19 March, 2024

Blog

Degrees Of Culpability

By Kumar David

Prof. Kumar David

Today I am courting an avalanche of invective and censure from hyperactive readers. You live only once so why not I live dangerously? My objective is serious. It’s about left leaders who did ‘this or that’ and whose plans misfired. Can we distinguish between the unforeseeable, plain bad luck, errors of judgement made in good faith, opportunists, sons of bachelors and progeny of female canines? I intend to argue that the coalition tactic of NM et al is a case of bad luck and error of judgement, not greed and corruption. Conversely the politics of Tissa, Vasu and DEW is not forgivable, it is opportunism. I did not support NM’s Coalition Resolution at the fateful 1964 LSSP Party Conference, so I don’t need to make excuses for his standpoint. A large number of other MPs, Provincial Councillors and Local Representatives belong to even lower breeds.

The Finance Minister of Coalition Politics

A comment one hears is “It was easy to convert (some say corrupt) NM, Colvin et al to Sirima”, but that is wrong. The LSSP and CP made a political decision, a wrong not a corrupt decision and that is the starting point of my intervention. The left in the 1960s and early 70s, not only in Ceylon but also Algeria, Chile, India, Indonesia and in fact almost everywhere theorised that world-wide a period in which a broad anti-comprador, anti-imperialist unity, which would be the vehicle of progress had dawned. In the terminology of the time “an alliance of all progressive forces including the national bourgeoisie was necessary”. Hector was the principle architect of this model in the LSSP and theorised extensively in his writings. Was this a bogus theory that NM etc. adopted to secure cabinet posts and sinecures, which is what the Dead-Left is doing today in snuggling up to the Rajapaksas? Did NM covet a job in Sirima’s cabinet – Nonsense! It is no secret that the ‘golden brained’ left leaders despised their soon to be counterpart morons in Sirima’s Cabinet. 

In the context of the Cuban and Algerian revolutions, the launch of the non-aligned movement and stunning victories in Vietnam, the majority in the left believed that global class power correlations had been transformed. Socialism seemed was a low lying fruit to be plucked with ease and given the intellectual superiority of the left leaders and the powerful party and working class organisations that stood behind them it was a challenge had to be grasped. But it was not the prowess of individuals and most certainly not a deficit of moral probity that settled the outcome, it was the way in which objective reality evolved. The global economic plunge rooted in the end of the post-war boom of Western capitalism, two oil price crises, the disorientation the left suffered globally due to the madness of the Cultural Revolution and the vicious counterattacks of neoliberalism, were neither foreseen nor factored in. Many left populist regimes suffered defeat: Algeria (Boumédiène’s coup 1965), Indonesia (removal of Sukarno in 1967), Chile (Pinochet’s coup of 1973) and Pakistan (overthrow of Bhutto in 1977). The only bright spots were that Cuba survived but only just and Vietnam won. The expulsion of the left in 1975 from the Coalition that prefigured the JR regime fitted this emergence of the global hegemony of Regan-Thatcher neoliberalism.

Can we blame the failure of the Coalition (hence the downfall of NM etc.) on global bad luck alone and say that big mistakes in domestic affairs were not made? No, that would not be true. Though NM rebuilt the nation’s finances he pushed too hard and too far. The austerity measures hurt the masses too much; he should have been cunning and relaxed in about 1973 though it would have slowed down the resuscitation of nation’s financial viability. True the 1971 JVP Insurrection was, to borrow Lenin’s terminology, an infantile leftist disorder of theoretically clueless and strategically disoriented youth, but the left parties should not have eviscerated these misguided intellectually late maturing adolescents so harshly and they should have intervened to protect them from massacre by the state. The military and police tasted blood in 1971 and again in 1989 and let the Tamils have the full force of it later. There are fundamental errors in the 1972 Republican Constitution as well. So yes, the left in coalition did err.

The errors and misjudgements that I briefly summarised, are as different from the opportunism and greed for Cabinet posts and perks of the leftists of the next generation, as heaven is from earth. I don’t want to take off on a protracted exercise of scolding and denigrating the Dead-Left but I want to drive home the difference between the reasons for the defeat of the first generation of leftists and the narrow aims of the next generation. However even this second generation of pigmy leftists are a cut above blackguard mainstream politicians whose hands are deep in the honey pots of public finance, nepotism and racism. Since the county is overloaded with this moan, further comment from me is redundant. I am, to be sure like most readers and columnists, very tired of upbraiding the regime, its leaders and its parliamentarians. Nine out of ten opinions one reads and 99 of every 100 conversations one engages in, lambasts the government of the day. Can’t it become the defined and accepted editorial policy norm of all newspapers, websites and TV stations that devote their attention to Sri Lanka, that we don’t need to repeat this; can’t it be taken as given. Consider how much newsprint and digital resources we could save! If that could be agreed then neither I or legions of other commentators would not need to say that the old left leaders erred, sometimes grievously but they are demi-gods in comparison with the sons of bachelors and of curs that fill the political scene these days. 

