By Mahinda Rajapaksa –
Mahinda Rajapaksa
The candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Joint Opposition, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has won a decisive victory at this presidential election. I request all our party activists and supporters to celebrate this victory peacefully and without causing inconvenience to anyone. The people have voted decisively in our favour at this election because of disaffection with the conduct of this government over the past five years. Therefore it is our duty by the people of this country, to conduct ourselves in a manner that will not inconvenience anyone.
We will be initiating a programme of action to deliver justice to all those who have been subject to persecution and harassment by this government over the past five years. I salute the people of Sri Lanka for decisively defeating the 2015 style attempt made to once again purloin the mandate of the people through backroom deals with various chauvinistic ethnic and religious groupings organized around narrow political agendas. The time has now come to put an end to this dangerous game of promoting religious and ethnic chauvinism for political purposes.
This presidential election differs from all previous presidential elections, because of the complications in the system of governance brought about by the 19th Amendment. After the new President takes oaths, we will be studying the provisions of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and planning our immediate programme of action accordingly. We now have an opportunity to give a sense of direction to this country which has been drifting rudderless for five years. As stated in our candidate’s election manifesto, it will be necessary to rebuild the economy from the bottom upwards and to introduce constitutional and legal reforms to achieve this objective.
We will keep the people informed about further developments in this regard in the coming days. In the face of the unequivocal people’s mandate delivered at this election, we believe the government will abide by parliamentary traditions as appropriate in such circumstances.
Victory to the motherland and to the patriotic people of Sri Lanka!
*Mahinda Rajapaksa, Leader of the Opposition
Zero Hour / November 17, 2019
Glory to New King……what a piece of B..S..H.. …. we are humbled by your Announcement……..
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All ready Not enough Time ??? to Screw up…. you S C * M ! should concentrate on 19th Amendment …… You only have 5 Years ……
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to be RE-WRITTEN—-till the Day our “Lunatic Hambanthota Hamilton walauwwa generation only should be Ruling this Rotting Sinhalese RACIST Country……
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Amarasiri / November 18, 2019
Mahinda Rajapaksa,
Congratulations on your brother’s victory, and the changing of the horses. The old horses did not deliver sufficiently, and will the new horses deliver? To whom will they deliver ? To the Rajapaksa family , the corrupt politicians, the cronies and the corrupt? What did they deliver since independence in 1948? Since 2010?
Abraham Lincoln said “You can fool some of the people , but not all the people all the time “ Does this apply to Sri Lankans and Sinhala Buddhists, mean IQ 79?
Now that 52 percent of the voters have voted for your brother Gotabaya to be the president, and you hope to be Prime Minister, constitutionally, unlike during October 26, 2018, now you have to deliver, to the people.
Will you deliver, or start another protracted war, racism and discrimination, that will set the stage for a new revolution and insurrection?
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Old codger / November 18, 2019
“The time has now come to put an end to this dangerous game of promoting religious and ethnic chauvinism for political purposes.”
Wow, if that isn’t the height of hypocrisy, even from a politician.
Well, at least we know where we are going from today. Downhill all the way. You will buy as many MP’s as you need, make sure your family stays in power for the foreseeable future, while telling the baiyas you are saving the country . There is no accounting for the stupidity of the Sinhala Buddhists and their even more stupid monks.
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lankan / November 17, 2019
will you take all crooks and corrupt in your boat again? will you put this country into bankruptcy? will you cohort steal public money? will you have clean politics. Will you do money laundering ? Will you make take commission for Chinese projects? will you introduce white van culture? I think some people in Europe will get protection from you now? how many have decided to leave this country now? what about freedom and liberty? what about journalists? can they speak and can they write now freely?
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Fathima / November 17, 2019
Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa,
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Congratulations! Hope you and your brother will work hard this time for every Sri Lankan regardless of caste, creed, religion, or class as your brother addressed today after winning.
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A note, one remarkable nature of Sri Lankans is they seem to remember only last 5 years at an election time; you gave political leadership to win the war, and they elected you again in 2010. They defeated you in 2015 forgetting you lead the war victory in 2009 but remembered your wrong-doings in the last five years then. Now the same thing repeated, they remembered all wrong-doings, corruption and mistakes Yahapalanaya govt did, and brought you back. Are they going to go back to Yahapalanaya in 5 years and start once again from the scratch is fully up to you now, sir..
