ideas / December 4, 2018
As long as the infamous racists are living, there will be more damages done to the country. Elle Gunawangsa, the infamous criminal monk is poking his finger again to inflame the country like he did in 1983 riots… the main instigator of the riots committed against the Tamil minorities. The Govigama Mafia is fully backing this criminality as its the same evil they have been continuing throughout 70+ years period. The Sinhala Elites wants to bring back the Fascist rule to deny rights to the minorities.
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Samson Gunawardhana / December 4, 2018
This man SIRISENA, has made lanken democracy a mockery.
Folks, let s remove this man from our sights not keeping him a minute in this position.
It is not our interest that he would not like to appoint UNP leader as athe PM.
So long he must have to appoint him, we need to go on protest.
It is no means his own properties being wasted day by day.
He should react also considering people ‘s situations.
Longer he waits to take deicsions, we need to remove this man by every means.
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Ayub Khan / December 4, 2018
He is talking about wholesome ‘even if 225’. The number is valid for outright impeachment of the dumbfounded President.
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wannihami / December 4, 2018
Why is UNP hung up on Ranil, this is starting to sound like a Free Masons operation, is Ranil Illuminati? Or a Free Mason?
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Craig / December 4, 2018
And Mr. President, since it was we “the people” who voted for you and appointed you but now we detest you (as you detest Ranil whom you appointed). Can we also remove you and never appoint you – again? Pl tell us how and we will do so.
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Simon De Silva / December 4, 2018
Craig,
there is no point of asking the kind of questions from a man whose behaviour is beyond an animal.
Just like a CLOWN would do SIRISENA make his ludicros statemetns no matter constituitional experts warn him on and on.
Either the person is mentally ill or fully stubborn against the law and order.
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Sinhala_Man / December 3, 2018
Confirms that he’s become a raving lunatic. I mean My3, of course who was not so bad three years ago.
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Amarasiri / December 3, 2018
Sirisena,
RE: I Will Not Reappoint Ranil Even If All 225 MPs Support Him: Sirisena
Did Ranil chew your balls, or did they just dissolve when the parliament was dissolved?
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Rajash / December 4, 2018
Amarasiri ..”.looks like Mahinda squeezed his balls ..hard until My3 screamed in pain…I will not appoint RW as PM”
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JD / December 3, 2018
UNF has 122 MPs including 16 of TNA and 6 of JVP. So by diducting that 22, UNF has only 100 MPs while SLPP/UPFA have 103 MPs. There is no where in the constitution which talks about a majorotiy. What all these say is The president who obtained votes from the whole island should report to both the UNF who are electoral Representatives and to the SPEAKER who is appointed by the parliament. Both Ranil and the SPeaker know they are attneding to the Western Agenda. Even the words used by Ranil are those of MCC to which any one can apply for funds/Grants saying we will fulfill your agenda. There is a Court interim order to stop Cabinet functioning. for how long is that.
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Mallaiyuran / December 4, 2018
If Ranil is appointed as PM then the old Unity government may not be possible. The SLFP leader, New King, may not consent again for that. Ranil can form minority government. TNA may not oppose UNF decisions until those are not detrimental for Tamils. But TNA’s request to EP is restoring the Yahapalanaya Unity Government. If that is not materializing, then TNA is at loss. UNP won. Old Royal camp is barred from future tournaments.
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Siri / December 3, 2018
This no good idiotic lunatic should be immediately impeached, all his civic right should be removed, and made to serve 20 years behind bars for violating the constitution.
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Maharage, / December 3, 2018
Mahindran Rajapakse has signed two mega agreements with China already. The
commission from these contracts will exceed 3 billion dollars.
Mahinda has agreed to share half of this mega commission with Sirisena.
So how can you expect Sirisena to remove fake PM, Mahinda and replace him with Ranil.
He doesn’t want to lose part of the commission from these 2 agreements for now.
The rest will follow.
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wannihami / December 4, 2018
Maharage, with that kind of money MR can build a parallel Sri Lanka off the coast of Hambanthota, what a good storyteller you are my friend.
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Estate Labourer / December 3, 2018
This man is a Rabid Megalomaniac with a strong Dictatorial streak in him. Who the hell does he think he is? I think he should be whipped in public on Galle Face Green and then impeached!
