8 October, 2024

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Attacking The Outcome Without Addressing The Root Causes

By Harsha Gunasena

Harsha Gunasena

Sri Lanka faced three insurrections after independence and there were several ethnocentric and religious clashes among different ethnic and religious groups. As a nation we have failed to explore the root causes of these ethnic and religious clashes and insurrections. Instead, we have done our best to control the outcome, terrorism. In certain instances, we were successful and in certain instances we have failed. Outcome can be controlled in the short run but in the long run the root causes should be eliminated.

The main cause of the two insurrections of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was social injustice and resistance to an authoritarian rule. If there was social justice, it would have been very hard for those leaders to attract the young. Soon after the second insurrection of JVP, R Premadasa then President appointed a commission to investigate the reasons for the insurrection. One of the recommendations of the commission was that to give the suitable posts to deserved. Premadasa took action and reintroduced the central clerical examination and stopped the practice of giving political appointments. That decision was reversed thereafter.

Before the end of the civil war in 2009 leaders of this country were discussing about a federal constitution. Soon after the end of the war there were promises to implement 13+. What was meant that was to introduces an entity such as a second chamber in addition to the full implementation of the provisions in 13th amendment to the constitution. Very little number of Recommendations of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission were implemented.

There were arguments that the reasons for these insurrections were lying with the rebels themselves. It was argued that the first JVP insurrection was a result of the introduction of the Marxist movement in Sri Lanka and what JVP did was to implement the theory. In 1971 unemployment rate in Sri Lanka was around 20%. On top of that rural youth was treated shabbily. That environment created a good breading ground for JVP cadres. It was argued that JVP has taken an opportunist move by embracing nationalism, to say exactly racism. Lionel Bopage was advocating a link with the Tamil rebellions and he accepted democratic right of Tamils to determine their own political destiny. Wijeweera and the others argued that the Tamil right to self-determination cannot be accepted since it was not in the proletarian interests of Sri Lanka and it will support the national bourgeois class. In line of the thinking of Wijeweera in the politics in Sri Lanka after 1980s the traditional Marxist class divisions were disappeared and rude racism came into force. When Deshapremi Janatha Vyaparaya (DJV) came into operation new cadres may have been influenced by so called patriotism in light of the presence of Indian forces in Sri Lanka. However authoritative government of Jayewardene paved the way for this insurrection by unjustifiably prohibiting the party and forcing them to go underground. Then government was so undemocratic and authoritative that a person with a rebellious mind may tend to take arms against them if the opportunity was there.

Tamil separatism was officially born when Tamil United Liberation Front accepted the Vaddukoddai Resolution calling for the creation of Tamil Eelam, a separate Tamil state on 14th May 1976. There were arguments that this was the point the start of Tamil militancy. Tamil community was excluded at the time of preparation of the 1972 constitution and their demands over a period were neglected. The Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam agreement and the Dudley-Chevanayakam agreement were the examples.  Even after that it could have been negotiated. It should be noted that the country has only the Indo Lanka agreement, which was signed by the will of one person with the opposition of whole country and his party stalwarts, as a solution offered to the ethnic problem of the country. As a result of the agreement 13th amendment to the constitution was passed. Therefore, one cannot blame Tamils for starting the insurrection since there were sufficient ground created by the successive governments for that. It should also be noted that adverse political relationship between the Indian government and Jayewardene government of Sri Lanka contributed to the escalation of the rebellion movement.

In 1989 when JVP insurrection was defeated by massacring its leadership, the political balance of the country was changed in favour of the authoritative government. Similarly, in 2009 when the armed struggle of LTTE was defeated political balance of the country was changed unfavorably to the general Tamil population of the country. In both instances balance of political power was changed against the oppressed and the suppressed. Things are happening in the country not in accordance with justice and equity. Things are happening according to the wishes of the people who hold power. 

Muslims were attacked by the LTTE during the time of civil war and they were ordered to leave the LTTE controlled areas within 24 hours. Wahhabism promoted by Saudi Arabia infiltrated to Sri Lanka some time back. There was a cultural change of the Muslim community and they have started to move towards an Arabian outlook. Quite in contrast the Christian Churches in Sri Lanka over a period moving towards the domestic Sri Lankan culture. There were organized attacks against the Muslim community in Aluthgama, Gintota, Amapra, Digana and recently in North Western Province. Most of the attacks were economic targets. There was evidence that armed forces also supported these attacks by becoming passive observers. No action was taken. In recent attacks it is being repeated. On the other hand, there is a resistance for the extremist forces within the Muslim community and they have informed to the authorities about the extremists and no action was taken.

