
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appeared to be setting the stage for prolonged executive rule in a pre-recorded interview aired on Monday night, when he claimed that under no circumstances will he reconvene the old Parliament, irrespective of when the Parliamentary election is held.
“In my proclamation I set a date for Parliament to convene. If there is no Parliament to convene by June 2 I cannot convene it,” he said in an interview with former Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge.
The claim raises questions about whether the President hopes to run the country without a parliament indefinitely, especially if the election is delayed further as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The presidential assertion comes as opposition parties slammed the Elections Commission for making an unilateral decision on the election date of June 20 without consulting political parties who would have to make serious decisions about how to campaign for the poll.
Sri Lanka has seen a serious spike in corona virus cases in the past 48 hours which has prompted the Government to extend the curfew imposed on high risk districts for a further week. Medical experts warn that the country must complete at least four or five incubation cycles before normal life resumes in order ensuring early easing of restrictions does not create a new wave of infections. So far Sri Lanka has completed only two cycles since the curfew was imposed.
Reacting to the President’s remarks Lawyer Gehan Gunethilake tweeted that the June 2 deadline was “non-negotiable”.
“If Parliament is dissolved, you cannot have an election after June 2. Article 70 is pretty clear. If Parliament does not stand dissolved, you can have an election on 20th June or another date. You can’t eat the cake and have it,” Gunetillake remarked.
Constitutional lawyer Dr Asanga Welikala also reacted to the President’s interview.
“Simply put: “The President’s wishes trump the Constitution’s stipulations.” That’s the new Sri Lankan constitutionalism in one sentence of seven words,” Dr Welikala said.
Other Sri Lankans on Twitter were also critical of the remarks:
“So Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Government wants us to believe that an unnecessary election is in fact necessary; intends to use a misconstrued notion of ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ to breach clear constitutional provisions to hold such an unnecessary election, risking a major covid19 outbreak,” one user tweeted.
Most lawyers are urging President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to exercise his powers under Article 70 (7) of the Constitution.
According to Article 70 (7) of the Constitution:
“If at any time after the dissolution of Parliament, the President is satisfied that an emergency has arisen of such a nature that an earlier meeting of Parliament is necessary, he may by Proclamation summon the Parliament which has been dissolved to meet on a date not less than three days from the date of such Proclamation and such Parliament shall stand dissolved upon the termination of the emergency or the conclusion of the General Election, whichever is earlier.”
The lawyers argue that 70 (7) makes full provision for a pandemic situation such as the country is facing, because it allows Parliament to function as long as the Emergency is in place meaning that even if elections cannot be held by September because of the crisis, the country will still have a functioning legislature.
Senior lawyers are also arguing that since the Constitution is insistent on a new Parliament meeting within three months of dissolution, the Presidential Proclamation dissolving Parliament is rendered null and void. The strict condition under which the President is given power to dissolve parliament before it completes its term is that a new House must meet within three months – a deadline that expires on June 2, according to President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran.
Interestingly, June 20 happens to be President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s birthday. When the Elections Commission met on Monday April 20 Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya pushed hard for the 23 May election and disagreed with other officials that the election should be pushed back to July. According to Deshapriya the only other favourable date for an election was 20 June.
However President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was categorical that he would under no circumstances reconvene the old Parliament and would wait it out until a new set of parliamentarians were elected by the people – implying that it mattered little to him if that was delayed longer than the three month constitutional mandate.
During his interview with Weeratunge who nodded gratuitously as the President made the statement, Rajapaksa chuckled that the “Law does not expect to the do the impossible” without clarifying what he meant.
Weeratunge is a convicted criminal, after he was found guilty of misappropriating Rs. 600 million in state funds to distribute sil-redhi to supporters of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Full transcript of President’s comments on delayed elections below:
Constitutionally, three months after Parliament is dissolved, the new Parliament must convene. Accordingly the final date for Parliament to meet is June 2. The responsibility for setting an election date is the responsibility of the Independent Elections Commission which changed the original date in my proclamation. Under the prevailing conditions, the Commission has the opportunity to determine a suitable manner in which the election can be held. If they need to they can hold the election on several dates. I am not ready to influence the independent Elections Commission to hold the election or delay it. So far, I have done everything constitutionally. I have notified the date on which the new Parliament should meet. If for some reason an election is not held and no Parliament has been elected to convene by June 2, I cannot convene Parliament. Then I will have to convene parliament at a later date. Law does not expect to do the impossible. But under no circumstances am I ready to reconvene the old Parliament. So I can only convene a new Parliament if an election is held and new MPs are chosen. (by Chamika Madiwake)
Rani / April 22, 2020
An opportunity to test how the dictatorship would be. No surprise.
