It seems the recently appointed cabinet of President Maithri‘s government is a ‘Royal’ cabinet as close to half of its members are incidentally Royalists.
Some 11 of the total 27 Cabinet Ministers are old Boys of Royal College to which includes the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe himself. The other royalists are:
* Mangala Samaraweera – Minister of External Affairs
* Lakhman Kiriella – Minister of Plantation Industries
* Ravi Karunanayake – Minister of Finance
* Rauf Hakeem – Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage
* Duminda Dissanayake – Minister of Irrigation
* Kabeer Hashim – Minister of Highways and Investment Promotion
* Sajith Premadasa – Minister of Housing and Samurdhi
* D.M. Swaminathan – Minister of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Affairs
* Gayantha Karunathilake – Minister of Media
* Naveen Dissanayake – Minister of Tourism
Meanwhile State minister Faizer Musthapha and two Deputy Ministers Dr Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickramaratne are also from the Royal College.
SUN / January 19, 2015
This kind of brandings are just for jokers only. I totally disagree.
I am old mahindian but I hve met myself royalists in Europe. They and the ones from St Bridgets are MOSTLY suffering from psychological problems – calling them so AND trying behave superior to the others. Today with IT world has paved the ways even villagers to share their thoughts and minds easily, we dont need to let this kind of attitudes further. Besides, some of them dont even earn the basic university degrees, let alone the entry qualifations. We should better put the stop to this kind of cultures. How can Royalists be Royal – btw ? Do they feel like belonging to English Monarchy ?
These men and women I met with in EU region are totally show off people -but seems to have nothing learnt.
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Humbug / January 19, 2015
A jealous Mahindian!!! Now now take it cook man. We r all Sri Lankans and can be proud of it anywhere in the world.
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levi / January 19, 2015
humbug
I am also a sri lankan. We still have a long way to go before being proud of it. We have the blood of our fellow Sri Lankan on our hand with their whereabouts yet to be investigated and accounted for.
We played Cricket with our fellow Sri Lankans with the Umpires having their eysestied and hands held on to prevent them raising their fingers. We played with the rules book in the Dust Bins. We were lead by a Game Chandiya who cared too hoots for the rules of the Game.
God be with Ye!
Levi
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Samuel Jayaweera / January 19, 2015
Do we need to be royalists to be proud as srilankens ?
We can be proud of being srilankens regardless race, regligion and the schools we went – from kindergarten level we need to teach that we are all the same… this nature of schooling has been very successful in scandinavian countries and australia. So we the sirlankens need to work on that rather than anything else.
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Real Peace / January 19, 2015
SUN
Having witnessed and experienced what MaRa has done, I would not mind even if the whole cabinet is made of Royalists….!!!
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Seelawathi / January 19, 2015
you dont need to have anything in your brains but to be a royalist ?
The feeling that the royalist are going to paint should be out of our culture. Today with full bright students becoming grown from the village level schools – all authorities should take every steps not to discriminate anyone basing on the schools they went.
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Ben Hurling / January 19, 2015
College in Reid Avenue, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7 is the school of choice for our nation’s so called “elite”. They love sending their precious male offspring there, if possible.
There is nothing wrong with Royal College being a prestigious institution. It is rooted in Sri Lanka’s modern history. Whether we like it or not.
The problem is using the name of such elite establishments to undermine other essentially decent people. Boys of Reid Avenue are hardly alone in committing that offence. St. Thomas’, Ananda, Nalanda, Trinity, St. Peters’, St. Josephs’, Ladies, St. Bridget’s’, Museus, Vishaka etc. are all guilty of that practice.
We should encourage healthy competition among such educational institutions. Where they compete with each other to improve themselves and to be the best. Not to drag each other down.
Cheers!
PS: Royal College is the only secular school among elite schools of Sri Lanka as far as I know. As opposed to other elite schools mostly based on religious or missionary objectives. Perhaps a model worth copying for a nation embroiled in never ending ethno-religious bickering.
