Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members have spent 2.3 billion rupees of government funds between the years 2012 and 2014 for overseas travels, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has revealed today.
Participating in the Budget debate, Samaraweera said that Rajapaksa had rented a house in Los Angeles in 2013 and more than Rs.27.6 million was spent on rent, telephone bills, maintenance, cable TV charges, water and gas. The house was empty adding 10,000 dollars was paid to the owner for repairs as well. Former Secretary to the ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s son was residing in the house, Mangala Samaraweera added.
Ranjan Fernando / December 1, 2016
We are sick and tired of these lists being read out in parliament frequently over the past two years.
What we want to know is what has the Government done about it in the last two years?
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Nic / December 1, 2016
Ranjan: They will do nothing, this rhetoric is for public consumption only. Remember the saying :”I scratch your back, you scratch mine”? When this bunch sits in opposition, the other would do the same.
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Sylvia Haik / December 1, 2016
Nic. I am inclined to believe you. This amount is chicken feed compared to the US$20 Billion apparently pilfered by the Rajapakses. These announcements are mainly for the benefit of the local gallery apparently on an agreement,just to win votes and nothing else. In a nutshell, they are all bloody crooks.
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Nimal / December 4, 2016
If £20 billion was stolen it’s not as amount can be stacked under the bed. Why this government can’t bring it back insted taxing you and me? Are you happy now?
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Rarityminds / December 1, 2016
Hi FREIENDs, whoever whatever being explained srilanken realities are it is an another developing country whose poverty in all means are comparable to those of ther like minded countries. If anybody would compare its with that of a developed country should be an fool s act.
What are the primary powerful forces/structures in this country:
A) Executive presidency: People s power gave Mr Sirisena a mandate
Religious Forces: In terms of srilanka – Buddhist clergy
RIGHT AT THE MOMENT – LANKEN BUDDHIST MONKS HAVE BEEN ABUSED BY SOME ELEMENTS IN THE SOCIETY FOR THEIR POLITICAL GAINS: IMPUNITY IS SEEN IF ANYONE AS A BUDDHIST MONK WOULD EVEN RAPE SOMEONE IN BROAD DAY LIGHT – SINCE THE BELIEF OR THE RESPECT GIVEN TO MEN IN SAFRON ROBES IS NO COMPARABLE:
PERHAPS IT IS MORE THAN THE RESPECT GIVEN TO QUEEN IN UK – EVEN IF THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT MASSES wanting to abolish monarchy in the UK, they have been unsuccessful so long people s likes are dominating over 60%. to Monarchy in UK.
I BELIEVE TAKING DECISIONS BY EPRESIDENT HAS BEEN TOTALLY CONTROLLED BY RELIGIOUS FORCES – SINCE THE EXECUTIVE BELIEVES GREATER HARM CAN BE THE CONSEQUENCE:
IN THE SAME TIME – FORMER PREZ ABUSE HIS FREEDOM GETTING CLOSE TO BUDDHIST TEMPLE WHENEVER HE IS PASSING THE MESSAGE ACROSS THE NATION:
B) Prime minister- head of cabinet ministers – President elected PM
Consensula composition of parliamentarians: Seem making it difficult. Sitting on the side of governing, there are some men seem to be using their cesspits against the rulers….. These are mostly UPFA men in the ruling grand coalitioin.
C) Opposition in the parliament
Opoosition is strong – and has been doing a great job- regardless of their thoughts being louded for their leader, who is defeated not once but twice.
D) Media of the country (TV, News Papers, Social Media)
Media of the country is proved to be NO READY yet for their independent media.
Most of the media institutions work for the agendas pleasing their men.
Mostly they are not predominantly for the govt in power…
They clearly avoid reporting the REALITIES covering former culprits.
Secondary forces:
1) Civil organisations
2) Other elements such as BBS, Ravana, SLTJ etc.
Lanken society is fooled by the place given to Buddhism is public secret.
