Inexperienced Sirisena Taken on a Ride: UNP to Field Own Nomination?
Posted on December 4th, 2014
Dilrook Kannangara
As expected, UNP is trying to field its own candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
(Despite the Common Candidate Agreement, UNP Plans to Field Own Candidate)
This was stated by the UNP leader Ranil at a public meeting held recently. Maithripala Sirisena, who was always protected from the main thrust of election by a powerful party, fell hook, line and sinker into the UNP trap and submitted his nomination papers early! He should have waited till the 8th December when nominations close as usually happens. As Ranil quite correctly said, he has enough time to file his own nomination from the UNP.
Since declaration of the ‘common candidate’ agreement, the UNP has not done any canvassing for the common candidate. Now UNP leaders are looking for excuses to field its own candidate. The UNP plan was to get as many government MPs into the common candidate platform, get Maithripala to submit his papers and field its own candidate in the race. However, its plan to get many government MPs failed miserably. Only a handful of them crossed over. That too are unpopular National List MPs with no following in the electorate.
It is foolhardy to trust the UNP with its LTTE Diaspora connections, an active agreement with the TNA, financiers in the western regime change camp and a naturally anti-Sri Lanka mindset would wholeheartedly support the ‘common candidate’.
In the event of the UNP fielding its own candidate, Maithripala should immediately call off his election campaign as he has no chance of coming even second. However, it gives smaller parties more bargaining power. Nationalist parties should make use of the opportunity to push their demands to the incumbent who will be even more hard-pressed than now to keep the vote base intact. May be the common candidate can come to an electoral agreement with the incumbent for the common good of the nation. If UNP leaders once again backstab the politically naïve, as they did in 2000, it will lose the little credibility it has. UNP should learn to face the people directly without playing games or stick with its commitments. MPs with crossover ambitions must put them in the backburner until after the nominations are close. Sirisena’s security must also be guaranteed as his assassination would bring a UNPer into his place. UNP has a history of sacrificing nationalists to advance its political ambitions. Examples include General Lucky Algama and General Janaka Perera. Even the mysterious deaths of top military chiefs in 1992 are blamed on the UNP.
Maithripala’s mantra of UNP making sacrifices will prove to be comical as the UNP may sacrifice him before nominations, after nominations but before the election or after the election. This is best explained by the old adage if you sleep with dogs, you will wake up with fleas”.
December 4th, 2014 at 7:41 am
Every Lankaweb reader should watch the Indian interview and understand what India is expecting from Maithripala.
India’s World – Sri Lanka’s mid-term presidential poll
Listen to What New Delhi experts has to say about Sri Lanka-s 2015 Presidential elections… -Full Story- (https:/youtube.com/ – 04/12/14) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oftcyIyeorY&feature=youtu.be
There is sufficient evidence to prove that Chadrika was instigated and prompted by India to hatch out this plot against MR. Some reports say Indians have transferred Rs200 million initially and provided with satellite telephones to those who have involved in the plot.
From the Interview it is very clear that
1. Indians are against Buddhist Sinhala inspiration in Sri Lanka
2. Indians are against Mahinda because he refused to implement 13A fully
3. Indians are trying their level best to introduce federal system through 13A
4. Indians are against Mahinda because we get preferential financial support from China
5. Indians are in the opinion and expect whole heartedly if Sirisena wins there is a high chance that Mahinda will be taken to Haag for war crimes.
6. In order to achieve these objectives Indians have successfully carry out the plot to ousted Mahinda Rajapakse.
7. Indians want implementation of 13A and convert Sri Lanka into a Federal system
8. Indians want control Sri Lanka politically and economically through Tamils
It is unfortunate that some of the Sri Lankas are still supporting this traitor Maithripala Sirisena
As e-mail circulated today by patriots, In terms of family bandyism Sirisena has beaten the Rajapaksas even before he could get into power
December 4th, 2014 at 9:05 am
N M Yoda’s sayings are exactly correct. Its very unfortunate that many Sri Lankans do not understand the freedom that Sri Lankans island wide are enjoying now after MR DEFEATINGB THE LTTE MURDERS.
If RW submits his nominations from UNP, ITS A GOOD LESSON FOR JHU,SF,CHANDRIKA THE BANDIT QUEEN and SOBITHA.
Then many will realize that EVERY ACTION HAS AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION!!! DITTA DHAMMA WEDANEEYA KARMA.
December 4th, 2014 at 9:11 am
Story of the day!
Inaugural session for Maithripala’s shindig at Polonaruwa appears to have given him & associates a fore warning for probable end point. Not only did the symbolic white Pigeon release go seriously wrong with the damn bird descending to the floor of the stage instead of flying off, it pottered around for a bit before sauntering back to the cage to the horror of all on stage.[see attached screen shots] All of this happened within an instant while the bird handler gave another Pigeon to Maithripala to lob which flew away. There were many cameramen covering the event & am sure they have captured horrified facial expressions on pathetic superstitious political clowns on stage. If local networks did not milk that event low quality Sirasa video did. See here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMyd6mNZIaA
December 4th, 2014 at 9:21 am
unfortunate that some of the Sri Lankas are still supporting this traitor Maithripala Sirisena !!!
