Despite his initial struggle to remain as the SLFP Chairman, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has agreed to resign from the position and hand it over to to President Maithripala Sirisena.
Maithripala and Mahinda| File photo
His agreement to hand over the position to President Sirisena has been due to a deal that he has been trying to make in order to halt the inquiries into the corruptive and undemocratic acts committed by the Rajapaksas and members of his regime. He had also requested that he be given the chance to contest at the upcoming general elections.
It is not yet clear whether President Sirisena has agreed to these conditions. However, sources close to the JHU told Colombo Telegraph that the investigations into the Rajapaksas would continue as planned.
The Central Committee of the SLFP is scheduled to convene this evening to ratify the appointment of President Sirisena as the SLFP Chairman.
Meanwhile, it has been reported in local media that several pro-Rajapaksa politicians including provincial councillor Udaya Gammanpila and NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa had requested MR to refrain from leaving the post.
Indra / January 15, 2015
Mr Maithripala
No one need to you tell you CREDIBILITY for a President is indispensable. That was what was missing in your predecessor. You take care now.
The Country, and the promises made by the Common Alliance take precedence over sympathy for marauding gangsters. We fully expect you to hold them accountable for the crimes they committed. Investigate, prosecute and punish. Nothing less will do.
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Seelawathi / January 15, 2015
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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Davidson Panabokke / January 16, 2015
MR isn’t going to go away without doing the maximum damage to PrezSirisena.
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Off the Cuff / January 16, 2015
ear Davidson Panabokke,
Inflicting Maximum damage by keeping control of the SLFP was attempted but failed. The water was tested by calling a meeting of the Central Committee of the the SLFP at WPC CM Prasanna Ranatunga’s house. Only 23 out of the 55 turned up.
Thus control of the Main SLFP would have been with MS as he would have become its new president, voted in by the Central Committee. Thus at the next general election the nominees from the SLFP would be of MS’s choosing.
MR either had to split the SLFP and form a new party of his own or remain in the SLFP to fight another day. Winning the next general election as a new SLFP breakaway group without state machinery at his disposal for abuse would have been a herculean task.
Thus MR had no choice and was ill equipped to make demands and impose conditions as MS held all the aces.
Thus MR wisely chose to remain in the SLFP and will definitely fight from within. This is what MS has to watch out for as the enemy within is more dangerous than the enemy without.
If the roles were reversed, MR would have repeated what he did to SF with MS as well. Given half a chance to recapture power he will eliminate political opponents like MS. MS is no fool not to realize and guard against this.
Another affect of this change in the SLFP leadership is the majority control of Parliament by President MS. It will ensure that the focus of the new govt remains on the 100 day program. We should see the first tangible results of the change of govt reflected in the vote for the mini budget presented on 29 January.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Paul / January 16, 2015
Thank you OTC. Your perceptive and thoughtful comments are always worth reading.
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Off the Cuff / January 17, 2015
Thank you for your kind words Paul.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Navin / January 15, 2015
His Excellency President of Sri Lanka, Hon Maithripala Sirisena, should grasp the fact that his weakling days are over. For god sake he should realize he is the President. He is no broom to clean the filthy asses of those monsters, nor obliged to take instructions or accept conditions from them. Let justice take its course, come what may. Look strong man. Be strong. Don’t make us look jokers, we who believed in you.
Mr President its time to tell Mahinda to fuck off.
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Mervyn Silva / January 15, 2015
It is like leaving Temple Trees after trying all the dirty tricks to remain in power. Rajapakses are not used to giving up things specially when there are opportunities to make money.
What else can Rajapaksa do when the Titanic sinks.
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Rohan Polwatte / January 15, 2015
Mr Maithripala, Ranil Wickramasinghe
Please. Do not
We fully expect you to hold them accountable for the crimes they committed. Investigate, prosecute and punish. Nothing less will do.
Not only rajapasksas. EVERY ONE WHO TOOK THE LAW IN TO THEIR HAND SHOULD BE PENALIZED.
Please this is a lesson for everyone. If you skip this then again people take law in to thier hands. Thats what happened the idiot mahinda becuase he himself took the law in to his hand.
