Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today launched a scathing attack on Daily Mirror and Derana while also warning them to not sabotage the government’s efforts, by continuing to support the Rajapaksas.
In his speech at UNP headquarters, Wickremesinghe said, “Everyone from the Daily Mirror tagged along with Rajapaksa, and one of its writers Kesara Abeywardena had written an article saying I should resign from the party leadership. I am asking them to get in line with the new line of thinking, and I have given them sufficient time for it. If they cannot get in line, without writing lies they have the opportunity to leave. We won’t tolerate this.”
He also criticized the newspaper for writing articles such as “PM’s office pressuring CID” without verifying facts.
Derana has also started their nonsense, they are supporting the Rajapaksas, and if they are supporting them then we can also tell how they stole. They are insulting women; this cannot be tolerated. and if they can’t get their act together we are ready to take them on.
“The people have given us a mandate and that includes to provide the youth in this country with 1 million jobs. But some of these people with vested interest are going against the majority of the mandate,” he added.
Samson / February 18, 2016
Well said Sir! Enough of this Rajapaksa crap, just get on with your job, and keep moving. You have a country to run and there are a lot of people who are depending on the decisions you make and the work that you do, to make their lives better. Enough of this Rajapaksa nonsense, we need to close their chapter and move on.
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Analyst / February 18, 2016
Well said Samson. PM you have a job to do stop interfering in unworthy news and unworthy political Barkers.
They never barked before , just sat there like ZOMBIES. Now barking up the wrong tree.
Keep straight and narrow you’ll be ok.
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Ben Hurling / February 18, 2016
Samson,
I have very high expectations of “Yahapalanaya”. Jusifiabaly so. Like millions of Sri Lankans. Therefore PM has my support in most of his endeavors.
However, I have a creeping bad feeling about PM’s rampant outbursts against Rajapassa backing corrupt media outlets such as Derana.
These problems have to be handled by an Institution tasked with such things. Don’t we have a Media Commission? We need legal methods to both discipline and punish media when they break laws.
That is not PM’s task every time. It smacks of intolerance of criticism with good reason. When ever RW does it.
Derana owner Dilith Jayaweera is an infamous Rajapassa crony. His record of operating in grey zones is well known. That has to be dealt with by law enforcement. Irrespective of Derana misusing a public broadcasting license. Which is a separate matter.
That is the kind of change Sri Lanka mandated the “Yahapalanaya” with.
It baffles me, a man of RW’s intellect & experience meddles in these matters in this manner.
Cheers!
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nimal fernando / February 19, 2016
Spot on.
Once or twice is enough but RW as the country’s PM should not go down to the same level and get into a running battle with mud-slingers/bias-media.
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Nuwan / February 19, 2016
Fair comment. This is not a good look for a PM, especially when Yahapalanaya is about freedom of speech and press freedom. Media is always bias one way or the other. For example, Newscorp is running it’s own agenda in US, UK, Australia etc. That’s life.
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Old Codger / February 19, 2016
This is NOT what I would expect of Ranil W. He should not be going around criticizing media that don’t agree with him. The Daily Mirror in particular runs articles by people like Kumar David ,Vishwamitra and Ranga Kalansooriya, none of whom are Rajapaksa fans. Dayan Jayatillaka and Dhyan Abeygunasekera are the only MR fans I can think of.
However, the best writer on the Daily Mirror is Gamini Akmeemana, who writes excellent English (In spite of being an Anandian!)
Media has a right to express any opinion in a real democracy, even MR’s opinion.
Furthermore, isn’t the DM owned by Ranil’s uncle?
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BBS Rep / February 22, 2016
Agreed.
If the newspaper breaks the law they should be dealt with by those who are vested with such powers. It is not the PMs job. Furthermore Ranil must not make veiled threats against any news media. If he is not watchful he will sooner or later go on the same path as the MARA Mafia, bumping off journalists and/or buying them with laptops.
