25 April, 2025

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After The Swearing-In: Fragile Process, Domestic Diplomacy Needed

By Dayan Jayatilleka –

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

Having been present a quarter century ago when President Jayewardene swore Varadarajaperumal in, it was only a passing sense of déjà vu to be invited to Temple Trees by the host of the historic event, for the swearing-in by President Rajapaksa of Justice Wigneswaran as Chief Minister (and for the breakfast that followed). As DEW Gunasekara, Dharmalingam Siddharthan, Tissa Vitharana, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Douglas Devananda and I, veterans of the Long March for devolution, recalled at Temple Trees, when the first North East Provincial Council was sworn in – I was the only one present yesterday who had been there in 1988—it was in a very different context indeed, studded with weaponry, framed by two ongoing civil wars in North and South; punctuated by the violent deaths of those belonging to the Southern and Northern Lefts who were willing to transcend the ethnic divide and defend the principle of progressive structural reform of the state.

Yesterday’s atmosphere was different because it was peacetime and the sunshine was almost tranquil. It was peacetime because the war had been won by the Sri Lankan state and its armed forces, under the purposive leadership of the President who swore Justice Wigneswaran in.

At Temple Trees the TNA radiated a cheery confidence and resolve; a resolve to do its best to make devolution work, as well as to remain faithful to the mandate conferred by the Tamil people. For his part the President was most affable yet maintaining a balanced stance; cautious, though not to the point of wariness. The shared mood seemed to be one of a measure of openness and a cautious optimism.

It was clear that the Tamil democratic leadership is willing to live within the Sri Lankan state but not under it; with the Sinhala community but not under it. This is no small deal because many Tamils are unwilling to do either. The flip side is that Mahinda Rajapaksa is the leader who can preside over the process of transition to such a new deal without any backlash; the deal may not always be on the table for either side. Yesterday’s moment was fragile and the mood could prove ephemeral. We, the Sinhalese and Tamils must, as the Romans and Mao Ze Dong, said ‘seize the time!’ The sheer complexity is that this must be done while respecting the fragility of the process; the fragility of the new born.

It could not have been pure coincidence that the hawks on both sides—one set which insisted that the swearing in should be before the ex-military Governor, the other which opposed the swearing in before a wartime President—had been neutralised at least temporarily, with the visit of the Minister of External Affairs of the powerful neighbour. One trusts that the Sri Lankan counterpart Ministry has not overlooked the details of the texts issued after the recent meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the wording of which makes me wonder whether the old Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation has been replaced by a new, less formally ostentatious Indo-US equivalent, with enormous implications for those of us who have to live in its shade.

The TNA seemed suffused with the spirit of those who were on a journey and were both determined and optimistic. I guess that they will do their best to make devolution work but that would mean different things to different players. They may lack the patience and pragmatism to focus on making the Council a political success as the Sinn Fein has done with power-sharing arrangements within a unitary state —because there would be confusion as to what success means. Indeed there is confusion as to what ‘making the process work’ means. The immediate post-swearing–in reference in Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s statement, to ‘internal self determination’ is a case in point. If it is merely a declaration of principle it is acceptable just as a commitment to socialism or communism is in a democratic party.  Is it meant in the sense that Mr Balasingham did, namely that if ‘internal’ self determination is not recognised and granted, then external self determination would unfold? How is ‘internal self determination to be achieved? How is it to be recognised by the Sinhalese and if not does it remain a cherished aspiration? Is the TNA’s objection to a unitary framework of any kind or is it only to the majoritarian framework of post ’56 and ’72?

In short, will the TNA’s politics be driven by ethnocentric ideological commitment or by commitment to reform based on reason, realism and democratic consensus?

What is the zone of agreement of the two sides? Are they willing to resume the dialogue abandoned in 2011? Will they realise that the full implementation of the 13th amendment within a reasonable time frame, with mutually agreed swaps with regard to the Concurrent list, is the only feasible option at this stage of historical-political development? Are they, or is anyone, thinking of confidence-building measures and a process of what I would call domestic diplomacy?

I left Temple Trees with no doubt that Justice Wigneswaran is the best Chief Minister the North could have elected and the South could have as interlocutor. I had no doubt that the Sri Lankan state must arrive at a settlement with the Tamils while Mr Sampanthan is alive to deliver one. Similarly I have no doubt that Mahinda Rajapaksa is the best bet for the Tamils as a leader who can carry the Sinhalese with him in the acceptance of reasonable political coexistence. Not all currents of the Tamil polity, which is increasingly extra-territorial, would wish for such an outcome. It is in the interests of the Sri Lankan state and indeed the Sinhalese community, to strengthen the position of the Wigneswaran-Sampanthan–Sumanthiran troika. Though ambiguous in their ideology, this trio is not ambivalent about their preference for coexistence with dignity within a united Sri Lanka (while they seem willing to move outside it if such a status is unachievable).