This compels me to repeat a theme that I introduced just three weeks ago and I feel disappointed that it did not evoke much support. It is unfortunate but true that the people of Lanka have become habituated to electing blackguards from the village level councils up to Kotte at all levels of representative assembly. The redeeming feature is that our people are as short of patience as they are blighted of memory. Months ago I was the first to emphasise that the popularity of the Double-Paksa Presidency and Government had collapsed. A regime elected by near unprecedented majorities had become the country’s most despised in a period measured in months. It is imperative therefore, given this character and temperament of our people that legislative (or constitutional) reforms be enacted to enshrine the Right to Recall at all levels of our electoral system. I am disappointed that my suggestion has not evoked interest.

Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare sought empowerment of the electorate to recall elected representatives many years ago. That is giving the electorate power to remove or de-elect an MPs before the expiry of his/her term of office. It is logical that if people elect representatives they should also have the power to remove them. It is a tool to exercise greater control and a whip to ensure greater accountability including the right to remove the corrupt and the criminal. Recall confers on the electorate the power to ‘de-elect’ their representatives through a direct vote initiated when a minimum number of voters registered in an electoral role sign a recall petition. The most useful aspect of the right is not actual recall which may be used infrequently, but the threat which will deter MPs from abusing their position. The other advantage of the system is that it will deter candidates from spending millions of rupees on elections because the opportunities for earning by indulging in corrupt practices is not guaranteed. It is incontestable that Sri Lanka has an urgent need for the right to recall Members of Parliament, Provincial Councils and Local Government bodies at all levels.

In the United States there have been upward of 150 recall elections of of Governors, Senators, Mayors, State Legislators and City Council members from 1911 till the present time; about 75 were successful. Recall of Members of the British Parliament in now possible under legislation enacted in 2015 for defined offences less than those resulting in automatic disqualification. These petitions are automatic and triggered by a Local Returning Officer of Elections, not by popular initiative. If the subsequent recall petition is signed by at least 10% of the electorate, a by-election is called. On 1 May 2019, Fiona Onasanya was the first MP to be removed from office. Many countries on the American continent (Argentina, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela among others) have Federal or State recall laws which have been successfully used. Switzerland, India, Germany, Ukraine, Latvia and the old Soviet Union have recall legislation in different forms covering the whole nation or certain States/Provinces. In strong federal systems provinces can enact legislation for themselves. The powers and mechanisms pertaining to these Right to Recall laws vary a great deal and are tailored to suit each case. 

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Latest comments

  • 29
    20

    Left and modernisation are incompatible. Left and individual liberty do not co-exist. There is no room for freedom in Leftist ideologies.
    .
    NM had good intentions. His plans went awry when he decided to partner Sirima. There was no quick remedy for our ills. For a man of his intelligence, his miscalculation stumped me.
    .
    He abandoned his philosophy and left his followers stranded.
    .
    I am ready to forgive him; but, History will not pardon him.

    • 3
      29

      KD: you forgot the Socialist PM of Sri Lanka SWRD Bandaranike was assassinated for nationalizing the strategic ports and airports of the country. in 1959.
      There after the Brits and the US evicted the people of Chagos Islands in the early 60s to build their military base in the Indian Ocean.
      Aung San was also mysteriously assassinated on the eve of Burma’s independence. His daughter knows that it was the British-US that did it to divide Burma along ethnic lines, her father had united Burma.
      British divided Palastine, Cyprus, Hongkong, India/Pak the list goes on to keep their wedge and rule from afar with Fake Development Aid.
      Leftists know that Development aid is colonialism by other means.
      Today the US is waging LAWFARE in Sri Lanka and messing with the Justice system with its fake aid and digitalization of court cases.. When will the brown Sahibs learn???

      • 4
        19

        KD: why do you never talk about NATO and the COLD WAR -Old and New – and how US-UK-France did regime change assassinations, coups and dirty wars in Africa, Asia and Latin America and Weaponized ethnic, racial and religious differences to undermine Leftists all over the post/colonial world and in Sri Lanka/ Ceylon?
        Your history of the failure of the left in Lanka is very parochial and ISLANDED!

