By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
There’s good news and bad news. Going by the media, Sri Lanka is to be represented by a Committee at the crucial Geneva UNHRC session and Rear Admiral (retired) Dr Sarath Weerasekara is on it. That’s good news if you are a critic or opponent of Sri Lanka and bad news if you are the foreign Minister who is (hopefully) leading the team.
This is how boorishly Weerasekara views and addresses the matter.
“…We would like to tell the UNHRC in the light of the current global pandemic – the Covid 19 – please let us to do our own business and not to interfere with Sri Lanka’s internal affairs. Besides, it will not be a wise move to pass a resolution criticizing or dictating to Sri Lanka on what to do. At the current UNHRC session, there is no doubt that a resolution against Sri Lanka will definitely split the 47 member countries participating in the sessions at a time when the world is going through one of the most dreaded and unprecedented health challenge.”
Does Weerasekara not know that in this time of pandemic, indeed a week or so ago, both the UNHRC and the UN Security Council passed resolutions on Myanmar, against the military coup and calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, with no adverse effects visible on either UN body?
If Sarath Weerasekara’s notion of “not to interfere with Sri Lanka’s internal affairs” were to be taken seriously, there would be no UN Human Rights Council. Why does Sarath Weerasekara think that Mahinda Rajapaksa and Vasudeva Nanayakkara packed suitcases full of documents and headed for the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva during the Premadasa Presidency? Was their lobbying in Geneva not a call for “interference with Sri Lanka’s internal affairs”? What Weerasekara fails to recognize is the obvious: there are far worse crimes than interference in internal affairs and far more important things than absolute non-interference in internal affairs. The UNHRC is one of the places established (among the others being international courts) in which such matters can be aired which why Mahinda Rajapaksa went there as an Opposition MP.
Weerasekara takes his cue from the disgraced Donald Trump:
“The UNHRC is doing nothing on human rights but entirely entangled with politics. That is why the US withdrew from the world body in June 2018 charging that it was a pool of cesspit with politics. When the US quit the UNHRC, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley said UNHRC was a “cesspool of political bias” that targets Israel in particular while ignoring atrocities in other countries and added that the UNHRC was the world’s most inhumane regimes continue to escape scrutiny. “The council continues politicizing and scapegoating of countries with positive human rights records in an attempt to distract from the abusers in their ranks. For too long the human rights council has been a protector of human rights abusers and a cesspool of political bias,” she charged.
Should I say anymore to justify our decision to withdraw from the 30/1 UNHRC resolution when its co-sponsor, the US quit the UNHRC. The departing comments that have been made by the US run along with the assessment of Sri Lanka on the UNHRC. It also gives a legitimate right to Sri Lanka to withdraw from the world body.” (ibid)
Doesn’t Weerasekara know that Trump is no longer the President of the USA and the arguments of his ambassador Nikki Haley have been utterly rejected by the Biden-Harris administration and most especially by the new US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken? Doesn’t Weerasekara know that quoting the Trump line would only discredit and isolate Sri Lanka internationally, since it has no traction and indeed has generated an allergic reaction as it were in Washington DC itself?
He also says that the Trump-Haley line “[It] also gives a legitimate right to Sri Lanka to withdraw from the world body.” Which obviously means withdraw from the UNHRC. Does Foreign Minister Gunawardena know that his Cabinet colleague is advocating such a suicidal line for Sri Lanka?
Weerasekara trashes the 13th amendment and the Provincial Councils at a moment when India’s support is vital for Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. Furthermore, he does so on the basis of utter ignorance:
“No one including the Tamils or Muslims in Sri Lanka demanded Provincial Councils until the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was thrust upon us under the Indo – Sri Lanka accord in 1987. As you rightly said, my personal opinion is that the PCs are a waste of public funds and a kindergarten to political aspirants to ride the political ladder at the cost of public funds. Our basic law or the Constitution must be applied to the entire country under the concept of ‘One Country – One Law’. If the 13th Amendment enacted in full, there will be 9 separate laws to 9 provinces in addition to Police, land and monetary power. This not only violates Sri Lanka’s Constitution but compromises the territorial integrity, national security and affects the economy.”
He obviously does not know the history of devolution/autonomy-based attempts at settling the Tamil issue, PRIOR to 1987 and the 13th amendment, ranging from the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam pact of 1957 which enabled Regional Councils to be set up across district boundaries and amalgamating districts, through Annexure C of 1983/84, up to the Political Parties Conference of June-July 1986.