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Immediacy19 / April 22, 2020
To Rani. it’s “No surprise”. 100% correct. To me the cat is out of the bag. The Corona Virus has provided the most plausible and the best shroud.
“Ready to run Country Without a Parliament”. Scripted on the day of dissolution, if not earlier. President’s rule, thou art afoot.
South Asia will see the second coming of Cromwell !
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Sensitive SLANKEN / April 22, 2020
Where on earth sofar MILLITARY leaders ended up lifting them their former grieved situation to progressive ?
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No where sofar.
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In the US, there had been candidates but most them respected CONSTITUTION.
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The situation in my country today is comparable to a MONKEY took the barber’s knife … but nobody utters a single word yet today, because MEDIA is totally blackout. These media men are not foreigners, but them to silence their voices, just for their COMMERCIAL gains ? My gosh, what a nation, that though repeats their heritage …
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We the srilankens are VERY SUBMISSIVE sort of people.. history has proved it..so the CRIMINALS of Rajapakshes nature seem to be making use of the people’s gentleness. And indifference to make their bread.
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Not CORONA but MMV (Madamulana Musalaya Virus) is rapidly spreading – but not really supportively them.. mixed sofar.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / April 22, 2020
What happened to Idi Amin will happened to him. A new world order will be in place after this Corona outbreak. India is getting ready waiting for the opportune moment to deploy troops in Sri Lanka under the pretext of controlling Corona. They are already in Maldives helping the government to combat the epidemic. India should demand compensation from China for this catastrophe and take over Hambantota port and Colombo port city to offset the damages caused. This is the best chance for India to control Indian ocean and bring Sri Lanka under its control. Big headed Co-Ranaviru-s will be eliminated in the process like the Corona Virus.
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Tee Twenty / April 22, 2020
Dr Sankaralingam: Why should India take over Hambantota as compensation for Chinese damage? Why not offer more fertile soil with huge historic cultural connections – the Jaffna peninsula?? Two birds in one shot, huh!
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Sam Fernando / April 22, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD1pC4_GhRc
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Ranjith malcom opens his mouth only today.. why ?
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He did not care about the HUMAN LOSSES, even if PUBLIC show ups were there.
Stammering GOTABAYA is doing it again
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1) He seems to have not the least knowledge about the basics of parliamentary politics.
How can he make public statements that he would not reconvene the parliament, if he adhere to parlimentary process ?
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But JOKER SIRISENA also did it, even if Mr Wickramasinghe repeated it many times, that there was no other options than to do so … SC then gave the decision and had to reconvene nevertheless, then Rajapkashes and sirisena behaved as if the deafted DOGs retried their tails to hide behind their rear legs. The wolves do the same. So all these go through my head, as I am writing this.
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SHAMLESS UNCULTURED, UNEDUCATED would have to scratch their head in a week or so, because there is no other options than to go to RECONVENE of parliament after 30th April.
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That Susantha Premathilaka said, no need, but his title is senior LAWYER… however, these men have lost their faces many a times so far.
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Mr Sumanthiran confirms, it is unconstitutional…. PUROHITHA – RAJATHUMA style speech given ON THE TV day before yesterday.
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That SILREDI HORA made every effort to SHOW that his situation is healed off, but he looked as if he is DEADLY sick – by both COVID 19 and Diabetes. This show the SPEED punishment of the Karma.
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babalath appu / April 22, 2020
Please listen to this below –
Not a single word about the size of the donations received by the state all these days, but over 1200 Millions of US dollars are reported to have been the case.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0izPcdbGLxA
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Purohitha – Rajathauma (King and his closest SERVANT) style speech telecasted on the TV few days ago contained nothing but TOTAL arrogance of ruler.
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I dont know about you, this remineded me MUGABE, SUDAN lEADER or Duterte or the like men that are placed in those abusive countries.
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My gosh what happened to OLDEST democracy in Asia ? Mrs B or the like QUEEN MUM style leaders would rise from their pits. I think PEOPLE it is high time to rethink…
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CRIMINALS WOULD NOT CHANGE THEIR CRIMINAL NATURE EVEN IF THEY HAPPENED TO EXPERIENCE IT BEING OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
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They are just idiots born to DESTROY this nation:
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TODAY, no FREE media but their MEDIA how come ? SOCIAL media is the only PLATFORM to the OPPOSITION men why is that ? media mafia and DRUG mafia work today.
