Prof. Thangamuthu Jayasingam
Honourable State Minister for Health Ms Pavithra Wanniarachchi had made a significant statement. According to her, the government does not wish to take over the hospitals in the North (and East). But in that case they also cannot/will not allocate any fund for the hospitals! What blackmail! This is the fundamental issue. She does not seem to have any idea of devolution but just power. It is the same issue that goes around all those in power at the center. Why? Why do they all think the center could manage the country but province cannot manage the province? Often it is stated that the Provincial staff are unable to manage the province or the associated actions. Why? They pass out from the same university and they have experienced the same trainings either in life or institution. Then why should there be a difference in skills?
It is indeed unfortunate that except for the north and east, in other provinces the politicians feel that provincial councils are just a stepping stone to national politics. This is why they do not see the value of those offices or their role to provide the best for the province. They seem to wag their tail to satisfy the masters in the party and never seem to see their larger role as politicians, to consider the public (members of the society) as their responsibility. Lack of political parties in the province is a major defect in the process. Given what had happened in national politics currently, it can be argued that there should be more political parties in the provinces, and with the capacity to govern the province. They may even be independent individuals and parties who eventually come together to form a government. This might be the only way Sri Lanka could get its life, hope and image back. The centralized politics and its policies, more its corruption and swollen heads had gone beyond limits to the extent that many faults are in the open. I consider every and all political parties that ruled the country for the past 73 years since independence to be responsible for bringing us to the bottom of the table from being on top, even in Asia. An alternative is the need of the day.
Provincial Council in law
What is the issue in not holding Provincial Council elections? Delimitation, electoral reforms etc. are simple excuses and if these are not ready have it the way it was last held, as already damages had accumulated for not having these over time. There had been statements made that the Provincial system may be removed as it is a white elephant. When 17 billion rupees were taken away from the government coffers TACTICALLY from sugar import duties this year the state observed silence and it is hilarious when someone speaks of expenses for the provincial councils. It is the failure of the state for not holding Provincial Council elections which are mandatory as being part of the governance under the Constitution and they have a role in the system. They are as essential as the parliament for the country. Many regulations and laws that need to be endorsed by the provincial council have gone by passing them and thus the law may be challenged at a later point in time. The Divinaguma programme which sought to further centralize power reaching to the grassroots was prevented by the non-acceptance by the Northern Provincial Council. Will it be correct to pass any/all laws keeping the provincial councils suppressed, if being a requirement under the constitution?
“In its determination the Supreme Court agrees with the submissions made by CPA and determines that Article 154(G) (3) of the Constitution needs to be complied with in respect of the subject matters referred to in the Provincial Council List and that it is mandatory for the Central Government to consult the Provincial Councils before placing such a Bill on the Order Paper of Parliament” (Note on the Divineguma Bill By Centre for Policy Alternatives January 2013)
Violating the Provincial mandate, negative approach
Recently there had been disputes over development in the Maduru Oya right bank where colonization/encroachment of the area that was within the Batticaloa district had been in contest. The left bank had been developed 60 years ago where many agricultural towns flourish today, Aralagangwila, Dehiyattekandiya and many more. It is only now that the state had time to look into the right bank and before they start already disputes have started by people invading these lands from other districts and provinces, and these matters are in court. Why should the people of Batticaloa not have similar development in their area, does the center think they need not develop? Is this the equity under the one law for the country?
Center had not delivered, Option is devolution
At joint meetings of the Provincial councils they unanimously endorse the need for increased powers and finances for better management. It is like what the state minister for health had stated now, Funds will not be provided but you run the province in spite of it but almost all taxes are sent to the central government. It is what is referred to as ‘CATCH 22’ or ‘heads I win and tails you lose’ syndrome with no option in reality. These had also been seen with sectors such as Education and Agriculture extension and in cases where even after the courts had ruled against, the center defies it conveniently through neglect.
It is also the Land and Police powers to the provinces are in question and why the state cannot/does not devolve this as in many other countries is reflective of the determination not to let the system work. It is illogical to claim that they would misuse or they cannot handle while those at the center will do a better job which is not the case as plainly evident from the plight the country is in at the present time. It may be that the center does not want to lose power or the benefits associated to power, but, it is definitely not in the best interests of the country.
