How the Attorney General Yuvanjan Wijayatilake and a handful of fellow public servants had prevented the Mahinda Rajapaksa led election night coup, the Colombo Telegraph can reveal today. A detailed version of the event took place is sent to Colombo Telegraph by the lawyers close to the AG.
We publish below the detailed version in full;
By now the narrative of a peaceful transition of power between former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the newly elected government has largely taken root. Newspapers, television airtime and the Internet are abuzz with photographs of President Rajapaksa humbly leaving Temple Trees even before the final election results were announced. There are no pictures of the sequence of events that took place in the corridors of power in the preceding hours, where Sri Lanka nearly received a death stab to the heart of its democracy, rescued from a knife edge only by the courage of Attorney General Yuvanjan Wijayatilake and a handful of fellow public servants.
By the time the polls closed on January 8, President Rajapaksa and his close advisors remained confident in their impending victory. The upper echelons of the regime, however, ever cautious about matters of totalitarianism, had a backup plan in place.
The shockwave hit Temple Trees long before the rest of the country, as the results of postal voting began trickling in after 10 PM. Innocuous and inconspicuous to most electors, the results were a mix of victory and defeat for both sides, from which no definite conclusion could be drawn.
To Mahinda Rajapaksa, a candidate of no less than three presidential elections and four parliamentary ones, the writing on the wall was crystal clear: disaster was looming. The postal vote comprises almost entirely of those in public service. These are men and women who, in the view of the regime, owed their livelihoods to the president, personally, and the enlisted men and women of the military, widely believed to hold fanatical loyalty to former secretary of defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa. With near certain defeat just hours away, President Rajapaksa and his confidants began deliberating his options for ensuring that the executive presidency did not change hands.
At around 3.00 AM on January 9, Attorney General Yuvanjan Wijayatilake received a phone call summoning him to Temple Trees. Unknown to the Attorney General, just hours prior, military units attached to the Panagoda Army Camp received instructions to deploy in the vicinity of several counting centers in and around Colombo.
Before arriving at Temple Trees, the attorney general telephoned Solicitor General Bimba Thilakaratne to inform her that he had been summoned and ensure that she would be available for consultations if necessary. As Attorney General Wijayatilake arrived at Temple Trees, he was rushed into a meeting room where nothing in his 35 year long career in the legal profession could have prepared him for what was to come next.
The composition of the room itself was sufficiently shocking and preposterous to send a chill down the spine of any public spirited citizen. Present alongside President Mahinda Rajapaksa were not only his brother, Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, and Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gamanpilla, but also the sitting Chief Justice of The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, the Highest Court in the Land, Mohan Pieris.
The AG’s worst fears came through as the group explained their plan to him and instructed him to attest to its legality so that the necessary orders could be issued to the Inspector General of Police and the Army commander. The question placed before the attorney general was whether it would be legal for President Rajapaksa to annul the presidential poll by executive action, in the event of serious violence at counting centers, followed by the imposition of a state of emergency and the deployment of the army to impose order.
The answer, to the attorney general was morally obvious. There was simply no constitutional avenue for the president or any other official to stop the release of the election result or otherwise override the authority of the Elections Commissioner to decide the result of the election. The AG, immediately realizing the urgency of getting news of this plot out of Temple Trees, suggested that he would call and consult with the Solicitor General, Bimba Thilakaratne to help him make his determination.
Wijayatilake, in the presence of the gathered group, called Thilakaratne, informed her of where he was and who was present, and proceeded to explain the entire scheme to her under the auspices of soliciting her legal opinion. Thilakaratne too, upon realizing what was afoot, telephoned a senior colleague to relay the plot and get another opinion.
To all three state legal professionals, the subtext of the question of “legality” before them was crystal clear. All matters of legality or constitutionality are ultimately decided by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, assumed to be an impartial judge of unimpeachable credentials. There was no doubt in any of their minds that the Chief Justice, Mohan Pieris, was present at Temple Trees for no reason other than to coerce them into meekly signing off on the legality of the plot.
In reality, this maneuver had the opposite effect on the seasoned state legal professionals, leaving no doubt in their minds that they were being asked to be party to a treasonous, unconstitutional coup de tat of a scale that would have eclipsed the abortive military coups of 1962 and 1966 in its sheer blatancy.
