By Vishwamithra –
“One thing we forget to know is that failed states once had civil, constitutional laws that were put in place. When these laws don’t work for all, that’s when dictatorship arises and injustices hug the land, and prosperities become the luxury of the few, not the masses.” ~ Henry Johnson Jr
Contemporary history has recorded many failings of many a government. But all governments that fail in many aspects of governance could be called failed governments but not necessarily leading to a Failed State. For instance, the Sirimavo-led coalition government of 1970 to 1977 was definitely a failed government, but despite the fact that it created economic chaos and most excruciatingly agonizing hardships to the people of the country, it did not lead to a Failed State.
At that time, the country was totally polarized along ideological lines. While the Sirimavo-led coalition of the left-wing politics believed in socialism and rationing out poverty among the people, the J R Jayewardene-led United National Party (UNP) disseminated a more balanced and non-doctrinaire approach to the resolution of economic issues along capitalism based on an open-economy and free enterprise path. Fortunately, the people trusted the J R-led UNP in 1977. The economy improved, not so much as a macro national indicator but more so as alleviation of poverty and economic betterment of individual lives of the greater majority of the country, not to mention self-sufficiency in rice.
But that was on the battlefront of the economy. Governance had a different story to tell. The nuances of governance, as was manifest during the Sirimavo-era, were not as vividly defined nor identified as an essential element in a country’s progress towards a more perfect process of self-governance. The second-in-command under Sirimavo was not either more experienced Dr N M Perera or Maithripala Senanayake or T B Ilangaratne. It was Felix Dias Bandaranaike.
“Ape Aanduwa”, the political concept and the resultant notion that was introduced by S W R D (Sirimavo’s late husband) was taken to its utmost extreme by the Sirimavo-Felix combine and the chaos and confusion that it created among the less educated citizenry paved the way for an accelerated decline in the discipline and poise that political leaders need to pay acute attention to. The concept was hijacked by those who had a legitimate cause for grievance but still lacked the necessary education and decorum tempered by self-discipline to achieve their mundane life-objectives. This erosion of disciplined ways of leading robust lives and professions ultimately led to a radical change in our collective evaluation of nation-building and responsible governance.
Along with this degeneration of our value system, the new-rich classes that emerged with relentless assault on character as a whole gave way to an alarming circumvention of traditional routes and paths to power politics. Capitalism not only paved the way for a free market and open economy, it also, if not prudently regulated, gave rise to another nation-destroying belief which is ‘making a fast buck is the norm of the day’. Avenues were opened for astounding amounts of money to be made if shortcuts are created by bribing this official and that politician, resulting in takers being aplenty to reap the harvest of such newly-opened avenues.
The process started with the opening of the economy but one cannot point the finger at the open economy alone. That is when the introduction of the Presidential system along with the Proportional Representation system became part and parcel of the degeneration that occurred in Ceylon. This graduation or more appropriately termed, degradation, took shape more profusely when proportional representation (PR) characterized electoral systems in which divisions in an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept’s application was, instead to an electorate smaller in size and diversity, a would be parliamentarian had to travel around and canvass among much larger districts that were made up of so many electorates. Those who wished to enter the legislature had to canvass for his or her votes in a much larger portion of the land and amongst so many more voters. The financial wherewithal for such campaigns demanded much larger kitty of cash and manpower.
The stakes, in fact, became far beyond the average would-be-parliamentarian’s purse. He or she had no alternative but to resort to extra-legitimate earnings in order to finance his or her election campaign. This is precisely where the new-rich class that became rich thanks to the opening of the economy and consequent bribery and illicit earnings came to assume a more active and a robust role in the theatre of power politics. The unhinging of another aspect of human behavior began its maddening and warped journey. Values were subordinated to prices and character was bartered for entry into the power circles.
An invite to a cocktail party hosted by Ministers and other parliamentarians became rare and mouthwatering and these new-rich merchants of fortune would pay any price to obtain one. They not only were too busy oiling the palms of politicians, they also created their own avenues and routes to enter into the hallowed halls of civil service. What was once known as better than the great Indian Civil Service, Ceylon Civil Service began its quick and hurried deterioration into a den of corruption and bribery. Ministry Secretaries, Government Agents and others who occupied higher echelons of office began competing with each other to build new houses, buy new cars and send their children overseas for education. The same old saga of societal squalor took ahold of our government service. From top to bottom the decomposition started setting in and whichever way one looked, there was nothing but financial and social excreta flying across administrative walls, and instead of making any attempt to stem the unruly decadence, our leaders most eagerly became part of the corrosion.
