28 March, 2024

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“Command Responsibility” In Sri Lankan Governance

By Emil van der Poorten

Emil van der Poorten

Emil van der Poorten

Let me begin this piece with a rhetorical question that should perhaps be the final question asked: why, despite the very loud pronouncements about “newborn media freedom,” “freedom of expression,” “the re-emergence of the rule of law,” “the return of human rights” and a plethora of other motherhood-and-apple-pie slogans, have not those freedoms been exercised by those proclaiming them from the rooftops? Why have they not simply asked Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa some very obvious questions that relate to the plight that this country is in today?

As background to all of this there is one very obvious fact. J. R. Jayewardene declared the republican constitution for which he was responsible as empowering him to do anything except effect gender change. After the passage of the now (in)famous 18th Amendment to the Constitution enacted by the sheep (or is it goats?) of very violent persuasion who inhabit our legislature, it would appear that even that “shortcoming” had ceased to exist!

I have regularly seen, on far less prima facie evidence, for crimes of significantly lesser magnitude, “ordinary” Sri Lankans taken into custody, often without access to lawyers, leave alone bail, and then languishing in one of our “remand facilities” or a cell hidden from public view for an inordinate length of time, sometimes being sent home because no prosecution could be launched for lack of evidence or simply because the “framing” of the accused had only been needed on a short-term basis. In all fairness, much of this, even if of lesser magnitude, existed before the Rajapaksa Regime’s attempted takeover of every aspect of our lives.

Why, when there has been embezzlement of Sri Lanka’s resources on what can truly be described as “an industrial scale” has Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief, not so much as been questioned when, time after time, the joining of any set of corruption dots has led clearly and conclusively to him?

I’ve heard the claim being made that there was some form of Presidential Immunity from prosecution for any and all crimes, up to those of a capital nature. However, I’ve also heard that any such immunity did NOT extend beyond the period in which the individual held such office.

Even if the former opinion can be sustained, why has the media of the country refrained from so much as asking Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa ONE SINGLE QUESTION about the mountain of corruption for which he certainly had “command responsibility?”

There are three possible explanations for this:

  1. That anything resembling morality and a belief in the rule of law has disappeared off the face of Sri Lanka and such concepts only exist in dim, distant history or in outer space
  2. Rank cowardice on the part of the media and those seeking to influence public opinion in any shape, form or fashion
  3. The emergence of a clearly-identified “Insurance Mentality” in which one does not piss-off those currently out of power because they might return to exercise life-or-death authority over one, authority that, given their substantiated record, they would be only too willing to exercise!

While there does seem to be some evidence of the first in that list raising its very ugly head, I do not believe that philosophy to be so widespread as to account for the deathly silence that surrounds issues of command responsibility in Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa’s conduct.

Mahinda GotaAs for the second explanation, given the history of the Sinhala and other “Weerayas” choosing to define themselves by ethnicity, this could, perhaps, account for part of their historical failure to rise to a challenge that could well determine Sri Lanka’s continued existence as a civilized country. However, I have encountered far too many skilled writers, particularly of the female gender, who have, literally, put their lives on the line to level justified criticism at a crypto-fascist regime, to buy completely into that suggestion. Now that, in large measure, the heat is off, no matter how temporarily, I don’t think this is the factor it once may have been when people like Ekneligoda were “disappeared” (while subsequent-Chief Justice Mohan Pieris claimed he was alive and well in Paris) and Lasantha Wickrematunge was butchered in broad daylight in a so-called “Security Zone” and the erstwhile Secretary of Defence not only displayed chose to display an atom of regret but went out of his way to disparage the late newspaper editor in the vilest and most vicious terms.

I believe that No. 3 in my list is the most likely explanation going on the “form” displayed by the self-proclaimed “defenders of our fundamental freedoms.” In fact, this sort of behavior is achieving proportions when there might be a need to develop a whole raft of legislation to legitimize Insurance Agencies intended to cater to the needs of those wishing to have their political and ethical bread buttered on both sides, bartering their silence in matters of rank corruption and complicity in robbing the national treasury for future “favours” in the event that those very criminals return to power. This will ensure their ongoing wellbeing no matter which coalition wields the instruments of power. I suspect the Sinhala expression “Kadey yanawa” could well express this philosophy as well as any.

