By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
“Politics cannot but take precedence over economics” (Lenin)
“Politics in command!” (Mao)
Gotabaya Rajapaksa has recently been shown on TV and quoted on a supportive website as saying to the Tamil media that “if he is President, his primary solution for the Tamil people will be to give them economic freedom”. A leading English-language newspaper reported on July 28th Saturday, in a story entitled ‘Prez polls 2019’ that: “Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday (July 26) told Colombo-based senior Tamil print and electronic journalists that countrywide economic empowerment was the key to post-war stability…Rajapaksa said so when the Tamil media sought his views on a gamut of issues, ranging from the status of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution enacted consequent to the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord to the government responsibility in respect of squatters…V. Thanabalasingam, former chief editor of Thinakkural and currently consultant at Virakesari, tweeted Thursday evening that Gotabaya said that economic empowerment of all the communities was his vision for a political solution.”
If countrywide economic empowerment was the key to post-war stability, how come the opening up of the economy and an initial 8% growth rate under President Jayewardene did not lead to political stability and could not prevent a descent into extreme conflict? This is because, as an Asian giant with a laser-like intellect who knew everything about economic empowerment and keys to political stability, Lee Kuan Yew, repeatedly emphasized about Ceylon/Sri Lanka from the 1960s through to the post-war period (‘Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew’, Prof Tom Plate, 2010), the key to both economic and political stability in Sri Lanka was the political resolution of the underlying Tamil issue.
Instead, economic empowerment was GR’s vision for a political solution. But that’s an economic solution, not a political one. Where’s the political component—or isn’t there one? Then why call it a ‘political solution’? Now what happens to the political process, the process of political dialogue? Where does that leave political power-sharing, the Indo-Lanka Accord, the 13th Amendment, and indeed the entire history of 60 years of the narrative of negotiations from the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact of 1957 which his father and cousins supported? What happens to the political content of the Tamil Question?
What of the political rights of the Tamil minority as a people, a community, a collective—the right of some measure of self-rule and self-governance, of autonomy, of irreducible political space in the contiguous areas in which they constitute a majority? This was the basis of the B-C Pact of 1957 and the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987.
GR’s statement signals the imminent end of all that. He is proposing the same thing to the Tamils that President Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s ‘Deal of the Century’ proposes to—and for –the Palestinians: forget political rights and claims in exchange for economic prosperity. There are no Palestinian takers. Will there be any elected Tamil political takers? Or any Indian takers?
Gotabaya’s formula for buying out Tamil political identity and the Northern Province erases the content and trajectory of Tamil political consciousness from 1949, and Indian diplomatic engagement in Sri Lanka dating back to the efforts of Indira Gandhi’s special envoy G. Parathasarathy Sr. in 1984. It is the equivalent of the Netanyahu attempt to bury the Oslo Accords and the two state solution. But can the paradigm shift of the Tamil Question from that of autonomous political space at the periphery to “economic empowerment/freedom”, be done unilaterally?
It is only half-correct that the TNA walked away from the negotiations with the Rajapaksa government in 2011-2012. It was certainly the TNA that provoked the breakdown by going beyond the 13th amendment and demanding that all state land in the province should be used by the Center only with the permission of the Chief Minister. But it was the Government that paused the talks after the odious Sajin Vaas Gunawardena (who said to President Rajapaksa in my presence that he preferred to talk to Sumanthiran and not Sampanthan because the latter “has baggage”, and MR promptly disagreed) rudely provoked Sampanthan, engineered a clash with him, planted the story in the newspapers and provoked President Rajapaksa into a calling a halt to talks by giving him a distorted version of events.
The political process resumed when, after a dialogue with Japan, President Rajapaksa courageously declared elections to the Northern PC in 2013. I was present, including in the official photo-portrait on the steps, at the investiture of Wigneswaran as Chief Minister in 2013. The atmosphere at the sit-down luncheon hosted by President MR with Sampanthan, Wigneswaran and Sumanthiran seated around him, signaled a fresh start. Mr. Sampanthan told Lalith Weeratunga that if the Northern Provincial Council were allowed to function smoothly, “there could be a million Tamil votes available to President Rajapaksa”.
This, however, was not to be. The reappointment of Gen. Chandrasiri as Governor of the Northern Province even after the Northern PC election, and the protracted retention of Rear-Admiral Wijewickrema as Eastern Province Governor, despite promises made at the highest level to India not to renew their Governorships after their current terms ended, utterly vitiated the atmosphere and turned an electorally vulnerable, already porous Indian rearguard into a vanguard of a regime-change project. Colombo’s decisive strategic political mistake was made under pressure from the ‘securocracy’.
The Tamil Question, like every nationalities question the world over, is primarily a political question which requires a structural-reformist political solution. Gotabaya’s ‘Military Wing’ or ‘ex-Military Wing’ is so strategically myopic or obtuse that it doesn’t comprehend that unilateral reframing of and retrenchment from a political solution encased in a bilateral accord is not a viable option because Sri Lanka is near-unique in its geopolitical and geostrategic vulnerability: it has no rearguard; no safe rear-base.
