Families of the disappeared protesting at the Trincomalee Bus Station have been attacked by masked men on International Human Rights Day, even as President Mahinda Rajapaksa jetted off for South Africa on Monday night to attend the funeral of former South African President and anti-racism icon, Nelson Mandela.
Secretary MOD
The demonstrators at the bus station were set upon by a group of masked men and attacked with several sustaining injuries.
Convenor of the demonstration Sundaram Mahendran was injured in the attacks and hospitalised, according to Tamil media reports.
“Go and hold your protests in Jaffna. The east is ours,” the attackers told demonstrators according to a Tamil newspaper.
Sri Lanka has the most number of enforced disappearances in the world, next only to Iraq.
nimal dunuhinga / December 10, 2013
Life imprisonment!
*Mandela was a controversial figure for much of his life. Denounced as a Marxist terrorist by critics, he nevertheless gained international acclaim for his activism, having received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin and the Bharat Ratna. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata (“Father”); he is often described as “the father of the nation”.
Those who jailed him
on and off
still live in their prisons
of idiosyncrasies
he frees himself
and bids Goodbye!
nimal p.dunuhinga
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Ben Hurling / December 10, 2013
Rajapassa clan has no shame! Who attacks people protesting in search of their loved ones? South Africa please declare our King visiting your country for Mandela’s funeral a “persona non-grata”. Disgraceful!
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Dude / December 11, 2013
The masked men are GOTA the GOON’s militia – Special Forces they are called – in Trinco they are Karuna’s Goon’s too..
Mahinda Rajapakse MUST be STRIPPED of the post of Chair of the Commonwealth of Nations (which has become a laughing stock of the world and is now called the Commonwealth of Clowns) for violation of Human Rights, war crimes and destruction of democratic institutions in Sri Lanka. The RIGHT TO INFORMATION has been consistently violated and denied the people of Sri Lanka and a petition will be made by media organizations and civil society groups to the Commonwealth of Nations to STRIP Rajapassa of the post of Chair for the destruction of the RIGHT TO INFORMATION and DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS of Sri Lanka
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manisekaran / December 11, 2013
Is n’t that people like you deviate to compare other countries situations when the suffered one raised voice ?
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Ben Hurling / December 11, 2013
Manisekaran, Actually it is people like Rajapassa. Who would use anything to remain in power. Including violence, religion & nationalism. And of course people like you too. Who made sure perverted ethno Tamil nationalism thrived in our country from afar. Please wage your racist struggle in Tamil Nadu against New Delhi. Leave tiny Sri Lanka in peace. Cheers!
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Native Vedda / December 11, 2013
Ben Hurling ……… “Actually it is people like Rajapassa. Who would use anything to remain in power. Including violence, religion & nationalism.” ………… Do you think so………… This is the continuation of 1915, failure of Ceylon National Congress, Anagarika Dharmapala’s (homeless one) protestant Buddhism aggravated by the idea of Aryan Sinhala/Buddhist, D S Senanayake’s ethnic cleansing of up country hard working people, Sinhala Only Act, and millions of other things. ………………. State building was focussed on how it should exclude non Sinhala/Buddhist within the power structure and deny access to state resources from 1948. …………. As the cumulative result of what the state did/din’t do you are being blessed with the Clan which is the total embodiment of Sinhala/Buddhist greed, arrogance and stupidity. ……….. Don’t complain the clan it is the end product you are working so hard to achieve for very many years. ……… If you can’t resist/oppose them please sit back, relax and enjoy their thoughts, words and acts.
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Ben Hurling / December 11, 2013
Wow Native, Wanna’give you a standing ovation for submitting the above list. However, I am compelled to restrain myself. Until I see a list of misdeeds by our Dravidian brethren as well. As well known, it takes two to Tango. Cheers!
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Native Vedda / December 11, 2013
Ben Hurling ……. Dravidians are your brethren, not mine. I have been giving them complete range of their misdeeds time to time. How sad you conveniently missed them. ……. You are rest assured they are not exempted from their misdeeds nor have I absolved them from war crimes. …….. Both the stupid Sinhalese and their brethren the stupid Tamils will have to repent before they can come back to civilisation as we know it.
…………. Please refer my past comments in Tamil Canadian, Transcurrent, DBS Jeyaraj and CT……..
