By Tisaranee Gunasekara –
“Wishes come true, Not free.” Stephen Sondheim – In to the Woods
The Grimm version is known wider but the Turkish one cuts deeper. In both tales, the boy goes in search of fear and finds a crown. In the Grimm version, fear comes when a pail of cold water full of tiny fishes is thrown over the new king’s sleeping form. In the Turkish version, the new king contemplates his responsibilities – trying to make the poor rich and the bad good – and knows terror.
Walter Benjamin in Illuminations calls fairy tales the first tutor of mankind. The NPP/JVP has won the kind of victory political fairy tales are made of. The outlier capturing the ultimate prize at the end of a seeming impossible quest. On November 14th, a majority of Lankan voters, weary of ceaseless crises and longing for the much-promised but never-delivered ‘happily ever after’ presented the NPP/JVP with not just a crown but also a governance magic wand. The new government has enough power to do everything it has promised, from alleviating economic misery and ending corruption to abolishing the executive presidency and enacting a new constitution.
The breadth and the depth of the NPP/JVP’s parliamentary victory was unimagined and unimaginable in rational and historical terms. The proportional representation system was crafted as a tsunami wall against electoral tidal waves. Yet the NPP/JVP breached it, gaining the supposedly impossible two-thirds plus nine more seats. And in the parliamentary electoral annals of Ceylon/Sri Lanka, no political formation has prevailed in the Sinhala South, the Tamil North, the Muslim East and the Malayaga Tamil Upcountry simultaneously. The NPP/JVP achieved that feat as well.
At the parliamentary election, the NPP/JVP made a substantial vote gain in relative and absolute terms: 22%; 1.23million votes. This too is unprecedented. When presidential and parliamentary elections are held in close proximity, the winner of the first also wins the second, with an increased percentage and a decreased vote-haul. In 2010, Mahinda Rajapaksa won the presidency with 58% of the vote and his UPFA swept the parliamentary election with 60% of the vote. But its vote count decreased by a staggering 1.15million. In 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the presidency with 52% of the vote and the SLPP won the parliament with 59% of the vote; but its vote count decreased by 100,000. The NPP/JVP shattered this normal.
Even more unique – and politically consequential – are the vote gains made by the NPP/JVP in the Northern and Eastern districts – 65% in Jaffna; 46% in Vanni; 26% in Ampara; 30% in Batticaloa; and 43% in Trinco. Economics would have been a contributory factor for this singular achievement, the grinding poverty and the massive unemployment, 15 years after the war. The growing disenchantment with traditional Tamil parties would have contributed, given their failure to deliver on either economic development or political devolution.
Caste, often tied with poverty, would have been another critical, albeit unspoken, factor. According to a December 2021 statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Slavery, “In the Northern Province, for instance, many belonging to oppressed castes are not able to obtain suitable land to start an agricultural business and access to water and irrigation is limited… There are also regular instances of violence against members and communities belonging to oppressed castes. I was informed that the issue of caste is silenced and there is reluctance on the part of authorities and communities to adequately address this issue” The NPP/JVP’s ‘under-privileged/subaltern’ image, the opening of the Palali-Achchuveli main road, and the promise to release all political prisoners (made during the Jaffna rally) would have reassured many Tamil voters and generated hope of a post-racial Sri Lanka in which all communities would be treated alike.
The NPP/JVP’s unique victory is the departed Rajapaksa dynasty’s legacy to Sri Lanka. Without the Gotabaya presidency, the NPP/JVP’s meteoric rise from 4% to almost 62% in just four years would not have happened. The Gotabaya experience made enough Lankans willing to give the hitherto unimaginable a try. Like, in a time of plague, when all known remedies crumble against death and men and women turn to untried ‘remedies’ with a whiff of promise. Whether the NPP/JVP turns out to be an effective antidote or an attractively packaged nostrum is for the future. The unprecedented mandate has deprived the new administration of all reasonable excuses. Whatever the successes and the failures will be its very own.
The opposition: Spring-cleaning in winter?