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Sam Jayawaradhane / January 19, 2015
You are dead right.
Royal college is not the best school in Srilanka – but the word ” royal ” makes it to be unique. Some feel born royalists just because of they went to that college. This is only found in countries such as hours who were colonised by the euroean masters.
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srilal / January 20, 2015
Ben ,
“PS: Royal College is the only secular school among elite schools of Sri Lanka as far as I know. As opposed to other elite schools mostly based on religious or missionary objectives. “
well said mate , if you go to any other elite school , that particular religion is the prerequisite even to apply , whereas in royal you would find some mix of religions and ethnicity.
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AVB / January 20, 2015
“Royal college is the only secular school …”….
Good point. I went to a big state school, I could not remember a single non-Buddhist student in the whole school… But we called it a State Scool funded by General public…… Time to change, 30% of population is non-Buddhists ..
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Juna / January 19, 2015
This is how all racists think. There are many islamic terrorists, so all 1.6 billion Muslims are terrorists.
Yes sir. You are a Racist!
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Amarasiri / January 19, 2015
SUN.
“This kind of brandings are just for jokers only. I totally disagree. “
Looks like they were not good enough to be President, unless they went to Royal College, Polonnaruwa.
Maithripala Sirisena
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maithripala_Sirisena
“He was educated at Thopawewa Maha Vidyalaya and Royal College, Polonnaruwa where he first developed and interest in politics.[23][22][24] While still in school, as a teenager, Sirisena became interested in communism and joined the Communist Party becoming closely associated with party leader N. Shanmugadasan in party activities.[23] In 1968 he took part in a communist party anti-government rally which was broken up by baton charging police.[3]”
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Rey / January 19, 2015
Simply shows how narrow minded you are and the mentality that you have been brought up in. Can’t expect more from a mahindian,
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rohana / January 19, 2015
Mangala is a Thomian. Mahindananda Aluthgamage is a Royalist too :)
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Amarasiri / January 20, 2015
rohana
“Mangala is a Thomian. Mahindananda Aluthgamage is a Royalist too “
What are their iQ’s? Well above 79? Just curious.
http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html
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Pinappu / January 19, 2015
Yes you may be right. Almost everyone on the list are sinhalese.
They are all suffering from superiority complex – not all possess a single Uni degree. Siril ponnamperuma -was one of the great scientists that the world produced are not from Royal college but from a southern college.
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Sinchuappu / January 20, 2015
Hi guys, srilanka is filled with burning issues – dont we have anything better than discussing about “Royal college” and Royalists in general ? It seems that former President MR has abused state funds ranging to billions – if he would be convicted to jail sessions – alone for that matter, there will be compulsions in the 5.7millions of people voted for him and the nation will divide further prolonging finding sustenable solutions towards the ethinic problems of the nation.
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mal / January 20, 2015
I am also a Mahindian and I am ashamed of what Sun said. I really doubt whether he is a Mahindian.
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Ram / January 20, 2015
Didn’t the new President attend a ‘Royal College’ of sorts, though not in Colombo ?
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srinath.gunaratne / January 19, 2015
It was with MR and Premadasa, that the governing of the country was handed over to common people, Again elitism, napotism is in the formation, Is defence minister related to Ranil? Is it not Napotism? What qualifications does he have to hold this post?
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sach / January 19, 2015
Arent people like ranil and others belong to common people? Is coming from poor background and relatively rural school an extra qualification for being more lankan? dont you see that is hypocritical?
The mahinda and his gode baias (as he referred himself) destroyed our economy and lead to mass scale corruption. Details of his corruption and huge wastage are coming out. DO you want to keep them only because they are from village?
Lets see how ruwan wijewardana is turning out. Are you suggesting we should keep gota as long as he die? are you mad? Ranjan W was a panted but he too was proved to be an able administrator and one of the best defence ministers.
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Dom / January 20, 2015
Ruwan was given the State Minister of Defence and this is not nepotism, appointing more than 20 members of President or Prime Minister is considered nepotism.