They are the best peace partners that the Sri Lankan state and the South can have, but do the State and the TNA regard each other as partners or partnership as a desirable objective, and if so what is each side willing to do, not do or give up, for the sake of such partnership? I had no doubt that this was Sri Lanka’s last best chance as a single country whose political borders run the extent of its natural ones.

The UNP’s New Council as human shield

So the UNP leader Mr Wickremesinghe has got his human shield, his hostages: Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa. As far as I can tell, never in the history of democratic politics has a leader who has been unsuccessful for almost two decades (next year would be the 20th) remained, still less been retained as the leader. Indeed it is possible that never in any field of competitive human endeavour has an unsuccessful—and an increasingly unsuccessful—head remained at the helm for so long.

Instead of replacing this leader, the UNP’s Working Committee, that curiously opaque and unelected body, has opted to constitute a Council as yet unnamed, to which Mr Wickremesinghe will devolve some of his powers as yet unspecified. The Council is variously termed Advisory and Supreme. In which it can be supreme and what it is supreme over is utterly unclear, because Mr Wickremesinghe remains as party leader.

This flimsy window dressing notwithstanding, it is more certain than ever that at the forthcoming round of provincial elections in the West, South and Uva, the UNP will go down to as big, if not bigger a defeat than it did at the last one– and will certainly not improve on its performance at the PC elections in these provinces the last time around. The reason is plain for anyone outside the echo chamber of the UNP Working Committee and parliamentary group. The voters will continue to reject the UNP as long as Ranil remains the leader.

What the new Council does is to ensnare the obvious alternatives, Karu and Sajith, in the responsibility for the inevitable defeats, thereby weakening their claims and entrenching Ranil as leader.

There is little doubt that if the party is to wake up from this deadly coma, it will have to undergo the shock therapy of yet another round of dramatic defeat  at the provincial level and face the prospect of Presidential and parliamentary elections. Then and only then would a rapid revival as in 1988, be possible. When that year opened it was not clear whether JR Jayewardene would remain for a third term. When it closed, Ranasinghe Premadasa was the leader. What happened was that the party was paralysed at the grassroots and it was obvious that revival—indeed survival—required a rupture with the Establishment and a wrenching transfer to the only personality with the patriotic populist profile capable of competing with the SLFP leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike. In 1988 it was an armed ultra-nationalism that paralysed the UNP. Today it is the tectonic shift during the Long War that has changed the socio-political and ideological terrain to one of ‘permanent patriotism’. The UNP needs to ‘pivot’ towards an inclusive and pluralist patriotism.

Latest comments

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    Who invited you? The President who called you an NGO stooge?

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      Well at least Dayan speaks out against the Ranil Wickramasinghe dictatorship in the UNP, unlike the reset of so-called civil society!

      As for what is to be done once the celebrations are over and the work begins: TNA needs to lead the call for Demilitarization, down sizing and right sizing of the military in the north and REST OF LANKA and a roll back of Gota the Goon’s DEEP STATE and military business development approach.
      The JAFFNA UDA should be under the LGA and no other urban development authority (including Colombo) should be under the Defense Ministry which is Land grabbing and displacing poor in the name of development and violating rights. Donors such as World Bank and ADB should STOP FUNDING the Defense ministry via UDA.

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      Don’t worry, this is the beginning of another episode in Sri Lanka’s history. Please don’t jump to conclusions: This applies to Dayan too.

      BBS Ravana Balaya, Hela Urumaya, Weeravansa of Mahavamsa mold, and the whole Sinhala Buddhist “patriotic” lot have not spoken yet. CHOGM is not over yet. Gota is quiet. Independence must be preserved says MaRa. Real fun will begin in 2014.

      The drama this time will not be with shells, cluster bombs and chemical weapons. Mullivaaikkaal will be spared but the 147,000 will be turning in their graves with all the horse trading going on. This time the world is the stage where the actors will be performing: Cast is from all corners: Indians, uncle Sam, Canadian ones, and you name them they all will have their roles. Mahinda is the villain.

      Let’s wait and see it all. I wonder when the drama will come to an end and people will be left free to live peacefully.

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      Looks to me that Dayan has been asked to write this pro MaRa article. Man, you having breakfast with a man who called you an NGO man so recently to an International media. What does this mean to me is perhaps MR was right or you are still working for MR while portraying a different picture in public. Please dont try to justify that you cannot turn down an invitation of the president. Of course you can.

      Bashing Ranil is a fashion. Can DJ write here in CT as to why he hates RW?
      Lot of people will have to take responsibility and answer to the future generations for denying an honest, Pragmetic, intelligent, fair man from becoming the leader of the country.
      So Sad!

