By Shyamon Jayasinghe –
Shyamon Jayasinghe
“As a creeper overpowers the entwined Sal tree, he whose impiety is great reduces himself to the state which his enemy wishes for him.” -Attavaggo, Dhammapada.
The meeting of the present President, Maitripala Sirisena (MS) with the previous President, Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) was held yesterday (7th of May 15) in Parliament. From the sources we have, it is clear that the meeting flopped. One newspaper report stated that when MR at one stage threatened to walk out Maitri had stated that he could do so if he wanted to. One gets the impression that MR had acted like a bully trying to coerce the hand of MS into granting unreasonable demands. According to sources he had asked to be named as Prime Ministerial candidate from the SLFP. Refused. He had requested MS to detach himself from the UNP. Refused. He had wanted a stop to ongoing corruption investigations by the FCID. Refused. Of course MR must walk out. But he didn’t.
Pretty cheeky and brazen, I thought those reported demands were! Typical bullying tactics. The brawniness of a suburban macho and the polite shrewdness of a simple village peasant was in display in this narrative. One newspaper cartoon showed MS offering hoppers to MR. “Ganna ko!” (“take will you!”)
The surprising electoral defeat has not taught Mahinda a lesson. That is clear. His post- electoral behavior makes this self-evident. The strident efforts of those around him who have lost perks, benefits and illegal windfalls have given Mahinda a boost from outside. There was Nugegoda. There was Kandy. There was Ratnapura. And, today, there is Kurunegala. Although diminishing returns are seen in these successive bring-back rallies MR cronies are not deterred in what appears to them as a life or death struggle. Such bliss these cronies enjoyed; such power to order and to control; such money to come by. How can they lose all that? In countries like Australia, where I live, defeated pollies have ready-made exit avenues in the private sector. But what avenues do vanquished and incompetent cronies have in Sri Lanka where they acted as parasites on society-eking out of it rather than giving to it. Besides, many of them hardly sleep dreaming of the FCID knocking at their doors.
MR hasn’t realized the extent of corruption that played under his watch. It is hard to think that he had no personal hand in the financial crimes of his team. MR even visits them in prison like a troop leader giving support to his injured troops. The latest to be visited was Johnny. MR even visited a convicted criminal a few months back. For a person who held “His Excellency” post to behave in this manner is a worrying question to discerning people on both sides of the divide.
Corruption was never an issue for President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Even in a perfunctory way he never once publicly spoke against corruption. Even Mugabe frequently made rhetorical attack on the corrupt deeds of his men. In the case of MR the latter enjoyed keeping in his safe the files of the sleazy and the venal. It was an opportunity for MR to hold on to power by having a deadly trap on the strongmen around him. During the election campaign, MR famously made a threat to release the files of those who leave his fold. Mahinda Rajapaksa did not enjoy the company of the moral. He was plain and simple amoral in whatever he did. This is dangerous for a ruler to be.
So we see, every day, complaints flowing in of huge corrupt deals allegedly under the former regime. Sri Lanka hasn’t the machinery to handle such a copious volume. Maybe we will need a special prison in time to come as all cases are investigated. MR’s former powerful sibling, Basil Rajapaksa is held in detention. Johnston Fernando is also “in” or “Athula,” as the Sinhala expression goes. We wonder, everyday, who will get into athule! It is like a scoreboard that we keep. Lots of serious complaints against Mahinda’s wife, his siblings and his kids-all waiting in the line.
Yesterday’s Ceylon Today gave, yet, another report of financial fraud that I shall quote as an illustration to dramatize, for intended effect, what I say here:
“Additional Magistrate of Colombo Nishantha Peiris ordered the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) yesterday to investigate the alleged financial fraud which caused a loss of US$ 122 million (Rs 16,230 million) to the government in the construction of the Kerawalapitiya Thermal Power Station.
The Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat told Court that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) could have built the Thermal Power Plant at a cost of US $ 210 million but they rejected that offer. The CEB then spent US $ 332 million constructing the 300 Mega Watt Thermal Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya, thus causing a loss of US $ 122 million to the government. The police informed the Court that a statement from K. L. K. Chandana Wijesinghe, the Director of the Ministry of Power and Energy was also recorded in relation to this investigation.
Although this Thermal Power Station had been initially planned to be built by the government at a cost of US $ 210 million, the construction was handed over to the Wesco Company which was an affiliate of the government to build the plant at a cost of US $ 332 million. The police also informed Court that Chandana Wijesinghe had stated that once construction was completed, the Ceylon Electricity Board had arranged to purchase power from the completed project.