But the Ranil’s relatives are only around 2-3 members in the Sirisena cabinet, So i don’t think its nepotism…
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Lasanda / January 19, 2015
These are the servants of the colonial masters.
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Sam Jayawaradhane / January 19, 2015
no it is just they are making every efforts to be royal by their schooling how dare you to even think of that ? And the namings such as “colleges” are instead of school make them proud than the fellow ones. I think this kind of attitudes should go out of us -let alone – today in 21st century. In UK and the states they call their alma maters as colleges while our people still alert naming schools as colleges. Lanken structures should be restructured at least now.
In india, to become a lecturer you need to obtain at least a PhD. But in srilanka even today – with just 1, 2nd upper lower you can become a lecturer. That would not recognize the University education internationally. Those who have higher publication lis should be given the chance to lead the facutlies not just thorugh political sups to allow becoming heads. All the rascal cultured sowed by MR and goons should be removed from lanken Eudcaiton systems atleast to give a life to the next generation – GOING throgh exemplary kind of political lives.
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truth / January 19, 2015
No matter where they from. Real question is are they qualified enough to hold this position respectively… school doesnt matter. We saw people like daily news editor rajpal from thomas, and corrupted politicians from royal. Does it mean royal teaches corruption? I DONT SEE ANNY LIST of corrupted politicians with their school. May be schools claim good name when their pupil are in good positions, keep quite otherwise…
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Seelawathi / January 19, 2015
You are dead right. We had good politicians in the country – that were not coming from colombo elite schools: namely Dr. Dahanayake – I respected him above any other leaders of the country then. India s modi is coming from a rural background.Nor has he earned degree from Oxford, Cambridge or Sorbone. True that proper schooling undoubtely guide you to a cultured life, but we must not use the names of the schools to judge each individuals.
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Vincent Gunasekera / January 19, 2015
This is not a new phenomenon with Ranil W. If you look at his last government you would observe the same thing. This is called “FRCS” (Former Royal College Students) mafia.
I agree with some commentators here. We have not got out of this school psychosis. This is one factor hampering progress of our society. We are proud to be called as Royalists, Thomians, Trinitians, Anandians etc etc. There is no harm for a person to be proud of the school he/she attended but unfortunately we have been using this in a very negative way.
I studied at a old and leading Catholic school of the country of which the name is being used in the same manner. I think this will never change in Sri Lanka.
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Leelawathie / January 19, 2015
Srilanken attitudes are yet old fashioned. They also beleive that they are the best medicos in the world – but the universal rankings say totally different stories. I got my degree in Europe. But on my return to the island every time, most I get on with have no respect to me but to locals of same grade. Some dare to say that European degrees are much easier than those of them offered by local Universities. People of this country in general need paradigm shift to the attitudinal changes. Then only we can even a start to the prosperity of the country/nation.
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VP / January 19, 2015
Definitely better than the godey baiyyas that were in power before 8 Jan 2015 !!!
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Roger Dodger / January 19, 2015
Look what we had before , Mervyn Silva from Beliatta , Sajin Vass from where ever and a whole lot of family bandits who wrecked havoc on our poor country !
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naughty boy / January 19, 2015
Sajin Vass is also a Royalist ;-)
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / January 19, 2015
ROYALISTS,
My Arse!.
What Royalty Do they have?????.
Better Send All those Royal Big Suckers to Giraduru Kotte at Mahweli area , with Mammoties to work on Paddy fields.
It is more Fruitful than Playing Useless Cricket is..
Then we can see what ability they have!!!!.
Royalits, Thomians,………and so on, all are bloody BIG MOUTHS But NO RESULTS!!!!.
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VP / January 19, 2015
Were you educated at Karapitiya Maha Vidyalaya?
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / January 19, 2015
Not from Down south, But from Eastern Region.
Better than Royal Thomian calns.
And know “how Rice come to lunch plate”.
But Royals, Thomians Do not know that.