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manisekaran / December 11, 2013
Yeah Ben, it was me from another world forced Mr and Mrs Banda to take stand against minority tamils, yeah it was me who made JRJ to say that ” If I starve tamils, my people will be happy”, yes, it was my forces which raped many tamils and killed , set on pyre, it was my action which made 6 year Praba to take oath to eleimate sinhalese and go mad, it was me who made IPKF to land silly lanka, it was me who made LTTE to grow stronger aginst IPKF by providing arms.. the list goes endless Mr.Ben, then how abour your list of confessions?
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Ben Hurling / December 11, 2013
Manisekaran, Here is the point your tiny brain may never get. GOSL since Independence have mistreated all our citizens. Both Sinhalese and Tamil. Tamils bore the brunt of this mistreatment due to seperatist ideology. I am not white washing our crimes. Let me remind you though. You guys trained and armed the blood thirsty LTTE to satisfy perverted ethno Tamil nationalism in Tamil Nadu. And destroyed our country for 30 years. Now you are busy stealing from the only livelihood left for northern Tamils of Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu fishing fleet with big money investments from powerful & greedy politicians are raping the seabed all around northern Sri Lanka. Quit shedding crocodile tears. Go do something about that. Cheers!
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Native Vedda / December 11, 2013
Ben Hurling ……… “GOSL since Independence have mistreated all our citizens. Both Sinhalese and Tamil.” ……… Please answer my niggling question. Who have been electing government? Who have been manning the bureaucracy? Who did draft the constitutions? Who have been electing the opposition? Who have been the main components of armed forces? Who first ethnically cleansed up country hard working people? Did the Tamils enforced Sinhla only language policy? Who did arm the LTTE? When did the Tamils take up arms? Was it before or after 5th April 1971? ……….. I have another 1001 who questions. This is just enough for the time being.
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Jeyam / December 12, 2013
Native,
You shut Ben’s big mouth!
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manisekaran / December 12, 2013
Thanks for these question NV.
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Native Vedda / December 13, 2013
manisekaran & Jeyam ……….. ………….Not to worry, I have another 1001 separate questions when posed to stupid Tamils from Tamilnadu and this island they have had no answers. ……… I will pose them again in an inappropriate time.
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Palmsquirrell / December 12, 2013
The Separatist ideology was a reaction to Sinhala pogroms and State sanctioned discrimination. — GOSL mistreatment of Sinahalese was not the same as that against Tamils because the latter was based on ethnic/racial hatred.– In the US, various European powers fought each other but they still saw each other as fellow Whites, whereas they saw the natives as different and inferior.
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sach / December 11, 2013
How do u know it is MR?
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Ben Hurling / December 11, 2013
Sach, Good question. How old are you? 2 years? Cheers!
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sach / December 11, 2013
Dont be so naive ben, Seriously how do you know that it was MR?
Remember there are various forces working against SL. And if you think they dont have assistance from ground it is false. What would MR achieve by this? And who would have the biggest gain?
Between what is my age got to do with it? You are just like a MR stooge who would justify anything he does without using commonsense.
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Binaramali Jaykody / December 11, 2013
How guts MR should have when facing those leaders there ? Either he is a born fool, or a life long actor.. ?
I wonder what goes through his head actually ? Since the CHOGM sarukes (Circus) made clearer how hard it is for tamils and the Sinhalese with their totalitarian rule…
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Binaramali Jaykody / December 11, 2013
What talks about Rajapaskehs.. they have become a headache to everyone today.
Specially the issues that need more sensitivities are far from their understanding. Much more about them to come in the days ahead of us..
IT SHOULD BE OUR KARMA TO HAVE THIS KIND OF POLITICS IN THE COUNTRY TODAY.
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ed / December 10, 2013
Bloody Rajapaksha’s are ruining the country by corruption,no freedom of expression,no democracy,no transparency,all business, all lands are sold or leased ON COMMISSION base.
We need these culprits INVESTIGATED in HAGUE for war crimes
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Binaramali Jaykody / December 11, 2013
Actually, MR is welcome to such occasions.