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Leelagemalli / April 22, 2020
No democracy in the country today- thanks to those stupid people voted for these criminals.
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Now we can raise the question – whether you are happy ?
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We the srilanken people have been marching backward… who on earth would go from Democracy to Millitary ruling even if many countries turn from millitary to democracies.
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May curse be with these high criminals. They dont care to the law and order, how can they then be the leaders – how can they exemplary ?
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Eagle Eye / April 22, 2020
Leelagemalli,
Certainly, Native Sinhalayo who are the majority in Sri Lanka will be very happy if Gotabhaya Rajapakshe becomes a dictator and move this country forward. This country was ruined by Parliamentary Democratic system that gave ‘Wal Booru Nidahasa’ to descendants of Dravida slaves to play hell demanding a separate State and launch the terrorist campaign to slaughter Native Sinhalayo to get that.
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LTTE cadres, LTTE sympathizers, racist Dem Mala politicians, Wahabi Mus ling extremists and their supporters, NGOs trying to destabilize the country are shitting bricks with the idea of Gotabhaya becoming a dictator.
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“Now we can raise the question – whether you are happy ?”
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Leelagemalli / April 22, 2020
Eagle AKA Mahindapalayo,
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Shut up and go back to your cage. Shit eating dogs would never stop their habits even if they become older was what my neigbour used to say at the time, Rajakshas returned to power.
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Clean your eyes as one commenter asked you lately. tomorrow will be too late, because you are now in your early 80ties.
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You will not bring your hatreds with you – Please see it right let alone today. Then your close circles will close to you more and see your human side, if any smidgeon of that is remained.
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Not Just LTTErs but also JVPrs and other men (led by current PRIMIER) terrorised and led insurgencies. Why should it be that cruel when only TAMILS or MUSLIMs happened to do ?
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BP Rajakshe was known as BELIATHTHE rasthiyaadu karaya in late 70ties. BPs were born to that CAVE – thanks to Bandaranayake, the second generations, walked behind them. But today, they have been making that, as if Bandaranayakas learnt from them.
In a country every lie could be manipulated by that DERANA TV or KUDU TV, with you the kind of SLAVEs continously playing housans to their tune, what cant go wrong for the curse of this nation ?
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Please get close to your GRAND GRAND child and learn it from him… Eagle – that woul dnot be seen as BAD to be honest.. you should be raised again, in order to GIVE a relief to this world.
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kalakirunu Sinhalaya / April 22, 2020
this very same nation was once under authoritarian rule until 2015.
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We see now today, only millitary personnel, former men of army, airforce and navy being placed to representing this nation – is this not similar to SUDAN , Pakistan, Kambodja, and the like countries ?
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JVP and others should rise up – to save this country again. Yesterday the man who defended THE POOR people s right on illegal ration distribution, was arrested.
Last week, a woman who spoke her heart out about the ground situation was arersted. A week ago, popular actor Ranjan was arrested and kept in remand for a week or so.
All in all, former men of Rajaakhe did not do the due even after SPEAKER in parliment was attacked also hurting interntional community. All these was in the eyes of TODAY s premier mr Most abusive junta leader MAHEDRAN Rajapakshe.
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They the media never GAVE a publicity to that FORMULA which is set in europe on the prices of petroleum prices – and today, not having given the concession to the people even if prices sand up to 50% in world petrol market.
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People should now see, as to why the former MINISTER amidst all verbal attacked introduced it.
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Ballige puthaS TODAY cant be without that SUWASAERIYA regarding emergency health transport – but that was highly criticised…. those who implemented it was criticised, my kudos go to Dr Harsha De Silva.
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Burt / April 22, 2020
He was voted by the SINHALA BUDDHIST FOR THE SINHALA BUDDHIST, now live with is. I am sorry for the minorities whether racial or religious.
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Frustrated sinhalaya / April 22, 2020
This is the style we will have to face and follow in the near future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3febQlfMHQU
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King: (BP Gotta)
Can you clean my backside, as I asked you to do that even if I deny?
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Purohitha:(Weerathunga or the like- that are born without penises, I prefer that GLP to become this level than to this man…. though..)
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Yes, it is just I have some sorta dizzy feeling when lowering my head, I am a diabetes patient today, how much sins I have made have been this servile to you … Earlier it was you brother I had to be submissive. Now you..
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King:
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Purohitha – You are born into to do so, you can have the intelligence I am have been born into…Our so called 2500 year old heritage will guide you further. I will talk to our SAFFRON clads to take the control over the grass root. If those men in ROBES would droll anything, that become adulated in the society.