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mike / November 17, 2019
Victory to all the criminals! To start with release Kudu Duminda, withdraw all court cases against the Rajafucksha’s and congratulate Ranilpakse for the opponent’s defeat!
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Spring Koha / November 17, 2019
In the spirit of goodwill, all decent people will wish the new President of Sri Lanka the best of good luck in the mammoth task of rebuilding our Motherland. Our hope is that the puppet masters and hangers-on get their scabby hands out of his rear, and let Gotabaya get down to business; we have heard his words, now let us see his actions. It is on his actions that he will ultimately be judged.
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Native Vedda / November 17, 2019
Spring Koha
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What will trigger you for a complete relocation?
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Well this island has once again postponed its international obligations. What will happen when the country get tired of their imagined heroes?
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Abhaya Premawardena / November 17, 2019
well, wedda monkey. We had an obligation to defeat you, terrorists. So what more are you looking for.
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Spring Koha / November 18, 2019
Native Vedda,
. . . complete relocation??? That would be difficult given that there is a small ‘holiday home’ (in the shade of a mature ehela tree) reserved in Kanatte, Colombo 8, where I will join a long list of notable ancestors. No, there is no point in running away or trying to disown what you are born into. There is still hope for Mother Lanka. As grandpa would say “Live in hope, die in despair” that is our lot. What to do?
As for Gotabaya R, he has now been entrusted with the sacred duty of changing our fortunes for the better. Surely, he cannot do worse that Sirisea? Let us see how he faces our international obligations. Every man deserves a chance (and 52% of our citizens have agreed that he is worth it). I just hope he does better than his brother, because hell hath no fury like that of a voter scorned, for yet another time.
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soma / November 18, 2019
We will be in trouble and you will be in bigger trouble. There is no way , ABSOLUTELY NO WAY, the Tamils(all Tamil speaking people irrespective of their caste, religion or the date of arrival scattered across the island) can punish the Sinhalese without facing a hundred times bigger reaction. You are still dreaming on the banks of Nandikadal.
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Soma
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Agnos / November 17, 2019
SK,
What rebuilding are you talking about?
Kamal Gunaratne, Shavendra Silva, Gotabaya Rapajaksa, supported by Karuna Amman, Pillaiyan and Douglas Devananda doing the rebuilding?
People who committed atrocious war crimes and crimes against humanity, suddenly becoming paragons of virtue, deserving of goodwill, just because of an election or the Easter bomb attacks by Wahabi Islamic fundamentalists?
When I look at the election map on Ada Derana, that is a bit like what I see in the US, where the coastal and urban areas are blue, but the interior of the country is red.
But the US still has institutions and constitutional processes that can withstand the onslaught of irrational and racist forces until Trump and the GOP are chased away from power ( Trump is being impeached by the House; he will likely escape impeachment in the Senate, but the Trump agenda will be bogged down in battles until the next election.).
SL has no such protections, and efforts to entrench the family’s power for the next couple of decades will go unchecked. The people who voted for them should be held responsible for all that will ensue.
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Native Vedda / November 18, 2019
Agnos
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“SL has no such protections, and efforts to entrench the family’s power for the next couple of decades will go unchecked. “
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The president is one of them, an American citizen and protected by America and Hindia. His family is citizens of America.
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If Hindia and America wants to project and protect their interest in Sri Lanka both have to protect the clan. We are yet to learn about the arrangements Gota has made with Americans, the West, and Hindia.
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Gota won’t be hung out to dry for a considerable period of time.
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Citizen Silva / November 17, 2019
Hope this will usher in an era where all Sri Lankans (including Tamil , Muslim , Burgar Christian, Sinhala Budhist rich , poor, able differently able) could be happy.
Our mothers and sisters will not have to go to middle east to keep the home fires burning.
All could be proud to be Sri Lankans.
No one will be afraid that terrorist BOMBS will go off any time any where.
There will never ever be travel warnings to visitors from overseas.
Api Santhosen inne Aiya Mali Wage , Aiya Malieeeeeeee
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Real Revolutionist / November 17, 2019
Sir
Probably, people want the former president MR to play a low profile in politics in the days to come.
It’ll give a sense that it’s not a family business.
It’ll pave the way for a non Rajapakse family member to surface.
The best option for you is setting up a friendship building society with minorities with headquarters in Jaffna.
People know that blood is thicker than water.
