By W.A. Wijewardena –
Dr. W.A Wijewardena
Resurfacing ETCA in negotiations with India
According to the 34-point agreement which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, AKDfor short, had with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or simply Modi, the two countries have agreed to promote, among others, trade and investment between them[1]. There are three agreements that are strikingly prominent and promising. One is that they have agreed to continue discussion on economic and technological agreement, shortened as ETCA, which is now in an abortive state. Another is the direct use of Indian Rupee or INR and Sri Lanka Rupee or LKR for transactions thereby avoiding the intermediate exchange currency, the US dollar. The third is for India to invest in sectors that will increase Sri Lanka’s export potential. All these are interrelated and should naturally form the core of any ETCA to be negotiated.
AKD’s criticism of ETCA in 2016
But this is not an easy task for AKD, given that the political force behind him, namely, Janata Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP, had taken an anti-ETCA stand in the past[2]. Speaking at an anti-ETCA seminar hosted by JVP in January 2016, AKD, while appreciating the beneficial impact for Sri Lanka from globalised economic relations with other countries, is reported to have objected to the proposed ETCA with India. He had pronounced at this seminar: “Our opposition depends on whether such an agreement is advantageous to the country or not.”[3] He is reported to have further elaborated on this point relating to ETCA with India: “There is a political gamble here. India is trying to intervene in politics in our country. Already, there are many RAW spies in Jaffna. Before our country is made a political play-ground India wants to gobble our economy. Already India has a monopoly in the vehicle, medicine and construction sectors. Already, they are controlling our economy. Through that they manipulate politics in our country. It is this political need that jumps out of Ranil’s mouth. We would never allow this agreement to be signed,”[4].
Pragmatic AKD’s new view of ETCA
Eight years after this public denouncement of India and its ETCA, pragmatic AKD has realised that India is indeed a friend, not a rival, and a force to be reckoned with. The political transformation of a leader in this manner considering the best interest for his people is a salutary development. But to make this agreement a reality, AKD should now field a competent team from Sri Lanka to negotiate with their Indian counterparts on an equal footing so that those so-called dangerous components will not penetrate the final version of ETCA.
Praises and brickbats over new initiative
The announcement in the joint press statement drew praises as well as brickbats for AKD immediately. Ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe who had made two abortive attempts at upgrading Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement or ISLFTA to a comprehensive economic partnership agreement or CEPA in 2004 and rebranding the same as an economic and technological cooperation agreement or ETCA in 2017 had praised AKD for his bold stand on a new ETCA[5]. Meanwhile, those who had got their political training through hard JVP ideology have been up in arms against any attempt at rescuing ETCA by AKD.
Former student leader Wasantha Mudalige who struggled against Wickremesinghe government has told a media briefing that if ETCA is allowed, about a half a million unemployed doctors from India may invade Sri Lanka drawing on its adverse consequences[6]. Critics are reported to have informed a national newspaper that the proposed move will adversely affect the country’s small and medium enterprises and its services sector, implying that both these sectors are still unable to compete with more advanced Indian counterparts[7].
Taking cue from the critics, foreign minister Vijitha Herath is said to have denied that Sri Lanka has either signed or implemented an ETCA with India[8]. This is a ‘move for neutralising political opponents’, but it does not augur well for the country intending to enter into an important trade and investment agreement with another country. It seems that AKD’s political backers, namely, National People’s Power or NPP, is buying time.
Indo-Sri Lanka trade relations in the past
Sri Lanka and India being close neighbours, it is natural that both these nations should have a vibrant trade relation with each other. In early days, merchants from Far East visited South Indian ports to buy export goods from Sri Lanka[9]. But during the latter part of the first millennium, this entrepot trade shifted from south Indian ports to ports in Sri Lanka making it an important trading centre along the East-West marine route[10]. Sri Lankan numismatist, Osmund Bopearachchi has established through archaeological findings the presence of Sri Lankan traders in South India and Tamil traders in Sri Lanka[11].
Hence, historical evidence has revealed that, as in under trade agreements, it has been a two-way traffic and not trade from India to Sri Lanka alone or vice versa. Both the previous CEPA and ETCA had elaboratively identified these goods to be traded between the two countries under duty-free conditions. But this list may need further updating today and it is the responsibility of the ETCA negotiators from each country to make a hard negotiation of same.
Promising outcome of ISLFTA
Sri Lanka has only a four-and-a-half-decade experience of trade with India under trade agreements. The first Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement or ISLFTA, signed in December 1998, was in effect since January 2000. This trade agreement covers only the visible merchandise goods and not services. But why should Sri Lanka go for a free trade agreement with India when the global trade has become almost free with the average global tariff rate has fallen to 2% by 2022? Several reasons.
The global trade as a share of the world gross domestic product or GDP has increased from 20% in 2000 to 29% in 2022. But Sri Lanka’s share of exports in the world’s GDP has declined by about 38% during this period and it has remained even less than 0.1% over these years. In contrast, India’s share has increased by about 176% from 0.7% to 1.8% during this period[12].
Given this perilous state, Sri Lanka should naturally jump the bandwagon of India and seek to harness the positive outcomes that would emanate from that relationship. What this means is that though the global tariff rates have declined, Sri Lanka had not been able to benefit from it by competing independently with its competitors. Hence, the support which it can marshal from a dynamic and expanding nation like India is to be utilised fully by developing bilateral trade relations.
Trading with individuals and not countries
The purpose of trade agreements is to promote trade, both imports and exports. It will therefore enable the two agreeing nations to exchange the surplus goods, while filling shortages at zero or preferential tariff rates. This is true for ISLFTA too. But there are two objections to bilateral trade relations. One relates to the big-small country syndrome like India is big and Sri Lanka is small and, therefore the two countries cannot do trading on an equal footing. This objection is based on unfounded logic since trade takes place not with countries but with individuals or firms. If the big-small logic is valid, a small nation like Singapore can never have trade relations with a giant like USA. But Singapore does trade with USA well because the firms which do trading are guided not by the size but by the quality, price, and the mutual satisfaction.
Protection of domestic industries through a negative list
The other objection relates to the superior competitive advantage which one party may have over the other. In the case of ISLFTA, India is viewed as an economy with higher competitive advantage over those in Sri Lanka. Hence, Indian competition is feared by Sri Lankan counterparts because they, still being infants in business, cannot successfully compete with Indian products. As a result, it is feared that Indian goods will flood the market displacing Sri Lankan producers. This fear has an element of validity, but it had been successfully addressed in ISLFTA by having a list of goods which do not come within the agreement. This list, known as negative list, is longer in the case of Indian goods coming to Sri Lanka containing 1,180 goods and shorter in the case of Sri Lankan goods going to India covering only 429 goods[13]. This negative list does not enjoy tariff relief and, hence, should be traded under normal trading conditions.
According to EDB, on average, about 70% of Sri Lanka’s exports to India during 2000-13 had been made under ISLFTA, while Indian products coming to Sri Lanka under the agreement had been only 17%[14]. Hence, the fear that ISLFTA has caused a free flow of Indian goods to Sri Lanka is not warranted. These negative lists were introduced to ISLFTA to protect domestic industries and thereby allay the fears of local producers. However, an economic analyst has found that the list has negatively contributed to the growth of the protected industries harnessing both the comparative and competitive advantages and preventing both countries to get the maximum benefit from trade liberalisation initiative[15]. What is suggested here is that countries should expose themselves to free trade arrangements without prohibitive strings attached to them.
India’s signing of trade agreements with all the countries
It is in this background that both India and Sri Lanka planned to graduate themselves to the next stage of economic relations by commencing negotiations for a wider trade agreement in the style of a comprehensive economic partnership in early 2000s. These negotiations produced a basic document for sanctioning by both countries by 2004. However, the change in the Government in Sri Lanka aborted that attempt. CEPA has been India’s style of developing economic relations with the rest of the world which it says is being done with all the countries in the world. So far India has signed comprehensive or enhanced trade partnership agreements with UAE, Australia, Canada, Israel, UK, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, covering the entire world[16]. Sri Lanka remaining outside this net has been a loser in the trade.
Rebranding of CEPA as ETCA in 2015
The Ranil Wickremesinghe Government of 2015-9 sought to correct the situation by rebranding the previous CEPA as an economic and technological cooperation agreement or ETCA in 2015. When there was growing opposition to ETCA, I clarified the position in a five-part article series in this column[17]. I argued in this series that the wrong perception about ISLFTA has been misconceived since the outcome has been for the country’s benefit. The Government should place the ETCA plan before the people so that the critics can be argued out in intellectual forums and not in streets. The fear that Indian professionals in IT, Law, Medicine, and Engineering will flood Sri Lanka is not based on actual inflows but on the fear to face competition.
The Government should break the silence on the entire ETCA affair and subject itself to review by people, a good practice under the democratic economic governance. Sri Lanka should link its products to global markets through supply chains developed with Indian counterparts. Sri Lanka will benefit by opening its services sector, especially, education, healthcare, and ICT, to Indian partners. ETCA is a way forward for Sri Lanka to harness the benefits of international trade for creating prosperity to Sri Lankans.
ETCA not a trap but an opportunity
It is this aborted ETCA which has resurfaced in the joint statement by the Indian and Sri Lankan leaders after they met in December 2024. In my view, AKD should not treat ETCA as a trap but an immense opportunity for Sri Lanka to get out of the current problems in the medium to long run. In that context, the previous ETCA should be expanded further by incorporating educational affiliations by local universities with those high-ranking Indian counterparts. It will pave way for Sri Lankan universities to improve the academic standards as well as research capabilities. India is expanding its investments heavily in technology and Sri Lanka should seek to harness benefits out of those tech advancements. Hence, AKD should immediately set to business by setting up a competent negotiation team to negotiate, finalise and implement ETCA as early as possible.
Footnotes:
[1] https://mfa.gov.lk/india-sri-lanka-joint-statement/
[2] https://www.jvpsrilanka.com/english/jvp-would-not-allow-ranil-to-subdue-mass-struggles-with-his-arrogance/
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Ranil-praises-AKD-for-advancing-ETCA-with-India/44-770633
[6] https://www.thecolombopost.org/2024/12/5-lakh-indian-doctors-to-sri-lanka-with-etca-agreement/
[7] https://www.sundaytimes.lk/241222/business-times/indo-lanka-etca-talks-revived-after-presidents-indian-visit-581107.html
[8] https://srilankamirror.com/news/vijitha-clarifies-govts-stance-on-etca/
[9] De Silva, K M, 2005, A History of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Yapa, Colombo p 45.
[10] Siriweera, W I, 1994, A Study of the Economic History of Pre-modern Sri Lanka, Vikas, Delhi, p 133.
[11]https://books.openedition.org/ifp/7871#:~:text=Tamil%20Nadu%20and%20Sri%20Lanka,a%20different%20and%20important%20context.
[12] https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-global-merchandise-exports?tab=table&time=earliest..latest&country=Africa+%28UN%29~Asia+%28UN%29~Europe+%28UN%29~Northern+America+%28UN%29~Latin+America+and+the+Caribbean+%28UN%29~Developing+regions~Least+Developed+Countries+%28LDCs%29~Northern+Africa+%28UN%29~Sub-Saharan+Africa+%28UN%29~Oceania+%28UN%29~LKA~IND
[13] EDB, 2014, Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, unpublished mimeograph, Colombo.
[14] Ibid. p 5.
[15] Perera, M S S, 2008, Impact of the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement on the Sri Lankan Economy: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis, South Asia Economic Journal, 9:1, p 1-50.
[16] https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1781867
[17] They can be accessed at: https://www.colombotelegraph.com/?s=Sri+Lanka+faces+crucial+tests+ahead+with+growing+opposition+to+ETCA And https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/etca-or-any-other-policy-is-destined-to-fail-if-not-properly-managed/ And https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/padeniya-chinthana-on-etca-govt-should-fight-it-in-intellectual-forums-not-in-the-streets/
*The writer, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, can be reached at waw1949@gmail.com
Rohan25 / December 30, 2024
Modi states Tamil is the oldest living language in the world not just in India and every Indian should be proud of this. Tamil is spoken by only 5.7% (around 76 million) in India. Yet it is respected for its ancient history antiquity and richness and the immense contribution it made with Sanskrit to all Indian language, Indo Aryan and Dravidian and to the languages of Southeast Asia. Contrast this with the position of the Tamil people and the Tamil language in Sri Lanka. The mother tongue of 24% of the island’s population and has a far older history than the Sinhalese language and basically is the foundation of the Sinhalese language. Not Pali. Prakrit or Sanskrit there are just super structures that have been built on a firm Tamil/Dravidian foundation. Everything about the Sinhalese reeks of Tamil/Dravidian and not North India Bengal or Odisha as touted, to deliberately deny the truth.
