Sameera Manahara, a very close associate of Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who is also his Public Relations Officer announced his resignation today from his post to save the Minister from what he termed was ‘a well-planned conspiracy mooted by certain groups with vested interest to sling mud at the Minister and the Yahapalanaya government.’
In a letter addressed to Samaraweera today, August 8, 2017, Manahara who was arrested by police for allegedly possessing drugs said, “even though my innocence is clear and hence I was released on bail by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate, it is obvious there is an attempt to use this incident to tarnish your image. So, I will resign from my position as the Public Relations Officer until I am proven innocent in courts in this case.”
On August 5th, police arrested Manahara and several of his friends for the possession of cocaine, methamphetamine pills and hashish while they were travelling in a luxury jeep. One of Manahara’s friends had confessed to the police that the drugs belonged to him, and not the others, and subsequently, the friend who confessed was remanded, while Manahara and the rest of his other friends were released on bail. There were also reports in the media that the police was under immense pressure to release Manahara following his arrest.
Meanwhile, Samaraweera’s Media Secretary Asita Rajapakse in a statement said that various media websites were publishing baseless allegations against the minister to tarnish his image, when it was clear that the Minister’s Public Relations officer was not directly involved in the drug possession.
In 2015, allegations were thrown at Samaraweera due to his alleged ‘relationship’ with Manahara, where the finance minister, who was then the foreign minister, had taken Manahara to New York on an official trip to the US where he had spent time with him at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in New York. “Manahara was also my Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Ports and Aviation between 2004 and 2007. During my seven years in the Opposition he was one of my principal coordinators and campaign managers.” Samaraweera’s office then Told Colombo Telegraph.
Read the resignation letter below:
PointPonniah / August 8, 2017
Gay pride raves have lots of drugs and booze all the time. This man even went to USA with Mangala S and stayed in the same room. This was most likely done with an understanding. Gay pride is a big deal for the homosexual Colombo TGIF crowd. Investigate the closed Facebook group to see if it was a Colombo Homo party. Homo Raves use a lot of drugs. It is the normal thing in western nations. This boy went to USA at State expense and stayed at Four Seasons with Mangy. He also has traveled a lot with Mangy. Queer situation one might say in olde english eh? I can bet the STF DIG Latif will be transferred out for cracking down on this sort of thing. Very queer situation.
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Champa / August 8, 2017
This burro, Mangala is going too far.
When he was the Foreign Minister he paved the way for exiled LTTE cadre to gain dual citizenship. He granted saintship to GTF/SurenSurenthiran who were instrumental in keeping LTTE fundraising network intact. They were engaged in human smuggling/drug trafficking. While human smuggling is thwarted by many countries now, drug trafficking is soaring high with the patronage of Sri Lankan Ministers. Before, the most difficult task was to passing drugs through our Customs. But not anymore.
The biggest problem of the LTTE diaspora was making their black money moved. Ravi K relaxed foreign exchange control. PM introduced a new Land-Act making it super easy for any Tom, Dick and Harry to buy lands in Sri Lanka. Even citizenship was offered in exchange of black money aka investments. PM even tried to bring in an Act granting exiled IDPs who were residents in N/E voting rights, with an aim to appease and open the path for blacklisted LTTE diaspora to enter the country. Central Bank was totally controlled by Mahendran and Aloysius who had direct contacts with Rajaratnam who was one of LTTE’s biggest supporters. Even the present governor was a former Adviser to Rajaratnam.
In brief, Sri Lanka is controlled by LTTE diaspora through PM, Mangala, Ravi directly and some others indirectly.
They are ruining Sinhalese society too. Sinhalese youth are already under drug menace, some hard drugs and some designer-drugs. Not only that Sri Lanka is fast becoming a haven for drug trafficking with the gay-tronage of PM and Ministers. Useless opposition politicians are already in Ranil’s pocket. Sinhalese are now in a situation where a precipice in front, wolves behind. Sad.
Sad, but not discouraged, just bidding time.
At least we have one Sinhalese standing tall. The President!
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Native Vedda / August 8, 2017
Chamba
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“This burro, Mangala is going too far.”
While the other one is at home and minding/pimping your business, the oldest profession in the world.
When are you planning to hit your patriotic target and beat the Chinese competitors?
You must request the patriotic army commander to patriotically beat up the Chinese pimps and patriotically block your competitors business or patriotically beat up the punters.
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Champa / August 9, 2017
Drug trafficking was one of the main income sources of terrorists. With the formation of Yahapalanaya, arrival of drugs to Sri Lanka saw a disturbing rise. Therefore the involvement of LTTE diaspora cannot be ruled out.