Police told the Court further that, Wesco Company had completed construction of this 300 Mega Watt Thermal Power Station in Kerawalapitiya and that the Ceylon Electricity Board is purchasing power as had been agreed upon. Construction had been completed on a basis where after a lapse of 25 years the Power Plant ownership will revert to the government, the police said.”
This is the ongoing narrative about the Rajapaksa regime. Mahinda Rajapaksa is ensured of a fair hearing for his cronies since the new-look judiciary has already given confidence to the public. Until then, as a former Head of State he should behave more responsibly when these various allegations are been investigated. Calling a halt to the enquiries will not put him under good light. Over his ten years, President Mahinda Rajapaksa let financial fraud, corruption and abuse grow and foster around him. He cannot escape the wrath of their consequences. On the other hand, he can redeem himself to some extent only by cooperating with the investigations and genuinely turning a new leaf. Bravado rhetoric and bullying tactics cannot hold his defenses against the avalanche of accusations.
Jonhston Fernando held his handcuffs high before the camera and cried mockingly, and disdainfully, “this is Yahapalanaya!” Of course it is!
Upul / May 9, 2015
We don’t need Yaha.. just palanaya is sufficient.
Who is going to force the Yakkos who sat on their bums and did’nt care to do the jobs they are paid for, to get off their bums and do their jobs. It is not their supervisors, because they are part of the problem. The Minister or his Deputy? No a chance in hell. They are busy preparing for elections and survival.
This is where, as the saying goes… the rubber hits the road!
In the meantime, notice no bodies or injuring reported due to political violence. Assaults do not count because both sides get a chance to throw punches or chairs.
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podi baba / May 9, 2015
I wonder if Mr. Jayasinghe is arguing that the arrests of Politicians in the opposition or politicians who are vocally opposing the government is merely coincidence?
After all, Mrs. Weerawansa arrested for a wrong birthday on her passport, Jonston for giving emergency relief to people affected by floods, and Basil for giving samurdhi loans to samurdhi recipient’s is hardly the mass scale corruption of the Ilk of the Arjun Mahendra proportions.
What Shyamon fails to acknowledge is that the Former President qualifies his statement of calling for a halt, he calls for a halt of ‘politically motivated investigations’.
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Ken robert / May 9, 2015
Podi Balla
one can not rob Paul to pay for Peter.
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Rosa / May 9, 2015
@ Podi Baba, From when did you start patronizing the better half of Weerawansa.. All these crooks who looted billions from the state are determined to bring back Ali Baba back to the throne. What’s your share Podi Baba ??. First all the American passport holding criminal who were looting the country should be deported. They belong to the Western conspiracy ( weerawansa the 10th grade mutt included). Shreeja was seen in hot pants at Kataragama two weeks ago.
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Kalu Nangi / May 9, 2015
Please do not act like a “thoththa baba”!
Isn’t it a crime to hold a fraudulent passport, a diplomatic one at that, when the holder is a mere housewife? And isn’t it wrong to give an incorrect date of birth when one affirms on the application form that the information provided is nothing but the truth?
How did Johnstone forget to pay for the millions of relief he distributed to his people to gain election victory for his Godfather? Did he think that the government is so foolish that they would not be able to trace how he managed to steal the stuff?
Please remember that action is taken against these fraudsters only when a complaint is lodged. In this country, people were silent in the past since they feared the “white van”. There is nothing to stop the people to rise against these fraudsters now….
You are indeed a “thoththa baba”, if you think otherwise.
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Heretic / May 9, 2015
Kalu Nangi,
“Isn’t it a crime to hold a fraudulent passport, a diplomatic one at that, when the holder is a mere housewife?”
If the husband had the right to have a diplomatic passport then so did the wife and even their possible children. I believe that ministers are on the list of persons who can receive diplomatic passports so that she did nothing wrong except that she lied about her age and that was stupid.
The important question is: what did she do with the passport, for instance, in Dubai? Once she only spent some hours in Dubai. Did she go there for a coffee or deposit money?
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Waltzing Matilda / May 9, 2015
Podi Babba sounds suspiciously like Mahindapala, Sumanasekera and Gigurawa all rolled into one!
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Native Vedda / May 9, 2015
podi baba
Do you fantasize Wimal Weerawansa?
What is it that attracts you to Wimal,
his Mandrake the Magician hair style,
his Balbo beard
his farce onto death struggle
his knowledge on national anthems
his sanctions against google, hotmail, yahoo, … etc
his stupidity
his verbal diarrhea
his smart ass patriotism
…..