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        Is this nation doomed?
        They keep voting the biggest crooks.
        Cant see the difference between a good and a bad leader.
        Intelectuals are licking bums of King Kekille.
        Dayan like people licking MR’s bones is unexpectable.
        Whats the fate of the innocent rural peasant, the
        uneducated and working class when these so called leant diplomats are unethical.
        This nation is really doomed.

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          “Intellectuals are licking bums of King Kekille.”

          Don’t mistake knowledge for wisdom as it is bound to be infectious.

          Politician is one who speaks the truth
          and sandwiches them with lies- Bernard Shaw

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        Pandukabaya,

        You say…..”Bashing Ranil is a fashion. Can DJ write here in CT as to why he hates RW?
        Lot of people will have to take responsibility and answer to the future generations for denying an honest, Pragmetic, intelligent, fair man from becoming the leader of the country.”

        First What’s the point of a honest, Pragmatic, intelligent, fair man……when Ranil cannot deliver a winning goal for 20 years and over 23 elections.

        Don’t you see how Ranil has worn out, and people say he cannot even walk half a mile. What’s the point of a honest man whose rates are dropping.

        Ranil was more into firing his own soldiers than fighting for Peoples rights, justice and grievances. See where Dayasiri now. Ranil chased Dayasiri and he has to admit it. What happened to Gen Sarath Fonseka and CJ Shirani Bandaranayake. Did Ranil spoke on behalf of her….No. Ranil allowed MR to play free hand “Pandu” in 2005 in Sri Lanka’s political turf.

        Ranil is a spent Force and he should learn Politics to win people. He should retire respectfully. Too little too late.

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      but he has to be on this way- to get posted to next. His [Edited out]

      Part of this comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
      https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/

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      This photo says everything – all are as they must take part in that …

      DJ could ask MR why he accused him of being a POWERFUL NGO worker, unless that was NOT done before secretly. DJ seems to have turned 180 degrees, when one would compare his a couple of weeks ago. I raise the question – is this the same man ?

      Once upon a time, DJ was a smart. But as of now, he behaves as Dayasiri Jayasekara did act. People are naive. They can easily be manipulative too. This is our nation :(

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      ‘it was only a passing sense of déjà vu to be invited to Temple Trees by the host of the historic event, for the swearing-in by President Rajapaksa’
      Dayan was thrilled…….WOW. How happy he was.
      I cannot beleive this, honestly.
      What a hypocrisy from both ‘nara panuwas’.

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      padmakumara,

      Yes the biggest world notorious born liar will say anything to divide the country and people to stay in power. Liars and thieves will sell their soul to stay in power.

      Dr.Dayan could be a Bridge to open hearts and minds and heal the wounds of Tamil and Sinhala communities.

      The ever cunning crook Sinhala politicians do not want to see a united Sri Lanka for their own selfish political agenda. They want to divide the country on Racial, religion and social lines and this should be stopped.

      Therefore Dr.Dayan could be a go-between, between ordinary Tamils, Sinhala and Muslim communities to erase their negative thoughts and heal their wounds.

      Good luck Dr.Dayan Jayatillake.

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        “Therefore Dr.Dayan could be a go-between, between ordinary Tamils, Sinhala and Muslim communities to erase their negative thoughts and heal their wounds.”

        The Chief Minister Wigneswaran is capable of saying “I” and stepping on the rungs of opportunity and the same goes with the south. So we have two sides and the middle is always evil.

        Presently, throughout the island actions forbidden to an individual are permitted to a mob.

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      Looks like President has gone from using “Condom Theory” to “Re-Cycle theory” on Dr.Dayan J.

      Very soon Dr.Dayan could be posted back to UN to represent Sri Lanka.

      This is Rajapakse’s Asia’s Magic miracle.

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    Ayyo Dayan, what a shameless bootlicker you are? A week after you were insulted as an NGO man you ran to the arms of the President at the first invitation of breakfast. have some dignity man. Ego without dignity leads to sad pathetic excuses of human beings such as you.

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      My friend i don’t know who you are.If you are invited by the Srilankan president for breakfast,most probably you will not be there.Reason being you are one of those bad losers.How about you joining cry baby the Canadian PM?I am sure that you are still upset over the untimely death of our beloved murder Prabakaran.Take it easy dude.

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      I never thought senior diplomats could behave in this way. Now Dayan is on his transition mode. May be Jarapakshe applogised him secretly for what was being explained to Aljaseera about DAYAN.

      I really dont know why Dayan should [Edited out] in this way ? It is like oragens and apples. Why does DJ need to do so ? Should be the pressure made by [Edited out] ? huh ? Germany^s former president^s carrier was damaged only because of his wife. That is what some believe in Germany. So could be the case with DJ. I feel like that. Weeks back this man even commented that he would be very against Rajapakshe. Very same man, now as if he is born yesterday, comes with this… my god.. what is really happening ot our motherland ?

