By Ranil Wickremesinghe –
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Latimer House, widely talked about in recent times, located in Buckinghamshire, England, has a remarkable history of its own. In the mid 17th Century, a civil war took place between England’s King Charles I and Parliament. The King’s army lost. Thereafter in 1647, Charles I was imprisoned in Latimer House before he was taken to London.
The original building was burnt to the ground by a fire in 1830s. The owners of the property, the Cavendish family (the descendants of the fifth Prime Minister of the UK, the Duke of Devonshire) rebuilt the mansion and it is this structure, which stands today. Latimer House, like many other old castles and mansions, has become a hotel. It is here that in June 1998 that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Legal Education Association, the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association and the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association summoned a conference to discuss the implementation of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration with regard to the Commonwealth parliaments and the judiciary.
In 1991, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) took place in Harare to build on the principles of good governance to which they had previously agreed in Singapore in 1971 (the Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles). They pledged that “the Commonwealth and its constituent countries work ‘with renewed vigour’, concentrating especially on the following areas:
The protection and promotion of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth;
Democracy, democratic processes and institutions which reflect national circumstances, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, just and honest government;
Fundamental human rights, including equal rights and opportunities for all citizens regardless of race, colour, creed or political belief;”
This pledge was called the Harare Declaration and was strengthened through a number of Commonwealth initiatives to which, Sri Lanka gave its complete support. In 1996, the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting examined the role of judges and lawyers in democracy. Prof. G L Peiris, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice during that time was at this meeting, which led to the decision to summon a colloquium of judges, lawyers and parliamentarians. This colloquium agreed on a set of common guides called the Latimer House Guidelines on Parliamentary Supremacy and the Judicial Independence. Thereafter in 1999, a meeting of the Law Ministers in Port of Spain led to a small working group, which developed a statement of principles based on the Latimer House Guidelines to be presented to the CHOGM. Finally, at the Abuja CHOGM in 2003, the Heads of Government “endorsed the recommendations of their Law Ministers on Commonwealth Principles on the accountability of and relationship between the three branches of Government. They acknowledged that judicial independence and delivery of efficient justice services were important for maintaining the balance of power between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.” This is what is known as the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles. Sri Lanka is not only a party to this declaration but has also taken part in its making. The President at that time was Chandrika Kumaratunga while I was Prime Minister and the declaration received bipartisan acceptance.
In 2009, the Government of President Rajapaksa joined in the Affirmation of the Commonwealth Values and Principles at the CHOGM in Port of Spain in Trinidad & Tobago, stating “We recall earlier statements through which the Commonwealth’s values and principles have been defined and strengthened over the years, including the Singapore Declaration, the Harare Declaration, the Millbrook Action Programme, the Latimer House Principles and the Aberdeen Principles.” Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake represented President Rajapaksa at this meeting. At the Perth CHOGM 2011, President Rajapaksa himself, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the other Commonwealth Heads of Government adopted the proposal that “the core values of the 2009 Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles (which updates and expands on the earlier 1971 Singapore Declaration and the 1991 Harare Declaration and the 2003 Commonwealth [Latimer House] Principles on the three branches of government) should be deemed ‘core Commonwealth priorities’.”
In fact, the criteria for compliance with “Commonwealth fundamental values, principles, and priorities as set out in the 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles and contained in other subsequent Declarations” was made a condition of membership at the Uganda CHOGM (2007) attended by President Rajapaksa. In other words, all Commonwealth members, including Sri Lanka, are committed to upholding and implementing these values in accordance with the decisions at CHOGM where President Rajapaksa has been present.
The Commonwealth gives its members flexibility in implementing the Latimer House Principles. In the instance, “where a judge is at risk of removal, the judge must have the right to be fully informed of the charges, to be represented at a hearing, to make a full defence and to be judged by an independent and impartial tribunal.” The Latimer House Principles are exceedingly clear as to what should be the rules and practice when the issue is that of a removal of a judge.
After the Abuja CHOGM, the United Kingdom enacted the Constitutional Reforms Act 2005 to reinforce the independence of the judiciary. A Supreme Court was established to take over the judicial functions that had hitherto been exercised by the House of Lords. The Lord Chancellor’s judiciary-related functions were transferred to the Lord Chief Justice. A statutory duty was imposed on all government officers, those involved in the administration of justice and those involved in the appointment of judges to respect and maintain the independence of the judiciary.
Statutory procedures were laid out for judicial appointments and discipline. The provisions of the Act of Settlement 1701 providing for a Judge to be removed only on an address by Parliament to the Queen was maintained in respect of Supreme Court judges — Section 33 of the Constitutional Reforms Act 2005. This is not in conflict with the Latimer House principles because the Upper House in the UK, the House of Lords is not an elected body and is distinct from the House of Commons. Its membership is for life. There are a large number of members — crossbenchers — with no party affiliation. Many have legal experience. And the House has time and again shown its independence of the government by rejecting government-sponsored bills or amending them radically.
The separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary in independent Sri Lanka can be traced to Article 52 (2) of the first Constitution of Independent Sri Lanka – the Soulbury Constitution. It was taken from Section 72 of the Australian Constitution which states, “the Justices of the High Court and of the other courts created by the Parliament– (ii.) Shall not be removed except by the Governor-General in Council, on an address from both Houses of the Parliament in the same session, praying for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity”.
Even prior to the establishment of the Latimer House Principles, the Australian Parliament enacted the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry Act in 1986. This empowered a Commission of three former judges to report on whether the conduct of Justice Lionel Murphy amounted to ‘misbehaviour’ under Section 72 of the Constitution. During the Inquiry, Justice Murphy announced that he had terminal cancer and was not in a position to take part in the proceedings. In these circumstances, the Parliament repealed this Act one week before his death.
In 2012, the Australian Parliament passed the Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Act. Section 3 states the object of the Act is for a Commission to be established by the Houses of Parliament to investigate and report to them on any alleged misbehavior or incapacity of an Australian Commonwealth Judge so that Parliament can be well-informed to consider whether to pray for his removal under Article 72 of the Constitution. A Commonwealth judicial officer may be removed by the Australian Governor General only if both Houses of Parliament pray for his / her removal on the basis of a Commission Report finding of conclusive evidence (Section 4).
There is a misconception that Australia does not follow the Latimer House Principles. This, however, is incorrect. The Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Act complements Article 72 (ii) of the Australian Constitution. This is made clear in the explanatory Memorandum of the Bill, tabled in the House of Representatives, which highlights –
That the Bill seeks to establish a transparent, impartial and accountable system of judicial complaint to support judicial independence, and
That the measures provided under the Bill will strengthen public confidence in the judiciary while supporting the separation of powers and the independence of the Judiciary. This misconception has arisen as a result of the misreading of Section 3(2) of the Act. The Act requires the Australian Parliament to be well informed so as to pray for the removal of a Judge even if a Parliamentary Commission is not utilised.
For example, during the Lionel Murphy affair there was a proposal to directly utilise Court proceedings relating to Murphy. However, the interpretation of Section 3(2) together with “proved misbehavior” referred to in Article 72 (ii) of the Constitution is the complete responsibility of the High Court — unlike in Sri Lanka. The Constitution of Australia is materially different from that of Sri Lanka. Article 71 states that the judicial power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a federal Supreme Court to be called the High Court of Australia. Under Article 77, the Australian Parliament has no power to define the jurisdiction of the High Court. Therefore, contrary to Sri Lanka, the final say in Australia in specifying the procedure lies with the High Court.
In Sri Lanka, Standing Order 78A was passed by Parliament in 1984 prior to formulation of Latimer House Principles. Standing Order 78A(6) requires the establishment of a Select Committee to report on the findings of any investigation to Parliament. Standing Order 78A(1) states that a Resolution shall not be proceeded with until a period of one month from the date on which the Select Committee has reported to Parliament. Standing Order 78A (7) requires the Speaker to present such an address to the President. However, the problem lies with the fact that there are no provisions in Standing Order 78A on the Parliamentary proceedings once such a resolution is taken up under Public Business. The Standing Orders are limited to the proceedings of the Select Committee and the functions of the Speaker.
Parliament has not made any provisions (via Standing Orders under Section 107(3) of the Constitution) for the procedure of passing a resolution, and the right of such a judge to appear and to be heard in person or through a representative. The only precedent in this instance, the Select Committee on Chief Justice Neville Samarakoon, held that his conduct did not amount to misbehavior. Therefore the need to present new Standing Orders or Legislation in Parliament did not arise.
