By Frederica Jansz –
When contacted to find out if he was aware, if indeed an aircraft scheduled to fly to Zurich was to be changed to accommodate a personal friend and pilot who had offered to ensure the safe passage of a puppy dog for him, Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned abusive and screamed at this journalist in two subsequent telephone conversations in raw filth on Thursday July 5. Excerpts of the first telephone conversation:
“You Are Pigs Who Eat Shit”
FJ: Mr. Rajapaksa I do not know if you are aware but we have been told that a SriLankan Airlines flight is to fly to Zurich next Friday to bring down a puppy dog for you?
GR: So what is wrong with that? It is a regular flight – Yes they are bringing a puppy – it is for my wife. There is nothing wrong with that. I have every right to bring not just a dog but an elephant if I so wish – I am paying for the cargo. I have every right to bring anything I want. This is not the first time – before this also they brought a dog for me…what is wrong – I am paying for the cargo I have every right.
FJ: Absolutely. But that is not the issue. We were told that Capt. Praveen Wijesinghe has personally offered to fly to Zurich to bring this dog for you?
GR: Yes. So what? He is my friend – I have friends at SriLankan former Air Force officers who will do me favours – What is wrong with that?
FJ: But this pilot is not qualified to fly the A340 – and so initially SriLankan was pressured to change the aircraft to an A330 in order to accommodate him…
GR: No aircraft was changed…
FJ: That decision was reverted only after the President of the Pilots Guild objected …
GR: Nobody objected! If you write any bloody thing about this I will sue you! I am not afraid of the bloody courts! I have already sued you I will sue you again! That is my right!
FJ: Yes. But it is also my right as a journalist to ask you for your side of the story or clarify this story with you since it involves you.
GR: You go ask SriLankan Airlines!!
FJ: We already have. However the issue is this. Any pilot can bring down a dog – it is all about controlling and ensuring the correct air pressure in the cabin. Why should Capt. Praveen Wijesinghe be chosen despite him not being able to fly the aircraft on one sector and having to passenger as a result…
GR: So what? Yes he is passengering so what is wrong with that? I am telling you again if you write any bloody word about this I will sue your f…..g newspaper – this is the way you all wrote about the MIG deal – without checking you bloody… wrote your f……g version all because somebody told you something…
FJ: Which is why I have called you. I am not going by what ‘somebody’ told me. I called you to get your side of the story and to clarify this issue.
GR: You write one bloody word and I will sue you!!! I will sue the writer and your f…..g paper again!!
FJ: Mr. Rajapaksa are you threatening me?
GR: Yes! I am threatening you! Write every single word I have told you if you want – you write a bloody f…..g word and we will see…
FJ: Mr. Rajapaksa I called you as a journalist to inform you of what was happening and get your version but all you have done is abuse me in raw filth…
He hung up.
On Thursday July 5, I again telephoned Mr. Rajapaksa after being informed that a VIP had informed him about the matter and Rajapaksa had said he did not know an aircraft was to be changed in order to accommodate Capt. Praveen Wijesinghe to facilitate the bringing down of the dog in question. Rajapaksa had told the VIP that if this was the case he would fly the dog down on another airline.
I then decided that given the fact that he would take action on the matter and ensure there was no loss in revenue to SriLankan Airlines, I would not carry the story. I however telephoned Mr. Rajapaksa again to tell him that my decision was based purely on him promising to take action and not because he blatantly threatened me the previous day and used foul language.
Excerpts of the telephone conversation on July 6, 2012:
FJ: Mr. Rajapaksa I am calling you again because I have now been told that Mr. …….. spoke with you this morning and you had said you were not aware that the management at SriLankan were changing a plane resulting in a loss of 56 passengers in order to accommodate Capt. Praveen Wijesinghe to bring down a puppy dog for you…
GR: I warned you yesterday not to speak with me. If these pilots are idiots to change a plane for this… that is not my fault. I was doing this the right way – but these pilots are fighting among themselves. And you shit journalists listen to them. They are f……g idiots… This is not my fault.
