14 October, 2024

Blog

Gotabaya Regime’s Geneva Response Dumps Mahinda-Appointed LLRC’s Diagnosis

By Dayan Jayatilleka 

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

In a shocking example of “backsliding” that goes well beyond that which the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has accused the Government of Sri Lanka, the official 30-page response of the Government to High Commissioner’s Michelle Bachelet’s report on Sri Lanka, completely abandons, contradicts and denounces the diagnosis in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation (LLRC) Commission, headed by former Attorney-General CR de Silva, and appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

On page 3 of the GoSL response, in a section entitled “II. Opinions on “Context and Significance of resolution 31/1”, the Government angrily rebuts the diagnostic definition in the UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s Report about the backstory of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. The relevant segment of the Government’s rebuttal reads as follows:  

“Paragraph. 7

(i) The GoSL rejects the assertion in paragraph 7 of the report that “Sri Lanka’s armed conflict grew out of progressively deepening discrimination and marginalization of the country’s minorities, particularly the Tamils”. It is also incorrect to insinuate that the conflict affected only certain sections of the population, which is a blatant violation of the Principle of Non-Selectivity. Some of the issues confronted by Sri Lankans are colonial legacies and the divide and rule policy adopted…

(iii) Further, the UNSG’s Special Representatives on Children and Armed Conflict and the Working Group of the UN Security Council on Children and Armed Conflict had recorded that the LTTE had used Tamil children as combatants. Any attempt to attribute the war waged by the LTTE to alleged “discrimination and marginalization” of Tamils, therefore, should only be perceived as an attempt to justify and legitimize the ruthless terrorism unleashed by the LTTE on the people of Sri Lanka including the Tamils themselves.” (p3) 

The GoSL therefore clearly rejects, with very considerable vehemence, the assertion that “Sri Lanka’s armed conflict grew out of progressively deepening discrimination and marginalization of the country’s minorities, particularly the Tamils”. (ibid)

The Government goes on to denounce any such assertion as a justification of the LTTE’s terrorism: “Any attempt to attribute the war waged by the LTTE to alleged “discrimination and marginalization” of Tamils, therefore, should only be perceived as an attempt to justify and legitimize the ruthless terrorism unleashed by the LTTE…” (ibid)

This rebuttal makes absolutely clear that the Government of Sri Lanka currently rejects any attempt to understand, interpret and/or contextualize Sri Lanka’s armed conflict as arising from or having anything to do with “discrimination and marginalization of minorities, particularly the Tamils.”  

The alternative explanation proffered by the Government is that “Some of the issues confronted by Sri Lankans are colonial legacies and the divide and rule policy adopted…”. (ibid)

Is this the view of the government as a whole, including Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa or it is an imposition of the view of the hardliner, ultra-nationalist Gotabaya Presidency upon the Government? Or has the Government converted to the view of the ruler?

This is a vital question because the stand taken in this official GoSL response to the UN High Commissioner’s report is in complete contradiction to the perspective on the origin of the conflict as expounded in the LLRC Report, which the Government still mentions.  

The LLRC Report cut like a surgeon’s knife through the old questions as to what the grievances of the Tamil community are, which of them are genuine and legitimate, and how they differ from the grievances of the Sinhala community. This was done in excellent segments entitled ‘Grievances of the Tamil Community’ ‘The Historical Background relating to Majority-Minority relationships in Sri Lanka’ and ‘The Different Phases in the Narrative of Tamil Grievances’ (pp291-294, 369-370).

The LLRC Report is notable for its clear and unambiguous identification of the causes of the Sri Lankan conflict and crisis, the resolution of which remains the central challenge before the country. The LLRC Report undertook a diagnosis and provided a prescription:

“The Commission takes the view that the root cause of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka lies in the failure of successive Governments to address the genuine grievances of the Tamil people. The country may not have been confronted with a violent separatist agenda, if the political consensus at the time of independence had been sustained and if policies had been implemented to build up and strengthen the confidence of the minorities around the system which had gained a reasonable measure of acceptance. A political solution is imperative to address the causes of the conflict…” (p 291, articles 8.150, 8.151)

The Gotabaya regime has not merely disowned this enlightened perspective of the LLRC while paying lip-service to the Report, it has gone as far as to denounce this diagnosis as justificatory of LTTE terrorism!

This is “backsliding” of the most drastic sort. All the Lessons Learnt by the state and society through decades of conflict have now been unlearnt by the Gotabaya regime. 

Given this Great Retrogression to the discourse of the early 1980s, which is less excusable than in the early 1980s because the country has gone through the collective experience and had reflected on its causes—as evidenced by the LLRC Report– it is only natural that there arise fears of a possible recurrence of the cycle of conflict and suffering in Sri Lanka. Those fears and warnings are credible, and therefore also the efforts to prevent recurrence.    

Latest comments

  • 27
    12

    Question is then why did we have sporadic pogroms, which later became a frequent event , from as early as 1950,s.???

    • 7
      1

      old codger/Sinhala_man


      Where are you?
      Here is an interview with Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne published in Observer.

      UNHRC must look beyond the prism of fabricated lies – Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne
      http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2021/02/21/opinion/unhrc-must-look-beyond-prism-fabricated-lies-%E2%80%93-prof-sudharshan-seneviratne

      What do you think about Prof’s opinion?
      Do you see any gradual/drastic changes in his learning?
      Let us have your opinion.

      • 4
        0

        Native,
        This “Ambassador to Bangladesh” carefully avoids mentioning the Muslim burial issue. This professor is of the same calibre as Laksiri from Australia.

        • 5
          0

          Sudharshan Seneviratne who is intellectually dishonest has managed to get an ambassador post to Bangladesh, while Laksiri Fernando is still trying hard to get High Commissioner post to Australia.

          • 2
            0

            Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam

            Sudharshan Seneviratne was Mahinda’s man in New Delhi from July 2014 to Sept 2015.

            Unlike other historians all his researches are appreciated by his contemporaries.

        • 5
          1

          OC
          Have you read Sudharshan S’ s writings on the pre-history of Sri Lanka?
          He has contributed immensely to a secular view of history that deviates from the Mahavamsa mindset.
          He is rather guarded in his defence of the official line. He perhaps sincerely believes most of what he says.
          Laksiri seems downright dishonest.
          *
          Tamils generally have difficulty in understanding the thinking of average Sinhalese, as they are lacking in looking at problems of others and other points of view and reasons for them.

          • 3
            0

            S.J,
            Yes, I am surprised at the content of the interview. Perhaps the professor is singing for his supper. But Laksiri in his retirement home has no such incentive. Is Laksiri the honest one?

            • 1
              0

              OC, an honourable man will not say such things to sing for his supper. Sudharshan was a party to the cover up of Ibbankatuwa urn burial site. If there is a cemetery, then there should be human settlements around. Why were they not explored.

            • 0
              1

              OC
              An official of the government cannot speak in breach of government policy. He merely sates the government’s position in rather guarded language. Also the way things happened, many Sinhalese, regardless of political stance, believe that there is attempt to frame them.
              One cannot be insensitive to such fears, however irrational.
              Are we not kinder to worse stands taken by several Tamil leaders?

        • 1
          0

          Native,
          Are you sure this guy is the HC for Sri Lanka? Does all this “multi-culturalism” exist here? Also, what sort of diplomat openly defends corruption in the host country?

          • 2
            0

            OC, he is the high commissioner designate to Bangladesh. He was once High Commissioner to India. He has stooped to low level, exposing his true character. His posing off as moderate was only a sham. If he is fair, he should have also spoken about atrocities committed by security forces. on which is woefully silent. I am a medical witness to several atrocities committed by security forces on Tamils. In fact atrocities by security forces are more brutal and in number than those by LTTE. The worse crime was committed by STF when they forcibly inserted a grenade into the vagina of a woman and exploded it. While there is none by LTTE for the past 12 years, atrocity by agents of government is still going on.

            • 0
              0

              Dr.G
              Good archaeologists are not necessarily good diplomats. Many people who are independent thinkers become conformists as they get older, like Carlo Fonseca.

