A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Back to 500BC.
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Monday, August 7, 2017
Govt would not protect thieves: PM
2017-08-06
Prime Ministerr Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking at a public function in
Hatton today said this government would not protect thieves, and would
remove them, but stressed that there should be room for a transparent
investigation.
“Today there are so many investigations that ministers are brought
before the Attorney General and are questioned. Was there a situation as
such before? Those days, the Attorney General was an acolyte of the
president. The Attorney General who questioned was removed from the
department or else taken in a white van. Now there is room to question
anyone. This government will not protect thieves. If anyone found
committing frauds, we will act according to probe reports. The UNP is
not a party of thieves. If there are thieves in the party we will remove
them. Allow us to carry out a transparent and public investigation. The
media in Sri Lanka don’t have an ethical right to say that such and
such things have happened. Why is that? They covered up corruption of
the previous government. They all went shopping “kade”. Lankadeepa,
Divaina, Ada, Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Silumina all went ‘kade’. Tell me
who did not do it.
*Allow a transparent investigation
*Says media does not have an ethical right to talk about what happens now
*Says
Daily Mirror wanted to him to resign from UNP leader post as he spoke
about the loss of SriLankan Airlines, Hambantota Port
Lasantha Wickramatunga was trying to reveal corruption but he was
killed. What happened to Eknaligoda? He also revealed about corruption
and was abducted and killed. What are they (media institutions) saying
now? Not to investigate on the killings of journalists now? When we try
to conduct investigations on these and frauds they say it is a threat to
security. They are attacking us when we conduct investigation on
corruption. We got voted in because people wanted good governance. What
the professionals, government servants and the average citizens of the
country want is just and free society without corruption. If we do not
do it we will not get votes next time. Also we do not want the votes of
thieves. We will do everything which we can do to give what people want.
Do not have a doubt about that. We will not shout about what we do. I
have named some media institutions today. I can also name those who are
in them but will not do it now. We have now established an open society
today. If someone robs he will get caught. Now see investigations are
carried out even against the family of President Donald Trump. If
someone does wrong he will get punished.
“I discussed with Minister Kabir Hashim about the losses incurred by
Srilankan Airlines. The Airline was running at a loss. The Rajapaksa
regime had bought eight A332 planes. Those luxury planes can fly at a
stretch to Chicago in the US. However Srilankan only fly up to London.
These planes could fly double the distance. What are we to do about
these planes which have been purchased in such an irregular manner? The
country has suffered a loss of RS 135 billion as a result. The country
had also lost Rs 46billion on the Hambantota Port project. The total
loss of these two is Rs 181 billion. What did Lankadeepa do when these
losses happened? What did Daily Mirror do? Daily Mirror newspaper asked
me to resign from the party leadership when I revealed losses happened
during the last regime.
The Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the government had created
an open society, and therefore anyone, indulging in fraud activities
would get exposed.
He said, “I am happy to launch bus service between Batticaloa and
Hatton. It is an important step facilitating the movement of students
who are from this area and study at the Eastern University in
Batticaloa. I am grateful for conducting religious ceremonies at
Buddhist temples, Mosques, Kovils to shower blessing on me marking my
40th year in politics. It is a pleasure for me to see all of you
assembled here. Today, there is freedom of movement for you. We all got
together and ensured the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena to
achieve this. We have not had such a political era before. Freedom was
confined only to a few. There is no need to talk about it. Today, people
can live and move without any fear. There is no racism or religious
fanaticism. We have to resolve our problems and forge ahead. We have set
up Independent Commissions. Parliament is being empowered further.
Parliamentary committees have been given more and more authority to
summon any official for testifying. If any Minister does not attend to
your problems, it can be complained to these committees. Did we ever
have such a free society before?
He said,” Let alone, we are proceeding with investigations into
corruption. Nobody can be allowed to do corruption. The police have
filed cases regarding some cases. We are seeking legal advice on some
cases. If there are cases, we have to probe. There was an allegation
regarding the bond transaction. First, I appointed an interim committee
comprising lawyers. Then, it was referred to the COPE. Though we won the
election, we gave the COPE chairmanship to an opposition MP. It was
open to all. Afterwards, the President appointed a Presidential
Commission.
Today, the Attorney General summons Ministers and questions them. At
that time, the Attorney General was a yes-man of the President. I will
tell one thing. We will not cover up fraudsters in the government. This
is not a party of fraudsters. If there is any, we will expel him. Yet,
let us have a transparent probe!
It is like in America. There are so many investigations against
President Trump by the media, Congress and so on. Upon receipt of
reports, wrongdoers step down. It is same in England. (Yohan Perera)