President Maithripala Sirisena is sitting on the long-anticipated arrest of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and the former Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Colombo Telegraph learns.
Gota at President’s nephew’s wedding | File photo
The Attorney General in an unusual move has sought the approval of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayaka to arrest Gotabaya Rajapaksa over allegations of misappropriating public funds to the tune of Rs 91 million for the construction of memorials for his parents.
While it is questionable as to why the AG’s Department requires permission from anyone to prosecute Gotabaya, there’s also the question as to why the Department picked this relatively smaller infringement and not the MiG deal which is a far more serious infringement considering the money involved.
Wickremesinghe and Ratnayaka, prior to leaving for India, are reported to have distanced themselves from the entire process, informing the AG that it is not their business to advise him on such matters.
Colombo Telegraph learns that the delay in prosecution of this as well as other cases involving Gotabaya is solely due to President Sirisena not giving the green light sought from him by the AG, once again not a requirement for prosecution.
On 15th November, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka made a detailed presentation to the UNP Working Committee on the current status of the bribery and corruption investigations.
Ratnayaka, in his presentation said that the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division had forwarded 92 files to the Attorney General’s Department upon completion of investigations. He added that indictments have only been filed with regard to 13 cases.
The Law and Order Minister said the CID had investigated 38 cases out of which 14 deal with individuals and 24 relate to property matters. Out of the 14 which deals with high profile individuals only 6 had been indicted.
This was in response to the President’s allegation that Sagala was delaying prosecutions.
Hela / November 24, 2017
Don’t worry folks, most of these cases are kept for 2019/2020 season (i.e. couple of more years to go for the main show). However the local election cycle is coming (though desperate attempts are being made to postpone them). Therefore Thajudeens need to come out to the center stage for a brief appearance and few arrests here and there are needed so that CT and few commentators can party a bit and voters can be kept high on (a)yahaplana pills till they get shagged from front and back.
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Don Stanley / November 24, 2017
AG seems to keep passing the buck instead of doing his job properly. neither Sira nor Ranils, Prez or PM’s permission is needed to arrest a criminal.
This is what the separation of powers means.
AG should be sacked for dereliction of duty and the Deputy Dapula De Livera made AG.
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Radical Ideas / November 24, 2017
Who is Maithree?? He is another Govigama criminal who plays the gona part whenever he can. He is always behind the racist project of the Govigama Sinhala Only Mafia scheme that inhibits the growth of the nation. It is connected to the Zionist project in plundering the economy of the country by borrowing more money than it is actually required for real development. The borrowed money is looted left and right by both Govi controlled UNP and SLFP fake democratic parties along with their unqualified set of political prostitutes who are uneducated and uncultured specially selected by the Govi masters to keep the lower rungs of the Sri Lankan political pyramid in which the top most power position is held by a US and Indian Zionist system protected Govi Master. Govis are worst than the Zionist Jews as the Govi Elites are infiltrated Jewish /Telungu mixed evil lot who destroyed the very same Sinhalese and their Buddhism and remain the sole super protectors of popular Buddhism. The enemy is inside the room but the Sinhalese are blind.
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Mahinda / November 25, 2017
I agree.The AG should be kicked out right now.
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Dodo / November 24, 2017
Bi-Partisan UNP-SLFP corruption is the name of the Game!
AG should do his job and arrest Gota without asking permission from anyone – President of PM – as that is what separation of powers means, or get out.
In fact, Dapula De Livera who led the Bond inquiry should be made AG and his wife should run for Presidency at next election
SHE will win as people are fed up of politicians and their corruption!
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Sarath / November 24, 2017
Dapula for AG? what a joke. He’s a political animal who was doing theatrics at the bond commission!
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Analyst / November 24, 2017
.Oh God !!
Who is insane ??bNow?? We / Us the people or THEM??
It’s a f……g tug of war now!!
You did I didn’t ! They did ! not me??