Despite the explicit statement of the Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr Jaishankar on his visit to Colombo, Sarath Weerasekara displays an attitude that is quite unhelpful as Sri Lanka lobbies India for support at the UNHRC.
“…Therefore, we have no reason to believe that India will poke into our domestic affairs in anyway. I have no doubt that India would under no circumstances ignore to take into account that Sri Lanka is a sovereign country and capable of taking care of its domestic affairs. The proposed new Constitution will address the issue of power devolution in a rather meaningful and beneficial manner.” (ibid)
What if India takes his statement at face value and asks Sri Lanka to find support for itself, without India’s help, because India recognizes that “Sri Lanka is a sovereign country and capable of taking care of its domestic affairs”? He also signals that the forthcoming Constitution will put an end to the 13th amendment and the system of Provincial Councils, which is a negative signal to give India and the UNHRC.
Sarath Weerasekara is obviously unaware of what President Mahinda Rajapaksa pledged in the two Joint Statements of May 21st and 23rd 2009, with the Government of India and the United Nations Secretary-General respectively. It was quite precise and quite unlike what Weerasekara thinks it was.
This is what Weerasekara says about what President Rajapaksa pledged:
“Not indeed (sic). President Rajapaksa did not give any such undertaking to Premier Modi or Ban Ki Moon when they visited Sri Lanka after the conclusion of the war but he indicated Sri Lanka’s willingness to look into any grievances exclusively affect the Northern Tamils if there is any. There is no MoU or a pledge as such given to any party by Sri Lanka to go beyond the 13th Amendment but GoSL is more than willing to address any grievances that affect only the Tamils or any other community for that matter.”
But this is what President Rajapaksa actually promised, as per the official (GoSL) record:
“…President Rajapaksa expressed his firm resolve to proceed with the implementation of the 13th Amendment, as well as to begin a broader dialogue with all parties, including the Tamil parties in the new circumstances, to further enhance this process and to bring about lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka.”
“…Sri Lanka reiterated its strongest commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, in keeping with international human rights standards and Sri Lanka’s international obligations. The Secretary-General underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The Government will take measures to address those grievances.”
What does Weerasekara think is meant by “his firm resolve to proceed with the implementation of the 13th Amendment, AS WELL AS to begin a broader dialogue with all parties, including the Tamil parties in the new circumstances, TO FURTHER ENHANCE THIS PROCESS…? (my emphasis -DJ) What happens when you “proceed with the implementation of the 13th amendment” and “further enhance this process”?
What does Weerasekara understand by “The Government will take measures to address those grievances”, when that sentence immediately follows and is the response to the preceding sentence, namely “The Secretary-General underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law”?
The saying goes “with friends like these who needs enemies?” With Ministers with this level of understanding on the Sri Lankan team going (virtually) into the UNHRC session this time, does Sri Lanka need adversaries?
leelagemalli / February 23, 2021
2019 – Sarath weerasekara went to GENEVA after hurting muslims in Kandy. This was confirmed by former president in a meeting, where he went on saying, that SW is behind Kandy riots. This they have been practising to produce raw data which could then be supportive materials to their silly arguments before UNHRC session. That LOW LEVEL Jayasumana was the baggage boy to Rajaakshes living in bondage – Rajapakshes should have been that helpful to get him DOCTORATE by hook or by crook.
:
Else any basic degree holder would not kneel down before provable high criminals, calling ownself as belonging to so called ” viyathmaga”. Alone the manner this slave reacted with ” KALLI AMMA CONTROLLED paniya” proved the world, how srilanken Prof. TITLE wearers ended up. It is so pathetic even for national issues, the kind of SILLY men and women are chosen by crook politicians in this country while all others stay as if their CONFIDENCE is fully taken away by Rajapakshes and their wandibattayos.
/
old codger / February 23, 2021
All of us have been to school, and we know what sort of students decide to join the forces. It’s mostly the ones who are good at sports but just scraped through the rest. Some are nice but dim guys, but others like this SW have huge chips on their shouders. So , we shouldn’t expect Weerasekara or his ilk to know anything. He is in that position because he was voted in by brainwashed idiots. It is becoming clearer by the day that a fancy uniform doesn’t make a Sinhalayo Buddhist into a superman. They have all failed, even Nandasena.