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Our parents are so stupid and that is inherited to us. I think so long PEOPLE in this country specially GRASS EATING majority remain – GULLIBLE, we need to harvest on them:
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Purohitha:
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Yes sir, until my death I can clean you backside all anywhere you say would be necessary. Go ahead… ehmayi ehemayi. We will only be behind to Zimbawian Tribal leaders, is that okay for you sir ?
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——————-
Just imagine, the questions and mimics of Weerathunga is obvious no beyond to above like discourses right ?
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PLEASE RISE UP ! I can give my life IF YOU WOULD join..
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Ajay / April 22, 2020
Wake up man, this is not like running a corner store in Los Angeles.
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Eagle Eye / April 22, 2020
Ajay,
The man who ran a corner store in Los Angeles and his brother managed to eliminate ‘Para’ Demala terrorist barbarians who slaughtered Native Sinhalayo for three decades and restore peace to all Sri lankans.
‘Koti; who lost in the fight with ‘Sinhayo’ are suffering from ‘Inferiority Complex’ and spewing anti-Rajapakshe venom.
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Burt / April 22, 2020
How stupid are the Sinhala Buddhists to elect a 7Eleven clerk for President?
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Ashan / April 22, 2020
It’s easy. Just make the Muslims the scapegoat, the media the enemy, that International agencies are “out to get the Rajapaksa’s”, and that only THEY can deal with terrorists, and the gullible will vote for him.
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Thappu / April 22, 2020
I suspect that the timing of the dissolution of parliament was intentionally sinister. The pandemic had not even peaked. Why dissolve parliament when there was 6 months left to complete.
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rajash / April 22, 2020
we had many mutation of rajapakse virus.
the Gota virus is the most dangerous.
and the Sri Lanka sinhala modayas voted for the rajapakse virus….
…they failed to distance from that virus
now the Corona virus is being exploited by the rajapakse virus to stay in power indefinitely and think the unthinkable …in a Chinese model?
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Eagle Eye / April 22, 2020
Rajash,
Them-Mala and Mus-Ling viruses that came from Hindusthan are the most dangerous viruses that had a serious negative impact on Native Sinhalayo. Rajapakshe virus was not bad for the people because it attacked only Them Malu.
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“Sri Lanka sinhala modayas voted for the rajapakse virus”
Sinhalaya Modaya
Kewun Kanna Yodhaya
Yuda Karanna Sooraya
Them Malunge Maraya
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Justin Case / April 22, 2020
What a wonderful exposition of logic and determined arrogance by our new maharajjano Gobbabayagulla, aided that sycophant and cousin, convicted criminal LW.
These bastards will go far; they’ll succeed in stealing the 2/3 majority and change the constitution to make all the previous violations by themselves and Aappa Sira retroactively legitimate.
I think we are close to the final chapter of the decline of a magnificent land like no other.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / April 22, 2020
Good on you Mr President.. 7 Million plus their families and a lot more after the Corona Threat to their lives will be with you with the Mahasanga as well as our Good Cardinal in Colombo…
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Lankan / April 22, 2020
You might have to eat those words soon…and wash it down with your favourite arrack (or whisky?) to numb your sorrows…
Oh Sumanasekara, there’s just far too many of your kind in Sri Lanka!
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Native Vedda / April 22, 2020
KASmaalam K.A. Sumanasekera
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Is China building a ghetto for your poor inhabitants of Lankawe in 2500 years Lankawe?
Listen to this interview
Dr. Umar Johnson Discusses Inter-Racial Marriage, President Trump, Self-Hatred & More https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVhBOcUv4QY
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China does not give a damn about your president, 7 million, Saffron Brigade, Cross dressers, ranavirus’s, ……………………. Chinese only worry about their interest in your(?) country.
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Bring in your mate SJ to bat for China.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / April 22, 2020
Dear Native,
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If not for the Chinese rolling credit line, our inhabitants would have been dying in hundreds, not just in single Digits like what the Corona is doing..
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And your mates, Mangala Samare, Rauf Hakeem , , Field Marshall Ponny , Abraham and even good samaritan Ranjan would have been sitting in Kotte with Hirunickers and telling poor Prez Nande how to bend over to the West to get some Moolay..
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They would have told our poor Cardinal also to go easy on the Bosses and the Brains of the Kochikade Suicide Bombers , in order to help Nandasena to find Food for the Inhabitants.
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BTW, Has Trumpy become your new Idol for bashing the Good Chinese People?..
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Native Vedda / April 22, 2020
KASmaalam K.A. Sumanasekera
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“If not for the Chinese rolling credit line, our inhabitants would have been dying in hundreds, not just in single Digits like what the Corona is doing..”