In no democracy in the world would it be accepted practice for the head of state to summon, consult with, or conspire with the head of the judiciary, especially in the dead of night when the sovereignty of the people by exercising their constitutional right to elect their leaders. By colluding with the president in his personal capacity to subvert the constitution, Mohan Pieris has set a high bar for ridicule and disgrace for the office of the Chief Justice, and the constitution that he swore to uphold. In effect, the president and chief justice were asking the attorney general to participate in an act of treason against the people of Sri Lanka, depriving them of their sovereign right to elect their leader. On the question of whether or not he was compelled to obey an illegal order from the president, a 2008 Supreme Court ruling by Justice Shiranee Tilakawardane was the key precedent:
“The President does not have the power to shield, protect or coerce the action of state officials or agencies, when such action is against the tenets of the constitution or the Public Trust, and any such attempts on the part of the President to do so should not be followed by the officials for doing so will (i) result in their own accountability under the Public Trust Doctrine, betraying the trust of good governance reposed in them under the constitution by the people of this nation, in whom sovereignty reposes and (ii) render them sycophants unfit to uphold the dignity of public office.”
Despite the clear risk to their own lives and families from the most powerful individuals in the country who had made clear their willingness to spill blood to cling on to power, both the Attorney General and Solicitor General responded unequivocally that they would not certify the legality or constitutionality of the president’s scheme. With the IGP and army commander both refusing to participate in the scheme without clear legal authority, the plot came apart, with the president conceding the election and vacating Temple Trees soon afterward.
These events, if proven in a court of law, would constitute the most dastardly act of treason in the history of the Republic. The accused held the highest offices in the land across all three branches of government. The key eye witnesses are some of the most respectable and unimpeachable figures of Sri Lanka’s legal system. At stake was the very foundation of our democracy.
It is imperative that the new government move swiftly to initiate a commission of inquiry, recording statements from all concerned, and prosecuting those responsible for conspiring to subvert the country’s constitution, sovereignty and the will of the people, with the full force of the law. Failing to do so would set deadly precedent, and encourage future defeated leaders to follow in the footsteps of the conspirators.
Related posts;
Election Night Coup: Mangala Makes Complaint In CID Against Rajapaksas And Their Henchmen
Rajapaksa To Dissolve Parliament Before Bowing Out
Exclusive: Gota Picks Jagath Jayasuriya For ‘Dirty Work’ At Election
Mahendra / January 20, 2015
There will be those who say “stop this witch hunt” and let us put the past behind us and move forwards. “let us promote reconciliation and not hatred”. However, if this story is substantiated and found to be true beyond any reasonable doubt, in the interests of Justice and fair play, those guilty will need to face the full force of the Law in Sri Lanka, anything less would be detrimental and totally unfair by the People of Sri Lanka. Let us not prejudge the issue and wait till a formal and fair inquiry is held.
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Amarasiri / January 20, 2015
RE: ailed The Election Night Coup
“How the Attorney General Yuvanjan Wijayatilake and a handful of fellow public servants had prevented the Mahinda Rajapaksa led election night coup, the Colombo Telegraph can reveal today. A detailed version of the event took place is sent to Colombo Telegraph by the lawyers close to the AG.”
This is the fortune of the people of Sri Lanka. The success of the coup would have been the beginning of the Sri Lanka Spring, ans like the French Revolution, would have after considerable bloodshed, decimated the Medamulana Rajapaksa clan.
Sri Lanka avoided the fate of Libya and Tunisia.
The culprits must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. so that any future coup leaders will think twice before they undertake such an adventure.
They can always content and win if they can, as others have done.
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malaka / January 20, 2015
CMB TELEGRAPH’ BREAKING NEWS INSIDE STORY’ THEY HAVE PEACED together various sources of news and with some creativity given us a plausable scene.. I see mangala’s version, Sarath Fonseka Version, RAnil’s Inside SOurcse, JHU version..all from different news Ooutlets.. Mixed with historical Coup Attempt of Sirimavo’s Time.. So Suprised they Have played down the Army Commander and Police Commander role’s in refuseing the Coup and WHich all the Contributor’s who CMB Telegraph ‘Insider story’ have used Praised HIGHLY. still jUST LIKE THE CMB TELEGRAPH POST ELECTION ‘INSIDER STORY’ Mahinda Kids went to CHINA, GOTA LEFT TO MALDIVES, MAHINDA WENT TO COLOMBO HOME.. we have to wait and see.(AS cmb TELEGRAPH Exclusive turned out to be fiction and a Nut case maldive twitter user.) Hmm was it not Mangala That once said he had Video evidence of MR and LTTE leader election deal???? 7 years +++ still waiting for that.
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Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
malaka
What is your version of the story?
Did anyone from the opposition bribe the Election Commissioner to engineer MR’s defeat?.