As a nation what we are doing is that making a conducive environment for breeding of terrorists.  Unless we stand united we are paving the way not only to terrorist groups but also to international power politics to use our soil. Sri Lankan state is not neutral. It is biased towards the majority and the affluent. In communal clashes in 1958 Prime Minister Bandaranaike was a mere spectator. Governor General Oliver Goonetilleke took control and gave orders fearlessly against the culprits. In 1983 JR Jayewardene did the same thing what Bandaranaike did in 1958. Unfortunately, there was not one above him to take control. If one is so timid what is the point of being a Head of the State? Mahinda Rajapaksa did not practice his authoritarianism against the culprits of the communal violence. The leaders of the present government also followed their predecessors. 

We claim that ours is a democratic country. During the tenure of the previous government, authoritarianism immerged subduing democracy. It was an authoritarianism of one family. We enjoy democratic rights once again under the present government. Democracy we enjoy today is not a true democracy but a dictatorship of the majority in relation to minority rights. In a real democracy, view of the majority is implemented while recognizing the rights of the minorities. We never enjoyed this type of democracy in Sri Lanka. Now many demands an authoritarianism once again.

Authoritarianism in the center of Sri Lanka will be met by a newly formed group of  Hindu extremists Siva Senai and Wahhabism. Siva Senai has the support of Shiv Sena in India and Wahhabism will have the support of Arab countries. Authoritarianism will control the effects and not the root causes. Reconciliation/ co-existence and authoritarianism do not go hand in hand. When there is reconciliation and co-existence there is no room for terrorism to immerge. Unfortunately, we were creating that room even during the present regime. As a nation we should have a dialog with the members of all the ethnicities, religions and social groups.

This is what the Director General of the National Security Think Tank operating under the Ministry of Defense of Sri Lanka says. “Certain liberal values introduced by the present government made our nation vulnerable and a soft target for terrorist to breed and function. What was seen by the West as an autocratic state under Rajapaksa was reset overnight, tagging Sri Lanka to a global liberal order. This was done at the expense of an ensured demilitarization and the complete dismantling and weakening of the country’s military apparatus.  It brought prosperity to individuals without understanding the setbacks of liberalism. The principal of liberalism was confused with nationalism. Some policy makers saw one against the other to push agendas forward.” (Daily Mirror- May 10, 2019)

This is the view of the opposition as well. Since the President is also in the opposition, we can understand what the Director General says. If the military is weakened, the President is directly responsible for that, not the party which is running the government. They are responsible for not handling the President correctly. If the members of the intelligence services were engaged with extra judicial killing proper action should be taken against them and they are not fit enough to be the members of the intelligence services. In fact this government also has not taken adequate action against them with the resistance of the President. The important point is that the Director General blames the liberalization and although he did not mention the word democratization the meaning of the paragraph suggests he blames that as well. He clearly promotes autocratic state. He hides the inefficiency and the negligence of the President.   

If all are thinking of eliminating terrorism by force with an authoritative regime without addressing root causes, the future of Sri Lanka is going to be bleak. 

Latest comments

  • 5
    8

    The root cause of the underlying threat faced by the country is the stone age ideology and weirdness promoted by the Mohommedan cult. This racist ideology is a clear and present danger to the peace and well being of Sri Lanka.
    The only solution in to bring in Gota. Also the reverend Galagoda Aththe apey Hamuduruwa will be released in order to give his advice for clean up operations. The venerable monk warned us about the dangers posed by Mohommedanism years ago. Not listening to him caused the loss of 250 innocent lives
    Once Gota comes it will be the opportune moment to ban the following stone age Arab/pagan rituals and practices.
    -Ban dual law and Mohommedan marriage and divorce act
    -Ban polygamy and Mohommedan child marriage
    -Ban Mohommedan Hijab
    -Ban Halal slaughter. (Just as eating outside in Ramazan is banned in Mohommedan countries Halal slaughter can be banned in Sinhala buddhist country)
    -Ban Mohommedan mosques in Holy City of Kandy (Just as Kafirs are banned in Mohommedan holy cities)
    -Ban circumcision of little sri lankan male children
    -Ban genital mutilation of little sri lankan female children
    -Ban screaming/loudspeakers of Mohommedan mosques (people of sri lanka deserve a peaceful sleep without crazy lunatics going Allah Allah at dawn)
    -Ban Madrasas/Sharia Unis
    -Ban all arab preachers
    -Ban Mohommedan only schools like Zahira and so called Mohommedan international schools
    -Continous monitoring of Mohommedan mosques and weekly checking to see about grass cutting equipment

