28 March, 2024

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Impunity Reigns Supreme: What Gota’s Candidacy & Shavendra’s Promotion Mean For Us Sri Lankans

By Shreen Abdul Saroor

Shreen Saroor

The International Day of the Disappeared is on the 30th August and I was in Mannar when a group of mothers were preparing to show their collective resistance at Omanthai in North and Kalmunai in East. The discussion was around how safe it is to protest even though the emergency has been lifted but the President has signed an extraordinary gazette assigning same powers that is granted under Emergency Regulations to the military. Not so long ago the Rajapaksa government locked up a protesting mother Balenderan Jayakuamri who surrendered her younger son Mahindan to Sri Lanka military. Mahindan was later found among the young LTTE men who underwent rehabilitation in a government photograph but never returned back to his mother. To date Jayakumari has been in and out of courtrooms due to the false chargers brought against her using the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act. The slogan that the mothers arrived at this meeting was “Men who made our children disappeared are awarded with commanding the military and running for the presidency” Is it the justice promised to us?” 

Last week, Gotabaya Rajapaksa launched his presidential campaign. A strongman who disdains human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law is trying to capitalize on public fear in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks to bring back a dark chapter in Sri Lankan history.  Not to be outdone, President Maithripala Sirisena, who risked his life in 2015 to challenge the Rajapaksa regime, demonstrated his complete capitulation when he appointed Major General Shavendra Silva as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.

Who are Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Shavendra Silva? Patriots or traitors? It depends. Are war crimes, murder, disappearances, torture, and state plunder feats to celebrate? These are the men now in the news. Rajapaksa’s candidacy and Silva’s promotion mark a dangerous step for all Sri Lankans.

During the second JVP uprising in the late 1980s, Gotabaya was the commanding officer of the First Gajaba Regiment in Matale.[1] A mass grave with 154 skeletons from that period was found there in 2012.  Skulls and hand bones show signs of torture, but the Rajapaksa government buried the case by transferring the magistrate judge and launching an ineffectual commission of inquiry.[2]  Radiocarbon testing raised more questions than answers, and the concerns of archaeologist Raj Somadeva were ignored.[3]

Gota spent a decade abroad and returned to Sri Lanka in 2005. He promptly reorganized the security sector, presided over weekly meetings of intelligence agencies, and personally followed up on the progress of arrests and interrogations.[4] As the war intensified, he ensured there would be no witness.  He expelled the U.N. in September 2008 and barred independent media. Only embedded journalists ready to glorify “war heroes” and the “humanitarian operation” were allowed. News trickled out anyway, with U.N. officials and government doctors documenting indiscriminate shelling of hospitals and firing in no-fire zones.  

As we now know, LTTE leaders and even their children were executed at point blank range, reportedly under Gota’s orders.[5] Women were stripped naked and there have been allegation of sexual abuse. Hundreds who surrendered to Shavendra Silva’s 58th Division with Father Francis Joseph boarded government-operated CTB buses in May 2009 never to be seen since.  The report of the U.N. OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) would later link the 58th Division to extrajudicial killings and indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Killinochchi, Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK), Putumattalan, and Mullaivaikkal. A Ministry of Defence report admitted supervision and “UAV monitoring” of all military operations up through the chain of command, meaning Gota was aware at every step.[6] After the war, Gota heaped praise on Silva for doing a “marvelous job” during its final stages.[7]

To enable his atrocities, Gota fabricated lies.  Anyone who criticized the government, whether the U.N. human rights chief or a peace activist, was a Tiger.  Government doctors were coached until they “confessed” that hospitals were not shelled.[8]  Where truth could not be bent, Gota brought in white vans.  Keith Noyahr and Poddala Jayantha were severely tortured after Gota personally warned Jayantha that if he criticized the army, “people who know how to do it will finish you off.”[9] Gota commanded two military intelligence officers to abduct and later kill Prageeth Ekneligoda.[10]He is now facing lawsuits in the U.S. for his role in the murder of Lasantha Wickremesinghe and torture of Canadian Tamil Roy Samathanam. 

For years after the war, accountability was out of reach.  Recommendations by the LLRC and Paranagama Commission went ignored. Mothers of the disappeared and the activists who helped them were detained under the PTA. Sexual assault survivors were threatened and harassed not to name their rapists.  Habeas corpus cases involving the Father Francis and other surrendees languished; as the responding party, Shavendra Silva stonewalled inquiry into what happened under his command.  There was no progress on even the most emblematic cases. At the family level, mothers had no space to mourn or protest.  The military took their lands.  Efforts to mobilize before the U.N. were labeled a Western threat to sovereignty. Any attempt to achieve something better for Sri Lankan people was dismissed as an attack on the war heroes.  Of course, a tyrant needs propaganda to quell the masses.  

As the regime tightened its grip, Gota’s targets grew wider. BBS hate mongerer-in-chief Gnanasara Thero was given reign to incite mobs to burn Muslim homes and businesses in Aluthgama and Dharga Town. That thug now has a presidential pardon, a sign of how far  President Sirisena is gone from good governance.[11]

Men capable of torture and murder are no less capable of plunder. Gota was accused of siphoning more than $75 million in state funds to private firm Avant-Garde to establish a floating armoury and setting up a secret offshore account to procure MiG fighter jets from Ukraine.[12] The Rajapaksas took usurious loans from China and built a vanity airport and port at Hambantota.[13]Even as Sirisena won a surprising victory in 2015, it was unclear if Gota would organize a coup.