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Champa / November 17, 2019
Real Revvolutionist
WTF?
Who want former President to play a low profile?
If you have forgotten, Gothabahaya became the President entirely on Mahinda Rajapaksa’s votes.
How come you see this as family business only now?
When Mahinda nominated Gotabhaya, how come you didnt oppose him citing family business?
You all are dirty opportunists who only use people as a ladder and discard them no sooner you reach the top.
Your opinion is utterly disgusting man.
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nimal / November 18, 2019
Under Rajapassas democratic election are a little bit unwanted . Now that are in power they will buy enough MPs to change the constitution.
Don’t be surprised if under the new system ,like in Russia, one can contest any number of times to be the president or until my son is ready to contest.
How about we change the constitution to say that the outgoing president can nominate the new president and cancel all elections.
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Let's be friends / November 17, 2019
Don’t you get it they elected him to make sure there will be no friendly gestures between Tamils and sinhalese for god sake don’t you get it sinhalese extremists racists has elected this Maniac to make sure there will be no friendship with Tamil
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Dilshan / November 17, 2019
Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse Tamils know very well and will never forget how your murdered more than.a.half.million innocent Tamils and he promised to release all murderous military men
You thinkTamils will believe your and your brothers lies that you will deliver Justice to all
You would have seen it clearly how Tamils voted
Tamils will fight in a different form be assured
Tamils also know how you used racial card to win
You and your brothers are.muderers
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Eagle Eye / November 17, 2019
Dilshan,
Stop talking BS! Mahinda Rajapakse murdered half a million Tamils? Where did he bury these half a million dead bodies.
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You can fight in a different form. Whatever the form may be Native Sinhalayo will screw Malabar Demala extremists in the same way they screwed your big boss at Nandikadal.
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JohnSiva / November 18, 2019
Eagle Eye,
Did you say Nandikadal? Are you HLD Mahindapala by any chance? He is the one man i have seen who seems to be obsessed with that place.
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Abhaya Premawardena / November 17, 2019
We dont care about your memories. You can fight all you want .
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EA / November 17, 2019
Dilshan, Tamils are Losers yet again. Why do you keep on losing? Since 1948 you have tried, peaceful protests, violent protests, strikes, terrorism, nothing has worked. Don’t you see the answer lies right there mattam?
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Dilshan / November 18, 2019
Irish fought for 300 years and won. British imperialism was able to withstand ot from wealth amassed from colonies. Sinhalayo are already dying while Tamils are all over the world prospering like the Irish prospered in US
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Agnos / November 18, 2019
Dilshan,
The number of Tamil people killed, maimed, white vanned and disappeared in the Vanni and elsewhere during MR regime is probably somewhere in the 20000 — 40000 range. Exaggerating it to half a million will work against any quest for justice and truth.
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Champa / November 17, 2019
My Dear Mr. former President,
Gotabhaya should appoint you as the Prime Minister as his first duty tomorrow and fulfil his promise, so that you can swear-in as the Prime Minister tomorrow itself.
Make sure he does it.
If he doesn’t, let’s unseat him!
I fought for 5 years to see you reclaim your due place and bring my country back to its former glory.
I wish you all the very best from the bottom of my heart.
Love you! – Champa –
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Mallaiyuran / November 17, 2019
“Lovely Champawati,
Lets first get rid of 19A. Then we come back to Ranil, who in Jan. 2015 came to Temple Tree House and promised us that he will save us until it come to this. “
Sinhala Buddhist has said they don’t hate America. Many dream daily to go to America and claim asylum saying they sayed Tamil so they are refugees in Lanakwe.
But they wanted to have get rid of Tamils.
America gampled in 2005, 2006,2007 and took it is share in 2008 & 2009. It has done it again.
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vithura / November 17, 2019
Champa, your ignorance of the provisions of 19A of the constitution is so revealing. The President cannot remove the sitting PM at his whim, unlike in the pre 19A days, with the exception being the instance where PM is unable to prove his majority in Parliament. He however, can dissolve the parliament, and for that he needs to wait for a few more months. Also, as regards the days of glory, could you please remind us all as to when precisely these days were.
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Champa / November 18, 2019
vitthura
Ask Gotabhaya. He promised to appoint Mahinda as the PM.
Gotabhaya didn’t win this election on his own strength.
He won entirely on the strength of Mahinda, whose popularity is still intact.