Did the opposition rig ballot boxes at every polling booth?
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malaka / January 21, 2015
@Native Vedda.. I DONT.. I RATHER WAIT for the Investigation to take place.. As we all know what Speculation and False stories happen in Fragmenetd socities.. So Humble Citizen me, and espically CMB TELEGRAPH a news Org cannot call speculation and Creative articles as Credable news..JUST LIKE THEIR OTHER FALSE stories here. Simple surely even you can understand that?
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Kautilya / January 22, 2015
When SWRD was assassinated, Dr. N. M. Perera gave a breath-taking speech where he pieced together how W. Dahanayake’s “Pistola Pakshaya” was implicated.
Conspiracy theories are always interesting, be it Gota flying to Maldives, or about the elections commissioner being abducted during the last election and organizing “Jilmarts”. It proves that we have a free press now! In fact all the TV and news channels seem to agree on these conspiracy theories, and so one begins to wonder if we actually do?
However, when complaints are filed with the CID they should investigate each complaint to the full, even if it comes from “highly credible sources” or totally unreliable sources (this depends on your political bias), be it from Mervyn de Silva or Mangala Samaraweera or the gentleman who confused Pamankada with Alimankada.
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malaka / January 20, 2015
‘Mahinda Rajapaksa, a candidate of no less than three presidential elections and four parliamentary ones,’ when the int EYES are on Sri Lanka.. This seasoned politicians who so called have assets in the USA and west as CMB telegraph once reported.. IS CRAZY enough to attempt a COUP..WE ALL KNOW AND THE WORLD HE IS shrewd BUT to SAY HE IS CRAZY AND INSANE.
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gamini / January 21, 2015
All the past elections, the results of postal voting was out starting around midnight and quite a number would have been announced before the release of the results of the electorates. This time around even after 3.00 a.m. the bulk of results of both the Postal vote and the Electorates were not announced and started to trickle in only after 3.30 a.m. This withholding of the results I believe is deliberate and evidence pointing to the mentioned Coup.
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Bunkum Buster / January 20, 2015
This is a real bullshit story. Why would a power hungry president wanting to stage a conspiracy try to get a leagla opinion from the attorney general. Doesn’t add up, does it?
G.L.Peiris involved in a military conspiracy? Give us a break. This is swindler Ravi karunanayaka, and poof Mangala Samarasinghe sort of stuff to cause trouble for MR. They fear his come back.
Stop this deception. All MR was doing was looking in to the security of his own and his family members due to the threats of pulling him out of Temple Trees by Sirisena and Chandrilka during the campaign.
Sira should put a stop to tjis cock and bull story soon, or he will suffer at the end of 100 days.
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srilal / January 20, 2015
Oie ,
There are enough evidence to prosecute the whole Mafia gang , Ranjan Ramanyake publicly declared (In Satana) that both IGP and Army Commander acknowledged the attempted coup , next obvious thing is , What business that Cheat justice got to do in the wee hours of an election result day ? can he deny his presence now ? what about that invaluable CCTV footage ? apart from these obvious evidence there are heaps and heaps of incriminating evidence gathering up , your sort of low life scum bags can shout from your lungs , take from me there is no body to protect your pay master now , here is something which you will see in near future , enjoy the song !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coyZrkhZnS4&list=PLncDhWCSyXBwUHGTKlTCoBT6tYe_bpcCL
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Rohan / January 20, 2015
Be prepared to eat your words for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!!
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ramona therese fernando / January 20, 2015
Yes, why, in the event of an emergency, would the president ever need clandestine nods and signatures from a number of sneaky parties to lead it all back to himself? In the event of an emergency, an executive president has executive powers to stop all proceedings without the need for AG’s, and CJ’s.
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shankar / January 20, 2015
ramona therese fernando
“an executive president has executive powers to stop all proceedings”
You are not reading the article and blabbering.It clearly says that the IGP and army commander refused to act on the presidents orders unless they have the proper legal authority.How is the president going to go and stop the results?By himself?maybe going to the polling centers and raising his lungi and showing his labba.
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ramona therese fernando / January 21, 2015
What a flagrant case of Presumption. What a way to dupe people!If Rajapaksa was really to have been involved in a coup that night, he would have got the legal signatures way ahead in anticipation of any defeat. All the intricate arrangements that is said to have been made, would attest to that fact of Rajapaksa getting signatories many days in advance.
