Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a special address to the nation portrayed the entire saga over investigating the Central Bank bond scam as a victory for the Government.
He has claimed that the process has confirmed that ‘the government is acting in a transparent manner.’ He further claimed that the Central Bank, which comes under his purview in his capacity as the Minister of National Policy, already holds Rs 12 billion belonging to Perpetual Treasuries and that therefore the Rs 9.2 billion the company made illegally can be recovered without any cost to the government.
Wickremesinghe also said that while all officials associated with the scam would be punished according to the law and insisted that he had lent all necessary support to all investigations into the matter. This, he claims, proves the government’s discipline, civility and integrity.
Colombo Telegraph notes however that Wickremesinghe continued to place faith in the then Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran even after it became apparent that the bond issue transactions were suspicious. In fact Wickremesinghe offered Mahendran an advisory post after the latter resigned as Governor.
Words / January 18, 2018
This is Ranil..A.R.R.O.G.A.N.T moron
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Cheers / January 19, 2018
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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DW / January 18, 2018
RW,
What bluff are you uttering man? Reading off a script whist you are bloody aware of the real issue. Wake up mate since you are really in deep slumber here.
Also how does a crime become a “no issue” just because you claim that the financial losses can be recovered.
Thereupon, What the f**k are you talking about man, lamenting about doing nothing for the betterment of this country.
I am 48 yrs old now, and has being a staunch supporter/ voter for the UNP, even despite Ranil’s arrogance even during the time I was a member of the UNP’s “Think Tank”, t at a time when the party was trying to formulate winning strategies.
I’ve lost total faith in the party from being a strong believer ( as a member of the UNP Think Tank) at one time to a totally anti-UNP perception as of today.
I assume that the thought process of me is replicative of similar minds and thus the projected loss of the UNP vote base of the professionals who in 2015 voted for an anti-corrupt, transparent government.
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Kalu Albert / January 18, 2018
Hmmmmm……..
I thought PT is a Bond Dealer . Not a Bond Holder….
Then again Dr Ranil’s blued eyed boy on the COPE committee, who gave a character certificate to PT was leaning about Bond Trading even while attending COPE sessions on the Investigation into Bond Rorting by FIL and SIL..
And the Blued Eyed Boy’s Tutor was none other than the P T boss Aloysious..
Who is keeping LKR 12 Billion with Dr Ranil’s own CB according to this Dr Ranil ‘s address to the Yahapalana devotees….
How Cool….
Where is Dr Ranil’s buddy Dr Mahendran?…..
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Ben Hurling / January 18, 2018
Kalu Alba,
Going after Dr. Ranil’s Mahendran and his SIL is one thing. We also need to grab Dr. Nivard Kabraal for fraud from 2008-2015. Not least his cunning God Father from Hambantota. Will you be just as enthusiastic?
Cheers!
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Jim softy / January 18, 2018
Ben Hurling: Why Ranil is waiting to do that for three years ? Ranil is Arrogant, shameless and is a sociopath. Ranil is Leader in a country where the law enforcement is double standard and politicians are the experts in everything, and Hyenas like yo Benhurling are there to be happy with the chicken bones they throw and destroy the country for everybody. Once these thieves lose the big election, start cheering for the other party. again for money.
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Kalu Albert / January 18, 2018
Mate,
You are obviously not up to speed..
Didn’t you see or hear Cabby’s challenge to your dear Dr Ranil and his buddy Sira to disclose the alleged Fraud/ Frauds in that period.
Or to shut the gob without trying to cover up their dastardly robbery of the CB and the EPF in one hit, by making stupid allegations….
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sach / January 20, 2018
what is the fraud in 2008-15? Care to explain?
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Eagle Eye / January 18, 2018
Except ‘Punnakku’ eating Unpatriotic National Party members no one else will believe what he is saying.
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Fahim Knight / January 18, 2018
Yes , sir sir Three bloody fools Sir.
The (Voters among) Sinhalese -Tamils and Muslims…..
some for you ,some For
“HE” of the past ,who is also the HON of the present ,with his poodle.
Still trying hard for Hon until
death do part ..and none to the naughty boy (Present Man of office ) who refused to scratch anyone’s back.
—-
Good Job Ranil .. We are doomed .Thank you for letting us know in advance .
So is Madam Chandrika(Our last hope once again) going to step in before to late and help The man in office before the Sharks get our innocent man ? Or what??
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Ben Hurling / January 18, 2018
Sir,
Ignorance with a healthy infusion of arrogance is BLISS. Pinnacle of self-denial. Treating citizens like bloody idiots. How many corrupt crooks and killers have you put behind bars so far, over last 3 years Mr. PM? NONE! Voters who placed you in that seat, due to circumstances, not because they believed in the corrupt UNP are now fuming.
