By Kumar David –
Prof. Kumar David
Today’s column is of an academic nature, where names are used it is for illustration, not to bestow praise or blame on an individual. If a reader thinks a name inappropriate, substitute another and read on. Though most examples are Sri Lankan the argument is general; it is true mutatis mutandis all over the world. The dynamic may be race, religion, language, caste, colour or tribe or any such separator of a society into identity groups. The key word is identity, charged by history and circumstance.
The view that I am rejecting is the “Good People Bad Politician” (GPBP) thesis. My argument pertains to democratic societies where governments are chosen by popular mandate. It cannot be extended to occupied territories and dictatorships where people are not the agent choosing governments. The thesis is summarised in an email I received recently from an old friend.
I quote: “My firm view is that all ethnic strife is created by politicians and not by the people – people are mere pawns in the game of power politics. In Lanka and India people of different communities and religions lived in harmony until politicians intervened to become ‘Champions’ and agitated communal tensions. In India Jinnah was responsible for the division of the country after Hindus and Muslims joined hands for independence – he even rejected Gandhi’s offer to head the Govt. of a unified India and select his own cabinet. Just see the end result! Can the problems between Indian and Pakistan and the Kashmir issue ever be solved? In Lanka SWRD called for ‘Sinhala Only’, the LTTE for ‘Eelam’ and politicians of both sides kept blowing flames of ethnic hatred”. End quote.
My reply contains the gist of my rejection. Quote: “I disagree with your thesis that the people are good on ethnic or communal issues and corrupted or misled by bad politicians. As a rule it is the opposite. Examples –
1, If in 1956 NM had said “Sinhala Only” and SWRD stood for the other viewpoint, NM would have been PM and SWRD a voice in the wilderness. People chose him who voiced what they wanted and rejected the other. Not the other way round.
2. The B-C Pact and the Dudley-Chelva Agreement were shelved because people did not want to give the said concession. If any leaders refused to oppose the pacts, somebody else would have, and there would have been a landslide to that side. SWRD capitulated to public demands; not the other way round.
3. After the 1983 riots there was a surge of Tamil youth to the Eelam concept; good or bad is beside the point. If Prabaharan did not take it up, Qbakaran or Rbakaran or some other guy would have voiced it. VP would have been side-lined and that guy become mass leader.
4. The Trump Base is not an ideology created by a person called Donald Trump. Certain strong feelings exist in sections of the US population. Whoever gives voice to it gets a mass following. The same goes for white supremacy, global radical-Islam and anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe.
There are deep prejudices among humans on race, religion and culture. Humans are inherently identity driven – except Marxists and truly religious ones. These feelings may have historical-moral justification or may not, but the “communal issue” is not simply a creation of some bad politician; that’s gross oversimplification. The role of the individual in history is limited; they fit into slots created by historical opportunities and social events”. End quote.
I may have, for argument’s sake, overstated my case and ignored the back and forth dialectic of interaction between masses and leders; but I think readers will get my point.
Gota may not be a racist – I don’t know him and his stance in a recent newspaper interview was refreshing. But unless he took the natural-security state line, pandered to the BBS and went along with the highly charged emotions of the Sinhala Buddhist 72%, he could not have won. More seriously he cannot retain the presidency except by playing that tune. This is a moral conundrum and a grave hazard. He is not a Lincoln, Gandhi or Rabin strong enough to defy history; and anyway see what happened to the three of them! Their fate proves my point.
Admittedly today’s column advances a pessimistic thesis. Its purpose is to prepare for a battle that must be fought on the territory of people’s consciousness; do not concede an inch to false culture, racist policies or reactionary ideology. The battle has to be joined with remorseless determination in books and media, schools and colleges, temples and mosques and in every conversation. It is a battle humanity cannot afford to lose.
Kabalgooratna / December 4, 2019
Gontabaya is in a fix. He has to appease USA (his country), India, Pakistan, China, anti-Muslim sentiments, anti-Tamil sentiments and Sinhala racism. He cannot do all this at the same time. There are other challenges too.
/
Dinuk / December 4, 2019
Dr. Kumar: Weaponizing etho-religious identity politics and difference is an old strategy of colonialism and big state geopolitics.
Like most post-colonial states Sri Lanka had problems between majority and minorities, but these problems were militarized and weaponized by the regional wanna be superpower – India with RAW and IB of course with the help, of corrupt politicians and puppet regimes – UNP governments. 1983 Pogrom under JRJ and the Ester Carnage under RW happened on UNP watch.
Now the failed superpower / rogue state is weaponising Islam and Buddhism in Lanka to set up military “lily pad” bases aka servicing hubs in the US owned IS Caliphate in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka for which the Easter Sunday carnage was staged – also to pass SOFA and MCC compact fast!
