Sending a letter to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, ruling coalition MP and the leader of the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha today urged not to insult the Secretary to the Treasury PB Jayasundara.
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP, Leader – Liberal Party of Sri Lanka
He said that he hope “suitable action will be taken to make it clear that the Secretary to the Treasury should not be publicly insulted when following government directives and that such conduct is not acceptable in a Member of the Cabinet.”
We publish below the letter in full;
Your Excellency
Last year, when I did not vote for the impeachment of the Chief Justice, instructions had been given, before I even returned home, to reduce my Security. I did not see this as a problem, since I have long argued that we now deploy far too much security, which makes a mockery of your great achievement in getting rid of terrorism from Sri Lanka in 2009. Two officers, as I now have, are quite enough for Members of Parliament, with perhaps one more for Constituency members. And certainly Ministers too could do with far less security, given the numbers and the expense involved.
I was happy therefore to contribute even in a small way to reducing government expenditure, and I realized that such a token reprimand made sense given the general requirement to support government in votes. However it is generally accepted in all parliamentary democracies that votes of conscience are acceptable, and certainly so when there is no threat of instability for government.
The case is very different in the case of a No Confidence Motion against government, and it is unthinkable that Cabinet members should refrain from voting. I hope therefore that I will not be the only person to suffer for having failed to vote, given also the great difference between that occasion and this.
On a related point, two years ago you called me to say I should not criticize public servants who are not able to respond. That was with regard to the falsehood told you by Ms Kshenuka Seneviratne, calculated to rouse suspicions about the Indian Parliamentary delegation as well as the Leader of the House. I noted that it would have been reprehensible to remain silent, and you told me then that I should write to the Ministry. I did so, but have not as yet had a response. I was told by the Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs at that time that he had sought advice from the Presidential Secretariat, given the seriousness of the matter, but had received no response.
I should note that your Secretary was aware of the incident, and confirmed that you had indeed been misled about the delegation, but that he had sought reassurance from the Ministers of Economic Development and of External Affairs, who had confirmed that there was no truth whatsoever in the story you had been told. Given the tremendous sympathy displayed towards Sri Lanka by the head of the Indian delegation, Sushma Swaraj, and the important role she is likely to play in the new Indian government, it is worth reflecting on the enormous damage that would have been done to Sri Lanka had you cancelled your meeting with that delegation as was your inclination after your mind had been poisoned.
Recently I was sent by Mr Kumar Rupesinghe the text of an interview given by the Minister of Housing and Construction, in which he is deeply critical of the Secretary to the Treasury. This is the more reprehensible since, as Mr Rupesinghe pointed out, the Secretary must be acting in accordance with policies decided on by government and by you as Minister of Finance. This is a very different situation from that of Ms Seneviratne who acted on her own in spreading malicious gossip.
I hope therefore that suitable action will be taken to make it clear that the Secretary to the Treasury should not be publicly insulted when following government directives and that such conduct is not acceptable in a Member of the Cabinet.
In all fairness however to the ideas expressed by the Minister of Housing and Construction, I believe he too has now understood the need for reforms, so that we might fulfil the tremendous potential the country had at the time of the last election. But it would be a pity if reforms sent us backward, whereas the commitments to pluralism and wider consultation that were made at the time would help us to move forward and overcome the various threats we face. We should also be aware of the increasing feeling against current structures, and should therefore – given your immense popularity as compared with that of your Cabinet colleagues – work towards a Presidency that can function effectively with full accountability to a Parliament that is strengthened to fulfil its basic responsibilities.
Yours sincerely,
Rajiva Wijesinha
cc.
Hon Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Government Whip
Mr Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to the President
Park / May 27, 2014
Rajiva, although you are part of UPFA, the President has never taken your advice and in addition as you state, he reduced your security for not supporting him. So why are you still with UPFA, is it for your personal benefit? Are you not ashamed of your actions?
Further, the President of the country has taken advice from a grade eight qualified Minister who never contested the election to be elected as a member of the Parliament and a Minister in the cabinet shows what sort of leaders we have in the country. To complain against a highly educated civil servant and for the President to remove the civil servant from his position due to this complaint shows the character of the President and his weakness.