MS land side victory is unavoidable now .
let me go back to our 33 years old dream, Naalai pirakku TE !!!
MR fooled Soniya/Singh but not Hindhu Nationalist Modi .
NP have own Indian high commission, trail service run from KKS to Vavuniya, Palali Airport, Mannar seaport also Retire High court judge Chief Minister & cow boys minister.
What else we need now ??? oh ya… Bhuddist Sinhala forces are packing up ….
My only worry is 3 to 4 thousand VP’S boy escaped from IDP camp without rehabilitation may start fire wok again!!!
December 4th, 2014 at 11:03 am
I guess the UNP nominee would be General half track with his Beetle Baileys (excuse the pun).
December 4th, 2014 at 11:50 am
Dilrook,
Without a serious UNP candidate to garner all the UNP votes and the other candidate (MS) to eat into the SLFP vote base the incumbent probably will still get the needed 50%+1.
The UNP nominating a candidate of their own might have been the UNP’s plan all along to make the 2nd preference come into play.
Some of the JHU votes and the JVP votes also will go to MS.
Similarly some of the Muslim votes also will go to the UNP candidate.
The ITAK votes (the Lanka Tamil State Party, call it what it really is, there is no registered party called TNA. It is a deception similar to what had been done previously with the English translation of the name given as Federal Party) will go to whoever the ITAK nominates.
In such a scenario there is a serious likelihood that the 2nd preference would have to be counted giving the challenger a chance to beat the incumbent president.
December 4th, 2014 at 11:53 am
Ranil cant come in trough the front door, ever. So, the question is, why would anyone want him through the back door?
Chandrika gave VP a 10 year no elections/no questions asked deal to rule the North and the East of Sri Lanka. If that dumb bastard took her up on that offer, we Sri Lankans would now require a visa to visit a part of our own country.
During Chandrika’s time, the country had negative growth, rampant corruption, nepotism, inefficiency…….. and the list goes on.
During Ranil’s time, if not for the executive presidency, we Sri Lankans would now require a visa to visit a part of our own country. Corruption and nepotism was rampant.
The Executive Presidency is what keeps the checks and balances against separatism especially at a time when the Parliament is controlled by a party other than the party of the President. Granted, we need to reduce the unlimited powers of the President, but eliminating is not the way to go. Besides, almost all countries that has a parliament system have to end up doing coalition politics which destabilizes the entire system and promotes horse trading to stay in power.
If anyone thinks the Ranil/CBK involvement is a good thing for the country, think again. If this combo wins the elections, within 5 years, we Sri Lankans would require a passport to visit a part of our own country.
December 4th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
NMY,
AGREE with 1,3,7 and 8.
But Endia has been happy with MR so far. 13 has been implemented MORE than before. Endian companies have INVADED SL more than ever before. Endian laborers have INVADED SL. SL has put off signing the SILK ROAD agreement with China since 2008. GOSL has allowed Endia to build 20,000 houses for TAMILS ONLY. Endian drug dealers are released.
Apart from LOANS, SL has not got any closer to China. For SL China is only a lender at the moment.
There is nothing to say MS is pro-Endian.
As 13 amendment is SO BAD as you said (and I agree fully) why not MR scrap it?
December 4th, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Lets wait and see if this is true.
But I agree MS was FOOLISH to put his papers SO EARLY.
Arvind Gupta – the head of IT and social media of MODI’s election campaign has been brought down to SL to work for ONE MAIN candidate. He is paid US$2 million for 6 weeks work since November 21st.
AG ran a VERY SUCCESSFUL social media campaign in support of MODI.
(Source: Arvind Gupta Consulting, mykarapincha)
I will NOT reveal which camp he is working for.
December 4th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
Lorenzo
2 ml goes thru chandrika
December 4th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Why should UNP field a candidate ? Does not make any sense. These are rumours only.
NMY,
1. True
2. Please refer to
“Dec 04 (Hindu) India was a friend and Sri Lanka had best relations with its neighbour, he said, at a news conference held at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party headquarters. ” he + Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe
President has already implemented 13A fully to the limit of the law. India wants more and the president will give more after elections, Because he never said NO to India. Modi-Rajapakse discussion details never published.
3. yes.
4. They don’t like it but they have accepted the inevitable and they themselves trying to be closer to China.
5. No. India will not support this action but may stay silent. So will be China. But this is hypothetical statement – it is up to Sri Lanka to fight with a fearless leader – the President cannot fight any more, so he started giving in one by one.
* He set up LLRC – now has become a burden to future leaders
* He allowed High commission in Jaffna – tell me is this good
* He set up a commission with International Investigators including and Indian. This was done cunningly by initially telling public that it is a commission to investigate disappeared persons. This shows how stupid the government management of the whole thing.
List is too long to write here.