FJ: True. But the fact is a decision like this was taken and later changed when pressure was brought on the management by senior pilots…
GR: That is not correct! I have since checked and there was no such decision.
FJ: There definitely was. However since you have promised to take action I have decided to hold the story but I want you to know that I am not doing so because you threatened me yesterday…
GR: Yes I threatened you. Your type of journalists are pigs who eat shit! Pigs who eat shit! Shit, Shit Shit journalists!!! Ninety percent of the people in this country hate you! They hate you!!! You come for a function where I am and I will tell people this is the Editor of The Sunday Leader and ninety percent there will show that they hate you.
FJ: I don’t think so.
GR: You don’t? That is your ego!! You are a shit, shit journalist. A f…..g shit. A pig who eats shit! I will go to courts!!! I will not withdraw the case on the MIG deal – this is how you wrote…
FJ: I had nothing to do with that story so I cannot comment.
GR: But I will put you in jail! You shit journalist trying to split this country – trying to show otherwise from true Sinhala Buddhists!! You are helped by the US Ambassador, NGOs and Paikiasothy – they pay you!!!
FJ: I wish.
GR: You pig that eats shit!!! You shit shit dirty f…..g journalist!!!
FJ: I hope you can hear yourself Mr. Rajapaksa.
GR: People will kill you!!! People hate you!!! They will kill you!!!
FJ: On your directive?
GR: What?? No. Not mine. But they will kill you – you dirty f…..g shit journalist.
Sunday Leader
Related posts;
Gota Has Gone To The Dog: SriLankan Airlines And A Puppy Dog For Gota’s Wife
Gillian Sathanandan / July 8, 2012
All the puppies in Sri Lanka needing a home and he goes to Europe, very patriotic!
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Roshan / July 8, 2012
This is a total provocation. if the story is true to call Two days in a row and try to provoke anger to use for cheap publicity,if that is the case..
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anuratte / July 8, 2012
We have elected his whole family to control our country and he is the KING.
We the Srilankan people love him and his family,we really enjoy and respect this kind of activity.
I am sure this kind of interviews will make him a true Srilankan Prime minister very soon.
HE is Really very BRAVE,we need this kind of leaders to rule our country for ever.
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G1 / July 8, 2012
Yes we were so much in love with our king and his family, even we are dare not to kill anyone speaks/writ against our royal family right???!!!
:-)
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charu / July 9, 2012
Love the sarcasm bro!
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Prassanna / July 8, 2012
IF Mr GR is paying for all relevant costs, what ids the fuck dirty media bastards has to do with it. I am also warning fucking dirty media ass holes you are ac curse to this whole world. You bastard killed innocent Princes Diana. we support any one who are ready to harass shit media basted like you who has written this article to make unnecessary situation. You basteds are writing any shit just for money or women. piss off bloody dirty media men
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / July 9, 2012
Sxxt Eating Buffalo,
Paying from his own pocket,
my Axx.
still they did not pay me, for the dirty work i have done for them.
Are You A pxxp for those Mongols.
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Survivor / July 8, 2012
Gota is absolutely right!
FJ just can’t leave people alone!
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Saman Liyanage / July 8, 2012
You have joint with Rajapaksha’s family to act against General Sarath Fonseka. Now, What happened to you? Better to such Rajapaksha’s………….
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Rupika / July 8, 2012
If today, our country is experiencing tention and mental distress, its due to irresponsible journalists, who think that they can any write anything they want. Mr.Rajapaksa, hail you for standing againstthis setof fools…all has forgotten that they areenjoying peace, even to write like this, only becos we defeated the bloody LTTE, thanks to leaderships of the Presidenf and you.
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gamini / July 8, 2012
Very clearly comments of someone who really eat Pig Shit.
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charu / July 9, 2012
Sing for your supper you filthy pig
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / July 9, 2012
ARupika And Acharu,
Find few Pimps as Agents.
Can get good business.
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Paul / July 8, 2012
What puppy is going to do to Gota’s wife, is what Gota cannot able to do to his wife. I mean what Gota was use the word in the interview.
