19 March, 2024

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Enough Is Enough: We Have A Long List Of Unresolved Cases

By Mangala Samaraweera

Mangala Samaraweera – Minister of Foreign Affairs

This is a historic opportunity, as pointed out not only by the Hon. Leader of Opposition, but by His Excellency the President himself who tabled this Resolution at a Special Sitting of this House on the 8th of January last year.

No other Constitution-making process in 1972 or in 1978 has had this consensual approach. Moreover, our nation has today reached a point of maturity having been through conflict, and witnessed the suffering and the agony that this nation has gone through since Independence. Let us now say “enough is enough” once and for all.

We must stand up to do justice to those who lost their lives, and for those who are yet unborn. We, the fortunate few who have been witness to the agony of our nation, yet survived to tell the story, must now rise up, not just to tell the story but to write that new chapter of our nation’s future journey.

It is up to us in this House to seize this moment and have the courage to persevere and see this Constitution-making process succeed in this House and then take it to the people of our country in whom sovereignty is vested. The people of our country spoke clearly at two elections in 2015 – the Presidential Election in January and the Parliamentary Election in August. They have indicated in unmistakable terms that they want durable peace, reconciliation and non-recurrence of conflict – a durable political solution.

Speech made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, MP, during the Adjournment moved by the Leader of the Opposition, R. Sampanthan, in Parliament on 22 February 2017:

Hon. Speaker,

I thank the Honourable Leader of Opposition for raising this important issue in this House today – an issue on which the very future of our nation depends.

Hon. Speaker,

I have spoken many times in this very House about the hopes that the world held for our country at the time of Independence.

As Lee Kuan Yew, in his memoirs – “From Third World to First” wrote,

Ceylon was Britain’s model Commonwealth country. It had been carefully prepared for independence. After the War, it was a good middle-sized country with fewer than 10 million people. It had a relatively good standard of education, with two universities of high quality, a civil service largely of locals, and experience in representative government starting with city council elections in the 1930s.

When Ceylon gained independence in 1948, it was the classic model of gradual evolution to independence.

Alas, it did not work out. During my visits over the years, I watched a promising country go to waste.

It is sad that the country whose ancient name Serendib has given the English language the word ‘Serendipity’ is now the epitome of conflict, pain, sorrow and hopelessness.

Hon. Speaker,

After that lost opportunity at Independence, and many lost opportunities thereafter, including thousands of young lives lost in all parts of our country, and many more thousands leaving our shores, arrived 8th January 2015, and a Renewal of Hope.

For the first time in our nation’s modern history, we had a President elected with the participation of people of all religions, all ethnic groups, and all walks-of-life in our country. The people from the northern most tip of Kankasanthurai to the southern-most tip of Dondra, from the Sangaman Kanda in the East to Kalpitiya in the West, cast their votes in historic numbers to elect President Maithripala Sirisena – a President they saw as this nation’s hope to carry us forward, in partnership with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and all progressive forces in this country,

  • to carry our nation’s children and future generations forward to lasting peace,
  • a durable political settlement,
  • a nation where everyone, irrespective of their race, gender, caste, beliefs, and language, is equal;
  • where individual rights, civil liberties, are promoted and protected;
  • where the dignity of all is upheld;
  • where freedom and justice reign;
  • where conflict is firmly behind us as a thing of the past, confined to the history books that tell the story of our nation’s troubled past which led us to finally forge unity and guide our nation towards its prosperous and peaceful future;
  • a nation where unity in diversity, and a firm Sri Lankan identity is our strength;
  • where non-recurrence of conflict is a norm;
  • a nation that is a beacon of democracy;
  • an example to others in the region and beyond of post-conflict peacebuilding, reconciliation and economic development; and
  • a nation that works meaningfully and constructively in partnership with other nations and international organisations to serve the world community and uphold international systems and procedures.

Hon. Speaker,

With this vision, from January 2015, we worked together, to make the 19th Amendment to the Constitution a reality. Together, we enacted legislation to make the Right to Information a reality. Together, we enacted legislation for Victim and Witness Protection. Together, we enacted legislation to establish a Permanent Office that would undertake a humanitarian mission of finding the citizens of our country who are missing. Together, we reached out to the world beyond our shores that we had antagonised for several years, and renewed our nation’s friendships and partnerships with the international community; and they readily responded to our call.

Hon. Speaker,

The Leader of Opposition mentioned the Resolution that was adopted unanimously by this House to appoint the Constitutional Assembly to prepare a draft Constitutional Bill for the consideration of Parliament in the exercise of its powers under Article 75 of the Constitution.

It was declared in that Resolution that the Constitution Bill shall only be enacted into Law if it is passed in Parliament by a special majority of two-thirds of the whole number of Members of Parliament including those not present, and subsequently approved by the people at a Referendum as required by Article 83 of the Constitution.

Hon. Speaker,

This is a historic opportunity, as pointed out not only by the Hon. Leader of Opposition, but by His Excellency the President himself who tabled this Resolution at a Special Sitting of this House on the 8th of January last year.