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Rohan25 / December 30, 2024
Tamil and Tamil people are marginalized, discriminated and structural genocide is still being committed on them, all in the name of Sinhalese Buddhism that arrived much later and a Mahavamsa fairy tale. It is not only by the Sinhalese, most of whom are Tamil ancestry both native and recent South Indian origin but other South Indian Tamil immigrants, who came to the island, now calling themselves Sinhalese, Arabs, Chutties, and many other names. No wonder this island is a failed state because of their constant anti Tamil anti Indian hatred. Funny hatred for Indians and Tamil but nearly everyone on the island, including the Vedda arrived from India, and 95% of them have a Dravidian/Tamil origin.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pariksha-pe-charcha-tamil-is-the-oldest-language-let-your-chest-swell-with-pride-pm-to-students/article66440726.ece
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 31, 2024
Ranil W made a brilliant move of meeting Modi before AKD went and telling him to force AKD to agree to all what he has done with Modi. AKD without any whimper of protest has agreed to all. Now they are taking damage control by saying that all are under consideration. Ranil W knows that only way he could benefit is to put India against Srilanka. Stupid Tamil politicians are unable to understand this.
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davidthegood / December 31, 2024
Dr.G.S, Most people know that Ranil has no brilliant moves except failure and clinging on
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Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
DTG,
Wait until Evil’s proposed classic new Novel comes out, the title yet to be cooked up. Proofreader is going to be the “Gothapayal’s $400B War” fame, Kamala. Shakespeare, Tolstoy…et al. are going to fall on Evil’s feet for they were being such brain locked cases. Germany’s PBS will close it door permanently. France’s “Charlie” will hire Evils as the Executive editor. Langkang’s empty stomached Sinhala Buddhists will parade in Colombo roads, with the slogan of “Nobel Prize for our the Wildlife Sanctuary, SinhaLE’s modern Mahanama!” Bastardies, why these rogues waste people’s time and money so notoriously?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / January 1, 2025
No one is a failure all the time and no one is successful all the time. You have to give credit where it is due. Bouquets and brickbats should be thrown equitably. Ranil was a failure in leadership, governance, economic upliftment and elimination of corruption. But he has done well in geo-politics which need to be recognised. His problem is playing double game which was the reason for his downfall. He knew that you can only cheat powerless people like Tamils and his tricks will not go far with India. He has correctly surrendered to India, at the same time keeping China and US at bay without antagonising them. NPP has no escape from falling at the feet of India. Let us wait for the outcome of his trip to China. India is not against China or US indulging in development projects, but strictly no to any act threatening India’s security.
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SJ / January 1, 2025
“He has correctly surrendered to India,”
But India did not rescue him the way Rama rescued treacherous brothers of rulers of Lanka and Kishkinda.
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Ajith / December 31, 2024
” No wonder this island is a failed state because of their constant anti Tamil anti Indian hatred.”
It is not only anti-Tamil and anti-Indian hatred but also of pro-Buddhist fundamentalism and pro-China stand of the politics which resulted to the current status of economic and political crisis. When JVP started arm struggle in 1970, Sri Lanka brought Indian army. In 2009, It is Indian army was in presence and India was on the side Sri Lanka to eliminate LTTE. In 2022 Sri Lanka bankrupted and none including China and USA did not helped Sri Lanka but only India helped. Tamil Nadu helped. Sri Lanka is now in between China, India and USA. Sri Lanka is now more than 100 Billion dollars in debt and it may go up to 150 billion dollars in 2028. Unless it completes its same Buddhist Fundamentalism and Sinhala majority mentality double game politics, there is no escape route for this island. This is a small country, Sinhalese only limited to this island you should learn to respect all in this island, Buddhism may survive but Sinhalese identity may be erased completely.
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SJ / January 1, 2025
R25
Being pathetic, you are a natural
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
Thanks and you are so sweet and kind with no nasty or spiteful streak in you!
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SJ / January 3, 2025
One can be kind to decent humans, but not so easily to vipers and rattle snakes..
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SJ / January 1, 2025
You mean Modi the greatest historian?
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RBH59 / December 30, 2024
Trap or Opportunity? India to Step Up Assistance as Sri Lanka Faces Bankruptcy
On this cause AKD visit underscored the strategic importance of the shared future of both nations. “capacity building” or “development.
As Sri Lanka grapples with a severe economic crisis and potential bankruptcy, India’s decision to enhance its assistance presents both challenges and opportunities.
The recent visit emphasized the strategic significance of rejuvenating Sri Lanka-India relations for a shared future. As india has helped during the bankrupsy
Time the Sri lank cannot forget, China knows this.
China recognizes that it has limited influence, China needs Sri lanka for its silk road connections. as India’s historical support remains crucial for Sri Lanka’s development. Strengthening ties can bolster economic cooperation and regional stability. The partnership can also counterbalance China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean. Overall, collaboration on security and development is essential for both nations moving forward.
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old codger / December 30, 2024
It will be a supreme irony if AKD, who opposed ETCA in the past, thereby blocking Ranil’s efforts, goes through with it now. Or will the current Opposition now oppose it?
As to competitiveness, do we really need to protect local producers who have failed to supply goods at reasonable prices despite subsidies?
Why should consumers suffer under high food prices when the same is available much cheaper in India?
Why do we have to lug LPG cylinders around when even smaller Indian cities are installing town gas pipelines?
As for AKD’S complaints about an Indian monopoly in vehicles, these don’t come under the FTA. As to buses and their quality, can we run First-woorld buses on our roads? Really?
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SJ / December 30, 2024
I think that AKD will dodge it, at least in the form that RW agreed to.
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old codger / December 31, 2024
SJ,
Competitiveness is the key. There was a time when “Ceylon” umbrellas were highly prized in India. Even now the brand reputation survives.
Damro does pretty well. Other businesses should observe and learn.
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Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
Come on man!
After dodging where he is going to run? Uganda to Ameen’s house? Map Please!
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leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
So far, AKD has not rejected anything that was agreed by Mr RW. So, how an exception be possible in this regard?
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Lester / December 31, 2024
If India is so great, what is preventing you from re-locating?
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old codger / December 31, 2024
“If India is so great, what is preventing you from re-locating?”
Good question. But in bad faith from one who decided to run away in bad times.
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old codger / December 31, 2024
Apart from that, didn’t a self-proclaimed genius once ask why anyone would want to live in this “shitty country” ?
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deepthi silva / December 31, 2024
OC ,With Ranil gone the smell is less !
I see he has got a lecture organised for himself in India ! Indians will do anything !
Is there any subject Ranil has no PhD in ?
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leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
Desperate DS from UK,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ_SQ8jtT_A&t=5s
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Whatever anyone says or does, everything the RW-led team has done for the common good of the nation in the last 2.5 years is excellent.
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Thanks to the recommendations of the RW-led International Monetary Fund, the people are mute before the nation today.
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The L-BOARD double-pocketers behave like primitive politicians in tribal Africa, but today they do not talk about selling state property or anything else.
Blatant lies made them leaders and those who promoted them went into hibernation [edited out]
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 31, 2024
Whether one likes it or not, they have to go along with India’s design of subjugating Srilanka economically. If not they have to face drastic consequences. Both Ranil and Sajith have agreed to it and so will not oppose. Only Rajapakses who are in political doldrum will oppose to whip up Sinhalese hoping to capture power. Allow Tamil people to thrive, they will produce goods at reasonable price which will be competitive with Indian goods. It is Sinhala racism to keep Tamils down that is bringing the country to sorry state. India will build the bridge between Rameswaram and Mannar and road link from Mannar to Trincomalee, flood the market with Indian goods as transport charges will drop. There is fundamental error in the way things are done based on inflated ego, grandiose design and extravagant life style.
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leelagemalli / December 31, 2024
OC,
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKGlNmTwpyY
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A broad comparison between Dr. Manmohan Singh and his politics and Mr. Wickremesinghe’s politics. Worth watching. Please let me know what you think of the video.
I don’t care if our PISSU lady calls me a “godaya/landei/rube/county bumpkin or a LTTE sympathizer” I don’t care much about her sarcasm. However, I am against DS or the like attacking true souls like Lanka Scott or such.
–
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deepthi silva / January 1, 2025
Leela my buddy, I see that your elder brother Rohan 25 ( another Sinhala name ! !) has woken up and come running to the arena in his flimsy vetti !
Hope it is ties around his large belly securely !
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old codger / January 2, 2025
Deepthi,
“Rohan 25 ( another Sinhala name !).
Sorry you are wrong again. “Rohan is both a given name and a surname. It has multiple origins, including Persian, Indian, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and Japanese.[” It, along with Ranjit, Sunil, Gunavardhana, Nanayakkara, etc are quite common in any South Indian phone directory.
Your name isn’t Sinhala either. You had better call yourself Kalu Menika or something.
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
The Sinhalese word for gem Menick and its derivative Menika are both derived from the Tamil word Manickam meaning a precious stone and a very common name, so dear Deepthi should not use this.
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leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
OC,
I think the one that best fits her character is:
1) Vattiamma
2) Hinnihami (a neighbor who worked for Amma in the tea estate in the south for so long)
3) Rosalin nona
4) Dayawati (a Kopi Kade gossipy lady who insulted everyone without knowing anything)
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4) – to me, most match name to Deepthi is Dayawathi
.
Deepthi is so insightful that she doesn’t see it because of her pre-existing dementia issues and complicated medical history (remember? gender issues?).
.
She never checks twice before jump on to attack anyone malciously. She forgets a lot of things when she starts commenting, but Ramona is a little better today.
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deepthi silva / January 2, 2025
OC you are so profound ! You must have a PhD ! May be several !
Tell me, why did you pick two English words , ‘old” and ” Codger” ?
Mathriee Wickramasinghe’s influence ? English and more English !
Native Vedda ? I thought all veddas are native ?
Why the English word “native” ? Patronising the early hunter gatherers ?
Also your followers, why so many Sinhala names when we all know they are Tamil ?
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old codger / January 2, 2025
Deepthi,
“why so many Sinhala names when we all know they are Tamil ?”
OK, since you are into linguistics today, give me a few names which are exclusively “Sinhala”?
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leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
BS lessions from a mad cow !
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Native Vedda / January 3, 2025
Deepthi silva
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“Why the English word “native” ?”
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You never provided a preamble for your name deepthi Silva originated from Latin, popular in Portugal, Brasil, Spain, among Sephardic Jews, …….. In your ancestral home land South India they spell Deepthi however in the distant North they spell Deepti or Dipti. …….. Among Indians Deepthi means …………………………
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Your name sounds like Dona Catherina.
Were your parents so lazy to pick a pure Sinhala name like Podi Menike, ……
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deepthi silva / January 3, 2025
Codger,who is wrong ?
You know very well why this Rohan 25 is using that name (like Leela ,Manel etc) on this forum.
That is my question ,Tamilians dishonestly using Sinhala names to confuse the reader.
I am not interested in where some word originated. That kind of stupid research I will leave for you and Scotty man .
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leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
DS,
.
You must be dreaming a lot.
.
Rohan 25 joined CT not long ago. I think he may be from Canada.
SM knew him better than me., I saw him praising him several times.
He must be a young man in 30ties..
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Anyway you don’t have to follow him but the things he says can be eye opening sometimes. Get well soon !
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Mahila / December 31, 2024
OC,
I fully agree with your reservation!!??
For SL to run “FIRST-WORLD BUSES”, we need to first have First-world Roads, Bi-Roads, Streets and Avenues, if we are to service the community at large!!?? For that we have to retrain our Road workers, in Municipalities and RDA to perform according to STRICT civil engineering code!!?? They have over time forgotten basics of road development as time passed on after Training at Universities, Technical Colleges and Apprentice ships!!!??? First and foremost, the roads have to be level, and gradients strictly maintained in respect of road humps, pedestrian crossings to universally accepted limits – NOT to profile the ‘SHAPE OF AFFLICTION’ they “seem to fantasise and adore from time to time” – to prevent damage to these EXPENSIVE Omnibuses and ‘Grind them to a HALT’!!?? Otherwise it’ll be KAPUT for the whole project before starting even the conversion!!?? Confined, destined to commute only in ‘TRUCK-BUSES’ forever, capable of overcoming, traversing through LAMPOONED concrete, mortar and TAR premix varieties as SL’s much adored Highway systems!!??
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old codger / December 31, 2024
Mahila,
I can’t understand the idiots who ask for more comfortable buses/trains but object to fare increases in the next breath.
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leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
OC/Mahila,
.
It is simply because they are made to believe that they are in a position above. It was promoted by the Rajapaksa mantra for the last 15 years until no one could reverse it. They are believed to be a “powerful nation” even though they have empty pockets. … My foot! The best examples are provided by our high IQ joker and his unemployed Siamese sister in the UK. Both of them never allow minorities to take their place. ChatGPT has been around for so long, Joker Lester has been giving his “fun activities”.