    • 4
      2

      saurus

      President pardons public racist Gnanasara. He would have been released at 3.00 PM this afternoon. Didn’t you go to Welikade to give him a warm welcome.

      Hopefully paul, taraki, Eagle Blind Eye, somass, ………….. and all the Sinhala/Buddhist dignitaries will be there at the prison gate. Max will be very close to the gate, being the official b***s carrier he starts his service as soon as he notice Gana.

      • 2
        3

        Vedda, can’t you get a flight from wherever you are to greet him? They don’t allow visas on arrival anymore; at last the authorities have woken up to the danger of allowing bloody foreigners in. Being one yourself, and a Kalavedda to boot, you will have to apply online.

        • 2
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          taraki

          The last time I checked it was Max who was the official b***s carrier to the public racist saffron glad thug.
          I didn’t know you been newly appointed to one of the prestigious posts, being the official carrier of Gnanasara’s b***s.

          Where is max?

          Did your kallthonie ancestors have their refugee visas on arrival?

    • 0
      0

      saurus ! Your argument is illogical!!

      In our country all the ethnic and religious groups face political problems and violence. Why? That is the Root Cause dear!! The Root cause of all the problems that we face in our country is the imaginary and false Doctrine of the Sinhala nation with one – to – one correspondence: “Aryan” – Sinhala – Sinhalese – Theeravvada Buddhism – Lanka!!

    • 0
      0

      saurus! You have written something about the recent bombing and given some recommendation. Dear! Please find the correct answers for these questions.

      Why the Tamil and Tamil origin Christians were only targeted?

      Why not a single Sinhalese Catholic Church was targeted?

      Why not a single Buddhist temple or Sinhala and Government institution was targeted?

      From photos of the damages and CCTV photos of the terrorist, we could come to the conclusion that the terrorists have used RDX explosives!

      How and from what country or organisation the terrorists were able to get this explosive in large quantities?

      Leave all these.

      How not a single Catholic or Christian Sinhalese politician went to church and got injured or killed?

      Was it because the Tamil Christians were to be targeted, the Prez,. and the Government kept silent about the warning?

      Why the media speak about the “Killing of the Christians” and not about the mass killing of the Tamils and people of Tamil origin?

      The objectives of these killing could be:

      1) Giving some sort of warning to the Tamil Christians who support the present Government, a puppet of US, India and the West!

      2) To prevent the country from coming out of the economic crises;

      3) To prevent the present Government coming to power again;

      4) To strengthen the powers of the armed forces;

      5) To get released all the Intelligence officials now remanded for war crimes;

      6)To make the Muslims politically inactive and passive;

      7) Some sort of strong warning to the US, India and the West.

      Now, who could have been behind the attack?”

      • 1
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        My except one girl all others died at katuwapiptiya church were Sinhala people. Before writ check facts.

  • 6
    1

    Harsha Gunasena,

    You have hit the nail on the head: This is what I have been saying all along.

    Nobody does fundamental research on the causes of Sri Lanka’s failures since independence.

    One reason for that is that we never had/has a political leader since independence who has the vision or mission to build a united prosperous nation with opportunities for all including the poor and the youth.

    They all sowed the seeds of division among the communities with Sinhala only, Buddhism first and a host of other discriminations.

    The other major reason ids that the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community, under the brain washing of the Buddhist monks, believe that the country belong to them, and others are just tolerated and at their mercy.

    With vastly different views in the country, it is almost impossible to stop this phenomenon of: Attacking The Outcome Without Addressing The Root Causes.

    My be if the country descends into further despair people might wake to think about the root causes, and how to attack the root causes for a just, prosperous and peaceful society.

    • 1
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      Not that the root cause was not known, but the successive governments failed to attend on it due to political reasons. Easy Win.