It is to this hiatus that Speaker Anura Bandaranaike (who was a Member of that Select Committee) referred in his determination in 2001 when pointing out the need for legislation. He said that Article 107 “empowers the regulation of the procedure prior to removal from office by way of Standing Order. An examination of the petitions shows that the grounds pleaded in the said petitions which rely on alleged defects and infirmities of the procedure adopted by Parliament, in entrusting the inquiry into the conduct of the judge to a Select Committee of the House, on the ground that they violate Articles 3 and 4 (c) of the Constitution and also certain fundamental rights of the petitioner, undoubtedly constitute an impeachment and a questioning of the proceedings of Parliament. I am satisfied that the petition, both in respect of the substantive paragraphs noted above, as well as in the several paragraphs of the prayer thereto, violate the clear and unambiguous prohibitory provisions of Section 3 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act of 1953 because the several grounds of complaint specified in the petition are clearly founded on what the Speaker is required to do, pursuant to the said Standing Order. However Members of Parliament may give their minds to the need to introduce fresh legislation or amend the existing Standing Orders regarding Motions of Impeachment against Judges of Superior Courts. I believe such provision has already been included in the Draft Constitution tabled in the House in August 2000.”
Justice Ameratunga’s judgment in Chandra Jayaratne v. Anura Priyadharashana Yapa gave effect to Speaker Anura Bandaranaike’s determination which highlighted the need to introduce fresh legislation if necessary. The establishment of such an independent committee to proceed with the next stage in parliamentary procedure cannot be done by Standing Orders alone. It requires an amendment to the Parliament (Powers and Privilege) Act so as to confer on such a committee, the powers enjoyed by a Select Committee to summon witnesses and hear evidence. There is no way in which an independent committee can be appointed without resorting to legislation. Both the Parliament and Courts have to take cognisance of this determination. The non adherence to this decision is a fatal flaw in the Parliamentary proceedings since there is no determination by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa that this judgment is in violation of the powers and privileges of Parliament. Neither did any Member of Parliament raise a question in relation to a breach of privilege by the Court. The last determination made by Speaker Rajapaksa is that Supreme Court under Article 125 of the Constitution has the power to interpret the Constitution.
The proceedings of the Select Committee on Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake appointed under Standing Order 78A is open to question since it did not give the Chief Justice a fair hearing. This is a violation of Article 14(1)(g) of the Constitution which guarantees to every citizen the freedom to engage in any lawful occupation or profession. It also contravenes two international agreements. Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects the right to a fair trial and a fair hearing. Article 16 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enshrines the right not to be justly deprived of work, requiring security against unfair dismissals.
During the debate that followed in Parliament, the UNP raised the following issues on procedure:
a. There was no report as required by Standing Order 78A since the seven members who signed the purported report referring to the 5 allegations had not fulfilled the mandate of the House to inquire and report into 14 allegations. Therefore the requirement of proved misbehaviour or incapacity in Article 107(2) of the Constitution had not been complied with.
b. The Chief Justice was not offered an opportunity of presenting her case to Parliament under Article 107(3) of the Constitution. This violates the equal protection of the laws under Article 12 of our Constitution. Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake was deprived of the opportunity to defend herself under Article 107(3) of the Constitution.
c. There was no resolution in the form of an address by Parliament to be presented to the President through the Speaker praying for the removal of the Chief Justice on the grounds of proved misbehaviour. The only resolution was to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the allegations and thereafter to present an address to the President on its findings. Therefore the validity of the Order made by the President under Article 107(3) of the Constitution is open to question.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the proceedings of Parliament of 10th and 11th January 2013 and the President’s Order removing Chief Justice Bandaranayake are now being questioned as violations of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma highlighted this when he referred to “our shared Commonwealth values and principles, to which Sri Lanka and all member governments have subscribed”.
In his speech at the 56th Commonwealth Parliament Conference in Nairobi Sharma stated “that the Latimer House Principles of 2003 – drafted with the CPA’s help and also that of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association – are an integral part of the body of belief which the Commonwealth espouses.
They affirm, of course, that the three branches of government may be mutually dependent – but so, too, that they are independent. And when countries have flouted them, they have flouted our most cherished values, and faced consequences. For instance, when Pakistan was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth in November 2007, this was done in part because the executive’s dismissal of the judiciary in that country was a clear breach of the Latimer House Principles.”
The Sri Lankan government actions are no better than that of the Pakistan Government of the time.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) is the custodian of these fundamental political values of the Commonwealth and has been entrusted with the task of assessing the nature of the infringement of such core values. CMAG inquires into the unconstitutional and undemocratic overthrow of governments as well as serious violations of fundamental political values by a government.
The expanded powers and the new procedures adopted in Perth requires the Secretary General to take notice of any serious violation of these values, to raise it with the Member State, and to afford the offending Member State an opportunity to redress the situation. The Secretary General’s statement of January 11, 2013 comes within the requirement set out in Paragraph 18.1 of the report by CMAG to CHOGM 2011. The Member States are also free to raise this issue with the Commonwealth Secretary General as well as CMAG. If the Secretary General recognises that a situation is serious, he will undertake an assessment of the situation in question and then conclude whether it constitutes serious violation. In coming to such a judgment the Secretary General has to take into account:
“The unilateral abrogation of a democratic constitution or serious threats to constitutional rule;
The suspension or prevention of the lawful functioning of Parliament or other key democratic institutions;
The postponement of national elections without constitutional or other reasonable justification;
The systematic denial of political space, such as through detention of political leaders or restriction of freedom of association, assembly or expression.”
In addition he can also take into account the following factors:
“A national electoral process that is seriously flawed;
The abrogation of the rule of law or undermining of the independence of the judiciary;
The systematic violation of human rights of the population, or of any communities or groups, by the member government concerned; and
Significant restrictions on the media or civil society that prevent them from playing their legitimate role. “
Given other critical violations of human rights and democratic norms by President Rajapaksa and his government, this procedure will open a can of worms because the issues concerned are not confined to the removal of Chief Justice Bandaranayake. Other issues pertaining to violation of Commonwealth Principles can be raised. This includes the UNHRC Resolution. If, following consultation and further attempts at engaging the member government by the Secretary General fails, the Secretary General will brief the CMAG on the country situation. Thereafter the CMAG can have recourse to the following measures:
a. Exclusion of the Government concerned from all Commonwealth intergovernmental meetings and events, including ministerial meetings and CHOGM;
b. f no acceptable progress is made, suspension of the country from the Commonwealth. (Paragraphs 18 and 19 of CMAG Report to CHOGM 2011).
The present CMAG consist of Australia, Canada, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Vanuatu and the Maldives. The membership of the Maldives is currently under suspension. The Commonwealth Secretariat has stated, “in situations where a member of CMAG is under scrutiny by the Group itself, its membership is suspended as long as it remains on the formal agenda of the group. The Maldives is currently not participating in CMAG.”
The issue is further complicated by the Sri Lankan Government’s Resolution at the 2009 UNHRC which endorsed “the joint communiqu issued at the conclusion of the visit and the understandings contained therein.” The joint communiqu issued by the UN Secretary General and Government of Sri Lanka states “Sri Lanka reiterated its strongest commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, in keeping with international human rights standards and Sri Lanka’s international obligations.” The Commonwealth Values and the 2009 UNHRC Resolution mutually reinforces one another.
The test of President Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan government’s commitment to the 2009 UNHRC Resolution will be judged by its ability to implement the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth espoused by Sri Lanka. On the other hand, the test of upholding the Commonwealth Principles will depend on President Rajapaksa’s ability to implement the UNHRC Resolution.
When a serious violation takes place in a member country, the Secretary General is empowered to consult other international organisations. Therefore the Commonwealth and the UNHRC can coordinate their actions in respect of Sri Lanka. The UNHRC Resolution will be taken up prior to the CMAG procedure being initiated under the Commonwealth timeline. Therefore the Commonwealth can discuss the UNHRC Resolution once again. It is the duty of President Rajapaksa to ensure that his government lives up to the democratic values that we have agreed to uphold for our citizens.
