A destitute woman telling her story of despair to Opposition UNP leader and pleading with him to help her when he visited Kilinochchi yesterday. With Ranil Wickremesinghe is TNA Parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah. Pic by Romesh Dhanushka – Courtesy Sunday Times.
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Mahadana Muththa (Jnr) / February 17, 2013
Looks like the 21st Century Fox’s PR comes through best when he’s caught off guard! Just look at the expression on his face and his hands on the lady’s hands. He should do this kind of thing more often.
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sjv c / February 17, 2013
Yes she is a finely attired Destitute woman.
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Dav / February 17, 2013
And whats that supposed to mean???
Does she need to act ‘the part’ more effectively for your benefit?
Perhaps the caption should have been something else… ‘Mother of missing …’ or ‘Widowed and bereft of family who died in war’ or whatever else.
Its not upto anyone of us to judge these human beings who have gone through more than we will ever imagine.
Just be glad your karma didn’t give her to you as your mother – you might be the dead man she’s mourning about. THINK.
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sjv c / February 18, 2013
@Dav.. not that i judge fine upright sir… but hey with the right amount of money anywhere in the world you can quickly turn a finely attired Destitute woman or as you put it into a war widow etc etc.. not just in SL but hey as we have seen in canada the right price we can get a thousnads out as Destitute’s or war effected.. only problem is those devils carry the latest mobile phones, gold to even out strip any Fed Bank etc etc…
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Dav / February 18, 2013
With all respect, ‘your world’ might be Canada, but the WORLD is much bigger than Toronto. We have to try & see things with a more balanced view. Leave the extreme views for the radicals – who operate under the guise of religion.
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KP Sinha / February 22, 2013
Mothers in south make him continued in loosing for over 16 national elections due to over 100,000 deaths of Sinhala youth lived in 87/89 when he was in power.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 17, 2013
Something bothers me about this photograph;
1. The nonchalance of Mavai Senathiraja, whose gaze is faraway and thoughts elsewhere. Wasn’t this a dramatic and emotional moment that should have caught his attention?
2. The manner in which Ranil’s right leg is placed. I think our culture dictates that the cocked right leg be dropped in respect to the elderly woman who has virtually fallen at his feet.
3. Why is the women’s face hidden behind Ranil’s cocked leg?
I concede these may have been possibly a coincidence. May be I am becoming overtly cynical, on account of everything that is unfolding around us.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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sam / February 17, 2013
I think you are right, this could be similar to any rural areas of the country, if any of so called leaders, people thouroughly believe they can surely change their prevailing situation easily. This kind pictures does not bring a view that the poor emotional woman could believe that RW would do for them than any other leaders.
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Dav / February 17, 2013
Point 1 – Perhaps they see this too often to react.
Point 2 – This obviously took Ranil by surprise (given the look on his face).
Point 3 – Does that matter?
???
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 18, 2013
Dav,
Everything is not what they appear to be in Sri Lanka.- more so than in the rest of the world. It is very difficult to differentiate between the real, the lie, the staged, the exaggerated and the imagined , even for those who live here. This phenomenon is quite rampant in the north. Considerable skepticism should be exercised when forming opinions about events reported from Sri Lanka. Tamils should exercise greater caution and skepticism on events and occurrences reported from the north. I have taken to look deeper in to many such instances and found to my surprise most were utter bunkum dictated by short sighted political strategies. The media is the most guilty.
” kaarthaal kurtathum poye, Kannada Kandathum poye, Theera visaarithu Aarainthu Arivathey Mey ( What is heard is a lie, what is seen is a lie, what is deeply investigated, researched and understood, is the truth)”. This should be the golden rule for all Sri Lankans- Sinhala, Tamil. , Muslim and others.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Dav / February 18, 2013
Thank you for that. I am aware & do understand. However, I feel very strongly that if we do not give our own people a chance, how can we expect others to?
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 18, 2013
Dav,
Thanks for your enlightened response. We have to give a real chance to our people. There is no dispute about it. This is what I have been demanding for a long time. It is we who should help the war-affected in the Vanni, whose situation I have described in a comment below. This has not happened as it should and these unfortunate Tamils should preoccupy our conscience and dictate meaningful actions. The plight of young and old widows and abandoned wives in the north is also much more important than of those displaced from the HSZ. Are our politicians atleast talkng about this aspect of the issue ? The politicians are bent on finding or creating occasions to amplify heir quest for power, while the people at large are battling to just live. This is what I find the most despicable in the post-war scenario.