It has become evident that over the 73 years of governance the central governments has failed to develop the country. The only way now may be to provide the provincial councils devolution with power, removing the extra executive powers of the appointed Governors of the Provinces, provided by the constitution and the Province Council Act 42/1987, who should not be above the elected representatives for executive action, a total reversal of the democracy where power of the people is vested in the executive by election. Alternatively, the Governors too need to be elected. The politicized governors with their dependence on the goodwill of the president who appoints them have been a block to the development of the provinces in general.
Covid had shown the mismatch and management of the pandemic as a whole including information sharing and vaccination which should be taken as a failure of the center, whatever the reasons may be. This also reminds us the failure of the Post-Tsunami assistance which was managed from the center, and which made many donor agencies who came with money leave without being able to spend it, again owing to the inefficiency of the central authorities who had no idea of what to do at the local level. It is time that we move away from this fossilized management attitudes, by experience.
The country has limited choices at present considering the many setbacks and independently functioning Provincial Councils, each innovating and showing the way forward to the others, may be the silver line across the dark skies. It parallels the ‘children making their own households away from the MAHAGEDARA (compound families/extended families) for the benefit of both and sustenance of their relationship so that the family stays intact.
*The author was the chairman/member of the Public Services Commission of the Eastern Provincial Council for three years and was also Professor of Botany and Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
old codger / July 9, 2021
“is only now that the state had time to look into the right bank and before they start already disputes have started by people invading these lands from other districts and provinces, and these matters are in court. Why should the people of Batticaloa not have similar development in their area, does the center think they need not develop?”
Yes, good point. Why is it that only one particular community is settled in State colonization schemes? Are the others lesser humans, in spite of the fact that they do much better at agriculture even without State support? This is just like stuffing the forces and government offices with one ethnicity.
If this sort of thing is stopped, there will be no need for Provincial Councils.
/
Sugandh / July 9, 2021
Dear o c:
–
“Why is it that only one particular community is settled in State colonization schemes?”
–
That’s a great question!
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The settlements have been so blatant and the demographic changes have been so rapid in some areas. Yet that great question of yours is not voiced enough.
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Pardon my ignorance…
Do these settlements only happen in the North and East?
/
old codger / July 10, 2021
Sugandh,
There are other settlements in places like Mahiyangana. But of course, same story. You won’t see Tamil or Muslim colonists being accommodated
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Ajith / July 10, 2021
Sugandh,
The ethnic based population distribution by ethnicity only changed significantly in the North East. If you look at the historical population census of this country you will see that difference.
Devolution of power is not to divide the country. It is about sharing the power and uniting the people together.
/
Sugandh / July 11, 2021
Dear Ajith:
–
I have literally seen this happen in the Northeast.
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These settlements being essentially politically motivated than anything else (particularly in the recent decades), there’s no integration with existing communities but they form monoethnic communities driven to stake ownership to the region.
–
The settlers seem to understand the goals of government run settlement programs and their psyche develops accordingly.
/
Eagle Eye / July 9, 2021
old codger,
“Why is it that only one particular community is settled in State colonization schemes?”
—-
Because that community lived in those areas for thousands of years before Dravida invaders and Tamil terrorists chased them out and occupied their land. North East of the country is the cradled of Sinhala Buddhist civilization where the first Sinhala Kingdoms Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa existed. Dravida invaders who came from Hindusthan massacred Sinhalayo, burnt down their settlements, killed Monks, destroyed temples, burnt paddy fields and paddy kept in the houses, destroyed irrigation systems forcing Sinhalayo to abandon Northern part of the country and retreat to South. Whoever remained in those areas were chased away by Tamil terrorists.
They are not colonization schemes. They are settlement schemes. Sinhalayo do not have to colonize their own country.
/
old codger / July 10, 2021
Eagle,
“Dravida invaders who came from Hindusthan massacred Sinhalayo, burnt down their settlements, killed Monks, destroyed temples, burnt”
According to your Mahavamsa, Sinhalayo burnt 4 Hindu temples in the North and East .
Don’t get excited The truth always hurts.
/
Lanka Canuck / July 15, 2021
EE
Your forefather Vijaya (the banished profligate son of Sihabahu from Sinhapura) who created the Sinhala race in Sri Lanka (along with his 700 men/criminals) was not only an invader but also a terrorist. He massacred/annihilated most of those Dravidian tribes living in the island and established his Sinhala kingdom. Later, the Tamils kept on invading to take back their land (island) from Vijaya’s people (Sinhalese).
