Prof S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
I am writing from Hong Kong Airport on my way to a meeting in Seoul beginning today. I missed Day 1 so that I may vote. I had judged my vote to be critical to the candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the best in my judgement. So I went at 7 am to my voting centre and was the first in line with my wife. I then took a CTB Bus to the airport and without WIFI on flight had no access to the results until I reached Hong Kong. I was pleasantly surprised this morning to learn using Hong Kong Airport’s free WIFI that Mr. Dissanayake had been elected President on the first round itself, in defiance of all predictions to the contrary in the press, the polls and predictions by so-called experts.
How did that come to be? How did many believe that the decrepit Ranil Wickremesinghe even stood a chance when, in the event, he was a distant third. Namal Rajpakse was very far behind even Ranil. But, if you read pre-election news reports he too was a serious candidate. Tosh and nonsense!
In the week preceding elections, a fairly reputed news agency interviewed me. The first question was preceded by a preamble saying, “We are facing a critical election where it is a tight race between President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and Sajith Premadasa.”
I responded firmly, “No. It is an election where only Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa stand a chance. President Wickremesinghe’s candidature is no candidature. He stands no chance. His candidature is a dud and a creature of the Colombo press.”
The interview was published only after deleting my comment that it is a 2-way race not three-way.
I was sure of myself after speaking to many. That propaganda for Ranil reached a crescendo as the Colombo-press tried to make us believe he really had a chance. The press even suggested that without Ranil the fuel and gas shortages would return. Somehow the Election Commission gave him the gas-cylinder as his symbol as if to suggest that the gas shortages would return.
Today’s results tell the true story. The press in Sri Lanka is ugly and manipulative. They direct votes towards dud candidates to induce us to vote for the duds. As a result, many believed that Ranil could possibly win and therefore voted for him. Those who believed this and voted for him are essentially Sri Lankan voters who are the Anglos, businessfolk enriched by Ranil, and those whose appointments by Ranil need renewal. They badly believed in Ranil because their futures and appointments were tied to his re-election.
We need reform of the press. The state newspapers mut be freed of politics to facilitate the return of editors who left. TV stations like the one that tried to bribe me and Nagananda Kodituwakku with a bribe of Rs. 10,000,000 to withdraw a case against a potential SLPP Presidential candidate need to be brought to heel. We should be enabled to name names without fear of retribution. This reform needs to be carefully thought through by serious journalists and lawyers to ensure that the threat of punishment by imprisonment merely on the complaint of being offended is removed. All these little tricks by Ranil like the ICCPR-Act to stave off criticism must go, retaining defamation only when it is serious. Certainly, building up dud candidates as serious candidates also must go. Ranil is gone. Now his legacy must go.
Amrit Muttukumaru / September 23, 2024
Prof. Hoole – Remedy for preventing media abuse has been staring us in the face.
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1) The remedy for preventing abuse by the media (Press & TV) has been staring us in the face but no one seems interested to act on it.
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2) The media must be brought under the ambit of a TRULY INDEPENDENT ‘Constitutional Council’ without infringing on media freedom.
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3) At present we have the FARCICAL ‘self-regulation’ under the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka (PCCSL) controlled by press barons.
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4) The press barons in cahoots with some boot-licking journalists rule the roost and decide what to publish, how it is published and whether or not to give a ‘Right of Reply’.
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5) An ETHICAL media is crucial for good governance. I hope AKD will pick-up on this.
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Amrit Muttukumaru
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Ajith / September 23, 2024
“An ETHICAL media is crucial for good governance. I hope AKD will pick-up on this.
I strongly believe that the people have changed their attitude towards their Political leadership and the Political culture they generated over the past seven or eight decades. However, I am not sure this attitude change will be used by Anura Dissanayake or NPP to create a country free from discrimination with the principle of equal rights, equal distribution, equal justice, equal rule of law, equal representation, equal sharing of power.
It is true that Corruption and misuse of power are two major factors have to be dealt with if the country wants to move forward. Anura/NPP have to look back the historical development of these two critically. Anura/NPP clearly identified the racism and Buddhist Fundamentalism are the key elements which is used by previous political leadership to increase the corruption and misuse of power that lead to the country depend on the regional and international powers. Unless the Anura/NPP realise that he need to get this problems eliminated to unite the Tamil speaking people. They are not against to Sinhalese or Buddhism.
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Amrit Muttukumaru / September 23, 2024
M. A. Sumanthiran – Interim Prime Minister?
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I wonder whether there is any truth to the rumour that M. A. Sumanthiran has been offered the post of Interim Prime Minister? If so, this is a smart move by AKD which will stand him in good stead at the General Election which is expected in November this year.