…..
him being the official b***s carrier of MR
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Yus / May 9, 2015
In his speech at the Institute of Chartered Accountants, President Rajapaksa claimed that when he first heard about the alleged wrongdoings of Pradeep Kariyawasam, he took immediate steps to cover things up. When an ‘Ape Miniha’ (Our Man) does something wrong, the President pronounced, the proper response is to ‘quietly cover it up’: “With difficulty I covered it up; shaped it; that is how it is done; for ‘Our Man’; so it was shaped”.
The above is a paragraph from an article by Tisaranee Gunasakeraa few years ago.This reflects the true character of the ex President and its no suprise that he visits his friends in prison.A commission of inquiry should be set up to expedite inquiries as the Courts of law will take years to convict these corrupt politicians.The least the Yahapalanaya Govt could do is to deprive Mahnda and his henchmen of their civic rights and clean up the political arena.
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Ram / May 9, 2015
Is it any different to the way the Bond issue scam was covered up by the new all powerful unelected PM ? Was/Is Kariyawasam a part of the Old Royalist mafia ?
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Amarasiri / May 9, 2015
Shyamon Jayasinghe –
“One gets the impression that MR had acted like a bully trying to coerce the hand of MS into granting unreasonable demands. According to sources he had asked to be named as Prime Ministerial candidate from the SLFP. Refused. He had requested MS to detach himself from the UNP. Refused. He had wanted a stop to ongoing corruption investigations by the FCID. Refused. Of course MR must walk out. But he didn’t.”
Thanks for the background information. This is what Amarasiri has commented to based on some reports about this meeting and directed the comments to Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Dear Medamulana Mahinda Rajapaksa,
1. “President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday shot down the dreams of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would not nominate a Prime Ministerial candidate before the next election.”
Good!
2. “Turning down the request made by pro-MR faction to name the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party, Sirisena said such a measure would be disadvantageous to the party at the election. The President’s swift response indicated that he had no intention to accommodate the former President at the next election as the PM candidate of the party.”
Very Good!
3. “Sirisena believes family politics must be ended, our source said.”
Excellent!.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, can you please retire? If not can you fish?
Politics is not good for you. All your Shills and white-washers have abandoned you including Wimal Modawansa, who voted for 19A.
Alternately, you can start your own party, Medamulana-Crooks, Robbers And Party, M-CRAP.
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Amarasiri / May 9, 2015
Shyamon Jayasinghe –
RE: Rallies & Bravado Talk Cannot Hold Mahinda’s Defences
“The surprising electoral defeat has not taught Mahinda a lesson. That is clear. His post- electoral behavior makes this self-evident. The strident efforts of those around him who have lost perks, benefits and illegal windfalls have given Mahinda a boost from outside. There was Nugegoda. There was Kandy. There was Ratnapura. And, today, there is Kurunegala. Although diminishing returns are seen in these successive bring-back rallies MR cronies are not deterred in what appears to them as a life or death struggle. Such bliss these cronies enjoyed; such power to order and to control; such money to come by. How can they lose all that? In countries like Australia, where I live, defeated pollies have ready-made exit avenues in the private sector. But what avenues do vanquished and incompetent cronies have in Sri Lanka where they acted as parasites on society-eking out of it rather than giving to it. Besides, many of them hardly sleep dreaming of the FCID knocking at their doors.”
1. Why Can’t Mahinda Rajapaksa retire, and go fishing? After all, he as a pension and the stolen billions. For the snubs, it is a different story.
2. Can we send them to the Middle East as domestics and other workers as has been done by the fellow Sri Lankans workers? A part of the hard earned money, sent home was taxed by various means and stolen by Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cronies.
In Sri Lanka the retirement age is 55 or 60 in the state sector? Mahinda Rajapaksa, you you follow that rule?
If not, form your own Party, just like SWRD Bandaranaika did in 1952, Medamulana Crooks, Robbers And Party, M-CRAP, or M-Crap for the “People”, the Modayas and Mootals.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crap
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sarojini / May 9, 2015
AMARASIRI. DID PREMADSA LEARN A LESSON WHEN HE WAS DEFEATED IN 1956 ?HE BOUNCED BACK AND DID AN ENORMOUS SRVICE TO THE COUNTRY . SJ IS A LOOSE CANNON SHOOTING OUT WHATEVER HE FEELS LIKE AS HE IS A DIE HARD UNPER LIVING IN AUSTRLIA. PEOPLE IN SL ARE NOTORIOUSLY KNOWN TO SAY WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE WHICH ARE NOT BASED ON FACTS .MS CLAIMING THAT MR HAS $18BILLION IN OFF SHORE ACCOUNTS WHEN HE IS NOT REALLY SURE IS ANOTHER SENSAIONAL STORIES OF THE CALIBRE OF THIS MAN .DID THE THERMAL POWER STORY THAT SJ IS WORRIED ABOUT HAPPEN WHEN CR WAS THE MINISTER FOR POWER AND ENERGY ??????
