Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah
The days of fighting violence with violence are over; that which was undeniably and unquestionably forced on us, for which the torch was bravely borne by our undisputed Archuna, or some would say, Ellalan of the 21st century, ‘Methahu’ Velupillai Pirabhaharan. Next, currently In the Tamil Diaspora we have in Prime Minister, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran an empowering and visionary leader who is steering the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam and Eelam Tamils around the globe, most admirably. And unmistakably proving to emerge as a leader for all time, needed now in the Tamil heartland, at this hour, on the ground is the charismatic, courageous and fearless Chief Minister of the Northern Province, Justice C. V. Wigneswaran.
While it’s true that Pirabhaharan would never have had the need, “to lift a gun if Sinhala politicians had remained true to the Buddha Dhamma,” it’s also true that if there would now emerge Sinhala Buddhist statesmen of the ilk never before seen, with whom Rudrakumaran can honourably enter into discussion with, working along with all Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim political party leaders in the island, to amicably conduct a referendum for the people of the NorthEast and the Eelam Tamil Diaspora to decide the fate of the Tamil Eelam Nation, whether it would stand separate or under a united but federal Sri Lanka (or other), the conflict that was long and arduous that ripped two peoples apart would surely come to an end.
What a turn around it would be for everyone concerned, paving the way for the Tamil speaking people to enjoy the same right to self determination as enshrined in the UN Charter and other International treaties and covenants,[1] that their Sinhalese brethren have long enjoyed and to having a fair shot at achieving their legitimate aspirations of restoring and in the future developing a prosperous Tamil Eelam Nation ( as most definitely their Sinhala neighbours to the South would in developing their own land); and to winning justice for the living and the dead – the hapless victims of genocide, by successfully urging and securing a referral to the International Criminal Court [2] through the UN – through the auspices of the Security Council, towards finally prosecuting the perpetrators.
Rudrakumaran remains unmoved and is not ready to bow down to anyone; he won’t compromise on issues that are fundamental to Tamil interests or trust the new regime that has yet to articulate what’s on offer for the Tamil people. He is justified in every sense, considering the drama that’s going on between Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Maithripala Sirisena; will he or won’t he be given a nomination to run for Prime Minister – that’s still at the time of writing an unanswered question! The latest news reports say Rajapaksa has filed his nominations,[3] but we could be in for surprises. Only one thing is clear, either way, the Tamil speaking people will be mere pawns in the Sinhala game of chess. The lesson to be learned here is for Tamils to be focused on their own agenda, and act shrewd in this General Election.
That is why the Chief Minister will get my ‘vote’ anytime; he is working under heavy odds in fulfilling the needs and expectations of his people despite the absence of any cooperation from the Sinhala majoritarian government; he has done and is doing the unthinkable, like passing an unanimous resolution on Tamil genocide with his colleagues in the Northern Provincial Council and performing difficult tasks with so few resources; he wants the occupying Sri Lanka army of 150,000 out of the NorthEast – that is equal to a ratio of 1 soldier to every 5-6 civilians according to the Chief Minister; he points to the army’s presence for much of the ills in the North.[4]
He has no qualms in calling for the Tamil people everywhere to unite to mobilise and to turn world opinion in their favour to achieve the best political solution for the people of the NorthEast.
Mindful of the 6th Amendment that prohibits from asking for separation, he is calling for the next option in his view, “maximum devolution”, wide in scope, covering a whole range of affairs, under a federal system; he fears no one and is courageously speaking out and standing up for his people; most importantly he is not secretive and to his credit every bit as transparent as can be in his dealings with the government, with any political party or foreign dignitary.
The Chief Minister is reaching out to the Tamil Diaspora to help his people; he wants them to invest in his people and to do everything they possibly could to safeguarding their best interests. “Safeguarding the best interests of the Tamil people is now the primary obligation of all Tamil speaking people of the world,” he said.
These feelings were apparent and conveyed to the Tamil Diaspora on July 5th 2015, when the Chief Minister took the FeTNA audience in California in North America[5] by storm by his epoch making and thought provoking – what could essentially be called the ‘truth be told’ speech that would and should resonate and reverberate in the minds of all Tamils, in particular, the Eelam Tamils in the island and their leaders at this crucial time when a General Election is round the corner in Sri Lanka.
It should have and I know just would have stirred the emotions of every Tamil listening. That’s how powerful it was! The Tamil language must “grow”, it must be “preserved” and the Tamil speaking people’s best interests must be “safeguarded”, the Chief Minister exhorted, restating the last aspect concerning, ” the safeguarding of the best interests of Tamils,” as the reason for his visit. The Chief Minister had evidently inspired the crowd who gave him a rousing applause each time he pulled at their heart strings and they felt they were in complete unison with him in thought word and deed.
It was a case of the Chief Minister showing the courage of his convictions. The audience responding in appreciation!
And reflecting the sentiments of all of them, I tweeted expressing what first came to my mind; and I am sure what everyone else would have felt listening:
Usha Sriskandarajah @UshaSris 9h9 hours ago
RT- HIS OTHER NAME IS COURAGE: CM WIGNESWARAN, A LEADER FOR ALL TIME! LISTEN, BE INSPIRED & ACT https://youtu.be/i26-OCm0frM via @YouTube
So much so I spent hours translating his speech. because the world must know; the Sinhala people must know what’s in his mind. I hope you would read every word, be inspired and act.
But before that I wish to quote from his speech that should convince anyone of the need for self- rule for the Tamil speaking people of the NorthEast: “If we are to safeguard the best interests of the Tamil speaking people in the NorthEast we need to secure ‘self-rule for them,” he said.
In his speech, in his bid for self- rule under a federal model, he speaks of the time when he reminded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the free hand he had to make Gujarat prosper:
I quote:
“….But the standard of life of the Tamil speaking people in South India was improving by far. This was due it should be said, to the Indian constitution. Every State in Bharat had sufficient power, authority and rights given to it by the centre to govern itself by itself. This is what I raised when Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was here..The Indian constitution provides for the facilitation of sustainable development, internal security, law and order, policing and protection pertaining to land and other things within the State. Our inability to function in our province to the extent you were able to help Gujarat under the Indian constitution needs to be understood. In other words the 13th Amendment did not provide enough powers to our people; the centre stands to control us I said. The people of South India having emerged slowly from resolving their social issues are able to see much progress in the arts, cultural, economic and employment sectors..But that is not the case in NorthEast Sri Lanka. What occurred to us did not pertain to the type of social issues that prevailed in South India; what we are being subjected to is genocide….. ”
End quote:
Just as I finished writing my article I see a piercing Op-Ed written by the Chief Minister for ‘The Hill’ in the ‘Congress Blog’ – a ‘forum for law makers and policy professionals’, where the Chief Minister calls on Sri Lanka to, “Seize the opportunity for true reform,” and warns it, “must not wait another six years for a shot at justice and reconciliation.” [6]
As we wait for what’s on offer for the Tamils in terms of accountability for war crimes and genocide in the UN, OHCHR and UNHRC and by way of reform in Sri Lanka, let us take to heart what the Chief Minister has said and “mobilise” worldwide to “safeguard the best interests of Eelam Tamils!”
