28 March, 2024

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75 Years Of Independence: A Tale Of Two Compacts & Two Economies

By Rajan Philips

Rajan Philips

President Ranil Wickremesinghe led the ceremonies to mark Sri Lanka’s 75th independence anniversary. Toward the end of last year, he made a daunting promise – to achieve national reconciliation before the 75th anniversary of independence, that was yesterday, February 4. His intention was laudable, but its realization was never a certainty. So, it has turned out to be. Full reconciliation was scaled down to full implementation of the 13th Amendment. That was not going to be possible anyway before yesterday. All that was possible was the singing of the national anthem in Tamil in addition to Sinhalese. Even that reasonable use was denied a few years ago. The ignoramus who objected to the singing of the anthem in Tamil then, Wimal Weerawansa, is now spearheading the campaign against 13A. Even the Mahanayaka Theros have joined the fray. 

In his independence day speech and statement, the President promised “maximum devolution within a unitary state,” even as he repeated his other promise to end Sri Lanka’s economic dependence in the next twenty five years, by 2048. No one foresaw this coming in 1948. When Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, became independent it was apparently in the best of times. Almost all contemporary accounts said so. A model colony was becoming independent unexpectedly soon with no struggle or sweat. No other emerging polity apparently had it so good. The economy was on a roll by the measures of foreign reserves and local consumption levels. As a small island it was easy to be overcome by modernization. Road and rail networks crisscrossed the island, telecommunications and postal services were bringing people closer. Public education was free and public health was looked after, the two anchoring a robust welfare system that was unique among comparator colonies. The population was under seven million and even though the vast majority of the people were relatively deprived, there was optimism that there was opportunity for everyone. 

Universal franchise had been introduced 17 years earlier, in 1931, and the people had had a head start in experiencing electoral democracy – uniquely among non-western polities and well ahead of quite a few western ones. Independence arrived on the back of a new constitution, which was a simple text crafted by unassuming legal drafting and not the exalted product of a ponderous constituent assembly. Yet Sri Lanka’s first constitution, unlike its successors, was a compact document that possessed too many virtues and too few faults. Most importantly, it underwrote the communal compact that was the necessary and sufficient prerequisite for the colonial rulers to handover power to their local successors. 

“Communal Compact” (AJ Wilson) is the idea that the (Soulbury) Constitution and the granting of independence were the result of a political agreement among the country’s constitutive “communal groups.” Put another way, the British had to either assume or believe that there was such an agreement among the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims before deciding on the timing and the terms of their departure. Before long, however, the communal compact came under stress and eventually broke. 

After 75 years, the controversy is over a different and somewhat narrower compact – the ‘devolution compact.’ Equally, the seemingly salubrious economy that greeted independence in 1948, has now become a deflated and damaged economy requiring intensive treatment in 2023. Hence, the tale of two compacts and two economies. But how did we get here? 

Broken Economy

The answers go back to the circumstances in which Sri Lanka became independent. There was more to them than the rosy pictures painted by contemporary accounts. There were already economic fissures and sociopolitical fault lines. These fissures and fault lines defined the political questions of the day and the political alignments that arose out of them. How they unfolded is the story of Sri Lanka after independence. It is an overtold story, but there are always new takes on them as new generations come along to live through the same old problems.                                           

For all its consumption complacency, the economy in 1948 was the “classical colonial export economy”. Plantation exports paid for consumption imports and left a not too small Stirling surplus as bonus. However, the situation was structurally unsustainable. A fast growing population and a politically demanding consumption culture could not be supported indefinitely by the export earnings from tea, rubber and coconut alone. Within a decade, foreign reserves fell from one year worth of imports to four months of them. There has been no looking back since, albeit the wrong way. 

The decades following saw severely imposed import restrictions that did not, however, serve the textbook purpose of stemming consumption and accumulating aggregate savings for productive investments. Import scarcities also had to pay a heavy political price. Unemployment became the new scourge along with the chronic mismatch between the outputs of free education and the labour needs of the economy. 

Free education expanded the imparting of academic learning and not the technical mass education needed for the development of industries. Industrial development itself was circumscribed by the small national market of the island, its total lack of non-agricultural raw material resources, and indiscriminate import restrictions. State led industrialization proved to be too capital intensive and addressed neither the unemployment problem nor the needs of consumers. 

The open economy alternative did unleash the potential for private industrial development and shifted the economic base from its sole reliance on plantation exports. But skyrocketing consumption levels, privatization of education that serves no social or economic purpose, criminal neglect of and corruption in the vital energy and transport sectors, and economically inappropriate and graft generating infrastructure investments have brought the national economy to its current parlous state. 

