“I know my capacities and leadership qualities. Therefore, I can prove that military persons can also become good leaders.” says the former secretary to the ministry of defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“I left the military some years back and then I became an official. I have now been in civilian life for a long time. There is no difficulty for a military person to become a politician. There are enough and more examples in international politics where military persons have turned to be good politicians. But in Sri Lanka most of them proved to be failures. I know my capacities and leadership qualities. Therefore, I can prove that military persons can also become good leaders.” Gotabaya said in an interview with Financial Times today.
Responding to the question; “One Minister recently said you entering into politics would be as a ‘dictator in the making'”, Rajapaksa said; “You see these people make remarks for their political advantages. I have heard this same Minister was promoting Sarath Fonseka to be in Parliament to fill the vacant seat of former MP Gunawardana. Just compare the two statements. On one hand he promotes Fonseka and on the other hand he accuses me of becoming a dictator if I enter into politics. For me, these people just talk with no basis. I also heard him saying I know only to say left and right. It is true because I know what is left and what is right well. But this person has mixed up left, right, north and south and everything.”
When asked about the ongoing discussions to form a new political party by the Rajapaksas and its leadership, Gotabaya said; “Yes, discussions are going on these days to form a new political party but it is not exactly by the Rajapaksas. The idea purely came from the original and true SLFPers, who are thoroughly disappointed and also in the wilderness now that their much-loved party is now in disarray. The SLFPers at grass-roots level have urged us to form a new party for them. However this will be the real SLFP.
“All the original and true SLFPers will rally around this party. The country had the general elections and those who won at the election won because of the hard work of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Those politicians made use of his image to win the elections and get high preferential votes. Remember, those SLFPers who voted for them didn’t want them to join the UNP to form a UNP-led government. They voted for them to form a SLFP government and if not they wanted the SLFP to be the main Opposition. They lost both opportunities and now these SLFPers claim they are lost in politics and they do not have a political party. Once formed, this party will have the cream of the SLFP.
“We have had few rounds of discussions and need to discuss more. When the right time comes, he will take a decision to join the party or guide the party. It is up to him to decide his future with the new party.
“I will be assisting to groom the party. I am not an experienced politician; I hope the party leader will be an experienced politician. As a citizen of this country I have a right to support the political party which I like. Therefore, I am ready to provide any support to build up this new political party, which will lead the true SLFPers in this country.
I believe that the most important factor of a political party is its policies. Today, we see polices of the SLFP are not implemented under this Government. The SLFPers always stood for the country, its unitary status and the country’s war heroes but these policies are challenged under this Government. The SLFP was formed with the support of other communities and represented all communities. They worked together to build the party. The new party is also for the SLFPers from all ethnic groups.”
For the first time he agreed that Fonseka played an important role in the war against the LTTE. He said; “I agree that he played an important role in this mission as the then Army Commander. But the task of ending terrorism was much more than his task as the Army Chief. Without the leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was the Commander-in-Chief of all forces, no one could move an inch to defeat terrorism. Lots of coordination was done by me. Yes, it was a collective effort that helped the Government end the war in a short period of time.” (By Kavinda Serasinghe © CT)
jen / February 9, 2016
The only place you belong is Welikade with Yoshitha . The rest of the extended family will join you there.
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Nirmala N / February 9, 2016
jen
Though I love Mahinda, I hate Gota.
I rather suggest to Gota that ‘It was One Set Of Rules For Fonseka then and One Set Of Rules For Me under my brothers rule’.
‘Sadly what we did then is now rebounding on us. We prayed to Goddess Kaali but Goddess Kaali is angry with us and not helping us. I plead falling on the foot of Sarath to be merciful and not harm us. Tit for tat is not good. We will do what you will say’.
Rajash, Rajash K and Kumar R, see how powerful my comments are. This is how you must write. You all know my father is a Lion King and I write so strongly as a Lion Queen.
Learn from me my good boys.
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Harin / February 11, 2016
Exactly, drag gota to prison
and give the equal treatment
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Point of View / February 9, 2016
Dream on you racist !