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Amarasiri / May 9, 2015
sarojini Nangi/Thangacchi,
“AMARASIRI. DID PREMADSA LEARN A LESSON WHEN HE WAS DEFEATED IN 1956 “
“Sir John Kotalawala, His government had to deal with economic problems and ethnic conflicts, and he and his party were defeated in the 1956 elections by a group of more radically chauvinistic Sinhalese parties under the leadership of Solomon Bandaranaike.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kotelawala
Did you mean Dudley Senanayaka, or JR Jayawardana.
Still, they are more “respectable” politicians compared to the Mahinda Rajapaksa and their Cronies, woo are Liars, Crooks, Robbers and Criminals.
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Jayagath Perera / May 9, 2015
Shyam has made his point. What is relevant today is that the newly elected lot must be and appear to be within the bounds of good governance. It is not you and I who would judge that but folks at large and if that is not up-to the expectations then it is the new lot that grow breeding grounds for the vanquished to become victors.
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Crazyoldmansl / May 9, 2015
OFFENCES NOT DEFENCES
What is not understood is that behind the scenes fangs are bared and caws extended.
In the first place the USA has had to step in with its own nuclear submarines and strategic assets howering in the back ground on Diego Garcia in order to (http://www.dailymirror.lk/71575/us-working-with-sl-to-oppose-intimidation-to-assert-territorial-claims?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook) “oppose intimidation to assert territorial claims”.
In the second place Modi has placed his faith in Mahinda whose fascist approach he shares and has clearly demonstrated in his relationship with minorities. Both of them embody THE DOCTRINE OF MAJORITARIANISM and as such share in the anti civlizational project and both of them will prove inseparable.
In the third place is Maithri’s inherent Maoist political orientation which China has discovered to its delight and which has begun to assist him in charting his political strategy. Having learned the lesson that Fascism is not welcome in Sri Lanka and that there are sufficient numbers of Sri Lankans to ensure that fascism is held at bay, it has begun to strategically balance its own interests against those of other major strategic players.
This has exposed the strategic incompetence of the UNP, which is saddled with the national average IQ of 79 and the task of relating to its patrons on the basis of that limited IQ. The interactions between the UNP and the USA is pathetic to behold and it no surprise that that nation has begun to see Sri Lanka as the “Monkey Kingdom” (http://nature.disney.com/monkey-kingdom).
While the UNP has no clear understanding of global dynamics and therefore appears to be all at sea at the moment, I am hopeful that Maithri with his extensive reading of Marxist literature may fare much better. So far he has shown himself to be by far the most intelligent politician we have and he has done well although his UNP cabinet and especially his minister of justice have done much to muddy the waters and bring disrepute to the land.
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CHANAKYAN / May 9, 2015
A most candid exposure of MR and his cronies. Added is a devastating demolition of their wild dreams of a fanciful come back.
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Native Vedda / May 9, 2015
Shyamon Jayasinghe
“this is Yahapalanaya!” Of course it is!
However Dayan does not like it a bit and does not support it.
Doesn’t it worry you?
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T.A.KUMAR / May 9, 2015
Yes hats off to the independent judiciary this is the way to go. Ensure that all rogues are put in (Athule) and their properties etc are confiscated.
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simon / May 9, 2015
Excellent article.We are now eargly waiting a scholorly response from DJ and Malinda.
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Amarasiri / May 10, 2015
simon
“Excellent article.We are now eargly waiting a scholorly response from DJ and Malinda.”
DJ is still consulting with wimal Modawansa.
He May come up with a new abgle, a new Equation
MR + PM = 0, instead of 2/2 =0
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Ripvan W / May 9, 2015
“In countries like Australia, where I live, defeated pollies have ready-made exit avenues in the private sector. But what avenues do vanquished and incompetent cronies have in Sri Lanka where they acted as parasites on society-eking out of it rather than giving ….
Shyamon, who are you talking about? There are many defeated lollies in SL who do not budge a bit.