There clearly is a drug cartel/s operating in the country under the patronage of government Ministers. Foreign Minister’s PRO is a drug supplier! A huge quantity of cocaine came in sugar containers not only once but three or four times which (sugar) were ordered by Commerce Minister from Brazil, a country famous for drug trafficking. The former Finance Minister himself once went to the Customs to ‘inspect’ cocaine in a sugar container. I don’t think he went to check any other ordinary containers ever. This is a government like no other!
India is one of the largest cocaine addicted countries and a world famous cocaine trafficking centre. Bengaluru is South India’s drug capital. Even illegal fishermen might not be innocent fishermen but drug dealers. There is a steady rise in drugs coming from South India.
I don’t know for sure but there could be a network involving South America – Nigeria – South India and latest Sri Lanka. The world is unable to penetrate aggressive business minded Nigerian drug lords and their cartels all around the world.
I believe Sri Lanka is still in the preliminary stage in becoming a drug trafficking centre. Therefore, some drastic and not very popular action have to be taken to nip the menace in the bud before it swallows the entire country.
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Native Vedda / August 9, 2017
Champa the practitioner of the oldest profession for patriotic reason:
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“Drug trafficking was one of the main income sources of terrorists. With the formation of Yahapalanaya, arrival of drugs to Sri Lanka saw a disturbing rise. Therefore the involvement of LTTE diaspora cannot be ruled out.”
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Well here is the source. Please read it yourself or ask your pimp Wimal Sangili Karuppan to read it for you:
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Excerpts
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MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake who last week in Parliament, raised the issue of the largest drug haul in Sri Lanka, queried how an official from the Prime Minister’s office sent a letter to the Customs Dept. requesting that the heroin container be released.
He said that the heroin valued at around Rs. 2,600 million, was considered the biggest detection of narcotics in the South Asian region.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/131208/news/dna-mp-queries-pms-office-connection-to-largest-drug-haul-in-sl-75807.html
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Champa the practitioner of the oldest profession for patriotic reason note the date December 08, 2013. Your pimp was not only part of the government but a thieving minister too.
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Leelawathie / August 9, 2017
Native Veddda@
wiegeht es Dir.. Unsere PUnnaku scheint mir nicht geholfen zu haben.
We sent them enough if they ought to change.
Mister even if Champa would continue his profession , he the kind of men would never see it right. So is the case with DJ or HLD from Australia.
We had some dogs, that ran only after heaps of extrements. The kind of dogs and their nature is very alike to that of CHAMPA; JIMSOFTY, SACHO and Kulasekara.. may well be all these men are generated by one single person.
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Samuel Jayaweera / August 9, 2017
Not to forget that MAFIA king himself abused state helicopter at the time DRUNG KIN PIN LANZA s premises were ambushed by police for an arrest.
Rajaakshe worked as a mediator with DRUG TRAFFICKERS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuggVAsudJ4&t=43s
So long his campaigns were finanzed by Drug dealers, nothing was investigated on them.
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Simon De Silva / August 9, 2017
Last time we sent PUNNAKU to Champa. That seem to have done nothing with his recover.
This time, we have to get him a good urologist – or proctocologist surely the manner he has been working for them should now be met with incontinences of various kind.
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Champa / August 10, 2017
Native Vedda
Leelawathie
Simon de Silva
Squeaky wheels like you get only the grease all the time but polite wheels get the best service.
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Native Vedda / August 10, 2017
Simon De Silva, Leelawathie
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Where did you send the Punnaku? You should have sent it to Champa the patriotic practitioner of oldest profession, C/O Pimping Wimal Sangili Karuppan Weerawansa, ….
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Raj / August 9, 2017
”At least we have one Sinhalese standing tall. The President!’
Bullshit. What has he done so far? He has a questionable past himself & his nepotism is pretty clear too. Just another uneducated President in the caliber of Premadasa, DB, Rajapakse. Not fit for purpose.
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Champa / August 10, 2017
Raj
What was President’s questionable past? And what about Nepotism? I don’t know any other Sirisena in SL politics.
Uneducated… hey? I am glad President is not educated as much as Ranil who rob banks, sell national assets, obtain commissions from bonds and other sales of lands and projects, betray his own army and betray the masses.
The educated PM and his educated UNP Ministers are the people who couldn’t save the economy, who are responsible for the downfall in every sector and who are the people who loot the country. Seriously, Sri Lanka will be better off without these educated fraudsters and educated robbers.
