Four armed men who broke into journalist and media activist Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema’s home early this morning are in police custody after one intruder was shot dead by police during an altercation.
Mandana
The men had held Abeywickrema and gunpoint and threatened to abduct her, saying they were carrying out a contract for someone who was an enemy, the journalists told reporters earlier today. “They said their orders were to rob the house and abduct -me,” Abeywickrema said.
She said the five intruders were armed with knives and had ransacked cupboards looking for money and valuables. The intruders woke up the journalist’s parents and her daughter, to ask them probing questions, Abeywickrema said.
She said she spoke to the intruders throughout the incident, urging them to take whatever they desired from the house but refrain from harming her parents or child. At one point, the intruders argued among themselves, saying they had “wasted enough time” at her home.
Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema is Associate Editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper and recently formed a trade union for journalists and assumed its presidency. Her husband Romesh Abeywickrema who was not present in the house during the intrusion, called the police emergency from outside the residence when he saw the lights on upon his arrival. When the police walked into the residence, the intruders were still inside.
Three of the intruders were injured in the shoot out with police, with one of them in critical condition at the National Hospital, police said.
Police Spokesman Buddhika Siriwadane said three police officers had been injured when the intruders attacked them with knives.
One intruder was shot while all the others remain in police custody following the incident.
Police have persisted in calling the intrusion into Abeywickrema’s home an armed robbery, but the Free Media Movement has denounced attempts to play the incident down. The FMM said that the intrusion was part of an attempt to intimidate the journalist.
Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon has called an urgent press conference regarding the issue.
Ben Hurling / August 24, 2013
Sri Lanka’s “Five Star Democracy” rising to new heights under Rajapassa Clan.
In fact, we should now call it world’s only “Seven Star Democracy”!
“Miracle of Asia” is rather outdated as well.
Cheers!
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Amarasiri / August 24, 2013
Multiple Possibilities,
1. A staged abduction, and show police effectiveness.
2. A real contract robbery of a Journalist for intimidation purposes.
3. Other reason.
Given, the patterns, 1. above is the likely reason.
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Yehiya / August 25, 2013
Entire stories come out. Very shame.Why CT is late to publish.
[Edited out]
Please don’t post gossip links – CT
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Safa / August 24, 2013
It is a welcome response from the Police rank and file. Now it is the work of the Hierarchy and Justice System. Will we get to the bottom of it and see the real culprits punished.
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Lankan Firdy / August 24, 2013
What Justice system ??? Very soon Mandana will get a call from MR and will be asked to withdraw any complains. The issue will be swept under the carpet – as an attempeted robbery.
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Aney Apochchi! / August 24, 2013
Firdy:
The call to Temple Trees WILL come because this is obviously one of those staged events that didn’t work out as planned.
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Rattus rattus / August 24, 2013
Looks staged to me too. Timed to near perfection to ‘demonstrate’ the independence of the police after GR ‘relieved’ himself of their command. Victim’s husband called the police before trying to get into the house because the lights were on? Fishy too.
Will Mandana quietly withdraw her complaint and say that it was she who dressed in four different sarongs and held herself and her parents captive? Ptshaw.
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Rohan / August 24, 2013
And…. Mr. Abeywickrema will be offered a job as Presidential Advisor.
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Rev.Devil / August 24, 2013
In fact, Gota’s bunch of poor scapegoats must have been ordered to be terminated to uplift the image of the rotten Police. Sadly our police men are not marksmen but masters in serving criminal politicians. They ended up arresting them, and the story shall be forgotten leisurely as usual.
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Yehiya / August 24, 2013
After change of Gota. Salute to police.
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Tsunami Hora / August 24, 2013
Sounds like a drama to show that our police is impartial and very much active. If they were Gota’s men (they are in any case) the Police wouldnt have rushed that fast or come to the scene on time, unless the suspects knew some top secrets so used them for this saga then slowly get rid of them later.
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shankar / August 25, 2013
tsunami hora,if the gang was sent to abduct and intimidate her,why would the organisers inform the police beforehand in the first place?They would have thought they could have got away with it.
The fact that the husband called the police was an unforeseen circumstance that they were not prepared for.Are you telling us that they would have told the police beforehand that in the event that they were called they should not go?Why do that when they thought it was a easy job.The fact that the husband was not there late at night was the factor that they had not bargained for.
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Tsunami Hora / August 25, 2013
I didnt say Mandana was playing a drama.
I said, it was a drama organized by Gota and his goons.
How many times they played these types of con games in the past. Police come to the scene and then nothing reported thereafter.