You are just a gamey chandiya who used the brothers executive powers to terrorise this nation. Now no where to run, trying to get into parliament to save your rotten family.
You are the No. 1 terrorist.
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samy / February 9, 2016
Whilst he says he is a government Servant and now only gets a pension…… He Drives around in Land Cruiser ( Value 28,000,000/= ) . Check the floor air conditioner in his living room worth at least ( 300,000/=) .
Bribery Commission over to you.
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InconvenientTruth / February 10, 2016
Just out of curiosity what is a floor air-conditioner, is it an air-conditioner that you place on the floor or one that cools the floor?
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Rohan / February 9, 2016
” Lots of coordination was done by me. Yes, it was a collective effort that helped the Government end the war in a short period of time”
Okay. Would you please clarify exactly what happened to Pulithevan and Nadesan? Who half-burnt their bodies?
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Ben Hurling / February 9, 2016
“As a citizen of this country I have a right to support the political party which I like.”
It amazes me often how these guys manage to utter nonsense like this so naturally.
It must be in his blood. After belonging to such a rotten political family. For so long. Who else can spit out that kind of rubbish?
Nobody has so grossly violated people’s right to political affiliation than this guy, in our recent history.
When will “Yahapalanaya” name, shame & prosecute the criminal mind behind White Van Syndrome in Sri Lanka? That will shut this guy up for good.
Cheers!
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bganendra / February 9, 2016
The entire country knows abilities – “THE WHIE VAN ABILITY”
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King Wala Gemba / February 9, 2016
Gota was a killing machine and the architect of BBS. He gave enough hardship to SF. Now it is SFs turn. Karma is a bitch.
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Bensen Berner / February 9, 2016
“There are enough and more examples in international politics where military persons have turned to be good politicians. But in Sri Lanka most of them proved to be failures. I know my capacities and leadership qualities. Therefore, I can prove that military persons can also become good leaders……” Yes indeed. Winston Churchill was a good example. He took to politics having fought the Boers in Africa and became Prime Minister of England. Gota the joker had fought the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Bensen
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Native Vedda / February 9, 2016
Gota says:
“Without the leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was the Commander-in-Chief of all forces,”
Is Gota distancing himself from war crimes and crimes against humanity charges?
“no one could move an inch to defeat terrorism.”
No one could move an inch because Hindia had already caught MR by his b***s, directing MR every step of the way to the complete annihilation of LTTE.
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Kaju Kaapu Rilawa / February 9, 2016
Now Mr Gotabhaya Rajapakse has to prepare himself to listen to the “music”. The government should play the same music he played for others when he was the Secretary – Defence. I think the Government should playback his interview with BBC – Hard Talk and let people judge him on its merits.
Mr Rajapakse was so powerful, he was beyond the long or short arm of Law. He displayed such pakum.
I remember calling him to make a free offer to the SL Army Hospital. He shouted at me so much, I had to meekly tender my apology for speaking to him. Here was a ordinary citizen holding a public office who had no regard to another citizen. What would have been the situation of people who fell on bad terms with him?
I don’t know if his contribution was equal or more to that of FM Sarath Fonseka but he surrounded himself with Green Berets of the SL Army and deprecated those of other hues. He was the shadow Army Commander, directly overriding the Commander dealing with his Green Berets. And Green Berets carried out his command to the word. Already one Green Beret has been identified as a “War Criminal”.
He should be subjected to the same inhuman treatment that was given to FM Fonseka on the aftermath of the 2010 Presidential Election. There should be a re-run in the arrest of Gotabhaya Rajapakse.
Mr Gotabhaya Rakapakse you are talking cock!!!!
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Point of View / February 9, 2016
Why the ‘Mr’ ? This shit eating Pig does not deserve any respect.
He will die a slow and a painful death for all his crime.
Karma is a bitch ….. No escaping.
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words / February 9, 2016
Fonseka can’t hold a candle to Gota and that’s a fact. For all those who thinks he is a straightforward and honest man.. they should google what the requirements are to be entitled and bestowed the position of Field Marshall! Lol!
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Sylvia Haik / February 9, 2016
I see there are still a few Gotabhaya sycophants and boot-lickers lying around.