At least President Sirisena has the backbone to control them. I can forgive him for his lack of knowledge in the bond scam and Geneva Report as it happened in 2015 and as it seems that he never thought what Ranil is capable at – betraying his own country.
I want President Sirisena to stay strong despite the fact that the number of SLFP MPP on his side are small. Nothing will happen to him and his position as the President will be intact until 2020.
What Sri Lanka needs is people who genuinely love the country and who possess inherent intelligence, inherent wisdom and inherent practical knowledge in their blood, not on a paper.
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Native Vedda / August 8, 2017
PointPonniah
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” This man even went to USA with Mangala S and stayed in the same room. “
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Are you jealous of this man because Mangala didn’t take you to USA and shared his room with you? I find your hypocrisy amusing. I am told many Sri Lankans particularly the politicians go to Thailand, the sex capital of the world on state sponsored trips. Even G L Pieris went Thailand on several occasions. Many journalist were given free trips to Thailand, one even lost his wallet. It didn’t bother you at all.
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I suspect this has nothing to with morality and state finances but all to do with your burning bum caused by your envy towards this boy. Dip your bum in cold water and stay there for a while.
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Whats the matter with you?
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Justice & Fairplay / August 9, 2017
It is really disgusting that not one among those who have chosen to comment has seen the forthrightness of this young man in resigning forthwith, while there is an investigation going on. With that, he has delivered an object lesson and a strong message to bigger men in the government. Shame on them all!.
In my view Sameera’s action is exemplary. It must be hailed and celebrated, instead of being derided. It is a manifestation of the sickness in our minds that we fail to see the wood for the trees, and instead wallow in insults and innuendo which have no bearing on the main issue at all.
It is time Sri Lankan readership ALSO rose above the mediocrity and shallowness it loves to wallow in.
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Silva / August 9, 2017
Justice & Fairplay, Well said!
A lot of our politicians can learn from how the Minister has handled the situation.
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Silva / August 9, 2017
Looks like someone has created an incident to attempt to tarnish the name of Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera!?
Before jumping on his case think who would want to do such a thing and why!?
Use your brain instead of your emotions and get riled up by people who intend to use this incident in exactly that way…
It’s good to see that the Public Relations Officer in question has resigned immediately as he should.
Let the legal system work and look into the matter.
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PointPonniah / August 8, 2017
Being released on Bail is NOT proof of innocence. You are in the vehicle knowingly transporting lots of drugs for a Gay Rave. You are tacitly involved despite all your claims. Being Gay is one-thing being drug disseminators is another issue. Being Gay is private and personal but taking drugs for a Gay rave is a crime.
The STF men on searching the vehicle at Hotel Road found a pouch containing the Police identity card and an ATM card belonging the ASP. They also took into custody 3,000 milligrams of cocaine, 4,500 milligrams of narcotic tablets, 9,470 milligrams of hashish, 9,420 milligrams of Kush cannabis, 18 bottles of foreign liquor, 400 foreign cigarettes and two swords in the possession of the suspects.
Police commandos arrested four persons including a coordinating secretary attached to the Finance Ministry while they were transporting contraband for a beach party at Mount Lavinia on Saturday evening.
Colombo Telegraph is not reporting the whole story out of political correctness or friendship. If this were a Rajapakse or Ravi K’s coordinating secretary….BTW, what qualifications did this boy have besides sleeping in the same room on foreign trips including at Four Seasons to be coordinating secretary?
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shankar / August 8, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Native Vedda / August 8, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekere
Whats going on here? What is your take on Sameera Manahara? If the drugs are not for sale and exclusively for recreational purpose of the possessor why the hell the police was keen on arresting all of them.
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Oh man this is a police state. Now every one of us who travel by motor vehicle should make sure all the passengers and the driver are clean. I rather bicycle or walk.
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Where do you hide your joints, fix, …………….. and rest of the stock for resale?
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timbuttu / August 8, 2017
“”Where do you hide your joints, fix, …………….. and rest of the stock for resale?””
Of Course the viper has volume to swallow tons of substance.
when viper goes ravi k the cola kandayama goes for soho viper.- balancing powers like yankee rule of the world.
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K A Sumanasekera / August 9, 2017
Dear Native,……Manahara will be in Huggies before he reaches forty……….I will tell you more after work and Golf … i am in a hurry…….. Sorry mate…..
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Native Vedda / August 9, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekere
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“I will tell you more after work and Golf “
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No kidding. Its all right you can come back anytime after your usual service to MR. He needs someone to carry his clanking b***s. Someone got to do it.