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shankar / January 21, 2015
“Rajapaksa getting signatories many days in advance.”
yeah,a man who is going around telling the people that he is going to win with a thumping majority,in fact even more than in 2010,is going to get signatories in advance?So confident was he of victory that he said that getting maithri to contest is equivalent to getting Tissa athanayaka,the UNP general secretary to contest.
Also,if he had tried to get signatories in advance and it had backfired with a leak then he would have been jeered every time he opened his mouth and said he was going to win with a thumping majority.Your foolish statements are defending the indefensible.
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ramona therese fernando / January 21, 2015
Pure inflammatory speculation with little or no base for any truth. That Rajapaksa left the office so decently and even meekly, gives little room for conjecture from your quarters. And he and his family have done nothing to incriminate themselves at since, other than to be very sincere and also still very charismatic to a great many Lankans. The fact that not one shot was fired during the time the results were being announced proves beyond reasonable doubt that there was no attempt at a coup.
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shankar / January 21, 2015
Yep,lovely man.Like a saint.Saint rajapakshe.
he did the maths and found that there will be a bloodbath.If he went ahead with his crazy brother’s plan then one part of the army would have supported him while another part would not and they both would have clashed.If the latter had won he and his entire family would have been butchered without mercy.Visions of saddams sons and gaddafi’s sons fate would have sprung in his mind.Then he would have thought hey why take the risk with my mad brother,the PM’s post will be up for grabs in another three months and i have the political skills to make a comeback.
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ramona therese fernando / January 21, 2015
This is not the Middle-East. Lankan leaders are more rational.
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Palmsquirrell / January 21, 2015
What is amazing is that Rajapaksa did not put his own stooge in the position of IGP,Attorney General and Army commander?
Or maybee they were his stoogers but they were scared forces more powerfull than Rajapaksa , namely India and the West, would come down on Sri Lanka very hard.
The votes picked Maithiri but they could not have done it without Indian and Western collusion behind the scenes with Maithiri,Ranil and Chandrika.
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shankar / January 20, 2015
“Bunkum Buster”
“All MR was doing was looking in to the security of his own and his family members due to the threats of pulling him out of Temple Trees by Sirisena and Chandrilka during the campaign.”
So why did he need the Cheap Justice for that?What has he got to do with security?Is your brain in your arse or something.Or like lucky Duminda Silva, no brain at all to be damaged by a bullet.
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padmakumara / January 20, 2015
Ah Rajpal. How how old chap?
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Senthilraj / January 20, 2015
“Stop this deception. All MR was doing was looking in to the security of his own and his family members due to the threats of pulling him out of Temple Trees by Sirisena and Chandrilka during the campaign.”
Looking in to security with AG ? lol lol
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JJ / January 20, 2015
Your comment has a severe fallacy. The Mara regime had to legitimize their actions so that their bases were covered when the coup unfolded and emergency (marshal law) law declared. This is why the legal team was assembled. The smoking gun, the CJ being present with these thugs to formulate their plan. This two bit thug was a dictator, murderer, and a psychopath. No less than Ghadhafy and Sadam. Justice should be swift on him and his gang so that democracy prevails.
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Joe / January 20, 2015
You are exactly the kind of deluded fool that helped to nearly ruin this country. Buying the words of a crook and traitor to this nation…our former president. He needed legal confirmation because he needed to cover all his bases…even psychopathic dictators can be cautious. Even if this story is not true, MR has robbed this country blind and if he had won would have sold most of the country to china in order to pay off massive debts, most of which have been pocketed by him n his peeps. Once all the facts do eventually come out all you MR supporters will realize how gullible you have been and hang your heads in shame. If you dont then you too are a traitor to this nation and dont deserver the honor of calling yourself a sri lankan.
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aloalo / January 21, 2015
We will all await to see the out come of the investigation. Only then we will know exactly what happened. If what is said did happen then as mentioned these ‘sycophants unfit to uphold the dignity of public office’ should also face the full brunt of the law as it is an alleged crime against the whole nation in par with Prabakaran’s 30+ year terror. It shall be a lesson to any future ‘leader’ too.
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Hooter / January 21, 2015
Sour grapes ass buster.
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Amarasiri / January 21, 2015
Bunkum Buster
Just Listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=84359240&v=BPMDoaoA4IU&x-yt-ts=1421782837&feature=player_embedded
Mahinda was told he would be defeated
Published on Jan 20, 2015
Mahinda was told he would be defeate
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Jayampathi / January 21, 2015
Seeking a legal opinion does not make for a coup unfortunately. Nor does it constitute a crime. If illegal orders were given however, that is adifferent storey. We have not heard that emergency was declared let alone orders being given under a state of emergency. Therefor it would appear that there was no actus reas as reported.