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simon / May 9, 2015
Pity that MR never had a chance to practice nigosiation skills.Hi main stlye if nogsiation was you with me or you are distroyed.That worked with his Tamil counter part VP.The other was – suck up to me, that worked with the native scholars.
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Justice & Fairplay / May 9, 2015
The “Simple village peasant” Shyamon refers to, is the FINEST President we have ever had, a real ‘gem’ amongst pigs in a sty. This country and its people have done some merit sometime, to discover such an outstanding man as its Leader. Alongside Ranil W, we now have two decent, incorruptible people at the helm, and thank God for that. Just compare the predecessors of these two with them, and you will get my drift.
The visitations by the former President to convicted prisoners and others in remand prison (not for trivial reasons) is indeed a worrying phenomena to average, decent, Law abiding people of the land, and must therefore confirm that the former President does not respect the legal process whatsoever and plays to the gallery even now in the pursuit of cheap publicity. When a former politico was visited by the police some years ago on fire-arm or drug related (or some other)charges, one of the first to visit him was the former President. Thus ended any investigative process mooted, in that regard with a message sent to the investigators without uttering a word!.
Right now, there are two important ex-ministers in remand prison, with several others being put under the legal microscope with large question marks against their names. The former Sri Lankan airline chairman is still free, but his turn will come, and this merry dance will go on for years as the degree of corruption appears to be immense. This is such a shame, if Mahinda has an iota of self respect, he should at least now distance himself from such types. The sad fact is, he cant.
To the likes of Johnston Fernando we need to say loud and clear, YES, this is “yahapalanaya”, where the police and the legal process calls the shots, and not the President or his prime Minister or members of the cabinet OR the members of the President’s family, like how things were before.
This is the age of Yahapalanaya, and long may it survive. The long suffering people of this land deserve nothing less.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / May 9, 2015
Can the UNP organize such a rally one week after the May day mobilization? Without state power, the MR camp did exactly that, if one goes by media reports.
“Massive crowd at pro-Mahinda rally at Kurunegala
The Bring-back-Mahinda campaign yesterday received a tremendous boost with 55 UPFA MPs joining a massive rally held in Kurunegala.
(Pic by Dimuthu Premaratne)
Mahinda vows to come on UPFA stage shortly
55 UPFA MPs join mammoth rally
By Dasun Edirisinghe
reporting from Kurunegala
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said, in a statement, that he would be back on the SLFP led UPFA stage soon and the date would be decided by the people.
In his message read out at a mammoth rally at the Welagedara grounds…”
(Source: The Island front page lead story May 9, 2015)
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patriot / May 9, 2015
Can people believe in what Mahinda Rajapaksa(MR) utters these days? He talks rubbish and is acting like an insane man after the huge defeat on the 8th January. May be he has really gone mad.
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dcn / May 9, 2015
Dayan jaytileke
When food, booze,and transport is provided with freely available money the crowds gather. Nothing great. So many MPs attended but most of them will not be in the next parliament.
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Somapala / May 9, 2015
From where does Mahinda Rajapakse get money to hold such meetings? Is it from the savings he made from his salary as the president?
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MAYA / May 9, 2015
DJ, Oh I am coming coming oh oh oh….. fantastic MR and you!
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Sanchay / May 9, 2015
DJ (or should I call Dr. DJ): were you not invited for the party? that you need to qoute the news articles?, oh my poor dear DJ. what the heck, Hitler did this too many times, in Nuremberg, Munich and Berlin… and at last no guts to stay the tribunal with his colloborators but shot himself like a coward as he heard the russians are at the door, and eva should pay for it too. But not before sending thousand of kids of hitler jugend as canon fodder, this charismatic maniac. If your idol is so mighty and sure of voters sympathy, then he should declare now itself that he is going to candidate for the PM and not testing the grounds by sending WW, Vasu, Dinesh and you the intellectual DJ. I know lots of you have the best orgasm of your life just at the thought of MR becoming the PM. have some more fun before you realize it was rather too short and flat. But it is how it is, the foreplay is often the best than the act itself. Grab it make it come!
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Native Vedda / May 11, 2015
Sanchay
“DJ (or should I call Dr. DJ)”
I suggest you address him as “self confessed war monger and a war crime denier”.
That is how he wants to be known.
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roger / May 9, 2015
DJ
You must lean to read politics correctly. Did anyone protest when 5 including Bandulla Gunawardena were thrown out? why did those MR supporters back 19A? The key is nominations are to be made by the President. Those who are making much noise now will wag their tail and follow the President for nominations once the parliament is dissolved. If you have not realized this mark my word, wait and see. Who are these 55 who went behind MR, they are either corrupt and need to be protected or unheard of entities.