Dr.R.N
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
It is glad to see the Sri Lankan Military spokesperson quoting Tamil poetry. See thing have improved in Sri Lanka where you can buy people very cheap.
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Ben Hurling / February 17, 2013
I agree with Dr. Rajasingham. Something is wrong in this photo.
TNA MP is in his own world despite the obvious agony of this old lady. As a MP he should be far more interested about her story.
Photo also proves what a PR disaster Ranil is. He is not in tune with Sri Lanka’s traditions and rural culture. MR would have shown all his emotions on this photo. Ranil’s sitting position is offensive. Even though I believe he has empathy for this lady’s plight. Given the way he holds her hand. He is obviously trying to comfort her in rather distant, aloof, arrogant way.
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r.kovian / February 17, 2013
Yes just another piece shit doc ass hole,[Edited out] never understand our people struggle. U bull shit a lot, i know u people never learn, u live in other peoples tears, as allways i said and believe vellala bastards never going to underestand. Tamils allways lead vellala crooks u [Edited out] shame your self one of them…
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
It is not good try things that are beyond you. – “Ma Hinder Chindanaya”.
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Dev / February 18, 2013
You of all people commenting? LOL makes me laugh ! You promised a fund to help the ex-CJ and then nothing, I think if anything people have to be cynical about your statements
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
It is not Mavai Senathiraja or Ranil action which is under criticism here. This reveals your personality. How cheap it is to bu a dogtor now. By the way if you fast and prey to Lord Raja you will get all you want in your life. Even he will bless you with wealth, intelligence, and even common scene and humanness.
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
This is exactly our great leaders like Doglas KP Karuna and Pilaiyan are telling.
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Glad to see the Dogtor talking with numbered points. Well done Dogtor got your numbering right, next step is to get your thinking right ok. Dont give up hope. KP Karuna Pillaiyan all are there to help you in case you run into trouble. You are a great leader like Pilaiyan
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Saliya Bandara Wickremesooriya / February 17, 2013
LOL. Very true.
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leel / February 18, 2013
Any photo that involves Ranil KALAKANNIYA is a fix.
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Well I am surprised that you didn’t call it a humanitarian operation. Your state reflects the countries status, failed , culturally corrupt, brutal and uncivilized. This is exactly what VP wanted Sri Lanka to become see how he has achieved it easily.
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Great Sri Lankan thinking. A few more people like you Sri Lanka will be a heaven of you know what. Keep it up. If you cant think properly you dont have to think rubbish
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Good comment 22nd century LIEon
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sjv chelvanayakam (QC) / February 17, 2013
A story told by many a women in any given third word country… But one has to also tell the story of other Lankan Tamils who live in the North.. Espically when the Canadian Tamils And other Tamils who once left the island and now are coming back to claim their socalled property and fight amongst themself as one party from Australia ahs the same deed as the other party in Canada, whilst the Lankan Tamil who lived and never left the nation lives in that property with their deed.. Naturally most Lankan Tamils were displaced when the LTTE also took over private property, and Some Int Tamils willingly gave their or could not say a world of protest to the LTTE when they took their Lands…. But here is the real shocker.. Canadian and some Int Tamils use their Money to Bribe officals to Get their deeds passed and thus diplacing the poor Lankan Tamil. And some well Known Tamil politicians in the island fires a call to the north to help these int Tamils with money to pass their socalled deeds..
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subo / February 17, 2013
very well said sir. I do feel very sorry for the Tamils who live in the North and east of the country. They have all the rights to fight and keep their land . It makes my blood boil the The Tamils who once left the country coming back to bribe the officer and make lives even more difficult for the people who live there. These were the same people who were were going for the demonstration when the final war was taking place and when the SL government was massacring and killing innocent people.I do hope and pray one day that they will pay the prize for what they have done.I do get angry that the so called people flying back to the island to get back there lands bu which case once again the innocent Tamil people who got displaced are the one who are getting hurt even more.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 18, 2013
I often ask the Diaspora Tamils who return to sell their lands in the north, whether they do not feel guilty about selling a piece of the Eelam, they were paying the LTTE to fight for. No wonder the whole project failed so dismally or is it abysmally. What angers me more is that these ‘ visitors’ find Jaffna a place unfit to live, in comparison to wherever they live in the West. Their approach is judgemental and divorced from post-war realities that were not even imagined by them. Of course many are only nominally Tamils now and reflects their lack of understanding of what it means to be a Tamil. It is this that makes many take a paranoid view of everything that is unfolding here. This gives them the opportunity to salve their conscience and discover reasons to justify their reasons to continue living in the West.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
They are selling it to Tamils so that it is not forcibly taken by Sri Lankan army and stooges of the government. They don’t get free helicopter ride and pre written slogans to make a living out of it. They are not Dogtors who looted money and build temples and had poojas for Rajapakse. May You Lord Raja will bless you with regular cheques to your address.
