The Presidential media division issuing a communique today justified the spending of Rs. 180 million to carry out the repair work of the new President’s Residence.
Explaining matters, the PMD said the building had to be renovated by merging two old houses in order to lift it to the standards suitable for a President’s living.
Quoting the President’s Secretary, PMD said garages and residential quarters to house the presidential security personnel had to be fully renovated.
The construction, the communique said was carried out by the State owned Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB).
The PMD quoting President’s Secretary said that President Maithripala Sirisena has refused to use the President’s House in Fort as its maintenance cost exceeds Rs. 15 million per month.
Referring to the BMW vehicles and the BMW motorcycles, mentioned in media rports the PMD said they had been imported by the previous government in October 2014.
The PMD communique said the vehicles were taken for use as they could not be re-exported.
The government yesterday submitted a supplementary estimate seeking the approval of Parliament for an allocation of Rs. 180 million to renovate and refurbish the official residence of President Maithripala Sirisena.
The supplementary allocation of Rs. 180,688,000 was presented to Parliament by Chief Government Whip Media Minister Gayantha Karunatillake.
It sought the approval of the House to allocate Rs. 96,391,000 to rehabilitate and improve the residence of the President at C61 and C62, Paget Road, Colombo and an additional Rs. 84,297,000 for the construction of buildings and structures at the same location.
Apart from Rs. 180 million, another allocation amounting to Rs. 70,600,000 to purchase one BMW limousine and 12 BMW R 1200 motor cycles for the Presidential Security Division has been submitted.
Native Vedda / October 7, 2015
This fellow was over 20 years in Ministrial posts and over 40 years in politics. But can not speak in English. We expect our child to speak in English in 3 or 4 years from birth. What could be this man’s IQ? Why we have a president who dont have an ability or IQ to learn a language atleast?
/
Ben Dover / October 8, 2015
Native
That is a rather uncharacteristic comment from you?
What does his inability or unwillingness to speak (or learn) English have to do with his official residence?
Ben.
/
soma / October 8, 2015
“Native
That is a rather uncharacteristic comment from you”
Ben, from time to time he forgets what is paid for and to keep him covered well with the goat skin provided.
Soma
/
S.Modaya / October 8, 2015
Sirisena’s yahaplanaya is SInhala moda yahapalanaya!
Sisisena and his office are corrupt clowns and stupid to think that the people believe their con explanations.. like Sirisena’s SLFPnational list of corrupt politicians
Why cannot the President stay at the official residence and consume less electricity and water – if the bills are so high there? Why the does the Sirisena want a difference residence and tow houses merged and a brand new establishment?!
/
len / October 10, 2015
Back again Antany.
/
Johnny Eelam / October 8, 2015
Soma
He is not a “Native” – He is really a “COAST VEDDA” from the Eastern province. Haven’t you read his Tamil poems?
/
Native Vedda / October 8, 2015
Johnny Eelam
“He is not a “Native” – He is really a “COAST VEDDA” from the Eastern province. Haven’t you read his Tamil poems?”
Would you like to read my collection of Sinhala poems?
What is the difference between a Coast Vedda and other Veddah?
Thanks for spotting an identity thief.
/
Native Vedda2 / October 8, 2015
Sorry Native Vedda if you feel i have stolen your identity. I did not mean like stealing rather loved this name. You know, first time I did not know actually there is a Native Vedda. So, sorry again and no posts in that name anymore.
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Walt / October 8, 2015
“”first time I did not know actually there is a Native Vedda.””
Gal pallene boru (a cart load of lies.) hit home by lightning
You just confirmed your IQ as <40 and when you end up a supervisor you get 10 more.
Bell Curve: iQ test
The Pres does not have verbal virtuosity in Sinhala like the Jewish in English to score 80 or like the Japanese to score 80 in Japanese.
But then Obama of debating team what has he made of the world as the most powerful? just mucked up the world for america to be the largest exporter of gas in world from 2016.
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Shrikharan / October 8, 2015
Native vedda2
So now we all know what happened. It is strange how the system allowed two exact names. So we now know the ‘original Native vedda was not actually hacked. It would be better if you adopt another name, I am just suggesting.
/
mike / October 8, 2015
N.V.2
In fairness to the real N.V. would you consider changing your name to either “Appachichichi” or “Namal Gonna” ?