What you can expect from a uneducated thug. At least he learnet filthy language in English while he was working as labour in 7/11.
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Vis8 / July 8, 2012
Let’s hear the recording, please, before we believe this kind of slander.
Put the audio on colombo telegraph.
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American Lanka Lover / July 8, 2012
the fact that GOSL tolerates such vicious libel on sites like the Leader and CT rebuts the accusations that there is no freedom of expression. SL is not like China, Russia or other countries with totalitarian police tactics. SL is a multiparty democracy with freedom of expression, not unlimited however. But these muckracking journalists hellbent on embarrassing the Rajapakses would not be tolerated in many countries.
And note The Defense Minister never threatened illegal acts; he threatened litigation which he, like every other citizen in a participatory democracy, has an absolute right of redress through the court system. This is part of a smear campaign arranged by the Tamil Diaspora (and their allies in the Fonseka clique)to discredit the architect of the strategy to wipe out the LTTE. He could have led a comfortable life here in the US, but he sacrificed so much to rid the country he loves most of the cancer that was killing it.
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kingbutt / July 9, 2012
You sound like SL Ambassador in DC’s little puppy is that you? that PR guy?? ha ha..
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Dr Arun Vincent / July 8, 2012
Had the LTTE finished its job properly, I would not be reading this news today.
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ackp / July 9, 2012
Ha ha bloody tiger !!!!
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Kingbutt / July 8, 2012
fredericka – you naughty girl! well done, you caught the bastard hook line and sinker. Hope the US Ambassador and policy will give the fellow a good gil mart!
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Roland / July 8, 2012
It is sad for those who embrace Buddhism to use such gutter type language. If leaders behave in this matter what can you expect from others
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International Tamil / July 9, 2012
GR: But I will put you in jail! You shit journalist trying to split this country – trying to show otherwise from true Sinhala Buddhists!! You are helped by the US Ambassador, NGOs and Paikiasothy – they pay you!!!
FJ: I wish.
America, Late is better than never. Please wake up at least now.Get the voice recording from F.J and hear what your honorable U.S Green Card holder told about your Ambassador in Srilanka.
Save the existing human in Srilanka from this killer.
“God Bless America”
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Panda / July 9, 2012
This is not about a puppy, and this is not about a high ranking official of this government talking like a guttersnipe. This is about the abuse of power, and the bigger picture. The Rajapaksa’s are using Sri Lankan airlines, our national carrier, like their own taxi service. The airline is running at a big loss, and partly because planeloads are taken on these monthly foreign trips that the entire entourage takes, to wine, dine, and shop.
No one can abuse his powers, and on a whim,( resulting in a loss to the airlines), change planes, to suit the family dog. The fact that the Secretary of Defense had to act so defensively, to a journalist shows how much being exposed of such acts, must be doing to him. These people have big ego’s, and talking about their corruption obviously got him hot under the collar.
Ms Jansz had better be careful. These are ruthless people, as we can see.
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Libran Queen / July 9, 2012
Panda I too agree with your sentiments whole heartedly.
Like the saying goes in good ole Sri Lanka (not any more though) oyage kate masuran dante watinawa!!!!!
And all we can do is just stand and watch helplessly. It is sad but true!!!!
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Anon / July 9, 2012
for anyone who doubts that Gota could actually be this crazy… heres a link to a bbc hard talk interview re: Sarath Fonseka…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/8726150.stm
Anyone who is stupid/crazy enough to talk this way on a BBC interview should not be allowed to drive a car let alone be in charge of the country’s defence.
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ranil / July 9, 2012
Gota correct.FJ really f…. ju…..t.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / July 9, 2012
lick lick lick and taste.
U foolish voter
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Roshan / July 9, 2012
Panda, grow up we are living in third world country.and trying to have rules in the first.if u are wiser and well read u will undertsnd what i say.
havent u done any cheating in ur life to get around the law for personal gain.im sure this corrupt society of ours have helped you also to get away from so called pure democrcy and rule of law what u preach.
tell me a single country that has it?