              • 1
                0

                The slavish attitudes of Laksiri and that other professor, Sudarshan Senevirathna, the ambassador to Bangladesh, should be compared with the brave Myanmar UN envoy, who has demanded that the coup be reversed. When will educated Sri Lankans develop a similar backbone

                • 0
                  0

                  The Bangladesh ambassador to the UN is a political creature who is strongly aligned to Suu Kyi.
                  So comparisons mean little.
                  *
                  Let us not forget that Suu Kyi is even more parochial than any army chief.
                  On this one issue Suu Kyi deserves support. Her politics is otherwise deplorable.

    • 1
      10

      Learn history.
      Ceylon had regular Tamil-Tamil pogroms in the 19th century in the north over caste. That’s what spread elsewhere after the Prevention of Social Disabilities Act of 1957.

      • 1
        0

        There was no Tamil-Tamil programme in the north over caste. That system was not the issue, which has come down from the Kingdom of Yore. The spark that ignited was from the time of 1960 Satyagraha in the Jaffna Kachcheri and Mrs. B, Lakshman Jayakody, Felix Dias combine’s attempt to convert the Tamil population to Buddhism and instigate forcibly to enter Hindu shrines in private property,(Divide and rule – improved version) to create mayhem and claim discrimination, probably (no evidence though then) to seek to turn them into Buddhist shrines thereafter, based on the number of worshippers who get converted. Well that’s what is happening now with Hindu shrines in the north and all over the country, with excuse provided by Govt Archeology department. Its’s not funny that all religious shrines of Importance and have good cash flows and pilgrimage attendance have to be according to Buddhist monks have to be archeologically with Buddhist inspiration. Ibbankatuwa urn burial site will never be pursued as it is detrimental to the cause, you know which.

    • 2
      13

      Chiv,
      Because racist Demalu (Tamils after 1911) started attacking Sinhalayo whenever Sinhalayo introduced any change as an Independent Nation. For example, Demalu had no problem when British had English letters in car number plates but when Sinhalayo changed it to a Sinhala letter racist Demalu attacked Sinhalayo in Yapanaya.
      Your racist separatist Malabar Vellala Demala politicians are the problem, not Sinhalayo who accommodated Demalu in their country.

      “Question is then why did we have sporadic pogroms”

    • 9
      0

      These brothers born to Medamulana cave are inconsistent and prevaricative, their upbringing was like that.
      1) MARa is reported to have said his govt would go beyond 13A but ridiculous truth , they proved the opposite , this I’ll fated man said when he was visiting Hindians already 5 years ago.
      2)then again about burial rights for Covid deaths, he said one thing by scratching his both ends, but when it was escalated, he behaved as if he said nothing.
      3) locals would stay like slaves forever but international community wouldn’t, as sinhalayas we should be ashamed being led by the kind of stupid men.
      4) how can Medamulana criminals ever be honest?innocient mercy cows like people are made to be eternal modayas,this is high criminal and hoodwinking at it’s best for their political survival s by fishing in muddy roads? 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
      2)

  • 56
    12

    Soon Lanka may ask UN what war ?? When ?? Where ?? we never had one .

    • 4
      19

      Chiv,
      Yes, Sri Lanka should ask ‘What War’ because what took place in Sri Lanka was a military operation to eliminate Tamil terrorists who were slaughtering Sinhala civilians using suicide bombers, claymore bombs, multi-barrel guns and chemical weapons. Some say ‘Civil War’. That is also wrong.

  • 53
    10

    Gota, the strong man of Sri Lanka committed crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide of Tamils. Evidence for that is all out there with the UNHRC.

    He also committed crimes against Sinhalese youth suspected of JVP cadres with impunity.

    Assuming that he will continue to have impunity for these serious crimes, he brainwashed the Sinhalese to vote for him to lead the country as “that man” who sent the white vans and made people “disappear without trace.” These Sinhalese egged on by the racist monks thought they need a Hitler to implement the “final solution” on Tamils.

    He has ganged up with the strong man of the East – China to prop him up in the World stage so that he can continue to enjoy impunity from prosecution for his heinous crimes, by any world body.

    If he (and China) succeeds it will be death knell to Tamils and for Sri Lankans too.

    Will the world treat the same way it treated Rwanda?

    • 14
      0

      Do not blame Gota for everything. Mahinda is the real culprit. His “Poronduwela enda, passe balagamu” concept has put the country in a soup. He promised to settle Tamil problem in fair manner if help is given to defeat LTTE. When he accomplished it, he forgot about the promise. All commissions appointed by him were eyewash to hoodwink international community. Not only him, Yahapalana government which followed did the same, but tactfully said that they will settle the problem, but dragged on and left. No Sinhala government will ever grant justice to Tamils. Like in Bosnia, international intervention is needed to bring down Sinhala racism. If Sinhalese think that international community can be taken for a ride forever, they are sadly mistaken. It will not be long for the stick to be used on them.

    • 2
      15

      Thiru,
      IF UNHRC has true evidences, not evidences fabricated by Tamil “GHOSTS’ whose identity is not revealed, then they should present them and prove beyond any doubt that ‘Gota, the strong man of Sri Lanka committed crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide of Tamils.’
      ******
      “…Hitler to implement the “final solution” on Tamils.”

      If Demalu think Gotabhaya is going to implement the ‘Final Solution on Tamils’ why the hell more and more Demalu from North and East migrate to south?
      Use your brain before using the keyboard.

    • 4
      5

      T, you say
      “He also committed crimes against Sinhalese youth suspected of JVP cadres with impunity.”
      What exactly did he do to the JVP?
      *
      To brainwash the Sinhalese to vote for him, the man must be a genius. The people voted out of liking for MR and disrespect for the Yahapalanya, which delivered little. Gota, as warned by Lasantha, had other plans.
      You are picking up terms and phrases that do not hang together well to make a credible story. If the Sinhalese have been wound up against any community in the post 2009 period you know that it is not the Tamils.
      Playing to the anti-China prejudices of Tamils and a few Sinhalese will only divert attention from the real issues.
      Kindly elaborate on Rwanda for the reader to recognize a meaningful analogy.

  • 48
    9

    As a Sinhalese, may I state that “Sri Lanka’s armed conflict [did indeed grow] out of progressively deepening discrimination and marginalization of the country’s minorities, particularly the Tamils”.
    .
    Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 48 3111 444V) aka “Sinhala_Man”, permanently resident in the Uva Province

    • 10
      0

      Dear Sinhala_Man,
      Kindly accept my respectful thank you, for your bold stand.

    • 12
      2

      Dinesh Gunawardena though an old Royalist (2 years my junior), has forgotten multi ethnic upbringing and secular values inculcated to descend to this low level.

    • 1
      9

      Dear Sinhala man
      .
      “Sri Lanka’s armed conflict [did indeed grow] out of progressively deepening discrimination and marginalization of the country’s minorities, particularly the Tamils”
      .
      Tamil political position as stated in the Vadukkodai resolution would have come to be established as their committed political agenda anyway whether the Sinhalese treated them well or not. Though laughed off as silly by the departing British the daring confidence to propose a notion like 50-50 was indicative of that. Colonial occupation was an interlude to the historcal Sinhala Tamil conflict. The 80 million Tamil desire to create a country of their own cannot be lulled by offering candy or soothing words.
      .
      Even Vadukkodai is unimplementable due the unwillingness of +50 of Tamil speaking people to relocate themselves to NE.
      .
      This mutual hostage drama will continue until the day all other human conflicts around the globe subside too.
      Or a cataclysmic event which render nation states irrelevant.
      Or God decides to reconsider his decision to refrain from sending down anymore prophets after Mohamed (PBUH).

      Soma

      • 7
        3

        Soma
        There may have been no Vaddukkoddai Resolution had Amirthalingam not lost in 1970 in his Vaddukkoddai electorate.
        He needed a come back; and the FP needed to salvage its seats.
        The Vaddukkoddai Resolution was a ploy to win at the 1977 elections.
        Comrade Shan exposed the FP’s lie in a public debate in 1975.
        *
        But the Tamil youth had genuine grudges starting with discrimination in employment through standardization to police harassment and later army presence under JRJ.
        Tamil youth militancy was abused by the TNA, whose conduct since 1977 frustrated the youth.
        There is need for serious soul searching on the part of successive governments and opposition parties on their approach to the problems of the educated Tamil middle class.
        *
        Ask yourself why Kobbekaduwa bettered JRJ only in Jaffna in the Presidential election of 1982.
        How did Mrs B fare better than Premadasa in Jaffna in the Presidential Election of 1988?
        The Tamil peasantry appreciated the benefit from the import control of chili, onions and potatoes, which JRJ reversed in 1978.

