28 March, 2024

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Regaining Paradise, With Gotabaya Rajapaksa

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“If they harm me, it is the country they harm.” ~ Gotabaya Rajapaksa (Hard Talk – Daily Mirror – October 2011)[i]

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

The beautification of Goabaya Rajapaksa is on full throttle. The names of his front organisations are indicative of the guise he intends to adopt as a presidential contender: The Light (Eliya) and The Intellectual Path (Viyathmaga). In a recent interview,[ii]he is photographed with a laden bookshelf forming the background – the erudite leader ready t guide the country towards the light along the intellectual path.

It would have been a harmless joke had it not been for the man’s past.

In Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s pantheon, no divinity is more important than the god of discipline. Freedom, he tells his future subjects, is of no use without discipline.[iii]The burden of his song is simple – under Rajapaksa rule, there was discipline; now there’s anarchy; once the presidency returns to the Family, the paradise of discipline will be regained.

Perhaps it’s time to recall a few vignettes of the paradise of discipline we lost.

On 24thNovember 2011, making the keynote speech at the inaugural National Conference on Reconciliation, Gotabaya Rajapaksa proclaimed Sri Lanka to be “one of the most secure and stable countries…in the entire world.”[iv]

Exactly a month later, on the Christmas Eve of 2011, in the Rajapaksa bastion of Tangalle, Khuram Shaikh, a British tourist, was hacked to death and his Russian companion gang raped. The culprits were Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana, a Rajapaksa acolyte and the handpicked head of the Tangalle Pradesheeya Sabha, and his fellow thugs.

The criminals would have got away with it, had the victim not been a British national. As it was, the politico was arrested, released on bail, and within months, restored to his old job as the Chairman of the Tangalle PS (the effect this would have had on eyewitnesses who are locals are all too easy to imagine).

On 11thJuly 2013, the Chief Government whip Dinesh Gunawardena informed the parliament that Mr. Shaikh’s partner Victoria Tkacheva was neither raped nor sexually abused. When he was challenged, he washed his hands of that atrocious lie by saying, “I am presenting the answer given to me by the Ministry of Defence, based on police records submitted to them.”[v]Had it not been for the fact that Mahinda Rajapaksa was not desperate to avoid a boycott of the 2013 Hambantota Commonwealth, murdering-raping politico may not have been charged at all.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s defence would be that rapes and murders happen everywhere, including in his adopted motherland, the USA. They do. The difference was that the main suspect was a favoured acolyte of the ruling family, and political influence was used to delay and if not subvert justice.

In the paradise of discipline that was Rajapaksa-Sri Lanka, criminal politicians were not the exception but the norm.

On 8thOctober 2011, in Kolonnawa, a suburb of Colombo, a shooting war erupted when Duminda Silva, the monitoring MP of Defence Ministry,[vi]and his entourage attacked the entourage of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, a presidential advisor. Mr. Premachandra and several others were shot to death. Subsequent investigations revealed that Duminda Silva’s entourage included a well known criminal boss known as Dematagoda Chaminda. The international factors that played a key role in the Khuram Shaikh case were absent in the Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra case. It would take a governmental change and the restoration of judicial independence for Duminda Silva to be convicted or murder.

Then there was the case of planter Nihal Perera murdered on 5thJuly 2013. He had fallen foul of a local UPFA politico, Anil Dhammika Wijsesinghe, the former chairman of the Deraniyagala PS. “slashing the throat of the area Divisional Secretary after he refused to allocate two acres of land.”[vii]Mr. Perera had opposed the politico’s tree-felling racket. He was once beaten up in his own bungalow, probably as a warning. Later he was he was abducted, “beaten with clubs before being slashed with swords.”[viii]

That was how discipline reigned in the lost Rajapaksa paradise, the one Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is promising to restore.

The Guilty and the Innocent

When it comes to conjuring enemies, Gotabaya Rajapaksa is peerless. At a defence seminar in September 2013, he produced a stable-full of them.[ix]There were Tamil Extremists (International)who want “the division of Sri Lanka and the establishment of a separate state for Tamil Eelam,” and Tamil Extremists (National)who might empower radical elements to “once again attempt to take up arms against the state in the name of separation.” Then come Left wing Extremists, who were “involved in previous insurgencies. Some of these groups are trying to reorganise within Sri Lanka and mobilise people to once again take up extreme left wing causes.” No enemy-list would be complete without Islamic Extremists. Then comes the sui generisGota-touch, with Criminal Extremists,Media Extremists(who “portray demands by sections of the public to showcase the country in a negative light”),Anti-democratic Extremists(who “go beyond peaceful demonstrations and engage in violent protest, incite violence or act in other undemocratic ways”) and Irresponsible Extremists(who don’t exercise their democratic freedoms with responsibility”). Finally there’s that hardy perennial, Western Extremists(“There is a possibility that some western powers wish to have a Sri Lankan Government that is closely aligned with their interests. They may seek to influence Sri Lanka’s destiny so that it cannot pursue the independent course it is following at present”).

Naturally the likes of BBS were not included in the list. They, as per Gotabhaya-vision, are not extremists, but monks “engaged in a nationally important task.”[x]Mr. Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest at the opening of Meth Sevana, the Buddhist Leadership Academy of the BBS. Less than a month later, a monk-led mob torched the Fashion Bug outlet in Pepiliyana. That was not terrorism, but probably a ‘nationally important task.’

