President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga has met Daham Sirisena at the UN Headquarters in New York last night.
President Sirisena’s son Daham Sirisena has no official status whatsoever in the Sri Lankan delegation.
When President Maithripala Sirisena left for New York and when he arrived in New York the Presidential Media portrayed him as a simple man in contrast to his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa whose foreign visits were made with a large entourage with the tax payer having to foot enormous bills. These sentiments were echoed by almost all sections of the local media in Sri Lanka. Indeed pictures of him arriving in New York in a disheveled state was hailed as an example of his simplicity.
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Maithri’s Daughter Chathu Kicks “Own-Goal” With Daddy’s Powers
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Daham Sirisena At Racecourse With 40 PSD On Saturday Night?
Minister Maithripala Sirisena’s Son Brandished A Gun At UNP Kris Balathazaar
President Silent On Daughter’s High-handedness
Sirisena Brother, Pallewatta Gamaralalage Kumarasinghe Sirisena Appointed As SLT Chairman
Pictures: ‘Non-Nepotic’ President Sirisena Takes Son To UN General Assembly
Indian PM Narendra Modi Meets Daham Sirisena At UN
Manel / September 27, 2015
This is so ugly for the Sri Lankans. No democratically elected leader takes his off spring to such an important event, an event watched by the entire world. Sirisena should have known better. We should appear to be dignified and official, not flaunt sons and daughters of the President. Those who represent us in these world events must show we have class and follow protocols. This young man had no place in our delegation, and should not have been seen in official photographs.
Has Sirisena forgotten his former boss was condemned for making his government a family affair?
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Mallaiyuran / September 27, 2015
This is so ugly for the Sri Lankans. No democratically elected leader takes his off spring to such an important event, an event watched by the entire world. Is that true? Mmmmmmmm…..
Sirisena should have known better. What about the Sinhala Intellectual promoted him and the Sinhala Buddhist voted for him? Knows too much? Information Overload? Where is that educated Thero? You know what I mean?
Those who represent us in these world events must show we have class . How many classes these goons have? PhD, MSc. A/L O/L 6th grade? How many of them have classes? World did not watch when Mervyn Silva posed to UHRC High Commission?
Has Sirisena forgotten his former boss was condemned for making his government a family affair? So how did Dudley was made of? Sirima.. Chandrika… Sajith.. Ranil? Who is D.A.Rajapakse?
Manel, Do you live in Lankawe? I know and heard about people have that there is a disorder called sleep walking. Is there is something called as Comma Walking or Comma Living in Lankawe?
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Mallaiyuran / September 27, 2015
Where is the Jehan PhD from NPC. This is the fourth thread on this subject His is out on shopping to buy Lime for whitewashing?
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Rabok / September 29, 2015
A village GS became the President of the country – but he is still a village chieftain and will remain same – no class ,no ethics , – unfortunately he is disgracing the entire nation in front of international community by including all the Sri lankans to his class – MR tried to monitor his foreign policy through a brainless donkey like Sajin and we ended up becoming international paraya dogs – now MS is promoting another goon – may be to replace Sajin Sakki..ya
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Amarasiri / September 27, 2015
RE: Switzerland President Meets Daham Sirisena
“President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga has met Daham Sirisena at the UN Headquarters in New York last night.”
“President Sirisena’s son Daham Sirisena has no official status whatsoever in the Sri Lankan delegation.”
CT, his Mr.Sirisena;s son Daham is chaperoning his father as per request made by his wife. Is he thew translator for his father?
Daham needs a tie. Can we donate him one?
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Vetmahadeva / September 27, 2015
Yes Amarasiri
we must do that Tie,
we will make a hat first
let us hold the hat for
collection of coins and notes- for
that not only tie matters
the entire dress code for
the first family of Sri Lanka
badly need an adviser for the
attire of entire first family
Let us all appoint one!
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Analyst / September 27, 2015
It’s a good start for Yahapalanaya. The world leaders met the President the man of simplicity. Good for the young man too learn a little of high life. He does not look like a pompous brat , kind of brats we have seen on the show case trail ,
of siblings , the king , the wives and partners ,the beauticians , the courtiers and so on who lavished on these occasions from the coffers of state wealth.
Thank god that culture is over.
Every time the retinue of the king ,the queen , the siblings and the hangers on disgraced the country officially and unofficially.
How was it allowed? Who allowed that amount of expenses on the state??
