President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday appointed defeated MP’s Shantha Bandara, Jagath Pushpakumara and Eric Weerawardhana as Directors of ” Special Projects” with no description of the need for such appointments.
The appointments were made in contravention of principles of Good Governance and in clear abuse of existing Executive Powers of the President.
The appointments also come in the backdrop of the 19th amendment which was showcased as a pruning of the powers and publicity over the tabling of a cabinet paper to abolish the Executive Presidency.
Bandara was an unashamed supporter of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa together with Pushpakumara. Bandara is also alleged with scandals of corruption and thuggery during his previous stint as a parliamentarian.
The Presidents office in its media communique failed to describe the role which the three would play and under which allocations funds for their sustenance would be obtained.
Earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was consistently accused of appointing corrupt persons and henchmen to roles as advisers and heads of institutions.
Eric Weerawardhana was appointed to the Central Province, Shantha Bandara to the North-Western Province and former minister Jagath Pushpakumara to the Uva Province as directors for special presidential projects.
“who is paying for them and what right have they to be appointed to such posts? how much have they been allocated? what was the need for such appointment and what exactly is their job role?” asked Siritunga Rajakaruna an activist from Kebitigollewa.
The Colombo Telegraph did not attempt to contact the Presidential Secretariat as previous efforts to contact the body on many occasions proved futile.
Rohana / November 26, 2015
Sirisena go home Let Ranil run the country. This is not yahaplanaya.He has a inferiority complex
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Amarasiri / November 26, 2015
President Maithripala Sirisena
RE: Sirisena Abuses Power Again, Appoints Loser SLFP MPs To “Special Projects
How many motre sLFP MPs are left who still support Malinda Rajapaksa?
Save some Special Projects for those who are left as well.
Can you give Mahimnda Rajapakss, a special Project, to give the Mattala airport back to the jungle, animals and birds?
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words / November 27, 2015
He IS inferior! And Ranil isn’t far behind either!!
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Banjiappo / November 27, 2015
This men that cry even today may be dreaming of an utopic world out of a state left by Rajapakshe and his thugs as only years could help them getting normal.
But hearing that Vaas the most murderous IGP of lanken history but got strong in the MR adminstration is declared to be convicted with death sentence ..
that made my day today.
In the Rajaa adminsitration, even that Tangalle family confidiante of the Rajapakshe family was proved to have all the primafacie evidences – to be a murderer of the visting british man – he was not even convicted with few years… that is the greater difference between today and then.
Please people wake up and see it with right specs.
Then only you will see it right.. being biased you will see nothing… that is actually a greater harm to humanity.
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Lion / November 26, 2015
What special projects for these people.Just see their qualifications.One of them had been barred by courts some time back to enetr sevanagala sugar factory for asking 50 million bribe.from they day one these people will search from where they can rob.We never expected this type of appointment from the president.
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BBS Rep / November 26, 2015
It is now becoming more than clear that My3’s Sri Lanka is nothing but a huge criminal enterprise just like MR’s government was.
It is high time the people of Sri Lanka started grooming a new leadership. Both SLFP and UNP have proved to be corrupt and inept time and again. The same old rogues are still in the helm of these two parties. Most of the leftist parties are also into corrupt practices and are unashamedly attached to top political rogues.
I hope and pray a new party will arise from outside the mainstream parties and a new leader, even an untested one will emerge soon.
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Ben Hurling / November 26, 2015
Perhaps it is time for the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) to become a political movement that seeks political power at the next election.
Disgraced UNP & SLFP should not be involved.
I see no other options.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / November 26, 2015
Ben Hurling
“Perhaps it is time for the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) to become a political movement that seeks political power at the next election.”
The experience of India Against Corruption movement organised by Anna Hazare may be of relevant here.
The people’s movement was divided into many groups by the vested interest (BJP, Congress, Hindian establishment, business interests, …). One such group was formed as a political party named Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man’s Party)which runs Delhi.
Internal conflicts of this party have not been sorted out yet, policies are prescribed as they go along, still finding it difficult to work as a cohesive political party. Vested interest are working 24/7/52 to split the party further.
Before people start to assert themselves they need to be educated not only on the problems but also the solutions.
Do you think the vested interests in this island would sit back allow a people movement to render them powerless, … make this island a corruption free country?
You will see a grand coalition of corrupt coming together to oppose any organisation that seriously contemplate the idea of forming good governance.
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Ben Hurling / November 27, 2015
Civil society activism of course will face full wrath of dark forces that inhabit this country.
That fact alone is a good reason to dismantle the stranglehold utterly corrupt, crony run UNP & SLFP have had on Sri Lanka since 1948.
Cheers!
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Banjiappo / November 27, 2015
Now I regret if my heart (for transplantation) was donated to late Golden son of recent times – Sobitha Thero, he would have survived – then the people would have been better guided to fight it to the end. Very unfortunately, we lost him in an alarming period that country needs him. I am bit disspointed with my life – for various resons that is why I feel I have to spend my organs if I would die immaturaly.