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Leelagemalli / January 21, 2015
[Edited out]
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Web / January 20, 2015
Well done AG. I can remember Gota’s words in BBC interview “We will hang him(SF) for the crime of treason”. This is the worst plot. Will the involved parties be hanged or punished with long prison term?
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Amarasiri / January 20, 2015
Web
“Well done AG. I can remember Gota’s words in BBC interview “We will hang him(SF) for the crime of treason”.
Here it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tHlSZnrUiE
Sri Lanka’s defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, says General Sarath Fonseka will be executed
Uploaded on Jun 7, 2010
This is the excerpts from hard talk on bbc program hard talk
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Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
Web
Oh, what a tangled web we weave. When first we practise to deceive!
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mike / January 22, 2015
@ Web
Only the great leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake can tell. Saddam and Ghadaffi have extended an invite to Idi Mahin and Nande Master and I sincerely hope the current regime will allow these bastards to honour the invitation??
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Aia / January 20, 2015
OMG, making of Burma was averted by a risk taking AG and SC, she is really a brave lady; madam, this country owes you a lot. If not for you three, even DIG and Army Commander would have been made helpless. I would like to see a bit more about Panagoda Army deployment.
These two Pieris(s) are well educated and knew what they have been conspiring, leave the brothers as they have vested interest. If this was not treason, what else it would be. To lie the way GLP did subsequently saying there was nothing that sort, only show how low this guy has gone now.
I heard the AG Department was completely under President control. To see a response like this from him indicates only one thing that is he had seen enough from the close range that were going on not right but unable to stop. His preparations before gets to Temple tree explains this. Perhaps, this was the last straw in the camel back. He was a smart guy didn’t blink for a moment did/made it all looks liked official and didn’t agree to put his signature. Fortunately, they wanted only his signature, not blood.
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Mervyn Silva / January 20, 2015
Nanny G L Peiris will contribute to any dirty arrangement which will ensure that he remains a Cabinet minister.
The real culprit behind this operation is believed to be Major General and Army Chief of Staff Prasad Samarasinghe, who will do any thing to please Gota and MR as he was aspiring to be the next Army Commander!
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Matupala Silva / January 20, 2015
How far this man statement is correct?
What is reason MR has to remain in power without consent people of Sri lanka?
MR has no track record of political conspiracies or Military conspiracies his past political carrier during 45 years of SLFP politics.
MR was leader who won the second Independent for Sri lanka 2009 May, that after defeated Tamil Ruthless Terrorist led by LTTE and TNA?
MR name will go to history as one and only leader who united and liberated our nation from proxy army of Tamils.
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srilal / January 21, 2015
“How far this man statement is correct? “
up to every word .
“What is reason MR has to remain in power without consent people of Sri lanka? “
greediness for the power , He wanted his clown prince to be the president of SL.
“MR has no track record of political conspiracies or Military conspiracies his past political carrier during 45 years of SLFP politics. “
above statement is a very immature statement ,before he becoming the president MR wasn’t in a position even to think of such things !
“MR was leader who won the second Independent for Sri lanka 2009 May, that after defeated Tamil Ruthless Terrorist led by LTTE and TNA? “
That is your interpretation .
“MR name will go to history as one and only leader who united and liberated our nation from proxy army of Tamils. “
contrary to the above statement , MR’s true colours will be exposed during and after the trial , please wait and see for the fire works !
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JJ / January 21, 2015
Ghadfy and Saddam also had 40 and 30 years (bath party) respectively to rape loot and murder and plunder their respective countries. Foolish comment (diatribe) from a sheeple.
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Huz / January 21, 2015
Even Egypts Hosni Mubarak was the ideal president for his first term. After that, the greed of power got to him and he became a complete monster.
Don’t underestimate a mans greed.
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Roshan / January 22, 2015
At this rate you may also doubt who you father is ??
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Analyst / January 20, 2015
Number one point , did the hierarchies who were at the Temple trees at the time did they not have the power to start a coup? Why did they call the AG is it due to the fact they were naive ?? Or did they assume the AG was going to collude with their plans . If the Ex President hid himself somewhere and asked his brother and co to start the coup they could have achieved their goal. The whole conspiracy was ill prepared and backfired. A coup by the democracy against the Srilankan citizens. This is the highest immorality of a democratically elected leader against his own citizens.
Really shame on Rajaapakse modaya modaya modaya. God saved the people of Srilanka. Punishment for this should be much worse than the genocide and the Hague.