6. A completely NMY mind made lie. Please prove.
7. Identical to 3. and this shows how your mind works Mr. Neela (sorry)
8. Yes they want to control, obviously, but no through Tamils – that concept is NMY speculation with a unsound mind.
No. Not realy. But the president has given no other choice to the voter. In action , he is becoming closer to his long time friend Dr. Mervyn Silva.
* Mervyn said Ranil cannot produce children and Mervyn has children everywhere. The President repeated except the second part.
* “Having File” bungle
* Just before Mervyn’s son released on bail recently, he said “If this country has a bad justice system how come a Minister’s Son still in jail”.
* Look at the billboard campaign. How low has he gone ?
* Same as Mervyn tied that man to a tree, the President has tied the voter to a unnecessary election tree. Voters did not ask for one but only UNP asked for one.
December 4th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Mr. Seneviarath,
Lorenzo did not disclose the candidate. I bet it is the President , through Sajin Vass. You know very well My3 does not send us Happy New Year messages.
December 4th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
2 million is a small fee to the President and I think this is a good idea because that is how the modern game is played. This is a game to these politician and we boil our blood unnecessarily. End of the day they throw away all the difference and party together.
My fear is , if he wins he will ask PSC (Parliamentary Select Committee on Devolution ) to hurry up and implement the Federal System which India has asked him to do.
Please read what he said some time back -courtesy of Lorenzo Lanka web
“Oh, No! How can I make promises like that? I have referred the issue to Parliament. I have nominated government representatives to the PSC. But unfortunately, neither the UNP nor the JVP has nominated theirs. It is the same with the Tamil National Alliance as well.”
When asked for his personal opinion on the matter, President Rajapaksa said that if he spelt out his views, then there would be criticism in the media that he had brought in his opinion and that he was trying to push it through Parliament. He said, “We can use our parliamentary majority to do that, but I won’t. The Parliamentary Select Committee is an open forum. I will be implementing what is agreed upon there.”
Who ar
December 4th, 2014 at 2:58 pm
The Opposition Ship-Jumpers boat is SINKING, overloaded with All Chiefs!
ALL CHIEFS and NO BAILERS will SINK this canoe!
My Oh My … where will the Ship-Jumpers, the “excellent candidate” for the “Executive President for 100 days” included, jump next?
Unta Allapu Athath Naha, Payagahapu Athath Naha … Neda? Pau aney … thaama moda lamai ney!
December 4th, 2014 at 3:12 pm
Same as others, I am speculating based on available facts.
Please remember everyone is asking TNA to join PSC. They will join. Power devolution will be done. Please think about recent proceedings. Defence Secretary visited India. Indian Defence boss visited Sri Lanka. This is definitely coming soon !
Whoever wins , this pressure will be there. If president wins, he will give what India wants ( with some negotiations) – no one to object to him, as said above. He thinks he can get away from war crime nonsense by doing this and he may well be able to.
If My3 wins – he has opposition parties to argue with. JHU , JVP will definitely fight. There is no 2/3 majority. There is some hope.
So, in conclusion, people who want to protect the president at all costs – please support the President.
Those who worry more about the country, Sinhala people and think by coming together we can save the president too – please support My3.
December 4th, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Dilrook,
You said “In the event of the UNP fielding its own candidate, Maithripala should immediately call off his election campaign as he has no chance of coming even second. ”
You are ASSUMING that the National Interest motivates Mathripala and he will throw his support to the UNP candidate, but that will not happen.
He is motivated by JEALOUSY and ANGER against MR for not having named him PM. If Ranil W, the fox, fields a UNP candidate, that very same ANGER of Maithripala will turn him against Ranil and the UNP.
Therefore, in the event the UNP fields its own EP candidate, the MOST LIKELY SCENARIO is that Mathripala will contest alone without UNP and TNA support, sinking BOTH candidates and ensuring the RE-ELECTION of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Later, Maithripala will try to creep back into the UPFA, but the President will not want this turncoat; the future career of Palwatte Gamaralage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena will be to either scrape coconuts in his kitchen with a renewed sense of purpose, or to join that other back-stabber, Sarath Gonseka in his virtual Democratic National Party, and drown their mutual sorrows, common to both turncoats, in barrels of booze!
December 4th, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Lorenzo,
You said “But I agree MS was FOOLISH to put his papers SO EARLY. ”
Palwatte Gamaralage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena, who hid in the grass like a rattlesnake until the President submitted his nomination papers, failed to wait until the last day until his ABSOLUTELY TREACHEROUS UNP + TNA allies had nno opportunity to submit their own Nominations!
At least MR was taken by SURPRISE by the treachery of his trusted colleague Palwatte Gamaralage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena, but how can this turncoat fail to exercise a modicum of caution, knowing as he does the full history of TREACHERY of his newly found allies?
Do you think that we should ENTRUST the Executive Presidency of our Motherland to, and I quote you here, a FOOLISH man?
I have been pillorying Maithripala as an inexperienced POLITICAL NOVICE completely out-of-depth and unworthy of the responsibility of defending the nation, but yet you have been an ALL-OUT GUNG HO supporter of the dear old bungling reprobate!