Cuba, an island, had Spanish-speaking Latin America with its progressive governments and movements as rearguard, while Pakistan and Burma/Myanmar have China as rearguard due to contiguity and overland logistical accessibility. Sri Lanka, a small island with Tamil Nadu, an ethnic kin-state of its restive Northern populace, as an immediate neighbor, is considerably more vulnerable and requires an alliance with Delhi as a semi-rearguard or substitute rearguard, just as it imperatively requires an alliance with China as an economic powerhouse and strategic balancer. Any attempt to roll-back devolution granted under India’s auspices will generate a shift in Tamil Nadu that will not prove inconsequential for Delhi.
In a speech to the Inter-Religious Forum on the 35th anniversary of the anti-Tamil violence of Black July ’83, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga made an impassioned plea for either a new Constitution or a Constitutional amendment to resolve the long-standing ethno-national question. The enterprise is flawed and fraught.
1. It has not been proven that a new Constitution is necessary at this stage of history to address the Tamil Question. It may be desirable or even ideal, but that does not prove that it is necessary, still less imperative.
2. It is probably not the case that what she deems desirable or necessary is in fact politically feasible.
3. In her effort to achieve the ideal or the desirable, she may counterproductively reinforce the political, social and ideological tendencies she is seeking to combat, and wreck the enlightened goal she is striving to achieve.
At the height of her Presidential popularity, CBK should have revived the Provincial Councils through an Interim Administration with Devananda and Siddharthan instead of embarking upon the doomed gamble of a new Constitution a.k.a. ‘The Package’. Not only did it fail, it constituted the target and the nutrient medium for the rapid growth of Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism which helped bring into office an administration which she detested and still does. A re-run of ‘The Package Reloaded’, with a winner-takes-all national election due next year, will give rise to a far more virulently ultra-nationalist regime than that of her immediate successor.
sach / August 2, 2018
You cant blame Rajapaksas alone for having North and East governers from military background. First they were retired individuals. So it is incorrect to say they are military appointments. And Rajapaksas originally wanted to appoint those who were not from military background listening to TNA’s demands. But the anti Lankan and anti Rajapaksa program waged in Geneva and in other western capitals toughed Rajapakse’s stance because TNA supported and was a willing part of that anti Lankan programme. So TNA cannot expect goodie goodies from Rajapaksa while waging an anti Lankan battle in western capitals. No other self respecting government in any country would ( of course except the yahapalana joke we currently have. We already know yahapalanists have no respect for the country or for themselves.)
/
Native Vedda / August 2, 2018
sach
–
“First they were retired individuals. So it is incorrect to say they are military appointments.”
–
Very good and clever point.
Please shove it in the gap where your brain should have been.
/
sach / August 2, 2018
yes idiot ,it is not a military appointments. Look at John Kerry in America, he was in military, does anyone call him a military person?
/
Native Vedda / August 3, 2018
sach the stupid
–
When did you see Kerry in his uniform after leaving the service?
/
Emil van der Poorten / August 3, 2018
Sach:
Anyone who says, “First they were retired individuals. So it is incorrect to say they are military appointments” deserves to have their heads examined!
In the meantime, would you please stop insulting the intelligence on those on whom you inflict this absolute gibberish?
It is so unfortunate that CT has no policy against lunatic statements in its columns. Needs to be rectified immediately.
/
K.Pillai / August 3, 2018
Emil van der Poorten ~ “….It is so unfortunate that CT has no policy against lunatic statements in its columns……”.
No Sir. Good these are not censored. One is able to judge the utter lunacy of the lunatics!
/
Native Vedda / August 5, 2018
K.Pillai
–
Imagine what will become of CT if these stupids/bigots/racists are not around. I might consider jumping off the cliff.
CT should not let that happen and make the stupids/bigots/racists happy.
/
wannihami / August 4, 2018
Emil..how about some of the others who suck up to the Yahapalas, continuously using bad language to insult the commenters, is that OK, it seems you get itchy when yahapala supporters are insulted but not the other way around, isn’t that stupid, idiotic or what?
/
Native Vedda / August 5, 2018
wannihami
–
“Emil..how about some of the others who suck up to the Yahapalas, continuously using bad language to insult the commenters, is that OK,”
–
It is unacceptable however they deserve it or in fact they deserve more than what they get now.
On the other hand you tend to turn a blind eye to every racists/bigots you agree with.
–
Is it hypocrisy, selective amnesia, double standard, ………………….. or simply Sinhala/Buddhist racism?
You too deserve what the others get.