No other Constitution-making process in 1972 or in 1978 has had this consensual approach. Moreover, our nation has today reached a point of maturity having been through conflict, and witnessed the suffering and the agony that this nation has gone through since Independence. Let us now say “enough is enough” once and for all.

We must stand up to do justice to those who lost their lives, and for those who are yet unborn. We, the fortunate few who have been witness to the agony of our nation, yet survived to tell the story, must now rise up, not just to tell the story but to write that new chapter of our nation’s future journey.

It is up to us in this House to seize this moment and have the courage to persevere and see this Constitution-making process succeed in this House and then take it to the people of our country in whom sovereignty is vested. The people of our country spoke clearly at two elections in 2015 – the Presidential Election in January and the Parliamentary Election in August. They have indicated in unmistakable terms that they want durable peace, reconciliation and non-recurrence of conflict – a durable political solution.

Hon. Speaker,

This is an obligation that this House owes to the people of our country. Wherever we may sit in this House, whatever party we may belong to, we all represent the sovereign – that is the people of this country – and it is our responsibility, to see this process to an end. It is our responsibility to do justice by them.

What better gift can we bestow the people of our beloved motherland at its 70th anniversary of Independence than a solution to the problem that has traumatised this nation for much of its years as an Independent nation.

Our country that stood on the cusp of economic development and social progress at the time we gained Independence in 1948, and failed, will not be able to get back on the track of economic and social development and achieve the magnitude of progress that the people justly deserve if we do not find a durable solution to our problems through a new Constitution. It is the Constitution that defines a nation. It is the Constitution that guarantees, among other things, certain rights to minorities, which no other document can do.

We should not have a situation, after coming this far in this process, since January last year, of marching into our 70th year of Independence in 2018, without taking everyone forward on our nation’s future journey as equal citizens of one Sri Lankan family, walking side by side.

Hon. Speaker,

As politicians of different parties, we will have plenty to fight about and argue about in a democratic way, later. But let us, for this one important task, set aside all other issues and unite. This is the one issue that we must all lift out of the arena of politics because we cannot afford to leave this issue unresolved. It is one that is too dangerous to leave unresolved because the whole future of our country – our youth, and generations yet unborn – depend on this. I therefore earnestly urge this House to not let this historic moment pass us by.

Hon. Speaker,

The Hon. Leader of Opposition spoke of international dimensions and the UN Human Rights Council Resolutions including the one adopted in October 2015.

Some who are enemies of this nation’s progress, for whatever rhyme or reason, drive fear into people’s minds about the Resolution and concepts of transitional justice. Let me assure this House and the people of this country that we will never embark on a path that will once again plunge this nation into chaos or pain.

Transitional Justice is a term which simply means a series of measures that are taken after a traumatic conflict, to ensure that peace and stability will last, that the rule of law will prevail, and that a cycle of violence will not be repeated. To those who allege that we are copying others or doing what others in other countries tell us, or the UN tells us – I want to clarify that this is not so. Moreover, Hon. Speaker, there is no set formula of exactly how to do this. There is no cookie-cutter model. Measures taken must reflect the specific national context, human rights principles, and should be led and owned by national actors to ensure success, and this, Hon. Speaker, is exactly what we are doing.

Societies that have experienced armed conflict must take steps to examine the past, pursue accountability, provide for the well-being of survivors, and take institutional measures to prevent non-recurrence. Societies that avoid looking into the past fail to build sustainable peace. Traumatic memories don’t simply go away. Grievances can go on for generations, and even centuries, becoming entrenched in culture and historical accounts, and risking new cycles of violence.

This is what we must all resolve to prevent by taking the necessary steps, not ad hoc measures as in the past, for reparations, for truth seeking, searching for the missing, having judicial inquiries aimed at restoring the rule of law, and individualize responsibility so that the honour and reputation of institutions such as the armed forces, are preserved.

Hon. Speaker,

It is to the people of this country that we are answerable, and it is to them that we are responsible. Not to the international community.

As you would recall, Hon. Speaker, point 93 of the 100 Day Work Programme stated that, “Since Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the Rome Statute regarding international jurisdiction with regard to war crimes, ensuring justice with regard to such matters will be the business of national independent judicial mechanisms”.

Hon. Speaker,

What we did was to take ownership of our responsibilities and obligations towards the people of our own country to uphold their rights, return their land, resettle the displaced, strengthen democracy and democratic institutions, repeal discriminatory laws, restore justice, and ensure non-recurrence of conflict. These are some of the basic elements contained in Resolution 30/1. It is entirely a State-Driven process, where we take charge and fulfil our obligations towards our own people to ensure justice, restore and uphold rights, strengthen institutions, and take steps that are necessary to ensure equitable economic development and progress for all.

Hon. Speaker,

This year, on the 7th of January, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the Bill to give effect to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The Bill has since been gazetted in all three languages and we hope that it will be brought before this House for consideration at an early date.