Whisper to me softly O Effendi Lorenzo, do not my lips utter the truth?
December 4th, 2014 at 3:33 pm
MR has EXCELLENT RELATIONS with the MODI govt. of India.
No one can deny this FACT.
NO SL president has gone to the swearing in of an Endian PM except MR.
It is GOOD to have good relations with Endia but now it is TOO MUCH. SL is too much ENDIANIZED in the past 5 years. Even the TARL DEVI train carried the Endian flag FIRST and then the SL flag! These things NEVER happened in SL before.
MS has NO pro-Endian history. Even RW and CBK have not been SO ENDIAN FRIENDLY.
DUDLEY SIRISENA (MS’s brother) is a MASSIVE THREAT to Endian rice exporters and their local kallthonis operating from Pettah. IF his rice business can be busted, these Endian rice importers will THRIVE and SL’s NCP rice famers will go bust.
December 4th, 2014 at 3:39 pm
Ananda,
I don’t think he is INEXPERIENCED. He is VERY EXPERIENCED. In fact equally experienced as MR. But he was foolish to put his papers early.
In the same token MR too has done MANY MANY FOOLISH things.
e.g. Tamil Only YARL DEVI, Northern provincial council, Hack-him justice minister, NOT signing SILK ROAD agreement with China, accepting HORDES of UNP turncoats
December 4th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Cerberus,
The UNP nominee CANNOT BE be General half track, Sarath Gonzeka, without a significant voter base of his own I might add, because he is a Convicted Felon, and does not have the “civil rights” even to VOTE, much less appear as a CANDIDATE for the Executive Presidency.
The uncommonly stupid “Common Candidate” for the “Executive Presidency for 100 days” recently assured publicly his fellow TURNCOAT Sarath Gonzeka who announced his support for him, that he would restore General’s civil rights and his command of the Army.
Instead, what is awaiting Palwatte Gamaralage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena on January 8, 2015, is to seek REFUGE in Gonzeka’s virtual Democratic National Party, and to join the fellow turncoat in drowning their sorrows in barrels of booze, which he will have to pay for since Gonzeka cannot afford such extravagances without access to the military budget.
December 4th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Independent,
You got a point.
DEVOLUTION can ONLY be done by the person with 2/3 and only MR has it.
MS can NEVER have it. Even if MS wins, he will have only 60 seats!! If he goes for a GE (due in 2016) his small party will NOT win enough seats.
This is good for the country because tell me WHICH president used his 2/3 to do GOOD for SL? NO ONE.
SL people should NEVER give 2/3 to anyone. IF MS wins he should SUSPEND the parliament and ask people directly what the constitution THEY want.
IF PGMYS start doing ANTI-SL things the MILITARY should take over.
My loyalty is to SL, NOT to MR or MS.
December 4th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Lorenzo,
Can the President use Executive Powers to implement PSC recommendations on power sharing , without going through a referendum or a parliamentary vote ?
December 4th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
I support RESTORING civic rights of Gonzeka and his HARD EARNED 4 star general post. The fool has been punished enough. Enough is enough.
WHATEVER our political differences are the AMRY GENERAL SF must be commended for the GREAT work he did 2005 to 2009. He commandered the army to victory under instructions from GR.
We must be ungrateful people NOT to do so.
December 4th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Lorenzo,
You must be the only one who credits Maithripala as, I quote you here, “VERY EXPERIENCED” in the no-holds-barred take-no-prisoners rough and tumble of Sri Lankan politics. Even the Title of the present article we are commenting on says “Inexperienced”, does it not?
When will the REALITY of the SITUATION dawn on you? The KEY THING you should NOT DO when stuck knee-deep in MUD, is to STOP DIGGING, my friend!
December 4th, 2014 at 3:59 pm
Independent,
MOST LLRC recommendations were CARRIED OUT WITHOUT parliament or people approving them!!
13 amendment, 18 amendment were NOT approved by the people!
So the answer is YES but with a parliament vote.
December 4th, 2014 at 4:01 pm
But MS is experienced. He is supposed to have 41 years of political experience?
December 4th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Oops! Correction! Many a slip between the cup and the lip haunts me……!
……………………..
Lorenzo,
You must be the only one who credits Maithripala as, I quote you here, “VERY EXPERIENCED” in the no-holds-barred take-no-prisoners rough and tumble of Sri Lankan politics. Even the Title of the present article we are commenting on says “Inexperienced”, does it not?
When will the REALITY of the SITUATION dawn on you? The KEY THING you should DO when stuck knee-deep in MUD, is to STOP DIGGING, my friend!
December 4th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
“The KEY THING you should NOT DO when stuck knee-deep in MUD, is to STOP DIGGING, my friend!”
I told you. I will do a MADDUMA PANTARAYAN.
December 4th, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Delete my previous comment.
I meant MADDUMA BANDARA.
Apologies. Disregard previous comment.
December 4th, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Lorenzo,
47 years as a gofer hiding deep within the entrails of the SLFP, avoiding controversy in the field of political battle, and rising to his level of mediocrity, does not make him “VERY EXPERIENCED”!