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Fero / November 26, 2015
And you don’t know It’s Ravi K that was instrumental in getting the people together that formed National Movement for Social Justice? It’s clueless wannabe political heroes like Ben Hurling that got this country into this mess in the first place. Now the country is stagnating/been opened to be ripped off by foreigners while Ben Hurling is instructing us what we should do next. From the comfort of Canada too. Why don’t you come down and experience for real the good governance you yearned for Champ?
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Leo / November 27, 2015
Ben will keep parroting what their host countries preach us and when things go south he will conveniently put all blame on Sinhalese. Pathetic selfish traitors with zero empathy for his own people.
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Ben Hurling / November 27, 2015
Fero & Leo,
Has the 2016 budget adversely affected the price of your prescription drugs?
Try not to neglect your daily dose though. Chronic paranoia should be managed for your own good.
Cheers!
PS: Do take care. Let me know, if you need a stretcher.
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Lion / November 28, 2015
They should never get in to politics.
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Lion / November 28, 2015
Why JVP is silent on this.Why don’t you expose this man who is doing what MR had done.
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BBS Rep / November 30, 2015
JVP is also in their bag, a tacit understanding. JVP has a good chance to leap forward but are holding back. Try and work it out why.
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Joshua / November 26, 2015
Despicable liar! What more could be said about this man who seems like he couldn’t care less about his actions that in are total contradiction to his promises?
“Pride goeth before the fall”, as the proverb goes and Karma is around the corner!
Watch out Sirisena, your time will come!
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Dr,Rajasingham Narendran / November 26, 2015
Once enconsed in office, they have the keys to the national till. The 19th amendment was a charade and a fraud pertertated on the people. What was approved was not what it was meant to be. It is their right to do what they want, when they want and how they want. This is our democracy. Sirisena cannot be very much different, bacause he is the handiwork of the same forced that shaped those preceded him and now surround him. It is we who have to learn the lesson to be thankful for small mercies.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Horikadey / November 26, 2015
Aiyo Sirisena may be a fool but certainly not a blooming idiot. He knows his potency and influence is fastly on the wane. He knows very well the concentration of real influence is now with Ranil-CBK-Mangala wing on one side and the Rajapakses on the other side. He belongs to neither and both sides have no further use for him. The powerful Sinhala Buddhist extremists are not with him. Therefore, the unpredictable Aiyo Sirisena is slowly but surely building his own sphere of influence. This resuts in rejected MPs, crooks, gangsters, drug-traffickers, ethanol importers and the lot will all flock around
Sirisena so long as he is in an effective position.
Sirisena also had to reluctantly jettison the many promises made under Yahapaalanaya to stay in a position of influence. Otherwise, all the loot he and his brothers gathered in the past 2 decades will come out and eventually lost in the face of future probes on him.
Whatever has happened to decency and integrity in Lankan politics?
Horikadey
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Nehe / November 26, 2015
You forgot one powerful variable of the equation. Injans! Injans know that Ranil will always be America’s boy so they have slowly got closer to Sirisena through Champika and Rajitha.
Injans will make sure Sirisena doesn’t become politically irrelevant in the next 5 years and then instruct him to come as the executive prime ministerial candidate after changing the constitution.
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Don Quixote / November 26, 2015
IS going off at a tangent with screaming headlines a sign of responsible reporting ?
responsible …debatable but definitely UN-intelligent !
A little speculation as to why, is it long term or short term, is it based on a parliamentary majority that may be needed for a crucial vote…will show more respect to the intelligence of your readership.
Recently CT has shown a big penchant for sensationalism and nothing else. Don’t worry Mr. Editor you are no longer have to rely on sensationalism, you are now almost a broadsheet.
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anonymous / November 26, 2015
MY3 has to go along with his SLFP cronies. Let there be a UNP+JVP+TNA coalition after the agreed two years of the present ‘Jathaka Aanduwa’.
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Ane gono / November 26, 2015
hiks UNP + JVP + TNA? what would we call it? Sri Lanka eelamist national congress?
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Patriot / November 26, 2015
Why wait that long? Do it ASAP, right now.
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Uthungan / November 27, 2015
On the contrary I would say that a combination consisting of the JVP &TNA could be effective and comparatively better for the country, but that perhaps could depend on the Hinjuns point of view with China looming behind.
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Pygmalion / November 26, 2015
After partaking in Hoppers,MS has developed a Thick Skin!
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c / November 26, 2015
In effect they are Unofficial Ministers – thus overcoming the maximum 30 (or is it 45) rule
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thumpane gamaya / November 26, 2015
it appears that MY3 is on wrong advice by his inner circle. the way things are unfolding he will end his political career at the end of his current term (if he survives the full term of course?)
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Don Stanley / November 26, 2015
Sirisena is no leader and a product of an absolutely corrupt political culture in Sri Lanka. Rather than reach out to and promote clean new people after advertising the posts he is promoting corruption and cronyism.
He is dangerous is plotting the take over of the SLFP with its dregs. Sirisena wants to return as the SLFP Prime Minister to parliament after the Presidency is abolished – if ever.
His ambition must be stopped.
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Jehan / November 26, 2015
but Don why? Sirisena coming as prime ministerial candidate means UNP will score a home run and complete all that is needed for the Eelam. Shouldn’t anti nationals like you be happy?