/
Eagle Eye / July 9, 2021
old codger,
When D.S.Senanayake started settlement schemes, he wanted to settle Demala people also but Demalu refused to come because they were scared of malaria. Sinhalayo from South faced the challenge and developed the area.
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SJ / July 10, 2021
OC
The person who started communally minded colonization was DSS. In fact Philp G. criticized his alleged motive to protect the South’s big land owners from clamour for land to cultivate by the region’s landless by altering the demography of the East. (He was then a committed leftist.)
There was reluctance on the part of landless Tamils in the peninsula to move out of the peninsula. I remember attempts by the FP activists in Trincomalee encouraging people to apply for land the District in the early 1960s. It did not go very far. A few well to do individuals acquired some land in the 1960s but very few of the needy.
The lack of interest in land on the part of Tamil leaders (except to protest planned colonization schemes) was a major factor in the matter.
It was the ban on import of onion, chili and potato in the 1970s that drew people out of the peninsula into the Vanni.
A lot of illegal settlements occurred in the 70s in the East. What has happened with state encouragement since, especially after the conflict escalated, is plain mischief.
*
“If this sort of thing is stopped, there will be no need for Provincial Councils.”
But can such things be stopped otherwise with ethnic polarization as staple for electoral politics?
/
Eagle Eye / July 11, 2021
SJ,
“The person who started communally minded colonization was DSS.”
“(except to protest planned colonization schemes)”
—-
According to the Cambridge English Dictionary ‘colonization’ is defined as:
“the act of sending people to live in and govern another country”
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/colonization
—-
Saying Native Sinhalayo colonized their own country is a joke. Demala Tamils who do not know the meaning of the word ‘Colonization’ keep on saying Sinhalayo are colonizing Tamil land. There are no Tamil land in Sinhale to be colonized by Sinhalayo. It is Portuguese and Dutch who colonized Yapanaya peninsula which was a part of Sinhala Kingdom. After colonial rulers left, Demala Tamil people brought to Yapanaya by colonial rulers occupied the land taken over by Portuguese and Dutch from Sinhalayo and imposed a Malabar customary law called ‘Thesawalamei’ to keep that land under their control.
/
old codger / July 11, 2021
Eagle,
“According to the Cambridge English Dictionary ‘colonization’ is defined “
What does your dictionary call it when a Lt. Commander surgeon performs a Humanitarian Operation with his pants down?
/
Lanka Canuck / July 14, 2021
OC,
Right from the day the British gave Sri Lanka independence and handed over the entire country including the Tamil speaking North & East to the Sinhala leaders, the Sinhala leadership had a hidden agenda. They wanted to transform the multi-ethnic Sri Lanka into a mono-ethnic (Sinhala) country. The first Sinhala leader, DS Senanayake started the Sinhalization process by colonizing the Sinhalese in Tamil areas, changing the Tamil area names into Sinhala names and systematically dilute their (Tamil) strength until finally they all assimilate/naturalize and become Sinhalese.
The Tamils must be thankful to SWRD Bandaranayake for bringing the ‘Sinhala only’ act and opening the eyes of the Tamil leaders who were in deep slumber when DS Senanayake was happily colonizing the Tamil North & East with Sinhalese.
/
GATAM / July 9, 2021
Devolution does not work without relocating people into mono ethnic provinces.
Only lasting solution is the split the island into 3 mono ethnic nations equitably and relocate people. There will be Sinhala Only Elam, Tamil Elam and Muslim Elam. After that any of them can unite like the EU while retaining their identity and equal status. Or they can merge with another nation.
One nation is a disaster. No amount of tweaking that can change it.
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soma / July 9, 2021
Two.
Muslims are Tamils practising Islam.
Tamils are all Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion or the date of arrival.
–
Soma
/
SJ / July 10, 2021
Where do you place Tamils who do not speak Tamil at all?
What about Sinhalese who speak fluently in Tamil?
*
The Australians, Canadians et al. speak English.
Nearly all Singaporeans speak English. They do it better than the Brits.
Do all of them become Englishmen (gender neutral)?
