By Suranimala Umagiliya –
“We are what we do repeatedly. Excellency, therefore is not an act but a habit”
Oh what a country Sri Lanka is. On the surface everything seems Hunky Dory. Scratch the surface if you will and Lo and behold the worst is in plain sight. Warts, burns and scars. God bestowed a natural bounty and asked the simplistic peasants to enjoy it. They became thespians over time.
Lasantha
Hark back to the recent history of this nation. Vile as any can be. Led by politicians whose only focus is to gain and retain power, they appealed to the basest instincts of man. Having jostled a majority to fall in line with narrow, divisive politics in addition to a few through crumbs being thrown their way, the politicians helped themselves to disgraceful amounts of money through graft, bribery and corruption. Of course they justified the corruption as a necessary evil to raise party funds for their re election which will ensure that the peasants get a few more crumbs thrown their way.
The icing on the cake is that the peasants yet have faith and belief in them. And so as time went by it became worse and the loot got inflated. Another dangerous game was invented. Divide the people between the majority and the rest. Add religion to the race if you must, to bolster the equation. That is what we face, in Sri Lanka today.
With each President the levels of accountability, good governance slipped downward.
Corruption and the amounts involved climbed upwards. Greed has reached “No Limit”, a la the clothes outlet. Add to that murder, abduction and the infamous white vans, not to speak of murdering a journalist or few along the way are necessary evils to “Save the nation” from being divided. Can a country survive in this fashion? Yes. Subject to the vilest amassing filthy money and retiring in comfort, within the country or without, leaving the peasantry to eke out an existence. Generation after generation. The rest of the world will give us loans.
Prageeth
The Burghers were chased out in the late 50’s and 60’s. They went to UK and Australia. The third generation of Burghers are Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Public servants,living comfortable lives. They pay their taxes and their adopted countries give them living wages and more, to enjoy a very comfortable retirement with five star medical benefits.
The Tamils were accepted into more countries in the West after 1983. Their next generation are in Universities if not already serving as Doctors, Lawyers and Accountants. They too will get a more than a living wage, own houses, pay taxes, bring to them their extended families, who will also become Doctors, Accountants, Lawyers. All of them too will pay their due taxes and will benefit by getting a comfortable retirement with five star medical treatment.
This is not to leave out the Sri Lankans of the majority community and others who have secured employment overseas due to their professional qualifications, as and when required by such developed nations. They too fall in line and their next of kin go on to reap the benefits of living in a developed country.
Sri Lankans left behind in their thrice blessed land? What becomes of them?
They had to endure family rule of the worst kind. One brother the President, another Economic Minister, another Speaker of the House, another head of all the Security Forces and son an MP, wife a benefactor for pre school children, brothers in law as Ambassadors, Aunt as repository of Gems and the list is endless. Added to this lot are the Ministers and parliamentarians who amassed filthy lucre under that administration. But, they won the war ! Is that good enough to bring them back ?
The repressive regime of Rajapaksa’ was defeated. An inept, listless and a weak leadership followed showing that Sri Lanka has no statesmen nor an enlightened electorate demanding a better life for themselves and their children. We find a President exhorting the Police for arresting figures whom the Sangha thinks are “war heroes” in order to stay with the majority sentiments. A Prime Minister, who too is unable to assert authority by showing the way to his cabinet colleagues and the keepers of the law. Is it not wrong for legislators, be it a President, Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament to interfere with the law taking it’s course ?
The most talked of murders as in the rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Ekneligoda, are yet being investigated. A Deputy Inspector General of Police Anura Senanayake is in remand for messing with evidence into the Thajudeen murder. The murder was window dressed as an accident.
Thajudeen
Doctors messed with the Post Mortem reports. A Rajapaksa government had to be changed to get to the truth. Wickrematunge was murdered by the military intelligence. A Deputy Inspector General by the name of Nanayakkara, Senior Superintendent named Adikari and an Inspector called Sugathapala are in remand for altering evidence recorded in Police logs, purportedly under instructions of The Inspector General of Police Wickramaratne. He has sought to delay such arrest by going to Court. Pray, why should an Inspector General wish to hide/alter Police logs in a murder case when his job is to find the murderer? Orders from the top or instinct says he knew who ordered the murder. The former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and the former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa blame each other for this murder. Surely, its one or the other by their own admission? Prageeth Ekneligoda is considered “missing” but for all purposes he too has been murdered by the Army ( I use this word in the absence of the Army investigating to clear it’s good name) and scattered beyond the horizon. What a nation. Top Police Officers are criminals.
Meanwhile the Maha Sangha are lulled by gifts such as Mercedes Benz cars and camouflage visits by top politicians seeking photo opportunities. They are made to “feel good” so as to appease the people drunk with the now fashionable Sinhala-Buddhist label. The GMOA gets involved in all the causes but does not come before the public to say that there are no infertility pills (Wanda Pethi) in existence. They should know. The teachers in schools carry pin up style posters offering tuition for hefty fees. The carnival goes on. Health services are free but the Doctors practise privately within a hundred meters from the hospitals they serve in.
Those who have means or a manageable income go about without a care expecting life to go on forever. Consider them ” I am alright Jacks”. As long as I am alright I need not bother. But it will catch up Sir/Madam. It will.
