28 March, 2024

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Chandrika’s Call For Federalism 

By Dayan Jayatilleka

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

One must thank Chandrika for letting the cat out of the bag. In her recent address to “the national secretariat for national reconciliation” she has called for a federal, semi-secular constitution. I shall bypass the issue of semi-secularism and the role of Buddhism in the Constitution because it has been quite adequately dealt with, not by a Sinhala Buddhist extremist, but precisely by the senior-most member of the Catholic clergy on the island, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. Instead, let’s talk about federalism.

Chandrika’s call for federalism was entirely consistent with her SJV Chelvanayakam memorial lecture in which she identified the political “monopoly” allegedly enjoyed by Sinhalese as the main source of all our conflicts and advocated its dismantling. Obviously federalism is her chosen instrument for such dismantling.

This is also consistent with Chandrika’s political packages of 1995 and 1997 which called for the redefinition of Sri Lanka as a “union of regions”, as well her PTOMS which would have conceded a greater share of power in the North – to the ratio of 3:2–to the Tigers than it would have to the elected Sri Lankan Government (or the Muslims).

Furthermore it is consistent with her agenda disclosed in Washington DC while visiting in the company of Ambassador Dhanapala in support of his UNSG bid, in late 2005 of tilting to Ranil at the upcoming presidential election, tripping up Mahinda, and the proceeding to offer the Tigers “a federal solution”. (I was informed of this the next morning as I was a visiting professor at the School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University, Washington DC that semester. I promptly pulled up stakes, returned to Sri Lanka and appeared on TV in support of Mahinda’s Presidential bid.)

Just as there are “self-hating Jews”, there are self-hating Sinhalese. Chandrika is a self-hating Sinhalese. She he not paused to think why, after a brief flirtation with federalism in the mid-1920s, her father abandoned the idea in favor of ‘progressive nationalism’ (the name of the first party he formed) and regional autonomy (as in the B-C pact).

Nor has she asked herself why, with the benefit of a two thirds and five sixth majority respectively in the legislature, both her mother Sirimavo and her mother’s rival JR Jayewardene, eschewed federalism and the appeasement of/alliance with the Tamil federalists in favor of the constitutional embedding of the explicitly unitary character of the Sri Lankan state.

Chandrika has not paused to think why, even while under coercive pressure from India and when federalism might have appeased the Tigers, two very contrasting presidents, JR Jayewardene and Ranasinghe Premadasa refused to consider the federal option.

It was certainly not because all of these leaders were Sinhala Buddhist extremists or were cowed by them. All of them were tough leaders who fought civil wars in the South against Sinhala extremists. No, the aversion to federalism was because they all knew that it was a system utterly unsuited to sri Lanka, a system that would weaken the state and make it more vulnerable to external interference; a system that would enhance the centrifugal dangers while weakening the centripetal factors.

These leaders were opposed to federalism also because they wanted a strong, semi-centralized unitary state for purposes of development, and equity through structural reform and social welfare delivery. For instance the 1958 Paddy Lands Act, the 1972 and 1975 land reforms, the Mahaweli scheme, mahapola and Swarnabhoomi, the million Houses scheme, Janasaviya, the free midday meal and free school uniforms, the Presidential task force on land redistribution – all these would have been fraught, delayed or downright impossible under federalism.

But this sort of thinhg never appealed to CBK which is why in her decade long Presidency there isn’t a single piece of landmark social welfare legislation, or progressive structural reform or large scale development. What she did was to allow private foreign companies, including our competitors the Indians, to buy up state plantations—thereby rolling back her mother’s progressive reforms.

If Chandrika thinks that the opposition to federalism springs from Sinhala extremism, then she has to ask herself why the staunchest opponent of federalism and explicit proponent of the imperative of a unitary system from Sri Lanka was the Marxist-Leninist, Dr Colvin R. de Silva. During the 1972 debates on the first Republican Constitution, Dr. de Silva, responding to Mr. SJV Chelvanayakam and the Tamil United Front, drew on his expertise as a historian who had won the first prize in the British Empire for the subject of History. He pointed out that this island has been subject to more than its fair share of incursions due to its location, that most of those incursions were from southern India and were facilitated by the internal political fragmentation on the island, and therefore, Sri Lankan, in order to safeguard its independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity, mandatorily required a unitary form of state and could not afford a federal system.

In order to get rid of the notion that there are only Sinhala extremist arguments against federalism, Chandrika should also acquaint herself with the determined rejection of federalism by Marx and Engels when the leader of the Anarchists, Mikhail Bakunin, advocated it within the First International, as well as Lenin’s angry rejection of federalism to the point that he preferred a peripheral unit to secede (“go to the devil and secede!”) rather than turn the whole state federal in character.

Given the position of responsibility she currently holds, it would be useful for Chandrika to expand her political literacy and familiarize herself with Lord Soulbury’s sympathetic advice to embittered Tamil nationalist C. Sundaralingam. Lord Soulbury advised the latter to support the UNP in parliament and adopt the strategy of the Irish, but to drop the idea of federalism or an autonomous Tamil state.

…I now wish that that I had recommended a human rights clause as in the constitution of India – and elsewhere. But I do not believe that other federation or an autonomous Tamil State will work. Federation is cumbersome and difficult to operate – and an autonomous Tamil State would not be viable.” (Soulbury to Sundaralingam, April 1964)

Someone simply must tell Chandrika that it isn’t nice to emit large fibs in public. In her recent speech on federalism she characterizes South Africa as federal and commends it as an example. However, even an undergraduate knows that not only is South Africa NOT federal, none other than Nelson Mandela, participating in the discussions on the new Constitution, emphatically rejected federalism (as had the legendary head of the South African Communist Party Joe Slovo, since 1988). It was the displaced, privileged white minority and its allies in Kwazulu and the Bantu homelands, who advocated federalism -and Mandela’s ANC which rejected it.

So, if one is to agree with Chandrika’s advocacy of a federal Constitution for Sri Lanka, one would have to believe that she knows and cares more than SWRD and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, JR Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, and Lord Soulbury, and is intellectually better endowed than Marx, Engels, Lenin, Joe Slovo and Nelson Mandela. It is possible that this is indeed what she sees when she looks in the mirror each morning and asks “mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the smartest of them all?” But is this what we think of her? And are we willing to throw out all the collective aversion to federalism of these stellar minds, and go along with CBK instead? I know I’m not.

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Latest comments

  • 7
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    The majority of states in the world have a unitary system of government. It includes China, Japan, France, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, South Korea, Italy, Greece, South Africa, Norway, Denmark, Singapore etc..

    There are many different ethnic groups living in harmony and peace in these countries. None of the ethnic groups based on their religion or language clamours or fights for federalism and develop their country collectively. Sri Lanka is in this Unitary States category but the people have been hoodwinked by a small group of dubious politicians responsible for eliminating democratic ideals pursued by Hon. D.S. Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The campaign to eliminate Senanyakes was hatched and lead by Bandaranaikes and Jayawardenes. Even today they are very active and the words of Chandrika confirm it.

    Since then, a small percentage (minority) of Tamil Speaking minority has been misguiding the Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka that “Federalism” is the solution for their economic and social problems.

    The minority mentioned above belongs to the affluent class of Tamils and they want to emulate the Sinhala corrupt politicians. The control of political power has made a few Sinhala families who cleverly out-manoeuvred Senanyakes, filthy rich billionaires. All promoters of Federalism in Sri Lanka belong either to corrupt Sinhala or corrupt Tamil club of elites.

    On the other hand, Corrupt Sinhala and corrupt Tamil politicians not belonging to the club of elites but filthy rich, use ethnic difference as a weapon of choice to capture the seat of power in Colombo or to get elected to parliament or provincial councils.

    The people continue to suffer since 1953 under miserable economic conditions due to the political activities of the above two evil forces; one promoting Federalism and the other promoting ethnic differences.

    The question to my fellow readers is; Why we can’t be like French, Chinese, British, Norwegians, South Koreans, Japanese or Singaporeans? Why do we demean UNITARY state of Sri Lanka? Why do we believe these dubious politicians’ interpretations of our national problems? Finally how long are we going to let Bandaranaikes, Jayawardenes, Ranil, Rajapaksas, Wiggys and Sambandan to determine the fate of our children?

    • 12
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      almost everyone will agree with Federalism in EUrope… over 90%

      almost everyone will not disagree with Swiss or German models but most of them are in civilized Europe.

      But uncivilized men and women filled srilanka will take it longer.

      So long the kind of Rabbel roucers are in pro-active mode, …. the nation will not grasp it soon.