Had the turnout on November 14 been the same as on September 21, the NPP/JVP would have won a simple majority. But 1.1million Lankans who voted on September 21 decided to stay at home on November 14. Without that mass-abstention, the NPP/JVP would not have gained a two-thirds majority.
Since the NPP/JVP actually increased its vote-count, the drastic drop in voter turnout can be laid squarely at the doors of the opposition. I voted for the SJB not because I have any faith in the party or its leader but because I wanted NPP/JVP victory to be limited to a simple majority (I still believe a two-third majority is a poisoned chalice, to the giver, the receiver, and everyone else). I voted unenthusiastically, unhopefully, as a duty. More than a million Lankans who had voted for Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe on September 21 decided that the effort was too much this time.
So Sajith Premadasa’s SJB lost 3.4million votes and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s NDF lost 1.7million votes – 78% and 75% respectively – in under two months. Both fielded candidates symbolising the worst of the past, including hosts of onetime Rajapaksa acolytes. Neither succeeded in presenting a compelling vision or programme or in distancing themselves from a political culture despised and rejected by most voters. They talked about the new government not lasting its full term, sounding like hyenas waiting for a death, forgetting that voters desire not upheaval but stability.
The NPP/JVP victory at the parliamentary election was a given. But the opposition’s defeat could have been respectable rather than devastating had they presented a better programme, fielded less-compromised candidate, and carried out a more effective campaign. For most non-NPP/JVP voters, a win for the SJB or NDF would have seemed tantamount to a return of some of the worst aspects of the past – the over-the-top privileges, the cringe-worthy sense of entitlement, the impunity, the abuse, the corruption… One story amongst many symbolised the ethos most voters wanted gone – a former minister occupying an official residence for 45 years, under all eight presidents and numerous governments spanning the entire political spectrum.
The decision by more than a million non-NPP/JVP voters of September 21 to stay away this time is reflective of not only a lack of faith in the opposition, but also a willingness to allow the NPP/JVP a free hand, up to and including a two-thirds majority. That willingness could have stemmed from indifference (‘they are all equally bad’ mindset) or from the feeling that the NPP/JVP would not capsize the boat as Gotabaya Rajapaksa did. The caution with which the new president and his miniature cabinet treaded in the last seven weeks would have bolstered that negative confidence and, consequently, the decision that there would be not much harm in risking a massive NPP/JVP victory.
How would the opposition act in the face of this devastating defeat? Would it engage in some hard thinking or would it hobble along trusting time to solve all its problems? Would it act the way the SLFP and the traditional left parties did after 1977, failing to understand the epochal nature of the 1977 change, refusing to admit to their past errors (especially the devastating closed economic policies), clinging to old policies and old leaders? If so, a long stay in the wilderness might be their fate. Or would they do some much needed spring cleaning, starting with the ying and yang of Lankan politics, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa?
Mr Wickremesinghe, during his brief tenure as president, prevented Sri Lanka’s freefall and achieved a degree of political and economic stability. The NPP/JVP government’s disinclination to depart substantially from the economic path he laid is the best acknowledgement of his success. He should retire on those laurels, instead of dreaming of chaos and comeback.
Sajith Premadasa has proved to be an even more ineffective leader than Ranil Wickremesinghe. If the SJB cleaves to him, he will do to that party what Ranil Wickremesinghe did to the UNP, in a much more compressed time frame. (Here, the SJB can learn from the JVP; if the JVP did not effect a leadership – and generational – change, replacing Somawansa Amarasinghe with Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the party would still be languishing at 3%). The 2024 presidential election was Sajith Premadasa’s to lose, and he lost it. And the SJB lost 1.8million votes in 4 years, between 2020 and 2024. He is as much of an albatross around the SJB’s neck as Ranil Wickremesinghe was/is around the UNP’s. If his leadership continues, the SJB will follow the UNP into irrelevance leaving the oppositional space open for darker forces.
Preventing a rejuvenation of racism: Arugam Bay and Amsterdam
In the electoral excitements, Amsterdam violence was a non-story in Sri Lanka. Yet the unexpected explosion in that city is an omen for us as well.
