Ravi Karunanayake and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who were pressured to resign their portfolios are set to make a comeback with portfolios being offered via the announced cabinet reshuffle, according to UNP sources.
Karunanayake and Rajapakshe both voted against the no-confidence motion brought against the UNP leader and prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
An Observer / April 17, 2018
If Ranil offers ministerial posts to these two guys that is the end of Ranil and the UNP.
You Don’t have to have any intelligence or education to understand this factor.
/
raza / April 18, 2018
Ranil does not care about UNP. He is highly selfish and cares himself. He does not like anyone else to become the Leader of UNP as well as any other from UNP to become PM. His mission is very clear ” If I am not there as leader, I do not care what happens to others is not my business.” These are not characters of a leader. He knows very well his joint effort with Mahendran will not allow him to live as a freeman. People of this country cannot be fooled ever although Ranil assumes UNP voters are fools.
/
bulath / April 17, 2018
Dear RW
you foolish as you are, (it is not your arrogance as many think, as in the case of backing hora mahendren) bringing back these two characters will initiate your down fall. At present you have a farily good chance of winning the Presidents election at least in the 2nd and 3rd count. If you do your foolish moves you will not be in the first two to be taken for the second count. Peoples opinion matters. do not take these two back. RK is currupt to the core, WR is a worst form of racist who openly supported yelow robed racist thugs. You will loose minority support without which you will not be abble to be in the first two nominees at PE. If you do this you are simply giving the Presidency to Basil on a platter.
/
Sinhala_Man / April 18, 2018
Dear “bulath”,
.
I think that you should work out how counting up to 50%+ 1 vote works.
.
No, I think that you are right! Having typed that first sentence, I’ve realised that the scenario that you’ve outlined is theoretically possible. Let my mistake stand, it’ll make for more stimulating debate!
.
Yes, if the voting in the FIRST round is inconclusive (that is even the leading candidate doesn’t get 50%), the candidate coming SECOND could overtake the other on the 2nd and 3rd counts, but if Ranil comes THIRD, he then drops out entirely, even if almost all candidates coming behind him have voted for him. The 2nd and 3rd preferences for the TWO leaders will not even be looked at.
.
In practice, so far fewer than 5% of the voters have even been conscious of the possibility of casting more than one preference. I don’t think that the number exercising that possibility has ever been more than 1%.
.
However, there is this possibility for 2020. A Rajapaksa is ahead on 1st count; there have been strong Tamil and Muslim candidates who have schooled their supporters to all cast 2nd preference (or even third) for Ranil, and HE reaches 50%+1.
.
Possible, yes; but I’d much prefer to see Ranil commencing a search for some other, much younger, liberal, non-racist candidate. Doesn’t he owe that to a country that has allowed him to have had a political career which has far exceeded what he deserved.
.
As for my views on RK and WR – that need hardly be stated, need it?
/
bulath / April 18, 2018
thanks Sinhala_man for elaborating.
/
Mohan / April 18, 2018
What a shame. People are looking for a radical change in the UNP.as party leader promised before the ncm. Otherwise UNP can’t face future elections .this is my personal opinion.
/
Emil van der Poorten / April 18, 2018
What kind of unbelievable political choices are Sri Lankans faced with? On one hand a murderous bunch of white van operatives and, on the other, a leader who accepts into his embrace an amnesiac who can’t remember lots of things that would make a ‘normal’ person’s hair stand on end and another who has made covering up for the Rajapaksa’s a cornerstone of his political career while practicing a brand of politics that would have been chucked in the dustbin of public affairs in most democratic countries.
/
Real Revolutionist / April 18, 2018
RW’s downfall has already started.
UNP downfall is also firm if RW is made next presidential candidate.
/
raza / April 18, 2018
RW has already fallen. It will be surprise if People will not kick him to Welikada , in the next general election to be held in 2019.
/
Lankan No 1 / April 17, 2018
Rijayadasa to make troubles.and what a joke .
He will.make Sri Lanka a lot of hell .
/
Plato. / April 17, 2018
The cabinet of Ministers is like a Barber Saloon.
One enters through the Swing doors and also leaves through the Swing doors only to reenter for a shampoo and Blow-dry!
Ex. Tilak Marapona.
Now waiting in the queue:
Wijedasa Rajapakse and Ravi Karunanayake.
Srilanka a land like no other?!
/
Sarrij / April 18, 2018
P.
Spot on.
Foolish and gullible people fooled all the time.
/
Rajash / April 18, 2018
yeah …and the “Barber” place the razor blade on the throat…and get the resignation letter signed undated?
/
punchinilame / April 18, 2018
Wijeadasa has not had the publicity of his grand doings, as this one
webbed sometime ago:
Money laundering and Tax evasion allegation involving Minister W. Rajapaksa and his eldest son Rakihta with a Brian Thomas amounting to Rs. 2000 million. read: http://www.lankaenews.com/news/2230/en and https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=301&v=kevHh3fycb4
/
Desapremiya / April 19, 2018
@Plato
Very true. Sri Lanka is a land of the perverts for the perverts by the political perverts. Until we find away to completely eradicate all politicians, the people and the country will suffer and the country will remain under developed for many decades. Only the political perverts get fabulously rich and make hay at our expense. A people’s revolution is the solution to end this circus.
