President Rajapaksa’s transportation costs so far this year has mounted to a whopping Rs. 2500 million, making a fine example of the lavish lifestyles led by the Rajapaksas while the masses struggle to ends meet.
These appalling figures were disclosed by JVP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake in parliament. He said the total Presidential expenses that were estimated to remain at Rs. 8569 million this year has already reached Rs. 10490 million so far.
MP Dissanayake in his speech gave a detailed breakdown of the transportation costs of the President. “The President has spent Rs. 22 million as transportation in local trips and Rs. 800 million during foreign trips. An additional Rs. 410 million has been spent for fuel while Rs. 317 million has been allocated for vehicle maintenance and another Rs. 570 million has been listed as transportation costs,” he explained.
Speaking furthermore, he said the new makeover given to the surrounding walls of the Temple trees where potted plants were embedded to the wall in an attempt to beautify it, costs Rs. 0.3 million every month to be maintained.
He also criticized the rate at which government properties in various locations are being renovated and taken over for President Rajapaksa’s use as seen with the most recent examples in Mahiyangana, Kataragama and Kankasanthurai.
“He is already occupying the President’s house and the Temple trees. Why does he need to construct ‘palaces’ in locations that takes less than two hours to travel? The abuse of state funds and resources is further continued by his children as they buy shoes worth Rs. 150,000 a pair, cars worth Rs. 500 million and shut down the commercial capital of the city for ten days every year so that they can race up and down the roads,” he said.
He pointed out that the systematic collapse in the local production sector and the rampant corruption has led to about 20% of the population with the highest income to access 55.1% of the country’s revenue while the 10% of the population is left with less than 10% of the finances.
Samuel Bandara / November 5, 2014
Alone these expenses show that a man of his grade waste them while Indian Modi would never do that. That is the greater difference between we the superficial srilankens and wiser Indians.
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Poorten G. / November 5, 2014
“Samuel” (my backside!)
What is unusual about the president of a country spending money to travel inside the country or going overseas to represent the country, with officials to help?
If he didn’t do that, politically bankrupt log heads like you would come out and accuse him of being “out of touch”.
Are you so deprived that you don’t have any other issue with the president to focus on? Shame.
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Don Stanley / November 5, 2014
The way to win elections is to EDUCATE the Masses. This is the primary job of an EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION.
The UNP which is busy fighting with each other for power has forgotten the people of Lanka, and that fact that the first responsibility of the opposition is to educate the people on the need for good government and NO corruption.
Anura Kumara will on day be President of Lanka. Ranil Wickramasinghe and Sajith Premadasa will NOT!
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srilal / November 5, 2014
This shows how ineffective our permanent opposition leader Ranil Rajapakse is , Ranil and Sajith doing every thing possible to reelect MR , it has been reported that Mangla S is also at cross roads with Ranil and Sajith is doing every thing possible to prevent any cross overs from SLFP.what a robust opposition party we have ?
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Dodo / November 5, 2014
Mahinda Jarapassa is AFRAID of the Sinhala people of Colombo. Because He has committed so many crimes.
He needs a personal ARMY to feel safe from the people who vote for him.
His mile long motorcade as it races through Colombo disturbing the peace with loud and obnoxious sirens and ridiculous looking police in jeeps with batons.
Mahinda Jarapassa is the king of Sinhala Modayas and his brother Gota the Goon the Emperor of the Modayas!
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Sylvia Haik / November 5, 2014
Poorten you have a point but this is borrowed money which we cannot afford to squander however much the prestige his travels could bring. Remember the episode where his entourage wanted SriLanjan Airlines to decant the booked passengers to board them instead? If that had not been refused, that one episode whould have cost us Rs.Millions. I wonder how many more similar episodes had gone unreported.
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Rohan Polwatte / November 5, 2014
Another [Edited out] aha. He can do that but without spending so much. You idiot. Buling presidential palaces is not necessary. 500 millions cars how can his sons afford? [Edited out].