Anyway, thick skinned MR seems to be not grasping this. Today, many among international communities compare MR with those of Iran, Syria, Myanmar, North korea, Egypt, Lybia. Intolerance, Human right violations, barbaric killings are the words that come to everyone^s mind when they just heard the word -SRILANKA today… In the past, it was the beautiful island of Bandaranayekas… where the first female PM was born, Ceylon tea is coming from, where several of powerful international figures have been made (Jayantha Danapala, Kadirgamar, Corea etc).
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Binaramali Jaykody / December 11, 2013
I meant the occasions like – remembering day /Mandela.
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Binaramali Jaykody / December 11, 2013
It should be MR is not welcome..
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truth / December 10, 2013
Sri Lankan Govt. said that they have nothing to hide. Then they said not a single civilian was killed!! If they don’t have nothing to hide, why are they obstructing justice?
This man is going to South Africa, not to pay homage to the great soul, but to gather support for his misdeeds from “people like him” from that continent.
Why are these attackers wearing masks? I hope someone will have the courage to Un-mask these killers and find the “so called leaders” responsible for the acts of these paid coolies!!
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Ajith / December 10, 2013
It is obvious who are these unmasked attackers and killers. It is a family business. Over 20 million people in Sri Lanka just watch, listen but afraid to open their mouth. All of them are under hostage.
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sach / December 11, 2013
Just dont talk about a 20 million people to hide your terrorist relations. We neednt your support. Where were u when the barbarians bombed those 20 million with your money?
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Ajith / December 12, 2013
I was there when your Sinhala racist barbarians killed innocents in 1958 until bombed day and night on hospitals, refugee camps, schools, temples in May 2009.
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Palmsquirrell / December 10, 2013
The Max Silvas, Sumanseekeras, Fathimas and others of their ilk will come up with some excuse to say this kind of state sanctioned behavior is ok.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / December 11, 2013
These all names are use by one person . a flea on Dhaja Jarapassas, paid by Dhaja Jarapassas From People’s Tax money.
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Safa / December 10, 2013
Celebration of Human rights day by our regime of Goondas and Thugs. Police as usual the silent bystanders.
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WINSTON DEVALLIERE / December 13, 2013
It was a humanitarian operation. The demonstration was preventing the people from celebrating HR Day !!!!!!Don;t forget that MR vouched for the fact that his government is committed to upholding C”wealth principles. These demonstrators were thwarting that commitment.
WHAT A BLOODY BLOT ON THE MANDELA FUNERAL.
BY THE WAY, I DON’T SUBSCRIBE TO MANDELA’S ACCOMMODATION OF THE WHITES. I THINK HIS SO CALLED ACCOMMODATION WAS BORN OF ECONOMIC NECESSITY AND EVEN NOW, YES, EVEN NOW, NEEDS TO BE REDRESSED. IN MY BOOK, SOUTH AFRICA DOES NOT NEED TO ACCOMMODATE THE WHITES. IT’S SIMPLY GREAT THAT THEY DO DESPITE OTHER UNDERLYING TRUTHS. BUT I DON’T THINK THAT EVEN MANDELA EXPECTED TE EXPERIMENT TO BEAR SUCH FRUIT. AT BEST, THE WHITE-BLACK STATUS QUO IN SOUTH AFRICA WILL REMAIN TENUOUS. IN MY MIND, ACCOMMODATION WAS EXTENDED ONLY BECAUSE OF OTHER EXTRANEOUS CIRCUMSTANCES AND FACTS, WHICH, IF THEY WERE NOT OBTAINING AT THAT TIME,WOULD HAVE SEEN A DIFFERENT POLITICAL STANCE BY MANDELA.
THE FACT IS THAT BACK OF THIS SUCCESS STORY THERE IS A HUGE CHRISTIAN IMPACT BY WHICH EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS HAVE BROUGHT HEALING TO THAT DEVASTATED NATION.AND WHAT THE HELL DID WORLD LEADERS DO ALL THOSE YEARS WHILE MANDELA WAS IN PRISON? SO BLOODY EASY TO ATTEND A FUNERAL IN THE HOPE OF EXTRACTING SOME PERSONAL BENEFIT OUT OF IT. HOW GHASTLY… NOT UNLIKE VULTURES SWOOPING DOWN ON A CARCASS IN THE DESERT !! WHAT MAGGOTS FROM THE DUNG HEAPS OF HUMANITY MASQUERADING AS MEN !!