In the assessment of Sri Lanka’s current President, there is no economy left to be reformed! He is promising, among many other promises, a new take off for a better landing at the hundredth anniversary of independence, which neither he nor his followers and critics will be around to witness. 

One beam of light that needs to be added to this rather bleak recounting is the story of domestic agriculture, which has been an impressive one in terms of overall growth, if not quite so in terms efficiency of input allocations and certainly not in terms of the distribution of its outputs. Whether comparatively advantaged or not, agriculture is the bulwark of livelihood for the majority of Sri Lankan households; and inclusive of the plantations, it also provides the main domestic base for local industries. Any government can ignore agriculture only at its peril, and the punishment for anyone choosing to monkey with it will be the swiftest and the severest. The organic fertilizer fiasco just proved that, and rightly so.  

In 1966, concluding his monograph, Ceylon: An Export Economy in Transition, Donald Snodgrass saw only one certainty “from the historical perspective of 120 years of modern Ceylonese economic development;” and that was, “the search for an economic system that will provide a politically acceptable and economically viable replacement for the classical export economy will continue.” The economy now is far more diverse than what was there in 1948. But the point about the elusiveness of the search for a “politically acceptable and economically viable replacement,” is spot on, 75 years on. 

Broken Politics

Of the two, political acceptability and economic viability, it is the political part that has been playing the weightier role in Sri Lanka’s political economy. Politics itself has been swayed by non-economic pressures and compulsions than it has been informed by economic imperatives. The current debate over devolution would suggest that nothing might change even now. Economic doldrums, notwithstanding. 

Political divisions along party lines were in their embryonic stage at the time of independence in 1948. The newest political party, the United National Party, had just been formed by DS. Senanayake to contest the 1947 parliamentary elections on a rightwing platform. GG Ponnambalam had formalized his Tamil Congress a few years earlier. And the country’s oldest political party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, that had just been freed of its proscription was already in two parts marking the second of its many splits. Rounding off the Left was the Communist Party that had come into being as the first splinter of the LSSP. 

Many candidates ran as independents in 1947 and an unhealthily large contingent of them were returned as MPs. The UNP did not win an overall majority (50 of its 92 candidates lost in the elections) but was able to form the new government with the help of independents and Appointed MPs. The efforts of non-UNP MPs, through their historic gathering at Yamuna, the Havelock Road house of the highly respected lawyer politician, Herbert Sri Nissanka, to present an alternative bid for power ended in failure, marking the first of many such failures to come. 

*To be continued..

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Latest comments

  • 16
    1

    In case, the full implementation of the 13th amendment, as promised by Ranil, is not permitted by the SLPP and their present and past cronies like Gammanpilla and Weerawansa, then will Ranil have the guts to dissolve the parliament in March and call for a general election?

    If he does not dissolve the parliament in March then it should be understood by all the voters that the statement of Ranil to implement full 13 is only an election trick to create communal disharmony to get votes for the LG election.

    If Ranil is a “Peace Maker” how can he say he is a Sinhalese in the recent All Party Conference? What he should have said is “I am a Sri Lankan”. Will he ever learn?

    • 13
      0

      Buddhist1,
      Good to hear from you after a long lapse!
      What a splendid idea indeed!!???
      Full credit, for having thought of that proposition!!!???
      I would be an eye opener, to find out whether the will is there to execute it or just a fanciful exposition of thoughts to capture VOTES of the gullible voters, which has been the case for 75 years and still may be the case, coupled with the favoured inclination to dispense, ¼ BOTTLE OF GAL, 1 X CHICKEN BIRYANI PACKET AND RS. 5000.00 PER ELIGIBLE VOTER!!!???
      Politicians’ own prescription for success at elections, which has worked well for them until NOW!?

      • 1
        10

        Rajan: The singular message of US Force backed Ranil Rajapaksa’s Fake Independence speech was “There is No alternative” (TINA) to the IMF, and hence Sri Lanka must unite to swallow the bitter medicine and economy shrinking and population impoverishing IMF austerity measures.This is patently not true and Sri Lanka must de-dollarize and seek assistance from the BRICS bank, New Development Bank and AIIB.
        Fake Reconciliation is part of the USAID funded WOKE Bullshit divide and rule Identity Politics in NGO projects and is a theme song to distract from and Force Unity to push Sri Lanka deep into the Washington Twin’s Debt trap Bailout business and enable asset stripping of strategic lands, marine and mineral resources, energy, telecom and transport infrastructure and US dollar Debt Colonialism to enable a US military base to fight its Economic proxy war on China in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile the self-serving and predatory Indian govt. with its BlackRock bankrolled Adani is also raping Lanka.
        The only reason that the universally despised Ranil Rajapakse regime is in power is because backed by foreign forces – Donald Lu and Victoria Nuland and doddering Biden! Wake Up Rajan Philipps!