God give us peace ! Give us strength to face this internal war.
We know it all President.. All along. From the day the Marriage took place ,
the day in Jan 2015.
The PM / RW protected the deposed thugs from Medamulana saying there was ” NO COUP “
We were told that there was a Coup to arrest the President MS and the others.
Then all the Past Crooks from the Jarapassas were given plum positions in the government by the President.
All the crooks the state thieves who plundered state money , the high profile Murderers who murdered the Rugby player, the killing of the journalists, and much much more crimes took place during the last regime the so called state criminals are still walking freely.
The amount of money spent by the Coalition PM and the President on FCID, CID AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICES CREATED NEWLY BY THE COALITION WERE JUST WHITE ELEPHANTS TO DUPE THE PUBLIC.
How many Millions have been wasted on these white elephants NOT A SINGLE CROOK/ MURDERER had been netted and punished.
The blame goes on the President!!
He played Silent , allowing too many NINCOMOOPS TO TAKE CHARGE.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE HEAD TO RULE A COUNTRY YOU PRESIDENT!!
So take charge and Full fill the promises you made to US the people.
No point running around upset and crying over .
You know what President? We have had enough of all these GAMES, GET REAL SIR SIRI. !!
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Mahinda / November 25, 2017
This is the worst president we had in our history.You know what Mr.Sirisena you will go into history as the worst president with your bahubootha yahapaalanaya.
You hood winked the people nicely.You criticized MR’s lifesyle but what did you do after coming into power.got down 2 brand new cars for your use and then another new car for your daughter with the poor peoples money.The tax payers money.You should be hung on galle face and shot for the crimes that you have done to the poor people of the country.We pray that you will have to pay for all this very soon.
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Native Vedda / November 26, 2017
Hela
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In the meantime you have plenty of time to wreak havoc, organise a riot, stock enough petrol, plan the ambush, select targets, killing, raping, arson, looting, …………. along with your mates, saffron clad thugs with the blessing of the grant dukes of Mahasangha, ……………….. and blame it on the victims.
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thrishu / November 24, 2017
What is 1M compared with several billions per year for the next 30-years. If people are going to be arrested for the size of money that they have been looting from public funds, I am sure the bond scammers are long overdue their arrest. GR can rest his boots waiting until all the bleeding UNPers and greedy businessmen acolytes fill our prisons first. I remember reading somewhere before the last election, “Vote for the Devil you Knew, and not the Devil you did not know”. How true that his words have become so!
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Sarath / November 24, 2017
Where did you get your billions per year? 12% bond on 10 billion is 1.2bn per year. Assuming that the interest should have been 10% – it is only 0.2bn extra per year that was played out. Any corruption is unacceptable… But get your facts straight before commenting!
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oldcodger / November 25, 2017
Sarath,
I have been repeating the same thing for months now, But most commentators seem to have zero knowledge of how bonds work. No wonder there were so many suckers who fell for Golden Key and other rackets.
There is no way the loss per year (to the public) can be more than 200 million a year.
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bo / November 26, 2017
Aloysius’ accountant? Are you?
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oldcodger / November 26, 2017
Bo,
You don’t need to be an accountant. It’s simple O Level maths. If you can prove the calculations wrong, please do. Otherswise hold your peace.
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bo / November 27, 2017
Peace? I am sure the voters will hold peace when they get hold of these crooks. Escape from the country before the next election. That is my best advice
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old codger / November 27, 2017
Bo,
“hold your peace” means keep quiet , if you didn’t know.
If you can’t disprove the calculation, what are you arguing about?
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mahinda / November 25, 2017
There is no diffrence between the devil you know and the devil you do not know as both are devils and both will swollow you up.
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kumaraya / November 24, 2017
Partners in Genocide of Tamils- Gota may spill the beans if arrested; protect the SLFP – hell with justice [Sri Lankan style] Only charge pick pickets – not big sharks – commission and omission everywhere and especially the ruling elite.
country in ruins – plundering the country’s asset is not a crime for politicians.
