Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lotteries Ravi Karunanayake is to resign from his post today. Minister Karunanayake had agreed to tender his resignation until his name is cleared without interfering in the Bond Scam Investigation after he was summoned for a meeting by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe sources close to the Presidential Secretariat and Temple Trees told Colombo Telegraph.
Ravi Karunanayake
However he urged the President and Premier not to remove his brothers in law and relatives he posted here, there and everywhere to high posts in the public sector. Both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had agreed to his request, sources close to President Secretariat said.
“Although the bugger agreed to resign, we still don’t know what advise his wife Mela would give him,” a close friend of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe jokingly told Colombo Telegraph.
According to Minister Karunanayake’s biography in his official website, his wife is described as follows: “As the old adage goes ‘behind every successful man there is a woman’. This certainly proves that his wife Mela has been a tower of strength to him.”
Meanwhile whilst addressing parliament on Tuesday, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that he would give a ruling today if the Joint Opposition filed ‘No Confidence’ motion against Minister Karunanayake would go ahead.
As we reported yesterday Minister Karunayake had ducked the Cabinet Meeting last morning.
“There was a threat that the SLFP Ministers were planning to boycott the Cabinet Meeting yesterday if Minister Karunanayake was to attend it” the source close to the Presidential Secretariat confirmed.
However it is still to be established if President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had advised Minister to Karunanayake to abstain from attending the Cabinet meeting but meet them nevertheless in a private capacity at the conclusion of the Cabinet session.
In the year 1999 Minister Karunanayake was presented with the Award of “Young Outstanding Politician of the Year” which was organized by the International Jaycees and in the same year Ravi Karunanayake was elected as the “Politician and Public Administrator of the Year” by the Colombo Jaycees. He is also the Chairman of the Institute of Democracy and Leadership. During the time Karunanayake served as the Minister of Finance he was selected as the Finance Minister of the Year for Asia-Pacific by ‘The Banker’ magazine.
Meanwhile writing to Colombo Telegraph yesterday renowned Political Scientist Professor Jayadeva Uyangoda said: “Unless Karunanayake resigns or is sacked from the cabinet, the UNP will be in deep trouble.”
Well known columnist and retired Civil Servant Shayamon Jayasinghe yesterday wrote to Colombo Telegraph: “It is as clear as daylight: Minister Ravi Karunayake, if he has any decency in him, must resign. Go now, Ravi. Right now!”(Jacqueline Senanayake)
Burt / August 10, 2017
Do not resign because of external pressure if you had nothing to do with the “Bond Issue”. Bunch of thieves and murders are trying to rail-road you, don’t give into pressure.
There is an investigation on going let them do their job and you concentrate on the portfolio handed to you.
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malik / August 10, 2017
@Burt
it was his halfwit twin brother that moved into a a luxury apartment paid by a criminal fraudster, imagine this halfwit twin brother moved in with Raviks actual family.
you are correct Burt, The real Ravi K spent nights in the Ministry thinking of ways to save the national economy. If only all Lankan could see what u see.
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Simon De Silva / August 10, 2017
Malik@
politicians in the country would not take it serious.
They just behave following the other. See, the kind of behavoiurs would not be tolerated in EU countries. If anybody would not behave compliant, he will have to get isolated – consequence woudl be resign as fast as they can. If not by ownself, others put pressure on him or her. Few years ago, German President got caught to have had deals with unknown parties even before him getting elected as athe president. It was just for few thousands of Euros- but he excluded them keeping it secret. That paved the way him to be cornered in German politics. He was the youngest president who got elected on German soil. Even today, he is out of politics. Very same fate worked on former minister of defence – Gutenburg. He was respected by anyone in Germany to be a leader for the future. But all of sudden, his doctorate became questionable. So the media revealed all the bits to the nation. He had to step down. That was the tradition in today s Germany.
So is the case in UK too. Brexit issue caused former Premier to step down.
