12 December, 2024

Blog

Building Trust Requires Cohesive Government

By Jehan Perera

Jehan Perera

Challenges such as the three month long teachers’ strike, the organic fertilizer crisis and the unconscionable case of prisoner intimidation remain to be resolved. But since returning from the United States where he addressed the UN General Assembly, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has expressed his views on matters concerning the country with pledges to enact a new constitution and to provide for electoral change. These are changes that have not been possible to implement for the past several years, if not decades, with any measure of success. The president made these pledges at the anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Army whose contributions in the past during the war, and also in the past two years in dealing with the Covid pandemic, he extolled.

The pledges that the president has made are in the realm of the possible. Shortly after the government won the general elections with a 2/3 majority, the president appointed an expert committee to draft a new constitution. In April this year, Foreign Minister Prof G L Peiris explained the purpose as follows: “The present constitution itself was drafted 43 years ago and Sri Lankan society has changed significantly since then. Therefore, various parts of the Constitution in force today are outdated. We see it as a matter of urgency to study the entire Constitution in depth and formulate a new Constitution.” The workings of this committee have not been much publicized. Nor is the fundamental purpose of the constitutional change clear.

On the other hand, there is a wealth of previous experience on constitutional reform that the expert committee can utilize without needing to summon a long procession of organisations and individuals to make submissions before it. There have been multiple attempts in the past quarter century to devise a new constitution. The pioneering one which had its genesis in 1995 was the draft constitution of 2000 which made its early appearance in the form of a package of proposals for the devolution of power. This was presented as a solution to the ethnic conflict which had passed its first decade of internal warfare. One of the key architects of that initiative was Prof G L Peiris who was the constitutional affairs minister in that government headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. In addition, there were several all-party conferences, in which the phrase 13th Amendment Plus came into use though it was not precisely defined.

Reconciliation Process

In a similar manner when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made his speech in New York before the UN General Assembly he was not making a break with the past but was building on the past. The President said “Fostering greater accountability, restorative justice, and meaningful reconciliation through domestic institutions is essential to achieve lasting peace. So too is ensuring more equitable participation in the fruits of economic development. It is my Government’s firm intention to build a prosperous, stable and secure future for all Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender. We are ready to engage with all domestic stakeholders, and to obtain the support of our international partners and the United Nations, in this process.” These are all challenges taken up but left unresolved by previous governments, the burden of which now lies with President Rajapaksa.

Unlike his predecessors who tried and failed, due to undermining by the opposition parties and the LTTE and also by inept governance, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is in an advantageous position. The military power of the LTTE is no longer in existence to blow up efforts to build consensus. The opposition parties led by the present leader of the opposition, Sajith Premadasa, is likely to conduct themselves in an responsible manner without engaging in nationalist polemics. Both the SJB and the JVP have been supportive of efforts to bring in the ethnic and religious minorities into the processes of governance and in being sensitive to their needs. They are more likely to support the government to arrive at a just and negotiated settlement and not in fanning the fears of the general population.

In taking forward the reconciliation process, President Rajapaksa has at his disposal the thinking, plans and mechanisms established by previous governments. The government has not discarded the key reconciliation mechanisms established by the previous government in terms of UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1 of 2015. These mechanisms include the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), the Office for Reparations (OR) and the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR). The government has continued to maintain the institutions set up in terms of the co-sponsored UNHRC resolution. However, there has been a problem with some of the appointments that have been made. The appointments to those institutions needs to be done in consultation with those sections of the polity who have been most affected and who need to be able to place their trust in those institutions.

Ground Situation

As the government possesses a 2/3 majority in parliament, the government is well positioned to achieve the major policy changes envisaged by the president and implement them. The major policy changes being planned need to be complemented by constructive changes on the ground. So far this is not being seen. Challenges such as the three month long teachers’ strike, the organic fertilizer crisis and the unconscionable case of prisoner intimidation remain to be suitably addressed and resolved. Policy changes that do not yield change on the ground that is visible will seem to be mere words without deeds. There is a need to overcome the cynicism that has come to the minds of people in the country regarding promises made by politicians. The ethnic and religious minorities need to be brought into the process of governance. This is not happening. Today’s newspapers, for instance, have advertisements calling for public comment on 26 persons selected for high posts in the state. Not a single of them is either Tamil or Muslim which stands as a symbol of the lack of inclusiveness in the national polity.