He is wading out of his water depth now, and is SINKING FAST! Should be gurgling … any time now!
That was why MR did not name him PM; for that you need a fighter with a fire burning in the belly!
December 4th, 2014 at 4:25 pm
HERE is ANOTHER former Presidential Candiadate, M. K. Sivajilingam, exercising his “inalienable rights as an Eelamist” in the Northern Provincial Council meeting in a TRADITIONAL LTTE approved way: “Throwing Mace at his Opponents”!
We recall that this same “former Presidential Candidate”, and SERIAL TRAITOR, was agitating in Tamil Nadu to get the Govt of India to intervene and stop the military assault on the Eelamists in the last phase of Eelam War IV.
We also recall D.B.S Jeyaraj recounting at his website how the late unlamented Sun God, Velupillai Prabhakaran, disposed of his long time lieutenant Mahattaya, by hanging him from a tree branch in a gunny bag filled with a different kind of “Mace” … chilly pepper, and BEATING HIM to death. Such NICE people … ALL VICTIMS today, NO PERPETRATORS!
Send a consignment of gunny bags filled with this mace, redefined chilly pepper, for Sivajilingam to continue his work CORRECTING his fellow TNA traitors!
………………….
Enraged Tamil party provincial councilor in Sri Lanka throws Mace at council meeting
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Dec 04, Colombo: An enraged Tamil National Alliance (TNA) councilor of Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) has created chaos in the council meeting today when the chairman of the council refused to conduct a vote on a resolution presented by him.
The Council adjourned the sessions until the 11th of this month after the angry TNA member M.K. Sivajilingam lifted the ceremonial Mace of the council and threw it away.
Sivajilingam has for months proposed a resolution at the NPC claiming that the Army and police are continuing to commit crimes against the people in the Province and the Council has refused to take the resolution for a vote.
The NPC chairman and other council members have not supported Sivajilingam for the 4th time to pass the resolution.
The TNA-led Council has officially said that it did not want to discuss the resolution at this time and according to the Chairman of the Council, the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran had proposed to discuss it after the Presidential elections in January.
December 4th, 2014 at 4:37 pm
WHAT? This is simply not possible in that “Land of Plenty” and “Universal Amity” that has solved ALL of its ills with a Federal System of Government … IS IT?
…………………………..
India ‘hate speech’ minister Niranjan Jyoti keeps job
BBC.com
November 4, 2014
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refused to sack a minister who used an abusive term to refer to non-Hindus.
Niranjan Jyoti had told crowds at a rally in Delhi that they faced a choice between a “government of followers of Rama and a government of bastards”.
Mr Modi told MPs he disapproved of her language, but said she had apologised and called for politicians to move on.
Critics accuse the prime minister and his supporters of exploiting religious divisions to court voters.
Some members of his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made anti-Muslim speeches while campaigning for this year’s general election.
And Mr Modi was accused of failing to stop deadly religious riots in 2002 when he was chief minister of Gujarat – allegations he has consistently denied.
The prime minister has insisted that his government will protect minorities.
Ms Jyoti, who is food processing minister, was using her speech to supporters in Delhi to criticise opposition Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.
She contrasted Congress’ secular politics with the BJP’s reputation as a Hindu nationalist party.
She then rhymes the words Ramzada (Ram’s children) and Haramzada (illegitimate children/bastards).
Opposition parties called for her to be sacked, and have refused to accept her apology.
Roughly 80% of India’s population were classed as Hindu by the 2001 census.
Some 13% – more than 100 million people – were identified as Muslim.
India also has substantial populations of Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists
December 4th, 2014 at 4:45 pm
LTTE’s Prabakaran still lords over Tamil Nadu politics
IndiaToday.in
December 4, 2014
Dec 04 (IT) On November 26, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for stronger ties with SAARC countries at its summit in Nepal and thanked Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa for releasing five Indian fishermen detained in Lanka, MDMK chief Vaiko launched a citywide celebration of slain LTTE chief V Prabakaran’s 60th birthday in Chennai, complete with public meetings, cake cutting at the party office and organised prayers at places of religious worship at different venues in the city.
The LTTE’s status has been prescribed as a terrorist organisation by 32 countries after it was held responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and outlawed in 1992. However the MDMK chief has always maintained his full-fledged loyalty to the cause of Tamil Eelam and Prabakaran, often calling him a ‘freedom fighter’ and a ‘hero for Tamil hardliners’. Many feel this year, the celebrations had reached a new high, as compared to the previous years.
Vaiko has in fact previously gotten himself arrested a few times for delivering inflammatory speeches in support of the LTTE, and attempting to picket the Sri Lankan High Commission in Chennai, demanding a probe against the island government over alleged war crimes. The arrests so far have been made under many acts including POTA (which was later repealed), and sections of the IPC and Unlawful Prevention Act. Interestingly, in 2002, Arun Jaitley, who was then the party spokesman of the BJP, pointed out that Vaiko’s remarks had to be seen in the appropriate context and wondered if they warranted action under POTA.