        • 2
          2

          Why do you make yourself a laughing stock by openly showing your inability to understand the basic politics? To sell his communism, Shanmuganathan limited his politics only to deprived caste. Based on his Manipai elite family background, no deprived people believed or supported him. So he was hanging on Siri Ma O’s Thavani, but achieved nothing. V.Ponner, though a Vellala, based on his background, deprived people voted for him. He used Siri Ma o to give some bribes for deprived voters and for less, some employments in Co-ops VP, unlike slave Shamemugathasan, broke up with Siri Ma O, when she blocked him doing anything for Tamils.
          Vaddukoddai Convention was about Brain Navaratnam’s Suyadchi Kazhaham. Amirthalingam didn’t want him to gain political space because Brain Navaratnam is the one had political experience and intelligence to change Amir in the ITAK. But Vaddukoddai Convention was brought by TULF. TULF was formed under leadership of SJV, GG and Thonda. Amirthalingam was on 4th-5th position in TULF. He never used it to regain Vaddukoddai from Thiyagar, who was only a Sella Kaasu(Counterfeit) just like Shanmugathasan. In the meantime SJV resigned and regained KKS crushing VP. Latter TULF put Amir as opposition leader. Amir won Brain Navam on his rivalry.

          • 0
            0

            Thank you for the information about the Tamil political play at that time.

            I did watch Navaratnam’s interview and could not glean this level of information.

        • 4
          0

          soman

          SJ types:
          “But the Tamil youth had genuine grudges starting with discrimination in employment through standardization to police harassment and later army presence under JRJ”

          According to my friends who were born an bred in North part of the country continue to suffer under weeping widow’s regime. 1970 – 1977 Siri Mao ran a police state, Uni standardization, massacre at Tamil Research conference, unemployment, destruction of cooperative moment, some parents bought state jobs for their Children, police brutality, …………….. However SJ could’t bring himself to name the head of the regime, it was the weeping widow, Siri Mao Pandara Nayakam.

          • 0
            2

            NV
            In the list of discriminatory acts against the Tamils please take off the standardisation.
            It was a pure socialist move which was even supported by many Tamils.

            Soma

            • 2
              0

              soman

              Come on soman, it was another blatantly racist act of nation destruction. Socialism does not favour one section of the society, however it was supposed create a level playing field for disadvantaged students from remote parts of the island, which required more investment in schools, more places at Universities or more universities.

              The state run by dumb asses ……. didn’t know (or didn’t want to) how to create opportunities for people right across the island, instead started punishing the hard working students, intelligent, ….. demoted the young minds from unleashing their potential.

              If that was Socialism stuff it wherever you see fit (appropriate).

        • 0
          0

          Jaffna visit of Hon Sirimavo Bandaranaike

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2eWRgpgLF4

      • 0
        0

        Mr Gamini Somaratne, (aka Soma)
        .
        Dear Gamini
        .
        I once found it difficult to tell you whether I favoured accountability or reconciliation. It now strikes me as being easy to answer in terms of our being Sinhalese who have to deal with Tamils.
        .
        We must always insist on accountability from the Sinhalese side. Those who were guilty of crimes must acknowledge what they did, and express repentance. Without that, how can there be reconcilement?
        .
        If before the Sinhalese respond to that, they demand that the Tamils acknowledge atrocities committed by the LTTE, all goodwill is lost.
        .
        I would, separately, suggest to the Tamils that they don’t talk about “punishment” because we seek reconcilliation. I will only suggest it to Tamils; it’ll be up to them to respond intelligently and generously. The whole process becomes meaningless if we use coercion.
        .
        The way you address them so often, it is obvious that you are trying to trap them into answering. Sorry to tell you that!
        .
        Panini

        • 0
          0

          Dear Sinhala man
          .
          I fully agree with your statement:
          “We must always insist on accountability from the Sinhalese side. Those who were guilty of crimes must acknowledge what they did, and express repentance. Without that, how can there be reconcilement?”
          What I firmly believe is those who were guilty will acknowledge and repent only in an environment totally free from punitive accountability.
          A third party should be fair by both sides and holding only one side accountable by big powers will be totally counter productive swinging the pendulum to the opposite side.
          Maintaining the animosity alive is the desire of the Tamil political class.

          Soma

    • 1
      10

      Not true.

      Root cause of terrorism is terrorists.

      Remove them and the problem goes away.

      If discrimination was the root cause the war should have started in Nuwara Eliya, not the northern desert.

      • 1
        0

        Fathima,
        You are right and wrong. When Tamil lost franchise that is where war should have started. You are right.
        ITAK started its war on that issue, but up Countryers did not have the muscle to home ITAK in Nuvaraliya. So it stationed in North. So you are wrong.

      • 3
        0

        Gatam, yes,root cause of terrorism is terrorists. Biggest terrorist outfit is, Sinhala controlled government. Remove them and bring Sri Lanka under UN supervision. Problem will go away.
        North is not desert like Arab lands. It has ground water adequate for the people. There are areas where soil is fertile being red coloured. Go to the market and see how many agricultural produce from Jaffna are there.If they stop agriculture or if their produce is banned, Sinhalese in the south will have to eat grass.

      • 0
        0

        Although I don’t know any Tamil, I have visited Up-country estates, line-rooms, schools.
        .
        The denizens there were not “discriminated” against; they were treated as though they were animals. Many uneducated Sinhalese “Planters” still try to do that. Conditions have improved, but the “animals” still sometimes look at you imploringly, like dogs that expect only a beating, whatever you do. How could they end up as terrorists?
        .
        Well, many of them did! Some found their way to the Kilinochchi area, and the LTTE then persuaded them to be suicide bombers.
        .
        Please read this article:
        .
        https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/pro-forma-commitment-to-social-justice/
        .
        Better still, get yourself the book that “big brother”, Dr Rajan Hoole and his wife are about to publish. They didn’t have to do that, you know.
        .
        Perhaps, you’re incapable of understanding.

      • 0
        0

        “If discrimination was the root cause the war should have started in Nuwara Eliya, not the northern desert.”
        True.
        Tamil political position as stated in the Vadukkodai resolution would have come to be established as their committed political agenda anyway whether the Sinhalese treated them well or not. Though laughed off as silly by the departing British the daring confidence to propose a notion like 50-50 was indicative of that.
        Minorities aspire to political power when they are equal to the majority in economic power and education.
        (Similar to women)
        Not so long as they are kept under control and subjugation. (I am mearly stating a sociological truism) Nothhern Tamils have always been with the added strength of being close to a vast number of their own ethnic group.

        Soma

    • 7
      1

      Dear SM,
      As a Tamil, I can attest to how the Tamils were terrorized by State, it’s military and mobs backed by SL’s military… even before much of the population, including myself as a youngster, had even heard of the LTTE or any other such group.
      /
      Fearing for one’s life at the hands of the state, i.e., one’s own government, was indescribable… and is the same today
      /
      There was no secrecy to military backing of mobs set out on the Tamil neighborhoods in the East.. Military trucks accompanied the mobs as to offer the mob protection… We fled. Sought refuge in hometown… Jaffna.
      /
      As the time went on, and with the military upping its ante in the North (early 80’s), it was then I learned that the military’s thought was that if you kill 20 Tamils, you probably killed one tiger!
      /
      There were so many incidents where the Tamil civilians were brutally butchered in North.., as if just shooting them down wouldn’t have inflicted enough suffering.
      /
      The random aerial firings over my neighborhood in Jaffna town by the military, the random drive by firing at our relative’s home while I was visiting, and even a random nighttime firing at my boarding school.
      /
      Then things got even worse.

    • 3
      12

      Sinhala-Man,
      “As a Sinhalese, may I state that “Sri Lanka’s armed conflict [did indeed grow] out of progressively deepening discrimination and marginalization of the country’s minorities, particularly the Tamils”.”

      This is the blatant lie used by Tamil Diaspora and racist Vellala Demala politicians to mislead the International Community to get their sympathy to the violent campaign carried out to get their Dreamland Eelam.
      You are repeating the same statement. If you are making a statement you should be able to provide evidences to substantiate. So, make I kindly request you to provide evidences to substantiate your statement.
      One more thing. In Sri Lanka there are different categories of Tamils; Ceylon Tamils, Indian Tamils, Colombo Tamils, Vellala Tamils, Dalit Tamils, Plantation Tamils, Tirikunamale Tamils, Madakalapuwa Tamils and Tamils scattered all over Sri Lanka. Does your statement apply to all the Tamils?

