8 December, 2024

Blog

Enlightened Leadership To Overcome Challenges

By Jehan Perera

Jehan Perera

By proroguing parliament President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given the parliamentarians, and the country at large, a reminder of the power of the presidency. There was no evident reason for the president to suddenly decide to prorogue parliament. More than 40 parliamentary committees, including important ones concerning public finances, enterprises and accounts have ceased to function. The president’s office has said that when parliament reconvenes on February 8, after the celebration of the country’s 75th Independence Day on February 4, the president will announce new policies and laws, which will be implemented until the centenary celebrations of Sri Lanka’s independence in 2048. Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew transformed Singapore from a relatively underdeveloped and impoverished agrarian society into one of the world’s most developed countries in the same 25 years that the president has set for Sri Lanka.

President Wickremesinghe has been getting increasingly assertive regarding his position on issues. Recently he attended a large gathering of Muslim clerics, where he was firm in saying that society needs to modernize, and so do religious practices. He has also held fast to his positions on reviving the economy and resolving the economy. There have been widespread protests against the tax hikes being implemented which have eroded the purchasing power of taxpayers. First they had to absorb the impact of inflation that rose to a rate of 80 percent at the time the country reneged on its foreign debt repayments and declared bankruptcy. Now they find their much diminished real incomes being further reduced by a tax rate that reaches 36 percent.

But the government is not relenting. President Wickremesinghe, who holds the finance minister’s portfolio, is going against popular sentiment in being unyielding on the matter of taxes. He appears determined to force the country away from decades of government policies that took the easy route of offering subsidies rather than imposing taxes to use for government expenses and development purposes. In Sri Lanka, the government’s tax revenue is less than 8 percent, whereas in comparable countries the tax revenue is around 20 to 25 percent. The long term cost of living off foreign borrowings rather than generating resources domestically through taxation has been evident for a long while in the slow growth of the economy even prior to the economic collapse. The problems of corruption and wealth acquired by political means such as the reduced taxes on sugar, import and export scams, hoarding foreign currency need to also be taken up.

13th Amendment

Another area in which the president appears to have taken the decision to stand firm is the issue of finding a solution to the ethnic conflict. This problem has proven to be unresolvable by governments and political leaders who give deference to ethnic nationalism. Being an ethnic nationalist in the context of Sri Lanka’s ethnic and religious divisions has been a sure way of gaining votes and securing election victories. No leader in Sri Lanka has to date been able to implement the compromise solutions that they periodically arrived at, the last being the 13th Amendment. Earlier ones included the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact of 1957 and the Dudley Senanayake-Chelvanayakam Pact of 1965 which could not even be started to be implemented.

At the All Party meeting that he summoned to discuss the ethnic conflict and national reconciliation, President Wickremesinghe took the bull by the horns. He exchanged words with ethnic nationalist parliamentarians who sought to challenge his legitimacy to be making changes. He said, “It is my responsibility as the Executive to carry out the current law. For approximately 37 years, the 13th Amendment has been a part of the constitution. I must implement or someone has to abolish it by way of a 22nd amendment to the constitution by moving a private member’s bill. If the bill was voted against by the majority in the House, then the 13th amendment would have to be implemented. We can’t remain in a middle position saying that either we don’t implement the 13th amendment or abolish it.”

The 13th Amendment has not been fully implemented since it was passed by parliament with a 2/3 majority in 1987. Successive governments, including ones the president has been a member of variously as a minister or prime minister, have failed to implement it in a significant manner, especially as regards the devolution of police and land powers. When parliament reconvenes on February 8 after prorogation, President Wickremesinghe will be provided the opportunity to address both the parliament and the country on the way forward. Having demonstrated the power of the presidency to prorogue parliament at his discretion, he will be able to set forth his vision of the solution to the ethnic conflict and the roadmap that needs to be followed to get to national reconciliation.

Ironic Persecution 

It is significant that on February 20, the president will also acquire the power to dissolve parliament at his discretion. By proroguing parliament, the president has sent a message to both parliamentarians and the larger society that he will soon have the power to dissolve parliament with the same suddenness that he prorogued parliament. On February 20, the parliament would have been in existence for two and half years. The 21st Amendment empowers the president to dissolve parliament after two and a half years. Most of the parliamentarians belonging to the ruling party are no longer in a position to go to their electorates let alone canvass for votes among the people. Under these fraught circumstances, they would not wish to challenge the president or his commitment to implementing the 13th Amendment in full.