They dont wait weeks or months, they express their failures. And go forward. They the people believe there is a life beyond POLITICS. if cant perform as promised, just leave.
But politically and corruption rotten countries like SRILANKA, they are cemented with their kind of abusive nature -BEST EXAMPLE IS FORMER PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE.
He is no means exemplary to even a tree climber.
CBK, JR, Wijetunga behaved in compliant with the world standards.
CBK came forward, at the time country needed her.
If not for her, GOD FATHER OF LANKEN CORRUPTION would have been ruining the nation even today.
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Burt / August 10, 2017
malik:
For argument sake lets say Aloysius paid rent for the apartment where RK moved into. What is illegal about it? What are the laws that are supposed to be broken? What’s wrong in a friend footing a bill of another if he can afford it. If Aloysius expected something in return he is behaving unethically not RK. If RK gave something in return it becomes illegal which has not been established yet. So why should someone resign just because a few loud mouths scream?
Bond issue: The finance minister is not a party to the transaction. So your barking at the wrong tree, go after Mahendran. Did I call you a dog. No that just was a figure of speech.
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Native Vedda / August 10, 2017
Burt
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“For argument sake lets say Aloysius paid rent for the apartment where RK moved into. What is illegal about it?”
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This is not about transactions between two friends or enemies. A serving cabinet minister responsible for the state finances and related regulations needs not only disposing his duties but should seen to be doing it in the eyes of the people.
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As a cabinet minister the state is responsible for his accommodation and payment of rent. Not his friend, parents, family, business acquaintances, ……… As such the obvious question is why his friend is paying on behalf of him? What does his friend get in return for the payment of rent?
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Did he inform the parliament and pleaded poverty that he was homeless and unable meet rent commitments therefore his friend was kind enough to pay it for him.
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If Ravi was not a minister would his friend still make the payment?
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There are another 1001 reasons as to why a politician, MP, minister, ……….. need to be more careful about their conducts especially when he was the man in charge of state finances.
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Since he is a qualified Chartered Institute of Management Accountant he would have known his laws and further his peers at the parliament would have made him aware of the rules of the house.
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Burt is there a special reason why you are keen to defend the indefensible?
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Mama Sinhalam / August 11, 2017
Burt, this is a moronic defense. It is not worth consideration. Sorry to be so dismissive. No one in public office should accept such freebies.
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Kugan / August 11, 2017
Burt
It’s simple it is a form of bribe (santhosam)
Even though he is resigning with condition in Orther word don’t bring bro in law ,that tells you its lot to it
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Ben Hurling / August 10, 2017
Sir,
Guess, Who’s gonna inherit the dis-functional, corrupt UNP? That Maria Kade kid? Who violates all laws governing Sri Lanka’s precious national parks? The guy who doles out jobs based on height of his henchmen? The man who spends fortunes on charity, but nobody knows how he raised the funds? Lets elevate that guy to lead SL next. WOW! Sri Lanka, The Land of the STUPID? No doubt.
Cheers!
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Spring Koha / August 10, 2017
The opponents of RW and RK smell blood and are going in for the kill. The Pee-Em needs to safe face so he has been exploring ways to sacrifice the (once Honourable) Minister of Foreign Affairs. All this takes time. Decency flew out the window a long time ago. Now all that is left is for MS+RW to wait for RK to chose what exit to take. Mind you, there are promises of ‘opportunities’ sometime in the future when all the hoo-ha has died down. Mela meanwhile is consulting the White House astrologer in Malabe for the most auspicious time to make a move. These are the miracles in the Wonder of Asia. (Alice nona, ara padikkama gaenda ko mehetta!)
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Native Vedda / August 10, 2017
Spring Koha
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“Alice nona, ara padikkama gaenda ko mehetta!”
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Well, HLD M too needs several padikkama.
