{"id":168173,"date":"2016-09-26T23:53:07","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T18:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=168173"},"modified":"2016-09-30T13:37:47","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T08:07:47","slug":"president-sirisena-dishes-out-joy-ride-to-yahapalana-backing-civil-society-activist-dharmasiri-bandaranayake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/president-sirisena-dishes-out-joy-ride-to-yahapalana-backing-civil-society-activist-dharmasiri-bandaranayake\/","title":{"rendered":"President Sirisena Dishes Out Joy-Ride To Yahapalana-Backing Civil Society Activist Dharmasiri Bandaranayake"},"content":{"rendered":"

Colombo Telegraph learns that film-maker cum good governance activist Dharmasiri Bandaranayake<\/span><\/a> has been included in the Sri Lankan delegation attending the annual sessions of the United National General Assembly (UNGA) in New York without any specified role to play in the proceedings.<\/p>\n

\"dharmasiri-bandaranayake\"<\/a>Bandaranayake, a vocal supporter of Maithripala Sirisena’s presidential campaign is not a state employee, a presidential advisor or a journalist.<\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph reliably learns that Bandaranayake’s expenses during this trip will be met with public funds. This is a practice the previous regime was famous for and one which came in for harsh criticism from civil society activists such as Bandaranayake.<\/p>\n

The President’s Media Detector\u00a0Dharmasri Bandara Ekanayake has told Colombo Telegraph that full details of the delegation including names and relevant costs will be revealed as soon as the information is accessed, probably on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

A civil society activist who prefers to remain anonymous said that Bandaranayake neither had the ability nor the credentials to warrant inclusion in the delegation.<\/p>\n

“President Sirisena probably wanted to give him a treat by way of showing gratitude for services rendered during his political campaign; he’s probably having a good time but you might be spoiling his chances of having a better time,” the activist chided Colombo Telegraph.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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