Translation:
With apologies to the Chief Minister, I attempt below to provide my translation of his speech at the FeTNA 2015 event, done to the best of my ability, composing the essence of what he said:
The Chief Minister began by making it known he was, “setting foot on American soil here today, since last coming to this country 11 years ago to attend his son’s convocation ceremony when he earned his MPhil degree,” not hiding his “joy” in participating in an event where so many Tamils were gathered together.
“We are bound by the power of our Tamil Annai (Mother), her unique characteristic being her language, one which we are immensely proud of,” he said.
Citing Prof. R. P. Sethupillai who once said, “God so decreed for the great Tamil poet Kamban to be in Tamil Nadu to make up for the fact that the Himalayas was not in Tamil Nadu,” the Chief Minister so enthusiastically shared his love for the Tamil language and its emissaries and proponents.
And so in singing the praise of such Tamil literary giants, he quoted Parathiar who said of them: “It’s the truth and not to be boastful to say there is no one born who could be compared to the likes of Kamban, Valluvan or Elangko!
The Chief Minister in continuing to quote Parathiar, highlights the dream that the ‘Maha Kavi’ had: “That we who are so ignorant, going about dumb, deaf and blind must hear this word; If you wish to thrive and prosper, it is for you to make our Tamil language flourish!”
“Parathiar’s focus was to propagate the Tamil language in every street that existed. We believe he obviously wanted the language to flourish locally but he also so desired that although rooted inside, the Tamil people should be like the ‘Light House’ to the outside world; that their potential should be known throughout the globe. There is no glory in sharing old stories in isolation. Parathiar wanted the world to recognise and pay homage to our unique potentialities. seeing this crowd it’s as if Parathiar’s dream has become a reality,” the Chief Minister said!
The Chief Minister listed as vitally important, three expectations from Tamils that people hold dear all over the globe: The first is to making the Tamil language grow and flourish, the second is to preserving and making the language sustainable and the third is to defending and safeguarding the interests of the Tamil speaking people.
In pursuing these objectives he first spoke of its growth, expanding on Parathiar’s dream, that:
- The sweet honey like sound of the Tamil language must be heard round the world
- The language must be made to flourish for it to thrive
- The literary compositions of distinguished authors must be translated in Tamil
- Tamil expertise, skill and talent must be recognised and celebrated by the world, for all to see.
And so the Chief Minister, was full of praise for the Tamil Diaspora: “We are proud of the fact that today Tamils who have sought refuge outside of their place of birth, have become so involved in seeing the Tamil language grow. You have helped spread the sweet honey like sound of the Tamil language, round the world; you have without question made it flourish; Tamil is being spoken, heard, broadcast and televised the world over; now we have the advantage of reading more foreign literary works translated into Tamil; the growing number of new compositions in Tamil makes us proud; your expertise and talent is known throughout the world; you doubtlessly have and are making Parathiar’s dream a reality.”
As for sustaining the language, the Chief Minister minced no words in underscoring, “the need for the language to be spoken precisely and correctly; for future generations to be told and made to excel in it; it’s you who must tell me, are you teaching the language to your children; are you extolling to them its virtues, its antiquity, its intrinsic worth and the fact that it’s the taproot of our race; despite being Tamil, you must know, you don’t have to hear it from me to know that by ensuring our children’s fluency in other languages to the detriment of ours, we are not helping towards its preservation,” he stated.
In that vein he recalled an incident once when he visited England, some youngsters had expressed an interest in discussing Hinduism with him: He met around forty to fifty students, both male and female, who except for a couple spoke to him in English. When asked whether they could speak in Tamil, they had said, “not really”. He found out that these youngsters had picked up what they had gathered in conversations their parents had with others but never really learned the language formally. When he had asked his former law students living in England why they hadn’t taught their children Tamil – the distance and the Sunday only classes were factors that made it difficult for them to send their children to Tamil school, they told him. Although they had assured him that their children were being taught at home, the children when talked to in Tamil answered in English, the reason being he was told that there was no time for them to be taught at home. Asking if the situation was the same here, he quickly answered the question himself to applause he didn’t think it was the case here after seeing the programmes arranged for the FeTNA event which he was witness to.
The Chief Minister took pains to instil in the minds of his audience, the need for making provisions for their children to learn the language in order to preserve it; only by speaking it, can a language be sustained he told them.
Tamil, he said was not merely a language but it also provides the essence to how life must be lived. Our arts, culture, code of conduct and way of life are part and parcel of, and are inter woven into our language. Reinforcing the need for children to be taught the language, he recalled further a colleague of his son’s at the Boston University who knew English, French and German but couldn’t speak her own native polish because, “no one taught her the language,” she said, “for her to learn it.”
If this were to happen to your children, can the language be sustained he asked his audience, telling them that they should give a lot of thought to taking steps to preserving the language, expressing a wish that, “their children develop the same depth of love they have for their language.”
“The third and final aspect of my speech, the reason that I undertook this visit – one that unlike the other two, centred explicitly on the “we” is about safeguarding the best interest of Tamil people.”
“As Tamils living throughout the globe we must together, come forward to safeguard the best interests of Tamils.”
“Although some Tamils are spread around the globe, I refer to those that are displaced and are, only now, slowly emerging from undergoing untold pain and suffering; their standard of life can only be described as critical; the purpose of my visit is to make their plight be known and understood.”
“It is our duty to help uplift those who have less in society, in socio, economic and cultural terms and by way of access to education and employment opportunities. Only when the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ come together can the best interests of the Tamil people be safeguarded and their quality of life enhanced.”
“Our ancestors worked tirelessly to free us from our colonisers; it happened here as well as in Bharat (India). In Southern India the Ariya and Dravidic conflict proved sharply divisive creating a lot of issues among the Tamil speaking people.”
“But the standard of life of the Tamil speaking people in South India was improving by far. This was due it should be said, to the Indian constitution. Every State in Bharat had sufficient power, authority and rights given to it by the centre to govern itself by itself. This is what I raised when Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was here” he said:
“The Indian constitution provides for the facilitation of sustainable development, internal security, law and order, policing and protection pertaining to land and other things within the State. Our inability to function in our province to the extent you were able to help Gujarat under the Indian constitution needs to be understood.”
“In other words the 13th Amendment did not provide enough powers to our people; the centre stands to control us I said. The people of South India having emerged slowly from resolving their social issues are able to see much progress in the arts, cultural, economic and employment sectors.”
“But that is not the case in NorthEast Sri Lanka. What occurred to us did not pertain to the type of social issues that prevailed in South India; what we are being subjected to is genocide. Recently the Northern Provincial Council passed an unanimous resolution on genocide – it serves as a historical archive of the of the acts of genocide committed against the Tamil people until now.”