On the other hand, the taming of parliament by the president does not guarantee the success of an accommodation on the ethnic conflict and a sustainable political solution. The ethnic conflict evokes the primordial sentiments of the different ethnic and religious communities. Political parties and politicians are often portrayed as the villains who led the country to decades of ethnic conflict and to war. However, the conflict in the country predates the political parties. In 1928, in response to demands from community leaders in Ceylon as it was then known, the British colonial rulers sent a commission to the country to ascertain whether it was ready for self-rule. The assessment was negative—the Donoughmore commission wrote that the representatives of the biggest community held to the position that their interest was the national interest. All the representatives of the smaller communities who were divided one against the other were united against the biggest.

Then as now these were the leaders who sought advantage for themselves, even while people at the community level coexisted. An important role therefore devolves upon civil society not to fall prey to the divisions that come down the years. There is a need for enlightened leaders of civil society to work with commitment to explain to the people the coexistence that existed and continues to exist at the level of the grassroots and the need for a political solution and inter-ethnic power sharing at the higher levels that the 13th Amendment makes possible. There were signs of this during the height of the Aragalaya when the youth leading the protests called publicly for equal citizenship and non-discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion and caste. They pledged not to be divided by ethnic nationalist politicians for their narrow electoral purposes. It is ironic that the government led by President Wickremesinghe has made these enlightened youth leaders the target of a campaign of persecution instead of making them a part of the solution by constructively engaging with them and issuing a general amnesty.

Latest comments

  • 16
    5

    “Enlightened Leadership To Overcome Challenges”

    Even without the name of the author in the front page ………..when I read the title …… I knew who had written it.

    Man, it’s freaking me out if I’m getting some special divine intuition …….. like Nana Akka, Sumanadasa, that blind boy, ………. to foretell the future.

    Jehan buddy, you have lost touch with reality. …… I’m astounded how you create your own dream-world ……. so calmly and serenely.

    Man, I’ve met some space-cadets in my time ……. but you take the cake!

    There’s always someone who’s the best at something.

    Rejoice ………. no one has the talent to top you.

    • 10
      5

      I think it is right for the current president to emphatically state that it is not his problem that the people of this country do not agree to the implementation of 13A. it is true.Parliament should decide for it. I dont think anyone would not disagree with that.
      If anyone heard what Gevindu Kumaratunga said, we should be ashamed to be Sinhalese….. I couldn’t eat what he said. I really hate racists.
      -https://www.newswire.lk/2023/01/28/gevindu-kumaratunga-clashes-with-president-over-13th-amendment/
      All men are like poisonous reptiles. Their reactions are like fire covered with ashes.
      CBK tried honestly. Even though MaRa was not enough, day by day the nation became rich. Gotabha had no sense, wasted 3 years like a down syndrome patient.
      He and Mara had no real intention of solving the long-term ethnic problem. However, today, the bugger will be happy, if he keeps him on top and has fun. Low mentality destroyed this nation.

      People are not fixed in their thoughts. They cannot even agree on simple things that lead to sustainable peace, one thing today and the complete opposite tomorrow. People’s reactions are more or less like domestic affairs, where drug and alcoholic parents abandon their children and grow up miserable.

      • 9
        5

        Dear LM: The President unequivocally said: ” I will implement in full the 13 A with the powers invested in me as the President”. Did you hear that? I heard it and it was in both the print and electronic media.

        So “WHY” summon all these meetings with every “Dick/Tom/Harry” of political parties to discuss it again? Go ahead and implement it as announced.

        I am waiting for his action. DO IT!

        • 2
          0

          Simon,
          No,
          I did not hear that.

          Give a link that clears the doubt.
          There are fake news in spread. That is the culture in a country which is filled with criminals than not even 1% of good and trustworthy people.
          .
          We know how they made kings out of ” road side heaps of garbage”: Gotabaya was a gas station assistant, not insulting the minor job, but he was made a ” wedakarana wiruwa”….

          were you under resuscitation mode at the time, srilanken media and artists made the fake public perception Simon ? my gosh simon ?
          .
          The President made it clear that Parliament to decide whether to implement 13 A or not. He said he was against federal rule.

          • 2
            2

            LM: The President said it last month. It is also clearly referred to (the statement of the President) in the letter addressed by the Mahanaykas to the President. This letter was handed over to him yesterday when he visited the Temple of the Tooth. It is all in news. If you are a “Fake Sleeper”, I cannot possibly wake you.