The story began with a soccer match, between Israel’s Maccabi-Tel Aviv team and the Netherland’s AFC Ajax team. Days before the match, Maccabi fans arrived in Amsterdam, a normal development. But abnormally for such sports-tourists, they brought the Gaza war with them. For two days, hundreds of Maccabi fans roamed the city, tearing down Palestinian flags, destroying a taxi belonging to a Dutch citizen of Arab origin, and chanting such racist slogans as ‘Victory to the IDF. F*%$ the Arabs’. During the match, they interrupted the two-minute silence for Valencia flood victims and chanted ‘There are no schools in Gaza, (because) there are no kids’. After losing the match they poured out, attacking passers-by and the police. “They took the metal pipes from this construction site and started throwing them at people and police vans,” reported Amsterdam’s teen You Tube reporter called Bender. “They have kids, I think not even twelve years old, walking around with sticks on the front. And they are looking for a fight… It looks like they have these kids, barely 1.5 meters tall, who just attacked these undercover police officers with a stick” . In retaliation, Ajax fans, made up of Amsterdam residents of Arab and Dutch origin, unleashed their own brand of violence. (According to a Jerusalem Post report, Maccabi team was accompanied by Mossad agents. What they were doing while Maccabi fans were terrorising the city for two days is unknown.\Commenting on the conduct of Maccabi fans in Amsterdam, Yuval Gal, a member of the Dutch Jewish anti-Zionist collective Erev Rav said, “We know many of them are soldiers and ex-soldiers in Gaza right now. I also tried to explain this to the police. I said, ‘Look, if somebody just came back from Gaza, and just came back from killing a lot of people, you don’t expect them to act normally in your city’”
From Amsterdam to Arugam Bay. At the heart of the Arugam Bay terror scare is a Chabad House, a religio-political structure belonging to the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement. An ultra-Orthodox Hasidic sect, it originated among Eastern European Jews and is evangelical in nature (unlike traditional Judaism), headquartered in Brooklyn, US, and spreading fast across the globe. Located in the extreme right of Israeli political spectrum, it denies Palestinian statehood and Palestinian humanity and believes in a Greater Israel (meaning the eventual annexation of all Biblical lands, from Lebanon and Jordan to parts of Egypt, Syria, and Turkey).
What is a Chabad House doing in Sri Lanka and in Arugam Bay? Tourists on surfing holidays do not set up religious structures. And, according to a BBC expose, this Chabad House has even requested for legal status from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Like in Amsterdam, some Israeli tourists have brought the Gaza war into Arugam Bay, with at least two billboards commemorating IDF members killed in the war against Gaza. Why should tourists put up structures to honour their war-dead in someone else’s country?
Soon after the US issued its travel advisory, media reports mentioned a ‘demonstration by locals’ in support of Israeli tourists with participants carrying Israeli flags. Israeli flags cannot be a common commodity in Arugam Bay. The demonstration would have been organised by interested elements (foreign or local). The possibility of the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement members building tactical alliances with anti-Muslim Sinhala and Tamils politicians cannot be discounted. Udaya Gammanpila did try to run with the issue, draping himself metaphorically in the Israeli-flag, but in the current non-extremist political climate his attempt did not work. But the ending could be different if the new government fails to deliver, and the opposition doesn’t rejuvenate. As the government’s support erodes (the NPP/JVP has no large and longstanding electoral base), the vacuum in the opposition could be filled up by majoritarian extremists looking for a way back, from the Rajapaksas to Weerawansas and Gammanpilas. Muslim-majority Arugam Bay being overrun by Israeli ‘tourists’ setting up religious houses and war memorials could be an obvious starting point for these elements. One spark is all it takes, when hope is eroding and disillusionment surges. For racism is never dead, not even in the most tolerant of lands (which we are not). It merely slumbers, waiting for an opportune time, like Albert Camus’ plague rats.
