28 March, 2024

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Why Dayan Can’t See That The Presidential Executive Is Dead & Awaiting Burial

By Shyamon Jayasinghe

Shyamon Jayasinghe

If I was running a school for logic and reasoning, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka provides me with a surfeit of case studies in bad logic. To be fair, Dayan is  eminently educated. His problem is that he has a horrible bee in his bonnet: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. In order to discredit Ranil, Dayan seizes anything he can get his hands on. Besides, he sees in every little crisis in Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe’s impending downfall.

DJ’s latest ballistic missile is the Meetotamulla garbage issue. He writes to Colombo Telegraph on 16/4 an article captioned, “Meethotamulla & The Mother Of All May Days: Avoiding Mixed Messages,” where he states: “A faction of the Government led by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and supported by his TNA allies, propose to weaken the Sri Lankan State by abolition of the Executive Presidency..”

The article purports to show the inadequacy of the reintroduction of the former Westminster inspired model of Parliament running government with a Prime Minister and cabinet at the head- the key change offered by the proposed new constitution. DJ wants the Executive Presidency kept. His above quote reveals why he wants that: it is the key platform of Ranil Wickremesinghe!

DJ sets aside the fact that sixty two lakhs of people, who ousted the former regime had been fed up of Presidential Executive rule and wanted and wants it done away. He forgets that the broad civil movement for yahapalanaya originally led by the late Revd Maduluwawe Sobitha, which was the hard back of the political campaign for ousting the former regime, wanted it and wants it as a precondition for anything that can be called good governance.

In the quote, DJ smuggles in a bit of racism by aligning Ranil with the TNA! That is Dayan Jayatilleka – our political analyst.

Unfortunately, in his enthusiasm DJ cites the recent Meetotamulla garbage tragedy as a God-given lesson of the need for the retention of the pure Presidential Executive system of Mahinda Rajapaksa. DJ slips his foot on this attempted high jump from the garbage to the need for the Executive Presidential model. Why? Because it is a terribly flaky example that cracks as one touches. The garbage dump was 100 meters high and could not have been built during the last two years of the new government. It had been building surely and steadily under the absolutist dictatorship of the Rajapaksa presidency. Sure, the responsibility of the current government  was not to have quickly detected this time bomb and acted on it.

The Island editor asks: why did the previous regime  not act on it for ten long years? I ask, why did such a strong Executive Presidency that invested itself with virtually unlimited power under the 18th Amendment and was noted for acting with immunity not act decisively to rid the area of this danger?

DJ brazenly connects his case with the recent referendum win by Turkish President, Erdogan. The bee in his bonnet deceives Dayan Jayatilleka again by seducing him to get hold of a wrong handle, once again. Erdogan asked for absolute power where he can appoint judges and act, on personal decree disregarding an elected Parliament. He won the referendum but that was a pyrrhic victory because almost fifty per cent of the electorate said,”no.” Even that near-fifty-fifty result was eked out by electoral fraud, the arrest of thousands of “no” supporters and the murder of some of them-all by the incumbent President, Erdogan. A secondary school kid will recognise that far from justifying a Presidential executive this Turkish illustration undermines any possible justification.

The mythical argument for Presidential Executive rests on its alleged efficiency and quickness in capacity to act. DJ clings on to this folklore. Let’s see why this argument does not hold: One can place different forms of public policy decision-making on a spectrum with one end being the practice where decisions are made by one person and the other end being the practice where decisions are made openly after broad consultation. Better decisions are more likely to come by under an open system as it is bound to capture the collective wisdom of a large group of people rather than relying on one or a few people. In the open process, exemplified by the Westminster system of a Prime Minister working with a cabinet of Ministers-all responsible to Parliament, the decision-making process tends to be highly inclusive allowing for consensus to emerge.

Under good leadership it is not a difficult thing to arrive at a decision after an open discussion. On the other hand, everyone is likely to cooperate in implementing a decision taken that way rather than arbitrarily by one person.

