Release of records of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) naming those owing unpaid electricity bills over Rs 500,000/= (Rupees Five Hundred Thousand) upon a directive handed down by Sri Lanka’s Right to Information Commission on 3rd January 2023, has disclosed an ex-President/Prime Minister, several Ministers, ‘favoured’ domestic consumers and tri-services/police as defaulters.
This information has come to light in a period when electricity bills of the ‘ordinary’ Sri Lankan people have shot up skyhigh, with red light notices by the CEB being routinely issued and disconnection of electricity following if bills of any small amount are not paid promptly.
The information released by the CEB show ex-President/Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as owing a sum of Rupees 722,216.77 in unpaid electricity bills as at November 2022, which is the date up to which the balances have been currently maintained. The records were handed over in front of the RTI Commission after months of CEB refusing to give the information to ‘Thunhela’ National Organisation led by Ven Omalpe Kassapa Thero, saying that ‘personal details’ of individuals will be made public.
On 3rd January 2023, RTI Commissioners Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena, Jagath Liyana Arachchi and AM Nahiya refused to accept the submission of the CEB for further time and strictly ordered that the information be released by 25th January 2023. The CEB was censured for its failure to adhere to the Right to Information Act.
The Colombo Telegraph has looked at the list handed over by CEB to ‘Thunhela’ and found several other politicians included. These include Rishard Bathudeen (Rupees 970,128,82); KDMC Bandara (Rupees 856,561.01), RMCB Ratnayake (Rupees 731,405.13), P Harison (Rupees 577,415.12).
Meanwhile social activists who gave the list to Colombo Telegraph point out that these politicians, who owe payments to CEB amounting to several lakhs of rupees, inclusive of Mahinda Rajapaksa are named as ‘Hon’ in the CEB documents. Referring to these individuals as ‘Hon’ show the slavish mentality of the CEB officials, they say.
A ’secretary to the President‘ (address at No 19, Malalasekera Mawatha) is further named as owing a sum of Rupees 527,755.94 while a ‘secretary to the Prime Minister owes a sum of Rupees 1,114,127.28). Other than these, various offices of the tri-services and the police (despite large components of the national budget being reserved for them) owe bills of several hundred thousands to the CEB. The CEB list shows an individual named as an ‘inspector’ (address at Rest House Road, Kulyapitiya) owing close to Rupees 2.4 million in unpaid amounts.
Earlier, profit earning companies like Iconic Development, Dialog, Nawaloka had earlier been listed as majorly due in their massive electricity bill payments through information previously released by LECO before the RTI Commission. That list also included the tri-services and the police.
The total of money owing to the CEB by politicians, ‘favored’ officials and domestic consumers comes to more than Rupees Sixty Million while the arrears of a great number of security establishments, government entities together with private companies named by LECO in its separate consumers list, total to more than ten times that amount.
Consumer groups and ‘Thunhela’ have vowed to take the CEB to court on refusal of their duty to enforce payment by ‘favoured’ consumers while Sri Lanka is undergoing a severe financial crisis with the Treasury drained dry. ‘We will take poor consumers whose electricity has been cut off for inability to pay nominal sums in arrears, to show the huge injustice’ they told Colombo Telegraph.
Pundit / February 7, 2023
It is also a known fact that there are no power cuts in certain parts of Colombo where some very “honourables” live.
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Native Vedda / February 7, 2023
Pundit
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“Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ministers, Tri-Services/Police, Corporates Owe Massive Amount In Electricity Bill Payments, RTI Disclosures Show ”
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Are the Sanghas aware of it?
Are the voting plebs aware of it?
Are the so called educated aware of it?
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Mahila / February 8, 2023
NV,
Sangha, deeply considering the next move after the sitting down move at Flag raising ceremonies, how to enhance Buddhism everywhere and arrears have no relevance!! Thye intend burning the candle at both ends, so the suffering comes to END faster!!!
Electorate or Plebs don’t consider arrears important especially by politicians and VIP’s, because of forthcoming election, smacking LIPS and are ecstatic of the GOODIES, forthcoming come March!!!
The educated are wise and emancipated and wish to act DUMB and DEAF and be more BLIND so that they enjoy the fruits of the exercise, without further pain on the purse!!!
