19 March, 2024

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Rajapaksa Should Be Arrested

By Shyamon Jayasinghe

Shyamon Jayasinghe

Politicians no longer ask the question if it is true; rather whether it will sell.

What is this government of President Sirisena doing? Waiting, watching, ruminating while the old dictator is mobilising crowds unleashing his money and the moneys of other former UPFA government’s Ministers including his rich brother Basil Rajapaksa. Maybe Yoshitha’s phantom grandma has also put in some of the riches she is said to have earned after selling the sapphires mysteriously gotten from a heavenly angel. Sri Lanka is fairy land-although broke.

My primary focus is on the recent political developments running up to Galle Face May Day. Here, from so far away, we in Australia with a bit of political intuition can see the conspiracy unfolding before our eyes. Vickramabahu, perhaps Sri Lanka’s sincerest politician, announced an imminent danger in an interview that is becoming viral in social media. The old clan led by Mahinda Rajapaksa are hell -bent on coming back to rule until Mahinda dies. This must happen before the court cases get through. They are a desperate political junta. Desperate because their lives are at stake. When people are desperate they will do anything to survive. That is the human behavioural law. Maitripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe must know this.

The outlines of the conspiracy is getting clearer by the day. The junta gets round the once-respected GMOA to spearhead trade union activity when their primary responsibility is to heal the sick. This is one clear frontline of the Mahinda Rajapaksa strategy. More than any other trade union that of the doctors of medicine has the strongest blackmailing power. This is the first time in the world we have seen a noble elite of men and women, raised and trained by the money of taxpayers to look after the sick, the wounded and the dying, behaving in this outrageous manner. Trade unionism is a recognised right all right; but medical doctors and related health personnel are not expected to employ the right to strike unless after exploring every other avenue.

The GMOA, that never blinked an eyelid when Mahinda, while in power, set put the SAITM and gratuitously showering benefits on that private medical college. Only now does the GMOA see the immediate danger of SAITM. They are frantic about it and not willing to get into any creative solution by discussion with the government to solve the issue that was not the government’s creation anyway. GMOA is obtuse about viewing the problem from the point of view of the students already there. No, they want to organise islandwide trade union activity. Never heard of a GMOA attempting to get around workers in the petroleum industry and other critical industries to join them in a kind of hartal. A hartal is what this trade union is aiming at. Like the one in 1962 that drove away perhaps of Sri Lanka’s best Prime Minister, Dudley Senanayake. GMOA now wants to drive away the new government of yahapalanaya that was elected  by the people sans any controversy about  election manipulation.

Any out -of -the box proposal of the government, is meat for the GMOA mill in this collective effort. It is astonishing that its rank and file does not see through the manoeuvres of its leaders. Doctors are supposed to be educated, critical and enlightened. Aren’t they? The move to form a regional trade agreement with our neighbouring India (ECTA) is opposed. What have doctors got to do with such policy matters?The best part of this is that the agreement is not even finalised for public consumption. It is in the process of negotiation. Agreements for leasing land to China in Hambantota  partly as a way of solving the massive debt trap with that country that Mahinda Rajapaksa had created and partly as a sound concept of foreign direct investment with the potential of generating jobs for our youth, is opposed.

What more? It looks like the government will have to consult the GMOA in future before they moot any future projects. Why not  give such a modus operandi constitutional status in the proposed new constitution? Good idea. Doctors would also be able to make big bucks like other politicians.The country will then be saddled with a serious problem of trying to find doctors who can heal our sick.

While these background developments were on the burner, Mahinda and his men organised a May Day in Galle Face. Crowds of people were packed into buses and lorries and brought to fill Galle Face.

See! We have filled Galle Face,” the former dictator cried. Unlike in the other two rallies of the UNP, SLFP and JVP we hardly saw any party caps among the audience. With the black money in possession, the downtrodden from villages in Down South were persuaded to attend. Jocular artists like Wijeweera were made to perform.