    • 8
      3

      Trying to show something there isn’t: trying to show something we don’t have.

      In the photo look at the way Ranil is sitting ……. all the tin pot beggar dictators of Africa had the same pomp and put-on regal-ness . Like Bokassa’s coronation ……. https://theimperialcourt.tumblr.com/post/162521686518/jean-bedel-bokassa-emperor-bokassa-i-of-the

      We need a bloodbath ……… and then some.

      Prabakaran where are you when Native needs you the most?


      Sad Miserable Independence …….. to all!


      Through these fields of destruction
      Baptisms of fire
      I’ve witnessed your suffering
      As the battle raged high
      And though they did hurt us so bad
      In the fear and alarm
      You did not desert us
      My brothers in arms

      • 9
        2

        It’s frigging mental !

        What Ranil has is a mental disease.

        If the salesman is right Lankans buy any madness.

        Many didn’t buy the same madness when the Rajapakses were selling it ……. but buy it when Ranill is selling it. ……. Native buys in dozens.

        Look how crazy things have got. …… Many here, who were blasting the Rajapakses …… are now embracing Ranil with the Rajapakses.


        Second-coming of Buddha? …….. Preaching Bana in the colloquial language of the common? ……. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRyV01M4UXk

        Is he preaching untruths? Lies? …… Do you buy only what’s preached in haughty language?

        Who would you buy, him or Ranil?

        Native, avoidance is not an answer!

        • 7
          2

          Our task (well, duty sorta) is to tell the truth as is ……..it’s crazy to tell (support) who might solve the problems. …….. Just look, who we thought/supported has solved any problem/thing in the past?

          We have no control over what’s happening now ……. will lead into.

          Any good will come out only by accident/coincidence.

          The only guide we have is, not any man/group/party ……… or even God ……. but the truth of the reality …… that is.

        • 11
          3

          Nimal,
          “Many didn’t buy the same madness when the Rajapakses were selling it”
          But they did buy a war to end all upstart Tamils, organic agriculture, Viyathmaga economics, Kaputa statecraft, a tower to end all cellphone towers… I like the last one best…🤣🤣🤣

          • 1
            0

            OC,
            .
            Don’t you think MaRa took that 18 billion stolen money out of the country (Dubai, Seychelles or anywhere else)?

            But the plan did not work as they had planned in the last phase of Gotabhaya’s rule.

            Ajith Cabral wanted to bring those dollars and run the govt, however that plan was not successful. That is why the bugger promised that he would be able to increase forex resources then.

            • 2
              0

              LM,
              You know I am no Rajapaksa fan. But I have doubts about this “18 billion” being thrown about. Where is the evidence? Even crooks are rational, so why are the Rajapaksas still living here?
              Know what I think? This 18 billion is just like the famous bond scam.
              Just as an exercise, let’s say they stole 18 billion USD. That means they skimmed off 10% of 180 billion.
              Did 180 billion USD of investment come into the country from 2009? I think not.

              • 2
                0

                OC,
                thanks but,
                They had agreed and made several legal reforms to bring even illegally earned money into the country. This is the son of a bear – Ajith Cabral made repeated talks. See how positively he acted in that dialogue. ….. How can an expert in economics behave like that? But he was. It is all clear that he failed assist Gota in those small matters such the cooking gas problem, however, to talk proudly that he has done well?
                People in a civilized world would have stoned him to death, but allowed the crippled Sri Lanka to continue? what a world
                At the same time, as a very positive person, he promised to increase the foreign exchange reserve in the first quarter of 2022.
                Also, the secret trips of the bastard sones Puttu traveling in Dubai and other hidden skies?
                may not be 18B but no doubt they stoled enough at least half of it. I believe these men even would rape their own mothers chanting SB pirith if they wanted to enjoy Louis Vuitton products.

                • 2
                  0

                  LM,
                  I know they are crooks, but their earnings are probably in millions of USD, not billions. Likely they have some interests in Dubai too. Big businessmen like Lokuvithana play both sides.