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kp / November 5, 2014
Fully agree with you! I myself make do with a modest 1000million a year for transport, so I can imagine how bad it is for His Excellency.
(For those of you who don’t get sarcasm (what am I saying, this is Sri Lanka. No one understands the concept), this is sarcasm.)
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Hathuruwathi Gunaratne / November 5, 2014
Man, born rascal can though become a good man later, thoese genetic behavioiurs would not erace that easily. This ballige putha was once upon a time a vociferous human rights fighter. But today, by distributing his toffees to the poor of the poors, they have been highly abusing the people s funds. For what ppurpose he should have maligas in KKS, Mahiyanganaya and other remote areas. Why does the bugger need to have 3 helicopter for one trip, why the bugger waste flights that could bring more sums to the country. CBK and all other previous presidents never abused lanken carrier to this levels. Meeharaka has been doing a great harm to the nation and country… this he has to pay in the days to come. Wait and see, we see the light at the end of the tunnel to fullstop current brutallities soon
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Lanka Watch / November 6, 2014
Poorten…With the size of the country’s population and economy, business class travel on a scheduled commercial flight would suffice with reduced entourage as Economy comes first. Are you stupid to believe that Rs.2500 million of public money can be spent, if true, on air travel by the President and his entourage while the poor is struggling to meet ends. Which class you belong to and what a waste of colossal some of money this is, and if voters come to hear of this,will get shocked with the very high level of spending. Wonder whether local media publishes these figures to the public.
With the advent of modern communication system today, one cannot be out of touch with the day to day happening in the globe. USA
talks to European partners on the middle east war daily using multi conference system and today there are only few occasions like the usual annual UN Assembly sessions, SAAC where the Presidents or Prime ministers have to meet in person.
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S.Modaya / November 5, 2014
Great Speech indeed – AK is educating the Sinhala Modayas who Ranil Wickramsinghe keeps ignorant while covertly supporting Mahinda Jarapassa so that he Ranil may remain UNP DICTATOR forever!
What is that shameless and MORALLY CORRUPT all time loser and pathetic excuse Ranil WIckramasinghe, so called leader of the opposition, doing?
Sleeping on the job and infighting with UNP party members!!
This land of Sinhala Modayas is pathetic indeed, aside from a few brave souls like Anura Kumara
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Rarityminds / November 5, 2014
Greatest speech I ever heard. AKD is simply the best representing all walks of like and their issues.
May more of AKDs be bred in the Island to give life for the generations to come.
All what AKDs expresses here are the truth. I have never supported JVP but if ANYONE would ask whom to give vote – there I at once say for JVPers.
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AVB / November 5, 2014
Yep.. Great speech… I guess people of calibre & honesty of AKD putting barriers or slow down steep devastation of the country. Where is our veteran opposition leader, Ranil? Is he attending parliament??.. There are reports saying only couple of dozens of MPs (Gov & opposition) attend the parliament usually..
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Ben Hurling / November 5, 2014
Excellent speech by AKD. May this speech go viral on Social Media.
Idiots who still vote for UPFA monkeys, please think twice next time.
Cheers!
PS: I am now worried about AKD’s personal security. Gota must be fuming.
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Tamil from the north / November 10, 2014
@Ben Hurling, you maybe right or Jarapassa will steal the election just like how he did last time, he stole it from SF. SF should have staged a coup and done away with this bugger and his entire family.
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Seelawathige Puthaa / November 6, 2014
Why cannot the Army of the country go against the man in power ?
The Army that eleminated terror should also be able to eliminate highly abusive leaders like Rajapakshe
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Tamil from the north / November 10, 2014
Seelawathige Puthaa, the only man who could have done that is Sarath Fonseka. Why do you think the Goat/MR duo put him in jail?