      • 7
        1

        Eagle Eye,

        Did NOT you find yet a good psychiatrist ?
        .
        What to attack almost everyone that would not support racial thoughts as vellala demala politiicans ?

        Something unexplainable should have gone wrong with your UPBRINGING ? could you please contact your relatives to get more about your childhood ?
        .
        Not even ones conceived in a TEST tube would behave like you .. but you and the ilk ? 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

        • 3
          0

          LM, psychiatrists have long given up on this fellow!

      • 6
        0

        Eagle,
        ” I kindly request you to provide evidences to substantiate your statement”
        Sinhala Man didn’t write the LLRC report. Why don’t you read it while waiting for customers in your sanitary facility?

    • 6
      1

      My dear Iskolemahathya, can we call us ” sinhalaya” as of today?..
      .
      I never called me sinhalaya but ” a srilanken” . My Gurus (experts in bio medicine in Europe ) called me ” their man from Bandaranayaka’ s country ..
      .
      I told them Hamanthota rascals destroyed the beautiful country as nothing can help any easy reverse. Human shield s built up based on myths and so called fake war victory adulation s misled the gullible gawky majority so that power greedy political monsters can enjoy their propensities on the cost of the 40% poverty striking population whose dsily

    • 7
      1

      Sinhala_Man

      Dr Laksiri Fernando types the following in his article to today’s Sri Lanka Guardian:

      “In this context, successful or not, the statement made by the Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs, Dinesh Gunawardena, in rejecting any resolution based on the foxy Report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in my concerned opinion, is absolutely correct. “

      In return what does Dr Laksiri Fernando expect from the clan, Dinesh, his functionaries, ……?
      I wonder whether people gracefully age or renounce their conditioned beliefs.

      By the way Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero is contesting the post of Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket Board. He has already tended his nomination. I am not sure what being a cricket official got to do with his saffron garb?

  • 9
    24

    Only solution split SL into 3 mono ethnic nations. Sinhala Only nation, Tamil Elam and Muslim Elam.

    Until then no one will be happy.

    • 6
      3

      GATAM,
      With the passage of time, Sri Lanka will be divided into two Indian Union Territories as Sinhala Pradesh and Tamil Pradesh and be part of India which at that time will be known as Greater India or Bharath Varsha. Muslims have no change as they are Tamil speaking people and India will not tolerate to have a Islamic Pradesh. Every one is fed up with the changing of constitutions and the continuing inflated currency. Above all when China lays hand on Buddhism, the real drama begins.

      • 1
        2

        AR,

        China is the Asian superpower, not India. So the Sinhala nation will be independent. Tamil Elam will be absorbed into Endia where 90% of world Tamils live.

        Saudi-Pakistan are more powerful than India. They will ensure Muslim Elam for Muslims. USA is with Saudi more than Endia.

    • 2
      3

      Have you got the majority consent for your proposal?

      Soma

      • 2
        2

        When more than 1 billion say yes, your total do not exist.

      • 2
        0

        They will soon support it. Do not forget the majority is 50.01% which can be made up of many ethnic groups.

        (You don’t do elections or referendum for one ethnic group.)

    • 7
      2

      The anti Thamizh Jadam , at one time pretending to be a friend of the Thamizh under another identity before the elections , as usual trying to create mischief by constantly suggesting for a Muslim Eezham. The island never has had a Muslim homeland or rule , as they are fairy recent immigrants from South India, who had lived amongst the Chingkallams and Thamizh. Mostly amongst the Chingkallams. Their identity is religious and not ethnic . Despite being called Moor , everyone knows they hardly have any Moor, Arab or any other western Asian origin but are ethnic Thamizh converts to Islam. The word Moor only denotes to their religion and not to their ethnicity.

      • 5
        2

        Now Chingkalla politcians and anti Thamizh and southern opportunist Thullukans , who want to please the Chingkallams are stirring up these Muslims or Thullukans living in Thamizh areas to claim for a separate Islamic Eezham for the following reasons . To deliberately muddy the waters , throw a spanner and deny justice for the island’s Thamizh. Under the guise of Islamic Eezham , for a recently migrated converted immigrant community from South India , they are trying to steal more lands from the Thamizh , as if they have not already stolen enough , for the Chingkallams, as they know this so called Islamic Eezham , on a small coastal belt along Amparai can never exist by itself . Ask this Jadam and others who agitate for Islamic Eezham if they are willing to provide 72 % of the land for this Islamic Eezham from the Chingkalla areas , after all 72% live there. The answer will be a definite no. It all has to come from the Thamizh areas , as this is a land grab ploy , by the Chingkallams and their Islamic Thulluka stooges, who have no interest in the well being of the island’s Muslims.

    • 8
      5

      Sri Lanka is going to become 25th (Sinhala) and 26th (Tamil) states of India.

      • 6
        2

        Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam

        “Sri Lanka is going to become 25th (Sinhala) and 26th (Tamil) states of India.”

        As far as Hindians are concerned Sri Lanka is the Sinhala State of Hindia and the North East forms part of greater Tamil Nadu.

        By the way my friend tells me 5 Hindian bombers circulated above islands in the Northern part. I have no way of verifying it?

        • 4
          0

          Native Veddha, I was predicting in these columns that history is going to be repeated. Indian jets circling above Jaffna islands is a harbinger for another parippu drop. However this time it will be kevung drop in Colombo.

        • 1
          0

          “By the way my friend tells me 5 Hindian bombers circulated above islands in the Northern part. I have no way of verifying it?”

          A notable Tamil Nadu investigative journalist say the bombers flew over the Islands on the 16th of February in an interview posted in youtube.

          The interview is in Tamil, and youtube link is below if CT permits.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8UHyxqjAJA&feature=emb_imp_woyt

          Sori Sinhalam even do not have guts for raising siren?

          I guess the sori Sinhalam was not even aware of those bombers flying over the Islands.

      • 1
        2

        Tamil Elam will be the next Indian state but NOT Sinhala Elam because China is the Asian superpower. And Muslims Elam will also be independent because Saudi is more powerful than India.

        Give and take. Don’t be too greedy.

        (Default option is live UNDER Sinhala rule as the past 73 years.)

        • 2
          0

          GATAM,

          Do not parade your ignorance.

          Leave alone the EEzham(s)

          Why sori Sinhalam cannot either refute or the challenge it posed against Indian air force sortie over the Jaffna Islands on 16th February 2021?

          Was sori Sinhalam even aware of Indian air force sortie over the Jaffna Islands on 16th February 2021?

    • 7
      1

      Let me state unequivocally that I want Sri Lanka to be one country, and I want it to be possible for any citizen to be able to live in any place in this country that belongs to all its citizen.
      .
      That is what I want, and what I will always support. However, I clearly recognise that I cannot always have my own way, and that my wishes may be over-ruled. I will not dictate to any other person what his/her views on these issues should be, but I do reserve the right to say that other views, such as those of GATAM, above are muddle-headed.
      .
      I also don’t understand why some people keep saying the same thing again and again.

      • 6
        1

        S.M,

        “also don’t understand why some people keep saying the same thing again”
        Some birds of prey show signs of dementia, which makes them mumble to themselves. Or they think the rest of us are as deaf as they are.

      • 4
        0

        @Sinhala_Man – Your wish is the majority (talking about number not ethnic group here) of them yearning for. However curse on us make us mistrust each other. There is a group saying this country belong to us but refuse to accept if the same echoed by someone outside their group. Let everyone collectively own it rather than one group make the rest slave to them until then people like ‘frog in the well’ forever without realizing there is a wide ocean outside to enjoy.

        • 0
          0

          Thank you, Dayan.
          .
          There is yet another comment by you, on this article by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka. Is that you?
          .
          If it isn’t, it becomes rather confusing. The CT policy of getting us to register and have passwords was meant to make it clearer who was writing.
          .
          Pseudonyms are all right, but you ought to stick to one – like old codger.

      • 1
        3

        So you want to continue to live UNDER Sinhala Only rule as the past 73 years?