There are also senior politicians that abuse the perception of the society to make divisions and grab political power.
Even if the literacy rate of the island nation is reported to be over 93%, that says nothing about their gullibility of understanding overall issues. Elections results and the opinions polls which are regularly beeing held prove the latter.
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malik / December 1, 2016
The Very same Mangala Samaraweera said he has evidence of MR giving money to prabhakaran he said he has video evidence. many years later we are all still waiting. Ohh and still waiting for the evidence of the alleged coup attempt, Typical all talk not one proof of evidence. The state of SL affairs. If this allegations are true than give the concrete proof. Not just imagination the day you woke up.
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Native Vedda / December 1, 2016
malik
“The Very same Mangala Samaraweera said he has evidence of MR giving money to prabhakaran he said he has video evidence.”
Tiren Alles a conduit to the deal publicly stated this on camera. It is available on youtube.
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KA Sumanasekera / December 2, 2016
Dear Native,
Your buddy Samare said a lot of things, He and his new Buddy Alsatian Rajith and the poodle, all have seen USD 18 Billion stashed in an Arab Bank in the UAE..
The Poodle in fact is on record saying the Bank manager gave him a conducted tour of the Arab bank Vault.
But your Hero Batalanada who caught and locked up even petty crims who attended Rajapaksa Rallies, couldn’t get this USD 18 Billion.
Can you believe it?.
And Batalanada had to get the Singaporean to arrange the 20 Billion at 14.8 percent.
But in LKR, which only your Hindian mates will want now after Modi demonetised the Hindian Ruppiah.
Gota now is sooooo popular among the young Media Dudes in the Megapolis.
And they can’t get enough of him..
Wonder why…
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Native Vedda / December 2, 2016
KASmaalam KA Sumanasekera
“Gota now is sooooo popular among the young Media Dudes in the Megapolis.”
Hitler, Robert Mugabe, Mussolini, Idi Amin, ….. too were popular among the young and the old, one time or another.
“And they can’t get enough of him..”
Well, let them wait. They may not know what is in store for them.
I do not want to see them with sore a**es in white vans.
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KA Sumanasekera / December 2, 2016
Dear Native,
Why do they want to ride a white Van with Gota, when they have Batalanada Ranil, Mallika, Sagala , Samare and Achila in Sri Kotha.
They can catch the Pita Kotte Bus . Can’t they?.
BTW, Have you been to Srikotha?..
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malik / December 2, 2016
Tiren Alles a conduit to the deal publicly stated this on camera. It is available on youtube.
They all Publicly stated to this socalled Deal, and they publicly stated they have and will give proof, video and tap conversations footage, this is also available on youtube
The nation still waits many many many many years later.
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Punchinilame / December 2, 2016
Tired of reading comments? Listen for a change:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DnyMAvNr6A
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSZO8OZb9us
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Sarojini / December 7, 2016
So surprising that people believe these smelly mouths who are ready to bad mouth the Rajapakses at any opportunity. Get real guys if they had the evidence they would not hesitate even a minute to bring the culprits to justice. They have no proof of these allegations full stop.
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HeenbabaSEEYA / December 1, 2016
Just being out of it, it is rather easy to say, we are sick and tired.
Each one of the society is responisble if the nation to be taken forward.
Just being outside, pointing the finger at them is the easiest… not many would get it, lanken situation is a like n incurable cancer. Had it been much easier, things would have worked for everyone s satisfaction.
Today, the prisoners are said to add their regular post to Face book ?
Is that the case in the USA prisons ? No, that is common to only lanken prisoners ?
Nethfm – revealed a lot about the Prison illegal activities back and forth. But no responsible authoriteis took anything up against it.
There should be intelligence Units all over the country if this nation to be tracked to the systems.
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Nimal / December 1, 2016
Hear hear. What are they going to do about it? When are the wrong doers and criminals going to face justice?
we are truly the wonder of Asia.
