By Dayan Jayatilleka –
It is dismaying to watch Opposition politicians and parties unwittingly normalizing the new abnormal, discussing –or even entertaining the possibility of –a common agenda with an unelected, illegitimate ruler who has just embarked on a campaign of ruthless repression against the Aragalaya.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the JVP-NPP, deserves our thanks and praise for the stand he took in his media briefing on the evening that unelected President Ranil Wickremesinghe delivered his “shop-for-props” Throne speech.
Responding to Ranil AKD and his party refused to be confused, fooled or enticed into collaboration with the zero-mandate President’s self-aggrandizing project. In short AKD didn’t fall into Ranil’s trap.
It takes clarity, conviction and courage to take the stand AKD and his party did. In so doing, he presented and constituted a clear alternative perspective, discourse and polarity to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Ranil’s Entrapment Strategy
It is not that I don’t have basic strategic criticisms of AKD’s line. I disagree with AKD’s apparent assumption that the JVP and its affiliate the NPP are sufficient to resist and prevail over President Wickremesinghe’s project of creating and consolidating a political space and a recomposed ‘hegemonic power-bloc’ enlisting the support of diverse political parties, fractions and personalities as well as social strata and elements.
Ranil is trying to assemble as many political and social forces as he can, to conduct two encirclement and suppression campaigns using the military and Police—firstly of the FSP and then of the JVP. The JVP cannot escape this or even buy significant time, by sacrificing the FSP. Ranil has to crush the JVP-NPP because, as clearly flagged in his Throne Speech, he intends to end “State enterprise” in the economy and to do so he has to crush the trade unions, which means he has to crush the JVP-led trade union movement.
A mature Left party would be working on constructing a counter-hegemonic social and political bloc which cannot but have as its main axis, a (Leninist) United Front. In the Sri Lankan reality, this means, in the inescapable first place, a left front with the FSP. The failure of the contemporary left, the JVP and FSP, to enter a united front even in the face of Ranil’s repression, could prove a fatally tragic flaw.
AKD’s slogan of a snap General election is correct but only partially so; it has huge hole in it. If a parliamentary is held, and won by an Opposition party, Ranil Wickremesinghe would still be the President, Minister of Defence and Commander-in-chief, who, unlike Gotabaya, would not hesitate to use lethal military force to crackdown on post-election demonstrations for his removal, and rule as a civilian-military junta. Therefore AKD’s ‘early elections’ slogan makes sense only if it is twinned or better still preceded by a snap general election which can be rendered possible by including the provision in the upcoming 22nd amendment.
I am of course in complete disagreement with the slogan of the abolition of the executive Presidency when the current events in Latin America prove all over again that it is the easiest system under which a pro-people left candidate can be elected his/her country’s leader.
President’s Props
What would have happened to any Opposition political party that joined, propped up or let itself be drawn into the orbit of the hawkish UNP administration of Sir John Kotelawala after the Hartal of August 1953?
What if SWRD Bandaranaike, having left the UNP in 1951, helped it in 1953, after chairing the Hartal rally on Galle Face Green, though the SLFP didn’t participate in the Hartal?
The answers of these counterfactual history questions are obvious. Any such party which became a de jure or de facto prop (“mukkuwa”) of the Hartal-hit Establishment which had a harder-line post-Hartal leader, would have been committing political suicide.
Had SWRD Bandaranaike done so, he would not have been the beneficiary of the anti-Establishment tectonic shift caused or denoted by the Hartal and swept into office through the Silent Revolution of 1956.
Why then are the mainstream Opposition parties of today doing or contemplating something even more colossally stupid, of joining, supporting or collaborating with the UNP leader of the Aragalaya-hit Establishment? It is suicidal for two reasons:
Firstly, the leader in question is utterly unelected, totally devoid of a popular mandate, and is therefore a completely illegitimate (though not illegal) ruler.
Secondly, he will drive through a controversial and polarizing economic program, which will sink any party associated with it.
Tamil Parties & Ranil’s Radioactivity
The Tamil parties have a sad history of supporting the rightwing UNP which inevitably winds up unpopular and the target of a huge backlash. The presence of the Tamil parties in a bloc with the UNP, unfortunately facilitates an utterly reprehensible entry of Sinhala chauvinism into the anti-government backlash.