Some compare them to Israelis or other progressives, whatever the begging bowl of their agenda.
:
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Lester / January 2, 2025
Babalawathie/Leela,
I know English is not your first language, but try to make the lies sound more believable. ChatGPT was released on November 30, 2022. I only use it as a reference for some data point or calculation, otherwise it’s too PC.
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leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
Lester Joker,
.
You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all people all the time. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out. I hope you learn to study your archives for your own good this year. toi .. toi.. toi..
.
I make some mistakes by accident before posting comments that have a lot to do with traveling around my world. I apologize for that, but your stupid comments are even more distinquahsable and keep us entertained for months.
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LankaScot / January 2, 2025
Hello Lester,
I would have thought that being so up to date in IT that you would use your AMD Ryzen 9 7950X based PC for Calculations.
We used the Ryzen Threadripper for running our Simulation Software back in 2020 – very, very fast.
Does your comment mean that Artificial Intelligence has decided the being PC is right, or is it not as independent as you make out?
Best regards
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Lester / January 3, 2025
Scot,
Try and see if you can install a 16 TB HDD on Windows 10 with Rufus. Even with GPT initialization, you will only get 2 TB. I had to partition it several times using the BIOS before it recognized the 16 TB. I don’t use AMD products. The chips have heating issues and burn out quickly. The last laptop I bought is an Alienware X17 with Intel Core i9-13900K and GeForce RTX 3070.
/
old codger / January 2, 2025
“only use it (ChatGPT) as a reference for some data point or calculation, otherwise it’s too PC.”
Also for telling us that Manmohan Singh was Italian.
Or that Turkey is an Arab country.
/
Tony / December 30, 2024
Trap.
/
Buddhist1 / December 30, 2024
Every country in the world including G7 countries have spies of other countries on their soil. So RAW agents in Sri Lanka is a normal. India is going to be the third largest economy in the world very soon and it has the largest military in the neighborhood. So signing any agreement with India for trade and security should not be an issue. However, certain measures have to be included in such agreements in order to protect the traditional industries of Sri Lanka. One way of handling this is to ensure that majority shares in any joint venture in traditional industries should only be in the hands of Sri Lankans Other than these traditional industries Indians should be allowed to have 100% ownership if required. Taxation rates should be similar in both countries for cross boarder trades and businesses.
/
Lester / December 31, 2024
” India is going to be the third largest economy in the world very soon and it has the largest military in the neighborhood.”
The primary reason India has such a large economy is because of its massive population. To use 2023 as an example, the per capita income was around $2484 USD, which translates to the average Indian earning around $207 USD per month. According to ChatGPT, “The average monthly income of Americans was approximately $207 in the year 1920.” So an Indian in 2023 had an income close to the average American in 1920. So even with its large population, there is a clear underutilization/misallocation of resources (land, labor, capital) due to corruption, brain drain, caste, and other factors.
Regarding the Indian military, it cannot win in Kashmir or secure the border with China. 100K Indian soldiers were given a thrashing by LTTE child soldiers and sent packing.
/
LankaScot / December 31, 2024
Hello Lester,
Average Salary for an American School Teacher in 1920 was $ 970 or around $ 80 per month. One dollar back then is worth around 15 Dollars today or around $ 1200 per month at todays rates. https://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/his/e_prices1.htm
In 1950 a Public School Teacher earned on average $ 2794/year around $ 230 per month.
So according to those figures an average Indian Salary per Month of $ 207 (your figures) was not equivalent (in actual Dollars) to 1920 but around 1950. If you take inflation into account it is much worse of course.
Either way don’t believe ChatGPT, go to the Source
Now lets see your convoluted defence.
Best regards
/
old codger / December 31, 2024
LS,
“Now lets see your convoluted defence.”
Complete with references to other people’s marital habits. 🤣🤣
/
leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
OC, LS,
.
what happened to SINHALA_MAN?… poor guy may be caught by some health issues ?
.
I was against his stupid comments, but I dont think I should not refrain wishing him sooner recovery if he is he really sick.
/
Lester / January 1, 2025
Hello Scot,
Only your logic is convoluted. You cannot use just one category of workers (teachers) to make your claim. You have to use the average. “A general estimate for the average annual income for American workers in the 1920s is around $1,200 to $1,500 per year (about $100 to $125 per month).” Obviously women earned less, which is your “school teacher” figure is low.
” If you take inflation into account it is much worse of course.”
That is also false. Purchasing power was more in the 1950’s and 1920’s, but the cost of goods and services was also less. Purchasing power was more, but income was far less, so the figures even out at the end. Income is the obvious equalizer.
Even in the 1920’s, the US was much more industrialized than India. Higher living standard = higher prices. Technology places an upper bound on inflation.
/
Lester / January 2, 2025
The original argument I made is correct. Even when you account for inflation, the typical US worker made more in the 1920’s than the average Indian worker in 2023. And the AI agrees.
1920s U.S. Worker Income: In the 1920s, the average income for American workers was relatively higher, especially when adjusted for inflation. For example, in 1929, the average U.S. worker earned around $1,400, which, when adjusted for inflation to 2023, would be roughly $20,000 to $25,000.
2023 Indian Worker Income: As of 2023, the average annual income in India is considerably lower. According to various reports, the average annual income of an Indian worker is around $2,000 to $2,500, depending on the source and the sector.
One could all these calculations by hand, but why waste time? Only fools out of touch with technology will do it that way and still fail to understand inflation.
/
old codger / January 2, 2025
“Only fools out of touch with technology will do it that way and still fail to understand inflation.”
But some fools who claim to be in touch with technology still don’t know that the average resident of TN earns more than the average resident of Sri Lanka.
/
LankaScot / January 2, 2025
Hello Lester,
Remember “Now lets see your convoluted defence.”?
Best regards
/
Lester / January 2, 2025
Scot,
You are intellectually dishonest. As in, when you are shown to be wrong, you continue to defend your wrong position. This kind of behavior is typical of those without higher education. You also claim to be knowledgeable in areas where you clearly lack knowledge. Dunning-Kruger effect.
/
LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello Lester,
The old expression “Pot calling the Kettle Black” is whispering in my ear.
Best regards
/
Lester / January 3, 2025
Scot,
Hopefully those Autocad & Visio drawings you gave to the “engineer” were tossed in the rubbish bin. It is unethical, if not illegal, for a licensed contractor to rely on documentation (regardless of the quality) provided by those without the proper credentials. Even your hero from 1945 chose a reputable architect to design his buildings: https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2014/12/Hitler-hosts-the-Mufti-1024×640.jpg.
You did say you support the Palestinian “cause”, no “strings” attached, that includes all the SS clauses in addition to kidnapping of teenagers and improvised use of C-4? Guess who else met your hero? Subhas Chandra Bose (Indian side) and the IRA. Call it the “Golden Age” for anti-Semites.
/
old codger / January 3, 2025
LS,
Lester, like the Pope, is always right, even when he claims that 89% of Sri Lankans are Sinhalese. . But the Pope doesn’t fly into childish tantrums when he is contradicted.
/
old codger / January 3, 2025
“You are intellectually dishonest.”
At least he is using his intellect to be (allegedly) dishonest. Much better than a person(?) with no intellect at all using ChatGPT to replace it.
This kind of behavior is typical of those whose education has overpowered their common sense. . They also claim to be knowledgeable in areas where they clearly lack knowledge, like 300 psi pumps . Malle-pol effect.
/
old codger / January 2, 2025
As usual, lying Lester lies again.
“The original argument I made is correct. “
The average Indian salary is around 450 USD
The average Sri Lankan salary is around 260 USD.
https://www.timecamp.com/average-salary/sri-lanka/
/
old codger / December 31, 2024
(In the interest of countering disinformation from professional liars )
Tamilnadu currently has a higher per capita income than Sri Lanka. It has 3 times the population but 6 major car factories. Its food production is enough for export.
Why does Sri Lanka have a lower PCI?
There is a clear underutilization/misallocation of resources (land, labor, capital) due to corruption, brain drain, caste, and other factors.🤣🤣🤣
/
Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
Hey Lester,
South Asian countries are rated as 200 to 300 years behind the Western counties. Let’s take that comment on the face value, for India and all its neighbors, and proceed further. So roughly Indian, (or Wildlife sanctuary) Lankawe residents are, only today having the New Year Birth of the American year of 1825. Could you tell me about the American GDP per-capita in 1825, so I can figure out how below the Indians are now, then its neighbors estimated living standards or once upon a living standard of the world’s richest country? I am sure that “India faring better in this contemporary era” is the answer for both parts of that question.
“The primary reason India has such a large economy is because of its massive population.”
In Sadampi’s style, don’t underrate or, with a blind sarcasm, don’t underestimate India’s recent achievements in many areas. Balance of payments, international diplomacy, living standard growth, capital accumulation, science, technology, education, modern cities and infrastructures….. India is ready with its Hyperloop, 600 KMPH, Maglev trains, but now only America pride, the last of the Mohican, falling from air, piece by piece from air. The slogan is “Going, Going Boeing, the Planes are Falling”. Democrats and Republicans are playing their part in Langkang’s “UNP-SLFP” playmate games.
/
Lester / January 2, 2025
Mallaiyuran,
One difference between the Western countries and the South Asian countries is the lack of a strong middle class in the latter. This is due to “wealth inequality.” Reasons for wealth inequality: (I) tax cheating (government cannot re-invest money for social welfare) (II) lack of advanced technology (limits production & creates inefficiences), (III) government corruption, (IV) religion.Wealth inequality also creates a brain drain. Those Indians who go to IIT, go to Silicon Valley soon after and don’t come back. IIT’s are very good, but not a substitute for Silicon Valley (15% of US GDP). Same thing with Sri Lanka. Doctors, engineers etc. run away for high-paying jobs & only come back for holidays. So the government has to create strong incentives for the middle class to stay in the country, otherwise they will run away.
Corruption is bad in Sri Lanka, 1000x worse in India. Because with a billion people, profits from scams compound 100x. This is the main reason India will not become a superpower. Famous people, including Indians, agree India will not become a superpower. Did you see how India handled the COVID-19? The Sri Lankan response was much better.
/
old codger / January 3, 2025
“Did you see how India handled the COVID-19? The Sri Lankan response was much better?”
More lies from the Professor of Lies.
.
.India had a mortality rate of about 0.4 to 0.5 per 1,000 people.
Sri Lanka had a mortality rate of about 0.5 to 0.6 per 1,000 people
India didn’t go bankrupt.
Gota’s militarised response bankrupted the country. Military idiots can only kill people.
/
Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
There is a tussle in US political parties about importing Indian Engineers, (at American labor rate). This is telling whether there is a GDP present in India or not, there is serious quality labor available, equivalent to American standard. Don’t boggle down in the hiring & compensating method and labor contracts differences, between American firms hiring American labor, and they are hiring Indian labor, but under their law, factories can use only the same quality workers. With all translation techniques applied, there is still a profit element available for American firms in Indian labor which remain not exploited in India, because of lack of capital. India is not submerged in loans like Langkang. But they are not going for Chinese loans, either. Langkang went for Chinese and thus forced the Chinese labor (prisoners) in Langkang infrastructure creation. Everything in that turned out to be white elephants. This loss has to be properly estimated and deducted from CBSL’s fake GDP numbers. If you compare the Wildlife Sanctuary Labor, which was rejected to be included in infrastructure construction (only a heavy industry) by Chinese firms, and the Indian labor, which is hired to fight in America for the fierce competitive Potato Chip Manufacturing in electronic industries, you will understand that how many trillion dollars the Indian labor remain not compensated, yearly. Can you estimate the missing amount and add it to the Indian GDP dollar amount?
/
Lester / January 2, 2025
“There is a tussle in US political parties about importing Indian Engineers, (at American labor rate).”
They are paid less than the American labor rate, that is the real reason why H-1B is popular for many companies.
“Prior research in other industries has found mixed results, but primarily relies on surveyed salary data. We observe that relative to U.S. citizen new hires—matched on office, position, and time of hire—newly hired accountants with H-1B visas receive starting salaries that are lower by approximately 10%.Sep 26, 2024”
In the IT industry, some of these H-1B people are called “code monkeys.” They can quickly write many lines of poor-quality code. That is why you get all these errors in Microsoft software. Code monkey is only good for doing automated tasks. Now with AI, the code monkey is not so important. The IT industry is “re-inventing itself.” Remember, the US went to outer space without H-1B. What is needed is better STEM education (rather than reality shows and sports).
/
old codger / January 2, 2025
“They are paid less than the American labor rate”
🤣🤣🤣🤣
The AI-addicted genius now claims that all the CEO’s of everything from Coke to Microsoft are working for less than minimum wages.
