‘Madam President’, Rajapaksa

31 July 2012 12:42 am - 59 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake, who was present when the President met the Editors, made a faux pas when he addressed President Mahinda Rajapaksa ‘Janadhipathiniyani’ (Madam President) when explaining the status of the strikes by university staff.

President Rajapaksa in a lighter vein bantered that the tenure of Madam President was long over and the Higher Education Minister turned crimson having figured the blunder.

Speaking on the demands by the university lecturers, Minister Dissanayake said no country in the world has rewarded university dons the way Sri Lanka has done when it came to salaries and allowances.

He said during the past seven years under President Rajapaksa, the annual intake of students had been increased by 300 per cent - from 7000 to 22,000. “However the acts of sabotage by university staff had prevented the student population from reaping the benefit of this generous move,’ lamented Minister Dissanayake.

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Comments - 59

KJ Tuesday, 31 July 2012 04:56 PM

And we yet wonder why the Z-score is getting messed up!!!!! *SIGH!!!!!*

Nimal Tuesday, 31 July 2012 11:01 AM

Exactly

Bagalawathie Tuesday, 31 July 2012 11:04 AM

May be he doesn't know the difference between a Madam and a Sir. and such a person is in charge of higher education. Miracle of Asia.

Janaki Kalansuriya Tuesday, 31 July 2012 11:30 AM

Yes, yes, remember the time he was Sports Minister, when he saw Suzy as a Black Boy? Freaking clown!!

Professor Tuesday, 31 July 2012 11:56 AM

General public and the president himself is getting fed up of the uni lecturers indefinite strike. It has to be politically motivated to sabotage the education of the student population.

Andrew Pitugala Tuesday, 31 July 2012 12:48 PM

JR stated that he has all the powers except change a man into a woman. It appears that with the 18th amendment JR's complaint has been rectified.

IBNUABOO Tuesday, 31 July 2012 01:01 PM

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

Salman Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:08 PM

Human error.

Dr. M.M.P Sumith Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:58 PM

Mr.SB might think that he can hoodwink the H. E President MR because he has done same to Former president Mrs. CBK and
Mr.Ranil W. I think this is end of Mr. SB. He cannot use his pity agenda against HE MR. We hope HE MR will solve university academic's strike next couple of days. Dear President, please handover Ministry of Higher education to someone who can deal with intellectuals professionally not by means of tuggary and by uttering vulger words. Ministry of higher education must be knowledge hub not a commercial hub. If you read vision and mission statements of Ministry of Higher Education of Mr SB, anyway, It is not represent Mihinda Chinthana ideology and also contradicting The Mahinda Chinthana.

Adam Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:28 PM

SB is lying here with stats. When I was enrolled to university in 2002, around 12000 students were enrolled with me. Annually there is an increase in intake. No doubt about it. But look at the pretended numbers given to president. Not only the people, but also the leaders are fooled by these politicians.

jayantha Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:38 PM

If he made this for president we can believe how much mistakes he is doing to our nations

krishna Tuesday, 31 July 2012 04:25 PM

Change of wires.[wayar maru]

shantha madawela Tuesday, 31 July 2012 04:28 PM

Next time he says baby to MR.....

Teeni_Tiny Tuesday, 31 July 2012 04:31 PM

"Minister Dissanayake said no country in the world has rewarded university dons the way Sri Lanka has done when it came to salaries and allowances" - LOL
If the government is trying to reach the Singapore standard, at least they have to pay one tenth of Singapore Asst. Prof. Salary to Sri Lankan Lecturers.. SGD 10000/10= SGD 1000 = Rs. 100000. That's the real deal...

Izmie Tuesday, 31 July 2012 04:40 PM

He is right,this is a petticoat govt.

Cyril Alwis Tuesday, 31 July 2012 09:03 AM

I don't know his academic qualifications.

Cyril

Azmi Tuesday, 31 July 2012 06:41 PM

Those days Minister S.B acting like a Berserk, because of “Z” Score matter

Suhail Modera Tuesday, 31 July 2012 06:55 PM

One of the claver and Commitment minister, how it’s happened? Mr.President wake up!

saman Tuesday, 31 July 2012 06:59 PM

Ane mage kata

Sali Tuesday, 31 July 2012 09:44 PM

Why this has to be a top story??????

kanga syd Tuesday, 31 July 2012 11:48 PM

Dekak dala meeeting walata giyama oyawage ewa kiyawenawa ))

Gandalf Wednesday, 01 August 2012 12:20 AM

Crap happens.

sg Wednesday, 01 August 2012 12:10 AM

He is the minister of higher education but dosent have good memory how can he handdle issues related matters of acdamia in this coutry???????