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Dodo / November 26, 2015
Sri Lanka’s rotten political culture is going from strength to strenght under the Ayahapalanaya crook Sirisena and his side kick Ranil who has got that corrupt clown Arjuna Mahendran running the Central Bank.
Woe betide the people of Lanka!
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EDWIN RODRIGO / November 26, 2015
Here is my theory for the apparent misbehavior of SIRA.
Background: Previous King MARA is terrified about being sent to Viduli Putuwa. As a result, he cannot sleep, eat or do any of the other things that Kings normally do. He calls his close ‘confidante’, SIRA, who has always been a faithful friend and together they hatch the rescue Operation code named ‘Yahapalanaya’ over a meal of hoppers. Why hoppers? Because the plan depends heavily on the ability and willingness of SL politicians to hop like grasshoppers.
Here briefly are the highlights of the plan:
1)MARA calls for elections pre-maturely.
2)SIRA comes out as the common candidate.
3)MARA and SIRA ensure the victory of SIRA.
4)Before you can say ‘abracadabra’, SIRA makes the grasshoppers jump and ensures that the corruption, nepotism, mismanagement etc. under MARA look like acts of a Upasaka on a Poya compared to what he does.
5)The international community is happy thinking SL is a better place now. They forget about MARA and direct their attention on the next small country listed to be destroyed.
6)People rise up against the misdeeds of SIRA’s Yahapalanaya. MARA leads uprising from Medamulana using remote control.
7)The evil forces of ‘Yahapalanaya’ are destroyed.
8)MARA appoints SIRA as special ambassador of Timbuktu and he departs with his booty.
9)MARA is re-enthroned.
10)Operation Yahapalanaya ends.
11)Everybody lives happily ever after.
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Madhavi / November 26, 2015
Our simple President’s simples acts! But, for Samanta Pavel, our man is an example for world leaders. This is what happen when the leader is such a supple, the masters see him as an example!
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Sirisena Yatawara / November 26, 2015
UNP-Ranil. W…has no mandated to run state of affairs from people of Sri lanakn. Well that President M.Sirisena head of Republic has been elected by mandate of Tamil and Muslim of majority voters ,not only UNP voters.
The Every citizens has to be that realized UNP Ranil.W…. has no majority voters consent to be the leader of Sri Lankan nation because he is born Christian fundamentalist which Buddhist-Majority rejected his leadership.
We agreed that M.Sirisena is man who has abused power and authority of Executive Presidency, but option is not that UNP leaders in the line of next power success. We have deal M.Sirisena by misusing power in different manner.
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Unreal / November 26, 2015
No true patriot could have said any better! Keep it up!!
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 26, 2015
Is our PM, Batalanda Ranil still impotent?.
Or is he busy with trying to fulfil his MOU with the West and the Diaspora a to punish the War Heroes and give Samandan the North first.And then focus on taking the knife to Bodhi Sira ?.
Kumara Sira is on the verge of collecting a serious fortune for the whole extended Family by paying our Tax Payers money to buy Hutchy which no one else wants.
Elite Web News Letter, LeN which was instrumental in giving us Yahapalanaya put Sira’s cut in the region of LKR 1000 Mil.
Batalnada’s buddy , the Singapore man gave only LKR 500 Mil to his SIL,according to the CT.
Now Sira is appointing losers to well paid Government jobs.
And the Tax Payers have to cough up the dosh.
Thank God our Dalits don’t pay Tax.
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Ranga / November 26, 2015
who cares? If these bigots can nullify the fertilizer subsidiary, free school uniforms and books, bring in regulations to sell national assets to foreigners and still go scot free they will surely do minor things like this.
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Patriot / November 26, 2015
Sirisena has no SHAME.
Joshua on the 26th at 5.37am has said a despicable Liar to this man. When is he going to stop his dictatorial actions?
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Cynthia / November 29, 2015
After he gets the Nobel prize !!!!
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words / November 26, 2015
But I am so confused. Didn’t our new masters.. and their recent visiting reps.. John Kerry, Samantha Powers etc etc.. say that Sira is such a WONDERFUL man and an EXAMPLE for the rest of the world leaders to follow???
And then elsewhere on this site, I read about lying regarding his handsome highly and aptly qualifies brothers salary!!
Tsk tsk.. maybe our new masters have got it wrong..:(
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Liberal One / November 26, 2015
Nothing inaccurate there. West wants leaders like Sira to rule the third world. Otherwise how can they continue to rob poor countries?
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justice / November 26, 2015
Every MP wants some sort of title so as to ‘be equals’ in parliament.
These could very well be such ‘posts’ to ‘make them ‘feel important’.
Without funds, staff & offices, they will just be ‘dummies’ on show !!!!
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Leon / November 27, 2015
What we need is a peoples uprising to remove this idiotic president
removed before any more damage done to the country. He has .no education
with forty odd experience in politics as a yes sir, no sir, three bags full
with no leadership. He has already proven the biggest hypocrit ever to
come into power.
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John Stewart Sloan / November 29, 2015
You may as well bring back the Rajapaksas, At least they were ‘honestly’ corrupt.
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