Reconciliation has been defined to mean transforming a divided past into a shared future. This is done by rebuilding relationships and the generation of trust. The peace scholar John Paul Lederach has written, “The focus of reconciliation is upon building new and better relationships between former enemies. Relationships are both the root cause and the long-term solution of conflict.” The president in New York said that he would like to engage with the Tamil Diaspora. This would mean a decision to de-ban the main Diaspora organisations that were suddenly banned in March this year in the face of the reversal that Sri Lanka suffered when it lost the vote at the UN Human Rights Council. Where reconciliation is concerned the issues of power sharing and inclusion in the new constitution that President Rajapaksa has promised will be crucial. There will be a need to consult with the ethnic and religious minority parties. If this is done then there can be a change that comes from engagement.

In this context, more important than talking to the Diaspora is for the government leadership to talk to the elected Tamil leaders in the country. They have the mandate of the Tamil people. Inasmuch as the government leadership, including the president, have opened the doors to dialogue with Sri Lankan civil society, which has been a rewarding experience, so should they open the door to dialogue with the leadership of the minority parties. The first step to rebuild relationships that have got broken is to talk to the other. When we talk to others, even those considered to be the enemy, we get a chance to hear what they say and to understand where they are coming from. And vice versa. The next is to develop trust. And for that the government needs to act a whole, and not in disparate parts. “Reconciliation implies building or rebuilding relationships today that is not haunted by the conflicts and hatreds of yesterday” – Priscilla Hayner

Latest comments

  • 19
    2

    It looks like that Jehan Perera expected our President to follow up on his assurances at UN. If so, Jehan has to grow!
    .
    The existing Constitution is from 1978. The reason stated for the constitutional change is that parts of the Constitution have become outdated. Can G L Peiris who was a constitutional affairs minister once, tell me if other stable nations do likewise. The Constitution was lopsided to begin with. That would be the right reason!

    • 10
      1

      May be Nandasena s expectations are high, but why cant he take bold actions against any of the culprits?.
      .
      Answer: he is no honest and he is far from the walking of his talks so far. If his capabilities restrict to stage rhetorics, or lacks of due knowledge why not he rely on the voices of the experts? Alone to be able see it right he should have a balanced mind set going beyond medamulana mlechchathwaya based on feudalism. Besides people are well aware of the fact that u guys did nt grow up in Walawwa..
      .
      All recent PROPAGANDA abusing the both orifices of joker Wimal et al are building a fake public perception for ur political survival.
      .
      Stolen wealth keep u and ur siblings above apart from the fairy tales painted for ur power gain s. .
      .
      Now it is becoming clear all Hopes set on ur drama are similar to the castles built on sea shores🐕🐃😐😉😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

      • 7
        1

        What has incumbent govt achieved sofar? .
        .
        Island nations could contain Covid from its spread saving lives of the innocent people but leadership deliberately stayed away not having done the due for protecting the nation . WHO recommendations were treated with ridiculous statements. Many among the dead in 13000 are over 60 year olds and were not subjected to vaccinations. Vaccination mechanisms were already available in the country for decades and our nation was known as champion s to such marathon s, never in the history military directly involved in the past as Gota stupid guide lines kept them above marginalizing the traditional systems of health ministry. A conflict between millitar and health authorities is the consequence in today s context. It is almost like that of Congo republic. Meeharak 🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃

    • 8
      1

      soman

      Where are you?
      Watch this clip:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOMjL5SI8-Q

      This is a good time to start a mother of all riots.
      Gota needs a scapegoat.

      As a Gota worshiper the saffron clad thugs and yourself should join hands and help him sustain his reputation being the most ablest tough single handed leader.

      The people needs you.
      Gota needs you.
      The clan needs you.
      Sinhala/Buddhists need you.
      Tamils and Muslims also need you.

      A final solution perhaps.
      Mahawamsa will mention your contribution being single most daring act.

      “History will judge societies and governments — and their institutions — not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless.”