Haitha Madawala, a UPFA member of the Kelaniya PS? On January 5th2013, he was shot dead outside his house. His murderers rode a motorcycle, wore hoods, and got away. An attempt had been made to kill him one year previously, on January 7th2012. Subsequent to that attempt, Mr. Madawala fingered Mervyn Silva, a key Rajapaksa acolyte, and said that a “murder contract has been given to notorious underworld operatives Roshantha of Hikkaduwa and Majeed of Maligawatte…”[xi]Not a case of Criminal Extremism.

In 2013, Rohitha Rajapaksa hammered a referee at a rugby match in full view of spectators. Young Rohitha was incensed because his side lost the match.[xii]There was talk of an investigation, but nothing happened. Not a case of Irresponsible Extremism.

June 26th2012, a BBS mob surrounded the Ministry of Buddha Sasana demanding that the Minister cracks down on a rival Buddhist who ‘insulted Buddhism’ within two weeks. On January 21st, 2013, another BBS mob stormed a tourist hotel in Beruwala, where a private party was in progress, alleging that the hotel possessed a ‘Buddha Bar’. Not cases of Anti-democratic Extremism.

In June 2013 Last month an MOU was signed for the establishment of a university in Kaththankudi, as part of the Mahinda Chinthanaya: “The founding of the first University for Ulamas is to be funded by Saudi Arabia. GCE A/L qualified Moulavy graduates from Mathrasas will be admitted for studies at the university”[xiii]. The new university will turn out graduates who adhere to Wahabism. Nothing to do with Islamic Extremism.

In April 2014, the editor-in-chief of Lakbimawas interrogated by the CID. His ‘crime’ was carrying a funny caption over a picture of the wife of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. “…..Ayoma Rajapaksa was depicted buying goods at the New Year fair of the Civil Defence Department. The caption of the photo was…. ‘They aren’t fake money aren’t they?’”[xiv]The newspaper apologised the very next day, but to no avail. The sub-editor, directly responsible for the caption, was dismissed from the job[xv]. Subsequently the editor himself tended his resignation. That was a case of Media Extremism.

The aged grandmother of Dhanuna Tilakaratne, the then son-in-law of Gen. Sarath Fonseka, was dragged to the CID. Her crime – offering her fugitive grandson shelter for one night. What a purveyor of Irresponsible Extremism.

In May 2013, Sagarica Delgoda, the Resident Representative of the Friedrich Neumann Stiftung (FNS), was taken to the Fourth Floor and grilled for 8 hours over links between the FNS and the UNP. The FNS has had links with both the major parties, openly, for decades. But in Rajapaksa Sri Lanka, that probably came under Western Extremism.[xvi]

That was how the Rajapaksa paradise worked in practice – freedom for themselves and their acolytes; repression masquerading as discipline for everyone else. Impunity for the few and helplessness for the many – that was the state Gotabaya Rajapaksa recalls with such fondness and promises to bring back.

Anti-factual Realities

In a recent interview, Gotabaya Rajapaksa reiterates the importance of stability. “A stable country is of paramount importance. It is fundamental to everything. Stability is very important. We have to ensure that there is a disciplined, stable and secure initial base for development. No investor, be it local or foreign, will invest if there is no stability.”

So how did this haven of stability work in practice? According to Fitch Ratings, post-war Sri Lanka was remarkably unsuccessful in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI); the average net FDI since 2009 is a miniscule 1.2% of GDP. “This is low in comparison with most regional peers and has fuelled a reliance on debt-creating capital….. This has kept the external debt burden at 57% of GDP which is much higher than all other emerging Asian markets, except Mongolia.”[xvii]

In 2013, The ILO warned that Sri Lanka’s income inequality was on the rise. This was confirmed by the government’s own statistics. Minister Sarath Amunugama revealed in parliament that the richest 20% of the country account for 54.1% of the national income while the bottom 20% receive just 4.5%.[xviii]According to the ILO’s Asia Pacific Labour Market Update of April 2013, “…in Sri Lanka youth unemployment rate was more than four times the overall unemployment rate….”[xix]Meanwhile, the 2013 budget gave a 300% tax break to super racing cars. The 2014 budget gave tax relief to designer pens, ties and bows and other branded consumer items. So much for pro-people economics.

Ironically, this past is unlikely to be a bar to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s overweening ambition to sit in the presidential seat because many an anti-Rajapaksa Lankan would find it next to impossible to summon any enthusiasm for the alternative. The UNP’s four years in office have been a time of unintelligent governance. Max Weber defined politics as “a strong and slow boring of hard boards,” and opined that being a politician requires passion and perspective.[xx]The UNP lacks both. It public image is a disastrous combination of venality, inertia, and tedium. Its actions and inactions have made a mockery of the hopes of 2015 and given good governance a bad name. The UNP’s unique capacity to simultaneously kindle teeth-grinding irritation and jaw-aching boredom could keep a sizeable segment of the anti-Rajapaksa voters away from the polling booth. Unfortunately for Lankan democracy, such non-voting would be a form of voting. It could ensure a Rajapaksa victory, as happened at the at the local government election of 2018.

