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Last Updated : 2024-04-23 12:32:00
11 April 2020 11:57 pm - 56 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Mayor of the Balangoda Urban Council (UNP) Chamika Wewagedara has destroyed a stock of vegetables set for sale, by pouring kerosene over them, vendors said.
One vendor said that they had transported a stock of vegetables from Bandarawela adding that they were unaware of the fact that the Ratnapura area was still under curfew.
"As we had no way to go back to Bandarawela along with the vegetables, we prepared them for sale for people at very reasonable prices. However, the Balangoda Mayor who rushed to the location, poured kerosene over the vegetables," he said. It was absolutely unfair to act in such a ruthless manner," the vendor added.
The vendors urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to look into the incident and take action against the Mayor.
Meanwhile, the Balangoda Mayor said the Municipal Council officers had informed the concerned vendors several times, requesting them not to sell vegetables in the area. “However, they did not heed our officers and continued to sell the vegetables," the Mayor said.
"It is my duty and responsibility to act in accordance with the orders of the Governor and to see everything is in place in the municipality" the Mayor added.(Sheain Fernandopulle)
Noor Nizam Saturday, 11 April 2020 11:58 PM
HE. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, PM. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Hon. Basil Rajapaksa and the Presidential Task Force To Direct, Coordinate and Monitor the Dilivery of Continious Services for Sustenance of Overall Community Life in Sri Lanka in the Wake of COVID19 Pandemic. Please take stern action against this high-handed action of the Mayor of Balangoda Urban Council after probing the incident in depth. Even if the vendor/vendors have done something wrong, they should have been dealt by the police or the security authorities under the "Rule of Law". The Mayor has no authority to pour kerosene over the produce. The Mayor should be made to pay the damages to the vendor/vendors if found fault. Noor Nizam - Convener "The Muslim Voice"
Sajith Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:03 AM
Not a surprise. UNP/SJB bandits have been trying to capitalise on the pandemic by making peoples lives miserable, from spreading fake news, advertising false medicines and now burning down crops and food. Not long ago they set fire to a pharmacy. Truly shameless way the UNP/SJB has been acting.
ram Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:11 AM
this proves that there is no exception to any party when it come to crimes committing by their members. It can be any party member. one party member involved in raping a 13 year old girl, and another party member involved pouring kerosene on vegetable
Mandayan Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:38 AM
What a moron. They earn a living. Who is going to feed their families?
Sammy Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:40 AM
Setting fire to vegetables is to be condemned. He could have confiscated them.
Jasmin Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:55 AM
These are the retarded morons that are holding such positions of influence. What a shame.
Putra samagama Sunday, 12 April 2020 02:03 AM
Coming c olours no good
Hamish Apa Sunday, 12 April 2020 02:19 AM
This is what happens when you put village idiots in charge.
Ram Sunday, 12 April 2020 03:57 AM
This idiot must be punished according to law
Suranga Sunday, 12 April 2020 05:27 AM
Yep bigger and better than pogottuwa realist raping a 13 year old? Responsible journalism
Lawry Sunday, 12 April 2020 05:29 AM
This mental retard should not be a mayor. People are suffering without food with this dreadful pandemic. This maniac should be thrown into prison.
david strange Sunday, 12 April 2020 05:32 AM
sometimes "common sense has to prevail. But the minister shouldnt have "got a lorry load for personal use? thats the idiotic part of the story.
Neville Jayakody Sunday, 12 April 2020 05:35 AM
Why couldn't he confiscate the stock and distribute that free of charge instead of destroying food at this critical time?
Haramanis Sunday, 12 April 2020 06:22 AM
The Mayor should be removed from office immediately - uneducated buffoon
Dayan Sunday, 12 April 2020 06:49 AM
It seems a political clash is here. Unaware of the law is not ab excuse.
Max Sunday, 12 April 2020 07:02 AM
Arrest him
Prem Nalin Sunday, 12 April 2020 07:38 AM
Countries which are poor because of unintelligent ( it is genetic ) for example the USA, Australia, Canada, Newzealand are well-developed tody because of intelligent races but in the past, it was not but it is the same soil. And Israel just small piece of land in the middle east well advance developed no Arab country can mess around with them
Andrew Silva Sunday, 12 April 2020 07:52 AM
It is true that they can not travel to other districts but this Mayor has done a very foolish thing by pouring Kerosene oil on the vegetables. He should have confiscated the vegetables and given it free to his people. Think before you act Dear Mayor.
Karu Sunday, 12 April 2020 07:55 AM
A fire accident too was reported from Balangoda. Any connection?
ANTON Sunday, 12 April 2020 07:55 AM
BECAUSE SRILANKAN POLITICIANS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KEROSENE AND WATER.
ANTON Sunday, 12 April 2020 07:56 AM
SOON HE WILL START LIGHTING LAMPS WITH WATER.
ANTON Sunday, 12 April 2020 07:58 AM
WHO SHOULD BE PENALIZED FIRST, THIS MAYOR OR THE ONE WHO MADE THIS MAN A MAYOR.
