To resign or not to resign

Saturday, 30 January 2010 10:24

By Roel Raymond

EPDP leader Douglas Devananda says he was to resign from his parliamentary seat because the people of Jaffna had not voted for President Mahinda Rajapakse. However the Minister says he is now reconsidering the move.
The Eelam Peoples Democratic Party leader had earlier today made known to the people of Jaffna his decision to step down from his parliamentary position, as he felt the people had not been happy with his political stand.
Speaking to Daily Mirror online MP Devananda said that during the run up to the elections he had asked the people of the North to trust him and stand by his decision for the betterment of the people, by voting in the incumbent president.
He said that he had asked the people of the North to join with President Mahinda Rajapakse and ride with him in his presidential victory and had asked them not to be taken in by promises made by the opposition.
MP Devanada said however that the people of the North had been mislead by the Tamil media that had claimed the opposition common candidate would not only win the presidential elections but also bring about the changes they longed for.
The EPDP leader said that he had pointed out to them that it was only President Mahinda Rajapakse that could bring about any change but said that the people had not listened to him and voted for the wrong candidate.
He said that under the circumstances, if the people of the North were not happy with his political decisions he felt it would be better if he resigned.
He added that since the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had at first been pro- LTTE and then during the presidential elections switched their alliances to the opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka, the Tamil people would soon be without a leader.
He said that the people of the North were now beginning to realize the mistake made by them.
MP Devananda said once the news of his decision to step down from his parliamentary position was spread around Jaffna, many of his supporters had taken to the streets and staged ‘hartals’ asking that he reconsider his decision.
The EPDP leader said that he had no intention of disrupting normalcy in Jaffna and for this reason alone had told the protesters and his supporters that he would reconsider his decision.

Comments

-33+176 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:10

Another 'Boru' show to gain some mileage. Fooling the people of all races in one go.

-16+92 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:04

for the last 15 years people have seen your face. it's enough. now the time is to retire and give that chance for a young man. I think it's a "pachha Boruwak"

-10+67 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:25

Mr.Douglas! I hope you will read all these comments. this is what you have earned from till today.

-5+69 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:41

its proven again!!! the govt Ministers talk the talk but canot walk the walk...

-10+53 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:56

Ask how to get more votes from MR the Master Robber!!!!
Don't you have a computer!!!?????????

-10+108 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:12

Dont resign Mr. Devananda wait for another 1 month anyway you will be thrown out in General elections..

-8+56 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:29

Well said Srilankan.

-8+36 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:29

you are realy srilanka.

-7+45 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:14

we believe you !!! lol

-8+54 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:18

This clearly demonstrates and denotes that people of Jaffna had used their franchise to upheld their own will. They are politically matured enough after going through a hell period. Do not need any baby-sitters. Let the people`s WILL take the course on its own.

-6+52 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:20

Nice show. DD must have conducted those hartals himself to pretend like he had support in the North.

-7+60 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:22

Why are you crying? All Tamils know that you cheated them up to day. You should resign ASAP. Tamil people will bring a good leader to lead them not like you.

-6+68 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:24

Good drama.I can bet any money,he not going to resign?

-1+26 # Guest 2010-01-30 16:30

ill also join in the bet!!!

-9+60 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:26

Get LOST, you are not a Tamilean for SURE

-6+40 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:27

Will he ever get elected again if he resigns?

-5+52 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:28

Thanks Uditha for understanding these dirty politicians. May be the earnings from running luxury buses have comedown or frighten to stand for the upcoming elections. He is also one of the course for present day tamils unsolved problems

-2+16 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:31

Well said Ram. If he is not there wasn’t any problem in first place.

-58+18 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:31

Tamil people trust on Sinhala leaders than tamil leaders.

-1+11 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:33

Are you serious about what you saying? Common mate!!

-27+24 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:14

Tamil's now don't have good leaders...all of them were killed by stupid Prabakaran !.

-5+33 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:31

Pl Resign, show the people that you stand by your word and be respected for it.

-6+42 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:33

Mr Douglas, people voted for SF for reason, it is real.No one done wrong here.Who know the truth in Sri Lanka, where true is not true and lies dominate the scene.

You will find the answer in few years when situation changes.
No force can remain same.Truth will prevail.