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Innocent People have been dying in thousands since 1956. Dying is not new, the sad part is their untimely man made death. You won’t understand lets forget it.
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What did Gota/Mahinda do with the $600 million they received from Modi only a couple of months ago? Did Modi directly transfer the entire payment to Seychelles, private bank accounts?
EU donated Euro 22 Million only a couple of weeksago.
American donated $1.3 million donated to Corona fund.
Again Modi has agreed to granting $400 Million currency swap, sort of a short term overdraft facility.
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“………………… telling poor Prez Nande how to bend over to the West to get some Moolay..”
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What are you talking about, the same National Hangman Nandasena is still an American, the representative of the US state, which granted him citizenship in good time in order to avoid wrath of his innocent victims.
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Any chance you belong to one of the prominent LTTE families.
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Is there a secret agreement between the National Hangman and Modi? Read the following news:
Indian Army to send teams to Sri Lanka to fight Covid-19
http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Indian-Army-to-send-teams-to-Sri-Lanka-to-fight-Covid-19/108-187011
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Sam Fernando / April 22, 2020
KaS,
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Good on you ?
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My gosh, were you born in a test tube ?
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Or DNA did not reveal your origin ?.
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These ballige puthas will be caught soon, wait and see.
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Amarasiri / April 22, 2020
Colombo Telegraph Author ,
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. “Medical experts warn that the country must complete at least four or five incubation cycles before normal life resumes in order ensuring early easing of restrictions does not create a new wave of infections. So far Sri Lanka has completed only two cycles since the curfew was imposed.“
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Well, that means the country is set for the next wave of corona virus, Wuhan China-19 virus, pandemic, that will show a spike two to three weeks after opening, if the country is opened, and the election day June 20, 2020.
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Of course, the constitution says, the new parliament must reconvene by June 2nd, and Gota says, will not reconvene the old parliament of crooks and imbeciles, but will wait for the new parliament of crooks and imbeciles, yo be elected by imbeciles, measures mean IQ 79.
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Nevertheless, this is unconstitutional, so was the sacking of the PM by Sirisena on October 26, 2018. This can be challenged in the Supreme Court, and by the time this was resolved, the new election will be held to elect the new set of crooks and imbeciles, a government for the people by the People.
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Gota’ s Republic! Are the people starving?
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GATAM / April 22, 2020
He cannot turn SL into a military-run country because his wife and son are US citizen (even if we are to believe he is not). USA will put pressure through his close family members to follow democracy or else……..
Mahinda cannot live without power. He must become PM and his son must become the next PM. Those are dictates from him. There is no way Gota can ignore them.
The country is in ruin. Having a parliament helps Gota shift the blame to parliament and not him.
His party people are desperate to get into parliament and Cabinet, rob the country as quickly as they can. Not even god can stop them.
So do not have undue fear. Gota will have a parliament too soon.
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Mallaiyuran / April 22, 2020
” He must become PM and his son must become the next PM. Those are dictates from him. There is no way Gota can ignore them. ”
You have a point. But for that, will Old have an election well after they have lost magic of the last election, economy crumpled, Corona had killed half a million, exchange surpassed 300 Rupees? Is he prepared to give Valaththodam Jr a 2/3?
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Raj / April 22, 2020
Please read the following section of the Constitution carefully (quoted in the article):
“…he may by Proclamation summon the Parliament which has been dissolved…”
“… he MAY…”
Yahapalana constitutional pundits who introduced the 19th amendment should have emphasized with the word “… he shall…” to avoid any ambiguities.
They failed to do it and now they have to live with it.
Anyways, 99% of the general public is happy since they continue to save billions of rupees by way of not having to pay the pension to the old lot and also not having them in Diyawanna to waste the tax payer’s hard-earned money at this critical moment.
CT! If you don’t believe me just do a small opinion survey with only hundred respondents (randomly chosen) in Sri Lanka and publish the results. I bet you you would definitely agree with me.
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Mallaiyuran / April 22, 2020
Old parliament was under Ranil and he resigned. Now what is point of calling back and giving the power on his hand? Ranil used the 19A to make sure that he do anything for 4 ½ years but nobody even God cannot get him out. Sumanthiran Hakeem, Anura…. all fools made sure Ranil will be in the empire’s palace (TTH) for 4 ½ years. President was running minority government because there was dead lock that nobody can touch on Ranil even if he has not been attending the sessions. The constitution is very vague what is alternative for president if the minority government is defeated in certain, certain bills. There was a dead lock for president to run the government. It is apparent that there was an urgency to dissolve the parliament in which Ranil had the majority. Thank god, the 19A allowed him to dissolve the lame duck parliament after 4 ½ years. He did it. King has seen urgency to dismiss the parliament but not to reconvene. So far parliamentarian has been asking to reconvene the Ranil’s parliament, but did not tell what the urgency they have been seeing was.
