Video: Parties agree on common candidate

10 November 2014 10:37 am - 49 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Opposition party leaders today expressed their optimism on fielding a common candidate at an upcoming Presidential Election.

Several Party leaders gathered this morning at a forum organised by the National Movement for Social Justice headed by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera in Kotte on the abolishment of Executive Presidency.

United National Party National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka, Parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga and many other party representatives took part in the forum.

Video by Sanath Desmond

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Comments - 49

Kris Tuesday, 11 November 2014 04:01 AM

What a disaster CB run the country 12 years, took country backwards, recently her son Vimukthi based on Channel 4 video said he ashamed to tell that he is srilankan, what else we can expect from this lady

Dr M.L.Najimudeen Monday, 10 November 2014 09:26 PM

We can see the rise of shining star. My sincere appreciations to Rev. Sobitha Thera for his tireless effort in uniting all oppositions together

carlion Monday, 10 November 2014 10:04 PM

If the ultimate aim of all these parties including Ven Sobitha is to abolish the Presidency why make such a big pow wow about who the choice is. The people could just elect anyone willing to honestly do it. Problem solved!

Charles Perera Monday, 10 November 2014 10:11 PM

What are this ignorant people doing together. Sri Lanka is still not out of the dangers of terrorism. If terrorism raises its head there should be an executive President to take quick concerted action without wasting time going throug parliament or cabinet procedures. Therefore there is still more time to have a decorative President and an executive PM. Ranil talks against executive President but it was he who signed a CFA with the terrorists behind the Executive President. So where was the difficulty having an Executive Presiden ?

E N Gland Monday, 10 November 2014 10:22 PM

Here is the beginning of the end of Sinhala Nation and Buddhism. Those who previously attempted to sell our country to the Tamil Terrorists are now coming forward again. Loads of LTTE money have been redirected to these So called Sinhala traitors by the Diaspora.I hope this programme is a total failure for the sake of our Motherland and Buddhism

irosh Monday, 10 November 2014 10:44 PM

we want a candidate who can really defeat rajapaksha and it should not be ranil or chandrika, we will back you up for a new candidate like karu....or someone else........who has the faith of the people of sri lanka i love my country...cheers....

Sarath Monday, 10 November 2014 11:24 PM

Dogs are barking but next president is Mr. Mahinda.Rajapakse. Even god cannot change it.

SLN5250 Monday, 10 November 2014 11:41 PM

Hihi...........Batalanda?

Palitha Monday, 10 November 2014 11:50 PM

BEGINING OF THE END

Watchful Eye Tuesday, 11 November 2014 12:35 AM

The top tier of the former LTTE ranks are in the current government and are holding positions. Ever thought about who is one of the Deputy Chairpersons of the SLFP. ??. Be ashamed to sling mud about the diaspora... the entire diaspora is enjoying a lifeline created by the government and it is a pity this country has to bear the burden of such so called patriots who wag their tongues blindly.Let Democracy prevail with its fair principles and let the People of this country emerge victorious with their rights safeguarded !!!

Nims Tuesday, 11 November 2014 03:13 AM

A corrupted woman like CBK will NEVER do it. But she can get at least 20-25% of SLFP Votes

Nims Tuesday, 11 November 2014 03:21 AM

We all Sri Lankans need to understand is that we do not need another Executive President in Sri Lanka. If the common candidate wins he/she must change the constitution immediately and the President/ Prime Minister/Ministers (including the present and previous Presidents) too are accountable for his/her actions