/
Dinuk / December 6, 2019
In other words, post-colonial ethnic tensions and riots were Weaponized and turned into a War with SL military and paramilitary groups by India and fueled with the EU diaspora and Human rights doublespeak, until the USA decided that war must end in Lanka, so the Uncle Sam could set up its lily pads and logistic hubs in Lanka to threaten China and the rise of Asia from the Indian Ocean.
/
Toplan Sambol / December 4, 2019
Kabalagooratna – “Gontabaya is in a fix……..” Gotler can enlist the services of safron robed Venereal Gandasara. Problem solved!
/
Raghu / December 4, 2019
We will wait n see
How Gota deals arising issues.
Tamils is working towards their freedom by lobbying support is da only solution to the issue
/
Amarasiri / December 4, 2019
Prof Kumar,
EVen the British politicians seem to have trouble expressing clearly what they mean, in their own language.
Clarifying the UK’s Conservative Party’s stance with regard to its reference to Sri Lanka in its election manifesto, senior party officials said the reference is applicable only to the Middle East but not to Cyprus or Sri Lanka.
n this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Relations wishes to state that a paragraph on page 53 of the Conservative Party manifesto which refers to Sri Lanka is worded as follows:
‘We will continue to support international initiatives to achieve reconciliation, stability and justice across the world, and in the former conflict zones such as Cyprus, Sri Lanka and the Middle East, where we maintain our support for a two-state solution;’
Subsequent to representation by the Sri Lanka High Commissioner through the above submission as well as through outreach to senior representatives of the Conservative Party, the Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party Paul Scully issued the following clarification on the subject to the High Commissioner by his email communication of 27 November 2019:
‘The party’s position regarding Sri Lanka has not changed. To be absolutely clear, the two-state line in the section was intended to refer only to the Israel-Palestine situation in the Middle East (as is stated policy). The commitments to Sri Lanka and Cyprus were simply about continuing existing efforts to support peace and reconciliation in divided societies.’
/
Uthungan / December 5, 2019
Amarasiri
It was Lord Naseby who was commissioned for the job by SL.
I wonder how Deputy Conservative Chair Paul Scully get pitched in to do a shoddy job in explaining his Party’s position by linking the Israel-Palestinians issue with SL’s?
/
Native Vedda / December 5, 2019
Kabalgooratna
–
No there is tried and tested ways and means to stay put in power,
Trigger panic button, cause paranoid thoughts, deprive the people of all happy news, ban optimism, ……………….. and let loose the saffron brigade, armed forces, state sponsored thugs, …. against the minorities and liberals. Though Gota can’t fix it however he could survive any and all oppositions.
–
Start with finding arms in the North East and Mosques, Temples, …..
Single handed general Kalam is in a good position to organise it.
–
wannihami, Taraki, somass ….. are waiting for a proper riot to start for them to save the minories.
/
N. Ethirveerasingam / December 4, 2019
Kumar.
You have given voice to what most people think is the problem. The people – in Srilanka, it is the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. There is a sociological principle that states that, when there is a threat to a group -ethnic, religious or linguistic – thee group coalesce to defend itself. When the external threat is no longer there the group breaks up. Robert Ardle in his book, “Territorial imperative” has given a narrative of the origin of the problems humans face.
A principle of Chaos theory states that a whole is composed of parts which is a whole in itself which is in turn composed of parts and so on.
The groups of communities are all whole in itself and they are all parts of a whole and so on. When one part thinks it is a whole and have no parts, the other part thinks the same they both try to destroy each other. Each group create their leaders to destroy or assimilate the other.
/
Amarasiri / December 4, 2019
Prof. Kumar David,
RE: Ethnic Conflict: The Problem Is The People
“Gota may not be a racist – I don’t know him and his stance in a recent newspaper interview was refreshing. But unless he took the natural-security state line, pandered to the BBS and went along with the highly charged emotions of the Sinhala Buddhist 72%, he could not have won. More seriously he cannot retain the presidency except by playing that tune. This is a moral conundrum and a grave hazard. He is not a Lincoln, Gandhi or Rabin strong enough to defy history; and anyway see what happened to the three of them! Their fate proves my point.”
“Religion is the opiate of the masses”- Philosopher( lover of wisdom) Karl Marx.
Yes, Gotabaya latched into the Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism” ideology, and got 72% of the Sinhala “Buddhists” ( not Tamil Buddhists, where are they?), mean IQ 79, to vote for him, implying that the Muslims and the Tamils are the bad guys, the enemy. It is like the boy who cried Wolf. Bandaranaika cried the Sinhala wolf Gotabaya the Buddhist wolf. At the end, they all have to deliver. The productivity mist go up and the economy must grow. The number of Ministers was cut in half, but still there are many crooks, and many more opportunities for them to steal.