They only know Cricket results and Joining the Quay for Export.
Big Match time We can see the How the Breeds are.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / January 20, 2015
Aney Mooda Relak??
This is like Jungle Dogs Barking At Moon.
Yako,
We village Boys From Village Schools.
Api Game Kollo,Game IsKcoolen!.
What Humbug is This.
We know How Royalist J R Pappa Did Ploughing At Panduwasnuwara, Wearing Gum BOOTS.
We have That type of Royal Idiots.
If we Do not Grow Rice, All Those Royalists , Thomians,
Aanadians, Naalandians Will eat Sand.
Aney Mehema Ambaruwo, Harak Relak?.
Aney Mehema Lankaawak??????
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Amarasiri / January 20, 2015
JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA
“Aney Mehema Ambaruwo, Harak Relak?. Aney Mehema Lankaawak?????? “
Goviya Ve Rataka Bale, Goviyave.
Ho, Ho, Ho. Ho.
Goviya Ve Rataka Bale, Goviyave
Ho, Ho, Ho. Ho.
Farmer is the Country’s Strength, Ho, Ho, Ho. Ho.
Farmer is the Country’s Strength, Ho, Ho, Ho. Ho.
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Silva_Lining / January 19, 2015
Written in poor taste! A good example of pessimist thinking.
Of course there may be some rotten eggs as proven in some cases, but in general most Royalists are loyalists and are quite capable of turning things around from adversity to triumph. Just give em some breathing space will ya.
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Alex Drake / January 19, 2015
Jealousy takes you no where bro!
It’s a hard pill to take – Royalists are a better breed.
“Disce Aut Discede”
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naughty boy / January 19, 2015
Royalists are a better breed?
Sajin Vass is also a Royalist, he he he
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Paul / January 19, 2015
The Government Chief Whip and the Leader of the House are Royalists too.
What about our new President from Royal College, Polonnaruwa?
There are also three Thomians and one Trinitian……and four cousins Vasantha Senanayake, Ruwan Wijewardene, Ranil Wickramasinghe and Rajiwa Wijesinghe.
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Donald J Gnanakone / January 19, 2015
These are clear examples of Cronyism, Nepotism, Famil Bandyism, Bribery and corruption. There were some “Horse Deals” negotiated luckily for the UNP it did not happen.
No Tamil MP has become a National Tamil Cabinet Member.
This is a disgrace and breach of Promise, Trust and Confidence.
Ranil will pay dearly for all this, and he is insulting the Tamil voters and all those who helped the UNP to win the elections.
Add to this the appointment of Arjuna Mahendra who has never been an MP, another Royalist and Ranil’s private friend. He is the new governor of the Central Bank appointed by Ranil. Be tuned in.
Donald Gnanakone
Tamils For Justice
Founder.
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Marwan / January 19, 2015
The school says a lot about the character of a person. The discipline instilled un them at a young age, the manners, the respect for seniors like prefects, teachers, parents, clergy and elders, leadership, language and negotiating skills are all part of that training process. Thus they turn out to be good leaders and are an asset to the country’s human wealth. The former President studied at Nalanda and has shown what he can for the country. Now let’s wait and see what the Royalists can do to bring peace, prosperity and good governance to the people of the country. Just give them a chance to prove themselves. Go Royal Go. The sky is the limit for you now.
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Leelawathie / January 19, 2015
The mentioned list of men and women are just not novice guys.
For instance, dont we know how Ravi Karunayake once performed ? I personally believe her deserves a second chance to prove how uncorrupted he has been. Rather I wish Harsha to be given ministry of Finances.
Can we just taking him as a Royalist go for judgements ? That is valid to Rajapakshes too. Rajapakshe was a great human being prior to 2005. As one writer made it very clear, it was the 78 constitution turn him Gadafi like figure.