Mr. Sirisena’s shenanigans constitute a major blessing for the Rajapaksas. The President wants to hang drug offenders to prove he is tough on crime. He tries to trade on patriotism. He dreams of rolling back the democratic reforms he himself pioneered. For instance, his remarks indicate that the independent commissions he now wants are the same sort of independent commissions Mahinda Rajapaksa created via the 18thAmendment – commissions which exist to approve whatever the president wants, and are independent only where slavery is freedom, truth are lies and war is peace.

The main obstacles to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential ambition are twofold. First is inter-familial rivalry. Chamal Rajapaksa has expressed his own readiness to be the SLPP’s presidential candidate. Basil Rajapaksa is said to be evading the issue. Even if that problem is ironed out, there is the far more serious issue of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s US citizenship. It would be a case of poetic justice if the man who portrays himself as Sri Lanka’s supreme patriot finds himself barred from the presidential race because he took early retirement from the army while the country was still at war and sought greener pastures in the American empire.

[i]http://srilankabrief.org/2011/10/i-dont-want-to-be-the-prime-minister-i-am-not-interested-in-that-gotabhaya-rajapaksa/

[ii]http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/How-can-there-be-freedom-without-discipline-Gotabaya-162220.html

[iii]Ibid

[iv]https://www.slguardian.org/sri-lanka-today-is-one-of-the-most-secure-and-stable-countries/

[v]http://www.ceylontoday.lk/16-37444-news-detail-khuram-shaikhs-partner-was-not-raped.html

[vi]“President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed three Monitoring Members of Parliament. Sajin de Vaas Gunawardane has been appointed as the Monitoring MP to the External Affairs Ministry while parliamentarians R Duminda Silva and Uditha Sanjaya Lokubandara were appointed as Monitoring MPs to the Defence Ministry.” (Ada Derana – 13.12.2010). Subsequently, MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardane assaulted the then Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Chris Nonis, in public. Investigations carried out by the Rajapaksa government absolved him of all charges.

[vii]http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130714/news/brutally-felled-for-taking-stand-against-felling-of-trees-2-52914.html

[viii]Ibid

[ix]https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sri-lanka-is-one-of-the-peaceful-stable-and-democratically-secured-countries-in-the-world/

[x]Sri Lanka Mirror – 10.3.2013

[xi]Sri Lanka Mirror – 8.1.2012

[xii]https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/presidential-offspring-rohitha-rajapaksa-assaulted-rugby-referee-in-full-public-view/

[xiii]http://www.omlanka.com/Malik-Abdulla120613.html

[xiv]http://www.colombopage.com/archive_14A/Apr09_1397065125JV.php

[xv]http://www.srilankabrief.org/2014/04/on-gotas-orders-lakbima-sub-editor.html

[xvi]http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2013/05/26/where-lies-the-conspiracy/

[xvii]http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/fitchwire/fitchwirearticle/Sri-Lanka’s-Resilience?pr_id=805953&cm_sp=homepage-_-FitchWire-_-%20Sri%20Lanka’s%20Resilience%20Masks%20Medium-Term%20Credit%20Risks

[xviii]http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=91542

[xix]http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—asia/—ro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_212030.pdf

[xx]Politics as a vocation

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Latest comments

  • 31
    6

    “It would be a case of poetic justice if the man who portrays himself as Sri Lanka’s supreme patriot finds himself barred from the presidential race because he took early retirement from the army while the country was still at war and sought greener pastures in the American empire”.

    The above statement clearly explains “WHAT A FAKE PATRIOT GOTABHAYA IS” !!!!!!!

    • 23
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      Those who constantly believe that Rajapakshes revolutioned the country by introducing southern high way and several other road constrution, please find the link below… The chinese have invested also in Ethiopia but their leaders have not become wealthy by abusing the development projects as is the case in OUR god punished country.

      How once up POOREST of the workd -Ethiopia exeeded our levels in today s context.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz_nJpqvaiE
      One would feel, this would have been in an eruopean country, but it is in ADIS ABEBA.
      .
      BP Rajaakshe instead, looted the country to the core and enriching his family circle. To me, he should be punished by the maximum laws putthing them all in jails for the rest of life.

      • 10
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        Thisaranee dear, you are too shrill and this is unbalanced, sorry to say. JVP must win the next presidential elections since the US-Euro Human Right Endgame in Sri Lanka is setting up US military Bases in Sri Lanka, of course with the help of their puppet Bondscam Ranil and US citizen Gota Rajapaksa who they should have arrested and tried for war crimes– in his homeland and State of California.

        Bondscam Ranil and his butterfly mafia who have put Lanka into the IMF Washigton Consensus Debt trap and crashing the economy is as big a threat to the people of Lanka as his partner in Crime Mahinda Jarapassa and US citizen Gota. Bond ranil and Mahinda should share prison cell and it is time for a new generation to take over politics.
        ps I have nothing against butterflies or gay folk but Bondscam RW and his mafia are the pits and should be behind bars.

        • 9
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          What about the Chinese bases in Hambantota and Colombo?!