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Rohan p / January 15, 2015
Also we been drobbed by billions of US dollars. This is defifnitely a crime.
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punchinilame / January 15, 2015
Every comment is against MR being excused (except Sumanesekra, as usual).
MS and Ranil combined know what is politics and they WILL ACT AS
MANDATED by the Voters, specially with MR following a rascist idea
of separating the votes he got with a hidden agenda, yet again.
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Ponkoh Sivakumaran / January 15, 2015
There are only two ways in which the President can come to an agreement with MR.
(i) MR confesses his misdeeds. The President pardons.
(ii) MR is tried under the normal law without any political interference. The Police must investigate and subject any alleged offender to trial. If convicted, the President could pardon the offender.
In both instances, the public would come to know of the nature of the offenses that had been committed.
Any other agreement that the President makes with MR is unlawful and is invalid. It cannot prevent a future trial of MR by a future President.
It would be best for MS not to sully his name by making any secret agreement.
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Native Vedda / January 15, 2015
Ponkoh Sivakumaran
Though I agree with you on both points I would like to add one more.
The money the clan swindled from the state coffer belongs to the people. Recovery of the loot with interest is indispensable.
In addition to this a Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be established to investigate in to all war crimes that were perpetrated by all sides since 5th April 1971.
Being the UNP prime minister Ranil is in a position to order an investigation into the destruction of Jaffna Library and retrieve all the stolen old books and ola manuscripts from the the perpetrators. Those books and manuscripts belong to humanity and should be returned to the library.
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Ponkoh Sivakumaran / January 16, 2015
As always, I agree with native wisdom.
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peacelover / January 16, 2015
Let the law take its own course. Why should be talk about pardon before the case has even come to court? And how fair is it to ask for pardon of a crime that involves the taking of human lives and of plundering and robbing the whole country?
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Seen Ameer / January 15, 2015
Why hesitate Sirs! Go ahead with the investigation – from Mahinda to Wimal. Are they asking a price (that is the plundered money of he public) for wiping out the LTTE?
They must reveal all the facts about KP who was behind procuring arms to kill innocent Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. They should reveal what they did with the gold they looted from LTTE banks.
Kuruna and Pillayan were behind the massacres of 600 policemen in the Eastern Province, 103 Muslims in two mosques in Kattankudy, massacre of Saddam Hussain Village of Eravur with suckling babies, Kurukkalmadam abduction and Aranthalawa massacre of Buddhist monks. They (Karuna, Pilliyan Aiya (Sir) according to Ali Zahir Moulana of Eravur in his speech in support of mahinda. Please view the video on the blog ThinkWorth [Edited out] must be made to reveal all the facts.
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Leon / January 15, 2015
SLFP cannot decide to let the criminal Rajapakse mafia to be left off the hook. It is up to the judiciary, provided of course the judiciary is independent, to find out whether Rajapakse and clan are guilty or not.
The JVP has already complained to the Bribery Commission. We will wait and see what their decision would be.
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justice / January 15, 2015
As Indra above says,
Investigate, prosecute and punish.
But first, the Supreme and Lower courts should be cleansed of those who crept in due to the the largesse of the tyrant.
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Ahfzll / January 15, 2015
Sorry Mr. Ex-President — NO CAN DO !
Legalities dont’t allow the current President to do anything of the sort – the Prize being Chairman of the SLFP !
Once the frauds are proven – the EX will not be able to continue as Chairman of the SLFP – so it cannot even be considered.
On the same vein, many MP’s are receiving DEATH threats and it is up to the current Authorities to keep them safe.
May I suggest that we give these MP’s 24 hour protection at state expense at the WELIKADA PRISON.
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Namal Perera / January 15, 2015
Investigations into CORRUPTION, disappearances, assault, murder by the Corrupt Regime should be fully investigated and punish all found guilty. If he wishes to contest at a future Election, all the privileges enjoyed as a past President including security should be withdrawn.
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Ind / January 15, 2015
president my3 becoming the leader of the SLFP is not the need of the hour or was an election promise. If he does what was promised during the campaign and carry out the task, he will eventually become the leader of SLFP. This will be a much cleaner and better party to head with respect.