Never forget..Sarath fonseka and G,R were victims who walked away from LTTE bombs.and lived to make our freedom.
Can you and me do that..so just think about it..
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Panda / July 9, 2012
Roshan, be realistic. You assume I have bent the rules for personal gain, and my answer is I stand in line like everyone else and stick to the rules of my country. However, I am NOT a high ranking official or member of this corrupt regime, who is ripping off the country, left, right and centre, and who is supposed to be better than the common man. Have we lowered our standards for our politicians and leaders, and excuse them for
their disgusting acts of corruption and arrogant behavior, and for constantly acting like thugs threatening, lying, and ripping this country off? Should we make petty excuses for their behavior and look the other way, because they “got rid of the LTTE?” Does that make them entitled to such disgusting behavior? They certainly act like we should do so. This is a democracy, or supposed to be, and they should act like they are public servants, serving the people in this country, and not corrupt, arrogant. criminals, getting away with murder.
Try looking at the big picture, and what is happening in this country, and who is running the show.
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cardinal sin / July 9, 2012
our “sinhala buddhist patriotic” loves swiss accounts,watches,shoes and now….onna balapan ko…swiss puppies.
otara’s puppies,mrs lucien rajakaruna nakuta’s won’t do,new taste is definitely european.
how taste changes.
i don’t know much about made in switzerland puppies,can anyone enlighten me?
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Gowrie / July 9, 2012
Yes Cardinal sin
I can tell you Those puppies also eat what this foul mouthed illiterate “King of kidnap and ransom” eat for breakfast-Pig shit.
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swiss puppy / July 9, 2012
A word to the editors. Why are you people silent. Can’t you say something. If you are scared please leave the job and go home!
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Katmai / July 10, 2012
Hah? Did you just get up Sleeping Beauty?
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Roshan / July 9, 2012
International Tamil..
Have you forgot the LTTE Bombs that KIlled inocent civilins in colombo and elseware.
Have u forgoten the unmaned Drones bombing pakistan with severe civilian casualties.Even the UN has condemed USA in this regard.
How blind are you,In your one sided hypocritical statements.
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Davina / July 9, 2012
Forgive me, but having read the article and understood its background and contents clearly, I am rather puzzled as to what article your ‘one sided, blinded, hideous and rather foolish’ response refers to Roshan???
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Katmai / July 10, 2012
Let it go Davina. Just like the Rajapaksas, their supporters also have a prepared set of sentences that that throw out at any occasion. (GR repeats “I’ll sue you. You pigs eat shit.” etc. sycophants say “LTTE, Bombs, Killing bla bla bla…”)
You don’t need brains for this. Go back to the early days of the Internet (Usenet, more precisely) and you’ll find out about a program, that spilled out prepared sentences for every post on some newsgroups that others were scratching their head trying to figure out what this guy was talking about. Actually, that program was more on the topic than this guy Roshan is.
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bar / July 11, 2012
What is the relationship between Swiss Puppy and International Tamils??
Are you a boot sweeper of the Gotha?
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DAS / July 9, 2012
FJ surely has a recording of this conversation – else she would be on the fourth floor by now.
Gota’s ego and contempt for the media are evident.
Importing a puppy from UK is thro’ a state airline which had to offload 56 passengers with bookings – to accomodate the only pilot who was willing to do this – is the height of arrogance and misuse of state resources for personal benefit.
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Roshan / July 9, 2012
J ameray…dont look at petty things like cost of fences.its peanuts
compared to fear psychosis we had for 30 years.
There are few ppl who could bell the cat.and he did it of course not alone.Thats what i ment been an archi of the war for your info.
PPL can keep on saying .did that ,dis this..is there anyone else to do better or has done before..if you can name one person i will be happy to know who can govern sri lanka as you all wnats it to be.
Can you all do it as you wish it to be..It just mere words.Power corrrupts any one. including you .thats normal human behaviour.
look at a persons achivements,A great person has his bad virtues too.Other than telling this is bad that is bad.do your self a favour by doing good for yourself and your society.