Cheers!
PS: Appointing tainted, same old, tired Tilak Marapana as the investigator, for yet another GOD DAMN REPORT is a terrible insult to peoples’ intelligence. Salt on the wound.
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LANKANITIZEN / January 18, 2018
Rani the cunning . its okay about the Bond in Rupees .
You are the boss ,what is our rupiya today but wastepaper ,you can get your people to print not 12 billion even more.. .
—+
All I want to know are Two things ,
1_) how do you propose to pay back our debt of Trillions of ruppes debt ! surely you can’t do the same game play ? It has to be converted in real crispy dollars
2)What did you and your cool gang from top to bottom (Excluding our Good President) do with all those billions we were given ? Can you account for it ?
—
You can fool all the people some of the time ,and some if the people all the time ,but never can you fool all the people all the time.
I tell you people ,if The president does not take the whip to his hand ,the nation is doomed . This will be the next Greece .you want it to happen .the neglect HE.Maithree and handover the nation to Wolves in sheep clothing as they wait for their diet.
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Ajith / January 18, 2018
Ranil,
It is good that the bond scam was investigated but we need the truth about the robbery under previous regime and truth about what happened to those Tamils who are still unaccounted for.
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Shenal / January 18, 2018
Ajith,
Ranil and his cohorts came to TV debates with large files when discussing the corruptions issues of the previous government as if they have all the evidence in the world with them. We are wondering what happened to the files and the rhetoric of the yesteryears of UNP who has promised to deliver the corrupt within 100 days of their arrival.
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Jim softy / January 19, 2018
Ajith: If you Tamils are not in Srilanka, Sri lanka is better off. See Arjun Mahndran came and gone. the whole area is stinking. RAvi the LIAR, Arjun ALoesius, who are these ?
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Douglas / January 18, 2018
What a DISMAL statement? He himself says that Mr. Mahendran “kept away” from duties as the Governor of CBSL during the “Inquiry” by a Committee appointed by him. In fairness to that “Illusive” Committee, it must be said, that Committee too recommended further “Investigation”. Next came the COPE inquiry. He (PM) must lay hands on his heart and ask himself, “Am I HONEST and SINCERE, in getting a sitting member of the COPE resigned and appointing Mr. Sujeewas Senasinghe in his place only to participate in that inquiry”? Did he (PM) not know the major role played by this MP in the “Bond Saga” even going to the extent of writing a book in justifying the “Bond Issue”? He (PM) must also QUESTION himself: “Am I CORRECT, HONEST and SINCERE , in continuing to RECOMMEND Mr. Mahendran an extension of service for a second period of his term”? When that “ATTEMPT” failed, he, the PM should have addressed his own CONSCIENCE to test his HONESTY, INTEGRITY, SINCERITY in making the decision to appoint Mr. Mahendran as an “Adviser” and take him on various tours abroad to attend to important Government Business. By now, i.e. before making this statement PM should have at least known the ADVERSE and very DAMAGING references made in the Report as to his FAILURE to “OBSERVE”, and “DISPLAY” due diligence in CHECKING to satisfy himself that the “PROMISES” made by Mr. Mahendran were kept. or not. To this date PM has not DIVULGED to the people of Sri Lanka where Mr. Mahendran is and also whether he (Mr. Mahendran) continues to be an “ADVISER” and receives any benefits by way of salary and other perks. Considering all these, DO WE NEED A PM OF THIS CALIBER? I don’t think so.
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Dan / January 18, 2018
Mahendran told me. I believed. Ravi told me I believed. I didnt want to verify their words. Then I tried to stop removing them from their positions. Failing that I gave them positions and office space in my office.
When the whole country said they were stealing the tax payer I looked after them. Isn’t that a victory
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Champa / January 18, 2018
Of course it would have been a great victory for the general public if the Bond Commission recommended some action against the Prime Minister rather than making lesser mortals of the Bond scam guilty.
Without any punishment to the mastermind, yeah, it was a great victory for Ranil to escape like this using his High Office. People can only regard the Bond Report as a victory, the day, Ranil is tried in the Courts.
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Sinhala_Man / January 18, 2018
Dear Ranil W.,
Most unconvincing. Hardly an explanation of the mess we are in.
–
In Maithri’s speeches there has been fury, passion, conviction. Someone has already called upon Chandrika B.K. to act. In her, My3, and Indrajith Coomaraswamy we now have to repose faith.