This approach to anything resembling morality or ethics would be consonant with the current government’s stance in the matter of war crimes and crimes against humanity as well. Let’s not beat about the bush in this matter: it is, essentially, the same as the Rajapaksa Regime’s and goes, “THIS IS AN INTERNAL MATTER. BUTT OUT! WE WILL CONDUCT OUR OWN INQUIRIES.”

I have said it before and I will say it one more time, “Would anyone except a stark raving lunatic have asked the leaders of the Third Reich to conduct the Nurnberg Trials at the end of World War II?”

That might sound like a provocative statement but it is an absolutely legitimate one.

If you have nothing to hide, Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa, why do you object to an international inquiry? And, perhaps more important, why does the current government march in lockstep with its predecessor in that regard?

Were the inquiries held into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the former Yugoslavia and in some of the West African countries a travesty of justice? If they were in any way flawed, would you please tell us how? Though I believe that any response you would proffer would, of necessity, be placed in the context of the unequivocal statement that “THERE WASN’T ONE SINGLE CIVILIAN CASUALTY IN THE FINAL BATTLES AGAINST THE TIGERS” made by Percy Mahendra and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

IS THIS THE SAME STAND THAT THE CURRENT SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN TO TAKE?

This is not a matter of supporting some megalomaniacal Fascist Tamil leader with separatist pretensions. This is a matter of the soul of the Sri Lankan nation and that nation’s need to for a life of dignity and respect in the community of nations in the future.

The states that comprised the old Yugoslavia exist and grow as democracies, however flawed, because they chose not to rush to the rescue of the Slobodan Milosevics, the Ratko Mladics and the Radovan Karadzics among the 150 citizens of various ethnicities in the old Yugoslavia brought to trial and convicted.

There has never been any question from any quarter that Mr. Taylor and his murderous cohorts in West Africa who were brought to trial were in any way unjustly treated, either.

If the current government, advancing no matter how specious, reasons, continues to play the same lying and obfuscating games that the Rajapaksa gang played, we, as inhabitants of a nation with pretensions to decency, democratic behavior and all those other wonderful attributes will have, instead, reduced ourselves to a position befitting the pariah nations of the world.

If any Sri Lankan is hauled before an international tribunal, we should have sufficient depth in our legal fraternity to afford them the defence due them and to have them exonerated if they are not guilty. Failing that, we could well find such as Sir Desmond de Silva, who has already given ample evidence of his loyalty to the Rajapaksa regime, to mount the required defence.

If they are found guilty, let international law take its course. Unless, of course the perpetrators of the Batalanda, Matale and similar atrocities feel some sort of affinity with those who might be accused and feel obliged, not only to ensure they are found not guilty but, to make sure they are not even brought to trial.

The accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity did not go away because of the obfuscations and downright lies that the Rajapaksas and their followers uttered. A repeat of that same performance could well be described as, “The more you do what you’ve always done, the more you’ll get what you always got!”

What has been expressed, in the world of backward Sri Lankan politics and its obsessive belief that “the whole world is against us because of jealousy” is going to be a monumentally unpopular opinion. However, at some point in time some government has to stand up for what is just and fair, not what wins favour with a xenophobic chauvinist mob. That is something that used to be called “statesmanship” and which one can hope can still be resurrected in this country.

As I prepare to conclude this piece, the news comes through that through, probably, the efforts of Jayantha Dhanapala and Mangala Samaraweera, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been persuaded to postpone the delivery of the report that was due next month for another half year.

Let’s make no mistake about it, this is nothing but a pyrrhic victory because, ultimately, that report which is only being withheld because it is “bad news” for the current Sri Lankan establishment will, ultimately, have to see the light of day. In the meantime the Rajapaksa Horde is going to proclaim as loudly as possible the fact that the current government is of like mind to them, both seeking to move heaven and earth to postpone the inevitable. They will also, in a display of typical “Mahinda strategy,” provide the public with several other “takes” on the issue, all varying to some extent from the central thesis, thereby covering all bases on that side of the equation.