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Incognito / February 18, 2016
I am with you on this Samson. We must feel encouraged by PM taking on the Fourth Estate, who think they have the power to make or break governments. The earlier regime under MR either bought them over with motorbikes or gifted laptops, and some even received interest free loans to purchase their own vehicles. Those who didn’t take the bait and also didn’t toe the line, were systematically stalked, homes invaded and hounded until they finally left the shores to seek political asylum overseas. There were also those who were not so lucky and got white vanned and lives threatened, some shot at but survived to tell the story, whilst some were not so lucky and got killed. There were some who simply vanished into thin air. Freedom of expression must not de-generate into freedom of the wild asses in any print and electronic media. PM Ranil has nothing to hide in terms of wrong doing and corruption, so he can tell them where the buck stops, which is good for the progress of the country’s development strategy.
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gamunu / February 19, 2016
This is nothing to do with Rajapaksa. Just get to the point. Theses about Media freedom and the right express your views. Not a Rajapaksa issue. You are using MR to deviate from the main issue. There is no more MR. Ranil, when he was in the opposition screamed about the lack of media freedom with the previous govt. Now it looks like he is adopting a more sinister method to crackdown on media. Only time will tell us if we are better off now than the previous regime. When people are punished by forcing institution to sack their staff for being “Ranil bashing” is it any better than white van culture?
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Amarasiri / February 19, 2016
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
RE: Ranil Wickremesinghe Attacks Daily Mirror And Derana
<>
<>
Yes, Sir, tell, the Truth about MaRa MaRa ChaTu MaRa, Amana MaRa.
Do you think that the missing Billions, stolen from the People are now appearing in the coffers of Daily Mirror and Ada Derana?
Please describe the immoral behavior, such as dishonesty and killing innocents, as being normal and effective in politics by MaRa MaRa Chatu MaRa Amana MaRa.
Please Expose, Expose and Expose, Mara MaRa Chatu Mara and his cronies.
Have you heard of Niccolo Machiavelli? Just listen or read what he said, and the deal with these distractions.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (Italian: [nikkoˈlɔ mmakjaˈvɛlli]; 3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian Renaissance historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer. He has often been called the founder of modern political science. He was for many years a senior official in the Florentine Republic, with responsibilities in diplomatic and military affairs. He also wrote comedies, carnival songs, and poetry. His personal correspondence is renowned in the Italian language. He was secretary to the Second Chancery of the Republic of Florence from 1498 to 1512, when the Medici were out of power. He wrote his most renowned work The Prince (Il Principe) in 1513.
“Machiavellianism” is a widely used negative term to characterize unscrupulous politicians of the sort Machiavelli described most famously in The Prince. Machiavelli described immoral behavior, such as dishonesty and killing innocents, as being normal and effective in politics. He even seemed to endorse it in some situations. The book itself gained notoriety when some readers claimed that the author was teaching evil, and providing “evil recommendations to tyrants to help them maintain their power.” The term “Machiavellian” is often associated with political deceit, deviousness, and realpolitik. On the other hand, many commentators, such as Baruch Spinoza, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot, have argued that Machiavelli was actually a Republican, even when writing The Prince, and his writings were an inspiration to Enlightenment proponents of modern democratic political philosophy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli
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Silva / February 19, 2016
Ranil seem to be trying very hard to let us not feel the absence of Mervyn Silva from the political spectrum. RW is performing this role even better than Mervyn Silva….!
What else can we expect from a person who sought to realize his political ambitions by venerating the likes of GONAWALA SUNIL and indulging in Batalanda torture chamber politics against people who hold dissenting views….?
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K Sundaram / February 20, 2016
Ranil
Government’s effort is in a way is cleaning up the judiciary.
Take the next step to clean up the media.
Lessons can be learnt from UK journalism. Get some help (not Desmond) from Britain and put the check and balances adequately.
Simplify the legal process on defamation and establish a legally powerful Press Complaints Commission.
Set the legal and journalist standard of answerability. Ensure that media men have qualification and credentials.
Privatize the state controlled media.
Call the wrong doing media men to the floor of the parliament for scrutiny.
In Sri Lanka the media is enjoying an absolute freehand to write anything they want without the fear of scrutiny. It is time for change to bring about the much wanted good governance.
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Hamlet / February 20, 2016
Samson, Why waste time on the Opinions of One Derana Journalist?
If He has not had the Advantage of a Wider Education, We can only Feel Sorry for Him.
We cannot live like ‘Frogs in a Well’ in a ‘Sinhala/Buddhist Closed Circuit’, in the current Global Experience!