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This will attract more support for AKD from minorities – particularly Tamils. This is despite Sumanthiran arguably not having too much clout with Northern voters. In the final analysis, it is the OPTICS throughout the country that matter at a General Election!
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Amrit Muttukumaru
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Nathan / September 23, 2024
I expect M. A. Sumanthiran to be placed in the Cabinet. Probably, as Minister of Justice.
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SJ / September 25, 2024
Sajith’s cabinet perhaps
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Native Vedda / September 23, 2024
Amrit Muttukumaru
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“If so, this is a smart move by AKD which will stand him in good stead at the General Election which is expected in November this year.”
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1. AKD has been telling his congregation and us he would not reward members of other parties with cabinet or ministerial jobs. He doesn’t like to make miscreant happy with what they did before switching to JVP/NPP. JVP/NPP should not become the haven of crooks, murderers, ……
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2. LTTE remnants have been running a campaign to discredit Sumanthiran since 2010, for no reason at all. I guess Tamils and Sinhalese (both share same DNA) do not like smart, educated…… clean politicians, for example 6.9 Million voted for Gota.
It could be Gota’s goons who spread vicious stories on Social Media.
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Appointing Sumanthiran to any post in the government could backfire.
Ranil and Sumanthiran have already offered to help if AKD is in need.
nimal fernando too hate Ranil, I guess maybe it is/was due to love triangle issues.
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In a week or so AKD should meet the press/meet the people make a policy declaration.
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In the meantime please listen to Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives, Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu.
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Sri Lankans “Voted in Anger” but Will Dissanayake Be a Proxy for Others?: Sri Lankan Academic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GL4MAmKEYk
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old codger / September 24, 2024
Native,
I did watch Saravanamuttu. His analysis is good, that Sri Lankans voted in anger. But AKD shouldn’t forget that this is no great NPP victory, but actually a landslide for his opponents. If RW and SP had overcome their pride and stayed in one party, they might have been the ones celebrating now. But Parliament will reflect the true position.AKD is very popular, but I doubt whether the rest of the JVP/ NPP have the popular appeal to get elected.
BTW, the Indian news channels seem to have already decided that AKD is no friend. He will have to do some fast patching up.
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Native Vedda / September 24, 2024
old codger
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“BTW, the Indian news channels seem to have already decided that AKD is no friend. He will have to do some fast patching up.”
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Most Hindian private channels have their masters elsewhere I am told. I have no idea what those masters want from AKD. As people do we know what we want from AKD and his administration?
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NPP and JVP now have to tell the people in one voice what their true position on 13Amendment, a place for Buddhism in the constitution, Unitary state, type of democracy, …… police and land powers to all provinces.
nimal fernando’s friend Gevindu has already started mischief making.
JVP policies differ from those of NPP – SB spokesman
https://island.lk/jvp-policies-differ-from-those-of-npp-sb-spokesman/
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By the way the business is as usual it appears.
AKD visiting Prelates and other “Religious Leaders”.
More of the same perhaps.
Not much people can do …………..
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Nathan / September 24, 2024
Native Vedda,
I have a feeling that Anura has decided to hold back the interests of JVP, for the time being. He wants to gain the trust of the people.
We cant expect him to attempt everything from the first day.
I am willing to wait and see.
His first appointments indicate cleansing the Augean stable, first.
Don’t ask me why. Robes sound rogues.
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SJ / September 24, 2024
“If RW and SP had overcome their pride and stayed in one party,”
IF
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SJ / September 25, 2024
oc
Indian news channels are no better than Indian diplomats in making friends
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Sinhala_Man / September 24, 2024
Yes, Amrit,
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Not only him, but Shanika as well:
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanakiya_Rasamanickam
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The JVP hadn’t really reached out to the Tamils until AKD came around. It is true that although the JVP from 1971 days (Rohana Wijeweera) was not exactly racist, they were anti-Indian and had never reached out to Tamils. Dr Lionel Bopage was a shining example, but not many followed his lead; it was too late for Anura to put that right.
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I have met Anura only once, on 21/01/2023, but I was fortunate to have an undisturbed 5-minute chat with him. I had this book with me:
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https://thejamfruittree.com/history-events/democracy-stillborn/
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I showed it to him, he noted the Rajan & Kirupa Hoole endorsements. I told him that Rajan was my classmate; told him how there had been no Tamil used at a Gaswatte meeting, and that Eranwela, clean out of Haputale, has for sixty years been kept in the old Haputale electorate because racists like former Speaker, LokuBandara had wanted to ensure that there would be a Sinhalese elected to the Haputale seat.
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The meeting that followed was for the business community, and was entirely in Sinhala. The very last observation at the end of the meeting was by me. I again rased the issue, saying that I didn’t mind that because even the Tamils there present knew Sinhala. The problem is acute on the estates.
