Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe helped ex Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to obtain a new passport through the intervention of his Internal Affairs Minister Wajira Abeywardena Colombo Telegraph learns.
Gotabaya and Ranil |Photo Harsha de Silva
The revelation puts a new twist on wide speculation for months now that the current prime minister and Gotabaya Rajapaksa are “thick as thieves,” a senior UNP MP said.
Wickremesinghe also knew that the former defence secretary would not have a problem relinquishing his US citizenship well ahead of the 2019 presidential election, sources told Colombo Telegraph. It is learnt that the Prime Minister had ensured Rajapaksa that the path would be smoothed for him in Colombo if he managed to get US authorities to release him in time for the poll.
Colombo Telegraph learns that Abeywardena, whose ministry includes the Registrar of Persons and Immigration Department, intervened to ensure Rajapaksa obtained a new National ID and passport the next working day after he received his certificate of citizenship renunciation from the US Embassy in Colombo. Details have already come to light that Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s passport was issued without him ever being personally present at the Department of Immigration and that his documents had been accepted after counters had been closed.
The revelations are further confirmed by the news that Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Sagala Ratnayaka was at Rajapaksa’s Mirihana residence on Sunday (4th August) and seen by UNP chairman Kabir Hashim when he sought to pay the former defence sectretary to inquire after his health. Hashim saw Ratnayaka skulking around the house and rushed out after a quick greeting since the pair appeared to be in deep discussion.
PM Wickremesinghe appears to have struck a deal with Rajapaksa to ensure his protection and survival after the election. Wickremesinghe wants to keep control of the UNP and continue as Opposition Leader even under a Gotabaya Presidency.
Colombo Telegraph can also reveal that Wickremesinghe’s niece Ishini Wickremesinghe who currently serves as a consultant to the PM’s chief of staff, made open declarations during the October 2018 failed coup that if her uncle was not made the UNP candidate, her family would back Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential campaign.
Supporters of Gotabaya Rajapaksa have similarly threatened Mahinda Rajapaksa that if Gotabaya is not given the SLPP candidacy, they too will rebel against the former president and throw their support behind Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, through Dilith Jayaweera, is very close to bond scam mastermind Arjun Aloysius, who has promised to bankroll the Rajapaksa campaign in exchange for a promise that his family and Ranil Wickremesinghe will be protected if Gotabaya becomes President.
When Gotabaya Rajapaksa was surprised in a LA car park by summons in a case filed by the daughter of murdered Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, he called Dilith Jayaweera who was in Colombo at the time for advice. Ishini Wickremesinghe who was with Jayaweera reportedly assured Rajapaksa that she would speak with her uncle and ensure officials in Sri Lanka do not cooperate with the civil suit accusing Rajapaksa of murdering Lasantha. Attempts were made through the Prime Minister”s office to influence officials at the AG’s Department into ensuring public officials including the Police do not cooperate with Ahimsa Wickrematunge’s lawyers.
During the coup, Ishini Wickremesinghe helped to arrange the meeting between Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees. To date no one knows what transpired during the closed door one-on-one pow wow.
Wickremesinghe’s niece is also unofficially the head of propaganda for the Prime Minister’s presidential campaign.
A Gotabaya presidency puts scores of activists, politicians and journalists at risk of violence and intimidation. “Ranil only cares about his own post election survival. He does not seem to worry about how a Gota victory will impact those who fought to bring the UNP to power in January 2015 and August 2015. The extent of the violence Gotabaya is capable of is already public knowledge. We are finished, not only politically, but our lives will be ended,” said one terrified UNP MP who did not wish to be named.
Saman / August 6, 2019
Colombotelegraph is very famous for tpublishing this kind of made up Stories specially near elections
They are clever in producing them as real
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Babalathappu / August 6, 2019
I agree with you more.
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They dont have any kind of evidence material but just for attacks of PM … CT continues as such.
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I think if SPremadasa would be the leader, or we would not be able to achive anything that we earned hard sofar. We should vote for PM or Mr Speaker.