The highlight to me was how Wimal Weerawansa was introduced as, “the man who went to jail due to his heart-pouring and overflowing love for the country.” Is that why Wimal was arrested? He is charged for embezzlement of some millions of rupees of public funds and diverting houses constructed out of taxpayer money to his kith and kin. What an overflowing patriotism that was! Poor Wimal tried his old antics of going on a non-dying fast- unto- death but none took him seriously. It was like calling,”Wolf! Wolf!.”

To cap it all, was the May Day speech of Mahinda Rajapaksa, where he became utterly jingoistic underlying the need to save the motherland! It was rabble rousing and insular intone-full of deception and what we now know as “alternative facts.” The term became famous and instantly entered the lexicon of politics after Donald Trump’s senior Adviser, Kellyanne Convey, fist used it.

Mahinda has quickly learnt from the Trump campaign of lies. From the Trump campaign the world began to realise that “politicians no longer ask if its true; rather whether it will sell.” Mahinda knows well to create alternative facts that will sell. Above all, he threatened to bring a similar crowd next time and take over the government! Can you beat that?

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s plans are clear and government must be quick to pay heed instead of sleeping over what is going on underneath. It is good that President Sirisena reduced the former President’s security. Executive Presidents are generally constitutionally guaranteed security upon retirement. However, the key word here is retirement (from politics.) This man does not fall under that category because he intends to sabotage the government of the day that has been democratically elected with a mandate to clear. Such a government can be turned out only at an election.

Mahinda Rajapaksa is in a conspiracy. It is laughable, therefore, when he demands so much security. Security for what? To go about his campaign and his clandestine moves to conspire against the government. It is a case of demanding  government funds to destroy the government? Funny and weird isn’t it? Only governments in Lal La Land can do that.

Mahinda cries saying his life is in danger? When he has decided to play an aggressive and undermining political role, yes he raises the level of security that he would need. In other words Mahinda has created his own security threat. Besides this is a man who had the scantest of respect for the lives of others while he was in power.

In the light of these considerations I believe that the former President’s security should not only withdrawn. He must be deemed a security threat to the state and arrested

*The writer can be contacted at sjturaus@optusnet.com.au

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Latest comments

  • 7
    3

    dIt is high time that the Sri lankan justice system which has lost its life during the Rajapaksa regime be revived. The Rajapaksas must be arrested and charged not for the crimes against the Tamils in the first instance but for the crimes against humanity. For how long is the Sirisena-Ranil regime let this go on They have to start somewhere. Bensen

  • 0
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    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/

  • 12
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    Law in civilised world is “every one is innocent until proven guilty beyond any reasonable doubts”. You don’t have any right to call to arrest Rajapaksa just because you lick Ranil’s back side. Why don’t you call to arrest Ranil who was found guilty by Batalanda commission.

    How can people forget killing of 60,000 JVP, suspected JVP and journalist by UNP government from 1986/89 and many at Batalanda killing fields. We only talk about one or two killings.

    If there are evidences against Rajapaksas they should be arrested and punished. So as all other crooks. Until that time give Rajapaksas some credit for making Sri Lanka is a safer place for you to go anywhere without fear of bombs

  • 5
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    People knows than this writer about MR and they will do the needful in the near future. And that will be the real answer.

    • 1
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      The Australian author is so green behind his ears, what he writes should not be published.

      Moreover, and Australian should live in Australia, and not mess with Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans know about their country more than Australians.

      Further, Ranil and crew too have big sins: mass murders, big time frauds (Central Bank not just once, but twice), and so on. This is politics, and Mr. Australian must mind Australian business; not mess up Sri Lanka.

      • 0
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        DS

        “Moreover, and Australian should live in Australia, and not mess with Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans know about their country more than Australians.”

        Don’t you think its appropriate Gota, Basil, and Sarath lived in the USA not messing up Sri Lanka.

        Don’t you think it is only reasonable if the 21 million descendant of Kallthonies went back to their ancestral homeland in South India?

  • 3
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    It’s all a political game a catching each others back. Saying all this we still go to the polling booth to vote. What fools we are .