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Analyst / December 1, 2016
This man Mangala too screamed of coup on the night after the day ( January 2015). along with RW.
All are jokers of the Yahapalanaya too.
In few hours time he will turn around and reject his comment.
All Punnakku eating imbeciles in the Parliament present and past ?
Disgraceful!!
2 years have gone past not a single big sharks are caught and imprisoned,
Sick of all of them.
Idiots who vote them are imbeciles too.
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Naman / December 2, 2016
That is right
The current GoSL is just keep on telling us about all the evils done by M.R. & his clan+ Stooges by so far No Action taken.Oh God Why Why why
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Leelagemalli / December 2, 2016
Whoever whatever being said and done, Rajathuma will continue with his prevarications.
Derana and Hiru will dance accordingly. Gullible folks will stay as have been sofar (stupid), all other small party men but born devious such as Gonthadipila and Weerawanshe will abuse even more the situation. Fishing in muddy waters is the top of the agenda of Wimal Buruwa and Gonathadipila.
I wonder why Nature allow these opportunists to continue. Premadasa was punished on the spot. So was to other men in that mode, but today ?
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Rarityminds / December 2, 2016
I NOW BELIEVE LANKEN LAW SYSTEMS WOULD TAKE LOT MORE YEARS TO COME WITH CONVICTIONS FOR ALL THE HIGH PROFILE FRAUDS BEING DONE BY RAJAKSHES:
Slobodan Milošević WAS CONVICTED AFTER 7 YEARS OF INVESTIGATION.
SO IF WE WOULD EVER SEE ANY CONVICTION WITHIN 2 YEARS; THAT SHOULD BE JUST A DREAM.
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rew / December 8, 2016
more tales of Ali Baba and the 100’s of Thieves supported by Ali Baba
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Gamarala / December 1, 2016
Unfortunately stealing from state coffers is a practice prevalent not only by the politicians but also by majority of Sri Lankans. Given the opportunity most of us would do the same.
We call ourselves the premier Buddhist country in the world and steal from morning to night. Until and unless we realise this and correct our perceptions we will remain an under developed country.
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Sam Fernando / December 1, 2016
Gamarala, that is clear to anyone born and lived at least few years in the country. They have been unable to comprehend how to be away from abusive and corrupted nature. This should start from the kindergarten level since there is the seeds start to rise in everyone s life.
So those who just wait GOOD GOVERNANCE to be dawn, being out of the active mechnisms is actually a joke. From the comments added to this forum or other, we can just have a feeling what thoughts and minds are coming from average mind sets.
They now go on attacking current rulers not having doneenough in terms of putting the sharks in jail even if 2 years are gone.
In the same time, the every same people want politicians to be away from the law bound system, letting independent commissions to act by their own. Former contradicts the latter.
I really dont know the reasons behind the mechanism being that slow.
However, we see, due investigations are under way.
Today, I was shocked hearing that jailed convicted high criminals ( murder criminals) being accessed to living Face book exchanges.
So there are some elements that seem to be working about prevailing law and order systems of this country.
Thugs have been given the upperhand by Rajapakshe Regime has abused all of us by this day. He SHOULD be made responsible for all the HIGH criminal acts being risen in the society today.
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Roy / December 1, 2016
The yellow robed punks are role models….
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Gamarala / December 1, 2016
Politicians of both sides get-together and import luxury vehicles without paying taxes. Henchmen of politicians twist the law to get various favours business deals etc. Even office peons want a bribe to carryout their duties. Professionals like Doctors Lawyers etc dont show their proper income in tax returns. Paying a bribe to a policeman to avoid traffic fines is a common phenomenon.
All these people are STEALING the poor who pay taxes through their noses when buying Sugar Dhal etc. They think by visiting a temple and having a big Pirith Ceremony will erase all their sins.
If Gauthama Buddha was llivng today he will die in shame for what his disciples do in his name.