It is utterly counterproductive for the Tamil parties to be in an elitist UNP bloc. It was the presence of those parties in the UNP-led 7-party national Government of 1965-1970 that facilitated the opportunistic or semi-spontaneous injection of Sinhala ethno-populism into the Opposition campaign of the second half of the 1960s, which even more horridly, culminated in the official Sinhala racism after it assumed office, e.g., media-wise and district-wise Standardization of university entrance, the hegemonistic status of Sinhala and Buddhism in the 1972 Constitution.
The Tamil parties should think twice before being enticed into an alliance, de jure or de facto, with the unelected, illegitimate president Ranil Wickremesinghe who will cause a further spike in unprecedentedly high social disaffection by his economic “shock therapy”. It could cause a toxic cocktail as Sir John’s Delft speech did.
chiv / August 4, 2022
Ranil’s plan of a multiparty govt is 1) To legalize his position as President 2) Isolate Aragalaya protesters from major political parties ,to make witch hunting easy 3) It ‘s more of a strategy to share blame than share responsibility. Ranil now says people will have to wait until next year for any relief ( before election he claimed just few months ). He knows well that Lanka is beyond salvage and somehow wants to hang in until Gota’s term is over. He may also be hoping by then to have a party and few representatives under him,to contest election. But I do not agree with DJ wanting presidency only because, like in Latin America, there is a chance of comrades coming to power. As long Tamils and minorities are concerned it really doesn’t matter who they support, because they / SB will deceive them at the end. If you have doubts, ask Muslims. Reprehensible chauvinism and racism are inbuilt traits, not confined to party lines. ( they just take turns )
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old codger / August 4, 2022
“It is dismaying to watch Opposition parties………entertaining the possibility of –a common agenda with an unelected, illegitimate ruler” Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the JVP-NPP, deserves our thanks and praise for the stand he took in his media briefing on the evening that unelected President Ranil Wickremesinghe delivered his “shop-for-props” Throne speech.”
Are we seeing cracks in the relationship between the inventor of the (not heard of for a while) Nugegoda Man and his protégé Premadasa Jr.? Is the JVP the next stop for our fake revolutionist? AKD should be very very careful.
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Native Vedda / August 4, 2022
old codger
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“Are we seeing cracks in the relationship between the inventor of the (not heard of for a while) Nugegoda Man and his protégé Premadasa Jr.?”
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He bets both ways.
Has he changed his views about Wimal, Dinesh, ….. or as usual he is taking 64 positions all at the same time?
He went Russia representing Siri Sena.
He couldn’t buy the floating rusty iron.
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He couldn’t even make unofficial income.
What on earth is he doing in this difficult time.
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2022
NV, bro, where you been ? ICH HOFFE ES GEHT DIR GUT :?
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Wimal Buruwanse and his siamese twin Dayan have been doing their usual job again.
:
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SJ / August 4, 2022
OC
What many seem to miss is the nature of the state apparatus. When the state or the interests which it protects is threatened, it unleashes the state machinery in all its forms to restore ‘stability’.
It is no defence of RW to say that he did what the interests of the classes he represents did. If the Aragalaya stopped with sending MP and GR home, it would have ceased to be a threat to the ruling establishment.
When the prospect facing the Aragalaya was dealing with the ruling elite with a new face, the wrath of the state could be avoided by playing along, which it could not do.
Would things have been any different if Sajith P or Sarath F becae PM and then made president under some deal (a necessary criterion to become president) wold things have been any different?
The family opted for RW when the choice was between RW, SP and Dullas A.
RW was the safest bet, as he was politically the weakest within and outside parliament.
As long as the government is under external pressure and feels unsafe, RW will not face a threat from within unless he crosses the ‘invisible red line’.
*
Let us not feel sentimental for anyone who missed the bus.
For RW or the Rajapaksa succession to go, an alternative should emerge outside parliament.
That is the challenge for the Aragalaya.
*
Revolution is not a tea party, as many here imagined it to be until 22nd July.
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SJ / August 4, 2022
footnote
Imagine JRJ joining Sirimavo B’s cabinet in the early 1970s.
He would have steered the SLFP rightwards, but the tragedy of 1977 may have been averted by all partners of the UF government, and more importantly the country.
This is only an idle afterthought.
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Native Vedda / August 6, 2022
“but the tragedy of 1977 may have been averted by all partners of the UF government,”
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It was not a tragedy of 1977, it was indeed a combined tragedy of 1956, 1958, 1970, ……, Weeping Widow exacerbated the problem.