  • 5
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    This type of enlightened democratic thinking is absent among the ruling political and intellectual class of the majority community. Sadly, it is an essential need to bring about 1000s of Harsha Gunesenas to bring about a real democratic change in Sri Lanka.

    Democracy cannot exist without a democratic culture and thinking being part of the national discourse.

  • 5
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    I am proud that Sri Lanka can have at least one person who can think objectively without prejudice.

    Hope his message filters down to all rational thinking people in the society.

  • 5
    1

    Director General of the National Security Think Tank is a very shallow and biased thinker:

    I have read his article in CT and I pity him for calling himself a member of the “Think Tank”. They don’t think they dish out prejudices to please their masters.

    Perhaps he is so young to go into the root causes that he may not know of!

  • 3
    1

    Mr. Gunasena: Of all the craven and corrupt politicians in Sri Lanka, Bondscam Ranil whose economic policies are drafted by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to turn Sri Lanka into a debt-trapped and impoverished colony and Military Base of the US which is responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, is the Worst.
    Bondscam Ranil must be impeached. The JVP has lost the plot. AKD is as craven and corrupt it seems as US Citizen Gota and clown Sira who he detests.
    JVP should have targeted Bondscmer Ranil for a NO Confidence Motion and Impeachment. It is Ranil who has invited the US to do its dirty work in Sri Lanka and thinks they will fix the next elections for him with the invasion of 150 US Peace Corps “volunteers” with full diplomatic imunity and impunity to flood social media with fake news.
    This steel plant in Trico, the energy barges from to purchase unwanted power by Ravi K are all to supply the US war machine in the Indian Ocean against China.

    • 3
      2

      Don Stanley

      “turn Sri Lanka into a debt-trapped and impoverished colony”

      The island is already a debt -trapped and impoverished colony of China, thanks to Rajapaksa clan.

      “all to supply the US war machine in the Indian Ocean against China.”

      I suppose you want to remain a loyal bootlicker to China even if China coats cyanide on both of its boots?

  • 1
    1

    SALUTE to you SIR. A real EYE OPENER. Pardon my ignorance. Where were you all this time??? I do not remember reading any of your article. Sir, you without mixing words have clearly laid out the root cause of our failed state, which has continued for years.Even after three insurrections and now the next the respective governments have continued with their agenda of self interest , instead of country/people interest. But what puzzles me is knowing this our public still keeps wanting them back in power. All the news media propaganda, comments of readers including here in CT, political propaganda/speeches , geopolitical analysis,conspiracy theories, scapegoating,alternate facts, —-etc—-etc are nothing but denial and conscious avoidance (in addressing the root cause) by the public,politicians and so called leaders. Until and unless public realizes this, there is no hope for this country.

    • 3
      1

      Good people with good sense come to limelight only late.

    • 1
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      Thanks. Please refer the below link.
      http://www.ft.lk/harsha-gunasena/10490

  • 1
    2

    Sri lanka became excessively corrupt country and international powers helped it because that was the only way they could work. They needed therevada buddhism destroyed and established christian Protestanism. Muslims were brought they were ready to blow up. that work. Now, there are three groups and all want power and money. they have become robbers in the day light. People do not know which way to go. elelctions are another way to establish another corrupt group.

  • 2
    0

    A decent country would stop everything and change the election format and parliament etc., But MCC doe snot like that.What they say is we are not for illegal things and accept the norms of UN. I hear now Catholic church is also considering expand in Sri lanka. the way things go, every minority groups want their way. Malays are only 0.2% but they want their language established in Sri lanka. Ask a politician. they would say I can do that too and vote me.

  • 1
    3

    Thiru and others, you want to have a democratic utopia where everyone is equal in every way. That is not possible, it doesn’t exist anywhere.

    From 1948 to 1956 the minority Tamils, Christians and English speaking Sinhalese ran the nation. From 1956 every government had minority Christian, Muslim and Tamil ministers pulling for their own. They were not appointed on merit were they?

    How do you think the madrassas and that Eastern university came about? How was it that the Catholic Action movement was ensuring Catholic/Christians to almost all officer appointments in the Police and military until the 1962 coup? How is it that in a predominantly Buddhist country the Churches were running most of the schools (with Government funding) until 1960?