So that is Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the man who now stands for election. A strongman who will crush his own people for personal gain. A man who cloaks tyranny as patriotism. And Shavendra Silva, his right-hand man ever since Gota made him his second-in-command in 1987.[14]

The current administration’s failures are without question long.  It ignored intelligence and failed to prevent the Easter attacks.  It has not delivered accountability or security sector reform.  It has reneged on transitional justice promises made to its citizens and the U.N.  It has done nothing to help Tamils rebuild lives shattered by war and has remained silent as mobs now target Muslims post-Easter attacks.  Initial progress on corruption probes resulted in no convictions, and the Central Bank bond scandal shows this government is capable of corruption of its own.  The President has recently shown himself spineless, from unconstitutional moves last October to replace Ranil Wickramasinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa to more recent moves to pardon Gnanasara and appoint Shavendra as Army Commander.  

But there has been halting progress, too. The 19th Amendment limits unchecked presidential power. Sri Lanka is now a party to the Convention on Enforced Disappearance. The Consultation Task Force heard from thousands on how Sri Lanka should approach transitional justice.  The Office of Missing Persons is finally beginning its work. Media freedoms have been restored, and citizen engagement was on full display to prevent a constitutional crisis end of last year. Tamil mothers have a space to protest and mourn. Citizens can use the Right to Information Act to question authorities about their corruption and discrimination. Independent commissions have questioned  the abuse of state power by law enforcement and military.  

It is unclear what President Sirisena is thinking in appointing Shavendra Silva as Army Commander, or what the public expects will happen with Gota at the helm.  Those who think Gota would “Make Sri Lanka Safe Again” should remember the state-sponsored terrorism he unleashed. And Sirisena should know that appointing a lawless Army Commander is the opposite of the good governance he promised back in 2015. What happened to the foreign minister’s promise in early 2015—“Unlike the previous government we are not in a state of denial, saying that such violations have not happened.  We believe such violations have happened, and the extent to which it has happened has to be finally decided by the mechanism we set up.  We are ready to ensure that those who have violated human rights in Sri Lanka will be brought to justice through such a mechanism.”  Sirisena’s latest misstep shows how far he has fallen since 2015.

Shavendra Silva’s promotion plays directly into Gota’s hands and is a betrayal of the trust bestowed by victims and affected communities who brought this government to power.  It is a giant step back for justice and the rule of law for all of us.  The government should reexamine the appointment and investigate abuses perpetrated under Shavendra’s command.  It should bring Gota to justice for his role in disappearing, torturing, and killing journalists, ordering point-blank executions, and plundering state coffers. Gota’s candidacy and Shavendra’s promotion are a mockery and insult to the mothers who have been protesting over 1000 days by roadside, day and night, in the north and east and spell dark days ahead for impunity and democratic governance for all citizens. 

1. C.A. Chandraprema, Gota’s War: The Crushing of Tamil Tiger Terrorism in Sri Lanka (2012), at pp. 173-177.

2. Chandini Kirinde, Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Begin Sittings Within Next Fortnight, Sunday Times (Jun. 30, 2013), available at http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130630/news/presidential-commission-of-inquiry-to-begin-sittings-within-next-fortnight-50836.html

3. Darshanie Ratnawalli, Matale mass grave: skeletons in closets as well?, Colombo Telegraph (Dec. 21, 2014), available at https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/matale-mass-grave-skeletons-in-closets-as-well/.

4. Gota’s War, p. 357.

5. Frederica Jansz, “Gota ordered them to be shot” – General Sarath Fonseka (Dec. 13, 2009), available at http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2009/12/13/%E2%80%9Cgota-ordered-them-to-be-shot%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-general-sarath-fonseka/; Major General Kamal Gunaratne had murdered Balachandran on Gotabhaya’s order (Jun. 14, 2012), Lankanewsweb.com (archived).

6. Ministry of Defense, “Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006-May 2009” (Jul. 31, 2011), ¶206

7. Udeshi Amarasingthe & Thilini Kahandawaarachchi, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa salutes the war heroes, Business Today (June 2009), http://www.businesstoday.lk/cover_page.php?article=891

8. Cable from James R. Moore, Doctors from no-fire zone released on bail (Aug. 24, 2009), available at http://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09COLOMBO830_a.html

9. Cable from Ambassador Robert Blake, Sri Lanka:  Defense Ministry Mobilizes Against Media Critics (Jun. 2, 2008), available at http://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/08COLOMBO528_a.html

10. Dharisha Bastians and Aanya Vipulasena, Prageeth: A politically motivated Crime, Sunday Observer (Jan. 20, 2019), available at http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2019/01/20/news-features/prageeth-%E2%80%9C-politically-motivated-crime%E2%80%9D