Therefore, Gotabhaya should keep his promise.
We fought against the slave government for 5 years to protect our motherland, Buddhism and Mahinda. Gotabhaya was just happened to be there at the right time.
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ajith / November 17, 2019
Champa,
“The candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Joint Opposition, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has won a decisive victory at this presidential election.”
Gotabaya is not the candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom party. Mahinda was in power as a President from 2005 to 2015. There is a reason for he lost in 2015. Gotabaya won this election purely on lies over lies spread by Mahinda. Gotabaya’s well planned Easter bombing along with his golaya Hisbullah helped him to win this election. Kauna helped him to win the war with LTTE. In addition, American agreement with Gota also contributed to this victory but more than Sinhalese have given another five years to escape justice and continue with abductions, murders and robbing the nation.
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Champa / November 18, 2019
ajith
Of course not.
Sinhalese united to defeat Yahapalanaya irrespective of the fact that who was Mahinda’s candidate.
Since 2015, I called for Sinhalese, especially Sinhalese Buddhists to be united at the Presidential election to defeat the slave government.
Make no mistake. Sinhalese, including myself, DO NOT approve “abductions, murders and robbing the nation, as you said.” This vote is not a licence to do any of them.
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ajith / November 19, 2019
Champa,
Do you think that Sinhalese who voted to Gotabaya will ask the president to investigate the murder of Lasantha? or the bribe paid to Viyalenthiran during the October 2018 Plot?
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Vis8 / November 17, 2019
Mahinda, why do you bother writing articles to colombo telegraph? Those who flock together here are self-possessed anti-nationals who are only interested in themselves :(
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Neases / November 19, 2019
He doesn’t specifically write to this site. His public statements are published here.
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Words / November 17, 2019
Congratulations! Both you and Gota have already served our motherland in immeasurable ways! We know the next 8 years will be our best ever!
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wannihami / November 17, 2019
The little island called Sri Lanka won. When the time comes her most devoted inhabitants, the Sinhalese rise up to the challenge, they have in the past, they will do it again. H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksha the 7th President of Sri Lanka and his older brother Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha will once again be the saviors of a mighty country, not in size but in spirit. Oh Happy Day!
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Eagle Eye / November 17, 2019
This time Native Sinhalayo demonstrated to ‘Para’ Wellala Demala politicians who are the descendants of slaves brought to Sinhale by colonial parasites that they can produce Presidents without the support of minority votes.
Sinhalayo punished the Unpatriotic National Party for accepting the unjust demands from racist Wellala bigots.
Sinhalayo will urge the new Government to scrap 15th Amendment to the Constitution introduced by traitor President reducing the cutoff point from 12.5% to 5% to please the minorities.
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VADC / November 18, 2019
And also should ban full face veil and other oppersive clothes?, child marriages, polygamy…
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Navin / November 18, 2019
How long will it be before the naive voter realize that the leopard does not change it’s spots? Soon it will be like old times – journalists will be threatened, kidnapped, or brutally killed by masked men, like poor Lasantha was, or missing like Prageeth Eknaligoda, nepotism (why, we already have two Rajapaksa’s reigning from today), and unqualified uncles and aunts holding posts that only qualified Sri Lankans should be given, one uncle charged of corruption by SL, and the US moving to indict him with money laundering, we will also see lands being forcefully purchased, and taken over, more bad decisions to build unnecessary mega airports and ports, that are now used to store grain, and must be full of cobwebs, flashy cars racing on the roads, rugger players tortured and killed, because of envy, and the minority living in fear because saffron robes thugs spread hate and attack them, and there is dead silence from the top.
Sri Lankans know fully well what this family is capable of from the past, and yet voted them in.
Be careful what you wish for, Sri Lanka. Coming colors no good.
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Thanga / November 18, 2019
Sri Lanka is a divided island on ethnic lines. That is the lesson conveyed by the results of the presidential elections. Voters in the North and East voted with bo their hands (85%) to Sajith who promised in his manifesto to tackle the ethnic issue by giving maximum devolution of powers to provinces. He also promised to take forward the constitutional process to enact a new constitution. The lack of efficiency on the part of the UNP led government together with alleged corruption made it unpopular among the people. The prime defaulter was Mythripala Sirisena who was a national disgrace to the post he held. The personality clash between the Prime Minister and President turned the government dysfunctional. The beneficiary was Rajapaksas who despite their corruption, authoritarian style of governance.