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If Ranil is looking for a honourable exit for Ravi, he should kick him upstairs. Appoint Ravi as the new prime minister. If its unacceptable for personal reason find him a job at one of those International institutions, World Bank, UN, International Finance Corporation, Sundar Pichai of Google being a Madarasi will consider helping his long lost cousin, ……………………… (Google Revenue – 2016 – $89.46 Billion, Sri Lanka $81.32 billion -2016).
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There are alternative honourable routes to exit. The question is who is going to replace him? Dayan perhaps.
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Appuhami / August 10, 2017
The penthouse issue is so minor compared to the full bond scam. The people who are simple minded can understand this scandal of accepting a free penthouse and wants RKs head on a platter, but the bigger crooks involved in bond scams and other complex corruptions in the billions will slip away. I’m sure the Mahenran, Arjun & Co. are happy the spot light is not on them.
RK and his family are theives and should not get away with this, but will the media and the public keep the same level of heat and go after the rest of the crooks ?
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malik / August 10, 2017
Why would the crooks spend millions for a person Luxury apartment with out his knowledge?? They put the good Samaritan to shame. Nothing in this world is for free. Still one does wonder how millions in cast were sent from the UK and kept safe in Raviks Office safe, without his knowledge of course, not even declaring to financial authorities. Ravi K is surrounded by Good Samaritans, innocent guy
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Gema / August 10, 2017
A sad news item: A bus runs over and kills two people; the poor fellows were sleeping on the pavement/sidewalk right behind the bus when it reversed. Both men have died instantly.
A cartoon shows on a daily: A bus that belongs to ‘Yahapalana Travels’ driven by Maithreepala Sirisena is reversing recklessly and very fast. And a poor man who looks very much like ‘Chandapala (Voter)’ is sleeping somewhat away from the bus on the pavement. The man has all his belongings in a small sac near him, which is a symbol of Sri Lanka’s poverty. He is about to be run over by the bus driven by Yahapalana chief Maithreepala Sirisena.
This is what has been happening to the poor people of Sri Lanka under Yahapalanaya. What a curse!
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malmen / August 10, 2017
who is mela ?what is she?
ravi will resign after looking after melas relatives and like marapana he will be back after the hullabaloo is over
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Mithila Gunaratna / August 10, 2017
Even a 8th Grade RC ethical High School Student from RC Polonnaruwa will resign after arranging the state funding for PT, his close connections to Aloysious , the undated letter to the CB as the Best Min of Finance and the childish testimony at the bond commission
For the sake of his family if not for his party since he has betrayed his country the only face saving action would be to resign and bring closure to the fiasco he has brought upon himself
If not both UNP and the Unity Government may be at risk esp as his amnesia has become a standard joke in Sri Lanka unbecoming of a Foreign Minster
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Burt / August 10, 2017
If Sri Lankan politicians are to resign for unethical behaviour we will have to import politicians from India or China.
People that are talking about ethics are character assassinating individuals without evidence while the investigation is still on. IS THAT ETHICAL?
On the other hand the same people are silent on individuals where investigations are done and cases filed.
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nic / August 10, 2017
The cheek of this guy to request and or make it conditional that the Prez and PM not to remove all those unqualified, ill-qualified relatives of his who he has planted at various positions in government agencies! Political appointees are political appointees. They leave the day their political master/mentor leaves.
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thrishu / August 10, 2017
Nepotism to prevail despite his resignation. What a nerve? cannot resist perks and getting inside information of what would be going on in his absence. It seems that Mela wears the trousers in this unit?
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K A Sumanasekera / August 10, 2017
My Elders tell me Penthouse Ravi would have sold the Yahapala Lotto too. to Aloysious , which would have been a nice fit for the other pastime of our Dalits. Mendis Special…….Wonder whether Mela is waiting for Alloy to call…………..
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Burt / August 10, 2017
Who is your “Elder”: Gota, Basil or Dealdasa?