      Therefore I agree with Dr Nirmal Dewasiri, that we have to wait longer until henamiti buruwas filled /Dominated island nation will find it right.

      Every second is still supportive of Murderers than anti Murderers

      Evey second is still on the side of drug traffickers than drug protesters

      Every second is still pro Rajakakshes the most suitable synonym to CORRUPTION…

      Every second is control by RADICAL PSEUDO MONKS that live their hidden extremist thoughts – disguishing in sanga costumes /BBS head and men of them

      • 12
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        People with frogs in well mentality will go against CBK or any others with public statments that go similar to Federal thoughts.

        It must not necessarily be federal but for these men wearing specs that guide them to ultra nationalistic thoughts will have to rot in hell with their thoughts.

        THe nation is devided on the issues due to lack of proper information.
        Rajakshes make bauchtance – erotic dancers of the oriental sorta and live up his fantasies … though time is limited – but we can only say – OHOMA YANG.. go this way as you are used…

        People that are easily manipulative make up the majority of this nation… even if they would have been abducted, the ywould still continue licking the balls of Rajapakshes…. even if the balls would be near to fall down, they would do so, for only reason, his term found the stop to LTTE terror within the nation. For them… they believe, Rajakashes magics made the wonder..

        So are they in terms of the thoughts related to Southern highway…. no matter facts will say anything else…

        Like devil dancers could handle the issues related to scaring women and men found in villages – in order to relieve them with their unexplainable mental problems, the majority of the folks will have to wait until they are fed with facts about federal or the like models….

        Rajakashe media men even today abuse this society.

        Day before yesterday I happeend to hear the manner journalists question Rajakashe

        ” Sir, are u the only ones to be arrested ? why are they after you not others sir ? instead questioning the man focusing on the very allegations- in a cross questioning manner… these men would do the job for Raja yet”.

    • 7
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      dankotuwa maama maama makku maama

      “The majority of states in the world have a unitary system of government. It includes China, Japan, France, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, South Korea, Italy, Greece, South Africa, Norway, Denmark, Singapore etc.. There are many different ethnic groups living in harmony and peace in these countries.”

      china has 5 autonomous regions(guanxi,inner mongolia,ningxia,uygur,tibet).

      so are you advocating in the new constitution to make the north and east instead of provinces,autonomous regions like tibet,uygur etc.seems good idea.

      BTW the han chinese are 92% of the population of china much more than the 75% sinhalese.Yet they have given the mongols,tibetans and uygurs autonomy.So why can’t the sinhalese give the srilankan tamils who comprise 11% of the population autonomy in the regions which are their traditional homelands.

      you say there is harmony,but even with the chinese treating the Uygurs and tibetans much better than the sinhalese treatment of the tamils by giving them autonomy,tibetans are immolating themselves and uygurs come to shanghai and start chopping up the chinese in buses and trains.so much for your harmony.

      do you want some more examples of the countries you mentioned or have you had enough.I have a time constraint,so i can’t go on,but if you want some more please let me know.or better still do more research on the countries you mention.They say a little knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge.

      • 10
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        shankar

        “BTW the han chinese are 92% of the population of china much more than the 75% sinhalese.Yet they have given the mongols,tibetans and uygurs autonomy.So why can’t the sinhalese give the srilankan tamils who comprise 11% of the population autonomy in the regions which are their traditional homelands”

        Just wait, the Sinhala/Buddhists would consider giving autonomy to minorities once they have made sure all of them are converted/assimilated into Sinhala/Buddhism. Its going to take very long time because its not just the 11% but all 21 millions of the people.

        Its not an easy task converting 21 Million into Sinhala/Buddhism.

        How is your man Black and Decker?

        • 2
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          Beep! Wrong! Mongolia and Tibet was always autonomous, and there’s no Mongol-Nadu or Tibet-Nadu to the north, S, E, or W of them. Uygurs are of about 55 different ethnicities and languages – therefore it was quite safe to give it to them…they all balance out each other in perfect non-comprehension of each other and will therefore not be a threat to China.

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            ramona

            ” Mongolia and Tibet was always autonomous,”

            so was he jaffna kingdom for 404 years.

            this is inner mongolia,not mongolia.mongols living in chinese territory. because of the mongols china had to build the great wall.so inner mongolia has a mongol-nadu.

            “therefore not be a threat to China.”

            beep.beep.beep.big threat.uygur are muslims.They are on the border with muslim countries kazakstan,uzbekistan,krygiztan,tajikistan,afghanistan and turkmenistan.so there is a big muslim-nadu.

            as for tibet they ceded their sovereignity when the nepalese invaded and sacked tibet and the chinese had to drive them away.Yet the chinese gave them autonomy unlike the sinhalese,who never had to save the ass of the jaffna tamils from foreign invaders.The tamil kingdom just fell into their lap due to the british and now it is a hot potato in the lap.

            • 0
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              Well, the difference is that there are 55 ethnicities and languages in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region….religion is of little meaning (Islam is in communist form).

              As per inner Mongolia : For a few 100 years, it was Mongolia that ruled the whole of China. After China chased them back (it naturally went back to the original borders), Chinese (communist and all) decided to leave them the hell alone and ignored them.

              Well, India was never clever enough to invade Sri Lanka, though they have tried many times. So the rules are quite different.

              Both of them(by themselves and combined), don’t come near that 1:3 ratio in area, and 3:22 in population.

              • 3
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                Ramona,

                “Well, India was never clever enough to invade Sri Lanka, though they have tried many times. So the rules are quite different.”

                That was during the period when there were no world bodies like UN and so on, anybody can invade a country. Now it is the 21st century, nobody can invade another country. If India was never clever enough to invade Sri Lanka during that period, what makes you think that they may do it now?

                The Sinhalese falsely believes (myth) that, if federalism is granted to the North & East (Tamil speaking areas), the 80 million Tamils in India may join hands with the Tamils of Sri Lanka and invade Sri Lanka. If they did not do it till now, what makes them think that it will happen later? As long as the Sinhalese believe in this kind of myth that is not based on reality (delusions), especially unfounded fear or suspicion, Sri Lanka will continue to move backwards, there will always be a Sinhala-Tamil conflict just like the Arab-Jew conflict in Palestine and all Sri Lankans will continue to suffer.

                It is very unfortunate that the Sinhala-Buddhist society is unable to distinguish myth from facts. Many Sinhala-Buddhists are either not willing or not capable of distinguishing myths from facts.

                • 0
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                  James,

                  Obviously, nowadays they have organizations like the UN that see India invading Sri Lanka a great boon for the Western monetary system. If that didn’t happen and only federalism occurred, the UN’s desire for monetary consolidation and/or modern cross-Palk solidarity, will surely drive the Sinhalese into the sea.

                  • 2
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                    Ramona,

                    “Ignorance is bliss”

                    It is very unfortunate that the Sinhalese have never understood the meaning of federalism. They think a federal state means a separate country where the Sinhalese will be sent out.

                    Having federal states in a country does not mean dividing the country into many separate countries. Anybody and everybody can move from one state to another without any restrictions.

                    Take some examples of countries with federal states like the USA, India, tiny Switzerland, etc. If an American wants to go from Texas and settle in New York or an Indian wants to go from New Delhi and settle in Tamil Nadu or, a Swiss wants to go Zurich and settle in Sion, he/she does not need any passport or change in citizenship. Similarly, in a federal Sri Lanka, if a Sinhalese wants to settle in the NE or a Tamil wants to settle in the South, he/she does not need any passport or change in citizenship. Nobody is going to chase them out.

                    Also, what can the Western monetary system gain from a begging nation like Sri Lanka which has no hope what so ever in moving forward?

                    • 1
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                      James,

                      ramona therese fernando is suffering from the same symptom that most Sinhalese suffer, a majority with a minority complex. She believes that the Sinhalese are trapped between the devil (80 million Tamils to the North) and the deep blue sea (to the South). This kind of fear Psychosis was instilled in the minds of the Sinhalese by none other than the Mahavamsa author when he wrote the mythology about Dutugemunu.

                      Even after Dutugemunu’s father King Kavantissa, the king of Rohana (Kingdom in Southern Sri Lanka) advised Dutugemunu not to invade (Northern territory) the land of the Tamils because Rohana the region on this side of the river (Southern territory) has enough land, Dutugemunu refused to listen to his father because he felt that he could not stretch himself due to the Tamils to the north and the deep sea to the south.

                      As long as they believe in this kind of Mahavamsa myth that is not based on facts, the Sinhalese will always live with unfounded fear or suspicion. It is a kind of mental illness that many of them suffer irrespective of their status/background (both educated and uneducated).