It was all there to grab it while you can kind of mentality of the LAST REGIME. Did they win the lottery?
Now asking questions why the son accompanied the President ? The son took his mother’s place instead to accompany the President father simple as that.
Many right minded people will agree with my point as long as the young man does not make it as a habit to misuse the system.
It will be unwise to join the official group too many times. Daham you’re watched!!! By the whole Nation. Go and get some proper education first young man.
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anonymous / September 27, 2015
Sorry, wrong analysis. Can not agree. Direct violation of the ‘Protocol’.
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RuwanL / September 28, 2015
This is not what we voted for! We needed a change! Yahapalanaya! Not for my tax money spent on politician’s sons and daughters! This should be made very clear to the president!!!
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Saman / September 27, 2015
What they preach unfortunately they do not practice.
Unfortunately people are totally hopeless.
Ultimately so called leaders have something but sadly people have nothing.
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Sellam / September 27, 2015
The crafty Sirisena is moulding his son to take his place in the future. anyhow wish him well.Se
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Moada Sinhalaya / September 27, 2015
Case of Banda Going Town.
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sama / September 27, 2015
but he has not taken a group of people kith and kin… to please them at this time.
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Hisham Rafi / September 27, 2015
I would have definitely found the picture of Namal meeting the world leaders disturbing and even more so the picture of Daham. makes me wonder do we need to elect the barren to the highest office lest the nepotism, Ranil can indeed be called “the man” in this circumstance.
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Sapumal / September 27, 2015
This is a shame for all Sri Lankans. He is not a part of the delegation. I though tits OK to attend the the session as presidents loving son to see this wonderful event. Now I can see the fever clearly. This is unacceptable as no citizens ever gave president family to rule the country as we have experienced before. It is better refrain from all those aristocratic practices from now on. Otherwise too late. Its look like most of the politicians forget past as soon as they elected to office. But remember we don’t.
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Patriot / September 27, 2015
President Sirisena has no shame. He does not know how to behave in a dignified manner. His behaviour after becoming the president of the country by sheer chance is disgraceful and in a sense foolish. He seems arrogant although he pretends to be otherwise. That is why he has taken his son as a representative of Sri Lanka to show his critics of his nepotism that he is immune to such criticism now that he has the power of an executive president. He has become so proud of his position and he has started misusing that power to his benefit.
The blame should go mainly to Ranil Wickramasing for patiently agreeing to Sirisena’s undemocratic acts. Ranil shouldn’t have given in to Sirisena when the latter forced him to form a national government. This photo is a disgrace to Sri Lankans. Now, I do agree with Vimukthi Kumarathunga Bandaranayake’s statement that “he is ashamed to be a Sri Lankan”.
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Davidson Panabokke / September 27, 2015
Daham
1. Understand how many young SeiLankans worked hard for the CommonCandidate to have GoodGovernance = #wecanhangeSL
Perhaps your dad is too soaked in MRism & his #CorridorsofPower
2.get real status to be there
3.get a tie
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Spring Koha / September 27, 2015
Madam, may I introduce Our Minister without Portfolio.
(Excuse the missing tie Madam, the fool wanted to look cool!)
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Sinhala_Man / September 27, 2015
Dear Spring Koha,
I am surprised at your response. I have come to respect you through these columns.
So many state leaders take their progeny with them that I cannot possibly remember all instances. When those progeny become important themselves, then we remember. Have you not seen many photographs of Jawaharlal Nehru’s daughter meeting foreign dignitaries? And have we not seen photographs of Satellite and her father meeting with that same Nehru? Did not our own troubles began when Don Stephen Senanayake decreed that his mantle should pass to his son, Dudley, which fact forced SWRD B’aike to espouse ultra nationalism to somehow become the leader of his country?
From all the red arrows that have appeared for those defending our president’s action, the fate of all comments that I make on this subject is clear. We all know the President’s background. Many of us are proud that we voted for him. The problem is that now we do not want to see him as our leader. He called himself our servant, and in a sense he is. But many are taking this in far too literal a sense. I am sure that many who are commenting unfavorably about Maithri and his family, have never visited these developed countries. Nor have I. How I wish that Providence had given me too those chances.
Such things never came my way. Dear God, let me not be envious of those who now have some reward. Didn’t TS Eliot say something like history has many mysterious winding staircases. Let us rejoice in the fortunes of those who deserve it. If ever the Sirisena family behaves with impropriety let us then hurl them from their pedestals. For now, let me tell you, that I’m proud of our First Family.
