Prasanna Wickramasuriya, the former head of the Airport and Aviation Services Limited is to be probed over gold, jewelery, gems and other valuable goods worth millions of rupees which had gone missing from a safe at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake during his tenure as its Chairman.
Prasanna Wickramasuriya
Wickramasuriya, first cousin of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will come under the microscope of either the CID or the FCID on the above case shortly, sources said.
Some employees of the Airport have complained to the Presidential Commission Investigating Corruption and Fraud that a large amount of gems, gold jewellery and other valuables had dissapeared mysteriously after Wickramasuriya vacated office following his cousin Rajapaksa’s defeat at the last Presidential elections.
According to sources Wickremasuriya who had stayed abroad for a long period is currently in Sri Lanka and could be called for questioning within the next few days.
The items which were locked up in a safe are said to be ones which have been recovered by airport officers over a long period.
These are said to be items which had been abandoned by smugglers at the airport premises fearing detection by customs or security officers.
These items handed over to the airport authorities through Security Units had been kept in a safe at the airport manager’s safe as unclaimed items waiting until confiscating orders came from relevant state authorities.
The loss has been detected after officials had checked the items registrary.
Some employees have complained that the items had gone missing during Wickramasuriya’s time as the Chairman.
Wickramasuriya was appointed as the Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Services during former President’s tenure.
Tassimo / September 8, 2015
Who is the trainee waiter at the Oberoi who was sacked for stealing cutlery who is now a Minister? Why not talk about the calibre of the current set of ministers and how heroin smugglers are powerful ministers?
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S.Modaya / September 8, 2015
Well Gota the big crook has been let off the hook and the floating armoury case closed. So why bother with the small fry.
The Ranil-Sirisena govt. is a lasting victory of Mahinda Jarapassa and all the filthy corrupt politicians in the miracle of Modayas!
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samare / September 8, 2015
This man should be a sibling of former illiterate ambassador represented the country in Washington ? shame on lankens living in the US.
Can anybody of you please bring the credentials of Jaliya Wickramsooriya to be able to work as an ambassador ?
If tea business/tasting tasks should be the main qualifications to become an ambassador under MR, actually the butchers could become the surgeons in the local hospitals – in compliance with MR adminsitration.
I wonder why srilanken americans stayed mum at the time, these idiots were arbitorily appointed by MR and thugs ?
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Ben Hurling / September 8, 2015
What a heartless crime against Sri Lanka’s national assets! Forget about stolen gold & gems that were in the custody of corrupt Sri Lanka Customs.
What a crime to appoint this fully unqualified monkey to administer Sri Lanka’s ports and aviation? Sri Lanka’s true jewels.
Indeed a grave crime against our country by so called savior of the nation from Hambantota. Are you surprised Hamba port is a total flop?
May I remind you Dubai was built on the opportunity provided by tiny Dubai port. Only a few decades ago. Story is that ruler of Dubai himself was there to collect fees from vessels calling port of Dubai.
Dubai Ports World (DPW) today is an undisputed industry leader. With investments around the world.
Contrast that with shameful state of Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Previously run by this corrupt monkey.
Why do we allow this criminality against Sri Lanka? Time and again since 1948.
Why do we keep providing 4WD vehicles, official residences, body guards etc. to members of this kind of criminal families?
Have you shed a tear for your country lately?
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Navin / September 8, 2015
Ben, your reference to Dubai, left we thinking why Dubai is prospering, while Sri Lanka a country with vastly superior resources, is down in the dumps. This is what prompted these comments. Please bear with me.
Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq km, a country blessed with nature’s bounties. In contrast, the Emirate of Dubai is a 4,114 sq km desert, has only 4% of the UAE oil reserves. At the time Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum became Ruler, Dubai was on its own, and was in conflict with its neighbour Abu Dhabi over territorial disputes. Sheikh Rashid was a patriotic and brilliant ruler. In just 10 years, in the 1970’s, he laid the foundation for Dubai’s greatness, by building and completing Port Rashid, Shindaga Tunnel, Jebel Ali Port, Widening the Creek for marine traffic, Dubai World Trade Center, and Dubai Dry Docks.