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 5, 2014
Does our Red Shirt brother want the President to hitch hike …
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Mallaiyuran / November 5, 2014
Why shouldn’t he take the Air Bus 330 with GE engine?
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paul / November 7, 2014
To protect him from CT commentators aboard perhaps?
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / November 5, 2014
He can as an alternative travel busines or first class, with fewer hangers on board. He can also travel less.
On my first trip abroad for post-graduate studies on a BOAC (now BA) flight, Archbishop Makorius (the President of Cyprus) boarded the flight in seychelles and travelled first class. He also walked through the third class, where I was seated and shook hands with everyone. Most Heads of State yet travel in commercial flights.
Of course we do not want our President to hitch his sarong and hitchhik, as long as he is our president!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 5, 2014
Dr Narendran,
It must be long before Thalaivar …Right.
Now our President can’t even land in London, let alone shaking hands with Diaspora returnees on A 340 to Terminal 4 , on their way to Scarborough.
The Reverend wouldn’t allow his mentor in London to give police protection.
Funny part is Reverend’s followers are now cheesed off because they have to get a permit .to visit the ex LTTE Land..
You must have been a loaded Vellala to go all the way to London for studies on a BOAC DC 8.
Our Dalits wouldn’t have seen a bi plane, lat alone sitting in an Aeroplane.
Now even our dalit women, get a chance to catch an Airbus A 300 or a A 320 thanks to the Midle Eat Employment, although they get insults hurled at them by the anti Govt , and anti Rajapaksa UPP, TNA, Diaspora Alliance followers…
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / November 5, 2014
I travelled to Canada through Heathrow, on a Colombo Plan scholarship I had earned. I left with US $30/= in foreign exchange permitted by the Sirimavo government. I could afford to eat only cold sandwiches during the 12 hour wait at Heathrow. I went through university in Sri Lanka with the help of a loan from the Peoples Bank. I of course belonged to a good and educated Vellalah family that had lost its fortune in Malayasia in the 193os depression. Brown Road in Jaffna is named after my Great Grand father- ‘Brown’ Cathiravelu- who lost his rubber fortunes in Penang and had the guts to tell the ‘ White ‘ magistrate who presided over bankruptcy proceedings and who taunted him with the words, ” Mr. Cathiravelu , you are a sinking ship” , ” Sir, why can’t I be, when the British Empire itself is sinking”. I am glad I inherited this lineage and not the money. He was the man who paid a big chunk of the cost of a war plane named ‘ Jaffna’ that was gifted to the British government by the Ceylon Tamils in the then Malaya .
I can today sit with the people you call ‘ Dalits’ and the Vellalahs in an equal footing and be equal to every Goviya, Karawa , Duruwa, Salagama , Riodiya, etc, etc, through what I have become through my own efforts, God’s help , the help of relatives and the opportunities the then Ceylon provided. I fly first class today, because I have earned the privilege. I am thankful for the genes I have as a Tamil and a Sri Lankan.
Dr.RN
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Ben Hurling / November 5, 2014
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran,
Why not publish your turbulent, yet so inspiring life story?
It should be available to all kids of Sri Lanka to read. Learn about the diversity of our backgrounds and history.
Any child who reads about your journey will grow to be a thousand times better ctizen than K.A. Sumanasekara.
Cheers!
PS: Sumane is a leading member of the newly established “LAPTOP WALLAH” caste. Mainly operating in Colombo’s dodgy black market for Laptops & Smart Phones.
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JJ / November 6, 2014
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran – I salute you. Ignore the script of Sumanasekera for ilk like this they do not know what they write (hence the calamity on the island). I too like you left SL to further my education with the minimal amount allowed by the SL govt. in the 70’s. We made it through our hard work and perseverance to attain a comfortable life style that could not be afforded to us by our mother land. This was our resolve.
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 6, 2014
Dr Narendran,
From cold Sandwiches at Heathrow to four course gourmet menu designed by Master Chefs in new BOAC First Class , definitely is progress..