The last Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference was held in Colombo and the next CHOGM is to be held in Colombo. We cannot afford to ignore the Commonwealth. Secretary General Sharma in his statement of January 13, 2013 has said the “dismissal of the Chief Justice will be widely seen, against the background of the divergence between the Judiciary and the Legislature, as running counter to the independence of the judiciary, which is a core Commonwealth value.
I have been in touch over recent days with the Government of Sri Lanka at the highest levels and have offered Commonwealth assistance to find a way forward from the constitutional impasse. I will continue to remain engaged with the Sri Lankan Government following today’s developments. I will also consider further Commonwealth initiatives and responses as are envisaged in situations that could be perceived to constitute violations of core Commonwealth values and principles.”
The communiqu ends by stating that the Secretary General will be visiting Sri Lanka in February 2013. It would seem then that the CMAG procedure has been set in motion. The consequences of violation are serious. The recommendations in regard to serious violations of Commonwealth fundamental political values can result in the in the last resort in expulsion from the Commonwealth.
President Rajapaksa cannot blame his opponents, the West, the human rights organisations or the diaspora for his undemocratic and unconstitutional actions. After all, he agreed to the new core Commonwealth priorities and strengthening of the role of CMAG at the CHOGM 2011. It was his Government that gave notice of the UNHRC Resolution of 2009. In fact, he has violated his own rules and is being held to account. President Rajapaksa has got imprisoned in Latimer House.
Charles I had no option – he had lost the battle. In this instance, President Rajapaksa has imprisoned himself. This would not concern us in the least if it were only the future of the Rajapaksa regime that is in question. Unfortunately, in this instance, all of us in Sri Lanka will have to face the consequences if the Commonwealth and the UNHRC decide to act against us. We will become a pariah state. It is time for President Rajapaksa and his government to think of the country and its people: not only of themselves and their power ride. We have no wish to ride with him in this Lamborghini to disaster.
It is time to engage in serious consultation with the political parties in Sri Lanka and members of the Commonwealth to redress the situation. But words will not do; the government has to show a serious commitment. Firstly, by immediately and fully implementing the LLRC Report. Then President Rajapaksa must make use of the time frame available under the CMAG procedure to come to an agreement with the Opposition political parties on the implementation of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth in Sri Lanka.
If not, the Government must take the blame for the consequences of its violations. In such a situation the rest of us in Sri Lanka will have only one option. Resort to non-violent agitation to force the Government to hold elections both Parliamentary and Presidential. Then the decision regarding the country’s future can be taken by the people.
*This article is first appeared in the Sunday Times.
Patta Pal / January 27, 2013
A well written if rather a laborious but needed exercise in explaining the undertakings to which GOSL is bound if it wishes to continue to be a member of the Commonwealth.
However I fear all this is lost on the present Govt. which has proven not to care a toss for anything they have agreed to in the past, and they dare anyone to take them to task. Therein lies the essence of the case.
If the Commonwealth does take action, then GOSL will make it a political issue as interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state. The standard formula used by the GOSL is sufficient as they believe the Commonwealth does NOT have the spunk to reprimand or even temporarily suspend GOSL let alone change the venue of the 2013 CHOGM conference.
In the end however well you explain the state of play it all amounts to a hill of beans to the current Regime, and if the international community are not able to take them to task then their strategy would be a political windfall at home. In the end it is all about votes, not about what is right and wrong, as far as the people of Sri Lanka are concerned, until will are able to educate them to a standard where they are able to discern right from wrong.
Thank you Sir for your invaluable contribution to the debate.
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Don Stanley / January 27, 2013
When that clown Kamlesh Sharma from the Commonwealth organization, which is an irrelevant British COLONIAL outfit that promotes third world dictatorships in Asia and Africa. visits Lanka in February the Lanka Spring Patriotic Movement to Save Democracy in Lanka should protest his organization’s support to the Rajapakse Dictatorship and hold a PROTEST on the streets of Colombo..
The Commonwealth Organization IS the INTERNATIONAL CONSPIRACY against Sri Lanka to destroy democracy that the regime keeps talking about. The citizens of Lanka must protest the Commonwealth organization and its Tamashas on which huge amounts of tax rupees have been spent including for the Hambantota Commonwealth Games bid and the Commonwealth Parliament meeting last year when Colombo citizens were kept in a military security lock down to “protect” the Commonwealth of Clowns’ Parliamentary meeting!
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Roshan / January 27, 2013
Don Stanley,
They may be clowns at times, but it is these very clowns who will be our saviors! Imagine a world without these clowns and do you think this despotic family of fools would leave any of us unscathed? They annihilated the entire Tamil population by the thousands, they gunned down the detainees at Welikada Prison like dogs, they burnt the Colombo Kachcheri, they sold the entire country to the Chinese and others and what did these cardboard heroes in the country do? Kneel on your knees and pray to the “clowns” to rescue us from the murderers!
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bonaparte / January 27, 2013
I agree with ‘Patta Pal’ on all the points that he made here. The article is far too long and sounded like one of those 2-hr political speeches that our rabble rousing politicans make at their election rallies or even as an invited guest to a suday school price giving. I too started reading it, and gave up after 25% of it, and fell back to Patta Pal’s one line summary of all what Ranil was trying to say.
The only other comment I have is this: if Ranil knew all along this history and precedence,then why was he siding with the President to let him abuse his privileges, and behave as a dictator. Is it something to do with the fact that Ranil is having a backdoor arrangement with the President, to scratch each others backs? Ranil, give your direct answer ina short sentence.
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Silva / January 27, 2013
bonaparte, as your very name suggests, you talk like a drunkard! After reading just 25% of this painstakingly compiled and bird’s eye view offering excellent article which no political, constitutional or legal luminary in Sri Lanka except Rani has been able to do so far, you have escaped to your usual trivial way of opinion and political knowledge assimilation and posed the most stupid question one can ask! No wonder Sri Lankan politics has become such a terrible mess due to people like you. You are a wonderful breed of people; you are incapable of reading through and understanding the content, views, wisdom and implications of an excellent article by the future political leader of the country but you are quick like a hare to criticize him and level your stupid allegations against him! Are you the sort of people who are trying to be opinion builders and Spring Creators in the country?
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bonaparte / January 27, 2013
Why is this visionary and man of lellers potgulla do something useful to this country. Has he said and done anything useful in his years of residence in the House of Parliament. He is only know for presiding over a torture chambers at Batalanda. Look at him in any gathering,standing like a sore thumb in his black suit amongst a load white cranes, totally oblivious to the fact that Sri Lankan politicians have moved on to some attire akin to the climate. This man goes on prescribing one mantra after another mantra, hoping that someone will listen to him. The fact of thamtter is he is incapable of even holding his own party together, and so how would he ever expect to hold hinself or this country together. May be if he your hero, you Silva, you go and support him, and we will not. He wants to amass people to do a SLK spring; huh not likely. Because he himself is not capable of standing in front of Raja Gedara with a placard, because the Rajagedara chef will recognize him as the one who creeps into RajaGedara through the kitchen door. Silva, he is your hero, let us see how you prop him up.
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Silva / January 28, 2013
“..Why is this visionary and man of lellers potgulla do something useful to this country..”
I will refer this drunkard rat in the attic to the cat on the couch!
Look at the above sentence written by this hopeless buffalo!! Have you at least got through Grade 5 class? The quoted piece from your endless harangue vouches “No!” In your previous harangue mud post you fell short at 25% and in your last defamation you have short-circuited!!! You uneducated stupid man, first go to an English class and learn how to put together a few words to make sense! Yes, Ranil is my hero! And I am proud of it! Millions in this country are proud of him too! Now tell me who your hero is and is he a broken English happy moron like you?
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Katmai / January 28, 2013
Ha ha ha…
This is like a eagle soaring in the sky trying to explain what the world looks like to a rat in the grass. A conversation at two completely different levels of comprehension.
In fact, a conversation with a majority of Sri Lankans is not very different from that with “bonaparte”.
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Silva / January 28, 2013
Katamai wedanaaa,
“..Ha ha ha…”
I can hear your imbecilic laughter from my home! When the building housing the mental patients was bombed during World War the lunatics took to feet and fled the area into all parts in the surrounding towns and villages. And when they were running like hares they too ejected the stupid laughter you utter, “..Ha ha ha…” !!!! It is at these hospital premises that the present SLBC is located and its Chairman is said to be one of the lunatics who ran away that day! I now discover there is another lunatic who has survived the bomb blasts and now trying to make the whole country a mental hospital!