        US-UK-France (P3) weaponized Islam in West Asia and Africa and Buddhism in Southeast Asia against “godless” communists, socialist and leftists. to DIvide, rule and loot… They are doing this right now in the Indian Ocean region. France and Japan (US proxies) are looting our living and non-living marine resources – Fisheries and minerals including Rare Earth Elements.

        • 2
          19

          Cold War history and ethnic and class conflict lessons for Kumar the fake leftist continued: Please re-write with Cold War in focus.

          JRJ was an American puppet as is his nephew Ranil who has ONLY survived in the UNP so long because of US interference. During the the Cold War JRJ was getting ready hand over Trincomalle to Uncle Sam and so the Indians weaponized the so called ethnic conflict in Lanka and set up the LTTE, EPRLF, TELO, PLOTTE, EPDP etc. all the Tamil Militant groups.
          After 2009, Buddhist and Muslim militant groups sprang up like little mushrooms just like during the ethnic conflict – BBS, Ravana Balaya, Mahaso and various Thawheed Jammarts, Same game with religion being weaponized..
          US and its Saudi Proxy weaponized Islam and Buddhism in Lanka to Divide and Rule and staged the Easter attacks to get a base here, but that plan backfired. Saffron Modi’s India weaponized Hindu outfits too.. RSS, Ravana Senai etc.
          KD please read up on: “Cold War Monks” by Eugene Ford and Phil Miller’s Keenie Meenie: British Mercenaries War crimes”, and Vincent Bevin’s book: JAKARTA METHOD on the ouster of Sukarnao and then rewrite this article.
          Right now you get a failing grade for this analysis: FFFFF

    • 1
      10

      “Left and modernisation are incompatible.”
      Wow! That seems to explain the faith that USSR and the People’s Republic of China did not industrially develop.

      • 0
        2

        SJ,
        At Princeton, don’t they teach that sort of history?

  • 21
    2

    Recall elections are a novel idea to me.
    I wish we too had such a thing.
    But still unable to figure out how you go about that.

    Soma

    • 18
      3

      Thanks, soma,
      .
      And I gave you a like.
      .
      Recall would be desirable, but I think Kumar himself said with Districts returning a number of MPP, and with proportional representation.
      .
      We want you on our side. Stop tongue in cheek talk about granting Eelam, and sending Tamils out of the South of Lanka. Bring about reconciliation. We need Peace.
      .
      Prosperity may be a byproduct, but is not what we should explicitly strive for.

    • 0
      0

      Kumar said recall would be difficult with present proportional system.
      ..
      Made mistakes owing to using phone.

    • 2
      0

      Soma,
      .
      They dont have funds to buy jabs for few millions yet, so what talks about holding elections which would cost lot more billions to the state.

      I think, people committed HARAKIRI by themselves. So those did not vote for the bastards should have to suffer,….

  • 21
    1

    Kumar.
    Well said and agreed. RECALL.
    This is a must do item, given that our representatives have the habit of changing colour, shade and “policy development on the go”, with about turns – with or without an EGG Hopper feed” and forget Polls promises to voters prior to election to Parliament, Provincial councils, local councils et all, to earn luxuries and living comforts for themselves including Mercedes and BMW for the next 6 years () recall will shorten the term and also prevent turncoats.
    Not even dare come, close to touching one in admiration, let alone Chauffer driven – in it with their JPUM only qualifications.
    (JPUM – mean Junior (Matriculation exam (Level 6) Pass, Unable to pass Matriculation – present day GCE O/L exam). Proof – How many zeros are there in 1.2 Million rupees? Question by AKD, response to an interruption during his speech, in repartee, on the day after the Sonic-Sonic revelation by Harin. No Answer interrupter!
    Biggest concern will be how one gets these guys to adopt ‘Recall’ to become part of the statute. Sri Lankans, by in-borne habit don’t want any of their “birthright to be taken away”. They will fight to their way to make it a non-event, infantile stubbornness. ‘Who bells the Cat?’

    • 18
      1

      I’m all for recall, but it’s not rational to insist on educational qualifications. Since I will always vote for people who talk sense, I think that they would tend to be educated, but it shouldn’t be stipulated that they should have minimum education.
      .
      However, candidates shouldn’t be allowed to claim bogus qualifications, or even speak misleadingly. For example, pass off aegrogat degree for a real qualification.
      .
      Tell the plain, simple truth. Being a hands on guy should be sufficient.