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K A Sumanasekera / August 10, 2017
Thank God there is at least one corruption free decent individual among the Bank Robbers, Drug Peddlers. Moonshine Mudalalis, Commission Agents, Tiger buddies and un Orthodox Sexual Practioners. in the Yahapalana Cabinet…………
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nosey parker / August 10, 2017
……. and now we know who wears the pants in that household .
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Burt / August 10, 2017
Real Sri Lankan backward way of thinking. Just because you wear pants and got a “D—” , you don’t make unilateral decisions that effect a whole family.
“Although the bugger agreed to resign, we still don’t know what advise his wife Mela would give him,”
This too is not a fact but utterance of a sewer mouth.
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Berty Gunathilaka / August 10, 2017
The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician thinks about the next election while the statesman think about the next generation.”
We have a lame duck President and PM!
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Burt / August 10, 2017
This lame duck President is slippery than a mud-fish. This is his excuse.
“Responding to allegations made by a number of United National Party (UNP) Ministers over the lack of action taken in investigations into corruption cases connected to the previous Government compared to the speedy action meted by the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Bond Issue, Sirisena told Cabinet that law enforcement bodies tasked with investigating corruption allegations of the previous Government were not under his purview and were beyond his direct control.”
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D.E.M. Ocracy / August 10, 2017
No matter what Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda or Mr. Shayamon Jayasinghe states in the above Article the people who voted for Hon. Ravi Karunanayake and the Depositors of the Golden Key and their extended families will stand by him and definitely vote for him at any future elections….. where he will gain an overwhelming majority.
It is quite evident that the Criminals in the Joint Opposition, who have murdered and plundered the country are the ones who are now extremely voiceferous about ousting Hon. Ravi Karunanayake.
We compel the His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena and Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe to take immediate action to oust Wijesdasa Rajapakse and Sagala Ratnayake from the Ministerial positions they hold as they are the culprits who are withholding the Criminals of the Joint Opposition from being arrested and sentenced to Prison.
Further, it is evident that the Investigations have been delayed by the Attorney Generals Department on the instructions of Wijedasa Rajapakse for reasons better to know to the Citizens of Sri Lanka……. one instance is where Nishantha Senadhipathiratne bought 02 Nos. Series 5 Benz Motor Vehicles for the family of Wijedasa Rajapakse….. Your Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena and Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe Prime Minister please investigate into same. Also why has the case with Avant Garde and Gothabhaya Rajapakse being delayed for so long.
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Simon De Silva / August 10, 2017
But what do you think as to why President sacked that brave lady who delivered a great service as a FCID in charage ?
We cant get this, on one hand Prez says, he has done his part, but others are in SLOW mode.
On other hand, what kind of steps he has taken in order to speed up the investigations ?
Why THE DUO are compelled to think that each of their parties should be PLACED before the nation/Country ?
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shankar / August 10, 2017
” If Mela Says OK”
Mela will say Ok now that her brothers,sisters ,aunts,uncles,cousins,friends all are safe with their jobs.This was the reason for the delay in the resignation.So that issue is over.Now the jail issue,how many years RI should he get?Of course if he spills the beans on the mastermind on the scam he can be given a suspended sentence,can’t he?A few days ago a pradesha sabha bloke got a 10 years RI for accepting a rs.100000 bribe.So for 9 million rent paid, proportionately it should be what…………..?
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srinath.gunaratne / August 10, 2017
This is the beginning,
Police investigate this man for corruption, FX violation, money laundering.
Rattle snakes will kill each other, You only need to annoy one!
Let’s not lose focus from bond scam.
Time to bring Ranil to the commission?
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Native Vedda / August 10, 2017
srinathan.gunaratnam
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“Time to bring Ranil to the commission?”
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Sounds good.
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“Police investigate this man for corruption, FX violation, money laundering.”
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Reasonable request. We all should welcome it. We also must urge the government to investigate into bribing VP towards his service to democracy, ballot rigging in 2005 presidential elections in favour of the clan chief. It also warrant several charges against the clan, such as money laundering, funding terror organisation, …..