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srilal / January 28, 2013
” Ranil is my hero! And I am proud of it! Millions in this country are proud of him too!”
Really ? there is only one way to verify your drenched dream, comrade silva ! that is next general election , will see your phony intellectual‘s millions then!
My prediction , RW the biggest traitor of all time will lose his constituency , big time !
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Silva / January 29, 2013
srilal,
During the recent past in the cyber space, you have been seen seeing your wet-dreams wherein you have been hoping against hope, invoking and praying to every god, deity, demigod, spirit, evil spirit, devil and every astray dog in the country that something calamitous, evil, ominous and shipwrecking may befall on Ranil! Your typed brats are historical beasts inheriting the beastly natures and characters from the primitive and uncivilized animal while the humans branched off and continued on a separate path achieving and cultivating refined and civilized behaviors and customs. Even during the time when Lord Buddha lived sinners and fools like you lived Devadatta being one example who could be compared with you whereas Ranil may be compared to those civilized people who followed the progressive principles advocated in Buddhism. If one were to tabulate and do data mining all the comments and posts that were published by hatemongers against Ranil during the past, one would invariably find the weakness, fault, morbidity, hate, ignorance, baselessness and illogicality inherent in those comments, posts and writers. This is like trying to describe the elephant to the born blind where each blind man would perceive the elephant according to his own peculiar mental capacity and ability. Whatever facts elucidated however true and obvious they may be these born imbeciles would definitely translate such fact into fallacy of their liking! This post of mine would meet with the same mishap at the hands and half-witted minds like srilal. By the way srilal, why did you adopt such a good name to spoil its meaning? A term like “rogue” or “monkey” would ideally and meaningfully standby you!
For the information of quick-fix-happy people like srilal with only a two weeks memory Ranil is the last link of a generation of scholarly and veteran leaders and personalities like NM, JR, Kolvin, Chelva, Philip etc. The educational, moral and principles poverty of the present day Sri Lanka and its people is clearly seen through what is happening all over the country and through the defamatory comments against Ranil. Your historical, educational and moral poverty is something we cannot help with and it is up to you to sort that out.
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srilal / January 29, 2013
Well done silva , you have taken the note of CT’s warning very well , no more obscene language , no more reminders of my breed or my mother ! wow ,What a transformation!
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Silva / January 30, 2013
srilal, my transformation or transgression has no meaning on your recalcitrant obstinate and misguided thinking over which if it does I would be happy to accommodate your wishes failing which I don’t care damned shit about CT’s f…… warning or anything you translate into your level of understanding because I am not impressed in going through the shitty regions of consciousness when addressing horrible attitudes of your typed people whose saner transformation alone could invoke a friendly and welcoming response. Sometimes the club gets changed but the blow is the same and it is in the best interest of the country and people that you understand why I do not let the club go!
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srilal / January 30, 2013
Bollocks! you are dead scared of being reprimanded , aren’t ya ?
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Silva / January 30, 2013
Let our responsibilities be taken care of and the bollocks would take care of pumpkin!
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Silva / January 30, 2013
srilal,
Visit the nearby dentist or your friend Ranjitha and have your teeth removed! Then come and suck my bollocks because you seem to be suffering from bollocks pain coupled with ass itching! At the moment I am very edgy about your itching!!!
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srilal / January 31, 2013
Silvo , you are back to square one , aren’t you ? Can you think life without F…,A..H..,C… ? empty people who don’t have any wisdom or intelligence often resort to use filth and superfluous 3 rd grade cheap tactics to intimidate the other person, some times it works but up to a certain extent , however when you find your match , game over .
Your idiocy and RW’s underhand dealings are exposed , no matter how hard you try , your power hungry leader’s fate is sealed , more you scream more you expose your nudity , wait for the next general election to see who is right !
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Silva / January 31, 2013
srilal,
Hang your famous bollocks on a hook in a meat shop and try to sell the damned thing for dog feed for the shit you smear is no good for human consumption!
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Safa / January 27, 2013
It is unlikely that this mad dictator will comply with UN, CMAG or any international body. Like his brother Gota he will wave the chinese card and stick his finger up the UN and CMAG. But now he has got himself into a serious bind.
The visit by 3 Asst Secretaries from US state department, signals a more down to business approach by the US. India too has given a good telling off to our aging GLP who is strangely subdued after his visit. Govt will also have to reap the results its anti-muslim card which will raise the ire of the OIC which supported Sri Lanka at Geneva the last time around. Govt has now painted itself into a corner. While being dependent on foreign aid and loans it can ill afford to indulge itself in such recalcitrant behaviour.
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Dodo / January 27, 2013
After claiming that the parliament is supreme which is a bunch of tosh and bunk, and giving Rajapakse carte blanch to impeach the CJ, Ranil is now trying to show that he is a great strategist and intellect by argue that Rajapassa who has no ETHICS is bound by some obsolete rules, generated by the Commonwealth which is an irrelevant and obsolete organization that supports dictators in the third world!
Most of the world and people of Lanka do not know what the Commonwealth or Latimer House rules are and could not care less!
PROTESTING AGAINST KAMALESH SHARMA and the Commonwealth’s support to the Rajapassa dictatorship is imperative in February when the guy goes to Lanka.
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Silva / January 27, 2013
Dodo, but doing nothing but mistakes!
“..Most of the world and people of Lanka do not know what the Commonwealth or Latimer House rules are and could not care less!
PROTESTING AGAINST KAMALESH SHARMA and the Commonwealth’s support to the Rajapassa dictatorship is imperative in February when the guy goes to Lanka…”
Exactly! And you are at the first place in the list, hence this nonsense! bonaparte reached 25% and uttered the most amazing words; how far did you go? 1%? I picture the dog that barked at the moon hoping to bring it down!!!
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 27, 2013
Good to enlighten on The protection and promotion of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth,
Democracy, democratic processes and institutions,
the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary,
just and honest government;
Fundamental human rights,
equal rights and opportunities for all citizens regardless of race, colour, creed or political belief;”
DID HE [ THE HON MP, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION] PRACTISE TAHOSE RULES, AND PREACHED HIS SUBORDINATES TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES.
FURTHER MORE,
HE CAN ADVISE THE PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE TO GIVE EXTRA SUFFICIENT LEGAL ADVISES TO
THE Commonwealth Parliamentary Association,
The Commonwealth Legal Education Association,
The Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association
And The Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association,
with regard to the Commonwealth parliaments and the judiciary.
SPECIALLY HIS LEARNED FRIEND, THE P S C MEMBER HIVAL MODAWANGSA.
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Silva / January 27, 2013
AMANPITIYE JULAME, Ask your friend JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA to put his gun barrel into your mouth and pull the trigger! You will know all the good practices, rules and preachings a subordinate of the Madamulana Kurakkan Satakakaraya can deliver!
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 28, 2013
HE is waiting till the opportunity comes to pay/give his gratitude to Mada mulana Kurakkhan Satakayas and Varmin Silawa.
but, what about presidential pardons, if you tow the line again????????????????.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 28, 2013
Silve,
By the way, I forgot that This opps Leader also a [lower ] of Sri Lanka’s judiciary.
forget about good friend Jey Alwis.
Do you Have any Idea?.
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Anandi / January 27, 2013
Brilliant research piece. Thank you.
Anandi
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Anandi Sapramadu / January 27, 2013
Thank you. Brilliant research piece.
Anandi
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Kaliamma / January 27, 2013
This spineless Rail Traitor of the who country
Why are you squiggling about the impeachment when you had a chance you did not utter a word
You are the biggest joker in the history of the country and people like you are more dangerous than the terrorists, because you have hidden agenda and never upfront about it.
I wish you people like you have very short life span, and then successor can save our country from thing menace and murderous Regime.
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Leela^s Cousin / January 27, 2013
You could be right for some extent, but RW is not the only cause for the all unlawful activities that we are compelled to witness today. It is the Sarath N silva and his amendments – nothing else paved the current rulers (megalomaniac and rhythless rascals) to abuse any kind of investigations-.
I hate Sarath N silva and the bunch of former UNP thieves for the fate that we are facing today. Crossed over bunch being on UNP side, did the same as they continue it today. Majority of the lankens would NOT utter a SINGLE word supporting to them – if all these bunch of thieves would have been beheaded instead of poor lankens or others getting punished for their minor actitivities.
be it with Dr Bandaranayake^s impeachment or any other investigations as we happened to observe in the recent past, were all illegally run by the rulers.