  • 13
    1

    Away with the executive presidency. Power hungry dictator robbers are saying that they will contest, which means there will be nothing left for the citizens to live out their lives with. Scrap this presidency without breeding more dictators, bleeding the country. Get rid of these megalomaniacs, crazy on their prosperity, shamelessly robbing national wealth into their looted accounts. First of all chase away any who want to be presidents, craving luxury. Make presidential election illegal and unsuitable for this corrupt nation, not yet wanting to come right. Please, no presidential elections ever here.

  • 14
    2

    It is good that the President RW take measures to implement 13th amendment in full. However, we still do not know the willingness of SLPP, SJB, JVP, SLFP, and other parties. They should come out openly. It is important to explain the Sinhalese masses the rightness of this implementation and they should be happy about this implementation. It is also necessary that aragalaya should take part in this process and it will enhance the national reconcilliation. The real challenge is Buddhist Monks. Can RW get their support?

    • 13
      2

      “It is good that the President RW take measures to implement 13th amendment in full.”

      Man, I thought you were one of the very few guys here who were clued up on things …… have you lost your marbles?

      You don’t know Ranil; Ranil is a man of little tricks ……. a little trick here, a little trick there ….. that’s what floats his boat …….. he wins a little battle/skirmish here and there …….. but in the end always lose the war. Study his history.

      Ranil knows he has a snowball’s chance in hell of passing the 13th amendment in full or in part ……. that’s why he has started this shindig ……. to score some brownie points.

      If he knew it would pass easily ……. he would’ve been the first to oppose – if there was some political advantage to him.

      For Prabakaran’s sake try to understand; at least you owe him that for the price he paid…….. Why was VP so single-minded and unyielding? He understood the Lankan-mind better than anyone …….. no blooming Sinhalese pol is going to give you anything …….. dangle things in front, give ye hope, lead ye up the garden path …….. that’s an entirely different shebang.

      If Ranil gives the 13th in part or in full ……. I’ll let Old Codger marry me off to his 72-year old virgin …….. and let Sinhala_Man repeat his ID card # in my ears till kingdom come. …….That’s how sure I am.

      Wanna bet?

      • 5
        6

        Nimal
        “I’ll let Old Codger marry me off to his 72-year old virgin”
        Is it a problem that the virgin has a beard and is called Deepthi?

        • 2
          5

          OC,
          I thought Deepti was none other than Lester who was a joker for CT.

          All these men and women who sang in favor of the former gas station attendant are suffering from a modest kind of ” urine incontinence.” – there is a term in sinhala vernacular ” gona kiyala marannadha?”.
          .

          • 3
            4

            LM,
            No, Lester could understand what Deepthi thinks is Old English.

      • 5
        1

        “Man, I thought you were one of the very few guys here who were clued up on things …… have you lost your marbles?”
        I know very well Ranil or Rajapaksas. They are power greedy and they will go to any level and play all games according to their needs. The people of Sri Lanka, specially Sinhalese should know the real face of Ranil and Rajapaksas and how they continue to keep them in the dark.
        Tamils are not prepared to fall in his trap this time. This time Ranil and Rajapaksas will fall in the trap.

        • 0
          1

          Ajith,

          I don’t trust any Lankan pol: power-hunger is such, they’ll pull any stunt ……… Lankans rush in where even fools fear to tread …….. After his initial euphoria, Ranil now knows his days are numbered ……. I hope I’m wrong but suspect Ranil has pulled the 13th out for people to forget their other woes/hunger …… with all the Sinhalese chauvinists in his camp now, this might be a plan/double-game to reignite racial troubles/violence: they stop at nothing ……. if passions on both sides get out of control ……. and people fall into the trap, Ranil and his clique would’ve achieved their goal. ….. Ranil has lost all sense of shame; he’ll stop at nothing ……. to cling to power.

          The other thing I worry about is ……. if the Rajapakses are dragged into some international war-criminal court ……… “Sinhala-Buddhists” will come out of the woodwork to defend them: they’ll be heroes again and will get an undreamed of new lease of life …….. I feel, poetic justice is what their own “Sinhala-Buddhists” are dishing out to them now. …… I can’t speak for the Tamils: they have to decide what they prefer.