*
These names are none but labels.
One rightfully chooses his identity name-tag.
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soma / July 11, 2021
SJ
You have blissfully forgotten the subject of “political solution “
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Soma
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SJ / July 11, 2021
S
In what way does my remembering or forgetting anything affect the validity of my comments?
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soma / July 12, 2021
SJ
Refer to the main article. The author is discussing so called “Political Solution ‘ in respect of the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka.
As far as I am concerned there are only two groups of people in relation to the subject: Those who speak the Sinhala language and those who speak the Tamil language. Mix of DNA or the religion is irrelevant. Your mention of a few Tamils who have given up Tamil and Sinhalese who can speak Tamil is an unnecessary distraction. That thought wouldn’t have occurred to you if you were concious of the subject under discussion.
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Soma
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SJ / July 14, 2021
Soma
I was only responding to you comment: “Tamils are all Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion or the date of arrival.”
*
When a people identify themselves as a distinct social group and refuse to be classed with another group based on some common feature, the claimed identity has to be respected.
Soon we will have a significant number of Sinhala-speaking Muslims. Do we tear them apart as Tamils and Sinhalese?
*
Language has never been the sole identifier of an ethnic group or nationality.
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soma / July 15, 2021
SJ
How many groups you envisage are entitled for political autonomy?
–
Soma
/
Eagle Eye / July 9, 2021
Gatam,
What kind of selfish greedy fellows are these descendants of invaders, coolies who came to work for colonial rulers and refugees who were saved by Sinhala Buddhists when they faced persecution by Portuguese to come out with proposals to grab the land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo to have their own Kingdoms in the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo.
/
SJ / July 14, 2021
EE
They have all been bad from the very day they set foot in this island since 2600 years ago.
*
Chase away the lot including half-breeds to where they came from and let the few ‘pure’ aboriginals share the island with other indigenous creatures (no imported cattle or poultry).
/
leelagemalli / July 14, 2021
Real coolies of the country are RAJAPAKSHES; that is why they have been caught by CHINESE tricks today. No matter anything and everything would have been looted by the chinese, Rajapakshes have no guts to stand against them.
:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdEKHVIHrH4
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If this would have been found under Good governance, that pig from Medamulana would surely question ” Dhan sepadha ? are u happy or anything like that.. ” දැන් සැපද ? … ඔන්න චීන්නු මේ රටෙ කොරන ජාති ඒව මේවා look how the CHINESE invade the country today….. our rule would not allow such … etc.. but today, DOUBLE-PAKSHE dictatorship behaves before the CHINESE as if a defeated dog hide his tail behind the rear legs.
.
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Blabla / July 10, 2021
GATAM
OK go ahead with it.
/
Pandi Kutti / July 10, 2021
Thulluka Jadam/Pathima, keep on trying to get an Islamic state in the Thamizh areas in the island, thinking that Eezham Thamizh are now weak with no international support, thanks to the shortsighted stupid policy appeasement of Hindia and the west in 2009. Now both blinking as due to this stupid anti Thamizh policy, and cunning Chingkalla manipulation. China now has a strong foothold in the island. Chingkalla Buddhist racism and extremism has become intolerable and Islamic fanatic and extremism has also increased amongst the fake Arab, largely low caste converted immigrant Thamizh Thullukans from South India. The LTTE, whatever its faults, kept all these three evils at bay and controlled them and never allowed them to raise their heads, especially in the Thamizh areas. The stupid largely anti Thamizh Hindian South Block run by Thamizh hating Malayalees and Brahmin Supremacists, many ironically calling themselves Thamizh never realized this but only wanted their petty revenge against the LTTE for killing silly Rajiv, who sent the Hindian raping and looting force to the North and East of the island and against the hapless Eezham Thamizh for things that happened in Thamizh Nadu, that had nothing to do with them. Now blinking .