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Radical Ideas / August 8, 2019
What the GOVIGAMA RULING ELITE MAFIA is trying to do is to implement the Zionist backed agenda which is made to criminally organise a GRAND ALLIANCE of Asian countries which has their own RULING ELITE MAFIA who act as agents of Zionist system, those who are Anti Islam and capable of destroying, intimidating, organising riots/pogroms against the Muslims, persecuting and committing MASS Killings and Genocides to fulfill the Israeli agenda. Sri Lankan Racist Govi Leaders and India’s Racist Brahmin political order (Modi/BJP/RSS) all have one common goal under this scheme. Modi is doing the same thing that the Rajapakses, Sirisena, Ranil are doing for years. Modi visited SL soon after his electronic voting machines rigged Election win to coach the Sri Lankan counterparts to get ready for the War on Islam which is progressing at so many levels and the latest being the actions against Kashmir to which Ranil congratulating Modi for the illegal take over. They have to pat on the back each other for their crimes. Evil at its best!
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Radical Ideas / August 8, 2019
The ultimate goal of the Zionist system is to destroy Pakistan. To this goal, the Israeli masters have designed game to surround Pakistan with secret Jewish bloodlined Elites run neighbor and regional countries such as India, Burma/Myanmar and Afghanistan to inflict militarily driven collateral damages to weaken Pakistan’s retaliation power. Under this project, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka have demonstrated their allegiance through organising persecution of the Muslims by using State Sponsored Racist groups who are given a total freehand to conduct any crime against the Muslims with total impunity. Thus the groups like, RSS/BJP activists, Myanmar’s 969, Sri Lanka’s SLPP/ BBS/JHU activists are provided state protection and the backing of the Military, Judicial backing for the persecution of the Muslims. No legal action is taken against the operatives who go by the Buddhist religious groups who are proxies of the mainstream Govi order that comprises SLFP/UNP/SLPP/MEP/JHU/Wimal Weerawangsa and Gammanpila gangsters. All Sinhala political parties and the social and religious order coming under ONE COMMON Racist agenda of serving Israel.
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S.Modaya / August 6, 2019
Brilliant and Thanks CT for revealing the truth about the US brokered corruption racket with US citizen Rajapaksa and US puppet Bond Ranil competing in this miracle of Modayas!
The US is like Dr. Octopus in Spider Man – squeezing and strangling Sri Lanka with its puppet Bondscam Ranil and US citizen Gota who are 2 sides of the same corrupt coin -both must share the same prison cell for corruption and looting the country! The US game with Gota and Ranil is: Heads I win, tails you lose”.
Either way Lanka is screwed in the bi-partisan UNP-SLFP corruption racket with a massive Cabinet of clowns under the guise of “Reconciliation” with Sumanthiran, Sambanthan and JVPs AKD also bought by USAID-MCC funds to tun Lanka into a US-EU-NATO military base and garbage hub, while it is being asset stripped, in collusion with the Cesspit called Parliament.
But Sri Lanka belongs to the youth and younger generation and these corrupt politicians over 6 must be banned from Contesting. Where are the US-EU funded NGO ladies to hold placards for Change and Youth to take over and lead?!!
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Amarasiri / August 6, 2019
CT,
So, Ranil wants to hang on.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Must-go-for-change-if-leadership-is-disputed:-Sajith%E2%80%99s-most-suited:-Harin/108-172393
Ranil is the constipation f the party, and he needs to move and retire.
Ranil is not closer to the grass roots. He is a “Royalist”.
Ravi Penthouse, “Royalist”, would you give the Penthouse back to the Govt, earned illegally from the bond scam?
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Radical Ideas / August 6, 2019
What everyone is seeing through this is the GOVIGAMA MAFIA RULING ELITE conspiracy planning. No matter through which party or through which entity they enter the scene, it is they who win always. This type of back door deals clearly demonstrates the vicious cycle of GOVI BARBARISM imposed on the entirety of the population as the system is completely hijacked by them to safeguard each other and protect one another as GATEKEEPERS to their collective crimes and for the benefit of the clan and its members. HAVE anybody seen, during the last 70+ years, that any GOVI ELITE family member being charged on any legal implications? Arrested? fined? or punished by the law of the land which is common to all?????? NONE. This is the EVIL SCHEME on which GOTA the Super CRIMINAL is not charged nor held accountable to his infamous crimes committed against the Humanity and the people. THE 100 Years Evil is just getting better of its worse.