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deepthi silva / August 6, 2022
Didn’t JR promise a democratic ,Socialist government in his 1977 manifesto ? Also ‘dharmista”!
The old man was confused but cunning. Like the politicians of today. His right wing is like the right wing of Idi Amin( foolish and unprincipled) . JR was also very vocal on Buddhism, Royal college, his so called family greatness !
Old, nonsensical , racist and egoistic
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old codger / August 6, 2022
SJ,
“Imagine JRJ joining Sirimavo B’s cabinet in the early 1970s.”
Carrying on in that vein, what if Sajith had stayed in the UNP? He certainly would be PM under Ranil. Would he still make a lot of contradictory noises?
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old codger / August 5, 2022
SJ,
“Let us not feel sentimental for anyone who missed the bus.”
It seems Dr.DJ’s bus is always too late.
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nimal fernando / August 4, 2022
When the people and their children are starving and living in misery, the banquet after Ranil’s inaugural speech shows how much Ranil cares for the people.
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It’s business as usual ……… as if nothing has happened.
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Shows the vast gap …… the disconnect …….. between the average man on the street and the generational-privileged immoral and corrupt pols – their great Buddhist credential notwithstanding.
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That’s why Lenin, Khomeini …… were in exile (not that they turned out to be any better) ……… That’s why our own Joseph Stalin ( hope he isn’t a carbon copy of the real) is in custody
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Time to storm the Versailles ………. the Bastille to free the prisoners …….. the Winter Palace ……….
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This won’t end until the corrupt unfeeling thick-skinned bastards are skinned alive in the Galle Face Green.
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No one fears peaceful Aragalayas ………. everyone fears nights of 9th of May …….. burning of the ill-gotten loot ……. with the ill-gotters ……….
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Native, where are you when we need you the most? ……. Hiding under the bed?
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nimal fernando / August 5, 2022
Not into analysis and all that hoopla ……… only 2 thoughts are stuck with me
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Ranil is not an elected president ……… he couldn’t even win his blooming seat …… in a supposed democracy, for better or for worse, how does that represent the will of the people? Something wrong somewhere.
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And what he is trying to achieve is not vistas of prosperity and splendour/development …….. but just to bring the country back to what it was a short 2.5 years ago …….. which will take at least a decade.
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Are we blessed with some special gene ……. that’s always in reverse gear?
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Sinhala-Buddhism, EE?
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Native Vedda / August 6, 2022
nimal fernando
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“Native, where are you when we need you the most? ……. Hiding under the bed?”
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I have been looking for you.
We last heard you from Ukraine, where millions of beautiful women were getting ready or eager to meet eligible middle aged and old men. Any luck?
By the way how are you?
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People want to know what is next.
I have run out of answers, hence I am mentally tired.
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Any idea, suggestion or speculation?
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nimal fernando / August 8, 2022
I wasn’t in Ukraine, I was in the Balkans, Greece and the UK.
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I don’t have to go anywhere looking for gals …… all I have to do is contact Old Codger.
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Never been to Ukraine …….. but been to Russia a few times, the girls are absolutely beautiful ….. girls just doing their daily jobs …… a girl directing passengers in St Petersburg airport dressed in a green kit was more beautiful than any in Hollywood.
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Native, you should travel more …….. for you to appreciate women!
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We should buy a EE a ticket to Russia ……. that’ll sort him out.
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Nothing but Palki for Sinhala_Man! …….. He is set in his ways :))
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Eagle Eye / August 6, 2022
nimal fernando.
“…their great Buddhist credential notwithstanding.”
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Ranil is not a Buddhist. For political survival, he pretends that he is a Buddhist. If you ask him to say ‘Pan Sil’ I do not think he will be able to do that.
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Tamil from the north / August 7, 2022
Eagle ‘twat’ Eye, who gives a damn whether he is a Buddhist or a communist? Jackass, get your nose out of a donkey’s ass and smell the fresh air. Do you racists practice even an ounce of Buddhism? Do you even know what Buddhism is built on and what Buddha stood for?