HE shouldn’t bow down to any conditions and betray the people. You are the president and we appointed him to stand up to such situations.
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Mallaiyuran / January 16, 2015
Which of the words the new King will hold is in limbo. Before he received his nomination for CC, the New King promised each and everything, nothing was excluded. At least, one with in them was to bring out Old King’s files. When election results were being counted, the promise given to Old King to leave the Temple Tree House was, not just the Old King, everybody needs the government protection will receive it from the New King.
Old King said that there was no minorities in Lanka. Now, the new King has said there won’t be any internal or external inquiry, everyone will be protected.
Mangala has become the new Foreign Affairs Minister. He claimed he was the one talked to Condoleezza Rice and made the EU to ban the LTTE. Now the EU may lift the ban on. In fact, today, they imposed ban Si Lankan seafood. They are not sure will be more if the UNHRC investigation goes ahead. With these in mind, Sir Chris Norris is being reinstated by the new King.
Ranil promised, two month before the election, that the Chinese relationship will continue. He repeated it yesterday when he met the Chinese ambassador, when he handed over the welcome wishes to the new post. This was the message on the Tamils electronics Medias yesterday. (None of the western leaders were responded so far, as it has not appeared in the media yet). This is very important to save the new King from his War Criminal records.
When Ranil starts to fly high on the new post, Ranil may be asked by Western countries to sign the ICC accord. Ban-ki-Moon has earlier asked Ranil If he things the report of the UN SG’s Expert Panel Report (in the old King time, it is known as Drausman’s report to demean the report’s importance).He is already perceiving difficulties with the West. As UNPyer, Ranil is not invited to India. Ranil is not sure what to do. Like the Old King, China is the only path left for him too. China, the adopted mother of Lanka for its protection, will continue to forcefully feed her milk to the Lanka Baby. That milk is highly dope-full to babies drink than the narcotics that are vending on the street corners.
Tamils protection is mainly on who is going to come to the posts in USA, Canada, England, Norway and few other countries. West, this time too, will wait for few years.
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Off the Cuff / January 16, 2015
Dear Mallaiyuran,
“Ban-ki-Moon has earlier asked Ranil If he things the report of the UN SG’s Expert Panel Report (in the old King time, it is known as Drausman’s report to demean the report’s importance)”
Mr. Marzuki Darusman, Ms Yasmin Sooka and Steven R. Ratner, the UN’s Panel of Experts has done a very good job of demeaning their own report. It does not require anyone else to do so.
The Panel refers to the FIRST channel 4 video as “Authenticated footage” (item 148)
Who authenticated it?
Dr. Daniel Spitz and Mr.Grant Fredericks
Forensic Pathologist and medical doctor, Daniel Spitz is a perjurer who has lied to US courts.
He FAILED to find the Bullet or the entrance wound of a Banker Killed EXECUTION STYLE with a bullet to the Head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Oy76_nICc&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpL56wS_qZo
Mr. Fredericks, who has testified as an ‘expert witness’ in numerous cases was in the spotlight in Canada when he appeared as a witness for four policemen who tried to cover up their involvement in the death of an immigrant at the Vancouver airport in October 2007.
Here is an extract from the Canadian commission report
quote … He has no special expertise in determining steps from shoulder movements — without the verification referred to above,Mr. Fredericks’ opinion of three distinct steps forward is based entirely on his repetitive viewing of the three-second segment of the Pritchard video and his interpretation of Mr. Dziekanski’s changing shoulder movements. I am not persuaded that his expertise as a forensic video analyst extends to this type of human body movement. In the absence of such expertise, his opinion deserves no greater weight than the opinion of any other careful observer. unquote
Now the question arises how the CH4 video gets AUTHENTICATED with evidence from charlatans and Liars?
This circus started with UN’s Philippe Alston and culminated with the POE report.
Here is another example from the Darusman report.
237. Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions: Credible allegations point to a violation of Common Article 3’s ban on the taking of hostages insofar as they forced thousands of civilians, often under threat of death, to remain in areas under their control during the last stages of the war and enforced this control by killing persons who attempted to leave that area. (With respect to the credible allegations of the LTTE’s refusal to allow civilians to leave the combat zone, the Panel believes that these actions did not, in law, amount to the use of human shields insofar as it did not find credible evidence of the LTTE deliberately moving civilians towards military targets to protect the latter from attacks as is required by the customary definition of that war crime (Rule 97, ICRC Study)
Civilians moved to the NFZ
Military targets moved to the NFZ along with civilians to become immune from attacks.
Is that a Human Shield?
No says Darusman.
ICC contradicts Darusman and say it is a war crime.
Perhaps Darusman and co did not understand the word “PRESENCE”. But since you have a good command of English you would realize what that word means within the ICC statute that I reproduce below.
The ICC Statute defines a Human Shield as follows
“(xxiii) Utilizing the presence of a civilian or other protected person to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations;”
Darusman has jettisoned the ICC statute (the Law making body) and tries to take refuge behind the ICRC (the Red Cross) that has no standing in law.
It is this disgusting POE report that is used as a base for War Crimes charges.
Obviously some people are prepared to sell their souls for Lucre.
Ban Ki Moon and anyone using the Darusman report should first justify and explain the discrepancies and the DISGUSTING use of PROV EN charlatans as expert witnesses, in a report that should have been fair, truthful and impartial.
These facts points an accusing finger at Mr. Marzuki Darusman, Ms. Yasmin Sooka, Mr. Steven R. Ratner, Mr Philippe Alston, Dr. Daniel Spitz and Mr.Grant Fredericks as being corrupt.
If that is so, the Rug has been pulled from under the UN Investigations.
Mr Ban Ki Moon has a lot of explaining to do and a lot of cleaning up of his own stable of the dung that is littering the floor.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Varuna / January 16, 2015
He is the one who said a few days back that President Maithripala won because of the ealamists, so why offer the SLFP leadership to such a person, if that is rightfully his position. The voters in this country wanted corruption to be wiped out, as well as to punish those who swindled public money – that is the task in hand now. There was no election pledge about taking control of the SLFP, that issue has been created by none other than the former President
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Varuna / January 16, 2015
He is the one who said a few days back that President Maithripala won because the ealamists voted for him, so why offer the SLFP Presidency to such a person, if that is rightfully his. People in this country voted for eradication of corruption as well as to punish those who swindled public funds. There was no election pledge about taking control of the SLFP. That issue was created only by the former President after he lost
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RM / January 16, 2015
Dear Mr President, The people voted for change from the rule of the likes of former President Mahinda Rajapakse than they did for you – conceeding to conditions such as this betrays the trust we placed in you. Unless you honour the promises of good governance and deal with the excesses of the former regime the people may decide otherwise.
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Pradeep / January 16, 2015
Hon. President Maithreepala Sirisena.
Please remember that it is we voters who brought you into power on Election Promises you made to us, and one of it is to investigate all the previous Government corruptions.
This ex. Pres. is the one who sent a seven year old girl to jail for stealing just seven coconuts and sent Gen.Sarath Fonseka to jail on fraudulent charges and fired Sri Lanka’s only female CJ Shirani Bandaranayake simply because she did not authorize 85 Billion Rupee Divi neguma fund to Basil Rakapakse.
It is we the voters who appointed you and now it is your turn to show your leadership, credibility and honesty to the Citizens.
Your first priority should be to re-instate CJ Shirani Bandaranayake back to her post.
Second, you should appoint a special committee including JVP JHU, UNP, MPs to look into all the Fraud, pillage and theft happened in all Govt Corporations and in all Public Institutions including all Tenders and Contracts. You may need help from at least 50 different committees and institutions.
You may also get service from Independent Audit firms, Lawyers Associations, Trade union heads, Corporation heads, Citizens committees, Buddhist Clergy associations, Citizens committees,CID, Independent Police Dept., Ex Presidential employees etc,etc to find the where about of all frauds, Pillage and thefts.