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kabaragoya / December 10, 2013
Rajapakse going to South Africa exposes the hypocrisy of the man. He was sitting alone with the backs of others turned to him. Obama clearly could be taken as addressing his remarks to the likes of Rajapakse. It would have been water off the thick duck’s back. But, their days are getting numbered. China will not protect the Rajapakse regime. It wants badly to join the West and be seen as in every sense a developed liberal state. We can seen the fun start when the BJP, every bit as Hindu chauvinists as the Sinhala Buddhist, wins in India and wants to ensure the SL does not stray from the Indian sphere of influence. The US will ensure that its human rights policies have bite. It will be best for Rajapakse to lie low than add to the long list of crimes he is committing. LTTE cannot go on providing a justification for these crimes. They are no more.
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Marwan / December 10, 2013
Human Rights – Sri Lanka style. It is obvious the masked attackers are goons of the regime, trying to break up or even limit the International exposure of the large number of unaccounted or missing persons, represented largely by their closest kith and kin. And that too on the day reserved for them – Human Rights Day. Can anything else be worse? The best part is Nimal Siripala says ‘No country in the world has done so much work for promoting and strenghtening the ethnic reconciliation like Sri Lanka’. He says this to the rep of Japanese government Yasushi Akashi.
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sach / December 11, 2013
How do u know the masked men are MR’s people? This doesnt say anything like that. What would MR gain by attacking a protest? At this moment? But who would gain by attack on a protest that too about disappearances.
No one is injured, just a threat!
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Palmsquirrell / December 11, 2013
Rajapaksa regime have absolute control of Sri Lanka.–These people were protesting the disappearances by the GOSL–During CHOGM the Army stopped busload of Tamils from the North-East from coming to Colombo to highlight the issue of disappearances.–Who else benefits from curtailing protests against disappearances.
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sach / December 11, 2013
Rajapakse doesnt have ABSOLUTE control. Even if they have it is still possible for someone not connected to gov to go and threaten a protest rally.
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Saracen / December 15, 2013
Actually it wasn’t instigated by the Rajapaksas but someone from the international community that wants to embarrass Sri Lanka.
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The Penetrator / December 11, 2013
Why is Gotas picture in this article, surely he is not responsible for this kind of behavior?? He is a good secretary who is doing his public duty…
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Saro / December 11, 2013
Gotabaya has everything to do with attacks as we have been witnessing the abductions, torture and rape. In the LLRC report the paramilitaries were specifically mentioned for abductions, having weapons and torture and UN HRC resolutions urge the government to implement them. The excesses committed by military intelligence and paramilitaries are done under heavy presence of the military. Look at the reports of the CaFFE, Commonwealth monitors and UN HRC High Commissioner. They independently conclude the armed forces harassed and assaulted TNA candidates and their supporters even when the government claimed the military were confined to their barracks. Only two weeks back an EPDP high ranking officer was involved in murder with a sofisticated gun. If LLRC recommendations were implemented in time we would have avoided these demonstration breaking, robberies and killing.
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Stewart Sloan / December 13, 2013
Yes Penetrator – and the earth is flat, pigs can fly and nuclear power is safe.
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Attorney Mudliyer / December 11, 2013
This is how Gota operates. Masked as BBS at times; as Thugs or Upasaka at another time. Rajapakses have no human qualities to respect human rights. They are set of thieves.
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Piranha / December 11, 2013
Oppression and violent suppression of genuine grievance and dissent is likely to create another uprising. That may be the only way now the people can kick this regime out and bring democracy back.
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Palmsquirrell / December 11, 2013
Don’t these Rajapaksas realise that they are just exposing themselves to the world.