“My Sinhalese friends asked me how I allowed such a resolution to be passed by the NPC when I believe in humanitarian principles and spiritual values; it was exactly for those reasons that I came forward and ensured its passage, I replied.”
“We are living under the provisions of the 6th Amendment. Under section 157 (a) we are prohibited by law from speaking about, pursuing and or supporting separation.”
“There are 150,000 troops deployed in the Northern Province alone. In that climate we have, in an undivided, united Sri Lanka, accepting our uniqueness, our traditional and historical habitats, asked for maximum devolution of power; this was the mandate given to us; although we have put forward such reasonable proposals the South has rejected them.”
“If you are looking to ‘reconciliation’, have you not thought that for any move towards reconciliation we need to review, acknowledge and understand the past; is it possible for a person involved in humanitarian endeavours to simply accept the genocide that took place? Is it is possible for a spiritual person to say he is prepared to forget the genocidal acts that took place thus far? Have you not from time to time heard the cries of dear ones of the disappeared? Without appeasing them, and finding answers to their questions, how do you expect to pursue reconciliation and move forward? These are the questions I have asked them. I say to them, only by knowing the truth, we can achieve reconciliation.”
“You have, they have asked me, only mentioned harassments and the atrocities committed by the (Sri Lankan) army, but you have not said anything about the abuses committed by your youth; it’s your government’s and your troop’s that forced the youth to take to arms; it’s your government’s and your troop’s brutal and oppressive measures that caused this war. It’s the lack of confidence in government, that led our youth to take up arms. I have shared our sad story, if you feel that our youth had done something to you, you can bring your own resolution in your provincial council; without doing so, do not ask me why I had not mentioned what our youth had done.”
“In my view, in life, any form of oppression, harm or duress must be avoided as far as possible. However when such measures are directly targeted at a race, which fights back in self-defence, the race that committed the offence of genocide is the one accountable. I will tell you about laws pertaining to self-defence.”
“Therefore what happened to us is not a question of just minor social issues of concern but genocide. We brought a resolution to draw world attention to the genocidal acts specifically targeting our race aimed to oppress and destroy. We are constantly reviewing this as part of our mission to safeguarding our people’s best interests.”
“If we are to safeguard the best interests of the Tamil speaking people in the NorthEast we need to secure ‘self-rule for them. In terms of provincial self-rule, the ‘canton’ model in Switzerland is very successful; There are those who say, peace and prosperity can be achieved in the country by finding a political solution based on this model for the people of the North and East and for those Tamil, Muslim, Sinhala, Tamil speaking Upcountry and other specific groups living there, aiming towards self-rule for all.”
“However it’s my estimation that intellectuals belonging to both communities are beginning to realize a ‘federal’ model is needed. We must all come forward to achieve this – I wish to say that we must all come together and act in concert to obtain it.”
“I believe you don’t need not hear it from me to know that we have to take steps to enhance the quality of life of the people of the NorthEast. The Tamil Diaspora must invest in the NorthEast in education, hygiene, livelihood and humanitarian initiatives. At one time the Northern Province, the Southern province and India were involved in initiatives requiring cooperative effort. Ferries were operating from Thooththukudi. Flights were operating from Chennai and Trichy to Palaly. The two governments must explore the possibility of resuming these services. If more dredging is undertaken and the Kangesanthurai harbour is developed fully, trade between India and Sri Lanka will improve.”
“Although we have conveyed this to the government, no one is showing interest in listening; everyone is looking to the forthcoming parliamentary elections; it’s possible politicians from the majority Sinhala community fear, facing disastrous consequences of losing in the elections if they act amicably towards the Tamils.”
“Safeguarding the best interests of the Tamil people is now the primary obligation of all Tamil speaking people of the world.”
“We explored the three different expectations of the Tamil Diaspora, which is to I said, ensure that the Tamil language flourishes, that it’s preserved and that the best interests of the Tamil people are safeguarded. I said you are making the language grow and flourish by having these great events. I also asked that you must do everything possible to make your children learn the language in order to preserve it. Thirdly under the caption: ‘safeguarding the best interests of Tamils’, I mentioned the people of the Northeast as people who are the most badly affected of all Tamils in the world today and that you must come forward to help them; and I wish to state that you must all mobilise worldwide to achieve the best possible political solution for them.”
“In conclusion I ask that you do everything you possibly can do to ensure the Tamil language flourishes, that it’s preserved and that the circumstances of the people of the NorthEast improve, and their lives bloom!”
[1] http://www.eurasiareview.com/27092012-why-tamils-of-tamil-eelam-deserve-self-determination-oped/
[2] www.tgte-icc.org
[3] http://www.colombopage.com/archive_15B/Jul09_1436425190CH.php
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=307&v=EJucqk4KXc0
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i26-OCm0frM
[6] http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/247153-sri-lanka-seize-this-opportunity-for-true-reform
Heretic / July 12, 2015
Maybe only the pro LTTE Tamils in Diaspora think that our CM/NPC is doing a good job. They do not know how the reality is.
“In the US, Chief Minister Wigneswaran had met Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal. It is learnt that he had been told to work towards reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Northern Province rather than up his rhetoric on genocide charges. He had been told that it was the best chance for him to work with the Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe Government.”
Self anointed PM?? LOL!
“Chief Minister Wigneswaran rejected a meeting with the self-anointed ‘Prime Minister’ of the ‘Tamil Eelam Government in Exile’, New York based lawyer R. Rudrakumaran and a delegation from the TGTE. En route to the US, the Chief Minister had stopped over in Britain where, despite his visit being classified as ‘private’, he has been given an official engagement with Hugo Swire, the Minister of State for Commonwealth at the Foreign Office. He entertained him for dinner as well.
A request for a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron has been politely turned down.”
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150712/news/us-tells-wigneswaran-to-work-with-govt-scale-down-genocide-talk-156712.html
/
kali / July 12, 2015
Heretic:
You are right man and you are not as stupid as people thought you were ie no brains.
Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal.
Told CM that Reconciliation is an internal process so work with MS and the other Cohorts.
But she also told him Accountablity is not an Internal Process and it is for the Outside World headed by Super Power Called US of A. Come septemmber the UN working with ICC will lay the Ground Rules and then Percy and the other Crooks can be Jetted off to the HAGUE leaving the space for Reconciliation in the following Order.
Accontabilty followed by Reconcilation.
Unlike Sinhala Lanka who say that let us see if we can Reconcile first which will take 20 years and then Accountabilty by then all the Crooks would have died. What a master plan.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / July 12, 2015
” —you are not as stupid as people thought you were ie no brains.”
Why ? How many people told you so ?
Is it because he has chosen to live and work in Jaffna, and is a witness to what is unfolding around him? Is it because he has the strength of conviction to tell us what he sees without mincing words? Is it because he has no flock or mob instincts?
Why be so judgemental and insulting? You write well and make sense. Keep that going.
Dr.RN
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kali / July 12, 2015
Dr.RN
Why ? How many people told you so ?