/
Ben Hurling / April 17, 2018
This country is beyond redemption. No leader with any sense of decency, judgment or respect for citizens, however stupid they might be, would even contemplate bringing back crooks who were forced to resign after getting exposed for their criminally shady dealings. All 3 who resigned will be back. Tilak M, Ravi K & Wijedasa R. Why did those clowns resign in the first place? What utter disregard for the public opinion. RW has learned nothing. Will never do so. Nor will any of the other clowns in either the corrupt SLFP or dysfunctional UNP. GREEK TRAGEDY!
/
Justice and Fairplay / April 17, 2018
Very disappointed with the criteria for selection. The UNP hierarchy are such gluttons for punishment they don’t know yet , what a sound electoral thrashing means.
The time is ripe for the birth of another political party- this time made up of professionals , who will enter the dirty realm of politiics only to rescue the country.
Totally and abysmally sick of the prevailing value system.
/
Justice & Fairplay / April 18, 2018
Honestly, this is the last straw. If these appointments take place, quite apart from being unethical, they will show up the UNP as being utterly threadbare, with no worthy reserves in their cupboard. Ranil will continue to receive unprecedented criticism and this time it would have been deservedly earned.Those TV stations who had their private agendas will simply go to town, morn, noon and night. Dayan J will write everyday and be proven right. Most of us middle of the road men will – sadly – have to agree with the detractors.
Ranil was expected to do the RIGHT THING by this nation; not by himself, his party nor his henchmen. If he believes this move is in the right direction, then he does not know right from wrong and therefore does not qualify to be fit enough for the next Presidency.
Decent people who saw Ranil as the last hope for decent, clean governance will be fed up to their gills.. If this actually happens as articulated here, it will be time for the likes of Professor Wijesooriya, Prof Dewasiri, Purawesi Balaya etc to team together and form a political party to save this Nation from receding to be a tragi-comedy of world renown. That will be a matter of great urgency. This lot – the UNP, SLFP and the Pohottu blokes are gone beyond the pale; gone past redemption. The political system cries out for a purge of those who are so patently insincere and corrupt in their thinking. This country deserves better. Much better.
/
Chedi / April 17, 2018
If this happens it will only prove that Ranil is dysfunctional, arrogant and lacks emotional intelligence. But I am not sure if such news is planted to test the waters. Today I watched the ada derana video of aluthgamage sauntering out of courts grinning from ear to ear. Flanked on either side by black coated dilan and dayasiri. So now we know how vital info flowed to the JO camp. There were hundreds of questions the media could have asked them but they chose not to. But instead got them to vomit that this is a conspiracy!
/
Burt / April 17, 2018
When will Ranil learn?
Bringing in W Rajapaksa will be the worst move.
/
Real Revolutionist / April 18, 2018
When will people learn?
/
Buddhi Perera / April 17, 2018
WR can be given something where he cannot help MR and the crowd to escape from punishments. But, RAVI oh?
/
Maharage, Nimal / April 17, 2018
Biggest Fraudsters- Ravi and Wijedasa are back on business – making commissions from corrupted deals. Well done Ranil Batalanda. UNP’s dooms day is not too far. Hats off to Ranil.
Another mega deal on and above Bond Scam is looming large.
/
K.Pillai / April 17, 2018
“Ravi And Wijeyadasa To be Rewarded With Cabinet Posts For Backing Ranil”
Here we go again. Rewards?? Will consideration of merit ever come back!
.
By the way, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe recently added an LLD to his title. This was an “Honoris Causa” from Commonwealth University of Belize – a private university!
/
c.mahendran / April 18, 2018
what is wrong in bringing back rajapakse and ravi. they are loyal unpers. we must have them. politics does not mean that one has to be like ceasers wife. the art of the possible. ranil is the only politician amongst the present lot who is respected internationally to give sri lanka credibility
/
Hamlet / April 18, 2018
c.mahendran:-
“what is wrong in bringing back rajapakse and ravi. they are loyal unpers.”
I think the PM and the whole of the UNP are on the Wrong Track!
Ranil should be looking at Loyalty to the Whole of Sri Lanka, not Just Loyalty to One Political Party!
Infighting among Political Parties is making Sri Lanka a Joke!
/
Justice & Fairplay / April 18, 2018
“ranil is the only politician amongst the present lot who is respected internationally to give sri lanka credibility”.
CREDIBILITY? Does Mr Mahendran know the meaning of that word?
/
Jayantha de Alwis / April 19, 2018
I can’t think of any single credible politician in this country. All of them are crooks.
/
Jim softy / April 18, 2018
right Honourable minister with multiple financial FRAUDS is getting only the tourism board or Aviation. He has some labouers to provide jobs in either of the places. they are asking better payng positions,.
/
Jim softy / April 18, 2018
IT looks Maithripala Sirisena too steps down. He went to NEw york for a trip with the whole family. this time he went to england for a common wealth trip with the family. HE is gettimg ready to be thrown out from the Parliament.