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Nimal / December 2, 2016
Gamarala
I can assure you that Sri Lanka and it’s people don’t behave like true Buddhists. Come to UK and see the tolerance, civility, honesty of it’s citizens.They hardly go to places of worship, yet they practice the noble faith unknowingly.
Set one example is the road etiquette of both countries and one will judge the difference.
Colonials bought us the civilization which is being daily eroded, especially by the people who are running the country, people in authority etc.
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Gamarala / December 2, 2016
I have lived in York UK as well as in Melbourne over a decade and am aware of tollarance. However even in these countries some times you get Buddhist temples reseved for the rich Sri Lankans and other for the rest.
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Raizuh Langai / December 1, 2016
Now, What’s the point about talking this in public? Have someone committed a crime?If so get them behind bars or state hospital as usually done by the politicians.
If this trend continues none will believe this govt.
Yes we can argue that there is a way of dealing with things like these. But how long are we going to sing this tune? So PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
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jimi / December 1, 2016
Non political clean man …. ”MERISAVATIYA GILLAPU EKATA AGGALAATH DEYAKD?
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Hopeless / December 1, 2016
The people are losing confidence with this government. Pointless depending on them to build this country. Pointless depending on so called “seasoned politicians”. The only way to stop this is by urging the young and educated to come into politics.
Ranil – Not doing anything..
Sirisena – Trying to do something but being taken for a ride.
Rajapaksha – Did something but stole everything during the process.
Why cant people like Harin Fernando run for president ?
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Samuel Jayaweera / December 1, 2016
Really ?
Last line says everything ABOUT your knoweldge.
If Harin could do the job – why not AKD or any others that seem to have the potential to clean the corruption and abuse – which is the syndrome that paralize everything in this lost island.
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mike / December 1, 2016
Hopeless
Why cant people support AKD to run for president?
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Jay / December 1, 2016
This is very sad episode in the region. Politicians making money out of the foreign aid given. Unless there is a Leader like late Lee Kwan Yu. This will remain as a story in Sri Lankan history.
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Nimal / December 1, 2016
Lee was a great man.
We need such people in Sri Lanka.
I wish I could get the vote to be the President then there will be day of reckoning fall but I doubt the present infrastructure will permit me just as the present governor of Jakarta is trying to clean that country which has a great potential. He is a very brave person but he knows his days are numbered in this life nevertheless he is giving his best. His name is Had hock. They have put the hired Jihadists to destroy his campaign to clear up that country.
So we need another Ad Hock in SL.
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KA Sumanasekera / December 1, 2016
Mahapola Professor Wije was crying in front of the Media Scrum yesterday,because Lotus Party Mahinde called him a Mahapola rogue, who helped UNP Mallika to siphon off LKR 1000 Million from the Kids Kitty.
Professor Wije vowed that he is going to hate Mahinde until Mahinde or himself carks it.
How sad..
And the Professor is going to get Mahinde behind Bars for at least 10 years for telling lies.
He must be really hurting.
But Mallika was cool..
But then Yahapalana Alsatian Rajitha was called a crook and a thief 14 times.But he is also as cool as a cucumber just like Mallika.
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The Oracle / December 1, 2016
Our “politicians” are a total disgrace . In a country where more than half the population live on less than US$ 2 per day , this kind of highway robbery must not be allowed to continue .
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Barus / December 1, 2016
Glad to hear this fact. So what have you all done to recover that loss? just creating sensation in the media. The bottom-line is that we are governed by a set of people who are either incapable of putting things right or are following the same path as the last regime.
Same Old Story day in and day out.
Where is the justice in the Thajudeen case? It is not even spoken about these days. Lasantha , Eknaligoda are all names we heard before this regime came to the seat, NOT ANYMORE.
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max / December 1, 2016
The failed politician, LGBT Managala is zero compare to Gota. His ‘Gota-Bhaya’ syndrome has no cure. In short, Managala Samare is a CURSE not only to the country but to the whole mankind!