11.  Chathuri Dissanayake, President Pardons Gnanasara Thero (May 23, 2009), available at http://www.ft.lk/front-page/President-pardons-Gnanasara-Thero/44-678714

12. See, e.g., Ahimsa Wickremetunge, What they did to my father and why they did it, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/what-they-did-to-my-father-and-why-they-did-it  Mangala Samaraweera comments on MIG deal, NewsFirst (Jun. 24, 2015), available at https://www.newsfirst.lk/2015/06/24/mangala-samaraweera-comments-on-mig-deal/?mode=list; Lakmal Sooriyagoda, Avant Garde Case: CA order on Gota’s petition on July 26, Daily News (Jun. 15, 2019), available at http://www.dailynews.lk/2019/06/15/law-order/188464/avant-garde-case-ca-order-gota-petition-july-26; Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s appeal against the Avant Garde court case postponed, NewsFirst (Jul. 26, 2019), available at https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/07/26/gotabaya-rajapaksas-appeal-against-the-avant-garde-court-case-postponed/13. Maria Abi-Habib, How China got Sri Lanka to cough up a port, New York Times (Jun. 25, 2018), available at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/asia/china-sri-lanka-port.html; Wade Shepard, The story behind Sri Lanka’s emptiest airport, Forbes (May 28, 2016), available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2016/05/28/the-story-behind-the-worlds-emptiest-international-airport-sri-lankas-mattala-rajapaksa/#4ecbf6d47cea.

14. Gota’s War, at p. 163.

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Latest comments

  • 25
    9

    I know for sure, US – Lankans do not like Shavendra Silva and even Gotabhaya Rajapakse.

    • 27
      3

      JD

      “I know for sure, US – Lankans do not like Shavendra Silva and even Gotabhaya Rajapakse”

      Do you know who else like them?

      • 11
        1

        Not too sure about this dude Shavendran …….. but I like Gota; he is not a racist.

        When he was finished with the Tamils he started on the Singhalese. He kills equally.

        Can any of ye guys name one other Lankan who kills equally?

        He is one Lankan who does not discriminate!


        The Lankan population is getting a little out of hand ……… in the absence of famine, pestilence and plagues to cull the numbers the old-fashioned way ….. new artificial methods needs to be considered.

        Gotta think outa the box.



        “Without the errors inherent in the postulates of morality, man would have remained an animal. But as it is he has taken himself to be something higher and has imposed stricter laws upon himself. He therefore has a hatred of those stages of man that remain closer to the animal state.”

        Gota is one dude who gets Nietzsche …….. and knows animals can have nothing but only false morality.

        Gota is the most suitable to be the next president.


        Morals; that’s a laugh ……. It’s just one gigantic never-ending Lankan baila session playing with emotions; not intellect ……… the man-animal cardinal in his fancy dress sings “Looking through the window darling what would the people say” …… and the man-animals Mahanayakes dressed in yellow saris sing “If you want to marry me darling come the proper way.” ……. Another day has passed ……. time moves on and on and on …….

        And all our yesterdays have lighted fools …….The way to dusty death.

        C’est fini

        • 3
          0

          nimal fernando

          “He is one Lankan who does not discriminate!”

          I beg your pardon.
          You have just offended VP, his family, his friend’s, backers, supporters, his fellow aspiring fascists, his b**ls carriers, ………………………….. the entire lot with your 8 words.

          It is unreasonable, …

          VP never discriminated any particular section of people, on regious, racial, ………. grounds. No ageism, no gender, … issues. He killed every one without a shade of discrimination.

          By the way psychopaths don’t discriminate.

          I think you should apologise to Thiruvengadam Velupillai Prabaharan (VP) and his family, …. .

          • 0
            0

            Ah! ye are talking about my heroes VP and Adolf; the best!

            Gota is just an imposter.

            • 0
              0

              Dunno about morality…. but there were better ethics in the time of the cannibals. They killed because they were hungry; a very valid reason by any objective criteria ………… and they finished all their food.

              Simpler times too …….. lunch comes around, you just whack Old Codger on the head …… and Mom puts her head around the corner and says, son make sure you eat all your food. ………..Dinner comes around you whack Native Vedda on the head …… first preference would have been Dayan but he is full of toxins …… arsenic, gyphosphate ……….. in this business you gotta have a good nose for self-preservation

              But when the modern man kills, he ain’t hungry ……….. It’s a mental trick we play on ourselves …….we don’t judge the act of killing by objective criteria …….. but by the perpetrators’ projection of his “practice” of “culture/civilization”

              We are revolted by the cannibals’ eating of the victim and automatically fall into the trap of discarding objective criteria …….. while we are duped by the “modern man’s” cloak of “culture/civilization” he puts on ……. When the cannibals’ act is the lesser of the two evils.

              So, the trick is to, get the fashion-sense right. Can anyone pass me the contact details of Gota’s tailor? Got to get this projection thingy right!

              And the guy I admire the most, good ol’ Adolf ………. He was listening to Wagner and collecting stolen fine art and dressed in high fashions ………… and the millions gassed almost went unnoticed. That’s the epitome of “projection” thingy.

              Like some dude said “I have the simplest of tastes; I’m always satisfied with the very best.”