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Keep asking Dogtor. Nobody takes notice of you nowadays.
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Hope you are not living in the west. Perhaps you do shuttle services.
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Richards / February 17, 2013
A lot of people say RW is an impotent man, who can deliver nothing. It seems that this poor lady wants to examine the truth of this claim by many Sri Lankans.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 18, 2013
Your humour or sarcasm adds flavour to this discussion. However, it is very important that Ranil first explain to the Sinhala people how 200 bodies came to be buried behind the Matale hospital during a period the UNP was in power. Further, he should not forget that it was a UNP government that created the concept of HSZs. If there was a need to create them then, what is the urgency to dismantle them completely, so soon after the war,in a situation that is yet in the process of normalizing. The allied bases yet continue to be in German soil, 6-7 decades after the second world war!
The Tamil issue is being yet kept on the boil at the political front (if not in the people front) and internationally. The Tamil/ minority issues have also not been addressed by the government yet. The situation cannot be called normal yet.
Further, Ranil has explain why he scuttled Chandrika’s consitutional reforms with the support of Sambanthan & Co. Is he genuinely interested in the problems Tamils face, or is he using them yet as a pawn in his political chess board?
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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SHM / February 17, 2013
The result is that ‘a lot of people’s’ guess is perfectly right. See how motionless RW is despite a woman falling on his lap!
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dicky Bird / February 17, 2013
We are or were all destitute at some point of time.
Did Ranil ever wanted to listen to us.
Mahavi Senathirajah was the [Edited out]
At that time in the past, he would have been seated on the floor at feet of Ranil. That was his place in the Jaffna society when he was Amirthalingam cooley. perhaps Magayarkarasi or Dr. Baheerathan might have some stories to narrate.
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justice / February 17, 2013
She is NOT destitute – from her dress.
She is probably desperate – having exhaused all remedies for her problem,and is making an emotional appeal to Ranil,whom she recognises as a leader.
There are thousands like her.
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Katmai / February 17, 2013
For those blessed with a human heart, this image evokes strong emotions and they have the ability to put themselves in the shoes of this lady’s and imagine what she must be going through.
For the rest, this is just another opportunity to come up with a joke to ridicule Ranil Wickramasinhe and completely miss the grieving lady in the picture.
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Piranha / February 17, 2013
A picture tells the story only at the moment the picture was taken. A few seconds later it would have given a different impression altogether. A video may have shown the reaction of both Ranil and Senathirajah better over a period of time. So, many of the comments here are misplaced and misinterpret the situation. The only impression I get from the picture is that the desperate woman is begging Ranil to help her with something that she desperately needs.
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PresiDunce Bean / February 17, 2013
@Piranha and Katmai
You both hit the nail on the head. The government media over the years has been used to great effect to discredit people like Ranil, Fonseka and recently the Chief Justice. Sadly, our 3 brain celled majority can be hoodwinked very easily and most of them believe what they want to believe. But however hard they try the government media and our embassies around the world don’t seem able to fool the international community. Thank God for that.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / February 18, 2013
Doesn’t our Opposition Leader Rt Hon Mr Ranil Wickremasinghe look more destitute here?.
Beige cap instead of the famous Green , drawn and fatigued cheeks and anaemic appearance is quite a contrast to the other dude who doesn’t seem lacking any necessities or resources or money.
Has Mr Ranil Wickremasinghe also taken up residence in Killinochchi?.
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NE / February 18, 2013
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sach / February 18, 2013
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sach / February 18, 2013
this is a mistake
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sach / February 18, 2013
@Narendran,
I most of the time agree with what you say. But I don’t agree with what u say now. This is a picture of a desperate woman telling her sad story to Ranil. The TNA MP had probably looked the other way because he too was moved by it. Some people react like that when faced with a very moving sight. I think Ranil too was surprised. Don’t come to judgments based on how ranil was seated. This is very sad scene and coming up with such assumptions itself is sad and shameful.