I am a never NPP/JVPer. But if the new government fails beyond what is normal, disaster would ensue, including an upsurge of ethno-religious extremism. Magic wands are dangerous things and wishes can be curses in disguise. 1956, 1970, 1977, 2010, and 2019 all ended in disaster. 2024 has to have a happier ending. The NPP/JVP has no governance experience but it can learn from the experience of others. As they sing in Into the Woods, “Mind the past. Mind the future.”
Mani / November 17, 2024
A brilliant, incisive and honest piece as always, Tisaranee Gunasekera. Amidst all the hosanna singers, this author takes her role as a critical journalist seriously to assess what the NPP victory means to the country, the challenges ahead and how easy it is to be fooled by fairy tales.
To be fair to AKD, one of the first things he said once he became president was that he was no magician, and to the credit of Tilvin, in the press conference soon after the parliamentary election, he said the 2/3 majority was a weight that they will have to bear with caution. The NPP needs to remember this throughout the next years. The majority of people have given their verdict and the NPP is in power. However, we need to remember that the majority of people are not always right – they gave their verdict to Gotabhaya and look where that led. Many moon ago a majority also gave a verdict to Hitler and that led to a devastating world war. Tisaranee is spot on when she warns us “Mind the past, mind the future”. It is the role of all engaged citizens, journalists and social scientists (I am of the latter category) to remain critical and vigilant, if we care for our country and for humanity as a whole.
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leelagemalli / November 18, 2024
Mani,
“But we must remember that the majority of people are not always right – they gave their verdict to Gotaba and see where it went. A month ago the majority also gave their verdict to Hitler and it led to a disastrous world war.”
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We perfectly knew that there were blatant lies planted by JVPrs led to build fake public perception in the society about some individuals.
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Actually, vaccum of rigorous laws in place caused, UGANDA KUMARI (who is said to be a lawyer) to get elected to the Parliament, because the lies polarised her person in the society. The law did not use to punish her. Ironically, this happened since AKD became the president on the 21 September.
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I consider your thoughts balanced. You are though new to CT commentators, however you have become polarizing because of your telling the truth about Sri Lankan voters and the psyche of Sri Lankans during elections.
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I hope that the citizens of this country will be uplifted by bringing strict laws. Being disciplined and adhering to rules and regulations is a process that Sri Lankans generally do not care to consider. Shaping the citizenry will take us forward in many areas.
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leelagemalli / November 18, 2024
cont.
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Despite repeated warnings, we have former teachers who have become haunters for some of us today. They use their words to abuse as if the law and order is just secondary to their silly reactions. One of our commentator is a real stalker to many of us, but the kind of idiots would never learn to behave normal.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / November 19, 2024
A test for NPP sincerity has arisen. There is a letter in Tamil signed by AKD which tells Tamils to remember their loved ones who had sacrificed their lives without any fear. This is now reported as fake, probably initiated by his political opponents to put AKD against Sinhala hardliners. If AKD or NPP is sincere about reconciliation, they must issue a similar letter, if not it will be taken as a sign of surrender to Sinhala hardliners. If NPP cannot stand up to racists on a small issue like this, how do you expect them to come out with justice to Tamils on other important matters.
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nimal fernando / November 18, 2024
“a majority also gave a verdict to Hitler”
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Hitler/Nazis was/were never given a majority …….. this explains how ol’ Adolf consolidated his power ……… https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/the-nazi-rise-to-power/how-did-the-nazi-gain-power/
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The tactics are more reminiscent of the privileged-class’s darling good ol’ St. Ranil ……. than their Satan AKD’s.
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Unlike any of your darlings/favourites, AKD has shown exemplary behaviour ……… that the privileged-class can’t just stomach …….. because they think it’s their sole purview/territory ……… but never adheres to ……. breaks laws/rules/conventions as they please.
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Ranil is a shining example/case in point.
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Ranil only looks and talks democratic ……. but never behaves. ……. AKD doesn’t look or talks democratic ……. but behaves.
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Where were all these articles/comments …….. when Ranil was breaking every law/rule/convention ……. in the land ……. like a bull in a china shop?
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You guys now want to lecture AKD about proper behaviour in governance ……… which he is already doing!