The institution of the Executive President belongs to the arbitrary end of the spedtrum. The claims for quickness and efficiency under such a system simply does not hold. The very ten year rule of the Rajapaksas is good enough illustration to demonstrate how allocative decisions were poor; how projects meant to show up the ego of the ruler were preferred to more urgently needed ones. This produced appalling White Elephants and reduced the country’s economy into an unsustainable position with a mounting foreign debt (US $ 57.4 billion) unable to be serviced given the revenue that the economy can yield. If not for receiving the first branch of  the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) it would not have been possible for the present  government to go on. That, plainly, had been the final economic and fiscal legacy of the Executive Presidency under Malinda Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka never had a single year of trade surplus. Economic growth was, basically, debt -based.

DJ’s analyses conspicuously lack economic data. Economics and fiscal policy seems to be a blind spot for DJ. He dwells on Greek intellectuals and on theoreticians like Gramsci to put his readers on a swirl. On the other hand, any political analysis that does not reckon economic consequences is plainly void. Political science is part of political economy and the methodology of economics must be applied to political behaviour and political institutions. Politics is about power but power operates in a society and a society has to be economically operative. Good political power-play is that which enhances the society and the economy.

Need I remind DJ and readers that even the thirty year war was a product of the era of Executive President? Before that, the space for consensus decision making was available. Sri Lanka, until,1977 when the Executive Presidency was installed, had made considerable social and economic progress under normal Westminster type Parliamentary rule. While our freedoms had been intact, we managed to build hundreds of irrigation tanks, colonisation schemes, Madya Maha Vidyalayas, hydro electric schemes, agricultural and farming projects and so on. Deadly malaria was eradicated and so had been tuberculosis. On the other hand, under the previous regime we have not had even a modicum of progress at all in vital areas like education and health.

Furthermore, governments under open systems are less prone to be corrupt, intolerant, and abusive because checks and balances are inherent in open systems.

The disastrous climax of the rule of the Executive Presidency has resulted not only in a colossal economic black hole. Key Ministers of the previous regime are having to face court under serious charges of murder, theft, fraud, and embezzlement of public funds. The family of the President are being hauled up in court.The Joint Opposition has been transformed into a political mechanism to try and frustrate the judicial processes now on. Dayan Jayatilleka is its un-appointed theoretician but his theories are cracking and falling like flakes; he is hopelessly out of touch with reality to be able to offer any more remedies.

Writing to the Island, DJ further states,”it seems imperative to retain the Executive Presidency to put in place the kind of strong leader who has the foresight and ability to save us from yet another such catastrophe by timely and determined action. It would be fortunate if the country had the choice of a person who has proven successful in matters of conceptualizing and managing urban development and renewal, to work the same developmental miracle on a national scale, leaving no garbage dump, literal or metaphorical, uncleared. We need a man who strategized, organized, cut through red tape and managed to clear all ‘uncleared’ areas. This is an obvious reference too Gotabaya Rajapaksa. DJ is sure Gota, if in power, will create the “miracle that he created in Colombo,” on a national scale.

One must, surely, give Gota the credit for some necessary landscape changes in a few parts of Colombo. On the other hand, these achievements were on a small scale and they were superficial cosmetic touches. What on earth is conceptual or strategic about this?  If he had strategic vision, Gota should have given priority to fundamental urgent needs like a modern garbage disposal project or a modern sewerage project ( the sewerage system in Colombo is also at bursting point).

As respected Sunday Times economist, Nimal Sanderatne, constantly states, What we need on the national scale are transformations in the very structure of the economy from an import dependent economy to an export-growth led one. Such an economy can only be built on domestic and foreign investment. Government has to put in place a policy environment that encourages such investment. Such a change is leagues apart from the kind of micro cosmetic changes effected by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This fundamental structural change alone will deliver better standards of living to the rural and urban masses of the country. Gota hasn’t given any evidence of an economic vision of this sort.

Besides the above considerations, there is the moot point that Gota must have his name cleared of current charges of fraud, embezzlement and murder. As long as such serious charges are on the table no one with any head will support the candidature of Gota.

DJ’s attack on yahapalanaya is senseless. Yahapalanaya is not something necessarily tagged to the current governing political parties. Yahapalanaya is a movement that transcends political parties (UNP or otherwise). It is a movement for good governance and for the modernisation of our society. Sri Lanka needs it now or never if it is to progress. If the current government fails to achieve it at some reasonable level, the movement will push ahead until its realisation by others who can achieve it. There is no going back to the dark ages, that the writer desires.