Consider the present. Sri lanka has a President elected by ousting the Rajapaksa regime in 2015, giving sane people some hope for a better future. Every political party combined to oust a dictator under whose watch all the murders. bribery, corruption and profligacy held sway. President Sirisena now wants to go to bed with one of the Rajapaksa’s who has several ongoing criminal investigations against him in progress. That is Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Please Mr President, let Gotabaya Rajapaksa first clear his name in Courts before you thrust him in to political office. You may think it is the best way to get a second shy at the Presidency. It might happen. Peasants are gullible. But, you would forever have a doubt in your mind if you let loose a corrupt murderer, before he could prove himself to be innocent. Once a corrupt, criminally bent person gets into high political office, all sins disappear. Do not forget our legal system stinks too. It takes an average of over ten years to prosecute a case. Throw out selfish ideas. You owe it to the next generation.
Burt / March 30, 2018
Interesting: Gota’s pic is in the front to begin with and then you have the picture of the unfortunate victims within the article. Nice scuttle message.
There has been countless cold blooded murders during the reign of the Rajapaksa’s without accountability. Even in Lasantha’s case the CID report speaks of two youngsters taken into custody, later their burnt remains found in A’Pura and their bikes used in the assassination.
Who speaks for them?
“They had to endure family rule of the worst kind. One brother the President, another Economic Minister, another Speaker of the House, another head of all the Security Forces and son an MP, wife a benefactor for pre school children, brothers in law as Ambassadors, Aunt as repository of Gems and the list is endless. Added to this lot are the Ministers and parliamentarians who amassed filthy lucre under that administration. But, they won the war ! Is that good enough to bring them back ?”
This is the pathetic state of Sri Lanka and it will not change until the change comes from within that is the people. Even with all this crap even if you get the perfect candidate he will not get elected if he is NOT Sinhalese and Buddhist. The opposition to making Kadirgama PM was no secret. May be that cost his life too: but no one will ever know as that too was not properly investigated.
“Police Anura Senanayake is in remand for messing with evidence into the Thajudeen murder.”
“Doctors messed with the Post Mortem reports. “
“Wickrematunge was murdered by the military intelligence. “
” A Deputy Inspector General by the name of Nanayakkara, Senior Superintendent named Adikari and an Inspector called Sugathapala are in remand for altering evidence recorded in Police logs, purportedly under instructions of The Inspector General of Police Wickramaratne. “
What does the above say about the law and order in the country and the integrity of the institutions?
Still most (Sinhalese) do not want foreign involvement.
/
Shenal / March 30, 2018
Burt,
Every country has it’s own set of weaknesses. No country is perfect. The rich and powerful will always get away with what ever crime they have perpetuated. In Sri Lanka it is the politicians. In Western countries their are heads of multi national co-operations and elite politicians.
You cannot possibly expect to prosecute crimes of the highest level no matter how good the governance is. That is an universal fact. Moreover, what is most absurd is that one sidedness of your people. How many unsolved mysteries are revolving around UNP and their leaders. How many have been investigated? Why is this hypocrisy just to discredit your political opponents while white washing your own political idols? Is that the way someone who advocates for good governance should behave?
If we have a problem with our country and the way we are behaving, then we should have a discussion among ourselves on how to remedy the obvious issues. There is no point in welcoming foreigners who don’t even know how to settle there own disputes in their own respective countries. I see this as the slave mentality of yours which takes the white man as the most wise. I am sorry to say that you are wronged.
/
Upali Wickramasinghe / March 30, 2018
Shenal_ I welcome your comment.No UNP leader was accused of murder until JRJ came on the scene.DS, Dudley,Sir John were honourable people, what ever their other failings were.
DS bit of a racialist, caste concious,Dudley too easy going , lack of a push.Sir John always there for a fisticuff, bold, brazen and loud mouthed.
One thing none of them robbed the tax payer or the poor.
/
oldcodger / March 30, 2018
A very well-wrtitten piece that shows up this country and its mostly idiotic electorate warts and all.
“Meanwhile the Maha Sangha are lulled by gifts such as Mercedes Benz cars and camouflage visits by top politicians seeking photo opportunities. They are made to “feel good” so as to appease the people drunk with the now fashionable Sinhala-Buddhist label.”
Well, I don’t think it would make much difference if they were not given Benzes. These alleged Budhdhaputras are at the root of the system, as corrupt and immoral as the politicians who pretend to worship them. These are not Buddhists, they are parasites in yellow robes.
/
Native Vedda / March 30, 2018
oldcodger
–
“These are not Buddhists, they are parasites in yellow robes.”.
–
We will be doing great service to the people, country and Buddhism if we managed to deport the entire Sangha to Afghanistan, where Buddhism once flourished and been completely destroyed by various nasty lot including Bamiyan statues.
–
Is it possible to send all of them to Afghanistan to revive Buddhism there and build Buddha statues all over the country as they did here in Sri Lanka. One concession they can take their Mercs with them.
–
They could hire some sculptures from South India.
Buddhism need them in Afghanistan.