Good on you.
What matters is whether a Dalit can sit with you.
And enjoy a two course meal at least, with a glass of beer.
You have given an absolutely vivid picture of the privileges , which the Elite Anglicans and the Vellalas enjoyed during the British Raj.
Fulbrights and Commonwealths s were the exclusive privileges of Colombo Colleges and Jaffna Colleges.
Now it is a bit different , but still a long way to travel ,until our dalit kids in rural South, rural East , rural West and rural North can go to a decent school close to home and get in to a Uni, even if their parents haven’t the money to support them.
It is worth mentioning that even the few kids who come to Uni from poor families and get free accommodation in the hotel are dragged out , subjected to inhuman ragging , even molested and forced to go on protests to help the Opposition..
And the people who do this are non other than the new Pin Up boy of the Opposition, Mr Anurar Kumara’s political activists.
Hopefully the one thousand Central Colleges and First year free accommodation program for the Dalit kids will be completed before the President gets kicked out to restore the privileges which Dr Narendran is on about..
That is the Elite Anglican Velalala scenario in old Ceylon….
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Lanka Watch / November 5, 2014
Sumane,
Stop talking about Vellala caste. Why not you also talk about the ‘walawua’ clan in South, specially in Kandyan areas where poor Singhalese children, kept captives in their mansions, deprived them of school education, and got them to
do menial jobs in their estates. There were many of them in
the earlier days.
You should know what the word vellalar means .Vellamy is farming in pure Tamil and who did farming or owned farms were called Vellala. Some of them were petty chieftains in charge of farm workers, unlike , Walawua people who exploited labour.
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Dr. Laksiri Fernando / November 6, 2014
Dr. Rajasingham,
For some unavoidable reasons, only now I came across your pertinent comments on the extravagant expenses and life style of MR. I completely agree with your sentiments expressed. Your related experiences are extremely valuable. Thanks.
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Tamil from the north / November 10, 2014
Hey Sumanasekeram, your clown president should be going on an ox cart as he is quite used to that. What Benz for him, I wonder whether this bugger has ever even seen a Benz in his whole life until he stole the Presidency. Were you his ox cart driver? Sri Lankans across the board cannot even buy bread, but this bugger travels like he earned all this money. This shows the caliber you belong to, a 3rd class screw up. That is what you are. Maybe you should get married to Fatshitma Fukushima, maybe you might end up with a normal person.
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Kirri Yakka / November 5, 2014
Not sure why CT is repirting this. Should the not be chasing up Paki over the two bottles of wisky consumed at NGO expense?
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BBS Rep / November 5, 2014
Of course the president of the wonder of ‘Asia’ deserves to travel in the finest style.
The lavish travel spending is just the tip of the iceberg.
I applaud AKD for bringing up such unconscionable practices to the knowledge of the public. RW does not even squeak up about any such malpractices by the MARA regime. How on earth can RW be the best common candidate?
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Tamil from the north / November 5, 2014
Yes, what you sow you shall reap. So SL vote this low class bugger back to power in the next elections.
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shiro / November 5, 2014
The sense of entitlement, and disregard shown for tax payer money. The regime and their families travel in style and not at their expense. Trips to New York to attend the UN conferences means 5 star hotels and an entire floor taken for tom, dick, and harry, catered meals, shopping jaunts, and lavish events. Sri Lankan airlines fly hundreds of golayas and every mothers son, who kiss rajapaksa feet. Any decent, and honest leader, would try to cut down these expenses, and show some respect for the people’s money. What kind of trips are these that cost us MILLIONS and MILLIONS? What a bunch of extravagant scoundrels, they are fleecing this country and living it up, while the poor and middle class struggle with high prices and sky rocketing cost of living.
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douglas / November 5, 2014
CT: Thank you for giving us this opportunity to listen to a Leader of one of the Opposition parties.
