President Maithripala Sirisena‘s daughter Chathurika has turned his passionate pledge of putting an end to nepotism and family bandyism on its head when she dragged state officials with her on a visit to villages in Welikanda, Polonnaruwa.
Chathurika Sirisena stated to the media that she had not come ‘just to show face with an entourage’, but had come instead to share her father’s dream in helping to solve the problems of the people. She added that this is why she was accompanied by state officials.
She is reported to have visited Mahawelitenna, Sinhapura, Dimbulana, Perakumyaya and Kudapokuna during this ‘fact finding mission’.
“She has every right as a citizen to go anywhere in Sri Lanka and talk to anyone who is ready to talk to her, but Chaturika Sirisena has no legal status to warrant escort by government servants including police officers,” good governance activist Chinthaka Perera told Colombo Telegraph.
Maithripala Sirisena, during the media conference where he announced that he would be running for President stated vehemently that one of the reasons for him contesting for the Presidency was to put an end to nepotism and family bandyism.
Meanwhile when Colombo Telegraph contacted the President’s Deputy Director Media Sunil Jayasekara to clarify if Chathurika has been given a portfolio in her daddy’s government, said that as far as he knows she holds no governmental position.
Thilan / September 7, 2015
Sri Lanka has 90+ cabinet ministers and 225 elected parliamentarians who are supposedly there to resolve problems facing the country – including rural poverty. While this girl’s intentions should be applauded, she is an un-elected individual with no mandate apart from being her father’s daughter. Any of her programs to “save the world” should be funded by private resources (her family’s money, donations etc) rather than the State. Support from public officials etc., should not exceed what is given to other NGOs who are doing similar activities. Sri Lanka has seen enough consequences of letting the lucky sperm of politicians use state resources. However good the intentions may be at first, it always ends in abuse. It was President Maithri himself who said the “Country does not need a King (and Princes and Princesses by extension), but a President”. It’s time for him to listen to his own advice.
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max / September 7, 2015
When NR do this it is bad but when CS do this it is good. Thats the logic for ‘yahapalana’ cheering squad! Paw
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John / September 9, 2015
What NR did ?
…Night Car Races,
…Billion Dollar waste & …Corruption,
…entertaining Under world..
…easily passing LAW COLLEGE finals..??
What he didn’t ? helping needy & poor, upholding democracy, rule of law
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Truth / September 7, 2015
President must understand the needs & wants of the people in his electorate, but he has no time to spare to visit his electorate adequately.
His daughter appears to be the ideal candidate. She should be formally appointed as a coordinating secretary, to carry out this function.
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Sri-Krish / September 7, 2015
Amarasiri
I was really disappointed with your response.
It is not the persons but the system that is at fault.
A lot of us blamed not Mahinda for all the nepotism and corruption.
Now we have been vindicated
It was the executive presidential system that was at fault.
That was the reason why we advocated complete abolition of the Executive Presidential System rather than having piecemeal amendments and to replace it with a West Minister type Parliamentary System.
Maithiripala proves the old adage- Power Corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Was Maithiripala genuine in his commitment in abolishing executive presidency?
Is there a way out?
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punchinilame / September 7, 2015
This is the thin end of the wedge – sri lankan cultrual poitical style of the times.
I would not be surprised if MY3 stands for a 2nd Term, as to satisfy the cries of his
voters – his media people have already laid the foundation for such a move. Power
corrupts…
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Amarasiri / September 8, 2015
Sri-Krish
“I was really disappointed with your response.”
You should be disappointed with the Politicians, much more than Amarasiri’s responses.
“That was the reason why we advocated complete abolition of the Executive Presidential System rather than having piecemeal amendments and to replace it with a West Minister type Parliamentary System.”
We Had That from 1948 to 1972 and 1978. The National Problem, the Tamil National Problem, became worse.
Then we had the Executive Presidential system, from 1978 to 2011 and Mahinda increased his powers.
Ms reduced his powers, but not completely.
It will take more work to fix the issue.
Neither the Westminster nor the Presidential system solved the National problem. This is going to take some time.
Remember, Robe was not built in a day.
The Paras, all the Paras, are still trying to build Lanka, the Land of native Veddah Aethho.
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Mason / September 7, 2015
MR and MS. First is same, the second follows the first – S comes after R in English alphabet sequence. So, doing what MR did is only second nature. UNP keep watch and prevent it.