    Can you blame the Sinhala Buddhists for their anger and resentment? Until 1815 they had an independent Buddhist government in at least a part of the country. Their kings were Tamil but they were Buddhist, that is all that mattered. Now at ‘independence’ the British had left them the warped, twisted remains of a brainwashed nation with a million Indian immigrants and expected them to make a model democracy out of it!

    What we have been witnessing since 1956 is the swing of the pendulum to the other extreme i.e. Gnanasara and the like. But even with the Sinhala Buddhist majority in charge, there are STILL Tamils, Muslims and Christians in every Government. And all of them are just as corrupt as the Sinhala Buddhists, aren’t they?

    It is easy to blame the Sinhala Buddhists, SWRD and the Sangha for every ill that has befallen this nation. Only a fool would accept this easy and simplistic explanation.

    • 1
      1

      taraki

      “From 1948 to 1956 the minority Tamils, Christians and English speaking Sinhalese ran the nation.”

      Please stop your bull and give us evidence.

      “From 1956 every government had minority Christian, Muslim and Tamil ministers pulling for their own. “

      Another bull s**t. Let us have their names and their job titles.

      . “What we have been witnessing since 1956 is the swing of the pendulum to the other extreme “

      And we know how the noisy kallathonie fascist minority is ruining the island.
      That is Sinhala/Buddhist fascism.
      And you are one of the noisy Sinhala/Buddhist fascist.

    • 0
      1

      Taraki
      In 1815 who undermined and betrayed the Buddhist Tamil King to the British?
      Was it not Sinhalese Kandyan Buddhist greedy modayas ?
      Why deny historical facts and cry over spilt milk now?

  • 3
    1

    ”…eliminating terrorism by force with an authoritative regime without addressing root causes…..” is obviously not going to be a long term success. In my thinking, the root cause is the inherent racism among our selves (by which I mean the majority Sinhala Buddhists) brought out by an education system that promotes unsubstantiated history related by the ‘Mahawamsa’, glorifying ‘patriots’ like the Buddhist monk, Anagarika Dharmapala, & a distorted Buddhist philosophy, which the politicians, from SWRD to the current lot, have exploited to the hilt. Of course, extreme right wing ideology is now gathering momentum around the world & the evangelical church base consisting of middle American white supremacists voted in Trump but SL politicians pioneered this strategy. Social injustice & inequity does play a part but for politicians, it works better to take advantage than address the issue.

    Sinhala Buddhists, either by misguided belief or ignorance, have combined Sinhala nationalism with Buddhism & even believe to be the guardians of Buddhism, although, Buddhism is an international religion, practised & appreciated in many developed countries. I am sure a majority of Buddhist monks in SL have no idea of true Buddhism & I am ashamed as a Buddhist when I see the despicable conduct of some monks spreading hatred & even engaging in acts of violence & destruction among thugs & looters in the name of Buddhism. I understand that the most hateful thug who calls himself Gnanasara (is he any better than Muslim extremists?) has been pardoned by the President in the aftermath of communal violence, which Gnanasara himself has promoted for a long time. When there are self serving, uneducated yobs as leaders of the nation, who know only to play to the gallery, the future of SL is indeed bleak. At least, there was Mangala S, who had the guts to say that SL is for everybody, not only for the Buddhist Sinhalese, but the inevitable response from a majority public confirms that the root cause is well rooted.

  • 2
    0

    R Pemadasa enacted 15th amendment which made so many three wheeler parties. Only thing minority politicians can ask is all the people in the district vote for me if you want your rights. So, it is elections and that system is the initial cause for all these Terrorism There are no electorates but electoral districts. so, easily a minority politician can get elected. JVP likes it, if not they won’t be elected.
    Now western influence promoting christianity for various reason, UNHCR/UN working for the USA, and Arabic countries sending their money to islamize the country, Tamil influencing via the India and european Union talking because they also want to be a superpower before they disappear into oblivion.