If there were one family or one clan of politicians who gained most by this whimsical social nihilism is the current ruling family – the Rajapaksas. What R Premadasa practiced in earnest in the early nineteen nineties, the Rajapaksas, firstly Mahinda and thereafter Gotabaya and Basil and the rest, sharpened the craft and made it more and more lucrative. This process made politician become a persona non grata in the average household in Ceylon and the very mention of any politician or a supporter of his became to be tarred by the same brush and with the same unpleasantly nauseating blood, so to speak.
It is in this unglamorous context that Anura Kumara Dissanayake, untested so far as a political leader and the rest of the Sajit-group of politicians fall into. It is not a very inspiring thought. Sajit Premadasa might be thinking in terms of becoming the next President of the country. He might be dreaming about a Presidential run so much akin to his late father’s. But he has a very burdensome and disagreeable baggage to carry. Roaming around the country with an avalanche of promises after promises that he would offer this solution and another without suggesting any long-term solution to the country’s depleted foreign exchange earnings and growing poverty levels amongst the rural masses is no solution the electorate would accept without a whimper of second thought.
The country as one single entity must rise against such empty promises with the same venom and vehemence that they display against the corrupt Rajapaksa regime. Offering short term and oft-repeated pledges to a hungry and thirsty electorate will not overpower the cruel nature of seventy four-year old stagnation at first and then steep spiralling down on a cataclysmic journey.
Sri Lanka is fast approaching a status of a real ‘Failed State’. It’s not only the government and its caretakers that are at fault; it’s not only the Covid-19 pandemic that caused this debacle; it’s not only the successive generations of political and religious leadership that have to answer. It’s the total country. Election after election, the voter too has very subserviently submitted to his leaders. When the voter knew that the politicians they elected one after another election are corrupt, corruptible and above all else corrupting, he still continued to repose his faith so blindingly and unquestioningly on his leaders.
Therefore, the voter himself is as responsible and accountable for the misery that each election imposed upon himself and the country. The brain-drain that began its alarming outward voyage a couple of decades ago is accelerating at breakneck alacrity. Stormy seas have surrounded our isle which we used to call the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’. Neither any religious belief system nor any secular ideological schools of thought have come to grips with the brutal realities of starving children and empty vessels whom we call political pundits and leaders.
Parliamentary seats and portfolios of ministries are for sale for the highest bidder. In this convoluted environment, the current voter, especially the youth for whom the 1971 insurrection or the terror-era between ’87 and ’89 are not even a memory. They are too young and those outside-the-box episodes are a distant recall. Even remembrance of the thirty year war between the Sri Lankan military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) is fading away loosely.
Whoever comes to power after the next Presidential and Parliamentary Elections has his bagful, not of goodies to distribute amongst a starving population but a fertilizer load of problems and issues. All these issues cannot be solved overnight and nor are there any palatable solutions or answers. But if our leaders make an attempt to be truthful and honest and present a scenario wherein a joint journey, leaders with the electorate together is not only possible but may exist within the realm of probability, then that will be the day Sri Lanka will breathe a collective sigh of relief and honesty. Or else we will end up in that inglorious state of a ‘Failed State’.
*The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com
MyView / February 17, 2022
Sajith & SJB …… without suggesting any long-term solution to the country’s depleted foreign exchange earnings and growing poverty levels …..
May be, just may be, it is a ploy to bring out these later at an opportune time, after further self-destruction of the govt. as there is a possibility that they could hijack them and cause a turnround of govt. fortunes.
Though nationally bad, that could be politically correct.
Wait for the correct opportunity to knock on door.
Like waiting to come forward just after the Easter Sunday attack, and which nationally not right but politically it worked.
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Jit / February 17, 2022
‘Failed state’ is a comparative concept. In silly lanka, people dont believe it is a failed country. they believe it is just the best country in the world! The land where even Gautama Buddha was born!! If majority of people are blinded by religion, racism and other nationalistic bigotism, they see nothing is failing. they dont see anything beyond the tip of their noses. They would simply say ‘It is just a western invasive tactic’. Derana TV or Hiru FM going to town about a massive snake coming out of Kelani river to save the country (but can be confined to a Coca Cola bottle) is more plausible than anything else on earth! So why bother??