  • 26
    1

    I agree with this line of thinking but like to suggest that old left leaders were too theoretical and thought of our natives on the lines of Marxists definitions which were based 100% on study of Western populations.
    From Western achievements in economics , science, better governance , productivity and almost every field where human endeavour and discipline comes to bear, we see a vast difference to the human material existing in this country..
    Here we find a very backward, not so productive, lotus eaters, pretenders, frauds, and big talkers . They see the world through their birth defects -caste, race, religion and family.
    To win the support of this unimpressive lot NM and crowd had to get close to Mrs Bandaranayke’s support base, which in every way was backward.
    Even todays leaders face the same problem-the Rajapakses are only pretending. They have to manage with a huge mass of stupid, incapable, backward population.
    The people get the leaders they deserve

  • 35
    6

    How lovely two rogues are sitting and thinking what to steal next or who to kill next!!!!

    • 27
      0

      T f N: Killing and stealing is a regular activity of this couple – no need
      to be breaking their heads about that – their discussion is what to say
      next and the follow up to keep the other mouths closed – a great strain
      on their uneducatedness.

      • 11
        2

        punchinilame, totally agree bud. Then again if you look on both sides, the educated Sinhalese (JR/Lalith/SWRD/Gamini, etc) and the Tamils (Amirthalingam/Yogeswaran/Navaratnam, etc) were all humbugs who pushed the rural youths to fight and sent all their kids abroad to study. Did any of their children fight for Sri Lanka or the so called Tamil Ealam?

  • 22
    1

    Prof Kumar David,

    NM had overwhelming support from his supporters when he led the party into a coalition with SLFP in 1964 and the support continued until early 1970s.

    LSSP mishandled JVP insurgency and emerging Tamil nationalism.

    LSSP leaders at that time arrogantly and paternalistically dismissed the so-called misled JVP youth and supported the suppression of JVP by military means. They had not taken any efforts to bring them back into leftist mainstream.

    The LSSP had world-renowned Constitutional experts in their ranks including Dr Colvin R de Silva and Dr N.M.Perera .

    Yet they miserably failed in incorporating any minority friendly provisions into the First Republican Constitution.

    When the new 1972 constitution was drafted they refused to even retain section 29 of the Soulbury constitution and incorporate progressive provisions in the Bandaranaike – Chevanayakam pact into the constitution.

    On the contrary, unitary status and the Sinhala Only Act were elevated to constitutional status and Buddhism was granted a foremost place constitutionally.

    Tamil nationalism was in the ascendancy since then and gathered momentum and the country plunged into a 30 year long conflict.

    LSSP suffered natural death b y 1975 never to rise again, not because of coalition politics but because they arrogantly overlooked the suffering of people indifferently.

    Any Lessons for the Left?

  • 27
    2

    Sri Krish I agree with what you say, however you say that Colvin and NM were “world renown” constitutional experts ! Is this like SWRD being the best English speaker in Asia , JR a life form with super intelligence and Gamini Corea an epoch changing economist ?

    We get carried away when we talk of our people who have got their toe on to the Western world, but are they really that class ?
    As far as I know Colvin was a good criminal lawyer( in Sri Lanka) and JR’s every scheme backfired harming the country. Gamini was a good economist, just like PB Jayasundera, nothing more.There is a natural bias against not-pot experts but Corea was not that much better.

    To call any of them world class experts is surly taking liberties with the language and even imagination running wild.

    • 17
      0

      Deepthi Silva,

      Thanks for your comment.
      Further,It is true in the case of Dr N.M.Perera and Dr Colvin R de Silva and also SWRD being the best English speaker in Asia and Gamini Corea an epoch changing economist.
      , But I could not vouch that JR a life form with super intelligence..
      The thesis of Dr N.M.Perera on the comparative study of the Constitutions of the USA, UK, Germany and France won him an award of DSc by the London University.
      Dr Colvin R de Silva had earned much acclaim by meticulously planning and formulating the short-lived 1972 first republican constitution of Sri Lanka
      Dr Gamini Corea was Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1974 to 1984, Ceylon’s Ambassador to the EEC, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs of Ceylon and the Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank
      Mr SWRD Bandaranaike was Secretary of Oxford union and was known as the silver bell of Asia
      I may remind the saying, “A prophet is not honored in his own country”
      However I have my own critical political view about each one of them..

    • 18
      0

      True, deepthi.
      .
      Lankans are given to exaggerating the “exceĺlence” of our people
      .
      You have spoken of “taking liberties with the language, and then “not pot experts.” That expression annoys me. Labelling people like that inhibits them, and then it gets very difficult to teach them anything. Remember I’m a language teacher myself.
      .
      Beware, I’m prejudiced! My experience is that those talk like that themselves are usually substandard users of language.
      .
      Please pardon any unintentional aspersions on YouTube programs.