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Pandi Kutti / July 10, 2021
Sri Lankan Muslims or Thullkans are ethnically Thamiz and fairly recent immigrants, largely refugees from Thamizh Nadu and moreover most of them live amongst Chingkallams. Recently migrated refugee immigrants have no claim to other people’s homeland, where they were given refuge, like in the Thamizh east, solely on the basis they were fellow Thamizh, fleeing Portuguese and then Chingkalla persecution along the west and central parts of the island. Moreover Islam is a world religion and being a Muslim is a religious identity and not an ethnicity/race. Your ethnicity is Thamizh. If you want an Islamic state claim this in Muslim majority areas in the Chingkalla south, where over 72% of Thullkans live, not in the Thamizh NE where you arrived a few centuries ago as refugees and share a common language and ethnicity with the Christian/Hindu Eezham Thamizh. You will never claim for an Islamic state in Chingkalla areas, as you are aware of what the repercussions from the Sri Lankan state, the Chingkalla armed forces and police and mobs will be, despite 72% of the island’s Muslims living in the south. However now emboldened to claim this in the Eezham Thamizh areas, as you think the Thamizh are now weak and you can get away with this, especially with overt and covert funds from certain Islamic states and the Chingkalla state, that deliberately is setting the opportunistic Thullukans to do this, to muddy the waters and deny Eezham Thamizh justice and to steal more of their lands.
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Sugandh / July 9, 2021
The statements of Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi are news to me;
“According to her, the government does not wish to take over the hospitals in the North (and East)”. The author has indicated that it means no government funding.
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Her stance is surprising given that the major hospitals due to their reputation in the region serve patients from nearby provinces too. Jaffna hospital is an example.
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ramona therese fernando / July 9, 2021
Short of control of police and army, yes there should be devolution. But about the taxes that go to the central government, taxes nationion-wide are being abused, not just the n&e.
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Rajan Hoole / July 9, 2021
A thought-provoking article that touches the fly in the ointment: Going back to independence, those who wield the instruments of power have no regard for the laws they are under. As with Sinhala Only, Devolution too would become a forgotten issue. We see signs of multiple break-ups and perhaps go back to the mid – second millennium AD when the country as ruled by regional satraps.
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SJ / July 11, 2021
RH
My worry is more about fascism; a lesser worry is civil war..
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soma / July 12, 2021
Dr Rajan Hoole.
.
+50% of Tamils will be subject to severe discrimination and alienation under autonomous Sinhala majority provinces with police and land powers.
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Soma
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soma / July 9, 2021
+50% of Tamils will be subject to severe discrimination and alienation under autonomous Sinhala majority provinces with police and land powers.
–
Soma
/
Pandi Kutti / July 10, 2021
Choma instead of repeating the same lies, that all Chingkalla racists love to, please read your own government statistics. 51% of the island’s Thamizh live in the north and east and 70% of the indigenous Eezham Thamizh live in the North and East and 90% of the rest in Kozumbhu and the rest largely along the once Thamizh north west, Neer Kozhumbu, Chilapam and Puttalam . 90% of the Thamizh living amongst the Chingkallams are the Indian origin Thamizh who have always lived there. The North and East of the island is the homeland of the Eezham Thamizh and 70% live there and this is their homeland. 90% of the Eezham Thamizh who live in the Chingkalla areas, still have close ties with the NE and they and other Thamizh will relocate, if they have to. The rest will gradually become Chingkallams, just like the so called Chingkalla Karaiyar, Chaliyar( Salakamam) Nalavar/Nadar( Thurawar) , Paraiyar( Berewa) and the so called Kandyan Radala and other upper castes who became Chingkallams to safeguard their wealth, did before them.
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Pandi Kutti / July 10, 2021
Who cares, everyone knows, that most of the present day Chingkallam Aryans are really largely descended from Thravidha Indian Thamizh Immigrants, just like most of the so called fake Arab Sri Lankan Moors are too. One now Aryan the other now Arab once they cross the sea from Thamizh Nadu, screaming I hate Eezham Thamizh to survive. Even if only 5% of the Thamizh live in the NE it s still their homeland and not Chingkalla land. Understood? Why cannot Chingkallams get this basic fact, instead of keep on repeating the same lie.
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Native Vedda / July 11, 2021
soman
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By the way now Basil has been appointed the Finance Minister do you think the clan will be better off in the next few months than in the past 6 years?
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It appears Namal baby does not get along with Basil.
Do you know why?
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soma / July 13, 2021
NV
The Clan is kaput.
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Soma
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Native Vedda / July 14, 2021
soman
–
“The Clan is kaput.”
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Not really. On the contrary the country is kaput.
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What is the big idea behind Militarisation of civil administration?