      ― César Chávez

      • 4
        0

        “Unlike his predecessors who tried and failed, due to undermining by the opposition parties and the LTTE and also by inept governance, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is in an advantageous position. present leader of the opposition, Sajith Premadasa, is likely to conduct themselves in an responsible manner”
        Is there a worse example of inept governance than the present one? The President himself swears to do (or not to do) something today, and reverses it tomorrow. Fair enough, he can’t control the price of imported items, but why the devil must he pretend that the state “will absorb the cost”. By printing more money, which sends up the cost even more? There is the LPG crisis, the milk powder crisis, and the coming fuel crisis, all brought on by idiotic grandstanding. The last government had a pricing formula to deal with these things, but the geniuses in charge now laughed it off, expecting importers to sell imported stuff at a loss! As it turned out, even state-owned Litro couldn’t.

        • 6
          0

          If prices were allowed to vary with market trends, as Mangala Samaraweera planned, the public wouldn’t have had to bear the sudden shocks they are subjected to now. But he was derided as a mere “dress designer”. I suppose that might be a compliment compared to the pickpockets, murderers, and stupid Generals running the show now. The entire cabinet has been selected on their Sinhala Buddhist credentials or family affiliations. Ignorant thugs like Sarath Weerasekera rule the roost, with fake “professors” and alleged “intellectuals” from Viyathmaga. I doubt any government could do worse than this one.

        • 4
          0

          “By printing more money, which sends up the cost even more? There is the LPG crisis, the milk powder crisis, and the coming fuel crisis, all brought on by idiotic grandstanding. The last government had a pricing formula to deal with these things, but the geniuses in charge now laughed it off”

          The way Ranil rescued the economy in 2002 and 2015 …… reduced the price of goods and increased the salaries ……… day by day he is beginning to look like Einstein!

          Now, who is honest enough to admit that he wasn’t such a bad guy after all. :))

          Only if the poor sod was good at politics and managing the crooked self-serving politicians ………. as much as he is at managing the lousy economy!!

          • 3
            0

            nimal fernando,
            Ranil wasn’t bad. He knew his onions. His worst crime was making a deal with MR on January 09, 2015. Ranil compounded the wrongdoing of Chandrika.
            MR will save Ranil, for life. Who will save the people.

          • 3
            0

            Nimal,
            It seems that the geniuses are now planning to bring the pricing formula back. But they have such thick skins.

  • 11
    1

    …….the organic fertilizer crisis and the unconscionable case of prisoner intimidation remain to be RESOLVED….
    IF EVER !
    ……The president made these pledges at the anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Army…..
    And so he DID give many pledges at Ruwanveliseya on taking oaths, but 2 years later where are we ?
    So much for pledges.
    At least you admit : POLICY CHANGES that do not yield change on the ground that is visible will seem to be mere words without deeds.
    To even imagine that an arrogant misplaced self-confidence of the president, (as evidenced obstinacy on the ‘fertilizer issue’ ) will bow down to sane advice is fanciful in respect of policy changes.

  • 11
    0

    Dr. Perera

    One can only build trust with honest, trustworthy, leaders who have the best interests of the country and its’ citizens at heart .

  • 20
    1

    I am constantly amazed at this writer’s ineptitude in completely ignoring how the governing body in SL has evolved over the short two years of its existence when he claims to have hope in the drawing up of a new constitution by the same people. He should seriously question as follows, before he promotes constitutional reforms “due to existing items’ gradual redundancy”. Is there an independent judiciary? Is law enforcement just? Are appointments to high office made on merit? Are diplomats selected on merit? Are financial and budgetary decisions based on rigorous principles or analysis? Are agricultural policies planned, methodical and progressive? Is inflation properly controlled? Is the welfare of people satisfactory? The writer should first wait to see if ANY of the above are being conducted in a fair, equitable and just manner for the welfare of the people. After all, the purpose of a constitution is for people’s welfare. Not for someone to declare that his word is good enough, for public policy!

    • 6
      0

      Lasantha,
      “I am constantly amazed at this writer’s ineptitude in completely ignoring how the governing body in SL has evolved over the short two years of its existence “
      Jehan Perera used to be on the list of traitors when Nande was Defence Secretary. Perhaps he’s learned to swim with the tide nowadays.

      • 2
        1

        OC
        JP changed course all along –not as drastically as Victor Ivan who became an MR admirer for a pretty while though.
        He may be steering hard to save his life now.

  • 6
    1

    Jegan,
    “Challenges such as the three month long teachers’ strike, the organic fertilizer crisis and the unconscionable case of prisoner intimidation remain to be resolved.”
    It is sad that you are telling that all other problems are solved except these three problems. It is not about temporary solving problems for immediate issue and forget about the real problems that changed the culture of governance and attitude of politicians and institutions.
    How long you are going to build trust since the trust build mechanism which failed from the start?