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Sinhala_Man / August 7, 2022
Dear nimal fernando,
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He really is Joseph Stalin Fernando. See Sarath de Alwis’s article a year ago:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/redemption-of-joseph-stalin/
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But not your relative. I’m not as innocent as Jeevan Hoole thinks me:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-church-of-ceylon-in-anarchy-caste-affirmative-action/
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Sinhala_Man / August 8, 2022
This, nimal fernando, is a pretty hard-hitting defence of the Aragalaya from Rajitha Senaratne.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2-G1R5KQLE
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Nine minutes in Sinhalese; from 4′ 20” on, it is about Joseph Stalin Fernando.
In the comments, I see people saying that they don’t like Rajitha Senaratne, but that what he says is true. I have listened to it twice. The camera displays a close-up of Rajitha, but he is speaking throughout to Ranil, who is not shown. A pity. He ought to have been squirming. It is said that Stalin has been using the same motor-bike since 1998 (they don’t realise that Panini Edirisinhe has been using the same reconditioned Honda since 1991).
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All this corresponds with what I myself have heard. I suggest that you listen to this.
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2022
Dear Chiv,
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Present your options as solutions to a very critical obstacle in Sri Lanka’s current day.
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Today, it is reported that over 7 million people struggle for 3 meals a day. Most of them are former middle class family norms.
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If they didn’t care so much about the thoughts of each party of a toxic society, they would never be able to build a consensus to get out of the current catastrophic problems facing the nation.
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Again this is the ground reality of each of our elected parliaments. .
European parliaments reach an agreement after weeks of negotiations and are implementing their long-awaited new rules and regulations. In that, an obstacle for Sri Lankans or like-minded nations to lag behind is the inability to reach a common agreement.
That’s where our deadliest cancer is. Morally it’s clear, if we know where and what we need to fix, we’re closer to solutions, but in a world where toxic groups have the say it can be stagnant.
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If AKD is elected or Sajith is assumed to be elected, they too should be given at least 6 months or more to resolve the critical issues. But today the IMF and WB process is in its embryonic stage. They will be very careful about helping a country as long as it doesn’t have an honest feeling to stand up and go for it. To them, Sri Lanka is just another member country that has to depend on IMF and WB to solve the economic crisis and provide relief to its people.
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tbc
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2022
continuing,
.
Experts say that we do not have the funds to hold an election in this extremely difficult phase of economic downturn. Also, how can we believe that our people will choose NPP or Sajith, knowing that they have never voted for good people in the past. Like last time, I thought that at least 2 dozen JVP members will be elected to Parliament. But the truth was that people were back on their game. Isn’t that what NPPs should focus on?
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sri lanka has proven again and again, if so called buddhist monks show up, people all over the country will easily change their thought patterns… – such is the nature of ignorant people in this country, most of them know what not to do. Astrologers or sorcerers, fortune tellers take the lead in controlling the deluded mentality by bringing forth prophecies.
. Today, the so-called sinhala buddhagama monks have misled the nation and knowingly behave as if they are eating clay for the moment. Look at the big racist (Ghanasara) dog called So and those rogue monks of Mangalarama, they are all like drunken rats today. What happened to the rogue monks like Abethissa, Gunawamsa, Ananda?The country’s media has not been able to influence the society to the extent that it is a country in trouble. Who controls the media in Sri Lanka??
Even if the media is proved to be equal to prostitutes, those who operate the existing law are like stones.. A terrible country.
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++++++++God bless srilanka !!!***********************
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2022
My dear sensitive readers,
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Wimal Weerawansa (number one to mislead the vulnerable in this country) and other snakes (Gonthaidipila and pinguththarayas of Rajapakshe choice) who have misled this nation are trying their best to share their songs with the same audience.
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The media needs to come forward and once again take the side of the gullible people. Youtubers such as SEPAL, SUDA are all doing their usual prostitute role. More from Sepal than from Suda….. all in all, this is villa filled with poisonous snakes.
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If the media does not play its role properly, this time will end as before.
Explains our picture of these reptiles.
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These people are behind the real picture of the distressed nation. Either they are busy with so called “self-created invasions/speculations of western countries”, I am very worried why divine forces are preventing Sri Lanka from achieving their goals knowing that the biggest obstacle stopping them is these venomous reptiles. Step by step progress.
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Natural selection could have taken this race to pure territory, but we missed it. Covid is becoming more endemic than the pandemic it is now.
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chiv / August 6, 2022
“Present your options as solutions “. LM, if only I had any to offer at this terminal stage. We are discussing about a system change which should have taken place decades ago. But we Lankans went on, without any for more than 70 years. Hope I am wrong on this. I feel Lanka is now beyond salvage. But who knows ??? No one imagined of Aragalaya and Gotha leaving. There is some hope only if a system change is still possible. Ball is in public court.