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burt / May 27, 2014
“So why are you still with UPFA, is it for your personal benefit?”
Do you have any doubt? These guys are like leeches.
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S.Modaya / May 27, 2014
Democracy in the land of Sinhala Modayas is a Joke! Wimal Baluwansa who is totally uneducated and knows nothing about international relations but wants to lecture everyone on all things is got the highest preferential vote from Sinhala Moda electorate because he flew the Sihala UNBuddhist Racist flag high!
The Sinhala electorate has been kept stupid and ignorant and racist by its so-called leaders – the politicians who are a corrupt and criminal bunch. Rajiva, PBJ has a criminal record and a conviction and has been with Nivard Cabraal running the cournty’s economy into the ground to keep the Rajapaksa military dictatorship going..
Between PBJ and Baluwansa – its Hobson’s Choice!
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Dodo / May 27, 2014
Come aon Rajiva, your should just stick to the point which is the need for pluralism and multiculturalism and reconciliation with South African assistance and that Wimal baluwansa is on the WRONG RACIST TRACK.
No need to drag in all sorts of other gossip in your pathetic, servile letter to his Royal highness Mahinda Jarapassa!
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Medamulana / May 27, 2014
He hangs on to his relation from our village- MM! Do not you know?
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Amarasiri / May 30, 2014
burt and Park
“So why are you still with UPFA, is it for your personal benefit?” Do you have any doubt? These guys are like leeches.”
The official word is Shill or Shills.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shill
A shill, also called a plant or a stooge, is a person who publicly helps a person or organization without disclosing that they have a close relationship with the person or organization.
“Shill” typically refers to someone who purposely gives onlookers the impression that they are an enthusiastic independent customer of a seller (or marketer of ideas) for whom they are secretly working. The person or group who hires the shill is using crowd psychology to encourage other onlookers or audience members to purchase the goods or services (or accept the ideas being marketed). Shills are often employed by professional marketing campaigns. “Plant” and “stooge” more commonly refer to any person who is secretly in league with another person or organization while pretending to be neutral or actually a part of the organization he is planted in, such as a magician’s audience, a political party, or an intelligence organization (see double agent).[citation needed]
Shilling is illegal in many circumstances and in many jurisdictions[1] because of the potential for fraud and damage; however if a shill does not place uninformed parties at a risk of loss, but merely generates “buzz,” the shill’s actions may be legal. For example, a person planted in an audience to laugh and applaud when desired (see claque), or to participate in on-stage activities as a “random member of the audience,” is a type of legal shill.[citation needed]
Shill can also be used pejoratively to describe a critic who appears either all-too-eager to heap glowing praise upon mediocre offerings, or who acts as an apologist for glaring flaws. In this sense, such a critic would be an indirect shill for the industry at large, because said critic’s income is tied to the prosperity of the industry
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Gurusinghe / May 27, 2014
Let me put it this way.
Weerawanse bashing PB as if he is above Mara.
Rajiva now writing to Mara blaming Weerawansa.
Both Weerawanse and Rajiva painting a nice innocent picture of the biggest rogue Mara, thus making him a baba.
Rajiva is careful not even to quote Weerawanse’s name. People must be careful from the likes of Rajiva, Dayan so on who are playing double games. I think they in vain trying to divert people attention, anger frustration from this maniac regime.
Rajiva if u are a prof and if u are genuinely against this regime for its appalling approach, mismanagement, embezzlement, fraud, anti social activities and its atrocities no point writing lame useless letters to this pinhead Mara like UNP or SLMC does.
Get out to the street and make some awareness programs. Its your duty, provided you BALLS.
At least do something good for your country. That’s your duty.