              Adolf, my man, stand up and take a bow.

              Gota you can sit.

        • 0
          0

          Nimal,
          This is much better than the Popperian thought. You beat K A Sumane’ by miles!

      • 0
        0

        You see who else eventually.

      • 9
        0

        What Gota’s Candidacy & Shavendra’s Promotion Mean For Us Sri Lankans

        For us its obvious , all the investigations implicating Rajapaksa s and their buddies will be stopped .
        Some more Sri Lanka will be sold to foreign countries
        Whoever opposed and opposing will be implicated in some
        “Legal issues “ or even disappear. Will try to appease India and the western countries while doing business with China
        One of the party will get angry and start terrorism.
        Further military expenses will send our people poorer
        Next Government will investigate again.

      • 0
        0

        This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

    • 40
      4

      Some US Lankans treat him like a hero, and treat him like a celebrity.
      They fawn over him, and invite them for their parties. They do not care if he may have been responsible for the massacre of thousands of civilians up North. What do they care, the victims were Tamils and not their own people. War criminals are treated like royalty in some circles.

      • 0
        3

        Are you representing one of the “Eggs that was cracked to make the Peace Omelette in Sri Lanka on May 19th 2009”?

        It certainly looks like it, the shut up and take a back seat and watch the fun Shiran.

        JP

        • 2
          0

          Jayantha Pathberiya

          “It certainly looks like it, the shut up and take a back seat and watch the fun Shiran.

          JP”

          Why should Shiran shut up?
          What is the fun?
          You suppose the fun is watching you being bundled up by white van goons and taking you to an unknown address or burial ground or when your family is distressed and crying for help in public?

      • 5
        1

        Shiran

        Shavendra Silva enrolled in the Army in 1984.
        What was his role in the search and destroy operations conducted throughout the South between 1987 and 1991? Was he fighting the invading IPKF?

        Gotabhaya Rajapaksa enrolled in the Army in 1971.
        What was his role in the search and destroy operations conducted throughout the South between 1987 and 1991? Was he fighting the invading IPKF?

    • 6
      0

      JD,
      I know that, when it comes to Ra..kse family, you can’t see right from wrong due to your slave mentality towards them but that doesn’t change two realities that can have huge adverse effect on national politics. 1. Their determination to have political dynasty; and 2. potential danger from GoRa’s involvement in politics b’cos of his mental instability created by the possible bipolar syndrome which has a serious effect on anger management (all the charges against him seems to be arising from his inability manage anger. I heard that even MaRa wouldn’t try to change his mind).

    • 4
      1

      Some Sinhala women deliver their babies in Aus, UK, USA etc so the kid can get birthright citizenship. That’s all honky dory. But they vehemently denounce Sri Lankan Tamils and Muslims on their birthright.

    • 7
      1

      Shreen has not said anything new. We are aware of these atrocities. Reader of CT live in a cocoon. This man (Gottler) might be elected with the money and machinery of the Madamullana Gang. The asses who comprise the voting majority are a angry disgruntled lot.
      RW is making sure of a UNP defeat by putting his feet in his mouth. 4 1/2 years of misrule and corruption. As bad as the previous. The drowning country is clutching at the straw that has surfaced. He w do we ensure the defeat of this ‘Hero’ (horror).
      Do we leave it in the hands of the Gods??
      His opponents are third grade.
      New Comers Pallewatte and Naganada yet to make a scene. It’s a frightening situation.

  • 22
    2

    These are no surprises to us when recalling october crisis (52 day fake govt plan).
    .
    I dont think if President Sirisena would have the knowledge to do any good thing we thought to get done after getting him elected as our president.
    :
    As many in the coutry just becasue biased media make it as the perception of the society, I dont blame on Mr Decent PM Ranil Wickramasinge. Dont get me wrong, nor I dont support him to become the future leader. I believe, time has come Nagananda Kodithuwakku or the like NON-PARTY supporters to take over the leadership. If not him, Dr Colonnne, who is believed to be one of FORMER senior high men in lanken intelligence dept. Anyways, I hate the abusive media in the country.

  • 38
    8

    Gota will be the worst presidente we ever had, and may be the last. if civil war breaks out after killings of muslims,tamils, country will be another basket case. monks running amoke and white vans collecting citizens will lead to a revolt. All against the dictator will be fed to the sharks.
    His speech is nothing new, but a security guard giving his resume. Security guard who was a killer and a crook. Buddhist will also pay for stupidity of voting for this idiot, as they will loose economically and the country will be sold to the Americans. Then we can expect another iraq. Lets defeat this dictator and put him in jail for the mass killings and theft. Gota to Jail should be the slogan.

  • 25
    2

    In sunny Sri Lanka, Impunity rules!
    Political leaders who fight like cats and dogs over less, suddenly close ranks and vow to ‘defend the sovereignty of the motherland’ when it comes to putting to the test events that many might prefer to hide. They stick two fingers up to the rest of the world when asked to account for well founded charges that in a properly governed democracy will be tested in a court of law. The sorry fact is that even the impartiality of our own judiciary is in doubt. It is now clear that for certain charges, Sri Lanka is not a place where you will get a fair hearing in a court of law. The rabid element will fight tooth and nail to ensure that the ‘ranavirus’ and their handlers will never have to answer for their actions. The ultimate shame will the elevation of the accused to high office – one already appointed, and the other waiting and hoping that the people will chose him. Who will write the final verdict?