  • 3
    6

    Wise words, Jehan Perera, and thank you for them.
    ~
    Reference the President’s pronouncements at the most recent UN General Assembly session, it is so easy to talk the talk but when is he going to walk the talk? In the meantime, here is a thought:
    ~
    https://www.themorning.lk/what-ails-sri-lanka

  • 13
    1

    Cohesiveness?

    When gutter mouths like Gnanasara are spreading hatred & given a platform by public broadcasters & media, what is the author talking about? Lets talk about law & order first. Criminals & murderers are pardoned & roam freely but others are banged up without charge. I suggest justice first & every citizen has protection from the state.

    • 4
      7

      Raj-UK,
      “When gutter mouths like Gnanasara are spreading hatred…”

      Is exposing the threat from Wahhabi Muslim extremists brainwashed by Wahhabi Muslim preachers and swords (3000?) imported by Muslims and hidden somewhere in this country spreading hatred?
      Hatred is spreading by racist Tamil politicians like Vigneshwaran who say ‘Sinhalayo are not welcome in the North’, ‘Buddha statues should not be built in the North’ and by Wahhabi Muslim Mullahs in Madrasas who tell non-believers of Islam should be killed.

      • 2
        0

        Eagle Eye

        My point is, which, you fail to see, is law & order. Whether it is Wahhabi Muslim preachers or Sinhala Buddhist extremists, the law should apply to every citizen.
        Your racist mentality is clouding your rational thinking.

    • 3
      3

      Raj-UK,
      “Criminals & murderers are pardoned & roam freely…”

      Tamil terrorists who killed Native Sinhalayo and pardoned by Rajapakshes are also roaming freely.

    • 3
      1

      Dear RJ-UK,
      .
      Please check it what commenters have to say about Ghanasara s speeches.
      .
      As no time in the past, things have become much better today in terms of improvement of awareness – very same former men have u turned to criticise PISSU BALLAH without any reservations.
      .
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPBWaNXf6cc

      So called MAHANAYAKAs stay as if their faculties of senses are fully inhibited.
      :
      This man BBS head continue his hate speeches, but in the end, the same orifices are being used to recite ” KAWI BANA” with a soft tone… can you imagine ?
      .
      Sadhu kiyanna pinwathuni…. … Sadhu effect is powerful than an X-ray traversing through materie.
      .
      Meida should finally see it right… but not even light at the end of tunnel is seen, in terms of a country free of the spreads of hatreds.

  • 8
    2

    The President says he is ready to talk to the Tamil Diaspora about the problems of Tamils. Having been in power for almost two years, he is yet to hold face-to-face discussions with any of the representatives of the local Tamil parties. Therefore, I think he said that for the consumption of the International Community, hoping they will swallow it.
    It does not make any sense for a man who does not know how to go to the Moon, which is tantalizingly close, to talk about going to Mars.

  • 5
    4

    Jehan PhD is surviving even better than Hakeem, when the governments change. Even Hakeem is experiencing a lull now, but Koolukkum Paadi- Kanchikkum Paadi Jehan PhD is thriving. This guy wrote essays that Chitanata Aanduwa was working encouragingly & peacefully with NGOs while Merwyn openly sent messages to Nimalka Fernando that if she returned to the country, he would finish her off. Jehan PhD managed to white-wash Chitanta Government when its media men safety record was 174/179. When Lohan Ratwatte showed gun to Tamil prisoners, the stories of Royals removing their drug dealing hit-men partners, their own dedicated agents, from prisons and executing them in jungles, is forgotten for Modayas, including Jehan PhD. That is why Jehan PhD sneakily talking only about Lohan, but not other prison murders by Royals. Hypocrisy Jehan PhD never bothered to rehabilitate his image but working hard to extol Royal Aanduwa. There is no one single, qualified, decent, honest, non-criminal, educated, or experienced person in the government, at any level. From war criminal Presidents to Jehan PhD like self-employed to organized Municipality unions are some way tained so much so not fit for the job they are doing. If one wants to see 100% families, nepotism & rowdies ruling the country, it is only Lankawe in the world.