How many Greased devils were caught by the people. They all escaped with the support of the police. Gota stopped that Greased devels only when people started to take the law into their hands. This gota is a coward. He isnt a brave guy at all. All his brave shows and dramas are because of the Army support. Otherwise this man is paranoid.
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NAK / August 28, 2013
Please tell us how many grease devils were caught when and where.
Every one here are commenting on the act and no mention what so ever in the motive and circumstances.
It is exactly the day UNHRC Ms.Pillai landed in the country and an attack on the press will obviously put the government in hot water. Then,the act itself was poorly planned and executed.
If it was the government whose intent was to intimidate her,the timing is wrong. Ms.Pillai is in town and I am pretty sure the Gov.chaps are capable of a much better show.
That leaves only those whose intent is to put the government in hot water. The poor show,epecially the love chat the lady had with her attacker and not paying enough attention to Mr.Abyawickrema turns the pointer in that directon.
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Priyan / August 24, 2013
Bravo Mandana,under the present circumstances to accept a post like that.We ordinary people admire you and do whatever we can do to support you. however under the present rogue regime it is difficult to expect any decency even to a woman journalist.You have to look after your safety and we are glad that police have acted promptly in this case.
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Point of View / August 24, 2013
I find this story fishy – looks like they were waiting to get caught. The contract seems to be given to play havoc without harming anyone ? To implicate someone else ?
Dr. Watson, what’s your say ?
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Rattus rattus / August 24, 2013
Except one poor sod was shot dead…. did he have secrets to hide? When will other such chicken chandiyas cotton on to the wiles of the regime?
Elementary my dear Watson!
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Thiru / August 24, 2013
This is a show shooting to impress UNHRC Navi Pillai that there is security, law enforcement and zero tolerance to crime!
After she goes it’ll be back to normal.
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Dhaksha / August 24, 2013
This is a terrible ordeal for Ms. Ismail, however like others the timing of this is suspicious. Suddenly just before Navi Pillai’s visit and CHOGM, it seems the Rajapaksa’s are forming a NEW Law and Order department, and very soon the anti minority attacks will cease. After our foreign visitors leave, it will be back to chaos, confusion, and violence, in rajapaksa land.
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lankan / August 24, 2013
Nadagama, lets see what happens with the police inquiry. The intruders are going to blame some one whom Gotha wants out. Media should make their own investigation and bring out the truth.
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nilam / August 24, 2013
Police will be punished for this as they didn’t know the orders came from the top. The perpetros will be released by the hierachy.
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13 day bride / August 25, 2013
Attacks on the media always happen to the Sunday Leader..
why??
the Rajapaksas will now say this is another conspiracy to make the government look bad
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NAK / August 28, 2013
And Udayan too.
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kautilya / August 24, 2013
Frankenstein is in action
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Aney Apochchi! / August 24, 2013
this whole business sounds fishy as hell!
This woman was given an award by two outfits -Editors Guild of SL and SLPI – which are known govt. stooges.
The man who now OWNS the Sunday Leader is a known money-launderer for you-know-who.
If ever something looked like a set up (after the Faraz Shauketaly shooting, that is) this is it!
The next thing you know, just before Pillay arrives, the Rajapaksa crown princes will be taken hostage!
THE MIRACLE OF ASIA with its next production awaiting nomination for an Oscar.
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Melcom Samarasinghe / August 24, 2013
Bullet is the only way out to liberate the nation from diabolical situ.
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Percy Jilmart / August 25, 2013
Agree wholeheartedly that only the bullet can liberate this cunt ry…because the ballot has been hijacked by the Rajapassas…its only readers on CT and a few others in the country who are smart enough to figure out that this was a setup…maybe this is one of the reasons the Rajapassas have blocked CT in Silly Lanka. The Kim family rules in NK because the North Koreans are idiots…and the Rajapassas thrive in SL because most Silly Lankans are idiots. When will our people ever learn? o.O
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Lapatiya / August 24, 2013
Now everybody in this country has to accept that there is an International conspiracy going on. Actually people including me used to laugh at Wimal Weerawansa, K.A Sumanasekara etc. when they talk about this conspiracy theory. Now it has become real.
Dr. Mrs. Pillay is above to arrive in our paradise to see whether our country is having Media freedom and this happened only 1 day ahead of her visit and our Nihathamani Nayaka thuma is out of the country. This is very suspicious.
We had a good certificate from Sec.Gen kamalesh Sharma about Impeachment saga and whole world came to know that our Judiciary system is perfect. That was just revealed by CT few days before and those western powers are now trying to prove that there is no media freedom. I Don’t think that anybody will buy that story about Media harassment.