                    • 1
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                      In Ramona’s case you are right but it is not the same with Dayan. Dr Jayatillake knows everything well but he is simply whipping up racism to gain cheap political mileage to make his paymasters happy. If Maithripala Sirisena offer him a diplomat job in a western country, Dayan will change his tune in favor of Federalism.

                    • 0
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                      Federalism means many different states balancing each other out, with no one state getting grandiose ideas, especially if there is another mother-state nearby.

                      Two states, however, will not be able to balance each other out especially with one state having a mother-state near to it.

                      Federalism will be a severe disadvantage to the orphan state without that maternal support that the other state has.

                    • 0
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                      Mahavamsa author and Dutugemunu were very far-thinking indeed. Securing Buddhism was paramount to them.

                    • 0
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                      James,

                      Western monetary system is a precarious one. But I am sure they can work around a minor glitch of little Sri Lanka working a bit with China, rather than forcing the South-Asian Western-friendly conglomerate.

                  • 1
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                    rtf
                    Say HeeHaw, HeeHaw,

                    Whenever you feel you are attacked, even though you have escaped in hora oru to the west like the i_slam humanity you romance with,
                    Lee Kwan Yu has said `take a banana`.

                    Bottom half baked brown burger you seem to be ex-spert at English

                    Find out the concept of `banana` you will understand what is constitution.

                    Republican Hindu Congress the main funders of Trump campaign.

                    • 0
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                      Sounds exactly like you, Jai_Bolo.

              • 1
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                ramona

                “Well, the difference is that there are 55 ethnicities and languages in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region”.

                there are 21 million people there and the uyghur are 10 million.han chinese are 8.5million and the kazahs are 1.5 million.so the other 52 ethnicities you mention must be having only 1million(5%).so no point in making a loud noise about 55 ethnicities and languages.Ever wondered why it is called xinxiang Uyghur province.There is a story to tell about that.when mao named it xinxiang the uyghur said they don’t want autonomy for mountains and deserts but for them and to name it Uyghur.mao agreed.

                so ramona when we get north and east autonomous regions we should also name it properly don’t you think?otherwise someone will come one day and say there are 55 ethnicities there(i’am not saying it will be you,so don’t be offended)and tamils there are not significant.So naming the region properly will be crucial for the tamils.The word tamil must be in both region names.I propose the north to be called Jaffna Tamil Autonomous Region,and the East to be called Batti Tamil Autonomous Region.Even dayan who is a great admirer of mao will agree with that.

                running out of time as usual with appointments,will come back to the mongol part you mentioned later.Pleasure to deal with you because you kick a lot of own goals.before you cam i had comletely forgotten how important naming the regions can be.i hope wiggie and sampanthan don’t make that mistake and not include the word tamil.

                • 0
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                  shankar ,

                  Autonomous and Mountainous are geographical and political synonyms that go hand-in-hand. Indeed, when one is in a land-locked country and eating things like Toblerone, autonomy is an inherent part of the country’s nature. Quite a different scenario for little Sri Lanka.

                  And China ensured that almost 50% of Xinjiang was resettled with Han Chinese. How about if the Northern Province was resettled with the same % of Sinhalese, and with another 5% other races and languages. What a nice Babel that would be. We can then safely give some kind of autonomy, but for the differences in majority race vs. minority race of China vs. Sri Lanka: China 65:1 vs. Sri Lanka 5:1.

                  • 0
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                    “We can then safely give some kind of autonomy,”

                    when mao gave autonomy for the Uyghurs there were no han chinese in xinxiang.The figure of 8.5 million han i gave you was in the 2000 census.

                    ramona instead of taking me into mountains etc,lets discuss a good constitution for srilanka as they are in the process of formulating it and then putting it to a referendum.So no fear that is will be harmfull for the sinhalese because of the referendem.

                    the best constitution i can find after a couple of late night research is the finnish one,which seems to be rock solid,but finland does not have significant minorities,with the fins 93% and the swedes 5.5%,russians.5%.Unless minorities are given something in the constitution it will be troublesome in the future and we won’t be able to concentrate on developing the country with constant distractions.

                    the next best one was the singapore constitution.here there is a minority element very similar to ours with the chinese 74%,malays 13%,indians 9%.Insrilanka sinhalese are 75%,srilanka tamils 11%,indian tamils 4%,moors 9%.the malays in singapore can be considered as the minority comparable to the tamils in srilanka,with one important difference being that singapore seperated from malaysia and the malays are those who were left behind in singapore.srilanka did not seperate from india and the tamils here are not the remnants left in it but have had historically their own identifiable regions.So the singapore constitution should be adopted with more powers in it for the tamils.

                    the third best constitution i saw was the new zealand one.

                    here the europeans Re 71%.maoris 14%,asian 11%,pacific people 7.5%.

                    This seems to be just like the composition of people in srilanka with europeans being comparable to the sinhala bhuddhists and the other 30 % being the tamil hindus,muslims and catholic/christians. Better to look at form the religious angle because the bhuddhists have become very troublesome to other religions like islam and christians/catholics.A constitution should protect everybody and give them peace of mind and i don’t see any problems in the well managed new zealand and i feel that constitution might be good for srilanka to adopt.

                    only thing is NZ parliament is under a constitutional monarchy.That part of the constitution can be scrapped.Also the head of the government as in NZ should be the PM not president.The nine provinces could be the administrative divisions,just as in NZ 16 regions and 1 territory are the administrative divisions.

                    new zealand recently wanted to develop close ties to srilanka.Its isolation and small population and 268000 sq.km has synergistic benefits to both countries as they get closer and closer to each other and fit with our geographical strategic location,larger population(4 times more than new zealand and small area(quarter of the size of NZ).two simialr constitutions too will help facilitate the process of cooperation.

                    what do you think?If the europeans, maoris and the asians are happy with that constitution,why shoudn’t the sinhalese,tamils and muslims?

                    • 0
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                      Shankar, thanks for the information that you give.

                      Guess when Mao gave autonomy for the Uyghurs, they thought it was going to be an easy deal. But they soon found that resettlement of the place with Han-Chinese was an imperative.

                      Guess they all speak Finnish in Finland.

                      Singapore is a newly constructed country. Previously, Malay fishermen occupied the place for thousands of years. All their land was taken way for cosmopolitan development. But most are happy all the same, I think, even if a bit reminiscent of the past.

                      In New Zealand, all education is in English….possibly with certain Maori tribes living in reservations (must read up more about them). But the Maoris do have a great amount of socio-economic issues.

    • 3
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      Dankotuwe Maama

      “There are many different ethnic groups living in harmony and peace in these countries. None of the ethnic groups based on their religion or language clamours or fights for federalism and develop their country collectively.”

      Unfortunately, in Lanka, the land of Natve Veddah aethho, occupied by Para-Sinhala, ans Para-Buddhism from India, Bharat, do not believe so.

      After illegally occupying the Land and chasing the Natives to the jungle, the Para-Sinhala developed their Para-Sinhala-para_Buddhist “civilization”, that is a distortion of True Buddhism as taught by the Enlightened Buddha, with Myths, so that the Monks and the ose in power can exert their hegemony.

      This continues to this day.

      That is the root cause of the conflict in Sri Lanka. Para-Sinhala Para-Buddhists not treating the other Paras with equal rights, and dignity.. This makes it difficult to create an Egalitarian Unitary Nation.

      Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people: their relations within the island and with the Indian subcontinental populations

      Journal of Human Genetics (2014) 59, 28–36; doi:10.1038/jhg.2013.112; published online 7 November 2013

      Through a comparison with the mtDNA HVS-1 and part of HVS-2 of Indian database, both Tamils and Sinhalese clusters were affiliated with Indian subcontinent populations than Vedda people who are believed to be the native population of the island of Sri Lanka.

      http://www.nature.com/jhg/journal/v59/n1/full/jhg2013112a.html

      • 0
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        Salaam Alaikum Amar (SIRI)

        You are a shameless pathetic Muslim bigot. You do not deserve any response. At least get a proper ID to show your social background.

    • 0
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      DJ (with a doctorate) [Edited out]

      • 1
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        Sure he is .. but how he earned that is now becoming questionable to me for one single reason SINCE he sits with JO rivals these days.

      • 1
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        I believe it is true that easy targets of the society with universal franchaise are constantly been abused by all opportunistic elements in the society.

        Like the LTTErs abused the innocient civil folks for their survival, MR led extreme elements seem to do the job putting both buddhist monks and the gulliable as a human shield

    • 0
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      Mame,

      Your list of “unitary states” include South Aftrica and some countries that have a federal set up.