/
Outsider / August 2, 2018
DJ says “What of the political rights of the Tamil minority as a people, a community, a collective—the right of some measure of self-rule and self-governance, of autonomy, of irreducible political space in the contiguous areas in which they constitute a majority? This was the basis of the B-C Pact of 1957 and the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987”
As a dumb observer, I would like to ask DJ and others who says this all the time, as to how this could be achieved in a situation where a majority of Tamils live outside the so called “Tamil areas”, including a substantial number of more recent Tamil arrivals from India. Does the degree of self rule, self governance, of autonomy etc, etc extend to all Tamils, and if so how, and if not, why not? in Sri Lanka’s contemporary context where another writer has said elsewhere that the Tamil community is not a homogeneous community, giving the noble objectives of self rule, autonomy etc only to a section of Tamils and not all Tamils, seems to defeat the purpose articulated by DJ and others. if it is done, we are saying some Tamils will be more equal than others, and that more Tamils will continue to live under Sinhala people, mainly Sinhala Buddhists, and hopefully learn to live happily with each other.. Please explain this dilemma to us DJ. I am sure many readers would like to know. One has to find a balance between idealism and reality, and not mix fact and faction.
/
mike / August 2, 2018
Outsider – You are posing questions to a bogus Dr, warmonger and a public racist. !
/
Native Vedda / August 2, 2018
mike
–
and a war crime denier.
/
old codger / August 3, 2018
” I was present, including in the official photo-portrait on the steps, at the investiture of Wigneswaran as Chief Minister in 2013.”
I read Dr. DJ’s pieces with diligence, through all the twists and flip-flops, but I still haven’t come across one without the obligatory reference to his personal links with history. Oh dear.
/
nimal fernando / August 3, 2018
OC,
–
Don’t you have any respect for historical figures?
–
Dayan is a witness to history ……….. and we are witness to Dayan’s history …………… It’s sorta “Circular Ruins” ……….. a man totally imagined and created in another’s imagination/dream :))
–
“No one saw him disembark in the unanimous night” ………………….
/
old codger / August 4, 2018
Nimal,
“a man totally imagined and created in another’s imagination/dream :))”
But our DJ creates himself in his own imagination.
/
wannihami / August 4, 2018
Yes old codger according to the lingo back in the days when we were undergraduate such self adulation and and name dropping was given the name Naya, and in those terms we should call Dayan NaiDaya.
/
Keynes! / August 3, 2018
Outsider,
Give us the numbers and percentages of Tamils living outside the North East. Show us the workings and the source of your data.
/
Hela / August 2, 2018
Economic freedom equitably established all over the country certainly helps in reducing regional tensions/frictions to a great extent. The “Tamil Question” has not yet been successfully defined clearly contrasting with regional disparities, inequalities, lack of opportunities faced by most other people in all parts of the country (therefore it is viewed as racist/separatist propaganda). The only exception being language issue. The first requirement in this regard is to properly implement legislative provisions related to languages already in place so that Tamil speaking people (as well as Sinhala speaking people in some cases) are not disadvantaged.
/
Hela / August 3, 2018
There was a mention about Palestine. While two state solution has been on the table for a long time with demands for Israel to withdraw to 1967 borders and Jerusalem to be the capital of an independent Palestine state, there is another single state solution increasingly being touted even in Palestinian circles. The solution envisage a greater Israel where both Jews and Arabs living together with equal rights as citizens. Jews don’t like it either……In Sri Lanka, it is the separatist Tamil movement that yearns to establish a Jewish like exclusivist state. They have successfully driven out other peoples from most parts of the Northern province. Defeat of LTTE has put a brake on it though.
/
Native Vedda / August 3, 2018
Helass
–
Have you forgotten the days your leader, the crook and the war criminal Dr Mahinda used to head the Sri Lanka-Palestine Solidarity Organisation in the 1980s and an ardent supporter of Palestinian cause for many many years? Mahinda Rajapaksa bought weapons from Israel to kill his own people.
–
Now you can eat your own words and think in terms of hypocrisy, double standard, opportunism, self interest, self serving …. a liar, a pretender, …………
–
Tell us if any of the leaders you/wannihami/soma/…… admire ever demonstrated their believe in and practiced any principle that merit a mention.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 5, 2018
Economic freedom will automatically be established to Tamil areas when they receive political freedom to rule themselves without Sinhala interference. To say that Tamil question has not been successfully defined is a distortion of the truth. To put it short Tamils want to live as first class citizens in safety and with dignity. This is only possible if they rule themselves with their own legislature, executive and judiciary and controlling their own police and security forces. This is the only way to ensure that Tamils will enjoy the same rights as Sinhalese, and any rule by Sinhalese will only confer them a second class status. Why is the government not willing to pass racial equality act, which will help Tamils to get justice if Sinhala state practices racial discrimination. Tamils face more lack of opportunity in higher education, state employment and economic activity. Recent appointment of Sinhalese people from outside the province to government jobs in north and east, when several qualified Tamils in the area are unemployed proves the point. So please stop your nonsense and leave Tamils alone to look after their homeland. You cannot have equality when writ of Sinhalese run over the heads of Tamils.
/
SJ / August 5, 2018
I wonder if ypu are serious about: “Economic freedom will automatically be established to Tamil areas when they receive political freedom to rule themselves without Sinhala interference.”