What’s more interesting is that MDMK is now an alliance partner of the BJP-led NDA in Tamil Nadu and as of today, several BJP leaders including Subramaniam Swamy and H Raja have warned Vaiko to mend his ways, after he sharply criticised Prime Minister Modi for greeting Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the SAARC Summit.
LTTE is an outlawed terrorist organisation in India, and the legal ramifications of openly supporting it are varied. “You can talk about a banned organisation, even celebrate the birthday of its founder. But offering financial support, forming organised groups and recruiting people or collecting donations for its cause amount to sedition; typically any activity the organisation would have done to expand, if it were legal,” says GR Ravichandran, advocate, with a self-proclaimed AIADMK lenience. “But under the NSA, Vaiko can be arrested over several grounds,” he adds.
Advocate V Ilangovan who has also been following this case closely, says “Expressing affection and loyalty to the leader of a banned terrorist organisation, or even having his photograph garlanded publicly, is not illegal under the Unlawful Assembly Act. Only when such a gathering spills over to threaten the sovereignty of India, it becomes illegal.”
However, Vaiko’s stand on the LTTE and the Tamil cause seems to have little or no steam as an electoral issue among Tamil Nadu’s general public, as he has been seen consistently losing the elections, even in 2009 when he was in alliance with AIADMK – a massive regional party, and most recently in his own constituency of Virudhunagar.
Popularly, other pro-Tamil parties who are frequently seen supporting the LTTE and its Tamil cause are Thol Thirumavalavan’s Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, S Ramadoss’ Pattali Makkal Katchi (also an NDA ally) and Naam Tamilar Katchi – started by actor-turned politician Sebastian Seeman.
December 4th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
Rattled by China,others, India rebuilding submarine fleet
By Sanjeev Miglani and Tommy Wilkes
IndiaToday.in
December 3, 2014
India is speeding up a navy modernisation programme and leaning on its neighbours to curb Chinese submarine activity in the Indian Ocean, as nations in the region become increasingly jittery over Beijing’s growing undersea prowess.
Just months after a stand-off along the disputed border dividing India and China in the Himalayas, Chinese submarines have shown up in Sri Lanka, the island nation off India’s southern coast. China has also strengthened ties with the Maldives, the Indian Ocean archipelago.
China’s moves reflect its determination to beef up its presence in the Indian Ocean, through which four-fifths of its oil imports pass, and coincides with escalating tension in the disputed South China Sea, where Beijing’s naval superiority has rattled its neighbours.
“We should be worried the way we have run down our submarine fleet. But with China bearing down on us, the way it is on the Himalayas, the South China Sea and now the Indian Ocean, we should be even more worried,” said Arun Prakash, former chief of the Indian navy.
“Fortunately, there are signs this government has woken up to the crisis,” he said. “But it will take time to rebuild. We should hope that we don’t get into a face-off with the Chinese, that our diplomacy and alliances will keep things in check.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has ordered an accelerated tendering process to build six conventional diesel-electric submarines at an estimated cost of Rs 50,000 crore ($8.1 billion), in addition to six similar submarines that French firm DCNS is assembling in Mumbai port to replace a nearly 30-year-old fleet hit by a run of accidents.
The country’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine – loaded with nuclear-tipped missiles and headed for sea trials this month – joins the fleet in late 2016. India leased a nuclear-propelled submarine from Russia in 2012 and is in talks to lease a second one, navy officials told Reuters.
The government has already turned to industrial group Larsen & Toubro Ltd, which built the hull for the first domestic nuclear submarine, to manufacture two more, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
Elsewhere in the region, Australia is planning to buy up to 12 stealth submarines from Japan, while Vietnam plans to acquire as many as four additional Kilo-class submarines to add to its current fleet of two. Taiwan is seeking U.S. technology to build up its own submarine fleet.
Japan, locked in a dispute with China over islands claimed by both nations, is increasing its fleet of diesel-electric attack submarines to 22 from 16 over the next decade or so.
OUTNUMBERED
In addition to the leased Russian nuclear-propelled submarine, India’s navy currently has 13 ageing diesel-electric submarines, only half of which are operational at any given time due to refits. Last year, one of its submarines sank after explosions and a fire while it was docked in Mumbai.
China is estimated to have 60 conventional submarines and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, including three armed with nuclear weapons.
Ma Jiali, an expert at the China Reform Forum’s Centre for Strategic Studies which is affiliated with the Central Party School, said Beijing’s top concern in the Indian Ocean was safeguarding the passage of its commodities, especially oil.
“There are many voices in India who believe the Indian Ocean belongs solely to India, and no other country belongs there. That line of thought is common – but of course it shouldn’t be viewed like that. Our (China’s) view is that there should be dialogue and discussion between China and India.”
With India building its navy to about 150 ships, including two aircraft carriers, and China holding around 800 in its naval fleet, the two are more likely than not to run into each other, naval officials and experts say.
David Brewster, a strategic affairs visiting fellow at the Australian National University, said India will do everything it can to recover its dominant position in the Indian Ocean.