When the UN ultimately decides to present the report they will, again, cry “victory” for their stance and stand, claiming that this is what they’d fought against and which would not have taken place if Mahinda Rajapaksa wasn’t removed from the Presidency! Even judged on the basis of the most amateurish political strategies, the current government’s lobbying is going to prove to be a failure, and abjectly so.

Jayantha Dhanapala was an active and completely supportive participant in the infamous Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission hearings that every human rights organization in the world boycotted because it was nothing but a smokescreen and a device to buy time for the beleaguered Rajapaksa horde. It was not coincidental that the late C. R. (“Bulla”) de Silva chaired that travesty of an alleged investigative commission. This was the very same “Bulla” who, as Attorney General, at the behest of Mahinda Rajapaksa, deliberately created the chaos that led to every one of the senior jurists from all over the world resigning en masse from the travesty of justice that was unfolding before them in a Presidential Commission, the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP ), that had been appointed to investigate, among other atrocities, the execution of several dozen aid workers in Muthur and five students at Trincomalee. This was done when Bulla discovered that things weren’t going the “right” way and disruption was the only way to get rid of a process that was turning out very different from the whitewash that he and his master wanted it to be.

As someone who is not a “nationalist” by any of the current Sri Lankan standards (and proud of the fact) but one who believes that this country has the right and capacity to be a beacon of democracy in southern Asia once more, I hope I am dead wrong, but all I believe has been achieved by this recent turn of events is that the forces of chauvinism and xenophobia have been reinforced and the return of Mahinda Rajapaksa, with or without Dhanapala and Samaraweera in tow, has been assured.

One of the diasporic Tamils did hit the nail on the head when he quoted that very old (and very true) aphorism that “Justice delayed, is justice denied.” That will be justice denied not only to the Tamils of this country but, in a historical context, to every Sri Lankan – irrespective of ethnicity, religion or any other mark of difference – that wished this country to be, once again, a place where the rule of law prevailed and people could live in amity and dignity.

What is in the works at this point of time will free Mahinda Rajapaksa and the coterie around him from anything resembling “Command Responsibility” for what happened in this country in the name of “fighting terrorism,” right up to January 8th.

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Latest comments

  • 10
    4

    I feel so stupid for having dragged my weight to the polling booth that January 2015 morning. I dragged myself because I thought I was going to make a difference by voting for MS. I thought that corruption would be brought to an end and the guys who made big bucks would be stopped at the airport and taken in. I thought the ‘lady’ who stole gold from the Treasury would be taken in and the other ‘lady’ who is walking around with a doctored i.d. would be at least questioned. I thought “Yaay, they got Velesuda, now it’s just a matter of time before the rest are locked up.” Instead, all they got was the Director of Transport who couldn’t account for three vehicles. Oh, they also got Thevarapperuma for getting someone to kneel. Mustn’t forget Appachchi who was ‘hontheng innawa’. Then why the hell was Appachchi sitting in the prison hospital if he was ‘sanippeng innawa’?
    I think it’s high time they locked up Minister Mangala for stating two days after the elections that there was a coup attempt. This is a heinous crime, tantamount to treason and anyone who planned this should have been put away for life after an inquiry. How dare Minister Mangala make such allegations against a ‘much loved former President’. Mr.10% is enjoying the fruits of his labour in a far off country while I sit and bite my nails.
    I will drag my weight again when they call for elections … but this time it will be for AKD of JVP.

    • 5
      1

      Paddy,

      How is it that you having endured two terms of MR Corruption, Nepotism, Thuggery, Impunity and Wanton Waste of Public Funds and saying that you voted MS for a change only to complain hardly a month after, that the next time you will vote for AKD of JVP. By all means you are free to do so. I do not think any other reader is impressed to do so unless one has been a JVP supporter and your allegiances are very obvious. Otherwise imagine for someone to turn against in a month after putting up with MR for almost ten years. Anyway good try.

      Remember AKD’s project of renovating 1000 tanks that became 10,000 tanks, a ruse to pump public funds to support the vote base of the JVP to keep them intact? What happened in the end?