“That is why you get all these errors in Microsoft software. “
I wonder why the genius monkey wasn’t even hired to wash the Microsoft toilets? He must be pretty pissed off.
/
LankaScot / January 2, 2025
Hello Lester,
Microsoft produced its first version of MS-DOS way back in 1981, full of Bugs. The first good version that I used was 3.1 in around 1985/86, when I installed it on Novell Workstations. MS-DOS 6.21 was good.
Windows 1 was also full of Bugs and still needed MS-DOS. Windows 95 was the first stand-alone Version and it was full of Bugs. Windows NT 4.0 released mainly for Corporate Customers was pretty stable. Windows 2000 was full of Bugs. Being in Server Management during these times and also teaching Staff how to use their HelpDesk Software, I knew first-hand all the issues. The best stable versions of Windows were XP, Windows 7 and now Windows 10. Microsoft’s Server Software has invariably had less serious issues than the PC versions, however I remember when an update “Blue screened” over 50,000 workstations. A windows 2000 update (by Radia) was sent to NT workstations
I worked with Indian/Pakistani Network Engineers, System Architects and Program Developers during these times for HP, from 1998 to 2010 end when I moved to Qatar. They were some of the best in the Industry and to call them “Code Monkeys” is extremely derogatory.
Best regards
/
LankaScot / January 2, 2025
Hello Lester,
By the way some of my Indian Friends in Qatar (Contract Completed) went back to India (Bangalore) being offered a Salary of around 25-30 Lakh Indian Rupees. This was in 2022.
Best regards
/
old codger / January 2, 2025
“to call them “Code Monkeys” is extremely derogatory.”
But being shafted by a code monkey hurts sooo much. These Punjabis have XXL sized you-know-whats.
/
Lester / January 3, 2025
Hello Scot,
Indians are very intelligent, I never denied that. As you know, however, projects require teamwork and successful teamwork (to some extent) requires soft skills. Because of cultural reasons, Indians are lacking soft skills, as you can see here:
https://www.tiktok.com/@stephaniematto/video/7381899403964992800
/
Lester / January 3, 2025
Soft skills means getting along with other people. Not so much on the Internet, but in real life. Soft skills also require the ability to be respectful of the opposite gender. Indian women are generally okay, the issue is with the men. I imagine they are something like “Old Codger”, who has no manners and harasses women on the Internet, while spamming with pornographic references. This kind of person lacks social skills, regardless of IQ, which leads to a toxic culture and obvious some bias against Indians in general. You asked my “opinion”, I am giving it. The same or similar opinion is there in 10000 videos on YT and social media.
/
old codger / January 3, 2025
“Old Codger”, who has no manners and harasses women on the Internet”
Says the hypocrite who calls other people’s wives prostitutes:
“Lester / July 5, 2024
12 2
Ruchira,
There is a certain class of Western men who face rejection from Western women, for whatever reason. At some point, these (usually older) Western men discover that Asian women are easy prey, via monetary incentives. “
Soft skills my foot, the bugger can’t even get along with people he can’t see.
/
old codger / January 3, 2025
The great High-IQ genius has so many soft skills that he has to trump every discussion with references to other people’s wives. So pathetic.
Even more pathetic is that he’s dumped ChatGPT and falls back on Tik Tok to fabricate “evidence “.
/
leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
OC,
The reason our great IQ man is being punished as a loner may be because of his superior SOFT skills. That’s very interesting.
–
To me, the interpersonal skills we expect from our colleagues are very different from what we read from our ChatGPT god. There is no doubt that this man is in his own isolation.
.
This man and his ideas entertain us CT readers 24/7. There is no doubt that the eunuch is unique.
.
The only person who protects him is “desperate D.S.”
/
old codger / January 3, 2025
LM,
Lester says I harass women. I admit to harassing Lester. You think Lester is a woman?
/
leelagemalli / January 4, 2025
OC,
.
From the beginning I was suspicious of his gender. He kept saying he was single. Then again he boasts about his superior soft skills. Above all, his closeness with our Desperate (40 years in London with her royal like behaviour etc.), all this proves that he must be a wealthy woman.
/
Lester / January 4, 2025
Leela,
Maybe you live in Germany (no idea which boat you snuck on, was Scot the Captain?), but you have the intellect of a toddy tapper. One of my relatives has a farm. He tells the “helper” to go up a tree to get a coconut, that guy can climb faster than Spiderman. But helper is still on the “gama” side. He was using other people’s toothbrushes without their permission. The relative bought him a new one. I wanted to tell the helper not to behave like our Indian friends, but helper wouldn’t know the difference, as he never met one. I don’t think he has even traveled to Colombo.
/
nimal fernando / December 31, 2024
AKD didn’t appoint 27 + 2 ministers. AKD didn’t install 92 “advisors” with all the perks. AKD didn’t pilfer or let anyone else pilfer the ‘Presidents Fund’ and distributed it among the deserving children to buy school books. I don’t have time to write all the good things AKD has already done in the brief time he has been at the helm.
–
It’ll take more time and space to write all the good things AKD has already done ……… and it’ll take only very little time and space, to write all the good, the previous presidents, all put together, have done. But there won’t be enough space and time to write, all the bad they have done.
–
Strange but true!
–
There is a persistent and vicious sour-grapes gang who are unceasing and dogged in their attacks ….. for them AKD can do no good. That’s a mental disease. …….. At least Native is smart enough to hide and not expose it. Smart guy!
–
For a Lankan pol, AKD has already exceeded my expectations …….. everything else from now is a bonus.
/
nimal fernando / December 31, 2024
cont,
–
If he doesn’t gobble down, at public expense, all the cashews and vitamins in sight, while bankrupting the country …….. what more can citizens, with past painful experience, of all the previous pols’ handiwork, can ask?
–
It’s certainly going to be a Happy New Year ……. the best in my life!
–
–
ECTA or no ECTA …… I don’t think AKD is a traitor or an imbecile to hand over our assets to any foreign power like the unimaginable dunce Ranil. …… Ranil is travelling the world gloating about his own greatness. Thank God/DTG the country is out of his reach …… he can harm only his foolish pride, now.
–
I wish Gamini/Native will show their faces to let us know how he is doing.
/
deepthi silva / December 31, 2024
Tamil in whatever form has to be a very old language ( 8000 years ? ) because a dark group of hunting Homo Sapiens arrived in this area around that time .
There are some people who take pride in this kind of thing, although they were not there 8000 years ago to witness the primitiveness of that existence.
Later immigrants to the subcontinent did not think much of these early Sapiens and pushed them to the southern corner also creating the caste system.
Present day samples , do not show that an early start means much !
I would say the same thing of the Sinhalese
/
LankaScot / December 31, 2024
Hello Deepthi,
Homo Sapiens as a Species has been around for something like 200,000 years, however most Modern Humans (outside of Sub-Saharan Africa) are descended from a small group around 70 to 100 Thousand years ago. So who arrived 8,000 years ago in this area? And who were the Immigrants that pushed them to the Southern Corner?
In Anatolia, Turkey they had transitioned to Farming before this. Göbekli Tepe is around 12,000 years old
8,000 year old peoples are NOT “early Sapiens”. Balangoda Man (fully Homo Sapiens) lived in Sri Lanka around 35,000 years ago. His DNA is close to that of the Vedda peoples. Any Evidence that he spoke Tamil?
Best regards
/
deepthi silva / December 31, 2024
Dear Scottish laird, I was deliberately general about these things, this is not a scholarly discussion and I don’t want to honour the likes of dotty Leela or the pompous OC by debating with them ! OC loves to check these things on his computer and talk with authority. Maybe he has a PhD like the others !
I too could check info on the computer.
But then , to prove whom right or wrong ?
The game is not worth it.
There are lots of interesting things to do here…
By the way I still think the people over there are inferior-look at Ranil, MR, Leela are they impressive Sapiens ?
/
LankaScot / December 31, 2024
Hello Deepthi,
You know I am far from being a Scottish Laird, however as you say there are lots of interesting things to do both here in Sri Lanka and in the UK. There is a sense of Communality here that is missing in the UK. I have just come back from our Annual End of Year Cricket Match in the Village. I have just arrived back at the house (7pm) leaving them all Dancing (Families and Participants) after the Prizes were given out.
I watched the matches (6 Teams) comprised of both Tamil and Sinhala (mixed) and spoke to some of the Tea workers that live just up the track towards Elpitiya Tea Factory here in Central Province.
Everyone here now recognises the Dishonest/Self-serving Nature of Politicians from most Parties and how they have sowed Division between the Various Ethnic and Religious Groups.
It is time to clean the Augean Stables, but the Mahawelli Ganga doesn’t go anywhere near Colombo, and I don’t see Hercules anywhere, so, any suggestions?
Best regards
/
leelagemalli / December 31, 2024
“this is not a scholarly discussion and I don’t want to honour the likes of dotty Leela or the pompous OC by debating with them !”
–
This crazy woman and her scholarly discussion?
–
My foot! Why, God, can’t stupid women see that clearly? I hope that in the coming year, such mentally ill people will be blessed with new treatments!
Have a healthy new year everyone.
/
old codger / December 31, 2024
Deepthi dear,
“OC loves to check these things on his computer and talk with authority. Maybe he has a PhD like the others !”
Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. Maybe I drive a three wheeler. Maybe I am not autistic. But definitely I live in Sri Lanka.
“I too could check info on the computer”
I have heard that pigs can fly too……
/
Rohan25 / January 1, 2025
Looks like my comment was removed as it may have gone over maximum allowed words. people should learn history before making rash comments, displaying ignorance. All mainstream Indians or South Asians are mixture of three people, irrespective of the language they speak. 1) Ancient Ancestral South Indians or the original out of Africa people who arrived here around 50000-60000 years ago.2) Ancient Iranian Neolithic or Zagros Mountain farmers, who arrived and settled in the Indus Valley region 9000-10000 years ago and intermarried with the AASI and founded the Indus Valley civilization and the Dravidians or the Indus Valley Dravidians 3) Steppe or Yamnaya Aryan population from Central and Western Asia who arrived around 3000-4000 years ago.
/
leelagemalli / January 1, 2025
OC,
Happy new year to you !
The crazy woman Deepthi doesn’t seem to leave us alone.
The title of the article is off, but she attacks me, you, RW and many others. Who does she think she is?
Not a single line poping up from her is normal. nor do anyone welcome them.
–
I really don’t know why her mental break down is this much of worse. Maybe she is a blood relative of our elders like the “Balangoda Man”? Her low standards don’t seem to allow her to speak normally.
https://seeceylontours.com/balangoda-man-balangoda-manawaya-sri-lanka/
.
She also tried her best to attack others on New Year’s Eve. Even royalty don’t behave like that. I don’t really know what she was raised on.
We need to look into her upbringing to help our AKD’s Clean Sri Lanka project.
–
Deepthi or people like her are not the rarity in sl, I know that from my relatives.
–
They often feel that they are above others. The real “guinea pigs” for my fellow researchers’ multicenter clinical trials are a type of egotistical.
/
leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
OC,
.
Our Kopikade Dayawati doesn’t use her little brain. Hers amuse us on and on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTqVKaW3Ztw
“Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I drive a three-wheeler. Maybe I’m not autistic. But I definitely live in Sri Lanka”
–
She calls me Kotiya, Godaya and now I must be a blood relative to Rohan 25.
.
What other fantasy will come to her mind (frog in a well mindset) next? It won’t be long before the Z-genzies of SL jump to calling her “AMU GAWAYEK”.
/
Rohan25 / January 1, 2025
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy. The key to maintaining the website as an inviting space is to focus on intelligent discussion of topics.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
/
leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
DS,
“”””By the way I still think the people over there are inferior-look at Ranil, MR, Leela are they impressive Sapiens ?”””””
–
No, Desperate DS is just a charming high-grade Homo sapiens who doesn’t know what he/she is writing about. she may not evolve until it’s complete. LS will evince lot more about the topic.
I can ask my colleagues in human genetics to work on preserving your DNA for future analysis. If we skip it, it will be a huge loss to the human genome.
–
I sometimes wonder how long it will take you to see your inhumanity. If it takes longer, you will transport it to your next life … that will be another problem for them (if they are higher beings than Homo sapiens).
.
Mr. Scott, please ignore this flamboyant character who is wasting our valuable time. She herself is strongly against RW and his politics but without him our hellish situation, worsened by the Rajapaksa rascals, would have been turned upside down.
Today, 500,000 JVP and 5.5 million former Pohottuwa supporters are wasting our time.
That is why AKD led groups stuck somewhere today.