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Analyst / February 18, 2016
Hot News have just noted that a 15 year old female Elephant belonged to Ex MP Sajin “HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY “
What ?? An Elephant in custody according to SLankan Law?? Hah Hah . Joke of the day!!
Will this Elephant join Yo….Shit and the others???
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CountryFirst / February 18, 2016
Is RanilW attacking his family-owned newspaper? Besides, I thought we were in the age of “Freedom of the Press” as promised before the Pres. and General Elections! What’s up with him?? Why is he losing his cool so often? Seems out of character!
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gamunu / February 19, 2016
Countryfirst,
On the contrary. This is RW at his best. Many people in the UNP tried to dislodge him from the leadership but he managed to ride over all of them using threats to MPs who view their views in public. He is a brutal leader and will not be easy to control him. I am glad he did not get the executive powers to rule the country and eliminate dissent from the masses and media.
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Bagehot / February 18, 2016
The Daily Mirror is owned by the Wijewardene family, Ranil’s uncle’s sons, and have historically batted for both sides as and when it suited them. The quality of the articles in its online media are appalling. Dilith and Varuni (owner of Derana) are opportunists who have already jumped into the Yahapalanaya camp (Varuni is Sarath Amunugama’s daughter) and as such are at the fingertips of Yahapalanaya. As such, I think this is some well-planned stunt that may or may not backfire. Note he is not criticizing any media that either he or his close associates are not involved in.
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Diogenes / February 18, 2016
“Freedom of the Press” that freedom should be there. But the media should not mislead the people. For an example:Sunday Lankadeepa on 2014 April 13 published a feature article with heading “Victoria Mahesikaawa Saha Maha Adikaaramge Prema Kathaawa”(Love story of Queen Victoria and Maha Adikaaram Hulugalla). This article from the beginning to the end was a pack of lies simply aimed at boosting up the image of one Hulugalla. It describes how Queen Victoria fell in love with Hulugalle and indirectly makes some suggestive remarks that the queen had sexual relations with him during her stay in Sri Lanka. Queen Victoria never visited this country. Why did that rascal of an editor want to insult Queen Victoria and mislead the readers? Over to you, British High Commission.
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old codger / February 19, 2016
Queen Victoria never left Britain.
This is the quality of vernacular journalism. Inward-looking, pitifully weak in general knowledge and obsessed with our supposed great achievements in the past.
The Daily Mirror published a series on the (entirely fictitious)scientific exploits of Ravana, by one Mirando
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The Professional / February 20, 2016
I am for replacing the lion flag with Ravana’s flag for the benefit of old codgers of Sri Lanka.
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Backlash / February 18, 2016
“…and if they are supporting them then we can also tell how they stole..” Assuming Ranil, the PM, has been quoted correctly here I am afraid people in the country will be disappointed if Ranil and his government withhold details of the Rajapakase wholesale robbery of the country’s financial assets for quid pro quo reasons. The country has every reason to know details of every dollar allegedly stolen by the Rajapakses, how they were taken out, where they are and under whose name. If credible information is made available to the country the present Rajapakses will be condemned to the dustbin of history with the Rajapaksename being ridiculed and blacklisted for all time.
Backlash
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words / February 18, 2016
This is nothing but RW feeling insecure and lacking confident in himself and the government’s performance. Simple as that.
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Simone / February 19, 2016
words – what you say may well be true, BUT what Ranil says may also be true.
So it’s not “simple as that”!
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Plato. / February 18, 2016
Let the Dogs bark; But the Caravan must move on.
Derana owner Dilith Jayaweera is the guy who was manipulating the Stock Market during the previous regime. In fact the PM exposed him in Parliament a couple of months ago!
As for the Daily Mirror,Bagehot has hit the nail on its head.
They Bat,Bowl,Field and Keep Wickets all at the same time!
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Archimedes / February 19, 2016
Plato: The question is, why is Jayaweera not being charged for his criminal activities if the allegations against him are true?
This seems to be the MO of Yahapalanaya with regard to the Rajapakses and their cronies.
This form of ‘cricket’ does not augur well for the country and those of us who voted for a change of administration, so they should either ‘put up or shut up’ and deserve all the bad-mouthing they get if they don’t!