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leelagemalli / February 7, 2023
Mahinda Rajapaksa is doubtlessly the deadly cancer of this nation.
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At least today, people should realize it. If this man steped down from POLITICs in 2015, things would have gone all good for this nation.
Yahapalanaya was imposibble because this man led group did not allow it to move forward.
Those who know it know today. What is seen today, the dog has allowed GOOD GOVERNANCE to return. Harsha,late Mangala, Ranil, Eran, Walgama, and all predicted there will be no wayout to this country, if we would nnot go to IMF….. but dogs did not allow it happening.
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leelagemalli / February 10, 2023
This MaRa and his supporters( artists, media men and business men) did not allow anyone to rule the nation with the misunderstandings of the media at all levels.
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. Today it has become a circle and is similar to Baira lake where the land is stagnant. If a school principal fails to do the job, all other staff members can respond. Also, if the head of state is a fool, the country cannot be developed. Unsustainable debt from China Exim Bank or other banks has made the country unsustainable. why on earth the sons of bitch did that ? What advice they took from others ?
This can happen if leaders are blind. It was the same with Sri Lanka. However, it has made stupid people eternally stupid, even today, unable to grasp it.
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SJ / February 7, 2023
P
Near major hospitals (state & private) there has been no power cut, even without any “honourables” in the vicinity.
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Mallaiyuran / February 8, 2023
Near major hospitals (state & private) there has been no power cut, even without any “honourables” in the vicinity
Map please! Map needs to be marked with the residents profile to ensure that there were no Mao lickers nearby, to believe it. If no map is in hand, we can wait until to draw a new one tonight.
We heard a lot of propaganda of Chinese Communism until China outrightly refused to write off any loan for its lickers. Evil learned in the Colombo Pong Ching deal that Where is China in its puppets’ maps, after paying a $250M penalty. Then on Pahatu Tower the penalty is another $15M. Then 5 villages Hangbangtota land to take back the port, $15 per Covid 19 vials. $8 Million to take back the Hunu ship…………………………. Still people’s banks have not been taken from the Chinese black list………. Mao is not that sweet, but a red chilly hot guy for his lickers, I guess.
Jayawewa Chinese Communism!
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Mahila / February 8, 2023
SJ,
“Near major hospitals (state & private) there has been no power cut”
That is a NATIONAL NEED AND PEOPLE MUST BE OUT OF THEIR MIND TO ENFORCE A POWERCUT’!!! Think CEB is sensible in their actions!!!
On the contrary, definitely “illuminating the positions of the locations of the Honourable ones” does not seem that sensible!!! What about the nefarious meetings that happen with the spell of darkness, such as in 3rd and 4th quarter 2018!!! By twins of BLUE FRONT SPROUTING from Wijerama and CONFERRING at Keppitipola, used to meet, so that none knew that long after the Appe feed extermination, they were enjoying the meet in darkness!!!
THINK OF THE DAYS OF 1971 AND 1987-89, WHEN THE INTERNAL LIGHTS OF THESE PLACES WERE DOUSED, EXCEPTION OF BLINDING MOTORIST PASSING BY “FLOOD AND SPOT LIGHTS” to identify the insurgents or terrorists as the case may be, whether they are Southern or Northern type!???
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chiv / February 8, 2023
Mahila, “near hospitals there has been no power cuts”. Hope, people without electricity for hours will be very much relieved to know that. An advise to potential house buyers in Colombo , look for one, right next to a hospital. You may have the benefit of uninterrupted electricity and access to nearby hospital because you may need both soon. And for those sellers, increase the sale price by 25 to 33 %.
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Blabla / February 7, 2023
Absolutely right. I live somewhere in Colombo and have NEVER experienced power cuts.
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caqof / February 8, 2023
Are we going to see all these people come out with a begging bowl under the Pettah Bodi Tree?
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davidthegood / February 7, 2023
Many need to be sacked from their jobs as of paralysed CEB leader, MR former president, Bathudeen and disgraceful and ill disciplined police and triservices, and all others who do not pay bills whether mentioned here or not. They will kill Vasantha Mudalige and the IUSF aragalaya who protest even peacefully, while being invaded by evil killers and wicked house burners. Abolish this executive presidency dictatorship, which will be even illiterate and worse in the near future, leave alone in an unseen 2050. A PM and a smaller grossly overperked parliament is sufficient for this island nation to make it productive using nature gifted resources.