  • 1
    4

    If a thief has stolen a victim property, the judgment is simple: “RETURN IT “. There is no need for any 75 years and beyond talks. The stolen Tamils’ fundamental rights, Tamils’ sovereignty, Tamils’ Lands, Tamils Properties, Tamils’ peaceful life must be returned first for any further talks. Once Tamils’ stolen sovereignty is returned, Tamils will come to the table to talk for Singapore-Malaysia structure. Tamil are never going to kneel down in front of any Hitler to be imposed a military solution in the cover of peace talks. Time is over for those talks. Stolen Tamils’ freedom is a different subject, but war crime, genecoide is a different subject. IWe cannot engage for talks with anybody on the condition of, that “accept a military solution for the lost freedom, if want a local investigation to the Genocide”. These subjects are not exchangeables. We will not go to exchange talk of one for another and lose both. International governments must bring in the 2nd Nuremberg. Jehan and his partner Lord Neasby can submit their arguments there. IC investigation is the sincere start to solve Tamils’ stolen land solution, not any hanky-panky talks at Temple Tree House.

  • 8
    1

    Jehan Perera,

    You write as if you’re living on another planet: not in SL.

    It sounds like typical NGO double-speak to hoodwink some foreign NGO-donor organizations.

    When have the Rajapakses done anything good for the country, other than for their own benefit? ……… The new constitution is bugger-all for the country or the people ………. just a ruse to perpetuate their rule for eternity ………..

    Just like The Republicans passing laws to make it harder for the Blacks and other minorities to vote ………. there will be restrictions in the “new” constitution to hamper the voters who are not partial to them ……….

  • 3
    0

    “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has expressed his views on matters concerning the country with pledges to enact a new constitution and to provide for electoral change. – Jehan Perera”
    What actually are the matters concerning the country?
    .
    Avantha Attygalle’s cartoon which appeared in ‘Ada’ newspaper is a must see. This is the link.

    https://www.ada.lk/cartoon/2021-10-12/14-385903

  • 5
    7

    The absurd thing is that those who passed a resolution to break Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo into two parts and declared war against the Government of Sri Lanka and Sinhala Nation have turned out to be the victims of the war and Native Sinhalayo who are the real victims of the war declared by Tamils have been branded as the aggressor.
    —-
    Those who declared war and massacred Native Sinhalayo for three decades to grab their land should give a public apology to Sinhalayo if they expect reconciliation from the real victims of the war. Instead of doing that they go all over the world screaming Sinhalayo carried out genocide of Tamils, committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. What reconciliation with such wicked people?

    • 7
      3

      Eagle,
      Where is this land of Sinhale? Is it near where you live, in Canada?

  • 3
    8

    “The first step to rebuild relationships that have got broken is to talk to the other.”
    —-
    Good idea!
    President should talk to Tamil politicians and tell them who they are, when their ancestors came to this country, Sinhalayo accommodated them and gave them citizenship, they are occupying Sinhala land in the NE, they have no right to demand a separate State or Federal System or devolution of power claiming that NE is their ‘Traditional Homeland’, they violated the Constitution of Sri Lanka by attempting to create a separate State within Sri Lanka punishable by stripping civil rights and confiscating movable and immovable property, Sri Lanka Armed Forces liberated Tamils from the clutches of a megalomaniac terrorist who killed Tamil civilians and politicians making enormous sacrifices, Sinhale has been a Sinhala Buddhist country and it will remain the same, Sri Lanka will remain as a Unitary State and the Government as well as Native Sinhalayo are willing to forget the past and welcome those who are willing to co-exist with Native Sinhalayo peacefully as citizens of Sri Lanka and become partners to develop the country without creating unnecessary problems.

    • 8
      2

      Eagle Blind Eye

      There is no Native Sinhalayo in this island nor any Native Tamil.
      Both are either descendants of original Kallthonies or converted Kallthonies from South India.

  • 5
    2

    Eagle Blind Eye

    There is no Native Sinhalayo in this island nor any Native Tamil.
    Both are either descendants of original Kallthonies or converted Kallthonies from South India.

  • 5
    0

    Jehan Perera: Please understand there is nothing left for Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapakse, the President to build “TRUST”. He has lost his “Credibility” and the people have lost “TRUST” in him. He made an unsuccessful attempt to build his lost “Trust” with the International Community at his last address in the General Assembly of the UN. Now, it is reported that even the EU Delegation has expressed worrying concerns over the replacement of the “19th Amendment” with the “20A” that undermines the Democratic system of Governing. That was the “BEGINNING” of his “Downfall”. “GR” the President did express his own admission of guilt of losing the “Trust” of the people in his address to the “Gajaba Regiment” at its 72nd Anniversary.