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words / February 9, 2016
Seems you see too little of what is really happening in our country!
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Srilal / February 9, 2016
Really ? so , according to you , you had seen much more than all of us seen ? your fake hero Gota the goon going to pay back for all his crimes sooner than later ,we the peace loving people of SL want to see justice is done for all the innocent victims , Gota the cold blooded killer must pay for all his sins , preferably it should start from Matale mass grave , then fleeing the country fiasco in 1991 when his services most wanted , then the MIG deal , all the other arms procurements under the guise of logistic lanka pseudo company , all the white van abductions , walikada prison massacre , threatening journalists , endless killings of political prisoners , war crimes and crimes against humanity , engaging in politics while working as a government servant , initiating more than half a dozen mega white elephant projects (Floating market, race course BS etc etc ..) , creating and funding of numerous terrorists organisations ( BBS , ara sena me sena ), plotting to overtake the legitimately elected government and the list goes on , Gota the mass murderer’s each trial must be on live TV and camera must be zoomed on his facial expressions , i remember how he arrogantly wagged his finger on BBC hard talk presenter with his broken English , he dared to threaten SF of hanging . Media must replay that interview repeatedly to remind others about his sheer arrogance and dumbness , what a loser ? this psychopath does not deserve to live in a civilised society , his ideal place is the solitary confinement in magazine prison . we are counting days , law enforcement agencies have let us down so badly by not caging this criminal earlier. enough is enough , let’s get the ball rolling !
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Rohan / February 10, 2016
Huh! You are supporter of a deserter who ran away from the army to USA. He was a simple network manager. His family was poor, as his brother had to work in the police to feed the family. Can we go to look at the wealth of Gotabhaya now and the means he amassed such wealth in a short time?
The world knows that Rajapaksa Family hires media commentators at various levels to monitor the media outlets and dish out propaganda staff.
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InconvenientTruth / February 10, 2016
No! G.R. was not a deserter, you are entitled to your opinion but not entitled to fabricate facts. And being poor is not a vice nor is working to make a living, and if there is such amassed wealth can someone prove it with data NOT innuendo?
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Srilal / February 10, 2016
Technically Gota is not an Army deserter , but he had conveniently manipulated the circumstances to benefit him , in other words , he had used a loop hole to flee the country when his services were badly needed ! ask him why sneaked out the country during the height of LTTE terror ? he kept blabbering about a weak political leadership or some thing to that effect bull crap . had all the other officers reacted the same manner as Gota did , what would have been the out come ? tell these lousy excuses to FM sarath fonseka . he would tell the real reason !
Isn’t Gota a real wimp ? how come all over sudden he remembered about SL after 15 odd years ? only when his brother Mafia king cheated his way to steal the president ship from the rightful winner Ranil in 2005 , he remembered SL , since then he had high jacked SL as his personnel property , ask him to a have a debate with FM Sarath F on any given matter ! Gota is a real coward , now he tries to hide behind women’s skirts to protect his sorry ….. he deservers only the solitary confinement in prison , people are eagerly waiting to hear that good news every day , hope that day is not far !
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Tamil from the north / February 9, 2016
Gota, you and your brothers plundered this country, murdered it’s citizens and ran away to work as a cashier in a petrol station in the U.S., during the height of the war raped many women……………we know how you and your gamay village buffoon brothers ruled this country.
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Rohan / February 10, 2016
Rajapaksa Family is still in the country , not because of their love of the country, but they have so much to lose if they leave.
First of all, they gobbled up so much of state lands and money. They intimidated and bought off a lot of property in the country for peanuts.
They have a lot of money invested in US, Europe and other places. But, the big question is……. who would take them? Probably, Russia and China are the only places they could go to, even Middle East would not be safe the them.
Patriotism? My foot!!
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Snowden Edward Asange / February 9, 2016
hahaha trying to be in the good books of SF..