          • 0
            0

            “if the Rajapakses are dragged into some international war-criminal court ……… “Sinhala-Buddhists” will come out of the woodwork to defend them: “
            If the Sinhala – Buddhists (I only refer here, the Fundamentalists) defend Rajapaksas again that is great but they have to suffer much worse than bankgrputcy. It is the same Sinhala- Buddhists chased away Rajapaksas few months back. Rajapksas have to be punished for their delibrate crime. They are very dangerous to this country and people. It is upto the Sinhalese people decide what they prefer.

  • 14
    2

    Ranil is doing when ever possible to remain in power. He has nothing. he is living out his fantasies. One couldnot have missed this by viewing the video where he climbs down the old parliment staircase to address the public servents. The camara was focusing on close door, there comes ranil opeing the door and decending to address those who were gathered form half way down the staircase with dark glass, ha …ha… playing the bollywood hero, again for the independance day celebration he has ordered a cultural event which is to start at 10pm on the 3rd and goes to it peak at 11.45 and dies down and at 12am ranil come out to hoist the national flag,, what a fantasy for a man who became president by fluke. this was the actual plan given to the program organisers to submit proposals, if sanity prevails it may be changed and more rational approach adopted.

  • 9
    5

    There seemed to be some improvement in Jehan Perera’s articles.
    .
    This article proves that illusions cannot last long.
    .
    Jehan seems to be back to his sycophantic best!

    • 11
      5

      “President Wickremesinghe took the bull by the horns. He exchanged words with ethnic nationalist parliamentarians who sought to challenge his legitimacy to be making changes.”
      I wonder what the people who call him Ranil Rajapaksa have to say? The man is running the country the way HE wants. The silence of the Rajapaksas re 13A is significant. Fairness to minorities is NOT in the Rajapaksa agenda. The bigoted Mahanayakas are already in an almighty tantrum, having been already pissed off by Ranil denying them free electricity. If they don’t organize someone to shoot him, the country should soon be a better place, at least politically.

      • 6
        4

        old codger

        “The man is running the country the way HE wants.”

        True, however is it the way people wants him to run the country?
        People a lot of them want Ranil to have Rajapaksas and their cronies arrested, charged and imprisoned for what they did over the past years.

        What has he done to investigate, arrest and charge those who perpetrated riots against Tamils as well as Muslims since 1977?

        He does not seem to regret what he did to Chandrika’s draft constitution in early 2000.

        Even now he is not serious about over all conflict resolution.

        Weerawansa could be silenced by reminding him about his numerous passports, unearned income, ….. instead he has become too loud and destructive.

        Ranil seems too mindful of Saffronistas, too respectful of them, bending over backwards (and forwards) to please them.

        • 1
          3

          Native,
          “True, however is it the way people wants him to run the country?”
          No, of course not. That’s why he can’t win an election. People don’t want to be told that they’ll have to pay for everything. Or that the minorities are human. So he’ll force it down their throats. And he won’t arrest any Rajapaksas because they’re family.
          Let’s see if the Saffronistas have their way this time.
          I wonder whether 13A is a Rajapaksa plot. Good cop, bad cop, you see. Ranil tries to force 13A through. The Pohottuwa rebels and defeats it, while Sajit sits on the fence as usual. Mahinda saves the nation yet again for the Mahanayakas!! The dumb masses vote Pohottuwa in the election. What do you think?

          • 3
            3

            old codger

            Although I agree with your analysis things may be different this time around, due to polarisation of political forces particularly the the awakened section of youth and the middle classes which need more luxury goods than essentials.

            Among the Saffronistas the usual suspects have slowly come out against 13A, Devolution, Land, Police, …. so are the political racists and crooks. Have you noticed any new faces or new groupings opposing? I haven’t.

            I also think Chinese wing on the ground may gel into a new and improved obstructive force that if financed properly could emerge into an alternative opposition to Ranil and rest of the liberals.

            AKD said he is no longer opposed to 13A (perhaps it is the weakest form of protection, promise or devolution he could live with).
            Saffronistas and racists know the Tamil and Muslim polity are fragmented and polarised, they are in a dire strait, the most weakest form ever, ……………. For them Tamil/Muslim polity being further weakens the better.

            What is wrong with Tamils and Muslims?

          • 7
            6

            Ah old codger , Leela and your other odd followers have been sitting 24 hours in front of the CT while I have been sipping French wine in Kandy celebrating 75 years independence under this subtle super intelligent leader ! Dont forget your plain tea and vaddei while doing your high ideas masquerade.

            You think anybody who doesn’t fall in line with your ideas is bigoted ! That is a classic definition of bigotry Old Man.