It is unfortunate a bunch of inapt dump asses are expected to spring miracles.
Savendra does not know if he is coming or going.
Every Tom Dick and Harry aligned to the ruling party issues conflicting statement.
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As an ardent supporter of the present ruling politicians you should know what is going on in the government.
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My friends among the 6.9 million do not want to discuss these matters anymore, they don’t want to hear “I told you so”.
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Seriously, what is going on inside Gota’s blockhead?
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Eagle Eye / July 9, 2021
“It is also the Land and Police powers to the provinces are in question and why the state cannot/does not devolve this as in many other countries is reflective of the determination not to let the system work.”
—-
From 3rd Century BC, Sinhalayo sacrificed hundreds and thousands of lives and shed their blood to protect their land from Dravida invaders who invaded Sinhale 53 times. After making such sacrifices why should they hand over their land to descendants of Dravida people who came to work for colonial rulers?
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old codger / July 10, 2021
Eagle,
Whose Hindu Temples did Sinhalayo destroy 1800 years ago, according to the Mahavamsa?
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Eagle Eye / July 9, 2021
“It is also the Land and Police powers to the provinces are in question and why the state cannot/does not devolve this as in many other countries is reflective of the determination not to let the system work.”
—-
Low caste Tamils in Yapanaya told the Sub-Committee on Power Sharing of the Constitution Drafting Committee formed under ‘Yahapalana’ Government not to give police and land powers to NPC because they know what will happen to them if NPC gets police and land powers.
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Pandi Kutti / July 10, 2021
Eagle Thaatha Kallam Paraiyathe ( Do not speak lies) Which low castes? Your Thamizh wife’s relatives or the Chingkalla Karaiyars, Challakamam and Thurawams?
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Ajay / July 9, 2021
“It is indeed unfortunate that except for the north and east, in other provinces the politicians feel that provincial councils are just a stepping stone to national politics. This is why they do not see the value of those offices or their role to provide the best for the province.”
.
True. In the south, PCs are training schools for turning petty criminals into national level grand scale mega-plunderers. But in the north and east things are no better. The PCs are taken too seriously there (because that’s the only little power they have) and that leads to major showdowns and deadlocks over trivial matters. Every little thing becomes an ego trip causing ill-will and disunity among the members and the staff. Ultimately this leaves the people supposed to be served by these PCs with a sense of self-defeat and disillusionment. This was best exemplified by the ego-maniacal destructive path taken by Wiggy in running the northern PC. Understanding the limitations inherent in the PC system and cooperation across party lines are vital if it is to serve the local needs of the people in a meaningful way.
.
Now turning to Pavithra Devi – just ignore her. She knows nothing except to drink honey and piss water into the river. Nobody takes her seriously anymore.
/
Eagle Eye / July 9, 2021
“It has become evident that over the 73 years of governance the central governments has failed to develop the country.”
—-
BS!
The Governments developed the country. Whatever the Governments achieved was ruined by megalomaniac Rohana Wijeweera who led the JVP, racist separatist Tamil politicians who passed Vaddukkodei Resolution to create a separate State and declared war against Sinhala Nation, megalomaniac Prabhakaran who led Tamil terrorists and Muslim terrorists led by Saharan.
Tamils in Yapanaya say Vigneshwaran did not do anything to develop that area although funds were available. Instead of using the funds allocated to NPC for development, he returned the money to Treasury.
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old codger / July 10, 2021
Eagle,
What happened to Batakotte?
/
Eagle Eye / July 9, 2021
Prof. Thangamuthu Jayasingam
Ranil Wickramasinghe handed over nearly one third of the country on a platter to Prabhakaran and devolved power. Instead of using that opportunity to develop North-East, Tamils messed up the whole thing by trying to grab the land of Sinhalayo to create their ‘Dreamland’ and fought against the Government and lost. Don’t you feel ashamed to talk about devolution again?
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srikrish / July 10, 2021
Prof. Thangamuthu Jayasingam
Devolution is not an option alternative to central governance, but both will coexist simultaneously.
Devolution enhances governance.
Sri Lanka had constitutionally made provisions for devolution, by enacting 13 A and the Provincial Council Act No 42 of 1987.Once it is in the constitution what prevents anyone to move forward.