/
Rohan25 / January 1, 2025
Comment from this nasty person, now living somewhere in London, proves what I stated. The biggest anti Indian and Tamils on the island are now largely from the post 15TH century South Indian Tamil immigrants from what was then Tamil India. Modern day Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Southern Andhra and Karnataka. Both low and high born. Now denying their recent Indian and Tamil origins and calling or identifying themselves as Sinhalese (around 30-50% of the present-day Sinhalese) Moors or Arabs on account of their religion, or stating they are not Tamils but strangely their so-called new identity is their Tamil caste, like Chetties, Bharatha(Anglicised version of Tamil caste Paravan people who actually go and fish traditionally. Most of the west/northwest coast, South coast Sinhalese are descended from these Tamil Paravans, Mukkuvars, Karaiyar and other fishing or similar service castes, like tree climbers/toddy tappers, Weavers, drum beaters( Paraiyar beating the Parai or Uddukai which got Sinhalised to Bera and Udaki and the caste Berewa) or other similar castes service castes from South India. Just look at the venom and hatred against her own recent South Indian Tamil ancestry and the stupid comments
/
deepthi silva / January 1, 2025
Rohan -25 ,Is that your age or IQ reading ?
More like the latter !
Whose historical hypothesis on the Sinhalese migration are you based on ? You don’t sound like a scholar or even a gentleman .
Please tell this widely educated forum ( OC,Leela ,Scotty) the linguistic connection between ancient Sinhala and Tamil
Can you please provide us your earlier pseudonym so that we can continue the old dialogue. in our friendly tone (Vedda ?)
/
leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
“Please tell this widely educated forum (OC, Leela, Scotty) the linguistic relationship between ancient Sinhala and Tamil”
–
DS ridicules out at everyone except him/herself (may be still strullging with gender issue). This may be the basic symptom of cognitive impairment.
.
I think it has been proven in literature that Dravidian languages are the oldest languages.
:
I wish I had read more about the language used by BALANDGODA Man (BM) back then (35 000 years ago). From what I have read about him, Deepthi has all the characteristics claimed to be related to BM, sarcasm included. On top of all that, BM is said to be into more cannibalism. I have no doubt that DS can be a cannibal too (but a scholarly one). Her links to Rajapkashes hint us some more info in that line.
–
Our so-called educated Deepthi can be more related to BM. Even though he doesn’t have a basic degree (Chem Eng) from UOM, I have no doubt that DS’s qualifications are the same as the Speaker Rangwala who is hiding here today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWsnLoDWcqs
/
SJ / January 1, 2025
“Comment from this nasty person, now living somewhere in London, proves what I stated.”
Who is the guy? I will like to meet him on my next visit to Europe.
/
Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
This person stating during my visit to Europe is implying I am some Sri Lankan refugee ( Sinhalese or Tamil) living in Europe, unlike the largely English-speaking elite or middle-class professional Sri Lankans living in the English-speaking western lands. It is not only a dig to me but also to another person living in Germany. You can tell her that she need not travel to Europe to meet me. I most probably am living somewhere close to her.
/
deepthi silva / January 2, 2025
Mr 25 Cents, hope you have tied that cheap vetti firmly around your fat waist !
/
Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
Sorry to say I have never work a Vetti in my life. Why do you wear the cloth and jacket or the Mundu like your Pulaiyar or Mukkuva ancestors did in Kerala?
/
Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
sorry worn and not work
/
leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
Rohan 25,
Let her have fun that way. It seems to be her only entertainment. Her sarcasm may be her only opiate, to cope with her mental anguish.
.
She is clearly a poor woman locked up in a UK asylum. She doesn’t seem to have anything else going on in her self-proclaimed scholarly head other than talking to her “thumb meter” to see if her ideas are the best (childish).
.
With everything in the UK getting relatively worse now (much higher unemployment rates, sky rocketting cost of living for daily necessities, etc.), she doesn’t feel better without attacking anyone she thinks is right. Maybe, she’s just cold in her rat hole and can’t get a good heater.
–
I haven’t done anything to her, but she’s always attacking me and OC for mostly no good reason.
/
Lester / January 3, 2025
Deepthi Silva,
The peaceful ones wear vettis. The others wear suicide jackets.
/
leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
What do eunuchs (NangiMallis) wear in general?
I’ll try wearing a vetti and a sarong next time back in Srilanka… good idea. .. btw.
.
Vettis or sarongs?
.
I think DS or those struggling with their gender wear usually dont know what they should wear day and night…. wow… what a culture ?
/
SJ / December 31, 2024
“Tamil in whatever form has to be a very old language ( 8000 years ?)”
The oldest Tamil inscription on record goes by some 2600 years at most. That too is not extensive text.
The oldest item of literature is not much older either.
You can say that the language is a millennium older than Sanskrit and you will make some people (like RSS) happy.
/
LankaScot / December 31, 2024
Hello SJ,
I read Michael Ventris and John Chadwick’s Book on how Ventris had “deciphered the Minoan Linear B script and showed it to be Greek in its oldest known form, dating from about 1400 to 1200 bc, roughly the period of the events narrated in the Homeric epics”. I first read it around 1970 and still have it on my Bookshelf.
That makes Greek 3,200 to 3,400.years old.
I also read about Sumerian texts on Gilgamesh (2700 BCE) which included references to a great Flood, predating the Christian Bible and Noah’s Flood. These were on Tablets dated to 2100 BCE.
We know how old the Inscriptions are, however it is very difficult to date a language without written Evidence, which is why I have never accepted the age given to the Tamil Language by some. Nor have I accepted the Dates of the Ramayana given by some Hindu Historians as being 10,000 years old (and some older). To me they are guessing or taking Astronomical Alignments out of context.
Apart from informing the Academic Study of Linguistics and Archaeological Dating, does it really matter which languages are older than others? It’s all Greek to me😉.
Best regards
/
SJ / January 2, 2025
LS
How come that you have not been slated be the Tamil fascists?
/
LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello SJ,
Damn, I thought they had missed what I said, now they will read it properly😉.
Best regards
/
deepthi silva / January 2, 2025
Scotty, you must have got your PhD together with my friend Leela .
What was your thesis ?
Leela says his was ” the lunacy of the oldest Sapiens in India “
Was Rangala in the same batch ?
/
LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello Deepthi,
I don’t have a PhD, I have a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) and my Thesis was how IT (Internet, Video Conferencing, Multi-tasking PCs, Microsoft Windows and WWW World Wide Web) would change not only Business Practices but also make huge changes to how Education could be achieved using Online Services. This was completed over 2 years 1995 and 1996. My PGCE Supervisor was skeptical of much of what I wrote because the Infrastructure at that time in the UK was Abysmal. However I had seen from the inside how much IT had progressed since my first experience of Computers (DEC PDP 8) in 1974. I knew how much Education had lagged behind Business in Embracing Modern IT Equipment and Software. At this time the University was still using UNIX with old Serial Terminals for Administration and in a couple of places had IBM OS/2 with Novell Networking.
Covid 19 has forced many Countries to adopt the steps I outlined back in 1995.
Best regards
/
leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
Dear Scot,
.
What a stupid statement to prove to the world about her (Deepthi the wonder maker) own knowledge about getting a PhD?
You can’t get PhDs together with someone. She twists facts for her own pleasure. What a joker woman, she doesn’t grow out of her own wird fantasies. She must have mixed it with a journal paper. As long as this alien woman gives us new topics in her own little world, we will never get tired.
/
leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
LS,
We are becoming aware of their hatred towards their minorities in the Middle East, but how much do you think the “self-proclaimed Sri Lankan (Deepthi Silva) living in the UK” hates? If her hatred could be measured with a Geiger detector or something like that, it would be way over the top. I wonder why people are born to hate others and what makes them develop hatred because nothing can reverse it.
–
She is against her own race (Sinhalese) and is against Tamils from morning till night. She never seems to stop mocking tamil commenters. Why is that? I don’t know why? When it comes to sustainable solutions to Sri Lanka’s ethnic problems, it will remain a perpetual dream as long as Deepthi or real reptiles in human guise anchor Sri Lankan society. God help srilanka!
/
LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello Leelagemalli,
There is a growing Insularity and Detachment from 3rd World Problems in the UK. Starmer is overseeing a scaling back of the UK Social Security System and has started with the most vulnerable, by stopping the Cold Weather Payments for the Pensioners. My Family Members back in the UK were staunch Labour Supporters for much of their lives. They voted for Green Parties and others rather than vote for Starmer. They, especially my sister that works for an NGO in Social Work, have noticed a real increase in Poverty in Scotland. There is a consequent rise in Right Wing (and worse) support and antipathy towards Immigrants. These conditions could result in Civil Unrest if they get worse. The UK Media (like GB News) presents a view of the World that provides a platform for Lester and Depthi’s Views.
Best regards and Suba Aluth Aruda to you OC, SJ, Native, Nimal, DTG, LP, Nathan and many others, even the ones that Nimal says are part of one big Family. PS where has SM gone?
/
leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
LS, thanks for your greetings for 2025.
Since you have accumulated experience with various nationalities (UK, Arab, German, French, Indian, African, Chinese and more), the following points are worth discussing with you. Your versatile knowledge can be an asset to CT readers.
I will have to ignore the chain posts that the malicious luminary (DS)will throw at us in the coming days. You and others are not as blunt as I am, but she is a sick person according to my knowledge.
.
I believe that even when the second generation developing world people (millennials and Gen Z) achieve their goals in Europe, their parents and peers fail to integrate into their local communities.
The younger generation is called linguistic chameleons and their elders do not even know what their children are doing. The cultural barrier is created within their own families rather than the society in which they live. I know that a huge portion of German-Turks do not care a bit about religious beliefs and what their fanatic parents and relatives respect.
–
The reasoning in the integration pattern of immigrants in europe are caused by several factors, but the biggest ones are the language barrier and education.
Tbd
/
leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
cont.
There are Turks living in Germany who have lived for decades, but a significant portion of them do not know 20 German words. My colleagues (in medicine, science and biotechnology) claim that some of the Turkish and Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants have a higher incidence of diabetes and heart disease compared to other communities. Childhood diabetes is on the rise among some immigrant communities. This is not only in Germany, but also in the UK, France, Spain and other large populations.
–
I saw our northern Sri Lankans suffering in Switzerland, they cannot handle life like other ethnic groups. Some Swiss treated them like animals and pitied their ethnic background. Most of them left the country for Europe and North America and are not real refugees but due to economic reasons. Even some black Americans stayed in Germany for their own good, even when their contracts were no longer valid to extend, were serving in their military bases in Ramstein/Pfalz. I have observed this also with Pakistani families in the UK. The reason is that they have their own cultures, their religious beliefs and their lives clash when living in a Western country. I think former Chancellor Dr. Merkel did well to allow a million Syrians into Germany, but some of them have become gang leaders and cannot be integrated into Germany’s strict order policy:
Tbd
/
leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
cont.
The problem of Germany (83 million) with the largest minority, the Turks (4 million, 5%), is a huge threat to politicians and the good people living there. The same will be true for Indians and Pakistanis (8%) in the UK (68millions).
In some German federal states, politicians rely on their votes to get elected, but many of these migrant worker families are part of Germany’s gangs and corrupt groups: there are villages in Germany where only Turks and southern Italians live, with high crime rates.
The crime rates of migrants in the UK and France are comparable to the rising crime rate of Germany’s foreign population, which is currently higher than at any time in history.
The same was true in Switzerland (7 million), where I lived a few years ago. Their integration strategies towards migrants are relatively unique, and the same is not true in the Netherlands.
The worst is France, where migrants are frequently attacked. Since my professional duties have taken me to 50 or more countries, I have often heard some true stories from our colleagues.
/
deepthi silva / January 3, 2025
Leela, in your silly way you are praising me !
‘She is against her own race”! Isn’t that high praise. ? I have no bias
Unlike your pathetic crew who are deviously ( using Sinhala names !) peddling your own bias racist propaganda you have come across a person of integrity who speaks her own mind without fear of favour !
Your crew is so low calibre !
/
Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
You died hard to make those you wash happy. But they are gone, though you too walked away with an undeserved PhD, and high places in Sinhala Buddhists’ universities. There are many Tamils doing well in UK universities, but you were cleaned from there. So, you did poisonous things to avenge Dr. Thiyakalingam, unconnected to the gentlemen you perceive as your dead enemies. Dravidians came 11,000 years ago to Indus Valley. From that time, their language was growing within it. History has not proposed any change at any time period to their language, until barbaric Aryans invaded about three thousand years ago.
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Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
Sanskrit still has no proper grammar. It just connects words in sequence, as slokas. That was the reason, the language used only in dominant places found the need to create works, so the dialog in that language can make sense. The word burden only brought death for that language, though new North Indian Languages benefited from the unfathomable ocean of words. You try to fool people that the letter is the only language, but it’s communicating ability is nothing. That kind of imbecile ability present in the Playboys Minister’s law decree or Bathiudeen offered PhDs. So cannot fool the so many thousand true linguistic PhD adoring Language. Alex Collier had said one time the world spoke only Tamil, except the half-baked, Sinhala hybrid, Deva Acolytes. That unfortunate event is a sad event, no one can rescue them from this traitorous nature.
