By Visakha Tillekeratne –
Visakha Tillekeratne
Dear Mr Sirisena,
Reigning in Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe and others in your government team while watching your own moves
A group of women, to whom I too belong, wrote to you publicly on several occasions. But we cannot see you taking action on any of those issues. Our first letter to you was when you were being sworn in. This letter was titled “Do not betray our trust Your Excellency”. We are happy that you subsequently shed the “Excellency”. None of the leaders in this country can be deemed Excellent so far. On the second occasion we wrote to you asking “Yahapalanayak Thiyenawada?“. Here we were genuinely asking a question as almost in the first 5 to 10 days, there were wrong moves on your part as well as your team. We wrote to you publicly and privately since then, on a variety of issues. BUT YOU ARE NOT TAKING NOTE!! You too are behaving arrogantly as if you know it all. Though you are not so bad, already you have the makings of a Raja. You know whom I mean? This was amply demonstrated recently at a gathering for civil society, where you arrogantly brushed aside the protest against the Port City as a “show”
We have now come to the conclusion – Yahapalanaye thibuu beejath Nathi weegena Yanawa (the seeds of Good governance attempted to be planted are destroyed). Main contributing factor – you have no control over your own dictat, your PM and your team of Ministers at different levels. After all the apples in the bag are mostly rotten ones. Only difference is that they are piled on your side.
Why do we ask you to control your PM, Ranil? Listed below are only some of the reasons.
- He is cockily going about his activities, as though he got you and this government into power. Not correct. He and his team came into power because of Sobitha Thero’s brilliant idea of the common candidate and the principles and policies the Thero and team stood for on the Platform – Sadarana Samajayak. CBK and Jayamapathy Wickramaratne were major players among others, who brought you in. You and a few others formed the common platform. People liked the platform with you at the helm. So you actually brought Ranil in. Not the other way around, If Ranil was left on his own, nobody would have glanced at him.
- His wrong suggestion No 1 – Finance Minister – Ravi Karunanayake. It is not a matter of brains, but Ravi being under a cloud. If and when the cloud was removed he could have been appointed. Considering seniority in Sri Lanka is a bad move. The bureaucracy is in a mess because of seniority. Eran W should have been Finance Minister – he actually ran a bank successfully and is honest.
- His wrong selection No 2 – Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. Who is this boy? Akila lacking experience and insight, has already made many wrong moves and the government has lost total credibility in the education sector.
- His giant wrong selection No 3 – Arjuna Mahendran (AM). A baby googling not gurgling would know enough about the conflict of interest of AM. Ranil’s partiality to Charlie Mahendran, the father of AM, nor AM being erudite and articulate is not a criteria for selection, despite Harvard qualifications. Many crooks have been nurtured in such hallowed institutions. AM leading the important sectors of banks such as HSBC and Credit Suisse might make him an eminent banker, but Conflicts of Interest must be considered as top priority, when selecting people for key posts.
- His wrong move No 4 – appointing not so competent and not quite independent persons onto the panel examining the bond issue in which Mahendran is implicated. Chandra Jayaratne has proposed an excellent panel instead of these persons.
- Not honouring his emphatic stance on the Port City. The following appeared in the Daily Mirror of 16th December 2014. “Opposition United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremsinghe said today the new government, which would be formed by the joint opposition after the current regime was defeated at the January 8 elections, would scrap the Colombo Port City Project. Mr. Wickremesinghe told tourist industry leaders who met him today that the project would be scrapped because it would end up destroying the coastal belt from Negombo to Beruwala.” What is Ranil saying today? Furthermore it is difficult to rationalize with him as he knows it all and is emphatic and dogmatic at times. At a recent discussion with civil society he brushed aside the port city staying there are some substantial penalties. But why couldn’t he say so on the 16th of December? At best he could have stated that it would be scrapped after review. Today the whole government is looking like a pack of fools on this issue.
- Friends especially old Royalists being appointed to key posts. There was a ripple even today that a relation of Ranil has been appointed to a post at Sri Lankan Airlines. At the time of writing this piece, it could not be verified.