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        I’ll tell you why.
        Being next to Sinhala-speaking blokes like Rajapaksa (with very low, laughable English and familiarity with diplomacy and the wider world) makes Dayan feel ‘important’. It’s his way of getting the best value for himself , for his language skills and knowledge in international politics (in fairness, one has to give him that. He is a brilliant brain).
        What he lacks is principle, and a respectable attitude (compare, for instance, Dayan’s carry-on with the likes of Ambassador Dhanapala or Ambassador Rodrigo, or even Ambassador Cassie Chetty…- they would never go behind boot-licking populist, propagandist, cheap, uneducated, uncultured types of the Rajapaksa kind the way Dayan does. They may have served under governments led by leaders from different backgrounds and ideologies, but they are not the type to cheapen themselves à la Dayan).
        The truth of the matter is that Dayan owes many of his achievements (apart from his academic credentials, early politics, the NEPC saga) to populist leaders (namely premadasa and rajapaksa). Premadasa paid him 80,000 LKR, gave him a house and car to write trash in the newspapers. Armed with his PhD, he convinced Rajapaksa to appoint him to a sensitive duty station as ambassador, and with friend and ex-colleague GLPeris’s help, got the job in Paris. I can’t help feeling that he wants Ranil out because of a personal reason. Ranil is not the kind of man to tolerate blokes like Dayan. Sajith Premadasa, on the contrary, would do anything for Dayan once Dayan plays some of his tricks (public speaking skills in English and Sinhala, English writing etc.)…maybe he intends to have a Plan B in the horizon by supporting the ignorant offspring of his ignorant and murderous former master…Dayan is a product of the post-1956 sociocultural, linguistic inequalities. He does not position himself in the English-speaking, educated social realm, where he does not feel important enough, and tries desperately to get a position of power and influence with the help of Sinhala-speaking, populist folks. At the intersections of these two, he tries to thrive. This is what explains his preparedness to readily respond to an invitation from a man who insulted him on international television.

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          Dear Sea,
          You are dead right. He seems to have no character/principle.

          He is no means comparable to Jayantha Dhanapala or the like…. sky and earth difference if one would compare it like that…

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          To both Sea and Samare,

          I think you both are not Politically mature enough to understand politics both in and outside Sri Lanka.
          First of all you both don’t know who invited Dr.Dayan to this ceremony. Is it the President or Mr.Wigneswaran. How do you know.

          Second even if MR invited Dr.Dayan it doesn’t make a big deal. Don’t you see in the International Arena when USA and Iran are dead Rivals and act against each other, still shake hands at the UN. Same with many other countries. How Rajapakses shake hands with Both Gaddafi, Iran,Russia,USA, Israel and UK. Politics is all about business and who uses whom.

          May be President Rajapakse changed from “Condom theory” to “Re-Cycle” theory on Dr.Dayan and could offer another diplomatic post very soon….. Or Mr.Wigneswaran could invite Dr.Dayan to be his Foreign relations officer. Who knows what. Anything is possible in politics as long as one stick to his policy.

          Only If MR or anybody try to play “double game” in politics, they will be caught…..and be caught red handed pretty soon.

          So be aware. CHOGM Prince Charles and UNHRC Navi Pillai coming again to Sri Lanka….. Politics at work.

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      Vigneswaran is a worse shameless boot licker.

      Tamil National Alliance (TNA) supporters in Mullaiththeevu on Tuesday have burnt the effigy of NPC Chief Minister Mr CV Wigneswaran who took his oath before genocidal Colombo’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday.

      Well done. You are Tamils with dignity. Other Tamils are just Tame-Ills.

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        He is the best and you guys have to learn from him. He is the highly educated best candidate in their bunch to show our sinhalese politicians a lesion. – This is the reason why MR louded at his candidature for the election, shortly before the election – as I read it – People would not even know who Wigansawaran is….. but the results clearly showed the other way around….. now MR cant play it as he has always been doing with us Sinhalayas

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        Remember it was TNA and Wiggie that insisted on MR conferring the Oath , something MR did not want to do.

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        Fathima Fukushima,

        You say…..”Wigneswaran who took his oath before genocidal Colombo’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday.”

        Also the same president who said Dr.Dayan as s Powerful NGO man two weeks ago to Al Jazeera, had to eat “Aggala” and “Kiribath” with him at the President house for at this ceremony.

        Can you see who got the slap in the face eating “Aggala” and “Kiribath” together at President’s house….Moda Alapaluwa.

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    Photo of grim faced Sinhala regime reveals it all.

    If Sinhala regime does not devolve to Northern council the powers as stipulated in constitution, they will be dragged screaming to Hague.