    You being an “Educated” Professional must know that once a person has lost his “Credibility” along with “Trust” is built, there is NO RECOVERY possible. The only “Option” available is for him to “Retire” and say “Goodby” to “Politics”, a subject that is not within his nerves.

  • 5
    1

    Mr.Pethiyagoda has listed a set of very pertinent and relevant questions.

    * “Is there an independent judiciary? Is law enforcement just? Are appointments to high office made on merit? Are diplomats selected on merit? Are financial and budgetary decisions based on rigorous principles or analysis?

    * Are agricultural policies planned, methodical and progressive? Is inflation properly controlled? Is the welfare of people satisfactory? “

    With the announced provincial elections it is crucial that the citizenry is made to understand the repercussions of the above issues. We need to educate ourselves to understand the impact of the first set of issues for the long term stability and prosperity of the country and the significance of the latter for the immediate. The challenge is to “enlighten” the citizens on choosing the right leaders to find solutions to these and other issues like disrespect for the rule of law and justice and outright dis respect for life.

  • 2
    0

    Building trust is not providing Presidential Pardon to murderers, Ministers carrying weapons into the Prisons, locking up opposition MPs who are innocent, locking up an MP who speaks trust, and calls the Judges crooks when Judges are giving the verdict “nidos kota nidahas” to crooks. Above all, withdrawing legal action against armed forces seniors who have murdered children and innocent civilians. I begin to wonder if the President knows the meaning of the words “Building Trust”.

  • 1
    0

    When a guy has been writing conciliatory stuff for as long as Jehan has been, I guess, he goes off his nut.
    .
    What else can explain this ridiculous article?
    .
    Try to come back to your senses, man.

    • 1
      0

      Dear Sinhala_Man,
      You praised him high on a previous article. You berate him now. You blow hot and cold!
      .
      More than 35 years ago, I remember reading, Jehan Perera comparing the agitation of Tamils, to a tenant in a rented room, demanding the rights for the room!
      .
      That is he.

      • 1
        0

        Nathan,
        .
        I try to be consistent. What did I say?
        .
        This?
        .
        I’ve had Professor Thiru Kandiah telling me that Jehan Perera is one of the few good writers on CT. Nonsense. A few days ago I saw somebody complaining that Jehan always sides with the government. This article proves it.
        .
        Does Jehan really believe Gota when the latter says, “regardless of ethnicity.”? Jehan, please. A few more such observations from you, and Tamils will get cynical about any Sinhalese who stands up for (Tamils). . . . (some things left out & other comments, also some by you, Nathan).
        .
        Jehan, how were you able to play tennis as well as you did without a backbone?
        .
        Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 483111444V)
        .
        You’ll find the comments here:
        .
        https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/presidents-un-speech-seeks-transcended-power-politics/

        • 1
          1

          Dear Sinhala_Man,
          What I had pointed out was not the particular article/comment, you have brought up.
          I went by memory. My computer skills are so poor, I cannot bring up the article I was referring to.
          I apologise.

  • 0
    0

    In this context, more important than talking to the Diaspora is for the government leadership to talk to the elected Tamil leaders in the country. They have the mandate of the Tamil people. Inasmuch as the government leadership, including the president, have opened the doors to dialogue with Sri Lankan civil society, which has been a rewarding experience, so should they open the door to dialogue with the leadership of the minority parties.
    This is a classic example of the convoluted logic of Sinhala Viyathmaga like Jehan PhD. We have no idea the deal behind Hitler King announcing at New York that he wants to talk to the Diaspora. Jehan PhD pretends like he has a lot of respect for elected Tamil representatives. They are the ones talking to Jehan’s Aanduwa for 75 years and still finding subjects to talk with Royals. Sampanthan Aiyya said in political stages that they invited him to talk and put him on body-check. One-time SJV grew really tired & convened Vaddukoddai convention to start armed struggle. The Tamils’ mandate for Self-determination from that convention was renewed in the NPC (2013) election too. Jehan PhD is pretending that Hitler King is going to give the Tamil Eelam on a golden plate to Diaspora, but it is right only to give to TNA.

