List Of Shame
Anuruddha Ratwattte, K.N. Choksy, Karuna and Tilak Marapone
Intended to allow intellectuals and distinguished public figures to enter parliament, the National List is now nothing more than a back door through which party stooges are able to worm their way into parliament.
By R. Wijewardene
Artists, intellectuals, professionals, distinguished civil servants, representatives from minority and underprivileged groups, are some of the people you won’t find on the National Lists submitted by the government and main opposition for this year’s election.
Which is somewhat surprising, as it was precisely to allow these groups to enter parliament and influence the government’s decision making process that the National List was introduced.
Historically, no instrument in Sri Lanka’s democratic process has been abused as much as the National List.
And rather than being a means of ensuring the participation of distinguished citizens in parliament, the device has consistently been used to fill seats with party cronies who stand little chance of being elected to parliament. Famously, that invaluable national treasure Dr. Mervyn Silva found his way into parliament through the national list, which in itself says quite enough about the extent to which a fundamentally sensible instrument has been abused. (See box)
The historical abuse of the National List is clear, but it is disappointing that this year, despite pledges to weed out corruption, both major parties have once again reverted to filling their lists with party cronies, rather than distinguished non politicians.
While it must be admitted that there are, on both the government and opposition lists, a handful of individuals who do represent the true purpose of the national list; Tissa Vitharana, and Malani Fonseka from the government list, and Harsha De Silva, and trade unionist R. Yogarajan on the opposition side, for the most part the lists contains unpopular party seniors and outright stooges. The government’s list contains such ‘distinguished’ citizens as Anuruddha Ratwatte and Karuna, as well as such oddities as former presidential candidate Sarath Kongahage.
On the other hand the UNP list is filled with non-entities. Who for example is Aruna Soysa of Kosgoda? Or Anoma Gamage of Kalubowila? And what has Tilak Marapone done to warrant inclusion on a list of distinguished citizens? Some of the more notorious government nominees on the National Lists of the UPFA and the JHU are:
Anuruddha Ratwatte
Notorious CBK era strongman. While acquitted of involvement in the high profile Udathalawinna massacre, his name remains synonymous with corruption and thuggery. He has hopefully mellowed with age.
Karuna
Tame(ish) Tiger. Notable for such massacres as the 1990 killing of over 600 policemen in the Eastern Province and assorted killing sprees in Kattankudy and Eravur. Still thought to command a collection of armed goons in the east, Karuna is another unwelcome addition to the list of national notables.
Sobitha Thero
A nationalist on the national list. JHU guiding light and beacon of tolerance and minority representation. This nationalist demagogue is bound to do wonders for national reconciliation.
Sarath Kongahage
Not so much a threat as a mystery – he ran for president under the duck symbol and polled just 2000 votes. Small wonder then that he needs to be on the National List to get himself into parliament. Curiously his wife is a UNP Provincial Council member.
Confusion Reigns In UNP National List
The UNP’s nominees aren’t so much threatening as confusing.
K. N. Choksy, former Attorney General, has given a series of pro-government statements. Begging the question, why is he on the UNP National List?
Tilak Marapone, another lawyer whose claim to having done an outstanding service to the country is questionable.
Mashoor Sinhalebbe, just one among several mystery names on the list. Who is this man? And why does he deserve to be on a National List? (If you do have an answer, post it on www.thesundayleader.lk)
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The National List — How Does It Work?
Enshrined in the 1978 Constitution the National List allows parties and independent groups to appoint unelected individuals to seats in parliament. 29 seats of the 225 member parliament are reserved for National List nominees. Parties submit their lists before the election and the number of MPs from a party’s list allowed to enter parliament depends on the percentage of votes the party receives in the election.
Therefore if the UPFA wins 60% of the vote it is entitled to 60% of the seats reserved for national list MPs i.e.16 seats.
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UNP Unions Unhappy With National List
Several groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the UNP’s National List. Speaking on behalf of the National Lawyers Association, prominent lawyer Upul Jayasuriya expressed his disappointment that the association was not consulted on the matter of nominations to the UNP’s National List.
He expressed particular disappointment at the association not being consulted on the nomination of lawyers on the list, including K.N. Choksy and Tilak Marapone.
“I have the utmost regard for Tilak Marapone as former Attorney General. Regarding Mr. Choksy I would just like to put on record that we were not consulted before his nomination and that he is not our nominee. As for the rest of the List they are non-entities; what have these people done to deserve inclusion on the national list?”