What I have seen in Jaffna during the past 15 years makes me seriously doubt the claim. Much of the evils against the community was by members of the community.
/
nimal fernando / August 2, 2018
I do not know Dayan’s motives, but ……….. although this is a very rare occasion where Dayan is on the correct tract ( I thought I’ll never see the day! ) ……… and again I don’t know Gota’s motives but I have to agree with Gota. …….. economic-freedom should always take precedence over “political-freedom” (whatever that means – it has come to mean so many different things to so many different people.)
–
Do the “Sinhalese” have “political-freedom?” ………….. If so ………. what does it mean?
–
A country is fortunate and extremely blessed to have both ………. but this seldom happens in many parts of the world ………. There is “unfolding” economic-freedom in China which has loosened the political grip and will eventually lead to true political freedom when a economically modern/sophisticated society emerge. ….. There is no economic-freedom nor political-freedom in places like Cambodia, Myanmar ………. Even in places where there is some political-freedom it doesn’t amount to much if the population is in “economic-bondage” ……. where people have to give up their freedoms ……….. and go into indentured servitude just to survive ……….. this is easily observed even in some poorer segments of Lankan society regardless of the race/ethnicity
–
If you travel through small-town USA by road, you will encounter modern-day slavery irrespective of the hue; Black, White, Brown or striped. ………….. How “corporate” America has reduced workers to battery-hens; systematically stripped of everything and given just enough sustenance to come back to work the next day. ………….. In the “Land of the Free” where people whose souls have been sucked out, struggling without proper remunerations/benefits for their labour striving to first find economic-freedom to enjoy the distant mirage of other “freedoms.”
/
A practical person / August 2, 2018
The double tongued Lee Kwan Yew who had economic development 100% on his agenda for Singapore, and destroyed the political Opposition in Singapore and its leader Jeyaratnam, physically, financially and in spirit, lectures Sri Lanka about human rights! What a joke. What LKY achieved for Singapore is a miracle, no doubt. But at what cost? If Sri Lankans were willing to pay such a price, we could have become a Tiger economy (no pun intended). LKY is the one who repeatedly said at their national day speeches that “if you want democracy, go to Sri Lanka, if you want prosperity, come to Singapore”.I hope GR is not advocating a LKY approach for Sri Lanka. It wont work here. Our history is our strength and our curse. Singapore had no such history, so LKW forged a Nation and a history for it, but a very contemporary one at that out of virtually nothing. Economic strength no doubt shadows other political imperatives, and the lack of it, surfaces prejudices that human beings have on account of ethnic differences, and many other characteristics that divide them. Finding the balance between economic advancement and idealistic politics is the challenge for any country
/
wannihami / August 7, 2018
Thank you Practical person, at last someone has the sense to point out who Lee Kwan Yew actually was and what kind of authoritarian rule that Singapore had to endure to achieve their economic miracle, I doubt very much even 1% of the Sr Lankan population is ready for such a brutal regime and such rule as what LKY imposed upon the citizenry of that city state.
/
Ajay / August 2, 2018
Does Gota think he can take the edge off the ethnic divisions by turning all people into just producers and consumers? That would mean moving the country more to the right, and more towards the west than even UNP’s plans. More privatization, more integration with global capitalism and more western cultural influence. Will our Radical Sinha Le monks go for it?
/
Ajith / August 2, 2018
Economic development is associated with stability, suitable enviorment for investment. Development is not equal to growth. It has multi-dimensional focus unlike growth. The war was ended during the period of Mahinda. Mahinda govt was in control for five years after the end of war. Gotapaya was a key partner of the regime. During that period large investmant was done but everything was by Govt borrowed money from China. It did not provide employment to locals. Most of the investment were unproductive. There was no peace in this country. New wave of racism against a silent community which helped a lot in the war. There was investment from locals or any other productive investors around the world. Corruption was at the peak in all sectors. The law and order was completely collapsed. Gotapaya himself accused of large scale corruption along with his brothers and their relatives. Gotapaya had the opportunity to build this country’s economy at the end of the war for five years. He was responsible for keep law & order under the book for five years. They had five years at the end of war to eliminate corruption. Now he talks about economic freedom without talking about corruption, law & order and peace? We should understand what he meant about economic freedom. He is talking about buying Tamil politicians for money, he wants freedom to bribe people for large sums as they got from selling land to Chinese. They want the freedom to rob this country again.
/
alex / August 2, 2018
Dayan knows PCs don’t work .. whatever the contemporary excuse .. the ‘securocracy’, the Buddhist clergy, the latest ‘Sinhala nationalist’ darling …it is hostage to the extremes of the Sinhala South. That is why a decade after the war ended, with immense pressure from international actors, it still doesn’t work.
Dayan, conspires with the Rajapaksa’s in a good cop, bad cop routine .. rabble rousing in Sinhala media (bolstering Gota) and pleading for the PCs in English (claiming to be centrist).
/
alex / August 2, 2018
He’s probably thinking economic empowerment China style … a very large and pervasive state actor.