YES U HAD YOUR SET OF RULES… U MISUSED to nail him and jail him…( u EVEN SQAID YOU COULD HANG HIM…..was it not pure arrogance and abuse of power( WHILE U HAD IT?)…..longing to see U..GOTA being dragged by the collar and thrown in jail.. made to wear jumpers and be n line to collect ur food. NO FOOD FROM HOME FOR YOU COZ u are NOT sick as of now…AND NO merchant WARD STAYS FOR YOU…. so its proved yet again that KARMA IS A BYATCH…its gonna get your ass baaaaddddd…
It might be VERY interesting to see GOTA, MR,NR,YR,RR,Shahendra R all in jumpers..add Shiranthi too… waiting in line for food… the pic would sell for a million dollars…collectors piece !
SF..Sir, over to you… Make it happen… WE the people mourned while they treated u like dirt.. give US, the PEOPLE the chance to rejoice…
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Aku / February 9, 2016
Oh yessss Snowden… so very right…. His parents named him aptly too, Gotaya… He and family have a lot to pay for… would be better if they returned at least half the stolen money for now….
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Gobba / February 9, 2016
First you must answer a lot of unanswered questions before you even think of Politics. We know who you are and what you did. Not everyone is a Baiyya to swallow your sob stories.
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EDWIN RODRIGO / February 9, 2016
Well, I think, as good Sri Lankans, they are continuing in your traditions.
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Amarasiri / February 9, 2016
Former secretary to the ministry of defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
RE: One Set Of Rules For Fonseka, One Set Of Rules For Me: Gota
Yes. Very unfair. Double Standards.
Sarath Fonseka was arrested and put in Jail based on Trumped Up charges.
You had your White Wants. You killed off political opponents and Journalists, and abducted people for ransom, and had BBS at your disposal.
None of these perks for Sarath Fonseka.
This is double standards.
MaRa MaRa ChaTi MaRa
MaRa Amana MaRa
MaRa MaRa MiNi MaRu Gotha
MaRa MaRa Dhushana Gota
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Saman / February 9, 2016
Gota…..you are DREAMING which never come TRUE……
Now see the FORTUNE of OUR WAR HERO FIELD MARSHAL Sarath Fonseka.
He is now Member of Parliament.
Foolish man you took revenge from OUR WAR HERO and incarcerated him for two and half years for nothing.
You and your foolish brother thought you were the OWNER of this country and thought you would be able to govern the country for for life.
Gota ….do you know that The God severely PUNISHED you and your brother Mahinda for life.
Our War Hero Field Marshal, other Commanders, hundreds of hundreds of solders dedicated and sacrificed their energy and lives to defeat the terrorism.
BUT YOU WROTE A BOOK FOOLISHLY called “Gota’s War”.
What a shame man…..
You acted like a second KING in or country during your brother’s regime.
See how you were stupid and unwise.
Power is not in your hand it is in peoples hand.
Do not forget it.
You treated our solders like slaves……You must suffer for life.
I wish you a long life to suffer more and more…..
Hell fire started to slowly burn you….now you enjoy it with agony both mentally and physically.
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Diogenes / February 9, 2016
You displayed your so called leadership qualities because you were well protected by your brother who wielded such `almighty power` at the time when you presumed he would be the ` sole proprietor` of this country forever. We know that you can give leadership to thugs, murderers, sadists ,conspirators & two legged buffaloes. One of the greatest thugs this country ever produced.. A Miracle of Asia!Please don`t compare yourself with SF-the real war hero.
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gune / February 9, 2016
All this fellow is trying to do is get into politics and save him self from war crimes like MR …. No body is finding fault on the war and its end….. but how it was conducted by a couple of idiots with scant regards to innocent human life… thats all in a nut shell….. you have no escape….. whilst he claimed to have won the war all by himself he also filled his pockets to last a 1000 generations…..
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janaka / February 9, 2016
Did Gota order killing of surrendering tigers general Shavendra?
No comment.
Oh sh#t wrong answer go to new york UN and keep mouth shut?
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Aia / February 9, 2016
“one set rules for Fonseka and one set rule for me”-Gota, reading the heading at the start, I thought he himself asking for his own arrest- whining about the delay.