/
leelagemalli / February 23, 2021
Dont forget sl s California is western province, in that province sarath Weerasekere was the top of the candidates,won that much of votes. Doest that say the level of srilanken political literacy? People and their reps are equally stupid in this god punished country led by Medamulana criminals. There is no light seen at the end of the tunnel in terms of a better future for poor srilanken s so long Rajapakshes are live in this country, 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
/
Ari / February 23, 2021
OC, could not agree more with you!
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 27, 2021
“Does Sarath know Jack ?”. I am not sure, but he certainly knows Jill Mart.
/
Native Vedda / February 24, 2021
old codger
–
Please watch this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpz8Cl_-YpM&list=PL2D6TZMzNSvVuSqGbb3HG9Sto11J66nBe&has_verified=1
–
See how Soman’s brethren were trained to kill their own people.
/
Sinhala_Man / February 24, 2021
NV, there was the warning that the 12-minute video was traumatizing. Some of the cruelties seen there may have matched what the armed forces are accused of.
.
However, what they say is that there wasn’t the same degree of depravity – sexual and otherwise – seen among the Tigers. Yes, I noted the executions, and the cruelty to animals, which bespoke an indifference to suffering – amorality rather than immorality, if you get me.
.
The creation of Sinhala and Tamil versions was also “good”.
.
When, oh, when can our land put all this behind us?
/
Native Vedda / February 24, 2021
Sinhala_Man
–
Thanks
Human being are capable of perpetrating all kind of immoral act on fellow human being irrespective of their race, region, religion or gender.
–
I still believe if Gota and Praba had access to atomic, biological, chemical, …. weapons both would not have hesitated to happily use them.
–
It is sad this country has lost its ability to respect fellow human beings, and had unlearned human dignity.
/
old codger / February 24, 2021
Native,
I am not a Tiger supporter, but this is a pretty amateurish video with computer voice-over. Is it supposed to convince the Sinhala Buddhist vegetarians, or the majority meat-eaters at the UN? There isn’t anything about how humane the SL army was.
/
SJ / February 24, 2021
OC
You are being unfair.
Most of the soldiers recruited since escalation under CBK. They joined out of sheer need to survive. Some districts like Kurunagala had a large number of casualties and the anti-war of the New Left Front clicked with more people there than elsewhere.
You are making a mistake in equating academic performance with intelligence. K Kamaraj, a school dropout, was a much better Chief Minister than any before or after him in Madras (now Tamilnadu).
Karanunanidhi bested his rivals in the DMK with higher degrees. MGR, with even less education toppled him and ran a better state government.
The best educational institution is the society at large.
/
GATAM / February 23, 2021
So that means Sarath is the best to go to Geneva!
BTW what did 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 UNHRC resolutions give the losers of 2009?
Please be nice enough to list at least one. LOL!
/
Buddhist1 / February 23, 2021
Sarath Weerasekera Ignorant or Lunatic??
/
N. Perera / February 23, 2021
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
/
leelagemalli / February 23, 2021
Dear Buddhist see how can any civilised nation think of any good about srilanka, since SW or the like men become minister of internal affairs? 😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉no doubt soon now that Drug kingpin Lanza will become ” minister of health” to banana republic ruined by Nandasena Aka Gota. 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
/
old codger / February 23, 2021
B1,
Both, actually.
/
Ashan / February 23, 2021
It does not matter which unqualified Rajapaksa joker is going to represent us, it will be hard to defend the indefensible. It is indeed foolish to quote anyone from the Trump administration, as the Biden Administration has with a stroke of a pen, reversed many of Trump’s senseless policies, some racist ones, and Niki Hayley who had to beg all the member of the UN in 2018 to vote for the Trump/Gaza Resolution (there are videos of this) and ended up being the only nation to do so. She even threatened those nations for voting against the resolution. Big Failure Huge Laugh.
Intelligent people will not be quoting Trump, his administration, or Niki Hayley, (they are now considered pariahs around the world), and attack the UNHCR, or other International organization. The Rajapaksa’s and their supporters have had this ugly habit of attacking those who try to hold them accountable for decades. Until they get the answers they deserve for the Tamil citizens, who are still looking for their loved ones, there will be pressure on the Rajapaksa’s to OWN UP, be honest, keep their word, and stop stalling.