Athua s. Wickramanayake Sunday, 12 April 2020 07:59 AM
It is very unfair to do it in that way. Maybe, what the mayor says is correct.But who told you to pour kerosene over vegetables. Be wise and clam when sloving this kind of sensitive issues.If not, please leave the post so as to be selected a suitable person for the vacant
DillonDP Sunday, 12 April 2020 08:02 AM
I think is perfectly reasonable given the context of epadamic fear, one can't say he or she doesn't know the fact a district is lockdown. If I knew to obtain a pass for sale of vegetables I am intelligent enough to know the lockdowns
Lalani Balasuriya Sunday, 12 April 2020 08:20 AM
What a crime against humanity. Obviously a man who has never attempted to grow a plant and does not understand the toil and labour that goes into cultivation of food for the benefit of all. Of what use is GOVERNMENT'S attempt to encourage people to grow their own homegardens when foolish people in power destroy valuable vegetables. If he wanted to punish the vegetable sellers the goods could have been confiscated and given free to hospitals or quarantine centres. This pompous fool must be dealt with and made to compensate the sellers through his own funds.
Sokrates Sunday, 12 April 2020 08:41 AM
Sri Lankans are so undisciplined and learn only the hard way. Good job Mayor.
Dhaya Sunday, 12 April 2020 08:51 AM
Our wonderful politicians.
Rayappu Soundranayagam Sunday, 12 April 2020 08:57 AM
Pouring kerosene is not anyone's duty or responsibility. The mayor must be prosecuted and removed from the mayor post. There are proper ways to deal with illegal activities. Pouring kerosene is an uncivilized behavior.
Dinesh Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:04 AM
They do not want others to come to their area. Just as terrorist did in jaffna. Meaning of terrorist "a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims."
Somadasa Perera Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:11 AM
So pouring kerosene on to vegetables by the Mayor is the correct thing? Attention, all the Mayors in the world - Learn how to do the correct thing!
UniDon Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:16 AM
An act of a canrnivorous animal !
Romesh Balachandra Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:25 AM
Absurd. What a terrible thing to do
CITIZEN Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:33 AM
THE MAYOR HAD THE POWER TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE VENDORS, NOT MAKE HIS OWN DECISION AND DO SUCH INHUMAN ACT
Johan Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:34 AM
Do we need these types of politicians to SL. People must reject these type of fellows in next Elections
Ratnam Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:40 AM
How can a person act like this manner. Poor farmers are going to get away from the their cultivation. Then the country will know their value.
Lalindra Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:42 AM
What an idiot ?
Vipin B Sunday, 12 April 2020 09:56 AM
What on earth is wrong with him to destroy precious food at this hour of need?
Alls well that ends well ! Sunday, 12 April 2020 10:12 AM
It would have been good riddance if he had poured it on himself - and a bystander strikes a match
Parakum Sunday, 12 April 2020 10:21 AM
Expel this BASTARD from UNP.
Rufus Somanader. Sunday, 12 April 2020 10:24 AM
Sack him immediately for this inhuman act.
Labby Sunday, 12 April 2020 10:36 AM
If the mayor had a problem with outsiders coming into his area to do trading all he had to do was to confiscate the merchandise and send those traders away. He didn't have the commonsense to do that.
Jehan Sunday, 12 April 2020 10:38 AM
Gots people
SAM Sunday, 12 April 2020 11:03 AM
The vendors have a law unto themselves as does the small trucks and three wheelers and everyone of these goons carries and essential services sticker. The mayor should be heard and remember AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM.
Gp Sunday, 12 April 2020 11:06 AM
The Mayor has taken the law into his own hands... This is a premeditated assault. Why wasn’t the Police notified about taking action with this vendor. Pouring k'oil over vegetables is indeed uncalled for. This Mayor is not suitable to hold a high profile job. OVER TO YOU PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA, what do you think?
Anthony Sunday, 12 April 2020 11:07 AM
He should have not taken powers into his hand by doing such a stupid thing but call the police to handle it. He should pay for all this.
Raj Sunday, 12 April 2020 11:11 AM
Mr Mayor, you can seize vegetables and take legal action if they violate rules. But pouring Kerosene is jungle justice and should not be tolerated. And one more enforcement is the job of the Police.
Ganesh Sunday, 12 April 2020 11:31 AM
He should have poured it on himself and waited to see how popular he was! What a waste.
rafeekulla Sunday, 12 April 2020 11:49 AM
Why not distribute free
Nalini Sunday, 12 April 2020 11:59 AM
Stupid man not fit to be a Mayor.Get rid of him ASAP.
Ronnie Bugger Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:05 PM
This misfit says its his responsibility to act in accordance with the orders of the Government. Did the Government ask this 'misfit' to pour kerosene. If so, the entire cabinet including the President and this 'misfit' are all 'misfit's and should be dealt with.
Rajpriya. G - Germany Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:12 PM
But, a little leniency at a crucial time like the present would have shown you are not involved dastardly acts like pouring Kerosene on very valuable products most are struggling to get. Get a Life man
M R NAZIM Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:25 PM
Ideally the Kerosene should have poured to this idiot who doesn't even understand how difficult it is to do farming.
Spartacus Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:30 PM
The Mayor could have easily seized the vegies using Police
Udaya Sunday, 12 April 2020 12:44 PM
All fine, but why waste that precise items at this time of situation
George Harry Tuesday, 14 April 2020 12:05 PM
His intention of considering the situation
Perera Tuesday, 14 April 2020 02:43 PM
You can not take the law into your hand. Its police will take action and produce to court with goods as they did for ranjan. How the hell you got this law
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