He foresaw that the oil, discovered in 1966, would one day run out. He said he did not want his great-grand son to ride a camel, as his father and grandfather did. He planned and worked hard, to build a non-oil dependent commercial and industrial economy. From a nothing, Dubai today is the envy of the whole Middle East. Citizens and other residents live in freedom and dignity. It even boasts the world’s tallest residential and office complex.
The comparison should leave Sri Lanka’s politicians, past and present, hanging their heads in shame.
Sri Lanka’s potential was in bloom at the time of receiving independence in 1948. Free education, the exceptionally high literacy rate, health care available to the rich and the poor, roads, communications facilities, and racial harmony were all there in abundance. The Ceylon Administrative Service was at its best, serving the people. Then the crash came with the Independence granted by the British.
Sri Lanka’s fall has been due to various reasons:
In 1948 we were handed a system of government that did not suit the people. They did not have an inborn love for the country, in order to make democracy work. Here it is all me, me, and only me and my family, e.g. the Medamulana Clan. In Sri Lanka it is only politicians and their families that are really free; or whoever the politicians permit to live in freedom.
After 7 years of tinkering by the UNP governments, in 1956 a Christian who converted to Buddhism for political gain, S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, cheated the people and became Prime Minister. He took advantage of universal suffrage, pandered to the foolish and destroyed our knowledge based culture through many tricks including “Sinhala Only in 24 Hours”. One of the massive by-products was Corruption, and the other was the Communal Rift between Sinhala and Tamil Communities, causing enormous loss to this day.
In 1977 J.R. Jayawardene changed the constitution to make it easier for those in power to loot the country. One man is King; those who enjoy the King’s favour can take whatever they want – including killing those they didn’t like. The Adharmishta Rule of Jayawardene resulted in the JVP uprising leading to the massacre of a hundredthousand Sinhala youth and other innocents, and the near genocide of Tamils in the South of the Country.
From 2005, for 10 years, Mahinda Rajapaksa used Jayawardene’s system to subjugate the other organs of Government, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Today’s heroes in Government and Opposition, Judiciary, Public Administation, the Armed Forces and the Media were chipchup silent in front of the Maharajano – that uneducated, uncultured, bastard.
Now we have Sirisena. He has shown a reluctance to do away with the Executive Presidency – our Nemesis. He displays he has been a diligent disciple of J.R.Jayawardene, who will surely outdo even Mahinda Rajapaksa in due course. We have a Prime Minister who is hated by 60% of the majority Sinhalese for no fault of his own. We have an inbred herd of Politicians who have brought their profession down to the level of prostitution. We have a Public Service most of whose Managers and Directors are not fit for their jobs. We a have three toady Armed Services, and a slavish Judiciary.
Unfortunately, over 70% of voters for the next elections would not have been born before 1980: so they will not know about Bandaranike and Jayawardene. So they will not know about the atrocities of the two traitors, and they will not know what they have to do to undo them.
One can only pray for divine intervention to bring forth a patriot with the ability to liberate the country from the vermin which are devouring her inside out.
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Sama / September 8, 2015
These men would not have been mentioned -had not MR abused them this manner. None of them have obtained any appropriate education – let alone the chairman of SRILANKEN is said to have no OLEVELS. All in all – what did former President think at the time, he was appointing these men ?
He should have thought that we are all punnakku or grass eating animals of their sort ?
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srilal / September 10, 2015
Tassimo ,
Only one chameleon seems to fit in that profile , he is none other than our distinguish Mahinda Samarasingha.
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Amarasiri / September 8, 2015
Prasanna Wickramasuriya
RE: MR’s First Cousin Prasanna Wickremasuriya To Be Probed Over Missing Gold
“Prasanna Wickramasuriya, the former head of the Airport and Aviation Services Limited is to be probed over gold, jewelery, gems and other valuable goods worth millions of rupees which had gone missing from a safe at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake during his tenure as its Chairman.”