/
Shenal / March 31, 2018
Upali Wickramasinghe,
Many things changed after 1977. What we see is the results of the wanton destruction brought upon the country by the JRJ’s self centrist policies. DS, Dudley,Sir John and many others were the constructs of the old colonial society. Though they were not honorable in most of their private affairs they could at least portrait themselves as the quintessential “Hamu Mahattaya”. Therefore they didn’t have to rob common people through politics because their forefathers had looted enough for them from the general public so that they could lead a comfortable lives.
/
oldcodger / March 31, 2018
Shenal,
“Therefore they didn’t have to rob common people through politics because their forefathers had looted enough for them from the general public so that they could lead a comfortable lives.”
And your point is that it IS ok to rob the public if you didn’t have rich forefathers?
/
Shenal / March 31, 2018
oldcodger,
Even with rich forefathers people tend to steal public money if they can. We should not get our butts hurt because of that. Corruption will always be there. We should instead look for the patriotic people who can lead the nation regardless.
/
oldcodger / April 1, 2018
Sheanal,
“We should instead look for the patriotic people who can lead the nation regardless.”
Please do name one or two of these. Unless you are talking about the 3 Mahanayakas. Would Dayan Jayatillaka qualify in your opinion?
/
Shenal / April 1, 2018
oldcodger,
Who do you regard as true patriots of Sri Lanka? What are the criteria you look for being patriot.
/
oldcodger / April 2, 2018
Shenal,
Being a patriot is no use if you are economically illiterate.
When decision-makers make idiotic decisions like grabbing Sri Lankan Airlines from Emirates, and then starting yet another airline named after themselves, “patriotism” is counter-productive. When yet another set of decision-makers are paralyzed at the thought of selling the same airline, or don’t have the backbone to sell fuel at market price, the same applies.
The problem is ATTITUDE. Politicians don’t have it.
Good candidates would be Harry Jayawardena or Dhammika Perera. But they are far too smart to ask for the job.
Of course they will screw the hell out of us. That is what is needed.
/
Spring Koha / March 30, 2018
Shenal,
Stop bringing comparisons to foreign countries and foreigners into our business. We have no business in mimicking them. We control our affairs, and we should be setting our standards, and our low standards are set by the execrable quality of our incompetent and devious politicians of all parties who in are turn screwing this country with no shame. The truth is that our electorate are not-fit-for-purpose. Time and time-again they vote in the these devious bastards whose primary duty is to enrich themselves and theirs.
/
Native Vedda / March 30, 2018
Spring Koha
–
How could you denigrate this thrice blessed island , its people, and its leaders. You are the enemy within. You are the traitor whom I suspect of working for the INGO, Diaspora, the West, Hindia, …200 odd other countries, ………………….. with neo con agenda, a capitalist stooge, an anti Sinhala Buddhist, …………….. maybe a LTTE sympathizer……… ,
–
–
If you don’t like/love this island why don’t you leave?
When you leave please take the 21 Million with you.
/
Justice and Fairplay / March 31, 2018
The danger dear NV is that your humour might be missed by many.
While it is ridiculous to be serious in ridiculous affairs, it is equally ridiculous to be ridiculous in serious affairs.
This issue as i see it, is no longer a matter to be resOlved through levity.
Great and brave piece by Mr Umagiliya.
/
Native Vedda / April 1, 2018
Justice and Fairplay
–
Thanks for the advice.
Spring Koha knows what I mean.
/
Justin Case / March 30, 2018
Dead on, Mr Koha, dead on. Shameless bastards indeed they are, of the worst kind.
This is a good clip of why democracy doesn’t work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJBzhcSWTk
/
Justice and Fairplay / March 31, 2018
Well said Spring Koha. Nothing more to add.
/
Shenal / March 31, 2018
Spring Koha,
Who wants foreigners in our affairs. It is no other than you people. You are the ones who expect impartiality from the foreigners. They are no different from us. That is what I want to emphasize.
/
Ajith / March 30, 2018
” The rich and powerful will always get away with what ever crime they have perpetuated.”
You are right on this. Mahinda Family become the rich and powerful in this country even now after losing the power. Even though they lost the elections they are able to escape from the crimes they committed in this country.
/
Justice and Fairplay / March 31, 2018
Shenal it is very sad to say, has written some incredible stuff which beggars belief!
With this kind of thinking, little wonder this country will continue to flounder and be ripe for worse crises’ simply because the majority cannot think right.
Seriously, we have a problem to address here, for, some fail to recognise right from wrong.
/
Shenal / March 31, 2018
Justice and Fairplay,
Everything depends upon the perspective.
/
Native Vedda / March 30, 2018
Burt
–
Your comment on Dr Gota (DSc) and his clan is welcome however they are one of the group of people to benefit from the already established NORMS, and enjoy impunity from war crime and crimes against humanity, consequence of a nation building process massively ging wrong from the onset of “Independence”- replacing exploitative white man’s rule with Aryan Brown Sahibs.
–
The article above does not address the massive injustice inflicted on innocent people who either forced to be or on their freewill were in the wrong place at the wrong time, who lost their life or limb, …………1971, between 1987 and 90 and over 30 years including the final days of the war.
–
If the issue of impunity for large scale slaughter is not addressed the country will never cleansed itself from other malignant ills.
–
I wonder why Suranimala Umagiliya didn’t adequately deal with country’s war with itself from 5th April 1971.