Crucially Ananda Palitha, Secretary of the CPC branch of the largest UNP trade union, the Jathika Sewa Sangamaya (JSS) speaking on behalf of the JSS expressed his displeasure at the UNP’s nominations for the National List.
“Trade unions are disappointed with the list. They feel there are not enough figures on the list who can express the interests of the common man.”
He was particularly critical of the lawyers on the list, “People like Choksy and Tilak Marapone have not stood up for the common man. We feel that as they have not worked with us in the past they will not be able to represent us in future – we ask that men more in touch with ordinary working people be placed on the list.”
Palitha stressed that the JSS would continue to support the party, but that the Union had been compelled to send a letter to the UNP’s leadership asking the party to amend its list to include figures who would serve the interests of the common people.
UPFA National List
The UPFA National List Is As
Follows:
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
D. M. Jayaratne
Dulles Alahapperuma
G. L. Peiris
D.E.W Gunasekara
Vishva Warnapala
Tissa Vitharana
Geethanjana Gunawardena
Ellawala Medananda Thero
Muththu Sivalingam
Shanmugan Jegatheeswaran
Achala Jagoda
Mohomad Musammil
W. J. M. Lokubandara
Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan
Anuruddha Ratwatte
J. R. P. Sooriyapperuma
Omalpe Sobitha Thero
Janaka Priyantha Bandara
Rajeewa Wijesinha
Lesley Devendra
Chandrasekaran Shanmuganadan
A. H. M. Azwer
Malini Fonseka
Harischandra Wijetunga
Sarath Kongahage
U. L. Shaul Hameed
Kamala Ranatunga
UNP National List
The UNP National List Is As Follows:
Tissa Attanayake
Eran Wickremaratne
Joseph Michael Perera
K.N. Choksy
Rukman Senanayake
Tilak Marapone
Harsha de Silva
D.M. Swaminathan
R. Yogarajan
Ahamad Hassen Mohomad Alavi
Mohomad Thamby Hassan Ali
Mohomad Nizam Kariyappar
S.L. Manoharan
Swarna Obeysekera
Ruwan F. Guruge
Mailvaganam Thilekaraja
Prof. Wimal Gunawardena
Anoma Gamage
Aruna Soyza
Mashur Sinnalebbe
Manikkam Logasingham
Mangaleshwari Jeyaratnam
Ameer Mohomad Faiz
M.S. Sellasamy
Abdul Kareem Mohomad Asmin Markkar
Cyril Dharmawardena
P. Ganeshan
P.V. Gunaratne
S. Manoharan
As I remember the design and construction of Southern Express way was started during the Marapana era of the Ministry of highways. The very senior engineers of the RDA(Roads Development Authority) knew that something was going wrong with the Structural Designs and they couldn’t do anything with the powerful politicians and their Associates.The ultimate result was a failure of a structure killing a school boy. The RDA was influenced by the political interference and as a result well qualified and trained engineers left the country for Australia ete.If those engineers were allowed to work independently the ultimate product might be cost-effective with high quality standards.
Yes that true, all these engineers had P.Eng ( Parippu Engilish) dingiress and they are from high caste associating with high IQ people like me.
why is this Marapana back – only God knows. Palipana, I tried to ring you in Surray but no one answered. We must save our Sarath Fonseka
Looking at the UNP National List, I wonder what made our UNP leader to drop Imthiaz Bakeer Markar from the National List. Is it some vested interest or Imthiaz’s fervent support for the Palestine cause or is it both with American pressure that made the UNP leadership to drop Imthiaz from the National list and give place to insignificant politcoes whose contributions are at zero level?UNP will become vibrant with personalities of the calibre of Imthiaz Bakeer Markar………….?
Vibrant personalities? Our parliament has enough of these scoundrels. All there to suck the country dry by hook or by crook. As for Empty Ass Barking Markar, he needs to first do something for his own community in Lanka before he can play political games espousing the cause of the Palestinians. Where was he during the famous Udathalwinna massacre when innocent muslim youths were massacred. Where was during the ethnic cleansing of Jaffna when the muslims were given marching orders by the Tigers? Where was he when…. oh, I can go on and on. Like the other so-called muslim leaders, he is only using his connections to fatten himself at the expense of the community and country.Long live their noble breed.