Is it because he has chosen to live and work in Jaffna, and is a witness to what is unfolding around him? Is it because he has the strength of conviction to tell us what he sees without mincing words? Is it because he has no flock or mob instincts? Why be so judgemental and insulting? You write well and make sense. Keep that going.
*** Have the GUTS to speak direct
Where do you live and where is your evidence as to where he lives.
You claim to be a DR. I know a Veterinary Doctor so a bit short on Human Psychology.
In Politics have you not heard of Mis Information and Dis Information to unnerve the opponents.
“You write well and make sense. Keep that going”
I like the above and it reminds me of the song.
” Marainthirunthu Parkum Marmaam Enna”
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R K Raghavan / July 12, 2015
You metal kali
[Edited out]
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kali / July 12, 2015
Dr RN:
I know why.
There is a saying that ” Once bitten twice shy”.
Some time back you were mortally wounded so still licking the wounds. Some wounds take longer to heal and leave a Scar.
How many people told me so? Frankly I dont know.
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R K Raghavan / July 12, 2015
Shameless kali
[Edited out]
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soma / July 12, 2015
Doctor RN,
Wingeswaran’s “genocide” agenda is to create a permanent fissure of geological proportions between future generations Tamil and Sinhalese.
What Prabakaran did was a temporary phase in history.
Soma
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / July 13, 2015
Soma,
The Tamils in the North and East are not in a mood for rebellion. They have suffered enough to remember for centuries. They however, need solutions to the outstanding issues and the post-war problems. Only the shortsighted actions of the State can create the conditions, when unbrearable, for even thoughts of a rebellion,
Dr. RN
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soma / July 13, 2015
Dr RN, what you mean is Wingeshwaran’s vicious agenda of filling the hearts of future generations of Tamils with hatred will not bear fruit in the immediate future?
“They however, need solutions to the outstanding issues and the post-war problems” . I am in your camp doctor. I am more concerned than you for their apolitical issues.
Soma
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 15, 2015
Dear Soma,
This is what I told a gathering in London recently :
“What happened in Srilanka all these years may or may not be termed Genocide legally, but morally it is so, because successve governments had clear intension of reducing the Tamil population in Srilanka, as evidenced by the deportation of Indian Tamils under the Srima-Shastri agreement and the forced eviction of Ceylon Tamils under the pretext of the war with LTTE”.
“The recent genoside resolution passed by the Northern Provincial council may not be prudent, may not be timely, but certainly by exposing the truth to the world at large, they have checkmated the future governments of any attempts to carry out similar acts or to evade from settling the problems faced by the Tamils in Srilanka, according to international standards”.
I hope that this will bring sense to your views.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 16, 2015
You must have been at one of those cringe inducing comedy open mic nights at the local pub! Did you throw in some more of your trademark ‘high brow’ comedy about greased circumcised penises as well?
Don’t give up your day job :D
/
Candidly / July 12, 2015
We are told that the author of this article, Ms Sri-Skanda-Rajah, and the person she praise, Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran, come from the Tamil upper classes. All that demonstrates is that coming from the Tamil upper castes is no barrier to stupidity, self-delusion and moral degeneracy.
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Native Vedda / July 14, 2015
Candidly
“All that demonstrates is that coming from the Tamil upper castes is no barrier to stupidity, self-delusion and moral degeneracy.”
How true.
You are being very candid.
Similar leaders who also came from upper class but shared their stupidity with their Tamil brethren, for example SWRD Bandaranaike, Sri Mao, NM Perera, Pieter Keuneman, Felix Dias Bandaranaike, Nalin de Silva, Dayan Silva, Vasudeva, G L Peiris, ……………… and many others.
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kali / July 12, 2015
The other Grey Panther:
GRANDMA:
I forgot to address the issue of Chat Room. Fisrt of all half the Pimps are Female. So for you the Chat Room is Groom and then Broom for Profit.
You with a Walking Stick cant catch the Prey on the Street so you have to use the Chat Room.
Have you made acquaintance with GRANDAD. You could turn it into Joint Venture.
One could collect the money and the other wait by the door to usher the Next Punter in.
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Sammy / July 12, 2015
Do not defame “Archuna” (Arjuna of Mahabaratha fame) and “Ellalan” (Elara in Sinhala) by comparing the dastardly terrorist and despot Vellupillai Prabhakaran to them. Arjuna lived a life of righteousness even in the midst of rampant unrighteousness and resorted to war only to protect the righteous, at Krishna’s bidding. He was not a megalomaniac like Prabha, who resorted to random killing of innocents and of all those who held different viewpoints to his, even amongst his own lot. Ellara was considered so righteous a leader that even his nemesis, Dutugemunu had a monument built in his memory and passed a decree that all who passed this should stop and pay respects to his memory. It is true that Sinhala chauvinists had resorted to marginalize minorities in Sri Lanka since Independence, even resorting to violence at times but they had been censored and kept in check and action had been taken to restrain the rowdy elements. To justify the mayhem wrought by Prabha and his gang as a response to this, is moronic. It is not that the days of fighting violence with violence “is over” but it “was forcibly put down” by the “Sinhala” forces lead by the ill-reputed Mahinda Rajapakse. In fact it is Prabhakaran who has made the most corrupt and nepotistic Rajapakse a hero in the eyes of many Sinhalese.
No, it is not true that Prabhakaran would not have lifted a gun, if not for Sinhala politicians. He would have lifted it anyway and would have wanted to become the dictator of the North and East. It is he and his goons who have brought upon misery to his so called people. I wonder if the author herself would have lived in an Ealem under the dictatorial leadership of Prabha and his LTTE goons. She can afford to lend support to these LTTE diaspora lot, from the comfort of her safe haven abroad, after having to move out of her home in Colombo, whilst it is the poor and innocent Tamils residing in the North and East who had to really suffer. Whilst perpetration of genocide by Sinhala-Buddhist elements from the South is acknowledged and fair investigation and prosecution is imperative, Usha remains quiet on the perpetration of heinous crimes by the LTTE and she continues to pamper them. Chief Minister Wigneswaran is a democratically elected leader and despite whatever rhetoric he needs to indulge in to suit the occasion, he will need to work with wisdom and character in dealing with the elected Executive National leadership of Sri Lanka, so as not to drag his people into another round of misery for them, as did happen under Prabhakaran and to ensure their prosperity and well-being. Neither Rudrakumaran nor his so called Transnational Govt. of Tamil Ealem have any impact or relevance in Sri Lanka.
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Dr C P Thiagarajah / July 12, 2015
It is a speech hiding the facts and reality in Sri-Lanka espousing some noble ideas. Asking the Diaspora to spend money on development of Tamil areas is foolhardy without a well set political settlement especially after the genocide of May 2009.
If a racist like MR come to power all the infrasture will be taken over by military and Sinhala colonization will start easily with the Diaspora sponsored development project.
See Hon M Sirisena is also against a fair inquiry into the minimum charge of HR violations dduring the war.