    • 0
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      Yes Irshard, We are the Fools helping these Vultures to Feather their Own Nests!; and Not for Looking after the Country and its Peoples!

  • 3
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    Bensen Burner well said.Itbis for crimes against humanity that the family of Rajapakses must be arrested and sent to the electric chair

  • 6
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    Preethi Perera is right. Let us stop this debate and revive at the end of the term of the new govt. So far at least we have been ensured our freedom and dignity. No white vans.Judgments not given in Temple Trees. That big bugger is not showing his gold finger ring. His brats are silenced. His bro is shitting in his pants until the day of judgment

    • 2
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      Not just that
      but some of the great achievements are as given below

      1) Freedom of Expression is in tangible improvement

      2) Investigations on previous issues are in progress – however the speed is snail move.. but this was not the case in the days of Maharaja

      3) Mostly where it is due, the qualified ones are given the due place

      4) No barbaric CLANS such as red rob barbarians – synomised with BBS are under control

      5) Minority Muslim folks are not attacked by HIDDEN GOVERNMENT FORCES as was the case under ONE AND ONLY RAJAPASKHE

      6) Police is given powers to react as no times in the past

      7) Some ESSENTIAL items have been made with price REDUCTIONS, while others not

      8) Salaries have been subjected to pay hikes… as no times in the days of Maharaja

      9) No NIGHT RACE – SRILANKEN soil is feeling better today.; NO gigantic entourages by abusing SRILANKEN airlines as had been the case with Maharaja and 40 thieves. No matter, SRILANKEN proved record high billions of losses, but to the last days, Maharaja, thought, he was born to abuse and make it a highly bankrupt airline: He succeeded it. But people have not got it yet.

      10). Thajudeen killers or other killers such as the murders of Lasantha, Ekanligoda or others that are on their lists, have been under investigation.

      —————————————————————————–

      But we the folks that voted for YP are not yet HAPPY – since Maharaja et al or any other low lives are not yet PRISONEd to feel that justice is served as promised.

  • 4
    2

    MR invited Lasantha for breakfast. Three days later he had him murdered with Gota helping

  • 1
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    You all talk about Mahinda Maithree and Ranil, but not about the poor and poorest which accounts over seventy percent of the population in our country. All above three persons or their associates or pals are not included among the poors or poorest. They live happily under the cover of top poloticians.

    DON’T TALK OR ARGUE ON POLITICAL BULLSHIT. Try to advice the above tops, to help these poors and poorest fora better living. Thanks
    Dunstan Fernando

    • 3
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      The Robber Barons

      Who is this guy telling us what to talk and what to do? So, what you say is that we should forget the billions that MR and bond king RW stole from the poorest of the poor putujjana and help the poorest of the poor putujjana from whom those billions were stolen for a better living? Why so that they can affords more and the robber barons can steal more? Isn’t that nice? Just leave the culprits to steal more and more, forget that and help the victims?

      I think it is better to say, this is all due to bad karma committed by the poorest of the poor in their past birth. So, do more pinkam in this birth and everything will be tickity blue in the next birth.

      Get lost man!

      The putujjana has become the poorest of the poor because robber barons like MR and Bond RW have been stealing their money. That is the root cause. Go for the root cause. Not for the effect.

      • 1
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        Why not you think of his point ?

        Why always tend to shoot the messenger Mr Rodrigo ?

        Karma is no acceptable to me. Then all the far poor africans and our poor people to have been born in such geo-locations due to Karma ?

        I am a buddhist, but where I am blocked is when they go on arguing on Karma.

        Even a dangerous cancer occurences are connected to a change of a single base mutation in their genome – is a known and provable fact by today.

        But to hang on with Karma and pave the way SORCERY or Hakkediya promoting fraudsters to grab poor mans last bits is no means commendable.

        • 1
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          I am not hanging on karma. Even if karma is true, Buddha himself said it is just one of the 5 causes for things to happen.