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truth / January 19, 2015
Agreed. Isnt most of the royalist listed are famous for their crossover for money? So they are so good leaders with all the attitudes you listed? No option not only royalists, anyone in that position need to bring good governance, because people of this country wanted that and people are ready throw them away in the next election. People are closely watching everyone including royalists. Dont think people are watching politicians from other schools. For the citizens of sri lanka and the voters of this county see no difference between royalist and others. All are same. No matter what royal college tought them, people of this country are teaching them a good governance. That is the truth. All these politicians will learn a good leasson from ordinary people, not from schools. We people knew what these people did before MR’s government. We bring these guys because we wanted MR out. That doesnt mean we brought then just because they were from royal and they have all the attributes you listed.
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Boxer / January 19, 2015
We have a uneducated set of parliamentarians where most of them have not even passed GCE O/L’s. Cabinet had to be selected from the available MP’s.
The list mentioned here are a “touch” better than the Silva’s we had in the previous cabinet.
The school they attended isn’t the most important matter. Are they worthy of their positions?
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Afzal / January 19, 2015
Re open journalist Mel Gunasekera Murder Case.
Apologies for posting this comment here as this is not relevant to the subject.
I just want to highlight this is a murder which looked like a arranged assassination. Please re-open this murder case along with others.
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Joe / January 19, 2015
Sajin Vass , Mahindanada Aluthgamage is also from Royal (irony). Should I put Ravi Karunanayake also same place. Note Anagarigaka Dharmpala, Kolvin R De Silva, Bala Thampoe are from same school, so does some kudu karaya too.
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VP / January 19, 2015
Alutthgamaya was a baiyya…he only attended RC for his final 2 years. Clearly shows by his uncivilised behaviour…
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j.muthu / January 19, 2015
Whole world knows royal, st Thomas, nalanda, ananda produce Sinhala Buddhist bigots, rapist, drug cartels, robbers….when will Sinhala Buddhist wake up and act against this simple fact…
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Juna / January 19, 2015
Elitism is not limited to SL, certainly not limited to Royal.
Nobody heard of Ivy league privileges in US, or Oxbridge in UK? For an local example think about how SL forces are filled with Ananda/ Nalandians.
Its just how humans work. So chill! :)
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VB / January 19, 2015
Most of these negative comments are purely based on jealousy. Sour grapes for most, but this cabinet is far better and much more educated than the uneducated thugs and goons who ruled this country for the last decade.
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Joe Fernado / January 19, 2015
Sajin Vass, Mahindanda Alutgamage plus some more from MR’s cabinet is also from Royal
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moda putha / January 19, 2015
Eran Wickremaratne is a very honrable decent royalist, he is capable of greater responsibilites. His faith will not let him abuse it. He is like the Joseph in the Old TEstament.
I cannot imagine Sajith PRemadasa being a Royalist. If so it is similar to him studying at the London School of Economics (LSE). It is reported that he enrolled with LSE but failed to demonstrate the required aptitude to continue studies. He had complained of a leg injury and got himself excused from the course and then was given an honorary degree that – htat is not worth the paper its written on.
Then he proceeded to Maryland USA and tried to do some higher studies. Prof Cyril Ponnamperuma had some influence in the university of Maryland and that may have helped him. Anyhow when the father will killed he returned to SL.
He has done precious little for the people of the ountry and is sitting pretty waiting to be a minister of head of UNP. Such people should be side lined in preference to those who are sincere workers like Sujeeva, Harin and co.
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SUN / January 20, 2015
Dr. Harsha De SILVA is the best among the few competent.
I wish him all the best, He is so by heart. He could continue lectuering in the states, but to work for the nation he has returned to the country.
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srilal / January 20, 2015
Moda Putha ,
Well said , Sajith is a big time fraud and the twin brother of MR , my gut feelings say , one day this crook will be the leader of SL and no one can stop it , history will repeat !
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Leelawathie / January 21, 2015
For some reasons, Sajith has been silent. THat is a good sign for UNP and his future as well. That Sujeewa Senasinghe is also a competent guy but his do not belong to the category of Dr Harsha De Silva and Eran Wickremaratne.