/
Rajash / August 2, 2018
“Politics cannot but take precedence over economics” (Lenin)
“Politics in command!” (Mao)
Dayan – you are quoting the communist one Russian the other Chinese.
what else do you expect from communist.
Gota is bullshiting the Tamils.
when Gota comes to power it would be “Hitler politics” over economy.
Dayan you are well aware of it .
/
Native Vedda / August 2, 2018
Rajash
–
“when Gota comes to power it would be “Hitler politics” over economy.
Dayan you are well aware of it .”
–
Dr Gota will have to find the “final solution” for Tamils if he is to remain a champion of Sinhala/Buddhist fascist cause.
–
Why do you think Dr Gota is so desperate to become the next president? Whom does he want to impress, his old flame? He is only 69 years old.
–
Do you think for him absolute power, murder and blood are his aphrodisiacs?
/
Rajash / August 3, 2018
Native Vedda “Dr Gota will have to find the “final solution” for Tamils if he is to remain a champion of Sinhala/Buddhist fascist cause..”
Native – he want to beautify Sri Lanka for the Sinhala Buddhist fascist…..as beautified Colombo…suddenly all the beggars and shanty dwellers have vanished in thin air form the streets of Colombo.
/
Native Vedda / August 3, 2018
Rajash
–
He will also cleanse the country of “others”.
The first dry run was acted out between 2005 and 2015, including 2014.
/
wannihami / August 2, 2018
Rajash, I am sure you are an intelligent person from some of the opinions you present elsewhere, and in that sense I think you may acknowledge the fact that it is the poor blacks who get shot in US, it is the poor muslim immigrants who get radicalized to become Jihadists in France and UK, it is the poverty that is causing all sorts of tribal violence leading to misery in Sudan, Somalia, Mali, Yemen. The poor become a tool of the few who want to incite violence between ethnic groups, even in SL the ’83 pogrom against Tamils were executed by the government using the mobs from the Colombo poor. Believe me as James Carville said “It is the economy stupid” (not you but the political theorists like Dr. DJ)
/
Rajash / August 3, 2018
Agree…but we cant blame the poor …..its the manipulators of the poor, like the rich and wealthy industrialist, greedy politicians, drug war lords and pimps in case of prostituion
/
Native Vedda / August 3, 2018
Rajash
–
Wannihami doesn’t give two hoots about the poor, down trodden, disenfranchised, ……………… . All what he/she/it is interested about is justifying Sinhala/Buddhist fascism, the weeping widow, SLFP, SLFP’s caopitalism, Mahinda’s clan, all the atrocities committed against the minorities, the war crimes, …………… you name it he/she/it will justify everything that is inhuman with a facade of being champion of the poor. The poor also suffered enormously under weeping widows rule which he thinks a golden era.
–
/
Douglas / August 2, 2018
Nothing worth to unite the “Divide” will come about, so long as all of us continue to use the terms such as: “Self Rule”; “Separate State”; “Federalism”; “Power Devolution” etc. etc. are used both by the “Professionals”; “Politicians” and not excluding the “Religious Bigots”. The moment these words or terms are used in both written and spoken words, there is one or more groups to take advantage to “Shine” and garnish the “Slave” mentality of the general public. The shining examples at this moment are the “Debate” on Constitution making and the “13th Amendment and “Plus”. To begin with this “Terminology” so long debated and contributed to widen the “Divide” has to be given up. A new “TITLE” (based on Unity, Togetherness as one family of Human Beings) has to be searched for to break down this “Divide” and go forward to usher in a “New Generation” of Sri Lankans.
/
Mallaiyuran / August 2, 2018
Thero’s game is referred in Tamil as “Padam Kaaddukirara”. (Showing Picture – Distracting people from their important businesses, getting their precious attention with attractive actions and cheating with trifling things.)
Tamils are waiting that man to face the War Crime investigation for having murdered 150,000 Tamils. Thero defended him at UNHRC with Zero Casualty talk and saved him. His brother has not yet allowed his party label to contest in election. Though Army personnel are active in promoting under the name of Maha Viyath, his family was rejected in 2015 for this man’s White van operation. America has put his Citizenship cancellation on hold. China accused of funding the election to this family. The world is looking at Ranil, not like Kanthalai game, do something constructive on the NYT report. With all those in the track, Thero Cheat is trying to market this War Crime Murderer as one alternate savior of Tamils. For what the heck Tamils in the world want to hear what he wants to say? Not just about their freedom or economy or not even about their toilet or bathroom! Thero is trying to makea big deal of him by floating a fake debate.
” Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact of 1957 which his father and cousins supported? “ Is this a political reason anyone to set their political path on it? Where did Mervyn De Silva stop? “To the Lankawe Women organizations to label him as a nasty, anti- human right activist?”