Rhe Rajapaksas are All liars, Crooks, Thieves, Robbers, Criminals and Murderers.
Investigators will have their hands full investigating these undesirables, for a long time.
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The Messenger / September 8, 2015
The minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe assumed duties as the new minister of Buddhasasana.
What is the point in having a Buddhasasana ministry if it is only a silent observer to all the anti-Buddhist acts committed by the Buddhist clergy? The new Buddhasasana minister under President Maithree should think of forming a Buddhist Disciplinary Commission/Committee under the Ministry of Buddhasasana to maintain the Buddhist Vinaya (disciplinary code) among the Buddhist clergy. Respected Buddhist monks like Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero can chair such a committee. All the rouge Monks (hora ganayas or cheevaradharis) who are hijacking the Buddhist religion with their anti-Buddhist activities and disrupting the peace in the country should be subjected to disciplinary action and should be disrobed. Buddhist disciplinary laws should be enacted specially for the Buddhist clergy who violate the Buddhist values and principles. This has become an urgent need in Sri Lanka if Yahapalanaya is to succeed.
Let us hope that the newly appointed Buddhasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who is also the minister of justice will bring in new laws to overcome the above issue.
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The Messenger / September 9, 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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punchinilame / September 8, 2015
[Edited out]
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Snowden Edward Asange / September 8, 2015
Whats the point? its all a farce… a game of u scratch my back I scratch yours… WE the voters are the ones being fooled each time an everytime ..I wonder how the TOP leaders are gonna answer to the question… We out-voted some IDIOTS called MP’s and Ministers…BUT the same people have been accepted to parliament under the National LIST.. shame ! who is fooling whom I wonder… This case also will be another AVANT Grande of Gotabaya fame…
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nic / September 8, 2015
It appears that this time around the UNP held to its position that they would not entertain through the national list candidates who did not make it. Though there are some questionable characters in the National List now appointed to Cabinet!
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Snowden Edward Asange / September 8, 2015
true..I blame AKD for starting the ripple by appointing Handunetti( who sure is a good and smart politician) BUT he was out voted by the voters… that should stand…and the likes of Buruwansa was voted in.. all I can do is laugh… and how on earth did SB ( who stated that Chandrika should be stripped naked and made to run a round Galle Face is considered via the National List? IS MS in a deep slumber? and where is Chandrika to show some opposition? liek I said its all a game…
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Paddy / September 8, 2015
Not to worry. CID will once again find that no wrong has been committed… after a few months of investigation.
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BBS Rep / September 8, 2015
Well, folks don’t hold your breath for some sensational results.
I assure you this case will also go the same way as the ‘Avant Garde’ case went.
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Douglas / September 8, 2015
Another case of “Avant Garde Floating Armory” type. Why waste time and money on matters that end in “No Action” to be taken. Aren’t there many matters to be attended by these officers? AG is watching and waiting. So officers do something worth the time and money.
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 8, 2015
16 Underworld gangsters have been arrested over the Bloomendhal shooting which killed two supporters of the Rt Hon MP and the Yahapalana Minister of Finance Mr Ravi Karunanayaka.
This is reported in the Daily Mirror today quoting the Police Media spokesperson.
According to the Police these arrested individuals were targeting their rival gang who were in the UNP Ravi’s procession, helping to distribute How to Vote Cards to the inhabitants in Kotahena. Sorry Colombo 13.
The two leaders who were in Mr Ravi’s procession Messers Army Sarath and Sanka are still missing and the Police are looking for them.
Is engaging or hiring Pathlaya volunteers to work as Election Activists allowed under Venerable Sobitha’s Yahapalana Doctrine?
If not will the CID or the Police interview the Rt Hon Minister?.
To find out (Police can’t Grill them of course) as to why these well know underworld head honchos participated in the procession to distribute how to vote cards for Yahapalanaya?.
This is no excuse or a diversion from the intended Police Grilling of Mr Wickremasooriya.
If he has pinched the Gems and Jewelry from the Customs Safe, he should be forced to hand them back or fine him twice the value before sending him for a Holiday with the Pathlaya boss who organized the Bloemendhal Hit from inside.