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thondamannar / January 19, 2015
Define Royal……….
Polonnaruwa Royal, Panadura Royal, Royal Institute,
Ayyo Sira too a Royalist. Why exclude him ? he is the Captain of the Royal team..
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Juna / January 20, 2015
Royal is not a name, its an honorary title.
In English u say Royal college, in sinhala its රාජකීය විද්යාලය.
But all the examples of urs are names, not titles.
i.e. when u say පොලොන්නරුව රාජකීය in sinhala, in english its polonnaruwa rajakeeya not polonnaruwa royal.
or royal insitute in sinhala is රෝයල් ඉන්සිටියුට්.
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Sisira / January 19, 2015
Ravi Karunanyake,Sajith Premasdasa and Navin Dissanayake are more thomians than Royalists. Ravi Karunanayake studied upto Grade 8 at St Thomas Prep, Kollupitiya and then went to Royal.He attends OBA of St Thomas. Sajith Premadasa left at the end of Grade 5 St Thomas Prep and went briefly to Royal, then to UK and USA. Navin Dissanayake was also like this and even A.C.S.Hameed’s son. I remember R. Premadasa as Deputy Opposition Leader driving his Austin cambridge and coming to st Thomas Prep to pick son Sajith. this was somewhere in 1976. Ruwan Wijewardene is also from Prep.
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colin / January 19, 2015
The finest Thomians of recent times GL Pieris,Rajpal Abeynaike
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srilal / January 20, 2015
what about , Malaka silva and our notorious Rajapakse off springs .
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Sama / January 20, 2015
what matters is the behaviours of majority – not the minority. Most to them from popular schools learn a set of things that would permit them to progress in their life. But this means not hat non-popular schools offer enough their pupils to learn them. Today the situation with the IT revolution is becoming more or less equal the many that have beeen accessed to INTERNT – I mean connecting them with most updated of the world – making world a small village for them.
Besides, what matters is the behaviours of majority is valid to almost everything. We accused the nation of being that stupid and vulnerable to let being cheated on longer run by MR and goons. But what happened to him within an overnight ? See, people are not stupid as we accused them to be. This means only healthy systems can wake them up. And the greater advantage for us srilankens is thank god, 93% of the populace are literate. This could not be th ecase with Parkistanies had they were given an election, holding them on the same circumstances that our country faceed for the last few years.
What made me further clear is
Jana balaya (=people s power) >>>>>>>>>>>> any other powers – SO PEOPLE BE BRAVE TO BE SRILANKENS
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AKP / January 20, 2015
Another worthy Thomian ‘ Rajiva Wijesinha and an equally worthy Royalist Dayan Jayatilleke. What about JR Jayawardene (Royalist) and SWRD Bandaranaike (Thomian).Just off the top of my head, I am sure we can all come up with other ‘worthies’ who went to these so called top schools.
These two schools alone seem to have produced some of the best exponents pf unbridled opportunism!
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Samuel Jayaweera / January 21, 2015
You please need to use the wording cautiously – I really dont think that DJ is a worth at all the way he is waging his tail. Never has the guy criticised in terms of high profile corruption issues carrried out by Rajapakshe siblings. Even today the bugger is isolated in his rat hole being unable to understand the world of Rajanos.
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siddiq ghouse / January 19, 2015
Its some coincidence that there happens to be so many old Royalists and Ranil didnt manipulate it I am sure. The beauty of many Royalists is that they are taught at College not to discriminate on ethnic or religious lines and they should all think as Sri Lankans. The last captain who led Royal to victory 2 yrs ago in the Royal-Thomian belonged to the minority community. See the Royalists in the cabinet belonging to the minority community viz Kabir Hashim from the UNP,DM Swaminathan from the UNP,Faizer Mustafa from the UPFA and Rauf Hakeem from the SLMC a mixed bag all well qualified like the other cabinet colleagues and well deserving
These old Royalists will I hope infuse the mentality that their College propgated where all communities are given due position according to their abilities and not based on ethnicity or religion.Let it be the most suitable man for the job.