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Ethel Nanayakkara / August 6, 2019
Why do we find scapegoats for what obviously is our own, the voters’ fault? We vote for our political representatives. We do not see and recognise leaders with a vision to develop the country. We vote according to our own whims and fancies based on race, caste and or religion. We do not want to identify leaders from among us who are driven by love of the country and or her people. Because we are such a race, caste and religiously biased citizenry, genuine individuals who want to serve the country and her community do not come forward. As revealed by some comments here in these columns, such individuals will not be allowed to win.
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Ajith / August 6, 2019
Today’s online “Virakesari” published an article (source Financial Times) published similar article. So, I don’t think there is any doubt that it is necessary for Gotapaya to proof himself that he obtained Srilankan passport through normal procedure as you and me have to go through. Gotapaya has the same right as you and me under the Srilankan law and it is impossible for you and me to get a passport with such speed. We people expect our next president should be honest to the Srilankan law and constitution. We people also should know why none of his family members gave up their US citizenship if the whole family is patriotic to Srilanka?
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lal / August 6, 2019
Saman, Some people are worried that under a GR lead government Sri Lanka would prosper. They who are traitors, LTTE terrorists and their supporters would spread rumours to prevent a GR victory. A GR victory would make it impossible for Tamil terrorists and supporters to achieve Ealam. You will see more made up stories, fake news, accusations against Rajapakse family soon. A strong leader like GR is the need of the hour to smash terrorists and for economic development of Sri Lanka and we will see that happen soon.
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Kapila / August 6, 2019
Great work, thanks, what a scoop CT!
Time for Youth and Younger generations to lead this country that has been destroyed by the current generation of politician and to send Ranil-Mara-Gota and this generation of politicians to the geriatric ward with Sambanthan at the lead.
Time has come to Ban all those over the age of 62 contesting and for Sajtih, Dayasiris, Sunil Handunetting etc. to contests and to lead the country.
The JVP’s silence on how the University Students are used in senseless “protests” organized by external parties to de-stablize universities is astonishing.
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Saliya / August 7, 2019
Saman, its fictitious when it doesnt agree with yr political leanings, is it?Shows how little u r aware of the secret wheeler dealings in the corridors of power. As they say, “there’s none so blind as those who refuse to see.”
My dear boy, there are many many other secrets between Ranil and MR but those dont concern us. As for u, the less a man like u knows, the better for u. Yr little brain isnt equipped to grasp the finer nuances of powerplay.
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kebab / August 6, 2019
Could Esmond produce a honourable son ?
Ask the beach boys in Mt.Lavinia
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Spring Koha / August 6, 2019
kebab, you should be ashamed of yourself. You obviously have no knowledge of who Esmond Wickremasinghe was – let me tell you. He was was a thoroughly decent, capable, fair-minded, and generous man. Only a scoundrel will drag his name into a slur.
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sinhalese buddhist / August 6, 2019
CT: I am seriously considering dropping your site from my reading list, due to your shoddy, sensationalist and non-objective articles. There was a time when you were credible, but alas no more.
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Saliya / August 7, 2019
Shows how little u r aware of the secret wheeler dealings in the corridors of power. As they say, “there’s none so blind as those who refuse to see.”
My dear boy, there are many many other secrets between Ranil and MR but those dont concern us. As for u, the less a man like u knows, the better for u. Yr little brain isnt equipped to grasp the finer nuances of powerplay.
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Native Vedda / August 7, 2019
Saliya
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“Yr little brain isnt equipped to grasp the finer nuances of powerplay.”
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So you want every citizen to equip himself/herself with such a brain only Dayan is blessed with, understanding backstop, pivot, rebalancing, existential, …………..
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Seriously why haven’t you made it to the top if you did understand all the nuances of powerplay, as in cricket?
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Ranjith(SPRRW) / August 6, 2019
Friends can not have same political views. At the sometime can not have same opinions on political & economic situations of the country.but they are friends.American president & Russian president are great enemies politically. but when they meet each other at a summit behave like great friends. we show this scenario in Singapore at trump & north Korean leader meeting. That is politics.That does not mean Trump endorses Kim policies. Same thing applicable here as well.
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Hatharabirikatharina / August 6, 2019
OIC.
As a sorcerer you may know it well right ?
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All what we expect is MURDEROUS Gota be away from lanken politics.
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He would rather be a match to be HANG man than the leader for a country whose everything was looted by Rajapakshe family.
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Pohottuwa LEadership will be taken over by Ballige putha RAJAPAKSHE this week, will end up with their hopes. People are silent, but that means they would not support Extremists Rajaakshes for next term.