Please remember there’s only a short spell of 100 working days left to bring all the facts to surface. Time is running out. So start now it self.
Dear Mr.President,
Your credibility, honesty and Reputation is judged by the actions you take.
We voters are watching you.
Please do come in front of TV at least once a week or create a web and tell us on your Progress. Please make a change and be a Peoples President.
Thank you and Good luck to you.
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John / January 16, 2015
Just curious, what is exactly been done? It is the Sri Lankan ‘FBI’ is going to investigate a former President of the country?
Or is it an official commission that has been introduced to investigate corruption in the country?
IF so, is it limited to the last president or will they be going further into the past during these investigations?
Will they investigate other officials who are corrupt as well?
It would be nice to have these details officially outlined so everyone knows how the investigations will take place and what the due process is.
Just a thought.
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john / January 16, 2015
The reason why I asked these questions is that the last thing a credible, trustworthy government should do is to engage in a witch hunt.
Allowing a new government to seek criminal recourse from the previous government and its officials can be a very slippery slope that can easily get out of hand. However if anyone abuses their power with depraved indifference, those people should be held accountable according to a clearly outlined process and the law of the nation.
Nietzsche said it best “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.” This applies to the old regime as well as the new.
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douglas / January 16, 2015
His Excellency Mr. Maithripala Sirisena: You can have any number of “discussion” sessions with Ex President; but please keep in mind, ALWAYS, that you were “installed” in your present position by so many stake holders through a “Common Front”. These intended discussions have to be “TRANSPARENT” ; “ACCOUNTABLE” and “RESPONSIBLE” and no decisions must be made without the express AGREEMENT of the the “Common Front” from which you were nominated to contest the Presidential Election. Also, please remember; the PEOPLE have “kicked” him out and all “HIS AND COLLEAGUES’ INCLUDING THE FAMILY must be properly investigated in the name of JUSTICE and made “ACCOUNTABLE” for wrong doing.
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Lanka Watch / January 16, 2015
Douglas – you are very correct in what you have stated. For an ordinary
man,it looks like it is a ploy by MR to get MS to contest as he feared,
due to his dwindling popularity, that the people may want Ranil wicks
given a chance. The way things are moving so slowly and people wanted
for crimes of all kinds are freely leaving the country and some moving
freely in the country without any fear of arrest. Only one man bolted because he feared that General Fonseka would take revenge and strangely
enough,General Fonseka is no body yet.
It looks like we are in for some fun.!!
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Lasanda / January 16, 2015
Why do Sirisena voters fear president Rajpaksa so much????
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Snowden Edward Asange / January 16, 2015
It’s NOT Rocket Science. PEOPLE know that he is the worst crook and Murderer one knows. MS must be careful. MR might PAY an associate to ASSASSINATE MS.. and then MR would have an upper hand. MR SHOULD BE LOCKED UP THE WAY HE LOCKED SF.. The best person to hand over MR is SF.. Now that SF is a PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR, He should advice MS APPROPRIATELY…. That should include info about GOATa, SAJIN VAS, wIMAL WEE, SB DISSA, ROHITHA ABEY and their ilk…
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Samson Jayaratne / January 16, 2015
Because, the poor men and women – the rural had no idea about the ground realities of the man has created to this day. All will come to surface with the time – then they have to get it clearly that MR has been most abusive by all areas rather than what his administration paint to them for the last few years.
5.7 millions that voted for him – are all not stupid bu tmost of them had no idea about the facts and figures. State machineries above all media units all along painted the picture in favour of MR.
If one would ask them whether they knew about the collosal sums had been abused by President and his goons, they would not even get it – since the media on a regular manner tele/broadcasted totally different views.
It is like the songs spread into air – people became so hallozinated. And they added it to the war victory which his term could end – though it is the relay race. Synergy all allthese converged and made him a man – UNTOUCHABLE. So the man being intoxicated by power did not have the control over anything but let it go, taking things real issues of the common man – granted. Today, he has lost everything to the man – Egyptian Mobarak – I suggest him to wear a sun glass to the very same manner Mobarak does today in public appearences.