      • 3
        0

        Dear S.M.:
        Surprisingly, I personally don’t know of any Tamil in my circles wanting a separate country… even those who have lost their loved ones to the brutal communal violence and the war don’t seem to long for anything other than equitable treatment and rights.
        /
        There’s strength in diversity in a democracy. Democracy is fundamentally about equitable treatment of all individuals and peoples. Diversity has inherent forces that strengthen the foundations of democracy.
        /
        But the question is whether those powers that fuel Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism can ever be overcome for us to establish equality and stable peace.
        /
        When even federalism has become a dreaded word in SL while federalism had formed many stable nations and allowed them to flourish over the past centuries, when/how will SL find a solution domestically?

        • 2
          0

          S
          “I personally don’t know of any Tamil in my circles wanting a separate country”
          I do not know where you are.
          If in Sri Lanka, you will be 100% right.
          Elsewhere, especially in the West there are a significant number who still promote the separatist project. Some even want “Tamil Eelam” to be a colony of India. You do not have to go far to find them. They write here.

    • 3
      5

      GATAM,
      Is there any other country in the world except Sri Lanka where the descendants of asylum seekers demand that the country should be broken into pieces so that they can have their Kingdoms?

      • 8
        3

        Mahindapala, according to archaeological findings Vedhas and Dravidians are the rightful owners of the land. Recent discovery of caves in Kumana and Medagama with Brahmi inscriptions show that Veddhas came under Tamil influence. The first historically recorded asylum seekers are the bunch of Criminals led by Vijaya, whose descendants are the Sinhalese.

        • 3
          1

          “Recent discovery of caves in Kumana and Medagama with Brahmi inscriptions show that Veddhas came under Tamil influence. “
          *
          GS, can we please have a decoded text of this inscription in translation (which cannot in any way be before 3rd Century BC)

          • 0
            0

            SJ@
            Both tamils and sinhalese lived in the country for centuries. Who to be the first is not yet clear. U guys waste ur time questioning the same.
            .
            Mad racist s like Eagle BP Ka Mahindapala stay repeating their hatreds.
            .
            😉😉😉😉

            • 0
              0

              Lm
              As often you catch the wrong end of the stick. Where have I got involved with claims for any race here? Are you trying to protect a fake theorist?
              When certain bogus claims are are made, many let them pass as the claims suit their prejudices.
              Systematic falsifications of history have to be challenged before they are believed by others.

              • 0
                0

                SJ,
                I have heard this theory recently, ie since the Jaffna Tamils have various customs ( like celebrating the Solar new year) in common with the Malayalis, but not TN Tamils, they must have come from Malabar, as Eagle keeps repeating. But they speak uncorrupted Tamil , not Malayalam, which puts the date of arrival well beyond colonial times, before Malayalam split off. Sounds plausible?

      • 2
        1

        @Eagle Eye, you have the moral right to say that only if our ancestors Prince Vijaya and his followers expelled from an Indian kingdom doesn’t do that to indigenous people Yakkha and established a seperate kingdom called Thambapanni.. Do I need to explain more?

      • 1
        1

        Yes!

        USA, Canada, Australia, Fiji, Singapore, Cyprus, Pakistan, Bangladesh.

        Except Fiji, others succeeded.

  • 33
    8

    Does DJ accept the fact that the Tamils were being marginalised slowly from the time of SL Independence? Lack of investments in the North and East of the country, progressive government sponsored colonisation of Sinhalese in the traditional Tamils areas, Sinhalese being made the Official Language, Standardisation of University Entrance & lack of employment opportunities to the minorities; Every very often government sponsored riots targeting Tamils lives businesses and residences brought the Armed struggle to the North and East of the country (similar to west and East Pakistan).
    In effect continued State suppression resulted in civil war. The Rest of the world thought that after winning the war in May 2009 , the GoSL will take progressive steps towards National Reconciliation. But this did not materialise and there was corruption & promotion of ethnic and Linguistic differences leading to huge debts.
    Misguided Mega projects with very little returns had made the country much poorer. The UNHCR should take actions against the current rulers and put them in the correct democratic and not autocratic path

    • 4
      7

      Naman,
      Traditional Tamil areas after Portuguese and Dutch brought Dravida coolies to work in their plantations and dumped in Yapanaya. That is the truth. Demalu in the North East are occupying land once Sinhalayo lived as subjects of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Kingdoms that were destroyed by Dravida invaders forcing Sinhalayo to retreat to safer areas. Please vacate traditionally Sinhala land occupied by Demalu and return to your ancestral homeland without repeating the same lie.
      —-

      “progressive government sponsored colonisation of Sinhalese in the traditional Tamils areas,”

      • 3
        0

        You tested your claim by trampling Pillaiyar in Mullaitheevu, the bald headed was razored and razed from within.

        In Kurunthoor, one of the rare type of eight faced Lingam pops up like it wants to shaft you.

        The divine message is simple, do not dare touch me and back off.

        True, there is no scientific basis for this.

        If scientific basis is sought for all your claims, they will be no more even before you make up all your claims.

        Go ahead.

      • 6
        0

        PISSU Eagle,
        Mlechcha Racist,
        If you call them Demala coolies, most of them exported to middle east today over last 4 decades should all be ” sinhala cookies,” or not? Today those poor poor sinhalayas are thrown to the streets with zero support from srilanken mission in Kuwait and other ME countries.
        .
        Racist dog please learn to address someone first, that is the basics in civilised culture😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎 if we see poisonous reptiles in our backyard s what we did was killing them, but why nothing seems to work on you as a super spreader for hate speeches????????😉😉😉😉😉

        • 2
          1

          Typo sinhala coolies. !

    • 6
      2

      N
      BTW, the first three major industries to be set up in the country were, respectively in KKS, Paranthan and Valaichenai.

      • 5
        1

        KKS, Paranthan and Valaichenai factories were set up on a rational basis.
        KKS – raw material for cement such as limestone and chalk are found in abundance in the area around the factory and no expense is incurred in transporting them. Cement factory in Galle is a political one where clinker made in KKS was transported by rail and powdered and packed. Cement factory in Puttalam transports raw material from Vannathivillu and Aruwakkalu about 20 miles away. For both railway wagons had to be imported.
        Paranthan – It produces chemicals from Brine, where sea water is abundant.
        Valaichenai – It produces paper from paddy straw. Rice bowl of Sri Lanka are Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa and Amparai districts, and Valaichenai is at the middle of these. Paper factory started in Embilipitiya using paddy straw from Walawe project area was a loss.

        • 3
          1

          KKS Cement ruined ground water and caused health problems by dispersal of dust.
          Vantharumoolai stream was severly polluted by factory discharge and was a wreck by the 1970s. (BTW, is paddy from Sabaragamuwa not good for making paper?)
          In any event, paddy straw was not the major source of paper pulp in the paper mill as the silica content was high.
          Paranthan Chemicals could equally well have been located in Hambantota. It performed well until after 1977.

          • 3
            1

            GS you say “It produces chemicals from Brine, where sea water is abundant.”
            Where is Brine located?

          • 1
            1

            You are scoring your own goal, without even realising. You are raising the points for the sake of argument without any thought.
            These were built decades before I was born.
            Pollution issue would have happened where ever they were built, and it was price (at the time) that had to be paid for advancing the economy.
            Very big part of decisions (at that time) would have been logistics for getting raw materials and supplying finished materials. The cost of logistics would have determined the viability and profitability of these industries. In the logistics, labour (both educated and manual) availability and transportation would need to have been taken into account at that time.
            So the choice of locations appeared to have been made by leveraging existing, reliable transport network at that time. i.e. railway.
            This rules out Amabanthotai even now, although Amabanthotai ground level is closer to sea level than in Elephant Pass.
            If Sabaragamuwa paddy is not good for making paper, you should have mentioned which other geographical part of paddy was good for paper production. Then you go on to state paddy straw not being major source of paper pulp, which blew my mind and is the reason for this long reply.

            • 0
              0

              Correctiion,

              The text “If paddy straw is major source of paper pulp” must read “If paddy straw is NOT major source of paper pulp”

        • 2
          1

          Valaichenai was also a loss and the others were making losses too.

          It was restarted recently by Weerawansa but very unlikely it can make profit.

          • 0
            0

            Valaichenai profits were used to build Embilipitiya.