          • 4
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            Kumaran: China at least has at least built infrastructure – BMICH, Coal power plant, Nelum Pokuna, Habour, etc. whereas US only piles on the sovereign bond debt trap with Fake development aid and Fake economic policy advice from Washington Consensus and Neo Con Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to Bonscam Ranil’s office, in order to advance US security interests in Indian Ocean.
            Japan’s Jica and ADB – Washington’s buddy has flooded Lanka with expensive debt trap loans for highways and Japanese cars and SUVs for corrupt politicians and has prevented building of rapid rail and good public trasnport.
            Lanka’s transport sector is a pollution disaster because of fake aid and fake policy advice from Japan’s ADB to benefit Japanese Banks and car industry.

    • 16
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      Gotabaya would fit better to be the ” ALUSGOSUA – hang man” for the gallow which our so called president is going to bring back in next days. :
      :
      Then Alugosuwa himself can do the job for the nation, by executing his brother, sons and rest of their the bunch that committed high crimes to own folks – let s say during the post war sessions than in war times.
      :
      Lately, I happened to watch a YT video there, Chamal Rajaakshe was questioned by JVP MP about an official meeting on SRILANKENS airline issues to have held at his speaker official residence. There, respondiing to the quesiton, chamal R went on saying, he was not aware of the meeting, but JVP MP cited all what the legal document contained on the very issue. Chamal was denying the meeting to have held at his residence, and even challenged to leave his PARLAMENTARY seat if he had gone wrong there….
      But the bugger Chamal is still there – not an any sign of his voluntary resignation.
      .
      This is how Rajapakshes abuse the law, they are shamless uneducated men who for the unfortune of the country, being produced by DA Rajapaksha basta.

    • 4
      4

      Tisaranee: I think many people who write about Rajapaksas and their racist politics overlook or myopic about the REAL FACTORS and the CAUSES of the evils that these criminals created during the 70+ years and still creating into the future….. The GOVIGAMA MAFIA Factor and its links to the ZIONIST AGENDA ( puppeteered from Washington, London and Tel Aviv). –
      The Sinhala Nationalism, 1956 Sinhala Only debacle, Banda’s Racist Politics, Anagarika’s Fascistic Buddhism, JRJ’s input into the Sinhala Nationalistic Fascism, the unbroken link of GOVIGAMA ELITE FAMILIES HOLD onto the Leadership of the Presidency/Premiership, the creation of Racist groups (JHU, BBS, MAHASON, Sinha-Le, Sinhala Ravaya..etc) and the financial/legal protection and cover up given to these Terrorist organizations, the impunity given to the Racists and instigators of violence against the targeted group/s as and when the GOVIGAMA MAFIA leadership sees fitting to selected occasion and the secret agenda that they are fully committed to. This bastard Gota is a direct contractor working for the MOSSAD (as his brothers & the families) through the SLFP model. SLPP is a tactical offshoot created to become a third force in the hijacked Sri Lankan system to further their goals under the Zionist agenda of making Sri Lanka a Slave agent of the Jewish enterprise. That’s why the UNP of any party that has the power to rule the country have to protect their own criminals from any legal issues. Gota is fully protected under the Zionist scheme and he has the full freedom like an ordinary innocent citizen to get into anything that he likes. The ICJ has no balls to catch these guys who committed massive HUMAN RIGHTS Violations due to the connections to the Zionist regimes. The Mossad/RAW/CIA are using these criminals to enforce their Global designs in this part of the world. So, Gota will be a Freeman……always under their protection cover.

  • 25
    2

    He run away when the country needed him most ..
    Now power greed took him back ..
    I do not think he is a patriotic but he is opportunist to come back into power …
    Family does not like it ..
    Even now he got court case so he can not …
    Sorry for him luck run out for him..

  • 20
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    Gota will not only regain the Paradise, he will turn Sri Lanka into a place which will be a Heaven on Earth, but sadly for the MARA/GORA Murderers and Swindlers only and for the rest it will be a living hell.

    They can have more of Udayanga Weerathunges, Jaliyas, Dumindas, Basils, Rohithas, Gandasaras and the likes in the Island and rename Sri Lanka as Mihin Lanka.

    Jayaweva to GOTLER and long live the Serendipity, the land like no other. I am sure there is a sizeable grass eating populace to prop these Murderers back to power and my sincere hope is that the younger generation of voters are wise enough to see the true reality of a GOTLER Era.

    • 10
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      Ansar

      You are wrong.
      He is Vegetarian and a Sinhala/Buddhist smart patriot.
      How could he harm people?

      • 3
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        That is True Tamils are Pussy cats.

      • 10
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        Native,

        Gota Rapukse is a vegetarian, but feeds sharks in his tank with corpses of people he killed

  • 20
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    Oh dear it’s not worth at all golorifing him for he wouldn’t have the slimiest chance of contesting either presidential election or becoming a president, unless he forfeits his US citizenship. It’s here the catch, and with his records, it wouldn’t be that easy, and it wouldn’t happen any time before the nomination which is fast approaching. Hence, why all are hitting and breaking their heads about it, and which is going to be far and remote possibility. All these noises are to stall the court cases, and scare the concerned officials.