  • 0
    1

    Majority of layLankans who suffer the burden of the high cost of living agree with Harsha Gunasena’s view here that successive GoSL have been {“Attacking The Outcome Without Addressing The Root Causes”}.
    Elucidations may be in order.
    {“In line of the thinking of Wijeweera in the politics in Sri Lanka after 1980s the traditional Marxist class divisions were disappeared and rude racism came into force……”}
    In the late forties a ‘race’ division, based on Dravidian (Tamils) and Aryan (Sinhalese), was taken for granted. The DNA double helix puzzle was just a curiosity in the fifties but now is a Science.
    Confirmed: Lankans are almost exclusively of a single race.
    ‘Ethnicity’ used in SL is language/religion based. This terminology is Lankan.
    International Social Scientists will say that majority of Lankans have the same ethnicity!
    No one mentions ‘ethnicity’ in the JVP insurrections but the advent of LTTE is nothing but ‘Lankan ethnicity’.
    Lankan Elites, under our nose, have built a fortress.
    We must penetrate this or perish.

  • 0
    1

    To all those self serving nay sayers, I am well aware you,ll will continue to do so until end of your life. After all, Lankans have been going in circles for more than 70 years. As I mentioned else where “there is always light at the end of tunnel but the tunnel never ends in Lanka. Enjoy the darkness.

  • 3
    0

    Taraki mentioned some historical facts but the issue was “swinging the pendulum to the other extreme in 1956” Pendulum should have been settled in the middle. As a result, Burghers started migrating. After 1980s Tamils started migrating. Majority should not suffer from minority complex. If they have acted as a real majority they should have looked after the minorities and their interests. That would have been the starting point of building one Sri Lanka which we need very badly today.
    USA fought a civil war in 1860 against slavery. In 1960 Martin Luther King fought against discrimination. In 2009 USA elected it’s first black President. Our task is to follow USA in a very short period since we have done very little in this direction from the independence. Otherwise we all will be doomed.

    • 2
      0

      Thank you Harsha Gunasena I’m glad you read what I wrote. As you have said, the middle way would have been ideal but unfortunately we only had politicians rather than statesmen.

      • 2
        1

        taraki

        “As you have said, the middle way would have been ideal but unfortunately we only had politicians rather than statesmen.”

        Great escape.
        Only Awakened one’s Teaching (Buddhism) is capable of showing, guiding, moulding, ………….. lay into “middle path” whereas what we have here in this island is Aryan Anagarika’s Sinhala/Buddhist ethno-religious fascism hence it is producing mutant Sinhala/Buddhists.

  • 0
    0

    saurus! You have written something about the recent bombing and given some recommendation. Dear! Please find the correct answers for these questions.

    Why the Tamil and Tamil origin Christians were only targeted?

    Why not a single Sinhalese Catholic Church was targeted?

    Why not a single Buddhist temple or Sinhala and Government institution was targeted?

    From photos of the damages and CCTV photos of the terrorist, we could come to the conclusion that the terrorists have used RDX explosives!

    How and from what country or organisation the terrorists were able to get this explosive in large quantities?

    Leave all these.

    How not a single Catholic or Christian Sinhalese politician went to church and got injured or killed?

    Was it because the Tamil Christians were to be targeted, the Prez,. and the Government kept silent about the warning?

    Why the media speak about the “Killing of the Christians” and not about the mass killing of the Tamils and people of Tamil origin?

    The objectives of these killing could be:

    1) Giving some sort of warning to the Tamil Christians who support the present Government, a puppet of US, India and the West!

    2) To prevent the country from coming out of the economic crises;

    3) To prevent the present Government coming to power again;

    4) To strengthen the powers of the armed forces;

    5) To get released all the Intelligence officials now remanded for war crimes;

    6)To make the Muslims politically inactive and passive;

    7) Some sort of strong warning to the US, India and the West.

    Now, who could have been behind the attack?”

  • 1
    3

    Root cause is that Tamils have invaded from Tamilnadu taken possession of parts of the Sinhalese island and want to impose Tamil rule here. This is not only the root cause, but THE sole cause of all the problems our country is facing today. Tamils should understand the magnitude of the injustice they have done towards the Sinhalese in particular and this country in general, throughout the centuries and then turn and claim undue rights and demands during the British colonial rule. Muslims are generally not a problem group – they are actually a very peaceful group who just want to live in peace with the rest of the people here. Its the Tamils who are the CAUSE and driving force in all the political unrest here.

    • 3
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      Punchi Point
      Punchi Willi
      Punchi Brain

      “Root cause is that Tamils have invaded from Tamilnadu taken possession of parts of the Sinhalese island and want to impose Tamil rule here.”

      I agree with first part of your first sentence.