              • 3
                0

                Let everyone pay attention to recent issues…

                Btw, BOND SCAM investigations and SORYSENA s 20 000 signing issues……fairytale style talks with experts utterly being dumb. … these are similar to teledrama series for UTTERLY stupid people in my home country.
                .
                Similar to importing ” thick ropes” from India in order to switch back to gallows ? Namal Kumara Jathakaya ? Why on earth so called ” intelligent Lawyer community” digested all of them ? Not a single lawyer had guts to stand against ? Not even that Tirantha Walaliyadda ?
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da9DB2n-K2k
                Nagaya carried – fake relics- entertaining SB worshippers to Kelaniya Raja Maha viharaya – gate keeping guards shared me over 6 millions of PIN GONNU like people visited the temple in order to worship FAKE relics .. and all of them turned out to be POHOTTUWA voters.
                .
                Dr Safi to be branded as if he was busier with suppressing falopians tubes of pregnant women in their deliveries ( main architect was that dog Jayasumana who is wearing a Prof. Title but not proving records of post doc experience).

        • 9
          0

          nimal fernando

          One interesting scene on Colombo roads, Flag vendors are complaining about motorists and pedestrians who usually buy flags as a patriotic duty however yesterday refused to buy lion flags instead demanded Black Flags.

          Do you think the country and 6.9 million are on the right path?

        • 2
          1

          nimal fernando: “Who would you buy, him or Ranil?

          I “BUY” Ranil. Why? Ranil is the only “LEADER” we had, to say to all the “CREDITORS” “I don’t pay any of your claims (Debts)” and at the same time to show the world that we can CELEBRATE the “75th Anniversary” of Independence at whatever the cost it would incur. Isn’t that a show of GALLANTRY- the symbol of the roar of “LION”?

    • 9
      2

      B1,
      “In case, the full implementation of the 13th amendment, as promised by Ranil, is not permitted by the SLPP and their present and past cronies like Gammanpilla and Weerawansa will Ranil have the guts to dissolve the parliament in March and call for a general election?”
      I don’t think the voters themselves would vote for 13A, because it has been built into such a gonibilla over the years. Some things should be imposed by leaders regardless of public opinion. It is like giving medicine to recalcitrant children.

      • 9
        8

        A unique interpretation of democracy by an old demented man !

        An unelected and unwanted President to decide what is best for the people !

        Why ? because someone calling himself Codger says he should do that !

        Isn’t this the way Polpot, Prabakaran, Osama Bin laden, Saddam Hussein acted ? They knew what is best for the people !

        • 5
          8

          “A unique interpretation of democracy by an old demented man !” says a 72 year old virgin Rajapaksa acolyte with tremendous TT’s!!

          • 8
            5

            Coder don’t forget my B’Day (72 years of surviving the revolting attention of Codgers and Leelas)

            You gawk at TTs don’t you ! Typical of your low breed !

            Isn’t it obvious that Rajapaksa acolytes have better democratic sense than ghost Prabakarans and crooked entrepreneurs you people keep producing ?

            After all the Rajapaksa group appointed Ranil as president !

            • 1
              8

              Deepthi of the tremendous TTs,
              “Isn’t it obvious that Rajapaksa acolytes have better democratic sense”
              So, if Gota was so democratic, why did he run away to Singapore?🤣🤣🤣

              • 7
                3

                Codger do you realize how foolish you sound ?

                Had Gota stayed back ( without going to Singapore) and had thugs assault the protestors he would have been more democratic ?

                Had he gone for the funeral of the Queen and then the Japanese PM he would have been even more democratic ?

                At least Gota had a mandate from the people of this country.

                What about your girly man , has he got a mandate to do anything ?

        • 5
          4

          Prof. Deepthi Silva,
          :
          May I ask you to provide us with some links please ?
          :
          I don’t understand what you are talking about, you and the like may be sick these days because of the prevailing cold. Well that’s why news like this comes out… Please inform me, my friends in psychiatry (UK hospitals) can be of great help to you. thank you. I ll be on a trip to UK in the second half of Feb.

          • 5
            4

            LM,
            When the weather is cold, tremendous TTs can help keep you warm. But you don’t have them, and I don’t.