Sirisena will have to go under 6 feet, but in the same time, our leader Nagananda will get ele ected as the leader for the country. This is my feeling having spent few weeks and back in Europe. Tuk tuk driver to any other men people are very upset of lanken traditional kind of politics.
I have seen that former AUDITOR general is sitting with Mr Nagananda K in Melbourne. There are lot more that are known as UNCORRUPTED are with him, incl us being out of the country to support him.
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CITIZEN / August 6, 2019
IF this is true it is a “bloody DISGRACE” that Ranil is to descend that low in his lust to be in power! I think the best job for him under Gota Presidency is to be the “Official Bathroom-cleaner” of Gota’s official bungalow. If he lets down millions of Party supporters this way he deserves NO BETTER JOB!
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Janaka from Matara / August 6, 2019
This is too far-fetched to believe.
But Nagananda has been saying of this for three weeks now.
Nothing is impossible with this bunch of gamblers.
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Sam / August 6, 2019
Ranil or Karu cannot win presidential election. Only Sajith can win. Ranil should sack from UNP leadership even. Such low quality coward who is thinking himself only does not matter country or party.
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Bandu / August 6, 2019
Knowing how Ranil has behaved in his past political career, it is a moot point whether he cares about the country or the UNP.
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Mandy / August 6, 2019
Is not Ranil a great deal maker to survive these past 25 years at least. Survivor par excellence whether in the party as its head or the leader of the opposition.
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Saliya / August 7, 2019
You mean traitor par exellance?
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Sinhala_Man / August 7, 2019
Mandy’s was the last comment on this article displayed for about eight hours. I thought she had summed it up well.
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Saliya, you have improved on it considerably.
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As “Janaka from Matara” had commented before that (all on this same page), “Nagananda (Kodituwakku) has been saying of this for three weeks now.”
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Nagananda’s campaign seems to be conducted almost exclusively on some very effective Youtube programmes in Sinhala. Let’s hope that he’s worked out a way of reaching out to Tamil speakers.
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Readers of English must start listening to Nagananda. Some of us may be slow readers of Sinhala, but we can all listen to and understand Nagananda’s Sinhala (he also uses a lot of Pali!). Manel Fonseka is deaf, poor thing, – but the real problem is going to be communicating with the North.
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They may not understand that Nagananda’s determination to streamline the administration by getting rid of Provincial Councils doesn’t indicate anything anti-Tamil.
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The fewer “professional politicians” we have the better. Few seem to retire, they jump into another Party – even when they are octogenarians!
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Sinhala_Man / August 7, 2019
Many voters (falsely) think that they know the entire system. How many realise that the system of Preferential Voting that we have allows them not to “waste” a vote on Nagananda? It is possible for you to indicate a vote for Ranil or Gota as next Preference, if you fear that Nagananda will not come in as at least the Second guy after the first count. To start with, did you know that you could cast Three Preferences, by writing in the three numerals instead of the ticking one person’s name?
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With these politicians increasingly getting exposed for double-dealing, it’s beginning to seem possible that Nagananda could stun all the world. Against him, though, is that sense of inertia that results in whole extended families in the villages remaining with SLFP or UNP.
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What we need is one clear set of laws which will apply to all, President downwards, irrespective of language or religion.
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Today’s article reveals so much more:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/revealed-why-did-ranil-fail-to-amend-the-presidential-elections-act/
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Until I read that, I was inclined to agree with this comment:
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sinhalese buddhist / August 6, 2019
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He is a sincere commenter who describes himself honestly, displaying no hostility towards the so-called “minorities”.
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The writing on the wall is clear as can be. Look at it steadily. Let’s understand the current situation clearly, then communicate it in various ways to those who use only one of the “Swabashas” telling ourselves all the while that they may have already worked it out.
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I ask “Socratic Questions”. My discovery has been that “English Speakers” are likely to be among the most ignorant and smug members of our society. No, not those who debate on Colombo Telegraph!
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Native Vedda / August 7, 2019
Saliya
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“You mean traitor par exellance?”