After the usual stuff like appointing 150 special police teams under the supervision of DIG Anura senanayaka and usual statements from Media Spokesman, Police Spokesman and various other stockpersons nothing will reveal important until our Dull-Ass Alahapperuma come up with following theory,
Dull-Ass will say at a press conference that ” I am for the media freedom and we condemn this attack. As responsible Government we will investigate this incident independently and see the culprits are punished. in the meantime, this may be a conspiracy to tarnish the Govt. image by NGO’s and Tamil Diaspora ahead of Commonwealth summit. Also we have to see why Mandana’s Husband, Romesh Abewickrama was not at the house at that time and as a good farther and Loving Husband he should have been in the house and Investigators has to check what was he doing in outside in the middle of the Night”
Also other Independent Govt. Media will find proofs that there was a Love story behind this and some other Independent Media will find proofs that persons involved in this incident are Under world figures.
I am sure if they remember that our Saddarmadveepa Chakrawarthi was not in country when the incident took place they will change the Underworld story to another theory.
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Arjuna Seneviratne / August 24, 2013
CT shutdown in SL part of the new wave of “voice neutralization”?
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K.A. Summasekera / August 24, 2013
This is an international conspiracy to tarnish the image of the great helmsman MR before the arrival of Pillay.
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gamini / August 24, 2013
Is it a case of the Cart before the Horse? Just a day prior to Navi Pillai’s visit? Other wise how does one explain such prompt action from a Police force with so many unsolved Political murders in the country? Poor jokers who did the job was unaware that they will be shot and taken in to custody to show the efficiency of the Police, like how the Boston Bombers were caught after a set up?
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Silva / August 24, 2013
Exactly, Gamini! I was thinking the same thing before I read your comment! This is a staged drama scripted by Rajapakshas, directed by the Sri Lanka Rila Police and starring Mandana and her husband! Poor robbers didn’t know anything about what would happen to them next moment or that they were being used as bait and “biliboys” to “showcase” the efficiency of Rajapaksha police and “journalist protectionism” under the Rajapakshas just hours before the arrival of N.Pillai! Rajapaksha bastards will use any donkey in this country as bait to carry out their despotic project!
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M.Sivananthan / August 24, 2013
Navi Pillai is not a person of honesty. She read the LTTE statement in UN shamelessly.
SL dont need anything from Navi Pillai.
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PETER / August 25, 2013
MY SIVA ARE YOU SRILANKAN?
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Silva / August 25, 2013
I am not a Sri Lankan but a human being. A human being has no real psychological ethnicity but a label simply used for identification and documentation purposes just like the names each one of us uses. But the issue here is that people like PETER are racists descending from the Rajapaksha tribal clan who are responsible for all this mess in the world. Pillai represent the humans in the world and Rajapakshas the rascals and devils. We humans are awaiting until Pillai carry out exorcism on these devils like PETER. I think the intelligent people in the world must strive towards a World Government where all the countries in the world appoint a World Parliament to solve World Problems like racism, religion, terrorism, chauvinism, despotism, population explosion, environmental destruction, air pollution, nuclear issues, poverty, employment, education, technological know how, bad governance, corruption etc. etc. The horrendous comments by many assholes like PETER are ample reasons why the isolated governments in the world cannot solve these problems. For example if the Weliveriya massacre were to be inquired by a World Investigative body of a World Legislature the culprits would have been easily traced and punished so that law and order is maintained throughout the countries in the world. It is hoped at least Pillai would do her duty to punish the culprits where the culpability lies at the very top and the bottom of executive, defense and law and order institutions. She must establish a permanent office here to monitory the activities of the despot and the racists so that necessary action could be taken on a world scale at UN. This is what we expect from Pillai.
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NAK / August 28, 2013
Exactly!
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I am no muslim / August 25, 2013
Pillai is a pilliyak
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srhhoole / August 24, 2013
My thanks and eternal gratitude to those like Ismail Mandana who have the guts to stay on and keep writing.
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Desperate_SL / August 24, 2013
Type of regime Scores # of countries % of countries % of world population
————————————————————————-
Full democracies 8.0 to 10 25 15.0 11.3
Flawed democracies 6.0 to 7.9 54 32.3 37.2
Hybrid regimes 4.0 to 5.9 37 22.2 14.4
Authoritarian regimes 0 to 3.9 51 30.5 37.1
————————————————————————-
Under the Democracy Index for 2012, compiled by the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit, Sri Lanka has been ranked third among Asian countries. India and Bangladesh have been ranked for the first and second places.