-0+24 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:11

Wow I could not agree more Feroz. You took words frok my mouth....well said

-1+19 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:49

YOU ARE CORRECT , HOPE NOT MAJOR DAMAGE DONE TO THE COUNTRY BY THEN, IT IS OUR CHILDREN WHO IS GOING TO SUFFER

-3+35 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:37

Why bother resigning Duggy? You will be permanently sent home in the next general election, if they conduct a free and fair election! Better reserve a national list pinguththara seat now.

-0+19 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:51

HEY, NOW THERE IS A NEW SYSTEM TO DECLARE THE WINNER, THE SAME WAY THE NAVY TEAM BECAME RUGGER CHAMPIONS OUT OF NO WHERE

-2+31 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:37

do not try to fool majority also. still u could not keep you promisses to your masters no??

-3+35 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:39

No more chance to come to parliament.

-2+30 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:45

Do not try to hoodwink the people

-3+18 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:49

look into your heart and for once do what is right by the people of mother lanka. Look deep into your heart. you know the truth. can you live with that and face the people.

-3+45 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:50

Dear Deva, you are insulting the great Tamil leaders like GG Ponnambalam, SJV Chelvanayagam, Amirthalingam Vanniasingam etc. This shoe is very big for you. Never, ever Jaffna Tamils will genuinely support you. You want to Lead the Tamils, may be in your dreams. Accept your failure and do not reconsider from resigning.

-3+32 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:50

oh common....

ppl went on streets staging hartal's asking him not to resign..... wat a joke!!!!!

Mr.DD..... u better know that ppl are free now..... not like the days where the LTTE threatened them and they came to you for refuge..... they are free now and they dont have to be scared of anyone.... it clearly shows this point on the election day... even after you bombed to scare people, they still went to vote.....

come back to the world Mr.DD....

-2+38 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:52

Another political stunt of this opportunist. He might have learned this tactic from Tamil Nadu political leaders such as Ms. Jayalalitha and Mr. Karunanidi, but it will not work out in Jaffna. He is targeting the forthcoming general election. But this time also he can get only one (???) seat as usual with election malpractices. But this presidential election is a good lesson for main stream politicians and Sinhala majority who believed ( A wishful thinking) that Douglas and Karuna have large vote base among Tamil people. Can anyone please explain how Mr. Devananda is managing the expenses of his Aprox. 1000 (?) armed carders with permanent salary and other facilities? Its our (Sinhala/Tamil) money channeled through state intelligent services.

-0+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:43

Well said Romali, I think we need regime change from top to bottom.

-3+30 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:56

Better you risign, otherwise disgrace for you if MR sacks you.

-2+24 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:57

He should have stepped down long long ago.
Why don't you put some of your catchers to pretest from the top of your roof.

-2+20 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:59

Next jock episode stared from 1.uduwe dhammalok 2. daglesh dewanada who will be the next?

-2+25 # Guest 2010-01-30 11:59

Good decision Duggy, don't delay. Why not you join with SF even now.

-58+8 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:01

No.Mr.Devananda,pleas e wait and see.people will change.because the truth never die.please be confident.

-2+22 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:02

During preLTTE era he was boasting that he was the political leader of tamils. He is notorious for intimidation a You decide for yourself the truth

-3+24 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:03

The tamil people have shown the world what they want & who they want to be their leader.You dont mislead.By the way what have you done to the tamil people during your political career.can you list pls.

-2+33 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:06

you can fool the state and exist but not the people.

-3+27 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:09

People of jaffna never vote for you,

-3+25 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:11

What is there to consider ???????? People did not BELIEVE or TRUST you. So what is there to reconsider ? You guys really have understood the foolishness of the majority of the masses to a nicety. Yet you and your ilk can play games and even convince the majority of the masses. Sri Lankans proudly think of themselves as the most literate and knowledgeable people in the South East Asian region. But sadly they cannot see beyond their noses, as seen from the result of this election.

-4+12 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:13

Take genuine decision that would be appropriate to the people in geneal !

-9+43 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:19

Go jump in the lake...

-4+30 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:32

Tamil people have kicked you, Karuna and your boss out! Pls leave us alone and get out!

-4+28 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:42

Brilliant stage management Dugga. You deserve to win the Oscar. For god sake, go home. It will do a world of good to the Northern tamils

-75+4 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:43

Sir...You have done a great job for this country during war time..you are one of a national hero and ppl belongs to all ethnic groups will love to see you in politics for long...so pls dont step down..we are with you..come and contest in any part of the country in south.you will surely win..
all the best..!!