If Gotabaya mends his Mafiso ans Rajapaksa Waffen SS ways, and concentrate on productivity, instead of stealing wholesale, as before, he may make progress, and make the lazy to work a little harder and more productively. Of course, he has to put his Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhism”, that is a distortion of Buddhism and an insult to the Buddha, aside, irrespective of what the imbeciles, mean IQ 79, agitate for.
/
Spring Koha / December 4, 2019
If my memory serves me right, after every public atrocity there was a public surge in demand for the death penalty to be carried out. But saner political heads resisted. Therein lies the conundrum. Do the people drive the politicians, or does the politician sell his agenda and bring the people round to his way of thinking. Discuss.
/
Ethel Nanayakkara / December 4, 2019
Indeed in a society where the politician and the religious leader are held in the greatest esteem and believed to be gods themselves, the people basically feed from their hands. A group of us were discussing a current societal issue and two priests who were in discussion basically said “we have to obey our superior and see his/her line of thinking and follow accordingly”….. and so it dribbles down to the people around them. I believe from what I hear and see that the people’s thinking and their values are swayed by strong political and religious leaders. When the two combine and share a common thinking the people, the greater majority, follow blindly. The citizenry were looking for a “strong leader”…to lead them to security and economic prosperity. We wait for and depend on the temple, the mosque and the church to provide us with a sense of spiritual and hence societal security and look on the political leaders to give us rice, dhal and Bombay onions or anything for that matter free….”diyaw” is our clarion call. We do not see or do not want to take on this responsibility for ourselves; for economic prosperity and or security. We as a people fail miserably to understand that we ensure internal security best by compassionate understanding and acceptance of differences and fostering trust and love for each other as one community. In the mean time the politician plays up to this slavish mentality and the one who sells the two needs in the best way wins. I hear this often now” We get the leader and the government we deserve”.
/
Immediacy19 / December 4, 2019
Dr. Kumar David
You are absolutely right in all what you have written. I believe your friend was old enough to speak and write the same thing from 1956. You know where their heart lies.It is typical of Tamilian thinking, speech and writing for 60 years or more. You and I have suffered alike listening to such inanities.
/
Lankan9 / December 4, 2019
what a joke ?
people.do not create problems.
but it is politics.
some monks and some politicians do create it
/
Good Sense / December 4, 2019
Prof. Kum gives four examples to illustrate that it is not the leaders alone that propel an ideology or philosophy of governance but people do contribute largely towards it and he further asserts that had not a vote seeking leader panders to these public requirements he or she would not be elected to office. Now, the requirements of the people are generally hazy. It is the leader, on occasion, who would propel an idea in the nature of a promise to capture feelings of the people. I was not an adult when SWRD Bandaranaike became the premier. But I am informed that a considerable opinion was built that the working of the Government being in English lead to a situation where people did not understand what was going on. To address that what was proposed was the Official Languages Act. Although that was an electoral bait the reality is that it created more chaos than a solution to a problem and in fact the problem was not solved too. Take the case of housing issues. In 1970’s a set of laws were enacted apparently pandering to the needs of political philosophy as well as some public concerns on housing. Did it really solve the issue? NO, it created more problems and the main issue was hardly solved. Hitler pandered to the hazy needs of the people and got elected to office and the public never suspected that he was a megalomaniac. Did the German (Aryans) wanted the Jews incinerated? CERTAINLY NOT. The reality therefore is it is neither the people who are bad nor the leaders with principles. It is the crooked mind that exploits a situation for electoral / popular gain and propose a solution which is neither here nor there should be described as bad.
/
Hema Senanayake / December 4, 2019
Prof. Kumar,
You suggested that, “…prepare for a battle that must be fought on the territory of people’s consciousness; do not concede an inch to false culture, racist policies or reactionary ideology. The battle has to be joined with remorseless determination in books and media, schools and colleges, temples and mosques and in every conversation. It is a battle humanity cannot afford to lose.” I agree.
We, the people need to be truthful, to begin this battle.
Hema.
/
Unreal / December 4, 2019
This is like telling that the fault is with the child and not with the elders who brought him up.
* The ‘If NM had said “Sinhala Only”’ argument. The argument should be on who corrupted the minds of the people. People were corruptible, but not by themselves corrupt.
* The B-C Pact and the Dudley-Chelva Agreement argument. They were shelved because the opportunistic politicians of the opposing camp wanted them shelved, not because the people were against those.
* If Prabaharan did not take it up argument. Here we are ignoring History, – A history written by politicians, not by the people.
* The Trump Base is not an ideology created by a person called Donald Trump argument. Trump made good use of a climate the other politicians had paved for him. People are not looking for a Trump even today.