These are only some of the reasons as to why he should be managed properly. Of course to do so, you must also be seen to do right. If not he could turn around and ask you about the moves you make. So we hope Sir that your siblings will not be given more high posts. It is enough that you have Mr Kumarasinghe Sirisena among a some others close to you, in high posts. Even this is too much.People are now fast getting disillusioned as evinced by the number of phone calls from distant places on the wrong doings of the Yahapalana Anduwa. We will not wait so long to get rid of a regime that does wrong, as we waited last time.
Piyumi Welikala / March 15, 2015
This woman who write is definitely a MARA agent who has teamed up with others to bring down the government and create a wedge between Maitri & Ranil. It is clear as daylight looking at the unreasonable nature of what she writes and the tone of venom. She gives herself out. The comment by EMIL VANDERPOOTEN raises pertinent questions for the writer.Poor mouse.
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Upali S.Wickramasinghe / March 15, 2015
Piyumi: I have not met Visaka. Some time ago we used to correspond.That ceased about 3 years ago.But I can vouch for the fact Visaka nor Ms Gamage are not MR fans.In fact they had been in the forefront on the defense of Mrs Shirani Bandaranayake and also one of the participants at the lighted candle protest against Gnanasara at the BBS head quarters.
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Visakha Tillekeratne / March 15, 2015
As the writer of this article I am the spectator that watches the comments rolling in, It is very interesting to see the opinions, challenges, mistrust, commendations, compliments, insults etc. I really cannot be bothered to respond to all. Anyway I am not bound to answer any of the comments.
But as I respect Mr van der Poorten who writes fearlessly to this column, I will answer his questions:
1. I belong to many groups. The particular group that I refer to here is the groups of 5 women – Janakie Abeywardane, Prema Gamage, Christine Perera, Shanthi Sachithanandam and I who wrote to the President on the day he was sworn in – you can refer to the article in the CT – the name of the article is given in the first paragraph.
2. We all worked for a change of regime and those close to Mr MS in the campaign know this. We who worked tirelessly – many of us, are really perturbed that after working so hard and sticking our neck out to bring about a change that progress is getting derailed because of the stupidity of some.
3. I can assure you that we worked against the corrupt MR regime. I wrote a letter exactly one year before the change – pl refer to “A Sincere Plea – Jan 2oth 2014. The regime changes Jan 9th 2015.
Some of the comments have been obviously made without bothering to look for the facts and the identity of activists.
Visakha
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Somar Wijayadasa / March 15, 2015
I do not know this lady – Visakha – but whatever she wrote makes sense, and I appreciate her bravery.
I think that the time Sri Lankans behave like “three monkeys – do not see, do not hear and do not talk” is over. People will not forget the promises made by MS, CBK, RW and others to cause a “regime change” with promises to abolish Exec Presidency, bring about “yahapalanaya”, etc.
Regime change was required as Mahinda Rajapaksa Govt was a corrupt and dictatorial regime with rampant nepotism. It is evident that MS and RW are hastily making decision that borders on nepotism and corruption. Also, in “Good Governance”, if an official is accused of wrong doing (as in the case of Arjuna Mahendran), that officer should step aside until he or she is cleared of wrong doing. Also, it is unfortunate that Sirisena cannot find qualified Lankans other than his family members to fill certain posts. It is the same with RW who sees that only the Royalists are educated and qualified. Also, to bring back some old hands who had a bad reputation (eg., Paskaralingam, etc.) is, perhaps, not what people voted for.
Visakha attempts to remind those in power to deliver on their promises. To characterize her otherwise and undermine her is typical Sinhala negative mentality. I, myself, is a fervent observer of how MS and RW are running the business of good governance. Let us give them the “100 DAYS” and the benefit of doubt.
I fully agree with Visakha that “We will not wait so long to get rid of a regime that does wrong”.
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priyangika / March 16, 2015
I have heard about visaka and one of the names that she has mentioned- She and the friends she mentioned were never Mahinda supporters.
