Preamble
There are several untruths in newspapers and websites about my daughter. Mawbina and Ceylon Today (20 and 21 May, 2020) lead the pack attacking my daughter and me. Journalistic ethics was abandoned in not seeking evidence or asking me before going to print. Ceylon Today and other newspapers too were so careless that they did not even get my daughter’s beautiful Tamil name right.
Background
Elections are due. There is cheating usually. But when the Election Commission (EC) points out errors, politicians usually withdraw whatever it is that is illegal they are doing. Then they do it again. We write again. Etcetera. There is never any punishment. The exercise is a joke, a pretence at self-congratulating ourselves on our democracy.
For the first time, however, there have been attacks on those running the elections. It is as if to tell the Commission, “If you crack down on us, we will attack you, remove you from the Commission, slap defamation suits on you, etc. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera and Angajan Ramanathan have taken the lead in threatening the Commission for doing its work.
The two offending articles of 20 and 21 May 2020 in Ceylon Today were written outside the organization and given to the editor Mr. Jayanth Sri Nisanka. His role is not particularly innovative and involves reprinting articles from Mawbina a newspaper committed to one side in the upcoming elections. I understand reliably that the article was given to him by those he cannot disobey, and he was told to print it. So when senior writer Ananth Palakidner interviewed me about the defamatory passages and wrote my responses, it was rejected. The article I questioned is sacrosanct. So I telephoned Sri Nisanka and asked him if I had no right of reply. He argued that Palakidner is just a journalist there. I then said I could write. He then told me to write and imposed restrictions. I hope my reply will appear.
The same stubbornness is seen in The Island of 19 May. It claimed very untruthfully that “EC staff protested against their [my daughter’s and my] presence; they claimed Hoole’s daughter had not undergone quarantine after returning from the UK [My emphasis]. Sources said that she had been allowed to undergo self quarantine at her Jaffna residence.” When I protested, on 21 May, the Editor, Prabath Sahabandu, obfuscated saying “Prof. Hoole is obfuscating the main issue. He does not deny our report. He admits that his daughter underwent quarantine only for two weeks.” On the contrary, his report said my daughter had not undergone quarantine. I venture that he knew that most readers will not bother to go back to the original to check. Journalism seems to have intellectually castrated the once honest editor who seems so keen to carry out the agenda of a particular political party orchestrating this campaign against me to curtail the freedom of the EC to conduct a free and fair election.
Enter Elilini into the Imbroglio
Elilini Hoole is my loving second daughter. Elilini means “She who has beauty.” Our children take pride in saying, say in Elilini’s case, I am Appah’s favorite second daughter, aren’t I?” and I agree.
Elilini is reading for her doctoral degree at Jesus College, Cambridge. She was stuck there with no classes but huge living expenses eating into her savings for studies. Then our High Commission wrote to all Sri Lankan students registered with them, asking if she would like a seat on one of two special flights they were arranging. She signed up. My only role was in paying the Rs. 225,000 airfare. She was quoted Rs. 7500 a night as hotel rate during quarantine. She agreed. One negative was that she who had had no COVID and had been in isolation at Cambridge was now packed in violation of the 1 m distancing rule and possibly exposed because every seat on the flight was occupied.
She landed on 4 May. On landing she had to stand in line close to others for 6 hours and undergo fumigation. She commented to friends on Instagram that she had been sandwiched like sardines and fumigated. The intellectual level of comments is such that the commenters thought she was complaining against the airline not serving her smoked salmon. Someone said they had google-translated fumigation and salmon.
The EC Chairman was in an imbroglio over allegedly asking government help to get his son down and talking to the President about election matters. Apparently after speaking to Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, he had forgotten to switch off his phone and as a result some subsequent conversations were recorded. So some thought I was in the same boat and reporters called me. I think they gave up on finding I had done nothing wrong.
Elilini was then taken to the hotel. The nightly rate was Rs. 12,500 a night. The surcharge was because the quoted rate of Rs. 7500 was for those sharing a room with another. Anyway, she was happy with that rate at Jetwing with its good food delivered to her door. She paid Rs. 175,000 for her 14 days.
Two-weeks later (18 May) she was released after a negative COVID-test and paying a hotel bill for Rs. 175,000.
Elilini was never told to self-quarantine. On the contrary, the certificate signed by Lieut. Gen. de Silva and Dr. Anil Jasinghe said “she underwent the necessary quarantine process.”
Anil Jasinghe’s Lack of Professionalism
As Elilini had been fully cleared by Dr. Jasinghe, from the hotel I took her to office where I had work. In Ceylon Today of 21 May, Dr. Jasinghe accuses me of lack of ethics for having gone to office with my daughter.
A note from Dr. Jasinghe on Health Ministry websites states that,
“If the Quarantine Centre is issuing a certificate when releasing from the centre, [the certificate] should mention that the person is subjected [sic.] to mandatory home quarantine for another 14 days under the supervision of Medical Officer of Health.”
Dr. Jasinghe and Liet. General de Silva have signed Elilini’s certificate against Jasinghe’s own rule with no mention of self-quarantining. They had also forgotten to complete the certificate with dates, making it worthless. Ten years from now with another COVID-19 outbreak (God forbid!) she can use the certificate to say she has been cleared.
Moreover, even though Jasinghe now says a second quarantine is necessary, another part of the Health Ministry website says contradictory things about “Who should be home-quarantined/self-quarantined.” It states that
1. “A person who have [sic..] returned to Sri Lanka from overseas with in [sic.] the last 14 days” must self-quarantine.