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simon / May 10, 2015
Cant belive that such a [Edited out] was appointed as ambosader by the Mamal President Rajapajsha.
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K.A Sumanasekera / May 9, 2015
Now that you have renounced your Lankan citizenship, why don’t you change your name also to something like Cameron Harper…
It Rhymes cool too….
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punchinilame / May 9, 2015
As you appear to be diverting the subject, lets not forget what the United frontF of Peradeniya Lecturers & Alumni had to say, which SJ is now touching upon: Dayan joins
the fools in the hope MR will turn up at one of these gathering of snubs – he cannot,
now that MRs attempt to wind-up FCID failed in the first attempt with MS, in the guise
of requesting SLFP Primeministership!!!!!
“This Government ……… 1. Promised that the presidential system will be repealed, in the “Mahinda Chinthanaya”, instead extended the number of times a president could contest from two times to unlimited. 2. Robbed around 95 Million LKR from the “Tsunami” fund ( Helping Hambantota ) donated by the Japanese government. This was his first political robbery apart from what he made as the Minister of Fisheries. 3. Let all the ministers of his cabinet to rob at their will, hence he could blackmail them. He turned a blind eye when his Prime Minister imported Drugs and few members of his cabinet importing illegal ethanol and drugs. 4. Alienated the country towards China resulting in India developing bitterness with Sri Lanka. 5. Obtained loans from China at rates higher than Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) to earn commissions. These commissions in billions were routed to Swiss bank accounts via Seychelles, where MR opened a branch of Bank of Ceylon and also an Embassy in a country where only 92000 thousand people live. Sri Lankan airline flies to Seychelles. 6. Built a port where no ships come. Air Port where no Airplanes land. He made billions of commissions doing these projects. 7. Made money building Roads : The cost per km of the Outer Circular Highway from Kadawatha to Kerawalapitiya financed by China is US$ 56 m(Rs.7.3billion) This cost is three times higher than the Kottawa Kaduwela extension of the Southern Highway financed by Japan ,which is Rs.2.4 billion per km. 8. The cost per km of Extension of the Southern Highway from Mattala to Hambantota will cost Rs.2.14billion, whereas per km cost of the Southern Highway cost only Rs.975m 9. Bid price of A9 road was Rs.140 m per km when the departmental estimate for an A class road was Rs. 20m. 10. Construction of the Norochchole Coal Power Project was awarded to a well- established Chinese contractor at US$280.00M in 2005 by the previous regime. Soon after present regime came into power it cancelled the contract and awarded it to another inexperienced Chinese firm at US$520 million-almost double the previous price. Plant is inoperative even after 2years of completion. 11. On a dispute between Essential Services Commissioner and Asset Maritime (Pvt) Ltd arbitrator-a retired High Court Judge awarded Rs.600,000.00 as compensation to the company. A Committee appointed by the President on the intervention of the First Lady awarded Rs.180 million to this company owned by Dhammika Perera and Nishantha Wickramasinghe- latter being a brother of First Lady. 12. Due to the ill-conceived Hedging deal of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation headed by Asantha de Mel (a person connected to the political establishment) lost Rs. 230 billion in2007. No one has been held accountable for huge loss of public funds. 13. Failed to initiate investigations on 29 journalists murdered or disappeared. Lasantha W, Pradeep Eknaligoda 14. Failed to initiate investigations into the deaths of Members of Parliament 1. Raviraj and one other. 15. Appointed 38 numbers of the Presidents family and extended family, to diplomatic missions. 16. Turned a blind eye on losses at Mihin Air to the tune of 6-8 Billion, made by his closest buddy Sajin vas Gunawardane who had been criminally charged previously. He appointed his brother in Law Nishantha Wickramasinghe to Sri Lankan Airlines who has no formal education and made losses to the tune of Rs 70 billion to date. 17. Influenced the judiciary to President’s benefit. Impeached the 43rd Chief Justice for no reason. Makes judicial appointments to his benefit. 18. Allows Presidents children to play (Car races) on the streets of Colombo at their will by closing roads. He over ruled Mahanayake Theroes to hold car races for his children in Kandy town. 19. Failed to nominate Election, Police, Public Service and Judicial services commissions. 20. Udayanga Weeratunga – Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia. Cousin of President Rajapakse. Accused of involving in a shady deal to purchase MIG Fighters for the Sri Lankan Air force. 21. Paid 700.00Million rupees to Prabhakaran to purchase weapons to kill innocent Sinhalese using Karuna Amman who is now a deputy Minister and a Vice President of the SLFP. He uses Kumar Pathmanathan alias LTTE arms dealer to his personal benefit. 22. How Karuna was sent to London “ On August 30, 2007 the Department of Immigration and Emigration issued a diplomatic passport number D1944260 in the name of “Kokila Dushmantha Gunawardena” whose occupation on the passport was given as Director General of Wildlife Conservation. The photograph on the passport was that of Karuna Amman. The Department of Immigration, it is pertinent to note, comes under the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order of which Gotabaya Rajapakse is Secretary and President Rajapakse the Minister”. 23. Failed to conduct an impartial inquiry into killing of around 43 prisoners at the Welikada Prison. 24. Did nothing to improve the economy and failed to introduce workers charter. Economy in shambles. 25. Arranged for his son to sit for the Law exams in an isolated air-conditioned room, away from the other candidates. 26. Killed protesters in Rathupaswala (8), Free Trade Zone (1) and Chilaw (4). He used maximum force on all protestors.”