Knock at your conscious and see what have you done to this country, have you countributed any things to judge others..
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Davina / July 9, 2012
Anyone with the ammunition that was used could have done what was done. It was an achievement to get rid of the tigers but not an achievement to kill so many innocent people (without getting into an argument about numbers) in the process and not having the balls to admit it.
A person in a place of high position* and can be respected by command rather than demand. Can you understand that? These losers demand it or threaten death. Thats what cowards do with their big mouths, hiding behind machine guns. A leader is one who sets an example, what sort of example is this family setting for the nation?
*One who has also forgotten that it was not himself but his brother who was voted in by the people – people who sadly & foolishly did not see (& are still blinded enough to reason this behaviour) the whole family, village and other losers benefitting from it & raping what little is left of the island in the process… very very sad.
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Roshan / July 10, 2012
Has any country in the world won a war against terrorists.answer is yes..Only sri lanka.
as for the silly argument any one who has ammunition can win a war on terror is absoulutly childish knowledge of any conflict of the world.
i aurge the writer to read and understand about wars and conflicts in history where powerfull armies in the world having so called any one with amuunition has not been able to achive.
who are the leaders that has set examples.is it Reagan. George bush
hitler ,Stalin,or any one in the business world .Be realistic dont just read newspapers or magazines or western properganda that been taught in every sphere.
Read real histroy for inside story of so call world leaders.i am sorry i cant educate you reagarding how wold powers and leaders
behave to public and the real insider dealing they have.
You are one of he many ppl blinded by so called justice and rule of law law where it never excits in this world.
take latest examples of Braclays banks LIBOR insider dealing and
the CEOs subsequent statement That Banks are corrupt to the core
applies to any Goverment in the world today sided by the UN and Nato to thier dirty work and pass resoulutions against third world countries to subdue them to compliance or regime changes.
the fact of the matter is poor people like you who strive for equality and justice is duped by a well advanced mecahanism of
properganda that is so subtle nowdays what Dr.Gobbles manage achived during World WarII is a pale contrast to what lengths these so called flag bearers democracy advocates.
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Jegan / July 10, 2012
“Has any country in the world won a war against terrorists”. Define terrorism?Killing innocents?Destroying property?Raping women?That is precisely what GOSL and its forces and this man is accused of doing by UN,Human Rights Groups and respectable democratic countries in the global arena,so who is the terrorist now?
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Rohan K / July 12, 2012
Dude… Winning the war doesn’t give 100% immunity to any government to misuse poor tax payers money to live lavish lives. If they did something great, more humble should they be. Now, we are beginning to realize the war was won not because they loved the country, but, to gain other financial and political benefits. Look at this simple examples. 1 Km of carpeting a highway @ Rs. 120 Mil to Chinese company, subcontracted to Local company @ Rs. 50 Mil.. where did the rest of the money go? Laying of Pallai railway track 56 km cost USD 150 Mil – do a cost calculation yourself and you will see that even USD 50 Mil is too much. The contract is handled by an Indian company brought in by MR’s nephew. Do we allow this this just because they won a freaking war? Now I am beginning to believe that it was won dirty and many innocents lost their lives for nothing.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / July 10, 2012
Roshan Or [ MR imposer ]
It is peanuts for you people,because You can play andenjoy with poor masses tax money.
they are not supposed to pilfer our money. this not D A Rajapakse’s dowry money,
Some 400-500 family members pilfering the government coffers.
when consider to that this billions are nothing,
you idiots never understand, Because you peo[le Answering Under Directive of Weerathunga .
We can smell the Rat Here.
so keep it up.
find history from National Archive and write ,study cut and paste also..
and lean more about politicos society.
then you can find Some body to Govern SREEEEEE LANKA THAN YOUR BOSSES.
BCOS THEY are S L LAW COLLEGE EDUCATED LOT, YOU KNOW THAt, I MEAN LOW, VERY LOW COLLEGE.