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tomy / September 7, 2015
Anybody can go around the country and do social service. It does not matter who that person is as far as people accept that person. So, please stop wasting time on publishing such report what are not worthy of reading. If people do not approve Maithree’s daughter, they will not come and meet her.
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tishan / September 7, 2015
Any body can do social work with their own money. This is the begining of a female Namal.
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Sacredthoughts / September 8, 2015
There is no wrong if Namal behaved well. He should have his rights a lanken citizen. WHat mattered was that his father allowed him and the siblings to abuse the lanken society. There MR adminsitration should be made accoutable for that.
What is wrong with any offsprings becoming future politicians of the country – if they would behalve in compliance with prevailing laws and systems ?
Why should they be prevented for their rights ?
I really dont think in the today -newly environment, UNP led govt will allow any incident to be repeated with the oversee of JVP and TNA.
I have the feeling today s situation will work for an optimal govrnance actually. Ruling party will nt be able to do whatever they feel right – to the manner MR mastered it -since the opposition even if those thugs would have been neglected, but JVP and TNA would all along criticise the deeds of the rulers.
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baludeen / September 7, 2015
her [Edited out]
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balusiyadoris / September 7, 2015
baludeen:
[Edited out]
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Paul / September 7, 2015
“I’m very sorry that this has happened. I have told all my family that something like this must never happen again. We must be above MR’s political antics and we must be seen to be above them”
If Maithri said something like that, he would do himself, the Government and the country a lot of good.
PS “I have also asked my brother to resign from the SLT Chairmanship I gave him!”
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Rajiv / September 7, 2015
Paul,
Keep dreaming. When he was a Minister, MS protected his son from going to jail for beating up the policeman Waidyaratna’s son.
If you expect anything different, you are delusional. At the end of his first term, MS will insist that the people want him to go for a second term so he could complete his “vision” for the country.
If the CJ fiasco(firing Mohan Pieris) and the PM fiasco(appointing Ranil PM while there was a legitimate PM in office) is anything to go by, God help Sri Lanka
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Sinhala_Man / September 8, 2015
I still trust Maithri.
At worst he only prevented his then adolescent son being jailed (a relatively innocent young guy being put in prison would normally end up in his being turned in to a real life-long criminal owing to being forced to associate with IRC types). Maithri did not condone; in fact nobody has challenged the fact that the son got chastised at home.
Obviously, we have no personal knowledge of any of this. Whither Sri Lanka? That will always be a valid question. Democracy is an unsatisfactory system. Eternal vigilance necessary!
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Bookie Pala / September 8, 2015
“appointing Ranil PM while there was a legitimate PM in office”
But the legitimate PM in office was too busy organising drugs shipments by the containerload with his son.
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Paul / September 9, 2015
Rajiv, read what I wrote again. I expect nothing good from these clowns. I expect Sirisena to find some excuse for his second term soon. Probably “Parliament have asked me and I must listen to them” kind of crap. Parliament & President scratching each other’s backs.
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Ajantha / September 7, 2015
I bet with anyone that Maithreepala is not going to leave presidency in 4 years. he will contest again and again. He will say the public and his MPs want him to contest. His only obstacle will be MR and Maithree very well knows that he cant compete with MR and MS will find a way out. All these people have their own agendas. MS has his own, Ranil has something else and wicked faced Chandrika has her won. No one cares for the country. Sad. Poor people and poor Sri Lanka
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Ekada / September 7, 2015
This is My3’s intention to groom his next generation to
enter the Parliament, just like any other politician.
Just see how she talks like a pretend leader.
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Sue / September 7, 2015
They are all the same corrupt. Preaching one thing and practising another. The fools who voted for them will have to pay the price.
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assupisela / September 7, 2015
I may definitely not in lines of My3 and his motives. My hero is former president MR no need to give any reasons as we all know what he has done to our country/nation. Coming in to present President’s daughter visit to very much isolated villages in Polonnaruwa district to solve problems of their own is a good move, why not villages go to see her listen to her because she is non other than President’s daughter first time I saw her in these photos she looks young educated matured who has the courage and leadership I think ” way to go Chaturika” carry-on your March help theses people I have visited many of these exact same places mid 80 ‘ s these people are very kind hard working mainly Sinhalese less fortunate people with golden hearts. Any one need to help them should be encouraged do not stop her March make her the embassador in Polonnaruwa district these people need help.
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Yasin / September 7, 2015
Chaturika Sirisena’s entry into a non political but social activity is welcome.
At least she can see and report first hand directly to the C-in-C (her dad)
who can turn things into good action based on these reports (from none other his daughter).