/
Kumaran / December 4, 2019
I recall in 1977 when the then UNP government under JRJ had the power and the opportunity to end this “ethnic divide”, initially doing away with the ‘Sinhala Only’ act, they just ignored the signs. This led to the Indian involvement, by their proxy the R.A.W and by 1982 the situation was serious. Yet JRJ ignored the issue hoping it will pass away. Then the events of ‘Black July’, Tamil exodus, etc till finally MR/GR took the step to finish off the LTTE but failed to reconcile the two ethnic groups. To end the “war” they had to involve China and now there is a Chinese presence which one day will be substantial. Because of our failure to resolve our own problems, we have almost every Western country, the U.S., India and China waiting like sharks to plunder us.
/
Ameer Ali / December 4, 2019
AA
One question, Prof. David. Can you explain what you meant by ‘people’.
/
D. P. / December 5, 2019
AA,
Is the class conflict a product of “people” or of “politicians”?
/
MJA / December 4, 2019
Dr David, a very rudimentary but true to the core analysis. Remember JRJ’s famous proclamation after the 1983 Riots! “ I have to give into the natural
Inspiration of Sinhala people”.
On a separate issue even when the likes of Colvin had political
Power without any cry from the people he included a special place for Buddhism in the 1972 constitution which will be impossible to remove now if we want to move to a secular constitution. MJA
/
Sinhala_Man / December 6, 2019
Rather arbitrarily I’ve decided to make this comment here, and not elsewhere! We all make little mistakes, but not all are pointed out!
.
JRJ would have said, the “the natural aspirations of the Sinhala people”.
.
Depending on what sort of person MJA is he may be grateful to me, or I may have made an eternal enemy.
.
It also depends on whether he ever comes back to see what feed-back he has got. As for me, I’m not trying to be one up on him, but hope he’ll like to have learnt something new.
.
The comments by “Good Sense” are always thought-provoking, but the past tense of “lead” is “led”. Or has the English Language changed since I was a school-boy?
/
S. C. Pasqual / December 4, 2019
Solution is simple then.
/
We will tell our president to remove the problematic problem.
/
Native Vedda / December 5, 2019
S. C. Pasqual
–
“Solution is simple then. / We will tell our president to remove the problematic problem.”
–
Definitely, he will remove the problem by sending a white van or with “final solution”.
/
Dodo / December 4, 2019
KD: how wrong you are!
The so called ethnic and religious conflicts in Sri Lanka have been largely fueled by external parties who have Weaponized ethnic and religious differences to suit their geopolitical ambitions.
Indira Gandhi and India’s RAW set up the LTTE and other armed Tamil groups and weaponized ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka,. All post-colonial nations have had majority-minority tensions but they do not lead to war unless there is an external hand in it.
The 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom and riots like the anti-Muslim Easter Sunday carnage targeting Christians by this year was promoted and enabled by US backed UNP governments. And the Weaponization of Muslim-Buddhist and Mulsim-Hindu conflicts is on-going to de-stablize the rise of Asia and China by the former superpower now a rogue state with over 800 military bases and “lily pads” including in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka where the IS Caliphate is located.
Let us not forget that the ISIS was set up my the CIA with Saudi and Mossad after the invasion of Iraq and promoted to de-stablize the world and sell US weapons and militarize the plant
/
Native Vedda / December 5, 2019
Dodo
–
I think you will have to DO a lot of catching up to DO.
/
Jay Chambers / December 4, 2019
Lankan Sinhalese voted for the ersatz candidate in the previous Presidential election and they paid a huge price. They realized that efficiency, safety and security comes at a price. The price was to tolerate nepotism with an avuncular President who presents himself as the father to the new born post LTTE nation. In the Lankan tagraggery they see a thaumaturge in Gotaby, who earned is by projecting a steely outlook of a martinet and couples that with spotless efficiency in whatever he handles. He is also an obvious disciplinarian and seems to have total self discipline as well. Brahmin Indian leadership is ecstatic to finally have an obvious bovine friendly vegetarian as the Lankan president instead of the usual nihilist that apes the West that seem to be the best that Lanka can produce. A sense of religious fervor engulfs the upper Hindu echelons to see Lanka on a path towards a greater Buddho-Hindutva weltanschauung. With the Buddhist coming together around a respectable leader Lanka is in their eyes on a convergent path with Hindustan.
And that is a wonderful things for Lanka and a dreadful thing for the Moslem hordes who want to destroy Lanka. Destiny has delivered a beautiful surprise to Lankans and they should seize the opportunity and develop the country to take it to the level of a developed country.
/
Muhandiram / December 4, 2019
Mr David, may be Gota ” pandered to the BBS and went along with the highly charged emotions of the Sinhala Buddhist 72%, “.
But What happened in India where Hindutva reigns supreme? The political voice of the Hindutva, the BJP, tasted power for the first time in 1996 for just 13 days, followed by 13 months in 1998-1999 and from 1999 to 2004. On all these occasions, it was a BJP led coalition. In 2014, the BJP captured power on its own and Hindutva Menace in India, led by Modi, seems Unstoppable.