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Eagle Eye / February 19, 2022
Jit,
“If majority of people are blinded by religion, racism and other nationalistic bigotism,…”
—
Majority of people in Sinhale are not blinded by religion, racism and other nationalistic bigotism but majority of minority communities are blinded by religion, racism and other nationalistic bigotism. That is the reason why they resorted to terrorism against people who accommodated them in their country.
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Mahila / February 20, 2022
Jit,
Some people are blinded by sunlight and therefore wander like an abandoned child all over, without purpose, ’round and round the mulberry bush!!’
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leelagemalli / February 17, 2022
This picture proves that srilankens/ sinahalyas would never see it right. GLP is the best example – as no more better examples would be necessary.
.
A PhDer to fall that lower level ?
.
Prof. Kovur made it very clear, no matter facts and figures of anything would clarify it, SINHALAYA-Modayas would nt take it serious. We perfectly know that SL University dons and MBBS qualified doctors were among those who lined up to collect ” panacea” – concoction, arbitorily mixed up by a mental ill person by name ” Dhammika Bandara”. Until he himself let his subconscious mind to attack to a Mahanayaka monk, indicating him being controlled by ” KALI AMMA”/ as any other like minded schizophantic patients – even ruling politicians promoted it.
:
This is the reason why we srilankens fall from frying pan to the fire.
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Jit / February 19, 2022
LM, You’re right, some boot licking PhD fellas in SL aren’t worth even the ink their certificates are printed with! Yes, Prof Kovoor had made lifelong contributions to enlighten the ignorant crowd in our country while grooming a great team. However, quite surprisingly one of his team mates – Carlo Fonseka jumped into the usual political rubbish dump and started worshiping CBK and later ended worshiping MARA as well!! :( Unbelievable, but it shows if a medical professor cum a renowned rationalist could plop to the level of worshiping MARA, anything can happen to a layman!!
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leelagemalli / February 20, 2022
My beloved Jit,
.
It has been a relay race, if we would look back. See Carlo s baton was passed to Paddeniya making the bugger a ” kind of idiots” – the very man the manner how he betrayed the medical profession is beyond bearing. Today, the kind of men are not seen in press briefings,- that issue with organic instead of inorganic was made a joke by the idiots. Actually, knowing that the country s economy is in a dire situation, how can anyone with some knowledge would ever thinking of creating new form of problems ? But incumbent president et al did it… as if the donkey would do it. Consequences are before the people today- not just dollar crisisi, but also people are short of basic food items incl. rice.
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leelagemalli / February 20, 2022
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / February 17, 2022
An excellent analysis worthy of commendation. The question to all would be: Are voters (who have largely become corrupt themselves over the years) willing to put their bets on an honest broker? Do honesty and integrity still get respect? Somehow, I still feel that yet again, they will fall for personal freebies promised, and emotions whipped up by the rascals who call themselves “people’s representatives” or “honorable” members of parliament..!
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A.Sellathurai / February 17, 2022
A masterpiece! Quality of this article really surpass the characteristics attributed to the writer’s name Vishwamithra. A. Sellathurai
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old codger / February 17, 2022
“Therefore, the voter himself is as responsible and accountable for the misery that each election imposed upon himself and the country. The brain-drain that began its alarming outward voyage a couple of decades ago is accelerating at breakneck alacrity.”
All true. The voters themselves, and their blind belief in cunning politicians who promised them everything free are responsible. Credit must also go to the scheming and amoral clergy who used religion to feather their own nests. If we are to start anywhere, we have to tame the power of the clergy. Many revolutions, from France to Mexico and Russia, did just that. But are our people too sunk in superstition to do that?
Further, the brain drain didn’t start 20 years ago. It’s been going on for 60 years now. Efficient administrators, engineers, intellectuals, doctors, starting with the Burghers and finally even the Sinhalese, saw the coming triumph of mediocrity and left. The country is left with the dregs of its former society. Fake pundits, clerical hypocrites and wheeler- dealers rule the roost.
Perhaps it would be advisable to administer an IQ test to qualify voters. Sure, give them all a vote, but give 2 each or even 3 to the smarter ones.
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Jit / February 19, 2022
“…..The country is left with the dregs of its former society. Fake pundits, clerical hypocrites and wheeler- dealers rule the roost….”