–
He writes “But, they won the war ! Is that good enough to bring them back ?”. Its more than winning the war. Its a decisive victory over Demelas and a lesson for Thambiayas, worthy of inscribing on a boulder and preserved for future reference and celebrations, making sure Hindian contribution in winning the war is left out.
/
Sam Fernando / March 30, 2018
If a country, nation, thakkadiyas win the hearts and minds of the people than the decent personaltiies, there should be something wrong in that society right. ?
This country has taken to all the depths by MEDIA prostitutes by today.
Nothing seem to be working but media controls everything. This is the reason why I believe, some level of media control should be there as is tihe case in Germany, UK and any other civilized parts of the world.
Allowing any culprits to use their parrots to spread what they think is right, can ruin this nation, since most of them are easy targets. They just believe what the gett o hear.
Please do som research by yourself, then you will get it easily, things will become even more evident if you yourself talk to various walks of people in the country as I did. I started it with a taxi drivers , then tuk tuk then teachers, then engineers, then lawyers, then shop keepers, then unversitiy educated folks, then university don and the like people… what the outcome was… most dont care about what is going on in the country, but people # indifference to anything. That is the real picture of this country.
Most dont care even if their lovely ones would have been taken away by Rajapakshe rascals.
They just want their own bits to be shaped up.
May be this came to them, after long driven war mentality.
/
Upali Wickramasinghe / March 30, 2018
Sam Fernando – Well said
/
Silva / March 30, 2018
Hats Off to you Mr. Suranimala Umagiliya…
What a wonderful article and so true.
Please keep writing…
/
Sam Fernando / March 30, 2018
A well written analysis, no means simialr to that of rabble rouscing master DJ.
Yes, we want Prez to clear the name of Gotabaya – who has now been on the top of the list to have murdered Lasantha and several other men on this island. But for some reasons, his has been protected by Media Prostitutes so as is the case with Mahinda Jarapakashe.
Media men – wake up and think of the future of the nation.
Just hang on with Rajapakshes can destroy the future of this nation.
Please MEDIA men think today than tomorrow. Tomorrw it iwll be too late. t
/
Burt / March 30, 2018
From last weeks interview:
“Many believe that you have blood on your hands. That as defence secretary during the war, you defeated the LTTE but were also behind the killing of thousands of civilians. What do you say to these charges? And how did war affect you personally, did you have sleepless nights?
I know I haven’t done anything wrong, I know I have done the correct thing. My conscience says that. When you ask about civilian killings, you must understand that war is not a rosy thing, whether it is in Sri Lanka or Afghanistan or India or Pakistan or Iraq. War is not a good thing, it is not a nice thing.”
So he acknowledges the killing and justified in his own way but the corrupt courts wont even let the CID question him.
/
Burt / March 30, 2018
Taken from the article: “Inside the head of a serial killer”
——————————————————————
“In our generation and generations prior to our current one, we have seen some of the most gruesome, exotic, and erotic serial killers. But what sets them apart from the general population, the normal count?
Serial killers have no remorse when killing people, it does not bother them in any kind of way, and it takes serious cases for them to feel disgusted or feel any kind of feeling towards their victims, if any. Serial killers have a different way of thinking than the average person. They are born with a gift that makes them stronger to certain situations, and that gift could be used for good or bad depending on how the person is raised. Many studies have shown that most of the time serial killers have experienced some type of child abuse and/or domestic violence at home. This leds psychiatrists to think that the child abuse and domestic violence is what makes these serial killers, because they are never treated with love and never learn to work bad situations out instead they solve issues by turning to violence. One good example is Richard Kuklinski a.k.a “The Iceman” who was a Hitman for the mafia. Kuklinski killed over one hundred people in his life and he says the numbers possibily go over two hundred murders and yet he still managed to lead a normal American life with his family. “
/
Native Vedda / March 30, 2018
Burt
–
“So he acknowledges the killing and justified in his own way but the corrupt courts wont even let the CID question him.”
–
So can the Tamil Diaspora now drag him all the way to ICC or hang him if found guilty?
/
Asoka / March 30, 2018
Wow ! What a read…!!!
/
Lankan / March 30, 2018
Killers are laughing now and when justice will be done for all these killings. I do not think we will see it in this world and may be next world if you believe in the next life…
/
Welikada Yakka / March 31, 2018
Very bad and very sad to say that the White Van man (mass murderer) Gotabaya will be the next Sri Lankan President because there is nobody in the UNP or the SLFP to come even close. Both Ranil and Maithree have become very unpopular among the majority Sinhala Buddhists. The Tamils and Muslims are also fed up of this govt. The Tamils and Muslims will refrain from voting because Ranil-Maithree is not going to give anything to the minorities. The usual trend in Sri Lanka is that the people vote in the general election for the party that wins the Presidential election. In 2 years’ time the Rajapakshes will be back in power and this time they will lean towards Donald Trump. With Gota as President and the Rajapakshes back in power, Sri Lanka is Kaput.
/
Sandy / March 31, 2018
‘ And I saw the dead,small and great,standing before God, and
Books were opened.
And another book was opened,,
Which is the Book of Life.
And the dead were judged according
To their works,by the things written
In the books’
( Revelation.ch.20. Holy Bible)
/
oldcodger / March 31, 2018
Sandy,
I hear “tablets” are back in fashion. You need to update.