How did the transformation of India, from a secular country till 1996 to a Hindutva Menace since then, take place? Did the Indian people change by themselves or did Modi and his gang convert the huge secular Indian nation?
/
VADC / December 4, 2019
Pakistan became jihadi state in 1956 and India became hindutva state in 1996 feel the difference
/
Lester / December 4, 2019
— 1, If in 1956 NM had said “Sinhala Only” —-
Let’s ask this question, is Sinhala Only a racist policy? Consider the United States, where the official language is only English. In Sweden, Swedish. In Norway, Norwegian. In England, English. In Germany, German. So statistically speaking, Sinhala Only is not a racist policy.
— The B-C Pact and the Dudley-Chelva Agreement were shelved because people did not want to give the said concession. —-
Chelva’s real motivation was a separate state for Tamils. That is why he put his name to the Vaddukodai Resolution. Chelva being an opportunist, had a binary perspective, with neither choice being feasible. What he did is force the hand of the Sinhalese by provoking them to act violently.
— After the 1983 riots there was a surge of Tamil youth to the Eelam concept; good or bad is beside the point —
As early as 1921, Tamils were asking for a separate state in India. In this sense, Tamils are similar to Jews. The nationalist perspective encompasses racial superiority and the notion of a homeland (in the Sinhalese counterpart, the homeland is there, while the racial bias is missing).. As a youth, Prabhakaran was familiar with the anti-Hindi/anti-Aryan agitations in India. He deluded himself into believing he was the head of some revolutionary Tamil movement.
But unless he took the natural-security state line, pandered to the BBS and went along with the highly charged emotions of the Sinhala Buddhist 72%, he could not have won.
Can a Sinhalese become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu? Probably not. It is disingenuous to claim Sinhalese are racists because of three race riots and a language act, when Tamil culture is endowed with a fundamental bias in the form of caste (that also takes on racial elements).
/
chiv / December 4, 2019
Mr. David is it the chicken or the egg came first ??????. My view on Lanka is most if not all , politicians are rogues and the public is so immoral they enabled this vicious cycle, by keep electing them, based on race/religion. As I said if HK public voted for “what is good for the whole nation our retards voted for what is misery to others/minority”. (in simple words “screw the minority”)
/
Sunil Abeyratne / December 4, 2019
Hello chiv,
It is not easy to understand why UNP lost the traditional Sinhalese votes, but to conclude that the Sinhalese voted to “screw the minority” is a gross simplification. Easter bombings may have reminded Sinhalese of LTTE terror and the associated fear, which could have been a factor. A detailed analysis (what Prof David did in a previous column) is needed to understand the drivers.
/
D. P. / December 4, 2019
KD,
The beginning para delighted me. My thinking after reading the first couple of paras was: OMG, KD is finally getting out of his Marxist straight-jacket to see actual human nature”. But, all my hopes dashed once I saw him confining his “new revelation” of the opposite of “good people – bad politician” model only to non-authoritarian Gvts. Once KD fall into the trap of simplistic dichotomy to explain a problem arising from a complex human nature, he is doomed!
–
As a matter fact, KD is using two dichotomies in his failed model: The first is the stated one (bad people – good politician) and the unstated second is the authoritarian states vs others. One simple question can debunk both models: If the problem lies among the people why separate politicians and certain types of Gvts – Aren’t they all made of “people”? How could KD explain Myanmar and Chinese regimes harassing Muslims?
–
Of course, there is an answer to this question of why racial discrimination is so widespread and I tried to present my explanation in several responses to various related essays. Simply put, tendency to discriminate is in all of us. It is a product instinct we inherited from little over half billion years old evolution – “survival of the fittest”. Race, color, religion, language, etc are all used as tools for the same purpose. But, I agree with KD’s last sentence: A good training to observe higher level of social norms & ethics such as respecting basic HR can keep these kind of raw instincts in control. For example, sex is one of the prime need but, unlike our ancestors, we no longer don’t do in public. Gahandi may have loved India but he had a burning rage against Whites since he was thrown out of the train in S Africa.
/
✍Fahim Knight / December 4, 2019
Dear Professor Kumar David,
No one could have given a perfect analysis than what you have done.
I have in the past said once or more , that it is we the people as a whole who is responsible for the state of affairs in this Country , we created the political culture and the politicians we have today.
I really appreciate you bringing up Jinna’s decision.
There is one thing and which is the only thing the new President may be able to do and he may be able to if everyone cooperates.
1) offer amnesty to all past
criminals and compensate the families ( I can not see any other way of squeezing the balloon without the other end bulging out)
Then when it comes to government postings, Armed forces ,The police , govermment Housing , Higher education slots , to name a few may be considered by propotion on the Ethnicities percentage.