siva Tuesday, 11 November 2014 03:44 AM

On the one hand some people think CB will do better than Mahinda. Are you joking? On the other hand when you look at the history at the time of the UNP whole country was in disaster. First, at the time of the CB unemployment was more than 10% to 15%. (http://www.statistics.gov.lk/samplesurvey/emp_unemp_in sri lanka.pdf) Infrastructure in the country was in very bad shape. Eg. Roads, water, etc. The whole country was like a garbage dump. Garbage were thrown all over in Sri Lanka. Political henchmans were own the whole country. Eg. Payments was occupied by political thugs to sell their products. People did not have a payment to walk in all over the country. There were power cuts all over the country by 5-6 hours or more. Today with Mahinda whole country has one of the lowest unemployment in the history. (less than 4.4%, http://www.statistics.gov.lk/samplesurvey/report2013q2.pdf ) New roads, and highways in Sri Lanka in all over the country. The whole country is clean. Electricity supply is continuously there for the people 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Almost 100% of people have electricity.Second, at the time of the CB whole country were lived with fear. Terrorist were controlling the country from north to south. When people go out from their residence family did not go together fear of loss of life due to terrorist bombs. People were not sure when they wake up in the morning they will live for next day. Political killings were all over the country. Simply, there were no law and order in the countryThird, CB’s economic theory was doing nothing. Therefore, country imported all the products. All the local industries died. Imports controlled the country. To import more for the country took loans just to import more. Government debt was highest at the time of the CB’s government. For an example, the amount of the government debt was more than 103% to the GNP. (http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS/countries/LK?display=graph) Today it is one of the lowest government debts, less than 80%. The biggest mistake at the time of the CB was they took all those loans just to import more. Previous government did not have the vision to improve infrastructure of the country. Due to above reasons, the farmers in north did not able to sell their products. South of the country was also the same. North started and supported the LTTTE and South had the rebellion of JVP. Simply country was vanished from livable country to hell.Fourth, another the great achievement of the Mahinda Rajapaksa was eradication of poverty of the country by taking the development to the village. Development of the infrastructure were paid off with greater dividedness to the citizens. People below poverty line decreased from 22.7% in 2002 to 6.7% in 2013. This was a great achievement for a country just finish the terrorist war which burn the country almost 30 years. Simply at time of the CB government did not had a vision to develop the country or people. ( http://data.worldbank.org/country/sri-lanka).Fifth, at the time of CB, education was in disarray. Universities were closed for years. School buildings were crumbling. Today all the schools are functioning well, well painted new buildings are all over the country for schools. Mahindhodaya Technological Laboratories more than 1000 established in all over the country for poor village students. Finally, these are just a few points I made about the Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government vision for Sri Lanka. There are thousands of more reasons we can find. Therefore, if we like to get killed from LTTE terror again, divide the country in to pieces, power cuts, no infrastructure, get killed by political thugs, garbage all over the country, live in a country without law and order, no good roads or high ways, no good schools, high unemployment etc. We should vote to CB. The people who lived through those conditions Great People of Sri Lanka will decide who will be their leader to take the country to became miracle of Asia.

zak Monday, 10 November 2014 09:13 PM

My whole family itself big supporters of mahinda mama gov. but now its time to think of a new leader. . Otherwise the country wil goes to dogs.. lets unite together with out party variation. To get rid of rajapaskse regime..

Apita Hina Tuesday, 11 November 2014 07:16 AM

Maybe she will APOLOGISE to the country to begin with !!?

C.K.Lankaputhra Tuesday, 11 November 2014 07:34 AM

At last. Thank U sir for your gentleman-ship.

TONY Tuesday, 11 November 2014 09:10 AM

NO ONE CAN FORGET THAT IT WAS CHANDRIKA WHO BROUGHT BACK LIFE TO SLFP. IT WAS IN THE SAME STATE UNP IS FACING TODAY WHEN THE UNP RULED THE COUNTRY FROM 1977 TO 1994

Jayantha Jayamanne Tuesday, 11 November 2014 09:16 AM

Public opinion is to field Arjuna, on a common condition that once he becomes the President of SriLanka, within a month or so, he should abolish the constitution and go for a General Election, then he will get 85% or more votes from SLFP too. This game could be played only by Arjuna and not others.

tony Tuesday, 11 November 2014 09:16 AM

LINKING UNP WITH LTTE IS GOVT ATTACK FOR THEIR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE. HAVE YOU FOLLOWED RECENT LINKS THE GOVT IS HAVING WITH LTTE ASSOICATES

Vaidy s Tuesday, 11 November 2014 09:18 AM

Madam Chandrika is the only person who can solve the national issue.She was indeed a national President securing over 25% vote from all nine provinces.

mack Tuesday, 11 November 2014 10:10 AM

I like to help MR pack his bags via DM Android App

ANTON Tuesday, 11 November 2014 11:50 AM

I THINK YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST ANOTHER THREE MORE EARTH YEARS.

Mason Tuesday, 11 November 2014 11:56 AM

Ranil is a tested and trusted politician and is also very much popular.. He should be backed to win. The question about a "common candidate" is, how COMMON and TRUSTWORTHY he/she will be. Would he/she be acceptable and admired.Let us be wise and not foolish.

jeewan Tuesday, 11 November 2014 01:10 PM

Repeat of 2010 presidential election.

banda Tuesday, 11 November 2014 11:38 PM

Colomba sanniya!