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Emil van der Poorten / March 17, 2015
Visakha, if I might address you with that degree of familiarity, I do appreciate your compliments and the fact that you have taken the trouble to respond to my questions.
It is ESSENTIAL that all of us who haven’t personal axes to grind (or profits to make!) hold the feet of the current regime to the fire, ensuring that they simply do what they promised to do and to do which all of us elected them to office. Anything less is totally unacceptable.
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Douglas / March 15, 2015
The facts stated from 1-7 are stubborn. Never mind who presented those. It is a fact that Mr. Ranil is making life very uncomfortable for the President. I don’t think that this “MARRIAGE” could survive long. Now RW’s plan is to “clip” the wings of the Presidency and acquire that to the PM together with his so called “National Government”. Who will form a National Government with him? He(RW) is living in a “dream”. On the other hand, Mr. sirisena has been made the Chaiarman of the UPFA. Also the tremors are taking place among the “Associates” of the Yahapalanaya. Why all these instability? All due to RW’s decision making and questionable appointments to manage the State Resources. The country views RW as the “Guardian” of the Rajapaksa Family and its goons. RW also must learn that he cannot RULE from Colombo with his associates from the Royal College. The ordinary people know it, but RW does not know it.
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Upali S.Wickramasinghe / March 15, 2015
RW made the same mistakes in 2002.MR had the family and friends and RW has the Royalist clan.
Why was Dr. Wijewardena overlooked and Arjun Mahendra appointed.Wijewardena has a clean record.
Ravi Karunanayake is a Chartered Accountant. Does he not know that the Constitution defines the Deputy Sec to the Treasury as the collector and Guardian of the country’s taxes. P.B.Jayasundara to placate politicians and for him to hold a control shifted the Functions of the Deputy Sec to the Treasury to the Director General Fiscal Policy and if the holder cross his path he or she was pushed out.I think that is what happened to Mrs Rose Cooray.He could not control a clean DST so he brought in another person as his lap dog.He also split the one post of DST to three.That is how the country’s wealth was skimmed.
Another act of PBJ was to remove all the professionals Doctors, Engineers,Agriculturists,Teachers, etc etc from the Planning Ministry leaving only the Economists there.In addition, from what I noticed during my few visits, he kept only the attractive ladies at the Planning Ministry.The result – the NCP agro reservoirs are nearly 86% full of silt.They have not been desilted since he took over I believe.The Hydro reservoirs are said to be full of silt result we pay for diesel generated electricity.Many paddy fields lie fallow because there is no body to over look the performance of the Agricultural sector.
Can RW remedy these? Will PBJ escape the net?
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bo / March 15, 2015
Entirely agree with the writers sentiments. Ranil, hand in glove with MR over his Benz and dawn talks on the 9th January, is endangering peoples revolution
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Nish / March 15, 2015
Very good article, Visakha. I always thought you were biased towards RW, but this letter proves that you hold balanced views. Unfortunately, some people who commented here can’t accept the truth, so they are ridiculing you.
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saman / March 15, 2015
this writer is correct in all her points asking to control RW. i supposed this writer may not be a strong supporter of Ranil or try to understand UNP politics right now. but definitely she has been biased towards Sajith Premadasa.
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saman / March 15, 2015
Wow.. it seems Vishaka has no objection with the appointment of John Amarathunga..remember Sajith Premadasa too a Royalist
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Piranha / March 15, 2015
Maithripala Sirisena may be the President but he hasn’t the charisma, the electoral appeal, the international and even the national experience to govern and deal with those in the international arena. Rajapaksa had the charisma but he was a charlatan. Ranila has the political experience and the diplomatic experience although he may lack charisma without which he failed miserably to win elections. The only person in the present government who appears to have all the qualifications to govern is Ranil and I hope he wins a majority at the next elections to do so.
It is in Ranil’s interest to keep the SLFP divided and also to keep from power those SLFP bigwigs who fought to keep Rajapaksa in power until the end of the campaign. Sirisena is making a big mistake acceding to the demands of these former Rajapaksa arselickers and I hope he manages to keep Rajapaksa from getting in to any position of power in the SLFP. If that happens we can all say goodbye to democracy, freedom and the rule of law.