    • 8
      3

      Spring Koha

      This is too boring.
      Let’s talk about your fragrant Darshanie Ratnawalli.

      • 2
        2

        Native Vedda, you horrible thing . . .

        Your unexpected mention of the fragrant one caused me to seek the comfort of my haansi puttuwa clutching a cold glass of stout, recalling her fantastic archaeological expositions in order to steady my fast-beating heart. May her perfumed soul continue to write sweet words of enlightenment . . .

        • 2
          0

          Spring Koha

          “May her perfumed soul continue to write sweet words of enlightenment . . .”

          I never understood what she typed.
          By the what is you thought on Sex in the city and political Buddhism, village women an local Viharathipathys, ………….?

          • 0
            0

            Native Vedda

            I don’t ‘think’ about Sex in the city these days (too dangerous at my age!) However it is quite heartening to see present day women taking the initiative. Sex in the city is all about their empowerment. Nice.

            As for political Buddhism – well, Buddhism in Sri Lanka is Political as a result of entwining Buddhism in the Constitution. Can you imagine the nonsense of having Buddhism ‘protected’ by a bunch of devious self-servers?

            Village women? – why? they are God’s gift. Long may they flourish.

            Viharadipathis? – by and large a bunch of opportunists. Mostly deviants on accounts of the opportunity that come their way for mischief.

            By the way NV, these questions are you conducting some king of research, or have they been troubling you in some way? I think we should be told.

  • 27
    5

    The Goat Man and his butcher are a disgrace to the country. It is easy for some to praise them and hail them as heroes, because if was not not their family member that got killed, or who are still missing. These were two ruthless officials, and did nothing, nor held anyone accountable for the rape, torture, and murder of innocent civilians.
    The end does NOT justify the means.

    Now they want to come back to power, one already is, when they should be treated like pariahs.

  • 27
    5

    I find it very, very surprising that MEN DON’T HAVE THE GUTS TO WRITE LIKE THIS!
    Shreen, Hats off to you!

  • 24
    2

    People like MY3, RW, MR were born because of the curse this country has, cast by Kuweni for betrayal . Feel like throwing up when see the people like SB Dissanayaka gathering around Gota. No shame at all, as if they are living forever. His political life started from Communist party, then flip-flopped like an eel among whatever the party is in power. I remember in the university he was so against the capitalism. My question is at least why his children wouldn’t feel the shame? He stole the money from the country, enough for at least six generations to live lavishly. At least now nearing the end of the life, do something right for the country. Vasudewa, SB, Dilan will have a special hell to go. When you think about these lowly beings, we are fortunate to have people like Anura Kumara, Kumara Welgama, Ranjan Ramanayaka at least among us who have courage to talk sense, see the things clearly and have a feeling for the people. Imagine living in a country only with politicians like SB.

    • 2
      0

      Gamage

      You have touched on a very common affliction with our self-important politicians. The one’s you have identified (but many others too) believe they are God’s gift to us. They do have the grace to know when they should leave (retirement age of 55 does not apply to them) and as long as they they can hoodwink the poor easily misled voter who votes with heart rather mind, the rest of us will be doomed to suffer the misery they bring. Shameless people who are a curse on this land.

  • 4
    8

    I think Shavendra Silva may be because of Gotabhaya saying that he would look after the National security.-

    • 12
      5

      JD

      How about Shavendra Silva for president in 2028?
      May be Namal Baby?

      • 2
        8

        There are many other smaller countries that have shown assertiveness in their affairs and they are moving along the right path.. Sri lanka does not want to understand the mess they are in. They are still arguing about which candidate to be forwarded.
        Right now the objective is get rid of all the sinhala politicians out of 225.
        All the lay people of sinhala, Tamil and Muslims are talking a different language and it is not what the Face book fans or English readers are talking. Common Candidate project won because Mahinda rajapaske screwed it up.

        • 7
          2

          Softy,

          For your future references, you save this link. Because, this is a very important message for you and the ones like you.
          Forget about Tamils and Muslims. Forget about your thieves, “Quota”, “ Sata”, and “Kumara” & other Sinhala Buddhist Presidential candidates. Unless India, US, UK, NATO, UN someone is not invading Lankawe and save it, the Sinhala Mahajan going to be left poverty struck, infectious diseases spread, Drugs and crime deep rooted and waiting without hedges against natural disasters, which to wipe them off. So go and meet the FBI now in the county and ask them to help you. That is a simple and realistic solution.