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Paddy / December 3, 2018
Does this guy know that this is not a private tea party? The president of a country cannot change the leader of a party just because he doesn’t like him.
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JD / December 3, 2018
There is a suspision that the Supreme Courts is baised for some reason. The rumour says Ranil has offered employment overseas in some friendly country (GOD Natha)
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Visaran / December 3, 2018
The President is following the Constitution. The so called legislators aka MPs should know what is written in the Constitution. If they wanted the Parliament to decide who the PM is, then they need to change the Constitution.
This is what the 19th Amendment says:
(VIII) (42) (4) The President shall appoint as Prime
Minister the Member of Parliament, who, in
the President’s opinion, is most likely to
command the confidence of Parliament.
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Kumar R. / December 4, 2018
Visaran,
The operative clause is “who, in the President’s opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament.” The Parliament has now unambigously shown who has thier confidence and who does not. Hence, the leader’s responsibility to accept that vote of confidence on Ranil and no-confidence on MR.
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The constitution had that clause for that exact purpose. If not, it could have merely stated “The President shall appoint a Prime Minister at his choosing” without the qualifying clause.
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Visaran / December 4, 2018
the operative clause is “President’s opinion” and not any facts or calculations or determination by parliament. Its that simple!
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Kumar R. / December 4, 2018
There is always a consideration, not just for words but the spirit in which the statement is made as well.
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As for “is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament” when the partiliament explicitly and unambigously declares the confidence/non-confidence, then the speculative need for opinion becomes mute – because he has been told by the Paliament.
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Kumar R / December 4, 2018
Of course I meant moot, not mute. Apologies for the slip!
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Uthungan / December 4, 2018
Kumar
If you meant “moot”, then doesn’t it mean a loophole for for My3 to justify his stance.
That is why ‘mute’ is a better option.
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Kumar R. / December 4, 2018
Uthugan,
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You may be right, although I don’t see it that way.
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In MS making an opinion about Parliament’s confidence, now MS does not have the need to speculate since the Parliament has expressely declared its confidence. MS therefore has no basis to come to a different opinion.
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Thanks, anyhow.
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Moshe Arens / December 4, 2018
Visaran, your quote is right but not your argument. Your quote from the 19th amendment says “………….. is most likely to command the confidence of the Parliament”. UNP has produced 103 affidavits supporting RW as PM and TNA has written to MS that they will support the UNP nominee. That is a total of 117 MPs. That is a clear majority or confidence in RW. Now how can a person with a “sane mind” interpret the 19 amendment differently? If MS says “in his opinion” RW still doesn’t command parliamentary majority that would only prove he is insane or below pre school grade in mathematics. Constitution was not written with lunatics in mind. This in itself is a good enough reason for an impeachment as he is “not fit for the office”. UNF, JVP, TNA, SLMC and ACMC should kick off the impeachment proceedings as MS has proven time and again he is not a man of his words (perhaps he has some infirmity). Impeachment is not vendetta against MS but rather placing the country before the President as any country can ill afford to have someone like MS as it’s leader.
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Gamini / December 3, 2018
It appears MS has an agenda, pact and personal ambitions. He appears to be working to achieve such objectives.
This statement says a lot about the mental status of MS (didn’t he say the same thing about MR at one time during the August 2015 General Elections?) and his suitability to govern a Nation for ALL the People disregarding his own likes, dislikes. biases, beliefs, tendencies, preconceptions and prejudices.
Where to from here? There is a private motion brought in the Courts by a ‘private citizen’ (not sure why RW did not do this in the first instance?) challenging the initial appointment of MR as the PM. If that verdict goes against MR, then MS has no say about who will be PM as it automatically should revert to the Pre Oct 26 status. If not, wonder what recourse there is other than impeaching MS in Parliament?
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PARAGON / December 3, 2018
NOW THE TIME HAS COME TO IMPEACH THIS FOOLISH MAN.HIS HEAD IS SWOLLEN.HE SHOULD KNOW THERE MUST BE A LIMIT TO HIS ACTIONS.
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Mallaiyuran / December 3, 2018
Let’s watch what happens tomorrow in parliament. If he appoints a UPFA PM, by Tomorrow morning, UNF may bring in an NCM. If the things keep going bad, hopefully some SLFPyers may also support New King to be impeached.