/
Pasel / March 30, 2018
He was arrogant then and now
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fjjH49zQVTc
/
Upasiri De Silva / March 30, 2018
Before supporting Gotabaya, because he allowed Maithreepala Sirisena to be the namesake Minister of Defence since 11th May 2009 till 18th May 2009 for Gotabaya to violate all regulations of natural justice, he shouldn’t allow Gotabaya to get a clean bill of health, without checking why he ordered the Police in 2006 to raid Liberty Plaza Famous Brothel house. He did that to trap his brother and take control of the Defence Ministry. If it is true then Maithreepala Sirisena is a simple GS who can be trapped easily and destroy. Rajapaksas never forgive anyone humiliated them and they will destroy every one connected with 2015 Presidential election. Be careful Mr. President.
/
Mama Sinhalam / March 30, 2018
Thank you Suranimala. It is a circus of comedians in power. They have latched onto the formula that can never be given up- get more extreme in Sinhala-Buddhist rhetoric. Pity the Sinhalaya cannot see what is happening to him and his country. As you say, the Burghers are doing well as is the Tamil diaspora. The latter will not keep quiet though. That may be a difference. One would have thought that the Malwatte and Asgiriya prelates would be different in giving leadership of the Buddhist kind to the people. But, they are no different. They take the same path as that of the politicians. The judges have also been cowed down. A once independent judiciary now consists of meek eunuchs appointed by politicians. We await a new leader who does not seem to come.We will probably have a new generation of crooks from the same crooked Sinhala families.
/
Bruz / March 30, 2018
Great article and wonderfully written with sheer guts… Bravo Suranimala Umagiliya !
I have no trust in our general public who will again go behind Rajapakse’s, vote and elect them without much reluctance. Our people are brainwashed with the borrowed war victory claim, fake concept of Sinhala Buddhism , suspicion, jealousy of minorities and all the ingredients of destroying ourselves slowly but surely.
It’s difficult to educate an already spoiled nation of people who still wants to drag even the other civilized and cultured citizen into a hell hole of a pathetic country. Things cannot be changed overnight and sadly we have a long way to go to beat the devilish morons !
/
NIM / March 31, 2018
If Sinhala Buddhism is as fake as you say Bruz, why don’t the Maha Sangha correct to put on straight path. There are English literate priests who can write articles to impact these deviating SB who are behaving like how Hitler tried to create the superior Aryan race while killing the Jews. These stupid minds need renewal before they die, so they could come into wholeness of peace and reconciliation
GMOA fakes are the other evil group. Divide and rule is their financial goal to distinguish local A/L and London A/L, so they could deny latter going from SAITM to KDU. But SAITM is already recognized by SLMC on court verdict. KDU admits London A/L, SAITM admits London A/L and state Colombo med. faculty admits London A/L for foreign quota. So what is this GMOA circus for gullible, deceived, plundered London A/L longing to study medicine in their own culture. GMOA has ERPM mafia, wicked terrorists.
/
Bruz / March 31, 2018
@NIM,
Maha Sangha is very lazy to correct anything. Their unbelievable silence is killing everyone !
Everything in the nation is corrupt now, including the Maha Sangha..nothing is left out.
Rule of law, judiciary, judges, courts, Universities, police, forces…you name it.
It’s all a sad truth that all the good things of the past has become corrupted to the core now because we elected bad politicians who are cheats, selfish and power hungry.
We could have become one of the Asia’s well to do country with the important asset our country possess. Namely the well educated and enterprising people and the resource our country has. Our country was an envy of all other Asian nations including India.
But India has overtaken us in every field and marching towards becoming a super power.
Their overall policies are the reasons for their success. Specially the secular state rule, giving importance to English education, non discrimination of language or religion, opportunities for the right people, religious freedoms, language freedom etc.,
People there are not fighting and wasting their time to get their birth rights, unlike in our Sri Lanka. The divide and rule game learned from Britishers are very rigidly applied against all the people & minorities. Why can’t we all irrespective of race or religion work together and make the country and ourselves prosperous ? The government should help.
Isn’t it all boils down to dirty politics ? Do we really have patriots who love our nation ?
Every one is selfish including all the politicians and the country is getting ruined.
/
kolla / March 30, 2018
How much has Ranil contributed to the decay of SL politics ?
His cynical manipulations of the UNP makes Rajapakses look good.
If there is no democracy in the UNP , if its leader remains on top after all defeats how can any one challenge Rajapakse who held so many elections and finally was defeated at an election. ?
As to the Rajapakse crimes and frauds , why has not this government not done anything for 3 years ? The answer is simple. the leader of the UNP has no policy only an unpopular man manipulating everything for his survival.
In no democratic and open party will chaps like Ranil , Malik and Ravi hold sway. If the UNP is blind to the implications of the Bond scam where its leader was fully involved then this political party has become a private company of its leader.This is a man whose record is so bad as a leader, a developer of the country and even as a politician . When ever Ranil comes to power everything comes to a stop.
The blame for the country situation cannot be put on the Rajapkses only. What about the Bandarnaykes Jayawardenas , Premadasa Wijetunga and Ranil etc ? Just because he wears a tie and a suit don’t think he has any standards or class. If he has any decency he would have retired by now.