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    Dear NGO Da Yarn,
    You say, “There is little doubt that if the party is to wake up from this deadly coma, it will have to undergo the shock therapy of yet another round of dramatic defeat.”
    The price of milk was increased today, and many more essential food items including gas and bus fare will be increased in the future. These price increases is the ‘shock therapy’ needed to wake up the idiotic masses from their ‘deadly coma.’ Lets wait and see how the people of the western province vote at the next PC elections. MRs ass chariya wonder of assia tall stories are dying a slow death…economic hardships coupled with lack of freedom and repression is what brought down communist countries…and the same will happen in SL too. The north showed the middle finger to MR, and now its time for the west to do likewise. :-D

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    The problem is whether such a wrenching trasfer of power to a person who is patriotic and at the same time sufficiently pluralistic exists within the UNP? This is not to say that Ranil Wickremasinghe should remain at the helm. After losing so many elections and remaining the leader of the principal opposition party in waiting is a world record which will remain a long while in the record books.

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      This is a false question! Rosy Senanayake would do a fine job as leader of the UNP with Karu to assist her.. Rosy has not jumped ship like many of the others and is very smart i.e. intelligent and PLURALISTIC
      Sajith of course is a brain dead moron who needs to be put to sleep :)

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        Ha ha Karu to assist Rosy? Fine Kolama. Rosy is better than any man and has more balls than Karu anyway. However, she must not trust him too much. Otherwise he will soon drug her, bundle her up and take her to the other side like last time.

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          You say ‘Rosy is better than any man and has more balls than Karu anyway’ If Rosy is that smart (Yes, she is some what a smart lady and popular), can karu drag her and bundle her up? So you contradict your own statement mate.

          Karu although double crossed RW twice still a good, educated and a popular Sinhalese Leader who can make the UNP vote base swell. He can indeed get 90% minority votes as well. what he did was wrong indeed for the party. Its the past. No use debate on that. UNP must look forward to work as a team. My opinian is Karu is ideal and the only choice right now since majority of the people dont understand Ranil’s value. Sajith has to go a long long way.

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            but so long people like DJ and the co. supports Sajith P, it will be not easy any other leaders from UNP to win the hearts of rural people across the country.

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    Dayan has written a lot of common sense once again. No doubt this is a good start and a golden opportunity which neither side should miss. It is most likely that both sides will work together out of necessity.

    What Wigneswaran mentioned about the right of internal self determination is obviously is a mere declaration of principle and not a threat to the other side. Wigneswaran is not Balasingham.

    Let us wait and see how things unfold. It is a matter of having a political will to solve the problem, however knotty it may be and however slow the healing process. If there is a political will, there will definitely be a way!

    Let us hope that Dayan will be one of the midwives who will deliver the solution!

    Sengodan. M

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      MaRa may soon yield to pressure and replace the Governor in the North. Don’t you see a match? Tough times ahead for Wigneswaran; please someone give him a copy of “A quick guide to Gramsci” :-)

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    Big diaspora crowd. But no Pottu on the head. Maybe pottu coming after demands are met.Thats why the big man not happy and having long face.

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    still praising the president hoping for a call to Geneva 2014?

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      That will be another episode in this continuing drama called “Sri Lanka – a land like no other” – where only the laws of nature is sacrosanct, other laws, lawyers and judges are for the convenience of the rulers.

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    This crook is again playing psychological game. I am sure Chief minister Vigneswaran understands well why was given this opportunity by Tamil people of North and how far he can go in his own principle’s. He should be very cautious about the so called progressive elements from the south like Dr.DJ. I assume Vigneswaran have the knowledge and observatory power to differentiate between state, government, President and Rajapakse regime. There is a difference between corporating with state’s constitution or the rule of law and Rajapakse’ regimes law of rule. Dr. D.J’s advise seems to follow the latter which is similar to the role’s played by Minister Douglas Devannda and Minister Muraleetharan. Even the so called leftists play such a similar role in this government. If the desire of the people was to get these benefits they would have much better by giving the leadership to that regime.

    Northern Provincial Election was happened not because of the change in the attitude of this regime or the southern political system. It is an outcome of the war and sacrifices of the people. People’s expectations are not to confront with others. Their expectations are dignity, rule of law, safety and justice.

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    Dear Dayan, i hope and wish that the majority of our People take your advice seriously.

    “It is in the interests of the Sri Lankan state and indeed the Sinhalese community, to strengthen the position of the Wigneswaran-Sampanthan–Sumanthiran troika. Though ambiguous in their ideology, this trio is not ambivalent about their preference for coexistence with dignity within a united Sri Lanka (while they seem willing to move outside it if such a status is unachievable).t.

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    DJ says “It is in the interests of the Sri Lankan state and indeed the Sinhalese community, to strengthen the position of the Wigneswaran-Sampanthan–Sumanthiran troika. Though ambiguous in their ideology, this trio is not ambivalent about their preference for coexistence with dignity within a united Sri Lanka (while they seem willing to move outside it if such a status is unachievable)”.