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Silva / January 27, 2013
kuliamma,
When did you surface from your underground cesspit abode? Jump into the Beira Lake and have a good bath, you are stenching so much!
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srilal / January 28, 2013
who is stenching so much ???
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chatura / January 27, 2013
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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Dav / January 27, 2013
Took a while to make a meaning comment Ranil. Where were you when the lawyers protested in procession? Heard many bold and brave statements from others more deserving to take the seat you’re holding onto. Have you heard of ‘the dog in the manger’? Your stubborness is similar & is holding back responsible leadership of a proper opposition to get rid of the rubbish in the House.
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Gabriel / January 27, 2013
Please tell us the name of the shit that you propose to take over the leadership from the only hope this country has now! By the way, where were YOU when the lawyers protested in procession? And what did those “bold and brave statements” of your pen pals have achieved so far!!!? Be a fool, but don’t be a clown!
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Dav / January 28, 2013
Gosh Gabrial, seems like you’ve woken up from the wrong side of the bed or did I touch some raw nerve? Best wash your mouth old boy before some rotting takes place.
Come to think of it, I didn’t see YOU in the procession – not that it made a blind bit of difference. But yes, I firmly believe that if Ranil gets up and goes for a good walk with someone like you, in the clouds, it’ll give opportunity for someone with some motivation to lead the elephants to trample the garbage.
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premalal / January 27, 2013
Hon sir! What happened to your promise to take people to the road to fight the government? You have said it repeatedly.Before the budget you said you would take thousands to the road if the government did not increase the salaries of govt employees by Rs. 8000.00.We are eagerly waiting to see you lead thousands of people on the Parliament road against your friend’s government.
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Gihan / January 27, 2013
premalal,
Two days ago a woman who got down at the wrong bus halt was gang raped by 4 on the floor of a bathing well in Wijerama! Did you get down to the streets? No! Why? As your friend Dav said above, WHERE WERE YOU when they committed those crimes? Do you hope Ranil to pump in hormones to you to solve your political, social, personal erectile dysfunction? It is due to people like you that Ranil cannot launch any street demonstrations against the regime because you all are peeping through the key hole without doing the real thing!
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premalal / January 28, 2013
Hi Gihan. I am not a leader of any political party and I have not promised the public that I would lead a demonstration against this government if the government did not increase the salaries of the government employees by Rs. 8000.00.
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srilal / January 28, 2013
Premalal , don’t worry about Gihan , he is none other than that imbecile “silva ” character.
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Silva / January 30, 2013
Premalal , don’t worry about Gihan , he is none other than that imbecile “srilal ” character.
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Silva / January 29, 2013
premalol!
Oh! Good heavens, forgive this poor chick because he has gone to a long daydream slumber embracing his innocent wish and hope of regime change agitations at the 8000-rupee hike default and alas he has just woken up to this world and finds no knowledge whatsoever about the Rajapaksha sprinkled dye rains which virtually locked up everyone indoors, torrential rains, floods, landslides, the whole wreck that the nature wrecked on human, animal and fauna and flora life, the impeachment and other comedies staged by the Clown King where every activist, politically interested party, media, the professionals, clergy and everybody were engrossed in the Rajapaksha started dog fight! Oh Almighty, if thou be true, I plead thou one grant only, do send this political infant of ours a feeding bottle with nipple so that he be fed with thy compassion mercy and wisdom and if he nibbles the nipple pray have thy mercy on hem!!!
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Srikrishna / January 27, 2013
Not only President Rajapaksa but Ranil wicramasinghe also have got Imprisoned in the Latimer House.
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Nirosh / January 27, 2013
Wait and see who got what!
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whou chin / January 27, 2013
A typical ranil nonsense.Why write some nonsense about a house in london and long dead King of england called Charles ?We are another country with a very differnt history,culture and problems.most Sri Lankans were very upset about the way the government removed the CJ.Ranil was very passive during all that but later made some nonsensical sounds.My question to ranil is do you think you are a genuine follower of British ethics and standards ? If so how come you are still leading the UNP despite all the electoral defeats? Which British leader do the follow or compare yourself to ? In which sri lankan electorate can you win on a first past the post basis ( not district wise)? on which basis do you think you should be a leader. Even when you became a Prime Minister in 2001 you became so unpopular in 2004 that you lost badly. Your only tactic is to get out side agencies to attack the government of the country. What happened to your international safety net ? Only you got caught in it.The only role you have played in history is to be a obstacle in the way of a real opposition developing in this country.You are bad news to everything you touch.By the way I like the fact that you are a dayakaya at the Gangarama temple. Utter hypocrisy Ranil, dont you think ?
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Asanga / January 27, 2013
moda choon chin chin,
A typical moda choon whou chin, chin chin! Do you think we are entertained by your moda choon gon parts? Your typed political analysts can be found in abundance in the abandoned grass lands in Anuradhapura, nibbling at the grass and bellowing and nodding the head at swarming flies!
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srilal / January 28, 2013
very smart whou chin , 100 % agreed.
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Citizen / January 27, 2013
I am glad that at last my good friend RW has given a good account of Latimer House principles. But it is regretted to observe that even GLP is now twisting Sri Lanka’s stand by way of violating the core Commonwealth values and principles. It is a clear fact that MR had robbed the Fonseka’s elections victory, the number of murders of politicians and journalists, the harassment of NGOs including the murder of some Human Rights officials, failure to give a comprehensive account for the abuse of human rights, the illegal manner in which the CJ was impeached, the threats to the lawyers, intimidation of judicial officers, the suppression of civil liberties either in the style of Gadaffi, Mubarak, Sadam Hussain, appointment of military officials to key civil administration posts (both local and foreign together with even the journalists to engage in illegal activities) with higher pay in order to consolidate his power, and massacre of critics in Beijing style, etc, etc – a signal that Sri Lanka is on its march towards a dictatorship while taking to erode all democratic practices and ignoring all types of warnings both from local and foreign. MR by either himself or was either ill-advised by his close stooges to take into advantage of the emerging international scenes such as the competition between China and India (supremacy in the Indian Ocean region), Pakistan and India, Islamic terrorism in countries such as Iraq, Iran, Libya, Egypt and the Western democratic countries, and the conflicts within SAARC to lean towards China, towards the establishment of a totalitarian State in Sri Lanka. Moreover, people were misled with emotional speeches arousing communal flames with intent to deviate the attention of the masses. Meanwhile the wealth of Sri Lanka was plundered by MR & Co. which resulted in ruining the economy. Briefly, a pre-meditated plan was hatched in calculated and a systematic manner with the assistance of the Military headed by his brother, Gota, and Sri Lanka was in the verge of complete stage of State terrorism, while preaching democratic practice. At least Ranil should have openly made a statement that having close associations with Libya, Iran, Egypt etc., would tantamount to violate of the Latimer House Principles which was ratified at various declarations and that the country was on its dangerous path. Further, he could have joined the lawyers protest at Hulftsdorp together with his UNP Parliamentarians, professionals and trade unions, but failed. He even went to the extent of declaring that Parliament is supreme without knowing that it is the Judiciary that is entrusted with the interpretation of the law. He could have openly declared to respect the verdict of Nihal Amaratunge, the presiding judge at the SC. What was more surprising is that Ranil failed to raise the issue that the EU condemned the impeachment of the CJ, but the SAARC remained silent while the Indian Judges condemned the impeachment of the CJ. Moreover, when the orders of the SC and the AC were to be changed after the illegal CJ was appointed, Ranil could have through UNP and TNA lawyers could have challeneged taking into account of the Latimer House Principles which was approved by Sri Lanka. However, as Ranil said MR appears to be caught within the tentacles of Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, UNHCR, and possibly in the SC (Court will never sleep forever), the drama of which is yet to be staged. Will there be a Bloody Revolution or Glorious Revolution. It is in the hands of the people.
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Jim Softy / January 27, 2013
Forget about how British exploited their colonial subjects for the advantage of British. By about early 1950s, British empire were moving towards Bankruptcy when they gave independence to many countries.
Since then British Invaded Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now in Syria, holding Gold reserves of Kuwait, Argentinean Falkland islands and in order to control these useless former colonies they postulated this human rights and democracy.
