Cricketers’ money to Mahinda’s election campaign!

 

Thursday, 23 October 2014 

There are plans to use the money promised by the sports ministry and the money given by the ICC to the twenty-20 world cup winning Sri Lankan team for the election campaign to make Mahinda Rajapaksa president for a third term, reports say.

Sri Lanka Cricket had decided to pay each member of the team nearly Rs. 28 million.

The SLC said the prize money given by the SLC and the ICC would be distributed evenly among the 15 members of the team.

The entire value of the prize money is around 2.8 million US dollars.

SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage are planning to bribe the president with this money in order to cover up their corrupt activities, reports say.

The cost of electioneering of Mahinda Rajapaksa is estimated at Rs. 4,000 million.

MR-JHU talks end in a deadlock

 Thursday, 23 October 2014 

The meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and coalition partner Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has ended in a deadlock, as opposed to reports being publicized of a cordial discussion between the two parties.

The President it is learnt has claimed there was no time to discuss and reach agreements on the proposals presented by the JHU.

The meeting between President Rajapaksa and the JHU at Temple Trees had lasted for about 15 minutes.

When the JHU had asked the President on whether both parties could progress according to the proposals presented by the JHU, Rajapaksa has said there was no time for such discussions since preparations are underway to hold a Presidential election in January next year.

JHU Leader Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thero had informed the President that the party was firm in its stance and its support would depend on it.

The President had then turned to Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero and said that he was the first to challenge the government in such a manner.

Ven. Rathana Thero last week issued an ultimatum to the President asking him to accept the draft amendments to the Constitution prepared by the Pivithuru Hetak organization or be defeated at the next election.

The JHU had posed a united and formidable front with Ven. Sobitha Thero, Ven. Rathana Thero, Ministers Champika Ranawaka and Udaya Gammanpila and JHU Spokesperson Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe all saying the party’s future path would depend on the acceptance of its proposals.

After rejecting the JHU proposals, the President had walked out of the meeting.

Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Dullas Alahapperuma and Basil Rajapaksa also participated in the meeting.

Meanwhile, the JHU at its 11th national convention on Sunday said the party would either support a common candidate or back a third candidate if UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was going to contest at the next Presidential election.