If the Sinhalese are kind to the Tamils let them divert Mahavali river to the North or at least up to Jaffna fresh water scheme in Elephant Pass. Desalination and other methods of water production/recycling is expensive and unsustainable.
If the politicians are desirous of developing Tamil, let the government help the Tamils by obtaining loans from Asian Development Bank and set up a good university of international standard in Kilinochchi as suggested once by UNP MP Sasikala Maheswaran.
Public Health is a great problem at the moment in Jaffna mainly due to lack of proper water supply and the laziness of politicians and vested interest.
All these speeches are gimmick but will CV speech in USA awaken Obama and his cronies who are interested only in regional power dominance only?
/
kali / July 12, 2015
Dr C P Thiagarajah:
I endorse everthing you have written.
But the last Para needs some expanding.
I am certain that USA is interested in brigining those who are responsible for the Genocide to books but the stumbling block is India for fear of being implicated in the Genocide.
Under the Italian Witch there was complacency to the threat posed by MR.
But it reached a point where India had to act and we have seen the results. As I have said many times Sri Lankas security is limited to Indias Security.
/
R K Raghavan / July 12, 2015
kali
[Edited out]
Let my dear friend Ehathipathi become the Prime Minister then I will make sure that he will clip your wings.
You are flirting too much and causing so much hurt for so many people.
/
kali / July 12, 2015
R K Raghavan:
You are flirting too much and causing so much hurt for so many people.
*** For your information. I am happly married and dont have to Flirt.
Let me get this one ” Hurting so many “
I know you are a spokesperson for Rajasingham Family so I know who is being hurt. Would it be the Rajansingham Family.
If people dont talk sense I will attack Rajasingham or no Rajasingham. Have you felt the pain and if so .
Is it
MILD
CHRONIC
OR
ACCUTE.
Take some Pain Killers depending on the Severity.
Paracetamol 500 Mg
Co Codamol 500 Mg
Co Dyramol 500 MG in thar order
Or Ibuprofen but this one has side effects. Any one with nervous disposition like you should not take it.
Hope that helps
/
R K Raghavan / July 13, 2015
Kali
You are ‘happily married’- it is very good. How are enjoying your happiness? Who is your husband?
[Edited out]
/
kali / July 13, 2015
Ragupathi K Raghavan:
Raja Ram Bathitha Pavana Seetharam
It is obvioius from your reply most of which is edited out that you are BANKRUPT of either any ideas or replies. Get some help from the Doctor and I am sure he will help you because he treats Animals.
“How are enjoying your happiness? Who is your husband?”
Some animals suffer from a disease called Rabies and that affects the brains and it certainly has affected yours. .
/
R K Raghavan / July 13, 2015
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Native Vedda / July 13, 2015
R K Raghavan
Thanks
/
Off the Cuff / July 13, 2015
Dr C P Thiagarajah,
[Edited out]
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Off the Cuff / July 13, 2015
Dr. C P Thiagarajah,
Unfortunately two Satellite views of Jaffna that I provided has been removed by the moderator. I purposely withheld the description to see whether you will be able to identify them.
Hence now I am including the description of the location
You wrote “If the Sinhalese are kind to the Tamils let them divert Mahavali river to the North or at least up to Jaffna fresh water scheme”
If you want to make everything an ethnic issue the best way probably would be to share the wealth in proportion to the population. Then you cannot claim that the Sinhalese are getting more than the Tamils. There are more destitute Sinhalese than Tamils. There are more landless Sinhalese than Tamils. Thus if the Sinhalese think as you do, then they can ask for the SAME per capita spend as what is spent on Tamils. You are trying to open a Pandora’s box with your idiotic racist jabber.
The Mine Action Project of the UN Development Programme, citing a lack of resources coupled with the difficult nature of the work stated in 2012,
.
“It is expected to take [in] excess of 10 years to fully mitigate all remaining contamination in Sri Lanka,”
.
The UN estimate went beyond 2022!!!
Is it because the Northerners are walking on air that they are not falling victim to mines? Do you have ANY idea as to how a UN estimate of 2022 was realised over a decade earlier? Who spent for that? The UN? NGO’s? The Diaspora who supplied the LTTE with mines? Or Foreign Govts?
Sri Lankan’s had to tighten their belts, year after year and the destitute had to forgo meals in order to achieve that. For every Tamil who tightened his/her belt FIVE Sinhalese had to tighten theirs.
Blinded by racism you cannot see beyond your nose!
What a FOOLISH Ingrate you are!
The Thondamanaru Barrage was built in 1953 but fell into disrepair due to the efficiency of the Northern Tamil politicos (11 MPs) and the Tamil Administration (14 DROs). The GA was some times non Tamil.
It was reconstructed at a cost of 100 million and completed in 2008 by the Govt. Here is a satellite view to convince the incredulous.
.
https://www.google.com/maps/@9.812446,80.130509,395m/data=!3m1!1e3
.
This made the Vadamarachchi Lagoon a Fresh Water Lake of 80 sq km surface area. It has a 300 sq km catchment and converted a large extent of previously uncultivable Brackish Land into cultivable land.
.
The Arialai barrage was built in 1955 to prevent Sea water from getting into the Upparu lagoon.
.
Here is a satellite view for the skeptics.
.
https://www.google.com/maps/@9.6646222,80.0692823,395m/data=!3m1!1e3
.
This converted Upparu to a fresh water Lake.
.
Again it fell into disrepair due to the efficiency of the TAMIL Political leadership.
.
Currently land under Paddy is about 20,000 acres.
.
The conversion of Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons to fresh water lakes opened up a further 11,000 acres of previously Saline uncultivable land for cultivation.
.
This was lost when sea water was allowed to re enter these two lakes. Does ANY TAMIL politician talk about it?
This shows that the Tamil leadership has been incapable of even maintaining services essential to LIFE itself because their interests are driven by GREED and not the welfare of the populace.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Off the Cuff / July 13, 2015
Dr. C P Thiagarajah,
Unfortunately two Satellite views of Jaffna that I provided has been removed by the moderator. I purposely withheld the description to see whether you will be able to identify them.
Hence now I am including the description of the location
You wrote “If the Sinhalese are kind to the Tamils let them divert Mahavali river to the North or at least up to Jaffna fresh water scheme”
If you want to make everything an ethnic issue the best way probably would be to share the wealth in proportion to the population. Then you cannot claim that the Sinhalese are getting more than the Tamils. There are more destitute Sinhalese than Tamils. There are more landless Sinhalese than Tamils. Thus if the Sinhalese think as you do, then they can ask for the SAME per capita spend as what is spent on Tamils. You are trying to open a Pandora’s box with your idiotic racist jabber.
The Mine Action Project of the UN Development Programme, citing a lack of resources coupled with the difficult nature of the work stated in 2012,
.
“It is expected to take [in] excess of 10 years to fully mitigate all remaining contamination in Sri Lanka,”
.
The UN estimate went beyond 2022!!!