/
Native Vedda2 / October 10, 2015
Have to think, nice suggestions. :P
/
Native Vedda / October 8, 2015
Ben Dover
“Native Vedda
October 7, 2015 at
The above impostor has done it again within the last few days. If you really want confirmation CT can provide you with evidence.
Though I was aware of my identity has been stolen once again I have been awaiting for fellow forum sharers’ reaction. Some of you have taken the trouble to say a few word.
Thank you Ben Dover, soma, Justice & Fairplay, mike, Amarasiri,Spring Koha, Town Kolla, Deshapremi, Senaka and those who are yet to tell me off, or should I say the identity thief.
Imagine what would this impostor do in his real life, pretend Sirisena’s great grand father.
/
salam / October 8, 2015
“those who are yet to tell me off, or should I say the identity thief. “
If I had to I would but directly from any platform . But the occasion has not risen because you have never been abusive but humorous.
what is the point of all that head and hand wriggling of islanders if it cannot convince one of CT’s site programmers to introduce one line of program text – to limit duplicate name as it has with its generated icons.
Come native pull cord make a collective request – its there on the platform.
/
Shrikharan / October 8, 2015
Dear Native Veddah ( I mean the real one)
“The above impostor has done it again within the last few days.”
Native Vedda I really feel sorry for you. Have you officially complained to Colombo Telegraph? Usually in any forum the operators do not allow two identical names. That means the imposter has hacked into your account and using your identity. It shouldn’t be too difficult for them to find the culprit and ban him totally from using this site.
You write well and you contribute a lot and I love your sense of humour too. It will be a great loss to us, the readers, if the imposter gets the better of you and destroy you.
/
salam / October 8, 2015
please don’t be too logical in human affairs,
we are all still like the mischievous monkey
not VP talivar therefore we in the west innovate unlike you.
/
backlash / October 9, 2015
“You write well and you contribute a lot and I love your sense of humour too” you write of our good friend Native Vedda. That makes two of us.
Backlash
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Shrikharan / October 8, 2015
“That is a rather uncharacteristic comment from you?”
I also felt the same. I know Native Vedda did complain in another thread, someone else is posting using his name and thus is hacked. Usually the site moderators do not allow to identical names and thus means NV has been hacked.
Native Vedda writes well, it does not mean we should always agree, and only to say he is articulate and has a good sense of humour. Many do learn English free charge from him and his writing style!
I think CT should take his matter up seriously and ban the hacker. Native Vedda contributes a lot.
/
soma / October 8, 2015
Even Veddas can speak EngliSh, no?
/
Native Vedda / October 8, 2015
somass
“Even Veddas can speak EngliSh, no?”
If both stupid Sinhalese and Tamils can we can.
Sinhalese speak Singlish and Tamils speak Thanglish.
I never heard them speak English.
/
John / October 9, 2015
NV,
Just tell them Vedda community even got uni. graduates,
English is only a language , way of communication, nothing more than that,
But for for some it’s an ornament
/
Walt / October 8, 2015
“”What could be this man’s IQ? “”
moron masquerading,
how much kassipu have you taken??
the bell-curve of the general intelligence level of yours is <40
[Edited out]
/
Justice & Fairplay / October 8, 2015
Indeed this is an uncharacteristic response from our friend NV. It is also uncharitable and against the grain for a veddah to point out!! (:-)).
English has nothing to do with one’s IQ. THis man shows far better sense than his predecessor. Feet on the ground. The President might never have had to opportunity to learn English, but does that disqualify him from being President? I need hardly answer that question.
The current man has the good sense to speak in Sinhala wherever he goes. What matters is what he talks. It makes sense. Both Rajapakse and Premadasa (Pres) were never fluent in English. I cannot recall how DB Wijetunga managed. Sirisena has greater wisdom than them all and shows a lot more benevolence and charity.
There is no doubt the world respects him. (Thanks to Rajapakse!). The world recognizes in him a good man, committed to good governance and justice. THAT is what has won him the respect and the day he forgets that, he too can join the ‘goners’.
If a suggestion is welcomed in Presidential quarters, what he must ensure at ALL TIMES that not only must the right things be done, but they must appear to be so, as well. He must be encouraged to firmly put his foot down against the growing family bandyism within governmental ranks which is sickening. No cabinet minister’s kith and kin should be appointed to high posts for a start, and any such considerations be subject to parliamentary approval before appointment.
We just cant afford to lose on this chance we have, to go on the right path to decency and prosperity. Not again. Uphold the Law, Judicial independence, Press freedom and let the Police be.