  • 18
    0

    When NM got tangled up in Sirimala’s sari tail I thought that would end up with in their marriage. That was the downfall of the LSSP. It was a revolutionary party. Whether JVP insurrection was right or wrong I am not qualified to comment. However though, when NM said they will do everything to smother them was too much for me.

  • 26
    0

    In a now very clearly ad distinctly tribal society in Sri Lanka for the most part (ie the 69 plus many others both baiya and toiya) decent democratic and civilised means of removing representatives who turn their backs on their supporters will not work, Instead, it might be worthwhile considering the methods used by anti-narcotic police who take a suspect to a hideout or “thippola” and is mysteriously shot in the wee hours of the morning. Extrajudicial? you may ask. Nein. The judiciary is alleged to be corrupt, as Alfonsuge Ranjan Sebastian (Ramanayake) claimed. So its ok, as Duterte did in the Philippino scenario..

  • 19
    2

    “Primary Health Care and Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle appealed to affluent people in the country to join hands with the Health Ministry and to donate necessary medical equipment to the hospitals as the need for such medical equipment is desperately rising” This is the time for all good Rajapapshes to open up their generous hearts to the suffering masses by setting up “Help the suffering people fund” by dipping into their colossal wealth they have stashed away in offshore accounts.

    • 23
      0

      HP@

      Rajapakashes and generous hearts ?

      Give me one examples where Rajapakshes offered anything for the upliftment of the poor in this country ?
      :
      Helping the suffering people fund (HSPF) is a good thing. But how many would donate their sums ? I did it at the time, TSUNAMI hit the country killing over 30 000 or more, but our funds, to my knowledge was embezzeled by Rajapakshes/Weeraketiya palhoru clan. ….. this is what I was compelled to read in SRILANKEN media. Irony is the very same people (majority) re-elected those criminals/ultra looters ad their leaders.
      :
      We as expats could do some good work again, but I am yet very upset of locals…

  • 20
    1

    We still talk of the “Viyaththu” from the days of Dr. NM, Dr. S.A, Mr. Peter K, Mr. Leslie, Mr. Colvin, Mr. Phillip G, Mr. Samarakkody, Mr. S.W.R.D B, running up to “Viyathmaga” Pandits of today. Do we turn back and ask: What ALL these “Viyaththu” and “Pandits” have done for the last SEVEN DECADES while engaged in politics? If they worked as fortified with all that “Learning”, should this country be in this horrible situation? They have FAILED and FAILED the country and the people. The taste of the cake is in the eating. We are “Eating” it today and it tastes “HORRIBLE”. All those, “COOKS” (Viyaththu & Pandits) of yesterday and today are a “Lousy” and “Incompetent” band of “Self Glorified” band that must be disbanded from our memories and move towards a “CHANGE” with a “BRAND NEW” promising, capable and “SINCERE” brigade of dedicated generation of “WISE” men and women.

    • 19
      0

      SIMON,
      .
      These were just RAJAPAKSHE Rhetorics. I wonder why people cant fearlessly question, as to why MaRa abused the gulliblity of the people …. I think people are to be blamed, because they would never think twice before leap. Even ethiopians of the day would think twice before going to vote today. They would never allow their tribal leaders to become their leadres.
      :
      Wimal Buruwase behaves todays as if his both ends are cemented.
      :
      Now 6,9 mios of MERCY COWS should be very clear, they got caught by the easy tricks played on them.

  • 16
    1

    Right to Recall may not be practically possible in a country like Sri Lanka .
    The main criticism may be the leaders may be reluctant to take any unpopular steps even in the interest of the country as they will be constantly at the mercy of his supporters for not to face recall election
    Re call elections will compromise stability .and governing will be difficult.
    I do not know any country who practiced British Parliamentary system have this provision in their constitution.

  • 29
    13

    Rajapakses are the worst that ever happened to Sri Lanka.

    Worse than Prabakaran.

    An unending 100 year war would have been better ……… the country would’ve recovered better and quicker than recovering from Rajapakse-rule ……… from its destruction of every facet/institution of society/governance.

    • 10
      2

      nimal fernando,
      I looked at, ‘Worse than Prabakaran’. I let it pass.
      Now, on a revisit, I am not quite sure of that.
      Is Prabhakaran the next worse thing that happened to Sri Lanka?
      Think again. Think deep.
      You are intelligent enough to put a few others in between.

      • 13
        3

        “Is Prabhakaran the next worse thing that happened to Sri Lanka?”

        Nathan,

        There is a different set of enlightened people OC, NV, chiv, SM, LM, Sarath, Shyamon, Shamini and a host of others who have transcended the narrow confines of human thinking ………….. and I was not speaking to them.