–
The UNP guys came campaigning my way. I sent them packing. Will say more later. Quite sick of this for now. But I’ve got to continue in this, the one country that I know.
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Sinhala_Man / January 19, 2018
Part One:
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Those who visited me could make no defence of the Bond Scam, and granted that Ranil seemed to desire to shield his friend Arjuna Mahendran. They were unaware that his replacement, Indrajith Coomaraswamy, was a very acceptable replacement, and that Indrajith’s Parents-in-Law had lived and are buried in this same Ward No.1. The house was gifted to their Thai housemaid. For that ignorance I don’t blame them. These were all simple villagers; Chandra de Fonseka and wife passed away a long time ago. They inhabited different worlds.
–
However, I asked why the very next land to Fonseka’s – TOWARDS the town, belonged to the Haputale Pradeshiya Sabha. They said that W.J.M. LokuBandara wanted it so since there were many UNP votes there. I said , No. He wanted a Sinhalese enclave in a seat that may otherwise have been won by a Tamil – and that policy commenced with SLFP Minister of Health Ariyadasa. That was racism, pure and simple – imagining that it was quite in order to manipulate so as to deny Tamil representation.
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I know that the JVP pitched its appeal to a mainly Sinhalese electorate, and went along with a certain amount of Nationalism; but they certainly haven’t been racist of late.
–
I wanted to vote for My3’s SLFP, but it is an independent group, made up of supporters of Rajapaksas supporters as well, with a wrist-watch as symbol, that is contesting with a former UNP Mayor, Nalin Suriyage, as leader. These guys never retire from politics. Indeed the UNP Member of Parliament for the area, Chaminda Wijesiri, was earlier with the SLFP.
–
Somebody in town wanted me to vote for Suriyage’s group, because if they won, they’d support My3. No way!
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Sinhala_Man / January 19, 2018
Part Two:
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The candidate for my Ward was a lady named Gnani. The new system is that if she wins my Ward she becomes one of the 16 Councillors. At least that’s how the ten campaigners and I understood it. We were reasoning with one another – before the elections!
–
How, I asked were we ever going to change the leader of the UNP if we wanted to? I asked them why it was that Buddhika Pathirana was not even a Deputy Minister in the UNP administration given his popularity in the Matara District, with his base being Akuressa. One guy actually told me that I should wait for the next Parliamentary Election to get that done, but for now, vote UNP! With some hesitation, I told them what I knew of the Saruwe Sunil Family that My3 has nominated as leaders in the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha. These are the compromises that My3 ought never to have made.
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This candidate, Gnani, conceded that Ranil W. is probably afraid of people like Buddhika Pathirana. Two months ago, I knew nothing of this Buddhika – please readers, google for information on him.
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Given this scenario, how can we possibly vote ever again, without devoting some time to working out a strategy? Not everyone can spend the hours that I have spent, but really, I think that where the decent My3 has managed not to compromise I think that we should vote for his candidates.
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If this is not possible in our area, I guess that one ought to vote for some group that appears to be guided by some principles. The ideology should not matter – I know nothing of Marxist theories, but they alone to oppose corruption and racism.
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My3’s weakness is, at least in part, owing to the way he was elected. He is not without faults, but he is the one political LEADER who has some convictions.
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Sinhala_Man / January 19, 2018
Part Three:
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Thanks, Colombo Telegraph. I had probably got to 300 words in Part 2. The last bit had been lopped off.
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I had stated that there ARE honest politicians who seem never to get elected. Comrade Vickremabahu Karunaratne with his 2 PhDs is one such.
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It is WE who don’t vote for such people to get them elected. We vote only for front runners, those who we think will get elected. It is becoming ever clearer that in this country, more than in others, some of the worst scoundrels get elected.
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I should like to thank Dr Ameer Ali for teaching me the word for it: of Greek origin: Kakistocracy.
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citizen / January 18, 2018
Ranil is doing damage control and he thinks masses are asses. He appointed his own committee which found nothing wrong with the Bond scam. When President visited central bank he gate crashed there. THis fellow who thinks that Royalists such as Mahendran cannot be wrong is a disgrace to all Sri Lankans. He will go down history as the one who ruined UNP. He has no feelings to the country but only loyalties his Royal old boys and his henchmen such as Malik, Charitha and Paskaralingam. UNP should kick him out and find a leader who understands the pulse of ordinary people.
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K.Anaga / January 18, 2018
‘The Government is acting in a Transparent Manner’? Yes of course! Otherwise how can we “see through” all their dirty deeds from the time they came into power.,
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kolla / January 18, 2018
This hypocrisy and moral bluntness is worse that the scam ! How little he thinks of Sri Lanka ! Cry country cry
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Baludasa / January 18, 2018
There is no loss to the government. 9.3 billion is the loss already there is 12 billion in perpetual treasury account.
