President Maithripala Sirisena who visited the houses of the two brothers who died after his brother’s hit-and-run accident, promised to look after the well-being of the families and educate their children, the Presidential media confirmed in a press release.
Maithripala
The question now arises whether President Sirisena will spend his own money or if he will go on to burden the tax payer for this purpose.
A heart broken family member when contacted by Colombo Telegraph said “The President appeared to be very emotional in making such a statement. Usually perpetrators or wrong doers make spur of the moment statements to console victims and their family members temporarily or for the moment. I hope this is not another Yahapalanaya promise of his. Usually after the burial everything is forgotten and every promise made subsides.”
However it is still to be established as to what length President Sirisena will go to support the grieving family members.
The Presidential Media Unit is yet to specify if President Sirisena is going to support them in the form of providing shelter, food, clothing and also for what specific duration or if he is going to offer them a one off lump sum payment.
If in the event President Sirisena is going to put the onus on the tax-payer, it will be interesting to note if the same benefit would be extended to all victim’s families who die due to road accidents in the future.
A brother of President Maithripala Sirisena, Pallewatta Gamaralalage Nenasiri Pragnaratna Sirisena alias Lal Sirisena, was remanded on Sunday till Monday, after he surrendered to police over a hit-and-run accident, which left the two brothers dead when his jeep ran over the motorcycle they were riding on in Athumalpitiya in Polonnaruwa on Saturday morning. (By Jacqueline Senanayake)
Unreal / September 11, 2017
It is obvious that President Sirisena is feeling obliged. It is also obvious that he accepts that his brother was at fault. It was only an accident; not a murder. How the President wishes to compensate the grieving family is between him and the family members. Give the President some breathing space.
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Sunil / September 11, 2017
Unreal, even though it is the brother of the president I voted for the same law must be applied to his brother as any citizen of this country…
No special treatment because he is my President!!
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Ben Hurling / September 11, 2017
I appreciate President’s gesture. Who with a heart would not be moved by such a terrible tragedy. However, a casual promise, in the heat of the moment, even though by the First Citizen is not enough. Patronage will not do. The law must take its’ cause. Lal Sirisena must be held to account legally. Though it is an accident. He will have to compensate the grieving family using his billion Rupee net worth.
PS: BTW, those who drive huge jeeps in this tiny country are bloody idiots.
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srinath.gunaratne / September 11, 2017
There are no accidents on roads, Only road incidents,
There are victims and there are guilty!
Guilty must pay fines and go to jail!
From what public money president is going to look after ?
President’s fund?
Can others also ask president to pay their fines?
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Indrajith / September 11, 2017
No one with a heart will run away after ploughing down two motorcyclists. The irony is that the elder brother who died happened to be a kidney patient going home after undergoing dialyses at Polonnaruwa Hospital. It seems all Sirisenas are heartless, unsympathetic, unkind, uncaring, unloving, unconcerned, insensitive, inconsiderate people. It is unethical to bribe the poor families who lost their loved ones with tax payers money and try to save his brother.
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Unreal / September 11, 2017
If I think differently, it is because we are two different individuals! You have exhausted all the adjectives at your command. Your choice of words indicate that you are young and emotional. I don’t think that Lal Sirisena was intending to plough into another human being. I learn that speed was a factor. He deserves the full extent of the law. ( The reason why he did not want to wait at the place of accident is understandable, given the gravity of what had resulted. )
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Indrajith / September 11, 2017
Lal Sirisena ploughed down the two innocent men on a motor cycle at 1.10 am driving at a speed of 140km/h according to Sunday Times report. He did not go to the Police Station straight away but has gone in that afternoon more than 12 hours after the fatal accident. What was he doing for 12 hours. Getting advice from Maithree, the President of the country and Dudley, the owner of the Jeep. Probably he was drunk at the time of impact. May be the president advised the police what should be done before asking the brother to surrender.
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Rajash / September 11, 2017
The Rajapakse’s should also look after all the victims of Tamil civilians they are bombarded after they asked them to surrender.seek refuge in the no fire zone. I am sure the vast amount of money they swindled is enough to look after not just the Tamil victims but the entire nation!