Section 70(7) did not say what if President didn’t call back the old Parliament. 2018, the government was functioning, when Ministers were banned to act in their capacity by the highest court, only with Secretaries. Section 4(b) says President is the executive. It never talked about the three branches sharing equal power or even a formula to power balance. Then why the president should not run the government himself alone this time? There are people saying that he is going to run it forever but not explaining it how. What did they thought when they were voting for 18 A, unlimited presidential terms with all needed bells whistle commissions of a dictator? Then they voted for Ranil’s 19A. What did they do when the 100 days present wanted to keep the power forever? Now, lot of crocodile tears for the mass?
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wera / April 22, 2020
This is what you voted for.
An American citizen who still has not been listed as removed from the US list of those who have been granted a withdrawal of citizenship. Therefore he sits on his thrown illegally. His nomination is invalid, His swearing in to honor the constitution is invalid. Even if you morons who voted for him eventually get an election and a new parliament that parliament will only be a rubber stamp. He will not bow down to parliament as he is supposed to do under the law. A lawless tyrant with a dubious reputation for mass murder which was never investigated. This is your legacy and the beginning of the total destruction of a nation. Your nasty racist predjudice is the root cause of this calamity. Do not call your selves Buddhist and insult a religion for no religion professes hatred of the king that led moronic people like your selves to vote for such a despicable bunch of scum.
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Kabaragoya / April 22, 2020
Today, the Guardian reported that there would be a famine of biblical proportions following the pandemic. This is not the time to play politics. The government will need to get loans to tide over shortages. Please get off pride and do what is needful. Call the old Parliament of old rogues than have a new Parliament of new rogues so that constitutional requirements can be satisfied to make up a government. No foreign institution like the IMF will give loans to a government that is not fully constituted. The doctrine of necessity applies only when there is no alternative. There is a less onerous and les expensive alternative to an election of recalling Parliament. The constitution prescribes an alternative to holding elections under 70(7): recall the old Parliament. Please do so at least to ensure that constitutional proprieties are maintained.
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JD / April 22, 2020
Kabaragoya:
What a stupid fellow you are. Former parliament did not have an economic strategy until 2020 or until 2025. What will they again, if they come, empty the banks again.
There is a good thing to do. I heard for the time may be in the USA, one OIL BARREL IS -$37.00 (NEGATIVE 37.00 MEANS IF WE BUY A FEW SHIPS OF PETROLEUM half way we can Saboteurs to sinks the ships except one or two. But, we get whole lot of dollars, so our Treasury will have any more space and we may be able to lock down it for few more years. You think Ranil and gang come and do it. They could not do it for FOUR AND HALF YEARS. Now only they do most probably making every one sick with CORONA. They may hide where ever they can as they did during the Easter attack.
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Abhaya Premawardena / April 22, 2020
what a conundrum for these monkeys .. if you have elections you will lose. if not you will have Gotabaya running the country..
It must be hard being Tamilsand UNP gon thadiyas these days….
Hik hik hikz
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JD / April 22, 2020
Most of the comments are from LTTE – Losers and from disappointed SABOTEURS. They want another group of Losers back in the driving seats.
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nalmen / April 22, 2020
if as sumanti says the gazette is annulled and parliament continues it is incumbent on karu to summon parliament thereby putting the ball in the govts court forcing them to go to the supreme court to decide who is right and who is wrong
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Good Sense / April 22, 2020
The vast majority of those who are CT readers may not agree with this comment. He should not be another “Nayakathumani” , “Fuhrer” in German – the connoting Adolf Hitler or “Thalaiver” in Tamil – connoting Velupillai Prabhakaran. The opposition should not be greedy and lose everything, thus creating a loss for the whole country. They should understand that in trying to get the courts too to agree to the concept to summon the old parliament will only lead to a political suppression with military might. Sanctions! So what? A good excuse to run the country as a hermit state like North Korea. NO MORE IMPORTS. Another 70 to 77 regime with a militaristic jack-boot. I fear that the course of action that opposition contemplates will only lead what Idi Amin did for judges in Uganda. If South Korea can hold elections amidst Corona Virus, so can we, of course with a lot of expenses. In short, far better let the man have his thumping majority in Parliament and a minor but a very strong opposition so that he cannot really run away. If you don’t really upset the man he will not change his “Upasaka” (The saintly appearance) in a hurry and the continuation of that behaviour permits a strong but a minor opposition to keep a check. Once he changes his behaviour no one can put a stop to it. If the current opposition is greedy for power to perform another Central Bank and the likes they can do what they are doing now and the looser is the population at large, after the entire opposition being in remand custody in perpetuity. Our man will say “The law! I am the law” (“La Loi! La Loi cest moit!).