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Talk about the inability to see and grasp the bleeding bloody obvious!
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Your old order has been kicked out ……. the new has taken over.
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It’s high time you guys come to terms with it.
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And cut the crap.
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MSarrij / November 19, 2024
v good write up.
A” culture of impunity “has been the bane of Sri Lankan politics successfully practiced by a ‘few families”. This culture has to end if any progress is to be made and a new constitution with TERM LIMITS and AGE LIMITS to elected office will help immensely to change this culture.
“Mind the past, mind the future” is very apt.
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davidthegood / November 19, 2024
MSarrij, “culture of impunity” “absence of punishment” for the massive robberies done by one family, infecting other leaders as well, is the best way to express what made this country bankrupt. Make them pay now or they will surely go to hell.
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Singar A. Velan / November 17, 2024
In severalmature democracies, when a party loses an election, the leader steps down and let another take over. They don’tcling onto the job in which they failed. This is not the case in SL. Sampanthan stayed as leader almost to th point when the final call came. Ranil never gave a chance for a change in leader within the UNP. Sajith is showing the same level of arrogance. He has lost enough times, so he has to step asidehat way a new leadership that can keep the NPP’s two-thirds majority ion power under some check.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / November 17, 2024
NPP should not be complacent about their victory. UNP will bounce back if they expel both Ranil and Sajith and come under a new leadership. Tamils are in dire straits due to the arrogance and selfishness of Sumanthiran who was working to please the Sinhala Buddhists. If Tamils get rid of Sumanthiran, they will unite once again and do well. Destroying Tamil political parties was the agenda of Sinhala state and Sumanthiran was their agent to carry it out. It is foolish to think that Tamil nationalism is dead. It is the crooked politicians like Devananda, Siddharthan and Sumanthiran who hid behind Tamil nationalism and looked after their selfish interests who were booted out.
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Singar A. Velan / November 18, 2024
Hi Doc GS:
//If Tamils get rid of Sumanthiran, they will unite once again and do well.//
For this to be true, you should be able to demonstrate Tamil unity in the past. Surely you don’t suggest that VP uniting the Tamils by killing everyone with a differing view is to be hailed as unity? Surely you are not suggesting that Tamils in the past were united enough they did not suppress parts of their own by a caste system? Surely you are not suggesting Tamil unity extended to be inclusive of the exploited tea estate workers? Along which of these axes would you expect Tamil society might progress hand-in-hand, united and all that, by getting rid of Sumanthiran?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / November 19, 2024
You cannot get 100% unity in any sphere. I am not advocating anyone to follow Prabaharan who by pointing the gun made people to accept his cock-eyed thinking. There was tamil unity first brought about by late SJV and then by Vaddukoddai resolution in 1977. During the 1961 satyagraha supported by almost entire Tamils, which paralysed the administration and had to be put down by force, late GGP ridiculed it. during 1977 election where Tamils were asked to give a mandate for Vaddukoddai resolution, late Kumar P contested against it, and JR repeatedly quoted the votes obtained by him as against the resolution. Therefore this type will happen again and again. I have Sinhala friends who have inside information about UNP/SJB and SLFP/PPP, who say that Sumanthiran was planted to sabotage Tamil unity. Mark my words If you get rid of him, at the next election there will be a united Tamil front which will sweep the stakes.
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Naman / November 17, 2024
SL needs to promote high end Tourism. Budget travellers are welcome as long as they behave themselves and do not involve in business with/ utilising the LOCALS. We do not want foreigners setting up religious structures in SL. The Chabad House should be closed if possibe if SL is a SOVEREIGN country. NPP Government should nip in the bud if there are signs of creating chaos/ religious and linguistic issues. NPP for the next one year or should concentrate on economic recovery and to provide JUSTICE to those 1] brought our economy crashing.2] who were forcibly made to disappear3] those who were affected by STATE terrorism during the last 76 years.
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Tony / November 17, 2024
A black magic wand.
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Ajith / November 17, 2024
“The NPP/JVP has no governance experience but it can learn from the experience of others.”