*The writer can be contacted at sjturaus@optusnet.com.au

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Latest comments

  • 6
    1

    S.J., leave aside Dayan isn’t President Sirisena himself and his cabal giving out mixed messages on the subject? Referendum or no referendum is entwined around this presidency or no presidency debate to my small mind.

    Soma

    • 1
      2

      soma,

      Indeed you have a small mind! A viable solution to the Tamils must be fashioned before eschewing the presidential system. This is why Sirisena sounds as if giving mixed messages. Once the governance revert to Westminster style system, the Sinhala will play politics with the Tamil question if not already!

      As for DJ, he knows with the presidential system and 13th amendment, Sri Lanka can keep the IC quiet along with India but at the same time keep a tight control of N&E through appointed governors who report to the president!

      • 1
        1

        B.I.

        There is NO viable solution to Tamil question because people like you never bother to present any sketch of a possible ‘solution’ for discussion WHICH COVERS AT LEAST 90% OF THE TAMIL SPEAKING PEOPLE SCATTERED ACROSS THE ISLAND.

      • 3
        2

        Mr Shyamon Jayasinghe,

        It’s a good write up but you miss one crucial point.

        The good eminently educated doctor’s “theorising” has never been about what’s good for the country or it’s people, but what’s good for the doctor.

        To keep it very simple,

        Dayan lusts for a job/position to strut around the capitals of the world.

        In Dayan’s mind, the only person who will/can give him a job is Gota.

        Gota can never be the prime minister because he is not the leader of a political party and has a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming a leader of a party that has a realistic chance of wining.

        Gota has a fair/realistic chance of winning a presidential election.

        So, the presidential-system should remain.

        Mr Jayasinghe, to understand the devil you have to think like the devil.

        • 1
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          You devil!

    • 6
      3

      I really dont want to discuss about the topic – DJ is a birth failure.

      He sees things unique to him. Some of them are similar to that of all uncultured, uneducated rascals, but most of them call it – lanken style patriotism.

      His mistake, he cant make her mind up, even if former politcians branded him as a person with all high potential of jelousy, malacy and deviousness. All evils are packed in the DJ packet.
      Can anybody bring me any good thing this bugger has done to the country since 2009… nothing.

      He is one another who abused state funds under MR administration.

      These men are the wild weeds in the country, we need Monsanto to produce even more chemicals than Glyphosats to control the kind of men in lanken society.

    • 4
      2

      Shyamon Jayasinghe

      RE: Why Dayan Can’t See That The Presidential Executive Is Dead & Awaiting Burial

      “To be fair, Dayan is eminently educated. His problem is that he has a horrible bee in his bonnet: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. In order to discredit Ranil, Dayan seizes anything he can get his hands on. Besides, he sees in every little crisis in Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe’s impending downfall.”

      Dr. Dyan J has been mesmerized by the MaRa Kattadiya from Medamulana. The MaRa Kattadiya also promised a lot of goodies and gifts, the MaRa Kattadiya has stacked away. He knows it is plenty.

      Can you find a different Kattadiya, to neutralize the MaRa Kattadiya, to clear Dr. Dayan J’s clouded mind, and pull the bee sting?

    • 1
      1

      Aiyo, Aiyo !!!!!
      Why this ha ho.??????????.
      It is the nature that control our environment!!!!!.
      AND DAYAN WAS TRYING HIS OWN SURVIVAL STRATEGY WITH JARAPASSA FAMILY.

      THE BALUMEKKA [ TICK] NEED A DOG OR FOX TO SURVIVE.

  • 3
    0

    DJ and certain other persons of his ilk have a great penchant for juxtaposing two totally unconnected and disparate things, discover some supposed interplay between them and then try to draw a moral or lesson from that. Having done that they attempt to use that hybrid construction as a compelling argument in support of the things that they are proposing.

    • 1
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      What lies at the base of such a behaviour? Is it insecurity? Is it racism? Is it simply vengeance and bloodymindedness?

    • 5
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      Estate Labourer

      “DJ and certain other persons of his ilk have a great penchant for juxtaposing two totally unconnected and disparate things, discover some supposed interplay between them and then try to draw a moral or lesson from that.”

      He tends to sprinkle a variety of western political catch phrases when they become popular as if he coined them.