Sri Lanka can only become the “wonder of Asia” only when all communities are given equal opportunities to put their shoulder to the wheel so that we can make a brighter future for this our motherland as Singapore has shown
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malcolm / January 19, 2015
Sorry why this royalist story aren’ t we sri Lankans please stop this being sinhala, Colombo, hambantota, being royalist stop the media is responsible for creating this caste and creed,.
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General Rommel / January 19, 2015
What a cheap article and lunatic crying wolf to draw a wedge between the newly elected cabinet by spewing anger, jealousy and hatred to start a new kind of war from within. ,..and what best than to play the “Royal College” card by banding them as elitist. Yes among schools, it is unfortunate and irrefutable that Royalist are a proud bunch. Why not and why shouldn’t they be? They lead some of the greatest endeavors beyond Sri Lankan politics world over. Do you IDIOTS ever research that the “Royalist” were also the axis-of-evil within the ousted MR dynasty. At least be thankful for them that it is because of their effort that a possible military coup was also averted as the internal pillars of the tri-forces and military intelligence is contributed by key Anandians, as well as Blue-and Gold within the top rants of our forces. Be grateful and thankful to them that bloodshed and disaster was averted on that faithful morning on January 09th also because of an “infamous Royalist” that is being asked to step down as CJ.
Now double up, purge your your vitriol against “Royal” and help develop the lives our citizens and our country. ‘Juk-pittah-muk muk”.
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Dias / January 19, 2015
I am an old Trinitian,but could I feel proud of guys like former Chief Justice Sarath Silva,Anurudha Ratwatte or Lohan Ratwatte? They are murderers, immoral and highly corrupt.Branding people by the school is only insulting such educational institutions.
By the way,that Sarath Silva had a hand in the killing of the much respected High Court Judge Ambepitiya is a fact not known to many.
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srilal / January 20, 2015
Dias ,
If you have more info about Ambepitiya murder case , please do share here.
cheers
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sinhalese buddhist / January 19, 2015
While I agree with most commentators that the school one goes to should not be held against them or held over others as a weapon, this article and the comments to it seem to highlight the social-class divide that is a strong force in Sri Lanka.
The common man in Colombo look up to the “elite” schools like Royal College (in Cinnamon Gardens) and St. Bridget’s, and if they could would do everything possible to get his children into these schools. This is not very different from someone living in New York trying to get their child into the most elite kindergarten.
The real question to ask is what is the institutional culture of the school, and how do they train children to succeed in the contemporary world. Do they impart special values that are unique to that school? How valuable are these to Sri Lanka?
One thing I can say for Royal College is that the student body was very diverse and we had the opportunity to interact with people from all ethno-religious backgrounds as well as the various socio-economic groups due to the grade 5 scholarship program. I am grateful that I had the priviledge to get to know boys from such a variety of walks of life at Royal. Apart from the students, my teachers also came from a variety of socio-, ethnic backgrounds.
As far as I know, Royal College was the only boy’s school in Colombo where they offered both Sinhala and Tamil medium education in the same school. For a period of time during the eighties they even made the learning of Tamil mandatory for non-Tamil speakers.
Instead of bragging about Royal College, what I would advocate for is taking efforts to identify the useful aspects of the institutional culture of Royal College (or Ananda/St. Thomas etc.etc), and trying to nurture these in all schools.
One such value that deserves being fostered is inclusivity of all races/religious and socio-economic groups in each of our schools, so that children get to meet, befriend and learn from each other. Such controlled interaction among the races has great potential of fostering empathy and promoting peace.
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Upul / January 20, 2015
Magey Ammo! Deyyo Saakki…
I have always thought Royalists have a sense of false superiority bred into them by the culture of the institution itself. You get that feeling if you are in the midst of a couple of Royalists. The conversation will focus on so-and-so’s so-and-so and invariably that person is a class mate of someone in the circle. Nothing wrong in that unless you factor in that the rest of the circle are clueless about what the hell is being discussed. And it does not matter that the subject was 10 years senior or junior – Being a Royalist gives every Royalist rights of ownership! This is less so with Thomians, Joes and Peterites and non-existent with the rest of the nation.