The Rajapaksa attacks on these Human Rights organizations will sound weak and hollow to the rest of the member nations, and considered yet another well known Rajapaksa bluff.
/
Tony / February 23, 2021
There was no UNHRC at president Premadasa ‘s time. It was formed in 2006.
/
Mr. Weerasekara is absolutely right and happens to be the only international level politician Sri lanka has now. UNHRC has no right to dictate over the current president and the government which were elected by 2/3 overwhelming majority. And UNCHR has alredy breeched its mandate as well. One of the reasons that Yahapalana regime was sent home is their collaboration with international bodies which have undermined Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. Same goes to India, they too have no right to interfere in internal political affairs. If India is concerned about Tamils, then they can have them or let Tamils integrate with native Sinhalese.
/
Nathan / February 23, 2021
Tony,
According to you, India has to welcome the Tamils into their fold, if they show any interest in their well-being.
Otherwise,
Tamils have to be prepared to be desegregated by the Sinhalese.
What a marvelous solution!
/
N. Perera / February 23, 2021
There is no nation for 78 million Tamils in this world. They all are now waiting for Kamala Harris
/
Tamil from the north / February 23, 2021
Tony Baba, let them integrate with the native Sinhalese? When did the Sinhalese become natives of Sri Lanka. Learn some history Tony Baba, Sinhalese and Tamils are both invaders from India. Tamils came as Tamils, Sinhalese are Indians who came to SL and created a new ethnicity called Sinhalese in SL, that does not mean Sinhalese are natives of SL. Only the Veddahs are natives of this country.
/
GATAM / February 23, 2021
Besides Mahinda and Vasudeva did NOT go to Geneva. They only staged a drama with the full concurrence of Premadasa.
Anyway what did 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 UNHRC resolutions achieve?????????
Nothing. Isn’t it.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 24, 2021
Mahinda went to Geneva but empty handed, because Premadasa got him intercepted at the airport and all documents he was taking confiscated. Mahinda is not as clever as Premadasa because he has let Nishantha Rodrigo escape with documents.
/
GATAM / February 24, 2021
No he didn’t. He went to remand. He did not have any clothes or anything else for the trip. Just a drama he agreed with RP beforehand.
Anyway UNHRC is a useless and toothless tiger. Nothing happens.
/
Ashan / February 23, 2021
It should be embarrassing to be so ignorant:
“The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. We had three years to complete our work and then disband.”
/
Ari / February 23, 2021
If in your books boat people are natives, you better get back to school to re-educate yourself!
/
nk / February 23, 2021
This Sarath Weerasekara joker claims the Western bloc powers are instigated by the all so powerful Tamil diaspora. The other joker, Dayan J, thinks Sri Lanka escaped scrutiny in the first round after 2009 all thanks to his diplomacy.
Meanwhile, all the naive Tamils will continue to believe justice will be meted out by the very same Western imperialist forces and its institutions that supported and gave legitimacy to sri lankan state and its genocidal ‘counterinsurgency’ campaign, only to be trapped in their narrative of mere human rights violations.
/
Mahila / February 23, 2021
Precisely to the point DJ. Historical relevance seems to be forgotten or absent in certain individuals prosecution of the issues at stake. as I have realised over a period of time. After all that has happened during the last 73 years, there are some who question, what problems/shortcomings do the Tamils have? To accentuate their point they even point out Tamils being a minority had an IGP, CJ, Leader of the opposition, etc., in SL and also approximately 50% of Tamils live in Sinhalese areas in the south (outside north and east provinces). Whether, this includes the number of plantation workers or not is immaterial, as they are all in whatever place they are to ensure they have employment and livelihood.
/
Naman / February 23, 2021
Why can not the GoSL under take the responsibility of not only caring for the rights of the minorities but also the rights of the entire Sri Lankan citizens. The RIGHTS that matter most if FREEDOM of speech and to live without fear of unlawful actions of the State. MP like Ranjan Ramanayake; detective Shani Abeysekara and the Lawyer Hijaaz should not be unlawfully punished. Prolonged detentions should not happen. I do hope some thing positive after the UNHCR meeting over the next 4 weeks.
/
Rajash / February 23, 2021
Rear Admiral (retired) Dr Sarath Weerasekara – didnt know he has doctorate; in what; is it like the Phd some one is bragging about.