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gamini / September 8, 2015
How come the vehicle that was involved in the shooting, found parked at Susil Premajantha’s office Dematagoda?
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Sama / September 8, 2015
Good good, if Susil would be caught, we can free one cabinet minister seat appointing a good for it.
I hate the guy – the way he behaved himself shortly before the election. So disgusting. Today, as if he knows nothing, just entered the new cabinet too. ?
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justice / September 8, 2015
Who had the keys to the safe?
Was it the Chairman, or anyone else.
This should be a simple probe.
Public servants who had custody of safe keys in their offices, were immediately interdicted when audits found cash/contents missing, in the past.
Under Yahapalanaya things may have changed.
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Native Vedda / September 8, 2015
Why bother initiating all these unnecessary investigations knowing full well they will be found innocent.
Investigators must stop wasting state’s scarce resources on high profiled well connected people and start chasing the very poor who steal to feed their children.
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punchinilame / September 8, 2015
The FCID has done a tremendous job, as itemized below, BUT conclusions will take
years by when Black coats and CID will turn millionaires too??
Corruption at its peak during MRs Regime as summarized hereunder:
1. Case No. 474/2015 at Fort M.C. dealing with Hedging Fund and involving A.N.Cabraal, PB Jayasuendra, A de Mel, L.Karunaratne (Rs.200-700 Million ) 2. Case No. 24327/2015 at Chief M.C.(3) In the matter of Lanka Hospital shares and connected to G. Rajapakse, Roshini ,Cabraal, N.Godahewa, D.Jayaweera, M. Medihewa, W.Amunugamuwa, D.P.Y. Wijesinghe. (Rs. 600 million) 3. B26907/3/15 at Colombo M.C re Housing deals connected with W.Weerasena,B.K.J.K.Perera. 4. B/40/2015 at Kaduwella M.C. re Land purchases, involving Mrs. W.Weerasena, C.S.Ranasinhe. 5. B323/15 in Tangalle M.C. about Carlton Pre-school construction involving State Eng. Corporation Staff (Rs. 35 million) 6. 8674/15 in Pugoda M.C. re Development works, involving B.Rajapakse, N. Thirukumar 7. B22467/1/15 at Colombo Chief M.C. re Money Laundering by M. Aluthgamage (Rs. 3 – 27 million) 8. B22468/1/15 in Colombo Chief M.C. on Wealth acquired of Dr.P.B. Wickrema. 9. B25389/1/15 at Colombo C.M.Court re Money Laundering by G.Senarath. 10. B25166/3/15 at Colombo Ch M.C. Teleshan TV Network with A.Pilapita S.Wickremasinghe, and Sil Reddi with L.Weeratunga and Ven.V.Somananda Thero. 11. B9825/15 at Kaduwela M.C. re CSN Channel involving ITN Directorate & Staff. 12. B35/15 at Kaduwela M.C. re ownership of Marriot Hotel in Dubai with N.Lokuwitharne and M.Rajapakse ( Rs. 48 to 190 million) 13. B27453/1/15 at Hultsdorf M.C. about Lanka Logistics Arms importing connected to G.Rajapakse, P.B.Jayasundera, Mohan Peiris, J.Wickremasinghe. 14. B/663/15 at Fort M.C. on Bank of Ceylon, Seychelles by M. Rajapakse & family 15. Greek Bonds purchase with names of Cabraal & Rajapakse in Petition Colombo M.C of 15.8.15 involving Rs. 1257 million 16. Sajin Vass Gunewardena in abuse of Public property, at Fort Magistrate Court, remanded since May, 2015. Also at Bribery Com. for questionable Assets. 17. Petition accepted in Supreme Court on 6.8.15 re Vehicle Permits abuse 18. Case No. 50/10 at High Courts, Kandy: Captain Wickremasinghe`s activity in Giritale Army Camp re Torture Chambers – under G. Rajapakse`s directions? 19. On Bail – Rohita Bogollagama 20. B/C Case – BC/2370/2011/B1 – 1 Billion heist: Pradeep Gunawardana (C`man State Trading Corporation) E & O E
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len / September 8, 2015
punchinilame this is the kind of information your friend Antany Peter can use at ICJ in Hague. Please forward this to Antany P.