/
Diogenes / March 30, 2018
Pro Ghoulish jarapaksa `s Divaina and Island the racial newspapers are doing irreparable damage to the Island Nation. Boycott them!
/
Matilda Ellepola / March 30, 2018
this pshychopath GOAT – (Great Of All Time) in genocide and against humanity will make all Singhalese mothers and daughters to clean the dirty toilets in Kuwait and Saudi.
Not much of a development plan with O/L qualified family with fake and doctored qualifications like NA-RA let the Principle of the Law College to write the final Law college exam and got a 98% which is the highest EVER in the county. (bear in mind., going for all sorts of rallies, meetings, parliament etc., this amazing wonder kid who ran away from a UK Uni who could not take the pressure) .
Rajapaksas are a family of Psychopaths and cheaters.
/
Kamalawathie Sameer / March 30, 2018
Matilda – NA-RA the O/L (FAILED) and synthetic “LOWYER” has quite a number of “wonder kids” by abusing his flying angels during his father’s reign of terror!
/
Burt / March 30, 2018
Matilda Ellepola
” GOAT – (Great Of All Time)”
Or it could just be “GREEDY OLD ARROGANT THIEF”.
/
Navin / March 30, 2018
Good article describing exactly the situation in this country, and it does not bode well for the people. Unsolved murders, and murderers getting away with such gruesome killings, are unacceptable in any democracy, and the fact that some of these murderers may be given powers again, is unbelievable. Why are we always having low standards when it comes to electing politician? We should be ashamed that we are even considering handing over the country to scoundrels who have been responsible for kidnappings and murders, and who are under suspicion of abusing their powers to silence journalists, and for killing a promising ruggerite, who made a young thug (privileged son?) feel insecure because of a girl, and let us not forget the terrible torture the poor man had to endure before his death, because of some baseless anger.
Sri Lanka’s political system has become more corrupt, uneducated louts brandishing weapons in anger, and utterly chaotic. We are a banana republic, and it will only gets worse, if we once again put these vicious jokers in office, and go through white vans, unsolved murders, and sky high commissions. Are having cleaner streets worth the price?
/
Eagle Eye / March 30, 2018
“President Sirisena now wants to go to bed with one of the Rajapaksa’s who has several ongoing criminal investigations against him in progress. That is Gotabaya Rajapaksa.”
President Sirisena went to bed with ‘Batalanda Wadakaya’ who had a role in torturing and killing hundreds of Sinhala youths and with ‘Chaura Regina’ who looted public money. He said he did it for the sake of the country. So why can’t he go to bed with Gotabhaya if he thinks that he can save the country from the Royal thieves.
There were allegations against PM Modi playing a role killing thousands of Muslims and there was a travel ban from USA but he was elected as the PM and doing well. USA travel ban vanished overnight.
“But, they won the war ! Is that good enough to bring them back ?”
People want them not only because they won the war. After the war that family gave leadership to win the economic war. Economy was growing around 7% during that regime. From the day Ranil led Government came to power economy is going down the drain. Now it is 3.1% and in 2019 expected rate is around 2%. What a performance.
The only thing this Government did during the last three years was pleasing the Tamil Diaspora, TNA, Muslim Congress and agents of Regime Change project. On February 10th voters in the country gave the message ‘Please Get Lost”.
/
Booruwa / March 30, 2018
Written by a one eyed arsehole whose political connections are plain and need no second guessing. The sad smart arse has lifted the Peronist lament and plonked it here to sound original! He talks of chasing out Burghers ?. Nobody chased our Burghers they went on their own volition. Who would not leave the third world to live in comfort in the developed world. All that is not so important as his critique which is totally void of the biggest scams in the country’shistory. The near bankruptcy of the country under YAHAPALANAYA has no mention.No mention of RWS dishonesty which even prominent members of his own party are aware of and are supporting the N C M . This Guy is reeking with Yahapalana shit.
/
Spring Koha / March 30, 2018
Booruwa’s asinine comments get us nowhere. The truth is that our political coterie is an incestuous group that exists to serve themselves and their hangers-on rather this country and its people. The separation of parties is superficial and for convenience. Fluid at the best of times, especially when the gift of office is offered. 10% of, mostly, our best people, choose to live and practice their talents outside our shores. Not for them the ignominy of being governed by self-serving idiots – worse, booruwa’s.
Surinamala Umagiliya has incised the boil, and the stench, as expected raises a high old stink. Our biggest curse was to give the Bauddha-Sinhala politician the gift of democracy.
/
K.Pillai / March 30, 2018
Booruwa ~ “………….Nobody chased our Burghers they went on their own volition……….”.
Why did you not add “…….the ‘others’ left on their own volition from 1958 onwards to live in refugee camps…………..”. The pogroms were just a coincidence?
/
Silva / March 30, 2018
The name Booruwa is very apt for you…
/
Native Vedda / March 31, 2018
Booruwa
–
“The sad smart arse has lifted the Peronist lament and plonked it here to sound original!”
–
Read carefully, this is not typed by Dayan Jayatilleka Silva but by Suranimala Umagiliya .
/
Harishchandra / March 30, 2018
A brilliant piece of incisive journalism which projects the bitter truth of this country being a failed state with no light shining at the end of the tunnel, leaving us, the hapless inhabitants of this once beautiful island, to choose our leaders from a set of known scoundrels.