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Navin / November 18, 2019
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.
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JD / November 18, 2019
Mahinda Rajapakse says his ghost will not allow even his brother to act on his own. What a way to live.
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EA / November 18, 2019
Well Yahapalanists, just a few hours left to complete that 100 day programme. Go on, you can do it!
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K.A. Sumanasekera / November 18, 2019
Just under 7 Million voted for you because they were hurting watching what Dr Ranil and his Crooked Lot did to their country over the last 4 and 1/5 years and still continued until the 11the hour to tick off on that 12,000 Sq Kms to MCC.
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There are Good , Bad and the Ugly among the Lot in Kotte.’
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The 7 Million voters know who they are.
What your aim must be to have a Parliamentary Election and let the 7 Million pick the good ones while those are still fresh in their memory’.
And send the rest to pasture .
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Don’t get bogged in 19 , And don’t try to change it for your advantage. by using the Bad and the Ugly who are now waiting for an opportunity to jump in to start ” collecting” again and also curry favor with the Electors before the next round.
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If anything you must look at 13 A , which has given us a Factory to produce Crooks, Cheats , Robbers and even Rapists to become Politicians .in bucket loads.
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We know it will be hard for you to pick all Good even for the next few months, until the Election is due. But please keep the Ugly totally out even if they come begging on their knees.
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Take a few Bad ones if they are proven to be less bad than the rest. And haven’t done too much damage to the Country .
I am talking about the new comers from your own old lot , some of whom are as guilty as Dr Ranil’s Crooks who did the damage to our nation..
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BukiPaala / November 18, 2019
You are a very HUMBLE Leader. Possibly the most humble leader ever that we have witnessed.
Step aside from the UNP CROOKS and create a new party- a party that invites educated, corrupt free, humble leaders with a great vision just like you. And we will vote you and make you our next leader in 5 years time. Till next time,
Tusen Tack! Tills vi träffas
Sajith Premadasa, we salute you SIR !
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Soam / November 18, 2019
Sri Lanka has witness a great mindset divide between the North, East & middle of the country and the rest. Probably this goes back to Duttagamunu period and beyond. Congratulations to Gotabaya on his win and he need to start working on the divide through democratic and moral ways to wins the heart of the people living. There are underlying reasons for the people have exercise their rights in the North, East and middle of the country. These need to addresses in a reasonable way to get them into the main fold as one Sri Lanka. There are no other options, except govern for ALL
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John / November 18, 2019
Winner wins!!! Congratulation!!!!
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Next hurdle is, forming a 2/3rd government without recently exposed Hakim, Badudeen, Hisobolla, Asad, Halim,etc and prosecution of Muslim politicians, lawyers and Muslim businessmen who facilitated Easter day Muslim terrorism.
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Illegal 13th amendment which was signed UNDER COERCION must be flushed down the pan immediately. Renegotiate reunification (repatriation) of minorities with their loved ones in Tamil Nadu, which was sabotaged by evil Indira.
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Kugan / November 18, 2019
John, So we go for extra few MiGs after accomplish your suggestion or before, we might need to use them to achieve your targets? A “muttayak” consisting 1kg dhal, 5gk rice, 5kg sugar & 500g haalmesso is free for a clever, patriotic citizen like you …
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Native Vedda / November 18, 2019
Johnny baby
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“Winner wins!!! Congratulation!!!!”
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Of course Winner wins!!! however losers are the entire people of this island except a few. If you are one of the winner’s b***s carriers you too have reason to celebrate depending on the size of the crumbs.
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Ifthikhar / November 19, 2019
Not only Muslim politicians, their handlers too. Those who turned a blind eye to multiple warnings and those like Harin F who said his father notified him about the attacks. The fact that some were smirking after the carnage is a reason itself to suspect. They all must be brought to book to send a message that they can’t play with the innocent lives and get away with it.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / November 18, 2019
Readers, rather than argue among yourselves foolishly, READ paragraphs TWO and THREE of the brother’s statement again..! What do you see? The exact opposite of the reality they believe in, accusing the losing party of the very things they espouse. George Orwell, in his book 1984 brilliantly explains this doublespeak.
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K.Pillai / November 18, 2019
Mahinda Rajapaksa {“On My Brother’s Victory”}
Typo! The apostrophe should have been after the s.
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