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You mean his failure to charge the clan and its cronies for all the robberies, war crimes and crime against humanity, … and not holding Gota responsible for …. the gold and cash he and his goons robbed in Vanni, …………………. Patriotic acts of Dutta Gamani Nayakka, Cyril Mathew and thousands of hoodlums for burning the Jaffna library, 1983 riots, ….. burning Chandrika’s proposal in the parliament ground, and never attempted to charge those responsible for hundreds of thousands of innocent people’s death between 1987 – 1991?
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Shabir / August 6, 2019
Ranil is the worst politician who played double games throughout his political career.
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Amila / August 6, 2019
Ranil is the biggest problem in SL politics. He will never give leadership to anyone else until he expires. Probably people will celebrate on the expiry date of this useless brainless weakest idiotic politician who not only destroyed the party but also country
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renu g / August 6, 2019
This Colombo Telegraph news is untrue, all guesses
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Lester / August 6, 2019
“Wickremesinghe wants to keep control of the UNP and continue as Opposition Leader even under a Gotabaya Presidency.”
That is RW’s only objective in politics. He has never done anything useful for the country. He does not know economics or defense or technology. He is using the name of his uncle JRJ to abuse the resources of the country. People should not be surprised when a Rajapakse is elected.
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ranjith / August 6, 2019
Nicely made up story by CT what shame CT going down to this level please CT don’t write lies and mislead the people we know who is RW and who is GR who is the better person and let the people decide who is going to be our next president please CT write something about MS and MR CT has already forgotten them
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Douglas / August 6, 2019
Citizen: Your comment : “If this true, it is “BLOODY DISGRACE”. Where were you on the early hours of January 9th 2015? Perhaps, you would have been “celebrating” Ranil W becoming the PM. But Ranil accompanied by the Named” Deal Maker of MR – Thiru Nadesan “RUSHED” to Temple Trees to see that the “Deposed King” MR was safely sent to Medamulana in a helicopter together with lorry loads of “Cargo”. That was how he established a “DEAL” with “Rajapakse & Co. Inc.”. That is why I said, that this is not a “Revelation”; but an established “DEAL” and TRUTH. Please don’t forget that “History”. That “History” will repeat.
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SD / August 6, 2019
There is something called a one day service for passports and NICs, so this entire story is comical.
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Punchi Point / August 6, 2019
Sri Lanka does not have a single reliable news source. All made up stories like this one. Corrupt politicians and corrupt journalists have ruined this country.
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Native Vedda / August 7, 2019
Punchi Point
Punchi Brain
Punchi Wiili
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“Sri Lanka does not have a single reliable news source.”
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Therefore do you want us to rely only on your fake news feed?
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Dan / August 7, 2019
This a bullshit and full of fabricated stories This kind of articles are shame for the knowledge of thousands of readers
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charles / August 7, 2019
Do not forget Ranil and Mahinda are good friends. They help eah other. If somebody thinks MR is a murderer. Ranil is the same. May be young generation do not know his past.
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Native Vedda / August 7, 2019
charles
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“If somebody thinks MR is a murderer.”
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You are saying we have no option but to chose the benevolent lesser murderer.
It seems good idea.
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Good Sense / August 7, 2019
Sri Lanka has a sporty history among politicians who are arch rivals in the eyes of the people. Sir John wanted to buy an estate in England after his defeat. Foreign Exchange was blocked by Sir Arthur Ranasinghe. Who unblocked it? Mr. Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, the Prime Minister of the day. Talking of recent incidents ,when Dudley Sirisena was in a spot under the threat of flooding his hotel in Polonnaruwa and no body was prepared to help him as Maithripala had “stabbed in the back”. Who helped him to release the waters in the tank? Nandasena Gotabhaya Rajapakse alias Herr Gottler. Rajapakses in Wickramasinghes are long standing “friends”. We people have the trait of shouting and taking sides for the apparent political gimmicks they play. But the reality is that all of them are responsible for the poor governance, poor security, poor economy of this country and they should not be allowed to run away.
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Saliya / August 10, 2019
RW is in damage control after his secret deal with Gota was exposed. Suddenly he is now spouting anti – gota rhetoric. He must think the ppl r idiots. . Go home Ranil, please! Did u call Gota beforehand and forewarn him of yr bogus attack? You are PATHETIC!
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Ajay / August 11, 2019
Though the Rajapaksas are out of office, the Deep State set up by them when they were in power is still behind the many key decisions taken by the Punch-and-Judy Show run by Sira and Ranil.
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Kapila Narendrakumara / August 14, 2019
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