            I see you and that insipid Leela have been discussing me as wife material ! In your culture the woman has no say in the matter ! What makes you think I would like your oily bodies and curry smelling mouths ? Losers, you need to have realistic assessment of yourself . So ugly , unattractive men and so very stingy too !

            • 4
              6

              Deepthi of the Titanic TTs,
              “What makes you think I would like your oily bodies and curry smelling mouths ?”
              I would have thought a 72 year old virgin would grasp any straw.

              • 6
                0

                OC
                You should grant her that she has the richest vocabulary of abuse hereabouts.

                • 0
                  0

                  SJ,
                  Well, at least she drinks wine, apparently. One can always negotiate with a drunken lady…..

      • 3
        3

        OC,
        People turn out to be wild today. The line between wild animals and our folks is blurred.
        No rational thinkers. I mean most of them. They do not regret falling for easy tricks either. No shame at all.
        The levels of complacency are countless. They can say anything to attack anyone. I sometimes wonder what goes on in their heads. What motr talks? not once but several times sofar, … Tunmulle Wimala (cheap man for all round work of MaRa) was their champion a long time ago. Those same people speak something else today,.. as if they were born yesterday.
        Now the Bandarawella man (sinhala man) will attack me again for the comment. I am fed up with our people (regardless of their race, religion or whatever), most of them are shameless and just irresonsible as citizens.
        .
        No credibility at all. Social media has mixed it all up today. For some it has become like a barber’s knife.
        People who want to be informed are in a mess today. Cardboard heroes are everywhere. Self-proclaimed intellectuals are everywhere.

        Knowing how deep we fell in our society, why can’t “Mahanayaka theros” come forward and say that “13A” should be implemented without further delay? ?????????

      • 3
        1

        Yes i totally agree. As president he has to use his powers for the betterment of the country. Who else has a plan to save the country from this ecconomic downturn and develop the nation?

    • 2
      2

      SM,
      .
      You of all people comes with the assessment ?????????????????????????????

      For me, you did not criticize Mahinda Rajapaksa as much as you did to Ranil today. why ?

      This is unfortunately common to your age groups in the country. 10 years of brutal rule destroyed the nation. At that time, the world oil price fell drastically, and you said to let the Gota government get income. The many in europe gave relief to its people.

      You have exposed me and many others (annonymized commenters) in CT for no valid reason.
      You don’t understand how you put us in danger. Manel could wake you up just in time. She is senior than you. She is always neutral and to the point.

      I had to change my residence again. What were your motives behind it? Other than what your newly engaged JVP friends gave you? Hate solves nothing.
      Emotions guide many Sri Lankans, but mostly in a double standard manner. They don’t care about facts at all. The best example was demonstrated by you in the last 6 months. If someone stood up against to your beloved politicians, how could you brand them as “absolutely dispecable?

      • 1
        0

        “leelagemalli”!
        .
        What does this question imply?
        .
        “For me, you did not criticize Mahinda Rajapaksa as much as you did to Ranil today. why ?”
        .
        It implies that I must criticise people to the extent that you want me to. There is a limit to the extent to which you patronise. I shall write as I see fit.
        .
        However, in actual fact, I think that I have been quite fearless in criticising the Rajapaksas when there was a need. I gave you this example:
        .
        https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/was-the-presidential-election-free-and-fair-when-colombo-returning-officer-called-sajith-premadasa-the-son-of-a-donkey-asks-prof-hoole/
        .
        I spoke against the Rajapaksas when they were stomping in triumph, days after their triumph over the UNP was being emphatically bayed by them, just after Gota’s landslide victory. I was in real danger.
        .
        However, my guts were nothing compared to the courage of Jeevan Hoole in writing that article. I was decent enough to accept your explanation that you didn’t see the article. I didn’t believe it, and I’m sure that very few others did.
        .
        You’re now showing yourself to be worse than a coward, an unprincipled liar to whom any distortion is acceptable to satisfy your craving for cultivating a profile, and for which there is no need.

      • 0
        0

        Had you been fair by AKD, and listened to what he had to say (at least weeks later), there would have been no need for you to “change my residence again”.
        .
        Do you think that any rational human being would believe that? Since I mentioned only the name of the city (which AKD visited specifically to meet people like you) you would then have to take up residence in another city!
        .
        It is worse than disgusting that you say these things. Since you’re so antipathic to the JVP you could have stayed away from the meeting. However, can’t you discuss this subject in a civilised way. The English you write has always had crudity in it, but I used to excuse it because English is possibly your third language, behind Sinhalese and German.
        .
        For other readers: “leelagemalli’s” Sinhala is simple and readable, and also free of all these animal references. How to cure him of that when he writes English?