Other side of the coin of the game is: his point is “Tamils’ problem was not solved in JR’s highly prosperous economy!” Does this imbecile know what a country’s GDP means is? If the Lankawe Central Bank’s lies said it was 8% in JR time, what it has to do with Tamils’ economy that time on which Tamils base their votes? JR started his terror with 1977 Pogrom, biggest unto that date. This is how he started to keep Tamils’ economy GDP in 100% decline. Then he used 1983 to do full clean sweep.
/
Mallaiyuran / August 2, 2018
As the leader managing the country during its worst time, JR openly said that if Tamils are starving by their economy is wiped, that is pleasurable to Sinhalese. Is this what Thanabalasingam tweeted as Old Brother Prince is saying for the support of solving Tamils problem? Why Thero is bringing Thanabalasingam into this? Is he wants to try to convince Tamils that Thanabalasingam too has endorsed that speech or is Thero telling Thanabalasingam is going to against Tamils with Old Brother Prince, but Thero is trying save them? Isn’t this type of crookists wedging game Thero plays made the Women Organizations to designate Thero as the most undesirable person for diplomatic and gentlemanly reconciliations deals? JR is Thero’s enemy because he used his thugs to beat up Thero. But how inferior Thero is on that? Not that really behind in any terms. Thero is ardent supporter of Old Royal Family’s same game but lager scales using Rapist Army directly. After all, Thero’s 13A game is started by his worst enemy JR. Thero should be thankful to JR to have given the rope to him.
“ GR’s statement signals the imminent end of all that. “ Did any other leader ever sounded any different on B-C pact other than Dudley?
“It is the equivalent of the Netanyahu attempt to bury the Oslo Accords and the two state solution. “ Is this guy now putting Tamils and Palestinian on the same balance’s trays? This is the ultimate shameless way of Thero’s living. In this site, Thero fame shined within Softy, Soma Sach…. like the ones not for comparing Tamils and Palestinians, but only to contrast. Where the Muslim commentators, today, gone?
During Chandrika’s time and now, Ranil too, like Thero, is against implementation of 13A any constitutional solution and for Tamil. We don’t really know of the internal mind of “War for Peace” lady.
/
K.Pillai / August 2, 2018
Dayan Jayatilleka: After some seventy years, you are still saying “Prostrate first before reconciliation”.
This is the demand of Israel but Palestinians refused to accept. The then Apartheid? Vietnam?
.
You prostrated in front of Tamil liberation EPRLF, R. Premadasa, and a string of others.
Has it worked? No. Why? Because you tickled their feet.
.
Your writings have merit but one has to read with a Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass.
This too because of NV’s Monkey Theorem!
/
Native Vedda / August 3, 2018
K. Pillai
–
“Your writings have merit but one has to read with a Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass. This too because of NV’s Monkey Theorem!”
–
Please attribute this Monkey/Ape theorem to Émile Borel’s .
/
K.Pillai / August 3, 2018
I stand corrected. Thank you NV.
/
JD / August 2, 2018
The Diplomat who does not like to be posted to Havanna but like Geneva and PAris has written for his fee for service article. DJ, your socialism or CHINESE COMMUNIST ideas are limited not only to your PhD thessis which talked about Fidel Castro. Anyway, either ISec Newton or Einstein had mentioned that “my tastes are aristocratic (my pedigree too) and my ideas are democratic. My regret, Sri lanka has so many idiots for various reasons they can not understand what is wrong with Sri lanka, therefore, they prefer RECYCLING of POLITICANS. Tamils are bashing you because they still mourn the loss they incurred during and after the war. Other than that, Sinmhala buddhists are the PUNCHING BAG of both the politicians, foreign countries and the various protestant and catholic groups. What a way to run a country. CBK, RQANIL and MANGALA, you know who they are and selelcted Maithripala Sirisena because they knew MY3 was very obidient and very naive. Now MY3 is another protestant.
/
wannihami / August 2, 2018
Dr DJ, as a political scientist I am sure you would like to think that the ethnic question has a political solution, but as James Carville famously said ‘It is economy stupid”! And Gota knows that.
/
Native Vedda / August 4, 2018
wannihami
–
You are learning learning fast.
Where did you copy and past the quote by James Carville?
Do you feel good about it?
/
K.Pillai / August 2, 2018
Tell us Dayan: Is the language/religion-divide good?
If the answer is “No”, then do you support SLPP who openly answer “Yes” to the above question.
/
wannihami / August 3, 2018
Being proud of one’s heritage and ethnicity is GOOD!
Respecting the same in the Other is also GOOD!
We don’t have to denounce our heritage in order to respect the heritage of others.
A geographical division on language/religion is BAD.
Ms. K. Pillai, what do you think?
/
Native Vedda / August 3, 2018
wannihami
–
What are you blabbering about?
–
“Being proud of one’s heritage and ethnicity is GOOD!”
–
What is there to be proud about in your heritage and ethnicity given that
force-able expatriation of hard working people, Ape Anduwa, Sinhala only language policy, Chapter II of the Constitution … standardization of Uni entrance qualification, regular riots, 40 odd years of human sacrifice by the state, corruption, nepotism of all politicians, …………………………………………. do not make you proud.