  • 16
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    A very good narrative and analysis of of the hypocrisy and the criminality of the Rajapaksa family. Bensen

  • 5
    0

    what is teplitz doing about it
    is she deaf dumb and blind

  • 8
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    But Thisaranee, if one goes by your name , you are Buddhist. As stated by Ranil at Kilinochchi, the acts of violence by LTTE and other Tamils should be forgiven and forgotten – the Buddhist way. Perhaps, that is what MR may have been doing when he failed to punish his supporters – Forgiving and Forgetting! That is the Buddhist way of dealing such things.
    .
    When you do, there would be opposition and misunderstandings. But one has to forge ahead, as Priyanka did with his Siri Sangabo gesture of dragging his finger across his own neck. Of course it was a throat cutting gesture. What people fail to understand is that it was his own throat that was involved, not the throats of Tamil terrorists.

    • 4
      2

      Erdwin,
      that Arun Siddarth, a young professional journalist revealed it black and white last week the politicians regardless of their locations behave against their own folks. Be them from Northern areas or southern areas, politicians have not focused on the grievances of who are really in need. He further added that the biggest problem of people living in nothern areas is the langauge barrier. These were droped down keeping their tamil MPs in the discussion rounds. I think people regardless of race regligion and other barriers will have to agree with Arun S.
      None of the interviewers were well prepared to the panel discussions as Arun had been upto. That alone showed his genuiness. I think lanken media to be blamed to have misled people sofar. They just work no different to drug traffickers today not getting the alarming levels of the problems common man face. Basta.

  • 8
    3

    A very good analysis about Gotapaya but there are lots to cover about Rajapakse family and fake patriotism. There is no doubt that stability is important for development but how Mahinda regime was the barrier for stability since 2009.

  • 5
    3

    Every thing is OK .but unp and the people like Jr,premadasa, gamini ,lalith and Ranil who unable to uplift the srilankan economy at least up to 15 billion USD and percapital up to 560 USD before 2005 and the party unp normally considered as economic management idiots in srilanka due to their poor performans in economy can be compared with slfp master brains who has architected this huge 80 billion USD business economy just in 10 years what they got 20 billion USD in 2005 and per capital of 3850 USD from 1000 USD in 2005. If you can proof that that unp economic management idiots at least have 1% capability of doing this top level capitalist economy which was architected by economic master brains the slfp the one and only top level business capitalist party ever formed in srilanka. If unp can show their past economic performance. You may be can die with out food and business under idiot unp governments but we can’t ,we need business, food , rich life style only under slfp governments we can get all these things. So write against gota with your 22% vote base of unp, but remember slfp of mahinda is 200% biger than unp and slfp of Mahinda has 47% vote base. We talk and write a lot we 85% middle class and upper middle class will go ahed with gota and slfp the master brains of economic management

  • 9
    20

    Thisaranee, where were you when LTTE terrorists under the leadership of Prabhakaran massacred innocent civilians and able political leaders such as Amirthalingam, Neelan Thiruchelvam, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Kadiragamar etc.,? Wiping out of such terrorism from Sri Lanka is the Sin done by Gota.? Do not be a hypocrite?

    • 9
      2

      Typical dumb Sri Lankan line of thinking?!

    • 6
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      SMA Panadura:
      Fortunately for you and unfortunately for the rest of us who read CT, it does not have a policy against the kind of rank stupidity that you express.

    • 4
      1

      SMA Panadura

      Where were you when hundreds of Muslims were massacred in 1915, 2014, 2018, …Tamils in 1956, 1958, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1983, over 30 years …. Sinhalese in 1971 and between 1987 and 1991, … Where were you when S W R D Banda was assassinated? Where were you when Kumar Ponnampalam, Taraki, Vijaya Kumaratunge, my next door neighbour, innocent men from my village were massacred, and Wijayaweera was burnt alive in Kanatte, …………………. ?

    • 3
      0

      SMA Panadura,
      Do you know the meaning of hypocrite? Do you know who killed SWRD, Wijekuamranatunge, Wijeweera? You mentioned only Tamil MPs killed by LTTE. Why didn’t you mentioned President Premadasa? Do you know who first asked for separation? Do you know what happened to those two most brutal terrorists Karuna Amman & KP? They are very close friends of Gota?

  • 0
    0

    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

  • 12
    1

    The Rajapakse and extended family`s corrupt activity during the 9 year rule is legendary. a) Issue of 1000 diplomatic Passports . b) D.A.Rajapakse Museum construction Rs. 110 Mil. under Def. Secy. Signature, undertaken by Navy & LR&D Com. c) Purchase of Gowers Pvt. Ltd. by a Parliamentarian in the Family d) Commonwealth Games Trip of 140 persons & exp. of Rs. 358 mil. e) Rs. 12,500 mil. found dumped in Temple Trees during Dec.2014/Jan.2015 f) Prof. S.Wijeyasooriyas allegation re the sale & distribution of 40 Kg. Gold, also Siriliya A/c. g) An ex-CJ admitting corrupt (?) verdict on “Helping Hambantota” Case! h) An MR Co-ordinating Secy. holding multiple jobs arrested with 10 Gold Biscuits,(1106 gm) by FCID i) CICT paid Rs.19.41 mil. to Pushpa Rajapakse Foundation in 2012. j) Min. Rambukwella`s Rs. 20 Mil. Ex Presidents Fund plus Insurance obtained over Med. Treatment in 2012. k) Rs.372 Mil. Fraud by Diplomat U.Weeratunga in 2006 in MiG purchases under ex DS Gota then. l) Vihanage Rpt. Re Security Forces Headqrts.Bldg. and overpayment of Rs.173Mil. by the then D.Secy. m) The real value of Suriyawewa Cricket Stadium estimated at Rs. 852 mn by valuation officers. but spent a staggering Rs. 4,500 mln. on the project, says Hon.Ravi K. n) FCID updates –Case No.64/15 Basil R. Rs.396 Mil. In 3 Property purchases o) FCID No.17/15 Yoshita R in 8 Transaction totalling Rs. 707 Mil., p) FCID Case No.138/15 Namal R in 16 transactions totalling Rs. 347 Mil., q) FCID 82/15 Champika Karunarathna a contact of Namal Rs. 5 Mil. involving Extortions.