  • 8
    0

    Wimal Weerawansa and Sarath Weerasekera are two MPP who have been very vociferous against the full implementation of the 13th Amendment.
    Would either of the two move a Private Members bill by way of a 22nd Amendment to abolish same?
    India may invoke the highest Indian honour[ Padma Bushan or whatever they call it ] if they get the requisite majority…………………
    If it is simple as that why was this not attempted much earlier?
    There are 28 States and 8 Union Territories in India………….for the present………….
    Jehan,frankly I am a strong believer of the Greek dictum Timeo danos et dona ferrentes….

    • 7
      2

      Valampuri were promoted by Keerthi Disanayaka to the very same foolish people for a period of 8 long years until he was caught by police.
      .
      Wimal weerawanse could mislead the nation for the last 25 years. Wimal or the like are hired to mislead the stupid dominated nation for Rajapakshes survival. Prostitutes made their body and Wimal or the like used their filthy mouth. .
      ..
      Namal kumara so called CID informant did the same services to polonnaruwa donkey aka Sirisena.
      .
      The consequences are obvious to all as of today..
      .
      What a nation ?
      .
      🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃🐃😎😎

      • 4
        3

        These politicians and yellow pets call the people yet today ” our people are budhdhimath, intelligent “
        .people a vulnerability is really high. Rajapakshes knew it from the beginning on😍🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

  • 2
    3

    Dear Readers: Please consider this statement by Albert Einstein:

    ” A Human Being experiences, his thoughts as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is kind of a prison for us, restricting our personal desires and affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison.”

    The above advice is equally for the so-called “Leaders” who haven’t got “Enlightened” on the need to allow freedom for the people to decide to get out of the “Prison” they have built for them to be herded for their own survival and enjoy a life of plenty and all the comforts.

    • 3
      1

      S
      Without the public grasping those values there is no chance that the leaders will.
      The leaders are our representatives regardless of our unwillingness to accept it.

      • 1
        0

        China’s Man in Sri Lanka

        “Without the public grasping those values there is no chance that the leaders will..”

        Alright, let us shove Red Books in their throat and see if they are still grasping the values enshrined in the BOOK.

        • 0
          0

          How are you today?
          How is the search going? Still difficult?
          Do not give up.
          Remember, you can count on my help anytime.

  • 7
    1

    Same old,same old,do nothing tactic.
    What is needed is a newer younger, brighter generation of new leaders.
    A new constitution with age limits and term limits and equal representation of both sexes in the parliament.
    The ongoing culture of impunity has to go if the country is to be progressive with a better future..

  • 5
    5

    Before tackling constitutional reforms, RW should ease the tax burden & cost of living nightmares of average folk. Any CEO taking over a failed company would make it a priority to cut costs & get rid of dead wood, so how about reducing the number of useless parliamentarians & the generous perks? A pay cut & reduction of bodyguards would also help & why not tax govt. officials as well, so that everybody shares the burden?
    The ethnic conflict has been there forever & as long as Buddhist monks & racist politicians are about, there will never be a solution, so it can wait. People driven to destitution is more important & requires immediate action.

    • 2
      1

      Raj
      It takes more money to pay a 300,000 strong military than to pay 225 useless parliamentarians. It’s time to slaughter that sacred cow, but there will be much opposition from vested interests like the Mahanayakas.
      We should question why these Mahanayakas, who do not even pretend to be elected, should have so much influence, even being able to get people locked up for “blasphemy”.

    • 0
      2

      Just simple harmaduroes said no way of paying the outstanding electricity bill, but minister daid they would.cut off ……
      Legislation says foremost then foster
      It has to.be if boo tree put a statue under the tree then put lights,

    • 0
      0

      R-UK
      Will we ever see the link between various conflicts that haunt us?
      How can we appreciate the underlying issues or solve any with a single variable analysis?

  • 5
    1

    !3 th Amendment was imposed on SL so that Tamil speaking citizens [TSC]in the Island, could have some independence in running their own affairs without discriminations by the majority race. It is much better to grant “FEDERAL STATE” to the North and East than to have bureaucratic 9 provincial councils filled with politicians of low qualities[criminals]. TSC can not trust the majority race after 75 years of discriminations/torture/killings/destruction of properties and businesses/state sponsored colonisation + multiple riots. Enough is enough.