/
Jim softy / April 18, 2018
These dazys PResidential Secretary is the cheif minister for Srilanka. HE implements what ever the EMbassies say. there are people who know that in and out.
/
Good Sense / April 18, 2018
To do that MY3 must agree to the rumored proposal of RW. Has HE agreed? Some web news casts stated that MY3 is supposed to have stated to a group of UNPers that under no circumstances is HE going to re-appoint RK as a minister. Very confusing.
/
Toti / April 18, 2018
So according to all the pundits here Ranil cannot reward anyone for being loyal to him but MR can bestow any honor to any scoundrel he wishes because he is MR wink wink. Partisan hacks with nothing better to do than to find fault. You are the bane of Sri Lanka not anyone else. I don’t for one minute condone what Wijedasa did or what Ravi K is alleged to have done but given the disgusting vicious assault for no valid reason a good man had to endure he is within his Rights to reward those who stood by him if nothing else so that he can carry out what he set out to do. These forums are nothing but pits used to ferment hatred. No country can prosper with the mentality of the types who keep commenting.
/
Sinhala_Man / April 18, 2018
Dear Toti,
.
I agree with your first three sentences.
.
The rest is rubbish. You are entitled to your assessment of Ranil; even if that proves objective (not to me!) , he has responsibilities towards the country , not towards rewarding friends.
.
His friends included Arjuna Mahendran. Isn’t that conclusive on the side of the majority of commenters? You concede that Wijedasa and RaviK. are crooks; how then can you justify rewarding them?
.
An answer to that last question would be appreciated.
/
Ad / April 18, 2018
These two are openly involved in corruption. Amassed wealth and abused powers. Appointing them signals that RW and MS approving corruption.
/
Jayantha de Alwis / April 18, 2018
Ranil, You and your buddies have let down your school, party and the country. The only way that you can pay back for these crimes is by committing suicide. Please do it quickly as possible.
Thanking you in advance.
May he rot in hell.!
/
Jim softy / April 18, 2018
Why Ranil has to be explaned it, IS he an IDIOt ?
/
Senarath / April 18, 2018
No one has anything to say if the same thing was done by MR for the sake of patriotism.
/
Raj / April 18, 2018
Ranil never seem to learn. Either he is stupid beyond comprehension or has a misguided sense of loyalty, or maybe it’s a Royalist thing to stick by your loyal friends, no matter what they are. Against mounting loss of faith in him by the voting public in SL, Ranil received a lifeline but instead of taking this opportunity to change the perception of the public, he has once again allowed brazen & accepted opportunistic crooks back into the fold.
As the saying goes, ‘some people never learn’ & Ranil has thrown away, perhaps, his last chance to reform the UNP & go down in history as true leader who pulled the country out of cess pit.
/
Ranjan Fernando / April 18, 2018
RW, is he stupid or demented?
The NCM became a reality because this fool did not keep to the promises he made along with Patholaya in Jan 2015. He managed to survive the NCM only because of the greater danger of Megalomanic Rajapakses grabbing power in the resultant equation.
Now this fool is trying to bring back two of the very elements who took him to that position of NCM!
Deal Dasa who prevented the rogues and murderers being apprehended and Ravi K who connived with the CB fraudsters!
I think Ranil need to get to see a Psychiatrist soon!
/
analyst / April 19, 2018
In srilankan vote base calcution if anti rajapaksha votes were divided there will be a single horse race for rajapaksas and SLPP. If unp, jvp and Slfp contesting seperatly there will be an easy win for rajapaksas SLPP the largest single party in srilanka who obtained 46% of vote base as a single party while unp has 23% slfp has 10% jvp has 6% tna has 5 % and other parties and floating votes hold balance 10%. All anti rajapaksha parties has to undestand this truth. The second thing the authontorian power that rajapksas have not like leaders like jr premadasa or chandrika .these leaders are like small ants infront of rajaksas authontorian power. And the powerful goernment mechanism, high business community and majority of sinhala middle class and upper middle class are die heart supportes of rajapaksas because of their super capitalism and high oriented business economic policy. This is why unp and jvp people hate rajapaksas this much since they are helpless. They di d not have any leader in their own party to compare with rajapaksas.so they hate rajapaksas. What else they can do.but one thing they have to understand that is if the anti rajapaksha forces are divided raja paksas are the winners in any election. And unp as a party has to change their janasaviya type mixed economic policy of jr or premadasa .
/
Henry Fernando / April 21, 2018
We have heard of the famous wise crack” A Drowning man will hold on even to a straw” so is the pathetic case of RW , How can any one with a modicum of understanding depend or place trust on a person of this calibre.He is still banking on people with questionable character. People know who RK and WJ are and their record in politics though it may be immaterial to RW. AT this decisive moment what PM should do is to cleanse the entire UNP of corrupt individuals and set an example to our Country and gracefully retire or continue in politics, I say, only if his hands are not tainted either by aiding or abetting those involved in corruption of any kind. That is the kind of political leadership our Country needs today not any one who wants to propagate any particular race or religion.
/