I THINK YOU ALSO CAN DO GOVERN WITH HELP OF your CROWN PRINCE.
TO GOVERN OUR MOTHER LAND
There Are Many Able, Educated people than Your Super MEN are.
Not scandalous like these thieves
but get permission from your boss weera.
How SMart Julampitye Amaraya.
WE HAD A PATTY GONA WITH DYNASTY BEFORE, BUT HE DIED WITH OUT ANY SIBLINGS.
Dont try to Send White van behind me, still i am in remand jail.
tell them try hard to get me out.
that judge is useless fxxxr ,as your boss said to that Fedrica Woman.
Belling the cat had done long ago when Kobbekaduwa was alive.
but this Baxxxds buckled most of the Shaw .
bribing Ltte and running here and there to Geneva, Paris and so so place.taking human rights file and books. Sri lakan people know that.
now people are telling V P IS Back with ruling family.
Dont TELL ME THAT I AM CORRUPT. I DID ONLY CONTRACT KILLINGS. BUT STILL NOT PAID for my jobs.
FIRST YOU DO,THAN telling others,
“””Knock at your conscious and see what have you done to this country [SRI LANKA], have you countributed any things than sucking to judge others..””””””
JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA
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Dr. Aruna / July 9, 2012
This is absolutely unacceptable. A blatant example of how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Disgusting…
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Blaster / July 9, 2012
Winning the war against LTTE is one thing and killing innocent people is also another thing. Sri Lanka will soon realise that the Rajpakse clan has a stronghold on each and everyone of you. Formation of another Dictator. You guys are on a different high to notice these things now. How many have disappeared since Rajpakse has taken charge?
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Rupert de Silva / July 10, 2012
I ish turning in my grave. I ish thought we thuggish people are only people who speak val things and do val things. We is now know there ish a former petrol pump attendant, seven elevan manager and late Steve Jobsh partner in inventing computers Hish Highness Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also doing in the same thing. Veshak and Poshon days he ish the wearing white, worshiping and give the alms to the poor. Newspapers show that in front of their pages. He is then a good Bodhisathva. Other days he issh killing and killing and harsssing other people.He is calling them terrorists and f…..g traitors. Imported dog shit is is delectable to this man with a huge ego and an acute inferiority complex. He can never change. He will bring down mahinda one day.That ish for shure. I will laugh from my grave.
GONAWALA SUNIL
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Donald Gnanakone / July 10, 2012
What ever happened to the big mouthed racist chauvinist including former Singha regiment soldier for a year? No defense any more?? lol
Hiding in the bunkers like a good soldier?
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Patriot / July 10, 2012
Msg to all journalists. What else can you expect from a guy like this? You are dealing with a criminal who once pumped gas to my car at a 7 eleven gas station in LA. All of them should be tried at the Hague and sentenced to “life in Prison”. Nothing else can put back Sri Lanka in the right direction. I hope all the other politicians would get together and act on this ASAP before it’s too late!
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / July 10, 2012
In Australian society, it is quite common for especially the lower end to use the adjective that refers in slang, to fornication, for things that hardly merit a refernce to sexual activity. I believe the same is true for other democracies like the United States of America.
However, as far as I know, Sri Lankans in Sri Lanka, speaking in English do not normally use this adjective as it is deemed to be impolite and insulting to their respectability in society.
Yes, people do become angry, especially with women, when they feel cornered and have no viable response that makes sense. In Australia, ones gives as good as one gets, and its considered “fair dinkum” to do that (meaning it is reasonable and acceptable).
However, in Sri Lanka there is a status hierarchy at work, which allows only the “higher up” person to become angry or abusive, and if for any reason the “lower down” person resorts to it, they are dealt with severely, perhaps losing their job etc.
However, as far as can be discerned, journalists interviewing government representatives are not obliged to follow this power-distance protocol.
I wonder what would have transpired if the reporter, for example had evoked the mother as the subject of sexual activity in choice language, to counter the onslaught she was subjected to. Would it have dire consequences for her safety if so, especially considering that she could face a law-suit for defamation etc?
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