The god is great .One can cheat the god at one time but one cannot cheat the god all the time. It’s a fact.
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srilal / January 20, 2015
AG was called to sign the papers for emergency declaration .
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tony Candappa / January 20, 2015
Bring these conspirators before the Supreme court. Give them fair trial and if found Guilty punish to full extent of the Law.
20 Years a piece for treason or conspiring to comment treason.
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grape / January 20, 2015
One of them is already in the Supreme Court :-)
He needs to be taken out and brought in again — in different clothing.
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KR / January 21, 2015
When Mohan Pieris is still the Chief Justice, can that ever happen? He was a party to the conspiracy.
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Analyst / January 20, 2015
Coup by the democratically elected President against the citizens will go down in the tortured and bloody History of Srilanka . Why are we white washing this treacherous move? If the New Srilanka would follow the Books of Law The punishment should be metered out first to the Democratically elected leader who instigated and took part in this heinous act . All to do with greed and psychosis.
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Pygmalion / January 20, 2015
The new Govt:of MS had declared that MR will not be handed over for War crimes.But what MR had attempted in the wee-hours of the 9thJan:morning is worse than War-crimes! Hague pales into insignificance.
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bandara / January 20, 2015
Guys,Don’t get mislead yourself.this also in the pre-wave of champion for the general election 2015(this is like “paalu gedara walan bidinnwa”) well plan bunch of stories and incidents coming up daily. finally, there aim is to brainwash the people before GE 2015. all SLns knows who create grate lies in recent years and damage the leaders image in the shake of power thirsty. unfortunately yet not fulfill that’s the bad luck of mother land .
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Sunil Peiris / January 20, 2015
When can I visit these guys in Welikada?
20 years will make sure that go straight from Welikada to Kanatte
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Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
Sunil Peiris
“When can I visit these guys in Welikada?”
Are you planning to send in the army to kill them?
Thats too bad.
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justice / January 20, 2015
There has clearly been a plot to subvert the results of the election as MR could not afford to lose the presidency – he would become an ordinary citizen shorn of the powers of a dictator.
This was unthinkable – not only he & his family, but also his brothers and relatives would become ‘common’ citizens.
MR must be tried for treason.
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Abdul / January 20, 2015
OMG We are saved by the courageous people, let us recognize them first and punish the culprits.
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Stanford Kolla / January 20, 2015
The story is pretty interesting. The facts are not substantiated. It is an allegation at the moment. My thoughts on the matter is that “Power Corrupts” and it is human for people like GL Peiris to get implicated in this act of treason. All want to cling on to power and the thought that they will be exposed was unthinkable. So drastic measures had to be introduced to avoid a serious situation. If I were President Maithripala Sirisena, this is what would be done. I will appoint a 3-man Presidential Commission to investigate this allegation and submit their findings and recommendations. The 3 members must be high profile but not politically connected at any point of their lives.
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Abe / January 20, 2015
The fact that the AG has prohibited the Chief Justice from attending a conference abroad shows that the coup attempt really happened.
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srilal / January 21, 2015
I thought the same way , actually all the lawyers had written to AG and threatened to walk out if CJ were to attend , to avoid a major embarrassment AG refrained from inviting Cheap Justice.
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Paul / January 20, 2015
If this is brushed under the carpet, MR & Co will assume that it was just the weakness of the AG and SG that prevented his coup. He (and others) may be emboldened to try something else in the future. Act fast and see that justice is done.
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Truth / January 20, 2015
The first priority should be to take the necessary action against the Chief Justice, in conformity with the constitution and Latimer Principles.
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Mallaiyuran / January 20, 2015
Here we go again….
New King should stop putting pressure on the official to lie and frame cases against his opponents. Sinhala Intellectual known for their first in line position for bribes, perks and all sort of illegal monies ever ready to concoct stories. Aren’t these AG and SG made Jayakumari in palace of LTTE leader Pirapakaran? Dirty liers. That is it.
I tell one thing; if were asked, the Tamil sycophant Illangakoon would have been the first to complete the duty and fall down on the King’s feet for his cooly. He let down the SPs who tried to protect the Muslims in Alluthgama. He is such a coward.
If CT is honest, it should print the last check it received for this story from the new King the for the view of the public. Ha ha ha. This CT’s comedy.
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gamini / January 20, 2015
This is not in context with the article. Therefore please excuse.