Bond scam, ship scam, highway robbery, China deal, now may be Indian deal –
sell the country – poor and innocent citizen pay tax for all these – go poorer and poorer and die of starvation. Even god cannot help our country.
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Diad / November 24, 2017
At least that man ended the 30 year war started by both parties for political gain. Mostly the people suffered.How many sacrificed their lives. What about the ship sirisena has bought that the navy commander said we don’t need, with public money.who is collecting the commissions. Taxes have been raised prices of goods have been raised to pay commissions.
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Prashan / November 27, 2017
Running away while LTTE is strong and coming back after they had been weakened by joint operation between India,USA and Ranil isn’t a big thing. Defeating LTTE is a joint effort no one person can claim the victory for themselves.
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Amila Wijesuriya / November 24, 2017
The wonder of Asia = Where many idiots earn hard to pay taxes to entertain few riches with PhD in corruption.
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K.Anaga / November 24, 2017
The wonders of Asia: Srisena, Wickremasinghe,Sampanthar and its creators: Mahinda,Gota,Attorney General.
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Wipula / November 24, 2017
Why does the AG seek permission from the President and the Prime Minister to do his job. Is he also bending the law according to the wishes of high-ups like the IGP. Please give your resignations as a gentleman and a President Counsel, if you do not have back born to do your job duly.
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Rohan Gunaratna / November 24, 2017
Both Gota and Deal Dudley are village idiots. one came from Polonnaruwa and other from Medamulana, Girawapattuwa. The comedy here is both are in western attires.
Folks do not have high hopes Gota will never be arrested as long as MY3 is the President!
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Thengai Srinivasan / November 24, 2017
Rohan,
As long as My3 is the President.
Holy Cow if that is the case welikada massacre, thajudeen, lasantha, ekneligoda, keith, poddala, Raviraj all these cases will be buried 6 feet under.
Another cyanide speech by My3 against sujeewa today telecasted by Killi Raja Mahendran seerasa.
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Sahan / November 27, 2017
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/
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Native Vedda / November 27, 2017
Sahan
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Brilliant
Thanks for keeping it brief.
Keep up your good work.
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K.Anaga / November 24, 2017
The wonders of Asia: Srisena, Wickremasinghe,Sampanthar and its creators: Mahinda,Gota,Attorney General.
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Muslim / November 24, 2017
Very disappointing rule by the President, people were having high hopes and now what about the 6 ft burial talk of the President when the Rajapaksa s come back ,all forgotten ,but the Rajapaksa s will never ever forget Sirisenas crossover to contest the presidential election and their fall from power because of him.
The President is playing with fire because of the weakness of his ruling power. What a shame.
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K.Pillai / November 24, 2017
“Power is in hands of the person who controls the armed services”
Mugabe learned this obvious lesson after some five decades. Not very smart – is he?
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Mallaiyuran / November 24, 2017
The cat is sneaking to the SLFP kitchen thought the back door. We do not know what will be the Final end of all these Dramas. But the hot topic is New-Old Kings meeting is the one on the menu.
Old Royals are thinking to channel the stupidity of the Modayas to scoop up a large haul of votes and come back to power. Though the hurdles are bigger, that is a real possibility because of the Ranil’s goofiness of, standing off on refusing to sign Rome Accord and immortalizing his trip to New York to have the UN report of War Crime torn off, with a hope of his name to be encrypted in Mahavamsa as the savior of the Buddha’s nation. So to have this ensured, he cannot investigate anything happened in that 10 years of Old Royals period. If he starts an investigation, that will end up as the worst blasphemy against Lankawe Maathaa, in Mahavamsa. His, this perception is doing unbelievable, enormous size damage to UNP which, after the condemnation of it to the death chamber on the hand of notorious dictator, P. Richard, has been resurrected by Ex. State Secretary John Kerry, by sacrificing TNA. Beyond its damage to UNP in the future elections to come, it has created the biggest car’s derailment to the Train Lankawe, which is still reeling from the accident, the so called 1948 Lankawe Freedom. In the past, many back end cars derailed from the train of Lankawe democracy, yet the train kept reeling until now, but cannot be guaranteed of it more after this onslaught-ing impunity of UNP Yahapalanaya.