In the same way I would request you to give us the opportunity to listen to speech made at the debate relating to the Budget Vote on President by the Leader of the Opposition Hon.Ramil Wickramasinghe. I hope you can find his speech. Is he in Parliament?
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Lanka watch / November 6, 2014
Douglas, No, He is vacationing some where, abroad and in the meantime the committee is preparing his speeches for the election propaganda.
There is nothing much to discuss about the budget as one opposition
said that ‘It is too good to believe’ He should be back after the election date is announced or may arrive along with the Pope.
UNP is racing with the wrong horse.!
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Lasantha / November 7, 2014
Douglas,
I hope you at least watched the TV news, when the media asked Ranil to comment on the budget he stayed Dumb.He did not utter a single word to media while behaving like an arrogant thug.
It was Ranil who blamed the government on media curbs, but when given the opportunity he stayed dumb. What a joker.
Ranil the UNP head of Parliament while getting a colossal 87 million rupee annual payroll stayed dumb when questioned by the media about the budget.
It is these kinds of Dumb ass Parliament “Pin Padiyas” who eternally keep corrupt Rajapakse Junta in power.
Ranil the ever merry go round going looser “sleeping beauty”made UNP a jokers club. Now he is planning to contest in the next Presidential elections without any .
Ranil the ever loosing dreamer who don’t know a hang of politics and how to win voters is a curse to UNP and to Sri Lanka.
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Pot Shot / November 5, 2014
I would love this man to be the next President of our country but he just belongs to the wrong Party. He says everything that the UNP should be saying so effectively but they just continue to miss the bus.
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Lanka Watch / November 6, 2014
Pot Shot…. You said it right as Ranil is sincere and straight forward
and hard to find a man of his calibre to fill the position of President
but rest of the horses in his party are not pulling in one direction for some reasons unknown to the voting public.
.
People wants to know the secret behind the cut throat attitude of the
rank and file of UNP. They only talk about UVA and not of any other people,not realising the UVA good showing was due to a one man show.
No One, even the analysts, do not know in which areas of the country the UNP voters are in majority
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MirakRajBanda / November 5, 2014
My transportation cost for 2014 is Rs. 2500,- and I contribute to the man who said to be the president more than Rs. 5000,- and my CTB bus waits hours and hours in Colombo whenever his éntourage, bodyguards, STF, Army, Navy, Air force, Crooks, Thugs, Morons, Rapists, Racists, Ambulance and couple of bikes take advantage of the commotion pass by……
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 5, 2014
Although naive and clueless on Economic Development and lifting the living standards of the poor, Anuran Kumara’s recent predecessors had a bit of patriotism.
And protected the great majority from an Eelamm in the North East, when Rail was the PM.
Anura Kumara the new Leader, in contrast has become a real puppet of the Elite, and the lap dog of the UNP Christian Faction.
And he can’t obviously see the imminent grave danger to the peaceful and harmonious environment in which our poor in the South as well as the NE make a living, if the UNP TNA Diaspora Alliance come to power though their leader Ranil Wickremasinghe.
If they do and Ranil gives the TNA total control of the North, and withdraw the Armed forces like what he did on his last previous watch, ,there will be a lot of irate inhabitants in the South.
When Ranil then moves to destroy Mattala, and Hambantota, sell our Infrastructure to Old Whites Pension Funds and sell the CTB , CWE and other public assets in fireside sales , the irate nay even become violent.
Anura Kumara then will then have to beg for a protection visa from the Vellala CM and a TNA Police guard.
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ken Robert / November 5, 2014
Sumanasekeran
I listened to AKD’s speech, I am sure this touched your raw nerve, I sincerely hope that president will re elected and you will get your subsidies as usual. otherwise, you could try your luck with the vestiges of LTTE in Europe, Both of them are of same stock!
Another portal you could spend your energies with vigour is Asian tribune.