      Why not SL be like one of them?

      Was the US or the UK “demeaned” because of Federalism?

  • 11
    1

    Dr Dayan,

    Shall we leave discussion on Marx, Lenin, Stalin, USSR,Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, federalism for another day?

    Are we supposed to be the prisoners of the past?

    Are we going to follow blindly the past leaders irrespective of their monumental failures?

    Does not the present generation destined to traverse a new path?

    The name dropping of SWRD,JR or Premadasa is not going to frighten us to follow a different path.

    The past constitutions failed to build up a united Sri Lanka.

    Should we not learn lessons from the past and select a different, may be less traveled path, if that path leads our country towards prosperity.

    You repeat your old argument that federalism weakens the center.but not how?

    Could you give instances where Federalim had weakend the centre.

    On the contrary the experiences of USA, , Canada, Germany , Australia and Switzerland for example amply demonstrates the centripetal role played by federalism and these countries are strong not in spite of but because of federalism.

    Under federalism , the center holds only limited but absolute powers and could afford to concentrate on those limited powers rather than diverted to peripheral issues thereby weakening the hold of the center as in a unitary state.

    The center could concentrate solely on defense and external affairs thereby prevent any centrifugal tendencies.

    If not fully fledged federalism , but some degree of power sharing or devolution is the need of the hour.

    Dayan or any other scaremongers are not going to frightened us from examining different models to meet our specific needs.

    Ethnic federalism is a way out for the resolution of the present problems faced by Sri Lanka.

    Canada, Switzerland and even India with quasi federalism had resolved their ethnic problems successfully through ethnic federalism.

    This is for you Dr Laksiri Fernando. Dr Laksiri, Do not be a prisoner of the past and scared to express your opinions honestly and openly!

    Is there any other valid objections to federalism? Tell us frankly, we are ready to discuss!

    • 1
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      Hello Sri;
      You have said;
      “On the contrary the experiences of USA, , Canada, Germany , Australia and Switzerland for example amply demonstrates the centripetal role played by federalism and these countries are strong not in spite of but because of federalism.”

      Instead of speaking about Federalism that amalgamated, different independent territories controlled by independent rulers and war loads, different territorial governments of the USA, Canada, Australia and Switzerland, why can’t we follow the success stories of China, Japan, UK, France, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, Norway, South Africa and many others under Unitary concept.
      Your argument is very weak if you compare the progress made in majority of the countries in the world under the Unitary system

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        China is communist and it was starving and folk were dying of hunger until WTO opened doors around 30 years ago- they created 350 million jobs but yet 400 million are unemployed. Unless you know the party man you are nobody and civil Servants are running away with stacks of loot held in offshore banks.

        Spin doctor, Bigots like him see something he expects and then he stops thinking about what is in front of him.
        It’s probably how he got to be a bigot in the first place.

        He conveniently forgets Belgium which has the best constitution and the first industrialised European nation.
        Its problems were created by refugees being forced onto it and the refugees refusing to adhere to the language policy.

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        Prof. Ramakrishna

        “why can’t we follow the success stories of China, Japan, UK, France, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, Norway, South Africa and many others under Unitary concept.”

        Please check the link below on “Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities” in China.

        http://www.china.org.cn/e-white/4/4.3.htm

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        Professor,
        Get your facts right first. UK is not exactly unitary. There are separate Parliaments for England, Scotland, Wales and Ulster.

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          You have said “UK is not exactly unitary” Please do not spin the facts UK is classified under “Monarchies following the Unitary System”. There are over 35 monarchies following the Unitary system. Among them are; Luxembourg, Denmark, Saudi Arabia,. UK also have adopted Devolved governments and Local governments- By any means UK is not federal state.

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            Prof. Ramakrishna

            “UK also have adopted Devolved governments and Local governments- By any means UK is not federal state.”

            Isn’t it a Quasi-federal state? Many political commentators and academics see British arrangement for power sharing as Quasi-Federalism.

            Quasi-federalism
            Vernon Bogdanor

            http://www.politicscymru.com/en/cat2/article9/

            Here is something you should have read but have ignored and now you can only fix your mind to monarchies of the world but missed the changing narrative of UK.

            OUR QUASI-FEDERAL KINGDOM

            A REPORT OF A WORKING PARTY OF THE
            SOCIETY OF CONSERVATIVE LAWYERS

            September 2014

            http://www.conservativelawyers.com/
            files/Our_Quasi-Federal_Kingdom.pdf

            Please read, it is not too late to update information and knowledge.

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            UK = United Kingdom

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            Prof. Ramakrishna ,

            “” “Monarchies following the Unitary System”. There are over 35 monarchies following the Unitary system. “”

            New World : Isabel Catholic of Spain decided to stop the conflicts of Europe by marriage. today Royalty from Spain to Norway inclusive of UK are related.

            Since Belgium has a King it was able to resolve the non government limbo state for 2 years and the reason for this was caused by immigrants and refugees declining to follow the law of the land.

            An Unforgettable Royal Audience: John Adams meets King George III on June 1, 1785
            “I pray, Mr Adams, that the United States does not suffer unduly from its want of a monarchy.”
            It marked the first meeting between a British Sovereign and an official envoy of the newly independent United States of America.

            The British are unique so they have the maximum number of inventions in the world. they have tentacles in their brains to rule while lankans way of life and problem solving does not permit them self rule

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          Some Professors seem to need improving their blunted research skills!

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            Lionel Bopage

            “Some Professors seem to need improving their blunted research skills!”

            Did you mean, Prof. Ramakrishna?

            Just ignore him.

            However, I am worried about his students, that is if he still has any.

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      Is there any other valid objections to federalism? Tell us frankly, we are ready to discuss!
      “The center could concentrate solely on defense and external affairs thereby prevent any centrifugal tendencies.”

      the center would want to control the purse strings- all aid etc has to come via centre and they would distribute. The war in punjab, JVP, Tamils all to do with uneven distribution of funds. Tsunami hora made possible by CBK- I listened to LK on BBC when he said we have not received one cent and he returned to be shot dead. Who done it??

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        Sri Lanka was founded as an UNITARY state. No shared borders except the natural security barrier “INDIAN OCEAN”. It will remain as an UNITARY STATE until eternity. Chandrika the woman with a Malayali ancestry can bark “Until the cows come home”. There is nothing to discuss and you may join Chandrika,

        Capiche,Alfredo.

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    Who gave him the doctorate and what type of thesis he wrote to get
    it, baffles the people as his knowledge on international politics is
    limited. Having lived in Switzerland, where federalism flourished, and taken as an example of functioning democracy,he is trying to prove that
    federalism does not suit Sri Lanka because of the phobia he has that India will swallow SL, some day.

    He is attacking CBK for having let out the thinking of some of the
    the intellectuals in the country to the public that devolution of power sharing with the minorities will solve the ethnic problem and put the country on the right path.

    Before India, Swiss and Russia ever thought of federalism, SWRD on his return from Oxford,in 1920s, promoted Federalism as the ideal solution for the country and back tracked when he found that spread of communal
    -ism will win seats and Federalism was Greek to the people. He did not
    abandon the idea of Federalism as Dayan states above but opted for nationalism and his 1st act as PM was to introduce “Sinhala only act’. a play to the gallery. Dayan should know that what the daughter is
    trying to do is to introduce a system of rule what her father hand in his mind, a system in demand these days in many countries and regions, before greed for power by overpowered him. Tamils should be thankful to CBK for having boldly come out to the entire nation that only devolution of power will lead the country on the correct path to prosperity. TNA’s cooperation with the govt. and sobriety paved the way for this change of heart by the majority community.

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      “SWRD on his return from Oxford,in 1920s, promoted Federalism as the ideal solution”

      SWRDB; Are you so naïve to believe in what this Malayali said. This Christian Malayali Scoundrel was there as a politician to fulfill his father’s ultimate wish and to experiment on his idiocracy. He was known to berate about it at Oxford.

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      lanka watch

      “Who gave him the doctorate and what type of thesis he wrote to get it,”

      university of havana.thesis agrarian reforms in cuba and its social impact.

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    Mr Jayatillake, how does one devolve economic decision making then? US has a very strong union of States in a Federal system but it is not on racial lines but on old geographic settlement lines. Switzerland and Canada have their own systems based on various criteria too.

    Canada is clearly on ethno-linguistic lines. SC already ruled N and E are separate, so why not as much devolution as possible? I am not a political scientist but I feel we are arguing on basis of semantics here. There is no really secular nation in the world.

    And there is nothing wrong with one majority faith that was always discriminated against during Colonial times be given a prominent place. Malaysia has an official religion even though Muslims are only 60%. SL does NOT have an official religion in that sense.