Is it because the Northerners are walking on air that they are not falling victim to mines? Do you have ANY idea as to how a UN estimate of 2022 was realised over a decade earlier? Who spent for that? The UN? NGO’s? The Diaspora who supplied the LTTE with mines? Or Foreign Govts?
Sri Lankan’s had to tighten their belts, year after year and the destitute had to forgo meals in order to achieve that. For every Tamil who tightened his/her belt FIVE Sinhalese had to tighten theirs.
Blinded by racism you cannot see beyond your nose!
What a FOOLISH Ingrate you are!
The Thondamanaru Barrage was built in 1953 but fell into disrepair due to the efficiency of the Northern Tamil politicos (11 MPs) and the Tamil Administration (14 DROs). The GA was some times non Tamil.
It was reconstructed at a cost of 100 million and completed in 2008 by the Govt. Here is a satellite view to convince the incredulous.
.
https://www.google.com/maps/@9.812446,80.130509,395m/data=!3m1!1e3
.
This made the Vadamarachchi Lagoon a Fresh Water Lake of 80 sq km surface area. It has a 300 sq km catchment and converted a large extent of previously uncultivable Brackish Land into cultivable land.
.
The Arialai barrage was built in 1955 to prevent Sea water from getting into the Upparu lagoon.
.
Here is a satellite view for the skeptics.
.
https://www.google.com/maps/@9.6646222,80.0692823,395m/data=!3m1!1e3
.
This converted Upparu to a fresh water Lake.
.
Again it fell into disrepair due to the efficiency of the TAMIL Political leadership.
.
Currently land under Paddy is about 20,000 acres.
.
The conversion of Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons to fresh water lakes opened up a further 11,000 acres of previously Saline uncultivable land for cultivation.
.
This was lost when sea water was allowed to re enter these two lakes. Does ANY TAMIL politician talk about it?
This shows that the Tamil leadership has been incapable of even maintaining services essential to LIFE itself because their interests are driven by GREED and not the welfare of the populace.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Dr,Rajasingham Narendran / July 14, 2015
Dear OTC,
Thanks for presenting the links to the satellite imagery of the Jaffna River Project barrages to the attention of CT readers. The has to be mounting pressure on the NPC, TNA and the government of Sri Lanka to complete this project as fast as possible. I hope everyone joins in this effort regardless of their ethic and political affiliations and predilections.
The people of Jaffna need this more than anything else. If the Mahaveli network is expanded to include the Urranai Madu tank, the lands and people in the Vanni on its course will also benefit.
I invite the readers to study the the satellite imagery you have provide to also visualise the recreational, tourism and fresh water fisheries potential of the lagoon system and lands bordering it.
Dr.RN
/
Jim softy / July 13, 2015
Tamils are dishonest when they talk.
For thirty years, it is Tamils who killed everybody, and looted and destroyed everybody that included the govt.
Now, Tamils want an investigation only for the last few days ?
Why don’t you think, only a mentally handicapped would agree with Tamils.
/
Heretic / July 13, 2015
Dr CPT and others,
UNP former MP Sasikala Maheswaran who is now a candidate comes from Karainagar Island.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karainagar
She belongs to the many wealthy business families on the island. To my best knowledge the water Karainagar has is very brackish. On the famous Casuarana Beach there is even a business trying to sell better water for the visitors to take a shower after swimming in the sea. Water browsers take drinking water from the mainland to the island.
Sasikala Maheswaran must know all about how to live with brackish water if she still lives on the island.
Has she ever tried to do something to solve the problem?
Please note that I have nothing against her.
I believe that she was the only Tamil female MP and even a deputy minister. Her husband was shot dead while in a temple in Colombo.
/
The Other Grey Panther / July 12, 2015
kali [Edited out] and [Edited out] Usha,
I am sorry if I have offended you by taking up your age. As we all know many Tamil and other politicians, CT writers and CT commentators belong to the Grey Panthers. Nothing wrong with it. I admire older persons who manage to use social media even though some admit “Eye Pad” problems and not knowing chat apps etc are.
The fact that kali has managed to avoid being edited out during some days makes me happy. {edited out]
Only today I understood that both of you are already in Self Imposed Exile unwilling to return to SL. The promised Exile of kali must mean something else than leaving SL.
/
kali / July 12, 2015
No GRANDMA:
You are confussed my dear. This is due to loss of memory cells which happens as you Grow Older . Sorry I cant help you. From your utterances I am sure you are going through a State of Dentia. But I have come accross many who suffer from this illness sometimes set fire to their own Homes , attack others and in worst cases eat their own feaces.
If you want to take reuge in a Care Home I can set up a Standing order and send you money.
Let me know I am giver not a taker. Sweet dreams.
/
kali / July 12, 2015
I want to take the opportunity provided by the Great Lady Usha Sriskandarajah to get a message accros about me.
There is an attempt to mount a vicious attack on my character by some people because they cant attck me intellectually and they know if they try I will blow them to bits. I am being called kali this kali that some using proxies.
I am a Genuine, Honest and a Caring Individual and above all not a LIAR. I have a good memory and stand by everything I say which is the mark of a Man and I dont pretend .I dont mean any harm to anyone and respect all Religions , Tolerate every Race under the sun. Human suffering affects me a great deal and I became enlightened at an early stage like Lord Buddha that is why I am not materialistic.
The killing of Palestinians during the Sabra and Shatila massacre brought home to me Mans Inhumanity to Man. During the attack the Jewish Nation ( comprising of people who suffered in the Hands of Hitler) under I think Ariel Sharon as Defence Minister ( I cant remeber exactly)guided the Christian Phalange using flares to the Camp which caused Carnage and Consterantion. I was doing my ALevels and that affected me so badly.
The carnage we had Sinhala Lanka is all due to the Majority and I cannot and will not accept any Blame.
If the Sinhalese Politicians who controlled almost everthing and still do had any vision could have saved a lot of lives both Sinhalese and Tamils but we lost 10 times more.
My attack on the Majority is out of sheer anger. I take many forms but all with Good intentions and there is always a Message behind and that is to the Sinhalese Majority:
Change your Views. We are your Brothers and there is No threat to you from us and if you believe in and want to keep a Unitary State we can only unite as EQUALS. Nothing else will do.
Among Tamils there are many who are still prepared to play the Second Fiddle and be subservient to the Master Race which I will never accept.
Take me for what I am.
Divided as two seperate people under a Unitary State we STAND
United under dominance as one Nation we FALL.
/
Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / July 13, 2015
Hear Hear Kali! We hear you!
/
Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 14, 2015
Hello? Anyone else? Come now, he might be an irredeemable basket case but he still deserves some support and dignity :D Guess it’s up to me then.
Yeah, go Gali! Gali is a true hero of the We Thamizh wooo!
/
kali / July 14, 2015
Sinkala Sankaran Sarrrmmaaa:
First time you have spoken and from that it is obvious that I have hit the rightb note.