–
I am sorry if you have purposely forgotten the above qualities.
–
One thing that admire me is your ability to defend all the crooks, criminals, war criminals, war crime deniers, ….. murderers, …………… relentlessly.
/
JD / August 3, 2018
DJ: Everybody knows that you are ideologically very corrupt person. You do not have one ideology or one attitude. YOu talk for everything just to land some powerful position. gotabhaya Rajapakse’s draback is he is a Rajapakse and everybody knows who rajapakses and and what they will be. Other than, that beleagured sinhala buddhist culture (not the people, they are christian buddhists) a target of Mahinda Rajapakse who wanted to control three Secors with his rule and once the talk was his goons threatened chapters with bombing temples. Now, I heard, even this govt is brininging laws to control bhikku chapters.
/
K A Sumanasekera / August 3, 2018
Isn’t the Vellala Party Leader Mr Sampthar the Opposition Leader of the Lankawe Parliament?.
Dr Dayan obviously is not interested about the 25 %, which is 5 Million Inhabitant Population whom the very United Nations where Dr Dayan used to frequent, categorized as Malnourished Individuals, who have to survive on less than 400 Ruppiah a Day.
And most of them are Children….
Wonder how many of them live in the North?.
If there are any, will they become on par with their fellow inhabitants in Colombo like Dr Dayan if the CM Mr Wigneswaran take over the Police and the Land?..
/
Native Vedda / August 3, 2018
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
–
If you are that keen to alleviate the down trodden people you could stop carrying Mahinda’s b***s and start carrying his unaccounted wealth out of his house and distribute among the poor.
–
Mahinda wouldn’t scream, if he would then he may have to account for the source.
/
K A Sumanasekera / August 4, 2018
Dear Native,
Sad to hear you still regurgitating Dr Rajitha & Son’s Bull Shit….
5 Million malnourished Lankawe Inhabitants living on less than 400 Ruppiah a Day is not a Joke.
When Dr Ranil.s Cheer Squad fork out LKR 800 to 1000 for a Sangria.
And Dine in 3000 Rupiah all You Can Eat buffet at Shangri La.
That is the disgusting difference between the Have nots and Haves in Yahapalana Lankawe.
No wonder the poor crowd in Victoria Park burst in to Hoots , when a Jana Balaya member mentioned Yahapalana Sira’s name to tell the crowd that only the Intelligent people know how much good he has done to the Nation.
Native, are you one of those Intelligent People who dine at Shangri La…..
/
Native Vedda / August 4, 2018
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
–
“5 Million malnourished Lankawe Inhabitants living on less than 400 Ruppiah a Day is not a Joke.”
–
They all Dr Mahinda’s children. Aren’t they?
You regularly reminded us the country was surpassing the middle income threshold under Dr Mahinda’s stewardship. Wasn’t it a lie?
–
Had Dr Mahinda and his clan repaid the commissions, kickbacks, backhanders, santhosam, ……………. back to the coffer, this situation would not have arisen. Ask Mangala about to trace the stolen money $18 billion and bring it back for the good of the country.
–
In the mean time you can persuade the clan to repay it on monthly instalment basis. Why do they need so much wealth? Why do you insist on praising Dr Mahinda and clan?
–
Will you be looking for a plum Diplomatic posting if and when Dr Mahinda return to the helm through back door? I wish you well. Make sure you employ wannihami, Hela, soma, ……………… at the Embassy/High Commission. They need job.
–
Would you consider Shenali Waduge for the post of Press Officer or in charge of Protocol?
/
K A Sumanasekera / August 5, 2018
Dear Native,
You got at least one thing right.
Yes Indeed, ….They are our village Folk in the main and the Slum Dwellers in Wellala Gardens…
After 30years of your Buddies mayhem, Mahinda was doing something to lift the stocks of those long suffering Malnourished Children. by opening 1000 Mahavidyalayas in the Village…
And building Infrastructure to give their Parents a chance to earn a quid at least by shoveling the dirt.
Your Dr Ranil, Kabir, Mangala , Mallika and that Akila F****** them up big time… Didn’t they?.
Dr Ranil and Kabir and Mallika now want go give everything to Hindians, Singaporeans and the Chinese …
You reckon you can get a Translator Job for the Singaporeans in Trinco?.
Or will Sampathar only allow Singaporeans from only Little India?..
BTW I do not need any Ambassador Jobs , because that wouldn’t make any improvement to my Living Standards……..
You know what I mean . Don’t you Native?..
/
Native Vedda / August 5, 2018
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
–
You are again on your usual Bull.
You haven’t answered my comment point by point.
–
“And building Infrastructure to give their Parents a chance to earn a quid at least by shoveling the dirt.”
–
Are you kidding?
The Chinese contractors brought at least 30,000 labourers all the way from China to build the projects at inflated prices and at expensive interest rates and very good Santhosam to the one stop shop 10%- 30% commissioner. In fact instead of your poor inhabitants the Chinese labourers found employment in this island took away their opportunity to earn a rupee or two. Therefor the inhabitants were hit more than twice.