Being the daughter of the President must not be seen as a crime by the people.
Wherever she is visiting will only bring good tidings and people must appreciate
and understand what is good and what is bad.
Sadly, our nation is such that even if one does anything good is seen negatively.
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Liswom / September 7, 2015
MS categoricaally stated during the Presidential campaign that he would under no circumstances bring his children or his siblings to politics or public office. He has now broken his promise. It looks he is grooming his daughter to enter politics. His brother is already holding Chaimanship of a profit making government institution. Please practise what you preached Mr President.
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chimpa / September 7, 2015
It may be before the appointment letter comes she has started work. Anyway she looks a capable lady, but need to get the legal status to start work.
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moiez / September 7, 2015
So what if presidents daughter goes and find out the peoples difficulties there is nothing wrong visiting villagers and inquiring about the peoples needs and she can report to her dad and he the president will take immediate action.Even the president don’t have time to visit each and every villages coz the President has more things to do yes if he can appoint her daughter as a coordinating officer she will do her job .Why the people can’t understand when she is doing something good for the people ohhhhh come on Sri Lankans join hands together and solve the problems what ur facing.
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Upul / September 7, 2015
If helping the poor people is her honest idea, she would have started this long time ago. How come this idea suddenly came in to her mind? I think there is some hidden agenda in this sudden kindness towards the poor people.
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Sue / September 7, 2015
she can do whatever she wants using her own money and not with an entourage which the taxpayer will have to pay. This Brazen sly eyed back stabber talks about good governance….aping humility, he is cunning and devious at heart. Next he will bring his band of the family thugs and give them important posts’, no wonder he was not in favour of the 19th amendment. He is glorying in his Presidentship. I hope one day MR returns.
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Real Peace / September 7, 2015
CT deleted my posting at September 7, 2015 at 3:31 am. I had only enquired whether the person we are discussing and debating is married or single. If she is married she is essentially not under the protection of her President Father, but her husband.
The same CT went on to write about sexed up story about Prageeth Ekneligoda’s extra marital affair!!
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selva / September 7, 2015
Chaturika must be congratulated for her mission. She is not a high-flying girl crawling from pub to pub, club to club abusing her position as the daughter of the President is pre-occupied so what is harm in his daughter taking on some public work. I think she must be recognised as a co-ordinating secretary, then these questions mau not arise.
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George De Silva / September 8, 2015
Why does the daughter of the president have to poke her nose in to these matters?
This is none of her business, and i wonder if My3 is asleep?????
Lankan family politics is such a laugh.
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Just a citizen / September 8, 2015
She looks very much like the father in the 3rd picture.
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Funlover / September 9, 2015
Is it bad to be legitimate?
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Sri-Krish / September 8, 2015
Amarasiri,
”You should be disappointed with the Politicians”
Yes! Why not!
We are already disappointed with the politicians!
Politicians are politicians!
This action of our President is the latest example!
The civil society should be eternally vigilant!
The civil society should play the role of a watchdog to prevent nepotism, corruption and abuse of rule of law and to ensure good governance!
If the civil society keep silent, worse things will happen in the future.
We have to build up institutions to safeguard the interests of the people from the bureaucrats and the politicians.
It tis not that the executive presidency or the west minister system is per-see good or bad, it is the caliber of people who man them and the check and balances in built in the system?
The national problem is entirely different and even here the civil society could play a crucial role
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Chaminda Arse / September 8, 2015
For alll you admirers……just give her a year and youll soon find horns growing above those ears.
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Shane / September 8, 2015
my3 appointed his own brother kumarasiri as chairman of Telecom; isn’t it nepotism. His other brother Dudley was made Basnayake Nilame of a prominent devala. Don’t trust the bastard for 1 minute please
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Kusuma / September 8, 2015
looks like all the people at the meeting are Muslims
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Perera YY / September 8, 2015
there is a talk that maithree got chathurika[Edited out]
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Mrs De Mel / September 8, 2015
We don’t want her
This is exactly how Namal baby started
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Bensen Berner / September 8, 2015
It is indeed a very delicate situation for Chathu with all her enthusiasm to be useful. She has to be restrained. With the instances of abject abuses, corruption and the crimes practised by the former first sons she has to be careful lest she undermines her father’s position. It is best that she leaves her father to deal with these situations. It is indeed a pity that the typical servile Sri Lankan public servants make it possible for her to act as she does. Bensen
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Hadi sheriff / September 9, 2015
As long as she don’t abuse state resource & power welcome aboard for social work.
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