It may seek naval cooperation with Japan and Australia, and expand a military base on the Andaman Islands which lie about 140 km (87 miles) from the Malacca Straits, he said.
“India sees the presence of any Chinese naval vessel as an intrusion. There is a big ramp-up in their presence, which is clearly intended to send a message to India,” said Brewster.
India has engaged in intense diplomacy with Sri Lanka about the Chinese submarine presence, reminding it that New Delhi must be informed of such port calls under a maritime pact they signed this year along with the Maldives.
India has also muscled into an $8 billion deep water port that Bangladesh wants to develop in Sonadia in the Bay of Bengal, with the Adani Group submitting a proposal in October. China Harbour Engineering Company, an early bidder, was the front-runner.
“If China continues down this path and continues with this level of presence in the Indian Ocean then the Indians will feel they need to respond,” said Brewster.
(Additional reporting by Megha Rajagopalan in Beijing, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Tim Kelly in Tokyo)
December 4th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Sri Lanka TID arrests escaped former LTTE cadre
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Dec 04, Colombo: The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of Sri Lanka police has arrested a former cadre of the Tamil Tiger terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) yesterday, police said.
The TID arrested the former LTTE cadre Sri Skandarajah alias ‘Nidiyawan’ last night at his home in Sambalthivu, Trincomalee.
Nidiyawan, who claims to be a member of the LTTE intelligence wing, is suspected of leading terrorist attacks in Sambalthivu, Sampur and Nilaveli in Trincomalee district of Eastern Province.
The 38-year-old suspect had fled the country to Qatar during the last stages of the armed conflict in 2009 and believed to have returned to the country under a false name.
December 4th, 2014 at 5:25 pm
Thanks Lorenzo for my karapincha.
December 4th, 2014 at 6:52 pm
If MS is dumb enough to be used by Ranil and Chandrika to divide the Buddhist vote further so Ranil can come to power in his own right or through fielding a UDP front person in a plurality of the vote scheme, then he shouldn’t be in politics. Period.
It’s like MS lacks basic arithmetic skills and doesn’t understand that the votes do not add up for him to win the presidency and may only subtract from MR to help Ranil. If he is THAT loyal to Ranil, it makes you wonder what he was doing all this time in the SFLP.
December 4th, 2014 at 9:00 pm
Mud slinging at My3 BEFORE next week when the nomination period closes is FOOLISH. IF My3 is discredited BADLY, UNP will ACTUALLY contest KJ, SP or RW.
Then the Sinhala votes will be divided and UNP will win.
The RIGHT thing to do is WAIT till nominations period close. WAIT.
IF My3 ALONE contests against MR as a serious contender, then it is EASIER for MR.
December 5th, 2014 at 12:12 am
Lorenzo,
You are right. minor party agreements are with my3, not others. My3 with others, will sure to receive a lot of votes. That means sure win for Ranil and Ranil will become EP. May be that is what these people bashing My3 will do.
Yes. They should wait until nominations closed and start bashing and mud slinging at My3 and JHU , if not.
December 5th, 2014 at 3:33 am
President were to hand over 2,184 parcels of gold jewellery to 1,960 identified rightful owners in the North.!
is it happing in my mother Lanka ???
MR maththaya , you deserve third team in office Sir !
December 5th, 2014 at 4:52 am
Mud Slinging at it’s best- Wada Pitiya planted Ranjan Ramanayake to impersonate over the phone
The day before yesterday the caller,a viewer who questioned Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage during the live “wada pitiya” which prompted the Minister to end the programme abruptly causing a severe embarrassment to him has been traced as Member of parliament, UNP’s Ranjan Ramanayake.He had used the name as Sunil from Matara.This has been revealed through special information.
The call has been initiated through mobile phone 0712781811 and channeled via the Madiwela telecommunication tower.The name and address of the owner of the mobile phone Ranjan Ramanayake, 4D,parliament housing complex,Madiwela,Kotte.The identity card address is No 26/9 C.S Perera Mawatha, Moratuwa.
December 5th, 2014 at 5:19 am
Shame on you Ranjan Ramanayake!
The minister did the right thing!
An OWN GOAL by the common candidate camp!
Looks like the UNP will RUIN the common candidate.
December 5th, 2014 at 7:24 am
What has happened to My3!
Aiyo Sirisena!
“”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2nRnRjrjOI””
December 5th, 2014 at 8:01 am
This article by Dilrook has identified quite bravely a concern I always had but hardly anyone else had highlighted before. That is the disgraceful and dangerous sacrificial nature of the UNP under Ranil’s leadership, as stated by this writer, which I have extracted below.
“…. Sirisena’s security must also be guaranteed as his assassination would bring a UNPer into his place. UNP has a history of sacrificing nationalists to advance its political ambitions. Examples include General Lucky Algama and General Janaka Perera. Even the mysterious deaths of top military chiefs in 1992 are blamed on the UNP.”
To this I would also add the low down sacrifice to the LTTE the entire Army intelligence unit that operated from the Millenium City, by cunningly exposing their identities, by taking them to the courts under bogus charges.