-71+6 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:44

Douglas carry on with your good work in supporting the President. As he said, it is the fact that the people in the North voted at all this time that count and not necessarily for whom.

-4+36 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:46

All know that you are a joker.

-45+8 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:47

please gooooooooo....MR dont want yourpeople vote..

-4+47 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:50

It is a good decision. Most of the Tamil People will be happy, and celebrate your resignation.

-3+32 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:54

DD, if you want to help the people of the North, you need to live and work there. You cannot enjoy the luxury of Colombo and the votes of Jaffna together. Hopefully, we'll have a statesman from Jaffna representing its people.

-1+16 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:10

Very good response Mr. Banda. Jaffna politicians indulged themselves in all forms of Colombo comforts and put all the promises they made to the electorate on the back burner for years and years. Fed up and exasperated, they clutched the terror straw offered by LTTE and mayhem followed to the tune of tens of thousand deaths. All Govts were accused for the negligence of Tamil MPs. DD is one of them.

-12+20 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:54

you and your Eelam No More Relevant in Srilanka.

-4+33 # Guest 2010-01-30 12:58

You organised the hartals yourself - this is what Ratwatte did a few years ago - he put up posters asking "himself" not to resign. People know that you worked to enrich yourself and not to serve the people.

-4+30 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:00

Any excuse to stay in power. How can the media fool the Tamil people. He is insulting the Tamil population.

-2+34 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:05

resign and go to hell. You nourish your self and family. You never bring any justice for the Tamil people suffering. You are a bought man. Waste guy. a sincere war hero was discarded like a piece of dirt, what do u think will happen to u? some day you too will be served with the same spoon.

-4+40 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:07

It's time for you tio commit suicide, not retire. If you have backborne, do that.

-1+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:02

Good comment

-0+11 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:13

Please, at least you can stand on your own decision?????

-1+14 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:19

Well we know you are a traitor no love for tamil community

You people can't live a day without holding a portpolio.

shame on you..

-37+3 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:25

Hi
You do well for tamil people. dont worry. one day comming yours.

-0+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:29

To save your skin why not join the SLFP and you will be a Senior vice President for life. Even if you do not win your seat you still can have a good post in the government such as a select member of any commission or even a job in the Foreign Service such as an Ambassador or a High commissioner !!

-0+25 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:29

Hi Douglas

From all these comments you should realize you are a total liability, get lost forever.

-46+5 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:31

Please wait. parliment will be dissolved soon. Take this month salary. And in next election take a fresh mandate from the Jaffna people. You are so popular. You can beat the TNA Sampanthar very easily and make hime loose not only his seat , his deposit too.

-0+24 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:34

This guy is fooling everyone again. Tamils in north and east rejected him long ago. Now he is marking drama for some political millage.

-3+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:39

It seems Tamil people has totally rejected you people ( Karuna, you and Pillian) who took arms in your hands. They didn't vote for Sivajilingam too and decided to join the main strem political parties. They voted for SF. Viva La Sri Lanka.

-0+23 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:40

In Jaffna on the Presidential election day 9 very, very loud explosions were heard from 3am to 6 am to scare and intimidate the people from voting. It makes you sick, doesn't it?

-1+20 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:44

We are not fools!

-0+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:55

did anybody vote you for power. you came to power with a sham election. then what did you do? you started to do business by squeezing the throats of your own kith & kin in jaffna. you betrayed your people and got rid of your opponents. if you resign who will allow you to run your luxury business? what will happen to your mansion down layards road. mostly the govt will lose another launderer.

-45+4 # Guest 2010-01-30 13:56

A good leader and remodel to the society,

-0+22 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:00

Please resign!Tamil people had enough of your violence in the name of demorcracy.

-0+16 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:00

Hello DD you better to resign ,shame on you... go man go...

-0+15 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:08

Pls let people know who gives you rice and curry after you resign. It is great joke in 2010. You are a great lier in the world. Who beleive your words.. You are in politics for your own business. We dont beleive people came to streets against your resignation..It is DRAMA by you and your supporters..No tamils beleive you..They are well educated than you ..Try to understand ..

-48+6 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:14

Thank you for your great service to the motherland Douglas Sir. The people of Sri Lankans and I feel the Tamil people as well will be eternally grateful to you. Fight the elections Mr. Devananda and I am sure that you will win very soon.