OC, We used to call a superb comment like that කහ මදේ or the egg yolk in our time at the uni :)
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Raj-UK / February 17, 2022
An analysis some of us would consider as ‘politically incorrect’, yet, exposed brilliantly by Vishwamitra.
Pre Mrs B governance was before my time but I certainly remember the hardships we faced with long queues & shortages of all consumer items, from having to eat inedible bread & unhealthy margarine to non availability of decent clothing & basic electronic goods . Those privileged with relatives abroad & had access to anything imported were the envy of many & we have turned full circle now.
JR’s coming was a breath of fresh air & certainly the living standards improved tremendously but so did the scale of corruption. Since then, corruption has been increasing with each change of regime but never exponentially as under the Rajapakses. The rise in lawlessness, lack of integrity & professional ethics among academics & intellectuals, the flooding of uneducated, incompetent & self serving yobs in high govt. positions, have all made this country a failed state. Certainly, the voters have to take responsibility because we are comfortable with the known devil since its ‘our’ man from ‘our’ village or same caste or such backward thinking.
Cont.
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Raj-UK / February 17, 2022
Cont.
Perhaps the underlying reason for the current debacle is because we are, deep down, racist, a trait which has been exploited & nurtured by politicians. Hitler blamed the Jews for the country’s state of economy & promised to restore the German people their pride & racial superiority & we seem to follow the same strategy. We are proud of our history & our ancient warrior kings but I am sure Dutugamununu would be turning in his grave (had he been buried) as we have become a nation of bum suckers, licking for even scraps according to the pecking line.
We always had failed govts. but now we have a failed state. Will it soon be a pariah state, isolated by the rest of the world?
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Nathan / February 17, 2022
‘The second-in-command under Sirimavo was not either more experienced Dr N M Perera or Maithripala Senanayake or T B Ilangaratne. It was Felix Dias Bandaranaike.’
.
This is a salient observation. Our political history is replete with such family bandysm.
.
Since Independence at no time did we opt for merit over cronyism. Today, it has peaked. This explains how we have become a ‘Failed State’.
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SJ / February 19, 2022
N
NM was of a different political persuasion.
Felix was arrogant but certainly competent. (He was elected from Dompe in March 1960 even before Mrs B entered the fray in July 1960.)
Mrs B avoided the Ratwattes as advisors. (Felix was related to SWRDB, and a Christian I think.)
(For a fair account, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Dias_Bandaranaike)
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kp92 / February 17, 2022
Writes an article that summarises, word for word, the JVP’s critique of the open economy, and the electoral system and how they led to the breakdown of the system, makes a snide pass at AKD at the end.
Folks. You need to decide if you agree with the JVP or you don’t. You can’t accept everything they say, pass it off as your own thoughts, then call them names. I see people wilfully misunderstanding their point about the open economy and saying the JVP opposes the economy and wants to take Lanka to communism- this is the first article I’ve seen their actual views set up in print. Yet somehow the author still wants to ridicule the people who’ve been making this same point for a decade.
Is this some kind of psychosis? What is going on?
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Ratnam Nadarajah / February 18, 2022
Dear Vishwa
The country is beyond redemption and the patient is in a ventilator sans oxygen. Its very critical nobody cares
None of the leaders have brains or mould to turn round the economy.
The hype one hears day in day out is scandalous and sickening.
The Tiger economies are doing OK. Example s , Indonesia, Vietnam of course the leader of the pack Singapore.
Singapore imports even water from Malaysia yet boost a 1st world economy. The education standards are one of the best in the world
Why can’t these idiots learn. Most of these so called leaders sit on their brains and in the process suffercate themselves with ignorance and BS
One country one class has to come for any progress. Emerge
APEANNUWA proponent SWARD I believe had the country at his heart.
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Native Vedda / February 18, 2022
Ratnam Nadarajah
–
“The country is beyond redemption and the patient is in a ventilator sans oxygen. Its very critical nobody cares”
–
Some diaspora Tamils believe if North East is handed over to them they would make the entire country a paradise within a year.
–
Is it possible to turn the country into a paradise in 12 months?
They believe the Diaspora Tamils have the wealth and skills to do it.
–
Are they living in fool’s paradise as usual?
–
I do not understand how it is possible as I am not educated to grasp complicated economic issues.