I have to agree with Presidencebean here. Ranil has been unfairly ridiculed by media. Gov media started calling him a loser and now even UNP supporters see him as a loser. That is wrong. We need to give him a chance. At least this woman has belief in him.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 18, 2013
Sach,
I have qualified my statement with the observation that I may be becoming cynical after seeing everything that is unfolding me here. I have also explained why I am becoming cynical in a follow-up blog. Further, the term destitute, used in the caption is misleading. Destitute means being without money or possessions. This also implies that the person is in very dire economic circumstances. In the context of the hunger strike, where she fell at Ranil’ s feet or knees, she may be a person who wants to get back her land or house within the HSZ. Being deprived of her house within the HSZ would not by itself make her destitute. The LTTE took over my house in Jaffna and looted its entire contents. This did not make me destitute.
There are many who are skin and bone, do not know where their next meal will come from, clothed in tatters and living in flimsy abodes now, in the Vanni. They are destitute. This lady is dressed well and is also well fed. She also very likely has a decent roof over her head, as the HSZ has been in existence for more than a decade. The houses within the HSZ are dilapidated now and would require a heavy investment to repair or rebuild. . Return of a house and property would not assuage her destitution, even if real. . It will of course restore her right to what she owns. Mavai Senathiraja has already gone to the Supreme Court on this issue and obtained a verdict in his favour. The verdict yet remains largely unimplemented. He should again approach the Supreme Court on this issue.
My tears are for the desperate and destitute poor in the Vanni. Our tears should be reserved for the really dispossessed, destitute , desperate and war-hurt. The TNA and the UNP should have organised a fast unto death on behalf of these unfortunate people. A one day token strike has no meaning for whatever cause.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Learn to address the main issue here Dogtor. Your are trying to profit by loitering in graveyards.
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Dav / February 18, 2013
I must say that I agree with your thinking Sach.
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Senguttuvan / February 18, 2013
There is very little to sermonise in the message conveyed in this shattering picture. No Tamil woman touches another man in public unless in sheer desperation and in the fervent hope of getting a favour few can deliver. Her plight is symbolic of the actual position of all Tamils in the country – helplessness, desperation, total denial of rights guaranteed under the Constitution, fear,imminent death, uncertainty being a few. She would not have dared this visit unless all available avenues for relief to her have failed. She probably seeks help in respect of a child, near relative -illegally taken by
the armed forces – like in hundreds of thousands of cases and whose fate is unknown for long despite unrelenting efforts. That is the fate of many Tamils in the country – largely since 5/2009, when illegally abducting men/women from the Tamil areas became a huge business – with several banks springing up close to the “Concentration” Camps. Those who planned the location of these banks did not miscalculate. The relatives of these kidnapped, now living abroad as strugglng immigrants, emptied their own meagre resources saved abroad on their blood and sweat to save their relatives. Tens of thousands in the forces from the South made fortunes through this unfortunate trade.
There were some comments the lady appeared to be well dressed. That is because in the Tamil culture women dress well as a mark of respect to the other side when they go for a function or to meet someone of importance.
My prayers are this poor Amma will have her wishes granted by the grace of her divine deities. Because human political or armed forces “leaders” may have not only failed her but may have been collusionist in the crime committed on her/family. As long as the last “missing” one is not accounted for by the state, we will remain
a society akin to that in the jungle. What goes as our Constitution will remain meaningless and more a joke.
Senguttuvan
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K.A. Sumanasekera / February 18, 2013
There are hundreds if not thousands of Tamil women in Kotahena, Grandpass, Kompagna Veediya, and even in the Tamil Homeland of Wellawatta who are not as well dressed .
Also neither they look as OK as this woman who has sunk her face in MR RW’s lap.
According to Mr Sengutuan all Tamil women in Srilanka are living in total helplessness, desperation, total deprivation of rights ,fear and imminent death since May 2009.
How many of these women have touched MR RW in public seeking help when they are even facing imminent death.
Especially, when these women live only a stone’s trow away from Mr Ranil .
Considering these women are in Mr Sengutuan’s own neighbourhoods , shouldn’t Sengutuan be praying day and night at Wellawatta HQ with all the bells and whistles?.