-4+9 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:27

What is that you have done for the TAMIL. Its clear that they did not appreciate. Luxury From Colombo to Jaffna is not enough to fill the hearts of the PPL. " Somebody said that some body said,someone said that, someone said that someone said.. IS that someone YOU... PLS DO SOMETHING and SHOW to WIN the GENERAL ELECTION

-0+13 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:27

A drama trying to gain popularity. Why resign wgen General Elections are round the corner

-0+8 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:40

Humbug !

-0+10 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:40

DOUGLOUS could not scare the voters by exploding bombs, still some went bravely and cast their vote in favour of S F.
NOW HAVE TOTALLY LOST ANY SUPPORT, THEREFORE RESIGN NOW AND GET A GOOD SENT OFF BY MR.
God Bless you for leaving the common Tamils to look after their own affairs. GOOD BYE.

-0+9 # Guest 2010-01-30 14:48

We know too well that you were never liked by the people in the North.You might as well hang on cos in any case you will not be voted in at the General Elections.Just drop the drama and continue the bluff.

-0+9 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:00

Talk first and think later. It is common among all Government Ministers!. You are not an exception.

-1+10 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:02

This fellow only threatened the poeple to not to vote for SF..and vote only for MR. More over his party make lots of problem for voters in jaffna & stolen people's right....Now he is passing the ball to government side as if he so true enough in his activities............But people of this country not fool...... Guys just see his other comeday....

-0+12 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:05

The Tamils do not want you or the likes of you. Tamils did not vote for Mahinda because they did not want to be foisted with men/ women like you as their leaders. Please retire to Colombo and enjoy the perks of being an 'Irrelevant' minister, instead of harbouring ambitions to be the next 'Sun God' of the Tamils. The Tamils will not vote for you or the candidates you deploy, support and canvass for at the general elections and the provincial council elections. The 'Tamils' know what they want. Please respect their good sense. Please let them recover from their decades long nightmare. With the likes of you on the political scene, their nightmare yet continues. The greatest favour you can do for Mahinda Rajapakse is to withdraw from politics. You may have changed, but the Tamils do not believe that you are capable of doing so. This is the price you have to pay for your ' BLOODY' past!

- Narasimman-

-0+11 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:16

Douglas is playing big drama after doing all nasty works during election.....Who can believe these?? ha

-10+13 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:23

Dear D.D,

My advice is that you better not resign...enjoy all the perks you get as a minister in the M.R cabinet.

Very soon the people of Jaffna will boot you out in the General elections. Find a good house in Colombo more better if it is close to M.R. ....be his loyal servent for the rest of your life. Let Jaffna elect S.F as its M.P.

-1+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:30

The Presidential elecition '2010 clealy says that the North East Peaople hate the Arm groups like karuna ,Pillayan and Douglas Devananda.I thing the President will consider this.

-0+15 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:44

It is the same drama how the tamilnadu politicians do, this is not something new to the tamil politicians like him.dont cheat the people,you are cheating yourself,not the tamils ,specialy the tamil diaspora.stop this type of rubbish politics

-0+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 15:51

He is one of the politicians who always took the side of whatever the Government that rules, but not the people. When the people realize that thay rejected him. This will happen to thos politicians in the South also soon.

-0+22 # Guest 2010-01-30 16:01

Please ask Karuna,Siththar than and Pillayan to join with you.Tamils (don't)did not listen to you all.Therefore you all do not have the rights to represent Tamils.They are well educated,have got enough knowledge and experiene to select their leaders.This is the appropiate time to you all to apply for asylum.

-0+28 # Guest 2010-01-30 16:04

These days thugs are talking like Mahathma Gandhi

-1+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 16:19

must be feeling the heat with middle order batsmen karuna and pillayen in the team !!!!

-2+23 # Guest 2010-01-30 16:55

Dear Sir,Tamil people clearly said Srilanka has two nation.

-1+17 # Guest 2010-01-30 17:08

Politician across asian countries are of same breed,for sake of power they would stoop to worst level & to gain their vote bank to promise which they cannot fulfill. Politicians main ideology is after attaining power,their target is to swindle maximum.

-1+16 # Guest 2010-01-30 20:48

DD, you are a looser, People have rejected you. Wind up your assets and get out of the country. Jaffna people dont want thugs like you to rule them

-1+9 # Guest 2010-01-30 20:50

DD's resignation story takes me back to Shakespeare's Iambic Pentameter lines:

"Oh! what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive!"

Not all the people all the time.

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