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Ratnam Nadarajah / February 18, 2022
Dear NV
The diaspora is the most self centred outfit on the planet in my view. And mega selfish at that.
They only thing those fellows want is power so that they can do their own thing for their personal gain.
What have they done for the thousands of people in camps in Vanni and places , in appalling condtions. Yes they have built few hotels in the North. You think that development. Do you think they care NV.
Please don’t be fooled by their hype
and big talk
Probably they will BRING in their killing machines to solve the economic woes
Who are these idiots making such claims
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Sinhala_Man / February 18, 2022
Dear Vishwamithra,
.
One realises the depths to which we have fallen when we listen to Basil Rajapaksa, speaking in English here:
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e9Hci1fHpQ
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Forty-eight minutes there. I couldn’t get through even five. If someone does manage to get through it all, could you please let me know what bits are worth listening to. This, remember is an American citizen.
.
By way of contrast, here’s half an hour of G.L. Peiris interviewed by Nitin Gokhale in India recently. Delightful:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b91o_E5FjQ&t=485s
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Gamini Lakshman is now nobody’s favourite; he was once so respected. Well, he has only himself to blame. O.K. – let’s say he came into politics because there was little more for him to achieve in academia. When things began to go wrong with CBK, why oh why didn’t he retire? Impressive as this interview is, it’s surely time for him to call it a day.
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Sinhala_Man / February 18, 2022
We’ve been rightly extolling the NPP recently. Let’s hope that the Front-line Socialists led by Kumar Gunaratnam team up with them:
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He’s pretty good here, interviewed recently by Faraz Shauketally:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTuMHUEIGYc
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This was the same pair some months ago:
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Streamed live on 22 Jul 2021
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCUXNHvf-DI
.
Nobody can complain of his English.
.
Gunaratnam is even more impressive in Sinhalese. I had given a link to 58 minutes of him here:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/where-anura-kumara-dissanayake-kumara-gunaratnam-both-get-it-dangerously-wrong/
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Beware the Judas kisses of the likes of Dayan Jayatilleka:
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https://island.lk/the-left-kumar-gunaratnam-and-executive-presidency/
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E’en though exposed they will argue still.
.
We really need to do some thinking. This has been my effort. I’m sure that it can be improved upon.
.
Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela
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old codger / February 18, 2022
SM,
K.G the fiery Marxist spent time in Australia and his English is good. Basil the 7-brained spent time in the US but his English is rudimentary. I suppose, unlike KG, Basil had a job where he didn’t need to speak. Any idea what it was?
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Mahila / February 18, 2022
OC,
My guess is, it was solving “small issues” (Sulu Prashnayak)!!
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Eagle Eye / February 19, 2022
old codger,
“Basil the 7-brained spent time in the US but his English is rudimentary.”
—
Does someone has to speak perfect English to be a brilliant character?
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Sinhala_Man / February 19, 2022
No, Eagle Eye,
.
We’re not attaching undue importance to the poor English used by Basil, but it does indicate that his intelligence is not high – after all the opportunities he had to speak effectively – which he ought to know matters greatly given the role he aspires to play.
.
Here, for a change, is another of your heroes, A.N. Cabral sounding confident, speaking yesterday, Friday 18th:
.
Listened to on 19/02/2022 evening.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2022-02-18/sri-lanka-s-cabraal-on-inflows-economy-monetary-policy-video
.
It’s for those who know economics to evaluate that. Beyond my competence.
.
Panini Edirisinhe of thee Uva Province
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leelagemalli / February 20, 2022
No doubt, 7- brained Basil ever found a job in the US.
:
The kind of men would hardly get any jobs there. Siblings of Rajapakshes should be indebted to SRILANKEN tax payers for allowing them a better life in the US. Even a beggar should be grateful for the loot.
:
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old codger / February 20, 2022
Eagle,
“Does someone has to speak perfect English to be a brilliant character?”
No.
But if you spend decades in Australia or USA, wouldn’t you learn how to speak English?
KG has, but Basil hasn’t. Which one is brilliant?
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Mahila / February 20, 2022
EE,
“Basil the 7-brained spent time in the US but his English is rudimentary.”.
I totally agree with you on this concept and line of thinking.
Various studies have emulated that native or mother tongue brings the best out of all.
In such instance, why does he not face interviews in Sinhala??
That would enable his image to become better and better for the listeners too!!