Rear Admiral (retired) Dr Sarath Weerasekara thinks he can dress up in his army uniform and showcase all the colourful badges that Gota buttoned on to his uniform the entire UN will bow down to him
the quality of people attending the UNHRCreflects ts a sad state of Sri Lanka
/
Easton Scott / February 23, 2021
Oh well, when will Sri Lanka learn that there’s a limit to punching above its weight….. the thing is, these UNHRC outcomes are so watered down that it would be a monumental surprise if Michelle Bachelet’s report is given the suggested “legs” in terms of targeted sanctions, asset freezes, travel bans etc.
It would be humorous if not for the tragedy of the whole resolution though, to see Thadi Priyantha perform his derring-do at the sessions, (dis)ably supported by the patently racist Sarath W, each fighting for the crumbs thrown their way by the biggest crook, at the apex of Lanka’s pyramid.
HRW has a telling summary of the situation and a thumbnail sketch of each of these major buffoons here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/02/03/sri-lankas-un-efforts-stave-justice-war-crimes
/
Sinhala_Man / February 24, 2021
Thanks for the link. A pertinent link.
/
deepthi silva / February 23, 2021
The Sinhala mind is peculiar, it is not vicious , but limited and narrow.
He likes to think he is heir to a old culture and lives in a big country. At the same time he wants his children to migrate to the West and his servants to go to the Middle East to earn some dollars.( good for the country balance of payment situation !)
By culture he means some meaningless rituals. Punctuality , efficiency and courtesy not very valued. He likes to talk of life in a sad and fatalistic way. His opinions are very sweeping and ill-informed.
He does no serious reading. ( no Sinhalese has written a book worth reading , including PhD thesis!, what they write is one sided or poor imitations )
He likes bodyguards, attention and to be addressed as Sir ( big ego, no quality !) .
He likes to say Ayurveda has all the natural answers, but if seriously sick ,will prefer the western doctors or Singapore hospitals.
Yes ,hypocrisy is his second name !
Altogether very mediocre !
/
Ashan / February 23, 2021
Good points. Amusing but true.
/
old codger / February 23, 2021
DS,
“no Sinhalese has written a book worth reading , including PhD thesis!,”
That’s a sweeping statement! I don’t know about novels, but I believe Kumari Jayawardena wrote a very interesting book.
/
SJ / February 24, 2021
OC
There are many more secular history books. Leslie Gunawardane & WI Siriweera make highly commendable reading.
Also many scholarly Sinhala writers in humanities write in Sinhala.
*
DS’s comments will apply to the entire country in a some sense. Learning habits are poor. All learning has become job oriented.
*
Look at the trivia on these pages that pass for serious comment.
/
Easton Scott / February 24, 2021
Mostly valid, Deepthi, but you’re way off the mark with the comment: “no Sinhalese has written a book worth reading , including PhD thesis!, what they write is one sided or poor imitations”
Please give me a break!!!
There are many scholars whose works are well worth reading. For one, do a web search on Gananath Obeysekere, please.
/
Native Vedda / February 24, 2021
Easton Scott
–
“There are many scholars whose works are well worth reading. For one, do a web search on Gananath Obeysekere, please.”
–
Gananath Obeysekere, R A L H Gunawardana, H L Seneviratne, …….Senake Bandaranayake …….. Osmund Boppearachi, …… are scholars with brilliant mind and big heart and they are a class of their own and not any racist bigots, opportunists.
You will see a fewer and fewer scholars emerging from Sinhalese. Most are now being converted into Sinhala/Buddhist hardcore racists, for example Chana Jayasumana, and 6.9 million others.
/
Svenson / February 26, 2021
Deepthi Silva, what you have written is worthy of the worst Tamil racist. 17m people all tarred with the same brush. You have stabbed your own people in the back. Have you considered joining the Rajapakses?
/
Dayan / February 23, 2021
The draft version of the resolution co-sponsored by UK and rest of the countries still allow SL to work within the UNHRC framework which means *R* family allowed to dance more on their own until 2022. This is not because of intense lobbying of SL Govt or failure of the affected minority groups voice not heard enough. All because of western policies towards the country for their own benefit. Therefore, this article and rest of the comments not at all relevant and make sense to anyone.. Please get back to your respective work.