/
PhD / October 8, 2015
“Both Rajapakse and Premadasa (Pres) were never fluent in English”
However, both of them made an earnest effort to learn English and they were never shy to speak in English when they met English speaking people. Instead Sirisena is going to appoint a special cabinet minister who is fluent in English to deal with some presidential affairs to overcome his problem.
“What matters is what he talks” No! What matters is what he really does. He has not proved anything yet other than just talking against MR for the last year.
/
Justice & Fairplay / October 8, 2015
PhD,
Give the incumbent the same number of years that those two were in the saddle, and he might surprise you!
QUOTE:What matters is what he talks” No! What matters is what he really does. He has not proved anything yet other than just talking against MR for the last year. END QUOTE.
Please don’t take things out of context. The comment was in the context of the language he was using, as raised by YOU. Stick with the subject please!
/
Ram / October 8, 2015
He had been a politician for 40 years, and a minister for 20 years as pointed out. Give him another 40 years and we’ll still get the same lame excuse.
/
backlash / October 9, 2015
Ram,
He was also the man MR chose to head the Committee that went to report on that shameful tying of that young Muslim State employee to a tree subjecting him to public degrading and humiliation before TV cameras. The entire country was shocked at this calumny and expected tough action against Kudu Mervin. But aiyo Sirisena, the learned Chairman of that Committee, exonerated the accused of all charges and Kudu M lives to fight another day. Frankly, the state of law, order and justice being what it was then most people expected this verdict. MR paid back the debt by ensuring that rowdy scum Daham free of boorish behaviour targeting the wife of an SSP in the EP beach resort – when he was joined by an equally ill-mannered gang of punks. You scratch my back – and I yours in full flight.
Backlash
/
PhD / October 8, 2015
“Sirisena has greater wisdom than them all and shows a lot more benevolence and charity.”
YES, Giving charity(portfolios) to people like SB,Wijthamuni, Samarasinghe, Lakshman Yapa, Fousi, who were rejected by the people.
/
Justice & Fairplay / October 8, 2015
My QUOTE: “Sirisena has greater wisdom than them all and shows a lot more benevolence and charity.” ENDS.
Your QUOTE: “YES, Giving charity(portfolios) to people like SB,Wijthamuni, Samarasinghe, Lakshman Yapa, Fousi, who were rejected by the people.” END QUOTE.
PhD,
No, that is not what I meant. He has let off the Rajapakse mob very lightly.
Not a day passes without our having to listen to yet another misdimeanour of the Rajapakses running into astronomical amounts of waste , expenditure or alleged theft.
Can you frankly say if Rajapakse won the Presidency, he would have spared Sirisena? What would his destiny have been?
Can you EVER forget the absolutely loathesome manner in which Fonseka the General who fought the war was dragged out of a hotel after he lost the election and gaoled for several years for trivial charges?
Can you honestly say, that you would have enjoyed the same freedom of expression to express your candid views freely against the then government or the Rajapakses themselves in particular(as you now do to Sirisena), had the Rajapakses come back?
Now you have a grouse against the Presidents English. English or no english, he has won RESPECT from the international fora, far more than what his predecessor did and that is respect once again FOR OUR COUNTRY and its people.
Get off your high horse and admit wrong to be wrong and right to be right, never mind who is involved. All we want are good and decent people governing us. Do not be a slave to a camp or an individual.
If this government errs, criticise by all means, and if the President errs, do so in a manner, befitting the high qualification behind which you take shelter.
/
PhD / October 9, 2015
It seems that Sirisena knows well that this is his last chance to enjoy the powers and perks of executive presidency and behaves in such a shameless and foolish way. Learning a second language is a prerequisite these days to do well in life. Wonder whether Sirisena knows even a bit of Tamil because government servants in olden days have to pass Tamil to get promotions and he was a Grama Sevaka . Wonder whether he got any promotions?
/
soma / October 8, 2015
[Edited out]
/
soma / October 8, 2015
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/
/
Native Vedda / October 8, 2015
somass kantha
“[Edited out]”
Thanks for keeping it brief.
Are you angry for not being able to defend the rapist patriotic heroes?
/
mike / October 8, 2015
N.V.
“This fellow was over 20 years in Ministerial posts …………..”.
Is this your comment N.V. ?
/
Liyanage / October 8, 2015
From your comment, I gather that you too haven’t mastered english grammar, right? By the way, IQ is not measured by the ability to learn another language. I don’t think so.