  • 6
    1

    A well-chronicled theme and timely, however apart from CT readers the matter needs to be expressed
    in pithy Sinhala Kavi and duly recorded for play at all UNP Meetings. A copy must be available with
    each UNP District Organizer at the correct time as a dosage during the Election Fever ahead!!

    • 5
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      punchinilame:
      Excellent idea. These kinds of exposes need to go into the mainstream in easily assimilable form.

    • 3
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      Punchinilame
      Drop your name. It is associated with the picture of driving nails across the head of a Medical student while Ranil was busy running the Batalanda hotel and Premadasa with the types of Richard de Zoysa

      Soma

      • 3
        2

        somass

        You are right.
        Both parties and all leaders have blood in their hands.
        Give them some way out how to repent and redeem themselves from not only theirs but also their fathers’ sins.

        Do you think Dr Gota is an public intellectual par with Profs Amartya Sen, Noam Chomsky, Gananath Obeyesekere, ……………………….. ?

        • 1
          1

          NV
          “Give them some way out how to repent and redeem themselves from not only theirs but also their fathers’ sins.”
          Sambandan can help.
          “Do you think Dr Gota is an public intellectual par with Profs Amartya Sen, Noam Chomsky, Gananath Obeyesekere”
          Thank God MR, GR and SF were not intellectuals of the type you have mentioned.

          Soma

          • 1
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            somass

            “Thank God MR, GR and SF were not intellectuals of the type you have mentioned.”

            Thanks.
            Are they intellectuals on their own merit?

    • 5
      1

      Tisaranee has done an excellent job, but as “punchinilame” and Emil both say, all of this has to be presented by somebody in Sinhalese.
      .
      ” Eagle Eye” and Jay Chambers (who actually appears to be a foreigner who imagines he can do our thinking for us) seem to realise our impotence in this regard. Grusha Andrews to team up with Tisaranee?
      .
      I feel that Nagananda Kodituwakku is the man who is organising himself best to challenge the two corrupt party candidates who are going to line up. He may be one-track, but that is the track that the country needs to travel on. Eliminate corruption. There’s no sign of him being a psychopath the way he conducts himself.
      .
      As this article states, Gota as President will complete the 71 year disaster since Independence.

      • 3
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        “…all of this has to be presented by somebody in Sinhalese.”
        All are expecting Sinhala_Man to do it.

        Soma

        • 2
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          Yes, a fair enough expectation.
          .
          Why I chose that particular sobriquet, it was to make the assertion that I am one (hopefully of many) from “the majority community” who would be quite happy to share this island with other persons, who stand for peace, harmony and co-operation.
          .
          The adjective describes me perfectly. I follow debates, speak the language quite adequately, but I just can’t write effectively.
          .
          It is not a confession that I like making, but better tell the real truth.

  • 0
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    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

  • 5
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    Rajapaksas are HALL MARK of Lankan politics public. Dinesh/Vasu/Wimal/GLP are the proxies employed 24/7 to keep the propaganda alive. . Rambuke ,Mahindananda ( clowns who are always seen in the back ground with a stupid smile )and rest of the SLPP are the flag bearers of this corrupt family. Public is ever so ready to carry the pseudo patriots/nationalist on their heads. What more to make Lanka a country like no other. A true shit hole .

  • 4
    11

    Sri Lanka was slowly but steadily moving towards the Paradise after eliminating Demala terrorism that haunted the people for nearly four decades but abruptly changed by ‘Jathidrohi’ Sirisena on 08 January 2015. From that day onward the country is moving rapidly towards the hell. The only hope to reverse the trend is Gotabhaya; not Ranil, Sajith, Karu, Ravi, Navin or Sirisena. But it will be a ‘Herculean Task’ given the mess the ‘Royal Gang’ is making with the backing of ‘White Supremacists.’

    • 4
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      Eagle Eye, Do you mean the ‘Raja Paksha’ when you talk of the ‘Royal Gang’?

  • 5
    2

    Meticulously marshaled facts, incisive analysis presented in graceful prose.Tisaranee Gunasekara is peerless . .