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There are many Indian assessments of AKD on YouTube. I will provide links later.
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Panini Edirisinhe
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Ajith / September 24, 2024
“If so, this is a smart move by AKD which will stand him in good stead at the General Election which is expected in November this year.”
It may be a smart move by AKD but that may be a destruction to the Anura. Sumanthiran lost his credibility and lost the trust of the Tamils during the Presidential election. The Federal party was divided by Sumanthiran and Sumanthiran will be not come back to the parliament in the next Parliamentary election. Sumanthiran is a lawyer but not an administrator. He supported SJB Sajith or supported Ranil by pretending to support Sajith.
Anura have to deal with the Tamil speaking people with honesty not with opportunistic politicians and politics.
Similarly, Anura should deals with Muslim people, not with the opportunistic politicians like Rauf or Rishard.
With the Parliamentary elections and Tamils and Muslims should trust on those who are not opportunistic and who are looking for change. Tamils and Muslims need a change from traditional to practical.
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SJ / September 24, 2024
“This will attract more support for AKD from minorities “
Be serious.
It will be about as appealing as CBK making the late Kadirgamar PM.
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Amrit Muttukumaru / September 24, 2024
SJ – Don’t talk nonsense about Sumanthiran & Kadirgamar.
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1) Whatever the faults of M. A. Sumanthiran (he definitely has some) he has NEVER been considered a ‘TRAITOR’ by most Sri Lankan Tamils like in the case of Lakshman Kadirgamar.
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2) Unlike in the case of Sumanthiran, Kadirgamar has NEVER been ELECTED to Parliament.
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3) Also consider the several public interest and human rights cases which have successfully been pursued by Sumanthiran. What is the comparison with Kadirgamar?
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4) Please note I have been COMPELLED to state this due to your NONSENSE. Some of the Kadirgamar brothers have been close friends of my late father and late uncle.
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Amrit Muttukumaru
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SJ / September 25, 2024
I am only talking about reality.
My point was about how the Tamil electorate would view the idea and not about what you know about either person.
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You sound like an arrogant doctor who writes on these pages.
People who disagree with you need not be more foolish than you.
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AKD has decided wisely I think.
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old codger / September 25, 2024
SJ
“You sound like an arrogant doctor who writes on these pages.”
But even the arrogant doctor doesn’t shout in capital letters.
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Amrit Muttukumaru / September 25, 2024
SJ – Nice try!
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AM
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Sumihiro / September 23, 2024
Government, judiciary, police, military, public service, legal profession, education, health care, universities, engineering faculties, corporations, sports, entertainment, church and mission schools – are also steeped in corruption and are stinking. Singling out the media is a text book example of bad journalism. Thank you professor for providing the lesson.
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Ruchira / September 23, 2024
What are joke! A senile peverted man whi agrees to take certain political decisions in exchange to have an oppurtunity have forced srx with a girl of someone else’s, a politically opponent, and a sinhalese Buddhist’s, interest, who is young enough to be his daughter, wanting free press, freedom of speech and expression, and finally what was it…. ahh self determination! This planet is far better place without individuals of this nature – sex perverts who collude with criminals for political purposes. Tamil speaking citizens have lost all their credibility. And there are no people with credibility among Tamil speaking citizens. Coming years will display the kind of future they deserve. A future sams perverted criminals and mafia men. Here’s to a brighter day and a better tomorrow. Let the fire works begin!
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old codger / September 23, 2024
“Mr. Dissanayake had been elected President on the first round itself, in defiance of all predictions to the contrary in the press, the polls and predictions by so-called experts.”
No , he wasn’t. You can’t get elected with 42%.
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leelagemalli / September 24, 2024
Thank you OC.
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It is a matter of interpretation.
Also in the mainstream media they distort facts and factual information in daylight to their advantage. People talk about their high literacy rate, however, blatant lies create false public perception. In general, this continues in this country.
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No one seems to dare to dispel doubts. This has become the culture of this country. All this was sowed by the Rajapaksa rascals.
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old codger / September 24, 2024
LM,
Coming from someone who was an Elections Commissioner, this is a strange statement. Surely he knows that the preferences were counted?
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Native Vedda / September 24, 2024
old codger
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Champika made some noise about counting votes.
I did not follow his accusation.
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Jaffna Man / September 25, 2024
Thank you. My apologies.
That was written after senior persons from the SJB congratulated AKD
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old codger / September 25, 2024
Dr. H,
Even I did wonder why those SJB senior persons were so fast off the bat.