  • 26
    3

    Point 6 on Dinesh’s speech: “The Government which assumed office in Sri Lanka in 2015, in a manner unprecedented in human rights fora, joined as co-sponsors of Resolution 30/1 which was against our own country. It carried a host of commitments that were not deliverable and were not in conformity with the Constitution of Sri Lanka. This led to the compromising of national security to a point of reviving terrorist acts on Easter Sunday 2019 causing the deaths of hundreds”.

    Dinesh in his speech blames the non-implementation of UN Resolution 30/1 by SL Govt as the cause for Easter Sunday attack! Shocking. Still Dinesh withdrew from Resolution 30/1!

    • 4
      5

      Buddhist1,
      What Dinesh meant by ‘THIS’ is co-sponsoring the Resolution. UNHRC Resolutions are non-binding but because that traitor co-sponsored the Resolution it became a binding resolution. Probably because that traitor did not know the Constitution or signed it without even reading the Resolution, Sri Lanka had committed to certain things that could not be delivered e.g. appointing foreign judges.
      The ‘Jadapalana’ Government implemented the commitments that could be delivered e.g. promoting reconciliation. Because of the commitment to promote reconciliation ‘Jadapalana’ Government did not pay attention to activities of Wahhabi Muslim extremists. In fact, President Sirisena had told the Police not to do anything to antagonize Muslims. So, Wahhabi Muslim extremists had a field day and went ahead with planning terrorist attacks. Although Muslim people informed the Police about activities of Wahhabi Muslim terrorists, Police did not take action. Now Sirisena has to pay the price for promoting ‘Reconciliation’. Probably having a nice time in Welikada Five Star Hotel!

      • 5
        3

        Eagle Eye, You are like a parrot repeating what the Govt is saying “the resolution is against the constitution”. Well tell me which clauses in the constitution are violated by the constitution?

  • 20
    2

    How serious was MR about LLRC?
    Anything to suggest keenness to implement?

    • 4
      2

      OMG SJ@
      .
      Why to refer LLRC? Was he ever serious about any of people s issues? U the kind of senior s should have made this clear to the kaliamma controlled majority in the country .
      .
      What about 13 A plus?
      .
      What about burial rights for Covid deaths of muslims?.
      .
      What about price reductions of essential goods? I’ll fasted bugget doest seem to know how abusive he has been to own people, no excuses karmic retribution would send him to the hell by an express manner. Now look at him😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉

  • 36
    6

    I don’t blame Gotabaya for the current status of Sri Lanka. As a military man surrounded by a military group and hardcore Buddhist Fundamentalists like Wimal Weerawanse, Sarath Weerasekera you cannot expect anything different. They only know how to kill enemies. First you should blame Mahinda Rajapakse who had an experience of five decades became a greedy pig for family kingdom. He should have discussed the Prof. Vithrana’s proposal with TNA. The well experienced Vasudeva, Prof. Vitharane, Prof. GL Peries who had experience in politics should have advised Mahinda to implement the LLRC recommendation or they should have opposed to bringing Gotabaya to the presidency or at least not to bring 20th amendment.

    • 5
      1

      Ajith: “The well-experienced Vasudeva, Prof.Vitharana, Prof. G.L.Peries…….” Well “Experienced” in what? Mostly in “Betrayals” of their own “Learnings” and “Mastering” the “Art” of “Pole Vaulting” in politics. All of them and many more such politicians of that category must be written off sooner and not later.

      • 4
        1

        Simon

        “Mostly in “Betrayals” of their own “Learnings” and “Mastering” the “Art” of “Pole Vaulting” in politics. “

        Vasu Nayakkar used to condemn Bonapartists, left right and centre rightly so, however now it appears he has joined them. .

        What do you like to call this complete u-turn

    • 7
      1

      I think Prof Vitharane, G.L.Peries and Vasudeva who may have experience but they do not have a voter base. To stay relevant in politics they have to be “Yes Sir Men” of Rajapakses. Under this circumstances they will never speak their mind out.

      Proof of the pudding is how they are behaving now, they even voted for 20th Amendment and defend it.

      Of all people G.L. Peries is the worst. He is like those monkeys which jump from branch to branch he has been jumping from party to party and as he jumped his views on the same Constitution he was proposing too changed 180 degrees. What a stupid old politician this guy is.

  • 26
    10

    Boralugoda Meeya can squeak for all its worth but it is not going to make any impression on the country’s foreign critics.

    • 3
      2

      Captain Morgan

      “Boralugoda Meeya can squeak for all its worth but it is not going to make any impression on the country’s foreign critics.”

      What happened to the domestic critics? Have all been exercising self censorship out of respect for smart patriots?

  • 2
    6

    The reason Tamils cannot find the bottom is because of “analysis” such as this! The Tamils never had a cause. That is why there is no solution. That is why the Tamils keep going in a loop. Alas, each time the Tamils keep circling it must be humiliating, degrading and exhausting, especially for their children! The basics are this. I hope Tamils here of all people listen. When your leader says “we want equality” he means 50:50. That is half the political power. When that does not happen your leaders keeps agitating. The Tamils rise up goes again in yet another circle. The reason your leader will never get 50% of the power in the island is because you represent 12% of the population. Unless you pay 50% of the taxes this ain’t going to happen. That is just the entry point. I can go on but I hope the simple math here is enough to give us all a break with this now 75 years of going in circles. Also I must emphasis this too -> https://qr.ae/TUtFWm

  • 4
    1

    This is a Trumpian response by one who should know better: deny the undeniable, remove the truth and replace it with a post-truth. It’s the way of despots and those who do their bidding, and a classic example of how fascism gets entrenched in a society.

    The only way to stop this in its now quite advanced tracks, is to break the structure of this now assumed dynastic rule and Rajapakse Unlimited project; and even though it is not ideal to rely on external agencies, one really has no choice, since it is manifestly clear that our own internal agencies have shown not a jot of sincerity of purpose, and continue to shield the perpetrators. This is unsurprising, as the chain of command goes (then as in now) right up to the current incumbent of the highest seat in the land; who is said to have a history of unmitigated brutality in dealing with his “opponents”, be they armed groups, journalists or even jurists.

    Professor Timothy Snyder (who is oft quoted by some of our best) gives a good account of how fascism emerges and thrives. See this recent clip if interested:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cszc37

  • 6
    1

    We Tamils have to live with realities,that are tragic, yet factual. We should learn never to be so gullible as to swallow the nonsense of killed as 40,000 or the atrocious 7,000 peddled by the self styled ‘literati’

    Instead of trying to rebut fiction, we have to project the real as 100,000 + or – . What is the only authentic source other than the losers in the family ? The time span should be 1977 to 2010. Tamils have adequate experience with OFFICIAL or EXPERTS’ rubbish, never accepted by any, leave aside the UN and its agencies.

    Sit Downs are vital to keep the fire of resistance burning. Truth can be ferreted out only through a laborious effort of a census by the affected. We can’t forget Auvvaiyar. “Will the departed ever return?”

  • 3
    3

    One lie (old) was replaced by another lie (new). So what is the difference.

  • 3
    10

    Everything said by GoSL & Gota is true and factual! I applaud them on their tenacity. But we should have never become pawns of China of course. Only way to achieve Sinhala hegemony is with Tamils interspersed in between. Remove Port City, remove India, and become Socialist via Gota-JVP. It will be a difficult time, but after 10 years of suffering, we will be a very strong country indeed. But have no fear: West will give us many US$ for….being good.

    • 7
      1

      ramona therese fernando, nothing you say makes any sense. I still remember you are an ill witted mutt who lives in PA, USA who simply makes up stuff. Aren’t you the same person who could not tell the difference between 18 million dollars and 18 billion dollars sometime back, please don’t embarass yourself and look a complete buffoon, just disappear.

      • 0
        3

        TftN,
        In British English, a billion used to be equivalent to a million million (i.e. 1,000,000,000,000), while in American English it has always equated to a thousand million (i.e. 1,000,000,000). … Nowadays, it’s generally held to be equivalent to a million million (1,000,000,000,000), as it is in American English.
        https://www.lexico.com/explore/how-many-is-a-billion

        • 3
          0

          ramona therese fernando, either way you are still wrong. We are talking about the practice that is in use now. Go and get some education.

          • 0
            3

            TfgN,
            @
            Different countries use different scales to denote a billion.
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_and_short_scales#Current_usage
            @
            Rather insular, aren’t you.

