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Govt. unable to identify real challenges: Gota

24 January 2018 11:25 pm - 38     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the current government has failed to identify the real challenges facing the country and instead had made the defaming of Mahinda Rajapaksa as its only challenge and objective.

Addressing a meeting in Gampaha town organised by the Siyane Vidvath Sansadaya Scholars’ organization through Skype from US, he said the previous government had a visionary leadership to identify the real challenges which were highlighted in the Mahinda Chinthana Programme. He pointed out that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government had an able team to achieve its goals and that they took steady decisions.

“The basic problem facing the government is its failure to take right decisions for want of a visionary leadership. The government has been led astray by western ideologies and the lopsided policies of International organizations including the World Bank and the IMF. We must follow the footsteps of developed countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan and China never depended on the Western block. Japan, despite its close relations with the west, upheld its culture and protected its sovereignty.”

Mr. Rajapaksa said the public service had been crippled as a result of the actions of the Government.

“The public service is an integral part of administration. The country’s public service had declined for several years. We identified the able officials and empowered them to take independent decisions. We obtained their services for the benefit of the country. The public service should be uplifted under short term and long term projects as a part of the country’s development effort. A mechanism should be worked out to retain the services of Sri Lankan expatriates. Effective training programmes and formal recruitment procedures should be implemented,” he said adding that the halting of infrastructure projects in villages has resulted in an irreparable economic loss to the island.

“Well improved infrastructure facilities should be provided to develop the country. Several projects inaugurated by Mahinda Rajapaksa government have grounded to a halt. There is a Chinese adage, “A road should be constructed if a village is to be developed”. We have experienced how difficult areas could be developed by providing infrastructure facilities. Development is often centralized in the western province and that disparity resulted in insurrections. With this in view we developed infrastructure facilities in Hambantota and Monaragala districts. The Hambantota harbour and the airport brought about a rapid development in the district. The present government has abandoned these development projects for the last three years on false pretexts causing irreparable loss to the country’s economy.”

Mr. Rajapaksa however, admitted that the previous government possessed flaws, and the need of the hour was to change the political culture in the country.

“The previous government didn't do a perfect job. It should be admitted that there were flaws. We have identified them and we should rectify them. During the north-east war the people were subject to hardship. However, it was a great achievement that we could end it within three years. The need of the hour is a new political culture and all those concerned including politicians, administrators, public servants, business community and the Rana Viru personnel should put their heads together and achieve that object," he said.


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  Comments - 38

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  • Mevan Wednesday, 24 January 2018 11:43 PM

    Is the MIG deal the real challenge.

    GH Thursday, 25 January 2018 12:59 AM

    Sir, Whoever whatever said, you have done the job so great and served the nation honestly.

    Martin Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:50 AM

    If you hate following Western ideology why are you hiding in America

    Man Thursday, 25 January 2018 08:26 AM

    Was he in the war front? He ran away to the US, to save his life. Forces were in the battle field as they had planned.

    Sharon Thursday, 25 January 2018 10:56 AM

    Well said GH...

    naren Thursday, 25 January 2018 12:35 PM

    Yes, Mig-deal is a classical example for his honesty

    failedgov Thursday, 25 January 2018 02:24 AM

    "defaming of Mahinda Rajapaksa as its only challenge and objective", 100% true,That is the only thing this gov doing.

    neil alvis Thursday, 25 January 2018 02:41 AM

    will this man who is a dual ciitizen be allowed to contest the presidentiall election? he is throwing his brother too in the shade! omg what mahinda chinatana bull shit!!!!!! it was a concocted piece of crap by MaRayas 100 advisors! what a country we live in!.

    nick Thursday, 25 January 2018 04:47 AM

    yes your correct government too busy blaming mahinda for everything while looting the central bank in the day light... via DM Android App

    C.K.Lankaputhra Thursday, 25 January 2018 06:53 AM

    I Just cant understand how this person, with OL qualification address a group of scholars.

    J R Rajasinghe Thursday, 25 January 2018 12:43 PM

    Lankaputhra, why don,try to obtain your O/L qualifications before commenting on others qualifications.

    MSR Thursday, 25 January 2018 12:46 PM

    Can you then understand how MS running a country only with grade 8?!

    bushel Thursday, 25 January 2018 01:45 PM

    DS SENANAYAKE , MARTIN WICKRAMASINGHE, PREZ PREMADASA, SIRIMAVO HAD doctorates (PHD)

    SL Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:02 AM

    Those who were working with you know how efficient you are.No matter what,this man has a vision and they way how to achieve it.Many of our parliamentarian do not even imagine of

    Chamath Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:11 AM

    As if you did identify the real issues back then, what did you do, you were very clever in beautifying Colombo with no plan no sustainable solution you just dumped all garbage from Colombo to Meethotamulla..and people started to praise you, as one of the best brains to run the country, if so imagine the heaps of meetotamulla s u would have created.