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Mallaiyuran / November 24, 2017
After freedom “the Official Impunity”, which is radiating from the lands’ supreme legislative body- the parliament, to every grass leaf and the hopper sitting on that, but not just limited to the Lands’ Royals unlike in the past, is the biggest damage to Lankawe democracy than any other damages imposed by DS, SWRD, Sirimavo, JR, Richard .P or even by the Old Royals.
Old Royals dismissed the CJ by a parliamentary procedure. JR introduced impunity only for EP. But impunity, which is to every army soldier and police man, every parliament MPs, every government officials, every monk in the temples, every sword yielding drug dealer in the North-East, every rapist, every murderer, every pick pocktee in the platform who all can go free if he/she can associate them with the UNP’s election to come, is new a phenomena to Lankawe landscape. If Lankawe can survive on this Yahapalanaya(UNP)’s onslaught and a kind of government can rule the people in the future, it is going be a new one to the world, among those already identified as Communist-Socialism, Democracy , Monarchy…….and the latest as LANKAWE RULE-not with a constitution, no law and order, but unimpeded impunity for crimes.
Lankawe voters never differentiated between UNP and SLFP. Disappointed by Yahapalanaya’s impunity to itself and all other criminals, they are now “ever ready “to go back to SLFP. But long engineered (from 1948) election mechanisms are holding a handicap democratic election situation now, i.e “in SLFP only New King can come and in UNP Ranil can’t come up as EP”. That is wasting lease price of the trawler net, the vote scooping Old Royal’s War Hero fame. As we said earlier, Ranil wants to steal this fame as he cannot steal the Old Royals favor. New Royals want to steal Old Royals themselves, instead the name.
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Mallaiyuran / November 24, 2017
Between these two Yahapalanaya factions, Old Royals stands only to surrender their muscles to the benefits of the Yahapalanaya’s Marriage in the election, but they cannot stand as the bride-groom in the election marriage for their own happiness. They are still scared to form a party or to launch a campaign or to jump into election. So, very reluctantly, Old Royals deciding that they have no other way but to come under the umbrella of SLFP. But even that, coming into SLFP, is only dream for Old Royals. If Old King has to be accommodated in SLFP, that is possible only after having hanged Chandrika, and the hanged rope which might have any skin particles be burned in a faraway desert, so no smoke from that fire can come to the voters residences. Chandrika used the Old Royal’s mistake of early election declaration to launch a Common, UNP-SLFP-TNA, candidate with the blessing of West and thus break the knee of the Old King. But wiping out Chandrika without trace is not possible for Old King, though he finished off Kathirgamar, but left behind Chandrika, so she is still drawing much heavier pension from the investment of “Foreign Diplomatic Relationships” Kathirgamar made for her, than the salary any UNP and SLFP stalwarts like Ranil, Mangala, Malik, Tilak or Harsha are taking on their current government assignments. If anybody overrules her in SLFP, she would not mind to use the IC to put him on War Crime Investigation. Going deep into the Old King’s political mistake is not our point here.
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Mallaiyuran / November 24, 2017
But that mistake, unlike where he had cleanly dealt with Kathirgamar, Lasantha, Eklingoda, Raviraj…. , allowing a political enemy to survive thinking she/he too naive to challenge him, has not only broken his leg, but standing in front of the door & preventing him from entering his own house.