The constitution authorizes the Provincial Councils to act by passing necessary legislations in respect of matters in the Provincial Council List and the Concurrent List. However, unfortunately even the Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils failed to act effectively throttling various excuses and blaming others for their inactions.
The Provincial Councils Election act No 2 of 1988 made it mandatory for the election commission to commence the electoral process within a week of dissolution of such council and Elected Provincial Councils except the Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils continue to exist with only a short break.
The Supreme Court had also had also affirmed on various occasions when attempts were made to meddle with this process.
This process was sabotaged after passing the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 17 of 2017 by the Yahapalanaya government innocently assisted by TNA and now it is at the mercy of the present Parliament to rescue from the present impasse.
/
Plato / July 11, 2021
The Indians are supposedly watching their 13th amendment being dismantled in stages.
What was given grudgingly by the Srilankan Govt with one hand is now being surreptiously taken away by the other hand.
Whenever the Indian Govt: takes up the full implementation of the 13th A. the Srilankan Govt: tilts more towards China, so much so the Chinese have also,apparently poised to set foot in the islands off Jaffna.
The 13th A.is being used by the Indians to arm twist Srilanka and the latter is using China to arm twist India!
The crunch can come if the Indians say ok we will fund the hospitals in the North-East.How would Srilanka react to that crunch?
The National Question of Srilanka will sooner than later turn out to be a prestige battle with two asian giants.
The essayist and self would get crushed !
/
Whimpy Kid / July 11, 2021
Yes every body wants to fund – Nothern Hospitals – except the SLgovt.
Looks like Asian Giants, India, China, Norway, USA all want a finger in the pie
What a Loving lot
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Ajith / July 11, 2021
First of all Unitary system failed in this country because of the central government. So far nobody tested positively devolution of power to the regions. This model will only work if there is a clear cut boundaries and corporation of the centre in terms of power and administration.
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Mallaiyuran / July 11, 2021
It parallels the ‘children making their own households away from the MAHAGEDARA Ithukku Namma Vasanthi Amma Thevala Pola Thonuthu.(Vasanthi fared much better by openly sending the letter to start to vote for Old King. )
Wolf’s proposal to how to construct the sheep stable.
I expected more to come from a Botanist, who argue for banning the fertilizer first and then finding out ways to fool the Modayas with imported China Kunu. It is the botanists, chemists and agricultural scientists perfected the modern cheap fertilizer manufacturing methods so poor farmers can survive by cultivating food. The third grade dirty Lankawe politicians and educationist, to import helicopters for them, imported chemical poisons as fertilized and fooled the poor farming community. The big machines peeling the seed so deep removing the most important part of the nutrients of the rice. Can you close the MAHA RICE MILLs so husking the paddy will become cottage industry or cooperative industry and that will eliminate rice shortage? Is this MAHAGEDARA guy is really a vegan or selling the version of Tamil Mahavamsa Ghandism?
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Thanga / July 12, 2021
Eagle Eye says the Sinhalese lived in Ceylon from the 3rd century BC. This is re-writing history. When Vijaya landed in Ceylon in the 6th century there were five Hindu Eeswarams in the east, west, south and north. According to Mahavamsa, the native people consisted of Nagar, Iyakkars, Rachchathar and Veddhas. No Sinhalese. The Nagar the predominant ethnic group ruled the country from Anuradhapura, Ruhuna etc.King Kakavanta Thesan tells his sons not to fight the Tamils who lived in the North of Mahaganga (Mahaweli) Duttu Gemunu has to defeat 30 Tamil chieftains before he reached Anuradhapura,
There were Tamils in the Duttu Gemenu’s army including high ranking generals.After the conversion of Nagars to Buddhism, the Buddhist monks wanted to give them a new identity in the 8th century BC. The Nagars who remained Hindus were assimilated by the Tamils. Several Tamil names suggest their Naga descent like Nagamany, Nagamma etc.
Eagle Eye seems to suffer from a failed or broken marriage. That explains why he is calling the Tamils low-castes which ironically includes his wife! The Sinhalese are a hybrid race (there is nothing to be ashamed about) consisting of Bengalis, Kalingas, Nagars, Iyakkar, Rachchadar, Veddhas and notably Tamils. The Sinhalese Karava, Salagama and Durawa castes are Tamils brought to work as cinnamon peelers, toddy tapers, fishing etc.