    Once he advised the president to continue to get the support of the murderous EPDP leader Douglas Devananda. Either he has come to realise the ground reality of overwhelming NPC Election victory or the dangers of harbouring offenders within the government. Whatever it is it is a good advice for the future of this country. This will also help the leadership steer out of international condemnation of past events and put the country back on civilised league of nations.

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      Better NOT to take anything serious if it comes from the man – DJ. He has proved his abilities not once several dozens of times. He is not consistent by his views. Not at all. These are facts alone if you could take time to go through his previous articles comparing to those from these days. There is a miles difference between them.

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    Dayan, are you creeping back into the lap of President Rajapakse? Is this what you wanted all this time by writing various articles but always saying good things about the President? Or was it a drama that you played all this time by showing the readers of your column that you are a honest writer but at the same time being a part of the regime, a sort of double agent?

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      Dayan has become an another meeharaka. From this and the former articles, he has proved it well. JuST for petty gains only he can name himself repeatedly as – political analyst, senior diplomat OR whatever he may feel to what he is – I should laugh the other end :(

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    .
    What happened to Gota and Basil?

    So, MaRa is having bad time with his brothers.

    :-)

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      They are/will have – an idiosyncratic internal crisis- as astrolgers have predicted already.
      Not by stupid people, but it will most likely be through a power greedy struggle that would pave the way for their end. Sooner this will be, better it will be for the nation. Right at the moment, there is no place for respectful, dignified personalities to even voice what they consider are right for the country.

      RW may be not good sinhala orator, but what DJ anticipates attacking him at this critical stage of lanken politics – is not the thing that I ever expected from a senior analyst. May be he is also fallen into the laps of Rajapskse for petty advantages. Our people in general forget easily what was the case for them yesterday.

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    You should have seen Dayan at the swearing in, grinning from ear to ear, like a kid who is about to receive a prize!

    He is an out and out opportunist that knows who can butter his measly slice of bread!

    Well done DJ with this subterraneanly sycophantic piece….You are our very own Oliver Twist begging for more!

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      Really ? then you should also have been there ?…. Yes, one would not be able to get DJ^s tactics easily. In his previous comments, I remind to have read somewhere that he would not support Rajapakshes…. but may be to that time, he was not aware of from what end he had been speaking :(.
      Also very likely as to Dayasiri, MR may have made a deal with DJ too. WHo knows ? All these would not even come to surface because these re idiosyncratic MR tactics. These are all comparable to what the Mathale graves have to reveal – so long these bunch of thieves are in power, nothing about them would come to surface because of the facts that Gota can go into pieces if that would come to surface. However, those victimised parents, brothers and sisters should either forget them or just ignore it. That is their tactics…. brutal tactics have no ends. People have no space to question either. They have to accept it, else, they coul also be attacked by the rulers to the very same manner Rathupaswala people (innocent ones) were brutally gunned down by state forces – REMMBER this was not even few weeks ago. But what happened, our gawky people seem to have fully forgotten anything related to that.. aiyoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…. ape ratata giya kala. ?

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    Tamil National Alliance (TNA) supporters in Mullaiththeevu on Tuesday have burnt the effigy of NPC Chief Minister Mr CV Wigneswaran who took his oath before genocidal Colombo’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday.

    Well done. You are Tamils with dignity. Other Tamils are just Tame-Ills.

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      What are you? Tamil or Sinhalese? If you are a Muslim then you too are a Tamil.

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    Allowing state lands for development such as industrial projects,resettlement,farming,animal husbandry,chicken farming,re-planting of palmyra seedlings to replace the thousands lost during the war,vegetable/fruits cultivation,ground water utilisation,settlement of fishermen close to shores etc.,need to be permitted to allow the NPC rehabilitate the people so as to be self sufficient and thus improve the economy of the north.
    The army will object,saying that “security” will be impaired.
    Will the president have the courage to overrule such objections and allow the venues for prosperity of nothern citizens.

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    Olive Twist! How appropriate for a [Edited out]like Dian who has no shame!

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      bbs,

      Isn’t it Dian who came out as a winner from MR’s NGO allegation just two weeks ago, and now eating “Aggala” and “Kiribath” in the same tabe.

      You say…..”Dian who has no shame”……who really has no shame…..the liar or the Weliweriya truth seeker.

      The same president who said Dr.Dayan as s Powerful NGO man two weeks ago to Al Jazeera, had to eat “Aggala” and “Kiribath” with him at the President house for at this ceremony.

      Can you see who got slapped in the face eating “Aggala” and “Kiribath” together at President’s house….

      It was Moda Joker Alapaluwa.

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    Psychologically, the whole purpose of this article is to tell us that he had an “invitation.” Now happy, my dear dayan?

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    After decades of mistrust, a new begining. May this lead to reapproachment and peace between the two communities. For people to develop and prosper there is nothing like peace and goodwill. It takes years and decades to build but only a few minutes to destroy.