      Some years ago (2011) Obama announced his East Asia strategic initiatives and coined it as Pivot to the Pacific? The Obama Administration’s “Rebalancing” Toward Asia .

      Dayan followed suit with his own domestic usage of pivot and rebalancing for example:

      Only Viable Solution to Mounting Crisis is a general Election that will Re-balance the current Political Equation.
      30 March 2015

      President Sirisena’s attempt at rebalance
      Oct 25, 2016

      You would have seen several of his typings containing either pivot or re-balance since the political catch phrases were first used by Obama.

      We must encourage him to use other mostly meaningless inappropriate irrelevant slogans in the Sri Lankan context and look what I found earlier:

      Nike: “Just Do It”

      Apple: “Think Different”

      Dollar Shave Club: “Shave Time. Shave Money.”

      L’Oréal: “Because You’re Worth It”

      MasterCard: “There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard.”

      BMW: “The Ultimate Driving Machine”

      Tesco: “Every Little Helps”

      Audi: “Vorsprung durch technik” (“Advancement Through Technology”)

      McDonald’s: “I’m Lovin’ It”

      “All power to the Soviets” or in our case all powers to the clan.

      “Better dead than Red”

      “Each for all and all for each.” – most suitable for clan and cronies.

      “Everything Within the State, Nothing Outside the State” – Everything Within the family, Nothing Outside the family.

      Führer befiehl, wir folgen dir! (Führer command, we’ll follow you!)
      – Gota commands, we’ll follow you! because we are smart ass patriots.

      “Make love not war” – wrong – Make war not love – Dyan

  • 6
    3

    Shyamon

    “DJ’s analyses conspicuously lack economic data. Economics and fiscal policy seems to be a blind spot for DJ.”
    “any political analysis that does not reckon economic consequences is plainly void.Political science is part of political economy and the methodology of economics must be applied to political behaviour and political institutions.”

    Well said you have put DJ in correct Place.

    DJ is self appointed political theorist who believe that he is the only political pandit who is qualified to advice any government and wants to materialize (never) “Gota Project” for him to become the Foreign Minister

  • 6
    2

    No point in discussing or analysing DJ’s ideas. We have to sympathise with him as he is under “Rajapasha Spell” (Washiya). He cannot see beyond that.

  • 5
    0

    I think the writer, being a seasoned civil servant of the yester-year knows that even in Australia the Head of the Executive is the Queen of Austalia represented by the Governor General. The difference is that he or she does not decide things alone unless of course it is a matter of life and death and has to be decided very quickly. The practical head is the PM in all commonwealth countries. In Sri Lanka, under present “circumstances” a bulk of the decisions are taken by the PM and some of which are watered down by the President. The minority of the decision making which is exclusively the domain of the President, is done by Prez MY3 and those too are not entirely without controversy. There are instances where proposals of the President requiring Cabinet Approval being politely turned down.

    I do not wish to enter into the controversy between the two writers of CT but to stress the point that what requires for Sri Lanka is Good Governance and Good Delivery. Talking of a past regime is of no relevance because it was given a burial on Jan8, 2015 and we live in the present.

    Management by crisis is the worst possible thing that should happen. I appeal to all with a heart, not to exploit the tragedy of Meethotamulla for gain because it is a man made national tragedy and a national shame. If we have any sense all of us must contribute as to how to prevent a catastrophe of this kind in the future.

  • 3
    22

    This chap should have this argument about the executive Presidency and economic development with the ghost of JR Jayewardene!

    As for President Sirisena’s mandate of Jan 8th 2015, we shall see what the Sirisena-led SLFP has to say about the retention or abolition of the executive presidency when it gives its written observations on the draft constitution to the steering committee in May…:))

    My support for the Executive presidency and opposition to its abolition or further truncation has to do only secondarily with Ranil Wickremesinghe. I never criticized the executive Presidency from its inception, even when I was indicted under President Jayewardene’s administration. During the impeachment motion against president Premadasa, one of the targets of which was the powerful executive Presidency itself, I supported both the incumbent president as well as the Presidency as an institution.

    Anyway as the CPA’s opinion polling as well as a recent rueful and cautionary article by Sanjana Hattotuwe of the CPA prove, the bulk of the citizenry will vote against the new Constitution if the referendum is held now, and they are opposed to the abolition of the EP.