NPP/JVP used the opportunity very well. They should thank really to Rajapaksa Family or LTTE’s clear understanding of the Buddhist Sinhala Leadership and made the right move to bring them into Power. Almost 75% of Sinhalese voted for Gotabaya because the voters was influenced by Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism. If that did not happen, you wouldn’t have bankruptcy at all and no Aragalaya or no NPP. Now, NPP need to convert the Sinhalese to come out of Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism. This is the great challenge for NPP. Can they do it? Will that Sinhalese who were brought up under Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism change permanently?
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Rohan25 / November 17, 2024
Will they? Already people like Tilvin are now stating that the Tamil speaking people predominating in the north, east and in the Nuwara Eliya district have voted for the NPP predominantly, therefore this is a sign that they want a unitary form of government and not devolution and self-rule in their areas. Doesn’t he realize that the Tamil speakers only voted for the NPP as a last-ditch attempt to solve their issues of self-rule, devolution and equal rights for everyone, as they had noticed that the TNA, the Muslims parties, the Parties representing the estate Tamils, have done nothing for them.
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Rohan25 / November 17, 2024
No just minority/Tamil rights, devolution or equal rights, nothing done to stop further Sinhalization or Buddhisitation of their areas, but all of them more interested in living a nice luxurious life in Colombo at the expense of their own people and their misery. This is a one-off opportunity that the Island’s three Tamil minorities have given to a ruling Sinhalese party to sort out these long-standing issues and problems that was caused by state sponsored Sinhalese Buddhist fundamentalism and racism. If the NPP fails to do so and people like Tilvin keep on uttering this rubbish, they will not vote in this manner in future. Now the Sinhalese have no excuse to state that island’s Tamil minorities did not cooperate with them or vote for the so-called national parties to sort out national problems, as they have done so.
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Rohan25 / November 17, 2024
If the Sinhalese fail to use this opportunity to sort this out and stamp out state sponsored Sinhalese Buddhist Fundamentalism, and the countries woes that resulted because of this, there will not be another opportunity or chance and the Sinhalese, and the so called Sinhalese national parties will have to take the blame for this. They started this nightmare, and the Tamil speakers have given them a golden opportunity to end this. Not the ball is in your court and do not let Sinhalese racist fundamentalists both within and outside the government and rabid Sinhalese Buddhist priests and even some Sinhalese Christian clergy, as we saw in recent article stop this golden opportunity to eradicate racism and religious fundamentalism and treat all citizens as equals, irrespective of ethnicity, language spoken and religion.
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Ajith / November 18, 2024
” this is a sign that they want a unitary form of government and not devolution and self-rule in their areas. “
We Tamils should admit that none of the past 76 years of previous rulers to find a devolution of power even within a unitary government. We all agree that a meaningful devolution of power with self-rule or recognition of Tamil nation with the support of Sinhalese people. Before we expecting Sinhalese to unite with our needs we Tamils should need to unite ourselves to solve the problems. For example, why cannot our tamils come out and protest against those who are greedy of power.
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davidthegood / November 18, 2024
Ajith, you are spot on. These religious leaders must do what their committed call is and leave the governing to the Parliamentarians. Let people do their religious observances without trying to put competition between the religions which have come from false gods who are really all promoted by the devil. The true Creator God sees all humans through eyes of love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness to save and liberate from the devil. God and devil exist till the devil is finally cast off with unbelievers into the lake of fire.
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chiv / November 17, 2024
I love TG because of her own ways in presenting , iwithout following mediocres and stereotypes. She addresses the intricacies of domestic as well global issues and their impact on each other. I feel somewhat, current JVPers are not that stupid to return to their outdated policies of 70 s 80 ‘s or even 90 ‘s. This also applies to age old, Tamil / Muslim parties. If they continue with their current BS (policies of going backward ) they too will be soon history like UNP , SLFP , communist, SLPP ………. SJB……..??
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old codger / November 17, 2024
Chiv,
“feel somewhat, current JVPers are not that stupid to return to their outdated policies of 70 s 80 ‘s or even 90 ‘s. “
True, but they should have said so before the election. I would have voted for them.