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Ben Dover / May 9, 2015
Good commonsensical article; congratulations Shyamon J.
I see that MR is still fondling his gold vajra, in the fond hope that it will translate into an orgasmic experience as he wakes up from his bad dream of the 8th of January, when the Titanic sank.
Thank God for Astrology, thank God for aathal Sumane and thank God for the holy triumvirate of CBK, RW and MS for bringing good governance to this wonderful land of ours.
And as for MR, his brothers, sons, wife, whores, cronies and their future, I think their fate is written in the stars. I hope that Welikade or someplace less comfy awaits, for the next few decades….oh, and by the way, let’s all hope for their sake, that there is no prison riot which requires the STF to come charging in and shoot to kill, just like what happened in 2012.
David Blacker may have some clarifying to do on this score though, given his previous rah rahs at that tragic event.
My word, how the tide has turned…. never thought it’d happen in my lifetime!
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Marwan / May 9, 2015
Ben Dover, I simply love your stance on the issue. I mean the way you said it. You couldn’t have put it any better. Those hooligans who ran our country must never be allowed to take us and our country for a ride ever gain.
Even now after loosing the election this guy is plotting and planning how to capture power again through sleazy deal comeback claiming rights through his party affiliation. All his staunch supporters, riff-raffs, robbers, bad-mouth hooligans, all converge as one collective force to make a showcase and expose their gift of the gab talents, outsmarting one another and forecasting doomsday scenarios through scaremonger tactics involving ISIL, UN declaring two state solution and VP’s birthday celebration (just to name a few), and all this just to fool the people with total disregard to the peoples intelligence. A supposedly Muslim guy comes out and utters rubbish on how minorities must give way and respect majority rule, thus bringing in the racist dimension to the plot. Does anyone seriously think any minority voter would have a change of heart with that kind of rhetoric? Pure and simply it was just a mad hatters party. A ewaste of time and resources just to please one man only who has lost his marbles.
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Gamarala / May 9, 2015
The best President Sirisena could do to overcome destabilization by MR is to promote young honest and charismatic leaders as reported in CT yesterday.
These meetings are typical pressure tactics by MR and the corrupt & old guard of the PA around him to undermine the leadership and promises made by President Sirisena.
By proposing young and honest blood people will be able to decide whether they want to be ruled by crooks or honest and energetic people who could lead Sri Lanka to the future.
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roger / May 9, 2015
MS is making very intelligent calculated moves. remember he came in as a GS and not as a son of a powerful minister. Also not to a electorate like Hamnantota it was to Polananuwa. His trump card is yet to be played, a sample of it we saw with 19A.
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dcn / May 9, 2015
Again a beautiful exercise by Shyamon in summing up current political events of significance with MR antics of excellence in corruption to Johnston Fernando showing his hand cuffed hands like a HERO after victory in a great war.
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Bensen Berner / May 9, 2015
Very well said in Shyamon’s inimitable style. No. Rajapaksa is incapable of turning a new leaf.Bensen
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Karunaratne Gamage / May 9, 2015
Very good article and written in good style. I cannot understand why Maitri agreed to an interview with this fellow. Who is he now? What is his status?
Meeting Dr Mervyn would have been better
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Native Vedda / May 9, 2015
Karunaratne Gamage
“I cannot understand why Maitri agreed to an interview with this fellow.”