  • 0
    0

    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

  • 5
    22

    Up coming presidential election’s theme is ‘National Security’ and ‘How to Stop Muslimization of Sri Lanka’. Yahapalana retards know well that their incompetence of governing is the root cause of Muslim terrorism and lost the up coming presidential election and parliamentary election when Saharan brought back the fear in to Sri Lanka.
    /
    Sri Lanka is desperate for alpha men at the helm and has had enough of Yahapalana sissies. Mathara people must not vote for the traitor that they have been sending to the parliament for the last 30 years.
    /
    Gota and Shavendra are war heroes. Karu who is the worst speaker in parliament’s history must never be the president in Sri Lanka.Nonsense as usual!!! Kallathoni LTTE terrorist organization is an illegal and criminal organization which fought an illegal and criminal war against native Sinhalese to invade half of Sinhala-Buddhist Sri Lanka. LTTE terrorists recruited child soldiers, suicide b0mbers, s-x slaves, etc who killed at least hundred thousand innocent Sinhalese barbarically. War criminal West funded and armed LTTE terrorism for 30 years and tried to save LTTE terrorists from losing the war several times.
    /
    Remember, Yapanaya (Jaffna), Puththalama, Mannarama, Ampara, Wavniyawa, etc are ancient Sinhala-Buddhist strongholds. Tamil homeland is Tamil Nadu. So resolve your problems with British and Dutch who brought you people as slaves from South India.
    /
    With bogus allegations against Sri Lankan war heroes, so called Tamil diaspora can make billions of dollars and can withdraw billions of dollars from banks in Western countries. Low level diaspora canactivist’s net worth is $ 5 million.

    • 2
      1

      You are writing all nonsense. At least read the articles in this site and learn history to understand current situation. No one is going to believe what you write.

  • 0
    0

    If Sampanthan and his cabal who were the political mouthpiece of the barbarous LTTE can be made the leader of the oppiostion, given that kind of Impunity and gross insult where people who have committed seition against the state become “Hon”, what more can you say.
    Those men, in Cahotes with the LTTE, drove out legitimate Muslim and Sinhala residents from the North to en-act ethnic lceansing.
    This write never raised the pen asking that those who were driven out should be re-settled.
    This writer never raised the pen asking that Sampanthan, Sridharan and others be made to face justice for their collusion with the PolPots of Sri lanka.

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    Not only Tamil moms there are equal or more Sinhala moms and Dads crying for their children.
    Only difference is they don,t even think of protesting.

    Hope the writer considers their plight and voice their loss also.

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    THE UNP also have their own “Alugoswas” Stil sitting comfatably in parliament.

    We have not fogotten Kola Koti, Pra, Batlanda, Floating bodies of young people in the river
    eten by Kabaragoyas. Tayer crematoriams where young people were burned alive.
    All this happened under UNP under the blessings of RANIL

    Still the Impunity Godfathers of UNP are enjoying international patranage and white washing by bias reporters like you.

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    Got-a-baya is an American at heart. Although he has rescinded his US Citizenship, no certificate has been issued by USA to confirm that. Its customary for US to evaluate all relative issues once some one rescinds the Citizenship and then issue a certificate. Only this certificate confirms that USA has agreed to a person giving up the citizenship. Got-a-baya still has his wife and children in USA who are citizens. Are we to believe he is a Sri Lankan and his entire family members are US Citizens, if so why should we elect a person as President when he has one foot and his heart in USA and his body in SL?

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    A well-researched piece with facts and figures. I only wish we have a few more brave women/men like Shreen Saroor. A BIG Thank you.

    The appointment by President Sirisena Shavendra Silva a notorious alleged war criminal, as Commander of the Army is immensely damaging to the country and marks the end of any reconciliation process, given the credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity against him.

    The appointment of Shavendra Silva, a notorious alleged war criminal, is an affront to not only the Tamils but to enlightened Sinhalese and Muslims. Silva is still in the denying mode claiming any wrongdoing on his part. He has the gall to claim that the military operations he carried out are in fact “humanitarian operations” and nothing more. Apparently, he is lying through his teeth. He should explain as to the fate of the LTTE leaders and fighters who surrendered with White Flag on the morning of May 18, 2019.

    The surrender was facilitated by Basil Rajapaksa who advised the surrendees to hold the flag high so that the soldiers can see without difficulty. The LTTE surrendees were led by B.Nadesan, Head of the LTTE political department, his wife, Seeevaratnam Puliththevan of the Peace Secretariat and Col.Ramesh Police Chief. The next day photos of the tortured bodies of Nadesan, Puliththevan and Ramesh lying in dust with burnt marks all of their bodies were seen in the media, including state-controlled.
    Then on the evening of the same day, another batch of high-ranking LTTE cadres surrendered to the army at Vadduvaakal. They included Elilan, former Political chief for Trincomalee and spouse of Ananthy Sasikaran, Yoki, Thilakar (TRO chief) Balakumar and his son, Poet Ratnathurai and several others. (For a partial list please visit https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/ltte-cadres-who-surrendered-to-the-army-where-are-they/).

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    These surrendees were taken in CTB buses reportedly for a short inquiry witnessed by hundreds of their relatives, friends and others. A Catholic Priest Joseph Francis who took a list of the LTTE cadres himself volunteered to accompany them. He has not been seen since that day.
    All the surrenders were summarily executed by soldiers of the 58th Division commanded by Shavendra Silva. Yet Silva has the audacity to claim no such surrender took place.