Problem solved
Or is he speaking in English to send the message to the overseas audience and not to the locals??
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Sinhala_Man / February 19, 2022
Dear oc,
.
I’ve heard it said that he used to pump petrol into vehicles. Turning that into “Americanese”, I guess he would have been referred to as a “gas station attendant.”
.
As for Kumar G., he is relaxed and communicates well. “VishramikaGambadaIngirisiIskoleMahattaya” did spot that Kumar uses the labio-dental fricative /v/ where the bi-labial semivowel /w/; however, who but a pedagogue like him even understands such “gobbledygooky” rot. Kumar G. talks sense; I wish we could have him as a Minister in our next government.
.
However, I’m not into the business of allocating portfolios. Fellows like us know we cannot be anything more than humble (but alert!) supporters of the NPP. There! I’ve included you as well; I hope that you don’t mind!
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SJ / February 19, 2022
OC
Not just KG, the party spokesperson Pubdu Jagoda speaks well in E&S . He is a university qualified engineer.
I think that English helps, but is not essential to be a good thinker.
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old codger / February 20, 2022
S.J,
Given that both Basil and KG spent years in the US and Australia, maybe their language abilities are a pointer to their respective thinking abilities ?
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SJ / February 22, 2022
OC
Language skill correlates with ability to reason. But English is not the only human language.
We also know semi-illiterates who have done well in life.
KG is known to be honest in his personal life. Politics is something else. But he speaks out his mind.
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leelagemalli / February 20, 2022
OC,
.
It can well be a in a RED LIGHT AREA job right ?
.
But the problem with BR is he does know that others would not understand his English.
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nimal fernando / February 18, 2022
A Brief History of Time and the end-result of 2500 year “Sinhala Buddhist” history ………. in few lines …………
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1. Although, initially implemented as a shameful blatant act of discrimination against the Tamils students ………….. Standardization was a boon to all the rural corners of the entire island ………..
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2. JR’s – Ronnie De Mel as the driving force – Open Economy gave the people the option to starve or not. ……… Sirima’s – N M Perera as the driving force – “Socialism” gave people no options: only starve.
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3. Ranil rescued the economy twice ….. once in 2002 form a negative GDP (for the first time in the nation’s history) ……… and again in 20015, when elections were called 2 years early to avoid the electoral repercussions of a worsening economy.
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4. Ranil was a victim of his own success …… he would have been a shoo-in in 2005 if he didn’t get elected PM in 2001 and rescue the economy. He would’ve been a shoo-in in 2019 (or 2017 if Mahinda’s term has run its full term) if others had handled the economy. ……….. The rescued economy gave the opportunity for the Rajapakses to play their Bullshit-politics.
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nimal fernando / February 18, 2022
continued
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5. Now, that Ranil has no chance of rescuing the economy …….. the Rajapakses haven’t got a frigging clue about economics: haven’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of rescuing the economy. Their BS has run its course.
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6. The people are finally starting to realize that “Sinhala Buddhism” means ……… hardship, misery, suffering, uncontrolled pandemics and starving ………. all good stuff, if you want to be a true follower of the Great Buddha; sacrificing worldly-comforts …….. but not so good for “Buddhists” who want to be outwardly more Buddhist than Buddha himself …………
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7. I’ve given ye no room for ye usual BS ……… either face the facts/consequences ……….. or create ye own bespoke reality ……. to cater to ye own specific insecurities ……………
–
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Do ye realize that if good ol’ Fidel was 5 feet tall, 95% of what’s been written about him won’t be written? ………. Ah! minds!
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nimal fernando / February 18, 2022
For those of ye who are academically minded ………… few theories on Bullshit.
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This would’ve been Mahinda’s PhD thesis ……. if Sinhala_Man was his English teacher ………… and he had learned proper English ………….
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Bullshit
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/17/martin-turpin-bullshitting-is-human-nature-in-its-honest-and-naked-form
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Native Vedda / February 18, 2022
nimal fernando
–
“Sirima’s – N M Perera as the driving force – “Socialism” gave people no options: only starve.”
–
SJ still believes it was the golden era of plenty.
Was SJ living in the UK between 1970 and 1977?
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SJ / February 19, 2022
Handle your glass ball with care
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Native Vedda / February 21, 2022
SJ
–
“Handle your glass ball with care”
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Thanks for the advice. I will have to do with glass ball, unlike you I do not have Mao’s b***s.