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Gratiaen. / February 19, 2016
Hon PM is correct.This was seen clearly at the last 360 where D S was trying to put HF in difficulty but HF gave back nicely with facts & figures and then DS was trying to change the question put to HF already and failed miserably. At an interview with Hon PM also sometime back it was very clearly shown that DS was supporting MR.
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Derby / February 19, 2016
I have never heard or read the previous government making public threats against journalists and journalism. The current Prime Minister shamelessly makes threats against journalists and journalism. Where is the freedom of press if the PM threatens to take action against journalists who write their own thoughts and criticizes the yahapalanya? There should be some checks and balances. There is no strong opposition in the current government. All the MP’s are toeing the current government’s agenda. They should at least provide the Media and the Press the freedom to critique and provide a balance. Mr. Prime Minister, don’t think the outside world is not listening to what you are saying. The frogs in the well may listen to you but the ones outside know what the rest of the world is like. If you are specifically trying to imitate the west, then you should imitate the West’s Press freedom as well!
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Journa / February 19, 2016
@Derby.
You say ” I have never heard or read the previous government making public threats against journalists and journalism”.
That’s because they either assaulted, abducted or killed the journalists and trashed the media concerned, so there was no need to make “public threats against journalists and journalism”.
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LankanfromLanka / February 19, 2016
“I have never heard or read the previous government making public threats against journalists and journalism.”
You are obviously a moron Derby. The only frog in the well is you. Do you not read the newspapers ?? Who is Lasantha Wickrematunga ? What happened when Mervyn went to Rupavahini? How many Daily Mirror Editors were threatened and chased out of the country? Who attacked Sirasa? The previous government hd nothing to do with this, obviously grease yakkas did all of this.
You have no idea what the outside world is like and are a the reason why our country is constantly robbed by people like Rajapaksa family.
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Mickey Mouse / February 19, 2016
Lasantha???????
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K.A Sumanasekera / February 19, 2016
That is it…
Sack the Bastard..
I mean Kersara Abeywardana .. not Batalanada Wickremasinghe..
But how to sack Derana is the problem although Batalanda has promised one Million Jobs to our youth..
How many jobs Derana has given them, may I wonder…..
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Analyst / February 19, 2016
CT how did you And why did you allow BBB…. words in this decent minded people’s website??
Why do you let these low class uneducated morons to express their points in vulgar filth just when they know they’re losing all their credibility.
They have become minority with their warped mind in Srilanka today. Shame on them as they’re still sucking up to the psychos of the ” HAS BEENS OF THE YESTERDAYS”.
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LankanfromLanka / February 19, 2016
Sumane, you’re the only bastard here. You’re in Australia now, so why don’t you focus on your human rights and press freedom over there. Oh, that’s right, you haven’t got any! Haha, enjoy being at the bottom of society mate. Actually, you’re no one’s mate and everyone thinks you’re an Aborigine or boat person, or possibly both. Have a long hard look in the mirror, you’re not an aryan. They never looked like you. What you refer to as ‘Dalits’ is what you are and what the world sees you as. Embrace and learn to love yourself. So many comments about Batalanda too, maybe its time to come out. No shame ‘mate’ its 2016!
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Shan / February 19, 2016
I’m little confused why he keeps attacking Daily Mirror. They clearly support UNP and the government. Try to post an anti government comment on Daily Mirror and you’ll see the result. Plus Ruwan Wijewardene is a State Minister (Defense) of this government.
PM never liked Derana. Go and check Derana 360 with the PM before the last General election. He kept clashing with Dilka Samanmali. For me Derana gives both sides of the story unlike Sirasa.
Let’s be real here. This is the same guy who despite losing 20+ elections, hung on to the leadership of the UNP, never tolerated dissent so why this behavior is a surprise. He wants everybody to follow his line.
President even cannot control his own party so Ranil acts as the de facto leader of the country. God bless you all.
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Tamil from the north / February 19, 2016
The Greatest Sumanasekaram has spoken his wisdom again – “How many jobs Derana has given them, may I wonder…..” yes you may keep wondering just like how we all wonder what machine you came out of. Dumb nitwit!!!