    J R Rajasinghe Thursday, 25 January 2018 02:28 PM

    yes Gota was terrible.Now Colombo is lovely, with payment hawkers,garbage and dusty roads. We missed those when Gota was there. Releaf we are back to normal surrounded by garbage.

    Mithila Gunaratna Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:14 AM

    The fundamental principles of a good government is Law and Order/Independence of the Judiciary.Under prior regime alleged political assassinations in broad daylight in unmarked vehicles, convicted assassin as advisor to Defense Ministry and another joker as advisor to Foreign Ministry, CJ was removed on political grounds where we won the war but lost the peace. When will there be a non corruptible accountable GOSL with nationalistic agenda with sound economic reforms not unless the body politics has a floating vote. .

    Kadiya Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:25 AM

    Oh but they have. One of the biggest challenges is to put you and your clan behind bars and hopefully they will be able to do this soon!

    Dhammika Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:27 AM

    We saw how you settled challnges by sending WHITE VANS when MARA was in power ! .

    Kadmin Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:29 AM

    Voting to the pack of goons is a step back. Gota can win the election if he is backed with a good set of people not the current bunch.

    Andy Capp Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:34 AM

    The biggest challenges are to get refunds of monies looted during the ten year old period.

    vasaliya Thursday, 25 January 2018 07:49 AM

    It was quite a challenge buying the dubai marriot and steel corporation wasnt it???? Satellite images prove how the money was sourced and why Salawa weapons store blew up....hope you remember....also please remove that massive buddha statue in your house....it is a disrespect for buddhism. Buddha did not even dream treading your path.....

    Bayagotha Thursday, 25 January 2018 08:04 AM

    Sir, you talk as if you are the saviour of the nation.First try to get out of what you are accused of. Don't hide behind anticipatory bail.

    Ajay Thursday, 25 January 2018 08:50 AM

    Why worry about citizenship of he leader? Let our leader be American, Chinese whatever. Let that person have a genuine desire to help the people unlike the crooks we see today who are so called Sri Lankan citizens. Let new thinking flow into our society. Let this country be run like a business and improve the living standards.

    Dee Thursday, 25 January 2018 09:10 AM

    Now what? Waiting for your Bro to win so you can come back with a high office? There is no war here now right? YOU finished it right? Don't be scared , come back, nothing will happen to you.

    R K Thursday, 25 January 2018 09:11 AM

    The only way we can achieve meaningful development in terms of both economic and social aspects , is to ally with the western block

    Qatar Thursday, 25 January 2018 12:07 PM

    Well said....

    Countryman Thursday, 25 January 2018 12:57 PM

    Yes, your are correct... "government is unable to unable to identify real challenges" that's why many criminals are still free.

    blessing Thursday, 25 January 2018 01:02 PM

    It is a shame for all Sri-Lankans to heed the advice and opinions of corrupt politicians and officials, who plundered voters money and ran Government like their inherited properties.

    Arnold Thursday, 25 January 2018 01:43 PM

    The biggest problem with this government is that they did not punish the mega thieves YET!!

    Ceylon Thursday, 25 January 2018 02:01 PM

    Having very serious crimes casess howcome you are in usa enjoying luxury life ??.

    Maru Thursday, 25 January 2018 02:15 PM

    Well said!!! Yes they did not.. if they did u would have been history

    Ajith Thursday, 25 January 2018 02:15 PM

    New university entrants do not need army training ever.

    pumal Thursday, 25 January 2018 02:23 PM

    We saw how you got things done from People we don't want a period of that again and any more please go back to USA

    mario Thursday, 25 January 2018 02:40 PM

    Are u taking from L.A. or Japan ?

    alex Thursday, 25 January 2018 05:04 PM

    if so why are you hiding in USA hypocrite to the core

    Sam Weerahandi Friday, 26 January 2018 04:30 PM

    Gota, I hope you will run for presidency in 2020. Still we benefit from developments initiated by you.After 2015, there is - no new devlopments- streets are getting dirty- Tourism is flat- poor toilet maintenance at national parks despite outrageous entrance fee for tourists

    Drake Friday, 26 January 2018 05:09 PM

    How did this fellow amass such wealth having worked as a service station attendant in the US?


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