You are blinded by your cheap loyalty to Dr Mahinda or is it by few crumbs thrown at you by the clan.
Either way you are wrong.
–
“Dr Ranil and Kabir and Mallika now want go give everything to Hindians, Singaporeans and the Chinese …”
–
Why didn’t the clan think about it when they gave all those contracts + labour supply to Chinese companies? The only thing which motivated the clan were the commissions, kickbacks, backhanders, santhosam, ……………. paid in dollars in overseas Tax Havens.
–
Do you know the number of real estate investment that the clan have outside the island?
/
K.Pillai / August 3, 2018
Dayan Jayatilleka
Today’s headline inmost international paper is “Zimbabwe election: Emmerson Mnangagwa declared winner”
Who is this Emmerson Mnangagwa? He was Mugabe’s right hand man. The Zimbabwe Armed Services and Police were under his control and he used them for the hatchet jobs – large and small. Emmerson expected to inherit Zimbabwe but Mugabe had other ideas. Emmerson got the Army to oust Mugabe and the rest is history.
The future Zimbabweans will experience more oppression.
.
The lesson is “Once blood is tasted, one wants more”. Watch this space Dayan.
/
wannihami / August 3, 2018
And DJ, JR’s 8% growth and parallel human conflict was Because of JR and Premadasa, not because of 8% growth, you know that very well but you trying to argue around that. JR supported the’83 government sponsored pogrom against the Tamils, and your pal Premadasa let lose all the hot heads in the JVP to play Khmer rouge in the countryside, and Premadasa was helpless and had to resort to the same methods as JVP using Paramilitary, when JR’s mistake in ’83 showered Dhal from air and Rajeeva Gandhi sent the foot soldiers Premadasa tried to deal with the devil, and eventually was perished by them. It has nothing to do with 8% growth, but everything to do with stupidity and arrogance of JR.
And as for Li Kuwan Yu..you too DJ? quoting that man who squashed the opposition and ruled literally with a whip and a cane, What that man wanted was always to keep SL mired in conflict, he knew SL was Singapore’s competitor as a sea port.
Dr. DJ, your arguments are not worthy of a Oxford PhD.
Wake up and try again.
/
Vanguard / August 4, 2018
Dayan, the Sinhalese should stop making promises and breaking them atnleat to the Tamils. We Sinhala modayas understand broken promises better.
Perhaps you could advise the Gota campaign?
Is it incorrect advice and not terrorism that is our greatest enemy?
/
Native Vedda / August 4, 2018
Vanguard
–
“Is it incorrect advice and not terrorism that is our greatest enemy?”
–
You are your own enemy.
/
Karapothu Hamu / August 4, 2018
NV must have nothing else worthwhile to dog other than posting his stinking comments on CT posts under various disguises.
–
Emil, you should think of taking a rest because as an oldcodger you must be getting tired these days. no matter what genes you got from Belgiques.
–
How many days left mate? Are you counting?
/
Nimal Tissa Wijethunga / August 4, 2018
Dayan J,
Gothabaya Rajapakse said recently in an interview with some Tamil journalist involved in Tamil newspapers that his vision as a solution for Sri Lankan problems giving Economic Empowerment to all Sri Lankans and he referred to Tamils because for them as Sri Lankans the answer is same in line with the questions asked. We salute him for the candid, honest and very prudent answer given without considering elections or any other in the future for the sake of a few votes. As a person connected as a potential Presidential Candidate, this answer is a hallmark of a great leader who already proved beyond any doubt about the leadership qualities and managerial qualities in the process of annihilating Tamil Tiger terrorist LTTE.
Since the problem is economic in nature to all Sri Lankans living in this country whatever the race may be, the answer is correct as per me as there are no specific problems to any particular race in Sri Lanka other than economic problems. Other than economic, all the other problems can be easily settled through current set up and somebody or group of people think otherwise definitely have no justification for such calls.
Now, Dayan Jayathilake must tell what he is trying to say in his article as to me he simply put quotes here and there and kept the conclusion of the article open for reasons not known. Therefore, please make the conclusion clear to the reader/follower.
/
K.Pillai / August 4, 2018
Dayan Jayatilleka
There is a lesson in our history – about seventy years ago. The slogan that won SWRD B lot in 1956 was “India is about to invade and drive us into the sea – WITH the help of treacherous Tamils”.
It was JR J who INVITED India to invade us.
Who CHASED the IPKF?
/
Nimal Tissa Wijethunga / August 4, 2018
K. Pillai,
Do not tell lies and half baked stories as LTTE chased IPKF because of the Tacitly given support by the government led by R. Premadasa as whole world knows this. Telling lies about history or Tamils in Sri Lanka is also full of lies by so called Tamil Leaders and racists individuals like you is well known to everybody as well. Habit of telling lies or half baked stories die hard for racists like Pillai it seems.
/