The amended Policy and Legal Framework relating to the proposed Counter Terrorism Act, which would replace the PTA, was referred by the Cabinet of Ministers, also in January, to the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Legal Affairs. Once the Sectoral Oversight Committee considers the Framework, the drafting of Legislation would commence.

Hon. Speaker,

The multiple tasks constituting the transformative agenda that the Government has undertaken on the reconciliation, development, and institution building fronts is not an easy one. It requires the efforts of all citizens – public and private sector alike. It requires the commitment of all, and it requires the dedication of all. It is also not an easy and straight path but one that ‘zigs and zags’, and requires tremendous effort and dedication to stay the course.

Of course for the victims, the displaced, the vulnerable – every minute and every second counts. We have done much during the last two years. Yet, there is much left to do; and yes, we cannot ever say that we have done enough in this important journey. This requires constant striving to move each step forward, and constant striving to ensure that what we have gained is protected and preserved.

Hon. Speaker,

I am tabling a chart in this House titled ‘Festina Lente – advancing human rights, accountability, reconciliation and good governance in Sri Lanka’ which lists “work-in-progress” from January 2015 up-to-date. It is not perfect. But it attempts to chart progress in some key areas.

I am also tabling two more documents, one on cases pertaining to detainees, and the other on land release from the Ministry of Defence.

Most importantly, Hon. Speaker, the journey we began with the passage of the Resolution for the appointment of the Constitutional Assembly in April last year must be pursued with vigour. We should not walk into our 70th year of Independence with unresolved issues that would cripple our nation’s forward march towards prosperity.

Hon. Speaker,

On all these issues – detainees, land release, resettlement, PTA – we must resolve firmly to find solutions once and for all, within this calendar year, while we move forward diligently on the processes of truth-seeking, justice, reparation, and security sector reforms.

I must say, our resolve to bring justice to the victims of human rights violations remain unperturbed. People of this country faced widespread rights violations in the past. Some of these illegal acts were carried out by the persons who were at the helm of powers under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. White vans were deployed for daylight abductions, disappearances, murders. Media persons and NGO activists lived in fear of intimidation, under constant threats and ruthless attacks. The recent arrest of perpetrators who brutally attacked journalist Keith Noyahr demonstrates our commitment to bring justice to such crimes.

Mr. Speaker,

We have a long list of unresolved cases. Several such cases are being investigated by the CID. I must appreciate their efforts. Those persons who ordered and carried out unlawful criminal acts against innocent individuals must be brought to books. It must be reminded at this august assembly that people of this country will never again let such crimes to be repeated, that marks a dark period when we lost Sri Lanka’s long preserved reputation as a free and democratic country.

We must seize this historic and important moment for our country.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Latest comments

  • 14
    3

    Enough is enough, Mangala. 24+ months have passed without progress. Which objectives has the government achieved so far?. The country keep borrowing from every Tom, Dick & Harry around the world to pay the Chinese and the WB. The state banks are full of defrauding clients of mass scale. The banks keep putting the interest rates up of small individual loans even without the knowledge of the customers.

    I sincerely thought you are tough nut but beginning to think otherwise. Get rid of the corrupt SLFP/UNP/coalition ministers and MPs and give the parliament a spring clean.
    Abolishing the ‘Executive Presidency’ and a ‘New Constitution’ is a utmost priority. This is something the whole bunch of you promised before the elections, weren’t they?
    Get the culprits of the previous regime, defence secretary and the corrupt armed forces individuals to courts and put them where they really belong.
    Until then, there will be no way up.
    Talking about being the leading financial hub in south Asia is only dream unless you act like the. Please refer to this news item on BBC web site on Asia.
    Former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for misconduct.

    22 February 2017

    From the section China

    “Tsang led Hong Kong from 2005 to 2012 and is the most senior official in the territory ever to stand trial for corruption.

    He was found guilty last week of misconduct in public office, in a case related to a luxury flat in China.”
    So, my friend it’s time to get going. If you need help, find me if you can.

    • 11
      1

      Mr. Mangala, good speech!

      DIVIDE, DISTRACT (the masses with racism), and RULE with corruption and looting of the public wealth, has been the practice and policy of successive Sinhala majority governments.

      The day that a single corrupt politician of the Mahinda Jarapassa family is held accountable is the day that the minorities may begin to believe that justice in the miracle of Modayas is possible. Thus far, there has been little sign of this from Ranil’s Jarapalanaya Govt.!

      • 5
        1

        Divide, distract the masses with majoritarian Sinhala Buddhist nationalism and racism against minorities and rule with mega corruption was the policy of the Mahinda Rajapaksa family regime which was building a military dictatorship and deep State in Sri Lanka.

        Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brothers and sons must be held accountable for:

        1,Destroying true Buddhism and practicing FAKE BUDDHISM that violates the teachings of the Sakyamuni Buddha, which are non-violence and Karuna, Metta, Muditha, Upeka

        2 Financial Crimes against the people of Sri Lanka

        3. War crimes and white van attacks on journalists.

        Question is why is Yahapalanay so keen to protect them?!