  • 1
    0

    Thye current aged lot has to go; younger brighter politicians are the answer and necessary; otherwise prepare yourselves for mass “starvation”.

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    What Jehan PhD is doing here is telling the Evil Emperor that it is ok to destroy the Slap Party, which Evil does not want to do, if that is all it takes obtaining an IMF loan. What a cunning- tricky consultation. A political party that is not willing to contribute to the nation’s unity or is looking to split the nation and benefit out of it, must be taken to the people’s arena and be defeated with their support. Jehan PhD’s is not consulting to restore the economy nor the national unity. Securing an IMF loan alone can save the country. Neither IMF loan is the solution for the current economic problem. The IMF loan is a temporary relief for the exchange shortage. Exchange shortage did not come by Covid 19 or Russian – Ukraine war. Exchange Shortage’s mother is Royals pumping $19 B out to foreign banks. The father is Chinese White Elephant projects, for which China supplied labor and material, as loan.

    The loan was issued in Yuan to block Langlang from using it to buy anything from outside. Later it was collected in Dollar, which very quickly dried internal ability to pay for general imports, in Dollar. We do not know if even the main asset $1.1 B, Port Purchase price was paid out in Dollars or settled exporting Chinese consumables to Langkang.

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    Chinese Engineers build many projects for their clients, worldwide, without any Financial Evaluation or engineering feasibility of the projects. For example, Hangbangtota harbor was built around a rock and later Langkang paid additional money to remove the rock so the ships could navigate into the Harbor. Same case with Colombo Pong Ching, no environmental study was done; when the Evil Emperor delayed the project for environmental survey, China charged a $250M penalty. Then the Evil Emperor put that blame on Old Rowdy and paid the fine in Dollar Bills that were available to import oil and food. A Judge in Langkang put a small girl for 7 years inside for stealing coconuts to pay for school fees. Then Why is Evil still outside after misappropriating $250M? China first bankrupted the poor countries. Now that Boomerang is coming back to China and these defaulted loans soon will have a serious impact on China’s financial stability.

    Neither 13A nor the Federal Constitution is a solution for racial unity, economy, law and order or any other problems Ceylon is facing now. These Langkang problems stem from Mahavamsa Buddhism and Lord Donomore Commission’s Universal Franchise of 1931.

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    The correction for these blunders is allowing Sinhala Buddhists to have a Buddhists government in the way they want and then they realize what is the role of those multi million years old, hypocritical religions in a modern democratic government. Tamil Eelam needs its freedom to reserve its place on the world map, following Singapore and Bangladesh. Langkang Kleptocracy UNP-SLFP leaders were fooling the Modayas in every election that “this time our government will wipe out Tamils and make the country into the Miracle of Asia.” But the man (PM Lee) who made an oppressed piece of land into Singapore had expressed his opinion the reason for Ceylon’s debacle is only Sinhala Buddhist racism, and though he copied some better characteristics from Ceylon to build his “Multicultural Magic, Singapore”. World must take a lesson from Bangladesh, that time they opposed India separating it as a country from Pakistan’s jackboot. Today Pakistan is under the mud, but Bangladesh is becoming a modern nation, and may soon bypass Saudi Arabia and Turkey as the First Muslim Nations. Tamil Eelam must be freed to reserve its place in the world map, after Singapore and Bangladesh. Reorganization of Ceylon into Malaysia-Singapore is the only solution for Sinhalese and Tamils to live happily ever after, as neighbors.

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    Solution for Sinhalese is the non-violent French revolution and putting all the senile, old UNP- SLFP robbers, murderers, drug smuggling, prostitution- Arveda massaging parlor operating and rapists. Sinhalese urgently need a Sinhala Thirunavukkarasu, before the forcefully being lent new IMF loan dries out and after that Rapist Army turns Ceylon into another Burma. 1948, blind shackles and ball on them must be liberated. Sinhalese were illusioned by the British colonialist freedom with British local, Royal monarchy governments. That is why the Protest, which was defeated by the friends of UNP-SLFP Royals, who pretended to be friends of “Aragalaya”, needs to be revived. Important names in CT, of those who defeated Protests are Jehan PhD, Thero De Silva, Harsha Gunasena and a few other authors. The protest has been disguised and tucked away by Gunaratnam, Valaiththodam & JVP who are dying to bring an election to steal the EP position from the Evil Emperor. The protest has lost Western support because they prefer the upper hand of the Evil Emperor, instead of customary communists. Last time American Ambassador Alaina Teplitz and India brought down Yahapalanaya and installed Hitler King. Now both countries are in Evil’s camp. Protestors are alone now.