The way things are going, I get the impression that AKD, not Harsha, is the best student of Ranilonomics.
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a14455 / November 18, 2024
How long that would last is my question. if they follow typical socialist communist policies they will grow the existing monster of the government. in 3-4 years the whole country would have lost all investment and industry.
Even if they don’t return to the maniacal policies of the 70s or 80s that would be enough to kill the economy of the country. I am all for the political elites being shown the door but there are other more important things
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leelagemalli / November 19, 2024
a14455 / November 18, 2024
– Wasantha Samarasinghe or all big liars like foul mouth are now the trade minister of this country. what an idiotic world ?
Vijitha Herath cannot express himself in English but as the Minister of External Affairs has broken all the records of former FMs.
Grass eaters in this country even take coconut husks as leaders.
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That is their psyche.
Even after saying this for so long, our slaves from UNAWATUNA and BANDARAWELA beat me with their fists, but they don’t have the least knowledge. Their conditioned mind set is not different to that of KADAMANDIYA PEOPLE.
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Talkative Wasantha Samarasinghe boasted to the media yesterday that he will provide all the concessions promised to the people during her pre-election campaign.
But how ?
This man’s vehicle show is now caught by heavy criticism, but they now use the same vehicles one behind the other….. how consistent are their public cries ?
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leelagemalli / November 19, 2024
cont.
If all is that easy as these buggers prevaricate, then the VAT for daily essential food items should be reduced to 7%.
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Can they do it?
These are teenagers who don’t seem to know the truth behind the dangerous situation before the government today.
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Can you imagine that this person has no knowledge of the many things that former minister Kanchana Wijesekera has clearly proven?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkHIBsjnSCA&t=103s
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEb1_n-YkJI
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leelagemalli / November 19, 2024
Viewers over to you. Please listen to what Wasantha S, new appointed Minister of Trade interprets letters and agreements.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aO7S-orXTs&t=120s
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OYA KAWUDA EEKA DENNA ? what a stupid man … people should open their eyes. These men point the finger at everyone without having studied it properly.
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RBH59 / November 17, 2024
Sri Lanka’s current government, along with the NPP’s call for honesty, is under global scrutiny, particularly regarding the representation of Upcountry communities like tea estate workers and people from the Northern provinces. While there were previously calls for separation, the current emphasis on unity and political strength is seen as a key example for other nations. India is expected to show extra care in supporting Sri Lanka’s recognition of all representatives in Parliament and ensuring the stability of the NPP. This approach reflects the NPP’s governance style, setting an example for other countries, while encouraging voluntary cooperation with asking Not go like Rajapasha Begging to Bangladesh.
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Douglas / November 17, 2024
The writer says: The breadth and depth of NPP/JVP parliamentary victory was unimagined and unimaginable”.
What a poor assessment of the ground realities! To us in Sri Lanka, to say the least, the victory to come was CRYSTAL CLEAR. The opposition to the NPP was the weakest, in that the main opposition SJB led by Sajith P was a fragmented force with so much visible and invisible infighting. The next force was led by Ranil W a lame duck who didn’t even dare to lead a team, abandoning his party – the UNP. The other remaining was SLPP (Pohottuwa), which couldn’t find a leader and a party that had to bear the worst defeat at the Presidential election with only a “3%” votes secured. Not even worth mentioning the party led by millionaire Dilith Jayaweera which was composed of publicly condemned, such as ultra-nationalists like Gammanpila, Channa Jayasumana, and Wimal Weerawanse. Another “Joker” who led a party was Ranjan Rmanayake and Dilshan, the cricketer.
We knew that NPP would perform admirably well in the North, after that speech of the President AKD, well articulated and precisely translated to Tamil by a competent translator. My hats off to that “HERO.”
With the above environment, it was abundantly clear that the NPP’s victory was clear and there were no apprehensions of expecting the “Tsunami” – the “@/3rd” majority.
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leelagemalli / November 18, 2024
By now headless chicken Douglas seems overwhelmed by the massive mandate given to NPP @ AKD too is speechless.