        I was speaking to the “Sinhala Buddhists” who set the direction of the nation and to whose “thinking” we are all held hostage ……… and prisoners of.

        To their narrow minds ……..there is no worse thing that happened to SL than Prabakaran …… although Prabakaran saved SL from India.

        I have to make them see their beloved Rajapakses are worse than their worst enemy Prabakaran. …….. It’s a futile attempt but it’s worth a try!

        Dayan have converted ….. EE, Lester, Soma will follow …… it’s just a matter of time. :))


        I see the Sinhala and Tamil youth revolts as revolts against bad governance more/rather than against discrimination (in the Sinhalese-youth’s situation perhaps class/caste discrimination.)

        • 11
          3

          continued

          From where I’m sitting, the Tamils are in an envious position, where they can project bad-governance as discrimination and ask for independence. We Sinhalese are in a greater pickle …… we can’t ask for independence from ourselves ……. the only independence we Sinhalese can have is leave the country.

          Which many “Sinhalese-Buddhists” have done ………. gone en masse to reside among Christians. ………. but then many Sinhalese won’t see their mass abandoning of ship as an independence struggle …….. perhaps because it doesn’t involve violence.

          • 2
            2

            nimal fernando,
            I salute your honesty, but not your findings!
            “We Sinhalese are in a greater pickle, we can’t ask for independence from ourselves ……. the only independence we Sinhalese can have is leave the country”.
            Aren’t you aware of the many who continue with their begotry, even from their new abodes.

          • 3
            0

            Brother Nimal Fernando,

            People committed ” harakiri” with the guidance of two TV channels (master minded by RAJAPAKSHES kalliya). Now it is too late, look at the numbers of purchaces they have bought by using state funds so far while people are about to be thrown to rivers as is the case in neigbouring india.
            .
            It is not even 2.5% sofar ( 5 00 000 for a nation of 22.5 x 100 000 = 225 00 00). OUTRAGEOUS … can we point the finger at any other neigbouring countries to have mastered CONTAINMENT of the virus from spread ?

            “Hara-kiri means stomach-cutting in Japanese where the word hara refers to stomach and kiri refers to cutting”

        • 6
          2

          Nimal,
          “Rajapakses are the worst that ever happened to Sri Lanka.
          –”
          Right. VP wanted only 1/3 of the country to play with. The Rajapaksas are screwing the whole country.

          • 4
            0

            OC,
            .
            You are spot on….. the best ever comment I read from you….

            Not only living ones, but unborn children are made eternal debtors….
            .
            That is called RAJAPAKSHE DOCTRINE. These men would have been good to run prisons, but not in SL, very likely in a banana republic. 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

            • 2
              2

              Thanks LM

  • 20
    28

    “Months ago I was the first to emphasise that the popularity of the Double-Paksa Presidency and Government had collapsed.”

    Did you take a poll? How did you reach this conclusion? Of course Rajapakse will be unpopular among the separatists, but these people are perpetual losers. Marxism will not work in Sri Lanka. Ironically, the reason is because “Sinhala-Buddhism” is inherently liberal and lacks a hierarchical structure. Marxism worked for the LTTE because they used it replace caste. An authoritative, totalitarian system with fascist underpinnings was used to replace a slightly less authoritative system with a rigid hierarchy. Similarly, Marxism works in East Asian because of the authoritative nature of Confucianism. The kind of political system best suited for Sri Lanka is the one in Singapore. An unofficial dictatorship sans corruption. Here the focus is economic development, not so much human rights or freedom of the press.

    • 2
      0

      Sri Lanka is not Singapoore.

      Singapoore is a new country with no history baggage to drag it backwards whereas the 2500 year long glorious history of Sri Lanka will always prevent forward movement.

      Until and unless Sri Lanka leaves her old baggage, the die is cast

      • 2
        2

        Singapore is more racist than SL, however, the racism is more subtle. Here is one example: “Last year, when Darius Cheung, co-founder of a property search portal, wanted to rent a house in Singapore, he met with many reluctant real estate agents. Many of them seemed interested at first, but would turn him down later. He found out why when one realtor gave him a rather shocking response: “Sorry your wife is Indian, (the) landlord won’t rent to you.”” Where are Navi Pillai and other HR champions? Sri Lanka gave full citizenship to Indian Tamils imported by Dutch/British, no East Asian country would do 1/2 of that. Still the buggers cry about “genocide.”