We Tamils are all equals and that is how Praba brought us all up although he has Bumped off ” Ettapans”.
But the THUG or man it is a different story. I am looking forward to more many more.
/
kali / July 14, 2015
Messaage received dear ” Nalanthana”
Over and out.
/
Off the Cuff / July 14, 2015
Dear Usha,
Nice to know that you still read the comments to your article.
Two+ years ago, on April 16, 2013 8.30 am, you wrote, “PS: I have things to do, can’t always reply, sorry I don’t mean to be rude. I can debate you fair and square but don’t wish to – I was a debater in school you know!”
Since you have read my comment of July 11, 2015 at 6:53 pm, what prevents you from exercising those debating skills that you acquired in school to debate with me Fair and Square?
I have challenged many fundamental assumptions of yours with verifiable evidence including your claim to the East with vintage Dutch Maps and Records. Why are you allowing it to stand without any challenge? Is it because what I have written is unchallengeable?
Hope you will pick up courage to write a FACTUAL challenge backed up by verifiable evidence.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Native Vedda / July 13, 2015
kalistani
Oh please.
/
kali / July 14, 2015
GRANDAD:
Yes Please in the following order
Kalistani
Hindustani
But above all a
Tamilstani until death us do part.
/
Ex-Pat Tamil Toronto / July 13, 2015
Please all of you have some mercy on Usha and Kali. They are ex-pat Tamils and suffering without being able to return to Eelam due to White Vans.
Despite being happily married Kali defends his fellow travelers with fierce mind. These fellow travelers keep Usha frozen in Canadian tundra from where she is rolled out with lots of powder for pro LTTE stunts.
/
kali / July 13, 2015
Ex-Pat Tamil Toronto:
1)By your own admission you are an Ex-Pat Sinkalam turned Tamil from Toronto.
That gives a lots of Clue.
ex-pat Tamils and suffering without being able to return to Eelam due to White Vans.
*** Just speak for yourself. I dont need a Spokesperson. I think you are Hallucinating. “experience a seemingly real perception of something not actually present, typically as a result of a mental disorder or of taking drugs”
2) Despite being happily married Kali defends his fellow travelers with fierce mind. These fellow travelers keep Usha frozen in Canadian tundra from where she is rolled out with lots of powder for pro LTTE stunts.
*** You first of all need to learn Geography to know where Toronto is.
Marriage gives you a lot of strength. But taking taking drugs destroys the power of thinking.
Toronto is not near Hambanthotta. You Sinkalam when you claimed Asylum didnt the agent tell you before dropping you where you were going to be dropped.
Time Travellers: Are you referring to interstellar Journey and that explains your Frozen State of Mind.
Powder for pro LTTE stunts: Dynamite is banned in western countries it is only used openly in Hambanthota.
/
Ex-Pat Tamil Toronto / July 13, 2015
Kali,
Why are you so full of hate all the time? Please read my comment again when you are calm. I am trying to defend you and your fellow pro LTTE travelers in exile.
I never wrote about “Time Travellers”.
The word “powder” in my comment refers to the stuff that people use to look fair.
/
kali / July 13, 2015
Ex-Pat Tamil Toronto
They are ex-pat Tamils and suffering without being able to return to Eelam due to White Vans.
*** If you call the above Defending I have found the Perfect Lawyer for Mahintha when he i jetted off to the HAGUE. Man I will contact MR and his Astrologer straight. Keep your Diary Free for the whole the coming year.
The word “powder” in my comment refers to the stuff that people use to look fair.
*** Send the Powder to Africans to become white and they will no longer be called Negroes.
What an invention. I dont and no one in my family need it because we are all very fair.
I remember as a student I lived in a YMCA and the milk in the Canteen used to diasppear quickly ( drinking) so the White manger asked the Africans are you all having a Milk Bath to turn white and that offended them.
Have you thiught about having your head examined aas you seem to suffer from Loss of Identity and Orientation.
/
Ex-Pat Tamil Toronto / July 14, 2015
Kali,
Once again you fail to read, understand and attack instead of having a conversation. Do you comment to let out steam and decrease stress? Why are you so angry? Have you not noticed that your way to comment is counter productive?
Btw your comment in my humble opinion has problems with section 8 of the Comments Policy. See below:
“8. Keep it relevant. We know that some conversations can be wide-ranging, but if you post something which is unrelated to the original topic (“off-topic”) then it may be removed, in order to keep the thread on track. This also applies to queries or comments about moderation, which should not be posted as comments.”
Thank you for the story about Africans and milk. Please note that the word negro is no longer politically correct as it refers to color.
You are a real gentleman defending paatti who doesn’t defend herself.
/
kali / July 14, 2015
Ex-Pat Sinkalm turned Tamil Toronto Hambanthotta.
I ceratinly dont understand you because we are on a different wavelengh. But there are a lot in Sinhala Lanka the likes of Dayan
Prof Rajiva and they all speak your language. So try them.
1) The word “powder” in my comment refers to the stuff that people use to look fair.
Courtsey of Ex Pat Tamil Toronto
36 Hours later
2) Thank you for the story about Africans and milk. Please note that the word negro is no longer politically correct as it refers to color.
Courtsey of Ex Pat Tamil Toronto
/
Ex-Pat Tamil Toronto / July 15, 2015
Kali,
Take a look at section 9 below. Sorry mate but your comment makes no sense at all.
“9. Be aware that you may be misunderstood, so try to be clear about what you are saying, and expect that people may understand your contribution differently than you intended. Remember that text isn’t always a great medium for conversation: tone of voice (sarcasm, humour and so on) doesn’t always come across when using words on a screen. You can help to keep the comment section open to all viewpoints by maintaining a reasonable tone, even in unreasonable circumstances.”
/
The Other Grey Panther / July 13, 2015
[Edited out]
/
Reminder / July 13, 2015
Kali (and others)
You have been often edited out and now are considering leaving CT. Have you carefully studied the Comments Policy? In my opinion your comments that have not been edited out often are borderline cases. Some editors accept more than others. I am sure that others have similar problems while commenting.
The editors often allow something that I consider personal attacks. I do not know why.
See the policy below:
Comments Policy
DISCUSSION GUIDELINES
The Colombo Telegraph provides a opportunity for readers who wish to discuss content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Our aim is to ensure this platform is inclusive and safe.
There are 10 simple guidelines which we expect all participants to abide by, all of which directly inform our approach to moderation (detailed below). These apply across the site, while moderation decisions are also informed by the context in which comments are made. We receive a lot of comments and aim to moderate them all within 24 hours of submission.
1. We welcome debate and dissent, but personal attacks (on authors, other users or any individual), persistent trolling and mindless abuse will not be tolerated. The key to maintaining the website as an inviting space is to focus on intelligent discussion of topics.
2. We acknowledge criticism of the articles we publish, but will not allow persistent misrepresentation of the Colombo Telegraph and our journalists/contributors to be published on our website. For the sake of robust debate, we will distinguish between constructive, focused argument and smear tactics.