If they are that democratic, hat is the fate of Native – Indians of North America, Indigenous aborigines of people of Australia and Maori’s of New Zealand.
Even for Sri Lanka, from one side Britain supported and even to date support Tamil – extremists who want to ruin Sri Lanka. From the other side this outdated and obsolate Commonwealth.
Why are they doing all these ? Because they love their former colonies or they simply want to have upper hands on those colonies.
Only thing Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe had done is he became the Most suitable Mudliyar or the minister to the former colonial master.
Mr. Ranil Wicramasinghe talks about Dasa raja dharma to Sri Lankan people and to English new media blogs, he writes about LATIMER HOUSE.
Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe could have done a better job by letting Impeach the CJ in proper terms.
What the govt did was handling things and issues in their way which was completely illegal and indecent. Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe supported it; now is trying fish in troubled waters and setting up Sri Lanka in the international circle too.
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anaperera / January 27, 2013
Is there anything almost all of us readers/writers at forums like CT and at other free thinking people didn’t know?
What was he doing all this time?
Fellow readers, do you think we miss this word “alone” at the end of this quoted para in this rigmarole of a hypocrite?
Justice Ameratunga’s judgment in Chandra Jayaratne v. Anura Priyadharashana Yapa gave effect to Speaker Anura Bandaranaike’s determination which highlighted the need to introduce fresh legislation if necessary. The establishment of such an independent committee to proceed with the next stage in parliamentary procedure cannot be done by Standing Orders alone.
enough said….if we, ordinary people take the lead the leaders who want to have future for themselves will follow us.
Latimer, the Commonwealth, UN or not, we the ordinary people of the country will rise up to regain our future, and hypocrites will be subjected to same fate as that of the oppressors.
And we don’t wait for nor spare party leaders who have “Balagiri Dosha” eternal procrastination and giving ultimatums that eternally get postponed to the regime, while it robs us of our money, dignity and future, writing newspaper columns, of things which we knew already, for a long time and did whatever we could.
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Rohan / January 27, 2013
anaperera,
“..And we don’t wait for nor spare party leaders who have “Balagiri Dosha” eternal procrastination and giving ultimatums that eternally get postponed to the regime, while it robs us of our money, dignity and future, writing newspaper columns, of things which we knew already, for a long time and did whatever we could..”
So why procrastinate? We are looking for you all over streets? Where are you?
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anaperera / January 27, 2013
Rohan, I can’t help you with your ignorance. This is not a show for you to see on streets and on TV. this is about our lives. I can’t give if you don’t have, you’ve got to get it, or wait until someone like this columnist gets it though newspaper columns.
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Rohan / January 28, 2013
anaperera, You claim you are very brainy but I don’t get a thing out from your nonsense! Can you exactly tell us your action plan? You are here enjoying the privilege of using CT free of charge criticizing and mudslinging at one of the best political brains and principled and decent politicians in the world but when asked about your solution you say you can’t give us it if we do not have it! I think you should visit the Hospital for Mentally Deranged People at Angoda.
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srilal / January 28, 2013
Rohan , how come you don’t seem to comprehend what anaperera try to say ? if so , no doubt you and your ilk (blind worshipers) should visit the Hospital for Mentally Deranged People at Angoda.
PS . one positive out come of the CJ debacle though , that is RW’s “ ra Daniel daval Migel “ exposure !
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Silva / January 30, 2013
srilal,
How! how! how! Wow, wow, how! Who let the dogs out? Who? who?
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Nelson / January 27, 2013
Jim Softy,
Former CJ, SB said of Modawansa in a cartoon I think, “Don’t worry, we don’t send people to prison for being stupid, stupids have a right to live too!!”
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Native Vedda / January 27, 2013
Nelson
“Don’t worry, we don’t send people to prison for being stupid, stupids have a right to live too!!””
I agree with his comment. There are 20 million of them in the island.
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Silva / January 28, 2013
Typical NV reply! In a way he is right too!
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Silva / January 27, 2013
This is the brilliance of Ranil where he has summarized the entire important gamut of incidents, situations and possibilities the country is faced with. The happy cohabitation of the ignorant masses in the country with the rogue and racist regime is coming to an end and the whole country would have to suffer. The moronic regime dangles the Chinese factor and the masses are swallowing it! Soon all will be able to see who is right!
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srilal / January 28, 2013
Typical bozo silva’s reply !in a way he is right , what else can he write ?
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Silva / January 30, 2013
Typical bozo srilal’s reply !in a way he is right , what else can he write ?
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Saman Wijesiri / January 27, 2013
Mr. Wickremesinghe, the prospect of facing the consequences if the Commonwealth and the UNHRC decide to act against “us” ( do you mean the people?) cannot be as terrible and frightening as as those we are facing today and those sure to visit on us in the near future due to the sin of electing a corrupt, deceitful, unscrupulous and ruthless leader! This regime will get the pariah status, not the country. Let this regime, the entire set of rascals go to hell before they take us all there with them! We wholeheartedly agree with you when you say that the only option available to us is to resort to non-violent agitation to force the government to hold elections Parliamentary and Presidential. But if you remain as the leader of the opposition, people will surely decide that MR despite all evils he symbolizes is a better option than you! Because the people know that it was you who wittingly or unwittingly encouraged this regime to take the road to dictatorship!
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Kapila / January 28, 2013
Saman Wijesiri,
“..But if you remain as the leader of the opposition, people will surely decide that MR despite all evils he symbolizes is a better option than you! Because the people know that it was you who wittingly or unwittingly encouraged this regime to take the road to dictatorship!..”
There is an old saying, “perethayage hatiyatane devale” meaning an evil spirit’s abode is indicative of the nature and quality of the dweller. In the same way this corrupt uneducated despot is the ideal fool that rightly fits on to buffalos like you! Shit eating dogs won’t know the taste of elixir, only more and more shit will be their choice!
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srilal / January 28, 2013
Saman Wijesiri , you are spot on ! Haven’t you noticed that all RW worshipers appear to be using the same smutty language . i wonder why ?
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Silva / January 30, 2013
srilal,
Because mutts do not deserve anything better!
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justice / January 27, 2013
Ranil’s expose is a serious matter.
GLPeiris is ‘whitewashing’ the regime – it is his duty.
If the government has nothing to hide,it should appoint an Election Commission like the one in India to conduct Free and Fair elections – which have never happened in sri lanka so far.
All candidates also must declare their assets publicly,like candidates do,in USA & even in India.
Then,if the ruling party wins,people will accept it.
The CHOGM will be an eye-opener.
A 19th Amendment is said to be in the pipeline – to make the legislature all-powerful.
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Sama / January 27, 2013
I think they will decide soon that there will be no CHOGM SUMMIT in SL this year. Right at the moment – considering the manner that MR handled it with the process of Impeachment of country^s CJ – irrespective of the concerns of the IC is not welcome by any of the powerful nations.
I also asked myself not once several dozens of times, why the former Election commissioner was compelled to work 8 further years although he should have retired earlier.
As ” Justice” is pointing out, what is standing the way if SLGO would appoint independent election commission as USA and INDIA have done ?
General public is always informed reiterating international committees will be monitoring the election to be able to free and fair elections, but what contained in the post election committee report after last presidential election was held, with almost 50% nation are left to be with divided feeling whether the president was reelected or not…
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Citizen / January 28, 2013
The SC which gave the verdict against the PSC was headed by Justice Nihal Amaratunge. Justice Nihal Amaratunge, Ranil, former CJ Asoka de Silva, Justice Suresh Chandra, and Charitha Ratwatte are batchmates at the Law Faculty. Now Justice Asoka de Silva is a Presidential Advisor and GLP is a Foreign Minister. Will Ranil as a politician give due respect to the verdict delivered by Justice Nihal Amaratunge, taking into account that he was well aware of the Latimer House Principles. GLP has crossed parties number of times. Mention should be made that Ranil was a Prime Minister at the time the Latimer House Principles was approved. As it appears, it is regretted to observe that MR who was a Parliamentarian during Chandrika’s period, has ignored what Sri Lanka has approved and Ranil appears to be dancing between MR and GLP, while Justice Nihal Amaratunge has delivered the verdict. One ponders whether MR is caught within the tentacles of CHOGM and the UNHCR. Let us watch the next scene of this drama in the coming weeks.