        • 0
          2

          Lester,
          “Sri Lanka gave full citizenship to Indian Tamils imported by Dutch/British, no East Asian country would do 1/2 of that. “
          Why do you insist on mouthing eye-wateringly idiotic gems like the above?
          If you did your research, you would know that there are plenty of Indians in Hong Kong.
          Singapore/ Malaysia also gave citizenship, but then a hair-splitter like you would say they aren’t in East Asia.

          • 0
            2

            Lester,
            “Ironically, the reason is because “Sinhala-Buddhism” is inherently liberal and lacks a hierarchical structure. “
            Would you explain why the Mahanayaka of Asgiriya is NEVER a non-Govigama?

  • 2
    13

    ” I did not support NM’s Coalition Resolution at the fateful 1964 LSSP Party Conference, so I don’t need to make excuses for his standpoint. “
*
I do not think the matter is about personal culpability. It is collective responsibility.
Anyone who genuinely disagreed with a serious decision of that nature should have quit the way Bala T and Edmund S did.
In fact Colvin who was initially a vehement opponent of the idea changed heat and became astrong supporter of the idea. Did not Karalasingam briefly leave the LSSP, only to rejoin later?
*
The parliamentary left had learned by 1956 and (March 1960 for certain) that getting into power by electoral route was a tall order.
The ULF formed in 1963 offered an opportunity of securing a solid left bloc in parliament that could be politically decisive the way the communists were in India. What the LSSP did threw that into the dustbin of Left history together with the 21 Demands of an unprecedented alliance of trade unions.
Did it take until the humiliating defeat of the LSSP in 1977 to learn that even the 1970 UF alliance was a mistake?
There are ideological flaws that led to such tragic errors.


    • 3
      3

      SJ,
      Well said!
      It is almost an accurate narrative!
      What happened thereafter is much more interesting!
      After the humiliating expulsion of LSSP IN 1975 and the annihilation in the 1977 election, the surviving members of LSSP did not learn any lesson. After hiding during the regimes of JR and Premadasa,they slowly went back into coalition politics again, but this time without any common programme.

      The surviving golden brains of LSSP namely highly respected Benard Soysa, Batty Weerakoon, Tissa vitharane assumed as cabinet ministers like lapdogs under Chandrica and Mahinda to complete the process of betrayaL.

      The process was completed by the way Prof TissaVitharane was treated by GOTA after the 2019 Presidential Election .

  • 22
    0

    SUDARSINI you need not beg affluent people to donate money to meet covid-19 expenses.The most affluent people in srilanka who can help as given below.
    1)GOTHAPAIYA-he has lot of money starting from MIG deal,all ships belongs to LTTE which he got it through KUMARAN PATHMANTHAN worth over 100 million.this money in more than enough to vaccinate the whole srilanakn.
    2)MAHINDAYA-All gold he got from LTTE AND all money he obtained from SEA street merchants after kidnapping them as LTTE SUPPORTERS is more than enough to pay RS.10,000.00 EACH TO COVID-19 VICTIMS.
    In addition BASIL MR.10% ALSO have lot of commission money to help covids.

    • 8
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      Paragan@
      Yes this list would nt end .what about the huge portions looted from tsunami embezzlment? . Former chief justice the most abusive man revealed it.
      .
      And the sums being stolen by 10% aka Basil?. His numbers are inestimable
      .
      The brutal family deserves raw open cremation similar to scenes being telecasted on Covid deaths in neighbouring india.not a single person in that curseful family is said to be clean, karmic retribution will clear this soon.😐😐😐😐☹☹☹☹
      .

  • 9
    0

    Unfortunately today the left leaders have sold their souls to Satan. Dinesh, Wimal, Gon-man-pilla, Vasudeva, etc have no character at all. This is because they have no voter base. All they have is a grip on the “Sathakaya” of the King for their survival. Left ideas, fighting for the weak and for minorities have been long forgotten by them. The day voters recognize this would be the day Sri Lanka will see a positive change.

    • 2
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      My dear B1,
      .
      They should better think about the people, leaving their voter bases etc. Today Wimal buruwanse has hidden under the dirty bed of MaRa. This as we know he deserves. THe bugger should be jailed foreever to have misled the vulnerable in this country. His would not fit anyone in SL politics again. The very same would be the case for nakiballo such as WASIDEWA and few others. These men are like ” blue flies” bieng found on Wanathamulla garbage dumps.