But he will have to come up with a mechanism that gives The Sinhala Buddhist some sort of supremacy and which will provide an edge above the rest,, this is reality and no single Leader can deny that.
But at the same time while offering more privileges to The Sinhala Buddhist Majority of Sri Lanka,
He must also have a mechanism that genuinely crimilises racism , bigotry of every form, not just religous alone, other minorities freedom to religion and culture they choose must be guaranteed and The right to livelihood without using hate to suppress and sabotage and endorse a non compromising law of Sedation that includes , discrimination of all forms , racism, bigotry; discrimination in all Government and private institutions , mainly in employment, trade and financial sectors .
/
desperatesinhalaya / December 4, 2019
Sir,
You talk about “The battle has to be joined with remorseless determination in books and media, schools and colleges, temples and mosques and in every conversation. It is a battle humanity cannot afford to lose.”.
–
Is that not like asking pigs to fly ?
–
I have given up, because I did not know that over 50% would be that racial, extremistic, stupid and gullible. I thought knew that lankens in general are naive and would do anything pleasing the moment. They dont see forsee. They dont take forseeble actions: Be it them being UNIVERSITY (local) learnt personalities, they would let their back tamed by petty gains. Just imagine that Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe, he just adds to foreign media that Lasantha or Eknaligoda murders were acts of FM General Sarath Fonseka while there are heaps of primafacie evidence or belly feelings to prove that rascal Rajakahes would do even today most misterious high crimes. They just dont care about the feelings, but their personal gains. ‘-
–
And how can they ” refer” the PM designee as the current day PM without getting it passed in the parliament ? Latter is the constitutionally valid procedure or not ? If not them to be respected, why do we have at all a CONSITITUTION ?
–
People on the streets are utter fools, They are being focused by SOCIAL and TV media channels to show how people today feel about the current govt …… actually, the president elected appointed same batch of thugs, including DRUG king pin LANZA from Negambo, to whom people in that area would come forward to stone throw and kill him and etal for all the high crimes the bugger has been perpetrating in his drug trafficking.
/
soma / December 4, 2019
Somehow what the Prof. wants to convey is all people are bad, Sinhala Buddhists are badder.
–
Soma
/
Native Vedda / December 5, 2019
somass
–
“Somehow what the Prof. wants to convey is all people are bad, Sinhala Buddhists are badder.”
–
The Sinhala/Buddhist Fascists are even worser.
–
/
K.A. Sumanasekera / December 4, 2019
I think I am lost here..
–
Dr Ranil wanted to bring his Federal thing and Partition the country into Sinhala Buddhist, Sinhala Catholic , Tamil and Muslim Enclaves which can be ruled by the UNP Elite and the Anglicans for ever.
-.
They didn’t even really want the UNP Deputy Leader from Keselwatta . the ex UNP President’s Puthano Sajith Premadasa to contest the Election..
-“
Dr Ranil was trying to even stitch up “deeds” at the 11th hour, to give 12,000 Acres of our Mahavamsa Land. American MCC.
–
The whole Sinhala community who are not UNP were desperate to get liberated from Dr Ranil and his crooked Political Band who hammered them left .right and center, robbing their National Wealth, Insulting their Religious Leaders, and even threatening to hang their Political Leaders in the second phase of Yahapalanaya.
–
Could Nandesean come and say . OK Dr Ranil and Keselwatta Kid?..,
–
“But dear inhabitants please vote for me”…
/
Native Vedda / December 5, 2019
KASmaalam K.A. Sumanasekera
–
“Dr Ranil wanted to bring his Federal thing and Partition the country into Sinhala Buddhist, Sinhala Catholic , Tamil and Muslim Enclaves which can be ruled by the UNP Elite and the Anglicans for ever.”
–
Perhaps he might have thought of preventing a Sinhala/Buddhist Fascist Ghetto being built in this island.
/
thamizh / December 4, 2019
“Gota may not be a racist – I don’t know him and his stance in a recent newspaper interview was refreshing.”
It looks like Kumar David is now in the process of normalizing Gota. If you don’t know him, then ask the kith and kin of the ‘disappeared’.
It is true Gota alone is not the problem. The problem is both structural and deeply rooted insecurities/prejudices.The battle should not just be fought in the territory of ‘people’s consciousness’, at schools and places of worship but also at the structural level/power hierarchy. Mere conversations alone don’t tackle issues of injustice.
/
AshyD / December 4, 2019
Very rightly said, it is not the people but politicians who brought upon all that we reap today. We could start by terminating the division of our beloved country at GRADE ONE in schools.
The presently practiced ethnically divided schools should stop if we are to see a semblance of unity in our country.
It would take a few years down the road with some apprehensions to contend with but when all ethnic communities, castes, and creed are put together into one classroom things would get better.
We studied in such an environment and today have friends spread all over the world and in our blessed country from different ethnics sharing diverse views, whilst giving proof to that old adage “Unity in Diversity”.