    • 2
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      Messrs. Van der Poorten, Sarath de Alwis, Thisaranee Gunasekera and those who ‘marshal facts meticulously and present incisive analysis in a graceful manner’ while brandishing your ‘Kaduwa’ to us the ‘poor’ CT reader!
      Many readers understand and sympathize with your agony and frustration since your dream of Yahapalanaya did not come true. It crumbled and disappeared along with the Great Central Bank robbery and a series of corruptions that followed and plagued the Yahapalana government! We all know that RW and Maitree are now like the proverbial cobra and the mongoose!
      On the one hand, you’ve been attacking the Rajapaksas mercilessly throughout your career, and on the other hand, you all try to find fault with RanilW and his UNP while criticizing them ‘mildly’ for their mistakes, mishaps, inexperience and ignorance on real politics. Meanwhile, you would hang Maitree if you all get a chance to do so for his interesting betrayal!
      I don’t understand the purpose of your ‘meticulous’ and ‘graceful’ articles when practically nobody cares about your anger, hopelessness, disappointment, and hatred toward anything and everything in politics in Sri Lanka.
      Why don’t you get together and meet the PM: RanilW and request him to hold the 8 provincial council elections that have been postponed indefinitely! Then, we can have solid verdict about how people think about the Rajapaksas, RW & his UNP, and Maitree.
      After all, that’s democracy and we, as citizens of Sri Lanka can start to think, plan, and make some fresh suggestions about our future!

    • 3
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      Sarath de Alwis, really? Meticulously? How come no mention of Vidya who was gang raped after the Yahapalana came to be? What happened to the law and order in the country during the last four years? No meticulous analysis of that either eh? Perhaps you have a little intellectual crush on TG, if that is the case it is understandable.

  • 4
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    Just imagine
    what would have been the situation today if Ranil – Prabakaran pact were implemented.
    AND
    what will be the situation tomorrow if Ranil – Sumathithran constitution is implemented.
    Whoever that will put a temporary stop to breaking up of Sri Lanka into federal pieces should be the right choice of the Majority Sinhalese in the coming elections.

    Who knows Mahavansa will record as Rajapaksas saved the country TWICE.

    Soma
    (All the same it should be emphasized that Tamil speaking people irrespective of their religion caste or the date of arrival scattered across the island are entitled for a separate Homeland. What the Sinhalese should oppose is the HOLIDAY RESORT MODEL OF TAMIL EALAM)

    • 3
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      somass

      “what would have been the situation today if Ranil – Prabakaran pact were implemented”

      You have been asking this silly question all your life. You will continue to ask the same silly question until you kick the bucket as you cannot and will not understand the pact and the consequences that triggered the beginning of the demise of LTTE.

      Mahawansa recorded selectively to gloat whoever was in power, mostly myth. Therefore there is no restraint on the monks who are entrusted with updating myths. Soon Mahawamsa will be connected to Mahabaratha and Ramayana. We will see how Mahindawamsa is the direct descendants of both Ravana and Yudhishthira.

      Little people need origin myth.

  • 5
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    All are bad, only Ranil is good !

    • 5
      1

      Kolla,
      Ranil is good in one thing. That is why he take helicopter rides to Deniyaya frequently using tax payers money.

  • 4
    6

    Gota is a very decent guy and he is sure to win the EP in 2020.
    There will be a turn around with development and infrastructure and law and order.

  • 5
    9

    The apoplectic, deranged and unhinged utterings of this writer is proof that the Lankan masses have opted to phase out the inept, scurrilous, corrupt and ineffective leaders of the UNP and the SLFP and are set to appoint one man, Gotabya, as their leader. The writer admits to it, and then in a rage prays for a miracle with US citizenship and other mumbo jumbo stopping Gotabya. The writer, well known for her pathological hatred of the Lankan Sinhalese civilization, and Buddhism, has only such weak arguments and prayers to stop the Goabya juggernaut.

    I am happy for Lanka and her people when I read such articles. Better days are going to dawn soon for Lankans.

    • 3
      2

      Jay Chambers

      “The apoplectic, deranged and unhinged utterings of this writer is proof that the Lankan masses have opted to phase out the inept, scurrilous, corrupt and ineffective leaders of the UNP “

      Come on Jay this is nothing, you should have seen BBC HARD talk : Democracy Sri Lankan-Style : June 2010
      Gota shines through in his squeaky voice.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5LMco_Zcfg

    • 1
      1

      You may not be from these shores Jay Chambers but you are a kindred spirit of the disenfranchised of this island. People like the author of the above article are clutching at the straws hoping against hope that their attempts at keeping this island at ransom for their and their cronies’ benefit will continue. Only Gota can resurrect the economy of this place now on CPR, yet TG et al are praying for a Venezuela.

  • 5
    9

    Gota may be new to political circle but I can not see any suitable person among politician from any party to be next president of this country.Anyway I feel Gota little political experience gathered from his family members can be very good president for better future of our country. I wish him good luck. Be the president of this country & do good job for the country. You are very capable of doing it. As secretary to defence ministry you did marvelous job

    • 6
      2

      “As secretary to defence ministry you did marvelous job”

      Are you talking about the cleanliness of the fleet of white vans? I have it from a good source that they were meticulously maintained.