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Anonymous / September 11, 2017
Rajash, what happened to all the LTTE gold the Rajapaksas stole!? I’m sure that can be put to good use!?
Where is all the GOLD!?
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Rajash / September 11, 2017
That too
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Native Vedda / September 11, 2017
Anonymous
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“Where is all the GOLD!?”
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Gota sold some of them at Sea Street the Gold Capital of Sri Lanka and invested the proceeds in Hotels, …..etc.
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He is not going to share it with you.
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Anonymous / September 11, 2017
Yes I suspect some of these development project in and around colombo might be a combination of the money the Rajapaksas robbed from the people of this nation and the LTTE gold coming in through shell companies…
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Analyst / September 11, 2017
It’s only a ” BORU ” promise in Yahapalanaya style!!
President the country is watching you!!!!!
What about the family of your brother’s when he gets banged up???
You will have to look after them too , as you’re the brother of the accused???
Big responsibility President!!
Are you too messed up with Karma the Bitch???
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Amarasiri / September 11, 2017
President Maitripala Sirisena,
RE: President Maithripala Sirisena who visited the houses of the two brothers who died after his brother’s hit-and-run accident.
Very good. You do have empathy for the victims.However, you cannot bring them back.
Now let’s backtrack a few years. There was one Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cronies comprising his family and wife who killed many, including Lasantha, Ekliyadoda, Thajudeeen and many others..
Can you get Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cronies to show the same empathy?
When will you prosecute, charge and punish the crooks and criminals?
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Amarasiri / September 11, 2017
President Maitripala Sirisena,
Thank you fir looking after the two victims pf the two brothers who died after his brother’s hit-and-run accident. You do show empathy.
Now listen to this;
“Dr Harsha de Silva, Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Development, in an emotion filled intervention during a live television discussion programme, blasted the whole administration system of the country. His charge was that from top to bottom and from one side to the other, known to strategic planners as viewing from a 360̊ dimension, has been marred with stinking corruption, waste and theft of public funds.”
Who is showing empathy to the 20 million, We the People. who are being abused by the current administration system of the country. His charge was that from top to bottom and from one side to the other, it is corrupt, and you are the current president of Yahapalanaya!
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/eradication-of-corruption-ignoring-harshas-warning-may-be-catastrophic-to-yahapalana-government/
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Rajiv / September 11, 2017
I am sure he will promise good governance and fair play to the families and offer them compensation at the taxpayer expense, then get his brother released from all charges. That’s exactly what he did for Daham when he and his rowdy buddies beat up the DIG Ravi Waidyalankara’s son when MS was the Health Minister. Showed a lot of concern for rule of law which he touts but used back channels to get the offspring released without charges.
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Nosey Parker / September 11, 2017
……..on the positive side , they didn’t try to hush it up .
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Jingle Bells / September 11, 2017
No doubt he will grant money from the so-called President’s Fund made out of our money. He gave hundred lakhs from the same fund to Rajitha Senanrathna to have heart surgery in Singapore and various other grants for political purposes. [Edited out]
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Paddy / September 11, 2017
Very good but hope he does it with his own funds and not with public money.
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shankar / September 12, 2017
paddy
hahahahahahahahahaha
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moderate / September 11, 2017
It is great for a brother to come forward to help his brother’s victims! However, he should NOT use his official capacity to make statements, he should have issued a private statement. This shows the poor quality of advisors! (Some of the probably are MR’s former advisors!
The other issue has been raised by CT as to who is going to bear the brunt of compensation!
The 3rd issue is: is the brother be accountable to the law.? Will he be prosecuted? This is beyond compensation! !
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Mallaiyuran / September 11, 2017
But the family still should be able to sue the New Royals to Civil damages and criminal conduct.
This eye wash should not be accepted by the family members & their lawyers.
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Jimsofty / September 11, 2017
Wow, this is a burning issue in Sri lanka. PResident became very emptional. Way to go.
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shankar / September 11, 2017
one off lump sum payment is what the families should ask without all this pie in the sky education etc. 50 million for each family and not from the presidential fund please.President can get it from the prick who killed them and also put out a hat collection among the siblings who are doing well in business as well as one being the SLT chairman.That SOB should be jailed for 20 years at least 10 years for each person killed.This should be in addition to the 50 million compensation.Karma is a bitch they say for those who protect war criminals for votes.With all those unhappy souls hovering around the country crying for justice no wonder we have drought,floods and scams and near bankruptcy.