2. A person who had maintained close contact with a suspected or diagnosed case of COVID-19 with in [sic.] last 14 days.
Elilini had returned more than 14 days earlier. She had not been in close contact with a suspected or diagnosed case of COVID-19.
She needed no self-quarantine according to Jasinghe’s website. Period. She had finished her quarantine according to the certificate he signed. Period.
Lack of professionalism is an ethics violation. So also is using ungrammatical language that people cannot understand. Untruthful claims that she had been instructed to self-quarantine when released also shows a lack of professional ethics. When Jasinghe himself signed an undated certificate that did not say anything about self-quarantining as he required, how is he so sure that his staff at Jetwing Blue followed his instructions on telling those released from quarantine that they should self-quarantine?
The Elections
Medical opinion from those like Jasinghe will be key in deciding when to hold elections. However, consider that on 18 April 2020, Defence-Secretary Kamal Gunaratne stated firmly that until COVID is curbed, curfew cannot be lifted. He ruled out an early lifting of curfew. Additionally, Chairman Deshapriya had written to P.B. Jayasundera saying that for elections to be held in time for the new Parliament to meet on 2 June, election-preparations had to begin on 20 April. This is the same Dr. Jasinghe, who on 20 April, lifted curfew saying everything was fine even as COVID kept growing, apparently, as hinted by Deputy Inspector General of Police and attorney-at-law Ajith Rohana, our new heroes in Sri Lanka, the men of the armed forces (the navy in particular), are contracting COVID-19 in a big way. Sex workers and clients are at risk he says. Does this have a connexion to soldiers tending to visit prostitutes? Can we rely on the professional advice of those whose voice is their master’s voice in taking crucial election decisions?
I put in a memo to the EC on my concerns. The EC is mindful of seeking a wider opinion of medical expertise and decided at the meeting on 11 May as I recall to seek opinion from a wider range of medical expertise including the WHO on the conditions under which elections can be conducted.
The Car
I had Election Commission work in Colombo so I used our Jaffna-Office car (not the Jaffna Assistant-Commissioner’s car as Ceylon Today and many websites reported). I get a travel allowance but cannot use public transport as I usually do as there is none and there is COVID. Nor can I use my private-vehicle during curfew. The Constitutional Council recommended special transport for me; the EC by resolution asked me to use the Jaffna or Kilinochchi car. Ceylon Today calling this corruption is defamatory.
Fully Cleared
Elilini’s certificate completely cleared her: “She underwent the necessary quarantine process.” Hence when going to work, I took Elilini with me. It triggered unnecessary, horrible panic – a sad state for a Commission that needs balanced, rational thinking. The Chairman knew that Elilini had been in quarantine. I had told him of the Rs. 175,000 we had to pocket out for the hotel. When it was alleged by staff that she had come skipping quarantine, he could have corrected that. Surely spraying the whole office needed high-level permission. He now says no one asked me to leave office. True, but what does it mean when everyone upon seeing me runs away? What does it mean when Rizan Manzil, the Chairman’s Coordinator, conveyed to me from the Chairman that we, including our driver, had to go into quarantine? Effectively we were told not to come back. I did go back long enough to pick up my computer and leave a copy of de Silva’s and Jasinghe’s certificate for the Chairman.
I was told that the meeting of 20 May was being cancelled. I went straight to Jaffna, stopped multiple times en-route by soldiers with our number plate and instructions to check us. That information must have come from the Commission. Chairman Deshapriya later informed me it was a misunderstanding, but it was too late for us to return to Colombo.
The morning after arriving in Jaffna, many police-officers, the MOH, and PHI came home. The police party included Jaffna’s HQI Fernando. He must have been involved on orders from Colombo – unless he visits the home of every Tom, Dick and Harry who comes from Colombo. According to the MOH, quarantine is under his purview, yet the police insisted we home-quarantine. Apparently if we had stayed in Colombo home-quarantine would have been unnecessary, but a Jaffna rule on district-crossing kicked in and Elilini is in self-quarantine. But not me. Inconsistencies galore!
Strangely, the police took my driver away from my home to the police station and asked him over three-hours where and where I had gone in Colombo. The DIG was blasted by the Chairman asking if they wanted to interfere with the Commission. On the Chairman’s demand the driver was taken in a car to his home in Changaanai.
Where is the ethics that Jasinghe talks about? Where is ethics when an editor is ordered and he complied with the order to print libel? Where was ethics when the editor of Ceylon Today imposed restrictions on my article to counter his two slanderous pieces sent to him from the top? Where is ethics when the Editor of the Island twists what was written to cover-up his reporting of false gossip? Where was ethics when the media prints sensationalist, fake news spurring racist backlash against government officials as seen in the comment pages of websites? Where was ethics when Dr. Jasinghe signed Elilini’s quarantine-clearance certificate and then said that Elilini, who has followed Ministry-procedure, was unethical? Indeed where is ethics where party considerations affect professional opinions?
Commission Statement
The Election Commission at its meeting of 20 May took sad note of the defamation of a Commission Member and resolved to explain the correct situation to the media and public. The Chairman was asked to draft the note and send it out. Unfortunately it has gone only to Divaina. It has not reached the wider public, particularly those who read in English or Tamil. I obtained a copy and give it below, even though I cannot read it.
Sinhala_Man / May 22, 2020
Dear Prof. Hoole,
Well, I have read it all – including the links and Mahinda Deshapriya’s letter in Sinhala to the “Divaina”. Let me point out only two things that may not be clear.