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Spring Koha / September 28, 2015
Dear Sinhala_Man
Notwithstanding what others might have done in other times, the fact is that the President is on an official visit, and, unless his children are qualified to take up a place, they should not be there.
I am like you and others respectful of the President, and the present incumbent (who has been elected to office), but that should not prevent us telling it as we see it.
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Sapumal_Jaya / September 28, 2015
You may proud of first family but your heart may like to see MR in power in again. That why you praise this act. But we don’t.That s the difference.
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Sinhala_Man / September 29, 2015
Dear Sapumal_Jaya,
I have worked very hard to get Mathri elected. I ran great risks. I expected no material rewards. In such a situation, I’m not likely to be over hasty in condemning the man who leads us now.
I feel that you are over-hasty in condemning me without knowing much about me. And that is precisely what I feel about all these adverse comments. How many of us really know the protocol for such meetings?
However, let me acknowledge that I am rather worried after reading some of the young man’s later comments. We have to be wary of the ease of communication today. There is very little privacy left in the world today. This particular comment I am dictating into a tablet and there may be some errors creeping in. I hope you get my drift. Google probably monitors every word of what we are saying. Of course, they will not bother with what I speak or write. I am a non-entity, & I know it.
I would like you to think carefully before saying anything that could undermine My3. By doing so, you could be playing into the hands of the dictator whom we have deposed. I understand what you say. It is possible for people to depose one dictator, and find that we have only succeeded in replacing him with somebody worse.
So let the bottom line be: don’t make knee jerk reactions every time you see something.
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Muhammed Fazl / September 27, 2015
CT – Shouldn’t we be focusing more on other issues than criticizing family members of the President? I know them and they are good kids. Let us leave them alone…
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Dev / September 27, 2015
Yes, they are very good kids LOL.
Asela Waidyalankara will be able to tell you more about how “good” he is !
[Edited out]
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Maara Sira / September 28, 2015
“Asela Waidyalankara will be able to tell you more about how “good” he is ! “
Seeing is beleiving. So, Aselas wife will even be able to tell you how good his ‘thing’ really is.
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Native Vedda / September 28, 2015
Maara Sira
“Seeing is beleiving. So, Aselas wife will even be able to tell you how good his ‘thing’ really is.”
What does Asela’s wife got to do with Daham’s free trip to UN?
Have you asked your neighbour what your wife say about “your ‘thing’ really is”? May be your friend knows about it but does not tell you what your wife thinks about your thing really is. Ask him. .
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Vibhushana / September 27, 2015
I think living in ivory tower can blind people to outside sentiments. Its the responsibility of the media/his advisers to let My3 know for his own good.
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Gune / September 27, 2015
What is the kind of message are we sending to the world when this President takes his son to the UN. I am increasingly losing faith in the hope we had in this man. Now that they have come into power they seem to do whatever they want putting aside the people’s aspiration for clean governance.
I am keen to see what RW has to say about this. Stubborn as he is he will ignore such behavior.
Mr President. You set examples for people of this land. What is the message you are sending to the civil service ? Can chairman’s of corporations now take their son’s and daughters on business trips ? Can ministers and MP’s take their wives on official visits ? This is utterly vulgar. Stop it !!!!!!!!
Frankly Mr President between telling your contingent not to pay for blue movies at the Waldorf Astoria and taking your son on an official visit ( even on personal funds ) I find the latter equally bad as watching blue movies and ordering expensive whiskies. Just come off it now !!!! We will not allow you to govern like this. We had enough of MR stupidity and we can’t put up with yours either.
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Pot Shot / September 27, 2015
Mr President,
Stop treating Sri Lanka like your private property. You can’t do this.
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Sinhala_Man / September 27, 2015
Is there no limit to the pettiness that some Sri Lankans are going to display?
I don’t know about the niceties of Diplomatic Protocol, but what I do know is that this decent Gamarala has already done a world of good to our bruised country. He exposed not only himself, but also his family, to immense risk by competing for the Presidency. “Had he lost all of them would be dead now” is not too wild a guess to be making.
I am one Sri Lanka who doesn’t grudge my President the little pleasures of life. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t womanise. So, what the hell! Also, his fame has spread throughout the world as a unique sort of President, and there may be just a few world leaders (also fallible human beings, equipped with brains that are not so different from mine) who may be curious to see how the next generation of this family is faring.