    • 3
      1

      “If Ranil is a “Peace Maker” how can he say he is a Sinhalese in the recent All Party Conference? “
      Sri Lanka and Sinhala rulers had lots of All Party conferences and so many Promises over the time in the history of 75 years. Ranil also had an all party constitution making promise during 2015-2019. So this is nothing different and even after “Aragalaya” nothing changed other than “Ranil and West” chased away Rajapaksas from power. Unfortunately, none of the existing political system and security system wants to change the system for people oriented or corruption free system. The burning of the houses of MPs and Ranils home looks like a similar to Easter Bombing drama played for political advantage of the existing power system

  • 6
    2

    My proposition to both RANIL AND HIS CONTENDER’S on the 13A LIMIT TO PERIPHERAL 5 Units:-
    1. Obtain security guarantees from US, EU, India and UNO as to SECULARISM AND NON-DIVISIBILITY OF THE COUNTRY
    2. Devolve power to the PC’s TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION
    3. Have a body to monitor and control the devolution process going forward, with the collaboration, support and guarantees of the USA, EU, UK, UNO and SAARC to scuttle any form of breaking away or external self – determination! SL
    4. Financial freedom from central government enabling FREE FLOW OF (BOTH IN AND OUT INVESTMENTS AS AN ELEMENT CONTROLLED ONLY BY THE RESPECTIVE PC, w/o intervention of the central government)!!
    5. Allow internal self-determination of the PC’s and mechanism of US, UK, EU, SAARC and India to enable secure status quo ante, if it becomes necessary by force!!!???
    6. This enables the PC’s to fund their own capital markets to develop, operate and maintain the required services – Highways and Roads, Minor Irrigation and Urban Development including Water supply and Drainage, Building and Construction approvals, Health and Education (including Higher Education and UNI’s), Agriculture, and Administration of the peripheral districts from centralisation!!???
    (TBC)

  • 4
    2

    (Part II)
    ENABLE JOINING-UP AND WORKING TOGETHER FOR OPTIMISATION OF PC’S, IF THEY SO DESIRE ONLY, APPROVED BY RESPECTIVE PC’S, IN REFERENDUM AS BASIS!!
    A. Believe, NCP & NWP have commonality of interest and joint working optimises outcome
    B. NP & EP, (Language and other livelihood and common practices)
    C. Uva and SP as they too have commonality of interests (Sinhala-Man)
    D. CP and Sabaragamuwa Province (commonality of the Tea and Rubber estate workers)
    E. WP has enough resources to stand alone, with the Sri J ‘Pura, Capital Territory
    F. Five (5) units – BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND UNIFORMITY OF PURPOSE AND OPTIMISED COST
    Allow this procedure to operate under guidance of the secure guidance of UNO, US, UK, EU, and SAARC for 5 years and progress thereafter based on the merits of the arrangement, from that point!?? Confident and certainly, if everything goes forward as expected and in conformity of the spirit and aspiration of the people, then along with the country prospering economically by attractive FDI, wherever they want the investment located as wished by the investors, the livelihood of the people at large would be improved at optimised cost!!??
    PTA/ Separation and Racist politics would become extinct!!!?

    • 0
      0

      Mahila,

      You are propsing to merge North and East. Haha.. Keep Dreaming man.
      This will never happen. The sinhalese and Muslims out number you tamils. Also sinhalese areas are 6o% of the GTrincomalee distric and 78% of Ampara. Tamil majority presence in Trinco is only around the towm. Where as you are a majority in Batticalo but there too Muslims make a substantial percentage. Under no circumstances will you see a North east Merger.

  • 3
    1

    (Part III)
    Such joining up also improves the Operating cost, if thought out, cutting down the cost of buildings, operational staff and administration and vehicle pool of each PC, though it may not be possible to reduce the number of PC members and their luxuries attendant to positions to become low!!!??

    • 2
      1

      RP,
      Well said>
      “For all its consumption complacency, the economy in 1948 was the “classical colonial export economy”. Plantation exports paid for consumption imports and left a not too small Stirling surplus as bonus. However, the situation was structurally unsustainable. A fast growing population and a politically demanding consumption culture could not be supported indefinitely by the export earnings from tea, rubber and coconut alone. Within a decade, foreign reserves fell from one year worth of imports to four months of them. There has been no looking back since, albeit the wrong way.”
      Importantly, no significant defence expenditure until 1956 – Britain picked-up Bill (at least the ‘BIG CHUNK’) NAVY AND AIRFORCE!!! Comfort of RN in Trinco and RAF in Katunayake, emboldened, Sir John to challenge Nehru, PM India in Bandung – no fear of IAF Parrippu drop!!! I’m not deriding, but COMPLEMENTING FOR SIR JOHN ON HIS STANDPOINT!!
      Post 1956, CHARLATANS AND ‘APE ANDUWA’, CRONYISM CLOWNS defeating WESTERN COLONIALISM AND IMPERIALISTIC REACTIONARIES AND FAVOURING SO CALLED “PROGRESSIVE” SOVIET BLOC, didn’t expect to spend or have any idea how much BE was expending/contributing to countries’ SECURITY, IMPORTANTLY ECONOMY!!!??
      Today biggest expenditure in SL!!!?? Forward thinking Progressive Measures!! MY FOOT!??