    • 6
      2

      Mangala Samaraweera – Minister of Foreign Affairs

      RE: Enough Is Enough: We Have A Long List Of Unresolved Cases

      Why?

      There there is no political will of the Para-Sinhala, Para-Tamils and other Paras occupying the Land of Native Veddah Aethho illegally.

      Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people: their relations within the island and with the Indian subcontinental populations.

      Journal of Human Genetics 59, 28-36 (January 2014) | doi:10.1038/jhg.2013.112

      Through a comparison with the mtDNA HVS-1 and part of HVS-2 of Indian database, both Tamils and Sinhalese clusters were affiliated with Indian subcontinent populations than Vedda people who are believed to be the native population of the island of Sri Lanka.

      http://www.nature.com/jhg/journal/v59/n1/full/jhg2013112a.html

      The Vedda Tribe

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f89NuukY32U&t=321s

      • 1
        1

        IF the Tamils Sinhalese or Muslims or BTF terrorist are thinking we are favourites of UK or USA then see what the Priest Daughter Theresa May is.

        When Brexit is signed next month expect Mexico style treatment.

        When she was home secretary, Theresa May had the bright idea of getting vans with a big sign saying “GO HOME” to drive around in areas of London dominated by families of Indian origin.

        Last week Simon Heffer, a well-known British newspaper commentator, wrote in the Daily Telegraph: “Theresa May is following Enoch Powell – by actually listening to what British people want”.

        Nearly 50 years ago British MP Enoch Powell gave one of the most racist and controversial speeches in British political history. “Rivers of Blood”, as it came to be known, was a tirade against Indians and Africans coming to work and settle in Britain.

    • 1
      0

      White supremacy. (Sri Lanka nationalist will lose their tail).
      Bringing jobs back: Robots and low pay jobs.
      Despite Trump’s announcement, China factories continue to manufacture ‘Ivanka Trump’s’ shoes.
      New Delhi [India], Feb. 20 (ANI): Even after U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion of bringing back manufacturing jobs to the United States, production of the former’s daughter Ivanka Trump’s shoes has not stopped in China.
      A video tweeted out by Global Times purportedly shows a factory in Dongguan in South China’s Guangdong province, manufacturing Ivanka’s shoes that will be sold in the U.S.

      mangala will not go close to Trump Administration and Steve Bannon
      Trump withdraws guidelines protecting transgender students

  • 5
    39

    Going by news reports I wonder how long it will be before President Sirisena and the party he leads say “enough is enough” about Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera…:))

    • 26
      1

      Dayan the D….., when will you think your MASTER TSUNAMI HORA’S atrocities in connivance with his Goat Father was “enough is enough”.

      You B….. never uttered a word then, shut the F… up and get lost.

      How many innocent lives were snatched from the face of the earth and how many Billions ransacked.

      Mend yourself or better hang yourself.

    • 14
      1

      Are we giving attention to ‘Empty Vessels’?. No, we are not. You are an out of date, discontinued, good for nothing ‘Spin Doctor’.

    • 13
      0

      DJ:

      Have you applied for Mangala’s job?

    • 10
      1

      Going by the responses of CT readers to the crap you spew, “enough is enough” isn’t something you will understand!?

    • 10
      0

      Dayan,
      Going by real election results considering the fact Mahinda & Co tried their maximum effort through corruption, violence and using all government resources, people have given a verdict that we don’t want Mahinda & Co ever,”enough is enough” and Good bye to Mahinda. So, the message is very clear.

    • 0
      2

      Dr. DJ,
      “I wonder how long it will be before President Sirisena and the party he leads say enough is enough about Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera…. “

      [Edited out]

    • 6
      0

      Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

      “President Sirisena and the party he leads say “enough is enough” about Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera…:))”

      Why? Do you want Mangala Samaraweera’s Job?

      Mangala Samaraweera is far more qualified than you. The only qualification you have is that you are a cronie of MaRa MaRa ChaTu MaRa AmaNa MaRa…and it shows.

  • 6
    3

    Congratulations Hon. Minister – well presented, with the hope that this will
    grant another 24 months with the UN, in your March delibrations.

    My serious suggestion is that UN should NOT grant a 24 month extension
    flat, but place the outstanding 27 items (?) within selected time-periods
    for adherance, with which the victims may be contended and the I/C led by
    India would accept as a fair amendment.

  • 15
    3

    Dayan

    Its you again!!!!

    “Going by news reports I wonder how long it will be before President Sirisena and the party he leads say “enough is enough” about Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera…:”

    War monger can’t you hear from our fellow commentators screaming at you “Enough is enough”.

  • 11
    2

    When is this gentleman DJ going to wake up from his deep sleep and grow up to be decent human being. May be we are expecting too much. Being used to only Horas , and being one of the ardent supporter of the previous regime we can not ask for a different stance.