I think that all this focus on Chathuri, and now Daham, is because of the most despicable envy on the part of some readers. I should imagine that many have decided that this “Gamaralalage something, something, President” should not have a family that will rise somewhat in society.
If nepotism reaches impossible levels, be sure that I will be among the first to cry “foul”, but I see nothing of the sort so far.
Let me add, that I was one of the most qualified English teachers in the service of the Ministry of Education but that I’ve never been to a “Western” country. When I was about to be sent to England for a short “reward” for staying throughout in the “Veddah Province” that was put on hold owing to an unqualified guy petitioning. Of course, the trip still seemed on. Then came the “Boxing Day Tsunami”, and it was decided that all junkets were off. As we all know, from the following month onward, lots of Pajeros began to appear on the broad avenues of Colombo 7, and then MaRa pocketed a fortune! As for me, I’ve only been to two Third World countries to earn a bit of money for myself – “Valuable Foreign Exchange” for the country, it may also be termed! Nor have I reaped any benefits from having worked very hard to, for many years, lessen ethnic tensions in this country, and finally, get Maithri elected. I disapprove of S.B. Dissanayake still being a Minister, obviously, but these may be exigencies of Politics, that I don’t understand!
Please, let us get on with re-building our country; it’s not a process that can be combined with backbiting!
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Dias / September 29, 2015
Within his short time in office this president has resorted to 2 nepotistic acts: (1) He appointed his brother to the position of the Chairman of SLT (2) Now this, taking his son to the UN. Suffice to say he’s lost all my respect. And as for having any ‘class’ – here, ‘class’ been defined as simple honesty, integrity, an inner security, it is clear that president has no class and is a very insecure person.
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Dinuk / September 27, 2015
Mahinda Rajapaksa is Sirisena’s role model. Look at this SLFP national list..
Sirisena is even less educated than MR and speaks less English, so he needs support from Mahinda Samarasinghe and son to translate.
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Spring Koha / September 28, 2015
Dinuk
Just to make a small but very important point.
It is NOT at all essential or even a prerequisite of election that the President of Sri Lanka is able to speak English. The President is best advised to speak in his/her mother tongue. He/she is allowed to take a translator, though the UN and other reputable organisations will always ensure that anything said by an invited speaker is translated for the benefit of all by professional, qualified and competent translators.
In fact, after listening to some no doubt brave efforts by many, it would be best if the speaker stuck to his/her native language where fluency and flow are more likely to impress.
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Sinhala_Man / September 28, 2015
Well said, Sir!
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Senthil / September 27, 2015
We all should encourage this decent looking and from a decent family youngster entering politics. Eventually replace all corrupted old generation with civilised youngsters in Ceylon politics after LTTE era(like before Christ and after Christ). Proof we can manage our country on our own without British, proof we are not actually stupid like we are called. Distribute available limited resource evenly by allowing maximum 2 kids per family not 12 or more.
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Daham / September 27, 2015
Is Daham a decent youngster? Don’t you know that he is the one who took off his underpants and showed it to the DIG’s Sons’s wife in a beach resort and got involved in a drama.
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The Rogue Ayer / September 28, 2015
Daham,
“Is Daham a decent youngster? Don’t you know that he is the one who took off his underpants and showed it to the DIG’s Sons’s wife in a beach resort and got involved in a drama.”
What else is known about the background of Daham? Profession, education, marital status?
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Sinhala_Man / September 28, 2015
Yes, I know about the Pasikudah incident, and am determined to forget it. Many young men experiment with liquor, lose their senses and do things that they later repent of.
Maithri never excused his conduct; there has been no repetition of this conduct. No leader elected by us will be a divine being. I am satisfied with the human conduct of the man whom I helped elect, and with his family.
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Sudu Putha / September 27, 2015
What is the difference between Mahinda
Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena?
Sirisena behaves the same way as his
predecessor taking family members on
joy rides like Rajapaksa. Why should the
tax payer pay for it. He is introduced
to the Indian Prime Minister, the Swiss
President and a whole host of others.
It is not Yahapalanaya but a cruel joke
perpetrated on Sri Lankans.
Sirisena’s is working against all the election
pledges he made. Even ordinary village level
Siras will not do this kind of thing.
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Pot Shot / September 27, 2015
Peopl do make mistakes and Presidents are no different from the people in this respect. We demand a public apology for your conduct with an assurance that this will not happen again.
This such disgusting behaviour Mr. President.
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Analyst / September 27, 2015
Huh public apology ….for what nonsense?