  • 0
    0

    Any Sinhala Buddhist Viyathmaga’s intention is either show him/her as Dutugemunu or as Arahat Mahindan, on depriving the Tamils. PhD thinks this a smart way of cheating the Tamils. But this is only base bottom brainless talk, because now the whole world knows who the Jehan PhD and his Viyathmaga gang are. Everybody saw how the Rapist Police manhandled Gajendran, a Northern MP, when he attempted to light the lamp on a peaceful protester’s remembrance day.

    Leaving Jehan PhD’s hypocrisy aside, let’s look at who these diasporas are, how much the Tamils are represented by them and how they earned their place in the decision-making process. Today I read in the news that about a 1 million youths are waiting to leave Lankawe. It is 5% of the population & may be about 30-40% of the youths. The reason is nothing special happened to them that didn’t happen to others, but their young minds have lost the hope in the mother country & the leaders came to rule from 1948. I want to know if Jehan PhD’s stand that these 1M youth must be kept away from the decision-making process for their mother country, as soon they will become known as Sinhala Diaspora.

  • 0
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    1983, the entire Tamils’ who lived in South, were looted, women raped, Children and vulnerable and men were murdered. The Country’s leaders said if Tamils were suffocated more, Sinhalese would have a satisfied life. So Junius Richard plugged their country from those Tamils sent them out. Tamils were forced out of the country for none of their mistakes.

    Those who escaped with life from this type of repeated pogroms, later sought a peaceful life for them in Western Democracies. Now they are part of the Western Nations. It is their pressure that Western Nations pressuring Lankawe to solve Tamils problems. (If Hitler King listen to Jehan PhD only, he may not satisfy the diaspora and thus the Western Nations. So, what is left for them is again only China.) But, Diaspora is similar in many dimensions with the Relatives of missing persons, the other Tamil group exert pressure on Western Nations. There is no difference in the situation between them and relatives of missing persons, who are for three years carrying Western Nations’ flags & seeking justice from those countries. Western nations’ representatives many times met them. Consulted them. Took messages from them and passed them to their capital cities. By the fate they experienced, diasporas are similar to the missing persons’ relatives and other Tamils whose lives were deprived by Sinhala Buddhist Aanduwas.

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    The pressure Western diplomats take to Aanduwa and the pressure to solve Tamils problem is the pressure of the diaspora exerted through their democratic countries & of the missing person’s relatives who were met by the diplomats. Jehan PhD doesn’t want his bosses to depend on diaspora, so he doesn’t want them to negotiate with diaspora. Now Sinhala Intellectual Viyathmaga may understand why the Tamils diaspora demands international investigations. They want their countries, the countries they believe and depend on them to investigate the Genocide, but not the Appe Aanduwa who conducted the Genocide. They have a different level of respect and faith in their countries’ governments than the Sinhala Buddhist Appe Aanduwa and Viyathmaha and the likes of Jahan PhD. When diaspora left Ceylon, they took the messages to Western World of what was going on in the tear drop emerald country Ceylon, but not the Rupavahini- Aanduwa’s propaganda machine, or the BBC, which was employed by Rupavahini by virtue of their smart contracts. Taking the INGO’s hands, the diaspora pressured their own countries to start the investigation. It is their actions that drove the Chitanta & Yahapalanaya governments to surrender to Communist China in order to escape from any investigation.

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    Sinhala Aanduwa and Sinhala Intellectuals attempted to fool the world that they are with China because China gives them cheap & pressure free loans. But those lies didn’t go a long way. Now the country is penniless, helpless, and has no sovereignty. Lankawe is suffocating not being able to lift its head from the time China entered into it. So now they need the Western world’s money, but unfortunately that is where the Diaspora lives too. The world who knows the truth is pressuring Jehan PhD’s Aanduwa to go for reconciliation with minorities. Jehan PhD cannot hide this from anybody, so if he doesn’t like to face the world or and diaspora, he can too dip his head in the dirt.
    Jehan should be an imbecile for not knowing that the Western world, from whom now Hitler asking for help, is asking the Royal government to talk with diaspora too, because they want to lessen the pressure they receive from diaspora, who are their citizens. Further Hitler King and Jehan PhD’s minds are not close by in talking to diaspora. In the past, many diaspora groups went to talk to Royals because of the invitation to talk and made a large sum of tribute. That is the reason King said that while he wants to talk to diaspora and bring them back too.