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Jim softy / September 8, 2015
If they know, he was the boss at that time, why more investigations are needed ?
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Bystander / September 8, 2015
‘To be probed’, ‘to be investigated’, ‘to be questioned’ etc are like manthra these days. So long as the AG is in place, nothing will get prosecuted and reach their conclusions. The government will have to pay a very high price for allowing such actions to occur.
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sacre blieu / September 8, 2015
Are they smooth operators. No, it seems definitely not. They have with gathering momentum acquired an uncontrollable greed and as their right to scoop out public [funs] funds. But we are yet to see even one successful prosecution, only ‘KIYANA KATHA’. The inclusion of doubtful nominations on the preference list and to appoint them as ministers, is an indication that we are still adrift in an ocean of crime.
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maali karunaratne / September 8, 2015
It is a waste of resources to go into these cases . I am sure they will be released after investigation saying that there is no evidence, The article below in CT is a proof of this.
Avant Garde Floating Armoury Case: CID Fails To Find Evidence Of Any Misconduct
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Tamil from the north / September 8, 2015
Stop probing, start laying charges and throw these Horapaksa thugs in prison. Probes keep happening but no charges have been laid yet.
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Snowden Edward Asange / September 8, 2015
yes.. shoot first ask questions later.. all these rouges seem to get awy as teh days pass by.. wonder IF one, yes just ONE person would be found guilty and thrown in jail..only guy who is unlucky seems to be Sajin Vaas who made trillions but he may benot willing to part with the ill gotten cash so he is sent back to jail after every hearing while others walk scott free…SHAME ON ALL…
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selvam / September 8, 2015
The SUDDEN conclusion of Avant Garde case is very confusing. Will somebody please explain what happened,
Does the AG act of his own free will or has he been advised to close the case by some higher authority.
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shankar / September 8, 2015
everything is suddenly concluded now including the mahendran central bank case.Magistrate had wanted him to appear in october.He filed a case against cabraal for buying greek bonds.Now magistrate has closed the two cases.So aloysious goes scot free and we are lumped with worthless greek bonds.
i hope wasim thajudeens case is not concluded suddenly as no evidence to show that force was used on him.backroom deals are galore now it seems with the avant garde farce.before the election it was a big issue.Now suddenly a just ejaculated penis.When the CID officer questioning gota saluted him i knew the verdict.They are also trying to wriggle out of the pradeep ekneliyagoda case by trying to show he is a scumbag and not worth getting justice for.That is what the national government is all about.You scratch my back i scratch yours and we all cover up for each other and take the people for a ride.
National government-more ministers ,more coverups and less sleepless nights for our politicians.Only anura kumara with his 550000 voters to point out any wrongdoings now for a country with 15 million voters..sampanthan also has been neutralised with his long held ambition of becoming the opposition leader before he dies and entered in the wikipedia.Have a jolly time folks,anyone with any sense will try to continue to find some greener pastures abroad while the other idiots who say nothing like srilanka will continue to suffer.
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Snowden Edward Asange / September 8, 2015
yes ! sure a BIG concern… how come one person can decide on a VERY sensitive case like this? I bet the AG is a MR crony who is playing it smooth… may be he’s being paid too..who knows..? we the citizens r taken for a ride…end of story… we should stop being involved in politics and concentrate of making a better life for our kids…
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modeya / September 8, 2015
Another Avant Garde episode. Inquiry,inquiry,inquiry……no case.
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shankar / September 8, 2015
i’am curios to know why it took so long to confiscate these items and auction them or whatever.keeping them lying for years and years is asking for trouble isn’t it in a country of vijaya DNA albeit adulterated but still vibrant enough for petty thefts.I see even col 7 women shoplifting at odel’s etc so to think that these won’t dissappear is asking for a miracle.BTW what happened to those massive collection of jumbo tusks that we got from the smugglers some time ago.No news at all about it.Don’t know whether it was used to buy journalists laptops and vehicles.