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Shrikharan / April 22, 2020
If the big lawyers feel President has breach the constitution, then why they do not go to courts and seek redress. No point only shouting in front of the media.
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Eagle Eye / April 22, 2020
Sinhala tax payers’ do not want to spend their money to support:
• ‘Maha Benku Horu’,
• Foot Note ‘Kalliya’ who took money to cover up Central Bank Robbery,
• Dumbos who kept their mouths shut when their Boss sold assets of the country to foreigners,
• Dumbos who kept quiet when the Government co-sponsored the UNHRC Resolution violating the Constitution and accepted that Sri Lankan Armed Forces committed ‘War Crimes’,
• Dumbos who ruined the Intelligence Service,
• Dumbos who remanded members of the Armed Forces on fabricated charges to please ‘Para’ people,
• Idiots who failed to prevent terrorist attack by Wahabi Muslims,
• Borrowed Five Trillion Rupees but have not produced anything noteworthy,
• Don keys who ruined a vibrant economy,
• Dumbos who allowed Sukanthiran and Jadampathy to draft a new Constitution with a Federal System etc. etc.
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Raj-UK / April 22, 2020
Eagle Eye
You fail to mention the colossal amounts spent on white elephant projects, hedging losses, Greek bond losses, massive frauds, such as, the MIG deal, not to mention hocking the country to the Chinese, etc etc under the Rajapakses. As for the ‘… vibrant economy….’, did we ever have one? Anyway, I am sure GR can fall back on the friends of the regime, the Chinese, to bail us out, after all, the virus originated there.
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Simon De Silva / April 22, 2020
Sinhala (WHY NOT SRILANKEN ) tax payers’ do not want to spend their money to support:
• ‘Maha Benku Horu’,
CENTRAL BANK WAS ROBBED LONG BEFORE GOOG GOVERNANCE GOVT CAME INTO BEING…. BP Mahinda together with his Wandibattaya Ajitha Kabral SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUTABLE FOR THAT: WHAT IS TO HAVE BEEN LOST UNDER former govt is DEPOSITED but WHAT BPs LOOTED IS NOT EVEN DOCUMENTED.
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• Foot Note ‘Kalliya’ who took money to cover up Central Bank Robbery
EVEN TODAY WE THOSE WHO CAN SEE IT RIGHT ARE WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE MEDIA MADE IT – ELSE RW OR ANYONE DID NOT DO SUCH A BOND SCAM; THAT WAS ALREADY THERE; UNDER BP Rajakshes.
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• Dumbos who kept their mouths shut when their Boss sold assets of the country to foreigners-
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WE know who SOLD them out and MADE SRILANKEN a chinese colony BUT BPs of your nature are stupid and cant see it further.
• Dumbos who kept quiet when the Government co-sponsored the UNHRC Resolution violating the Constitution and accepted that Sri Lankan Armed Forces committed ‘War Crimes’,
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Lot more to come in the next days to come wait and see, we the sinhalaya and tamils in Europe will never ALLOW Rajapkashe to loot it again.
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• Dumbos who ruined the Intelligence Service,
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That was done SIRISENA and BP Mahinda nobody else
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Pon Kulendiren / April 22, 2020
God bless Sri Lanka from an emerging dictator
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Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam / April 22, 2020
Why is it that Hakeem, Ranil, Sajith, Sambanthan, Sumanthiran and others against the EC Decision on election on June 20 file a petition to the SC against the EC setting a date for parliamentary election?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / April 22, 2020
Dear Ethir, all these people are against, as they do not have the ability to understand that it was a master stroke. By fixing the date beyond 2nd June, it has been effectively put to rest all machinations of Rajapakse gang. Please remember that at the meeting on 20th April, Chairman of elections commission tried his best to force the other two members to agree to hold the election on 25th May and failed because both of them stood firm. When elections commission asked President to seek the opinion from Supreme court, he in an arrogant manner refused and asked the commission to set a date. He thought he could get the help of that slimy fellow of a chairman to have his way. Now Rajapakse gang will have to tuck their tails between their legs like dogs and obey Supreme court decision. Whether Supreme court will have backbone to stand up and deliver the correct judgement or will they fall for the threats and inducements of Rajapakse gang, we have to wait and see.