    All beings tremble before violence. All Fear death. All love life. See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do? Those who seek happiness by hurting others who seek happiness will never find happiness. For your fellows are like you. They want to be happy. Never harm them and when you leave this life you will leave it happily.
    Dhammapada

    Peace be to earth and to airy spaces!Peace be to heaven, peace to the waters,peace to the plants and peace to the trees!May all the gods grant me peace!By this invocation of peace may peace be diffused!By this invocation of peace may peace bring peace!With this peace the dreadful I appease,with this peace the cruel I appease,with this peace all evil I appease,so that peace may prevail, happiness prevail!May everything for us be peaceful!
    Hinduism. Atharva Veda 19.9.14

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    The invitation amounts to bones thrown as and when required, the
    master knowing how vulnerable they are to bones in keeping with status.

    MR did the same when DJ was re-called from Geneva – the bone was a
    free trip with him to Vietnam (or Korea?)

    Habits never die.

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    Dayan,

    You were there in person to witness the historic event and I hope you will do your utmost to promote Justice Wigneswaran in his endeavours. I don’t think for one moment that he will give in to the LTTE sympathisers within the TNA and in the diaspora and this he has already clearly indicated by his pronouncements on the Tamil Nadu politicians, Manmohan’s participation at the CHOGM and his call for a federal set up within a united Sri Lanka. If he were to be forced to toe an extremist line I am sure he will resign without any hesitation. He is a man of principles as shown by his record as a judge and in this respect he is very unlike other present day politicians.

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    Dayan

    You have been fully supportive of devolution so is Ranil,could you please inform this forum where your political messiah stands in this regard?

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    After all Dayan is some NGO man … hahaha (that part of the interview was epic)

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    DJ’s point of view is correct. In real terms the swearing in of Wigna, if I may so call him., is absolutely historic. The ceremony may have been simple but it’s importance is beyond comprehension ?.
    Not since independance, has the north got a legitimate and world recognized identity.It can now turn the world community and specially India the way it wants and the south would sooner than later realise that it has lost control for ever?. Even if Prabakaran waged a civil war for the next twenty five years it would not have got world recognition and therefore the dream of Ealam would have been a useless bloody war. But not now. Wigna in this short while, shows he has a vision and that vision would envisage to catch the monkey slowly, slowly. He had seen through that, inspite the objections from his own party, it is prudent to simply accept the protocol of a swearng in rather than a confront.That would have been counter productive in all sense.On the other hand MR has done what no other Prime minister or President could do to legitimise the Northern Tamil community as an acceptable minority community. Under any other President there would have been unlimited street protests. Not now, not even a whimper. He has silenced them all with stunning electoral wins in the south. They have been made busy collecting the spoils of their victories.
    The future is certainly interesting, we will wait and see.
    mahen.siriwardena

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      You say…….”On the other hand MR has done what no other Prime minister or President could do to legitimise the Northern Tamil community as an acceptable minority community.”

      What MR cannot do with the 18th amendment in hand. Where’s the independent Police commission, election commission, judiciary, Ind.media,Justice, all disappearances, LLRC,disappearances etc,etc,

      Aren’t all these been suppressed using 18th amendment.

      If MR would have offered 13th amendment soon after the war, we could have saved the EU GSP status and saved over 150,000 jobs.

      But MR was playing pandu until recently and until he got trapped. He had to hold NP elections under International pressure and this is not something he expected. Soon it will come to 13 th Plus.

      Also isn’t it Dian who came out as the winner from MR’s NGO allegation just two weeks ago, and now eating “Aggala” and “Kiribath” together in the same table. Who lied and who fooled whom.

      Who really has no shame…..the liar or the Weliweriya truth seeker.

      The same president who said Dr.Dayan as s Powerful NGO man two weeks ago to Al Jazeera, had to eat “Aggala” and “Kiribath” with him at the same table at President’s house at this ceremony.

      Can you see who got slapped in the face eating “Aggala” and “Kiribath” together at President’s house….

      It was the “Moda” crazy Joker Alapaluwa.

      Jayawewa.

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    This article is the payment for a breakfast at temple trees. Dayan you are a real creep. What you are trying to do is to creep back into the government. Have you got any moral? self dignity? It is clear you haven’t.Srilankan must ignore such people ( they are a cancer to the society) then only the land will prosper.

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    I was hoping to see some comment from Sunil Perera who has been a valiant supporter of the “re-born” Dayan.

    Sunil – are you still convinced of that “Condom” theory of yours to explain the past love-affarir between DJ and MR. Then, this indeed is a new twist – has MR found a reusable condom? What a cheepie!

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    I wish the CM well in this new beginning. Though Rajapaksa is a war criminal, CM’s taking of oaths before him should be seen as a reflection of the respect for the office of the president.