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maali karunaratne / March 16, 2015
We need to debate as to what is charisma. To me MS’s simplicity is very appealing compared to MR. To me MR looks like the villain in South Indian films or perhaps a street thug
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Analyst / March 15, 2015
Visaka I’ m sure you can guess that you are living in a male dominated chauvinistic country at its best. You will receive all the negative views from the male chauvinists. The country which produced the first woman prime minister in the world and soon she was also reduced to shreds . When comparing to India the Srilankan women are more suppressed .Females are penalised first for wrong doings before the Males when in public life. Wrong doers need to be punished but not due to,the fact she was a woman. This is my point of view even though I am from the opposite
Sex. Srilanka should show the world that we too have powerful and intelligent women in our country to lead the country but not to swindle the country or take the wrong path due to pressure from the dominant Males.
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thondamannar / March 15, 2015
Its too late to control ranil.
MS os a puppet on a string. Strings are pulled by CBK and Ranil.
Further, Ranil has caged Sira by appointing Shiral Lankatileke as the Secretary to the President. So, nothing can the Prez do without Ranil & UNP knowing.
it is very evident MS is a puppet president.
He has no charisma, clout,exteral connections nor any external sources to bring in funds for development now that he has alienated himself from China as well.
Do to these reasons, CBK and moreover Ranil calls the shots.
Avamangala is consolidating his position developing a second option or a B plan.
As such, Fonseka is demanding a Field Marshall appointment with a host of demands. If & when he is given, then he takes control of the military for life.
Superitiously, through ferdy pushing AKD & Patali to go on the offensive.
Fony/Mangala/ AKD/Patali are going to be a forceful axis in the near future. All moves would be seen after Fony is given a field Marshall appointment.
In this scenario Ranil a fox bats for MR. That is his only lifeline.
The Foxy Lady CBK has never given up on her love for money. She is hell bent on destroying Avant Garde in order to HANDOVER THIS BUSINESS TO THEIR competitor FRENCHMAN “BRUNO PADIGAN’.
Avant Garde’s Senadipathy has obtain a big deal from Nigeria. Its a big order. Defence Secy Bassa gave express permission to Senadhipathy to visit Nigeria. Its a lucrative order & finalised. SL are much the beneficiary with an export order and many jobs for ex-servicemen. We should be proud BUT CBK has berated Defence Secy for permitting Senadipathy to visit Nigeria. THIS IS CBK. SO MUCH LOVE FOR THE COUNTRY. – So what do we do. Kill the Avant Garde ops overseas, make scores of our well trained retired men out of work and deny the country foreign exchange in millions??
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thiondamannar / March 15, 2015
7.Friends especially old Royalists being appointed to key posts. There was a ripple even today that a relation of Ranil has been appointed to a post at Sri Lankan Airlines. At the time of writing this piece, it could not be verified.
PLEASE SPILL OUT OR HAVE WE TO ASK PROF. RAJIVA… OVER TO VISHAKA.T
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Sunil / March 15, 2015
Ranil’s selection of Arjuna Mahendran is right. We need people with International image to steer our country. India has also brought Raghuraman Rajan from IMF as Governor of Reserve Bank (Raghuraman studied for sometime in Sri Lanka as his father was a diplomat. There is another Sri Lankan born Devarajan who is the Head of Africa region of the World Bank who also should be brought in. Similarly, C.A. Cooray’s daughter is in a top position in IMF and should also be invited to join and develop our country. No more Mervin Silva’s and Weerawansa’s.