  • 14
    6

    These parasitic scum talk big all the time. For fifty years this scumbag has been fiddling with empty promises at every level of responsibility he held. Why is the author even bothering to describe what these vermin say to the media? Discussions in journals should not be focussed on what these morons say but what has been achieved or not achieved all these years.

  • 4
    1

    Ranil!

    Only one thing to tell you : Quit taxing the working class! Catch hold of the Lankan US$ Billionaires, and force-return the money from them! Go on – DO IT!

    Instead, you are keeping this USD 53-billion of the Hardworking-Suffering-Lankan-Masses on international Bond Markets, and are trying to entice the IMF and World Bank and other foreign bodies to civilize us in outdated modernity (here, when the world is moving away from industrialization and trying to be like we were in the 1948).

    So now these Lankan billionaire bond-holders have got together and come up with a proposal to not get fined and prosecuted, as long as they contribute it all to IMF funds …….amongst other things, for things like war on Russia (investment-war to ensure global peace in a generation or two – Newest World Order). “Support us and we will give you 2 bil. in return for investment purposes for ultimate success in 2048.” OMG!

    • 5
      2

      “Only one thing to tell you”

      Ramona,

      Do you really believe Ranil will listen to you?

      Ranil only listens to Old Codger!

      Too bad you should have been nice to OC ……when you had the chance!! :)))

      • 4
        2

        It’s the concept behind it NF. Never mind; the JVP-NPP will do the needful. IMF and other world bodies won’t mind…..they too are looking for a more moralistic way forwards.

        • 8
          0

          RTF,
          .
          I ask how you have so much faith in JVP/JJB?
          To me, the overestimation of them would be no different than the way ” wedakarana wiruwa, working hero-gotabhaya” disastrously turned him into a perpetual psychopath.
          .
          However, in a complex situation where the patient is shortly before death, even admitted to the intensive care unit (interstate), it has been difficult to build a consensus for the common good.

          No religious leader in the society (Sinhalese Buddhist monks powerful and rule this nation) seems to support to catalyze it.
          The experts will remain silent, or if they are not given an opportunity to emerge by prevailing MLECHCHA media, they will not function properly through positive energies.
          At this critical juncture of the nation, we need unity regardless of all differences. Let those forces emerge in the coming days…!!!!!!
          Extremists like Gevindu Kumaratunga will rise up against you, … we must destroy them just as we must destroy dangerous weeds.
          .
          No social media in Sri Lanka can do wonders through YT channels.

          Now or later we must come together for the national question, period

          • 0
            0

            What? Who else is there to have faith in? For our kind of country, JVP is the best….never given the chance however. Try them at least for God’s sake! We have nothing to lose.

            A patient before death is a different scenario. We can’t see the internal workings and can only see symptoms. Our county issues are glaringly obvious. It needs to change for the health of the People, not for the health of Ranil-Rajapaksa mad power delusions. Plenty of Buddhist Monks, and monks of other denominations are supporting them.
            National question has simple answer : Half of 13 A. Tamils to be given good posts in island-wide admin.