      The JVP vote base that was around 250,000 then, is yet the same if one is to go by their popularity after thirty years. Paddy, please do not get carried away that other readers will also change so soon like yourself because your sympathies have always been with AKD and JVP as your slip is showing.

    • 2
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      Emil van der Poorten –

      RE: “Command Responsibility” In Sri Lankan Governance

      “I will drag my weight again when they call for elections … but this time it will be for AKD of JVP.”

      It is about Crooks and Robbers and criminals and exposing and punishing them.

      Emil, you are such a good writer. Why not entice some Sri Lankan “writers” to write Common sense Pamphlets, Sri Lanka 2015, and add these as Chapters?

      There was a guy called Thomas Paine, who did such a thing in 1776 for the American Revolution.

      May be there is a Lotus of Sri Lanka writer who can come out if the mud and expose, like what Thomas Paine did.

      Also need pamphlets on Sri Lanka crisis.

      The Crisis caused by Crooks, Robbers and Criminals 2015-Sri Lanka.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Sense_%28pamphlet%29

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Crisis

      The sri Lankan writers should not worry about Gota’s White Vans any more., and there is a window of opportunity for the Pamphlets?

      Are the Sri Lankan writers up to the task?

  • 4
    11

    Bathudeen who bashed a Tamil Magistrate in Mannar, the home Turf of Bishop Raiappu is dispensing good governance to the Elite, Anglicans and the Vellala,

    Bathudeen and Assath Sally the Islamist, got the East for themselves and the Vellala TNA could do Jack Shit.

    Emil “Syntax” Poorten is lucky he has taken refuge in Scarborough.

    I mean the crowd at Nugegoda would have frightened the crap out of even Ranil’s dead uncle.

    And Nugegoda is the home turf of one the chief betrayers of the Sinhala Buddhists who connived with the UNP Christian Faction to sell the country to the Diaspora and the West.

    Besides anything else, the best outcome of the “Nugegoda Mass Protest” against the Elite, Anglicans , Vellala and the SLMC Muslims is Dr Dayan Jayathillaka conveying the fantastic message from the ex President that he is hearing the call from the great majority , which in fact is 80 percent of the Sinhala population .

    And he would not let them and the country down.

    Dr Dayan is the most articulate, educated, smart and sophisticated elite political scientist in Colombo..

    And he is a real patriot and dedicated to the welfare and wellbeing of the Dalits.
    unlike the other ninompoops who parade themselves as educated leftists. but ever ready to lick the backsides of the Elite and and their Western Backers.

    And collect donations by opening shop fronts with the NGO sign Boards.

    • 4
      3

      Still no “English tuition teacher” need to find someone who lives in Scarborough or some place like that to send one, I suppose. What to do, men, times are tough, no?

  • 0
    1

    An excellent treatise! Bensen

    • 4
      5

      Yes, may be excellent for those who like to see and portray the world through the prism of the mythical “Jewish experience”.

      As a patriotic, non-racist Sinhala-Buddhist Sri Lankan I wish to strongly protest the typical Dutch-Belgiq Burger comparison of the Sri Lankan situation with the alleged worst atrocity against them.

      Their agent van der Poorten raises the outrageous question: ““Would anyone except a stark raving lunatic have asked the leaders of the Third Reich to conduct the Nurnberg Trials at the end of World War II?”

      How on earth do these two situations become comparable? The conspirator simply wants to “internationalise” the issue so that they can run their agenda!

      The Jews routinely fail to acknowledge the Jewish role (from Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Torres, Cook, Arthur Philip to all other brutal colonisers up to Churchill)in the enslaving and massacre of countless billions in Asia, Africa and Latin Africa between the 15th and 20th centuries.

      They keep producing a highly disputed figure of “six million deaths” allegedly caused by Hitler who has been built as the “whipping boy” by the Jewish media, and is being uncritically used by the corrupt NGO types and other fools in poor countries. Then they use the brain washed to draw parallels between other benign world situations with the mythical Fuhrer’s regime.

      You may be able to fool some of the people for sometime, but you will not succeed in fooling them all the time.

      Hiding in Galagedara may not be an option when people realise the truth.