/
Amarasiri / October 8, 2015
Native Vedda
“But can not speak in English. “
English is a Para language just like Dutch, Portuguese, Tamil and Sinhala.
He knows one Para Language, Sinhala. Isn’t that sufficient? After all 75% of the Para-Sinhala speak Sinhala, whereas only about 10% speaks Para-English. So, he can communicate with 75% of the Paras. in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho.
/
Spring Koha / October 8, 2015
This does not look like a comment from ‘Native Vedda’.
If it is indeed, I should agree with others that it is most uncharacteristic.
There is absolutely no requirement or prerequisite that any of our leaders or anybody elected should be able to read, write or speak English.
It was quite welcome that our President addressed the recent UN general assembly in fluent Sinhala.
As for the location, Paget Road is neither an appropriate location nor can it be satisfactorily turned into one. Common sense decrees that it would be better to build a new modern facility in a more suitable location, and one that will serve as the Presidential residence regardless of who comes to office. It is nonsense to go down the route of a pick-your-own-residence option.
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tika / October 8, 2015
Ideally a location that the public will not be harassed with road blocks.
how about shanty town like Ambani has $1 billion residence?
drive sense to the future kings without clothes to see their own.
/
Town Kolla / October 8, 2015
Though I am a Town Kolla I pity NV because he has not heard what the Chinese say about their President!
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Silva / October 8, 2015
There is a world of difference between UNP – Ranil and SLFP – Sirisena. Ranil was groomed by JR who was also clean when it comes to corruption where as Sirisena was groomed by unclean MR & Co who were at their best in nepotism, corruption, and resistance to criticism (thick skinned). I hope by now the people who have the ability to think have understood the difference between UNP & SLFP.
/
EDWIN RODRIGO / October 7, 2015
This is not going to be his private property.
I do not feel bad about it. I want our President to have the security and the comforts he needs. He also has to entertain foreign dignitaries there and that cannot be done at a Gamey Ralahamy type house.
/
rohan polwatte / October 8, 2015
EDWIN RODRIGO
Thats why JANADIPATHI MANDIRA was built. Just becuase some baffon become the president you cannot just say “I am not going to use my allocated official residance bcuz its too costly”. Ultmately you have to pay for that and pay what he resides too. No! it cant be done. My thinking is he is comfortable where he resides and he wants to coninue residing thier. These are all temprary things. You need to go to your official residance. Just beucas eyou are the president you cannot choose yhour own damn house. Last thief regime mahinda rajavassa resided in prime ministers quarters and his wife resided in janadipath mandira. What BS.
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Jagath Fernando / October 7, 2015
I am ok for MS to have a new car and the security bikes.
Compared to what MR had these expenses are peanuts.
I want him to deliver on his promises an that is the key
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maalumiris / October 7, 2015
@Jagath Fernando
Yes, they will start with Peanuts and graduate to Coconuts…
And meanwhile you will still be apologising for them saying “compared to MR…”
/
rohan polwatte / October 7, 2015
I think all gam battas (VILLAGE IDIOTS) should be defeated. None should be allowed to come near colombo or Kotte. These idiots should go cultivate paddy in hambantota or polannaruwa or other vilages. BRAINLESS MFRS. Acted like he is a saint who meditate. A person who meditate doesnt crave for this unnecessary materialistic BUL SHT!. They beyond stupid material cravings. This [Edited out] acted like he was buying shoes from a local store beofre the election and now what is he doing? [Edited out]. All Sri Lankans are not qualified to rule the country.We are better off ruled by the british or americans. GAS GEMBAS.
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Justice & Fairplay / October 9, 2015
Rohan, just pause to think of what you have written? Does it anyway justify the ‘alleged crime’ committed? Aren’t you going over the top and even threatening to spin into orbit?
Listen; there wont be perfection in anyone – ever! (Not even in your writing skills!). So let us be happy that we have someone who is an improvement on the previous one, someone with lesser evil, and let us – as part of civil society’s duty – apply strong pressure intelligently (not with insults)so that the message goes to where it should.
Logic is what will win arguments, not insults.
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rohan polwatte / October 7, 2015
Why not simply moved to presidential place in janadipathi mawatha? That should be residance.
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Patriot / October 8, 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena has refused to use the President’s House in Fort as its maintenance cost exceeds Rs. 15 million per month. Can we believe this? So it is better to spend Rs. 180 million and live with zero maintenance cost and in a year he will have saved the 180 million. Wonderful president!!!