Accordingly India has received 7.52 points, Bangladesh 5.86 points and Sri Lanka 5.75 points.
The compilation of the Democracy Index has been based on five categories which are electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture.
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Patriot / August 25, 2013
Who cares for indexes prepared by hypocritical ex-colonials who had violated every individual right of their subjects. Leave out democratic values, British had not even given equal opportunity for all. They had their chosen races and religions. They were unmindful and ruthless too. Had they not castrated thousands of Mao Mao freedom fighters in Kenya.
It seems, producing democracy indexes while listening to all phone calls of their own citizens is the latest norms of Western egalitarianism. They also list the so-called human right violations while arming terrorists in the so-called Arab Springs countries as the latest method to rule the world.
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Thondamanaru / August 24, 2013
Too many speculation flying with a smell of sulpher………
Is it not the time to gi9ve the police the credit at least this time. (03) brave cops injured as well.
Guys here are blind shooting
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Qassim Ben Qassim / August 24, 2013
People who comment should take extra care, because the traitors are always members of our own family Friends most of the time.
It is they who are aware of everyhting about us. our writing style, the common phrases we use .
Especially if you are coming from a family, who are in business that is carried on with illegal support of certain officials you can be 100%
sure these people who hate you & be against you condemning such crimes & attacks even at their own community ,honestly I admit our Muslim Community sucks.
So be careful especially those wolves with Sheep clothing they are worst than ,none Muslims who hate us ,at least none Muslims they are quiet open about the hate, especially it is quiet openly expressed these days they do not care especially towards Muslim women & men, when dressed in any attire that resembles their ethnicity & religion & of some due to their Sinhalese accent.
But the wolves with sheep clothing ,among our friends & family are the most nasty & low down creatures, they will go as far as putting thier recording on the mobile get you started on a topic & they will smartly edit thier part in it & make you f, they also doe fix you,even SMS texts, they expose your FB accounts, they fabricate lies to bring animosity among families .
So my advice is type your comments on word , edit it & get a trustworthy person to change you ways of writing&phrases & then re paste it , and do not use dongles or any home Internet to log in,& always use Gmail , & use aprxy like Hide my ass VPN . with a USA based IP.
There have been serious of attacks on certain Muslim establishment during Ramadan Festive seasons ,I do not want to reveal them because I will also need to mention the Location & I had already been warned on my hard hitting comments on a injustice done to a person & I was lucky due certain connections was released & warned, the tip off was done by a female remember from my family.
You will be shocked to know that most attack were done by certain Muslim tip offs, some were connected to difference in School of thoughts of Islam, some were personal revenge & some were purely based on jealousy.
Stay Awake
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Jim softy / August 24, 2013
If free media movement is involved,the Church also should be behind.
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Leo76 / August 24, 2013
The gloves were taken off a long time ago by the current Government, we should have woken up to that fact by now. These people are desperadoes and will stop at nothing.
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Qassim Ben Qassim / August 24, 2013
@Lapatiya ,no offence -there are no international conspiracy in Sri Lanka at all I can assure you.
Everyone Sinhalese ,Tamils & Muslims are involved with many personal interests.
some stuff have baffled even The BBS.
This is what happens, when there are over taxation , heavy duties & tight market policies ,but keep talking to oneself that the market is open & friendly, but in real full of corruption, fraud in Inland revenue ,favoritism in Tenders, smuggling etc. actually by attacking the Muslim community in general,it is the innocent middle class, who are struggling to survive ,with a honest living who are effected, amazingly those who work hand in hand for extortion ,blackmailing ,smuggling ,under value imports ,& those who are unable to compete with others have been given an open licence to run a Mock , there are More underworld thugs now who use Religion as a cover up ever than more.
Silly Lanka has nothing so great for international conspiracy, of cause if you tell me Myanmar,yes I will agree.
So please wake up, and do your own investigation & you will be shocked to know- some who are even willing to boot lick from your own community are the worst culprit.
What is going on in Sri Lanka has nothing to do Halal or Balal ,neither Islam phobia,or ethnic hate nor the fear of Muslims taking over Sri Lankan all that is shop.
There are a very very powerful Business cartel closely connected to all the politicians in the Island ,bottom line is Money at any cost…
No choice a certain powerful rich Jews, created Hitler a, Saud created Saudi Arabia , Abdula from the tribe of Hasheem created Jordan , America helped Jews to create Israel,
So do not be surprised to know that there are Sinhalese Buddhists,Sinhalese Christians,Tamil Hindus ,Christians & of cause The Muslim Jew( The Sri Lankan Moor Businessmen licking politicians boots)
=====================================
But & see the disaster to come…
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NAK / August 28, 2013
If you can enlighten us too on how you assure that there is no international conspiracy.