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Sylvia Haik / February 9, 2016
It never fails to amaze me how these Rajapakse clan members could keep a straight face and try to convince us they were decent people. They are not fools, they must know what atrocities they committed upon the innocent fellow countrymen.
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Native Vedda / February 9, 2016
Sylvia Haik
It doesn’t serve any purpose blaming Gota alone. We are well informed and aware of this butcher’s past and present.
However one should ask oneself a simple question. Why does this clan is almost revered by substantial section of people?
All of the voters knew Gota was the Gestapo chief in a tinpot dictatorship and when his brother was the little Pol Pot of this island yet almost 48% of the voters (the smart ass patriot Dayan called them smart patriots) supported the clan.
Are the people stupid or the clan is the smartest con artists voters could elect?
The downward movement towards a tinpot dictatorship didn’t start with the clan however they made use of the centralised power to their maximum advantage.
If you would revisit post independent history, you would note con tricks of various kinds have been deployed by politicians and the voters happily voted for them at their own costs.
The people should be educated to make informed choices in any elections, train to see beyond their nose.
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Justice & Fairplay / February 10, 2016
NV mentions three things which are not repeated often enough by us in this country. I think they are very important
1. “All of the voters knew Gota was the Gestapo chief in a tinpot dictatorship and when his brother was the little Pol Pot of this island…………..”
2. “The downward movement towards a tinpot dictatorship…”
3. “yet almost 48% of the voters (the smart ass patriot Dayan called them smart patriots) supported the clan”.
Is it that there is STILL no intellectual discussion during prime time on TV and other forms of media to reduce the 48% considerably, through PUBLIC AWARENESS of where we were sliding to?
Another question we need to ask ourselves is: What sort of a country and governance do we want for ourselves in the end?
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Justice & Fairplay / February 10, 2016
It never ceases to amaze me either, how that ace deceiver Mahinda Rajapakse could go around the country, making statements about the impending peril the country faces, about the state of the economy, about he unfair political harassment his family has to endure, about the incarceration of maha sangha in remand, and so many other things which are all spelling doom to an otherwise fantastic country which it as during his time (so he claims)…
Mainda Rajapakse fell disgracefully from grace last year. He continues to fall, and hasn’t the grace nor good sense to realize it.
He is not a wise man nor a good one. Instead he is just a very cunning man. He will be under-estimated by the incumbent President at his own peril.
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Douglas / February 9, 2016
“One set of Rules for Fonseka and one set for me”. I totally agree. Then why wait for “Investigations” and “recording of statements” and decisions from AG?. Fonseka was “Leashed” like a Dog and arrested without any of such procedures and “charged” later. Why this Government is adopting a “different” procedure for GOTA? With that questioning, GOTA has given the “go ahead” to do the same for him too.
I hope this Government will not do that. Anyway these are the “Leaders” who are going to form a “New” Political Party and LEAD the Country – TO WHERE is the big question the people must address immediately.
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true citizen / February 9, 2016
Suddenly Gota has changed his stance agreeing that SF was a war hero and that SF played a very vital role to end d war.
All this is because SF took oaths as a MP today.
Await for more action after SF gets a ministry ……..GR GR GR
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Eldorado / February 9, 2016
Gota, we all know of your leadership qualities and capabilities not only do you know. The Country had a taste of it over the last ten years, and that is why the majority of us threw you and your clan out by the scruff of your necks and we don’t want to see the likes of you sully our Nation ever again. We had enough of the murders, the abductions, the killings,the white vans, the ethnic and religious violence, the muzzling of the media,and the the fear psychosis that prevailed throughout the entire Country when you were the Defense Secretary under your brother’s regime.
It is the caliber of the man that determines how good a leader he is and this does not rest on his being a good Military man as claimed by you, not that you were any good at that either. You showed by your actions that you were a despot, a corrupt dishonest,and cruel person who had lost your all your senses and let absolute power go to your head are now being called to answer for all your criminal deeds.You should have stayed in the US without returning to SL it would have done you and all of us a world of good.
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Non PhD / February 9, 2016
Remember the BBC Hard Talk programme in which you were so arrogant and asked the interviewer ” Lasanth who ? ” or something to that effect.