    US has an amazing first amendment but defacto faith in practice is Christianity. That is why centuries after the constitution was created, people added “In god we trust” on their cash(that is tacky because does it mean rest pay cash?). But I digress. Words Under God were added to the pledge of allegiance only in 1953. So founding fathers did not want it; but now it is never going to be removed even though people who do not have a god may be offended. I do not care. That is how it is.

    There is zero likelihood of a non-Christian or Aethist or Agnostic (no chance in hell and as the white racist Trump monkies raised the specter of Obama being muslim) never being elected President of the US of A either. The two Indians who were/are Governors changed their names and also changed their faiths. Piyush Jindal who was failure an and asshole in Louisiana converted to born again Catholicism and changed his name. Daughter of Turban wearing Sikh parents Namrita Randawa changed her name to Nikki and took her husband’s last name. So that is politricks everywhere.

    SO why not look at maximum devolution of decision making power with a Federal Constitution that can be invoked as the US did to stop the secession of the Southern Slave owning states? The Southern states cited the “states rights” clause to secede and the only and primary cause for the Union to fight was preserving the Union. Slavery was the underpinning economic factor but that was never part of the original reasons Lincoln used.

    In India there is a CRPF Central Reserve police that is called in to States during times of strife. For example in Punjab when the Indian government launched the disastrous Golden Temple raid in “operation bluestar” suddenly virtually overnight Sikh Punjabi cops were replaced by even Tamil and non Punjabi speaking S.Indian type cops and troops into the State of Punjab. They have done this many times and still do so in the 7-sister states where Indian has a disproportionately large present of troops and massive military cantonments and occupations. Same is true for Kashmir. But if you decentralize the police it gives people an identity does it? So why not the Provinces be redrawn because 9 provinces are inefficient and inherently corrupt and not needed. So a North Zone. Divide East between its historic old kingdoms. Have a Southern state and a Kandyan state and make all local revenue go to local State governments and let there be a local sales tax and a state income tax and a Federal income tax too.

    I am confused about the argument against devolution. 9 State governments made up of subpar subeducated politicians is not of any use but if this problem keeps going on and on will there be war again? Even in Education we can use that system no? Those in the Sinhala Homelands who are out of state say from Northern Tamil Homeland will have to pay 3 times more in tuition because they are out of state like in the USA. Or the medical college in Colombo which is traditionally a sinhala area until the British occupancy might not be eligible for non Colombo province students? And Kandy Medical and Unis which are clearly part of the Sinhala Homeland as per CM Wigneswaran’s erudite arguments should only be for Sinhala students(Jehan Perera will support that because he says Jaffna Uni should not have Sinhala students and it is the same rationale). As for revenue from Ports in Trinco and Colombo, let those be Federal revenues to be distributed according to ethnic proportions. Let local revenue like for booze, fags, car tags be for states.

    I support Federalism with a prominent place for Buddhism and equal rights for all. As of now unlike the case in USA where there were laws that discriminated systemically against Blacks(14th and 15th amendments were passed only after the civil war ended) no laws exist that prohibit equal rights to Tamils. So what are the perceived grievances? Uni admissions? so if that were the case use the Jehan Perera method of segregation. All Tamils to go to Jaffna Uni only because they cannot have the cake and eat it too.

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    Unfortunately Sri lanka failed to come up like the French, Chinese, British, Norwegians, South Koreans, Japanese or Singapore. Sri Lanka was a top developing Country in late forties and was the envy of all Asian Countries. As you say it was the fault of unconcerned Leaders of Sri Lanka who rolled down the Country to today’s state. The Leaders showed small time heroism to their electorates and incited racial hatred to come to power again and again. All citizens issues were neglected and it came to be all extremism, racism and violence. Violence against the minority went on in the South first, and spread to all other provinces eventually. The Tamils were forced to seek refuge in the Tamil majority North and East. It didn’t stop there. After losing lands and lives elsewhere now they have lost their lands and their meager livelihood in the North and East to Sri Lankan army. The Provincial council there is just a name sake council and all Administration is taken over from the elected members by the Governer and the Army. May be you can compare Sri Lanka only to Myanmar and to no other Country. The youth in the North and East were school and job oriented and were forced to take to arms to defend themselves and other civilians in the North and East. They never wanted any other areas other than the North and East. Compared to what the Sri Lankan forces did to the Tamils, the rebels were very reasonable in their demands. This Author is one of the extremists who was responsible for the Country’s situation today. The main reason why Sri Lanka is in a bad spot today is because Sri Lanka instead of finding a solution it opted to use the opportunity of the world terrorism and committed genocide of Tamils. This is a confirmed genocide because it followed several previous violence against Tamils from the time of independence. This author’s story is nowhere close to reality. Why write about the past and dig up past extermism. It is good for Sri Lanka to go with the UN and to get together with all non extremist leaders, disregard extremism, go for reconciliation, bring the criminals to books and have a rigid Constitution to abolish racism and hatred in the Country. This will be a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to allow free enterprise and get back the industries going using all new technology provided the politicians are wise enough not to assume self superiority just because they win elections. All Departments, Banks, utilities, and all production machinery, appointments, Education, Employment etc. must be free from political interference for development. Imagine the Heads of departments, Central Bank, University Deans, Chairmen of Corporations, Medical heath appointments made by politicians, the Country will be down with strikes and the lives of all Sri Lankans affected.

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      It is not the system, the rogues elected for the high offices at fault.

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      The Provincial council there is just a name sake council and all Administration is taken over from the elected members by the Governer and the Army. May be you can compare Sri Lanka only to Myanmar and to no other Country.

      It is stupid for a Small country like Sri lanka to have so many politicians and so many administrative bodies which include over three levels of govt.

      Indian govt may enjoy it as it ensure blocke voters from Tamilnadu Tamils. but, it is a heavy burdon for Sri lankan public at one point has to bear every thing as the foreign worker remittances disappers.

      Best thing as in developed countries make it one language and forget Tamil.

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        jim softy dimwit

        “Best thing as in developed countries make it one language and forget Tamil.”

        Brilliant idea dimwit.

        Would that language be

        Brahui,Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin, Edo, Efik, Adamawa Fulfulde, Hausa, Idoma, Igbo, Central Kanuri, Yoruba, Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Marathi, Meitei, Nepali, Oriya, Eastern Panjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Telugu, Urdu, Esperando, Arabic, Mandarin, Daur, Kalmyk-Oirat, Lu, Peripheral Mongolian, Central Tibetan, Uyghur, Xibe, Northern Zhuang, English, …….or Dunstan baby languages such as Neh, Owh, Heh, Eairh, Eh,…..

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        Please have you checked by going to the nearest medical expert if a tail is making in your anatomy…. you the kind of idiots are no worth to add anything if you after 30 year long war – seem to have fallen in NO CHANGE mode….
        so long the stupid of you kind keep quiet only we notice that you are homo sapiens.Please therefore continue so.

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    Pakistani heeling Dancer – PhD Spin doctor,

    “”I shall bypass the issue of semi-secularism and the role of Buddhism in the Constitution because it has been quite adequately dealt with, not by a Sinhala Buddhist extremist, but precisely by the senior-most member of the Catholic clergy on the island, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.””

    With election of MR2
    She is the woman who went to new delhi saying this is diplomacy and like the political scientist exhibited her denial of freedom to the Indian press.
    Question asked: Is there an ethnic and religious issue. Answer No there is nothing of that kind to the amazement of all Delhiites.

    Faith and Ethnic is the core problem that has brought bloodshed to the island now ruled by the workers of the plantations.
    We have seen 2 brand new constitutions being produced like toilet paper in a country that lives on women’s wages in the Medieval middle east and estate labour of women. 80% of the Sinhala speaking Demalas and a 2/3 majority 66% runs in the blood now- one bath parcel and adiyak brings it in.

    Faith the emotional crusader catholic/christian/islam/lanka buddhist.
    There is no rationality like patriotism where 90% of any nation is without ethnic or faith.

    DJ, has all the characteristics of a school teacher embedded with Buddhisms humbug- wealth, fame and power.

    I hope Malcolm will not be the stupid pope. Amen.

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    Cardinal Malcolm is Old Queen’s Maama. Dyan’s Appa. Duminda’s Nana. Of cause what else he would say? Unfortunately the uneducated Thero de Silva doesn’t know who Chataholic’s authority is and them statement they released in reply of Cardinal Malcolm of comedy. So Thero de Silva is dealing at his level. Not at Vatican’s level.