As part of Maithiri’s arduous process the meeting was essential, and hopefully it would have made MR bit more irrelevant than before. In the mean time I suspect the government is working on a strategy to expose how the clan and cronies swindled the state coffer which should inform the people whom to trust.
Whatever the political outcome/fallout truth must be told.
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Martin / May 9, 2015
Good article. Short. Informative. Straight to the point.
Good to remind us of “I have the files” (and vote for us – we have already grabbed enough).
Number one reason that Sirisena won: the people – millions of them – with or without lack of access to free media ALL were fed up with this massive scale of corruption taking place at all levels – all linked to Rajapaksa and his cronies.
If MR had kept quiet, maybe – only maybe – he could have ended up in history books as “the president that ended a civil war” but slowly he is becoming the most corrupt President(ial family) that existed in Sri Lanka and helped people realize that enough is enough.
A new era has begun. With judiciary more confident, I believe that meeting between MS and MR is the final turning point.
Goodbye MR!
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Know All / May 9, 2015
How very true is that old saying that fact is stranger than fiction. Who in his proper senses will have imagined that our erstwhile President, the man who occupied the highest office in the land, could even have considered making those demands of his successor?
And for sheer gall, one could not go past MR’s request (or was it a demand?) for a halt to the corruption investigations by the FACID. That said, why should one be surprised? For MR when in office was seemingly unconcerned with the niceties of the law and due process. He always believed that things could be fixed (I think the phrase he was fond of using was ‘shaped’)
The office of President is the highest position that any Sri Lankan can aspire to achieve. And one expects those who achieve that office to conduct themselves with a dignity that is consistent with that role, both while in office and once out of it. Clearly, a former President who seeks to re-enter politics in a lesser role is demeaning both himself and the office he once held. Surely, MR should realise that. If he does not, could someone please tell him?
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pala / May 9, 2015
Well done Shyamon Jayasinghe. Very readerfriendly interesting article. The newspapers did not give all the intricate details of the meeting. Interesting reading. So this is the fate of MR the vily, powerless, power hungry villain, so drunk with power, ruthless and wanting return to his vily ways. He and his goons are sad people..
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Prem Vaidyaratne / May 9, 2015
Dayan Jayatilleka is getting worked up by crowds. Crowds are easy to get in Lanka. UNP had a massive May day crowd that kept pouring in even after the rally was concluded. He must know that crowds are not votes
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Ram / May 9, 2015
Jayasinghe seems to believe every little snippet of gossip that emanates from Colombo. The Colombo gossips have little else to do. While in Colombo during the January election I was aghast when a woman very confidently told us that there had been an attempt at a coup, which as we now know, has turned out to be absolute drivel.
Quite a few such stories, if they can be called stories, seem to originate with political activists who do immense damage to the country. The latest is the OMI comment from Mangala Saramaweera at the end of which he covers himself by saying that he does not know whether the story is true or not. How contemptible for a prominent minister to repeat such gossip ?
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vichara / May 10, 2015
“CEB then spent US $ 332 million constructing the 300 Mega Watt Thermal Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya,”
Who was the Minister in charge”
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Piyumi Welikala / May 11, 2015
If you look at the ten years tell me one Ministerial area that has developed any new policies? Not one.Take education, for instance. The Minister who looks as if his face has been run over by a tractor cannot show anything.MR wants to come back and is crying for PM ship without any new program to show. He merely wants to get back with the Vasudevas, Aluthgamages, GL Peiris, Wimal Weerawnse etc. What a shame.
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Padmasiri / May 11, 2015
Vas Gunawardena has been arrested just now. Dash good. Rajapakse complains that every week people are arrested. They must be arrested and brought to book for the robbing they have done. Let’s clap our hands for every arrest. One Minister had made money on a eslon pipe tender for Rupavahini.
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gigurawa / May 12, 2015
Shyamon Jayasinghe.
What about the 3 billion transaction between Your [Edited out] and R Rajarstnam fraudter jailed in USA, and the day light robbery of the central bank by another [Edited out] supporter, friends of Rajajarstnam and your antibuddhiat anti sinhala prime minister. After the next parliamentary election all traitors will be silenced for good,along with your [Edited out]
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EDWIN RODRIGO / May 13, 2015
Insisting on MR’s comeback is an admission that there is no one else among the Sri Lankans who can lead the nation. What an insult to the whole country and its people!
World history shows that on many occasions the time has produced the right leader, who sometimes could be the most unlikely and unwilling. MS is one of them. There are so many like him that we do not have to insist on getting back a leader past his expiry.
Only rice eating cattle and grass eating humans are stupid enough to do that.
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