The United National Party as the then main opposition took a firm stand in October 2013, when they unanimously decided to vote against the attempts made by the Rajapaksa regime to legalize casinos through a draft legislation which was presented in Parliament.
However, recent photographs of the Mayor of Colombo, UNP’s Ahamed Jamaldeen Mohamed Muzammil‘s full action playing high stakes in a casino is going viral in social media.
The UNP PC MP, President’s Counsel Srinath Perera wrote to the UPFP PC member Udaya Gammanpila the following letter in February 2014;
Mr Udaya Gammanpila,
District Leader of Colombo for the UPFA.
Dear Mr. Gammanpila,
We have come to know – through media reports – that you have launched your election campaign under the auspices of Defense Secretary Gorabaya Rajapaksa.
Gota and GammanpilaAlthough you brag about political ethics and adherence to election laws, you have launched your election campaign under the aegis of a government official, showing the level of your hypocrisy and duplicity.
It is an offence to use state officials and state property in an election campaign under any circumstance, and the fact that you have violated election laws in public at very outset of your campaign disqualified you from boasting about political ethics or “new political culture”
We are also interested to know why you – who stated to stand against establishing casinos in the country – chose to launch your campaign with the support of Mr. Rajapaksa, who explicitly favours casinos in Sri Lanka.
The Urban Development Ministry was the body that gave approval to start new casinos in Colombo, and Mr. Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Secretary of the Defence and Urban Development Ministry, handles various key responsibilities in this regard. He has always been of the view that Sri Lanka should have an open policy towards casinos.
This brings into question your self-styled anti- Casino patriotism. It is clear that you have betrayed your policies, ethics and values for your new ‘position’ as the District leader for the UPFA.
We therefore challenge you to disclose your stand on several matters,
Have you changed your policy on Casinos?
Have you changed your view on ‘political culture’ and political ethics’ ?
What is the reason for sudden shift of core beliefs?
We openly challenge you to answer the aforesaid questions.
Thank you
Srinath Perera PC
Colombo District UNP Candidate
Dr.Goebells / June 25, 2015
To be fair the man is quite affluent-old money . He is a ‘good eating drinking man’ like some of us .The difference is, he is quite open about what he does, unlike some of his ‘holier than thou’ brethren who are reading him the riot act .
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rowdy peter / June 26, 2015
Throw no stone when you live in a house without a roof. Old money? Who cares.
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Kalupahana / July 5, 2015
Another example of the UNP-SLFP collaboration to promote ROTTEN POLITICAL CULTURE, casino culture and looting of the Sri Lanka citizens and taxes payers..
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thondamannar / June 25, 2015
“We are also interested to know why you – who stated to stand against establishing casinos in the country – chose to launch your campaign with the support of Mr. Rajapaksa, who explicitly favours casinos in Sri Lanka.”
Mr. Srinath perera / Colombo District UNP Candidate ?????
Mr. Perera, is this a self promotion.
AS FOR MR. GAMMANPILLA, HE HAS CHANGED HIS STAND AGAINST CASINOS HAVING OBSERVED A CHANGE IN MR. AHAMED JAMALDEEN MOHAMED MUZAMMIL WHO IS SEEN PARTICIPATING IN CASINO GAMES.
THERE APPEARS TO BE NO HARAM IN FAVOURING CASINOS.
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thondamannar / June 25, 2015
Oh !! I see many comments from pious Muslims in this column.
Let muzammil Nana enjoy his casino escapades AND Ranil nana change his stand on legalising casinos and invite Packer & Crown.
Then we could observe the pious Mulim nanas quietly indulging in Haram and creeping steathily.
Practice of religion is personal, and private. Whatever a person indulge one can not hold it against the religion he /she belongs to.
BLINKERED MUSLIMS ARE A PART OF THE PROBLEM IN THE SOCIETY.
THEY GOT DOUBLE STANDARDS.
DISTORTED THINKING BY THE MUSLIMS.
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Yasin / June 25, 2015
His Worship Mayor Muzammil is entitled to know what is happening in his city.
We must not connect everything negatively. Casino is like any other business one is not forced to visit a casino, it is a personal choice. I visit the casino
not to play but to see the faces of those who in the game.
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Snowden Edward Asange / June 26, 2015
Probably you go there not to see faces but to check on hoes…. JUST coz YOU frequent the Casino doesnt mean its a place everyone would want to visit…
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Muniyandy / June 25, 2015
Is gambling worse than having four wives?
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Native Vedda / June 26, 2015
Muniyandy
“Is gambling worse than having four wives?”
Even one is too many.
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Sinhala Banda / June 27, 2015
Dear Kala Vadda
Sound like you are second class citizen in your own house.
Kala Vadda’s this comments shows why Kala Vadda has been spending CT forum contributing 2c worth counter comments on any damn things published here.
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Native Vedda / June 28, 2015
Sinhala Banda
“Sound like you are second class citizen in your own house.”
In our household there is no class discrimination between, We share everything except our under garments hence the hard work,
In your case you are probably a loner who couldn’t find a suitable partner or a man whose wife must be away working in the medieval middle East kingdoms.
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ela kolla / June 29, 2015
kala vedda will never ever disappoint the CT readers with some irrelevant garbage
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Snowden Edward Asange / June 26, 2015
YES !!! having four wives is an economic benefit for the four women and also a deterrent of social diseases…IF a man can afford 4 wives why not care and provide for them. Why do Prostitutes ply their trade? for economic reasons…So its better to be a wife to someone than be a Prostitute…
Gambling on the other hand destroys families…and deprives kids of their rights..