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Ela kolla / August 9, 2017
“”When the boss is happy he is innovative like co sponsoring the UN resolution against us.””
and the boss the hidden hand none other than watti amma funding the clinton foundation. and woeing BTF/GTF.
werent you supporting the watti?
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Justice & Fairplay / August 9, 2017
Things cannot get lower than this.
Where is CT’s celebrated editorial policy?
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timbuttu / August 8, 2017
“”Colombo Telegraph is not reporting the whole story out of political correctness or friendship.””
Sadly the southern boy with the hijacked colombo name got cheesed once the viper won the race and soho mangalam said only hi &bye- kattaya te mottaya, ma-atara ataraman no kataragama. no, no.
Soho Mangala was the Broker for the raddala viper party to be back in power like a Sonia coup- still waters run deep.
remember raddala think different from the plebs!
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maalumiris / August 9, 2017
What is a “Gay Rave” ??? Is it a Rave where everyone is happy ? Does it differ from other types of Rave, like Sad Rave, Mad Rave and suchlike ?
DO they have these drugs in other types of Raves ? Or only the ones where people are happy ?
Do you wish you were invited ? and are sad that you were not ? Maybe you should attend a Sad Rave
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LAC3 (rtd) Buddhadasa / August 9, 2017
Maalumiris,
“What is a “Gay Rave” ??? Is it a Rave where everyone is happy ? “
Many of our commentators don’t seem to be aware that most Gay Raves take place in temples, where everyone is happy except the Abiththiyas.
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Raj / August 8, 2017
OK, so Mangala took his PR man to NY & then probably cooled off in a posh hotel. In fact, some years ago (around 2010 or around that time) I saw Managala checking in at the Sri Lankan Airlines first class counter at Heathrow, when he was also the Foreign Minister at the time, with a scruffy young man of oriental appearance. I later saw in the newspapers that he was returning to SL via London after some gathering in South East Asia. I am sure there are other politicians who include females in their entourage when going on jaunts abroad at public expense & take a few days off in their company before returning, a bit of relaxation after, I am sure, an exhausting secession, promoting SL I have no objection to a person’s sexual preferences & who they spend time with but the fact is, politicians & their cronies enjoy the good life when abroad at the tax payers’ expense. It’s a privilege that comes with the job
Now Mangala’s PR Sec. has done the honorable thing by resigning until he is cleared by the courts (unlike the current Foreign Minister) . It was obviously very noble of his friend to take the blame & by this unselfish act, proves Sameera Manahara is blameless &, no doubt, found not guilty, so it wont be long before he is back with Mangala with his unblemished character intact.
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Perriamama / August 8, 2017
After the presidential elections this Mangala made allegations that the Rajapakse tried to use the military for a Coup d’état.
Now three years on, keeping mum. What happened? Only two things could have:
1) Rajapakse paid you off to keep quiet
2) You were lying
Which was it?
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chico chicki / August 8, 2017
“”Now three years on, keeping mum. What happened? “”
It was a white lie to milk US and India!
India did a swap of $$1.5 billion on 15th Jan. and just after bond issue obama IMF awarded $$1.5 + 1.5=0.3 from Jap and Kor.
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whywhy / August 8, 2017
Mangala was a minister of Chandrika ,he was then under MARA and now
with Ranil+Siriyamesara .All these four know very well Mangy boy and
Mangy boy became a “Must” in their menu ! Not bothered of his private
life as long as he too keeps it that way . Now another blemish to go with
RK ignominy ! A man who travels with swords is a PR to a top minister
very close with all leaders past and present ? And we citizens are expected
to put up with all these ? Party , Drugs and Weapons with the ID of an ASP !
Wha
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shankar / August 9, 2017
why why
“Mangala was a minister of Chandrika ,he was then under MARA and now
with Ranil+Siriyamesara .All these four know very well Mangy boy and
Mangy boy became a “Must” in their menu “
mangala is a lucky minister for any government.As long as yahapalanaya has got him it can’t lose.The moment he goes you know the government will lose.Mahinda made the biggest mistake when he let go mangala in favour of his dubai pimp sajin vass who wanted to start mihin lanka which mangala opposed as the minister concerned.He gave a ultimatum to mahinda which was ignored and then left.
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Shrikharan / August 8, 2017
The first person who slung mud at the Hon. Minister is YOU! By your despicable action. Don’t blame others for the disrepute you brought to the minister.
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Jim softy / August 8, 2017
In Sugar continers Drugs have arrived in tons. but, no one arrested. How come ? Latin america is famous for drugs. Why do they import sugar knowig sugar is responsible for diabetics. Maithripala Sirisena advertises a lot. But, very little work if there is any.