We have challenged here on these pages the pundits who foresaw Old Royal’s come back, to come back with their name of avenue of coming back. None of them came back. There, we, without failing, every time asserted that we don’t see any avenue for Old Royals coming back. Though still a lot of War Crime Hero Fame, or the vote catching trawl net muscle, or the youngness of election attraction is left in them, they don’t have a path to come. Neither can they form a party nor can SLFP take them in. The bride cannot marry the groom the not just for his stolen wealth while his notoriousness is still afresh in the mind of the IC. It is not SLFP is alluring itself as the agent who is going help the police catch the thief, but it is going to have tarnished with ill fame locally as “the traitor who destroyed their hero “not being able to wash it off a while.
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Mallaiyuran / November 24, 2017
New King left SLFP fearing Old King punishing his son for attack on the DIG’s son. He took favor from Jeyam to save his son for night club brawls. He dismissed Dilrukshi while Jayamane was dying. He presided the White Flag Murders which was negotiated by foreign Diplomats and journalist to the rebels to surrender. He never cleared his name on that. He used his accused book publishing celebration to boost his image for local election. Ranil celebrated his 40 years Mr. Clean records. Now in competition for that he is saying he has a 50years clean political history. This is in not going simply as the kettle and pot calling them as the whitest. Now he wants to have the Old King drawn on his side. That is why New King is directly pointing his arrow at Ranil that “your 40 years is popularly tarnished by Central Bank Looting, for which I have the files on my hand, but you do not have any files of me for my 50 years claim. He was with Old King all these time and he is claiming he has 50 years clean history. In Sirimavo time they both were in JVP. Now he is threatening he would quit the Yahapalanaya (UNP) government to stop UNP not delivering the promise of stopping corruption. So, isn’t practically he cleaning Old King for 50 years to recruit Old as the new partner to form the new government?
When this dump, New King was with Chandrika, he was a Smart Patriot. Spoke trickily, and won election. Now he is seeking independence from her to add back Old King. So, he is making mistakes. The Smart Patriot is going to be caught red handed with Old King. That is what he wants it seems.
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Taraki / November 26, 2017
Malli, what are these long essays for? Nobody reads them. You are turning into Amarasiri.
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Sinhala_Man / November 27, 2017
Dear Mallaiyuran,
I’m sorry, but I have to agree with Tarak on that.
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Please ensure readability by paragraphing. A number of us using asterisks. It is very important that we understand what you (yes, I mean by that the Tamil community) feel about the way the country is evolving.
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To think that as a kid I dreamt of World Government and the “Botherhood of Man”!
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mevan / November 25, 2017
President Sirisena was a member of MR’s cabinet and a party to all decisions taken by that body. All the deals” were rubber stamped by the cabinet. President Sirisena is therefore not in a position to now criticize “those deals.
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Uthungan / November 25, 2017
When he was asked by a journalist after the announcement of the January 2015 Presidential election results, if he would take any steps to punish the former President, I can remember My3 with a smile and saying on TV piously that he does not believe in taking revenge.
That’s enough to exactly know what his intentions are.
All of them are together when it comes to looking after their own selfish interests and safeguarding themselves.
The disunity of the people facilitates their unity. The people are the ultimate victims.
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Burt / November 25, 2017
“Monks will take to the streets if Gota is arrested – Ananda Thero Monks will take to the streets if Gota is arrested – Ananda Thero.”
Why the F do we need a legal system when corrupt Buddhism is the law of the land.
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Nimal / November 28, 2017
Arrest them.
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Asoka gunasekara / November 25, 2017
Ideal to head NATO (no action talk only)
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Fahim.knight / November 25, 2017
As we the people wait to see the final unfolding of the political drama . which family will become the Custodian of The SLFP . meanwhile Will the people ever be able to get Ranil to move out out and let in Ksru or ,Mangala to take over the UNP leadership ? Or let it go down to almost zero as same as it happened soon after the last defeat of UNP under Dudley and after his death ,when Kochi JR used his brilliant strategy to once and for all rid of the house hold of The Senanayakes and finally the victory of the so-called Low cast political lone Soldier who proved beyond all powers that there is no such thing as caste and its a great mind like The legend Premadasas who can over come any powers and serve the Country and People . There will never ever be another Premadasa not even Sajith ,say what you may of the Man , with his unfortunate death Sri Lanka lost a true Leader and the only hope it ever had.