Buwa Wednesday, 01 August 2012 01:07 AM

This shows how far he goes on to protect his minister position.

Nodrog Wednesday, 01 August 2012 01:34 AM

actually when at home the 'Madam' is president. SB must have forgotten where he was.

Nodrog Wednesday, 01 August 2012 02:04 AM

And he is as confused about what he has to do at the education ministry too.

krishna Wednesday, 01 August 2012 02:24 AM

Crossed wires [wayar maru]

citizen Wednesday, 01 August 2012 02:35 AM

I totally agree with you
Isnt't it the duty of the DONS to educate public on this? Otherwise people would simply believe this. The dons (at very senior level) salary with all the allowances may be higher than that of judges, but they do not get any other perks such as official transport, residential facilities, telephone etc.

I

bandara Wednesday, 01 August 2012 07:45 AM

if the minister is so certain of the standards of higher education in SL that he claims, why has he sent his own kids to Australia??

Saradial Wednesday, 01 August 2012 09:27 AM

Or may be future. He may have plane to support CBK in next presidential election

Aney Machang Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:38 AM

The Ministers days are numbered, at least as the Minister of Higher Education!

Appuhamy Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:20 AM

Tension.....!!

Tom Hoo Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:34 AM

He sees all as madams..male or female..!!

Neil Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:44 AM

What a .......!

RuwanL Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:52 AM

The Minister is living in the past! Wake up at least now and look to the future! Don't dwell in the past

Chaminda Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:39 AM

monawa karannada..

Samantha Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:46 AM

Most of prople do not know what they are doing and talking .......

Wara Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:04 AM

May be he still living in the past.

Lal Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:59 AM

Maybe he knows something that we dont.

Wijeratne Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:51 AM

early signs of dementia.?

Hash Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:59 AM

The person who is handling the higher education of our country. Great. Miracle of asia !!

Thomas Ranger Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:16 AM

Must have been day dreaming about a sari pota.

SK Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:16 AM

The problem is Mr Minister, although the govt has increased the intake of students by 300%, the percentage of funds allocated for education has been decreased. That is the simple fact the University teachers are trying to make you understand.

hansan Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:12 AM

This is nomal of SB, As he does not know where he is and for whom he is taiking to, But Good he address the President that way.

Prasanna Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:25 AM

Has he forgoten what he said to Madam !! :) This is fun..!
Minister or Higher Education !!! Still in that seat ???
Is what he told correct??

obama Tuesday, 31 July 2012 02:18 AM

lighter minds in charge of higher education :)

kumara Tuesday, 31 July 2012 03:49 AM

Amathakaveeme rogaya S B ta bo wela

sahdi Tuesday, 31 July 2012 04:22 AM

NO WONDER ON (Z) SCORE MESS UP..

Dave Goonawardena Tuesday, 31 July 2012 04:29 AM

Oh dear, he still has satellite on his mind.

Dave G.

Amarathunga Chandika Tuesday, 31 July 2012 05:12 AM

He is the boy-friend of Chandrika, hope still he is maintaining, otherwise to pronounce "Madam" - fuinny.

Mario Tuesday, 31 July 2012 05:17 AM

LOOOOOLLL.This made my day..Hahahahaha.

Rajeev Tuesday, 31 July 2012 05:18 AM

Still he is in Chandrika period!!!!

Mohammed Jihad Tuesday, 31 July 2012 05:35 AM

Maare Jokne..
good future for all the students

D.P.Liyanage Tuesday, 31 July 2012 07:27 AM

It is also like his explanations on Z-Scores & Universities.
Higher education Minister shall be more disciplined.

Yehiya Tuesday, 31 July 2012 07:49 AM

Not tension, well plan & done

uaa Tuesday, 31 July 2012 08:06 AM

What non-sense! This minister should not go too far, well of course he can understand anything.

India, our neighbour pays her university professors almost USD2000, while in Sri Lanka it must be much less than USD$1000. On the other hand, Sri Lanka's per capita GDP (PPP USD 4930) is one and a half times of that India.
I dont know from where there are talking?

DUWI Tuesday, 31 July 2012 08:08 AM

Talking before thinking

John Tuesday, 31 July 2012 08:12 AM

It is proved that he is not mentely fit for the position

parent Tuesday, 31 July 2012 08:15 AM

Yes, but the bigger concern is that apparently even the Prez is not contradicting what minister says. The real problems are not Salaries or the intake numbers.
Uni teachers have been very clear on their demands;
it is a pity that everyone highlights these trivial mistakes and not the real danger the Sri Lankan education system is facing. (in that sense, the minister is just a messenger of for the masses who voted him for power)

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‘Madam President’, Rajapaksa

Comments - 59

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