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    There are no industries in the North East. Nobody gets any license to open an Industry, while 1 million Southern youths are leaving. Why would 1 million North East people want to return there?
    I do not know in what capacity Jehan PhD wants to decide and consult Aanduwa that with whom should it be talking in behalf of Tamils. But from Tamils side, it is not Jehan decide that who would talk with Aanduwa. Sinhala Buddhist Modayas and Sinhala Buddhist Intellectuals don’t agree Aanduwa talking with TNA, and They brought down Yahapalanaya by misunderstanding the that time constitution making process.
    Diaspora understand their duty and responsibility to their community as much as TNA. They are not discouraged or made to lose interest by NPC like purposeless institutions by putting their nose in matters they have no interest in, but with their motive of destruction. Diaspora will talk with everybody to resolve this issue. But Jehan PhD, Channa Sumanna, Rear Admirable, Lemon Puff, Ganapathipillai, Rohan Gunaratna are not the people to talk about reconciliation. These are Viyathmagas divided Sinhalese from Tamils. When these guys run out of food & supply and fear losing the PC election, it is not an invitation for reconciliation. Hitler Aanduwa pretending to be relenting to the UNHRC.

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    But, even if that is true another group who has no this fear will immediately put back Tamils where they were during war and pogroms. Yahapalanaya did its best to save all Royals and pushed back all progress made until 2015. Just because Hitler King is fearing the UNHRC, and if Tamils make a deal with him, for the next coming 75 years, many more than past 75 years dictators will come back and reverse everything achieved. While Hitler is insisted on imposing a military solution on Tamils, this will not be something Tamils could get rid of in future. So, an International Inquiry has to be done. It has to be ensured that the future Sinhala Dictators like Don Stephen, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias, Siri Mao, Junius Richard, Old King Percy, or Hitler King will not treat Tamils like China is now treating Taiwan and Hong Kong by imposing military solutions. Two clean constitutions have to separate Tamil Eelam and Sinhala Lankawe, for Tamils not to suffer back like Hong Kong or Taiwan.

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    Dear honest Nathan,
    .
    I have no problem with your comments above.
    .
    Most of us operate on “impressions in our memory.” You have “blundered” by submitting a public comment in the media from whence it cannot be removed. Never mind, I feel it may have served a useful purpose if a number of people studied this exchange.
    .
    What it proves is that we’ve (“we” meaning the “typical human being”) messed up our country because we’ve got all sorts of wrong notions in our minds. We often enough say these things to those in our in-group. Some provocatively say these things to those in the “other group”. We rarely put it down in writing where it cannot be erased. You’ve retracted it, which would have been enough without going further and apologising. Even I have innocently carried such notions in my head.
    .
    When we were impressionable kids, I should imagine all Sinhalese were fed the notion that (apart from some semi-civilised Veddas) we were the rightful owners of this land, until marauding groups of Tamils ruined it all. That “Durtugemunu-curled-up-in-bed” story we were taught as “gospel-truth” when we were around 8 years old.

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      DearSinhala_Man,
      My comment was based on the exchange, under the article ‘Who-Will-Bite-the Bullet.
      >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
      Jaffna Man / October 5, 2021: Thank you Jehan for the straight talk. – Jeevan
      Sinhala_Man / October 5, 2021: Yes, the points are very well made here.
      .

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    Now, with the Internet, and communicating with you, Nathan, (and with Champa giving us Professor Raj Somadeva’s Youtubes which I have sampled) I realise that we have to pass on something more credible to our progeny . Let’s start with saying that we can assert little that is more than about 200 years old.
    .
    Given that we’re certain of almost nothing, what account do we give kids? Some pass on myths relating to the particular “religion” that they profess. I haven’t got the courage to counter that! My granddaughters will in due course be told that Santa Claus was just the parents, but who is going to “unteach” eternal life, and our comfortable belief that the animals are there to serve us? The origins of the Earth are more satisfactory. We teach the “big-bang”, life “somehow” emerging as amoeba, evolving into homo sapiens; without understanding all the details. We’ve got to adopt the same attitude to the compositions of Lanka’s population. I’ve seen only the outlines of Professor Karthigesu Indrapala’s mature theories, but they seem sound.
    .
    Genealogies: even the best constructed don’t go back far. So provide for dependants, and hold fast to property deeds and the like!

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