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hancho pancha / April 22, 2020
Srilanka is a Democracy. The people have elected a President granting him uninhibited authority to govern. Instead of asking him to reconvene the House of Thieves costing the taxpayer a fortune and plunging the country further down inside the hole of debt, let HE the President to govern the country by a Presidential Decree until an election could be held sans the fear of the population contracting COVID19. Conversely, all of the 225 Members of the House could agree to reconvene the Parliament offering their services FOC and encumbrances.
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Balabastian / April 22, 2020
Lankan Not your favourite arrack (or whisky?) definitely NO NO NO he drinks urine, when you want to piss he will open his mouth
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JD / April 22, 2020
President did not establish a CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL and did not take over complete management. President handed over it to the health experts and management to forces (mostly the Army). Others are also engaged it. Developed countries, in order to develop it as a business entity established CDCs and only the political administration and statisticians, Banks, deep states tried to handle it and screwed it up. Good work.
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Mallaiyuran / April 22, 2020
Softy,
Can I borrow something, until lockdown is over, from your foreign (American) account deposits. How much of the crumps, so far have fell into your bucket from the Help Corona? Is the sack of the Corona over and they have sew up the mouth of the sack or still stuffing?
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Saman / April 22, 2020
This what foolish Sinhalese Buddhists and yellow robed men wanted.
DICTATORSHIP….
Are you happy now.
Dictatorship definitely leads to absolute DISASTER.
COVID-19 is not a catastrophic disaster for Srilanka.
Dictatorship is more dangerous than any pandemic or any other calamity.
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Poor Labourer / April 22, 2020
Sri Lankans will be ruled by a Dictator with his Bulldog for decades.Forget democracy during the Rajapakse Dynasty which will be for a few decades!!! Life in Permanently Lockdown Land!!!!!
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S.W.AJayatilaka. / April 22, 2020
My comment on how politics handle the payment of 5000 grant.A person known to me from kiralapona area registered voter who?s name was removed from the election registry last time by the Grama sewaka -female GS .was not given to this three wheel driver stating his name is not in the election list.
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chiv / April 22, 2020
Not even 24 hours passed since my last comment here comes the confirmation. Lanka soon will get out of this Covid Pandemic to step into much larger and virulent pandemic called “Political Pandemic”,which is here to stay. Past history too suggest, Lanka gets out of catastrophes just in time, to get into a much worser ones. Thirty years of war, couple of insurrections, one too many pogroms, Tsunami, Easter massacre and now Pandemic, yet no lessons learned , with eyes wide open marching (immorally)into an inferno. Good Luck. People here can have all their discussions, heated debates, name calling, minority bashing and what not, it is the sick who carry , spread and enable this virulent political parasites, which cannot be tested, traced and anyform of social distancing as in Covid , will not help in containing this vicious death cycle. If you look at history Pandemics and World Wars (current Germany, Japan) have determined , the future of many countries including the West. This Pandemic being unusual and extraordinary situation will definitely have significant impact on economy, availability of food and others in need of survival, governance among many other things. Such a move by Lanka will be their final nail in the coffin.
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Aruna Gamage / April 22, 2020
“Ready To Run Country Without A Parliament”. Gota sys.
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Shouldn’t anyone who has experience the running of parliament in this country welcome the idea?
It is a brilliant idea the people need to embrace
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Firstly, it helps get rid of at least 200 parasites (out of 225). THeir attendance was bloody pathetic.
Secondly it was led by a speaker who was being adviced by the local traitor Prasad Kariyawasam who was passing on USAID advice (for US$70000 a month) on how to run the bloody country.
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I can go on, but what is important is to suspend the parliament and administer the country like it was done over the last couple of months.
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Things rransmoothly and the pandemic tacked well too.
So, only Sumanthiran wants to chase this issue because his aim to destabilise the country.
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goone / April 22, 2020
Gots will kick brother out,already brother is a cancer patient. so Namal does not have a clear path, may bring son in, or millitary rule like junta. will start a communal clash with muslims, then more fighting and civil war. all the politico jokers will fly out to their homes in australia and canada/uk. china will come with troops. take hambanthota ccp rule. gots dictator for life, or china virus kills him.
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Plato. / April 22, 2020
The Covid 19 is the winning lottery ticket of President GoRa.
Parliament ,Democracy and other Constitutional stuff is does not bother him.
Absolute Power is his non vegetarian menu!
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