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rohan polwatte / October 8, 2015
Patriot
Who said zero maintainance? That is not true. They did not mention the maintainance after spending 180million. You think damn electricity ,water is free? All these vehicles and people to protect the idiot will not cost? Who is paying? You want the janadipathi madira to be closed? Why cannot you spend the 180million to renovate the janadipathi mandiraa to reduce the maintainance cost?
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rohan polwatte / October 7, 2015
Cut down the espenses,you dont need all this security. No more vehicles. Reduce it. Not only your ministers ex regime thieves rajavassa cut down all security. Its ok if people are trying to kill you village idiots. ITS OK. We dont need brainless, unintelligent, greedy, intelligence size of a mung dhal people ruining us. Dont worry about death. All your life you been doing politics for the wrong reasons.
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EDWIN RODRIGO / October 8, 2015
You are right in a way. In fact, why do we need a President at all? Let him go home, wherever that may be, and look after his Haraka Bana. That should cut down our costs.
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vis8 / October 7, 2015
They screamed in pure agony when MR had the bathrooms air conditioned, note: practically all the homes in the USA are fully air conditioned…
Now this gamarala wants to spend Rs 180 million on renovations??? That is ok?????
/
maalumiris / October 7, 2015
We only have one President, no ? Is there no official residence for him already ? Why he cannot stay there ?
How many Presidential Residencies do we actually need ?
/
lal / October 8, 2015
One presidential palace for the “official” president and other presidential residences for the puppeteers who control the “official” president. Makes sense now? Yahapalanya is in full swing now!
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De Silva / October 8, 2015
He made these improvements to this house with the intention of receiving it from the Govt after his retirement as President.This fellow can not speak English and has only a limited education but he is shrewd enough to think far ahead for his own gain. He is going to get this house for himself.This fellow is a real crafty man .
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Sena / October 8, 2015
[Edited out]
/
BBS Rep / October 8, 2015
Sri Lankan politicians are the pits. This fellow My3 is proving to be no better.
I thought he said that he will abolish EP and step down. What a humbug. Now he is refurbishing his palace for the long haul. I wish an impeachment takes place soon. But how. He has padded his cabinet with all the rogues who are there only to steal money from the tax payer.
MR is rolling of the ground laughing at the stupid voters.
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Justice & Fairplay / October 9, 2015
“Padding his cabinet with all the rogues who are there only to steal money from the tax payer” – this was a real mistake. A serious one, which has robbed the President much of the trust of his people.
The repercussions will be felt in time to come.
/
Jeremy Ludikins / October 8, 2015
If one were to go through the videos of Yes Prime Minister 2013 series,
the mighty big classics honours fellows who get into the administrative
services are amateurs with respective to specialists. The explanations
justifying the colossal expenditure of 180 million for a second
Presidential Palace given by the bureaucrats makes the President cut a
sorry figure.
Let us go through their explanation. A one time expenditure of Rs 180
million is better than a recurring 15 million Rs every month. Therefore
…..what?
If the President does not live in the President’s house in Fort, is the
recurring cost for maintenance for the Fort property prevented? The
answer is NO because if it is declared that it is zero maintenance cost then
that monumental building stands abandoned leading it to ruin which
again is a NATIONAL CRIME. In any case even if the President does not
live in his Fort residence, yet that has to be maintained and there is a
maintenance cost for that. What is that figure? Let us call it A.
The President now lives in Paget Road, Colombo 5. What is the
maintenance cost of that residence? That is not revealed. Let us call that
B.
Now the term of office of President is 5 years so as per his promises of
not contesting for a second term this changeover is good for during his
tenure of office and a successor is not bound to follow that. So if the
one time expenditure of 180 million is to be obtained on a loan for 60
months at the rate of say 8% then the monthly payment would be about
3.64 Million, which means that in effect the one time payment of 180
million spread over 60 months at an interest rate of 8% would be about
3.64 Million.
Now is A+B+3.64 is less than 15? Then the change over is justified. The
classicist bureaucrats do not reveal figures except trying to capture the
psychological feelings of an average man. So if we are to use the
fundamental right of freedom of information then the bureaucrats must
be transparent to provide the following information.
(1) Monthly maintenance cost of the Presidential Palace at Fort without
the President living there.
(2) Monthly maintenance cost of the Presidential Palace at Paget Road
with the President living there.