The major problem is if pre Oct 26th, status quo is not restored, then none of these fight can be considered as a victory to democracy. It means a dictator president can manipulate an elected government in all the way he wish, with the threat of firing it. The Parliamentary election will become phony. The damage to UNP will hurt its next election. Ranil could be criminally implicated in many criminal cases –at least on all those he accused of Ranil in his statement.
The best bet is to find ways to expedite the case of Dhambra Amila Theo’s.
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Chitra / December 3, 2018
Translation: Whatever the Supreme court, parliamentarians, and constitutional scholars say, the mighty Sirisena will NOT obey, or adhere to the laws and rules.
What an arrogant man we have as a leader. We should be ashamed of the fact he is representing this country.
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Little bird / December 3, 2018
Failure after failure. You are no leader. People will make sure Ranil would have the full backing… just to prove a point…. that you fail once again.
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rohan. j / December 3, 2018
What an idiotic clown the majority of folk of this have elected for the plum position in our isle.
He has bitten the hands that fed him in his hour of need.
he is aptly qualified for the 2018 good riddance from bad rubbish position.
The ungrateful ? ? ? ?
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Amarasiri / December 3, 2018
President Maithripala Sirisena ,
RE I Will Not Reappoint Ranil Even If All 225 MPs Support Him: Sirisena
Did Ranil **** you so hart that you can’t take him any more? Unfortunately, the JR Presidential constitution 19A do not give you much choice.
Do you want the Supreme court order you to take Ranil? The country does not belong to you to Ranil.
Or do you want parliament to keep passing NCM’s against the Fake PM? It is now 6 and counting.
There is a way out for you. Just resign and move back to Polonnaruwa.
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sarath abayagunawardana / December 4, 2018
He was waiting for u re advice, Why not ask Rail to do that ,The party never wanted him ,26 times failed.and selling the country ,helping to split it to 9 units
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Ajay / December 3, 2018
Okay, now it can be certified the man is mad. He should be taken into custody right away. He is posing a grave danger to all Sri Lankans including himself.
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edwin rodrigo / December 4, 2018
Ajay, Wait a minute now, the poor demented guy does not understand that one of the 225 is his old master Mahinda.
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But then, having swallowed all the Jarawa fed by the Chinese how can he reverse his decision, even if Mahinda tells him? The only way to make him move is for the Chinese Premier himself to give the command.
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Real Revolutionist / December 3, 2018
President is perfectly right
He has an ethical right not to appoint RW as the PM as he has lost credibility irrecoverably due to bond scam issue & failure to recognize president as the head of the state.
UNP MPs pretend not to know that RW is a person with no credibility & the fact that they don’t have mandate to hold on to power ethically as the partner for gg has left; the mandate is void to go alone.
UNP must change their adamant stance unless they’ll not be able to come to power for another 10 years.
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sarath abayagunawardana / December 4, 2018
What U say is admirable , He tolerated this foolish person who has no National interest/vision for 38 months, over 63% of elected time What has he achived 4 the people? No one likes him !!!
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justice / December 4, 2018
Real Revolutionist,
What bond scam issue?
The Bond Scam billions went to Perpetual Treasuries and the account is frozen by court order.
Aloysius and Palisena are on remand.
Mahendran is evading arrest.
Ranil trusted Mahendran and suggested his name for Governor Central Bank and Sirisena appointed him.
Mahendran turned a blind eye to what his son in law did.
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Real Revolutionist / December 4, 2018
Justice
To justify injustice?
What a shame.
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whywhy / December 3, 2018
The language is sound and clear . Gota could be one force behind this thuggish
behaviour . This man is confident nobody will touch him and he is also
confident that U N P can not carry out the threat of a mass street protest to
force him to give in . It now looks real what I said in the beginning that this has
no end and the COUNTRY IS ONLY A FEW MILLIMETERS AWAY FROM FULLY
BLOWN DICTATORSHIP ! Statesman who have respect for the law and order of
the country won’t behave like this .
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Mallaiyuran / December 3, 2018
Judges, on their verdict, were conscious about the country going government-less. They have said the authority appointing a new government based on this injunction will not affect the validity of the new government. So the authority is free to act for the wellbeing of the country. If Old Royals win the case, eventually some time later, then the court will not intervene to restore the power to Old Royals. It would just leave it to Parliament and the authority. Practically this the end of it then.
