M.H. Iqbal, an officer attached to the Prime minister’s office, has been assigned to lead the PM’s media delegation to China.
M.H. Iqbal
Colombo Telegraph learns that Iqbal has no media experience and, at one point, has functioned as Ranil Wickremesinghe‘s mobile phone operator.
Iqbal currently functions as a Secretary attached to the Prime Minister Media Unit. The Prime Minister’s office confirmed Colombo Telegraph that Iqbal would lead the PM’s media delegation to China.
Informed sources from the Prime Minister’s office told Colombo Telegraph many had raised eyebrows over the decision to assign Iqbal to lead the delegation.
“He has zero media experience and cannot communicate in English. Although he is currently attached to the PM’s media unit, he does not have a specific job role. It will be interesting to see how he handles the task,” an official from the PM’s office, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit China over the weekend to discuss about a wide range of matters with the Chinese authorities. (By Thilini Karawita )
Patriot / August 10, 2016
Iqbal sure might be possessing the qualification of “Good Looking” to PM.
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Sama / August 10, 2016
These are just attacks to PM – CT be careful.
As he once said – there is no body inthe lanken politics faced attacks he has been All these men even today add supportive thoughts to Alibaba and 40 thieves brought any kind of attacking articles to RW. That is the truth..
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maalumiris / August 10, 2016
Sama
“These are just attacks to PM – CT be careful.”
Oh My !!!! By any chance, is the above a threat ? Taking a leaf out of our beloved PM’s playbook ?
I thought he was the Democratic, Freedom-Loving one – Looks like he is no better than AliBaba…. At least, AliBaba did not feed us with BS.
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Bunjappu / August 10, 2016
These are personal attacks – JUST gossips – what brings us the readers the kind of hearsays ? CT falls to the levels of Daily mirror if they further adds the kind of issues as if not burning issues are on the list.
I really dont kno wthe UNP leadership will not hire an experienced person to the post when PM travels to China. Sofar we have heard the kin dof issues from MR et al, but not from RW et al. Even if few canidates travel with him, among them, they have guys to cover almost everythin professionally.
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Patriot / August 10, 2016
Heh heh he…professionals in Ranil’s team. Wake up mate. If he had professionals in his team he will not go on all fours to China at this stage when the economy is on its knees. He is a looser proved it in 2002 and has proved now.
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Bunjappu / August 10, 2016
Appologies.. while waiting for my flight, I happened to add above.
This to be rephrased, UNP would not hire unqualified men and women in general. SLFP has their records made by most abusive president to have apointed any simple simion to do the do the job.
A) Former Ambassador to the US – tea taster but MR cousin wiht zero credentials in the line of Diplomatic affairs
B) Former men that were hired by Meeharaka not thinking twice to represent the nation almost killed the lanken External affairs – former soldiers or the like men still roaming outiside since the bugger s company allowed them to leave the country
C) Even if a man or woman had a closness to MR FAMILY, he could get appointed easily.. that was the pragamatic nature of the man.
Consequences we face today – so I dont think alone one single person with less qualifications would have been appointed to media reports as is added above.
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ballah / August 10, 2016
iqbal must be a daily paid facebook comment writer working at hirikotha…must be a favorite of konil.
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nadesan / August 10, 2016
Bunjappu, your first paragraph contradicts the second paragraph LOL
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Antany Peter / August 10, 2016
If you employ a naive person, he would not question too much. Prime Minister warned the experienced journalists, but hired an inexperienced person. This is how the good governance government works.
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sr / August 10, 2016
The practice of crooks to have an incompetent and handle as required by them.
Something going to be done in camera with Chinese!!
People don’t expect such from you, Ranil.
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KA Sumanasekera / August 10, 2016
Does anyone with even an ounce of grey matter think the great Chinese people give a shit about Batalanda Ranil, after all the insults and derogatory remarks Batalanda made about them, to get his Yahapalana gig with the help of the Chinese enemies in Colombo, lead by the US and British embassies?.