/
Ruwan / October 8, 2015
Spot on Jeremy, what kind of idiots this Simple Sira has taken us to be.He wants million Dollar repairs and additions to his residence, New BMW Car, plus why Million rupee Motor bikes for his security.There is a Palatial Residence in the Fort good enough for the former Governor General and of course the Governor of Ceylon during Colonial times but not good enough for an uneducated Gamarala. Wonder what kind of conversation he had with the Queen and the Presidents of the United states and other countries with his knowledge of international affairs. Wonder who the Sinhala into English translater was, and what gobbledygook he translated. Iamm no admirer of the MR dictatorship and his crooked familial regime , please people what kind of jokers are we getting now? Cloaked in a lot of pious Yapalana Bullshit. For heavens sake Please Ranil please advice this man to stop making a fool of himself with his nepotistic familial escapades and unlawfull apointments of fellows who have been unelected by the people to Minsterial and posts in the government.Thought we got rid of one Dictator ,Here is one in the early stages of dictatorial rule.
/
Ahmed / October 8, 2015
However algebraic Jeremy Ludikins computations appear to be, their validity is based on one simple fact. That is, the annual maintenance cost of the Presidents House at Fort of Rs 15 million per month. 15 million per month? What nonsense!!! Are we talking of the White House or the Capitol Building here? Even Buckingham palace would not incur such bombastic maintenance with all the Queens personal dislike of austerity where the Royal family is concerned. Instead of questioning this totally unrealistic figure to start with, Jeremy begins to weave a deceptive web around the 15 million figure using common arithmetic skills.Just look at his equation. A+B+3.64 will never be more that 15. Thats because 15 itself is too heavily weighted on the right side of the equation.Secondly, this undue weightage makes the left side of the equation, especially the 3.64(which in itself is bombastic and unreasonable), justifiable under any circumstance.Now, Sirisena can ask for expanding his 180 million allowance even further, as long as it translates to a figure still within the limits of 5 on the right side of the equation. What a joke.Come on Jeremy, stop pulling the wool over the common mans eyes.He deserves more than this insult to his intelligence.
/
Jeremy Ludikins / October 8, 2015
Dear Ahamed, you have a point. You have suspected that a bloated figure of 15 million is declared to the public as maintenance cost of the Palace at Fort if the President were to be there. However, if the costs that are not declared namely:
(1) Cost of maintenance of Fort Palace without the President
(2) Cost of maintenance of Palace at Paget Road.
are given then we know the truth of the original declaration because the above two figures cannot be absurdly low than 15 million per month, if that figure is true.
There are other checks to verify these figures. If what I said earlier is too algebraic then the rest of it would pass some of the readers to the next world.
Ahamed may have authentic figures with respect to maintenance figures of the Buckingham Palace. Remember this is Sri Lanka. A good amount what the Government spends go into the pockets of bureaucrats. The state on the average over spends 2.5 times on recurrent expenditure. (This is the figure arrived by some who have taken sample surveys).
In my earlier comment I explained how I arrived this figure 3.64. It is not a weight. It is the monthly cost component of the one time capital cost of 180 Million, assuming that he would spend about 60 months and the interest rates for Loans is 8%.
/
mori / October 8, 2015
Bet you he will be contesting a second time too ! He is too thick skinned to be bothered by criticism. Think of all the unconstitutional things he has done since coming to power. Anything that goes wrong will be blamed on MR forever !!!!!!!!!!!! He is lavishing himself thus while his Polonnaruwa constituents are living in mud huts and tin-pot sheds. What was he doing there for over 40 years?
/
A man from the poor / October 8, 2015
At the election campaign, president said that he is going to stay his home in Polonnarua and work from there. Now he wants to spend tax payers money and modify the home he is occupying now. These politicians lie during the election to mislead the people to get elected. President house in Fort has to be maintained whether president going to occupy or not. With the new house,which he is going to modify and occupy, tax payers have to maintain two houses instead of one. This will be the case for years to come. Recently, central bank has printed 1.2 trillion rupees to maintain the mega cabinet and the government. Finance minister is begging money from donors. Why the president wants to spend this much money when the country is in bad financial shape?
Politicians from the new regime are saying that MR regime has bought so much of luxury cars. Can’t the president use one of them??? The president media division is attempting to fool us giving reasons that don’t based any form of rationale. They must be thinking all the people in the country are idiots.