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cugan / February 7, 2023
For Muhinda this electricity bill is nothing they used the uber helicopters first in the world we all paid for that.
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What Gota go home ,we have to pay for his home too,every five years we have to find houses for our failed prez to locate in Colombo 7 with vechials with Rajavirous
What system keep.as it is will have fire crackers and kiri bath
Jai weya Sadu sadu sadu budhu saranai
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chiv / February 7, 2023
Add this to acquired expenses in maintaining these con men / women. 1.5 Billion for Mahinda, 1.0 Billion for Dinesh, 4 Billion for Ranil, 3 Billion for Gotha , this includes their staff, electricity, fuel, food, holidays pleasure trips . . . . . Cabinet members too are maintained. On top of that, they get free meals in parliament for warming chairs. The common man who pays to maintain them, is without electricity 4 to 8 hours, without/restricted fuel supply, lack of health services, soon food too will be restricted.
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Raj-UK / February 7, 2023
CEB is probably the most corrupt service providers of the govt.
A few years ago, I was selling my property in SL & the buyer needed the high voltage electric cables that were going across the property, re-rerouted to maximise the land potential. The plan was to add another pylon, so that the cables are routed above the boundary wall instead of across the land. Knowing the indifference of govt. institutions, I said it was impossible but the broker, not wanting to lose his commission, agreed to speak to CEB & subsequently told me that it could be arranged for Rs 5m ‘all inclusive’. I was not prepared to pay cash to an unknown third party, therefore, agreed to pay in full after the installation is completed but would pay the Elect. board cost initially. The broker vouched for me & I was given the CEB costing, Rs 1.8m, which I paid to CEB directly & obtained a receipt. When I questioned about the balance Rs. 3.2m, I was told that it had to be shared with the Area Manager & Engineers, hence, the high cost. I can understand a small percentage of the cost to expedite things but in this case, 177% bribe, to do their job for which they receive a salary, is unbelievable.
Cont.
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Raj-UK / February 7, 2023
Cont.
Prior to selling the property, in 2010, I was demolishing part of my old house & needed the fuse box moved to the adjacent wall, therefore, the elect. supply had to be switched off. When I made the request at the CEB office, I was told by the Clark that an exact date cannot be determined & put me in touch with those ‘doing the job’. They said they will come immediately for Rs 10,000 & though I am against such dealings, time was crucial & I had no choice. A crew of 4 came to shut off the supply & move the fuse box & left 10 min. later, each Rs. 2000 richer (presumably including the clerk). Any wonder CEB is inefficient & losing money?
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SJ / February 7, 2023
That is the penalty for jumping the queue.
We pay such fees for receiving our NICs and passports in a hurry. It happens elsewhere too.
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Raj-UK / February 8, 2023
SJ
We pay the govt. or the institution for the express service, not to individuals who are paid a salary to do the work
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SJ / February 8, 2023
R-UK
If you paid outside the system, you are guilty of bribing and the officer is guilty of taking a bribe.
Why did you not report it to the department?
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Raj-UK / February 8, 2023
SJ
I don’t give bribes but in this case, I had no choice. This was extortion & by complaining, my work would get delayed. Sometimes, its a choice between standing by your principals or giving in, just to get the matter expedited.
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chiv / February 8, 2023
Raj UK, I remember your sour experience (CEB) from before and the same denial / stupid excuses too. It’s amazing to see consumers rushing to defend a dysfunctional system, isn’t it ?? I will give my experience with passport renewal. In Lanka you can get it in a day with extra payment and I believe soon the person may receive renewed passport by mail without going to passport office. I got my Lankan passport renewed in the U.S, by mail with in 4 to 6 weeks. Recently I got my U.S passport renewed in India, the same way. But now I’m told, person has to show up at the HC, to submit and again show up physically, to collect the renewed passport. (that is two long trips to HC from where we are). Staff says it may take three months to get renewed passport ????and it’s the passport holder’s responsibility, to keep checking the status. ( fee for renewal is > INR 25, 000)
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Raj-UK / February 8, 2023
chiv
It is the same in UK. The documents have to be handed in before 12 noon to the High Commission & the passport holder needs to be present. I can get a new UK passport by applying on line & handing over the documents to the local Post Office who will take copies, authenticate & submit them to the Home Office, all for £5 extra & the new passport will be posted to me within 10 days. The cost used to be about £35, if I remember correctly, cheaper than the renewal cost of a SL passport from UK.