    In 2011, Channel 4 News interviewed an army officer on the front lines of the offensive, who told of the crimes committed by troops from the unit. He stated,
    “They shot people at random, stabbed people, raped them, cut out their tongues, cut women’s breasts off. I have witnessed this with my own eyes. I saw the naked dead bodies of women without heads and other parts of their bodies. I saw a lot of small innocent children getting killed in large numbers. I saw people soaked in blood. They could do whatever they wanted there. It was their empire.”

    One of the most disturbing crimes that Silva is accused of directing is the mass murder of surrendering Tamil civilians and LTTE cadres, since dubbed the “White Flag” incident. The officer quoted Silva as telling troops on the frontline;

    “This is a very decisive day for us because last night I got a call from the defence secretary. He told me that we only have a small chunk of land left to capture. Do whatever it takes, however it is done… finish it off the way it has to be done.”

    I am at a loss to know how Shavendra Silva is able to sleep after committing this senseless murder of surrendees. 2/3

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    The International Truth and Justice Project, which has pursued war-era officials accused of crimes, said Silva’s appointment was “immensely damaging to the country”.

    “After so much bloodshed Sri Lankans need to hold their leaders accountable in order to stop the repeated cycles of violence,” the head of the South Africa-based rights group Yasmin Sooka said in a statement. “Silva’s promotion, however, sends a message of total impunity.”

    She said they had compiled a 137-page dossier on Silva showing there was “more than enough evidence” to charge him with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    Enforced Disappearances are heinous crimes and Sri Lanka has a long history of disappearances as evidenced by the numerous national commissions of inquiry which have looked into such allegations over many decades, as well as by UN reports.

    Foreign Ministry claims that comments on the appointment of Shavendra Silva as Army Commander by President Maithripala Sirisena are “unwarranted and unacceptable”. The reason being Sri Lanka is a sovereign country. But Absolute Sovereign immunity is no longer a widely accepted concept in countries including the United States, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa. These countries have introduced restrictive immunity by statute, which explicitly limits jurisdictional immunity to public acts.

    Shavendra Silva Sri Lanka will not be able to travel abroad anymore. In an ominous sign of what is in store for him, the Western diplomats led by the US have boycotted the Colombo Defence Seminar – 2019 organised by Shavendra Silva.3/3

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    “What Gota’s Candidacy & Shavendra’s Promotion Mean For Us Sri Lankans?
    .
    Living without fear of bombed into pieces.

    Soma

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      somass

      “Living without fear of bombed into pieces.”

      Without fear fascists cannot come to or take over power nor can they sustain it. They constantly have to stoke fear, on 24/7/52 basis.

      Did you notice since the day Gota declared his candidacy and Mahinda anointed him being the next in line for throne, the security forces have been unearthing arms and ammunition, so far at 4 places, ………… how convenient?

      By the way his main campaign theme is security.

      Therefore US Sri Lankan should recall their fellow American to their country.

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        Native
        please dont undermine the work done by the security forces.
        The Easter Sunday bombings happened because , The dumb Yahapalanaya Govt
        listened to dummys like you,

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          Wimpy Kid

          “please dont undermine the work done by the security forces.”

          What work that may have been?

          Politicians come and go (or kicked out of office). Security forces are part of the permanent state, who are expected to and paid for to protect the state and the people on 24/7/52 basis.

          They were caught napping.
          Security forces are expected to protect the people from alien invasion. All what they did was killing innocent people from 5th April 1971 to 2015 while keeping themselves safe from IPKF by hiding behind VP’s bum and their own women folks.

          You need to rest a bit.

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    Two greatest war generals, Gota and Shavendra. No nonsense with this two. Sri Lankan very lucky to have these two war veteran same as USA’s Eisenhour. These 2 never ever divide Sri Lanka, no Elam, no separate country. These 2 knows and the entire world knows Aryans Sinhalese country belongs to Helayans (Sinhalese) , Sri Lanka is known as Heladva

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      N.Perera

      “Two greatest war generals, Gota and Shavendra.”

      Please explain as why both are greatest war generals?

      ” No nonsense with this two. “

      You are right, they both know they are immune from all kind of war crimes, because the war was conducted by Hindians and Americans. So they could kill people however they want to knowing Hindian and Americans would save their asses.

      “These 2 never ever divide Sri Lanka, no Elam, no separate country.”

      Both cowards know Hindians would not allow it to happen.

      “These 2 knows and the entire world knows Aryans Sinhalese country belongs to Helayans (Sinhalese) , Sri Lanka is known as Heladva”

      What is your point if there is any?
      What is an Aryan country?
      When did it become one?

      When feudal nationalism hits your head hard people talk nonsense.
      You have gone beyond the threshold, hence recovery is difficult.

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    Madam Shereen Abdul Saroor
    What a brilliant article. You have touched the right points. Lots of research involved.
    Thanks.
    We need to tell ourselves the truth.
    Only the truth can set us free.
    The main problem with Sri Lanka is that our people are emotion junkies we thrive on sentiments and myths rather than on rational thinking and truth.
    That is our weakness. That is what our politicians exploit and use against us.