    Regardless, the difficulties ahead are clear from the picture itself.
    Only when the man to the left of Justice W and the two men to the right of Mr. Sambanthan are no longer “in the picture” will there be any real hope for lasting peace.

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    Once more a fine analytical study by Dayan. This time of the Post-9/21 TNA-GoSL equation. Will that beautiful and thoughtful gift of a Ganesha statue by President Rajapakse prove to be an invitation that the Sinhala and Tamil Nations begin anew in the changed political landscape. The highly religious and yet secular CM Vigneswaren will surely respond in appropriate sincerity and purpose.

    “I have no doubt that Mahinda Rajapaksa is the best bet for the Tamils as a leader who can carry the Sinhalese with him in the acceptance of reasonable political co-existence” While I believe the Tamil Nation may not totally agree with the description they probably will – if we add “a fresh-thinking President Rajapakse”

    The buoyant mood of most people in the four corners of the country will go with you as you say “no doubt this was Sri Lanka’s last best chance as a single country whose political borders run the extent of its natural ones”. Carpe Diem should be the mood of the land.

    “Mahinda Rajapaksa is the leader who can preside over the process of transition to such a new deal without any backlash” It is good to read this. That is where the problem lies and can raise its head from. The Rajapakses must be congratulated for keeping under leash those zealots who threatened violence and chaos including that one where they said they will not allow Mr. Vigneswaren to come to Colombo. I believe the Rajapakses have always enjoyed the power and influence to control those from the extreme capable of creating more than a backlash. Additionally, if The Brothers also can counsel them towards the path
    of accommodation and peaceful coexistence in this one final chance the fruits of that endeavour will be national reconciliation from which all of us can benefit.

    Senguttuvan

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      Senguttuvan

      Is Dayan cosying up to MR for another job?

      Is NPC Governor Chandrasisri’s tenure coming to an end?

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        some things never change Native, Dayan cosying up MR (or for that matter any devil) if it benefits him.
        Its not the governor post he wants….thats too local and small….he wants to lead the delegation to Geneva March 2014 :)
        If that means kissing the feet of MR who called him a NGO man, well so be it …

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          Dev

          Thanks for your clarification.

          He might wish to act as a colonial Viceroy.

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          Dayan J will take any job that MR orders him to do – but will prefer a posting outside to continue to claim his expertise in
          foreign affairs is sought by many – in several countries. If MR
          and The Brothers feel their team to the UN/Geneve needs further
          muscle then Dayan is in. Ravinath A is far too novice and so far
          without a track record The Brothers will not take a risk with him with Madam Navi Pillai breathing fire and brimstone – with the full backing of the Western Powers, Japan and Korea. But this time Dayan will have to work with the Israelis, whom he has often angered. But with the experience with the chameleons he works with he can always smoke the peace-pipe with the Zionists and say “my dad named me after your hero Moshe Dayan” That the Zionists will buy.

          Post Dec2013s gonna be interesting times in Sri Lanker, guys.
          Imagine if Modi wins in India he’ll warm up to Japan against the
          Chinese. India will plan to punish the Rajapakses for unnecessarily encouraging China and Pakistan to use Lankan soil as a playground to turn their guns on the Southern tip of India.
          That outcome will please JJ and Karunanidhi’s lot in TN. RAW is livid, despite their alerts from time to time, the Rajapakses provide safe haven to Afghan and pro-Al Qaeda jidahists with bogus passports and all to create mayhem in India. The hotpotch global politics of the Rajapakses is surely going to show by early 2014. Dayan may have a role to play then with his brains. But he is smart enough to know he will be in the losing team.

          Backlash

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    Sorry Dayan, You have lost it and I mean the readership of those who thought you had principles. Your headline should have read ‘After the betrayal’, not after the swearing in. We sensed it was coming, and now its confirmed. You will receive your appointment soon. MR, whom you prefer to think as a baby being misled by others, needs you again. Surely you could have politely turned down the invite to breakfast, but then after all, you are just one of them!

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      Aela

      “You have lost it and I mean the readership of those who thought you had principles.”

      Since when did Dayan have principles?

      He has 64 positions all at the same time depending on what suites him.

      This is the man who also opposed NPC elections and proposed for an interim Council headed by Sangaree and composed of all kind of unknown riffraff.

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    How did the TNA win the North, thanks to the Foreign Observers who did not allow MR and his Army of Goons to distort the results. Similarly the next Presidential Election will be held under scrutiny of the International Observers after Sri Lanka being elected as the head of CHOGM. MR will not be able to refuse and we can then see his popularity. Afterall why should MR object if he is so Popular?

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      Fully agree with you.

      Shortly before the election dates, MR was in the opinion that people would not even know who is Wignaswaran. Remember ?

      My wish is CHOGM should work as the Waterloo of the current regime :)

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