Comments on: A letter to the President on his re-election campaign spending

By: Heshan

Heshan — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:35:26 +0000

“THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING HOW MAHINDA THINKS HE OWNS OUR COUNTRY”

Politics was never a rational business. The addition of people like Mahinda makes it only more slightly irrational.

By: Thaaraka

Thaaraka — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:13:56 +0000

One thing we must when we are discussing presidents children and their education that they are still children and they too deserver a normal education which they will never get here with all security precautions etc. So if they are sent abroad will save money spend on security and prevent a lot of inconvenience to others. That child can have a normal student just like all of us.

By: Lankensforever

Lankensforever — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:21:20 +0000

Hi people. When reading all comments passed from a few people here, I feel why sanjana or any one who noticed that the funds spent on MRÂ´s campaigning is clearly using state funds. So why should we need to bother how SF campaign his election propaganda. As one of my friends who just got back to Europ having seen recent campaigning in sl, said to me, it is unbelievable the manner that incumbant president spends for this propaganada – he compares it as if giving ” poson dansala”. One who attend his programs are paid after giving them a free meal. How can a leader who just forget the grivances of the masses can spend like this is the quesiton that many ask today. A large majority of the country struggles to survive in the unbearable cost of living while a few who can address the issues of those poor ones, just waste those funds arbitorily.

By: Justitia

Justitia — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:56:20 +0000

Reading all discussions so far leaves me weary and puzzled as to why people argue on minor word usage. There are a lot of arguments supporting the absence of proof of corruption.Apart from COPE reports and the deliberate non availability of the many presidential commission reports,hard evidence is difficult unless there is access to bank accounts here & abroad,proof of ownership of properties, allegged 10% siphoning from contracts,ostentatious life styles,expensive vehicle purchases etc.Corrupt persons are careful to cover up.
But on the whole,there is clear perception among citizens that this government is corrupt.The worst ‘official’ corruption is the money spent on the MegaCabinet of 113 at last count. who are clearly sycophants ‘purchased’ by the president for his own survival. He became avaricious and hoped to enjoy the corrupt presidency for another six years or more but the General has upset the apple-cart.There is a rerrific amount of mudslinging most of it horribly personal going on.Someone tabled proof monthly sum paid to a website for this purpose.Now it is rumored that the central bank’s relaxation of money transfer abroad is to facilitate sending ill gotten wealth abroad.The day the Bribery Commission was disabled by the president, all of us knew that this was to cover up massive corruption.There was even a minister with Rs 240 Million who was under investigation and the two police officers who uncovered it were told by the Commission member who had been a top polce officer that “the minister has a future and not to investigate further” and both were transferred out – all this was in the media but there was no outcry at the time! On the whole all this is proof of massive corruption. I think that the country needs a change of governance. I do not know whether the General will be willing & able to carry out all what he says he will do, but I want him to try.

By: nil

nil — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:46:19 +0000

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING HOW MAHINDA THINKS HE OWNS OUR COUNTRY

By: SUNI

SUNI — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:40:35 +0000

I always wonder how Mr Rajapakse and Mr Fonseka spend lots of money for their elcetion. Since I know how expensive to study in America or the England how these people send their kids to foreign countries for their eduction. I always see rajapakse’s kids in sri lanka. Are they studing in England or Amera? anyone knows? But for sure Fonseka’s kids are studing in America and I heard sri lankan tax payers pay for their eduction. “JANADHIPATHI FUND” or somethin. Is it true?

By: TrueLankan

TrueLankan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:23:15 +0000

How much tax do you pay? You guys, learn to think not only to talk and write.

By: Observer

Observer — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:34:21 +0000

Sohan Bones, I wonder if you have seen Dayasiri Jayasekara weasel his way out of corruption charges about to be revealed against Sarath Fonseka by Wimal Weerawansa on Rathu Ira on Swarnavahini recently. The usually comical Dayasiri was nearly in tears.
I think he full well knew that SF had said hello to a fair share of the Tax Pie as well! I guess that’s why he ran scared.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xfYzVRLdl0

Makes for great viewing!

By: Kumudini

Kumudini — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:29:48 +0000

This is so ridiculous to assume that it si the Tax Payers money that is used for the Presidential campaign wihtout any proof . However the President has requested donations from peopel and the expats , who are contributing massively for his victory.
Some people jump the gun without any facts to collaborate thieir statements It would be intersting to find out who is sponsoring Sarth Fonsek’as campaign as well . .

By: Sohan Bones

Sohan Bones — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:39:56 +0000

@ Raj
quote: “I am more than happy to give my tax (a substantial amount) for a good cause. I am a patriot of my country and of Tamil ethnicity.

And you’re entitled to do so 🙂

As for me……. I’m a patriot of my country and of Sinhala ethnicity. I too am happy to give a reasonable amount of my tax money for a good cause. And I am quite convinced that this entire election campaign (leave alone the pathetically transparent SMS campaign) is almost diametrically opposite to the definition of a “good cause”. Hence I most certainly do not want any of my tax money used for that purpose, and have a right to demand that. Hypothetically, if I were forced to make a choice, I’d rather have that segment of my tax money be used as toilet paper (especially if it’s the new 1000 notes – one side of it, anyway!)

Raj is certainly free to opine that MR’s use of the tax money is a good cause and — and Raj is hence welcome to donate his money towards that. But tax money cannot be used for any such purpose unless the taxpayers have approved it; that is, if the budget has included this. I don’t recall any of MR’s budgets doing such.

Raj’s tax money and my tax money do not belong only to Raj or me, but to all of us. Therefore we cannot simply informally “approve” its usage for non budgeted purposes. Not even for toilet paper.

@Peter…
I have had more fear in the past few years during living my normal honest life of integrity under MR’s regime, than I was when terror bombs were going off and in some cases affecting my near and dear. Terror is not only of bombs etc; there are other kinds of terror that are worse. Right now I have a living nightmare of fear about “what if MR wins”. I should also clarify that I have some fear, albeit less, of “what if SF wins”.