      Your typing should reflect the reality and based on facts.
      Here is the amended sentence:

      ‘Root cause is that Tamils have invaded from Tamilnadu taken possession of parts of the Veddah’s island and over the years continue to impose Sinhala/Buddhist fascist state.’

      In the meantime the noisy minority fascists have been working very hard using carrot and stick to convert Sinhalese, Buddhists, Tamils, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, ………………. into their own Sinhala/Buddhist fascism.

  • 1
    1

    Harsha Gunasena !

    ‘the ROOT CAUSE’of all the problems that we have been facing in our country is the imaginary and false doctrine of the Siňhala nation, the ‘ĀRYAN’–SIŇHALA –SIŇHALESE –‘THĒRAVĀDA’BUDDHISM –LAŇKĀ Doctrine with one –to -one correspondence and the successive governments of Srī Laňkādominated by the Siňhala Buddhists formulating their policies based on this imaginary and false doctrine and unilaterally implementing them!!

  • 0
    1

    Taraki, The churches as a service provided health and education which otherwise, we would not have had in Lanka. Some will see it as for conversion not really true, because none of my relatives who studied were converted.Was it for political purpose (like how Buddhist monks do things) I dont think so because they mostly kept them selves away , until Ranjith the politician came, Though I may be of a different religion I believe as a religion churches have ” given back to society ” as in education and health which none of other religions were interested. Out Lankan Governments were no where in no position to provide island wide services (especially the rural/villages). Leave alone education/health , when food was being rationed then, remember the coupons you carried for your supper. None of the following Governments did any thing productive other than screwing up the system. Of course Sinhalese Buddhist cant see anything further than race/religion

    • 2
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      Chiv, you are right about the churches providing health and education but the churches have always seen education as a means to conversion. You say ‘Of course Sinhalese Buddhist cant see anything further than race/religion’ but what would you say to someone who said “The work of the church in Ceylon will not be over until the remaining population is converted to the true faith”?

      Nowadays the mainline churches have tried to Sinhalise themselves so that their teaching is more acceptable. Sunday schools are called daham pasalas, their processions feature children in white carrying sesathas. But the Government continues to allow church planting by evangelists in Hindu and Buddhist villages.

      Just imagine the reverse, put yourself in their position. In a predominently Catholic country, the Philippines, would the government allow Buddhist temples to be opened in their villages? If they were opened, do you think the Catholic Church and the villagers would remain silent?

  • 0
    2

    We may not at all hear or see the MS commission report( which is known outcome) so a parliamentary select commission was appointed. Before it could be announced SLFP and United front (what ever F that means) have decided to boycott saying they will not have enough say ???? Lanka at his best. See the fun. If any one wants to really know the truth dose it really matter what representation you have, unless otherwise they are directly or indirectly the ROOT CAUSE. So it is obvious these crooks will not find the truth and will not allow others from finding. All too familiar story in Lanka. Happened before and will continue to happen. This is how Lanka has been run by Lankans . Please leave the British.They have enough of their problems to deal.(May will be resigning anytime, brexit will be ????).The difference between others and us there is course re correction (like Obama) for us there is only darkness left.Tunnel never ends in Lanka.

  • 1
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    Dears!

    Harsha Gunasena and others are now only speaking about the ‘Root Causes’ and ‘Root Cause!

    However, on 12th November 2010 an Engineer by the name Abimanasingham Sitthāwatthai Uthayakumār appeared before the LLRC (Jaffna sitting) and presented his Findings and Opinion on Srì Lankã: Lessons learnt And What has to be done for Reconciliation. Over 10 leading Universities of the United States analyzed his Findings and Opinion. As the result the LLRC in its Report has stated (Para. – 8.150): “The Commission takes the view that the root cause of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka lies in the failure of successive Governments to address the genuine grievances of the Tamil people.
    The country may not have been confronted with a violent separatist agenda, if the political consensus at the time of independence had been sustained and if policies had been implemented to build up and strengthen the confidence of the minorities around the system which had gained a reasonable measure of acceptance.”
    The very first Journalist who wrote an article on the LRRC Report Kusal Perera did not mention this paragraph and discussed it. It was pointed out by Abimanasingham Sitthāwatthai Uthayakumār. None of the political analysts and politicians spoke about the para – 8.150 of the LLRC Report. After a number of years, none of the people who have commented on the article of the Harsha Gunasena has discussed about what LLRC said it its Report. What can we infer from this dears?