    So, good luck…

    • 8
      0

      DJ,

      “In the quote, DJ smuggles in a bit of racism by aligning Ranil with the TNA! That is Dayan Jayatilleka – our political analyst.”

      This is a direct attack on you for racist writing; what do you have to say about it?

      • 8
        0

        Burning Issue

        “This is a direct attack on you for racist writing; what do you have to say about it?

        The war monger was and is a public racists. Only now many identify him as such.

        The war monger has no fresh idea, no new argument, no compassion, …. and found solace in racism which never fails to give them succour.

        Hope Tamara Kunanayagam would help him in his most difficult of time.

    • 6
      0

      Dayan
      the war monger and shameless war crime denier,

      You typed above on April 21, 2017 at 11:49 am:

      “Anyway as the CPA’s opinion polling as well as a recent rueful and cautionary article by Sanjana Hattotuwe of the CPA prove, the bulk of the citizenry will vote against the new Constitution if the referendum is held now, and they are opposed to the abolition of the EP. So, good luck…”

      You also typed on January 9, 2015

      The Fall Of Mahinda And ‘The End Of History’ – Colombo Telegraph

      “The people have voted for change and the unipolar situation has ended. I hope the new leadership will reconsider the fast-track systemic change and instead consult the people at a referendum before undertaking any adventurist experiments with the constitution.”

      Could anyone tell us as to what exactly the war monger and shameless war crime denier wants the people to do?

    • 1
      0

      DJ, pleae tell do you think you can convince the people with your kind of devious and malicious contents.

      If for example MY3 would hire you tomorrow, you would go and bellow your prion filled head without any objections. Who do you think you re to fool the nation this way ?
      Now as an early sexagenarian, you should sense it man.. if not today when ?

  • 1
    2

    Don’t agree with that what DJ says is true it is s fact that Ranil is aligned with the TNA there are no two words about it. If we are trying to deny that we are it bring realistic . If the country is yo propsper we have to chase this spineless idiotic Pm

  • 10
    2

    Come on DJ admit you have been overwhelmed by Shyamon Jayasinghe. This is not the first time this has happened. You have found more than your match. Respect him as he respects you. Don’t call hum,”this chap.” He has a sharp razor mind that can cut through the fog your try to create. Beware before you put pen on paper hereafter

    • 0
      0

      This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/

    • 0
      0

      Mr Bandula

      Mr Shyamon says – on 08Jan 2015, 6.2 million voted against EP – how can he be so sure about this theory of him ??

      He also argue “Furthermore, governments under open systems are less prone to be corrupt, intolerant, and abusive because checks and balances are inherent in open systems”

      It is sufficient enough look back and analyses what had happened during the last two years of open system to see how the open system is less corrupt and intolerant and abusive – we have simply replace a bunch of blue color thiefs with white color theifs – but there is a difference also – Blue color theifs robbed may be 50% and used the balance 50% to carry out some visible developments in the country – but current white color theifs robbing 90% and using the balance 10% on white washing theifs

      Mr Shymon also argues that the open system allows the majority participation of Gov. decision making – Aha !! is this really true in the present sambola Gov. We recently show how PM is trying to neutralize an opinion of one of his cabinet member by addressing him with words like Oi and Aiyse – that we will handle protestors – and we recently saw hoe present PM is handling protestors

      And also we have seen how he handles JVP insurrection under open system during nineteen eighties

      Mr Shymon – problem is not with any system but with the people who are running the system – therefore it is the prime duty of the educated people in this country to educate voters how to select the proper people to run the system what ever it is

      I personnely think this is not the time to change EP system – but strength it further and select a better person to run the system – and select a parliament of intellectuals to support him and guide him and protect him from external interferences — the basic reason for this requirement is – if we want to develop this country then we need to change the way people think of their responsibilities towards that goal – for that we need a tough leader who can make decision and manipulate people and burecracy to implement it – I do not see many of such leaders – undoubtedly Gota is one of them

  • 3
    1

    A short response to Shyamon Jayasinghe’s article.

    ‘Garbage in Garbage out’

  • 6
    0

    Sam what is wrong with Ranil W in alliance with the TNA? Did you complain when MR slept with Karuna?