/
LankaScot / January 1, 2025
Hello Mallaiyuran,
Do you reaaly believe this Alex Collier Theory?
“The human species called the Pleiadians evolved from Lyra. Pleiadians: Extraterrestrials from Beyond our Universe. The Pleiadians are our far distant first cousins and ancestral forefathers of some of our races”
According to Collier Tamil was the first Human Language and these extraterrestrials brought in the other languages. He has also spoken with the Andromedans many times over the last 20 years or so.
I found his book in the non-fiction section – Good Joke.
Alex Collier and his friend Elena Danaan would both benefit from a visit to Angoda.
Best regards
Best regards
/
SJ / January 1, 2025
“Sanskrit still has no proper grammar.”
Panini must be laughing his guts out in his grave.
/
LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello SJ,
One of my friends from Gujarat could read, write and speak Sanskrit. He told me that there were places in India where Sanskrit was still spoken and had been used continuously, unlike Hebrew, which was revived. In India “According to the last census, 14,000 people described Sanskrit as their primary language” – https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28755509
–
Scottish Gaelic went to a very low point mostly because of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge (SSPCK) actively suppressing the use of the language. It is still very much a minority language although now taught in Schools,
Best regards
/
SJ / January 3, 2025
LS
True, but not quite as a community language like even a tribal language.
I know that it is sustained in a village in Karnataka by a Brahmin community, but is not the sole language there.
Most importantly, it is frozen, and not growing like any living language.
The killing of many Celtic languages is another matter altogether.
Similar things happened in France.
/
Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
https://www.facebook.com/100069085629236/videos/alex-collier-tamil-is-the-oldest-original-language-of-humans-on-earth/817316018969689/
/
Lester / January 1, 2025
Sanskrit is older than Tamil.
/
old codger / January 1, 2025
“Sanskrit is older than Tamil.”
Says who? The guy who thinks Turks speak Arabic.
/
Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
OC this is a link, but each one has their own opinion
https://www.grunge.com/223217/this-is-the-oldest-living-language-in-the-world/
/
SJ / January 2, 2025
oc
There is a lot of amusement it there.
/
SJ / January 1, 2025
L
For once, I fully agree with you.
/
Lester / January 2, 2025
SJ,
Sanskrit did not originate in India, but in Central Asia: https://scroll.in/article/737715/fact-check-india-wasnt-the-first-place-sanskrit-was-recorded-it-was-syria.
/
Lester / January 2, 2025
*Middle East, not Central Asia
/
Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
Sanskrit was just a dialect and was not written nor did it have a proper grammar. All their stories and myths about their gods, were all passed down verbally like the old Norse stories and myths. Most probably it originated in the Eastern Eurasian Steppes. It was only when the Sanskrit speakers started to migrate into the Indus valley and came into contact with the Indus Valley Dravidians and have social and later intermarry into them, Sanskrit started to use be written. Vedic Sanskrit was born. It used the Indus Valley script, the old Dravidian languages phonology and syntax. Panini composed it grammar later. This is the reason Indo Aryan languages has the same syntax as the Dravidian languages and the only group amongst the Indo-European language family that uses the Dravidian retroflex.
/
SJ / January 2, 2025
L
I am not sure where it originated.
It belongs to a big family that covers most European languages, Persian, and Indo-Aryan languages.
Prehistory is rather speculative.
/
Native Vedda / January 1, 2025
Lester
–
“Sanskrit is older than Tamil.”
–
Are you a linguist too?
/
Native Vedda / January 2, 2025
Lester
–
“Sanskrit is older than Tamil.”
–
Please cite reference.
/
Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
NV, Sanskrit is documented older than Tamil, but it died off long ago and is now only used for religious purposes. So are many other languages like old Egyptian Accadian etc. They may be much older but had much shorter life span and died of thousands of years ago. Read professor George Hart of Berkley University California. Both Tamil and Sanskrit extensively borrowed words from each other, Tamil more so. However, language borrowing words is trivial, as all languages do. But when it uses another language’s syntax to form the way it expresses things, and uses another language’s phonology for its sounds, that is really profound influence. The fact is, Sanskrit HAS been influenced in this way by Dravidian/Tamil. Much of the syntax of Sanskrit is Dravidian/Tamil, and it has a large Dravidian vocabulary. Its system of phonetics is profoundly influenced by Dravidian — Indo-Aryan is the only IE family with retroflexes.
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
People are confusing oldest languages in the world with oldest living languages in the world. Lots of the oldest languages have died off or now just used for religious purposes and no one speaks to them. Others have evolved into a different form and are not continuous or revived back again.
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deepthi silva / January 2, 2025
Now I understand the problem with Leela, Vedda,OC and that rest of the that herd .
They evolved too early and speak a language that was invented in human infancy !
That is why they always support aborigines’ whose claim to that continent is like the Tamilian claim to India ( before civilisation )
So that is why Vedda is abusive and OC says he can outmatch anyone in English insults . Their minds are designed for abuse and for hunting and gathering . Leela probably looks after the pot in their cave
Poor Leela was born retarded, I dont know why he just does not confine himself to painting graffiti at German underground stations.
/
leelagemalli / January 2, 2025
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy. The key to maintaining the website as an inviting space is to focus on intelligent discussion of topics.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
/
leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
“Now I understand the problem with Leela, Vedda, OC and the rest of the herd”
–
You and your understanding??????????????????????????
–
We have a lot in common, namely we respect facts, while you and your Siamese dimwit do not seem to digest them.
.
I never thought you would understand that many others know more than you, no matter what simple thing is discussed in the CT.
–
Therefore, I ask you to find a good therapy and then we can move on from here.
–
My grandma always said, “First things first.”
/
SJ / January 2, 2025
The Tamil of up to the first few centuries of the Christian era is as dead as Classical Greek.
But the Greeks were sensible and marked a new beginning with Modern Greek.
I will challenge anyone claiming that Tamil has been the same for 30 or even 20 centuries to read and interpret unassisted (even with difficulty) any of the extant early Tamil anthologies or stone inscriptions up to the 6th Century.
Modern Tamil word stock has dropped or assigned different meanings to the bulk of classical words.
Most rules of the first known work of grammar (produced in the Christian era) are obsolete.
*
Whom are we fooling but ourselves when we make bogus claims?
This applies to all historical myths.
/
LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello SJ,
All languages change through time. Listen to this Old English Poem Beowulf in its original Language – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CpKlEiahtI
I doubt if many English people would recognise this as English. I recognise some words as my Dialect, Doric, has some Dutch Ancestry probably from Frisian areas around the 1300s onwards.
Here is a Sister language West/East/North Frisian still spoken today in parts of the Netherlands and Germany – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZGyISJ3djo
I also recognise some of their words.
My point is that you’re views on Tamil having changed are validated by the examples I have given above. Latin and Classical Greek remain pretty much unchanged as they haven’t been used as a Vernacular Language for many Centuries.
As an example of Latin Grammar there is nothing funnier and also educational than Life of Brian’s “Romanes Eunt Domus” sketch –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfH6gjxTTgE
It reminds me of the noun declensions in Pali. I am pretty sure that Pali and Latin had the same roots. By the way the correct phrase for Romans go Home is “Romani Ite Domum”.
Best regards
/
SJ / January 3, 2025
LS
What seems be commonsense to you is not acceptable to obsessed minds.
We go through stories of ancient glory at some stage in our lives, but we grow out of them. But there are some who just cannot let go of fossilized falsehoods.
I do not debate with them, but only have a good laugh.
/
Rohan25 / January 1, 2025
Oldest Tamil inscription so far is 3000 years old, however the language is widely considered to be at least 5000 years old.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_inscriptions
/
Jit / January 1, 2025
With all due respects for that great language, Tamil, I think it is utterly wrong to believe Tamil language is 5000 years old. The most ancient civilization in the Indian continent was Mohendo Jaro, Harappa which occurred around 2500 BCE in the Indus valley which is the Republic of Pakistan today. Surely Tamil was not a language right at the beginning of that civilization and considering our times now in 2025, the most plausible timeline for any Indian language is below 4000 years. And why do you think Tamil started right at the beginning of Mohendo Jaro, Harappa civilization? You got a lot of proving to do!
/
Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
You can be correct Jit. Oldest Tamil Graffiti may be around 3000 years old, but the language must have evolved and developed at least for 1000 years before they started to write even inscriptions on pot sherds and rocks. There’s a debate among researchers over a Tamil literary work known as the Tolkāppiyam, which some experts believe is up to 7,000 years old. However, others view the text to be much more recent, and archaeologists can only confidently date Tamil to the fifth century BCE, despite the possibility of a much earlier origin.
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
Tamil is unique for a number of linguistic reasons. To start, there are a variety of ways to speak it, depending on if you’re communicating colloquially or formally. This system didn’t emerge overnight, however, and likely wasn’t the case when Tamil was initially developed. When it comes to the Tamil alphabet, many consonant sounds are made by curling the tip of the tongue toward the roof of the mouth, producing a tone that’s quite unique to Tamil. While many other ancient languages have since died off, Tamil remains spoken by nearly 90 million people today.
/
SJ / January 2, 2025
“To start, there are a variety of ways to speak it,”
That is nothing creditable to it.
Tamil dialects are often unintelligible across their borders.
Languages need to have a common standard form initially in writing to be followed by speech.
Remarkably, Sinhala has achieved it in a couple of decades.
There are idiots who claim that the standard language is that of the “Sangam” period.
The real language is getting Anglicized (rather vulgar commercial) and the TV and movies are promoting it. But nothing usefully modern is taught in Tamil like science, technology and medicine.
All this BS about ancient glory is taking the language nowhere.
BTW
How many Tamils can distinguish between retroflex and non-retroflex consonants?
Sadly not many.
The consonants are badly mixed up. Some dialects have only the one or the other.
/
Jit / January 3, 2025
“….Remarkably, Sinhala has achieved it in a couple of decades….”
Probably because Sinhala scripts are derived from the ancient Brahmi scripts? Which on the other hand narrates Sinhala scripts belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of Indo-European language family which makes it distinct from the language Tamil which also a contemporary language.
/
SJ / January 3, 2025
J
The problem I referred to has little to do with the script.
The spread of literacy and a conscious effort to unify the language by people like Munidasa made a difference.
Tamil scholars of the period were limited in outlook.
/
Jit / January 2, 2025
Rohan, don’t be so emotional about a language! It is just a medium of communication. And it is always better be cautious about what you read on that ‘official grapevine’ – Wikipedia. If you ever did a postgrad degree, you must have been advised by your supervisors never to cite anything from Wikipedia. It is a fool’s paradise where anyone with an email address can post whatever they imagine.
NONE of the languages that originated in the Indian subcontinent are older than the Mohendo Jaro – Harappa (MJH) civilizations. that was 2500 BCE, 4500 years ago. There is no evidence that Tamil was part of MJH and even Tamil scholars admit that. According to Dr. K Munirathnam, “So far the oldest Tamil epigraphical record available is one copied from Thatha Patti, and the earliest cave Tamil-Brahmi copied from Mangalam.” “Both are palaeographically assignable to 3rd-and 2nd century B.C.” – https://www.logicallyfacts.com/en/fact-check/false-tamil-is-the-oldest-language-in-the-world. 3rd century means just 2300 years old history! There are serious debates ongoing that both Chinese and Egyptian languages are way older than Tamil and Sanskrit. Times of India research reckons Tamil language is about 2000 years old – https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/tamil-or-sanskrit-which-is-older/. As far as the ‘seniority’ of Sanskrit over Tamil is still a debate.
/
Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
I am not emotional I think it is you. How can Tamil be only 2000-year-old! Really when the oldest Tamil works are definitely dated 500 BCE and Tamili or Tamil Brahmi graffiti has been found on Keeladhi Potsherds dating 600BCE much older than the oldest known Brahmi inscriptions the Asokan Brahmi dating 300BCE. Burial at Adichanalur in Tamil Nadu on earthen ware urns dating 1000 BCE and Tamil inscriptions mixed with Megalithic Graffiti the Annacoddai Seals in Sri Lanka dating 1000BCE -300BCE. Tamil. So Tamil is 2000 years old but Tamil writings and inscriptions are found from 1000 BCE? It is a proven fact old Tamil literature and writing not inscriptions or Graffiti definitely from 500BCE.