    As I can see that Mr.Mangala Samaraweera is trying to do the right thing for people and the nation. Divided ,we shall fall further down the precipice, that’s for certain.
    I would suspect a good 80% of the population want justice meted out to all citizens alike. While a another 10% persons belongs the DJ camp and I guess the rest 10% are sitting on the fence. This is norm

    This is the best window of opportunity in our life time, “peace” in Lanka has a chance. Please take this chance and forget about the those forces of evil. History doesn’t does not repeat itself in detail
    I sign off with: “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life”- Muhammad Al(C .Clay) There is no truer sentiment.

    • 12
      2

      Literacy Rate is Zero when it comes to this Parasitic Good for nothing Parasite D J , in other words Disc Jockey?
      Clowning around??
      The days of day dreaming of taking over the UN Security Council had come to just a pipe dream,
      Just messing around here on CT.
      Thank you for for your input , but haven’t we heard about the individual as Hora, Spin doctor , Empty Vessel etc , etc, etc,
      You too need a different kind of Hobby!
      Folks any suggestions??

      • 7
        1

        We need to sympathise those who gets millions of Thumbs down here on CT.
        The reason for collecting millions of Thumbs down here is due to their Depressive state of mind.
        The champions of CT Depressors are DJ, KAS, Max moron, Sach and few others.
        They need to divert their attention from Racism .
        Best hobby some one suggested to swim in the Troubled waters of Hambantota!!’
        May be able to find some lost artefacts hidden away in the seas off the south coast.!!

    • 2
      8

      Mangala Samawaweera is the external affairs minister. Why he is itching about new constitution. Is it because he gave promises to LTTE rump when he was in Singapore or he and others have promsied certain things to BTF ?

      Sri lankAn politicians, even the leaders, are dumb idiots.

      When we check the geneology of Tamils, theire grand grand parents were had been employed in Tamilnadu. Their fore fathers in Sri lanka has tamilized names of Sinhala people. Some other grand parents are portugeuse, dutch, British and even married to sinhala people.

      Now, they want part of Dravidasthan here.

      Sri lankan sinhala politicians broadcast democracy and sharing to Sinhala people. Jail every monk who talk about the harm being done to Sinhala culture and civilization. Both the Tamil politicians, news media spread only the racial hatred and the demand to devide the country. Muslims are no different. they build mosques every where, harasses the sinhala people, a monk w3as beaten in Aluthgama. the govt keeps silent.

      Politicians are incompetant. Recently, Ranil wickramsinghe made a big puss about GSP+, and they are willing to destroy Sri lanka by introducing various legislation such as legalized homosexuality just to export 0.1% of the total exports of Sri lanka. Only very recently Malik,Samarawickramaa talked about the word export diversification.

      Present politicians are no different. They are destroying the coyntry as they wish. What they are doing right now another round of corruption. Next govt will complain what this govt is doing and they never correct it.

      Mangala Samraweera is the foreign minister but he is xdoing his own agenda. Sri lanka does not have a national policy. As the minister wish.

      Right now school children are drunkards. Big matches are for that. School principals are silent. Beer industry is selling for them. President has established secretariate for drugs and alcohol, I suppose, and he is fooling people instead of correcting what is wrong.

      It is simply lie, manipulate and live the life they want.

      • 5
        2

        Jail every monk who talk about the harm being done to Sinhala culture and civilization.

        Name 1 monks who are in custody now for talking about Sinhala culture?

        I can name at least 5 monks in custody for child abuse

  • 4
    3

    Mangala,
    Great speech, but:
    “For the first time in our nation’s modern history, we had a President elected with the participation of people of all religions, all ethnic groups, and all walks-of-life in our country. The people from the northern most tip of Kankasanthurai to the southern-most tip of Dondra, from the Sangaman Kanda in the East to Kalpitiya in the West, cast their votes in historic numbers”
    Not really, my dear. I believe Chandrika was elected in 1994 with even more support than Sirisena.The people were fed up of Premadasa-ism. You were part of her team.

  • 11
    3

    As long as the likes of President Sirisena,PM Wickremasinghe.Mrs CBK,and Minister Samaraweera and Mr Samapanthan and a few like minded people remain in politics the greater will be the chances of a durable peace in Sri Lanka.

    Unfortunately we are cursed by having the likes of Dayan Jayatileke , the Rajapaksa gang, Weerawansa etc who are determined to keep the country in a permanent state of hell for selfish reasons.But it will not be for long.Truth justice and fair play will ultimately prevail over evil.The people have twice endorsed peace at the 2015 elections.So there is hope for all of us.Hope all of us live to see that day when Lanka finally emerges as a peaceful developed state where all will live with dignity. and prosperity.Meanwhile hope that Samaraweera and likeminded folk soldier on.Then you people and not these rabid dogs will be remembered by generations yet unborn.

    • 7
      4

      The same PM who was a senior minister and nephew of the then president JRJ when the 83 progom happened and he did nothing?
      The same PM who watched and did nothing to bring the perpetrators of the 1981 burning of the Jaffna Library?