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In the Sinhalese letter that you are unable to read, it says (5) that the fumigation of the Office by the Kotte Municipality is routine, but it doesn’t say how often it is done.
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I did a double-take when I read “prostitutes” but then I clicked on the blue link just above, and found explication.
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So “readers . . . [must] bother to go back to the original to check.”
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That is all of importance that I can see to point out at present, although it is true that fellows like me know that it is unwise in the present circumstances for anybody other than an employee to be found in a workplace in “Sri Lanka Today”.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 22, 2020
Prof. Hoole, If you want to uphold justice against actions of the government to subvert democracy, then you have to ensure your side is blameless. Government is waiting for you to slip and will pounce on you. In this case you have given the chance for the government to harass you. You have no business to take your daughter to election commission office, as she has no reason to be present there. What the employees of the office or police did after that is despicable, which was purely to harass you. Please do not repeat the mistake, because you are one of the few persons who are standing up to dirty tricks of government. Also be aware that present government has murderous instinct of eliminating dissenters.
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Sinhala_Man / May 22, 2020
I agree, absolutely, Gnana.
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I’m glad to see a perfectly balanced response; I shall now sleep soundly knowing that you have understood the pros and the cons.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 22, 2020
I had always called a spade a spade and expressed views based on truth and justice.
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kali / May 23, 2020
Dr. Siva Siva Sankara
You have also said the following.
In contrast Rajapkase brothers have both. I take it Truth & Justice
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SJ / May 24, 2020
The stupidity specialist says he calls a spade a spade, but will keep happily call Myanmar Bangladesh!
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Asaipillai / May 22, 2020
Dr. Sankaralingam – What do you expect Dr. Hoole to do? His daughter was discharged from the hotel, Dr. Hoole is from Jaffna and he has to go to his office to pick up his things and go back to Jaffna. Do you expect him to find another hotel and keep her there until he picks up his things from the office. It is perfectly alright to step into the office and leave. I do not think he “slipped up” at all. At the rate Corona is evident in Colombo no father would ask her daughter to stay anywhere else.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 22, 2020
Asaipillai, do not display your stupidity. Yes prof. Hoole from Jaffna has to go to his office to pick up things and go back to Jaffna. The mistake he did was to pick his daughter first and then go to office. Do you not realize that if Prof. Hoole picked his things from office first and then picked his daughter after that, rather than picking his daughter first and then going to pick his things in office, he would not have been found fault with. He need not find another hotel, or ask her stay anywhere else, but could have extended her stay for a few more hours in the same hotel, which the hotel will allow for free until noon or else pay for one more day. If he was able to put up her at Rs 7500 a day, to say that he cannot afford the extra cost is unacceptable. It would have been perfectly alright for him to step into the office and leave if he was alone and not with his daughter. He has completely slipped up. For a person who wants others to be perfect, he should have known that, you cannot use official vehicle for private purposes such as transporting his daughter to Jaffna. Therefore for him to be perfect, he should have put her into plane or train to Jaffna and not take her in official vehicle. Do not try to cover up blunders with silly reasons.
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SJ / May 23, 2020
GS, master of maritime history, language and, prominently among many other things, stupidity,
May I humbly submit that checking out of a hotel need not require leave the building.
Checking out in time ensures that the room is ready for the next occupant. But htels are flexible.
Even after checking out, luggage can be left in the luggage room and the guest can wait in the lounge for hours. (I hear that it happens even in England.)
Giving a lift to a friend in one’s official vehicle is not a criminal offence I suppose. This is a time when giving a lift to someone is most understandable.
If the father wanted to save fuel he could have left the daughter in the car until his return. But people under pressure do not always do the most rational thing.
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“…he should have put her into plane or train to Jaffna”
A leading travel agent says “Currently there are no flight service between Colombo and Jaffna”. (He may be plain stupid, and GS the master should correct him.)
Your highness, are there train services for the public from Colombo to Jaffna?
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SJ / May 23, 2020
GS, master of…among many other things, stupidity,
With apologies for a typo:
May I humbly submit that checking out of a hotel need not require leaving the building.
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Jurassic100 / May 23, 2020
Both you chaps are arguing without knowing facts. Firstly, Hoole violated curfew and quarantine regulations by bringing his son to Colombo with him. Secondly, he has a flat at Gothami Road where all of them stayed on Monday night. Both daughter and son could have stayed there. Why bring them to office? Do you fellows know Hoole has been occupying an Election Commission flat at Glen Aber Place till February when he is not entitled, besides receiving enhanced travel allowance of Rs 50,000 pm because he is from Jaffna? In addition, he is using EC vehicles he is not entitled to but allowed by Deshapriya, another abuser of state resources.
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SJ / May 23, 2020
J
Sorry. I am not arguing with anyone about Hoole.
I was simply putting the record right about check-out practices in hotels as understood by an expert on stupidity.
Am I not entitled to some fun in this space?
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kali / May 23, 2020
Dr. Sankara
What is wrong with you. Are you suffering from Dementia.
You made the following statement 3 days ago
In contrast Rajapkase brothers have both. Truth & Jutice. ( Sugar Coated in your words as Organisational Skills and Leadership Qualities)
How can yo doubt their integrity with 72 hours.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 23, 2020
Kali read the statement properly before coming out displaying your stupidity. I said that Rajapakse brothers have both leadership and organisational skills. What is wrong in that. Did they not display it in conducting the war with LTTE. Did they not show it when starting a party from scratch. Is it wrong for me to say that Prabaharan displayed leadership and organisational skills. Though Prabaharan demonstrated leadership skill under gun point and organisational skill in a wrong manner to bring defeat, has any Tamil politician bar Chelvanayakam has matched him.