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
As stated, before for language to reach and start producing rich literary works by 500BCE and graffiti and inscriptions by 1000BCE in simple Tamil Brahmi or Tamili it would have been spoken and developed much earlier at least for 1000 years earlier. As to for the Indus Valley civilization language and script I will give this link. It was declined around 4000 -3000 years ago due to climatic changes and many of the Indus Valley Dravidians had already moved to south and eastern parts of India, due to this. Not because of Aryan Steppe migration, although this happened more or less at the same time
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
Sorry, this is the link
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indus-civilization/Craft-technology-and-artifacts
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
Here is a link to Tamil Brahmi at Keeladhi
https://www.ancientpages.com/2019/09/25/keezhadi-excavations-reveal-tamil-brahmi-script-older-than-previously-thought/
/
Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
Here is another link thanks to PK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFs6CtNLRWA
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
Sorry typing error not 500BCE but 300BCE
/
Jit / January 3, 2025
R, See my reply to Mallaiyuran
/
Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
Yes Tamil is 2000-1500 years old and Sinhalese is 2600 years old happy. This is what you want to state.
/
SJ / January 2, 2025
J
You are right.
But you cannot convince conservative bigots.
/
Jit / January 3, 2025
Thanks SJ, agree and will stop wasting my time
/
Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
Describing yourself, are you? Then the description is incorrect, try bitter, spiteful or nasty and self-hating instead of conservative. A far more accurate description.
/
SJ / January 3, 2025
Cool down.
Glad to note that Muslims and ‘low castes’ have been given a rest this time.
Congratulations.
/
Mallaiyuran / January 2, 2025
Jit “If you ever did a postgrad degree, you must have been advised by your supervisors never to cite anything from Wikipedia.”
You are not putting forward any arguments to denounce the specific material found in Wikipedia, but just walking around with the numbness somebody created in you by brainwashing. Wikipedia collects and spends billions $ to vet its data. Volunteer and salaried editors check them from all kinds of environments. At this era, there are no matching encyclopedias existing in the world with so much unlimited data. One of my daughter’s teacher told them in a class project, they will get “0” if their essay referencing to Wikipedia, but they could reference the pages of Encyclopedia Britannica or Encyclopedia Americana or any other encyclopedia, which were not available online (that time), and cannot be accessed by mechanical search engine. The reason he said the way of bringing Wikipedia essays is only plagiarism, not any form of research for homework. It seems you’re recommending not to read even Einstein or Professor Hawking, because they were wrong at times, (possibly with more probability than Wikipedia). Further, Einstein refused to accept the Uncertainty Principle, until his death. Everything should have a place and speed determinable. More refined Hawking, when pointed out his mistakes, accepted and regretted (and cried too?). Remember, Phlogiston theory? Still taught in school though! Did you also was taught Dalton’s atomic weight theory!
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Jit / January 3, 2025
To all those who feebly defend the fable that Tamil is the oldest ‘living’ language in this world, or 5000 years old, sorry, I have no time to keep on arguing until the cows come home and beyond…..What I just want to say and wind off is, go by peer reviewed empirical research by leading researchers – your arguments are as empty as a rubber balloon! You guys most probably do have at least one basic degree, most probably with post grad so don’t betray what you have learnt by relying on some random guys to ‘prove’ your hallucinations!! Don’t just believe Wikipedia crap either or the extremists in any culture for proof! They do that for their vested interests, some do for a living and we have had so many in our culture too and they along with Tamil and Muslim extremists have played a leading role to drag the country to the level of bankruptcy and Aragalaya in 2022. Besides, you guys are fluent in English, your children must have mastered the language as well (and their first language too), you all most probably earn the main living and acquire all other comforts in life with that language which is only 1500 years old. So whats the big deal Tamil is 5k or 50k years old?? So cut the crap – stop trying to worship and bloat a language that is as old as many others and fullstop spreading fables and myths!
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leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
Jit
let me wish you a healthy new year ! Thank you for you good comment above.
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Jit / January 4, 2025
To you too LM and thank you! It is just my bit combating a very famous myth built gradually over a few decades to look real one day! A forum like CT needs evidence based richer arguments than hearsay based fallacies. If someone stated Sinhala language is 3000 or 5000 years old, I would disagree and contest the same way.
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old codger / January 3, 2025
Jit,
“you all most probably earn the main living and acquire all other comforts in life with that language (English) which is only 1500 years old. “
Even English from 500 years ago is barely comprehensible, from 1000 years ago it is a different language.
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Jit / January 4, 2025
OC, you are correct about the modern version. As per the Cambridge university version, English was spoken with four main dialects since the 5th century. But I took the liberty to go back even beyond that era to original Germanic language time which was developed from Anglo-Saxon 1500 years ago because I thought our friends who vehemently argue Tamil scripts were there even 7000 years ago might want to argue about the Germanic period too!
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Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
Mallaiyuran don’t argue with Sinhalese racists. He is desperately trying to prove Tamil is 2000 or 1500 years old but Sinhalese that is largely derived from Tamil is 2500 or 2600 years old. This is like the daughter stating the mother looks like her. Most Sinhalese are anti Tamil to the core. They may appear to be nice but scratch them and it comes out.
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Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
See who they go berserk when you state anything about Tamil its history, even the so-called moderate ones. However, will praise Sanskrit, Arabic and everything else. This anti Tamil hatred is ingrained in them. Even the so called western educated ones, many living in the west and should know better. Brainwashed from small by their parents, elders, religious leaders, politicians with this hatred. You cannot blame them as we have mean spiteful, Tamil quislings supporting them, especially a nasty pathetic mean old man.
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SJ / January 2, 2025
J
A language that claims purity and lack of change or significant foreign influence would not have developed.
Sadly Tamil did not develop as a tool for advanced learning since at least 5 centuries ago.
Tamils choose English for all their advanced learning unlike the Japanese, Chinese, Arabs, Persians and many others.
The language is getting fossilised thanks to the fanatics.
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SJ / January 1, 2025
How widely and by whom?
There is no literature older than 2500 years, or a few centuries less.
Name the inscription and source of confirmation of age. The alphabetic writing system entered the Indian subcontinent much later than 3000 years ago. And the inscriptions do not comprise substantial text.
Wikipedia texts are not always verified information or consistent. The item cited shows a reportedly 3rd Century BC inscription in Brahmi.
Elsewhere Wikipedia says fully developed Brahmi dates back to 3rd or 4th Century BC.
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Native Vedda / January 2, 2025
Rohan25
–
“Oldest Tamil inscription so far is 3000 years old, …..”
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Please cite reference
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Only the Damili Grafitti marks found on sherds date back to 800 BC.
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“Noting that the oldest Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found in Theni and Madurai districts dated back to 500 BCE, while the oldest Sanskrit inscription found in Rajasthan dated back to just 300 CE, Madurai MP and writer Su Venkatesan said the Tamil language is way older than Sanskrit.”
– https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/Feb/27
–
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
NV actually you are correct oldest proper Tamil inscription not graffiti marks dates back to 500 BCE and oldest proper Sanskrit inscription dates back to 300CE making Tamil proper Tamil writing older than Sanskrit. Damili or Thamili is Tamil Brahmi, which now predates the oldest Brahmi inscription and much simpler and now many believe Brahmi evolved from Damili/Tamili or Tamil Brahmi and not the other way around.
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LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello Rohan25,
There are Brahmi Inscriptions in Sri Lanka older than Asokan Brahmi, that were unearthed by Dr Robin Conningham at Anuradhapura. https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1127011/anuradhapura-the-british-sri-lankan-excavations-at-anuradhapura-salgaha-watta-volume-1-the-site
Dr Coningham has published 3 volumes on these Archaeological Excavations . “We have therefore at trench ASW2 a sequence which stretches from the ninth century BC to the thirteenth century AD: that is, from a small Iron Age settlement, through its growth into an imperial metropolis” Vol 1 p130
The Anuradhapura inscriptions were Brahmi Script in the Prakrit Language dated to the 450-350 BCE period
Ashokan Brahmi inscriptions are widespread throughout India ca 250 BCE. So the Sri Lankan Inscriptions pre date this by about 200 years. Is this evidence that Brahmi originated in Sri Lanka? I don’t think so, as this evidence was from a Report written in 1999 on Excavations that took place in 1989 – 1994. There may have been subsequent Excavations since then that contradict the 1999 findings.
You wrote “now many believe Brahmi evolved from Damili/Tamili or Tamil Brahmi and not the other way around”. Where is your evidence for this?
Best regards
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SJ / January 3, 2025
LS
Whom are you asking for anything truthful?
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Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
Tamil Brahmi is the oldest Brahmi script found and what I stated is correct and now many believe that Brahmi evolved from Tamil Brahmi and not the other way around and what is your evidence to disprove this? The Sri Lankan Brahmi is still influenced by Asokan Brahmi and not as old a Tamili or Tamil Brahmi. Tamili or Tamil Brahmi is very simple, whereas Brahmi is much more complex. It is from simple that complex things evolve and not the other way around. Many believed that Jain monks brought Brahmi to South India but now they think it was the other way around, they took the much simpler Tamil Brahmi or Tamili writing form to north India and from which the more complex and elaborate Brahmi writing evolved. You are very polite, but you also have a very pro Sinhalese bias due to your Sinhalese wife.
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Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
This is from The times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tracing-the-origin-of-tamili-the-scripts-of-the-tamils/articleshow/71800476.cms
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LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello Rohan25,
The Onus is on the ones that claim something to provide the Evidence, not the other way round, You cannot prove a negative. A belief without evidence is called “Faith”
I discussed the age of Sanskrit and Tamil with my friend from Gujarat before I met my wife. I read the Ramayana and The Bhagavad Gita in my teens and twenties. At about the same time I read Aldous Huxley’s Jesting Pilate which made me very conscious of Hindu Mythology and their Pseudo Scientific Claims .e.g. “Thus, each time the West has announced a new scientific discovery, misguided scholars have ransacked Sanskrit literature to find a phrase that might be interpreted as a Hindu anticipation of it”
The Fraudulent Madame Blavatski’s writings about Lemuria and her Cult Religion Theosophy were complete garbage in the same vein as T Lobsang Rampa’s books on Buddhism.
I am not interested in whose language is oldest or best, however I am interested in how they developed, which people spoke them and how they were dispersed. Archaeology cannot tell definitively which language was spoken in an area without written evidence and even then they have to look at the context.
Best regards
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leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
There are those who believe that Buddha was born in Sri Lanka. The floor-kissing fanatics respect the fabriction and a few obscene fake monks are treated like gods.
–
They do not care about the facts but continue to believe.
There are also fools who yet believe that the Rajapaksas made a great contribution to eliminating terrorism within the borders of the island which is full of reptiles in human disguise.
They dare to tattoo Rajapaksa’s body parts on their skin. Usually our people are real beasts in human disguise.
.
There are Tamil fanatics who believe that Tamil is the oldest language in the world.
.
All of these are blatant lies that keep some fanatics busy. A lie has two legs is a German saying. Anyway, just lies floating in the air in Sri Lanka, I think I can’t stand it.
.
Please see the link below for your information, see that some Egyptian languages and Sanskrit may be the oldest.
.
https://www.berlitz.com/blog/oldest-language-in-the-world
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leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
Rohan,
You can’t rely on Wikipedia information. You can’t even rely on some ChatGPT information.
Please focus only on peer-reviewed publications if you really want to focus on the facts. Thanks.
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Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
I do not believe in Wikipedia alone and the facts that I have stated are correct. Tamil is not the oldest language in the world, and no one claims this other than Sinhalese and a nasty spiteful self-hating old man who is trying to twist the truth. However, it is the opinion of most linguistics that Tamil is the oldest living language in the world. When a mean living not a dialect but a proper literary language. If many Sinhalese do not like this fact that and a mean nasty self-hating Spiteful self-hating old man here does not like it, that is not my problem nor the problem of Tamil people. We Tamils always where fully aware most Sinhalese are anti Tamil to the core, despite the fact the vast majority of them are of immigrant South Indian Tamil descent. Sinhalese coming here and desperately coming and arguing otherwise and showing their meanness and narrow mindedness proves what I commented. No wonder this island is bankrupt
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leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
R25,
You should educate about Tamils and Sinhalese.
Sinhalese, we are not all against Tamils in general. However, most of us do not support terrorist promoters. We hated the LTTE terrorists (Tamil rebels) and we also hated the violent JVP (Sinhala rebels).
Isn’t that normal among people? I think many of the new generation like to associate with Tamils in the N and E parts of the island. I will travel to Jaffna next time. I don’t think you can generalize that Sinhalese are completely against Tamils. Likewise, it is wrong to say all Germans hate foreigners.
My cousin’s son married a Tamil girl in Jaffna. Even though he was the only child in the family, all the relatives celebrated it together. They grew up in London.
However, there are Tamils I know in Germany and the UK who are against basing their community on “caste” as well as “class”.Their differences are huge compared to prevailing sinhalayas and their castes and creed today.
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leelagemalli / January 3, 2025
cont.
.
Some TAMIL friends did not want me to associate with lower class Tamils without a valid reason.I got to know more tamils in Europe than in SL.
