President Bans Night Races In Colombo

[edsal]

President bans night races in Colombo

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has puts the brakes on the conduct of ‘night races’ in the City of Colombo. He has declared that in future if such races are to be held, they should be in a place outside Colombo. The move follows complaints of inconvenience caused to the public and disruption to the functioning of tourist hotels. Several tourists who chose to walk outside their hotels were stranded.

Also affected were people who worked late and wanted to return to their homes.

SUNDAY TIMES JANUARY 5, 2014

[EAP]

GREAT NEWS.

I totally Agree. Curious to know what other Members think

[trinity]

Hard to believe.. Also he is in middle east these days..

Inconvenience to public can accept but other reasons such as disruption to the functionality of hotels and people who work till late night are bull crap..

Anyways if its true, its just sad news.. Really liked the event and enjoyed very much..

Finally f**k all who are in favour of this!

[Komisiripala]

His son had a huge stake in it. They've invested so much in it. It's part of their facade if showcasing Sri Lanka as this major Asian player

I highly doubt this

[MasterDon]

As purely a racing fan I'll be sad to see it cancelled...Other issues regarding the cost and inconvenience to the public are up for discussion ofcourse.But city circuit races are being held in far busier places than Colombo...Monaco,Macau...

But in the Thank you letter I got from the Carlton sports club it appears they've already scheduled the dates for CNR 2014...

[Crosswind]

Dad's way of punishing his son perhaps?

[Schiffer]

Well this picture has been all over my news feed on fb

[Watchman]

Am I the only one seeing this in a very different light here.

The organizers of this event to have conducted this two times already, would have had the relevant city/police/sports authorities' permission to hold this event. For a moment let's forget who the organizers were or the influence they had to make it happen. Sri Lanka is still a democracy where a parliament passes laws, the laws then take effect, and the law enforcement makes sure all laws are followed. No-where in this process-flow can the president just butt in and impose bans at his whims and fancies. This is NOT a monarchy.

How f%$ked up is our country that when something like this happens, the lawlessness of this process is completely drowned out.

Edited January 5, 2014 by Watchman

[Komisiripala]

It looks more an effort from the times to get a pat on their head for good reporting. They report on photo focus and MR, up one sunday at six, one hand holding a tea and the other scratching his... Brains... Sees the newspaper and decides "oh hell no!"

Really, times, grow a pair.

[Sampath Gunasekera]

Believe that “Eya mudal geva prachaaranaya karana lada denvimaki”.

Let’s wait and see for one more year... We may have it in next year too...

Edited January 5, 2014 by Sampath Gunasekera

[CJ5]

No-where in this process-flow can the president just butt in and impose bans at his whims and fancies. This is NOT a monarchy. Sri Lanka is still a democracy where a parliament passes laws, the laws then take effect, and the law enforcement makes sure all laws are followed. No-where in this process-flow can the president just butt in and impose bans at his whims and fancies. This is NOT a monarchy.

How f%$ked up is our country that when something like this happens, the lawlessness of this process is completely drowned out.

What you say is correct to an extent. BUT....you have missed out on some facts such as that the position of the "President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" created under the 1978 Constitution is a unique position and commands, if not the highest powers a Natonal leader can command amongst the countries of the world, it is a position with one of the highest powers and immunities a National leader can command. It commands even more powers and immunities than what the office of the "President of the US" commands.

For instance the President of SL is not answerable to Parliament for any actions executed under the office of President, something which even the US President does not enjoy, and keep in mind that the "President of Sri Lanka" cannot be summoned by any Court of Law in the country under any form of legislation. Basically the person holding office of the "President of Sri Lanka" is above the laws of the land for the entire duration of the tenure.

Also, as once stated by the architect of the 1978 Constitution describing the powers of "the President", the only thing "the President of the DSR of SL" cannot do is to make a man a woman and a woman a man.

So for instance banning races such as the one under reference, by "the President" is something that "the President of the DSR of SL" can indeed do according to the powers vested to "the President" under Artcle 33 of the 1978 Constitution.

Therefore you are incorrect in mentioning that "No-where in this process-flow can the president just butt in and impose bans at his whims and fancies. This is NOT a monarchy" . Legally and "Officially" STILL it's definitely not a monarchy, but "unofficially" and by perception, doesn't it now seem to be one?????

So the answer to your question "How f%$ked up is our country.........". Ummm.... it's well, truly and sufficiently f%$ked up big time and seemingly..... at the moment.....for all time!!!!