3. We understand that people often feel strongly about issues debated on the site, but we will consider removing any content that others might find extremely offensive or threatening. Please respect other people’s views and beliefs and consider your impact on others when making your contribution.
4. We reserve the right to redirect or curtail conversations which descend into flame-wars based on ingrained partisanship or generalisations. We don’t want to stop people discussing topics they are enthusiastic about, but we do ask users to find ways of sharing their views that do not feel divisive, threatening or toxic to others.
5. We will not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia or other forms of hate-speech, or contributions that could be interpreted as such. We recognise the difference between criticising a particular government, organisation, community or belief and attacking people on the basis of their race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.
6. We will remove any content that may put us in legal jeopardy, such as potentially libellous or defamatory postings.
7. We will remove any posts that are obviously commercial or otherwise spam-like. Our aim is that this site should provide a space for people to interact with our content and each other, and we actively discourage commercial entities passing themselves off as individuals, in order to post advertising material or links. This may also apply to people or organisations who frequently post propaganda or external links without adding substantively to the quality of the discussion on the website.
8. Keep it relevant. We know that some conversations can be wide-ranging, but if you post something which is unrelated to the original topic (“off-topic”) then it may be removed, in order to keep the thread on track. This also applies to queries or comments about moderation, which should not be posted as comments.
9. Be aware that you may be misunderstood, so try to be clear about what you are saying, and expect that people may understand your contribution differently than you intended. Remember that text isn’t always a great medium for conversation: tone of voice (sarcasm, humour and so on) doesn’t always come across when using words on a screen. You can help to keep the comment section open to all viewpoints by maintaining a reasonable tone, even in unreasonable circumstances.
10. The platform is ours, but the conversation belongs to everybody. We want this to be a welcoming space for intelligent discussion, and we expect participants to help us achieve this by notifying us of potential problems and helping each other to keep conversations inviting and appropriate. If you spot something problematic in comment section, please report it. When we all take responsibility for maintaining an appropriate and constructive environment, the debate itself is improved and everyone benefits.
In short:
– If you act with maturity and consideration for other users, you should have no problems.
– Don’t be unpleasant. Demonstrate and share the intelligence, wisdom and humour we know you possess.
– Take some responsibility for the quality of the conversations in which you’re participating. Help make this an intelligent place for discussion and it will be.
/
kali / July 13, 2015
Reminder:
You need to be reminded that Professors like you are plenty in Sinhala Lanka and that is why we are where we are.
You certainly will not be marking my Paper and what you have written above belongs in the DUST BIN.
Sinkalams have never marked my Paper and Never will. Got it.
In Short:
If throw your hat in the Ring you expect to be Punched and if you write CRAP you will be Punctured. Politics is a Rough Game. You take Rough with the Smooth.
If you cant withstand just get out mate.
/
maalumiris / July 14, 2015
@kali
Oh dear, I think you just proved @Reminders point quite well and scored an Own Goal !
/
R K Raghavan / July 14, 2015
kali
[Edited out]
/
Off the Cuff / July 13, 2015
Dr. C P Thiagarajah,
You wrote “If the Sinhalese are kind to the Tamils let them divert Mahavali river to the North or at least up to Jaffna fresh water scheme”
.
The Mine Action Project of the UN Development Program, citing a lack of resources, coupled with the difficult nature of the work stated in 2012,
.
“It is expected to take [in] excess of 10 years to fully mitigate all remaining contamination in Sri Lanka,”
.
The UN estimate to make the North habitable went beyond 2022!!!
How is it that the Northerners are today walking about a war torn, mine infested, war zone without getting blown off to bits?
Why are they not falling victim to mines?
Is it because the Northerners are walking on air?
Do you have ANY idea as to how a UN estimate of 2022 was realised over a decade earlier? Who spent for that? The UN? NGO’s? The Diaspora who supplied the LTTE with mines? Or Foreign Govts?
Are you aware that up to March 2013 the Govt spent Rs 11,374,000,000 which is 150$ of the Foreign contribution?
Sri Lankan’s had to tighten their belts, year after year and the destitute had to forgo meals in order to achieve that.
For every Tamil who tightened his/her belt, FIVE Sinhalese had to tighten theirs.
Why should the Sinhalese do that when there are more destitute amongst the Sinhalese than Tamils and more landless Sinhalese than Tamils?
Blinded by racism you cannot see beyond your nose!
What a FOOLISH Ingrate you are!
Would you prefer the govt to spend an equal amount on each person?
Then we could have a Healthcare allocation per person, an education allocation per person, a development allocation per person etc. All will be equal, Race will be immaterial and every village, town, district and province will develop equally.
But I am sure that won’t be acceptable to you as then you cannot sponge on the Sinhalese.
Now let’s look at the Water Issue that you have raised
The Thondamanaru Barrage was built in 1953 but fell into disrepair due to the efficiency of the Northern Tamil politicos (11 MPs) and the all Tamil Administration (14 DROs). The GA was some times non Tamil.
It was reconstructed at a cost of 100 million and completed in 2008 by the Govt. Here is a birds eye view of the current status.
.
https://www.google.com/maps/@9.812446,80.130509,395m/data=!3m1!1e3
.
This made the Vadamarachchi Lagoon a Fresh Water Lake of 80 sq km surface area. It has a 300 sq km catchment and converted a large extent of previously uncultivable Brackish Land into cultivable land.
.
The govt. built the Arialai barrage in 1955 to prevent Sea water from getting into the Upparu lagoon. Upparu became a Fresh water lake as a result. This birds eye view shows the current status.
.
https://www.google.com/maps/@9.6646222,80.0692823,395m/data=!3m1!1e3
.
The conversion of Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons to fresh water lakes opened up a further 11,000 acres of previously Saline uncultivable land for cultivation. Thus cultivable land increased from 20,000 acres to 31,000 acres. It also increased the water table and turned brackish wells in to Fresh water wells.
.
Again it fell into disrepair due to the efficiency of the all TAMIL Political and Administrative leadership.
The Tamil leadership frittered away all of this when Sea water entered the fresh water lakes due solely to their neglect.
Does ANY TAMIL politician talk about it?
Does a seemingly educated Tamil like you talk about it? Apparently you appear to be IGNORANT of it.
This shows that the Tamil leadership has been incapable of even maintaining services essential to LIFE itself because their interests are driven by GREED and not the welfare of the populace.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Thanga / July 14, 2015
By a twist of fate those who maligned and denigrated C.V. Wigneswaran as a Colombo Thamil, his two sons married to Sinhalese girls, the militant Trotskyite turned un-varnished racist Vasudeva Nanayakkara being his in-law etc. etc. are singing his praise. What the Thamil community need is educated and qualified professionals to serve in local bodies, provincial councils and parliament. If course Wigneswaran is political novice who speaks out of turn and pick up fights with the Prime Minister of the country. His job is an opportunity to serve the people who elected him and not fight shadow boxing with the Prime Minister
/