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SJ / February 22, 2022
Do not scratch your glass ball.
It can give illusory inverted images
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Eagle Eye / February 19, 2022
NF,
“Ranil rescued the economy twice ….. once in 2002 form a negative GDP (for the first time in the nation’s history) ……… and again in 20015,…”
—
I explained several times with evidences in this forum how Ranil and his ‘Royal Gang’ ruined the economy of this country from 2015 to 2019 but that has not gone to your head. This dumbo who ruined the economy by pretending that he is an expert on managing the economy is now preaching how to revive the economy. His only solution is ‘Go to IMF’.
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nimal fernando / February 20, 2022
“create ye own bespoke reality ……. to cater to ye own specific insecurities”
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I’ve already pre-empted your types EE! ……. That’s a lesson in economy of writing: say the most with the least words. :))
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80-year old virginity is a big insecurity buddy! …….. now past redemption!
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Good Luck in your next rebirth. …………… See, I’m a nice guy even if I have to say so myself. :)))
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leelagemalli / February 18, 2022
Please listen to the video clips below
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https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=514280126707849&id=100043775973326&sfnsn=scwspwa
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrM7lgU7Ldg
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Sinhala_Man / February 19, 2022
Great LM; those performances are absolutely hilarious.
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Actually, I don’t approve laughing at the linguistic efforts of innocents; Ah! but these guys, guilty of all offences against humanity can hardly be considered “innocents”.
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Sinhala_Man / February 19, 2022
Dear oc,
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I’ve heard it said that he used to pump petrol into vehicles. Turning that into “Americanese”, I guess he would have been referred to as a “gas station attendant.”
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As for Kumar G., he is relaxed and communicates well. “VishramikaGambadaIngirisiIskoleMahattaya” did spot that Kumar uses the labio-dental fricative /v/ where the bi-labial semivowel /w/; however, who but a pedagogue like him even understands such “gobbledygooky” rot. Kumar G. talks sense; I wish we could have him as a Minister in our next government.
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However, I’m not into the business of allocating portfolios. Fellows like us know we cannot be anything more than humble (but alert!) supporters of the NPP. There! I’ve included you as well; I hope that you don’t mind!
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Sinhala_Man / February 20, 2022
Don’t miss this, please:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFOuvjUGeb8
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Harini Amarasuriya brilliantly explaining, in Sinhalese, the distinctions that intelligent people ought to make between the organisation (contesting elections) known as the NPP (Sinhalese, Jatika Jana Balavegya) and the fifty-year old political party named the JVP.
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Harini is not a member of the JVP.
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What I gathered is that the organisation that she was a member of is called something like, “Professional Women’s Organisation”. That is now a constituent of the National People’s Power.
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The Ancient Greeks knew what women could do:
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata
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leelagemalli / February 18, 2022
Sir ?
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Sir has become a prefix to address dogs.
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Finally, the lawyers have come forward to the media. If Media did their job in compliance with international norms, MEDAMULANISM would not have become the opium of the stupid majority.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrM7lgU7Ldg
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N. Perera / February 18, 2022
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Native Vedda / February 18, 2022
N. Pererass
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Good to hear from you.
Thanks
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leelagemalli / February 19, 2022
NP
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thanks for making it short.
Get well soon !
LM
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Nandi Jasen / February 20, 2022
An essential lesson in contemporary history is skilfully recorded but I am afraid, history will keep repeating pushing the nation down the treacherous political precipice towards the point of no return; because it is no secret that people in Sri Lanka have nothing but contempt for the politicians and justifiably so, but the very same people demean themselves by venerating politicians in power and voting them in regardless of their contempt and continuing to perpetuate the woeful situation. As for the economic precipice we are in, help will not be on the way by way of an IMF bailout until the accountant masquerading as an economic genius is shown the door out the CB!
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dulan / February 20, 2022
I cannot agree with the writer or some of the people who made comments suggesting the problem is with the voter or with the people of sri lanka. Its not .Its with the governance system left to us by the British and how few people forming 2 or 3 clubs called political parties abused it. It is these leaders to blame as the political/governance system itself inherently had few flaws .They exaggerated it by introducing proportional system, using race as a tool, allowing crossovers etc etc The voters are given two or three lousy choices in a lousy system and asked to choose
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