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kali / May 23, 2020
Part 1
Dr.Sankaralingam
*** I have checked your Credentials and from your looks you must be nearing 80s and sadly old age can be cruel.
Now to your rubbish.
1) Kali read the statement properly before coming out displaying your stupidity. I said that Rajapakse brothers have both leadership and organisational skills. What is wrong in that.
*** Grandad everything is wrong with that and although you claim to be a Tamil by birth sadly you are a Sinkalam by your thinking. We fought for Freedom and I lost three members of my family during race riots . Luckily may be you never lost anyone due to Sinhalese Brutality. Your praise for Rakapaksas Leadership and Organisational skills is despicable and an insult to Tamil Victims and I hope You ROT IN HELL
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kali / May 23, 2020
Part 2
2) Did they not display it in conducting the war with LTTE. Did they not show it when starting a party from scratch. Is it wrong for me to say that Prabaharan displayed leadership and organisational skills.
*** NO Gotha & MR didn’t win the war and it was India who won the war. India provided men and material including Chemical weapons
3) Chelvanayakam has matched him.
*** You really are ignorant and an Idiot. What did Chelvanayam achieve. Go back to basics and learn Politics as you have time on your hand.
A combination of Gotha and MR will spell disaster for Sri Lanka especially post COVID 19 and in 2015 MS & RW managed to avert it not this time. I don’t know how you can praise Gotha & MR when the World has deserted them such as USA State Department , Californian Jude , EU Countries , Japan and etc. Gotha Pardoned a Convicted killer and promoted Slit Throat Sign Soldier who was found Guilty by Feltham Magistrates . You should not be living in Britain with values which are abhorrent .
You are a Scumbag
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 24, 2020
Kali – Part 2. – Rajapkases gave leadership in conducting the war. All previous presidents played the game with Prabaharan in not ending the war. Secondly did Tamils ask Prabaharan to fight with IPKF or kill Rajiv Gandhi. Please remember the day he killed Rajiv Gandhi, he has buried the Tamil cause. India helped the war only after fall of Killinochchi in 2008. Prior to that other countries like China, Pakistan and Iran were supplying weapons. In 2008 India sent a word through TNA for Prabaharan, his son and Pottu Amman to surrender to them. Had it was done, Sri Lanka army would not have been able to take one step forward and the war would have been brought to an end and none of the 40,000 Tamils would have perished. India had support troops in Pulmoddai with field hospital, but was not on the front line. To say that India supplied chemical weapons is a blatant lie. You are the scumbug coming out with rubbish. For your information, I was nominated to Black and Minority Ethnic group forum of General Medical Council, for my high values. Did you hear that Wigneswaran has correctly praised Gotabhaya for the action taken in controlling Covid-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 24, 2020
Kali, I am 73 years old, and this is the way you check on facts and come out with rubbish. I am still active in social circles in UK, though I do not associate in political activity. You do not want to reveal your identity because what you say can be checked and found to be false claims. The fact that I am on the Google search and you are not, proves that you are a non entity. Once a Sinhala friend who is a human resources professional told me 20 years ago that he told in a lecture to security personnel about leadership and organisational skills, that Prabaharan has demonstrated both. When they asked why he is saying so, he had told them, look at the way he has developed his out fit, and does it not need organisational skill. The fact that he is able to brainwash his cadres to bite the cyanide capsule is leadership, and can one of you get a soldier to do that. So a Sinhala person coming out with truth about skills of Prabaharan, according to you amounts to condemnation to hell. Main problem with your is your poor understanding of English language and bigotry to make false accusations.
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Sinhala_Man / May 22, 2020
The link that was blue when I first read it, has now turned to orange, like all the others.
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Please forgive me for miscalculating the use of bold in my longest comment.
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I’m glad that all those who have seen the article so far have understood. The trolls will come, obviously.
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leelagemalli / May 22, 2020
Dear Prof. HOOLE,
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Quote
The EC Chairman was in an imbroglio over allegedly asking government help to get his son down and talking to the President about election matters. Apparently after speaking to Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, he had forgotten to switch off his phone and as a result some subsequent conversations were recorded. So some thought I was in the same boat and reporters called me. I think they gave up on finding I had done nothing wrong.
Unquote
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Thank you Mr. We waited patiently to read what you have to say about all the drama.
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We are very sad and helpless being unable to see how unethical the main stream media within the country has fallen into as if any hearsays/gossps could become their “breaking news” and head line news of whole lot of media institutions. Why on earth, there exist no kind of codes of ethics against superspreaders in falsehoods. People in that country just feel, what is being in the air are always the truth. These media men should be BEHEADED if at all we to expect a better future for the youth.
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Sinhala_Man / May 24, 2020
Dear All Readers,
Looking at the recent articles on the myriad problems facing us, I found one that nobody has yet commented on:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/political-predicament/
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The person who is most criticised here is Professor Hoole; but that criticism is not made in nasty or exaggerated terms. Why then do we not hear more of this writer?
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I have looked at previous articles by him. This man is just too nice. That surely cannot be a reason for ignoring him. Could somebody please enlighten me? I find that most of our regular commenters have seen his previous articles, but nobody has found anything to be critical of him. Therefore may I appeal to all readers to take a look at this article:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/political-predicament/
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Jack / May 22, 2020
I have no doubt that pro government media is targeting Professor Hoole for his work as member of election commission. There are many incidence of violation of quarantine rules that go unreported.