T Wickramaratna Monday, 10 November 2014 06:09 PM

What a foolish idea? What is Mahinda Chintanaya? It is only a BANDAKKA.

Dingimahattaya Monday, 10 November 2014 04:30 PM

She can do it dingi

Ran Banda Monday, 10 November 2014 04:45 PM

Ranil looks sad but can not help.People and parties do not understand his value.Hope at least he will be able to lead country as an executive prime minister one day.That will bring prosperity and law and order to country.

asiri Monday, 10 November 2014 04:59 PM

madam chandrika you have ruin our country. now you can nothing to do

happy lankan Monday, 10 November 2014 05:01 PM

how can she have the courage to ask again when she did nothing?

D. Jay Monday, 10 November 2014 05:01 PM

People with dignity, self-respect, common sense, the majority are with you Good luck and all the very best

aruna Monday, 10 November 2014 05:29 PM

No leader yet! Let alone future plans for country! Better to stick on with Mahinda Chintana than letting the country in stake and in the hands of jokers and foreign invaders.

Suq Madique Monday, 10 November 2014 05:38 PM

The start of the end of the Rajapaksa era?

Silva Monday, 10 November 2014 05:46 PM

All party agreement for a common candidate to Abolish the Executive Presidency is a blessing for all common people in Sri Lanka.

prasanna Monday, 10 November 2014 05:54 PM

Aandi tikai ambalamai

toosh Monday, 10 November 2014 05:59 PM

Those who are believe in Democracy should pray for Ranil to be the common candidates otherwise ...... even Buddha cannot serve the country

Welusumana Monday, 10 November 2014 06:02 PM

Yodayek peralanna koombiyo godak try karanawa.

Best Wishes4 All-parties Monday, 10 November 2014 04:10 PM

advanced best wishes ...!

Sirisena Monday, 10 November 2014 06:11 PM

For the sake of Mother lanka all right minded Sri Lankans must rally round this common programme to bring back some sanity and good governance. Another few more years of MR and his family establishment will make us a NORTH KOREA.

Mason Monday, 10 November 2014 06:29 PM

The light is begining to appear at the end of the tunnel, and we people are hopefully waiting for it to get brighter.All good wishes for the success of the forum as well as the candidate to be fielded.

Chapman Monday, 10 November 2014 06:41 PM

I think Arjuna Ranatunga is the man for the job. He is honorable, has proven himself time-and-again and is a man of principle. Plus, the whole of Sri Lanka loves him most dearly. Any mud slinging campaign by the current president against him will actually boomerang back to the current president, because the people love him. Food for thought.

dcn Monday, 10 November 2014 07:31 PM

Madame Chandrika can never be trusted as everyone will remember she promised to do away with presidential system within 6 months in 1994 and even after ruling for 11 years she did not do anything. Further in 2004 she publicly announced that she will not dissolve the UNP government but did so without any reason RANIL must not forget her history.

dcn Monday, 10 November 2014 07:32 PM

Well said

Brian Perera Monday, 10 November 2014 07:39 PM

If Ranil steps down Venerable Maduluwave Sobitha Thera is the pick. I am a Christian but, I see serenity

Tony Monday, 10 November 2014 07:44 PM

Two faces I do not like Charu Rajina and Achcharu Ranathunge

Premalal Monday, 10 November 2014 07:44 PM

Chandrika is the only candidate who can defeat Mahinda because she can get 20% of votes of the SLFP members.Those who insult Chandrika are Mahnda supporters

Jayanthi Monday, 10 November 2014 07:57 PM

Yes, I agree with having Arjuna Ranatunga for the Job. Certainly the MR government cannot offer any money to purchase him because he cannot be bought over. With his principals and international connections he is Ideal man for the Job. MR watch out.

Kondebandapucheena Monday, 10 November 2014 08:19 PM

Good efforts but Rajapaksha not going to loose this one also who ever is Common Candidate

SARA Monday, 10 November 2014 08:28 PM

I have no regard for any one on that Head Table, I had some respect for Ven Sobitha, but sorry not any more.All politicians in Sri Lanka are same. No one has any feeling for the poor people of the country. It is far better Ven Thero get back to his basics and preach Dhamma.

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Video: Parties agree on common candidate

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