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DK / February 19, 2016
Please consider appointing the real war hero Rohitha Bogalagama into the party as I feel he still has a lot to contribute and he is one of the only truly educated guys around apart from Namal of course.
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harry hatton / February 19, 2016
Daily Mirror, Daily FT, Sunday Times owned by Ranil’s close relative.
Vijaya group owner’s son Ruwan Wijewardena is in the cabinet.
If they agree with Ranil they can clean up their backyard. Perhaps they dont agree with their illustrious relative ?
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Wera / February 19, 2016
We need to move on while putting more of the Rajapakshes and their crooked henchman behind bars. I think these media outlets still hold hope for a return of the Rajapakshes to power. Until they see there is absolutely no chance of that happening they will continue to go hunting for the goon squad. Please expedite the cases and prosecute and lock them up. The sooner this happens the faster reality will dawn on these gobbeyas.
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Patriot / February 19, 2016
Batalanda Ranil has promised 1 million jobs for the Hindians. How dare the GMOA quacks get in the way of delivering on this promise. It is Hindia all the way. It is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixJgY2VSct0 what it is.
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KA Sumanasekera / February 19, 2016
Batalanda PM had a go at the GMOA too.
“How can he create his One Million Jobs for the the Youth, when GMOA is against his FTCA with the Hindians” , asked Batalanalnda.
I am disappointed that none of the Journos quizzed Batalanada, whether he was creating these jobs for Hindians or our Lankans .
BTW , my Elders tell me Batalanda Ranil promised to give ( or gave ) Gold Bracelets weighing two Sovereigns each, to One Million boys over 18, when he was fighting for his PM gig last time,
No wonder there are sooooo many Batalanada cheer squads here today even when he attacks our Little Sangha.
Wonder how much a Sovereign was then in our Yahapalana LKR..
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Lankanfromlanka / February 19, 2016
Sumane, you are obsessed with Dalits and Batalanda. We all understand that you live in Australia and are treated like
a 2nd class citizen, less than an aborigine and boat person. As a result, you have been transferring your anger at your
fellow countrymen from Sri Lanka, who you refer to as Dalits. It’s not a word that’s use in Sri Lanka. Also, hate to break it to you, but you are not an Aryan. You and the ‘dalits’ are the same, not Aryans.
. We also get your repressed sexuality which leads to you going on and on about ‘queers’ and Batalanda. It is 2016, no need to be in the closet. Come out. You will probably be treated better in Australia if you do. At least the gay people will accept you. You are by far the most pathetic comments writer on CT. I honestly feel sorry for you, but also am glad you don’t live in Sri Lanka anymore. So, can we agree – from today, no more ‘Batalanda’ ‘queer’ or ‘dalit’ references, as it just
makes us feel that you are repressed and struggle dealing with your own identity.
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DPJ / February 19, 2016
Derana should be dealt severely for the sins committed against the poor small time investers by the Derana present Chairman Dulip Jayaweera. How did he became rich overnight, to find money to start Derana. He is also the chief of George Stuart & Co. and several hotels also. He was responsible for pump and dump exercise at the CSE helped by Gota. The poor man’s fund EPF lost billions because of this man. Ranil must stop talking make arrangements to arrest the culprit and get the bastard to pay those monies back.
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D.Nimal / February 19, 2016
Born by Christian democratic of Ranil.W…. of that UNP Neo-Liberalist and Neo-colonialist politics of that democracy extensively paraphrases to undermined Freedom of Press to show,what amount of his political deceit ,violence, corruptions ,mendacity, hypocrisy and oppression of rights to speak is poor hidden beneath the civilised ,polished and perfumed exterior of modern bourgeoisie democracy back by UK and USA!
But Ranil W… has to draws no conclusion from this. UNP’s Ranil.W… Fail to notice that Neo-Liberal democracy supressed the wide ranging norms of rights of principles of democracy has been accepts by newly emerging world bourgeoisie class in state power in members of UNO many young states.
The question UNP -Ranil w….proposed trade agreement between India and Sri Lanka boils down to whether capital can be freely invested in Industries, Agriculture and Trade directly or through banks and an individual investors in our soil!
Not only that Ranil W… and his team of UNP’s are blind on democracy! The class interest of new and old bourgeois ,in whose wake upon new globalizations of democracy. The traitors to democracy are floundering ,demand that this questions been intentionally evaded, that it be hushed up or the Freedom of Press or that necessity of such supressed be directly denied.