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Sam this story is not about dress. It is about uncivilized and brutal behavior of a failed state. thanks for speaking Sri Lankan – always long winded out of point going nowhere. Keep your culture going Sam. Unique in the world. Well next time bring something about Timbuktu ok. It allowed in Makinder Chindanay – see the new version
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Lanka Liar / February 19, 2013
Most of the comments reflect the Sri Lankan mindset and culture. It is a shame that these people could go to these level. That is why we this country is called a failed state. Absolute shame.
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Dav / February 19, 2013
And you are? Oh yes! An advisor to the leadership in this ‘failed state’?
Have something useful to comment without laboriously boring us all with your negative, monologue of criticism.
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Senguttuvan / February 19, 2013
Sumane,
There is no doubt you have a heart. You are agitated that the lady’s plight is now in the national focus – perhaps more. If you think Kotahena, Grandpass are a stone throw away from Ranil’s 5th Lane home you don’t know Colombo too well. The lady and the event, my friend, at any rate took place in Kilinochchi – just to remind you.
I not only pray for peace and happiness to these ladies only in my daily prayers but also Mrs. Ekneligoda, the family of Rizana Nafeek and many others – whose lives have been made miserable by this uncaring
regime and its endless sycophantic retinue.
Senguttuvan
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Mahela / February 19, 2013
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Safa / February 19, 2013
Looks like Ranils old servant or cook woman. No ordinary women would cling onto his legs like that. Ranil is in a defensive mode trying to ward her off. Senethirajah looking away as it is a private matter. Maybe Ranil can tell the true story.
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Mahela / February 19, 2013
As a human and a Sinhalese I feel ashamed to see a woman scotting near the feet of a Politician begging for help, mercy and Justice.
I wonder who is serving whom……
Is this the situation we expected to be, when our Fore fathers fought for our Independence from Colonial shackles….
I’ed rather lick as….es of British Colonial rulers rather than bowing to these ever crook, thug, murderers and Alibabas of our country 65 years after Independence.
It’s time to chase all these political crooks who Gang Raped our country, It’s people,it’s economy and it’s resources and to bring a new set of governing with equal Justice, liberty, freedom and true independence to all our citizen.
We Sri Lankan Sinhalese without Broders.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 21, 2013
Mahela ,
I am sure, most of us, if not all, sympathise with the hapless victims of the war and its aftermath. However, the fact is that most among this most are also suspicious of what is presented to us through the media and public events organised by vested interests. The scene near the Supreme Court recently, where the crowd gathered were paid in Rs.500 notes at the end of their staged performance are fresh in our minds. I also remember watching a so-called retreat of the Tamils in a safety zone in the face of army fire, being directed by a dark women powdered and made-up for the video cameras, towards the end of the war. I am sure we remember photographs of the ‘ Makkal Padai’ ( People’s army ) of discrepit old women and men with sticks circulated by the LTTE. I have also seen the doctored pornographic videos circulated of my brother after his incarceration in the Vanni by the LTTE.
How much would it cost to get a women to fall on Ranil’ s lap at a public event, given what we have experienced in the past? Those who made us to become cynical through their antics have to bow their heads in shame!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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P.B / February 21, 2013
Is she pleading with him to get the hell out of public life?
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Ruwan / March 1, 2013
Mahadana Muththa, sjv c, KP Sinha and endless like minded,
Judging by your nonsensical and mentally retarded comments, you are more destitute ridden than the destitute woman in the picture whereas for the ordinary layman this picture tells the whole story of an everything-deprived woman, her last straw of hope in the ultimate politician in Ranil! Moreover, her hope in Ranil represents and indicates where the collective hope of the entire minority rests! In fact Ranil has got surprised over the move by the lady because although the Sinhala morons do not understand the value of him this Tamil woman had such faith in him! Rightly so too because it is Ranil who put an end to the war by promoting peace talks without waging war! It is Tamils themselves through Prabakaran who wanted war. It is as sure as sun rise that it is Ranil alone who will liberate this country from all forms of destitute, poverty, corruption, injustice, maladministration, despotism and racism! The above named people would have to find some laundries to work in for living after Ranil takes administration of the country because there won’t be any need for this type of internet forums writing about every kind of maladies in the country since they would cease to exist anymore under him!
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Rohana / March 3, 2013
you are 100% correct. If they elect him he will be Abraham Lincon of Sri lanka
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