We should commend his daughter for undergoing quarantine for 2 weeks in a hotel. She was tested PCR negative. her risk of having corona is very law. But it is expected once you leave quarantine facility one should self isolate at home for further 2 weeks. This is mainly applied to positive COVID cases. It would have been better his daughter did not enter election commission office. In the process of depending his daughter as any farther will do , professor Hoole is accusing every possible person he dislike such election commissioner, Sri lanka Army and the government. I thing his blame should go to politically influenced media outlets. Learned professor is putting his foot in mouth by going overboard and accusing most Sri Lankans and somewhat reduce his valid argument.
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Sinhala_Man / May 22, 2020
Jack,
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You’ve said some of the same things that Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam has said. However, you’ve not read some parts of this carefully enough.
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That a quarantinee should self-isolate for a further two weeks is a condition that the dishonest autocrats have stated later. How was Hoole, or his daughter, to know that?
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I agree that Hoole was a fool to take his daughter to his office. On the other hand, Jack, you have displayed how dupable our people are. If we want to comment, we must first read with sufficient care. Hoole had predicted your gullibility: “I venture that he knew that most readers will not bother to go back to the original to check.”
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Sorry, Jack, sitting on the fence is not proof that you are balanced in outlook.
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Face it man. This lockdown went much too far, totally miscalculated, as Kumar David, for example, has been telling us repeatedly:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/lockdown-curfew-is-not-the-way-to-go/
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Jasinghe himself is probably a good man, but he dare not tell the truth.
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I hope that others will also show you tomorrow that this is how we allow Dictatorships to grow.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 22, 2020
There is a picture circulating in social media, where President is posing for a picture during an official ceremony without a mask, where all others including Mahinda and army commander are wearing masks. Will there be action taken against President for violating the rules or is he above law.
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SarathP / May 22, 2020
Dear Prof. Hoole,
You could have had a comfortable life in the USA, yet you returned to this shithole country perhaps because of a sense of loyalty and a love for your country of birth. You braved the LTTE and now have to face the relentless attacks of Sinhala racists and murderers.
Thank you for the risks you take everyday by performing your duties at the Election Commission and for speaking-up and writing about issues that matter to our freedom from oppression. You are our conscience.
I pray you will stay safe. Please take all precautions for your family, too.
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SJ / May 22, 2020
SP
I notice that quite a few here take delight in calling this country all manner of things; and some show strong affinity for excrement.
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Cursing the country does not seem an act of goodwill.
Many who curse are those who once endorsed the source of the present plight, namely the UNP government elected in 1977, which gave dictatorial powers of the President and opened up the economy to foreign predators.
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We have our problems and face far more serious threats than even during the war.
They need to be discussed soberly and we have to be positive even in crisis to seek a way out of the crisis.
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BTW
I think that Hoole left the US a long time ago from what I understand because he thought that it was not the place to bring up his children. (I will not use words like s******.)
He was in Singapore for a while before arriving here.
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Raj-UK / May 22, 2020
SJ
It is not the country that is ‘shitty’ but the politicians who have made it so. Years of social injustice, aspiring materiel fulfilment, racism, distorting history & religious intervention of state matters have all contributed into transforming many, & all those seeking political office, into self serving, corrupt citizens, for which the country in general is referred to as.
It is refreshing to know there are people of Prof. Hoole’s calibre to uphold the law & the constitution of the country but at least 6 million of us are happy to be governed by an authoritarian regime.
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SJ / May 22, 2020
R-UK
There is a way to refer to people and countries.
Do not assume things about preference for authoritarian rule. The present state of a lack of choice is the outcome of something which people who denounce the country do not wish to talk about.
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US elected someone not far from fascism. The UK is not far off with a team in charge that lied and cheated to pull out of EU.
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Raj-UK / May 23, 2020
Nationalism is a vote winner which SWRD used for his advantage long before others. Trump has an adoring vote base, despite his bungling, brash action, unbecoming of a President of the US & even underlying stupidity, judging by some of his daily public comments while 52% of the British public voted for UK to get out of Europe on the perception of making Britain great & voted for a joker (who would otherwise have no chance at all of becoming the PM) to do just that but the similarities with SL in electing a ‘tough guy who gets things done’ ends there. Trump is answerable to the Congress & his time in office is limited to 2 terms while Boris J needs the approval of the Parliament with an independent media & a credible opposition holding him to task in every move he makes. It is only in authoritarian regimes with biased or muzzled media that is able to ignore the laws of the country, either by force, intimidation or bribery. Those with guts to stand up for democracy are harassed or intimidated with trumped up charges. The harassment faced by Prof. Hoole is is just another example.
It is not the country per se but those who were, & are, holding power that have made it so.
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leelagemalli / May 22, 2020
Sarath P.
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Thank you so much Mr. You articulated it as no others.
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We should be proud of Prof. Hoole. There were times, that the very same bitch’s sons adulated Prof. Hoole for being that brave. But today, shameless buggers to have U-turned is really a sorry sight to anyone with little brain.
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I hope the srilanken SC will teach them all a good lession sooner than later, reawakening their senses – then only ballige puthas would start seeing that they would not have chance standing against CONSTITUTOINAL provisions.
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leelagemalli / May 22, 2020
SRILANKA would be a great place ( I consider it a good place only by landscapes – people are like reptiles – I am very cautious whenever I get back to the country though 2 -3 times a year).
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If the country would be more of the following individuals (my great compliments to you …. we dont need to go for self-adulations, but you guys have been doing a great job)
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Prof. Hoole
Mr Sinhala Man aka Mr Edirisinghe (Game iskolamahaththaya – My Guru of CT platform).