          You are telling me not to shoot the messenger. I think you should that. to Dunstan Not me. He is telling us to forget the sins of the past and tell the robber barons to behave better in the future. Is that not his point? Please tell me what the point is then.

          • 1
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            Thank you.

            But dont you think lanken folks in general put KARAMA on the top (forgetting all other 4 grounds as LB made it clear) whenever they make efforts to explain things. Last time back in the country, I was visiting Kelaniya Temple. There I visited not once several times since I myself felt the place was calm and quiet APART from the place given to the place. However, there are Upasaka ammala – getting crowded there, so some even beged for their living. Among them they had been mothers that were forgotten by their rich sons and the families. So, my heart was broken even not knowing each of their stories well. Later one trustworthy person came to me and revealed all these were lies, why I am telling this is, many of these – each of them were learnt to say “අනේ කර්මය පලදුන්න පුතේ, මාව මාගේ පුතාගේ පවුලට පේන්න බැරි උනා – මම ඔක්කොම දීල පාරට බැස්ස. . I am left to be alone now, due to Karma, my family could not take care of me anymore, so I left them for my own. Since I was used to go to the place every year, I FEEL, most of them interpret it wrong- may be lack of facts. May also be possible, preachers would not resound enough about the 5 ways LB has added.

            • 1
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              Yes most Buddhists put it on Karma. Theists put it on God. I think there is a common human tendency, acquired through evolution, to explain such happening in some way so that hey can get consolation. If there are two persons A and B and A is someone who goes on lamenting, not knowing what to do, when a disaster happens and B is someone who puts it on God or Karma and hence gets on with life forgetting it, we can expect the chances of survival B to be more than that of A. Thus type A will produce more off spring passing his/her genes to them.

              That is how this habit must have become prevalent.

          • 0
            0

            No I think the point he was probably making is ” to focus RATHER more on the poor who are over 70% out of lanken populace”. Gold of the poor are the VOTING ELIGIBILITY. That and their lives have now been ruined by politicians.
            As I got it, the kind of commentators and folk representatives; IN GENERAL- would not want to stay talking about politicians but to do some work for the benefit of the poor.

            Statistics prove over 42% of lanken 22Million are under poverty – not even earning 2 US DOLLARS a day (300 rupees a day). Increasing numbers are no acceessed to proper drinking water. POLITICIANS TALK HIGH ABOUT MAKING THE CONUNTRY A ISLAND OF MIRACLES. But high men PROVABLY that the funds allocated for the poor WERE looted are scot free even today, nevertheless them to prevaricate and be on merry go round is beyond bearing – dont you think so Mr Rodrigo ?

            Alone the term – midincome earning folk to be used for srilankens is no means appropriate as I personally see it. All these were taken to abuse, to grab funds, but facts stay aside. If so called growth rates were the reality, there should be sorta of job creation inthe country in the highdays of MR regime. Was that the case ?

            • 0
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              Muslims have this very good custom of helping the poor. The Holy Quran specifies that 2% of your total wealth should be given as charity every year, preferably in Ramadhan. The Mosques and Matams are well organized to handle these fund and distribute it among the needy.

              Personally, I feel that people should not have children if they cannot support them properly. This has been the curse of all societies. One day travelling in a private bus to Colombo, one man got in and started asking for donations saying that he fell from a tree one year back and has 6 children and that his wife is pregnant again.!!!!!

              About the income, many people do extra jobs, which is not counted in the per capita income. So for the man who works hard, there is enough money like my bike riding, laser ranging, coconut plucked who goes about in a Kawasaki guided by GPS.

    • 1
      0

      But Dunstan, the topic of the article is ” arrest Rajapakshe”. There we have to discuss the ground situation int he country. Also we need to focus on the masses that have been under poverty, there is no question about it. But if your brain allows it to be called BS is not comprehensible to me as a regular CT reader.