Extra 3 billion is a bonus to the government.
Then what about the other frauds comitted by the previous govt. Nilwala hedging greek srilankan mihin specyrum mig frigate advertising etc
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Jim softy / January 18, 2018
BALUDASA: Ranil was given the govt to prosecute to those thieves. what happened to FCID. It became a political tool to gain political advantage. WHY YOU ARE FORGETFUL AND DUMB.
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Trevor Srinivasan / January 18, 2018
President shouts from the roof tops every minute about bond scam bribery robbery and other frauds. What about thahudeen lasantha ekneligoda raviraj joseph welikada massacre rathupaswela roshen muttur massacre trinco students massacre.
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Jim softy / January 18, 2018
TREVOR SIRINIVASAN: IT is Ranil who appointed all the ministers who are thieves and can not work.
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Sarrij / January 19, 2018
T S
Well said.
This President has his priorities wrong; small minded e.g. his view on women and alcohol.
His recent outburst (so called ) was a political stunt though a good one and very effective as was the famous hopper breakfast with MR.
Wait for more surprises, ? for the better as the political situation is very fluid.
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Ben Dover / January 18, 2018
There is only one word to describe the conduct of Ranil and his band of Royalists, and that is “SCOUNDRELS”.
These buggers who should have known better, chose to tread the well-worn path of skullduggery, one too familiar to Lankans since independence.
These buggers had a god-given opportunity to rise above the fray and show Lankans and the world what proper governance is; instead they end up as spoilt goods, who I hope will never be able to shake off the shame of being nothing more than english-speaking, Saville Row clad, high society crooks who boast classy heritage which they have now defiled in then most hideous way imaginable.
You buggers are actually worse than the scoundrels of the previous regime who you refuse (or fear) to put behind bars….. at least one can say they came from less schooled stock, where it is considered normal to steal from the poor man’s buth pingaana.
I am ashamed to say that I knew some of these bastards.
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Sinhala_Man / January 19, 2018
Thanks, Ben Dover,
–
Comprehensive and eloquent denunciation!
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srinath.gunaratne / January 18, 2018
Is this stupidity? arrogance? lack of empathy? or the combination of all?
Blinded by the self glorification?
What a bloody disgrace to Royal college?
Third class politics from first class family background!
PS: who appointed the Arjun Mahendran? Cannot be this guy!
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thondamannay / January 18, 2018
What a shameless, disgusting cheat.
Shamelessly want to address the nation of the very loot he was the mastermind.
What right has he got to address the Nation without a majority in Parliament?
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Fahim Knight / January 19, 2018
If Sri Lanka does not freeze the cat export until every single car already in are sold ,and remove all the duties and other taxes and only have a GST on imports and open up the market like Singapore which will end the day light robbery of imports under various elements abusing and under valuing invoices ( loss in millions of income to the government),but protect the farmers and go full scale on farming .
There are bubbles in every sector just waiting to burst . money borrowed has not been properly invested but robbed whole sale , our treasury is empty and dry and we have trillions to pay in debts. My advice small folks system collecting little money in USD if possible. I.not maharajah not even maha of mahacraja can stop the country turning to The first south Asian Greece ,this is the only year you got ,That’s why our poor Innocent President who sincerely tried for an extra year unlike others ,to try hard to save the country .I pray we wont end up on the streets like in Greece . Whoever emptied the billions of dollars we got have sent it out and are trying to dramas to present to be poor me.
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Fairy god mother / January 18, 2018
Serves all of you right!!! He’s proven over and over what a bloody incompetent nincompoop he is, yet you voted him in. Now shut up and suffer
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Fahim Knight / January 18, 2018
Folks ,I have no benefit in driving in fear psychosis .
We have to prepare for the reality , the simple folks don’t understand the gravity. Beginning fro. Previous government, they think Chinese and Others investment means money is coming in,yes it is a percent to the big boys and obvious the rest for their infrastructure ,etc ,.etc. They ate not going to pay off our debts ,nor write it off ,that is not China man business. You borrowed so mulch with interest pay it . what we invested ,let us recover it first with profit and then you can have it all ,in may be 40 years ,to be honest. Cont.
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Kalu Albert / January 18, 2018
Mate,
You are obviously not up to speed..
Didn’t you see or hear Cabby’s challenge to your dear Dr Ranil and his buddy Sira to disclose the alleged Fraud/ Frauds in that period.
