Govt. to deposit 5,000 dollars in Chandrika’s account!
- Sunday, 04 January 2015
A plan is being hatched by the government to deposit 5,000 dollars in the name of the Diaspora to the account of former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and give extensive publicity to the account statement through state and pro-government media, including websites, reports say.
This is aimed at showing that the Tamil Diaspora was supporting the ex-president. Commenting on this, former head of the UNP media unit Mangala Samaraweera said, “Why Chandrika’s only? Tell them to find out my account and deposit too. But, tell them not to withdraw it after the election saying it was a mistake.”
Also, the government plans to say that Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera has fathered a child to a woman from Gampaha, and is to publicise a birth certificate to that effect.
Military officers in Foreign Service summoned for campaign work!
- Sunday, 04 January 2015
Several pro-government military officers have been recalled, at the request of the defence ministry, from their military attaché positions at Sri Lankan missions abroad in order for them to take part in the president’s election campaign, say military sources.
Among them are Maj. Gen. Sumith Manawadu, who arrested former Army chief Sarath Fonseka following his 2010 election defeat, Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva, Brig. Krishan Silva and Brig. Wijesiri.
According to military sources, the Army is 100% committed for Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory.
On every January 01, all military camps in the country hold a parade and the commanding officer extends the well wishes of the Army commander and that of his own to the officers. This year, the parades and the well wishes were totally committed for Rajapaksa’s win.
The Army commander’s message, normally confined to one or at most two A4 pages, this year extended to five A4 pages. After reading that out, the commanding officers had no time left to say their own messages.
The elections commissioner has ordered the military to stay away from election work on Election Day, but it is a big question as to what extent that order would be respected.