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chiv / August 6, 2022
Dear LM, ignore my above comment. Just read Prof. Harendra de Silva’s (Pediatric Medicine) article.
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Sinhala_Man / August 7, 2022
I’m glad to see these well-balanced comments, dear leelagemalli.
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Democracy is always risky, but by now it must be clear to most Lankans that other options are often worse.
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We can only “educate”, and hope for the best.
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Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela
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Native Vedda / August 6, 2022
chiv
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Have you noticed how peaceful China is compared to Hindia?
In fact as SJ would have it China is peacefully rising on its own to ….. gobble up neighbouring and far away land, sea and air.
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Very peaceful indeed.
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RBH59 / August 4, 2022
AKD Avoids Ranil’s Trap, Rejects Collaborationism
When Ranil speaks most are answering after doing many calculation the present people knows he makes people to get trapped old way of politician ( Poly tricks) no more trap for yourself with the desire of wanting to be liked like front of the audience he speaks like the Aragala and internal work against it
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Thiru / August 4, 2022
While a pride of lions are hiding in the bush, the fox is having his field day in the forest: Fox is the king now!
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SJ / August 4, 2022
T
A cursory view of monarchies will tell you that it has been a minister (call him a fox if you choose) that was at the helm of state affairs. The king has often been a figurehead.
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Native Vedda / August 4, 2022
Thiru
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“Fox is the king now!”
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We never had lion or tiger on this island.
Therefore the stupid Tamils and Stupid Sinhalese are forced to accept fox, plenty in the jungle.
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Ajith / August 4, 2022
It is sad that almost all the opposition parties are happy to work under an unelected fox. It is no matter whether you are an unelected or elected by the people who are still in the dark and only respond to emotions. I don’t know what made them to make such a quick decision to work with a man who is currently using the military power against those members of Aragalya and unions. It clearly shows that they are against to the People and against to their own policy.
I understand Ranil had a meeting with TNA and they discussed their requests and he agreed to fulfill those requests. During that meeting, Ranil also thanked those who supported him in his election. Here is the fox comes in now. How did he know that some of the TNA members voted to him if the election is secret. We all can remember he is the one who divided the Karuna from LTTE and now to divide the TNA. Is it not fox again playing game? This proves that the election in parliament was biased and influenced by powerful people. Is it possible to make a country free of corruption by the members who have lost the mandate of the people? So, can we trust the all party government to implement those promises and how they are accountable to people?
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N. Perera / August 5, 2022
TNA racists party never ever trust Indian Proverb, “If you see TAMIL and COBRA kill TAMIL first’
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2022
If TNA is a racist party, what about YOUR BELOVED GONA LED SLPP ?
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Go to a mirror and see who you are – that will help you further bastard. ! Everyone should be clear, we dont have racist parties in the country. But some of them are real racists regardless of them being sinhala, tamils, muslims or other minorities.
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2022
How we treat our adversaries, animals, reptiles and rodents depends on humans.
Some are captured and brought alive to a treatment center, while others are killed for our safety. More than all other animals, snakes are treated with hatred and contempt. They will throw their venom at you.
What will happen if people become venomous snakes filled with hatred, racism and bigotry?
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Like any other country, we have religions that make every effort to shape the lives of people in Sri Lanka, sometimes more than they have achieved. Instead, the precious time that could have been devoted to the productivity of the country is wasted and celebrated with public holidays.
:
However, what we have achieved over the years for the benefit of the masses, making the people a civilized and progressive people…I say we have not achieved anything significant compared to many other nations. .. Society is like a garbage dump full of strange creatures. We only overestimate our high values… Looking back, such values are not reflected in today’s society. They are more like venomous reptiles than others.
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lankan100 / August 5, 2022
If you are sinhalese remember( not the proverb of India) deed of india lending loans to survive.
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Sinhala_Man / August 6, 2022
Disgusting, N. Perera.
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I remember you saying exactly this many years ago.
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Freedom of Speech is good; but should we allow hate comments of this sort to be displayed?
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There are evil people in our society; N. Perera is one such, and the sole individual who liked his comment is another.
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Happily a dozen people have DISapproved’. Thanks, but since that may yet be insufficient, I’m stating it this even more overtly.