That straight shooting Chinese Ambassador knows what the real,agenda of Batalanda Ranil is , besides giving Vellala the Federal Eelaam and the War Crime trials against the Sinhala Buddhists to please the Diaspora..
Which is the US Naval Base in Trinco Harbour, and provide Americans the attack facilities in the South China Sea.
Batalanada can even take his other Thambis ( Malli ) like, Marrickkar, Wahabi Hakeem, and Kabir or even Muzamalli.
But it wouldn’t make a difference.
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Seelawathie Jayasinghe / August 10, 2016
Balu SUmanya would know nothing but to hang on MR et al.
THis man will never learn it… as is the case with grass eating men the supporters of MR further.
Batalanda was no good, but thousands going beyond batalanda are the cases colelcted on Meeharaka Rajakashes. Not just one but hundreds of cases. No matter the tempo of moving the investigations, but the certainity is Rajakshes will have to spend their later years in a prison corner.. that is becoming a certainity as the sun rises to this part of the globe.
And the facts that the bugger et al keep hiding will slowly come to surface sooner than later, now we know much more than as had been prior to 08 Jan 2015.
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Mudson Silva. / August 10, 2016
PATRIOT – THIS IS ABSOLUTE MUD.
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Sam Fernando / August 10, 2016
Partiot or sumanaya are just flies found on the extrements heaps of Mahinda Jaharapskse.
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Mano / August 10, 2016
It seems in our country people are put in important positions because they are someone’s Golaya or Favorite. The right thing would be for this country to make sure QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED personnel are appointed to do the appropriate job, so that we can be successful in what we do once and for all. Amateurs and favorites are not qualified to get a proper job done, and to make sure things runs smoothly. We cannot afford do overs. When will our idiot leaders ever learn? This is why this country cannot prosper, our leaders behave like they are dictators and not a democratic nation.
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ahfzll / August 10, 2016
Let’s see how the bloke performs on whatever he is supposed to achieve …. for and behalf.
Free EDUCATION that most people crow about is supposed to give every Citizen a fair chance. The Intention is IDEAL.
However, practically – most of the people who have been educated for free and use their education with comprehension, are given the opportunity to enter University for further education, with comprehension.
Some how, having achieved mediocre success by comprehension – they seem to think that their comprehension CUTS them above the rest. Such people, tend to demand more for FREE not realizing that whatever they got for free had to be paid for by others.(generally the tax payer). In many such situations – not acknowledging the opportunities that have been afforded to them by the tax payer – they find causes to penalize the tax payer!
They organize PROTEST at the drop of the pin, against this or that, where the taxpayer has to be inconvenienced by the very same people they supported.
Most of the fire-brand politicians of today received free education, as a result of their comprehension, they have used it to get to where they are. These very same people are now responsible for penalizing the tax payer further by demanding privileges from the tax payer – that they don’t deserve.
They, notwithstanding their comprehension of the education they have received tend to use their comprehension of their upbringing into Parliament. The upbringing, no matter to what race,creed, caste one belongs to has been responsible for their bigotry, racism, etc. … which every Political party in Sri Lanka uses to achieve voters.
Taking all things into consideration Sri Lanka is in this sorry state because of the low standard of free education, on offer. A simple pass in Ethics does not make a gentleman; Nor does a thesis given in Pali, a Doctor make.
Comprehension of the subject matter is what is of primary importance. Our ministers for instance – PRAY tell what experience they have in the Ministry they control?
As the Late Lee Kwan Yew, stated – “He may be the best Pilot available but that does not necessarily qualify him to run an airline.” Prophetic, to say the least considering the state of the AIR LANKA and Mihin.
My point here is if free education is the cause of the malaise. We have to offer the free education conditionally.
It will be interesting to see how the JVP – ( the militant and the current) react to my comments).