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Jim softy / August 8, 2017
How come public relations officer use the officla vehicle to go to parties ? that is public for personal purposes ?
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Nic / August 8, 2017
One’s chosen sexual orientation is private and personal. However this guy had what it takes to step aside pending investigations. Ravi take note and follow
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Jim softy / August 8, 2017
People please appreciate the good work of STF. Say thanks for doing something good. What I do not know is whether it is their own initiative or there was some one behind it to tell them.
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Jim Softy / August 8, 2017
Muslims are notorious for selling drugs. We should arrest the Muslim leaders instead of going after the innocent Buddhist.
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John / August 9, 2017
You are right about Marakkala Muslims. Muslims use their Muslim connections with other Muslim countries in the region to smuggle drugs ( e.g; Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Malaysia, etc), there are so many Pakistanis in SL prisons for drug offenses .
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K.Pillai / August 8, 2017
Mangala’s PR Officer Quits Amidst Drug Bust To ‘Save’ Minister From Mudslinging Campaign
To the best of our knowledge Mangala has not (not yet?) set foot into this controversy. Is the PR Officer deflecting the mud in other directions?
Why has the police suddenly become vigilant? Who gave the orders?
By the way, the NP police suddenly found illegal activities are on. Were they really unaware that drugs are available near checkpoints? A clumsy effort to renew “terrorism fight”.
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PointPonniah / August 9, 2017
I bet STF commandant Latif will be transferred out. Why is the coordinating gay secretary using a government vehicle for a private closed group Facebook by invitation only party? Very queer?
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K A Sumanasekera / August 9, 2017
3000 mg Cocaine, 4500 mg Crystal Meth and 100 g Kerala Herb, in a Yahapalana Official vehicle which Samira used as a UBER………And tells his Master that he had nothing to do with it …. It was all for hi’s mate’s personal use……….And the Galkissa Police agrees in front of the Yahapalana Magistrate……..What a Joke…..
5 Australian were executed 2 in Malaysia, 2 in Indonesia and 1 in Singapore for possessing lesser amounts of Drugs……. This Samirae says he served Mangala from 2004….. … What distinguished career……. I know Pira used Child Soldiers…….But never thought Mangalan used them in the Foreign Office……
Good Riddance….BTW I always thought those bloated Nostrils and Murky eyes of Mmangalan were due to excessive use of Snuff…….I mean that Tobbaco powder which the Chettiyars use in Madras…….
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Mallaiyuran / August 9, 2017
Sumane, do know what prompted the police to check the jeep the minister’s aids was travelling. Is there a suspicion LTTE or JVP is reemerging? Is that a ICRC jeep.?In that is case, it is worth to check it?
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Sirisena Yatawara / August 9, 2017
There are two governing Laws in our Land, One for the Ruling class/Party in power –Other one for the Commoners.
There is no equality before the Law current regime in power since 2015 January under MS, UNP-Ranil Wicks and CBK .
It has disappear most court order by Telephone calls to Judges by the politicians.
Judges lost their Independent judgments or verdicts by themselves. Judiciary lay of power on politicians of ruling party alliances . Not by the Sovereignty of Law!@
Rule of Law has Not restored by MS ,now nation become law less country . Sri Lankan System of enforcement authority has paralysis keep or beside or leave book of laws ,work according to Order of Ministers, Primers and President and Ex-Presidents or political authorities by Police Forces led by IGP?
The day to day criminal and civil offences are judge or monitored NOT by Judiciary or court but by order of Politicians and their power of GUN.
Indeed Voice of Judges no longer there. Current case of Managala Smarweera office of public relationship has proved beyond doubt, which Judges and Judgment of job has taken over by are politician of UNP’s .
This type of ugly features and policies of Law has to gone bad to worse in Island-wide time being.
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John / August 9, 2017
Now, Mangala’s big boss Chandrika will tell him off for getting caught.
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Mangala is the original mudslinger, he introduces mudslinging to Sri Lanka’s politics and owns several mudslinging websites indirectly.
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Jim softy / August 9, 2017
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sach / August 9, 2017
Can a normal citizen be released for bail for such a big offense? He should be in remand prison!
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harry hatton / August 9, 2017
What are these boys doing around a senior minister ? What are their qualifications ? are they paid by the government ? Is this abuse of power ? Corruption ?
What will we say if a minister employees his female lovers in his ministry ?
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srinath.gunaratne / August 10, 2017
corruption corruption, more gon palana corruption.
[Edited out]
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