Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Admiral Jayanath Colambage has confirmed that the government of India has assured Sri Lanka of its support at the UN Human Rights Council where a resolution will come up for vote next week urging Colombo to make good on its pledges to deal with war time atrocities.
The Media Center for National Development tweeted on Wednesday that Admiral Colambage had “confirmed” that India had assured Colombo of its support to “upkeep and protect the territorial sovereignty of Sri Lanka” during the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Narendra Modi
“Being the super power that they are, Sri Lanka greatly appreciates their position,” the foreign secretary was quoted as saying. It was not clear where the Foreign Secretary was making these remarks.
Previously Admiral Colambage pleaded with New Delhi for support at the Council, where the UK is leading an effort on a Sri Lanka resolution that will set up an international evidence gathering project to serve future prosecutions of war crimes and human rights abuses committed in Sri Lanka. India should not abandon Sri Lanka at the UNHRC Colambage said in an interview with the Hindu newspaper. In the same interview Colambage also emphasized that the 13th amendment to the constitution designed by New Delhi as a power sharing agreement to end the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka in 1987 was outdated while urging the Indian Government to ‘stop harping’ on 13A.
The government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made no secret of its intention to repeal the 13th amendment, delaying elections for the provincial councils and submitting legislative proposals to amend the provincial councils act. However in what was seen as a fresh move to appease New Delhi, President Rajapaksa this week ordered officials to conduct the provincial polls immediately if necessary by withdrawing amendments proposed to the act that governs the PCs. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also had a much publicized telephone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week where the duo pledged to cooperate on multilateral issues.
There was no immediate statement confirming the Foreign Secretary’s remarks from the Indian Government. India has remained non-communal so far publicly on the issue of the Sri Lanka resolution coming up at the UNHRC. However in a statement to the Council at the beginning of the UNHRC session, the representative for New Delhi said that Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity was intrinsically tied to meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people and expressed concern about Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights situation as highlighted in UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s report.
In 2012 and 2013 New Delhi voted in favour of UNHRC resolutions on Sri Lanka when then President Mahinda Rajapaksa repeatedly reneged on promises made to the Indian government and the international community to offer meaningful devolution and a political settlement for the Tamil people after the end of the war with the LTTE. India strongly supported the GoSL push to defeat the Tamil Tigers in 2009, on the basis that the Rajapaksa government would negotiate a peaceful political deal with the country’s Tamil leadership once the fighting ended. In 2014 India abstained from voting on the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka. (By Janakie Mediwake)
Naman / March 18, 2021
We in SL, are used to getting disappointed very often. When in late 1980’s, IPKF landed in the North withJR’s permission, Tamils thought they will keep peace and provide provide protection of Tamils. Sadly it was just the opposite–more deaths and Destructions. The President Ranasinghe Premadasa supplied ammunition to Prabhakaran to kill the IPKF fighters. India should hopefully realise that Sinhala People hate them immensely and are always prepared to cheat/hoodwink them. Singhalese have proved themselves their inability to govern the multicultural and multi lingual Island over the last seven decades. Prabhakaran is gone but in his place has been taken over by the ASURA [multifaced Rajapakshas]. Now the entire country is subjected to jungle laws. Without the interference of UN & other civilised western countries, SL is not going to be a truely democratic country.
/
RAVI PERERA / March 19, 2021
Naman,
At the time the LTTE was fighting the IPKF, most tamils in SL as well as overseas did back the LTTE. It was one of the few instances where both the sinhalese and tamils wanted India out. As for the sinhalese cheating the Indians are concerned, the Indians have no moral right to lecture Sri Lanka on this subject. They are responsible for arming the LTTE and bringing destruction to Sri lanka The Sinhala man does not hate India but are untrustworthy of Indians due to past events. Infact the Sinhalese do look upto the Hind language and when we meet a very fair skinned person we jokingly ask if he is from North India. Our dilemma is beacuse of Tamil Nadu. India does have to go hard on us because of this factor. If we had Hindi people instead of Tamils India would have already intervened and carved out a seperate country. Infact the indians themselves have doubts about you tamils.
You seem to be wanting the UN and the western countries to intervene and come up with a truly democratic system. Let me tell you man, that no country in the world will agree to a North East merger (Or will never put pressure on Sri lanka to do so).
/
Rohan25 / March 19, 2021
But most Sinhalese , definitely you are are descended from largely low caste immigrants from Tamil Nadu. Even your DNA states this Sinhalese share a 70% DNA with Indian Tamils , Self hating Aryan wannabes who want to hide their actual origin , just like the Sri Lankan Muslims are self hating Arab wannabes who again want to hide their largely low caste converted Indian Tamil origin. All these self hating Aryan and Arab wannabe are leading this nation to damnation with their lies and racist myths. Sinhalese look up to the Hindi Language” Which Sinhalese the pathetic immigrant low or untouchable South Indian descended North Indian wannabes like you? Hindi speakers or not here so do not have make silly and stupid speculations and India could not do anything to the Hindi Speakers in Fiji or other parts of the world.
/
Eagle Eye / March 19, 2021
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
/
Humble / March 20, 2021
Rohan,
If sinhalese and muslims are descendants of low caste tamils that explains why they hate tamil so much?
Genetic memory of being treated like garbage under the brutal caste system?
