Comments on: Concerns of first time voters in the 2010 presidential elections

By: Please read

Please read — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:51:22 +0000

Navy pays Rs. 200 lakhs for President’s son Yoshitha’s scholarship

2010-01-07

One of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sons, Yoshitha Rajapaksa had followed the course at the Royal Darkness Naval Academy in violation of Navy regulations.

Although it was stated that Yoshitha was granted an opportunity to follow the course as he was the President’s son, the Sri Lanka Navy has had to pay a large sum of money amounting to Rs. 200 lakhs for the course.

According to Navy regulations only a commissioned officer who has completed the fundamentals of the course could be sent to follow the course. However, Yoshitha had studied the fundamental course only for about two weeks. The Darkness Naval Academy awards

a scholarship to provide training to a Sri Lanka Navy officer every two years.

Sources from the Navy said that the scholarship was granted to Yoshitha by the Sri Lanka Navy spending a large sum of money and in violation of Navy regulations following an order received by higher authorities.

By: A.Wij

A.Wij — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:53:07 +0000

Well said Nishika.

Unfortunately, policies and issues hardly take precedence in Sri Lankan election cycles. And this time more than ever, given the cut throat nature of the election, and the desperation of all parties concerned, not least the incumbent.

…. “specifics regarding issues like the economy, education, poverty alleviation, healthcare and a host of other concerns must be given their due consideration and this election will hopefully be one that is contested on issues and policies rather than on emotions and nostalgia” —

—- Let us hope…. but I’m not holding my breath!

By: Groundviews

Groundviews — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:43:21 +0000

This article is republished without attribution in the Daily Mirror today – http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=72857

By: jayathilaka

jayathilaka — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:57:08 +0000

the generation of first vters are very uncucky that for the first time because they have lost the opportunity of partcipating a useful debate on important issues such as ,education health etc etc they have been compelled to debate about who is more corrupted and who is less coruupted ans so on.it is pathetic to note that in 21st century leaders of sri lanka still debating on this type of issues whereas other countries are well beyond such petty issues.

By: niranjan

niranjan — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:30:52 +0000

Nishika,

Yours is an interesting article. In my opinion both the main Presidential candidates are unsuited for the job that they aspire to. There are reasons why I say this.

I would also like to see reconciliation and ethnic unity take place in this country sooner rather than later. A well rounded education that seeks to change attitudes is the key to reconciliation. The Ministry of Education and of course the teachers have a huge role to play in this.