      He is going to bring lasting peace? LOL

  • 6
    1

    Absolutely brilliant Mangala.
    I bet the uneducated Rajapaksas would have loved for that to come out of their filthy mouths?

  • 5
    3

    It was a conflict that started nearly 70 yrs ago when I was just born. This is the first time some concrete steps are taken.There are extremists like Dayan , KMP Rajaratna from Welimada n Gajendran , Sri Tharan on both sides. You bloody buggers remember you are behind Vietnam , Cambodia , Malaysia n there is no room to go back other than jump into the sea.

    Congratulations Mangala ,president Sambanthan ,Sumanthiran and all .

    This is the best thing happening to the country and if we lose this chance all the 20 million n 2500 yrs of Civilisations have to jump into the Indian Ocean.

    Tamils pl remember neither USA Nor India Nor Britain will come to your rescue.

    You have to talk n talk n talk and win just reasonable rights be fair and demand that can be given not that Tamils are dreaming .

    If you continue to dream it will be another Nandical and it will be a zero sum game.Am I Glad that Gajendran Ponnambalm and Sree Tharan lost the election and Dayan not in the parliament?Good luck.

    Old man of 70 yrs

  • 5
    0

    YEAS , Mr Minister “Enough is Enough”. I would also tell you “Better Late Than Never”. This Government of which you are an integral part has been taking things for “GRANTED” for a long period of two and a half years, i.e. almost 50% of your life time in Parliament. During that past period, you all have dug the grave and we see it is being dug. Remember how you looked after yourself with all those remuneration increases and “Duty Free” car permits that were ultimately sold for millions of profits. How about those “street dramas” of ceremonial openings of “Car Assembly” ; “Tire Manufacturing” factories ; “laying the Foundation of Habantota Economic Zone” ; the well orchestrated “Bond Scam”; “FCID Investigations and relevant Court Cases” etc. etc. So, Mr Minister “Enough of those are Enough”. Please get back to look at seriously on those PROMISES you made prior to winning election and undertake some meaningful work to win the hearts and minds of the PEOPLE.. Isn’t it Better Than Never?

  • 0
    1

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  • 2
    5

    Mr. Mangala Samaraweera

    Now, you have travelled every where in the world.

    Which one is the country where Majority language, is not the predominent language spoken by everybiody ?

    In which country you can see the majority culture and civilization is diluted, destroyed day by day and the islamic, christian cultures are being spread in a very rapid rate.

    Sri lanka is developed like a city and its’ development is mostly with service jobs and service economy in which Casinos, Liquor shops, foreign and local prostitutes, brothels, beach boys, hores wearing like school girls, women going overseas to serve as maids as well as sexual needs of arabs, male prostitution, gay, and pedophilia all are there.

    Beer industry is mostly for school children ad women. Other hard liquor is more adults.

    Do you think, as you said, since 1948, only thing politicians doing is destruction of the country.

    Will this change ever ?

    • 1
      0

      Jim Softy,
      “Which one is the country where Majority language, is not the predominent language spoken by everybiody ?”
      What an easy question.
      Answer: Singapore
      Majority Chinese but language English. National anthem in English and Malay.

  • 5
    2

    Hon Speaker,

    A press release was forwarded to all members of the UN HR Council in Geneva :

    Enough is enough – UN Human Rights Council should now refer Sri Lanka to the UN General Assembly: TGTE
    COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, February 8, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/

    http://world.einnews.com/pr_news/365613391/enough-is-enough-un-human-rights-council-should-now-refer-sri-lanka-to-the-un-general-assembly-tgte

    Numerous resolutions were passed in UN Human Rights Council since the war ended, now seven years, time and space in good faith with encouragement were given to Sri Lanka to implement, including their own LLRC report, but no concrete actions were taken by both the previous and the present new government.

    Since the Sri Lankan government is deliberately delaying without any justification, especially the repealing of the PTA, demilitarization, release of prisoners of war, addressing the missing persons issues, release of land and houses to the legitimate owners, not stopping but aiding and abetting all colonization / sinhalanization processes to change the demography of the Tamil Homeland, a roll-over or an extension of time would further delay justice, accountability, reparations to the victims and the reconciliation process.

    Enough is enough, continued pain and sufferings cannot go on under the watchful eye of this august assembly.

    Hon Speaker,

    Will the Hon Minister now respond to his own promises made to the UN HR Council in September 2015, and to his co-sponsored resolution, or should w now refer him to an international tribunal to investigate his lies upon lies.

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    Those are great Ideals Mr. Minister. I respected you back then when you were a close confidante of CBK’s and even enjoyed a chat with you when you were doing good work. Sadly the world, specially the western world SL relies on is fast moving towards nationalism and an inward looking Pre WW II sort of ideology and Economic protectionism/ nationalism; racial nationalism is now the norm in the USA.