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Fahim.knight / November 25, 2017
Just a sincere warning ,today your Internet connections are completely compromised ,not even during The Rajapaksheas time it was so bad ,so be wise with your comments , unless you have your own fully paid VPN .not those fake free ones. Only Airtel have bluntly refused any access to compromise their clent’s privacy (according to what’s been talked about among the people ,) for which I hear Airtel is facing some step motherly treatment .like no 4 G approval and always break down transfers .
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Sinhala_Man / November 25, 2017
Dear Fahim.knight,
Could you please tell us what you think is the reason why we cannot use so many mouse-based features when posting comments on Colombo Telegraph.
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My own feeling is that it has to do with Adware. I shall put down all my observations as a response to Rajesh on the previous page.
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Right now it looks as though comments cannot be submitted using Mozilla Firefox. Google Chrome appears to bring this Adware in:
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Adware.Elex.ShrtCln
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It can be removed, but it returns. We’ve been discussing this issue already. Three or four people have already made comment there, and will likely return to see what new development there are.
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old codger / November 25, 2017
S.M,
I have found the following:
You cannot enter the first comment except on a mobile.
Once someone has entered a first comment, any browser works ( but not the mouse)
Copy/paste doesn’t work even on a mobile.
I am using Firefox. Comments work, but not the mouse.
The problem is in the site itself, since other sites work properly.
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Sinhala_Man / November 25, 2017
Yipee! old codger!
Yes, this is from Firefox, after posting earlier from the other page of comments on this article, where you suggested that I use the “Tab”. This way, I should be able to keep my desk-top computer clear of viruses by sticking to Mozilla Firefox, which is “free and open source software” developed by volunteers, and funded by contributions from well-wishers.
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I’ve been forced to install pirated versions of Windows 7 on my desk-top computer, although my technician was clever enough to restore the “original” to my laptop because it had a Windows sticker with a certain number on it. Now, however, it looks as though re-conditioned computers have had the sticker removed before being brought in to the country, perhaps at the request of Microsoft. I don’t blame Bill Gates. The poor man also has to make some money!
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But Microsoft does not seem to disable computers which have pirated Windows – for which we must be grateful. At one point they were allowing laptops such as mine to upgrade to Windows 10, but that offer is now over. No doubt that made good business sense, too, in their competition with Apple.
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However, I don’t use pirated MS Office. I use Open Office on all computers. That, too, is “free and open source” software, so I break no rules, and updates come in. As for free virus guards, let me put my experience on the other page.
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I rather think that I got a first comment in from my desktop computer. Let me check.
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Not the first time you have helped me, dear old codger. Can’t many other problems be solved this way?
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Jim softy / November 26, 2017
Instead of copy and paste, there are other commands which give the same result. USe those. All these software have more than one way to do the same thing. Try those. When not go to other browsers. there are several.
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Park / November 27, 2017
If President so feels that there will be trouble in the country if Gota is arrested, then at least Gota can be kept in house arrest for his killings and corruption. Why is the President who said he will not interfere in judicial matters is now interested in saving Gota. Deal a Mega Deal?
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Fahim.knight / November 27, 2017
Dear Sinhala Man, CT is today targeted heavily than before , my router was hacked ,and many low down incidents happened ,once they have that kind of access they can Screw you left right centre , they can use your IP and do a lot of stuff . I am disgusted , at least during Rahapajshe”s time I don’t deny that they blocked the site many times ,but never stooped to this level ,ultimately your Router becomes a proxxxxx for everyone to access .if you can afford to pay big you can get a fool proof VPN.cheers.
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