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Seelawathie Jayasinghe / May 27, 2014
As everyone is clear sofar, these are so called Rajapakshe strategies. Use and throw – as a condom, this happened to Dayan Jayanthilaka, Tamara K and Dr. SB (former CJ). There they dont even raise the question whether under the leadership of Rajapke there was at all common policy focusing each and every areas. They just plan things not focusing on all facets of each issue. Needless to say about foregin policy under the OXFORD learnt Mahandana Mutta GLP – today the countries that appear to be having contacts with Rajapakshe Regime are: Swaziland, Belarus, Iran and middle east and China. Basil Rajapakshe the 10 or 50% should also be accoutable for all the abuses made sofar by finance ministry, it is otherwise very unfair towards PBJ. Basics of the basics are to learn respect people – latter is the great lack in Rajapkshe bunch.
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Punchiburampi / May 27, 2014
whose advice is being respected by President ?
If it comes from his siblings –
a) be them out of focus – he goes for that.
b) be them out of all hands on experience – to fill his pocket he has to make it – satisfying his wife for example tat the time, appointing the idiot – his brother in law as the chairman of srilanken airline – to this day making all records high losses to the country, nation and airline.
c) If it comes from GUYS like Hambantota Mayor, who had a pistol on his hand, the one went after UNP MPs as if sent to drive fray dogs – that this particular … visionary president would take to word to word.. that was the reason… he went on saying .. ” these parlimentarians have critcised those development projects and that was the reason people to attack them brutally – as if he feels any kind of crimes are perimttable in his regime”.
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Navin / May 27, 2014
In a free country any one, specially those educated ones who have access to a variety of jobs and the liberty to pick and choose from, has the right not to serve under a marauding President.
If he chooses to serve him, he is as guilty as the President. This applies to all the Cabinet Ministers, all Parliamentarians who are of the Governing party, Armed Forces Chiefs, The Chief Justice, Attorney General, and all those who hold office that come with political patronage. They are all prostitutes.
It is justified to insult ridicule and vilify them. If the President himself is insulting them in public so much the better.
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ela kolla / May 27, 2014
lowlife rascal navin, you are born to a [Edited out]
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Navin / May 27, 2014
Balu Kela Kolla
Go and sit in your dog cage. Who asked you for your opinion?
Had your canine dad been castrated CT readers would have been spared your irritating cacophony.
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ela kolla / May 28, 2014
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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ela kolla / May 28, 2014
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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ela kolla / May 28, 2014
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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mike / May 27, 2014
Moda Thana Kolla, your comment “lowlife rascal Navin, you are born to a..” is irrelevant, uncharitable and uncalled for. I hope CT will consider the possibility of getting an idiot like you to stop making further comments. You appear to be good at one thing and that is SNIFF, SNIFF, SNIFF!!
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ela kolla / May 28, 2014
buru mike, you stinky fat fool, you have a special place in tamilnadu as you are the greatest worshipper of fat jayalalitha
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ela kolla / May 28, 2014
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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Seelawathie Jayasinghe / May 27, 2014
“PB Jayasundara Should Not Be Publicly Insulted, Rajiva Writes To MahindaPB Jayasundara Should Not Be Publicly Insulted, Rajiva Writes To Mahinda”
What about former CJ Dr. SB´s situation ? Why nobody spoke for her to that time ? She was even abused by all cespit filth used by Rasthiyadukarayas in uththreethara parliament itself.
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Matilda Ellepola / May 27, 2014
what a sorry state of this man. shameful for keeping with a dictator.
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gamini / May 27, 2014
Oh! what a country where this very Public Servant was earlier convicted in Court on fraud charges, fined and debarred from holding Public Office ever again, was brought back to office by this Corrupt Tsunami fund embezzler MR, recognizing his ability of corruption. What a set of clowns we have in Governance including this Nutty, so called Prof? A damn disgrace to the Intelligentsia.
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shantha / May 27, 2014
ohn Swinton, the foremost journalist of his day, was asked to toast an independent press at a New York banquet given in his honour by other journalists. His response was clear and forthright:
“There is no such thing, at this stage of the world’s history in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dare write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Other of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my papers, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone.
“The business of the journalist is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men.
“We are intellectual prostitutes.”
John Swinton, New York 1890.
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Ram / May 27, 2014
From watchdogs to mere lapdogs. The difference is that today they are far better paid.