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
D. M. Jayaratne
Dulles Alahapperuma
G. L. Peiris
D.E.W Gunasekara
Vishva Warnapala
Tissa Vitharana
IF ALL THE SE GREAT MEN HAVE SERVED US OVER PAST FOUR YEARS, WHY IS IT THAT THEY CANNOT FACE THE ELECTORATE. THERE IS
ANORUDDHA THE CROOK AND MURDER ACCUSED A MUSSAMIL
WHOM WE HEARD OF OVER THE “BIG BRIBE” AND “KARUNA” THE
MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF BUDDHIST PRIESTS,
MUSLIMS AT PRAYER IN THE MOSQUE AND SEVERAL INNOCENT TAMIL.
WHERE IS ALI ZAHIR MOULANA ? WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THEM. LETS “KICK THEM OUT”
IF ALL THESE
This shows how bankrupt the two major political parties are of real men and women who are worthy of recognition by the citizens of this Nation.
The two leaders should hide their heads in shame.
Though I dont agree with most names on the National List, whatever the party, one particular name gladdens me. That of Cyril Dharmawardena. Here is one person whose sincerity is genuine and has always being concerned about the welfare of the downtrodden and lesser-priviledged. Just ask the workforce at the former Levers and Iam sure they will bear ample testimony to his gentlemanliness. National List or otherwise, we need more people like him to cure the terrible sickness that is now a part of lankan politics.
Fully agree about Cyril. Excellent personality and everyones friend.
i Like Mr Palipane who writes in from BC in Canada
He never fails to remind us of the degree he has earned
Dr Mervyn Silva will hand over his portfolio of Minister of Mayhem, Thuggery and other KUPAADI affairs to the veteran General, who could do better, even with the walking stick !
Dr. Mervyn Silva will be appointed Foreign Minister, to interact with other governments and impart his impeccable qualifications in the portfolio held(see above) to other such friendly governments
You are wrong. Honourable Dr. Mervyn Silva is tipped to be our Prime Minister. He will also be given the portfolio of Minister of ‘Disaster Management” in addition to other onerous duties!
Mr.Psycho is some what correct. Some of our doctors and engineers(not all) feel that they are high caste. Look at the Dengue case. Our professionals should be blamed. they couldn’t innovate a chemical to suit our local conditions instead going to import a chemical from CUBA. We are always blaming our politicians and we have some obligations to compile for the nation. Don’t forget we had our Free Education thanks to the Great man Hon.C.W.W.Kannangara.
“DARMISTER RAJJAYA” constitutional reform of late Mr. J.R.Jayawardena uncle of Mr. Ranil Wickramasingha, He creature of humiliated force theory. our poor country is completely destroy God bless you Mr. Jayawardena.
regarding Masoor Sinna Lebbe – in the UNP National List -
1993,2000, he was conduted General Election in UNP Digamadulla District
2003 he was conduted General Election in SLMC Digamadulla District
former New Eastern Bus Company Chairman UNP APPOINTMENT
former Ceylon Ports Services Ltd Chaiman UNP APPOINTMENT
MASOOR SINNA LEBBE IS CURRENTLY member of Eastern Provicial Council (UNP)
HE IS THE POPULAR POLITICIAN IN AMPARA DISTRICT
HE IS IN POLITICS LAST 20 YEARS
appreciated. Thank you.
CHAMPIKA IS SHOWN CYCLING. COME ON MAN. WHO ARE YOU?
YOU CAME TO BE KNOWN BECAUSE OF THE HELA URUMAYA. BEFORE THAT WE DID NOT KNOW YOU EXISTED. WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPRESS. IF YOU AND THE LIKES OF YOU IN ROBES ARE THE PATRIOTS, WHY DID YOU NOT GO TO
THE FRONT AND FIGHT. SARATH FONSEKA LED UPFRONT AND HE IS LANGUISHING IN JAIL. THESE ARE THE “SINHALA” DESHAPREMIS.
WHAT ABOUT THAT “PUP” WIMAL. . DONT THINK YOU CAN FOOL THE COUNTRY ANYMORE.
Sir I fully agree with you. To Save our Hero Sarath Fonseka – please email me – kandurata@canada.com
Malini Fonseka – what on earth are you doing on this list . then the Most Ven Sobhitha how can you sit with Karuna, the mass murderer?
Good article Wije. Keep writing
Dear Mr.lohan ratwatte,
You have done so many mistakes to ruin Hon. Sirima bandaranayaka’s name.Anyway don’t think that winner