Edited January 5, 2014 by CJ5

[dreamracer]

We all know that

CNR gave a new identity to srilankan motorsports,

CNR was getting better every year...i thaught in the years to come CNR will become some thing big like "macau gp "...this is just a sad news

Edited January 6, 2014 by dreamracer

[dreamracer]

This is just the start of the year...anyting can happen, u know crazy stuff happen in this paradise island

[Rumesh88]

Therefore you are incorrect in mentioning that "No-where in this process-flow can the president just butt in and impose bans at his whims and fancies. This is NOT a monarchy" . Legally and "Officially" STILL it's definitely not a monarchy, but "unofficially" and by perception, doesn't it now seem to be one?????

So the answer to your question "How f%$ked up is our country.........". Ummm.... it's well, truly and sufficiently f%$ked up big time and seemingly..... at the moment.....for all time!!!!

Absolutely right CJ5. I remember the words of late JR who was the chief architect of the current constitution. "Only thing the Executive President cannot do is to turn a woman into a man or man into a woman". Banning night races in Colombo is nothing for him.

[Supra_Natural]

perhaps it got banned because Junior didn't like not winning? Anything is possible after all in this paradise isle of ours....

[Komisiripala]

Yeah it's funny how now, suddenly, it's a problem. Wonder how Monaco copes

[Watchman]

perhaps it got banned because Junior didn't like not winning? Anything is possible after all in this paradise isle of ours....

Hahahaha!!!

Considering the current state of affairs, that is the MOST believable explanation so far.

[MkX]

As far as I can see it all these sudden news are “chanda gundu” or well planned PR campaigns by Gov it self.

When water becomes still and clear people start seeing deep inside so they talking about corruption, inflation, law & justice of the country. Then someone put a stone to the water and everything gets blurred again. Now we happily watching the ripples and forget what we saw in the clear water.

From free trade zone case, weliweriya, to deaths/accidents of university union leaders to ruggerite, then capturing containers loads of alcohol to heroin and issuing letters to release them, and missing them under police custody, again living with Rs.2500 and cancel grade 5 scholarship, raping tourists and children by provincial council members… even a referee cancel a knock forward giving by him after he was approached by a player and offer a try to Navy team… all these drama happening in the country and both villain and hero in government.

These things will keep people amused so they don’t bother about what they see in the clear water.

[Watchman]

As far as I can see it all these sudden news are “chanda gundu” or well planned PR campaigns by Gov it self.

When water becomes still and clear people start seeing deep inside so they talking about corruption, inflation, law & justice of the country. Then someone put a stone to the water and everything gets blurred again. Now we happily watching the ripples and forget what we saw in the clear water.

From free trade zone case, weliweriya, to deaths/accidents of university union leaders to ruggerite, then capturing containers loads of alcohol to heroin and issuing letters to release them, and missing them under police custody, again living with Rs.2500 and cancel grade 5 scholarship, raping tourists and children by provincial council members… even a referee cancel a knock forward giving by him after he was approached by a player and offer a try to Navy team… all these drama happening in the country and both villain and hero in government.

These things will keep people amused so they don’t bother about what they see in the clear water.

+1

The sad truth and the pitfalls of democracy.

[Hoonigan]

Assuming that the news is true, I don't think banning the thing is the answer for the cited issues.

Majority of the people running in and out of colombo for work don't care much for races. To be honest, I'd hate to be stranded in a bus after long hours at work for this. And this is an actual problem.

What they should have done is to organise the event better, taking into account alternative measures for people to get home and adjust the track layout maybe. But as mentioned, the event is still young and has shown potential to get better with age. Banning it seems a bit too extreme. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

[Rumesh88]

Wait a minute! Is n't this a first sign of plans to stage CNR elsewhere? Possibly in Matthla? "kohomada tikiri mole?"

[Komisiripala]

Oh dear lord no not that I hope!! Can't go all that way men!

[Hoonigan]

I think they want us to fly there machan

"The second event is being delayed for a few hours until officials chase the FU##IN' ELEPHANTS off the race track"

[Watchman]

On the topic of retarded politics, did anyone listen to 'balumgala' last friday. So the hosts call up a number of politicians and quiz them about their plans for the new year as leaders of our nation and thier opinions on geopolitical issues affecting Sri Lanka.

The responses are more depressing than they are appalling.

[cefiroA33]

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_13B/Dec17_1387295043JV.php

The above link might explain why it was cancelled suddenly. But I too think later on they will reschedule it.