This trick of UNP new political democracy is also equivalent to subserviency to the US and Indian big bourgeoisie.
The UNP’s Ranil…W… is willing to talk about what will happen ,when it is trade agreement between Sri lanka and India?
The people are absolutely right denied all compromised over this agreement .
If we have make any concessions to Indian’s Trade illusions to that illusions about Trade Agreement ,he would have ruined national economy and nation building economy, which the betray whole cause of democratic revolution and economic development of Sri lanka as new emerging nation.
We do not want sacrificed to UNP narrow politics is not that ours national interest of ongoing Globalization through the world.
The under the UNP Press Freedom in democratic Sri lanakn Republic is false and hypocritical ,because in fact it is FREEDOM FOR THE UNP to buy and bribe of politics that US and Indian interest first. Not only locally but in Globally by UNP ruling power without mandate of majority democracy-Sri lanka.
This freedom of press that UNP to share with for US and Indian to befuddle the masses of people with the venomous lies of UNP political freedom for that rulers of UNP that to keep as their power in current status of government to be run by hook or crook.
We partly are not aware of the Trade agreement between two countries complete domination of Indian capital in modern society and partly pull the cap of so many illusions and pipe dreams over our eyes in order to shut down the unpleasant reality ,turn Indian thoughts towards outside trade and financial aid.
But we have to discussing quite rightly now political-social-economic significance of all trade agreement between two nations ,which the UNP-Leader Ranil W… and their junta team overlooks.
What are the possible forms of Trade and an Investment in capital from Indian? But I have say 1987 Sri lanak-Indian accord of political agreement was we lost our political Sovereignty and democracy to India under UNP-JRJ fascist rule 1977 to 1994.
The UNP of Ranil W.. has accountability of that accord as leading member of his Uncle Party that member of UNP party at that time.
1998 Indo-Sri Lankan Free trade aggregate(FTA) was totally failure under CBK mismanagement and misrule of State of an our Island 11 years of tannery rule of democracy.
Needless to say ours past 30 year of experiences has shown that we want best possible Free Trade Agreement with India, must be review by team of elites who are not that UNP junta politicians led by Ranil W…..of UNP-anti-democratic!
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Old Codger / February 19, 2016
Please, please write in English. Do not write in Arabic and use Google Translator.
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Saro / February 20, 2016
JRJ cunningly invited Indians to do the dirty work of weakening LTTE for a fake ineffective 13th Amendment. Indian soldiers sacrificed and Sri Lankan counter parts saved their arms and lives.
India rescued Sri Lankan economy by offering free credit agreements, foreign currency to boost our flatting foreign reserves and built houses for the war affected victims. On the other hand proletariat China financed white elephants like Hambantota harbour and Mattala Airport by bribing Rajapakse brothers with minions of foreign currency deposited in foreign banks. Where do you find money to pay off the recurring interest to those loans let alone capital.
US and India enabled Sri Lanka join civilised nations by a domestic mechanism of accountability for alleged war crimes and human rights violations.
The price Sri Lanka has been paying for violations of human rights are losing GSP from EU countries and closing garment factories laying down garment workers and losing minions of foreign exchange.
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Little Finger / February 19, 2016
This is low class journalism from CT. They’ve hidden a part of story, the part where the PM criticises the GMOA, and accused them of trying to sabotage development plans. It seems that CT is playing into the hands of the GMOA as well.
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cholan / February 19, 2016
Wow …
Let us watch this circus and laugh
Cheers
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Lanka Watch / February 19, 2016
PM Ranil is crying over spilt milk. He is the one who gave full media
freedom to mushroom media outlets without any restrictions and cord of
conduct to be followed when reporting, expecting the media with newly
found freedom, will support his moves but unfortunately, the opposition
got hold of them with the public money available with them and the joint opposition is using these out lets to spread anti govt.propaganda
He should form a committee to over see whether the media follow accepted norms when, reporting in their journals or newspapers and question when they are wrong reporting . Having done that, he should leave it to the committee and he should get on with his important job of turning the country into democracy from dictatorial rule. Lot is expected from the PM & the President and hope they will fulfill,instead
wasting time on trivial matters like this.