    During the 1972 debates on the first Republican Constitution, Dr. de Silva, responding to Mr. SJV Chelvanayakam and the Tamil United Front, drew on his expertise as a historian who had won the first prize in the British Empire for the subject of History. He pointed out that this island has been subject to more than its fair share of incursions due to its location, that most of those incursions were from southern India and were facilitated by the internal political fragmentation on the island, and therefore, Sri Lankan, in order to safeguard its independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity, mandatorily required a unitary form of state and could not afford a federal system.

    “Two languages one country. One language two countries” said he when the Bandaranaike government brought the Sinhala Only Act. That is what Colvin originally said. After he ate expensive Chinese rice specially imported for Sirimavo, from the poor Tamils blood rubber money, he might have twisted his tongue for the taste of the Jasmine Rice. If he had really said (many times Thero de Silva either quotes out of context or apparent lies) he swallowed all the LSSP fight they did for Up Country Tamils. We had quoted many times from other points that LSSP’s fight about Tamil Labor was only opportunistic politics. If had told that like that one more time our sayings about LSSP crooks is held true. If the upcountry Tamils are people entered by incursion then Colvin was wrong of telling like that. They brought by Britain. Same way the low country Sinhalese were brought from Tamil Nadu then they too were brought to work by foreigners. Where did that dishonest LSSP communist found Tamil Nadu people themselves entered the Island? How did he connect to the Federal Constitution? Even the Jaffahistory.com was not open that time where did that Communist Comedian Colvin got his history? How the strategical location induced the Tamil Nadu people come here to work as indentured workers? When the Tamil Nadu economy deterred and they started to go as menial workers world over? What are counties Tamil Nadu Tamils went work as Menial laborers? How their strategical locations connect to their Constitution? “Ceylon Tamils” word was coined somewhere in Malaysia or that time Singapore. Does the Thero de Silva know that incursion was just about the works, but nothing about the constitutions? Why the Lankawe women flocking the Middle East? The last time Tamil Nadu Kings invaded Eelam was 1000 years ago. Nayaka Kings came to Kandy by invitation. Many Keralites were brought as Mercenaries and they became Kandyan Sinhalese. Is that a large number incursion? Foreigners captured India and then by that Ceylon was captured. That started from Lorenzo De Almeida. These are centuries of time European Powers were capturing all over everywhere on the world. They are not South Indians. But still, how is that idiot categorized that as some incursion took place because of Ceylon’s location? I doubt Communist Colvin said those in the context Thero De Silva trying to quote. Ceylon’s strategical importance was realized only after the East-West Trade started to explode.

    Soulbury’s constitution failed. The entire world is now accepted. Even Rajiv wanted have it changed. Period.

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    Excellent article.Please keep it up and continue. Ignore the comments by extreme elements

    Acedamic

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      You are a true ‘Acedamic’; no doubt about it!

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    [Edited out]

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    Dear Prof Ramakrishna,
    Thanks.
    But in Sri Lanka, the Unitary concept had failed in Sri Lanka leading to a horrible war, that is the reason that compels us to consider federal option.

    The countries named by you such as UK, China, South Africa are unitary in name only, but have extensive devolved units.

    Federal is a dirty word only in Sri Lanka.

    All other countries in the world simply consider Federalism as another system.

    They will not become hysterical by mere mention of the word.

    Federal and Unitary are in a continuum at one extreme is Unitary and at the other end is separate state Federalism is somewhere in the middle.

    What is needed is a system that is most suitable to Sri Lanka. Let us debate and arrive at a suitable form of federalism.

    Only fools will continue to consume salt water from their wells. merely because the well was constructed by his forefathers!

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    DJ its heart breaking that you didn’t include Stalin in your list! Your whole life with Stalin wiped out!
    Not long ago you want Sajith P to be the PM. With him at the helm you will be the strongest advocate for the present Govt. do you think it will be any different than what it is now. Sajith p is still strong man in this present govt. but now you want Wimal gangs to lead the country. Isn’t it sad for your friends to see you like this. With your past history in politics with sensible state of mind you should be the first person to do everything possible to promote some form of federal solution to unite the nation. If you are intelligent with integrity you can see how far you have traveled in the wrong direction.

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    The self-loving racist DJ is quoting another racist Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. It all reemphasizes the deep rooted Sinhala racist mindset even if they are the Cardinals. Now, the DJ is confusing and contradicting himself. He says on one hand the cat is out of the bag, and on the other hand, he claims Chandrika has been consistent. What a Moran! The Moran also claims the South Africa is not Federal and the ANC rejected the federal – yes, the Vicitms got what they wanted in SA. Why don’t you offer the Tamil victims what they want?

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    dayan’s one job is criticising others who come up with some solutions to foster national unity,but he never gives his solution.It is easy to criticise others but difficult to do their job if one has to take their place instead.

    at least Izzeth Hussein brought out his proposal that increased democracy is the solution to the ethnic problem,I don’t think so,but at least he did put out his solution which got a lot of flak from the tamils.Dayan has not,he just keeps on criticising others from morning to evening,with no solution at all.

    in case i’am also accused of having no solution,i was just thinking why can’t we make the north and east autonomous regions instead of provinces like what china has done to 5 regions,tibet,inner mongolia,uygur,guangxi,ningxia.

    i don’t whether it is the answer,but instead of criticising others solutions,i put out mine and see what others say about it in a healthy debate.

    Dayan is typical of people who when you call for a meeting to discuss a matter,will go on whingeing and whingeing,but when you ask them what their solution is they will blink and stare at you like a shock has hit them.

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    Dayan Jayatilleka – You should take up Politics directly, why not join the Join opposition for the destruction of Sri Lanka ?

    One thing that irks me most is your hypocrisy, and now it is not Chandrika ,it is you have shown your true Sinhalese chauvinism .

    Federalizing the Country only makes life easier for people with the sincere aim of good administration and also it will make it almost impossible for people do the dirty work in all fields to get kickbacks from corrupt Politicians who rob the country ,anyone who oppose federalism are involved in some sort of corruption, once separate administration regions are set it is easier to keep account and nab the crooks. At the moment everyone is robbing from a huge pot and no way to keep account of, and Dayan I just can not believe you are singing broken record of the old, song Sinhalese only in a different tune, out of all people you.huh.

    How can Chandrika become a Sinhalese hater for only giving her opinion and suggestion of modern administration system .?

    Having educated haters like Dayan is enough to put Sri Lanka on permanent reverse gear

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      This has been the nature of DJ from the day 1.

      While self-proclaiming himself as a senior researcher but doing himself a low level job to please and protect the bums of Rajapakshe led extreme elements. Particular elements would never agree with any kind of relieving proposals in terms of devolution of power to regions at all. They interpret it as partitioning or pave the way for futre partitions. They dont even respect fellow minerity folks being given their own rights. Lately, Gonthadipila – may be not matured as SELF proclaimed analyst, but a vocal in the JO for their survivival even louded TNA representative for a talk show calling ” see you dont even give our rights as majoratarian folks etc”. So how can you even think of a healing process.

      DJ has been doing it in English Medium while his men sitting with JO do the job in Sinhala (Main actors have been Wimal Weerawanse, Udaya Gonthadipila, Nalin De Silva and little simions of JO.

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    It is People like Dayan under the disguise of thee intellectuals of Sri Lanka, who work for certain parties to make sure the frogs in the well remain in the well .

    What people do not understand is they keep harping on none federal system , but is it not the current none federal , none power ,none economy sharing system that has been the very reason for the many deaths among all peoples of all the ethnicity of this country and more than one Insurgence insurrection and bloody civil war for 30 years, with unfinished business still in hand ?

    It is very clear that “unitary system” has failed miserably for sri Lanka and it only gave more space and encouragement for bigotry , racism all created by corrupt politicians as a means to keep the non suspecting simple folks busy while they and their team rape the Country .

    It is the rightful thing to do to bring in Federal system ,while the so called lifeless constitution of the bogus term Unitary has failed since Independence.

    And if you can compare The unitary systems of other countries to be right for sri lanka, where we have straight proven records of multiple failures of it since Independence, it is more sensible and wise to introduce a federal system ,but I agree a more homegrown one .

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      I know few close to DJ – are also not happy the way he wags the tail in favour of Rajapakshe AND the men of JO. Some cant even believe the way he supports the thoughts of an unlearnt man such as Weerawanse: What brought DJ the years long experience collected on Diplomatic exchanges, can these men ever be exemplary to the cross section of lanken nation ? Some times his thoughts are similar to that of Wimal, Gonthipila and the like- some times he behaves as if he too wants to get posted to somewhere only. We really can get it being isolated for a 4-wall – cant live up normal today, anyways, he cut his next by this incoherent thoughts but being devious as Rajapakshe has been.