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Mr. Native Vedda
Mr Sarath P
Mr SJ
Mr Buddhist 1
and all respect the law and order as it should be:
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Ajith / May 22, 2020
SarathP,
Yes He could have had comfortable life in the USA. He came here purely to serve the country. Gotabaya is also came to Srilanka to help his family, then he came recently only on the condition that he should be given the President position. He bargained it to help again to his brother who cannot become President or his son couldn’t contest because of the constitution limitations. He never bothered about country or people.
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a14455 / May 22, 2020
When you are a government servant you have to act like it. instead of acting like some king. The rule was 14 days QT and 14 more days at home even I know it living outside the country. Just because it is your daughter, actually more so because it is your daughter.
These guys are acting like entitled royal babies. Just like they they always do. if they were fumigated in the UK I am sure there will be no Instagram posts.
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Good Sense / May 22, 2020
I know that oldies can take on unfair criticism but the young who start facing the world it can be hard and hurtful. From the point of view of the father and the daughter they have not done anything wrong or anti-social on purpose. Documents don’t show it although something not so clear was orally mentioned. The news release by Chairman should clear the air. But there is something what age old public servants maintain, namely, that under no circumstances must family members step into one’s place of duty although now we see young mothers bringing their children after school, into place of work. There are a lot of other examples. Had Prof. Hoole, instead of using his own sense of fairness, consulted very old timers who were public servants of the yester-year then he would have got good information on DO’s and DONT’s.
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SJ / May 24, 2020
GS
I can add an instance long ago when a committee of five met in the staff common room.
A member brought the pet dog into the room, and I pointed out that we cannot have dogs in the common room and especially at a meeting.
The member concerned gave various reasons to justify the action. But I insisted and it was agreed that the dog should go.
The member got angry and left the room swearing never to return.
The meeting went on.
*
Such attitudes developed fast in the last quarter of the century.
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watcher / May 22, 2020
Professor Hoole , got some kind of mental or decency issues.
He does not understand the collective responsibility looking after EC which should be absolutely neutral except now he up to wrecking the election creating mischief .
This mans ego is so bad, he expose his daughter to all kind of ridicule in public space.
Professor Hoole , I will never expose my children to this kind of ridicule and with on going your shenanigans , try to behave like an educated man rather than a fool. Just grow up or take some psychiatric help.
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Ahimsa / May 24, 2020
He is only defending against what the media wrote – nothing wrong with that at all! Only the best of father’s would do that.
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Ahimsa / May 24, 2020
He is only defending against the fake news published by media and clearing the facts – nothing wrong with that at all! Only the best of father’s would do that.
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Helios / May 22, 2020
To brand discussion on this very important issue – of violation of government quarantine regulations, and abuse of public property by by a pretenderand a bogus ‘bigwig’ of the previous non-government – ‘defamation’ is a gross abuse of the English language, and the legal definition of the term defamation.
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The more information this Hoole character is releasing to the media, in his bid to do the impossible of the cheat seems to sink in the mire.
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Facts are clear. There is no debate here that instead of subjecting his daughter/niece (take your pick) to a further 14 days of self-quarantine, he took her to the EC Offices until the staff there protested. Then he too her in the official EC vehicle to Jaffna. He complains about the army checks along the way.
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The man’s history prior to 2015, and between 2015-2019 reveals enough to make clear the fact that he is a man who puts personal welfare and feeding on the public purse above a facade as a human rights protector and a protector of the rule of law.
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He has proven his (lack of) character repeatedly to all and sundry, except similar fakes like Gonleelage malli, native vedda-like low life who litter this website.
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Here is the upturned middle finger to all of them!
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sonali / May 22, 2020
Elilini. What a lovely young lady. And you can see Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole stamped on her features. Obviously that would go for the brain power too.
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Helios / May 22, 2020
Shows the low level of gray mater in what passes for a brain on the vessel on your neck.
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Firstly you are being sexist (as a woman), and secondly trying to get a woman legal favour on account of her alleged good looks.
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It is obvious that you believe pale skin makes people ‘beautiful’, as ex-colonial boot-licking Sri Lankan desperadoes do, and you need to have an ‘isakudichchi’ for that reason alone.
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Secondly to speak of Hoole’s features so glowingly, you must have really bad sight. Get your eyes examined.
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Thirdly, if she was so bright, she would have got in to a university in Sri lanka, to Jaffna or Batticaloa at least.
Earlier advice about Raine and Lal still applies.
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sonali / May 22, 2020
Does anyone understands what this man Helios writes? I suppose you write this way when your cranium cavity is full of the stuff that should have gone down the toilet.
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SJ / May 23, 2020
Sonali
I am inclined to agree about the cranial cavity, having read some of the unprovoked insults that you hurl at people.
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kali / May 23, 2020
Sonali
You are all getting carried away. Read properly
“that they did not even get my daughter’s beautiful Tamil name right. Elections are due.
He was referring to her Name not her Beauty. I have not seen her bt who knows she might be an Angel and Vivacious. Good luck to her
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leelagemalli / May 24, 2020
Elilini will not get offended easily because she is an intelligent doctoral student.
–
No doubt, she will become even more powerful in her future life, knowing that srilanken society is filled with whole lot of uneducated people – that would never want to treat the decent people in a decent manner. What is the point of attacking Prof. Hoole while the very same low lives would not utter that much about the biasedness publicly showned by Mahinda Deshapriya to the current rulers ? As member of the most important commission of the day, none of these 3 members should be partial to anyone. They should not exchange their pvt opinions through social media if they could cause devisions in the society. Unfortunatley, the man inherited a ” padikkam style” mouth piece, MACO aka MD has broken the guidelines long ago, going far back to the nominations of Gotler.