It is also, very disappointing that the Rajapakse regime has so far failed to set up a commission to identify and hold accountable the perpetrators of thes crimes against the nation.
December 5th, 2014 at 8:04 am
I think he is about to go back to his old job, in the Bus Stand singing Viridu, a folk style improvised poems sung to the beaten melody of a rabana the traditional handheld drum and begging for money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2nRnRjrjOI
December 5th, 2014 at 9:20 am
MMY
its sounds funny, please translate
you sinhalee’s are so sense of humour people, sadly We Tamils are right opposite ( sudu thannikal)
December 5th, 2014 at 2:36 pm
NMY,
Since you are so attached to the President but lost your ability to observe, let me give you one hint to help you support your candidate.
My3 seems to be not so organised ! He could have read that virindu before starting to sing it. So can we depend on him to save the country ?
December 5th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Mr. Kumar,
Funny part is he seems to be good in singing “virindu” and he still remembers a lot of virindu kavi very well. So he says, if he is defeated he will make a living by virindu singing. That is the joke. I think NMY has translated very well.
December 5th, 2014 at 3:00 pm
NeelaMahaYoda,
Gosh darn it … and here I was touting being a STAND UP COMIC as the best future career for this uncommonly stupid “Common Candidate”!
But, as you say, since he is “VERY EXPERIENCED” in his old job of signing Virindu at Bus Stands, that may be MORE SUITABLE for him!
December 5th, 2014 at 3:29 pm
The RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH in Sri Lanka has been made possible by a STABLE VISIONARY government in SRi Lanka during the last 5 years, that has lifted ALL BOATS irrespective of community.
STABILITY of Government is ESSENTIAL for ECONOMIC GROWTH, and and the Presidential Form of Government is far better suited to preserving a STABLE government and confronting External and Internal threats. It is for that REASON that MANY countries, including the USA and France, have that form of government
IT IS THIS STABILITY & NATIONAL VISION that the JEALOUS ENEMIES of Sri Lanka want to DISRUPT and DESTROY by WEAKENING Sri Lanka’s Presidency and its PATRIOTIC government.
If they SUCCEED in doing so, Sri Lanka will REVERT BACK TO the “Banana Republic” that President Bill Clinton laughed at not too long ago, with NGO’s, separatists, foreign powers and anti-national forces calling the shots in our Motherland!
But, the PATRIOTS of our Motherland are not fooled, we will PREVENT THIS DEVIOUS PLOT by Lanka’s internal and external enemies come January 8, 2015!
…………………
Sri Lanka’s economy is stable and moving towards reducing poverty: Governor
LankaBusiinessOnline.com
December 5, 2014
Dec 05, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy is stable and moving towards reducing poverty in the Island, Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.
“Today economic stability has being established. Poverty has reduced to six percent today from 15 percent six years ago,” Cabraal said.
“We had only four percent economic growth at that time and accordingly it will take 40 years to make a person rich with that growth rate,”
“However we made it to eight percent economic growth,”
“Poverty has reduced due to that.”
He was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organized by LOLC micro credit ltd for grade 5 scholarship students who scored top marks at the national grade five scholarship examination.
Sri Lanka’s national poverty headcount ratio has declined from 8.9 percent in 2009-2010 to 6.7 percent in 2012-2013, the statistics department data showed.
The lowest head count ratio of 1.4 was reported from Colombo district and the highest ratio of 28.8 percent has been recorded from Mullaitivu district.
Official poverty line at national level for October 2014 is reported, 3834 rupees. Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara ,Matale,Nuwara Eliya,Mannar,Vavnia,Kilinochchi,Batticaloa,Kegalle, Tricomalee has being reported above the national level while Kandy, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mulative, Ampara, Kurunagala, Puttalam,Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Badulla,Monaragala, Ratnapura being below the line.
Cabraal said that the government plans to reduce poverty to two percent or less in another five to six years’ time.
He said electricity, road development and better income is needed to achieve this target.
“In 2005, only 72 percent of the county’s population were given electricity and 28 percent haven’t had electricity. But now we have given electricity for almost 99 percent of the population,” Cabraal said.
“Roads has been developed. Highways are being build,”
“There was a time, it will take a day to go Galle, but now people are travelling Galle in daily basis,”
“The other challenge is to provide a better income for every citizen of the country. It is very important. We are working towards that.”
According to Central Bank annual report, Sri Lanka’s per capita income has increased from 2,922 in 2012 to 3,280 in 2013.
It is projected to reach 4,240 of per capita income by the end of 2015. The Island is targeting to surpass 7000 US dollar per capita income to reach 150 billion dollars gross domestic production by 2020.
December 5th, 2014 at 5:26 pm
That song video by My3 was recorded ONE YEAR AGO.
He was NOT canvassing at that time.
Funny politician!
December 6th, 2014 at 8:00 am
Independent
thanks you, virindu kavi similar to sinhala bailas???
I begin to like NMY now, he seem to be so relax & funny person.