Spitting venom then: Sitting pretty now

26 March 2015 08:24 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Maithri-Yahapalanaya syndrome is catchy

Politics in the Sri Lankan context has always been a drama worth watching. The various defections, mud-slinging and defamatory remarks politicians throw at one another are entertaining. The recent presidential elections provided a platform for many of these activities to take place in public. Many were overly-confident of a victory for former President Rajapaksa for a third term but things happened otherwise much to the dismay even of ‘presidential’ astrologers. It was no surprise therefore, to see many politicians seeking refuge in the island of ‘Yahapalanaya’. In order to revive memories, the Daily Mirror garnered some thought provoking comments certain new Cabinet Ministers of today made against the common candidate Mathripala Sirisena during the run-up to the Presidency. Following are some excerpts :

Ranil Wickremesinghe is working at no cost:
Dilan Perera

In one of his speeches made in Parliament, former minister of foreign employment Dilan Perera said, “Ranil Wickremasinghe is a ‘pin ibba’(a tortoise working for merit). His logo is the Elephant but thanks to the Swan he is now the prime minister. So how can he be a rabbit? The rabbit is President Sirisena.”

Currently he is the State Minister of Housing and Samurdhi.

Maithripala betrayed the party to our disappointment :
Pavithra Wanniarachchi

At a press conference held in Colombo on November 23, 2014, former minister of power and energy, Pavithra Wanniarachchi said, “No-one else will leave the party nor betray it the way ex-general secretary Maithripala Sirisena did. I am totally disappointed with the fact that Maithripala Sirisena had betrayed the party and was involved in an international conspiracy against the government. Maithripala Sirisena not only betrayed the party but has also become a key person who is struggling to bring Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe into power. Despite Maithripala Sirisena’s and other members’ defections, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has no competition [ in the presidential run] and he will be re-elected with a huge margin to continue his third term.”
The unexpected bet In another instance she had made a bet on her house in Pelmadulla that former President Rajapaksa would win the election.

She is now the State Minister of Environment.

Maithripala is campaigning with a child’s mentality :
Ranjith Siyambalapitiya

Former minister of telecommunication & information technology, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said, “I saw Maithripala’s manifesto. In the good old days he used to say that he would stop the operation of casinos in Sri Lanka. Who ruled the country in April, 2003? It was Ranil Wickremasinghe who is now struggling to be the executive prime minister. Their prime goal is to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa and get something done afterwards. This is similar to a child’s mentality.
So we need to defeat them.”

He is now the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.

Maithripala is nowhere near President Rajapaksa :
S.B Dissanayake

At a meeting held in support to then President Rajapaksa, former minister of higher education S. B. Dissanayake said, “Everybody in Polonnaruwa was pressurised by the powerful Sirisena family. After competing with me for the post of general secretary [of the SLFP] he lost. He is not worth a single strand of President Rajapaksa’s hair.”
During another Sri Lanka Freedom Party press conference he said, “Our president says he has put an end to poverty, reduced maternity deaths, reduced infant mortality rates, built highways, developed the country, built irrigation channels provided electricity to rural areas and therefore to give him another chance as the president of the country. What does Maithripala Sirisena say? “I couldn’t include pictorial warnings in cigarette packs ; I couldn’t introduce the National Drug Regulatory Authority Act; I couldn’t stop the illegal import of lethal drugs which cause kidney diseases in Polonnaruwa because of some people who have illegally obtained money from the Ministry of Health. Therefore, please vote for me.

Currently however, he [ S.B. Dissanayake] is the Minister of Rural Economic Affairs.

Maithripala is attempting to race two horses at once :
Dr. Sarath Amunugama

Former deputy minister of finance and planning, Dr.Sarath Amunugama criticised MaithripalaSirisena’s decision to defect from the government and take up the position of the opposition’s common candidate. At an event held in Galagedara, Kandy in November 2014, he said, “If he has issues, we need to discuss them. He never said a word about his issues. Without saying anything, he had moved towards the United National Party. Do you wish to vote and make Ranil Wickremasinghe the prime minister. What did Maithripala Sirisena say in his speech yesterday? He said that if he wins, he would step down in 100 days and make Ranil Wickremasinghe the prime minister. Did we give him the post of the general secretary of the party [SLFP] for this? Maithripala is attempting to race two horses at once. One is the horse of the UNP and the other is the horse of the SLFP. This is never possible.

Currently he is the Minister of Higher Education and Research.

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Comments - 9

Sameen Jan Friday, 27 March 2015 08:34 AM

Who asked them in?

hamid Friday, 27 March 2015 03:13 PM

so all are the same, final result robbing the public votes and then robbing the country

country lad Friday, 27 March 2015 06:36 PM

Friends The main issue is not the girls and boys accepting "santhosam" . Most politicians except a few ,rare breed nowadays ,come to politics to first look after themselves. Do not you thinks they must first to survive ,even to serve us the public. Are you all blind to see or not intelligent enough to understand the manipulations of the "compassionate pala" who is responsible and therefore should be blamed more for the conduct of all these boys and girl for offering "santhosan" and they are of course also to be blamed for accepting "Santhosan.

david strange Saturday, 28 March 2015 05:09 AM

Politics in the asian region take the cake - most of them are like chameleons changing their colour to suit the environment - but of course sri lankan politicians are the best of the lot... Principles go through the window when power becomes a base for what they do...

Lkcricket Saturday, 28 March 2015 06:03 AM

It is the voters responsibility cast their supreme vote to a candidate who is sincere and genuinely want to do a good services to the country and nation. The way things are happening these useless politicians will think that voters are set of fools.Please do not cast your supreme vote those people who rob the country and poor people.

Sena Saturday, 28 March 2015 07:02 AM

Kamanthi,Great bit of decent journalism to expose these two faced frauds that are so called leaders of this country. How can these stinking bastards show their faces before the voters of this country who insulted and despised the Sirisena regime face the people. Look at frauds like Pavithra that was seen crawling under a chair to worship Mahinda. And the rest of those exposed deserve to be stoned by the public not given Ministerial positions. We are disgusted by this supine new government who still tolerate these bastards. Same old stinking frauds playing dirty politics to fatten their ill gotten Bank balances,

Rohan Saturday, 28 March 2015 08:27 PM

Right now Sri Lanka needs Statesmen , who will really serve the people and the country,Not politicians who will serve only themselves!

Samantha Sunday, 29 March 2015 10:00 AM

Thanks for publishing the truth KAMATHI,We are the fools and the clowns not the politicians. Let them be UNP,JVP,UPFA or any other party. All these have taken us for rolar coaster ride. One example is yahapalanaya theory or promise of 20 odd ministers. I feel that the way Maithriee and Ranil is batting we will surpass all World Cup records.

SarathW Wednesday, 01 April 2015 05:26 AM

Well MY3 promised yahapalanaya. But all we can see is allegations and corruption. The bad things MR did in nearly ten years, these idiots have done in 75 days.

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Spitting venom then: Sitting pretty now

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