The purpose of this missive is to identify the root cause – of why we cannot progress? To comprehend the different issues and correct whatever is wrong from the bottom – NIP it in the BUD – so to speak.
SHALOM!
A
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Mallaiyuran / August 10, 2016
Bringing up of Sajin Vass! Probably it is this is what they as History repeats. Ranil has to hide Hambantota deals to India and ETCA to China. This is solution to that.
Ranil has to hide Hambantota deals to India and ETCA to China. Ranil trying to hide Hambantota 15,000 acres forceful sales to China, most of it as settlement of loans and penalties for the bribe money paid Old Royals and Yahapalanaya Members like Malik Samarawickrama. Not a penny given to Wildlife Sanctuary’s treasury. Idiot Modayas were engaged in Pogroms for 70 years for looting to live and the countries who developed their economy with hard labour is eying on easy gains by plucking feather from Lankawe the Modaya goose. They only needed arrack and biryani and when they get it they go out on rampaging the country on behalf of the politicians.
Ranil has to hide Hambantota deals to India and ETCA to China.If the wildlife Sanctuary instead rearing rapist army cattle, if had developed professionals in Universities, ETCA is for the benefit on Lankawe. Now the Indian professional are going to the replace the Tamil coolies. A history lesson of how to run a country and turn around the revenge in a diplomatic way. 1948 Stephen Don disenfranchised the Indian Tamils. They were living like beggars and struggling to eat one time, after proving three times free rice for Sinhala Buddhists. Now India has revenged back by ETCA.
Ranil has to hide Hambantota deals to India and ETCA to China. This guy might turn out to be a very good candidate to implementing Right to Information Bill on the Sinhala Buddhists.
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Aruna Kulatunga / August 10, 2016
I feel personally saddened by Colombo Telegraph stooping to gossip website levels. Iqbal Mohomed, has been media secretary to the Prime Minister since the day the Prime Minister took oaths in January, 2015. Prior to that, Iqbal, who has a coveted International Affairs and Political Science degree from the University of Colombo, and is about to complete his master’s, acted as deputy to Saman Athauada, who was the media secrets to the leader of the opposition when PM held that post, for more than a decade. All of that time, Uvindu, nor other media outlets, had no issues contacting Iqbal 24 hours – Iqbal had to live in the Opposition Leader’s office – for media releases, news snippets, background briefings, appointments with the PM etc. Iqbal was also the opposition leader’s official translator, using his versatility with all three languages of Sri Lanka with ease to handle translations of discourses that are of an intellectually higher level than any other politician in Sri Lanka and has to be handled with the care they deserve. Often, Iqbal was seen transcribing speeches while at the same time translating so that national dailies and Broadcast journalists who are too lazy to cover the event can use Iqbal’s copy, putting their name on the by-line.
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Gamage / August 11, 2016
So Batalanda Ranil’s official translator can lead a media team to China! What kind of good governance is that? Who is this Anura bugger? Is he also working at PM’s office? Can you tell us about you please?
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Giriraj / August 11, 2016
So spending sleepless nights at Opposition Leader’s office and fixing appointments with PM make him suitable to lead a delegation? I know this chap and he walks around everywhere as if he is the Prime Minister. These are unprofessional idiots. Saman Athaudahetti can lead media delegations because he has the credentials and enough experience in the field of media.
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colin / August 12, 2016
Thanks Aruna for clearing the air about Iqbal.The public have lost confidence in the media when CT resorts to this type of biased reporting.They say “a liar will not be believed even if it tells the truth” Does anyone ever even imagine that Ranil who is intelligent will take a nincompoop to lead the media delegation to China? If the intention of this CT article is to run down Ranil it has failed miserably on the contrary it will backfire on CT and CT’s credibility will remain shattered. It appears that Iqbal is the right candidate for the job and as for Ranil he rightly wants the ideal suitable for the task irresoective of his ethinicity. Its this approach by Ranil that will lead this country to prosperity so that all Sri Lankans could enjoy the fruits of prosperity.