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Native Vedda / September 27, 2015
CT writes:
“Indeed pictures of him arriving in New York in a disheveled state was hailed as an example of his simplicity.”
It seems true, look at Daham who is not wearing a tie which shows how simple this boy is like his father.
He is so simple he forgot to take his nemi-panawa/rel-panawa (comb) with him.
His jacket reminds me of Charlie Chaplin.
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PhD / September 27, 2015
Do you guys know why President Sirisena is doing this sort of things? Because He is a “swollen headed IDIOT”.
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PhD / September 27, 2015
Do you guys know why President Sirisena is doing this sort of things? Because He is a “swollen headed IDIOT”.
At least the Cabinet ministers accompanying this foolish leader of the country should have had some intelligence to advice him not to embarrass everybody by this act. Either, they are probably scared of the guy or they are just sucking up keeping their mouths shut.
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Bensen Berner / September 27, 2015
Does anyone have the slightest notion as to when the Sri Lankans will get better at such disgraceful actions. Bensen
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nimal / September 27, 2015
Saham is wearing the official dress of his generation – SMART CASUAL. So do not blame him. He should have been told by his elders that dress was not optional.
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Barus / September 27, 2015
Sirisena was an understudy of Mahinda. Looking at the ways of MS, I can say with complete confidence that MR has taught him the entire NEPOTISM game and MS has mastered it.
I am sure in the near future, we will see MS overtaking MR by many a mile.
Better to call the Brits to take over this country for another 100 years and educate the next 4 generations. Outsourcing is in vogue these. LET US OUTSOURCE OUR NATION’S ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.
Sri Lanka – the pearl of the Indian Ocean, a land like no other, the Asian Miracle. How so ambitious we are as a nation!
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leelawathie / September 27, 2015
these are just malicious attacks.
It is too early to attack him in this way.
Alone the manner he has been running office today-. leaving all the bit PM to do should be commendable. Actually, within the power of EP he could do the same manner as his predecesser the doggy man handled it…. but you guys add your two cent worth as if you have no sensnes at all. Please study before going to attack the noble man who saved the nation from MR megalo
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Analyst / September 27, 2015
Total disgrace these simple minded idiots commenting here of something trivial . Remember during your beloved masters time Gopallagama Minister took his own brats and the family paraded them in very expensive hotels PAID by the state of course of yours and my money. They even did not like the hotels where the main official group stayed because it was too ” palloo” ( low class hotel for the super rich minister but paid by the state)
What about Ex minister Rambo he too took his offsprings on these tours.
Why CT kept mum at the time?? Too scared of white vans??
Write about building this shattered bankrupt lawless country first.
That is more important at this moment
Jealousness will not build our nation. Firstly help to bang up those crooks and murderers ,you selfish jealous nincompoops.
Get on your bikes and start building the nation.
It’s good to comment mistakes and act upon rather than joining the band wagon on the same boring matter.
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samuel / September 27, 2015
Today, they just rattle on the Prez wihtout thinking twice. Many of them have already forogtten how it had been before 8th Jan.
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Alec Goldstiene / September 27, 2015
Unless we have someone like Daham well groomed to face that monster Price Namal (who met from Gaddafi to Obama) we would be handing back the country on a platter to deadly Alibaba family again. We must make it harder for the thieves to return.
Anyway, many leaders take their kids on foreign trips… remember Clintons and their daughter Chelsea? No big deal… except for media folks who want to stir news.
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paul / September 27, 2015
God! Its pathetic. It remind me of the time Mrs Premadasa posed with a tennis racquet. The power hungry nouveau riche never fail to disappoint.
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sajith putha / September 28, 2015
“It remind me of the time Mrs Premadasa posed with a tennis racquet.”o
She certainly would have looked better posing with a thattu of Lavaria…… minus the tennis shorts, of course.
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thondamanny / September 27, 2015
Switzerland President Meets Daham Sirisena
So what did they discuss? A date ???
Swiss President may have been aware of Daham’s great exposure at a beach in Passikkudah therefore may have had some interest.
She is not a bad looking 40 carat………though may be much older
Anyway, these pale white skins are generally attaracted to the Brownies and Blacks.
Aiyo Sira observing from the other end grinning like “Gamayata Magic”.
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Analyst / September 27, 2015
@ thondamanni. You people are disgusting village rowdies only knows this kind of language. No substance just empty vessels makes the most sound in the village arena.
Pathetic people.
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