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radish.S / December 11, 2013
Who could dare to do it in broad day light in the presence of police.Any person with a modicum of knowledge could guess who could have done it. The Police have told the BBC correspondent that investigations are under way. Trincomalee people are familiar with these investigations. In July 1983 all the Tamil shops in the Central Road were demolished by the Navy(Speech by Mr.Sampanthan in the Parliament),the Sivan Temple Chariot was set on fire by the Air Force, In January 2006 five innocent Tamil students were murdered near the Gandhi Statute in front of the beach said to be by the STF according to UTHR(J). In April 2006, 17 Tamil shops and 1 Muslim shop were set on fire suspected to be by off duty Army from Fort Frederik.The then DIG-Eastern Region told a delegation from the Trinco Bar that they know who committed it but since they are from another Force(meaning Army)they are unable to take any action. In August 2oo6, 16 Tamil and 1 Muslim humanitarian workers from the French INGO ACF were murdered by Army according to the then Swedish Head of Mission of SLMM Mr.Henricksen and according to the recent statement from ACF itself from Paris.If you mention every massacre that took place against the Tamils in the Trincomalee District in Muthalikulam (Morawewa), Pankulam, Nilaveli, Thiriyai, Periyaveli, Kiliveddy, Manatchenai, Menkaamam et al from 1983, it will be thousands of Tamilswho lost their lives. Present incident demonstrate the utter disrespect for Human Rights (Freedom of Expression) even on the Human Rights day.That is democracy,Law and order and good governace in Sri Lanka. Over to you Chairman of Commonwealth of Nations and the Guardian of Harare Declaration and Latimer House Principle.
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Saro / December 11, 2013
Well said. Thank you, radish.S. The more the international community know and repeatedly told, better they remember. Even Chinese seemed to have listened to the cries of weeping mothers and wives of disappeared. Mahinda Rajapakse has put himself on the spotlight by being the chairman of the Commonwealth.
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Fathima Fukushima / December 11, 2013
Good work!
Disappeared Tamils deserve it.
Stateless fools.
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Visaka Dharmadasa / December 11, 2013
I am really shocked as a mother of a missing servicemen to learn about this very cowardly act of those whom knew very well that they are engaging in an act which normally not done by human beings that is why they even had to cover their faces. Their act is a shame for not only all Sri Lankan’s but for all humans. People do not just come to streets calling for the government to find their loved ones they come because they have a “RIGHT to KNOW” and the state is bound by “RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT”
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Play Toe -The Philosopher / December 13, 2013
Dear Mrs. Visaka Dharmadasa, Madam/ This means, by your own word,from a mother of a missing soldier, that the truth has to be found out on how so gruesome acts of violence took place all in the name of a RACE>>>>>>>>>>>
The Majority people of self conscious right thinking people have woken up for the reality, the reality the INTERNATIONAL community has woken up long time ago and waiting for the opportune time to check on the crimes.The Indian Lok sabha elections are at the corner of the beginning of next year. Sonia Gandhi is shivering under her white saree (with black record of giving the assassination contract to a bunch of untrustworthy criminals-MR & the gang)due to the BJP’s rise in popularity against her own son Rahul the scion of Gandhi dynasty. BJP has hijacked the accountability issue of Sri lanka with Jeyalalitha. For sure, if BJP won the next Lok Sabha, they will demonstrate the maximum support for the Tamils to woo their support for the formation of the next govt., in India. MR would have already feeling the heat which is emanating from Indian quarters. Because, already India have made deal with China for mutually beneficial partnership and as a result MR will be cut off from their oxygen supply in defense of HR issues in Geneva. So, all in all with the signs already appearing in the local govt., budget flops in more than 15 places in Pradeshiya Sabha’s?Municipal Councils, MR Goon’s days are numbered. SURELY, IN FEW DAYUS TIME WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE UPFA MP in Parliament seeking outside help for an escape from this BONDAGE CALLED MAHINDA CHINTANA – UPFA BLACK MAGIC. Let’s hope for the best for our children’s future.
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A.T.Kumar / December 11, 2013
You cannot expect anything better from Gota and Mara disgaraceful shameless you know what
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james / December 12, 2013
The fool is surpressing our freedom and taking away our wealth. where on earth is pet food less duty than essential food commordities… How dare the Govt tax food.. people need to eat to live… The donkies in Parliment live off our monies, drive the most expensive cars that we have brought for them and not do anything to make our lives better… Praying & wishing that all supporters of the fool get what is due to them seven times over
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james / December 12, 2013
Also they do not care – that is why they are assaulting peaceful demonstrations, destroying homes and targeting individual people who they see as threat to their stay in power… they and the rest are the parasite of this country
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Sri Lankan Muslim / December 13, 2013
Self Destruction of Sinhala People…. :)
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Roshan / December 15, 2013
Yes not Sinhalese only all Sri lankan’s are self destructive…including you Muslims…Please…
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