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pariahs / May 27, 2014
when you sleep with the dogs you will definitely get ticks.
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kapila / May 27, 2014
that’s if dogs have ticks.
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Punchiburampi / May 27, 2014
Having listened to what Rajitha Senaratne says about the current situation of the country –
He says Mandela was not power greedy. He just left others to govern the county. To whom has he been pointing his finger here ?
I was misinformed or mal informed about the RajithaS before, but I consider him as one of good learnt perssonality respecting Bandaranayakes, Senananayakes and every good ones we had in the history of lanka. That alones shows me his charactor. But today politicians to act sas if no any good leaders produced the country in the past – giving all wrong ideas to the new generation is not acceptable. In my younger days, I respected th eway Vasu N reacted to that time. But today, him to be entwined with highly corrupted bunch of thugs is no way acceptable to me – nor have I seen this kind of things happening in lanken politics before. He argues for Gvt while seeing all the malpractices being carried out by them. Sometimes, sounds very resistent no matter anyone would add anything against but he would do his job – whichi is just to be with GOVT until he dies. How come some politicians of socialist kind to become that passive – that are the perks nothing else.
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jasaya / May 27, 2014
I m curious why he copied to Dinesh gunawardena and weeratunga ? expecting any help from those two heroes ? then pigs will fly!
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Spark / May 27, 2014
This letter proves that however much you educate a Sinhalese, he will drop his pants for the right price. Rajiva is protecting PBJ who is a person sentenced by a SL court of law for misappropriation. He knows that PBJ is a punk of Mahinda and therefore Rajiva is safe from any threat to his present arse-licking income. At the same time, this same hench-aiya Rajiva was like a rat when CJ43 was harassed and evicted in one of the most shameful acts in democracy, now condemned world over. At that time he did not have a hand to write letters like this, because he was busy masturbating with both his hands looking up at Mahinda’s photo. One thing is urgently required for all these Sinhalese bums who hold earned doctorates… respect your education and allow and cultivate principles and ethics to govern your life. If not their is no difference between Rajiva and a similar punk Doctor Mervyn Silva and many others in this shameless cabinet.
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Sama / May 27, 2014
You attack RW as if Mahinda is saint.
The key problem of today´s chaos in the current regime lie on MR – nobody else. We knew how the man makes his decisions immediately after UNP young politicians were assualted in Hambantota by MR goons. As no any state leader would do, MR defended the culprits sending the message across that he is such an criminal biased president. Critics say that a man behaving to this low level – to have failed with tamil issue- should not even be questioned. People in this country made the biggest mistake – electing him for the second time. It is high time to call a spade a spade.
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paul / May 27, 2014
A man writes a letter raising a perfectly valid point – that Cabinet members must adhere to collecive responsibility. What happens next? Zillions of empty vessels start making the biggest noise you can imagine…. on nothing. Keep going mates..you must find someway to keep yourselves occupied and we the readers amused..;-)
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Lasantha / May 27, 2014
If Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha had watched Derana 360 Program some time ago where Dilka interviewed former CJ Sarath N.Silva, he explained very well as to who is incharge of all finances, transactions and decision makers in Sri Lanka. It is none other than President Mahinda Rajapakse.
CJ Sarath N.Silva explained how Pres. MR who was behind billion rupee lost Hedging deal and the Greese Bonds.
Also Prof.Rajiva whould have watched how Wimal Weerewanse was fed with Lemon puff and King Coconut by Pres.Rajapakse at the Fast unto death and also would have read how Kapati Andarae ate sugar at King’s Palace.
Therefore this is another Drama played by Maha Raja and Wimal Weerawanse to dupe the citizens when our economy is shrinking.
Who controls 90% of our Finances, economy, all contracts and projects, Judiciary, Police, election commission, Bribery commission etc,etc.
Why the 58 CHOGM Mercedes Benz cars were sold for 25 Million each when they were easily sold for a much higher price.Who is behind this sale and Who bought them. Please do your own research.