WE have just elected a President who is seen as an unorthodox, no nonsense and pragmatic leader, if he could deliver what exactly our country needs we could be the “Miracle of Asia” but if he fails too, there would not be anyone following who would have his charisma to put our country RIGHT.
WE JUST NEED TO LIVE IN HOPE.
/
Anoosh / December 4, 2019
Politicians should play main role in ethnic conflict with the support of the people as well.
/
ajith / December 4, 2019
Put the blame on the people is common principle of the Sinhala opportunistic leadership. It is the politicians who create fear about minorities. When Chandrika came with a two -third majority they didn’t block Chandrika. When Mahinda promised 13+ Sinhalese did not object and gave him the mandate to go beyond 13+. When Ranil went to peace accord with LTTE and GL Peries signed an agreement with LTTE they agreed to find a solution based on federal. It is the opportunistic power greedy politicians create fear among Sinhalese about minorities. If Pirabhaharan agreed with Rajiv Gandhi he would have get Eelam now. Instead he helped Srilanka by getting rid of Indian military which came with the motive of creating Eelam with the slave government headed by Varatha raja perumal who is now with Gota.
/
Eagle Eye / December 4, 2019
• Chelvanayagam who was born in Malaya and entered Sinhale illegally is the father of ethnic conflict in this country. He is the one who asked for an ‘Exclusive Zone in North East’ for Demalu.
• Ponnambalam who asked for 50:50 when Demalu was only 10% of the population is the other person responsible for the ethnic conflict.
• Both these racist bigots gave the impression to ordinary Demala people that Sinhalayo are their main enemy. Wellala Demala politicians from Malabar continued with this fearmongering among Demala people for their political survival.
• At the 1977 General Election campaign Mangayarkarasi Amirthalingam has told: “Until I have made shoes out of the skin of the last Sinhalese in the South, and worn it, I will have no sleep.”
/
Ajith / December 4, 2019
Eagle Eye,
I don’t know where did you born or who is your mother or father. The way you tell half truth to cover of half lie clearly tells tells youare not born to a true Sinhala parents. SJV Chelva was born in Malaya to Ceylon Tamil parents. He did not come illegally to Srilanka unlike American citizen Gotabaya came illegally.
Ponnambalam asked for 50:50 to say that no one dominate on each other. In other words it is about equality.
Tamils never ever get an impression that Sminhalyo are enemies and they never attacked Sinhala civilians.
It is Sinhala leaders told tamils are “Kallathonies” and it is Sinhalese thugs like people like you who drilled eyes of Tamils in prison, burnt kids and elderly in the day light in the streets.
/
Sunil Abeyratne / December 5, 2019
Hello Ajith,
People are getting desperate!
Gota is the son of D. A Rajapaksha – a true native of Sri Lanka and US citizenship is just a label. It is of absolutely no consequence.
Do you have evidence to support (1) Sinhalese thugs drilled eyes of Tamils who were prisons and (2) burnt kids and elderly in day light?
This is the kind of stuff promoted in the country I live. The diaspora has been very successful in shaping Western thinking that Sinhalese are criminals killing innocent Tamils.
In fact, the converse is true. There is evidence of LTTE killing babies and slaughtering adults.
1983 was ugly but many Sinhalese protected the Tamils.
It is smart to have a balanced opinion and promote harmony without widening the differences between communities.
/
Eagle Eye / December 5, 2019
Ajith,
“Ponnambalam asked for 50:50 to say that no one dominate on each other. In other words it is about equality.”
—
Ponnambalam asked for 50:50 not only for equality but as a means to control the majority Native Sinhalayo by ‘Para’ Demala 10%.
—
“they never attacked Sinhala civilians.”
In case of all ethnic violence since independence, the first stone was thrown by Demalu.
I know a family that lived in Yapanaya operating a boat making industry. In 1958, they were beaten by Demala thugs and their boat-yard was burnt down. They were rescued by Army and brought to Anuradhapura. Mr. Bandaranayake who met them told them not to tell anything that happened in Yapanaya.
—
Sinhalayo use the term ‘Kallathoni’ to refer to people who entered Sinhale illegally. Demalu were brought from Hindusthan to Sinhale illegally by colonial parasites. So there is nothing wrong in calling ‘Kallathoni’ to people who entered illegally.
—
Demalu try to become saints by putting the blame on Native Sinhalayo.
/
Punchinilame / December 5, 2019
E.Eye – What late Mr Ponnambalam meant by 50:50 for the 10% Tamils was and has been
interpreted as Equality, in all respects among the two communities.