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Hope you will provide your wholehearted support to the prime minister.
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Dan Fernando / August 10, 2017
If Ranil to be brought before the commission, Rajapakshe should long have been beheaded FOR all the human man made crimes alone during the last 10 years.
Not just few high crimes, but misled SAITM young undergraduates.
Man should have long been hung by his balls to give lanka a spirit of bending down to law and order.
Dont get me wrong, I am no means UNPer either.
But current mechanims brought this this far so that one current minister to have resigned. These were greek in the high days of ballige putha ruling.
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konika Wijesuriya / August 10, 2017
Ranil has faced all kinds of commissions nothing new batalanda commission or bond commission. what about multi billion rupee avant garde scandal
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desperate sinhalaya / August 10, 2017
One sided Rajapakshe apologist, would not see it but attack the ones fell with Bond scam. but his guru to have agreed not to vote – was what we heard from the cesspit of Rajapakshe.
Let s wait and see how Rajapakshe will get his rope around the neck tightened next days.
Now the bubble is blown. We see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of getting former MAFIA men caught by law.
Wait and see… Wijayadasa will have to follow Ravi.
Then Ballige putha Raja will automatically be caught.
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maalumiris / August 10, 2017
“Let s wait and see how Rajapakshe will get his rope around the neck tightened next days.”
:) No Acton, Talk Only!!
Been waiting a very long time.. so long that I now accept that the promises made before elections, were to fools like you and I to swallow (which we dutifully did)
It turns out it was all BS. We are still “waiting to see” !!!
I have stopped waiting for this “Yahapalana Justice” to happen. I suggest you too, give it up as a bad joke and chalk it up to experience ! Simply accept that we were stupid and foolish and move on – Be smarter when you vote next time.
It really WAS a case of “Better the Devil You know” after all !
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Native Vedda / August 11, 2017
maalumiris
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“Been waiting a very long time.. so long that I now accept that the promises made before elections, were to fools like you and I to swallow (which we dutifully did)”
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I empathize with you. However I think you are not a youth of 21 years old who first exercised the voting rights on 8 Jan 2015. You have been cheated since 1948.
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Please tell us on one occasion the government ever fulfilling its election manifesto commitments which brought positive changes to vast majority of the people.
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The classical example, eight measures of free rice imported from moon and distributed to each member of the family. The saddest campaign slogan MR single-handedly won the war. Probably next elections, Gota Single-handedly won the war.
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This is not the first time and this won’t be the last. There are many more disappointing days ahead.
Did you really vote for Good Governance?
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Native Vedda / August 11, 2017
maalumiris
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Watch this Aljazeera interview with Maithiri on 29 Jan 2016.
“http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2016/01/sri-lankan-president-allegations-war-crimes-160128150748006.html”
This interview reminds me of what Louis Philip Heren, The Times Reporter wanted all his reporters friends to question when politicians confide – “Why is this lying bastard lying to me” –
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Rayan / August 10, 2017
What Ravi has ‘done’ is a drop in the ocean compared to the previous regime. At least in this one there is the chance that ministers get sacked or step down. Imagine that happening under MaRa regime. People forget what they have…until its gome
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Nagananda / August 10, 2017
PM, RW, should be held accountable for all this. He knew Ravi K was a accused in a serious money laundering case.
He knew that Attorney General would not serve an indictment against an accused unless there is a prima facie evidence. Yet, PM set a very bad precedence, by appointing an accused indicted for money laundering case to the office of the Minister of Finance. And later the case against him in the Colombo High Court was not allowed to be proceeded.
Ravi K was discharged, whereas the accused who sent him 3 million dollars, Raj Rajarathnam was sent to jail of 11 1/2 years in the US.
Although Ravi K was discharged in the judgement made by the High Court the right to charge him again is clearly preserved. Yet, the Attorney General, who hold the office for public good never did and now face a corruption charge initiated against him.