      • 2
        1

        white or red or any colour there might have been intelligence services officers arresting hidden LTTE carders who were employed by LTTE intelligence chief & head of LTTE police chief to carry out attacks on military & very important government offices & to killed very important officials of military & government machines in western province. That was main duties of intelligence services maintained at that period. Some high ranking officials might have misused this services for their very private works. It is nothing to do with secretory to the defense ministry. His prime target was something else . That types of things is possible in brutal war situation like that and after. As such you can not hold this perticular high ranking officer responsible for events happen during & aftermath of war. As you may be jealous of him due to some reasons mainly political reasons That might have blindfolded your intelligence. That is very natural. If you want to find fault with person or persons held important positions You can do it at any time as he or she had or have no intelligence just described in our religions like peravisu kanda piliwela danna nuvana. That is not correct. As such look at it with human spectacles not with almighty god spectacles as described in Abrahamic religions. looking for finding faults with everybody always for punishments. Thank you. .

        • 2
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          What is your point?

          Read again what you have written ……… does it make sense?

          Hope you are not one of those many “hidden Sinhalese LTTE carders” who were white-vaned and bashed in the head ! :))

  • 3
    2

    Surely Tisaranee Gunasekara knows that we are already in hell about to be sucked into Failed-State-Black-Hole.
    Thank you Tisaranee for the list of references. We, layLankans, find them meaningful.
    Michael Roberts made us think that references are just page fillers.
    .
    Remember the language used by GR on journalist Frederika Jansz when she enquired about plane schedules being changed so that a particular pilot could bring a Swiss German-Sheppard puppy?
    He does not use such language these days. He is no longer powerful. Says it all.
    .
    GR believes in imposing Armed Services type discipline on civilians. Remember the compulsory camps to fresh under-graduates? And the Lieutenant so-and-so school head masters?
    The KDU was created, at high cost, to produce Vice-Chancellors.
    .
    GR hesitates to go back to his adopted country. Fear of what happened to a former Lankan Ambassador?

    • 1
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      Dear K. Pillai,
      .
      See how Gotabaya has organised “dislikes” for the likes of Backlash, you and me. I did what I could just now.

    • 0
      0

      Pillai, Perya Dore, Gota just returned from USA, you need to keep your news straight if you are to make such allegations.

  • 5
    6

    Tisaranee – It is only a few like you, Sarath de Alwis and others who are acutely aware of the extent to which the country has been ruined – by pseudo-nationalism, fake Buddhism, political bandits and what more??? To use TN Seshan’s phraseology what we witness is the Degeneration of this once wonderful and united country. Time will come soon when blaming Tamils and the LTTE for all SL’s ills will lose its sting. All those strong features that held us together – an independent and competent judiciary, a neutral Police force, a vibrant press, an able Civil Service, sound school education, relatively honest politicians, a society that respected the plurality of the land and its diversity – are all things of the past. The natural corollary in circumstances such as this is control of the country may slip into outside players. They will find the necessary quislings to serve their purposes. This has happened in this country centuries before. It is a pity it may happen again – soon. As they say in the American Wild West “you ain’t seen nuttin yet”

    Backlash

  • 3
    2

    TG should explain why the income disparity of her sponsor countries like US, UK and France is much higher than Sri Lanka. She should also explain which demography of youth she is refering to and whether that youth is otherwise engaged. And also in the past four years how that was improved. Obviously as Sarath de Alwis says in her peerless, fearless analysis these can be peerlesly and fearlessly explained.

  • 3
    0

    Speaking of criminal extremism TG should also analyse fearlesly the daily or weekly shootings that are happening now, since she has so diligently pointed out a couple of murders that happened during Rjapaksha time. Perhaps she can also explain peerlessly why is the US wanting to expand it’s logistical capabilities here, then again she may not want to considering the factors like sponsorships etc. Oh the BBS of course, why not TG as being our peerless fearless author and analyst explain and analyze where and how BBS come about in sync with the 2014 MR decision to hold elections, and then again in sync with SLPP’s tremendous show and win at the Pradeshia Sabha elections. I am sure TG being so peerlesly intellectual as Sarath de Alwis point out she can untangle all thse scenarios.

  • 2
    0

    We do have paradise now with a government full of cocaine snorters compelling it to appoint a cocaine committee………May be the first ever in the world………TG must be ecstatic………This pathetic governments moronic decisions during the last 3+ years must be examined within the context of them being made by drug addicts while under the influence of cocaine.

  • 0
    0

    Ajith, you have questioned about murders of past national leaders and also GR friendships with terrorists like PA and KP. Viyathmaga with mafia intellectuals we hope is only a dream walk towards the false light similar to Gotler. GR will learn the first and only lesson in his life when he takes GMOA on board for the so called islandwide votes and to topple the now. Imagine their demands for nominations to parliament, just like they infiltrated the Medical Council and destroyed its integrity and identity with TU decisions. They only know their method and only the law of the land with justice could nab them. Hell is always over greedy and can never be satisfied. Picture the demands of the evil axis AP, NH, NS and others. Bootlicking newhouse is programmed into ordering medics without conscience into the opportunistic path of killing the poor, so that they can have more. GR discipline will be forced to stop where GMOA dictates the terms.

  • 0
    0

    Hela

    “We do have paradise now with a government full of cocaine snorters compelling it to appoint a cocaine committee”

    Do you worry your business will be hit by such committee’s actions or inactions?

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