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Siriyawathie / January 28, 2013
Next scene of the drama will be nothing else than the world bodies will undoubtedly impose sanctions against the Island. Today what I read was the next tough resolution is being drafted now. They have got sufficient reasons also to cancel the CHOGM in SL. Who would think that QUEEN will be a guest on a country where no justice and rule of the law is respected.
Ranil will have to remain as has been so far. He has not reacted adequately in terms of the wrong process brought before the parliament focusing on CJ impeachment. So, nobody would ever be able to guess that now Ranil or any other opposition parties would be able to show resistance against – already made foundations for a dictatorship by the ruling bunch.
If it failed to react in the very beginning, now it will be harder for the OPPOSITION to fulfill the due. The many that had faith on them – like the ones Gamini and Silvas on this forum- would not be able to leave arguable comments supportive the UNP to this forum now. This is the reason why I feel that commentator Gamini is mum as never before to this forum.
Lanken state is now in the most critical stage.
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Siriyawathie / January 28, 2013
May be there are more other reasons that are connected RW and the opposition being unable to react as the general public would feel.
Being out the country, I REALLY thought that the opposition would oppose vehemently in the illegal process of the impeachment held against still legitimate CJ for the ISLAND. Instead being bound to the paragraphs – if opposition could convince the mahajanaya- general public the gravity of the process, UNP could have changed the opinion among the frustrated of the country. Every average person simply raises the questions – even today,
a)why cant the OPPOSITION of the country fight against illegal actions of the ruling leaders today in the country
b)even if the all evidences (like for solely have intervened in the murder cases like the one of Waragoda, Kelaniya lately) are on the table, why some ministers away from being arrested; why cant the opposition lawmakers in the parliament stay silence – actually they should be like devils against the rulers right at this crucial moments of the juncture
c)Rule of law is not respected by President himself, so why the opposition REACTS explosively ?
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Siriyawathie / January 28, 2013
it should be – so why CANT THE OPPOSITION REACT explosively ?
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Citizen / January 28, 2013
I do not know how the Resolutions of the UNHCR and the CHOGM will affect Sri Lanka. One thing is certain – Queen will be reluctant to visit Sri Lanka so long as mad Wimal Weerawansa & Co. are there to make uncultured remarks. Naturally the Britishers do not like to see that they are humiliated or disgraced by these crooks. Neverthless, it should be accepted that the Opposition leader and some Ministers are in a desperate situation. Why can’t MR review the impeachment and the appointment of the new CJ again. After all, China is not going to lend a helping hand at the eleventh hour. One should not forget that China’s booming economy is on American funds and India is playing or has to play a double game because of the recent stupid remarks of Gota. Muslims are clever in maintaining silence or waiting for an opportunity to cross over to UNP – a move Gota or Basil may have to monitor or MR will have to create some more Ministerial portfolios.
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Samson / January 28, 2013
Citzen:
QUOTED FROM YOUR COMMENT:
how the Resolutions of the UNHCR and the CHOGM will affect Sri Lanka.
RW^s current article answers the question:
In fact, the criteria for compliance with “Commonwealth fundamental values, principles, and priorities as set out in the 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles and contained in other subsequent Declarations” was made a condition of membership at the Uganda CHOGM (2007) attended by President Rajapaksa. In other words, all Commonwealth members, including Sri Lanka, are committed to upholding and implementing these values in accordance with the decisions at CHOGM where President Rajapaksa has been present.
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Silva / January 30, 2013
Siriyawathie,
You yourself have fled the country due to its uninhabitability caused by the regime and seem to be in a terrible mood against RW why he cannot solve all these problems! I don’t know what type of a job they offered to such a naive person like you but I will ask only one question to describe the real situation here:
The regime among and as part of their many calculations, maneuvers, crimes and conspiracies wanted to get some criminals out from Welikada Prison. What and how did they do it…!!?? You fill the blanks and compose the picture and now tell me what Ranil, UNP, JVP, common opposition or even the IGP, the prison guards, the minister overseeing the country’s prisons, the commissioner of prisons, the STF, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force or even your lover CJ or the whole judiciary, judges and the entire law implementation system in the country could do all of which are not under the control of Ranil except UNP (to some extent!) and have an inalienable and duty-bound obligation to discharge their duty to protect the rule of law in the country and who have lamentably, pathetically, horribly and unfortunately failed in and defaulted their duty! I do not know why you people dream these wet-dreams without fully knowing the implications!!!!
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Silva / January 30, 2013
Siriyawathie,
Katmai, one of your comrades has this to say down the comments:
“..Having said that, reading through the article I saw why RW kept himself away from the center of the storm. Why would he try to save a CJ who had been against him all along and why on Earth would he prevent Rajapaksa from shooting his own foot. That is not good political strategy. His views are not given publicity on gov. nor private media channels. So, I see why he waited till now to publish his well thought-out article on a place like Colombo Telegraph.
I can say for certain, that majority of people in Sri Lanka don’t even know what will happen if the country is to default on its loans. Most think it is like a bank loan taken with no collateral. In this backdrop, I can see why they can’t understand the significance in loosing the Commonwealth membership. May be Sri Lanka needs to fall into “the ditch” if only to make its people get off their lazy asses and find out for themselves, what the consequences are of actions taken by their political masters. At the moment they just gobble up anything the gov. media feed them..”
So, one of your own critics has answered ALL YOU CRITICS of Ranil and relieved me of my burden of extensive explanations! It is the politically illiterate people’s uneducated wish that demand Ranil to crawl down the streets with ordinary throng protesting, yelling, revolting and fighting with and against this despot’s regime but which does not enjoy prominence and priority in the machinations of intelligent politicians like Ranil which is similar to JR’s getting India to send IPKF to destroy LTTE which majority of people at that time did not realize in the true political sense of the move and finally the mentally retarded R Premadasa temporarily became a hero by sending the “Indian Monkey Army” back to their country and “saving the country from foreign invasion”-a political master plan of a genius JR bungled by a “majoritarian concoct” fool wasting a golden opportunity of solving LTTE problem at the hands of India themselves and relieving us from all the burden of war and war crimes afflicting the whole country today with tremendous cost to our lives and country’s democracy. This impeachment fiasco is one hell of a political blunder committed by the arrogant power intoxicated and uneducated uncultured regime akin to Ranil’s political opponent jumping to a running train with his cabinet of rogues and why should Ranil prevent his suicidal bungle other than encourage him to entangle more and more in the mess!!!??? This answer applies to all those who attack both Ranil for not doing enough for Shirani and me for supporting Ranil. In a country where majority are racists and take their political decisions based on the spur of the moment, piece of plaster on the face, shawl around the neck, somersault on the political stage, biggest smile or lie dangled or the tail the politician wags there has to be an incubation period during which such primitive political creatures undergo untold miseries of their own political decisions before they finally press the “emergency exit button”!
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Chandraprema / January 27, 2013
Great speech Ranil! You are the only MP with brains in parliament. You are a man of education, civilized stamp and hailing from good stock. Only, please show a little spine and you could do a great lot of good in liberating our country from the foolish family of Rajapakses who, as you rightly say, are leading Lanka in a Lamborghini of disaster.
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Samson / January 28, 2013
what brings us or anyone just the speech has been great but practically, what we ve experiencing is nothing else than totally paralized opposition. Actually not ONLY because of RW himsef, but all others able culprits that crossed over to the ruling bunch strenghthening their hands not doing the same being on the side of the opposition.
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Latimer / January 27, 2013
Good,this is Ranil first salvo on same day Tony Abbot lauched his Mini Election campaign for 2013 in Australia.
Keep the people UNP consumers informed & engaged,don’t limit to a statement,keep Sajith engaged and do a Bob Hawke-Keating deal.
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D.B Adikari / January 28, 2013
Ranil of UNP had violated human Rights in Sri Lanka UNDER UNP-Regime during 1988/89 killed over 90,000 youth of our soil;NOT SINGLE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGINIZATION CAME FORWARED AND PROTESTED AGAINS RANIL OR UNP. BECAUSE THEY ARE STOOGES OF WEST and servent of Ex-Colonial masters.
All rule of games operated on vital interset of USA and UK power-house and its base,against Mahinda Rajapakase Govt REPLACE OR installed pupet regime again to promoated War,Ethanice conflict,Encoruge Seperaetism and DIVIED SRI LANKAN INTO NATION BY VITAL AND VESTED INTEREST OF WEST.