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People of Lanka, awake! Some in our society, like N. Perera, and Ranil Wickremasinghe, must be hurled out of it.
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Pandi Kutti / August 6, 2022
Rotten Pear never heard of such an Indian proverb. Please quote in which Indian language and details. Heard of an Indian proverb that states rotten pears that fall from orchards in Thamizh Nadu , need to be crushed. Heard of that proverb?
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SJ / August 4, 2022
“The Tamil parties have a sad history of supporting the rightwing UNP which inevitably winds up unpopular and the target of a huge backlash.”
Firstly, does the author consider the SJB a left-wing UNP?
Besides, there are two aspects to the preferences of Tamil parties:
One is the class nature of the Tamil parties that induced such affinity. The other is that the non-UNP alternative often provided some justification for them to make that choice.
However, let us not oversimplify history. Did the Tamil parties rally behind R Premadasa? Did they rally behind the UNP presidential candidate in 1994? Was not the TULF spokesperson Neelam T very close to CBK?
Most importantly, what has the actual difference been between the UNP and SLFP or between any pair of their offshoots since 1977?
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Simon / August 4, 2022
Dr, DJ: You say: ” AKD Avoides Ranils Trap, Rejects Collaborationism”. Have you given this “Advice” to your “Boss” Sajith Premadasa of SJB? If not, better late than never. Already Sajith has accepted “Collaborationism” with Ranil Rajapakse (sorry Ranil Wickramasinghe) the President of “134 MPs”.
In another NEWS (Good one) Sajith says: ” I will give up politics if any of our MPs are coerced to join Ranil’s Government”.
Already Harsha de Silva of SJB said: ” I am pleased with the speech of the President”. Harsha: Is this the ONLY pleasing speech you have ever heard from Presidents and Finance Ministers of Sri Lanka? For how long you have been in Parliament and more than that as a student of Economics and Politics? Is this another TURN to write some “Foot Notes” as you did in the “Bond Scam”?
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Champa / August 4, 2022
Anura’s contract is over. He has even forgotten his own slogan; recover the money stolen by the Rajapaksas.
Sri Lanka owes US$ 51 billion to the world, out of which Chinese loans account for approximately US$ 6-7 billion (?) and the loans taken from the IMF stand at US$ 858 million.
Since joining in 1950, Sri Lanka has been bailed out by the IMF 16 times which shows that the country was ruled by inepts for 72 years! Ranil is waiting for the 17th bailout!
After electing or selecting, the first thing every President and the PM in Sri Lanka does is start begging. The problem with Sri Lankan leaders is lethargy. The current lot in Parliament are born and bred to take bribes, commissions, steal from public coffers or waste money on unproductive projects who show no other talents.
Ranil has promised to open a hotline for protesters who have no economic issues! Just before the insurrection, Gotabhaya’s government allocated Rs. 200 billion to help economically deprived people. What happened to that money? The Energy Minister has made all the payments for ships carrying fuel. The money that was not available for Gotabhaya is magically available for Ranil.
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Simon / August 5, 2022
Champa: You say: “Anur’s contract is over and has forgotten to recover the stolen money from Rajapakses”.
I would like to know WHO gave that “Contract” and WHEN.
I only know what Anura said in Parliament directly facing the “Big Boss” – Mahinda Rajapakse – “If I am in power all of you seated on the front seats would be in jail”. That was the answer he gave to a “Minister” who asked Anura: “What would you do if you are given the power”?
That is WHY Anura is not given and more so prevented from giving that “Contract” you speak of. Any thoughts on that? Thank you.
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ramona therese fernando / August 4, 2022
Ranil has now acknowledged the One China Policy!
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He hasn’t even played neutral. It’s as it is known : He is playing the geopolitical game with BRICS, far more potently than even the Rajapaksas ever did – free oil from Russia included! KGB tactics will be used to torture dissenters. Dark times ahead for the Aragalaya🥶. He is thumbing his noses at the West with a huge goodbye to the IMF. What a risky game towards our struggling, long-suffering Countrymen. He must be feeling that great surge of personal power. Motherland is gone!
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AKD on the other hand, is truly honorable. He will keep the country sovereignty and unity, take the IMF loans, and be more accepting of Tamils in his government – probably a Tamil PM. Slowly and steadily we would build up again with a long-lasting foundation.