How you belittled Lasantha the Unbowed & Unafraid editor of the Sunday Leader, who exposed the corruption of your siblings and the assualts & murders carried out using white vans during your bros regime.
Suddenly you are changing the tune with ulterior motives. Now you are saying SF played an important role in the mission as an Army Commander.
Why you are putting your brother’s or your faction of the SLFP above the country’s interests ? Why you want the power back to your brother and his children, your siblings and you ?
For country’s sake why can’t all of you gracefully leave the SLFP ? Let UNP-SLFP-JVP-JHU take the country forward under MS-MR leadership until 2020.
Take a break and visit your daughter or son in the US and plan your life after retirement.
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Rohan / February 10, 2016
//Remember the BBC Hard Talk programme in which you were so arrogant and asked the interviewer ” Lasanth who ? ” or something to that effect.//
It was something like, “Who eeeess Lasantha, heh, heh, who heh is Lasantha….”
But, in an interview this week to Ceylon Today, Gotabhaya said….
? What happened to Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga?
A: When he was killed we initiated the investigation. The CID said they cannot go beyond a certain level. Now there is a different government. Now they can investigate and I want them to do so. It will take a long time to find out. Actually if they have fresh information they should find out. I will be happy if they do it.
//Take a break and visit your daughter or son in the US and plan your life after retirement.//
Are you suggesting that Gota is here for the love of his country? I am sure he is worried about a potential arrest!!!
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Snowden Edward Asange / February 10, 2016
He is a BLOODY coward who FLED TO USA… vacating his post as an army man.. He claimed asylum…worked at a 7-11..came back with a US citizenship when his brother was elected as President..made changes to the existing law for dual citizenship JUST TO ACCOMMODATE HIM N HIS BAIYYAS…
Now that he has committed Human rights violations and has blood in his hands..he is shitting scared to go back to USA coz he knows arresting him is imminent..
He has to give up his US citizenship sooner than later…
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Rohan Polwatte / February 9, 2016
We dont want people like you writing to papers. We dont want your stupid advice you shefish stupid illeterate moron.You whole family robbed in billions. You and your stupid ego is infinite. You rajapassas are dumb suckrs who destroyed the country.
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Upul / February 9, 2016
You say “I believe that the most important factor of a political party is its policies.”
Yes, we know your policies that you practised while you were the defense secretary. I will remind you of some of them.
1. White van policy.
2. Promoting your favourites to the top in the armed forces without considering the seniority.
3. Eliminating the people who voice against you or think will be a threat for you.
So and so forth…..
We don’t need these policies to be implemented again. Therefore I urge you to stay at home without getting to be a burden to the entire society.
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Analyst / February 9, 2016
Wow !! Not a single comment in favour of this illiterate Rowdy who sucked our country once . We were ashamed to be ruled but were forced by these Rowdies to sit quiet and say yes sir .
It was all hunky dory when they were ruling according to them. Really ??? We were embarrassed to say who our President was. The country internationally was known a “Pariah ” state which was ruled by Thugs and Rowdies.
At foreign interviews these thugs disgraced themselves and our COUNTRY with their ZERO KNOWLEDGE OF STATESMANSHIP UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS BUT TWISTED THEIR VERSION OF PROPAGANDA. They are uneducated Rowdies from a family of Thugs.
They also BOUGHT some world fools with the state money to sing for them in the name of PR COMPANIES.
They laughed all the way to their Banks and when they visited SL they were given right royal treatment on the expense of the Poor Srilankans.
Those were the days of milk and honey for this family of illiterates and their cohorts.
Just go and rest instead of trying to sell your self. You will only fall FLAT ON YOUR FACE . You have heard it now.
Better ask you master writer to change the version to a comical version as we all know you are fit to be a clown in a Circus Ring.
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punchinilame / February 9, 2016
To those who wish to be reminded who and what Gota was, Rayan Goodman
in http://www.justsecurity.org had this to say [Edited out]
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MOHAMED MARZOOK / February 9, 2016
What a shame that these chaps are still getting about freely in the ccountry and also openly saying this and that. They should be put into places where they should be.
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