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Pygmalion / September 8, 2015
Selvam.
The SUDDEN conclusion of Avant Garde case is to make way for the SUDDEN inclusion of the missing Gold probe.This too will have a SUDDEN conclusion when some other Probe is on the cards and so on and so on.
SriLanka,a Land like no other eh?
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rio ziegelaar / September 8, 2015
The CID and the FCID of Sri Lanka is a shame to even the animal world. It reeks of scum and rubbish. But then what can one expect, its run by a race called SInhales and that speaks for itself.
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Leon / September 8, 2015
Our President and Prime Minister are jokers not leaders. Are there any
prosecutions so far and there wont be any as long as the rogues exist
in Defence secretarys Dept. and Attorney Generals office. CID must be
frustrated.
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Sonali / September 8, 2015
The only insurance against any misuse, abuse and playing out of public property in the future will be bringing the wrongdoers to book. That will be the deterrent for those appointed to positions by the new government.
If no action is take for the past frauds and are swept under the carpet we could see the door open for same to happen at a bigger scale in the future as well.
Is there an interest to create that condtion by letting the cases filed thrown out by thoise in power now??? A answer to this question we will have to wait and see.At that stage we will have to redefine “yahapalanaya”
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Sunil / September 8, 2015
Col. Wickramasuriya is one of the most decorated officers in the history of the Sri Lankan Army. He received Purple Hearts for being wounded in battle not just once but three times !! He is also the only if not one of the very few to receive the WWV twice for his bravery in battle. What else can you give to SL than blood and life ? His brother in Law gave his life – Col Fazli Lafir. I’m also an army officer and its a shame to see people like this being harassed. Stolen jewels ? This is a joke right ? Go after crooks – but not people who were JUST and out risking their lives for the people of Sri Lanka
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Raizuh Langai / September 9, 2015
Why? Why waste taxpayers money. Catch some Army Intelligence fellow, drag the case a few months till we all forget about this and close the case. Otherwise ask that poor Army fella to confess, pay him some money, put him behind bars and release him on good behaviour bond.
Justice system is only for ordinary people like us. It will be showcased only during elections.
JAYAWEWA!
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Prithi Gunasekera / September 12, 2015
I have been an onlooker for a long time. I wished these critics of Rajapake and the others did the same during the dictatorship of JRJ. Unfortunately people who vote does not understand the repercussions of there deeds. Mahinda would have not be there if not for JRJ. Many things happened many more than reported.Remember we Sinhalese could not elect a king and had to bring Tamils to rule us because we are at each others. I am not saying if a wrong has been committed they needs to be punished.Don’t forget about the Humenrights situation and the different treatment by the US when govt. changed. Hope some day we can find a country that can be united and live with Buddhist values. The honest left movements that was there once apoune a time was condemned and vileniced for imperial gains.
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Renu / September 12, 2015
Check the Bank vaults of former first lady in Srilanka and in Shyshellus, you will many of them
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Dharma / September 13, 2015
As Chaminda Pussweidilla show says this is Aasik Land… no files will be inquired……. it’s for threat if abide treat if not threat further till bow.
it’s news to uplift TRP ratings and increase newspaper circulations floating armoury of private security firm which was securing national Naval force finest comedy ….a Military force or Naval Base safeguard by private firm…. aasik land cronies activities.
it’s a fib tiger sharks was aquarium pets at his Super secretary of Defunds who accepts too but no probe over how you maintained them? from where you got funds ?
Syberian Husky pet dogs from special flight?
flower vessels for son’s wedding ?
my goodness if my lane top Trishaw driver hears start something like Ugey Amm……tta ….. if those crooks not arrested or no detention orders history will be repeat more powerful force when baby No flower become Man…nowadays pencil mustached …later black money makes him more powerful…… what’s our tax payers who wants change ???? they travels to history in future……
no punishments no recovery of public fund…but green signal for crooks history will be repeat……. history will be repeat.
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