/
Buddhist1 / February 23, 2021
Time that will be allowed until 2022 by UNHRC new resolution is a noose around the neck of Rajapakses. It in my opinion will be based on what the Govt of SL is going to propose (Govt would have already agreed on this with UNHRC) what they are prepared to do. As usual Govt of SL after promising will not do most of their promised actions. This will be then an excuse for UNHRC to tighten the noose. In the meantime China, India and USA will get what they want out of the Rajapakse Govt.
If Gotabaya expects that one day his future Grand Child will read in history books that his or her Grand Father was a destroyer rather than a creator, then this would be the chance of Gotabaya to put things right by controlling the negative forces in the country. If he misses this chance to put things right in SL, especially sort out the Race issues and Non-Majority rights his future Grand Child will not want to be recognized as the Grand Child of Gotabaya.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / February 23, 2021
Is Sarath Weerasekera aware that the primary purpose of UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of the refugees. It had helped millions of people which include refugees, returnees, stateless people, the internally displaced and the asylum seekers to restart their lives. But Rajapaksa government has shown outright disdain for accountability. The pardoning of Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake who killed eight Tamil civilians, Pillaiyan, and Karuna are cases in point. Moreover, the government amended the Constitution to remove constraints on political interference in Sri Lanka Courts. On the contrary law abiding Police officer Shani Abeyasekera is jailed. Is this confidence building measure. Moreover, can’t Sarath Weerasekera understand that the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord is binding Sri Lanka and India since it has been signed by both heads of the countries. He has become an idiot to say that 13th Amendment, being the outcome of the Peace Accord, cannot be implemented. He has become another joker next to Trump.
/
Dayan / February 23, 2021
@AR The 13th amendment is enacted as law and included in the constitution but not necessarily the binding original agreement between 2 countries. Also any agreement can be unilaterally or mutually withdrawn as far as protocols followed. Even if your argument valid how come 34 long years gone but not implemented fully with the same spirit it was created and India being party to the agreement not doing anything about it rather than giving a lip service. Thought to ponder
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / February 23, 2021
Dayan,
When the Indian Foreign Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar told that the 13th Amendment should be implemented, why couldn’t the President or the Prime Minister or even any Minister that it could be withdrawn or its is invalid. The only reply given was the demolition of monumental at the University of Jaffna in a cowardly manner and also allocate some lands from Palai region to China. Is this what is meant by Confident Building Measure. Even now they could have replied instead of merely saying that India has no business to interfere in our business.
/
Dayan / February 24, 2021
@AR – I still expect an answer from you why India not put pressure to implement 13th amendment so far. To answer your question Indian FM and any previous dignitaries keep on saying the same thing. For obvious reason, SL always avoid directly answer to India but do it our way back in home … A constitution not implemented but at the same time not challenged for more than 3 decades and not a major concern for India or rest of the world.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / February 25, 2021
Dayan,
India is not stupid. It is utilizing the 13th Amendment as its bridle. Whenever Sri Lanka jumps out to wipe out the 13th Amendment, then it pulls Sri Lanka to remain silent. To date the The President, the Prime Minister or any Minister did not had the courage to say that the 13th Amendment is invalid to their face. Srri Lanka will only realize when India drops another food parcels from the air or marches into Sri Lanka to annex North-East Province on the pretext of monitoring the infiltrations of China. It is too early to make a comment untl the election in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry & Assam are over. There are signs of increasing influence of BJP in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and even in Kerala. Sri Lanka do not have the courage to tell India that it is abrogating the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord unilaterally.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / February 25, 2021
Dayan,
There is a news entitled ‘Sri Lanka under intense Indian surveillance! Army high-flying aircraft flying low’ which appeared in Lankasri. Generally I don’t take news from Lankasri as they are twisted. But this appears to be sensational. Is it an answer regarding the 13th Amendment.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / February 26, 2021
Dayan,
You said I still expect an answer from you why India not put pressure to implement 13th amendment so far. When I replied that Sri Lanka under intense Indian surveillance! Army high-flying aircraft flying low’. But I haven’t got a reply from you.