/
Uthungan / April 1, 2018
Certainly a brilliant piece of incisive journalism, especially when it refers to the big stink in country’s legal system.
/
Jim softy / March 30, 2018
I thinkyou have written this article for , even the comments support it, [edited out] Defence Secretary worked for the President. So, why you do not want to question President and instead nail the Secretary who followed president’s orders. There are former ministry Secretaries who earned billions because they were obedient to the president and they say, I did not steal, I got what he gave. There after , I knew how to manoever. That is a common saying among former employees or subordinates or what ever you call them (of the former Presidenbt), he served every one’s plate heftility while serving the biggest or largest form him. You target him because of the threat to the Orumiththa govt. I think gotabayaya Rajapakse has problems even from his closest and that include Mahinda Rajapakse, Basil Rajapakse etc., Basil is a hyena who is waiting for his kill. I heard, Thajudeen murder does not go forward, because those accuse it accuse the wrong person. It is simply injustice, when sub ordinated are blamed for everything that the president wanted them to do it. It is like calling top military officials War criminals because they carried out orders and what must be done. So, you continue to write CRAP as you can be a “R%upee Kakka”. You people as journalists are pathetic. YOu support the recycling of the same old politicians. YOu know they are vultures there to pcik what ever they can. foreigners and foreign cultures, businesses want Sri lanka destroyed, so they can establish everything they want.[edited out]
/
anonymous / March 30, 2018
“We are what we do repeatedly. Excellency, therefore is not an act but a habit”
“A well written analysis”
What can I say, couldn’t agree more. True journalism ‘Lasantha’ style. Thank you Mr.Umagiliya.
/
Ad / March 30, 2018
This is exactly the sentiments of the citizens of this country. There are many who could have ended up in a foreign country. But for several reasons not doing so. The rest who cannot go due to some reasons and all others are suffering silently due to abuse of power by the govt. and degrading the standards of peoples lives. In USA People are armed to face such situations. Here the people are weakened by the monks and abused by both politicians and monks to take away their due earnings to amass among themselves. Now MS wants to distribute free deeds to citizens so as to get votes for a future election. What people need is justice being done, not free deeds and gifts. Most of the legislators are criminals themselves, how can mass murderers be given leadership. There is a huge contagious disease among politicians.
Well written.
/
chiv / March 30, 2018
WOW, Where was this writer all this time. Spot on, you connected all the dots for a lay man. But Lankan public is retarded and fully drunk on communalism. They are still in mythological fantasies of Who is who??, and Who came first???They are blissfully happy to act ignorant and naive. What a pathetic situation.The whole structure it self is corroded and beyond salvage.The judiciary,police, politicians, doctors( shame on you ,being a physician I always took pride in saying we are not for sale and there is no barriers to what we do, but the lankan docs are of an unique creatures),gov officials,schools,businessmen,religious heads…etc…etc.The system is in total dysfunction with full of maladies.If we had more of HONEST patriotic public (of this writers caliber) who can get together,stand up and say NO!. The only benefactors are the ugly politicians who has been exploiting since independence. Good Luck to Democratic??? republic???? of Lankawe.
/
Ceylonee / March 30, 2018
But , !! Sri Lanka will CRY for PEACE , If you become President .. !!
/
FAHIM KNIGHT / March 30, 2018
Those who have means or a manageable income go about without a care expecting life to go on forever. Consider them ” I am alright Jacks”. As long as I am alright I need not bother. But it will catch up Sir/Madam. It will.
Unquote
————–
————-
Truth is bitter ,though it is bitter it is indeed the truth .
—————————————————————————————————
What a brilliant article, so meticulously written ,not leaving even a jot unsaid and covered .
Thank you for such an enlightening message.
Bless your heart .
/
Native Vedda / March 30, 2018
Burt
–
Your comment on Dr Gota (DSc) and his clan is welcome however they are one of the group of people to benefit from the already established NORMS, and enjoy impunity from war crime and crimes against humanity, consequence of a nation building process massively ging wrong from the onset of “Independence”- replacing exploitative white man’s rule with Aryan Brown Sahibs.
–
The article above does not address the massive injustice inflicted on innocent people who either forced to be or on their freewill were in the wrong place at the wrong time, who lost their life or limb, …………1971, between 1987 and 90 and over 30 years including the final days of the war.
–
If the issue of impunity for large scale slaughter is not addressed the country will never cleansed itself from other malignant ills.
–
I wonder why Suranimala Umagiliya didn’t adequately deal with country’s war with itself from 5th April 1971.
–
He writes “But, they won the war ! Is that good enough to bring them back ?”. Its more than winning the war. Its a decisive victory over Demelas and a lesson for Thambiayas, worthy of inscribing on a boulder and preserved for future reference and celebrations, making sure Hindian contribution in winning the war is left out.
/
Fahim Knight / March 30, 2018
I as for myself, will always remain consistent in my opinion of dealing with the crisis of law and order .
we never ever had the right constitution represented by non political good men and women as a Senate to monitor the house to prevent manipulation of the law and justice.
It would be much wiser to let go the past as whole as we can clearly see the failed old constitution is never going to let any successful justice come out of it .