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    Those who comment under his Articles make Dayan [Edited out]

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    Dayan has to sing various tunes at odd times to buy his pack of dinner

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    Dr DJ & MaaMaa

    “The majority of states in the world have a unitary system of government. It includes China, Japan, France, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, South Korea, Italy, Greece, South Africa, Norway, Denmark, Singapore et”

    Why are you having a knee jerk reaction against the word Federalism?
    After all many countries have federal systems of government and happy with it.
    By the way today the UK is having problems because it is ‘Unitary’.I say this is now quasi unitary due to demands from Northern Ireland & Scotland who have their own parliament.So it is with SA which has a constitution which has many federal characteristics.
    Of course your annoyance with Chandrika I understand because you and your father never saw eye to eye with her even when she was visiting your friends(Com. Pathmanabha) in Tamil Nadu with Wijeya in the eighties!
    If you do not recommend the 13th amendment(which you did when you were a minister in the NEPC – 1998) Why are you against it now?What everyone would like to know from you is do you have any notion of a political solution or are you only interested in a Mahinda come back.How do you read the political moment and conjuncture of current political forces?
    Can you derail the current( MS/RW/CBK )process to your advantage? If so how.

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      Hello Liverpool member of the LTTE Diaspora Inc.

      You have said;

      ” By the way today the UK is having problems because it is ‘Unitary’. I say this is now quasi unitary due to demands from Northern Ireland & Scotland who have their own parliament”

      Why should we give a damn about politics in the UK, It is an amalgamation of territories, former fiefdoms and former tribal lands independently governed. Sri Lanka is not a amalgamation of anybody’s land. You all attempted to deceive the world through 30 year war and failed. Now trying with some HOCUS POCUS practiced in foreign lands. It will never work. My advice to you forget your past, don’t be misguided by a Malayali woman’s illusion.

      Come and join the mainstream Sri Lankans and claim our birthrights denied to both (you and I) Sinhala and Tamil people by a selected a dirty few politicians in the country. Once again don’t dream about altering UNITARY status of our country; you are wasting time.

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    Since 1948, various sri lankan govts have promoted Ethnic dism\harmoney by creating Tamil schools, christian schools, muslsim schools, than bynot legialting that sinhala is the only national language, by not giveing Tamils time to LEarn Sinhala, by neglecting Sinhale North and allow free migration of Tamils from from and to Tamilnadu…

    and it is a long list.

    Now once everything is screwed up Sri lanka govt is trying to maek ethnic harmoney and reconciliation by screwing up sinhala majority.

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    Dayan had been wearing a mask for a very time , love the saying ultimately have to dance in the daylight ..

    He has today become like the elephant pouring mud over its own head .

    Dayan is a waste of time . guess bed times stories just beginning for him

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    Federalism is the only solution. Wounds will heal themselves when Tamils are given some space and left alone. Forced assimilation will not work. Military occupation must be removed from North and East. State sponsored colonization by Sinhala settlers in the North and East must cease. War criminals must be punished.
    Federalism works for India. Each ethnicity there is given their own freedom and space to develop their culture without being coerced and intruded by other groups. India learns from its mistakes like Hindi imposition which was opposed by the Tamils and compromises when necessary. India’s unity stands on its respect for diversity. But Sinhalese never learn from their mistakes. They still deny Sri Lanka is multi-ethnic by their sheer population size alone, although they are not the majority in Tamil areas which they are trying to change by state sponsored colonization and Sinhalisation. They claim the whole Island belongs to them as promised by Buddha in the Mahavamsa. They still see Tamils are invaders and interlopers who don’t belong there even after thousands of years.

    It was Sinhala leaders who initially proposed federalism but unfortunately Tamil leaders rejected it but now it’s the other way round.

    “A thousand and one objections could be raised against the system, but when the objections are dissipated, I am convinced that some form of Federal Government will be the only solution’” – S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike in 1926.

    “We suggest the creation of a federal state as in the United States of America” – Kandyan National Assembly in 1927.

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    In the wake of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga calling for a Federal and Quasi-Secular Constitution for Sri Lanka, the joint opposition (JO) said it was totally opposed to ‘Federalism’ as a means to resolving the national question. – See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/115962/We-are-opposed-to-any-type-of-federalism-JO#sthash.yqZmJaFZ.dpuf

    How Convenient
    ==================

    Some much of love to the nation , to the People. It is important to note , that it is said when Sri lanka was handed over by the British there was surplus budget , The so-called Unitary state that safeguards the nation from being divided has definitely kept the boarders intact -agreed , but have at the same time permanently divided the people of the Nation , by corrupt politicians ,inducing hatred ,suspicion, racism and bigotry by various fabrication , and the result ? many corrupt politicians and their cronies have become super rich . The Country is in debts over a trillion dollars , war is over ,wounds still left open and rotting , unsettled refugees , economy in a mess , to many Security personnel recruited without any proper plan how to integrate them back into the society ,with no proper plan of employment thus having to support them and their families by using the more borrowed funds and sending the country deeper into debts , The Hypocritical love of ones own Sinhala race is today fully exposed than ever, the majority are Sinhalese Buddhist and the Majority of the poorest of the poor , no doubt the Sinhalese Buddhist, so if the so-called Unitary system was so perfect why are the Majority Sinhalese poorest of the poor ?Yes the easy way out, the answer will be The bogeyman get hold of the Minority divert the attention of the none suspecting poor simple folks and continue to keep them poor below poverty level , because once you give them the feeling of federalism and the Independence of running their own affairs which will force them to shun aside petty racism and bigotry, It will raise a great enthusiasm in them to the building of their own Federal province, so they can provide a good and comfortable life for them and their families, the life long Voter slavery will end and these simple folks will realize how they have been taken for a ride for so-many years and how much they have been robbed of their rightful share of wealth of the country , for the poor simple folk will now start to think and the Crook politicians just do not want that , they always want the poor to remain poor and be underdog to them so they and their cronies can come to power and remain in power to feed on the country .

    Federalism is not autonomous , Federalism is away to make the governance and administration of a moderately large country easy ,systematic ,organised , more transparent , it gives the people an equal share of the economy , so that a Man with true conscience sitting in his luxurious office as The leader of The Nation wont have to feel the guilt or be held accountable for the crimes and theft done in his name by corrupt politicians and their cronies.

    Federalism is a super organised system , that makes everyone a interested party as well as an accountable party , the politicians , the officials , and the entire people of the Federal administered province .

    If The President ,His Prime Minister and his Ministers are really sincere and want to be remembered with honor and gratitude by the entire people , no matter who stands in their way , they have a duty bound on them together to bulldoze their way through even if that is exactly what they have to do and bring in the Federal Constitution before they leave office and make sure to include a mechanism , that if ever the Federal system is to be reversed that a 100 % yes Vote is required .

    This is The governments and the people of Sri Lanka’s last chance.

    Please do not worry for now about petty issues of The flag , and as for the type of governance let the people of each state decide through a referendum and let the federal territory remain secular .

    Once the people are matured enough and understand the benefit of The Federal self administration and the freedom of having real access to governance of administration and shared economy, they will on their own do the changes that are need further , please start somewhere . It will also help to clean up the cabinet of dirty politicians .

    ———————
    Sincerely hope CT will consider having this comment translated into their Tamil and Sinhalese sites too. Thank you CT once again for permitting access to all people to your website to comment freely but with proper editing and for always giving us the right news.

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    If Federal System is ever introduced , the constitution should include the entire Western province as Federal Territory.

    While permitting each federal province the right for its people to adopt a self styled governance and administration ,it should also safe guard the rights and freedom of religious practices of minorities living in blocks in various parts of the province while protecting and respecting the Majorities religion and rights.

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    Salaam Alaikum Amar (SIRI) Dankotuwe Maama (Dankotuwa kasipu perana maam ma)

    what a stupid speculation , everyone who pens comments on CT know too well that Amerasiri and native Veda are of Buddhist background ,but die hard atheists .

    I leave the rest to Amerasiri to deal with .. LOL !

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      Too much of everything could lead to harm – that my elders repeated me

      Examples:

      1) Rajapakshes and his hegemony- ended up as a glass wall snaped into pieces

      2) JVPers that were over 30 – making peopls thought as a 3rd force – became less than 6 to this day- reasons should have been clear to them

      3) In the same manner, if an election would have been called, Joint Opposition would GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO defeat as any average with a little brain would predict it few months prior to the elections

      4) So, myhope that peoples thoughts would change sooner than later, towards a common solution for the longing problem of the nation – but it can only be near to federalism – basta.