/
Lasantha Pethiyagoda / February 23, 2021
Sri Lanka has an unenviable record to look utterly stupid and incompetent in international fora. That is because it has always (except for rare occasions like Kadiragarmar) sent stooges and sycophants with no understanding of how diplomacy or foreign relations work. SW looks quite stupid to start with, and he will be immediately downgraded by the cream of the diplomatic corps of other countries. He will probably be given a right royal run-around without him even realising he’s being lampooned. Anyway, it will further diminish the image of professional Sri Lankans working overseas, the miracle land like no other already being the laughing stock of mature countries.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / February 24, 2021
How can you say that Kadirgamar was not a stooge. If he did not dance to what Sinhala racists wanted, he would have been kicked out. How can say that he was not a sycophant when he was praising the murderous armed forces. If he had spoken the truth he would never have been a darling of Sinhala bigots. Despite all his stooping to low level, he was killed by Sinhala hit men arranged by a Sinhala heavy weight in the then government.
/
SJ / February 24, 2021
“How can you say that Kadirgamar was not a stooge.”
*
Using GS’s diagnostics, can we conclude that the entire TNA comprised stooges of the Indian establishment (and for a time the LTTE).
/
Native Vedda / February 24, 2021
GS
–
“Using GS’s diagnostics, can we conclude that the entire TNA comprised stooges of the Indian establishment (and for a time the LTTE).”
–
Though I know a few Maoist who go to any extend to justify Mao, his ideology, his share of atrocities, his record on freedom, his aspiration to peacefully rise and control the entire humanity, hypocrisy, war mongering, aiding and abetting war crimes everywhere possible, ………………………….. They also believed Mao and his China could do no mistakes, a belief only teenagers could relish.
–
The same Maoist also supported LTTE as long as it remained anti Hindians.
–
/
chiv / February 23, 2021
Evil Eagle, have you packed your bags to go to Geneva. This guy needs company. You seem to be the only patriot who can do it.
/
cugan / February 23, 2021
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
/
GATAM / February 24, 2021
Mountain of a molehill.
UNHRC is a toothless tiger. Don’t take it seriously.
/
deepthi silva / February 24, 2021
Vedda & Scott
These names Kumari Jayawardena, Obeysekera etc were above average for Sri Lankans I agree. But remember only for Sri Lankans , desperate for recognition. In the land of the blind one eyed man is king ! (Same with all our leaders, Sennanayake to Rajapakses to Prabakaran, small people, big egos)
Did they have any global recognition ? Did they change their respective fields, sociology, history, science, archaeology etc ? No, they got trained in the West and subsequently performed well in a small island.
But certainly they were not world shattering, Nobel prize quality.
I agree they were good, but please dive in to the vast ocean not only the Kandy lake which may look a big lake to the untraveled.
/
old codger / February 24, 2021
D.S,
“But certainly they were not world shattering, Nobel prize quality.”
If that’s what you meant by “worth reading”, you should have said so.
Most good writers have never won a Nobel prize, and some of the winners are pretty boring.
/
Native Vedda / February 24, 2021
deepthi silva
–
I believe you are not familiar with world class scholars from this island. You should be worrying not about quality of the scholars whom I mentioned above and their intellect, on the contrary you should be worrying why our “great” country no longer produces such scholars.
–
Please start reading about them and their work.
/
Svenson / February 26, 2021
So Deepthi you have changed from the ‘Sinhala mind’ to ‘Sri Lankans’. Well that is a bit better but still too sweeping. There are plenty of Sri Lankans who have global recognition in Science, Engineering, Medicine etc. Here are just two sources. Considering how small Sri Lanka’s population is, this is a great achievement.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sri_Lankan_Britons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sri_Lankan_Americans
/
Thanga / February 24, 2021
Sarath Weerasekera represents the true face of Sinhala racism. He speaks his mind without taking refuge under subterfuges like the Rajapaksa clan. They are cunning and darn smart. Did not Mahinda Rajapaksa claim what he meant 13A + is the creation of an upper house/senate?
In the good old days, there were many Sinhala zealots like Sarath Weerasekera. K.M.P. Rajaratna (Konar indicates he is half-Tamil) Cyril Mathew, Somaweera Chandrasiri etc. There was a long motorcade from Colombo to Kataragama to invoke the blessings of the Lord Muruga for the Sinhala Only bill. Unfortunately, Lord Muruga [leaded he does not understand Sinhala Only!
/
pakisB / February 27, 2021
Thanga’s take on Lord Muruga does not understand Sinhala could be the reason why our political jockers pleas at the temples are ignored.
/