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P.B / January 28, 2013
Ranil you are the bottom of the PIT! You most certainly take the cake the bun, and theBAKERY! You are some thing else a free loader, a parasite on this nation, by and large our people , are sinners. When your clever but old and senile uncle said burn the Tamils we obliged. Now we miss the tamils more than we miss your shitty uncle .When Premadasas wanted Richard Soysa killed we obliged Richard Soysa would have contributed a lot more than Premadasas. Now Rajapaksa says kill , other people’s sons, fathers and we have people to oblige. We have the two Sinhala pigs , encouraging these killings, looking the other way, all in the name of Buddhism! Buddhist jihad! Kill all those who oppose the king, so they can hang on to their perks.
Then we have the worst, YOU you are already senile. You call the parliament full of thugs and rapists and Nithi graders supreme! Which part of your ars occupies your brain. You are the biggest curse that befell Sri Lanka. You are definitely worse than Rajapaksa
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 28, 2013
Lonel Murphy was a good man.
The liberals who are in the same camp as Ranil knifed him because he was a labour appointed HC Judge.
Justice Murphy did’nt buy apartments with big discounts.He didn’t change rosters on the bench to look after his mates.
Neither did he dabble in the short term Money Market
Even Rudrakumaran didn’t talk of any imprisnment in the open, although he would love to see it happen.
Yet our great Opposition leader is talking about the Latimer Prison.
What have the current Latimer guards in Canada and England done for the great majority of our inhabitants, who are in fact 75 % of the total and poor rural people?..
Sweet bugger all one would say, except working overtime to dusrupt the current peace and harmony and encourage the Elitists and the Tiger proxies to organise a Srilanka Spring.
With the latest Liberator of the Elitist and the Diaspora brigade falling flat on her face,Ranil is on the hunt again,to call his Western buddies for a yet another rescue mission.
The great majority of the inhabitant population who are now free of terrorism and going about their lives in this fabulous economic environment , will say” Bring it on Buddy”.
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silva / January 28, 2013
I can’t read through the article as it is written by hypocrite Ranil. Rajapakse will never abuse constitution if we had a powerful opposition. Every capable person in UNP has left as they knew they have no chance as long as this ineffective person is the leader of the opposition. His main task is prevent other UNP’s getting organized in order to remain as opposition leader. I have noticed most of the time he is out of the country in various conferences and enjoying cushy life. He is very much out of touch with common people.
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The Professional / January 28, 2013
“Rajapakse will never abuse constitution if we had a powerful opposition.”
What do you mean by a Powerful Opposition? A party that cannot command a majority naturally sits in the opposition. The opposition becomes powerful when they are well informed of policies and strategies of the government and if they are capable of highlighting the pros and cons of state policies and strategies. To be effective in this regard there should be a good “shadow cabinet”. Unfortunately the numbers in the cabinet are almost double the number in the opposition. Therefore it is too much for a shadow cabinet to comprehend. Instead of reasoned arguments in parliament the opposition members make silly arguments at fora organized by the electronic media.
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Citizen / January 28, 2013
What can Ranil do, if the people has elected uncultured elements and gave a thumbing majority to MR. Moreover, the Armed Forces are in his and brother, Gota’s command. Military is also paid well and assigned key positions in the civil administration with an unprecedented higher pay. Apparently, it must be accepted that Ranil is not well versed in the economic field. Remember, though Sir Winston Churchill led England victory in the Second World War, the Pritish people elected Lord Atlee. The Britishers are politically more vigilant than the Sri Lankans.
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Samson / January 28, 2013
The question should be formulated as below:
RW or any other opposition leader could have done the essentials in an environment in which almost criminal were elected to the parliament ?
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Silva / January 28, 2013
Duplicate sivala,
While you are raising the sarong and digging the backyard of your paymaster looking for some muck to consume, your private parts are all hanging in the open air! Be careful of astray dogs lest they might drag away the rotten thing and you may end up in “jewel-less”!
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Katmai / January 28, 2013
I too am for someone educated and certainly more charismatic and strategic orator than Ranil Wickramasinhe as opposition leader (not necessarily UNP leader) but believe me that Sajith is not it.
Having said that, reading through the article I saw why RW kept himself away from the center of the storm. Why would he try to save a CJ who had been against him all along and why on Earth would he prevent Rajapaksa from shooting his own foot. That is not good political strategy. His views are not given publicity on gov. nor private media channels. So, I see why he waited till now to publish his well thought-out article on a place like Colombo Telegraph.
I can say for certain, that majority of people in Sri Lanka don’t even know what will happen if the country is to default on its loans. Most think it is like a bank loan taken with no collateral. In this backdrop, I can see why they can’t understand the significance in loosing the Commonwealth membership. May be Sri Lanka needs to fall into “the ditch” if only to make its people get off their lazy asses and find out for themselves, what the consequences are of actions taken by their political masters. At the moment they just gobble up anything the gov. media feed them.
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Silva / January 30, 2013
Katmai,
Hurray!!!!!!
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Jay / January 28, 2013
US to submit “tough” resolution on Sri Lanka
January 28, 2013
The United States is to submit a new resolution on Sri Lanka at the February-March UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting in Geneva.
According to the Jaffna based Uthayan newspaper a visiting US delegation had informed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that a US backed resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC is a certainty.
The US State Department deputies, who had visited Jaffna yesterday and met the army as well as the Jaffna bishop and others in the area, had on Saturday held talks with the TNA.
The Uthayan newspaper reported that the US delagtion had discussed the contents of the resolution with the TNA.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Moore, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Vikram Singh and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jane Zimmerman arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday morning.
James R. Moore is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs since September 2010. Moore was previously the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo from 2006 to 2009.
Jane B. Zimmerman is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, responsible for South and Central Asia, the Western Hemisphere, and International Religious Freedom.
Vikram J. Singh is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs. Singh serves as the principal adviser to senior leadership within the Department of Defense for all policy matters pertaining to development and implementation of defense strategies and plans for the region. (Colombo Gazette)
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Dr C P Thiagarajah / January 28, 2013
The Sinhalese are now over quick sand because of Mahadenna muthas. A fool and his money are soon parted. The trillions the ruling junta collected will disappear when the UN condemns Sri-Lanka and haul the culprits before a war crime trial. The did not know the timing Illangarutne and many others who made money at people’s expense.
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Truth / January 28, 2013
This is an informative article relevant everyone in Sri Lanka!
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Samson / January 28, 2013
This kind of speeches or articles may help if the majority of them are well informed about the bits that the RW is point out. In a reality in which not even 5% of the members could be well aware of the contents that he is trying to refresh – with all other 95% are but present no zero idea about what is being explained – cant bring much. But no doubt substance of the contents of the article contain facts and the agreements as passed in the previous sessions of the CW summits.
In simple words, if this kind of speeches of articles were discussed with the people of Mannig market, would they be able to understand at least the basics of this ? No, that is the same with the current cabinet – 99,99999999999999999999999999% of them are criminals, contract killers, rapists and all other forms of crime doers.
I do agree with commentator -Bonaparte to some extent and disagree with Silva – the know all character on this thread.
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gamini / January 28, 2013
Samson just being curious. One moment you all are of the view that the voters in the country are educated now, compared to then. Then again when somethging rational is pointed out, you claim the majority are ignorant. Leave the masses out, are the Academics and Professionals intelligent in this country? Judging from how some of them were praising MR not very long ago for position and perks, now are hell bent in ousting MR, it is not a matter of intelligence but being absolutely cussard and selfish.
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Samson / January 28, 2013
I have never added any comment supporting that the average folks in SL are intelligent enough to choose the candidates through their votes. Even today, being out of the country, I ask myself, if they could have been much aware of the great importance of their single votes – we would not have faced reality as has been in the country today.
Even if the indicators for lanka show that the country with high literacy rates, comparably to those of developed nations – people are easily made naive and manipulative. It is unlike in EUrope or some other developed nations in Asia, ours are a nation that would not think twice before going to do something.
Alone the fact that the impeachment process was unconsitutional by every means – was not a fact for the many including professionals in the country to vehemnetly go against- that was the saddest reality, Gamini.
Our people should bear the respnsibility for what the folks have been facing today.
Ratama baluwela, people are like made animals – no respect to human values, – so everything could be their desnity as it is the case with somalia or any similar nations with lower literacy rates.
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