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Jayan / August 10, 2017
Just resigning is not enough, he must payback all the stolen money and then should be sent to jail and throw the key away. The main culprit of this scam is none other than Ranil Wickramasinghe. But don’t expect this man to resign. All right thinking people should invade Temple Trees and drag the bastard from his testicles hang in Galle Face.
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Annesley Dias / August 10, 2017
Jayan,
All right thinking people should invade Temple Trees and drag the bastard from his testicles hang in Galle Face.
Keep dreaming Jayan, and have a little bit of some decency when you are commenting on the country’s PM.
Are you giving a good BJ to MR’S long testicles!
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Raj / August 10, 2017
How the mighty have fallen. When flying sky high, accolades & awards follow but when an international magazine gets it wrong, it’s credibility is at stake. To be fair by the magazine, I suppose they took his CV for granted but apart from the opinion of the Jaycees, were there any Professional, academic or a track record of achievements to support? I wonder if this magazine will eat humble now pie & try to justify it’s decision.
Apparently RK has requested that his friends & family appointed to high places by him to be safeguarded. If these jobs were not specially created & the appointees were suitably qualified, I am sure it’s not an unreasonable request for the President & PM to comply with.
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K.Pillai / August 10, 2017
Local media has the news “The decision to resign from his position of Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka was made with pride and not with sadness or under pressure, Ravi Karunanayake said in Parliament a short while ago…….”
Why did RK not seek leave and clear his name? He owes this those who elected him on 08 January 2015.
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gaje / August 10, 2017
Resigning is not enough! We need to agitate for him to be charged and put behind bars!! That Applies to Aloysius as well as Mahendran and possibly Ranil!!!
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Native Vedda / August 10, 2017
gaje
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“Resigning is not enough! We need to agitate for him to be charged and put behind bars!! That Applies to Aloysius as well as Mahendran and possibly Ranil!!!”
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And we let the clan go scot free.
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thrishu / August 11, 2017
Hmmmm at last done the right thing even though it is very late. But not a word about how the young businessman hoodwinked him to borrow back at 13%: interest the same money that he loaned to the businessman at 3%.
How about more examples from Dhammapada, e.g. bad Karma follows the doer like the cart behind the bullocks.
A sigh of relief from RW, thankful that RK avoided implicating his master.
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Punchi Point / August 11, 2017
And the witch hunt continues…..
Heading Ravi K To Resign Today If Mela Says OK Then we are informed that “Although the bugger agreed to resign, we still don’t know what advise his wife Mela would give him,” a close friend of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe jokingly told Colombo Telegraph. Really! Do we need to know this? And do we know whether it was actually said or not?
What good does this kind of writing do? So much has been written about this one instance of corruption and fraud, going down to minute details and personal insults that it looks like a defamation campaign rather than reporting of irregularities. Its evident that Ravi Karunanayake has done something very wrong but do we need to know all the details about it, to the level of descriptions about his wife and daughters!! ? Should’t the judging and sentencing be left to be done by the courts?
This culture of rumour spreading and defamation is understood by some as journalism. I personally do not see much difference between people who write this kind of things and people like Ravi Karunanayaka – both are corrupt. The absence of responsible reporting and journalism in Sri Lanka is one of the majour causes for the degeneration of the society we see today. Journalists in Sri Lanka understand journalism, free speech and free media as being allowed to take sides and write whatever they want, without impartially reporting.
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Mama Sinhalam / August 11, 2017
Why are these people not before the criminal courts as common thieves but before commissions of inquiry without penal powers. They are no different from common crooks. They are in fact worse because they have stolen public money. Try them before the courts instead of wasting public money on commissions of inquiry which will whitewash them.
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Piyal / August 11, 2017
RK spill the beans now . How much went in to Ranils and his crony maliks pockets. Do not become the escapegoat of above two.
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