            • 0
              0

              RTF,
              That is splendid indeed!! Good thinking, but will never happen!!!
              simply put generalised attitude, don’t want that ‘Kottiya’ come and tell what to do?????
              Anyway, that to be a solution, is tempting, but sadly “WE HAVE MISSED THE BUS”!!!???
              Mostly, Minorities, being “boxed out” categorised as Para Demala, Kottiya’, Thambi’, having suffered for 54+ years, pre-emptively leave the shores of SL, because SADLY CLEAR CARREER PATH IS OBLITTERED with CERTAINTY AND MOVED OVERSEAS, FOR FURTHER STUDIES, THEN PROCEED IN COUNTRY OF ABODE, GREEN CARD/PERMANENT RESIDENCY, CIITZENSHIP!! THEY WOULD BE INSANE TO FORASKE, THOUGH THOSE ARE NOT THEIR MOTHERLAND/FATHERLAND?
              ATLEAST THYE ASSURE CERTAINTY, CARRER PATH, PROFESSIONAL JOB, EARN WELL, LOOK AFTER THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE LIVING INCLUDING IN SL!!??
              THEN TO MATTER OF BEING SL EDUCATED IMPEDIMENT, IS FIRST OF ALL (STANDARDISATION – WHICH WAS A TEMPORARY MEASURE TO OVERCOME INEQUITY IN THE FACILITITES OF VARIOUS LOCATIONS), BUT REMAINED IN FORCE FOR 50+ YEARS UNTIL NOW, DEPRIVING THE JAFFNA STUDENTS, THOUGH THE CELEBRATED LIBRARY WAS BURNT DOWN 40+ YEARS AGO!!!
              IF THAT’S NOT DISCRIMINATION, THEN WHAT IS!!!??
              NO MORE MINORITIES EDUCATED PROFESSIONALS REMAINING TO FILL THE VOID!!!
              WHICH IDIOT AND CLAIRVOYANT MADE THIS REALITY!!!??
              “BANDAGE APE AANDUWA”!!???

            • 0
              0

              RTF
              My suggestion is immediately remove standardisation first and foremost, educate one and all on a merit based system only!!!??? Equality assured and productivity improved!!
              GOVERNANCE OF THIS COUNTRY FOR 50 YEARS COULD NOT SADLY, EVOLVE SYSTEM, ELIMINATE THE INEQUITY IN FACILITIES FOR ALL SCHOOLS IN ADVANCED LEVEL EDUCATION, SPEAKS A GREAT LOT OF THE EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND PARLIAMENTARIANS AND MINISTERS, OF VARIOUS COLOURS AND HUES!!! THAT INEQUITY SHOULD NEVER BECOME AND IMPEDIMENTS TO ANYONE FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION AND/OR PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFYING!!!???
              Well intentioned Public investors, led by learned foreign Doctors and professionals with projects such as North Colombo Medical College (NCMC) and Neville Fernando – trustee of Kethumathi Foundation, Panadura, with a University in SJ’pura for IT and Medicine!!!
              “Tragedy of comedies or Comedy of Tragedies”!!!
              The foremost imposter and charlatan, was a medical professional, trade unionist, with a self-serving political alignment, who claimed that the NCMC and NFMC was trying to enrol students with lower A/L entry qualifications than Colombo medical College (CMC) FORGETTING ENTRY TO CMC FUNDED BY SLG IS LIMITED NUMBER BY “UPPING” THE ENTRY REQUIREMENT TO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF LIMITING ENTRY TO THE MEDICAL COLLEGE!!! WELL, BEYOND THIS TRADE UNIONISTS INTELLECT, KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM TO UNDERSTAND!

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              RTF,
              Aware of pitfalls, implementing suggestions made hereinbefore!!! That is the reality!! Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans and its electorates’ thinking, on the matter outcomes!!!
              Politicians Lament is, “THEN ONE WOULD NOT BE VOTED FOR AND ELECTED AT ELECTIONS”!!!
              Well we (and electorate) have to MAKE A DECISION ON THAT RATIONALLY, NON-EMOTIVE!!??
              WELL KNOWN ADAGE, ONE CANNOT HAVE THE CAKE AND EAT IT TOO AT THE SAME TIME!!!???
              Who in Sri Lanka would address that question and with clear thinking, seek, MERIT BASED university/higher education ENTRYUNIVERSAL THAN STANDARDISATION – FAILED SYSTEM!!!
              THE CURRENT SYSTEM EVIDENTLY HASN’T DELIVERED EXPECTATION/ASPIRATIONS OF PEOPLE!!??
              If the system delivered, then we should have many Master Minds (MM) in all spheres of activity of this country and EXCEL – MEDICINE, ECONOMICS, CAPITAL MARKETS, SOCIO-ECONOMIC NEEDS!!!
              Evidently we aren’t?? We are Bankrupt in economic crisis – starvation/deprivation name of game!?
              The Tom Buffoonery exhibited by COTERIE of so called, DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONALS EMPLOYED, is far too many to be listed herein!!?? The litany of idiosyncratic and foolish, moves and manoeuvres of these so-called enlightened/emancipated is well left out of this discourse for brevity and shamefulness of exhibiting the lunacy of our emancipated countrymen!!!??
              SINGLE SPHERE CHARLATANS EXCEL – INCOME BY CORRUPTION/BRIBERY!!!