.
When I left Sri Lanka in the late 80s, people in the South were very much affected by casteism. I remember my elderly relatives offering “low chairs” to some poor workers (sinhala) who came to work for them. The maids were treated like vermin. However, I hated them all since I was a black sheep-child and moved to Europe about 3.5 decades ago. By my early twenties, I was already standing up to my parents. I could not stand my father’s attitude towards others – being like a “desperate Deepthi Silva type”. Not just to escape from JVPrs, but also due to some other reasons, I thought of leaving the country.
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Rohan25 / January 1, 2025
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy. The key to maintaining the website as an inviting space is to focus on intelligent discussion of topics.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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Rohan25 / January 1, 2025
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy. The key to maintaining the website as an inviting space is to focus on intelligent discussion of topics.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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SJ / January 2, 2025
CT
Is it because he is so polite?
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Mallaiyuran / January 2, 2025
You are too smart in Media editing. I have many times pointed here your relentless eager in consulting editing to CT.
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
No because you are so sweet. However, all my comments have been allowed once I shortened them
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SJ / January 2, 2025
For all its length, the comment has sweet nothing of value.
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Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
Yes, I know this is why you read them and start screeching as there is nothing of value to someone self hating.
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SJ / January 3, 2025
Sorry to disappoint you.
I rarely go through your heap of dung.
I just notice some obvious howlers and have a good laugh.
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davidthegood / January 3, 2025
SJ, Isn’t there a more decent way of amusing yourself.
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SJ / January 3, 2025
I am just as amused as I am with your OT fibs.
What is indecent about calling a dung heap a dung heap?
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Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
But you are dung yourself and wallow in it
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SJ / January 3, 2025
Poor you have made enough of an ass of yourself.
I will leave you alone to concentrate on your mass production of you know what.
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ramona therese fernando / December 31, 2024
Well… I mean, yes, a negative list will not increase benefits to local industry. But the local industries still retain and will sustain for a long time. The converse will flood our country with Indian goods and services….not worth any increased benefits to the local industry. In the sudden double-dips, turns, and debts of capitalism, Sri Lanka will be the greater loser. We will be the whipping boy.
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We too can also sign comprehensive or enhanced trade partnership agreements with UAE, Australia, Canada, Israel, UK, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, etc. Surely, we can have our own net. But the net has to have the elements of sincerity and patriotism – no more of Lankan business-people sitting in foreign countries pretending they are creating a net, utilizing the hard-work of the Lankan worker, transferring the profits to personal overseas accounts, and then pretending they are doing a great service in creating business opportunities for the country in the first place. That is where we lose. And then forced to give in to India because we can’t control our own. Anyway, the way we traditionally interacted with India with ships should continue. No way should we desecrate Hindu religious beliefs and let them build any land-bridge to us.
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Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
Think about this cinema scene: A young husband and wife went to the American West looking for new opportunities, deciding differently later. For the growth of the child, the mother must return to their home, East, until the daughter has finished her education. They, husband and wife, loaded their bags hurriedly, while a small one was enjoying the landscape. They finished things, but before they caught her and put her on the train, it started to move. The husband quickly fetched his horse and chased the train before it accelerated too fast, and they exchanged the child. Child was brought to a better, peaceful land, to make ready to face their new wild west. Fast developing India is the train, falling back is the child. India still has not gone too far away, so they could completely ignore Langkang in the future. The fast growth of the Indian economy and the unbelievable technological changes taking place in the modern war, sooner or later will render Langkang no longer give any special upper hand for those who hold the leash of it. Remember, illusional Sinhala Buddhist politicians counted on deporting Tamils, imposing Sinhala Only, and introducing the Standardization to take Langkang to the Miracle Land of Asia. The end was when Eastern Switzerland became bankrupt by importing Chinese poop.
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Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
AKD’s name is, he changed JVP’s policies for the benefit of the people and changed the people’s understanding of the local politics. Let this magic be not another anti-Tamil, Sinhala Buddhist propaganda like technique, useful only to win the election once. Let him and his ministers, once again, get down to the floor and fertilize and nourish the people’s mind to open the land for trade to take place between lands. AKD should leave the author like Tamils hates involved into this too much because he is convulsing to invent that the Tamils’ trading artifacts or Tamils Brahmi letters discovered in Ceylon are only the as the Tamils traders stayed in Langkang while they were conducting the trade. Can he then explain how a different form of Tamils, which is highly resembling Cent Tamils, is flowering here from Tholkappiyar (or even before him) time. This guy is not honestly ready to get along with Indian culture and trade with them but wants to “put his axe in AKD’s cart” (a saying in Tamils) to claim that he was the reason Langkang went to ETCA. Remember, this guy was an executive in the era when the Central Bank was thriving by publishing fake numbers of the Miracle country and Sinhala Buddhists were winning the elections. These are examples: the cow (UMP SLFP Union) may fall and die, but ticks will not walk out!
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Mallaiyuran / January 1, 2025
We have been asking for a Singapore – Malaysia deal for the Tamils’ problem. We strongly opposed Britain using Brexit to break up from the EU. WTA counted 355 FTA are among its 210 members, while EU 27 within that. Langkang experimented with Chinese poop, why not with ETCA? I personally used NAFTA to relocate to the USA from Canada (though I treat them both equal). Countries should formulate pacts not just for war. The UN is leading many of their internal relationships. So, they should form unions, that enhance their democracy within groups and trade, by people concentrating mainly on what are advantages and productive for them. Economists again and again explained that carpenters making plows and carts and farmers making produce make both richer than they both make them for themselves. Once, Ceylon was the leader in education in that hemisphere. Now India has caught up with West in many areas of the education. A raw in the American political parties is importing quality Indian Engineers. Instead of blaming the Tigers, who were raised by the standardization, which in turn spoiled the Sinhala Youths, Sinhala Buddhists should be humble enough to concede that they failed in running the country so should make up their mind to join those who can help them. Time for change in the Sinhala Buddhist culture.
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SJ / January 3, 2025
“We have been asking for a Singapore – Malaysia deal”
Wonder when there was a merger for us to de-merge?
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Agnos / January 1, 2025
Hi OC,
With the recent international chess championship and other international wins by prodigies like Gukesh, Pragnanandha, et al., under the mentorship of Viswanathan Anand, Chennai is emerging as a global center for cerebral sports. By the early aughts, it had established itself as a global center in the software/IT, and automotive manufacturing fields.
Graduates of many Chennai-based colleges, including IIT-Madras, Anna University-Guindy College, University of Madras, Loyola College, Annamalai University, SRM College, etc., co-found startup companies in Silicon Valley and become CEOs or rise to hold very senior leadership positions in large technology companies in the US.
While Lanka doesn’t need to imitate India, it still has to find effective ways to compete or fall behind much further.
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old codger / January 1, 2025
Agnos,
“it still has to find effective ways to compete or fall behind much further.”
Yes, but it doesn’t help when idiots who don’t even live here spout theories to show how superior we are to the peasants next door in Tamilnadu. These asses are still stuck in the 50’s.
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SebastianSR / January 2, 2025
“Allow Tamil people to thrive, they will produce goods at reasonable price which will be competitive with Indian goods. It is Sinhala racism to keep Tamils down that is bringing the country to sorry state.“.
Fortunately Tamils have “Sinhala Buddhists” to kick and blame for all problems.
Allow Tamils to thrive! We had a full Northern Provincial Council under a Tamil and what kind of Tamils thrived then?
Today, and even in the 1940s or 1960s, the Tamils that thrived lived in Karuvakadddu (not Valithtottam even under Premadasa!) Wellawattai, Pampalapittai, Kottachennai or Thehiwalai, etc.,while holding property in the North, like absentee landlords. They owned businesses, land, carbo-boat companies, were captains of industry, leaders of the legal, medical, educational and other prefessions. However, they were politically led by a few lawyers with more hubris and pride than good judgment. They militarily pitted a mere minority against a massive majority and destroyed everything. Tamils, instead of producing goods competitive with indian goods wait for the cheque from abroad., dream of the immigrant visa. We are competeing with Indians better, in going backwards to occult beliefs centered around Kovils, while our poltical leaders rush to Nallur or Thirupathi if they are Hindus, or defend the most idiotic practices of the Anglican or Catholic church if they happen to be in those faiths.
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Ajith / January 2, 2025
” We had a full Northern Provincial Council under a Tamil and what kind of Tamils thrived then?”
Really? Did you see any Provincial Police? Can you explain why did you built a Buddhist Temple illegally in a land that belongs to Tamils? Where are those povincial Councils now?
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SJ / January 3, 2025
So not having a Tamil Police was the trouble?
Don’t make me laugh. R25 has made my fill for the day.
What kind of BS was the NPC generating for its whole life?
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Rohan25 / January 3, 2025
I am so glad that you had your fill of spite venom and meanness, despicable self-hating old man. Constantly trying to put down your own language culture and people and fawning to every Sinhalese racist and Islamic extremist. [edited out]
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SJ / January 3, 2025
Thank you for the admission that it was venom from you.
Nevertheless, thanks for the amusement.
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Mallaiyuran / January 3, 2025
Just don’t learn Pali Mahawamsa only to facilitate in your washing job for the Lords and Duchess in Colombo.
Learn Yarlpana Vaipava Maalai. It is in Tamil (though you never studied Tamil in school days, until Badiyudden appointed as the Rapist Air force Translator)
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Mallaiyuran / January 3, 2025
“What kind of BS was the NPC generating for its whole life?”
What kind of BS? Really? Really Really? Ha ha ha aha….
Yab man, their BS’s smell is no match for the methane or hydrogensulfid relentlessly produced in your factory.
By the way, could you name an international figure produced by Vasanthi’s Club House in the nationalized, Sir Pon Ramanathan’s building in Tirunelveli by Sri Ma O?
You know the saying in Tamil…….. “If you don’t have your torn off mouth, by this time the bitch might have dragged to her den to feed her puppies.” Congratulations on winning each and every race! (but that is only in the Deva Medicine induced hallucination world!)
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Rohan25 / January 2, 2025
Sebastian I upvoted your comment as I agree with you with regards to the duplicitous nature of most of our so-called Tamil leaders
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davidthegood / January 2, 2025
SebastianSR, who gave you permission to judge Anglican and Catholic church practices when you are so ignorant of the loving Creator God himself who made you for perfection but you fell into sin and rejection.
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LankaScot / January 2, 2025
Hello DTG,
SebastianSR didn’t specify what practices he referred to as being “stupid”. He may have been referring to Criminal behaviour, not Religious.
And your reference to “the loving Creator God himself who made you for perfection but you fell into sin and rejection” applies to all Humanity, including Anglican and Roman Catholic Bishops. They are also fallible, as you can see from the trouble they are in by covering up the Sexual abuse by Church Officers – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y5l7116g1o
Best regards
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davidthegood / January 3, 2025
LankaScot, sexual abuse is found in all people groups in all countries just like how sin is found everywhere. Why try to single out churches and other religious places as you are religious bigots. Catholic Archbishop is waiting to receive donations for the victimised and battered from the Easter bombings paid for by the Mulanas to bring the failed and chased Gotha. The greedies still cannot give up Mammon after robbing so much that AKD had to prevent transfer of Temple Trees and Presidential Secretariat and Electricity Board through gazette recently or no nation left.
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LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello DTG,
If you have read some of my past comments, you will see that I have always condemned the Sexual Abuse of Children by any Adult, ecclesiastical or otherwise. The problem for the Churches is that they tried to cover up these crimes from the top down. I was pointing out that ALL people are fallible and that SebastianSR may not have been criticising Religious Practices
Apart from that how can I be a “Religious bigot”? I am not religious and never have been.
Best regards
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old codger / January 3, 2025
DTG,
“LankaScot, sexual abuse is found in all people groups in all countries just like how sin is found everywhere. Why try to single out churches and other religious places”
But aren’t churches and other religious institutions there to prevent exactly that. What you are saying is that even the church can sin because other people do it.
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SJ / January 2, 2025
“Pampalapittai, Kottachennai or Thehiwalai,”
Where are these places?
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davidthegood / January 3, 2025
SJ, Near Wellawatte and Dehiwala. Why do you need this knowledge except to write some contradiction.
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SJ / January 3, 2025
dtg
If you do not understand the purpose of the question, let us forget it.
OT does not teach you humor.
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Naman / January 3, 2025
SL should do transactions between India and SL as far as possible in our local currencies and AVOID using the US dollar. SL should join the BRICS in order to do business that does not involve use of US $.
There is no need to talk about the age of our languages. The SRI LANKAN idendity should be promoted.
Nowadays lots of the Minorities speak in good Sinhala.
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LankaScot / January 3, 2025
Hello Naman,
We will still have the problem of paying back the Loans with US Dollars.
Best regards
/