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HeenbabaSEEYA / December 1, 2016
Are u embarraced ?
No worries, billions grabed by them can definitely give you guys a better life for 20 years.
MAX – why not you try to change your Punnaku ?
Sure, you CAN try Glyphosat free Punnakku to turn you a sane one. Just tell me your thoughts, I can send you them from EU.
Greetings from freezing Cologne/Germany
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gamini / December 1, 2016
Max, so are you, a CURSE who bum sucked MR to elect him as President for your own benefit and now you are sulking for having lost out. We know why you hated Ranil and instead supported a Crook and a Murderer MR. Why MR and family is not indicted is one thing, but the fact they have clearly committed murder and robbed the country is all clear to any sane person except you dumb lot. The irony is how you buggers still try to suppress these issues and prop MR, hoping you can have another term of office to enjoy life. What wishful thinking?
Go on DREAMING as you have nothing else to do in your dotage.
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HeenbabaSEEYA / December 2, 2016
Hi Gamini,great to read from you. We still remember how you worked hard in the process of chasing away the Rajapkashes. We all worked for that here and anywhere I had the chance to do so. There, I even thought all the gossips spread on RW and Unprs were the truth. Today I know as also some profs openly say- it is the upta men in the ruling consensul coalition seem to be standing the on the way.
“The irony is how you buggers still try to suppress these issues and prop MR, hoping you can have another term of office to enjoy life”
It is just average representing by MAXEs are stupid idiots. They have not the least feeling about the values of a society. To be honest I never expected current DUO to make wonders grasping the real nature of the average mind sets.
Last time time travelled to the country- just 6 months ago,I was still listening to fools that stood by Rajaakshes just becasue it was he who brought SOUTHERN high way into a reality. ::: NO matter human rights violationor drug trafficking had reached to all appalling levls- they I got on with (teachers, southern people, some are even professionals) all were still intoxicated by Rajapakshe mania…. I now believe it isthe MEDIA mafia fed all wrongful information to gulliable mind sets that way. Even today they continue doing so. That is the real problem of the day.
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Douglas / December 1, 2016
I said in my comment: “This is hide and seek game”. Today GR has denied this story and termed it as “mud slinging”. It is NOW only, the Washington based Sri Lanka Mission has been asked to inquire and report on this expenditure of a house rental. So how come the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated the amount of expenditure (rent, improvements plus utilities) that was paid to the owner of the house? This is nothing new; because many Ministers utter irresponsible and unverified facts in order to gain publicity and have fallen flat after the true facts come to light. Yet still no such person admits or apologizes for the mistakes. That is our CULTURE.
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Mallaiyuran / December 1, 2016
“ This is nothing new; because many Ministers utter irresponsible and unverified facts in order to gain publicity“
Can’t they go to court like the way they went and challenged the Mig Case? When they saw Sumanthiran, then things started to backtrack. Is That right?
EPDP also went to court against Uthayan. That is still dragging. Against M.A.Sumanthiran is the Villain.
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Lanka Watch / December 1, 2016
It took more than two years for the treasury to find out that MR.spent
Rs. 2.3 Billion on family travel and spent Rs. 28 million on payment of rent for a house used by Gota’s son, during the period 2012-2014.It is not clear whether the son vacated the house on time and the current
Govt. continued to pay the rent for the empty house. What a joke is this. Why the minister in charge of the treasury did not pounce on the officials who made the payments and did not report the payments to respective ministers on time as amounts paid are not small amounts.
This is the very same minister who cried foul saying that there was a coup planned to capture power immediately after the general election and the claim had a natural death. These stories that come from the ministers from time to time are just distractions from actual happen-
ings in the country and people should not get excited over these
feelers sent periodically.
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Nimal / December 2, 2016
Don’t know whom to believe.