Cont.
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Raj-UK / February 8, 2023
Cont.
Since I am unable to be at the High Commission at the given times on a working day, I decided to renew my passport in SL while on holiday. It then came to light that my old NIC was cancelled when I got my UK citizenship & had to apply for a new NIC before renewing my passport. I used to stay at my In-Law’s house when in SL but the grama sevaka of the area, who only works 3 days a week, refused to sign the application form as I had no permanent address in SL, since my name was not included in the electoral list of my in-law’s house.
How I finally managed to get the passport is another story but wouldn’t have bothered if not for intervention of friend with the right contacts. Unwanted bureaucracy & red tape leads to corruption at all levels. That’s the cancer that is killing this country.
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SJ / February 8, 2023
R-UK
Now you are talking.
” It then came to light that my old NIC was cancelled when I got my UK citizenship & had to apply for a new NIC before renewing my passport.”
One automatically forfeits SL citizenship when he is granted another (by way of passport).
You need to apply for dual nationality. Until you are awarded that neither your SL passport nor your NIC is valid.
It is fairly straightforward to get your dual nationality, but there are conditions. (There was a time when there was much obstruction on pretext of the war and related issues.) I helped someone with dual nationality processing by just following up, with no contacts to push or strings to pull.
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SJ / February 8, 2023
R-UK
I can tell you enough and more about what people who are longtime refugees in a neighbouring country go through in obtaining travel documents. Some just avoid travelling out because of the hassle.
British visa officers certainly are no angels. I can assure you that. (Have you not heard of bribery at the Home Office?)
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Raj-UK / February 8, 2023
SJ
I had dual nationality since 2000 but I was not informed that I had to reapply for the NIC. although I was aware that my SL port was invalid How is it that when I applied for a SL passport after getting my dual citizenship, the NIC details were not required? Was it because I applied from UK?
It is the absurdity of demanding a permanent address in SL from a non resident. In the end, by the intervention of a govt. officer, the gramasevaka was bypassed & I was able to get a NIC. It was pure harassment by the Gramasevaka, who, presumably, was looking for a bribe.
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Raj-UK / February 8, 2023
SJ
SL passport has no credibility anywhere in the world, therefore, SL passport holders are treated with disrespect. UK immigration officers are harsh to all third world country citizens & bribing them at border controls are unheard of.
In fact, some years ago, when crossing the Canadian / US border, the immigration officer seemed suspicious because my British passport stated that my place of birth was Colombo.
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old codger / February 8, 2023
Raj
Typical bureaucracy. Even having a passport is not proof of nationality. A passport is not renewable without an NIC. A “cancelled” NIC is not proof of residence. I have heard that renewing a passport at a SL mission abroad is much easier. But of course at a time convenient to them.
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Gus / February 7, 2023
I was at a function about 3 years ago and there where this sinhala doctor MOUTHING off about corruption in the land to which sinhala land professes the begging bowl Hindustan. TDespite bein a doctor educted he was a DUMB ASS it seems in his observation as he could not or would not – aware of the massive corruption in sinhala land that has resulted in its economy now REVERSED back to stage it was 75 years ago at the time of independence. Being a visitor out of respect to my host I kept my mouth shut.
My view is that sinhala land corruption is endemic cf to when Pirabakarn ruled the tamil home lands and it is my view that self determination is the best option for ceylon tamils to have no contagion from the endemic sinhala land corruption.
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chiv / February 8, 2023
Gus, haven’t you noticed , it’s not just your educated doctor host, we have a few doctorate here in CT too. (may be inborn or doing it for living).
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SJ / February 7, 2023
H
“… economy now REVERSED back to stage it was 75 years ago at the time of independence.”