I believed the phone tapping is over with the exit of Gota and MR. Apparently not. I realised my mobile phone was tapped from about the year 2008 when I expressed a different view point of the LTTE war where I even appraised Lasantha Wickrematunge of my perceptions, which he acknowledged. I found my voice echoing over the phone, indicating that the conversations were taped. Therefore I avoided discussing politics or exchanging ideas when I heard my echoing on the phone. Around the year 2010 I had two threatening calls from two numbers that had only four digits. I was careful not to provoke revealing my identity thereafter. I did not reveal about the echoing to whomever I called lest I disturbed those whom I phoned to worry unnecessarily that we are being watched over.
After the defeat of the Rajapaksas I have been freely speaking with friends of what the Rajapaksas have been upto. Today I found to my amazement that the Phone was echoing again. Thereafter I questioned my friend whether he hears any echo of my voice or of his. He replied in the negative. Then I revealed to him the history and the background and he informed me that at times he too had noticed and had experienced of his phone echoing. Then suddenly the echoing stopped after I used some choice filth to any intruder. I like to hear whether anyone else has experienced this scenario? I intend taking the matter up with the relevant Authority now that the fear of white vans are not there and to seek whether there are any remaining stooges still doing the bidding.
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Sama / January 21, 2015
Why not you make an entry about this at your nearest police ?
Today the new administration recommends excile journalists to return home. As you say – phone tapping and the like secret devices of them are still in function, how can we trust on a new dawn era ?
Or may be you have been suffering from Tinitus ?… it is worth taking prompt action against the tapping. I am from Eu so I am afraid, i cant check it myself there how all these have bee changed with the new regime.
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empee / January 21, 2015
You are not alone. You are not imagining things and you most certainly do not have tinitus.
My mobile has been tapped since August 2010. The echoing continues and there is also a little ‘ping’ that I hear every once in a while. There are people out there who have the equipment with them and act as though they are above the law. I’ve had calls from strange numbers and when checked with contacts within the Telecom they said the numbers were untraceable and generated by some secret services device. Whoever is doing the tapping is so brazen as to have called me on a land line and replay a section of a conversation had with a friend. The police can do nothing to assist you as the laws of the land are so far behind the times and technology it is laughable.
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Mahendra de Alwis / January 21, 2015
If MR had any intentions of staging a coup, surely he would not have waited till 3am on election night to work the final approvals out??? What approvals anyway, as the coup would be illegal no matter who said otherwise.
This is probably some form of revenge plan hatched by CB and Sarath to try and throw MR and Gota in jail. Wont be that difficult for them to get various people to acknowledge some false facts.
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srilal / January 21, 2015
“If MR had any intentions of staging a coup, surely he would not have waited till 3am on election night to work the final approvals out???”
He had to wait till he got all the election results from mobile phones , most of the counting centers finished their counting around 2 am , but had to add them up before hatching a plot !
Apparently , MR never phoned Ranil in the wee hours of 9 th , it was Eran Wickramaratna (MP) who called Ranil and urged him to rush to Araliyagaha Palace to avert a blood bath .
AG’s office lawyers were the one who alerted Eran on the extremely dangerous situation , then Eran took the lead.
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Mahendra de Alwis / January 21, 2015
Even if he had to wait until most votes were counted, he would have made all the other preps well in advance instead of calling in the AG at that time etc. All bunkum. Revenge and personal vendetta stuff.
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sach / January 21, 2015
He had made all the preparations. Troops that are loyal to GR was given instructions. Special military arrangements had been made. Read a newspaper.
The reason he called AG was to give the coup a legal protection, like every despot does.
You are like prabha fanatics defend the indefensible.
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Ranjan / January 21, 2015
Even if this is an act of revenge by CBK and SF what’s wrong with that and who cares? After all MaRa and his clan deserve this for robbing this country and killing countless innocent lives.
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Matupala Silva / January 21, 2015
Is that president of SL has right call end of his election to be address Chief of Three commander and IGP give certain instruction on security and law and order of country. That is not coup.
MR as President which want peaceful environment remain over the country be peaceful exist as past. That was President duty and responsibility did last movement before had over and transfer power to elected president.
That is normal pattern of Sri Lankan democracy. This was happen since 1948 up to now. Talk to Three Commander and IGP by President is not coup. This is total fabrication story by person who made statement.
This is part of political conspiracy of game of led by local political elites and their foreign partners as well.
Newly organized mode of operandi by political conspirers of conservatize elites class have both hacked democracy’s of good governances and rule of democracies by land of the will of people.
These elites in power now do not understand that paralysis good governances of democracy, which any effort at reform of political culture what they talk?