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    A powerful call to wake up and face up to the imminent dangers we face. The urgency of the message is reflected in the fact that while the author has given her name, all commentators so far have failed to identify themselves.

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      Jaffana Aiyya,
      These buggers will never wake up that is the problem.

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    Estate Labourer, good observation. Shreen please keep writing. Because of people like you is why country is still sane. I am also impressed to see more and more ( new names) courageous, honest , moral people are willing to come out with truth and real facts. What percentage of general population is aware of this facts and even so, will have fair insight and judgement in casting their vote , will decide any elections from now on. Until now it has not dawned yet hope soon it will.

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    The gang of crooks are now conspiring to postpone the presidential elections like the local govt elections.It is transparent that these crooks have the same objective of enriching themselves parading before the people as two opposing groups while in effect they are of the same group as evident from the way they venture to and from these groups with ease.Unless the people see through this trick and banish all of them off the political field this country is in for a Pol Pot or Pinochet era .

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    Imagine Sri Lanka run by two murderers and despots with scant respect for life. Gota has no right to be nominated as he is still a citizen of USA. . Shavendra is a known murderer and a Gota sycophant with no morals and indecent all the way. He has got the face of a murderer and the idiot double talk skunk of a president is supporting this hooligan. The people are going to suffer if these murders come tp0 [ower. At all costs they must not be allowed a role in the future of SL. WE must take the sevala president to the court and have him hung once he no longer is president and will not have immunity from prosecution. Please start setting up a fund to get these three criminals prosecuted. Every law abiding decent citizen must not vote for the gotler and we must use all the power in our hands to get rid of Shavendra and have him prosecuted, a curse for our country with these two egoistic, murderous bastards,.

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    I have taken upon myself not to contribute a single word of comment ( appreciated or not ) on CT or any Social media About Sri Lanka politics until such time I see the Excutive Presidency if not abolished at least fully transfered to the parliment and a new constitution with a upper house and lower locking in all the chief ministers of all Provoncial governments making him or her accountable for every single insitution of his or her province and making every services from issuance of passport, NIC, Driver’s license, etc available in each province, so the people do not have to face the misery of travelling by the most uncomortable, inefficient transport and above it spend money for their meals and spend the whole day and in same cases having to travel multiple times to Colombo.
    Make all commisions trully independent with reputed members among the public and not politicians ,Introduce a Central Government Tender Board with representation by some reputed members of the public along with the officials of each ministry.
    These are few nerve centres of the Country that must be addressed.
    Set up a tripartite of the union(
    collaboration of the Union members and the government) this wil be a great boost to the economy.
    Unless I see these or anything close to these I am not going to waste my valuable bandwith and time.
    Its time People wakeup for this and last not the least introduction of a complete monorail system in every province connecting all other provinces by transfer either by the most comfortable busses or by the monorail.
    Nothing is impossible if people understand their true power and unite.
    Thank you very much CT for your your generousity for giving me your valuable space to Comment
    Regards
    Fahim Knight.
    Will be on complete deactived mode from now on ,

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      FAHIM KNIGHT

      Three pillars of democracy are education, media maturity, and communication freedom. Lack of enough education is the problem the democracies in African Nations and South American nations having. Russia managed get out of USSR grip because Russia’s education level at that time, though they had programed it towards protecting the fallacy.

      Sirimavo’s initiation to destroy education and media is the main reason the Lankaweyans are not able to identify and understand their enemies within the crowd they are voting for.

      Cycle of democracy is Educationists have to communicate the new advances and ideas developing in the civilized world, to people. People have to reply in votes about their plights, longing & wishes. If their country votes, consciously at UN for or against a separate country for Palestinians, it too is the people’s plight. That means the educationist and media are functioning properly in that country. The cycle cannot be interrupted. An element in the democracy’s cycle cannot withdraw. Otherwise that causes the democracy to fall.

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    Dear Writer,

    How about the killing of Richard de Soysa?

    How about the killing of more than 10,000 youths on road sides from 1988 to 1990.

    How about the killing of peaceful protesters in 1980 July strike?

    How about killing of Batalanda from 1988 to 1990?

    How about killing of School students of Ambilipitiya and intern them in Suriyakanda?

    How about burning alive Rohana Wijeweera and his comerade in 1990?

    You all have forgotten those bastard crimes carried out between 1977 to 1994. But we have not forgotten them.

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    Impunity Reigns Supreme: What Gota’s Candidacy & Shavendra’s Promotion Mean For Us Sri Lankans

    *** It means more of the same as has been dished out to the Minoritirs for the last 71 years. Nothing has changed in Sinhala Lanka and it will remain a Country dominated by the Majority Buddhists guided by the Bhikkhus.
    The disppearded will never be found and if Gotha is elected the mothers and fathers will not be able to agitate as white vans will be waiting.
    This has been a feature for the last 3000 years. We cannot Cohabit. The International World owes it to the minorities to provide a safe Heaven so that we can live in peace.

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    Gothas Candidacy is a marriage of convenience to seek Immunity from Prosecution but that wont wash. Shavendras elevation was a slap in the face and an insult to the vctinms and all the talk of Reconcilation is a load of rubbish. MS & RW setting the trend.

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