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Tamil from the north / November 5, 2014
@Ken Robert, Mr. Sumanasekeram is an ardent supporter of Mara as he is receiving money from Mara, correct. Mara = LTTE, yes 100% correct. 50% of the evil ended in 2009 along with a lot of innocent people, I hope the other 50% will be wiped out soon without the innocent.
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Anushkhk / November 5, 2014
Salute, Dr Rajasingham!
Proud to be a Pure Tamilian.
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Pot Shot / November 5, 2014
I have never been a supporter of the JVP and I have disliked them all my life. But this man Anura Dissanayake should be given a good hearing. I would like to no more about his:
Economic Plan
Governance
Equal rights
Education
Foreign Policy
13th Amendment
Executive presidency
18th Amendment
Law & Order
Corruption
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kp / November 6, 2014
Theres a pdf version of their party principles they drafted (I think) after he took over the party, on their website.
I’d personally vote for them if they acknowledged and made a national apology for the destruction caused by the man they treat like a martyr.
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gamini / November 5, 2014
Is it that till this disclosure was made in Parliament by AKD, the masses of this country was unaware of MR’s doings? The murders of Lasantha, Baratha Laxman and the rest. Disappearances of Prageeth Eknaligoda and many others. Waste of public funds on Mihin Air, Mattala Airport, Hamabanthota Harbour, Night car Races and a list too long to mention here. Misappropriating Public funds as the EPF, ETF. Selective Justice dispensed ignoring or not indicting Criminals and Drug Peddlers while harassing the Poor Innocent.
This bugger MR is a born Crook who has had even a deal with KP and the rest of the LTTE willing to share power after liquidating VP? How much more are these people who are praising AKD and blaming Ranil waiting for, to be woken up to see the reality? How pathetic some can be? What do they hope to do other than blame Ranil? Unless all rally against MR, there is sweet nothing that Ranil alone can do.
If Ranil is as corrupt as the lot in power or he does not conduct himself as a Gentleman or if he has no Educational qualification or he will not uphold Law and Order equally to all and is just another Crook, then his critics are justified. If not why this prevarication? Bashing Ranil alone will not do while allowing MR to dig our own graves in the mean time? No wonder it is said that there is no cure for naivete. The answer to the ills committed by MR is in your own hands and it is your responsibility to redeem without blaming others. Act before it is too late for your own good and that of the country.
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Gg / November 5, 2014
Just check out the house on Rajagiriya Rd. Just before the turn to Silva lane bend on your right. Who owns it?? According to people around it belongs to his driver!!! Most milionnare s would not have such a palatial house.
OVER TO YOU MR WIMAL KUMARA DISSANAYAKE/CT TO INVESTIGATE AND EXPOSE!!
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scott / November 6, 2014
Anura Kumara has been doing a good job of using his right as a parliamentarian to draw attention to the colossal harm the MR regime is doing to the country. His party however needs to grow up and get away from its Sinhala Buddhist centeredness. He should talk with the TNA and form a Sinhala-Tamil national party. The TNA’s MP Sumanthiran has, like Anura Kumara, been exposing the MR regime. This is a bold step that requires courage, but is one that will take the country away from petty and narrow ethnicity centered thinking to a broad outlook that will make Sri Lanka a happy, prosperous and modern nation.
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Saman / November 7, 2014
Anura Kumara Dissanayake has already become the best orator in the Parliament and in Parliament history. We never saw this kind of straight talk, tough and speed of words in Sri Lanka’s parliament.
His voice, oratory skills, points, performance and presentation has attracted
public and their hearts and vote.
Aswar the Rajapakse lap dog has got shocked by AKD’s speech.
Go AKD go. Go to the world with your own Radio and TV broadcasts and CDs and through Internet. Produce these speeches in English and Tamil languages.
Also please translate these speeches to English and Tamil languages and copy them to CDs for distribution.
Also produce more next generation of Politicians with great oratory skills.
Good luck to you AKD.
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