Ranil’s speech seems to be telling that the Court said the authority is free to appoint the same previous Yahapalanaya government. If these judges are practically recommending back the Yahapalanaya government to be reinstalled, it is a serious blow to Old Royal Camp. Then the chance is none of the court cases would turn in favor of Old Royals. Because the judges are far away from the arguments put forward by the Old Royals camp.
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Senior Ben / December 3, 2018
The President is the Head of the Cabinet. This is not disputed in the constitution. If the relationship between the PM and President has irrevocably broken down, I think it is only fair that the PM steps aside. This situation arises only because the constitution is not clearly structured.
Name calling and abusing MS will not help. CT readers will be prejudiced but the Head of the Cabinet is the President, who was incidentally elected directly by the People. The PM relies on numbers jugglery.
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Gune / December 4, 2018
May I know the hell thisnPresident thinks he his? This is the problem when you appoint backward villagers to head the country’s highest office.
The people are being held hostage ? Demcracy is being held hostage by self serving President.
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Randy / December 4, 2018
I blame the SC for all these problems. SC should not have postpone the case a month later as it was an important matter for the country facing uncertainty. They should have heard the case in middle of November instead of December.
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Critical thinking / December 4, 2018
He is proving he is a lunatic .
He is proving he is uncivilized.
He is proving he is unfit to be president .
He is proving that he played with life of people.
He is proving is unsound man.
He is proving he can not read the mood of people .
He is proving he does not care .
He is earning wrath of people.
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punchinilame / December 4, 2018
None of these reasons is the cause of MY3s stand. He has been tied up
by MR and gang and has no way out. He is marking time on the lame
excuse of Ranil – the UNP knows its stand and wants to tie down MY3
further by its firm stand. MRs ONLY aim is to get off the Court Cases
of his family of rogues. It does not cost MR now that he is in Game.
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Amarasiri / December 4, 2018
Critical thinking ,
This is what happens to guys, when their balls fully dissolve and disappear They go mad. They do not know if they are coming or going .This is what the the late Dr. N M Perera said during the 1978 debate on the executive presidency. When a madman becomes president, the country is at peril. Dr. Perera was so prescient.
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Buddhist / December 4, 2018
Time is ripe for the armed forces to take over the government, suspend the constitution , kick Maithripala out and appoint Ranil’s Government to run the next 18 months. During this period amend the constitution, and have an election at the end of 18 months and return the country back to a democratic system.
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Rajash / December 4, 2018
China talking?
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Kumar R. / December 4, 2018
Senior Ben,
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You are correct in that Sirisena has the leadership role. However, in that role he does not get the rights of a dictator. Rather, as a leader in a democracy he has the responsibility to help guide the Cabinet to make constitutionally compliant decisions via a majority and to make sure to implement them accordingly. He is not given the right to make decisions on his own willy-nilly.
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At this point, constitution-wise, Sirisena has made more blunders than either Ranil or MR. In that perspective Sirisena has failed the country more than either Ranil or MR.
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What Sirisena is effectively doing is that, with his arrognt and selfish moves, he is making sure his legacy will haunt his children and will deny them any future in the Politics of the nation. He is burying them alive, politically speaking.
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Shameful on multiple counts – from national, familial and personal points of view! Guess he is far too much lost in self-love to realize the wider implications.
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whywhy / December 4, 2018
What he says can not be taken lightly , when he says even with the whole of 225
members’ YES won’t make Ranil P M , he means a lot including an impeachment
will not do a thing ! Ranil is an excuse for their wider agenda and an escape route
for them from the real issue. Instead of being President and P M , the issue is being
translated into Sirisena and Ranil to divert public attention . What will then be the
supreme court for them ? If the parliament was jeopardized and vandalized , one
should have expected this ! Provocation of U N P into violent reaction may be what
is expected for them to get into the next step . It could even be possible that he’s
already a hostage of different style like MOBILE-HOSTAGE ! HOW WAS S F HANDLED
SOON AFTER THE ELECTION ? OUR PARLIAMENT DEMOCRACY IS IN GRAVE DANGER
AND THAT IS BECOMING OBVIOUS EVERYDAY .
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Jay / December 4, 2018
This the time to bring a no confidence motion against Sira and impeach him from office. Then he will leave as a loser as per his daughter s book with his sarong.
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