The present-day Sinhalese are descendants of Nagars, Tamils, Bengalis, Kalngar etc. but their ancestors were not Sinhalese!
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Lanka Canuck / July 14, 2021
EE
First of all, humanity did not originate in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the forefather/ancestor of every citizen of Sri Lanka irrespective of the ethnicity, religion or language/culture is an immigrant (from outside). Since Sinhala as an ethnicity is found only in Sri Lanka, it is believed that Sinhala was created in Sri Lanka. On the other hand, Tamil is found in both South India and North Sri Lanka, is believed to be from the sub-continent.
A homeland (also called fatherland/motherland) is a state, region or territory that is closely identified with a particular ethnic group that had lived there from ancient times. In simple terms, it is the land of birth that a group of people love to the degree that they call it home.
The ground reality as everybody had seen and still seeing is that the Sri Lankan Tamils have a very clearly defined (Tamil speaking) territory, their historic habitat (formally Jaffna kingdom) in the North & East of Sri Lanka where they lived for several centuries as a separate nation with their own language, religion and culture. Only in 1833, the British united the Tamil North to the Sinhala South as a unitary state.
Even Dr. Colvin R de Silva in 1956 recognized the two nations in the country (Sinhalese & Tamils) when he said, “one language two nations, two languages one nation”.
Continued…
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Lanka Canuck / July 14, 2021
The Sri Lankan Tamils are not just a minority, they are a minority with a separate territory in which they are a majority and they call this separate territory their homeland. The North & East of Sri Lanka has nothing what so ever to do with Sinhala where as it has everything to do with Tamil from the time of human settlement.
Even during Dutugemunu’s period, his father King Kavantissa warns Dutugemunu not to invade Rajarata (Northern territory), the land of the Damilas, stating that ‘the land on this side of the river (Southern territory) is enough’ (Refer Mahavamsa Chapter XXIV).
The Arab nation who speak the Arabic language have occupied several countries in the Mid-East region and they all call themselves Arabs. Similarly, the Tamils have occupied and live in both South India and North & East Sri Lanka (South Asian region) from ancient period like the Arabs.
With the above facts, it is very foolish to argue that, just because the Sinhalese are unique to Sri Lanka and or just because they are the majority in the country, the entire Sri Lanka belongs only to the Sinhalese (Sinhala country), whereas just because Tamils are found in more than one country and or just because they are less in number (minority), they cannot claim ownership.
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Anpu / July 15, 2021
Thanga,
“When Vijaya landed in Ceylon…”
“Thus the story of Vijaya as the first settlers in Sri Lanka is nothing but a figment of imagination by the author. ” https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sri-lankas-sinhalese-tamils-historical-myths-realities/
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Lanka Canuck / July 15, 2021
Thanga,
You are absolutely correct.
Eagle Eye’s forefather Vijaya (the banished profligate son of Sihabahu from Sinhapura) who created the Sinhala race in Sri Lanka (along with his 700 men/criminals) was not only an invader but also a terrorist. He massacred/annihilated most of those Dravidian tribes living in the island and established his Sinhala kingdom. Later, the Tamils kept on invading Lanka to take back their land (island) from Vijaya’s people (Sinhalese).
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Lanka Canuck / July 15, 2021
Anpu
Why do you think the Sinhalese are denying their own Mahavamsa (Vijaya story) and trying to create a new his/her story? They even claim that the Mahavamsa author was a Tamil monk who created the Vijaya story from his own imagination to embarrass the Sinhala race. They are in the process of digging the graves of the mythical “Lankan Ravana” (as the genesis of Sinhala race) to replace Hindustan Vijaya in order to negate the claims of Indian originated race stated in the Mahawansa.
The Sinhalese feel greatly embarrassed and deeply humiliated (their self-esteem/ego falls below zero) when they learn from the Mahavamsa that they are the descendants of the Hindustani Vijaya, the banished profligate son of an incestuous marriage between (Sihabahu) and sister (Sihasivali) whose mother was so exceedingly lustful that only a real lion could satisfy her sexually. Moreover, Sihabahu killed his leonine father, the king of the brutes. Thus, according to the Mahavamsa, brutishness, bestiality, incest, patricide and profligacy, were the stuff of Sinhala genesis.
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