There are plenty who think that it was a great time then. Is this not cause to celebrate?
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SJ / February 7, 2023
Sorry, G
There are plenty who think that it was a great time then. Is this not cause to celebrate?
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Svenson / February 7, 2023
Gus, glad to hear that there are no corrupt Tamils in Sri Lanka. BTW what planet are you from?
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Native Vedda / February 7, 2023
Svenson
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“Gus, glad to hear that there are no corrupt Tamils in Sri Lanka. “
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Come on where are you living?
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When you have a corrupt system, corrupt rulers, corrupt establishment, corrupt functionaries, corrupt police, corrupt that corrupt this, corrupt religious establishment, ……. in addition those functions are being superimposed by racism, and what else do you expect Tamils do?
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Among crooks, murderers and racists the rest of the people somehow have to survive. What do to you expect the people to do irrespective of their race, religion, region, gender, ………………….
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SJ / February 7, 2023
This was the utterance:
“My view is that sinhala land corruption is endemic cf to when Pirabakarn ruled the tamil home lands and it is my view that self determination is the best option for ceylon tamils to have no contagion from the endemic sinhala land corruption.”
*
It is a laughable claim.
It is even more laughable to defend it.
Some secret love for Pirabakarn I wonder!
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SJ / February 8, 2023
So many offended feelings!
Was it for VP or for his secret admirer?
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Mallaiyuran / February 7, 2023
Isn’t “Zero Casualty” exclusively Sinhala Buddhist Language? If you say now Tamils to useing that Sinhala Buddhist Language, then the Sountindian conversion like Svenson, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias , Don Stephen, Junios Richard, Siri Mao, Percey… etc have converted some more Tamils as Sinhala Buddhists. That is the reason.
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Mallaiyuran / February 7, 2023
There is 900 sovereign gold is decorating the dog pet of boy whose forefathers slept with lion and then murdered it.
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chiv / February 8, 2023
Mallai, why are people hunting for hidden treasures, when a dog is sitting right next to them ??? ( I love dogs, hope I don’t get a call from Blue Cross of India or PETA). If the dog is worth 900 sovereigns, how much worth is the owner ????
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Plato / February 7, 2023
The CEB was not providing the list of those big-wigs in Arrears.It was only after the RTI Commissioners came down hard that the CEB provided the list.So much for impunity.
The comments above by some readers also show that the CEB is also a corrupt organisation………..DISGRACEFUL!
CEB has arrears amounting to 60 Million.
LECO arrears amount to 10 times 60 Million.
And here we have an Executive President celebrating Independence of 75 years.
Independence of Arrears eh?
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Naman / February 7, 2023
It’s a shame that the Sinhala Patriots are not paying their electricity bills.
Gullible voters believe whatever these patriots utter. The public can not see through the empty words that they utter. The Rajapaksas promoted drug culture in the North and East to bring THEM down educationally and economically.
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cugan / February 8, 2023
Bangladesh is building NU plant far ahead of us India already is there
But we have the pride heritage of 2500 civilization tooth and the picks
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deepthi silva / February 8, 2023
Nawaloka,Dialog,Iconic exploiting the country in every way !
These public companies not paying for their electricity when the average citizen has to pay without a single default is unbelievable.
What is the quality of the management in these companies, simple rogues wearing coat and tie ?
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Native Vedda / February 8, 2023
deepthi desperate distressed silva
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“These public companies not paying for their electricity when the average citizen has to pay without a single default is unbelievable.”
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Well, why aren’t you looking at other high profile creditors, such as Mahinda Rajapaksa who owes Rupees 722,216.77, ……………………….?
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deepthi silva / February 10, 2023
Vedda I told you once I will not respond to a servant, you go and do service to Codger ,your master. I feel squeamish dealing with a man of lower status like you
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old codger / February 10, 2023
Native
DS is feeling squeamish!!
But that explains why she she vomits all over CT!!
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Native Vedda / February 10, 2023
deepthi desperate distressed silva
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“Vedda I told you once I will not respond to a servant, …..”
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I am sorry whom are you addressing to ?
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RBH59 / February 9, 2023
The country voted for him for this so having this power he fuse all electricity charges.
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