Or to shut the gob without trying to cover up their dastardly robbery of the CB and the EPF in one hit, by making stupid allegations….
/
Jim softy / January 18, 2018
Some one in the parliament should teach Ranil Buddhist PARABHAVA h, or ask at least whether he has listened to it. I think he has not heard even the word.
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thrishu / January 18, 2018
Ranil, a Buddhist? You must be joking JS. He might have some lucky stars working for him for now, but there will be the day when his luck will run out. The efforts of Sobhita, Ratana, MS, SF, CBK, and those laymen that supported Ven Sobhita were totally wasted on this guy that lives a parasitic existence on other people’s good work. He cant deceive everybody every time. Hopefully people will see to it at the next election. Kamma is a bitch
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Fahim Knight / January 18, 2018
If Sri Lanka does not freeze the cat export until every single car already in are sold ,and remove all the duties and other taxes and only have a GST on imports and open up the market like Singapore which will end the day light robbery of imports under various elements abusing and under valuing invoices ( loss in millions of income to the government),but protect the farmers and go full scale on farming .
There are bubbles in every sector just waiting to burst . money borrowed has not been properly invested but robbed whole sale , our treasury is empty and dry and we have trillions to pay in debts. My advice small folks system collecting little money in USD if possible. I.not maharajah not even maha of mahacraja can stop the country turning to The first south Asian Greece ,this is the only year you got ,That’s why our poor Innocent President who sincerely tried for an extra year unlike others ,to try hard to save the country .I pray we wont end up on the streets like in Greece . Whoever emptied the billions of dollars we got have sent it out and are trying to dramas to present to be poor me.
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Jim softy / January 18, 2018
It is posible that Sri lanka can get a situation like in Greece. Bank will not have money and they freeze withdrawals or limit it.
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thrishu / January 18, 2018
The Chief Robber is speaking. hahaha what a joker! He thinks he is making the Queen’s Speech. Hope the public will see the fake skin that he is wearing and strip it out of him. We will see in one month, the provincial election will tell us what the people think about this twister.
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Native Sudda / January 18, 2018
As the Prime Minister and the leader of the oldest party in this country, you are a disgrace.
Your hands, as the mastermind, are soaked in ‘ Bond Scam Blood’ and trying to white-wash the sins now by making this special statement makes it even worse; if you are a civilised person you should have stepped down and let the law of the country take its course.
Shame on you as you have let us down at this crucial moment when most people thought and hoped that you will act like a true leader.
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ramona therese fernando / January 19, 2018
Well Ranil, we’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. These are things you need to implement with the recovered money within the next month, to prove it is there :
*
1. Solving of garbage issues with Eco solutions, and no more Meethotamulla mountains.
*
2. Organic Agriculture
*
3. Housing recovering scheme for flood affected
We want to see plans in place and commencement of work, ASAP!
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Jim softy / January 19, 2018
forget the corruption. Everybody knows about that. Talk about the PArty and the colour. Ranil appointed a Managment to Sri lankan airlines. It is a Mess. IT says, chairman has a PRIVATE – airline business. He is doing that business while being paid by the airline in millions. Ranil’s advisers brother, suren Rathwaththa is paid Rs 4.5 million . that is three times what the KAPILA the (CEO of the former egoes. Besides, this management has handed over it to a private business to pay salaries to previous management. Probably, their contracts di dnot have any clauses to fire when they are thieves, incompetent or incapable as present CEO is.
NO point of listening to the rest of the story. It is all lies.
In other countries politicians retire or quit with respect. In Sri lanKa, they are bllod sucking leeches, even when DISGRACED THEY DO NOT LEAVE.
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Jim softy / January 19, 2018
President is waiting to appoint another Presidential commission to Sri lankan Airlines. that is a very ineffective sloth like approach. the best thing is suitable warrants LAw enforcement take poesession of the all the important documents, and arrest if not interdict the management and the managers, supervisors invovled in the corruption and fire thereafter. Appointing a Presidential commission itself amounts to another corrupt methods. As it is proven the Sri lankan air line Management is responsible for the demise of the airline. As usual Ranil wickrmassinghe kept quite because it helps him to privatize it.
It is Ranil wickrmasinghe who di dnot give some tanks to SL Petroleum corporation and created the petrol shortage. BecAuse, he wants to sell it to India.
Itis Ranil’s govt which has begun reducing PAddy production in the country. they have soled many profitable corporations ONE TENTH OF IT’S REAL; WORTH.
sRI LANKAN NEWS MEDIA IS CORRUPT AND they support the corrupt govts by not publishing the correct information.
/