  • 3
    1

    dj studied political theory not political economy that is why he cannot see the economic consequences of his silly strategy
    since he cannot play the role of che guevarra in sri lanka he substitutes gramsci for granma
    but since tarzie and mervyn are no more at least we have dayan to provide comic relief after reading serious and boring articles in the press
    so carry on dayan

  • 7
    0

    Mr jayasinghe DJ is a ambitious man hoping to get somewhere on his theories.
    What he says about the presidential system is just theory and not that relevant.

    But politicians like Chandrika,RW, mahinda and sirisena had the opportunity to do away with this presidential nonsense started by RJ.Mahinda even had a presidential guard ( like at Buckingham palace) in front of Temple trees.

    What did they do ? Do you think RW, JRs nephew, was keen to do away with the presidency as long as he had a chance of becoming one ?

    Now that he has realized how disliked he is and that he has no chance at ever becoming president RW may try to change it but may be to become an executive prime Minister !

  • 2
    1

    This is a successful scathing attack on DJ analysis

  • 5
    0

    Dayan Jayatilleka will have to give up his analysis with this kind of exposing. Those who took him seriously are wondering what is going on with this man. DJ is being pitied more than despised. He is rapidly losing himself.

  • 5
    0

    I read Dayan Jayatilleka’s distortions for comic relief and marvel at the man’s ability to co-opt philosophers and political theorists to back up his skewed and disjointed arguments. He must Google a lot to support his reference books. Have a laugh like me and leave the man alone to rest on his withering laurels. He is entitled to respite at the end of a lackluster career.

  • 0
    0

    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/

  • 2
    0

    Oh Shyamon, Shyamon, how could you?

    Apropos………Why Dayan Can’t See

    He never could, never did, never will.

    He has a massive whole hive of bees in his tight bonnet and he writes, one track, to get rid of the pestilential buzzing.

    These days its all about c o n s p i r a c y ie who is going to shaft who.

    Soon the men in white coats from Angoda will come……

  • 2
    1

    Shyamon Jayasinghe:

    DJ smuggles in a bit of racism by aligning Ranil with the TNA! That is Dayan Jayatilleka – our political analyst.

    Above statement is funny. IT looks you did not like DJ saying TNA and Ranil are friends. YOu know how voters think about Ranil.

    Meethotamulla tragedy is because of the involvement of too many politicians, too many agencies and they all neglected it because too much 10% or 20% led that nobody doing it. One article accused Gota, Champika Ranawaka, Isruru Devapriya and Colombo municipality and another agency. All had shared the money. People say govts were beating then since 20111 when they complained about the possible degredation of the garbage pile.

    If you notice, Ranil began with Central Bank robbery, since then his only achievement is visiting every country in the Atlas. Why a prime minister a small country is so busy inside a plane. No one is writing why Pm, FM and other ministers travelling this much.

    I don’t think Sirisena is doing anything good. We need executive president. Otherwise, people like you destroy Sinhale.

    Sri lankan parliamentary system need to be changed. IT is really topheavy system and so many politicians are destroying the country. IT looks sri lanka is ungovernable now because of too many politicians, overlapping systems and control, corrupt Trade unions, ministers asking for 10% or 20%. so, the employees are not working.

    • 2
      1

      Jim
      Have you taken your medication today?

  • 1
    0

    Dayan Jayatilleka and his theorizing has been demolished by the writer. DJ must look for another way to spend his time

  • 1
    0

    Never observed DJ criticising Basil or other members of the R family over the serious charges against them. Never one word. How about Yoshitha’s grandmother story? Fun to write about? Basil not claiming his Malwana land and palace? Fun to write about? In the case of Ranil, DJ blames him about the garbage dump. This man Dayan Jayatilleka will enter into the garbage of journalist history.Shame!

  • 1
    0

    If DJ cannot pass stools he will blame Ranil Wickremasinghe

  • 0
    3

    Let me put it as simply as I can. I support the retention of the executive Presidency and oppose either its abolition or further truncation for three reasons:

    1. Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council– meaning the world’s most successful and important countries– four have an executive Presidential system, with only the UK as exception. In the continent of the Americas, only Canada has a Westminster model while the USA and al of Latin America have presidential systems. In East Asia, the China, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines have presidencies. Mandela’s new constitution for South Africa was Presidential. In short, it is the more advanced system. Why should we be dumb enough to dump it?