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But let’s hope that SJB, now hoping to join Ranil, will eventually kick him out. After all, Gota was kicked out by Ranil who pretended to join him. Hope Sajith has that plan in mind.
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ramona therese fernando / August 6, 2022
…..nose*
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Nathan / August 4, 2022
Is there anyone outside of JVP supporting AKD? Whatever AKD says is noise.
Sajith is ‘headless’. Ranil finds it easy to ignore him.
As long as Ranil holds the court, it is a matter of time before Namal wins the point, set, and match!
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Good Sense / August 5, 2022
The author’s representation would have made sense under normal circumstances, namely, if the basic public needs were satisfied. At a time when there is shortage of essentials the potential for a public outcry is high, to the extent that anything is possible. The case in point is the deposing of President NGR. It may not be possible to maintain unity even among the armed forces which may result in a coup d’état staged by a set of junior offices. This time, at the high tide, it would be the entire 225, leading the country to chaos and anarchy. Ranil is not a baby. If one were to say “Aye” to him there is a strong likelihood that one’s positive response could be the waterloo of the respondent. The dictates of the constitution made Ranil Sriyan Wickremasinghe the President. On the contrary, who would help us to get out of this mess? It is we ourselves. In view of “United we stand divided we fall”, we must hold hands with people of all sorts, even with those whom we do not like.
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whywhy / August 5, 2022
Ranil is a tested Traditional Fool who plays with easy targets which do not require
any mastery in trickery or laying a trap . Hundred times tested junks are neither
tricks nor traps and no need to be savvy enough to catch the crap ! Who is Ranil
dealing with inside that “Gubbayama” ? Other than Rogues whose all white robes
are fully stained in blood ? I mean whoever stood by blood-shedding rogue
politics for quite some time ! For this to happen you think one needs master plans ?
You kidding ? You need master plans to run a country Silk-Smooth ! Otherwise it is
guns and lies you master ! Ask Ranil where he was and what he was doing in 1989 !
He is a Condom used by MARA & CO right now ! Birds of a feather flock together is
the name of the song and nothing else . AKD has nothing big to lose by not being
part of the chorus !
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Agnos / August 5, 2022
DJ,
Before you comment on what Tamil parties do, read the series of articles that Rajan Hoole and Kopalasingam Sritharan are writing on the institutionalized nature of racism and thuggery in Sri Lanka. Given you have supported or been part of the governments under which all the atrocities described happened, why shouldn’t we hold you culpable? What do you have to say in your defense?
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Sinhala_Man / August 6, 2022
Yes, Agnos, I second your suggestion to Dayan, and would like to extend the request to other readers:
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Look at the articles now on display on this Home Page:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/kapila-jayasekera-killer-in-chief-in-both-acf-five-students-cases/
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and
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/commission-of-inquiry-testify-at-your-own-peril/
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and
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/looking-to-the-past-the-political-cultivation-of-an-obliging-judiciary-to-violate-rights/
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Written by these two:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2bCXoD-NEY&t=105s
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Still relevant, and only twelve inspiring minutes.
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It’s a major award that continues to inspire. (Warning: 85 minutes)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2G8_POFpPQ
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leelagemalli / August 7, 2022
3 Decades ago,SL media reportedly told Sri Lankans that DJ, the most abusive man of the nation was completely naked during one of his usual missions. However, I’m not sure the man wore it tight. As of today. How can the man who worked hard to bring Gota Rajapaksa advise the nation without shame? I wonder why the thugs didn’t treat him that day. Is bathing in Beira lake suitable or not?
If the shame gene is gone, people should be completely quarantined.
If people are stupid then it can but nowadays people at least common people know how to tickle a DJ. The lizard race destroyed this race. He has no right to fester in wounds that have now healed. How shameless these donkeys must be.
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paragon / August 5, 2022
Anton Balasingham was the first to call RANIL FOX.Once again he has proved he is really a FOX By almost having created a rift in TNA By buying over some members to vote to support and got elected as president.POOR SUMANTHIRAN HE WAS CLEANED BALLED BY RANIL AND HE LOST A FEW WICKET.BECAUSE OF THIS THERE IS TROUBLE BREWING IN TNA BETWWEN FEDERAL PARTY TELO AND PLOT.RANIL WAS ABLE TO BREAK KARUNA AMMAN FROM LTTE.NOW HE HAS STARTED HIS 2ND ATTEMPT TO BREAK TNA,
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Nathan / August 5, 2022
paragon,
Ranil is a smooth operator. (I have mentioned this previously, also.)