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vision / February 19, 2016
This is “Media Freedom”… the yahapalanaya style…. lol :)
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Mallaiyuran / February 19, 2016
“He also criticized the newspaper for writing articles such as “PM’s office pressuring CID” without verifying facts.”
This is he first time I see this rebuttal! Alas.
I do not know how light years the PM is away from PM office. But Is it the PM office claimed they saved the Old King from UN electric Chair? Is that the PM office said “We know who killed Kathirgamar…if you want we can investigated that too”, when someone raised that question? Is that the PM office called for the report of evidences to review Yositha’s arrest? How did Mahendran escaped after disclosing the information of the tender from his Son-in-law? How Shiranee Bandaranake walked out of all her cases. ……………..
……………………..
………………………..
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Karaiyuran / February 23, 2016
Mallaiyuran-
Dei kurangu naye, what does …………….. …………………….. ………………………..mean?
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SJ / February 23, 2016
This is unacceptable language.
Is there no editor conversant in Tamil?
Kindly delete Karaiyuran’s abusive comment.
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Naga / February 20, 2016
Ranil cannot stomach media criticisms and opposition from professional organisations against his grand design to open up Sri Lanka to exploitation by the Americans, Indians, and Europeans.
Sri Lankans never voted him to become Prime Minister. He is occupying that seat today only because of President Sirisena.
Sri Lanka under Ranil’s leadership has become a running dog of the Americans. If anyone needs proof, look at the unprecedented protest Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry made recently against North Korea over an issue that has no importance to Sri Lanka. I understand there is an irreversible policy change at the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry on the orders of Ranil to make Sri Lanka follow the Americans and the Europeans in relation to all international issues
Now that Ranil like his mentor JR has made Sri Lanka an appendage of the West, it will be difficult to untangle the country from the clutches of the West.
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A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN / February 21, 2016
IT IS A SHAME FOR A PRIME MINISTER OF THE COUNTRY TO BEHAVE IN A VERY UNHEALTHY WAY TO DEMOCRACY…….. WITH NO PROPER OPPOSITION …….HAVING TAKEN A GROUP OF DEFEATED OPPOSITION MP’S TO FORM THE GOVERNMENT…GIVING NO VOICE TO THE OPPONENTS ….THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE COUNTRY TRYING TO CONTROL THE MEDIA AND THREATNING THE JOURNALISTS…….. WE WONDER IF THIS COUNTRY IS HEADING FOR A DICTATORSHIP……….?
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Lanka Watch / February 22, 2016
PM Ranil is on war path with the media these days, to whom he gave unlimited freedom without any restrictions on reporting and played to the gallery and now he is reaping the reward for his action by some ungrateful media outlets. He should realise that media can make him or break him. He should have thought of it when the govt. was formed and had a committee to oversee media activities and check whether they are following the norm in reporting and should have given the powers to the committee to punish violators like the powers vested with FCID & Presidential commission of inquiries . He should make use of the prime time on TVs and explain to the masses, what benefits SL gets when signing agreements with foreign Govts.and what was wrongly
reported,instead, getting involved personally and throwing threats
to the media, by a PM, is undemocratic.
The Govt. should have a weekly meeting with the media, mediated by
their chief spokesperson, to brief the public on Govt’s achievements and future programs but we never hear from the President nor the PM, that often. They are under the wrong illusion that the majority of the people are with them but it is not so, as rural masses are already brained washed to believe that the current Govt.is working for the division of the country.
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Plato. / February 22, 2016
Archimedes.
Perhaps,the PM is still in the bath tub!
Dilith Jayaweera could be charged,only when the PM.jumps out of the bath shouting Eureka! Eureka!
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sekara / February 23, 2016
Why would he not attack the Maharaja media empire?
They created plenty of mischief promoting all manner of rivals and using much of news time to comment on internal affairs of the UNP and personally abuse the UNP.
Has the Maharajah compensated for it?
Is the Island/Divayina kind to RW?
The DM publishes unacceptably offensive cartoons of MR, and MR does not take notice.
Each media empire has an agenda. Let us expose mischief, but be tolerant of all opinion except lies and libel.
Ranil can do with more tolerance.
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