            • 3
              1

              ramona therese fernando, are you are this densed and stupid? Did you ever go to school? Out of all the sources in the world you have cited wikipedia? What a dumb twat!!!! Idiot billion is a billion anywhere you go. Stop wasting your time in buddhist temples in PA, USA chasing buddha who not even God and go back to grade one and get some education.

              • 1
                1

                TftN,
                Mostly only in English speaking countries. Unfortunately, you can only rationalize and debate with vindictive to boost you up. Typical.

              • 1
                1

                TFN,

                Please be kind to ramona therese fernando.

                Why spoil seat-ejecting entertainment?

                I am not stereotyping Sinhalese. However, in my experience, I would say that the Sinhalese, even with reasonable education, think these kind of tricks (cunning) are actually their high level of intelligence.

                • 0
                  1

                  I’m part Tamil and Sinhalese. No tricks and intelligence. Just hard-core facts.

                • 1
                  0

                  KA,
                  “reasonable education, think these kind of tricks (cunning) are actually their high level of intelligence.”
                  Strangely enough, that’s what Robert Knox thought too.

  • 8
    0

    I think Prof Vitharane, G.L.Peries and Vasudeva who may have experience but they do not have a voter base. To stay relevant in politics they have to be “Yes Sir Men” of Rajapakses. Under this circumstances they will never speak their mind out.

    Proof of the pudding is how they are behaving now, they even voted for 20th Amendment and defend it.

    Of all people G.L. Peries is the worst. He is like those monkeys which jump from branch to branch he has been jumping from party to party and as he jumped his views on the same Constitution he was proposing too changed 180 degrees. What a stupid old politician this guy is.

  • 4
    1

    Here’s another report by HRW: https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/02/01/open-wounds-and-mounting-dangers/blocking-accountability-grave-abuses-sri-lanka

    Dinesh Aiiya, want to try and deny these incidents as well?

    You utterly obtuse and dishonest man.

  • 4
    2

    Thank you Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke for keeping us updated and analyzing Nanadasena

    activities from day to day. We have a long way to go!

  • 3
    5

    “The Commission takes the view that the root cause of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka lies in the failure of successive Governments to address the genuine grievances of the Tamil people. The country may not have been confronted with a violent separatist agenda, if the political consensus at the time of independence had been sustained and if policies had been implemented to build up and strengthen the confidence of the minorities around the system which had gained a reasonable measure of acceptance. A political solution is imperative to address the causes of the conflict…” (p 291, articles 8.150, 8.151)”
    .
    I take the view that ethnic conflict comes down from not pre-independence, not even pre-Colonial but from pre-Christian era of Elara – Dutu Gemunu.

    The Colonials denied the ‘Sinhalese’ and the ‘Tamils’ the right to kill one another.
    .
    Which schools did these Commissioners attend I wonder.
    Where did they learn their History and Geography?
    In my school there was a huge world map covering half the wall which showed a big country called India above small Sri Lanka.

    Soma

    • 2
      1

      Soma, Chairman of LLRC, Chittaranjan de Silva was an old Royalists two years my junior, where he had multi ethnic upbringing and secular values inculcated, unlike you from a racist school.

  • 4
    0

    The fundamental problem is some of the clauses in Sri Lanka’s constitution. Article 9 of the constitution states: “The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana. However, this is not suppose not to be one of government duty. This is a fundamental flaw as follows a religion and practice is one’s individual choice not something government need to worry about. Even though several other countries too have similar sentiments included in their constitution. This is where yellow robes gain energy and forcing any genuine leaders too not think anything broader, beyond religion for the benefit of the country.

    If the politicians gain courage and get together to amend the constitution despite the blood bath situation, it may create eventually settle down and create a better future for our future generation who can think broader and better than us.

  • 3
    9

    There was no war in Sri Lanka it was a terrorist group financed by the Tamil Diaspora recruiting poor Tamil children to fight on there behalf. The Government did its job by getting hold of the leader Prabakaran and killing him and eliminate the scourge of terrorism from Sri Lanka, that is the plain truth. The missing sons and daughters of parents of the north are the suicide bombers who killed innocent people in stations, bus stands and buildings.

  • 3
    0

    Wondering whether Dr. DJ took the opportunity to directly lobby UNHRC members either as an independent or as an advisor to SL’s current opposition party, in favour of imposing a resolution on SriLanka based on UN HR High Commissioner Bachelet’s report.

  • 2
    3

    LLRC is a failure.

    Despite LLRC, the UNHRC passed anti-SL resolutions in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. (Nothing happened though.)

    Just dump the LLRC report!

  • 4
    4

    I find this statement ” genuine grievances of the Tamil people” is a lie. 70% of the population are poor and out of that 70%, 30-40 % live well below poverty line. This issue is not a tamil issue , its a Sri Lankan issue. If tamils trying to link only themselves for countries ills, this create friction with the rest of the population.
    Why not all youngsters get together and go after these corrupt politicians from all these parties.
    Dayan’s problem is he does not know how to be a tactician given the circumstances.
    If he did not get into Iranian trap creating anti Israel position at UN, he would have been still there, instead now being turn into a political prostitute.

  • 6
    3

    Thank you Dayan, Panini, for breaking out of the mould of “Heritage Histories” that asserts the Tamils faced no discrimination.

    Until the Sinhalese as a collective vote out our brutal government, they will not find liberation.

    Until then, they are destined to be zombies marching behind the Pied Piper (a.k.a. Gotabaya Rajapaksa) to their doom.

    The UNHRC must act decisively, with another Nuremberg.

  • 5
    3

    My dear Iskolemahathya, can we call us ” sinhalaya” as of today?can u ever be happy about them u as a septagenarian who closely studied local politics? Why except few never held their words after entering office? Is that not because they are not taught to be honest them? What is the difference between oxford educated GLP and school dropout Wimal or the like, when looking at their political decisions?
    .
    I never called me sinhalaya but ” a srilanken” . My Gurus (experts in bio medicine in Europe ) called me ” their man from Bandaranayaka’ s country ..
    .
    I told them Hamanthota rascals destroyed the beautiful country as nothing can help any easy reverse. As of today..
    .
    Human shield s built up based on easy myths and so called fake war victory adulation s misled the gullible gawky majority so that power greedy political monsters can enjoy their propensities on the cost of the 40% poverty striking population .the poor earns not even 5 dollars a day(1000 rps)😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉, but mlechcha Gota wastes millions pro disclose talks with the villagers. If the criminals would have to be beheaded, all Rajapakshe s from older to the youngest would be the top on that list, ironically these men wear the ” sinhala buddhism ” banner on their fore heads and fool sinhala fake monks as the front men of the decorative parades. 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

  • 7
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    It has been unequivocally established through robust and sustained research that “terrorism” is a political tool employed when there are huge and unsurmountable disparities in the balance of power between an armed group and (usually) an oppressive state, where diplomacy, protests or lobbying have come to nothing, and aspirations of a people remain unachievable. There cannot be any other reason why a disciplined, law-abiding and religious people of the north and east of Sri Lanka could evolve into a ruthless and barbaric terror outfit. To deny this undeniable fact is to lose all credibility as a responsible state that has a genuine desire to correct a historical flaw or injustice toward a minority..

    • 4
      10

      Dayan Jayatilleka
      Lasantha Pethiyagoda
      .
      Don’t distort the real truth behind the formation of the LTTE.
      According to the known history of the LTTE, the 18-year old, school dropout, Karaiyar Prabhakaran formed a rebel group called “Tamil New Tigers” in 1972 against the discrimination in education, employment & social inequality caused by the Vellalar casteism!!!
      As all best education opportunities, government jobs and political positions were EXCLUSIVELY held by Vellalar Tamils, it is no wonder young Prabhakaran who was suppressed from school was angry against the caste system.
      Later, in 1976, he changed the group’s name to “LTTE” and became a ferocious fascist whose terror group consisted of kidnapped youth, women & children.
      Wasn’t his wife Madivadini one of the university students that was kidnapped & brought to Prabhakaran?
      Prabhakaran killed a number of Tamil politicians and didn’t they all belong to the privileged Vellalar caste?
      .
      Despite popular belief, what actually took place is entirely different.
      Prabhakaran became a threat to the Vellalar Tamils, who are a privileged group of Tamils because he constantly challenged their power and influence over the lives of other less privileged Tamils.
      In order to regain their power, the privileged Vellalar Tamils essentially brainwashed and reconstructed Prabhakaran’s ideology by making Prabhakaran believe that the Sinhalese were the real threat.
      Contd’…….