      • 2
        3

        There were in fact four holocausts during WW2, all submerged in the descriptions put out by the winners. Never forget Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where civilians in these cities died a real caustic death – death by burning. Churchill was responsible for the first, and the US for the other three. Remember too that these were cold, calculated well planned ‘operations’. Has anybody been brought to book ?
        ‘Bomber’ Harris who led the Dresden campaign was criticised much later and moved from Britain to South Africa. Churchill got the grandest funeral you could imagine when he died, and recently the fiftieth anniversary was celebrated too.

        Nuremberg, did I hear?

        • 2
          2

          Ram:
          You heard right: “Nuemnberg” it was. Pray tell how many “wrongs” it takes to make a “right?”
          Are you simply saying that since the Rape of the Sabines is a historical fact, the rape of women anywhere is right?
          Come off it! This kind of nonsense NEVER constituted refutation!
          P.S.
          Since “Bomber” Harris did it first, your argument is that what “Bomber” Goonetilleke is right? Delightful!

          • 0
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            I suggest you take a glance at my comment below. Nothing even remotely comparable to Dresden took place in Sri Lanka, unless you ‘know’ different. It was you who brought up WW2.

          • 1
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            The rape of the lock is always fruitful.

      • 1
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        Here is the British PM Cameron, yes the same one who behaved like a buffoon in Sri Lanka, praising the Dresden bombers in the Daily Telegraph today.
        http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/11422903/David-Cameron-defends-heroes-of-Dresden-raid.html

        • 0
          1

          “”British PM Cameron, yes the same one who behaved like a buffoon in Sri Lanka,””

          Ramuuuuu,
          During the Tsunami you stopped an American blackman from going to the north but you had ants in your smelly ambude when Cameron braved in?

          Pisspot you are born a slave live a slave Hora_Oru!

      • 2
        3

        Braveheart:
        What a misnomer of a pseudonym!
        “As a patriotic, non-racist Sinhala-Buddhist Sri Lankan I wish to strongly protest the typical Dutch-Belgiq Burger comparison of the Sri Lankan situation with the alleged worst atrocity against them” is a quote BEYOND LUDICROUS in the context that Hitler butchered more citizens of what was the USSR than he did Jews!
        “Hiding in Galagedara may not be an option when people realise the truth.” ANOTHER threat? Would really like to have you come up our road even if you now don’t have your “donated” Mercedes SUV in which to do so!
        Given the PERFORMANCE of Dayan Jayetilleke over the Rajapaksa years (and before and since) heaping praise on that man REALLY says it all! The next thing you know Neville de Silva (his uncle) will he elevated to that same pantheon by clowns of the ilk of whatever pseudonym these people write under!
        Incidentally, the guy who quoted Bomber Harris’ performance should consider including “Bomber Goonetilleke” in that category!

        • 2
          2

          Unlike Dayan clan , Syntax Poorty and his ancestors must have given full service to great majority of our inhabitants ( 74 % ) since 1715 or was it 1505 ?..,

          Does the UNP Christian Faction leader Ranil give patriotic titles to good citizens.

          Can anyone of the Elite Anglican and Vellala camp here suggest one?.

          • 2
            1

            Sumaney:
            Pending your utilisation of a “tuition teacher” you should, perhaps, be awarded an honorary PhD, a la Vermin Silva, for your services to English comprehension and expression.

            • 1
              1

              Emil,

              Funny you mentioned our Dr Mervyn.

              My Elders tell me he was in Nugegoda, disguised of course.

              He was spying on the crowd as well as observing the logistics to hold a similar Rally in Peliyagoda.

              On a similar theme where JHU, JVP , Assath Saly and Gano party will be asking the UNP to field Ranil as their PM candidate.

              Because Ranil seems to have caught a Ebola like fever after seeing the 200,000 Nugegodians cheering every delivery of our patriot Wimal Weerawansa.

              I wouldn’t blame Ranil if he tries to duck this contest too.

              He did it twice but didn’t get hurt.

              But it is different this time isn’t it?.

              I mean he wouldn’t want to go in our next Edition of Mahavamas as the the rogue PM who lasted only 100 days…

        • 3
          1

          As usual, resorting to the tactic of avoiding the real issue that has been raised and attempting to obfuscation.