BTW do you address your wife as Demalie, in Australia for an old and educated man of your
status – as I have never seen any commentator using this word in CT
/
Siva Sankaran Sharma / December 5, 2019
Ponnambalam’s fifty fifty was 50% representation for all non Sinhalese., not just the Tamils and 50% for the Sinhalese . He asked for this , as he feared the Sinhalese will in future dominate and marginalise all the non Sinhalese and his fears have now been realised. His request was very reasonable at that time , for the Sinhalese were arouinf 65% at the time of independence . and non Sinhalese 35% . If his request had been acceded too or even 45% yo 55% or 40% 60% was granted. We will not be in this mess. The Sinhalese would have never become a nasty overbearing majority bent on marginalising the Tamil minorities , and the minorities would have been protected. The Sinhalese know the truth but as usual are deliberately distorting the truth , to make fun of the Tamils and Ponnamabalam. In all democratic ( the civilised ones) the minorities are given a higher percentage of representation in the parliament and elsewhere ( eg public service ) . This is done to safeguard them, In Sri Lanka it is the opposite. The majority take everything and the minorities nothing. Even the little rights and possessions they have is forcibly taken of them in the name of Sinhalese Buddhist Fascism
/
Mallaiyuran / December 5, 2019
“Until I have made shoes out of the skin of the last Sinhalese in the South, and worn it, I will have no sleep.”
It is sad Eagle; if it were me , I would never tell walking on the last lion’s skin. She never walked on the skin of a Lion so she didn’t know how soft it is to walk on a lion’s skin. It was a mistake she was proposing to wipe off the Wildlife Sanctuary, SinhaLE lanakwe. People should tell to breed more wild lions in Lankawe and export the skin all over the world.
” Wellala Demala politicians from Malabar continued with this fearmongering among Demala people ” If you really don’t want Tamils to be scared of you, can you call yourself wild deerhalaya instead of Wild Sinhalaya? Do you know that the Kathirkamam Murugan’s consort, Valli is the daughter of a deer? That is how Tamils want their image perceived; graceful, compassionate, beautiful, charming, adorable…… For some wild reasons, your Heroes are Dutugamunu (Notorious Gemunu), Anagarika Dharmapala (Uncivilized Dharmapala). Our heroes are Manuneethi Kanda Cholan, (Cholan who established human rights) Pon Ramanathan (Golden man Ramanathan), Thanthai Chelva (pleasant-or amazing wealth- Father; Chelva or Chelvan is something like Siri in Sinhala) …. Why do you want to call yourself as Eagle Eye? In Tamil, Kazhugu Kann(Eagle Eye) means “nosy & slick thief”. Why don’t you call yourself as puffin or parrot or peacock?
(Stupid Eagle Modaya, where and when did you dream it as Mangayarkarasi said it? It was K. M. P. Rajaratne, who said that he wanted to walk on Tamils’ skin in 1950s. You sound like apparently who don’t who that Wild Animal was. Read about him in the Wikipedia. He was another Avatar of Wijeweera. Mangayarkarasi comes to stages mainly to sing freedom songs with her beautiful voice. In latter days, delivered small speeches too. Amirthalingam is the master orator next to Ramanathan, Ceylon ever saw).
/
Ayathuray Rajasingam / December 4, 2019
I think the problemis are with the ruling politicians. They are only concerned of accumulation of country’s assets on various pretexts. The ruling politicians are clever in deviating the burning issue affecting the people. Even now when Modi wanted the implementation of the 13th Amendment Gota is reluctant and twisting it with economic developemnt. Even for economic development the Provincial Councils should be empowered relating to land. Knowing that it is difficult, he has turned towards China on leasing Kachchativu on the pretext of economic development. Just imagine the assets accumulated by Rajapaksa’s family which is sufficient for developing the economy. Forbes Report says that Mahinda’s wealth is valued at about $ 18,000 million. Apparently why can’t the religious dignitaries also engage themselves in developing the economy. The politicians and religious extremists are only engaged in inflaming communal cries. India has already shown the Sri Lankan politicians the role that would be played by the Provincial Councils for the development of the country’s economy.
/
Suranga Gunasekera / December 5, 2019
Sri Lankan is our Identity. Most politicians can only appeal to a devided nation.
..
You can’t be a proper leader without inclusiveness, compassion and collaboration.
..
Nelson Mandela is a good example for anyone who is looking for leadership.
..
Our ship has only a fraction of diversity, compared to many developed nations.
..
Yet we can’t steer it to green pastures. This is a clear indication of lack of leadership.
..
With proper leadership we can all have a communal goal. Hence, we will have one identity.
/
Sinhala_Man / December 6, 2019
Hi, Suranga,
.
Spelling, “divided”.
.
By the way, I’m now seventy-one years old, and not gifted with the ability to please everybody. I’m wondering whether to try to correct the alma mater problems. In most things, unless the chances of succeeding are good, it’s best not really to make a start at all.
.
I wish that you’d communicate directly with me.
.
Your comment is a thoughtful and useful one.
/