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        As for Presidential Commissions of Inquiry, Sinhalese leaders are famous for appointing Kekille Commissions to inquire into various issues and then find it difficult to implement their Kekille recommendations.
        It is clear that the root cause of the struggles of Prabhakaran and other less privileged Tamils had/still have to do with social, economical and gender discrimination.
        The power dynamic that the privileged Vellalar Tamils held/hold over the less privileged Tamils and the inequality that’s present between Tamil men and women greatly affected the events that unfolded that led to the original creation of Prabhakaran’s terrorist organization, the brainwashing of Prabhakaran by the Vellalar Tamils which led him to believe that the Sinhalese was specifically to blame for what had happened to him and the kidnapping of Tamil women and forcing them to be suicide bombers and fighters for him.
        So, the solution to the social, economical, political and gender inequalities (that still persist to this day among Tamils) is to completely abolish Tamil caste system, gender discrimination, Thesawalamai law and dowry system.

        • 5
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          Champa,

          Stop peddling nonsense. VP’s father held a fairly good government position by SL standards, and his community didn’t consider itself significantly below Vellalas in the caste ‘hierarchy’ then prevalent in Jaffna. Many families in the community brought Indian spiritual leaders to speak in their temples at huge expense and followed Hindu religious practices without much caste consciousness.

          Indeed, early writings by others in the Tamil militant movement indicated that the murder of a Hindu priest in the South by Sinhalese mobs during the anti-Tamil pogroms of 1958 –or soon after that –was what motivated VP to join a militant group.

          It is a convenient fiction peddled by racists among the Sinhalese that casteism was at the root of Tamil militant struggles. It is not to say that casteism is not a problem within Tamil society, but it is definitely not the cause of Tamil militancy.

          • 4
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            Agnos

            “It is a convenient fiction peddled by racists among the Sinhalese that casteism was at the root of Tamil militant struggles. “

            Principle proponents of this noble theory are HLD M, Nalin De Silva, Gunadasa Amarasekera and their fellow practicing racists.

          • 2
            5

            Agnos
            I stand by what I said.
            I said “all best educational opportunities, government jobs…….”
            Prabhakaran’s father was a Grade III Clerical Officer who learnt and grew up in the service.
            I was talking about zero opportunities for low caste Tamils to join the civil service through the best education.
            .
            Tamils do not have a “national problem”. They only have a “Tamil problem” which could be easily addressed.
            .
            As for 1958 riots between Tamils and Sinhalese, Prabhakaran’s decision to form a rebel group has nothing to do with 1958 riots.
            According to the then Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, the assassination of the former Mayor of Nuwara-Eliya, D.A. Seneviratne in Batticaloa was the reason for communal riots that erupted in Polonnaruwa, Colombo and several other areas.
            However, others say that there was tension after Bandaranaike abolished Banda-Chelva Pact, and that Chelvanayagam’s decision to hold a Federal Conference in Vavuniya and anti-Sri campaign by Tamils were the reasons for government organized thugs and hooligans to attack Batticaloa bound train in Polonnaruwa which prompted Tamils to retaliate. As always, it is Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim politicians that are involved in every racial riot in Sri Lanka.

            • 0
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              Champawati,
              ” I was talking about zero opportunities for low caste Tamils to join the civil service through the best education.”

              Mr. Velupillai was a Karava caste Gentleman. (I hope CT will let this go- It is not about castism). Where is government data coming from as “Zero” employment? Those who trained by Zero King has legitimate right to rebel against King and go above him, but before that, don’t you have to forget your Guru’s lesson “Zero” (the only number he taught to you ) .

            • 1
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              Chimpi, keep standing by what you say. Everything you say is based on fiction. I cannot believe how you can hold all that idiocy and stupidity in that tiny skull of yours.

              • 0
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                Tamil from the hell

                Keep talking. Someday you will say something intelligent!

            • 1
              1

              Chimpi, I hope you remember this in your little little skull when Premadasa walked into parliament for the first time as the president of the country, half the UNP buggers (Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanayake etc) did not stand up as they felt Prema was lower caste and they will not stand up. You are dumb for sure!!!!!!!!!!

              • 0
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                Tamil from the hell

                Are we to assume that all those who stood up when Premadasa walked into Parliament for the first time as the President were low-caste, except Lalith and Gamini?
                Leave me alone, Tamil. I deserve peace.

          • 1
            1

            Agnos
            “…his community didn’t consider itself significantly below Vellalas in the caste ‘hierarchy’ then prevalent in Jaffna.”
            According to a recent publication by SRH Hoole, Prof. Sivathamby did not think so.

            • 1
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              Among the Sinhalese, however, the Karawe do not claim that they are equal to the Govi, but better than the Govi.
              They have petitioned governors on these lines since Dutch times I think.

            • 1
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              SJ you are correct. I am a vellala man from Jaffna. I can safely say many Karaiyars will not marry outside of their own, even Vellalas. Karayars have teo sets…….called Melongi (upper) and Keelongi (lower). The upper are the educated ones who lived in the city and the lower are the ones who went fishing.

        • 4
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          Champa,
          All the JVP leaders from Wijeweera downwards have been non-Govigama “low” castes. So , since there were 2 violent insurrections, isn’t it clear there is caste discrimination among the Sinhalese?

          • 2
            2

            old codger

            What chance the International Community has bringing war crimes charges against Palitha Kohona, KP, Karuna, Wimal Weerawansa, ……. ?

            Why do you think Kamal and Shavendra are failing or failed to deliver what they were entrusted with, exorcising COVID19 ?

          • 0
            0

            old codger
            I honestly don’t know what his caste is. This is the first time I heard someone talk about the caste of JVPers.

            • 0
              1

              Champa,
              Politics is complicated. You have a lot to learn.
              You can tell their caste by looking up their full names.

              • 0
                0

                Champa,
                Why do you think ex- JVP Wimal calls himself “Weerawansa”?

    • 0
      0

      Dr.Lasantha Pethiyagoda
      .
      Parrot-like repetition of “Aspirations of Tamil People” will serve no purpose unless you define who and who constitute ‘Tamil people’. I never begin any discussion without presenting my definition at the outset:
      “All Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion caste or the date of arrival” (some are as ancient as the Sinhalese, some arrived during the Dutch and some others arrived during the British. Some practise Hinduism, some Christianity and others Islam. Some are high caste and others low caste. )
      Simply put ALL Tamil speaking people.
      Next step is to study their distribution across the island.
      Based on my definition I have come to the conclusion that:
      In view of the mix of demographic distribution of Tamils and Sinhalese across the island there is no conceivable model of geographic devolution of political power which encompasses at least 90% of the Tamils.
      .
      What is favoured by the Tamil political class is what may be called the HOLIDAY RESORT MODEL OF TAMIL EALAM. Meaning a Homeland in NE leaving all others (+50% of them) stay put as they are. This goes counter to their own incessant propaganda of discrimination, violence, loot, rape, murder or even genocide. In fact it is this +50% outside NE that must be saved from the uncaring Sinhalese.

  • 6
    2

    Evil you are contradicting your own masters. Remember it was a humanitarian action/ mission and not military action.

  • 2
    1

    ” The country may not have been confronted with a violent separatist agenda, if the political consensus at the time of independence had been sustained and if policies had been implemented to build up and strengthen the confidence of the minorities around the system which had gained a reasonable measure of acceptance.”

    As everyone knows, the divide and rule policy of the British marginalized the Sinhalese-Buddhists, instead creating a coolie class of sycophants who were primarily educated at English-medium schools founded by missionaries. The underlying goal of these schools was to create a breed of “yes-sir” civil servants who would not oppose the mercantilist policies of the British. In other words, the British wanted a free hand to exploit the natural resources of the country without opposition from the natives. Of course, this kind of system is fundamentally flawed. Not only in Sri Lanka, but in India, Singapore/Malaya, Palestine, and South Africa, the divide and rule policy of the British caused much chaos around the time of Independence. Sri Lanka is unique in that it was not divided, despite moves in that direction by early Tamil politicians.

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