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Saman Wijesiri / January 16, 2015
In the first place, Maithri should not have agreed to have a one on one meeting with MR. Now that he has been elected to run a clean administration, all his actions should be transparent. No politician would want to hitch his political wagon to a falling star. MR knows that and that he is gradually getting alienated. Of course, a few like ‘double crosser’ Udaya and foul-mouthed Wimal have to keep MR afloat, because the latter is the last straw that they are hanging on to now.
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jayasigha / January 16, 2015
MR must remain chairman of SLFP. MS contested MR from outside SLFP. Over 5mln votes received by MR is first for him personally secondly SLFP /UPFA. MR must come to parliament on SLFP and lead the UPFA at the general election with support from MS if he is still a SLFP’er. MS has a responsibility to keep the SLFP united.Let corruption charges come. These can be contested on a legal manner unless a kangaroo court is established by the new govt: MR & MS both have a duty to safeguard the unity of the SLFP.
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jayasingha / January 16, 2015
MR must remain chairman of SLFP. MS contested MR from outside SLFP. Over 5mln votes received by MR is first for him personally secondly SLFP /UPFA. MR must come to parliament on SLFP and lead the UPFA at the general election with support from MS if he is still a SLFP’er. MS has a responsibility to keep the SLFP united.Let corruption charges come. These can be contested on a legal manner unless a kangaroo court is established by the new govt: MR & MS both have a duty to safeguard the unity of the SLFP.
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Snowden Edward Asange / January 16, 2015
He is requesting a chance to contest at the next election. Did he give that chance to SF? I say..strip his civic rights for at least 10 years… by then he would die of natural death or via an electric chair.. either way… not a Loss in the future to a Prosperous SL… MS SHOULD NOT forgive him for RAPING the country and also killing so many INNOCENT civilians, Journalists and opponents… These people did NOT have a chance to plead for Mercy, even though they hadn’t committed a crime. This MORON knowingly nodded for the killing of innocent people. This shameless ass need to be sent to jail, civic rights stripped and photographed in jumpers with no fan or medical needs attended… just like what he did to SF…. NOW that SF has more power than him. he is shitting in his pants..so is his IDIOT of a bro GOATa.. pay back time… losers…
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Snowden Edward Asange / January 16, 2015
who is he to set conditions when he has a whole lot of accusations to answer to? DID he let his opponents to set conditions? what a dumb clown he got to be to request more than what he is supposed to have as an EX president. HE can NOT ask for anything more than what DB Wijethunga & Chandrika gets as EX Presidents… BUT he has a whole lot of accusations to answer… let him answer all those before the 100 days and send him to jail, before that re instate Shiranee Bandaranayaka and strip Mohan Peiris of his posts..Then the question of him contesting doesn’t arise…. after all he stripped the rights of SF on a botched up accusation and impeached Shiranee illegally…. Let the games begin…. its more interesting than ANY Asian game…
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Sahan / January 16, 2015
Dear Mr President, Mr. RW
Please don’t agree.
We believe on 100 days program, it was the cause for vote and won. If agree, nothing at all will change.
Mr President, you won this election, because of you leave from MR and come with to build new Sri Lanka.
Just handover the chairmanship, will not recover,
1. Public loss the hope on meaning of justices, police, parliament & power of ministers
2. Politics of duress of kith& kin and cunning supporters
3. Fears of cronies, henchmen’s and thuggery
4. Excess use of drug, fraud, corruption in Sri Lanka
Due to more and more reason, Ex.Presi must be handover that post. Especially, Mangala Samaraweera and JVP are already filed the cases on them.
Please don’t accept the condition, let public to who he is, what he done in last 10 year, just covering with sentence of “I finished the war”.
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george jilmart / January 16, 2015
Dont allow him to contest at the parliamentary elections. MS must strip this crook of his civic rights immediately like what he did to General Fonseka. If MS succumbs to this despots request the country is in grave peril.
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Truth / January 16, 2015
I am happy to note that former Presidents Kumaratunga & Rajapaksa will be appointed as Patrons and ineligible to contest at the next General Election. Party loyalties must not hinder the investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department of the allegation of an attempted coup.
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