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Zaneera Farook / June 25, 2015
What would be the reaction of the Muslims and the other religious people to this. It is certainly haraam. I do not think it matters much to Muslim voters or religious leaders as they had not raised a whimper when Rauf Hakeem was having a relationship with a woman who is not his legal wife.This is haraam according to Islam and in Saudi he will be stoned to death. He also gets elected from the East which polices Muslim women for allegedly watching porn or giving a interview with the BBC saying that prostitution must be legalised. They are still hounding these women bu men go free. It is one law for women and the other for politicians.
This is in South India too when Jayalalitha who was having a relationship with MGR is considered AMMA, but in the literature these sort of women are considered prostitutes.
Politics is a peculiar game. There is no right and wrong in this.
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Snowden Edward Asange / June 26, 2015
Get ur facts right please.. Stoning to death is for MARRIED men who indulge in sexual activities outside marriage and not for gambling… IF you are promoting prostitution YOU are answerable to Almighty Allah and not the readers of CT.. So be careful not to tread into unknown territory… Allah knows best..
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Zaneera Farook / June 27, 2015
Stonog of adultery applies to married men and also to the couple who had not been married legally.
I am not promoting prostitution, but that is not the way to treat someone who has a different opinion from the rest.
Also it is not the way 2 girls who were in a cyber cafe.
[Edited out]
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MOHAMED MARZOOK / June 26, 2015
All the incidents relating to Rauff Hakeem, MGR, etc. are stories that have floated around and none has been proved. Such stories are common and it is more when it comes to politicians. Rauff Hakeem or MGR are not favourites of mine but still unproved incidents cannot be offences. And to make such allegations is also HARAAM, is it not?
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gamini / June 25, 2015
What is all this fuss? As long as Muzammil gambles with his own money no issue. If he only gambles with public money like the Rajapaksas did, only is a problem.
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Gamaya Yapalanan / June 27, 2015
Stupid Gamini
Any proof on your comments about MARA? DO not be a judge from Kangaroo court bloody Moran.
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Hameed / June 26, 2015
How can anyone trust a Gambler to look after our interest in public affairs. These type of gambling addicts must be chased out of good governance implemented by our Excellency President MS. Certainly we wont care if he is a private individual but when he is involved in politics he is a public figure whose doings and where about should be answerable to the public.
I am sorry of most of the comments justifying this rascals act its no wonder that brutes like Mahinda Rajapakse and Gota are going free. Shame!!!!!!!
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Frank / June 26, 2015
I don’t think there is a big issue here just because Muzammil is a muslim. Of course, it is against the religion. But, there are several wealthy muslims who visit night clubs in Colombo. In some cases even the muslim father and son visit the night club together. These people go to the mosque for prayers as well. So, this is part of Colombo life.
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MOHAMED MARZOOK / June 26, 2015
As with other communities where individuals who had inherited wealth or became wealthier through various means and became politicians just for the sake of having a name in society but had no principles or policies and changed from one party to another yet were able to become either a Municipal or Provincial Council Member or a MP lavishly throwing their money to collect the votes and also bring in their family members to politics; there were and are a few Muslims too who follow the same practice. As their expectation is only to have a name and fame for themselves and their families they resort to even whatever corrupt methods available to hold fast to their positions. Until the respective communities realize the damage caused to the interests of the communities by such dubious individuals and they are alienated such men and women run the ruse for ever.
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Goraka / June 26, 2015
When a Buddhist or a Christian or an Hindu criticise another politician, people do not criticise the religion.
Unless, it’s a Muslim.
Then, we bash Islam, their practices, their beliefs and poke fun at everything a Muslim does.
How can we be a better society when one is treated different from another?
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Daya / June 26, 2015
People are so judgemental.”Throw the first stone, those without sin”. The nana hopefully is gambling with his own money. I still like to think we live in a free world and the term “live and let live ” is stll very much alive.
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Ponkoh Sivakumaran / June 27, 2015
Put Izeth Hussein on to him. Hussein is preaching to every one else but his own community.
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Mawahib / June 28, 2015
These are the ones who call Muslim without faith. And doing the sin and think that they can cheat the god Almighty . Better to give punishment to these basters publicly. i would like to ask from all the faithful Muslim of Motherland give your vote to a non Muslim Brother But not to these double game players
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Dr.Goebells / June 29, 2015
Mawahib
Take it easy man , it’s his life .
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Diluk Desinghe / June 28, 2015
Whats all the fuss about………this is absurd!!
So what, let Rauf “put a jump”, consenting adults no?
Let “His Worship” spin the wheels, its his money, its his folly!!
I have a ton of muslim friends, all good “eating, drinking” buggers, We don’t give a damn about this type of “Holier that Thou” nonsense, we all look after our obligations to our families and try and live life to the fullest.
Dreaming when Dawn’s Left Hand was in the Sky
I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry,
“Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup
Before Life’s Liquor in its Cup be dry.”
You know, my Friends, how long since in my House
For a new Marriage I did make Carouse:
Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed,
And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse.
Fitzgerald’s Rubaiyyat
Omar Khaiyyam (1038-1131 CE)
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baludeen / June 29, 2015
is casino halaal for musammil?
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Obeysekera / June 30, 2015
Hong Kong Orient opposite Royal College was forced to close down due to [Edited out]
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Jayan / July 1, 2015
Musamil is a compulsive gambler [Edited out]. There is nothing wrong it that as long as he doesn’t use our tax money.
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