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    The main purpose of Protest was to Drain the Diyawanna Lake swamp and clean Augean stables lords of Hellas (225 of them). A new culture and a constitution were their objective, but the election was not in their immediate vision. They wanted a team of clean candidates for that purpose, so they did not show any rush to election and have installed SJP, NPF JVP back again in the Diyawanna Lake Teledrama, sans Evil’s UMP.

    JVP, SJB, Buddhist Monks… none of these groups were accepted or honored by Protestors. But those who shouted “Anarchy” during the Protest, crowned the Evil as the Emperor and had him imprison the Protestors. Another main person who contributed to the Protestors’ defeat was Kumar Gunaratnam. Those who saw that the protesters would not do what they wanted from protestors, joined the band of Gunaratnam and brought the fall to protesters. He very skillfully penetrated the protesters and isolated them from Democratic countries’ support. Gunaratnam, Dayan Jyesthila, like people have made democratic countries to believe that the protestors are only our good old communists. Now some countries feel supporting Evil in getting something from the IMF is supporting the Evil Emperor in his war against Communism.

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    IMF loan is stuck among the war within West, China & India. They all are looking for an upper in Langkang by getting that loan to Langkang. Evil has scooped up another 32 friends & foe countries to fight the Langkang war against the IMF.

    In the North, youths have been rejecting the Feb 4th, the British imposed Freedom Day on them. This time Tamil National political parties are rejecting Feb 4th not as their Freedom Day. Interestingly, in the South, many organizations do not want to be with Appe Aanduwa in its Freedom Day extravaganza. After Aanduwa consumes IMF loan, South may reject Freedom Day, too.

    Jayawewa Emperor.

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      Go easy on the laxative.

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        “laxative?”
        Better product than Deva’s badu to market. Hungry stomachs of Langkang need it too. And you, out of Royal’s payroll list, needs some income. for support your addition; keep marketing!.

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    Now the issue is in the hands of the sinhalese. If they want to survive and save the country then agree for the full implementation of 13A. If they want to destory the country and ready to mstarve then go ahead and oppose. Tamils dont care. Their economy does not depend on Sinhala country in the south. At present they have a reasonably good life in the north comapred to south. Many in the north dont even worry or care about the happenings in the south because for them south does not matter at all. If Sinhalese want to save their maubima then let them agree to 13A and money will flow in. If not join the queues for bread, milk powder, raice and sugar. By the way the collpase of Adani group may further affect SL economy and investments further.

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    On Day after tomorrow 4th February 2023 the whole country should be fluttering with Black & White Flags as the National Day of Mourning.

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    The undeniable fact is that bigotry and bias exist in all communities of Sri Lanka. Thankfully, it is less so among the educated youth. Meaningful change will only emerge when the present set of rulers – particularly the cursed 225 are swept aside by a group of learned men and women who can reach across caste, creed and religious boundaries to create a Sri Lanka where all citizens live with dignity as a truly liberated people.

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      P
      “…bigotry and bias exist in all communities of Sri Lanka. Thankfully, it is less so among the educated youth.”
      Is it?

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    Leaders do not deal with our challenges. They are obsessed building their parties to win elections. Pl. pl. pl. abolish this dictatorial presidency similar to North Korea as the most important first step towards restoring our nation, so we could serve and live as first class citizens in our own land of our birth without robbing the nation. We dont need to run elsewhere and be second class citizens and serving salaries paid in large amounts.

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      North Korea?
      The North Koreans never bowed to US imperialism. They never yielded to Soviet or Chinese pressure in their foreign policy matters.
      Can we say that our leaders have a fraction of that pride?

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    Naman, what you say is very true. But if they give such power then the Tamil buggers will develop those areas and prosper. We just cannot allow that. Even if the majority starve yet we cant allow Tamils to progress. As one patriot once said, we can sell Lankawa to Chinese but no freedom to Dhemalu. So far no historians or Buddhist clergy come out with a story that Buddha too said not to give anything to Dhemalu. I wont be surprised soon our famous RARE UNADMIRED Sarath Weerasekara may come out with this kathawa.

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      BL
      Now the sale in progress is to the US & India.
      That should be some consolation to you.

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