    Your bullet point list of goals is ideal, but not even in the USA are those points been satisfied in practice. Changing people’s minds is harder than changing laws.


    Whatever happens, I hope there is NEVER any war or NEVER any vile acts of ethnic cleansing in SL.

    But the US is not a good model for you now. Everything turned in just 24 hours in November. Conservatism and religious conservatism is spreading.

    Nationalism is spreading in France, and Holland and also a bit in Germany. Italy is also going through a phase of conservatism. Greece is a basket case. Sweden is struggling with law and order problems because of refugees.

    Trump may have angered people, but he is delivering on his promises to his core constituency.

    I am afraid we will see growing instability in Europe over the next 3 to 4 years and as some predict, EU might cease to exist in 10 years. What then? Are you prepared for the possibility of Marine Le Pen winning?

    I am not sure if laws alone are sufficient for people to accept each other as equals. It never worked in the USA. Will it be possible through dialogue and faith based initatives?

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    Having said that let me digress.

    Why not follow the Indian model and have different units of the Army and Police with a majority of the members of a particular brigade or division of representative ethnic minorities?

    For example Sikh Regiment, Rajput Rifles, Madras Regime, Maratha regiment etc in India. Let them be lightly armed and be mostly (not solely ) responsible for local security and law and order in areas where the minorities predominate.

    Will that help allay the fears and suspicions of the local people? As for a gap, why can’t people all learn the languages of each other? Every nation that has a majority ethno linguistic groups has similar problems no ? Why is hard for people to learn each others’ language? Why are minorities sometimes resistant? Even my Malayali friend (very close friend) who is a senior soil scientist from the Rubber Research institute in India speaks Hindi and also knows a bit of Tamil besides Malayali. He had to learn Hindi in school. Just thinking aloud here Sir; that is all.

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      Mano Ratwatte:

      Why are minorities sometimes resistant? Even my Malayali friend (very close friend) who is a senior soil scientist from the Rubber Research institute in India speaks Hindi and also knows a bit of Tamil besides Malayali.

      Your malayali friend, in addition to his mother tongue, speaks Hindi which is the majority language.

      Tamils in Sri lanka are migrents and they say can not learn English.

      why did not you say, I want to speak only in Sinhala or in Tamil when you were in the USA ?

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        Gay Puddha Skinhead your half brother Milo Yiannopoulos is looking for you?
        Keep off Mano.

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          Haha its an insult for Milo. Milo got little bit of brain. This joker thinks if he keep saying Tamils are migrant, everybody is going to believe it. haha. he is funny

          I am going to start saying the earth is flat, lets see if others are going to believe it

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        That is my point. While we can argue against the policies of SWRD, in Malaysia everyone learns Bahasa Malaysia too. Tamil refugees or Sinhala refugees in Germany learn German, in France they learn French, in USA I learnt English etc… Is there sort of reverse racism or just resistance out of some other reason? Imagine if the Sinhalese in Italy say they want to only learn in Sinhalese. What is the big deal about learning another language? my kids know Spanish because it is critical to know either Spanish or Mandarin in today’s world and in US in particular to learn Spanish too.

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    Dear Mangala Samaraweera and all participants,
    After a long spell of anarchy, communal division, and corruption from the 1950s by several Governments after independence how come your claim of Yahapalanaya Government managing pluralism, multiculturalism, justice and corruption has been not commended for any of the undertaken deeds for the last 2 years? All we see in the media up to date are again the same old crimes, corruptions and communalism.
    If you are so keen as you say “Of course for the victims, the displaced, the vulnerable – every minute and every second counts. We have done much during the last two years. Yet, there is much left to do; and yes, we cannot ever say that we have done enough in this important journey. This requires constant striving to move each step forward, and constant striving to ensure that what we have gained is protected and preserved”
    Is a there a single example for you to claim justice has been served on a criminal within the last two years. On the contrary, all the popularly known criminals are friends of top Yahapalanaya regime and you are now under the control of the previous criminal regime. Is this not true? What is the other explanation for you to seek another 2 years for you to fool the people again?

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    Oi Samare.

    What about the 5.8 Million Sinhala Buddhist Rural poor in the main, who were living in peace after 30 year Tamil Terrorism and making a decent living with even manual jobs from Dondra to Point Pedro?.

    I bet you made this Speech in English.

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      KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera

      “I bet you made this Speech in English.”

      Why?

      Mangala Samaraweera says:

      “We have a long list of unresolved cases. Several such cases are being investigated by the CID. I must appreciate their efforts. Those persons who ordered and carried out unlawful criminal acts against innocent individuals must be brought to books. It must be reminded at this august assembly that people of this country will never again let such crimes to be repeated, that marks a dark period when we lost Sri Lanka’s long preserved reputation as a free and democratic country.”

      How far back he wants the investigation to go? Did he tell you the rough period?

      Do you agree with me the investigation should cover the period from 5th April 1971 to 8th January 2015?