Ranil split LTTE; Causing a rift within TNA is no big job, for him. But, how sure are you?
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2022
Nathan,
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Until that outcome, I thought TNA and other parties would take the side of JVP,. However I was speechless on that day.
:
This country is filled with lot more poisonous reptiles as appeared to be. I thought Israelis are the worst – but to me, ours would die as they are born. They would never change their nature. xxxxxx
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Svenson / August 5, 2022
Despite all the RW-haters rhetoric, Ranil will surprise everyone. A fox? That’s a complement, all successful politicians are vulpine, it’s a necessary quality. Remember what the late Mangala said? ‘Ranil is the best President we never had’. Well now we have him, let him show his worth.
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Ashan / August 6, 2022
We don’t have to be fortunetellers to know that he will be a total flop, once again.
Haven’t we learnt from his previous leadership? He is older now, crafty yes, but not competent to get us out of this huge pile of dung, that the Rajapaksa’s, and many before them, including Ranil, dumped on this country.
Our leaders have failed us. There is no point blaming others outside this country.
If we had successful leadership, we would not be in this situation, and we would be a stronger nation.
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SJ / August 7, 2022
“We don’t have to be fortunetellers to know that he will be a total flop, once again.
Does this mean that fortunetellers predict correctly?
Fortunetellers on these pages have been far less successful than a ‘fortune cookie’.
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davidthegood / August 5, 2022
DJ, in spite of all what you suggest, there are unknown forces which could paint a totally different future for our nation in a positive manner.
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paragon / August 5, 2022
NATHAN
There is a group in TNA Mostly from TELO-PLOT AND FEW FROM FEDERAL PARTY(K.V.THAVARASA-MAWHY?)Group who do not like the lead roll played by SUMANTHIRAN IN TNA is always waiting for a chance to find fault with SUMANTHIRAN Made use of the chance and voted from RANIL And after the defeat of DULLAS Now happy and trying to put the blame on the shoulder of SUMANTHIRAN ably supported by some social medias.This is the reason i mention that there is a rift in TNA ably arranged by RANIL TO TEACH A LESSON TO SUMANTHIRAN?
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Naman / August 6, 2022
It is not Ranil’s TRAP but QUAD ‘s trap. Even TNA might have been instructed by Indians to join Ranil’s Government.The Indians and Americans do not trust JVP-NPP as they know they will not go along with their plans.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / August 6, 2022
Too many people on this forum pretend its just a “difficult period” in Sri Lanka. It is not. It is a catastrophic economic meltdown that is unprecedented with thousands dying of starvation every day (there were no deaths from starvation in SL until very recent years) and thousands more dying daily in hospitals from lack of emergency medicines or very expensive cancer drugs, lack of medical equipment and lack of quick access to emergency rooms due to a disastrous shortage of transport fuel. The revolution must ensure that all the parasitic scumbags are wiped off the political-corporate slate, never to return to destroy the land again. No point talking about who supports who and which party can do what, etc. The time is well past for that sort of idle chatter.
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old codger / August 6, 2022
Lasantha,
“Too many people on this forum pretend its just a “difficult period” in Sri Lanka.”
I don’t think they’re pretending. Perhaps it is because the country has never been bankrupt before. But the ones who ask why it’s taking so long to restore normalcy are in for a very big shock.
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Peradeniya Critical Tradition / August 7, 2022
System change and Mardanaya:
System change will come from IMF prescriptions that Ranil has to follow(bitter pill). He is trying to curb protests early on to prepare the ground for what is to come? It is a trial. Be warned!
I read elsewhere that about 40 state institutions ae to be privatised. If this is the case, it is inevitable that more protests will emerge. Under emergency it is intended t curb such protests on grounds of national security or stability or de elopment or need for getting out of present shortages.
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Naman / August 7, 2022
DJ
Do you agree with L.Pethiyagoda’s following statement
“all the parasitic scumbags are wiped off the political-corporate slate, never to return to destroy the land again.”
It just SUMMARISES what ‘ARAGALAYA’ is trying to achieve but the current Parliamentary system is trying all it can to prevent it happening. Protecting people’s SOVEREIGNTY is vital than following the wrongly formulated CURRENT CONSTITUTION
.TRUTH has to trump over the EVIL and justice served to all crooked corrupt politicians.
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