    2. I agree with President Jayewardene’s argument that Sri Lanka’s needs stability for development and that the Presidential rather than Parliamentary system provides that stability. This is also why De Gaulle introduced the system to France in 1958.

    3. I think that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is the leader that Sri Lanka now needs and that he is ideally suited to wield the executive presidency for stability, rapid modernization and restoration of sovereignty. Abolishing or weakening it would deprive this country of the best we can get out of GR. It would be treachery.

    3.

    • 3
      0

      DJ@

      can you argue if you are not naked that GR is the only candidate that srilanke now need and that he is ideally suited to wield the EP for country s stability ?

      So you mean presidential candidates dont need previous political exp ? Why then you opposed SF being elected as a the president of SL in 2010 ?

      Anyone with a little brain would know – a candidate even if served for lanken forces in the battlefield, but the person spent over 15 years in excile, cant know all the ground handling within the forces – but you guys, completely believe that long served SF is not the candidate for leading the country, but Gotabaya ? WHat an argument ?

      [Edited out]

    • 2
      1

      Dayan the war monger/public racist

      “Mandela’s new constitution for South Africa was Presidential. In short, it is the more advanced system. Why should we be dumb enough to dump it?”

      South Africa was guided by the big man Mandela who once said:

      “Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.”

    • 0
      0

      DJ reveals his ground realities. Now from what he feels, only wayout him to get posted to somewhere will be through bringing Gota. But people or entire world will never back Rajakshes, since their high days, failed to even safeguard the basic human rights for the people. Whitevanning could only be an issue, if DJ or his family would have faced it, this selfish creature would never see things the way they really are. We are really ashemd to call DJ to be a srilanken with some sense about its folks. He always backs any parties where he could loot most. Premadasa was one and he thought Sajith was the next, but now as it moves forward, none of the like will have take the ground but according to him Gota… there, he would even lick Gotas backside, dreaming to be the foreignminister under Gota..
      Entire lanken society would go into streets to protests against Gota if he would be the candidate. that is the reality.

  • 3
    0

    DJ. all your political analysis after this will become political garbage and nobody to read except Soma and Jimsofty.

  • 2
    0

    Dr D J,
    It’s not the system, its a genetic defect producing gullible people the problem.
    Climate change or Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest might be the eventual answer.
    There is no academic solution. But keep trying!!!!

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    DJ is haunted by Ranil…Dj must be dreaming of Ranil everyday.

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    I can demolish DJ’s second attempt, too. This is his above comment in this column dated 22/4. Something DJ doesn’t realize this stage he has arrived is that much of what he states has no logical or empirical footing. He has reached a dangerous state of self-delusion He simply moves on hoping his readers don’t spot his spin. Well, at least, I am the physician who can detect the spin. Here you are:
    1. DJ quotes countries like US having an Exec Pres system. This is flawed reasoning, once again, based on false analogy or comparison. Take the US system as an illustration. The US is so vastly different from Sri Lanka. Do I have to say why? Further, its governing system was a product of the historical circumstances of the time it was created.
    2. DJ makes the point that The Ex Pres system is inherently more stable. I have given clear reasons to show this is a myth. I ask him to try and read my piece once again. I want to add to what I have stated there, that our neighbor, India, has done pretty well with the Prime Minister system despite all the complications that nation has faced.
    3. I have clearly shown how during our short history of Ex-Pres system we brought about the 30 year war, we ruined our economy and ended up by ruining our freedoms.
    4. Re Gota, today’s news states how Gota had immediately sent the prime suspect of the Lasantha murder as Ambassador-after the murder.

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      Mr Shymon

      You are saying India is having an open system and has done pretty well – that is because Indian system is headed by a proven Leader (Modi) with a vision and courage and knowledge – unfortunately our current open system is headed by an idiot with a Kekille kind of vision and drunken kind of courage and “Vallan Kadeta Panne Gona” like operational ability — so currently we are Fu..d

      Okay let us believe your argument about LTTE problem was created by EP system (I personally strongly believe it was created by vacillating open system)- However it was also solve thanks to EP system – no argument about it

      your 4th argument shows that you are no different from kopi kade gossip mongers

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    Spring koha said the men with white coats will soon come to take him away. Looks like it

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    Brilliant analysis. Point to point the arguments are sound. Please continue to write as you write so logically

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