Ranil has been doing an immense amount of globe trotting these days, just returning from Indonesia and now off to China and inspite of the strain he maybe undergoing he is determined to put our country on the road to prosperity.
So without picking bones like this article let us give him all the backing so that we and the future generations of Sri Lankans will reap the benefits after having suffered 30 years of misery we underwent due to the war
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Mahen / August 10, 2016
Did anybody complain about hundreds of those who didn’t even have “o” levels and had no experience whatsoever, appointed by MR to high level positions all over the world?
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RuwanL / August 11, 2016
Mahen,
MR is gone! we chased him away! We expect the Yahapalanaya to follow the correct process and procures! Politicians are appointed by us and they should justify their appointments to us so that we will have some confidence in what they do!
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krishna / August 10, 2016
Uvindu you come and take over the job.
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Don Quixote / August 11, 2016
Maybe he can communicate in Chinese ??!!
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m.h.sheriff / August 11, 2016
This writer seems to be ignorant
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shankar / August 11, 2016
why doesn’t ranil send his flamboyant ex central bank chief.or has ranil got sick of him?he will take china by storm and they won’t know what hit them.
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Raj / August 11, 2016
No surprise at all. In SL, its cronyism & nepotism that get the job, not competence & ability
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Tungsan Yu / August 11, 2016
Cant see the problem here. Didnt the PM once ask the people of colombo to make a Tuk tuk driver the mayor? the shameless jokers in colombo did just that.
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Ranbandu / August 11, 2016
“Colombo Telegraph learns that Iqbal has no media experience and, at one point, has functioned as Ranil Wickremesinghe‘s mobile phone operator”
This action of Ranil does not surprise me at all. What else the nation can expect from this man hanging onto power through the safe valve created by Maithripala Sirisena. He enjoys every minute of it and will violate and circumvent every standard and norm in democracy. On the other hand he is not different from Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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td / August 12, 2016
There is another person work at pm office AS Secretary. Who has pony tail skinny tall guy has no knowledge of English at all. But when ever diplomat appear at the PM Office this man is there not only that this person has no diplomat look and has no personality. When these type of people appear at the diplomatic meeting or delegation Whole team of sri lankan delegation looks really bad. Recently this guy appointed as chairman of government own ITN TV channel. People of sri lanka wonder what is the qualification he has to be the chairman of government own TV channel.
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Lanka Watch / August 12, 2016
Madam Srimavo sent M.S. Themis, an ex postal peon who became an MP for
Colombo electorate in the 70s, on a delegation to far East, so what is wrong in sending PM’s mobile phone operator on a delegation and this time he is heading the delegation.Themis told the media at the airport
that ‘I go Hongkong’
Hue and cry is made by the general public to cut down on state expenses
but the Govt. pays no attention to such pleas and on quality of people
they send to represent our country. Our govt. should take India as
example as they have trained a set of knowledgeable people to represent
their country in various delegations. we should not send delegations
who warm the chairs in foreign countries and bring nothing good back
to the country.
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Ranbandu / August 13, 2016
Dear friend;
You have said;
“Madam Srimavo sent M.S. Themis, an ex postal peon who became…”
May be we are still following that example. Given the period of reference; What is the difference between a Postal Peon and the Mobile phone operator?. None, Nil, Nada, Zero.
Therefore it is safer to assume we have not achieved any progress in the minds of the rogues occupying the seat of power and the minds of those pacing the corridors of power in Colombo.
Also you have said;
“Our govt. should take India as example as they have trained …”
a set of knowledgeable people to represent their country in various delegations. we should not send delegations who warm the chairs in foreign countries and bring nothing good back”
You are absolutely right, though India is equally corrupt, I agree with you they have a method to select right person for the right international assignment by putting interests of the nation first.
Bottom line is we need a major change in our Seat of Power, Our own “MODHI” may be the answer.
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