          Address the real issue of how you compare the Sri Lankan situation with the alleged “Hollow-Coast” of Jews by Hitler.

          If you have an ounce of decency in your decaying bones you should address the real issue without trying to hide behind undefined allegations against Dayan J or Goonetilleke or other ‘hates’ of yours for their defence of the Sinhala civilisation.

          You are an abominable form of life without character and we expect nothing better from you.

          • 3
            1

            Braveheart:
            You again with your abuse and bluster!
            What is your next question, “Do you STILL beat your wife?” I don’t think idiocy is catching even if one reads what the likes of you keeps producing. Fortunately!

        • 0
          2

          Mr van der Poorten,
          You make a rather a pathetic attempt to equate Bomber Harris’ deeds with those of Gonetilleke. The latter did not have even 1% of the capabilities of the former, even though there was a gap of more than 60 years between the two. Harris (and his waves of bombers) knowingly bombed a city packed full of refugees escaping from the Eastern front, and incinerated some 250,000 men, women and children. The British are still attempting to whittle down the figure to a MERE 25,000. Harris willingly obeyed the orders from Churchill knowing what he did, but was the only one blamed for what was nothing but a massive war crime. They still sing the praises of the war criminal Churchill.
          Nothing even remotely comparable happened within Sri Lanka.

          • 2
            1

            Ram:
            The following quote is very interesting indeed, despite who wrote it:
            “The British are still attempting to whittle down the figure to a MERE 25,000. Harris willingly obeyed the orders from Churchill knowing what he did, but was the only one blamed for what was nothing but a massive war crime. They still sing the praises of the war criminal Churchill. Nothing even remotely comparable happened within Sri Lanka.”
            I am glad that we are agreed on at least one fact: 25,000 at Dresden might not compare with 40,000 at Nanthikadal of which there is satellite imagery despite keeping independent observers out of the area while all that was happening.
            “Better to keep one’s mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid than to open it and confirm the fact” don’t you think?

            • 0
              1

              Mr van der Poorten,
              There cannot be many people in Galagedera stupid enough to believe that 40,000 died on the Nandikadal. Even the TNA argues that the alleged deaths were from artillery and mortar fire, and NOT from air activity. If you do know different, you need to elucidate. The above figure was wrested out of thin air, by the LTTE proxies and fed to the NGOs in Colombo including the UN’s Gordon Weiss. Your attempt to blame Goonetilleke and equate him to Harris is contemptible. There was NO holocaust at Nandikadal.

              • 1
                1

                Ram:
                With your brilliant analytical skills you should have no difficulty whatsoever in showing exactly where I accused “Bomber” Goonetilleke’s air force of being solely responsible for the 40,000 casualties that have been estimated by a variety of international authorities as having occurred at Nanthikadal.

                I hate to repeat myself but I’ll make an exception for you this time: Better to keep one’s mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid (and dishonest) than to open it and confirm the fact

                • 0
                  1

                  Backtracking, and dishonest too.

                  It must be some other stupid person from Galagedera who equated Goonetilleke to Bomber Harris . With Bomber Harris’ campaign no ground troops were involved at all and he had to bear total responsibility for the 250,000 resultant deaths.
                  Your so-called ‘international authorities have never been anywhere near Sri Lanka and were parroting Gordon Weiss who was in Colombo, but when challenged on the above figure he fell back on the 10,000 figure he had been happy with just two days earlier, and that too had been plucked out of thin air by interested parties.

                  Your articles display that you loathe Sri Lanka and despise it’s inhabitants, but yet returned from a ‘luxurious’ life in Canada. It cannot be the aroma of the Durian that did it. How Trinity College could produce such diametrically opposite characters like the ever loyal and brilliant Lakshman Karthirgamar and you shall remain a mystery.

  • 1
    5

    pooty

    write in short sentences and keep your drivel to less than 10 of those . No body wants to read your nonsense . and please stop polluting the internet .

