Sobitha Thera didn’t ask common candidate to break banks

30 May 2018 08:45 pm - 35 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Maithripala Sirisena said today the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, who came forward to set up a Government through a common candidate, never asked a common candidate to loot the Central Bank.

The President expressed these views at the 76th commemoration of the late Ven. Sobitha Thera held at Foundation Institute in Colombo.

President Sirisena, who paid a surprise visit to the event, said he had not received an official invitation to attend the event. The President had this to say-:

“I had not received an official invitation to attend the event. I came to know about it through a third party. My media director said the event was organized by Ravi Jayawardene. I contacted him and asked about my omission. He said there had been a mistake. Everyone had hoped I would be invited but no one took the initiative to do so.

Some say the government went wrong after I took up the chairmanship of the SLFP. I can explain to you what actually happened and who ruined the vision of the Ven. Sobitha Thera.

I brought today’s Daily Mirror newspaper along with me. It has posted a photo of me and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad saying that I have not done what he has done in five days. It says Malaysian Prime Minister has arrested nine ministers, 144 businessmen and 50 judges accused of corruption. I phoned Malaysia and our High Commissioner in Malaysia and they said these claims are all false. Social media also critisised me me in the last few days saying I have not done what Mahathir took five days to accomplish.

I am a person who came forward to make this country better and carry out the principles of good governance in its true sense. I could have earned huge sums of money when I was the Health Minister if I wanted to. I am truly hurt by the wrong interpretations that has been formed in the minds of the public about me. I am taken aback when I hear things such as the fact that cases against wrongdoers are not being taken up because of me. People never expected an investigation to be launched into allegations that former Minister T.B. Ekanayake gave a vehicle to someone, former Deputy Minister Priyankara Jayaratne giving a job to his daughter and former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie misusing a vehicle belonging to another ministry.

People in this country did not expect such behaviour from their public representatives. If family members of murdered rugby player Wasim Thajudeen and lawyers appeared in his case were taken to one place and asked, they would reveal what had happened.

We must see why I could not carry out most of what people expected me to do after electing me the President. I had not experienced insults, character assassination and disgrace in my 47-year-old political career than I experienced as the President. As former President Ranasinghe Premadasa had said, I am someone who is well-tempered with politics.

Some people say if anyone contested the Presidential Election as the common candidate could have won. If so they could have done so. I was used as the common candidate as I was a clean politician and came forward as a lion despite life threats.

After I was sworn in as the President on January 9, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister. However, the UNP had only 47 seats in Parliament then. How can a Government be formed with only 47 seats?

These people came up with a One-hundred-day Programme, which didn’t include a dissolving of Government. If that programme was not in place, the main task available was to dissolve Parliament. The one-hundred-day programme was one of the silliest things ever undertaken by this government.

Had I not accepted the chairmanship of the SLFP, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake of the group of 47 MPs would have failed to pass the budget in Parliament.

Who provided helicopters to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to go to Tangalle unharmed after the Presidential election results were announced? Was it me? No! It was so and so. (Ariyaratna Ranabahu)

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Comments - 35

BBM Wednesday, 30 May 2018 09:07 PM

Thera asked to remove presidency. That was the biggest promise of the campaign. This govt. still functioning as a result of the 19th amendment passed during 100 days program.

Dimuthu Perera Thursday, 31 May 2018 08:53 AM

Are you still working for Mahinda or are you working for the people whom voted for you? You are not capable to handle the role of a Leader, that is all.

Abey Saturday, 02 June 2018 11:03 AM

Dear Mr Prez, True, Ven Sobitha did not ask to break banks. So why dont you ask your secretary to release (as requested by the speaker) the names of the 118 persons to whom Alosyous has paid bribes to pave the way to break the bank?

Gamaya Wednesday, 30 May 2018 09:07 PM

Mr President, If you are sincere in what you say, you must resign. Let the people elect a new President. You also might be brave enough to contest.

Kottawa Ven. Amaratissa Thero Thursday, 31 May 2018 08:37 AM

He won't resign, if he resigns he cannot come to power again life time.

J.P.P. Palitha Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:35 AM

MS can serve as a Minister under a Strong President. Who is the strong President, none other than Mahinda.

Haramanis Wednesday, 30 May 2018 09:20 PM

As usual MS pointing the finger at someone else - he of course is blameless and ultra lily-white. Mr President you are no longer credible!!

Aladeniya Kirimathaya Thursday, 31 May 2018 08:56 AM

Honestly, now he is pointing his finger at Ranil, but its a mistake of him not keeping up the promises made to Ven. Sobitha Thero.

German Jacob Thursday, 31 May 2018 08:57 AM

You are correct, now he is trying to pass the ball to another man (Ranil), after all he who made him as President.

Premalal Thursday, 31 May 2018 12:22 PM

The more he tries , the more he sinks.

Saman Wednesday, 30 May 2018 09:30 PM

Ha ha he is with the newspaper today (Photograph). I wonder why he was silent for last few days.