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                Mahila,

                Well, I mean,….the JVP will remove most of it…..racism, bigotry, corruption, bribery….In fact, besides the Sinhala masses, the Tamils are most trusting of them than of any other party. Fresh new Lankan culture will emerge. As per education standardization, we were always spending most of our country resources on giving education that only belong to Western countries anyway….always trying to creep up to Western status, and always failing miserably. Most of our graduates work in or migrate to other countries. New educational paradigm needs to evolve. Only a party like the JVP that understands the needs of the masses can implement this.

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        Nimal,
        “Too bad you should have been nice to OC ……when you had the chance!! :)))”
        Chee, what a thing to say to Mrs. Fernando!

      • 3
        1

        Poor, long suffering Ramona!
        .
        And now I’ve named you in a comment that I have just made here.
        .
        https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/why-are-the-structural-changes-necessary/
        .
        I wonder if it will appear.
        .

        We haven’t heard much about Harini Amarasuriya’s trip to abroad for the NPP conference held in London.
        .
        Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 483111444V)

        • 0
          2

          Poor, King Charles III,
          .
          He’s yet uncrowned; his coronation is scheduled for Saturday 6 May 2023. Ranil Wickremasinghe must be hoping to be present at Westminster Abbey on the occasion.
          .
          But poor Charles is being murdered by the GambadaIngirisiIskoleMahattaya form the Province of the Veddas. I have actually spoken about somebody’s (Harini’s) “trip to abroad”.
          .
          Please let me explain: I had actually written “trip to London”, and then changed the structure of the sentence. I had thereafter forgotten to remove the “to”.
          .
          I assure you that our English teachers are not as incapable as all that!
          .
          Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 483111444V)

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            RW’s visit to LONDON is very unlikely- It is speculated that payment of pensions to people will become difficult in the coming days.
            Not supporting anyone but worth adding facts to CT posts so quality can be maintained.
            .
            RW has not participated in any kind of unnecessary trips as was the case with MaRa in his show-off days. Remember how I revealed his lavish trip to Bologna, Italy two years ago?

            Reliable sources proved Prof. Maithree W the first wife had been travelling in a train, in the 2nd class compartment as any other commuters heading to Jaffna a month ago. That is how that family gets on with state funds. is that a comparison ?
            Btw, I wonder how JVP/JJB fund their ralies. Where they get them from ? Why not we hear not even rice packets for the being organised by them in a time the nation life survival struggle today ?

  • 1
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    75 Years Of Independence: A Tale Of Two Compacts & Two Economies

    The nonverbal communication

    The facial language of The president in the above photograph revealing the future is blinded,You can tell a lot by someone’s body language The body never lies, The Founding Fathers never intended a nation where citizens would pay nearly half of everything they earn to the government. Immposing tax and making people a hard life is what his speech is meant

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      RBH59, Founding Fathers wanted citizens to do jobs and get income for living. Jobless families have to become robber murderers to get income and also become beggars. Most of 225 get pensions after 2 years, houses, vehicles, security staff and all perks and do not pay their electricity bills in millions. So hard life for citizens forced to pay high taxes to maintain robber leaders trying to live free in luxurious living travelling the world. They do not serve citizens. When British were here long ago, one pound equivalent was 1 rupee. In 1960, 1 pound was Rs. 13.50 Now 1 pound is over Rs. 400 as leaders robbing dollars, keep on printing money to buy votes and stay in power. Corrupt robbers are covered by present leaders and system change is rubbish. Abolish the dictator presidency promoting all this.

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        The British new that the Sri Lankans could be easyly ruled because they liked pomp and glory.

        Giving few benifits with some made up honarary positions to a minority of redda yata mahattayas was sufficient to manage the island.

        They shrewdly ruled the country with the divide and rule policy.

        Now our modayas are no better.

        Still going after boru sobana while the country is burning.

        What Demala Sinhala division

        Check DNA 99 % match.

        Wake up Sri Lsnka

        Dont fool your selves.

        • 2
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          Sgt N
          But but why wake up to the truth
          It will only set one and all free
          Pipe dreams and bondage smells of the money trickle too!
          Fail not to miss the plot !!

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    Sir
    Sinhala Buddhist mentality is so different to any orther human beings.
    They follow the teachings of the sasana and the priests ,
    Unlucky caught elephants covered with whole body hardly see the chains has to perform the peraheras to pleasure the Pereras.
    .
    Cruelty to animals and co citizens with the blessings of
    .
    I still keep saying king is Christian PM is Hindu mayor is Muslim….200 odd yrs living in this pride land stateless people contributing to the most economy

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