    Cheers

    Abhaya

    • 1
      1

      Braveheart:
      What a misnomer of a pseudonym!
      “As a patriotic, non-racist Sinhala-Buddhist Sri Lankan I wish to strongly protest the typical Dutch-Belgiq Burger comparison of the Sri Lankan situation with the alleged worst atrocity against them” is a quote BEYOND LUDICROUS in the context that Hitler butchered more citizens of what was the USSR than he did Jews!
      “Hiding in Galagedara may not be an option when people realise the truth.” ANOTHER threat? Would really like to have you come up our road even if you now don’t have your “donated” Mercedes SUV in which to do so!
      Given the PERFORMANCE of Dayan Jayetilleke over the Rajapaksa years (and before and since) heaping praise on that man REALLY says it all! The next thing you know Neville de Silva (his uncle) will he elevated to that same pantheon by clowns of the ilk of whatever pseudonym these people write under!

    • 1
      1

      Kabiya, what is the definition of ‘Pollution’?

    • 1
      1

      Abhaya:
      For you, one would not only need short sentences but monosyllabic words (mind you, given that adjective preceding “words” has five syllables, I must already have lost you!)
      What a delightful model you are of your type! Even though the world would certainly be a more sanitary place without the likes of you, what to do, men, that’s the heritage of the Rajapaksa “Civilization” no?

  • 4
    1

    I for one have forgotten who I really voted for. Sirisena or Wicremesinghe.

    Sirisena is still trying to find his bearings. Being in a Cabinet of do-nothings is vastly different from trying to deliver on promises made, within 100 days! And, being a man from Polonnaruwa, he does not have too many contacts within the ruling elite in Colombo. So, his administration is now infested with Dark Greens, Light Greens, Was Greens and Some greens and it is quite apparent he does not know if he is coming or going…governance-wise. Still, he is a treat to watch and listen to, compared to the street-talk of the previous man.

    Wickremesinghe is trying to be all things to all people and he will pay a heavy price if this goes on much longer. The leeches and scrounges who survived with him for the last 10 odd years are drowning his best intentions, and some in the Cabinet are totally incompetent. And that’s been kind to all concerned. He lost the last time round because his policies were not in tune with the masses. This time the masses are already up in arms. He is trying to secure his majority past April and is making huge strategic miscalculations in the meantime. The people want action and Wicremesinghe has not understood the gravity of his circumstances.

    Time will tell aney!

  • 1
    0

    on GOOD GOVERNANCE …….

    ASK NOT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO FOR YOU BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO CONTRIBUTE TO GOOD GOVERNANCE.

    Sri Lankans ( No racial barrier, here), as a rule, want something for nothing. Since Independence – successive governments have taken advantage of this defect and have been voted into power as a result of them promising – yet more things for free ……..

    As this Government has ! Now, the Government has attempted to fulfill some of the promises in relation to bringing down the cost-of-living and a wage increase. Yet the representatives- of the hoi polloi are stating it is not enough – the price of rise also should be reduced !, among other things. Our representatives can be very vociferous and convincing in fooling the people by offering their services for FREE !

    The Truth of the matter seems to be that the average Sri Lankan, thinks that -it is clever to take advantage of the loop holes that exist. They can live on their ability to take undue advantage of each and everyone – SURVIVAL !

    Case in point is that the merchants who are very quick to adjust their prices when their is a price increase – are reluctant to reduce their prices, giving all types of reasons, justifying their case. So these price reductions have not as yet been passed on to the end user.

    Some of the auto taxi’s ( 3 wheeler) state that they have been running at a loss and now with the reduction of fuel – they may just break even – as a result of which they WILL NOT reduce their meter charges ! So the benefit will not be spread.

    It seems like, the reduction of prices are not enjoyed by the hoi polloi but just for the GLIB few who can talk confidently – in justifying why the cannot share the benifit.

    GOOD GOVERNANCE is an oxymoron to Sri Lankans ! They want benefits but are not willing to pass them on. All they can do is complain as we see in all the articles appearing in Colombo Telegraph and more so in the comments.

    GOOD GOVERNANCE would only be possible – if every citizen comprehends that what is good for one should be equally good for the other – The need of the hour is that the each of us play our individual part in contributing to making SRI LANKA a paradise.

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