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Gaje / March 15, 2015
ABSOLUTELY TRUE! In the 1st place Ranil does not have a good track record! Although he is supposed to be monetarily honest, he is politically dishonest! He is insensitive to reality in society! He pushes what HE THINK IS RIGHT! He would not want consensus. Which in other words is a sign of a dictator! He may not be a humane dictator since he is alienated from society. His single focus is the UNP especially if a Royalist! He does not have an insight to the fact that the media is alive! This is what he wanted at least in theory. The social media is active, websites are active. He may think only 20 or 30% have access! NO! The TV, Radio and papers copy from the social media! The dissemination is huge and wide
MY3 should not be naive and I sure he is not. Ranil may want to take over! He tried to use SF and when things went wrong SF was a hot brick! This is a norm in politics! BUT NOT UNDER YAHA PALANAYA! Remember the MaRa wolves are lurking around gathering momentum and ground! What they lost and would lose is more than Ranil could fathom!
Ravi ‘ s BIL in insurance, Kabir’s uncle a non scientist non researcher a 70+ year old lawyer who ordered a Benz as the official car in the National Science Foundation probably another Royalist is nothing BUT NEPOTISM!
Are we to say Subha Anagathayak or Yahapalanaya! We are “disolutioned”
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Yaddehikande / March 16, 2015
The defeated bandwagon of Mara supporters are gathering to attack Ranil and the Constitutional amendment. Ranil is the target because he has always been the danger as far as Mara is concerned. Remove Ranil and Mara is probably back. Visakah is one such Mara backer. She says she supported the Common Candidate some of us know she had tea with Mara at Temple Trees along with the other woman she mentioned. I am close to one of the ladies and I know this. See the harsh way she refers to Ranil. She complains that Ranil is cocky. If she is a backer she must be happy that Ranil is cocky. She refers to CB governor’s appointment. Why hasn’t this Maitri-Ranil govt supporter wait a few days for the report and then see what happens.
These posers should know that Ranil has survived much harder times. He never gets ruffled by blame or praise. Extraordinary leader
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Dev / March 16, 2015
Could you clarify why Ranil is a “extraordinary” leader?
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Abhaya / March 16, 2015
100 days is almost 70% over . and lets list the great achievements
1 – No body has been prosecuted for the so called coup . So I am getting to this it was all made up
2 – No one has been prosecuted by for corruption either ./ I dont know what to think
3 – No more highway projects . Ravi karunanayake will get you all the booru karrate .
4 No port city . Chnna will probebly give to money to some one who has the brains to do something with investment.
5 Apparently the Colombo city is no longer even been maintained .
6 lots of arse licking of Modi . but no money coming in that directions
7 The US embassy and nobama are very happy but they have other commitments . So no money will be forthcoming
8 Now unemploy the military and give the north to Viggy . then we can get another 30 year war ,
Who ever who put this puppet deaf and dumb joker who talks and talks and talks knew what to do with the country .
RAW RAW RAW
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Karunaratne Gamage / March 16, 2015
What Yaddehi kande says astonishes all. Visakha had tea and hoppers with Mara!
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Gaje / March 16, 2015
We know Visakha, she is not at all a MaRa supporter! I think we all who supported MY3 does not want the momentum for change to slow! We need to point out the wrong things that are happening in Yahapalanaya to prevent a backlash!
Basically Ranil cannot do things on his own using his one track mind!
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Hemantha Galahitiyawa / March 17, 2015
Visakha seems to rush to hasty and sweeping conclusions. I am surprised at what she has written. If she campaigned for Maitri and is so quickly, after a mere 65 days, disgusted then there is really nothing she can offer any political campaign anywhere. Allegations that she had hoppers and tea with the former King may be true because she must have been thrilled by that. Or was it the Washee Bole that worked?
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Rohan Perera / March 19, 2015
Ravi n Akila s cabinet positions are all fine. Both guys have been overlooking the two areas in opposition. Ranil did blunder in amahendran’s case.
Visaka if not find the UNP vote MY3 ‘s three months alms giving would be in April. UNP could not win elections because the executive presidency was used at every election to ensure the UNP defeat. So it is only natural that UNP would look fir a ploy yo win the election. See even now the exec presidency is to be put in use to make sure that UNP didn’t get unfettered powers. It is best that Visaka stopped short of commenting on areas she had no expertise in
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