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Ratnam Nadarajah / September 23, 2024
Yes Dr. R Hoole
First thing first. Let’s congratulate the new President AKD. His teams’ persistence won the day
Well, done all citizens of Sri Lanka, its a remarkable victory given the state of play and the true part of the press, as surmised by Dr. R Hoole
Freedom of the press has been a subject of debate and surpasses my youth. Yes, for a true democracy the freedom of the press is paramount
Now is a time look forward to a new horizon and new paradigm for the benefit of the populus
May the new leader bring in the changes necessary to uplift the nation above the brink
It can be achieved and must be done without much delay
Ratnam Nadarajah
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Sinhala_Man / September 24, 2024
Yes, Jeevan,
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May I add credence to your article by saying that you told me that you would cast your ballot at 7.00 am, and then catch a plane?
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I was told that there is a school very close to your home:
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https://www.google.com/maps/search/Education+Office,+Chemmani+Rd/@9.6733174,80.037318,45m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxOC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.
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Placed that in the Google browser, enlarged the map, and was shown the statue of the last King of Jaffna, (not you, surely!), Kittu Park, the Education Office, next to which must be the school. Enlarged the map at one point, and actually ended up getting a telephone number, and speaking to a man in the Education office.
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This may also be true: “the first in line with my wife“, but being a chivalrous man, Dushanthy must have been the first to enter.
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And you’ve been right about AKD ending up getting the most votes, starting with yours (postal, votes discounted in the race to vote on the 21st).
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Now I’m getting lost in details!
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Panini Edirisinhe
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Paul / September 25, 2024
I noticed that although various ministries were distributed among the two MPs Harini and Vijitha Herath, nothing was allocated to Lakshman Nipunarachchi.
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He took AKD’s place in Parliament because he was next in line to become an MP in the preferential voting in the 2020 election. Perhaps that is why. If so, its a sign of good Governance. Far too early to tell though.
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leelagemalli / September 25, 2024
Dear Readers,
Please watch the links below:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4Ne9P-1r4M&t=100s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQO9uF6imtY
AKD now softens his voice and says, he is not a magician. How is that?
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The then President RW also said that, but his lovers like AKD and our SM (Self-Proclaimed Guru to CT) started making fun of him.
remember
Indians are very worried about the arrival of Chinese service ships in the Indian Ocean.
How AKD aka “Dinana-Yaka” balances it is the biggest question.
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I have a very pessimistic feeling about the miracles of the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna. And we know very well that this country is full of the most corrupt and abused people.
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The first step should be to restructure the MLECHCHA media so that the public receives factual information that is not biased by any politician.
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leelagemalli / September 25, 2024
Readers,
Idiots, open your eyes and now the attention should be focused not only on the vehicles parked in the presidential secretariat premises but also on the lies of AKD and others…
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At the time former president Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe was asking for everyone’s support, AKD supporters stood up against RW. Their unions conitnued their protests…
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Now AKD is doing the same by asking that ordinary citizens have the right to contribute their share..
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJM7BrxqJmE&t=328s
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… The biggest question is whether AKD is talking from the other side today…
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Inexperienced AKD is asking for everyone’s support today.
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… Our GONTHADIYAS of SM nature will continue interpreting in favor of the fools of this nation.
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SJ / September 25, 2024
Paul
I would not read much meaning into it.
Elections are due shortly, and it will be the administrators that will take most decisions in everyday matters.
It is a matter of keeping things going until then without upsetting the apple cart.
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old codger / September 25, 2024
AKD’s address to the nation was pretty decent, especially his invitation to those who didn’t vote for him. Quite a contrast to the Sinhala Buddhist tribalism that Gota and his Aiya dished out.
He has changed many Ministry Secretaries, but left the Treasury Secretary and CB Governor in place, so not quite the earth-shaking System Change that some talkative Professors were expecting.
There was a charade involving expensive cars at Galle Face, but nobody with half a brain would think that even 300 of these would cause bankruptcy.
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leelagemalli / September 26, 2024
OC,
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“He has changed many Ministry Secretaries, but left the Treasury Secretary and CB Governor in place, so not quite the earth-shaking System Change that some talkative Professors were expecting.”
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Let me remind you, a lot of their stage provocations were that they would make all the changes (according to them) without the help of the corrupt.
. They assume that everyone but their party members are corrupt and high-profile criminals.
However, his gentle tone of pleading with others to help them achieve their goal is completely new. … right?
The former president urged all parties to come together to move forward. But he was ridiculed. Is AKD naked today? wait and see, it will reveal before long.
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I feel again, our people are completely misled to the core. However, it is entwined in Sinhala_Genetics. Alas, sinhala genes are stuck somewhere in human evolution.
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old codger / September 26, 2024
LM
I like the way Dilith Jayaweera (and his bunch of racists) and the Field Marshal lost their deposits. Marketing “war victory ” seems not to work anymore.
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