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Rajash / May 22, 2020
Prof Hoole
we repect you
please keep your daughter out of the lime light.
is that her photo why publish it?
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Ahimsa / May 24, 2020
That photo is a public one posted by Colombo Telegraph editors.
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Pala / May 22, 2020
My! My! taking ones son or daughter to ones place of work in a situation such as this is normal practice for all government servants. Many are the times I was taken to work by my father who was a government servant. There are the usual nasty commentators who just cannot shut up about this piont. Make no mistake, Professor Hoole does not need this job. He can very well resign. If he does resign the entire country looses. That is exactly what this current bunch is crooks and murders calling them selves a government want to see happen. I must also thank Professor Hoole for mentioning the staggering amounts of money he had to pay for a one way air ticket and hotel acomodation for his daughter. Is this how people are being repatriated by robbing them blind? By the way the malevolent nature of the media and the dictatorship who controls them is very telling on what to expect from scoundrels. I am happy I am no longer a resident of Sri Lanka. I have great respect for a person of the Stature of Professor Hoole for living in this hell hole and trying to do some good which, he really does not have to do.
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a14455 / May 22, 2020
Hey dumdum its not taking your kids to work that is the problem but doing so during this time. If you dont understand the risk of a person from the UK coming (where the disease is barely controlled) in contact with the whole EC.
As for all the amounts of money. I have never been able a book a hotel room in Jetwing for anything less than 200$ a day. These guys paid a fraction.
As for him needing or not needing the job. He is there imo to put a spanner in the politics of Sri Lanka so he is not doing anyone a favor.
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Pala / May 26, 2020
Politics of dictator ship eh? Whats the point of quarantine? And where idiot, did anyone say another 14 days are needed before this case came up? There are plenty of Hotels just begging for Customers. I stayed in Kandy in one at the same price and at lower prices elsewhere when I was on vacation the last time in 2019! So all you points are just hot air with no truth. You and your ilk are the curse that will doom Sri Lanka forever. Just cannot help your selves. Just cannot desist from attacking others and lying.
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GATAM / May 22, 2020
Dear Prof Hoole,
We the people of all ethnic groups are with you. Only the despot clan and their supporters are against you. Their desperation is understandable. Please continue your bold work. Do not let SL slide any further into dictatorship.
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Helios / May 23, 2020
As Gtam gatya says, do what you can to prevent the country sliding in to dictatorship.
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But you might have to do it from jail where you will start holidaying soon, for breaking government rules on quarantine and abuse of public property, hypocrite.
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chiv / May 22, 2020
For all those so called righteous people, in land like no other, cursing a country is not out of delight but can be out of sheer frustration, personal losses, grief and many more. People who have suffered personally, to various degree, are not here to master a language. When a government after war can claims zero casualty, free a murderer by pardoning, accuse the victim of wrong doing instead of helping, use catchy words like miracle of Asia, Land like no other , Damma and what not , should readily expect, such curses from the affected. The same government is using media for false propaganda, character assassination, mud – slinging, use filthy language, threatening ,arrange mobs to do the same (in case of Shirani) , I do not think cursing can be of a sin as those righteous people think. “Niro fiddled while Rome burned ” is a old expression, where as “righteous people meditating while there house was on fire”, is the new expressions.
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leelagemalli / May 22, 2020
Chiv.
.
almost everyone is born to that religion. None of them have studied it before being part of that.
So how can they call it to be their religion. I am also born in to srilanken buddhagama WHICH I name today no different to a self-made religioon or life style for them. I have visited so called most respectful Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya last February. There we distributed lunch packets to the poor that are found in the viharaya premises. What I got to know was – most of them are not even beggars that are really in need though there were some that are really in need. But beggar life is now made a lucrative business in that country. This is very sad but the truth. Not even 2 Km away from the Viharaya, there are fishmongers and meat sellors that do their job wearing PIRITHA noole. Even contract killers are used to say ” BUDUSARNAyi… and wear Pirithnoole. That is their nature today. So I dont think anyone down there would be religious.
:
To my surprise, if they want to get anything done, they start watering BO TREE (BODHI PUJA) until the roots of the tree become damaged as a result of overwatering.
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Helios / May 23, 2020
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
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Ajay / May 23, 2020
The Sinhalese people are always a puzzle to me. They seem to be very good at understanding the most profound and abstruse spiritual teaching there is – and that too in the esoteric, dead Pali language. They are also good at spreading this intricate wisdom around the world. And yet they miserably fail to grasp even simple English if it involves the proper treatment of fellow humans. Something is not right. I’m beginning to develop serious doubts about what they have told me about the Buddha visiting this island three times and stamping his feet right on top of a very high mountain covered with dense jungle overrun by rapacious beasts.
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SJ / May 23, 2020
Ajay
There are only a handful of Buddhists in this country. The vast majority are polytheistic Hindus. They have a few extra gods like the one based in Seenigama Dewale.
*
Even to believe that the Buddha visited this island thrice goers against the spirit of Buddhism.
*
Try understanding the Tamils.
Judging by what I see on these pages, you will go nuts.
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leelagemalli / May 23, 2020
Dear SJ,
.
I think it has been the tradition down there to visit those Dewales because they see if the others do, why not we…. I was known to a then schoolmate from that Sinigama area, – they had an unique accent in sinhala (rathgama) – Btw, I just wanted to ask you, why dont they go after ” Vesak Masks these days for vesak” today ?; I was so mad at them in my childhood day (late 70ties) back in my home country. My father was used to buy me at least 2to 3 masks for each vesak.