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    Thanam, I admit, I was not aware of such thing exist. But I wholeheartedly agree with your finding. The root cause of ethnic conflicts in Lanka lies in the failure of successive governments in addressing the GENUINE grievances of the Tamil communities. And I may add, it is more intentional than failure. With the Muslim community it is our governments witch caused the grievances by targeting and harassing the community(as they did with Tamils) after the end of war.Now all they are trying is to deny, deflect, come up with all kind of alternate facts, excuses, conspiracy theories, geopolitical analysis, mythology references —-etc,etc, which has no ends.It is clear future Governments too will continue further with such bull shit , until they run out of time and lies.

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      How can someone who claims ‘traditional homelands’ for themselves alone, complain about discrimination and genuine grievances?

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    This is the problem in Sri Lanka which has been the cause of civil strife for not just the last 70 years but thousands of years beyond. No one amongs the majority is willing to concee or accomodate the legitimte aspirations of the Minorites . Because the Brits gave the power to the Majorirty they took it upon themselves to brutalise the Minorities but still deny that they are at fault. If even the educated people like Sarath De Alwis are not willing to right the wrong what chance have we got. At least I am glad that Sri Lanka has paid a price and lost its Sovereignty and we are in the Grip of Indian Summer. Thanks to MR. India has booted China out and taken control of deveoping Fort Harbour. If MR is returned there will be further errosion of Sovereignty.

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    Taraki, you are absolutely wrong. You are generalizing as the rest. It is like calling the whole community rogues just because of a bunch of Sinlalese mob attacked . You mean to say the purpose of schools like Methodist college, St. Pauls, St, Anthonys and St.Johns , St, Patrics in Jaffna is to convert students. During my parents time 90% of the schools were missionary because our shitty governments could not afford or provide one. Some of these schools today are proudly claiming to be over 100 years old.. Trust me quite a lot of students of other religions who had studied in these schools (who are doing extremely well without being converted) will disagree with you. My own parents, siblings and hundreds of relatives had their education in Christian/Catholic schools and were never converted. They went to these schools because there were none at that time or for a better education. These schools follow the same curriculum and teach other religions for those who follow. You cannot expect the same in some of the Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim schools. There is a case filled against a leading Buddhist school in Colombo, who did not want to admit a student because she was a Muslim (go figure buddy) . How on earth can you say their sole purpose is conversion. Your comment is absolutely false and a myth.

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    Taraki, are you debating on chicken and egg theory by mentioning discrimination and homeland. Bro, I will not be wasting any of my time on that. It was a reply to Thanam. No more.

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    Taraki , you can have the last say. Thank you and looking forward to more healthy (decent) discussions.

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    It is understood that we have to provide remedies in short run and give solutions to the root courses in the long run. In Sri Lankan context, we have to investigate not only root causes of the main problems and poor handling of those issues by the post independent governments but also what are the root causes that dragged them to be so blind and unsuccessful?
    It is like root cause of a patient is diagnosed but there is no capable doctor .
    Most rulers of our country are incapable and dishonest. We can not expect any solution from current president ,prime minister and opposition leader.
    Root causes for failure of our politics may be,
    1.Division of Buddhists in to tree chapters and not working as one force and failure to practice Buddhist principles.
    2. Nationalism. Making Singhala main language.
    3.No mechanism to create right politicians.
    4.Economy and media is being run by narrow minded rich people.
    5.Limited resources in the country.
    6.Belief systems. Buddhist believe cycle of rebirth and others believe there is a one god or more.
    7. Individuals relationship with religions. This can affect the critical thinking and justice. I never seen a doctor pray for the ill person ,but politicians?
    8.Politics is polluted and most capable people are not brave enough to do politics.
    10.Poverty.
    11.Not learning from mistakes and other success countries.
    12.Education system does not produce right people.

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      RANASINGHA PERERA!

      Please read what are said in
      “SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES TO BE MADE IN THE LANKAN CONSTITUTION” by Abimanasingham Sitthawatthai Uthayakumar, ://www.scribd.com/doc/304259097/CONSTITUTIONAL-CHANGES-TO-BE-MADE-pdf-SOME-IMPORTANT-CHANGES-TO-BE-MADE-IN-THE-LANKAN-pdf

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