We do not want Lumpenzation of democracy! as past as since 1977 to 2004?
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Raj Jayewardene / January 21, 2015
I really don’t know whether to believe or not. There might not be any material evidence but if you look at the circumstantial evidence this could be true. If you analyze the sequence of events starting from the 18th amendment anyone can see it very clearly. Let us see those on point by point basis.
1) 18th amendment to the constitution giving dictatorial & undemocratic powers & doing away with on the limitation of contesting. Will a person who have had no idea to stay in power for life would have done a thing like that?
2) Why call the presidential election two years early & calling everyone who had any different opinion traitors & part to international conspirators? He knew very well that his popularity was falling & there was dissent amongst his own people because of the way of his governance. Also his knowledge of actual financial situation of the economy. Any sensible person could see where we were heading.
3) The way the election campaign was conducted using every possible avenue to win at any cost. Will a person who had a slightest idea of losing could have conducted an election campaign the way he did?
4) If he had no idea to conspire what were those people who were supposed to be there were doing there? Is anyone saying that all the people who were there by coincidence? Or that RW is lying?
5) Then last but not least why such a delay in announcing the results? By the time the results were officially announced most people knew what it was.
I could be wrong. Correct me if I am.
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CoupCoop / January 21, 2015
Some contorted verbal gymnastics here to paint a picture of a coup:
What are the charges? None of these are illegal
1. Summoning members of his government at the time of an impending loss of the election
2. Deploying the army in Colombo, after voting has finished
3. Inquiring into the legality of declaring emergency etc.
4. Making phone calls
What else was going on? What about RAW involvement as reported in Reuters?
Did you know the disappearances investigation was to be extended to the IPKF (Indian Army) years as well? No wonder India is worried.
Is this a case for a coup? At least those doing this need to be competent at what they are doing.
Also realize that annulling the results for whatever reason would have caused MR to lose all respect, internationally and locally, whatever the reason for doing so. I would have destroyed any chance of politics for his supporters and family.
He would have had to give up in a few days of mass demonstrations and Ranil’s quiet persuasion. The American Embassy of course would have not been silent.
Don’t forget that a ‘coup’ was alleged to be planned by SF at the previous election – maybe this is an attempt to take revenge for that accusation?
I am satisfied that the president did the correct thing by respecting the law, at least this time you say, and step down, despite misgivings as to how the election was won by betrayal of trust.
It a comment on the hate-filled revenge psychosis that an attempt to inquire into the legality of an action is itself wrong.
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Lasanda / January 21, 2015
We need to keep in mind that still majority of people of Sri Lanka and the parliament is still with president Rajapaksa.
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sach / January 21, 2015
The new government should investigate and tell the truth to the people of this country. The culprits should be punished.
Otherwise brave people like AG and legal professional’s lives would be in danger if this man returns to power.
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sach / January 21, 2015
For MR lackeys who doubt coup attempt…this is Gota’s statement in an interview given to The Island
“”I went to Temple Trees early in the morning. We had received intelligence reports earlier that opposition activists would surround Temple Trees in the morning regardless of the result of the election. There was a discussion on how to tackle such a situation. The Attorney General’s advice was sought and the Opposition Leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe was also contacted and he said he would be coming immediately to Temple Trees. After his arrival, he had a discussion with the president and it was decided that the president would leave Temple Trees. Mr. Wickremesinghe assumed responsibility for the protection of the president and the others. This was long before the final results were even announced. If there had been an attempt at a coup, why would the Attorney General have been consulted? He gives legal advice to the government.””
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=118016
though he outright reject it. what he says points to the coup narrative in media…
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sena / January 21, 2015
If these allegations are proved wrong the editor of your column should be taken to task or courts for cooking up stories. In most cases the Journalists go free of any written article. Time to bring in a law for instigating people through the pen or key board if this is proven wrong. Just because you have your hands on the key board please check the authenticity of information without spicing up with third party information.
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Nihal Yatawara / January 21, 2015
Let us not split hairs over something which is yet to be proven. There must be an impartial inquiry at the highest forum which should not be ignored at any cost. Let us wait for the outcome. In the meantime keep your eyes open and hear the news that flows in each day. Finally you will understand why the common man had to carry such a burden despite the war being over five years ago. Unfortunately fifty percent of the people in the world suffer from a Stupid Virus which make them gullible and unintelligent to comprehend the subject at hand.
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Refusal / January 22, 2015
As a matter of fact, it was SF who refused to accept the election results in 2010. You can check this with the newspapers of the day.
Never mind, he has been pardoned and all.
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