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    “I promptly pulled up stakes, returned to Sri Lanka and appeared on TV in support of Mahinda’s Presidential bid.”

    Anyone who supported Mahinda Rajapakse’s presidential bid must be ashamed and apologise to humanity for being a party to elect the most corrupted leader who led a familial rule to legalise killing, money laundering, corruption and heinously wiping out innocent civilians of an ethnic community after prolonged starvation resulting in genocide.

    The other leaders cited above are the main causes of all evils of poverty, conflicts and failures that plunged this country to mounting foreign debts.

    It is obvious that the unitary system of government has failed Sri Lanka and common masses.

    There have been many who benefitted from from MR’s rule but that shouldn’t be a reason for keeping his undemocratic government in power.

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    MOST LIKELY CHANDRIKA WAS SEMI-INTOXICATED…..

    The main obstacle for Chandrika ,(the woman with Malayali ancestry) is the majority Sinhala people. She has miserably failed to understand that Sinhala Buddhists will never allow any politician to dilute the National Characteristics of the sovereign Unitary State of Sri Lanka. Her father tried by various devious methods and she tried during her period in power through various manipulations. All failed, It is her family’s illusion.

    However, she has introduced a new term “Semi-Secular”- It baffles me what did she really mean by this term. It is like introducing a new phrase “Semi-pregnant”

    This former failed President must understand “WOMAN IS EITHER PREGNANT OR NOT PREGNANT”.

    My only assumption is that she was SEMI-INTOXICATED at the time of letting the cat out of the bag. She must understand, knowing her caliber, we, the people did not invite her in our SINHALA BUDDHIST country to talk about how we should be governed. Her presence is purely based on her childhood friend’s invitation. Her presence is imposed on us. If you have a score to settle with Rajapaksas, do it at Madamulana or at Rosmead place not in our backyard.

    Leave us (SINHALA and TAMIL people) alone, we have many other priorities in the areas of economy, security, education and health.

    Chandrika,Wiggy,Ranil,Sambandan for the sake of our children must understand your priority is not our priority. We have suffered enough since 1953.

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      Sinhala Panda

      ” She has miserably failed to understand that Sinhala Buddhists will never allow any politician to dilute the National Characteristics of the sovereign Unitary State of Sri Lanka.”

      Please explain, define, ….:

      Sinhala Buddhists

      National Characteristics

      sovereign

      Unitary State

      “the woman with Malayali ancestry”

      If true, how about yours, a Konkan from western coastline of India?

      “It baffles me”

      It is expected of you, one who sits on one’s brain and stand on one’s head both at the same time.

      “Leave us (SINHALA and TAMIL people) alone, we have many other priorities in the areas of economy, security, education and health.”

      It’s a good idea. You should put that in practice. Now let them sort it out and you better keep yourself out of both Sinhalese and Tamils.

      Go help Somass who is building a Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto. He needs lots of help.

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        N.V

        I have said before and I will say it again; You are a sworn enemy of Sinhala Buddhists. I have ignored your comments but you keep on barking. However, just enjoy the ride and freedom we have offered you under our SINHALA BUDDHIST traditions. We were taught to throw a piece of bread at “living organism” like you and not stones.

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          Sinhala Banda

          “You are a sworn enemy of Sinhala Buddhists.”

          Go away. You don’t chose who my enemies are, it is I who identify my enemies and chose my friends.

          On the other hand Sinhala/Buddhists Pol Potistas are the sworn enemies of the Sinhalese as well as Buddhists.

          “We were taught to throw a piece of bread at “living organism” like you and not stones.”

          From the young age Sinhala/Buddhists are taught to throw petrol bombs, set fire to Temples, Mosques, Churches, libraries, houses, business premises and humans, fire at peaceful people, shell and bomb schools, hospitals, orphanages, people, ….. loot properties, treasury, public owned institutions, ….

          Of course you are taught to throw a piece of bread at living organism, therefore whoever throws a piece bread at you definitely a Buddhists. However, you ask more, hence your women folks are being forced to find employment in Medieval Middle East kingdom in order to keep you well fed and you unemployable. The women folks also must be Buddhists otherwise how else they can live with you.

          “just enjoy the ride and freedom we have offered you under our SINHALA BUDDHIST traditions.”

          What does SINHALA BUDDHIST traditions mean? Please define. Don’t bother if you can’t.

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    Those who have brought up Switzerland as an example for Sri Lanka to follow should first check the per capita income of the average Swiss resident. Federalism works well when the cost of living is extremely high and/or everyone pays high taxes. A “federalist” Sri Lanka will consist of a predominantly Tamil North, Muslim East, and Sinhalese South. It is highly unlikely that such an arrangement would raise the per capita income or significantly improve the standard of living of the average Sri Lankan resident. The North, East, and much of the South is still underdeveloped. The continuing trend of ethnic or religious enclaves will hamper progress. We can see this with Eastern Europe. Whereas West Germany was able to recover relatively quickly after WW2 by bringing in Turkish workers, much of Eastern Europe (and East Germany) has remained economically stagnant. Similarly, given it’s aging population, Japan is suffering from a major labor shortage, having resisted immigration.

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      Sure, having visited eastern europe lately, I bear yours to someextent, but truly saying those countries were captured by their dictorial politics and not letting open to democracy, though infra structure is develped, they had not been open to any economic developments.

      At the beginning they the swiss should have suffered by that for sure. No teverything can evolve within shorter period of time. Those countries though have their political model, people are also linked ot rigorous law enforcements and the average is knowledgble than that of any developing folks. But our folks in general stay only criticising…. too much of everything can lead to disaster or stagantions to those of ethiopians.The poor of the poor such ethiopians have never been colonised. So the number of extrem element in that society is highly existent in their society than anywhere inthe world. They are over proud of their culture but in the same time not letting any other theories to allow their own folks a better future.

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    Dayan are you kidding saying;

    “Chandrika is a self-hating Sinhalese”

    She may be a self-hating arrogant woman but “Sinhalese” part is a ?.

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    Sinhala Banda (Sinhala Dimwit Exremist)

    Sinhala Bhuddism is a ideology ,but Bhuddism is universal and beautiful Philosophy of self negation.Bhuddism can be practiced by any person including Tamils.The Tamils have been deciples from ancient times .If You see the foundations at Kandarodai or Delft island you will see the Bhuddist past enjoyed by the Tamils.

    Today the Sinhala Bhuddist person is an exclusivist killer wearing a ahimsa robe similar to ISIS Extremists!

    When will you let go your extremist thanhawa preached by your leader Galagodatte Gnanassara?

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      Liverpool Member of LTTE Diaspora Inc.

      When you don’t have anything valid to say just learn to keep silent. You have to settle your scores with Ven. Gnanasara Thero separately. The terrorists tried violent ways and failed to impose their ideology on us. It seems that you have not learnt any thing from that darkest period of history. Let me give you two simple example to prove your ignorance.

      Two major reasons for LTTE and misguided Tamil youth to wage war against Sri Lanka;

      1) Sinhala Only Policy; Who masterminded and introduced this bigotry action?: Baradaranaike (The Christian Malayali to dupe Sinhala Buddhists and win the votes)

      2) Denying the University Entrance Opportunities to Tamil A/L students:Who Masterminded: Baduddin Mohammed, Who sponsored it :Sirima Bandaranaike – By the way this was a bigotry action aimed at favoring Muslims, Sinhala people were also affected.

      Bandaranaikes have carried out many other initiatives to polarize our people and destroy our economy in order to rule the country. You are barking at SINHALA BUDDHISTS. Contrary to your beliefs not a single Buddhist leader has inflicted any harm willfully like Bandaranaike and Jayawardene.

      Rajapaksa did what needs to be done to protect territorial integrity of the only land mass available on earth for SINHALA people. You are welcome to live peacefully without disturbing the peace.

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        Sinhala Panda

        “Rajapaksa did what needs to be done to protect territorial integrity of the only land mass available on earth for SINHALA people.”

        What is territorial integrity? Please define and explain in the context of this island. If you can’t don’t bother.

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    Dear Dr. Dayan

    I am rapidly losing confidence that the current government can administer the current constitution let alone a new one.

    I think they will offer executive PM + devolution so as to make this double deal attractive.

    I will be voting no. Yes even before I have seen it. Yahapalanaya under the current constitution is good enough for me.

    If the PM is able to make this work, we have another person who has expressed interest in the job with the required experience and qualifications. Best of all, he has not been found guilty of anything.

    According to our constitution, ‘innocent until proven gulity’.

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