  • 1
    0

    Shymand Ayiya

    you seem to be knowing so called every events looting robbing of previous regime of MR.why do you not provide those information to FCID in order to arrest MR and his family members. you too just like parret to me. just talking.[Edited out]

  • 2
    0

    ranjith(sprrw) scatter brain investigator

    When did you become part of the investigating team?

  • 1
    0

    MR and Star Trek

    Investigations in to MR’s suspected loot and the Bond scam are being dragged on. Huge amounts of money, so huge that one cannot even comprehend how big, are involved in these. Just to get an idea of how big, let us compare them with some other huge numbers.

    A light year is the distance travelled by light in vacuum in one year = 39,420,000,000 km = 39.4 billion km = 39,420 million km = 394 koty km.

    The distance to the nearest star (Alphs Centauri) = 4.5 light years = 177,390,000,000 km = 177.4 billion km = 177,390 million km = 1,774 koty km

    MR is suspected to have stashed away Rs. 30 billion somewhere. If the per km travel cost is 8 Cents, then that money would be sufficient for him to go to Alpha Centauri and back. But the money is not the problem. Probably, he has stashed away much more than that. If not, what we can do is to collect the money and send him anyway. We have already given him 30 billion, surely we putujjana can collect perhaps another 60 billion easily for this noble purpose.

    No, the problem is that even if he were to travel at the speed of light the earliest he can be back is in 2026, if he starts tomorrow. Thus he will miss the next two Presidential elections.

    I think it is worth it. We are not going to see him for another 9 years. Even hearing from him would be a problem because messages would take 4.5 years to arrive here from Alpha Centauri.

    Cost too high? OK, We can put DJ also as a passenger. How now cow?

    P.S.: I think the per km cost of getting that crowd to Galle Face was much more.

    • 0
      0

      Sorry guys and girls, I forgot that there are 24 hours in a day

      So it is going to be like this:

      A light year is the distance travelled by light in vacuum in one year = 946,080,000,000 km = 946 billion km = 946,080 million km = 94,608 koty km.

      The distance to the nearest star (Alphs Centauri) = 4.5 light years = 102,176,640,000,000 km = 102 trillion km = 102,176 billion km = 102,176,640 million km = 10,217,664 koty km

      The cost per km has to be about 2 cents per km.

      Let us hope he has looted more so we can afford it.

    • 1
      0

      If you have balls, you may help the govt to find the bits that have been not yet known. They have lately reconfirmed the sums Yoshita rajapakshe have desposited in Dubai banks (making up to over millions of us dollars). According to the sources I happend to read, those guys do the accounting jobs in such banks are from slanka, india and the like countries.

      You seem tohave some time and experience having spent much of your time, why cant you help the state by providing some hints as to how they could approach those men. I know here there are national laws that would stand on the way. But the kind of money laundering acts should have the legal provisions to be faciliated the procedures. There are even international laws that would help in this regard. May be lawyer level personalities in your aquaintance in ME region can help a lot. This is an issue of getting extended if each of us would not contribute the little we can do in getting them cornered and get the money for the sake of settling the debts crisis that the country is fallen into. The govt makes no louds, on this since they dont want to see it as a weaker govt not being able to handle it. But longer silence on the alarming issue, bring us nowhere.

  • 0
    0

    Punishment for MARA

    Our lady commentators are demanding, keep the booty and hang him by his two —– in the Galle Face. No. Don’t get excited! Don’t get excited! The —– is not for spherical things. It is for straight – feet.

    Leelawathie. See? That is inconsistency for you. In the morning I was angry that some were saying hang him by his —- . But now I am saying hang him by his two feet. I told you, no? The only thing I am consistent about is my inconsistency.

  • 0
    0

    The present government needs the assistance of the people since it is the people’s government. If the previous regime loves the motherland with all the good it has done it too should support it. We have to do this for the benefit of our future generations. This government should not waste it’s time it should have the right kind of people around it to do things right to take the country in the right direction. Let’s all pray for the great success of this beautiful country in Asia. People have understood who are the good guys and bad ones because social media is very powerful to do its part. YP government it’s your turn pls perform. All the best.

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