Rather than continue to play ball with the people and letting it drain the country , best bring in the new Constitution.
A Constitution with the most stringent by laws preventing any parties from interfering or manipulating the law and Justice where the policeman will be the peoples Senate ,which must also include a provision for a peoples petition if and when required
.,
The new constitution must be provided with a full peoples approval of vote of referendum if the cabinet ever decides any amendment to weaken peoples power
Never should another constitution be handedover fully to politicians with looophole to abuse and recommit
the crime of JR in this Country .
The constitution must include a lower and upper house represented by Provincial governments along with Federal government and abolish the executive Presidency ..
Honestly ,The abolishing of the executive Presidency is long over due and best begin with it
. .
..
/
ramona therese fernando / March 30, 2018
Well Suranimala Umagiliya,…..Burgher ancestors created the unfortunate situational responses from Masses in the first place. Previously, Masses were divinely dwelling in the Motherland -light of Buddha leading the way. Tamils created more unfortunate situations because all wanted to be doctors, lawyers, accountants, and public servants on sacred land….. but it is known that once their saturation points were surpassed, terrorism by them towards the Masses ensued. So the whole lot went to Western countries that knew how to balance out the divinity of dwelling places – people just like the Rajapaksas, their necessary balancer. Power to the peasants I say!
/
Silva / March 30, 2018
Never trust a Parangi Buddhist…
/
ramona therese fernando / March 31, 2018
Silva,
What a shamefully bigoted comment….anyway, most Sri Lankans are Parangi in varying degrees…….but one doesn’t need to be trusted….these concepts are self-evident!
/
Upali Wickramasinghe / March 30, 2018
Ramona – “Masses were divinely dwelling in the Motherland -light of Buddha leading the way”
What popy cock. the masses were kept away from education.they were the slaves to the powerful – read tugs- murderers – rapists. and the safron wearing rogues. the safron wearing rogues developed the culture of having their sons- close relations as the heirs to the temple. that practice still continue.
The uneducated masses were fooled to believe that nirvana awaits those that touched the feet and worshipped the safron wearing rogue, provided his wife and daughters for the safron wearing to enjoy, keep silent when the safron wearing enjoyed the passion of men with feminine characters.
/
ramona therese fernando / March 31, 2018
Upali,
Western “enlightenment” is the one that is debased. At least the people of yore had clean environmental and cultural lifestyles.
/
Upali Wickramasinghe / March 30, 2018
Ramona “Tamils created more unfortunate situations because all wanted to be doctors, lawyers, accountants, and public servants on sacred land….. but it is known that once their saturation points were surpassed, “
Were you educated at a safron wearing man’s adobe to utter that nonesense?
It is their right.
/
ramona therese fernando / March 31, 2018
Upali,
No, no saffron man educated me at all on social flaws….they only speak of awareness of the self and enlightenment of the self…irrespective of social context.
/
Uthungan / April 1, 2018
Ramona
In other words are you saying that the closeted up lazy saffron shaven heads, are indulging in a fruitless mumbo jumbo thought acrobatics which is just an illusion of so called self awareness and enlightenment that is devoid of any social context?
Is it not why the Buddha said “each individual to be his/her own light”?
/
Mama Sinhalam / March 30, 2018
We can condone politicians as the Sri Lankan lot are largely illiterate goons. But, the Malwatte and Asgiriya prelates should know better than beat the communal drum. Buddha did not teach such hatred towards ones fellow human beings. We all will concede gladly that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country if true Buddhism of peace and love for all humanity is preached and practised here.
/
Upali Wickramasinghe / March 30, 2018
Mama Sinhalam.’We all will concede gladly that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country if true Buddhism of peace and love for all humanity is preached and practised here.”
very thing that does not happen here.
/
Shenal / March 31, 2018
Upali Wickramasinghe,
No other country practices what the respective preachers of their religions preached. Therefore, you should not name any other country as a Christian country, Muslim country etc.,
/
K.Pillai / March 30, 2018
Thank you Suranimala Umagiliya for the no-holds-barred article.
We, the silent majority share your concern as to why our leaders are not willing/able to say that the Wanda Pethi is a canard.
A minor comment on your statement ~ “………..Another dangerous game was invented. Divide the people between the majority and the rest……”.
The language/religion-divide was officially launched within days after independence in 1948.
.
Attention Dayan Jayatillaka: You write one or more articles per week. Do you realise how hard it is to hide ‘truth’?
/
Sumangala / March 31, 2018
You have put the picture of a traitor of Sri Lanka in the front — An American citizen . He is to be imported to be the next President of Sri Lanka – as there is no educated man with balls to run the country’s affairs. What a shame.
/
Lester / March 31, 2018
The only person who had the capability to prevent the country from being divided was Mahinda Rajapaksa. This fact is not nullified by the fate of journalists. MR was given a mandate to defeat terrorism and that is what he accomplished. The author says the “repressive” regime of Rajapaksa’ was defeated. How is a repressive regime defeated in democratic elections? Did Hitler, Mao or Stalin step down from the podium after holding elections?
/
daya weerasinghe / March 31, 2018
Sri Lanka the land united in corruption…the government , the opposition and the people who keep electing the corrupt are all united in corruption and to protect the corrupt. No wonder Sri Lanka still a 3rd world banana republic..!
/