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shankar / September 11, 2017
one matter that should be looked at is whther they died due to head injuries.If so why they did not wear helmets.If it is legally not required to wear helmets the law must be rushed through that it is mandatory to wear a helmet and a fine of 5000 rupees if you don’t.If there is presently a law that helmets should be worn then these guys rode the bike at their own risk and can’t blame others.
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Percy / September 11, 2017
Amarasiri are you living in some Tamil Tiger planet? None other than your hero Ranil stated in Parliament that Lasantha’s murder was organised by Sarath Fonseka. Please read the relevant Hansard if you know what that is, and assuming you understand English.
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shankar / September 11, 2017
percy
“Ranil stated in Parliament”
by now you should have a pretty good idea of how reliable is ranil after the bond scam.This is the man who said we don’t know the difference between james bond and his motherfucking bond that he is sitting on which is like a time bomb for him.Still thinking that pearls are drop out of his mouth are you dear percy.
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Thengai Srinivasan / September 11, 2017
MS is scared that the victims families will now join with the Joint Jokers Opposition! MS wants everyone by his side during 2020 elections.
What about the Nandikadal Families any compensation or Investigation!!!!
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Seneka from UK / September 11, 2017
This is a good gesture. Hope at least half of the the money spend will come from presidents, own money. Cannot expect all of the money paid by tax payers. President should not give the opportunity for Rajapaksa supporters stir things.
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Good Sense / September 11, 2017
It is true that politicians statements in general are very unreliable. However, I am inclined to believe for the time being, judging from the behaviour, that the Prez will carry out his promise and it shall be on his personal account unless subsequently proved otherwise.
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K.Pillai / September 11, 2017
Will the prosecutor show diligence to prosecute or the diligence to let people off?
The intended payment to the victims sounds like “blood money”. Does Lankan courts recognise Sharia Law?
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nalmen / September 12, 2017
sira is the only meek and mild member of his family
we all know what his brothers are like
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gaminig / September 12, 2017
Mr.President.witness.protection.for.Welikada.witness.to.little.Gota’s.massacre?
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Kumaran / September 12, 2017
If the President uses Stat Funds for this, it is wrong. He must use ONLY his private funds. Does he havs that much?!
If he uses State funds, such as from the Presidents’ Fund, he is no better that all the corrupt M.R cronies. M.R’s latest is to take a hat collection for Lalith Weeratunge. In other words he supports State Funds being misused.
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SJ / September 12, 2017
There are innocent victims of war– Sinhalese, Tamils & Muslims. Who will compensate them?
There are missing persons. Who will compensate their dependents?
There are people denied of their means to livelihood. Who will restore normal life to them?
There are detainees held in captivity for long without charges. Who will free them?
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Percy / September 13, 2017
Sirisena is magnanimous with tax payer money.He paid Rs 22 million for sena rate to go to Singapore for treatment, now he wants to use tax payer money to play Santa Claus to his brother’s victims. Another brother has opened a 190 roomed hotel in Nuwara Eliya. All monies scammed from public funds. YAHAPALANAYA is good for donkeys and idiots.
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Ranjith Gunawradana / September 14, 2017
President -MS has no personal money ,that except huge funds that under Presidential Fund is Public Funds?
Indeed President has gave Rupees 10 millions to Minister of Health to Eleshabirth Hospital in Singapore for by passed operation for Dentist Rajith and his family expenses?
This is one of the case of an example that MS is mishandling of public Funds?
There are many cases like that has NOT come to public lime lite ?
Therefor because of his own brother that he will give family victims of money that the fault of accident by his own brother to safeguard family interest by public Funds?
Kindly noted that President Fund not belongs to him or not PERSONAL money, which collected from tax payers money paid by poor tax payers of all Sri Lankan?
MS has eleven members of his family ? Why not that other ?
Our system of democracy only way resolved all political corruptions issues has to settle by Peoples Power .
No any other means of viable-solutions are possible time being? Sri Lanka?
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