They all wonder why the grass-eaters/thanakola eaters gave them such a huge mandate!
Don’t you, Douglas think it’s too early to make real judgments about recent election results?
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Tilvin Silva, considered the most experienced person (70 years by age) in the Janata Vimukti Peramuna (today wrapped up as the NPP), confessed that neither he nor others expected such a large mandate.
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His cautious response was that their actual abilities did not match what was presented in their stage presentations. Or what do you say? What if all the piles of lies being dragged on stage were far from the reality?
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Experts inside and outside the country criticized it louder than expected. So, I believe the germinaton of first seeds of “Struggle II” will come to light in the next few weeks after Christmas.
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AKD left the same or something like that after using his ballot for GE. He reiterated that absolute mandates create an abusive situation.
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Paradoxically, they received a mandate that none of them had ever expected. That’s what they should all focus on… don’t act arrogant like you represent yourself.
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leelagemalli / November 18, 2024
Cont.
In 3 months, before March, when the IMF recommendations have already been kept unchanged, NPP experts will have to show their abilities.
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Governments changed, but government revenue streams did not improve. Ist that so ?
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Wage hikes (wathu kamkaruwoge), salary hikes VAT cuts all squeezed in at the same time. And further to this, A change of government in the United States will increase external threats on us poor nations, and if a war is declared in the Middle East, things will be worse than in the days when COVD was affected. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. We will have to live up with newly formed ANXITIES than had been before….. God bless srilanka !
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Naman / November 18, 2024
Those who gave thumbs down to Ajith’s comments should come forward and tell us why they did so. It will help us understand how their mindset is working. Are these the kind of people who are going tothrow the SPANNER at the wheels that has been set up by NPP towards NATIONAL UNITY & PROGRESS???
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Naman / November 18, 2024
Now, now, I see some Tamils are being sarcastic at the NPP candidates fron Tamil areas who went to get the BLESSINGS of Buddhist clergy. Respecting venerable people is part and parcel of SL culture.
Tamils too need to take up the idea of being SRI LANKAN first.
Let us get together in the new multi cultural ;multi ethnic multi religious country and become proficient in all 3 languages and GUIDE the rest of the world.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / November 19, 2024
First of all religion should be kept out of politics. Just because getting blessing of the clergy, you cannot do wonders. There are several ways in which you can get the idea of Srilankan first, without this gimmick. There is no harm in getting the blessing of good Buddhist clergy, such as the head priest of Nagatheepa Vihara. This head priest of Naga Vihare in Jaffna town is a thug. At the last Nallur festival, when the roads around the temple was cordoned off for vehicles, he got his vehicle driven across the barrier, with police taking no action. If this person pays scant respect to law and disrespect to Hindu temple, he is not the person from whom blessings should be got. Can you tell me a single Sinhala politician who goes to Hindu or Christian priests to get blessings before going to a Buddhist priest. I am proficient in all three languages not only speech, but in reading and writing. We had to pass Sinhala grade 3 (3rd form level) written exam to get confirmation in service. In 1979 exam, I wrote an essay on tourism and passed.
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whywhy / November 19, 2024
Left hand Divers have taken over all Right hand vehicles in the country .
I warn the public to be cautious crossing the roads . Already we have
enough deaths with right hand vehicles driven by right hand drivers
themselves . The public is now divided as upper and lower class as never
before and to balance this either you should make all lower or all upper .
What is being demonstrated everyday by the new rulers is Austerity in
an attractive and revolutionary way . JRJ made his party men match up to
the upper end , by giving them perks and privileges and that turned sour to
the lower end . And the lower end is today over the moon by the magic
turn of events that has led to the stripping of JRJ supplies . For JRJ to lose
public appeal , it has taken three years short of 50 years . In my view , what
JRJ did was a reasonable compensation to achieve a reasonable amount of
service but what happened was gradual deterioration in service and addiction
to unlimited wealth seeking . And now , Austerity is the example being
amplified and for us to walk through it to see the difference , how long will it
take ? Magi . magic , magic .
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