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gamini / August 24, 2013
CT has come under new attacks being shut at the moment after the exposure of the CJ’s hand written minutes on the file showing how he has manipulated the Bench by appointing Judges of his choice to hear his own case. A set of a copy of these minuted doccuments should be handed by someone to Navi Pillai to expose the Humbug. These scum live as paragons of virtue doing all the villainy under MR to enjoy Power and Position.
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Patriot / August 25, 2013
If gamini is man enough, he should come here and work with Mandana and make the complaints on files and whatnot together to Pillai without advising indolent and no action buggers from his cold damp basement in Suffolk.
Likes of them who live in pedestals and talk bullshit do not know what awaits for the gal party at this coming-up election. These idiots would never understand why the average man vote for MR and his party. The more people like Desperate write the better for MR.
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Aney Apochchi! / August 27, 2013
Patriot:
You obviously believe that you have not yet proved that Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel! However, your idiocies are not beyond laughter: they are simply booooring!
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gamini / August 24, 2013
The accused in custody sould now tell the truth as they have been framed and one has paid with his life as to who asked them to commit this dastardly crime. They have nothing to lose.
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Desperate_SL / August 25, 2013
They are jara sinhalayas, would never reveal the truth, Gamini..
THey are ones who would kill other for Bath packets. Apita kiyanna wela thiyenne ane apoi thami… At least Pillay would be able to see it to some extent during next week is my last hope.
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M.Sivananthan / August 24, 2013
Ethnicities or names of the intruders are missing in this news. CT must publish it. Then the comments will take another direction.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / August 25, 2013
Three of the attackers have ‘ Kadirapulige’ as their ‘Ge’ name and are from the same family. Does this ‘ Ge ‘ name give a pointer to their origins and mixed communal identity, despite the identity currently professed?
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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M.SIVANANTHAN / August 26, 2013
Oh.. There is a PULI(kotiya) is involved.
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Moon / August 26, 2013
Read this for Ge names;
[Edited out] – Please don’t post gossip web link – CT
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shankar / August 25, 2013
sivananthan,what nonsense are you talking.They have been identified as sinhalese and names given now only by the police. 2 are supposed be army deserters.what difference does it make in the names.Don’t make a mountain of a mole hill over these names.All thugs have names.
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K.A Sumanasekera / August 25, 2013
Is this the same as Assad, releasing Sarin Gas into Damascus high rises,when the UN inspectors are literally next door?.
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Jayantha / August 27, 2013
Sumane,
Don’t talk bull shit man. It was not Assad who used Sarin Gas…..but the Al Nusra front Terrorists who are being backed by the West and Sarin Gas supplied by both Saudi and Qatar.
Wait for a couple of days to know the truth.
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jayantha / August 25, 2013
Looks like the Pig eating shit still likes to kiss and lick the asses of Sunday Leader Reporters and Journalists.
The ever famous Pig eating shit ass licker after murdering Lasantha Wickrematunge got the taste of asses, and last time tried to lick the ass of Fredrica Jansz until she left to USA to get rid of the Moth…r fuck….r son of a who…e bast…d.
In February the ass licker tried to lick Sunday Leader editor Faraz Shauketaly using contract killers to shot and kill him.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21482317
Luckily he got narrowly escaped.
Now it’s another Sunday Leader Journalist Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema the Pig eating shit ass licker wanted to taste again using his death squad contract killers.
What a shame of a coward who uses all kinds of methods to lick and murder others asses when an Imported Swiss dog is there at his home.
The Coward Pig who always take over 100 body guards where ever he goes will never be satisfies after eating Biryani mixed grill shit.
Keep doing what he knows best……the dirty Pig.
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NAK / August 28, 2013
Try a little harder you might be able to step on your tail.
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shankar / August 25, 2013
according to to DBS Jeyaraj,they seem to have had an unusual interest in some files.That might be the reason they spent one and half hours in the house.Why would burglars be taking any interest in files?
Also he mentions that in the past week this couples tyres were slashed and a dead cat was thrown into their compound and also many anonymous threatening calls received.The gang has also said that an enemy has given a contract to abduct her and when they were getting ready to take her the police had arrived.Now it is suspicious that with all these factors the police are claiming that it was a simple burglary.
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MR G / August 25, 2013
THE 13 Day Bride did it
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boring / August 26, 2013
SLA seemed to have handpicked 4 criminal elements for the job. Well done SLA, you have mad ea superb cock(up)
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