Gayan Thursday, 31 May 2018 08:36 AM

Hold fresh elections. Let the people decide.

Lion Viswanathan Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:24 AM

He won't do the same mistake MR did, now he had become MR-2 to earn much as possible and then retire.

Ranjith Samarasinghe Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:33 AM

Good idea, if he has a back bone he will do it, other-wise ????

Ravi Thursday, 31 May 2018 08:58 AM

He wasn’t even invited but forcefully came.. what a ....,?

Dominic Perera Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:25 AM

Sir, we expected more from you than any previous Presidents, but sad to say you have not even done 2% what the others did.

Jude Samuel Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:26 AM

Mr. Prez. you don't have guts like Mahinda, agree?

BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:26 AM

Ok, lets say that the news report about you and Mahathir is not true. However do you agree practically that Mahathir screwed all the crooks of his country in one swoop within few days of coming to power while you are still scratching your balls and watching after many years of power!!! Honestly agree or not?

S.T.M. Jabeer (Attorney-at-Law) Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:28 AM

Do one thing, hold the Presidential Election and Test your talents and prove yourself that you could stand alone as a Hero, not "Zero"

RP. Laxman Samarakoon Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:30 AM

Now whom you are blaming? Hope its Ranil. Correct, divorce him and stand independently and become the winner.

R.T. Kanagaratnam (Ex-Principal) Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:32 AM

Right time for you to join hands with your good old friend Mahinda and form a Govt. then you could remain as Prez. and MR as PM.

D.M. Rambukwella Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:37 AM

Those days when you were a Minister also you were crying and now being the President also you are crying. Are you a crying baby?

K.M. Keerthisinghe [Lawyer] Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:38 AM

Either you must resign or join with Mahinda - no other option for you Sir.

H.D.Gunaratne Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:39 AM

Under the Constitution of the country an outgoing President has certain rights and privileges. As the president says Mahinda was given a helicopter to get back to Tangalle by someone without his knowledge. I do not see anything wrong in that.A man is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty.Why has the government so far failed to indict Mahinda for the alleged crimes he has committed.Is it because of lack of evidence to successfully indict a person? As for the provision of a helicopter, the incumbent President will also enjoy the facility to get back to Polonnaruwa once he retires if he feels scared to travel by road.

Waco Thursday, 31 May 2018 09:51 AM

Last few days we did not know where you were. Please appoint Field Marshall Sarath Fonseks as the Minister in Charge of Law and Order.

Gona Thursday, 31 May 2018 12:17 PM

Very weak president. There are so many things you can and could do so get on with it than blaming others. For sure you can never become president again.

DG Thursday, 31 May 2018 12:20 PM

You MS is respected and honored as the President. But why criticize 100 day program now after 3 years. Promises in the election manifesto are not kept and always flimsy excuses are made so this regime is a failure. At least have solid output in the next 2 years.

lal_senarath Thursday, 31 May 2018 12:28 PM

Persistent is first person liable to all actions under him.A joker is a person having the ultimate controlling power and blame others for actions under him. Banks always keep mum and silently rectify frauds. Sri Lanka central bank advertised daily by news, electronic and printed about frauds. In future what trust our rupee will have. It may be the start of the breakdown of the whole economy. Damage caused by the advertising is eminence than the frauds itself.

malij Thursday, 31 May 2018 12:29 PM

Ven. Sobitha Thera never expected the common candidate who became the President to be a mere spectator while all such things are happening in the country.

Gamaya Thursday, 31 May 2018 12:30 PM

Went uninvited. Contradicted all what he said to Parliament on May 8th. Behaved like a jackass! VoW! What a President - like no other!

ja Thursday, 31 May 2018 12:31 PM

Mr. President, It would be nice if you could stop talking in parables all the time. Take immediate action against the above mentioned wrongdoers and the criticism by the uneducated, unsophisticated and ignorant people like us would stop. Do not let people to remind you that you are the President of the Country

Asoka Jayaweera Thursday, 31 May 2018 02:24 PM

MS mentioned RK's name several times during his speech. probably due to their similarities on the (in) famous issue of "know nothing" RK- Owner of the gifted house - Knew NothingRK- Re- Payment of Rental of the House-Knew NothingMS- Provision of Helicopters -Knew NothingMs -100 day programme-Knew NothingReaders may add more.

Asoka Jayaweera Thursday, 31 May 2018 03:30 PM

Belated allegations

parakum Friday, 01 June 2018 09:06 PM

Mr President Sobhitha thera didn't ask the APOLITICAL candidate to take charge of your KODIVINA party either. This political party was created by a well educated man who made BUM decisions, like SINALA ONLY policy.

D.E.M. Ocracy Wednesday, 06 June 2018 03:48 PM

Neither did Venerable Sobitha Thero ask the President to shield and let Thieves and Murderers get scot free. Quite contrary to what was propogated during the run-up to the Presidential Election 2015 by President Sirisena. Most Disgusting

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Sobitha Thera didn’t ask common candidate to break banks

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