There are lots of people who support the bad behavior of politicians for their survival. These dump and ignorant people don’t care about the rest of the people and the country. I can see, some of these morons do writes justifying whatever the politicians do. These morons are worse than the politicians.
/
Jango / October 8, 2015
Aiyo Sirisena!!!!
The shite is continuing to hit the ACs and the smell is getting increasingly malodorous!
Just cast your memory back to your promises before we elected you to replace Rajapakse and see if you can justify your decisions that have caused serious doubts about your honour and integrity.
I guess the old adage about “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” is hard to deny, but for the sake of us all in general, and the country in particular, let’s hope you find a way towards a more enlightened way to handle the power that has been bestowed on you by US THE PEOPLE.
Just remember ‘Karma is a bitch’ and her bite is something to be feared – just ask your predecessor!!
/
dev / October 8, 2015
After been with MR for so long, it is hard to believe he will set an example to other ministers. Wait and see when the ministers start renovating their residences. What is MS going to tell them? Here we go again. People need to walk out and protest !
/
Mike / October 8, 2015
He mentioned during the elections that he will not use the temple trees nor president palace.
He said he will move to Pollonnaruwa and start working from there.
There are clear evidence of those speeches.
So why double standards?
Taking people a ride?
Why media is silent? Working for Ranil’s Agenda?
Why cant he spend this 180 million on the people who don’t have a houses?
I think using that money at least 10 houses can be built for the poor.
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mike / October 8, 2015
mike
I concur. Would you mind calling yourself “Mike Jr.”? No offence, just a suggestion!
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gerard / October 8, 2015
This village[Edited out] can live in a hut [Edited out]
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Deshapremi / October 8, 2015
NV , you are like the previous hora coz you support him now only fault you can see is that he cant speak English , talk about the honesty
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Naga Ramalingam / October 8, 2015
President Sirisena promised to be a common man’s president and a simple man. Now he is transforming into an expensive President spending so much on Renovation of his official residence. MR was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so MS also wants to taste luxury at state expense. He should actually emulate politicians in our neighbouring India like Modi, Manmohan Singh and the late Abdul Kalaam who showed simplicity and led humble lives. Most of their travels were in the Indian Ambassador cars.
Efficient Security does not need BMW motorcycles; rather it needs efficiently trained personnel. Most metropolitan city police in developed countries use Yamaha bikes or Ford police cars. If you need prestige and pomp on state expense, go for BMW, Benz, Cadillac, Porsche or Lamborghinis!
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Hilarious / October 8, 2015
There is a house provided by the state for the President to live in..at the taxpayers cost. He must tell the country why he cannot use it instead of spending more taxpayer funds to satisfy a personal whim. Why not rent the old Queens House to the US Ambassador who will maintain it and occupy it..after all he is the new king of this poor land.
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URD / October 8, 2015
As one said correctly above, he is quietly doing wrong, illegal things and stay quiet as if he is not aware of it. Strangest and funniest thing to me is this:
1. He did not participate campaigning, expected people not to vote Mahinda, I.e. SLFP., so the majority of SLFP voted did not mind Mahinda being PM.
2. After SLFP won 95 seats, he is taking ownership just because most SLFP MPs were so opportunistic that they didn’t care.
Basically, the person who really campaign to get this 95 seats is not even the opposition leader.
Is this MS democracy? The voters did not get what they voted for.
The biggest mistake MR did this time was not contesting forming a new party. If so we have a good opposition to the government with MR as opp. Leader.
This unity government is a stupid cunning mechanism to stay in power forever, disfranchising voters.
Basically MR did same slightly differently equally cunning.
We voters were fooled again
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priyangika / October 8, 2015
Please read the news item. We need to forget about the 10 million he spent on his arrival and somewhere Vehicles worth Rs. 70 million for Maithri.
Rs. 70,600,000 has been spent to buy a BMW car and 12 BMW motorbikes for Presidential Security Division (PSD). The money to buy the car and motorcycles have been obtained on 19th May from a supplementary estimate in addition to allocations to the President from the budget. It is interesting to note that the current President had to buy more vehicles in a situation where former President had bought a massive number of vehicles spending Rs. 3870 million and most of the vehicles were available for the current President. When President Chandrika Kumaratunga retired from the post in 2005 the value of the vehicle collection for teh President was Rs. 81,000,000. President Mahinda Rajapaksa increased the collection by 48 times to Rs.3870 million wihin 7 years of his tenure.