As indicated elsewhere, this was common in the 60s and 70s and less so today. In the good old days to be a Thomian, Josephian, Peterite or Royalist had some cache attached to it because the rest were considered lower grade schools by our Department of Education!!! So parents felt important and therefore their off-spring picked up on it it. This obviously was no reflection on the quality of the Parents or off-spring which in many instances, left much to be desired!
In today’s context, it will be more crucial to figure out how many of these 11 Royalists in the Cabinet were really Colombo residents??? How many of their Dad’s followed the proverbial 4mile rule required for admission? That should indicate the respect their families had for the rule of law in Sri Lanka, and should be more indicative of their own attitudes to doing things PROPERLY.
It is said the laws are written for the stupid to follow… and Sri Lanka is a prime example of this principle.
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Seelawathi / January 20, 2015
Upul,
this was valid also for the univeersities in the country. Peradeniya and Colombo were considered as number universities. But with the time, it has changed a lot to this day. As you rightly articulated about -yes indeed that is how they start their discussions. No need to explain it better.
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 20, 2015
These are not the sharpest tools in the shed..
Tax payer funds and hand outs from the West which provided the Silver spoons have helped them to get thee Royal Colours.
I mean there are kids who went to Royal mainly on Schols, who have achieved excellence in their fields and contributed a lot to the Society in their motherland
But this lot should be thankful to the JHU and JVP politicians who perhaps cut their teeth in Maradankadawala Central, Pollonnaruwa Central and Vidyodaya Pirivena for their current positions.
By the way hopefully the CT will be kind enough to publish the List of eContributions this lot have made to the Nation over the last decade, specially in the last five years since Nanthikadal…
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Walagemba Raja / January 20, 2015
“Sharpest tools in the shed” – Sumanasekera MEEHARKKO, you will never get this into your brains because you were force fed punakkku at each of the “dansala” and “sheds” by your previous MARA masters.
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 20, 2015
Wal Gemba…
You must be a Royalist too…..
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Tamil from the north / January 20, 2015
Sumane, where have you been? I am so ecstatic that you have come back. Thanks. Now please keep writing all the rubbish you generally write………..VELLALAH, DIASPORIANS, ANGLICAN, DALITS……thanks Sumane for not forgetting us.
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 20, 2015
TNF,
You must have had a long break to celebrate the holy union of SLMC Muslims and the TNA Vellalas.
Poor Murugan from Rajapaksa Party was bashed while kneeling in the heart of Agalawatta..
UNP MP Thevarappperuma has become even more brave than brave Dr Mervyn.
Murugan can’t be a Vellala Because Agalawatta is Dalit Turf
What do you reckon mate?….
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Tamil from the north / January 20, 2015
@KA Sumanasekeram, it TFN not TNF. What do I reckon mate? I reckon that you are one dumb arse, who has found a computer with a keyboard and internet. That’s how simple it is.
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Abhaya / January 20, 2015
It is hardly their fault they went to a lousy school .
cheers
Abhaya
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Leelawathie / January 20, 2015
Your behaviours are almost as if went to school near to Angoda – not to have learnt to make distinction between healthy and abusive. You have been shame -never ending shill charactor to have worked on most abusive lanken leader until 8th of January.
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vas / January 20, 2015
Lets asses the Royalist politicians. JRJ the cause of all evil in the country, Ranil of Batalanda fame who had to hang on to Sirisena to get to enter the upper echelons after almost 20 years as leader of the UNP not forgetting the damage he did to the country by signing the CFA,. The damage done by these two Royalists to the country is enough for every Royalists to hang their head in shame. They have nothing to be proud of. Lets not talk about the other Royalists that are part and parcel of the corruption from 1978 onwards. That will be hornets nest.
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