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Native Vedda / December 1, 2016
Douglas
“This is nothing new; because many Ministers utter irresponsible and unverified facts in order to gain publicity and have fallen flat after the true facts come to light. Yet still no such person admits or apologizes for the mistakes. That is our CULTURE.”
Please remember the politicians enjoy special privileges and are blessed with bullet-proof thick skin and amnesia.
Nothing will hurt them.
South Asians “DO NOT APOLOGISE especially the politicians because they are right, perfect and don’t make mistakes all the time.
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Mallaiyuran / December 1, 2016
There are news IGP Comedian openly promised to a telephone caller on the stage of a meeting in Ratnapura that he is not going to arrest certainly people.
These people should be deported to Timbuktu, Sahara and Siberia. They should not see the light and breath the air of the civilized world.
Is this a government or gang of Alibaba?
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Buddhist Taliban From Myanmar / December 1, 2016
I’d like to thank our Sinhala Buddhist bretheren in Lanka for teaching us the final solution to the ethnic problem. In our country of Burma we are today enacting similar policies against Islamic-Bengali terrorists who are posing an existential threat our Buddhist sons of the soil.
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Common Sense / December 2, 2016
Dear Mangy,
You cannot deceive everybody. Why did you not come out with this before? You were the FM since 2015 Jan and it is nearing 2 years. Don’t tell me that you did not know about it all this time? Although politicians sling mud at each other in public, privately they are good buddies. Tell me mangy, is it that Jarapassa did not accede a request of yours, which I must say that still that scoundrel is still in control of certain things (such as relationship with China) that you are coming out with this now?
Mangy, if you are sincere, at least catch Jarapassa by the neck and throw him to Jail, if you cant take the man to the gallows and execute the king of robbers, instead of jabbering about his misdeeds and you try to be another famous actor.
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Vanguard / December 2, 2016
This travel was all officially approved by the President himself, so it’s OK.
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bimal / December 4, 2016
Are we to still to believe what this Homosexual FM is telling?
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Mickey C. / December 5, 2016
Why is this different from any other Political family. The saying ” if the spoon handle faces you, serve yourself.” One must also remember that when Heads of State travel, they pay for accommodation and such at the Country they visit’s currency. With the Rupee being so low in value, it wouldn’t be difficult to add up to the said amounts.
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Nihal / December 6, 2016
Once again these are accusations by the government. until proven otherwise, these ministers have to stop making comments/judgements! All these are done in the aim of tarnishing ones credibility. Maybe he did steal, or do these, but how come the government can make these accusations without starting an investigation and in addition, until the investigation is complete, how come ministers are giving such statements? Shouldn’t there be a legitimate body that does this? like the police???
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Noorsaaly / December 7, 2016
Every sane human being will be subject to divine accountability for good and evil actions. Everything present in this world is short lived. Whether it is human or any other creature, none can survive on the surface of the earth forever. There are clear signs in this for everyone to realize that there is Someone Who is controlling all that is happening in the entire universe, and no doubt that Supreme Being is of Allah SWT. It is also a common sense that the one who creates something first time, it can surely make it again, as in the case of human inventions and innovation. That is why the Almighty Lord says in the Holy Quran:
“Allah – there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allah in statement.” [Quran, 4: 87]
The Prophet (PBUH)
“The son of Adam will not pass away from Allah until he is asked about five things: how he lived his life, and how he utilized his youth, with what means did he earn his wealth, how did he spend his wealth, and what did he do with his knowledge.” (Tirmidhi)
All those who fear this terrible day, when everyone will be assemble and the Lord of the Worlds will question every one of us. On that day, there will be no kinship, friendship, relationship, everyone will be busy with himself, fear will grip every soul for what it earned. Therefore every sound mind will go back and mend his/her ways to please the Creator Almighty Lord and live a life of piety to gain the Pleasure of the Creator. Do not waste time in accusing one and another by passing judgement. The true judge is our Creator Almighty Lord Allah.
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