President Maithripala Sirisena, who vehemently criticized the waste of money during Rajapaksa regime, spending such a large amount of money at the beginning of his tenure has surprised voters who used their votes agaisnt waste and extravagant living of Rajapaksas.
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Lankan Like / October 8, 2015
HI,
KINDLY UNDERSTAND NOTHING TO DO WITH ENGLISH, be proud of speaking of SINGHALA & TAMIL.
EVEN SHAME IMPORTING LANGUAGE IS VERY FAMOUS AND FANTASY THAN OUR MOTHER LANGUAGE.
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assupisela / October 8, 2015
Who says official presidential house maintenance costs exceeds over Rs 15 million? Nonsense I can maintain the same for just peanuts if not using that to make business? I don’t think 5 star hotel in Colombo spent that much just for maintenance perm month. If any one tell it takes that much all I cansay is hand over the country back to British they don’t spend money like our people. Buckingham Palace maintenance budget is one tenth of what our figures. Beside all My3 forget his bana YAHAPALANAYA very soon?
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Vanguard / October 8, 2015
I think he would be more popular if he had silently moved to the previous president’s gold plated Temple Trees and saved a lot of money.
Let me write the headline
## FICTION ##
Presidents move at zero cost to taxpayer
“President MS has decided to move to the residence of the former president as an alternative to refurbishing the president’s state residence at Paget Road, sources said. It was revealed that Paget Road alternative would have cost the taxpayer 180 million in refurbishment plus maintenance charges. The maintainance charges in a similar official residence in Fort amounts to Rs 15 million per month”
“I am a simple man” says the president. “I live in the simple surroundings that MR lived in. He is even welcome to hop over for a hopper dinner, if I have the time to spare from Good Governance”
## FICTION ##
Dear Mister President, you need a good PR team. Maybe the Americans will help for free this time?
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Senaka / October 8, 2015
NV’s statement is correct. How can a man who dont have the ability to learn a language will understand the root of economic scenarios and diplomatic inteligence in the present world? A farmer is a president thought will be helpfull in sensible decision making only like how the previous uneducated thug diverted the people by showing sensible RACISM.
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Vasantha / October 8, 2015
Common MS….so if that so demolish the bloody Presidential Palace in Forte and make it a car park instead of continuing to maintain that at a cost for Tax payer and build the new one at LKR 180 million and also to maintain that…At least iif you do that Tax payers will benefit from having a place to park their cars when they come to forte. You have a official residence with all the amenities required for a state head. You should stay there. At least MR stayed at his official residence without building a brand new one or upgrading one. Yes he upgraded it beyond limits but at least he lived there…or he lived at both official residences Presidential House and the Temples Trees (which is for the PM). I am lost for words. Is it father like son OR son like father…That fool Daham does a stupid mistake and tries to justify that…then his father does another mistake and tries to justify it…just say you did a mistake and correct it without trying to justify it. If the U.S Presidents did what our guys are doing or for that matter Indian PMs then they will be building houses all over New Delhi and Washington DC…This is the stupidest argument I have heard…….RW should have stopped this…but I think RW is taking this fool for a ride and making him destroy himself….MR must be enjoying this comical drama!
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Nazim / October 8, 2015
@Vasantha:
“….so if that so demolish the bloody Presidential Palace in Forte and make it a car park instead of continuing to maintain that at a cost for Tax payer and build the new one at LKR 180 million and also to maintain that”
Wow what a wonderful idea. Never thought of that myself although I was just pondering what could be done ot avoid the mandatory maintenence cost if the President decided not to reside there. Like someone said in these columns, it will be a national disatser to let it perish through disuse. However, your idea comes to the recue. Brilliant!
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ibadun / October 8, 2015
If MR can operate 10 ministries from Temple Tree …why you guys can sit both in Temple Tree and work…
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ibadun / October 8, 2015
There is a Presidential Palace at Janathipathi Mw which was built with excellent facilities and top standard to meet any foreign delegates or even someone from Mars !!!
Just changing one to another you can’t save cost as those are must to do cost (a little can be saved on electricity) and the new place will incur the same again so why we as public pay taxes to maintain both?
So Pls use the Presidential Palace
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anushka / October 8, 2015
But why renovate that house at all? There is a huge mansion in Fort which has been the official residence of the presidents of sri lanka since 1948. Prior to independence it was the governours residence why can’t MS live there? Who is going to live in that origibal president’s palace? Are they planning to demolish it?
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