  • 4
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    Part I:
    Prof. Kum, as usual, has written a Malay-pickle of an essay, encompassing many subjects which are not related. Broadly he distinguishes the present “leftists” with those of the past questioning their integrity in joining hands with others, whereas the past “leftists” joined hands on genuine grounds although wrong. I do not claim to be a clairvoyant to study people’s mind on genuineness. What is visible is that those “leftists” of the past, truly imprinted “leftism” in the country to such an extent that even by 1975, people decided that the Government of the day must get the boot, resulting “Tricky-Dick” getting a five sixth majority. In contrast, the latter “leftists” could hardly make their presence felt in the country. Anything practiced to the extreme would be rejected by the people, particularly in this country to the hilt, giving the other set of “Kleptocrats” to suck the juice of the people during their tenure of office. This naturally focusses on the possibility of a recall to serve as check on those elected keeping on their toes. The recall of an elected official cannot be ad-hoc, such as loss of popularity but on specific grounds.

  • 4
    0

    Part II
    Prof. Kum cites examples of other countries to recall those elected but fails to outline a model for Sri Lanka, taking into account that no legal proceeding can be instituted against the President and as well as the current MP’s are on proportional representation with the proviso that any vacation of office would be filled with the one next in line and not on vote by the people. It is not merely the recall that matters. Article 3 of the Constitution mandates that the Sovereignty lies with the people, it is inalienable and that INCLUDES powers of government, fundamental rights and franchise (may I add “but not limited to”). Article 4 describes the “delegated” exercise of such sovereignty. Now a principal should be able to have a check on the delegate. This constitution does not provide such a check on the delegate, thus giving a blank check for the fellows to run amok. Accountability! Pooh! “You b… fools elected for us to have a nice time”. One might argue that must those fellows be always “checked” and thus losing the purpose of delegation. Decency is a pre-requisite for successful representative Democracy. Is it here?

  • 7
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    Sri Krish I also like and admire the old left leaders. But we must guard against unrealistic and unjustified assessments.

    Yes NM did a thesis on the Weimar Republic and perhaps another subject. This is routine at all universities. All universities produce clever students every year and all years. His thesis is not a text on these subjects. NM was undoubtedly intelligent and honest. But to call them world class is going too far.

    Nearly all UN agencies promote third world nominees for high positions-this is democracy and global politics, not a test of abilities. Now we had Mahendran ( a former student of a British university, perhaps Oxford) as Governor of our Central Bank. That does not make him a world class economist or even a gentleman.

    I think very very good economists get the Nobel. They write widely accepted books. They promulgate theories of economics. What have our economists done ? Run down our small economy and destroyed our civil society !

    As a nation we have a tendency to overate anyone who studied overseas. They may be above our average( which is very low) but not world class or even honest.(may be something wrong with their basic upbringing)

    • 0
      2

      Deepthi,
      “I think very very good economists get the Nobel. “
      Yes, the fact that none of us has won a Nobel gives the lie to “world class” pretensions. Wait, was Prabhakaran the only contender for “world class”?

  • 6
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    Paragon. You said it for me. There is also the pouch of Gems from Daisy Aachi. When beings loose their sense of shame it has got no barriers to stop them from being dirty. When the poor are starving the PM held a lavish party at Temple Trees to commemorate the Cricket World Victory at the expense of the tax payer. Such is the world of Neros. Thank you.

    • 4
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      HP,
      but they are all kept in ” dolawa” abve in the society, by whom if not by the punnaku drinking majority. People should go on protest against the bunch of high criminals. As was the case to Gadafi and his family memebers, MaRa and his family will have to face it….. sooner than later.

      HP, that is the mentality of MaRa, he is acting…. his real nature is not yet clear to the poor voters. This man is the ROOT cause of srilanken fall. I wonder why karmic retribution is that delayed. ??????????????????????????????

      In a civilized world, these men from MaRa to his offsprings would have been attacked by stones, if the legal systems would not work, but our – pariah state- would not react even if their mothers would have been abducted and killed away on broad day light.

  • 5
    0

    Good try, KR. Your loyalty is to be admired but no amount of spin will convince me that the ‘coalition tactic of NM et al’ was different to that of Tissa, Vasu and DEW. It was just as opportunistic. You have asked ‘Did NM covet a job in Sirima’s cabinet’ and proceeded immediately to provide the answer. ‘Nonsense’, you have declared, adding, ‘It is no secret that the ‘golden brained’ left leaders despised their soon to be counterpart morons in Sirima’s Cabinet’. For sure, they did and, no doubt, they also had a correspondingly exalted opinion of themselves. After long unrewarding years in Opposition – NM had been there from before 1948 – they knew that government on their own was beyond reach. Then they discovered the virtues of pragmatism, to think outside the box and so on, as motivational gurus so encourage us to do. And, guess what? They realised they were only anti- capitalist, and when they really thought about it, the SLFP was not a capitalist party! The human capacity to rationalise is almost infinite. But, the public was not impressed.

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