:
Mr SJ, i have met real good buddhist monks in Europe and California (they are very different to our buddhagama monks). Lanken buddhagama monks are made to go more after those Jathaka stories while real good monks focus themselves on MEDITATION part – latter is more common with european buddhists in general.
:
Looking back, I was then used to emulate my elders whenver I joined them visiting the temple. As I dont know any of buddhist langagues to realize the meanings of their Stanzas. But later I realize, why I should always follow the others…
.
I knew then the Dhammapadaya becasue we learned them by heart in Sunday school. I think my thoughts are common to the many that are yet retuctant to share the truth about what they really feel about SRILANKEN BUDDHAGAMA.
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Ruwan / May 23, 2020
Dear Prof. Hoole
SL is a country full of immoral, unethical bastards so I wonder why you would expect moral and ethical treatment from such a crowd. SL is a failed ‘banana republic’ not worth of commenting.
Keep up the good work and the banana republic needs few good people like you. Sad to see how your chairman sucked in to this mess. Once upon a beloved man… has become the butt joke ….
God bless you and the family. Stay safe.
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Helios / May 23, 2020
Elnino Hoole beautiful?
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‘Beauty’ is in the eye of the beholder, it surely looks like!
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So those with less than perfect sight are free to their opinion.
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For others, may be better looking than Sonali perhaps, but that’s it.
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SJ / May 23, 2020
This in uncalled for insult.
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kali / May 23, 2020
Helios
You Idiot. I hav seen youyou look like “Lubumba”
You are in a Rcsist ” COMA” Come out of it.
This is what Ratnajeevan said
” hat they did not even get my daughter’s beautiful Tamil name right. Elections are due.”
He was referring to her Beautiful ” TAMIL NAME”
You stupid. Punchi Banda
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / May 23, 2020
Why is this letter or notice only in Sinhalese to a Tamil person? Is it to deliberately to humiliate and intimidate Tamil speakers. Tamil is the mother tongue of 25% of the island’s population and is also an official language in par with Sinhalese , that Sri Lankan governments love to boast at the UN and other international forums to hoodwink the world, however in practice even in Tamil Majority area of the north east , Nuwaraeliya and coastal Puttalam nothing is done in Tamil. Even in Colombo that has a large number of Tamil speakers. All official letters , communication and notices should be in both languages , just like in countries like Canada and many other nations not just in Sinhalese only . All public servants , members of the armed forces and police should be compulsorily made to learn both languages , including all ministers , the president and prime minister. In many bi lingual nations , most of the population can easily speak both languages. This is open racism and discrimination .
Read this article
https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/post-war-sri-lanka-fractured-and-unjust-for-tamils/
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Berti Kolla / May 23, 2020
In South Africa during the apartheid racism was only skin deep, but they have come out of it beautifully. But in Sri Lanka it has gone soul deep. If the middle class educated people cannot have empathy and understanding what can you expect from the people who are functionally illiterate.
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chiv / May 23, 2020
Leelagemalli, Brother, I had lost faith in politics long ago and now Religion too. To be honest, I feel much of the burden has been taken off of me. I just strive for a decent day at work so that I could go home and spend my time with my near ones. Also now a days , I feel much lighter because of giving more time for exercise and physical / mental well being. I seem to have figured out answers to some nagging questions pertaining to Lanka, but even today what puzzles me most is “how on earth can people continue with blatant lies, excuses, explanations and denial , with a straight face and no embarrassment what so ever ???
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leelagemalli / May 23, 2020
Bro CHIV,
.
it is the media that misleads the vulnerable round the clock
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. From dawn to dusk, what they have been telecasting via PVT TV channels – all about Rajakashes and their falsehoods together with indian films. I am speechless as to why they the authorities allow it – nothing seems to work on them..
.
. I have no clue why they dont seem to have any restrictions yet. Each and every household is tied to series of teledrama on the TV. SO mothers would not have ample time for the nurture of their kids. And, even if the very same TV channels would spread blatant lies through their fakenews telecasts, there aer whole lot of people that would not stand against them. Media mafia of the day is multiple times dangerous to the childgrowth than drug mafia because what they just watch on the TV become what they are: Besides, todays children are not used to read as was the case with us in our childhood (70ties). Even those buddhagama monks that preach bana dont seem to focus on true teachings of lord buddha. They have just become TV stars and as I see they ve been enjoying their adulations.
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Helios / May 24, 2020
So CHIV is the (illegitimate) husband of Leela?
It is all in the (whatever) family, as they say!
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chiv / May 23, 2020
For people who give advises left, right and center, and read out Do,s and Dont from your self written “righteous book”, remember none of you were their with your child facing such dire situation. Some of you while writing your own TEN COMMANDMENTS here in CT, are at your own home, taking all precautions but still feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and apprehension. Here we have Hoole who had to travel all the way from Jaffna, his daughter being quarantined, having concerns for her as well as his own well being, with a rogue government trying to take him out of EC equation, no place to stay other than make shift hotels and many more which we may not even be aware. At least have some empathy and consideration (if not common sense) for a father who adores his daughter, like many of us. You will have your day , to sit on that big A— chair sip Tea (scotch???) and read out your commandments.
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chiv / May 24, 2020
Brother, Helios, you sure need help. Seek if you can. When some one commented on your personal
infor, as usual, I was sceptic , BUT NOT ANYMORE.
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