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    Prevention of Terrorism Act will be renamed the Counter Terrorism Act.
    The provisions under the act will probably remain the same.
    This “name changing” will not fool anyone, even the UNHRC or even the UN itself.
    Every thing else too will probably remain the same though in different language.

    The minister is trying to fool the nation and the highly paid corrupt “representatives” of the nation.

    Essentially, it appears that the “new” constitution will amount to “Old Wine in New Bottles”.

    It is high time that Sri Lanka is reported to the UN General Assembly as a country incapable of conforming to the UNHRC resolution, and enforcing Human Rights.

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    Theresa May says she would make UK like Singapore. Tax free- In short it would be money laundering and sale of opium. To do that the first step taken is selling the Commonwealth Nations to Donald Trumps KKK regime and making USA a member of Commonwealth- common factor they say is language.
    While the EU is fully with China and trade with the world. the Silk route train may not arrive in the UK again but go to south Africa via Europe.

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    Correct Mangala……enough is enough indeed………..please go back to your modelling career without further destroying the country…………

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      Hela

      “please go back to your modelling career without further destroying the country”

      Do you intent to stay and destroy what is left in the island?

      FYI

      There is a Hela Province in Papua New Guinea.

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        Hello village bigot of Lanka Get to know what is Brahmin in real sense than the distorted image the greedy world has.

        For the first time in the history of India 2 men of position think alike and are in demand by Modi Toadi

        New Delhi: Ajit Doval, a celebrated officer of Indian intelligence, known for his daring acts, is India’s National Security Adviser (NSA).
        Dr. S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Dr. Jaishankar holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil in International Relations and a M.A. in Political Science. He is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

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        Ignorant veddek…………..

        PS: hela is also a cell type in an immortal cell line used in scientific research. It is the oldest and most commonly used human cell line.

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    Mangala spoke
    “We must stand up to do justice to those who lost their lives, and for those who are yet unborn. We, the fortunate few who have been witness to the agony of our nation, yet survived to tell the story, must now rise up, not just to tell the story but to write that new chapter of our nation’s future journey”.

    Yes, many valuable young lives from both sides of the ethnic spectrum were killed and had gone to “waste”.

    The people like DJ must wake up to communal strife and continued conflicts and what they have achieved during the last 6 decades.

    During 1983 riots almost every city witnessed arson attack on Tamil properties and resulted in ashes. In Hatton high street arsonists were burning the contents of Tamil shops after looting and Sinhalese children of spectators were crying by watching the blaze. The hooligans were saying to the children,

    “why are you crying children we are boring these furniture and contents of the shops and houses for your future so that you will live without encroachment”

    So long as people think that burning or destructing the nation’s wealth whether owned by Tamils or Muslims will heighten the future of their children will live to see the country drips to “the epitome of conflict, pain, sorrow and hopelessness” and goes to waste.

    Mangala says people are mature now but JO and Rajapakse brothers show otherwise.

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    Indeed Sir! This is what I heard today (quoted from a popular daily):
    “we learn that foreigners who visit Sigiriya or the Lion Rock cannot use toilets, which have been in a state of disrepair for a long time. An apparently jerrybuilt public convenience with cesspits overflowing was shown on television the other day. Some members of the cleaning staff were heard telling a group of resentful tourists in a callous manner, ‘Go to the jungle!’ So, these workers and their bosses seem to think decent men, women and children come all the way from faraway lands, spending their hard earned money and pay a hefty entry fee to relieve themselves behind bushes! This is certainly not the way to treat humans whether they are foreigners or Sri Lankans.”
    Are we all heading toward the jungle under Yahapalanaya?

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    Mr. Mangala!
    You sound like the head of a NGO powered by $$$$$.00!
    What are you trying to sell or promote? Did you forget you are a lawmaker and you have the full authority to enact laws in Parliament to rectify, readjust, and resolve issues. That’s your job but what have you (and your party) been doing so far, in addition to enjoying foreign trips, perks, increased salaries, duty free luxury vehicles etc.
    Yes, enough is not enough! Is there any country that you and your prime minister have not visited within the last two years? How much do the tax payers pay for these official leisure trips? Do you know the price of a kilo of Nadu rice and/or of a coconut, and other essentials today? I don’t think so; I know your ‘meals’ are different and I respect your rights;! but don’t you understand that the majority of Sri Lankans ‘eat’ differently. They too say: “enough is enough! and are now waiting for the first election if you hold any under your ‘democratic’ Yahapalanaya?

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    Enough is Enough – for Killings. for Bribery, for lies and false promises.
    Have you genuinely taken steps to implement at least 5% of the UNHRC Resolution. You wait till the last minute and do something to hoodwink the UN and IC.
    The toothless OMP still in paper
    Constitution making dragging for so long
    Corrupt Ministers and Corrupt leaders moving freely
    The election pledge not fulfilled
    What more – to wait for the next election
    same old crooks will come back by hook or by crook
    same old cycle
    voters see only stars
    again wait for next election
    again same crooks comes to power
    enough is enough –

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    [Edited out]

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