There are Billions of Fraud, theft and Pillege happening under Rajapakses today and it is your duty to rescue our country from Alibaba crooks.
Also this is another trick to block South Africa from mediating in resolving Tamil Rights issue, as this is the only survival trump card that Rajapakses have to stay in power.
Yes Prof. Rajiva. Keep fighting for Justice, Democracy and Peace in Sri Lanka.
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justice / May 27, 2014
Why does Rajiva need any “security”?
No one will even spit on him.
He is the joker in the SLFP/UPFA pack in parliament appointed via the ‘backdoor’.
He is ‘leader’ of a ‘party’ which exists only in cyberspace, and survives by praising the president for any/every thing.
If he contests any elective office,he will get only a few votes.
He earlier insulted women in postwar-refugee camps by alleging that they gave birth to ‘blue eyed’ babies by cohabiting with INGO personnel.
His defending PBJ the convicted fraudster, and now the ‘economic sycophant’ who allocates funds for megalomanic projects, is hilarious.
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Colvin / May 27, 2014
Oh dear ! All the secrets seem to be coming out. What type of Secretary is Kshenuka Seneviratne to have given that type of advice to the President?Fortunately he didn’t accept that advice.Imagine the untold damage that would have been Sri Lanka’s experience ,now that Swaraj is foreign minister.I think the President needs to take an Indepandent and personal look at his foreign ministry without DEPENDING on that monitor who know just nothing on foreign policy.Otherwise it’s the poor president and our dear motherland who will pay for it.We must thank Prof Wijesinghe for exposing what Kshenuka S had done
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sg / May 27, 2014
Well said. A good reminder, how roumers and false stories will effect positively and negatively regarding vital perspective of the government actions. It should be taken as a leson learn.
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De Silva CR / May 28, 2014
Now that KshenukaSeneviratnes’s treachery is out she should be removed . The president should not listen to his monitoring MP with who’s blessing kshenuka became Secretary.President will surely take such action to protect our motherland.he must now know that his monitoring MP and his foreign ministry secretary are untrustworthy
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De Silva CR / May 28, 2014
Kshenuka seneviratne should be removed for this.She was appointed by Foreign Ministry Monitoring MP’s recommendation. So both are guilty of misleading the president.So both must be sacked.otherwise it’s the President who will finally be betrayed by these two
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sama / May 28, 2014
Is the president elected to lead this over 90% literate folk Macau papagai to listen every tom and dick´s word ?
See the capacity of this man MR; people are made believed to see other way around… sorry what I meant by people means – average ones or rural majority.
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Ayanthi / May 29, 2014
P. B by holding the government together for this long, if those in power are misusing the countrie. ‘S money may be doing Sri Lankans a disservice. But it is rich coming from the worst scoundrel in parliament. The guy who disgraced our country in the eyes of the world by his actions and behavior, a guy whose wife runs a casino, ( this guy is opposed to casinos) who runs a 100,000 rupee electricity bill, who steels hand over fist from the country and who had the balls to very well knowing he is 8th grade unqualified ,sit on a committee to impeach the CJ of the county!
Those of you who vote for this gong Thadiya should rot in hell for what you have done to this country.
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Ayanthi / May 30, 2014
P.B may be doing some thing wrong by the country by, holding it to gether if, the people in power are squandering the countries’ money . But it is rich , coming from a little man ,with an uncouth mouth, who by his verbal diarrhea and his behavior, has made this country a laughing stock internationally .
This man is against Casinos and his wife runs one. He made a mockery of our justice system, by having the brass to sit on a committee to impeach the CJ of the country, when he knows he is grade 8 unqualified.
A man who puts money In a Suitcase and shows it to the donkeys in Sri Lanka that his lackey was given a bribe!
And the Dilka Lady listened, when he said all what he said with out asking him how he has disgraced this country all on his own.
All those fools who voted this fool in to power should be ashamed of themselves.
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citizen / June 3, 2014
Sorry Ravi. PBJ is not a Public Servant but a Political Servant of the Government. A convict who has no right to be the treasury secretary should be put behind bars for the damage he is causing to the economy and people,
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