/
Rohan25 / March 21, 2021
Even the low/backward caste Tamils who are their close relatives ? Like the Indian origin estate Tamils and many of the Tamils being being brutalized and bearing the brunt of their violence and discriminatory policies in the NE also belong largely to the lower castes. In Tamil Nadu around 70% of the population belong to scheduled or backward castes. It is the same in the Hindi belt. Kerala had the most brutal caste system, which until recently had the custom of the younger sons of their Namboothiri Brahmins, who were forbidden to marry, in order to preserve the family property, were given an open license to have sex with any Nair or other caste woman they fancied, even women belonging to the royal household. This custom called Sambandham only got banned around the 1940s. This is why many of the Nairs became light skinned, due to these Sambandham liaisons. The children of these illicit relationship belonged to the mother’s caste and family. It was he same with the Arabs and Syrians and even Jews they had sex and left. Therefore you get light skinned Christians, Muslim Mappilas and Nairs. Because of this brutal caste system in Kerala. 20% and 30% of its population converted to Christianity and Islam in the last century.
/
Rohan25 / March 21, 2021
This also enabled the rise of the Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu that stopped the discrimination of the lower caste Tamil masses and the Brahmin stranglehold on the state. In Sri Lanka this did not happen as the caste system was not brutal and 50% of the ethnic Sri Lankan Tamils belonged to the Vellalar caste and around 30% to other middle caste. The caste pyramid was top heavy. In most parts of India it was bottom heavy and very brutal .
Not all Sinhalese are descended from Tamil low castes, a lot are descended from upper and middle caste Indian Tamil immigrants , like the
Naicker( Naike/Nayaka) Pandarar( Banda/Bandara) Mudaliar( Mudali) Pillai(Pilli), Chettiar( Hetti) and many others. However a very high proportion of them are indeed descended from Indian Tamil low/backward or untouchable castes that largely migrated a few centuries ago and got assimilated in to the Sinhalese identity. The Sri Lankan Muslims or Moors as they love to call themselves, the story is different. More than 95% of them are indeed descended from low caste Tamil Hindu converts to Islam. Around 5% from upper or middle caste Tamils who were forced to convert, during the brief Delhi Sultanate rule in the Tamil country. Around 5% of them have some Arab, other Western Asian, Afghan or North Indian Muslim ancestry but even these people are of predominant Tamil heritage.
/
Pandi Kutti / March 21, 2021
No I do not think so . These people have been brainwashed from a very small age by their peers to think that they belong to, or have been descended from superior ( He He ) Aryan or Arab people and to hate the so called inferior Dravidian Thamizh. Low or High caste. A very 19TH century/ early 20TH century white European colonial racist thought , of superior light skinned and inferior dark skinned people, that these pathetic are still aping. Just read all the comments, even from so called educated people, many living in the west. All more or less stating this same rubbish. Most of the west have now come out of this backward thinking but these people and the North Indians and many western Asians have not. This sort of brainwashing from a tender age, has blocked their power of reasoning. Even when they look at themselves in the mirror or see one another, they cannot see their true largely low caste Dravidian image or looks but see visions of light skinned Aryans or Arabs. Even read Dr. Ameer Ali’s columns, will never admit to the fact that Sri Lankan Muslims are Thamizh but keep on harping about Moors/Arabs.
/
Pandi Kutti / March 21, 2021
Even read Dr. Ameer Ali’s columns, will never admit to the fact that Sri Lankan Muslims are Thamizh but keep on harping about Moors/Arabs. This is why this rotten or stewed Pear from that fell from the South Indian Dalit Garden keeps on talking about light skinned North Indian looking Sinhalese ( most probably does not realize most North Indians also have fairly dark skins, especially the Hindi belt, Bengal, Maharashtra and Odisha) and worshipping Hindi. What a wanker. Then obviously very South Indian Dravidian looking Sri Lankan Muslims or Thullukans commenting about their Arab heritage and praising everything Arab and running down the very same Thamizh language they speak and their actual Thamizh heritage and origin. Another bunch of wankers.
/
RAVI PERERA / March 20, 2021
Rohan Thanbi,
Wether you are a high caste or a low caste person it does not make much of a difference when it comes to Tamils. Tamil is a Tamil. If most sinhalese (and definietly me as you say) are descendents of Tamils (you say low caste as well), how do the sinhalese have completely different looks and characteristics to you tamils. Most sinhalese are pleasant, lighter skin, happy go luck eneterprsing people, unlike you tamils. Sinhalese tend to associate the word Dravidian with Tamils. Their stigma associated with the word tamil , and that is the reason the sinhalayas highlight the North Indian connection.
Anyway Rohan thanbi, you are a defeated group of people. pauwe aney.
/
Humble / March 20, 2021
RAVI PERERA
Yeah sinhalese are a race of fair skinned aryans.
Men like sanath jayasuriya, lasith malinga, ranasinghe premadasa, sarath weerasekera etc
Infact with malinga you can even see the blonde hair, proving his ‘aryan’ ancestry.
When glenn mcgrath supposedly called sanath jayasuriya a ‘black monk_y’ he must have had an eyesight problem?
When indian cricketers called thisara perera ‘kalu’ and ‘kaala’ (black) they must have been blind too?
/
Pandi Kutti / March 21, 2021
90% of the so called light skinned Chingkallams got their light skin, as their female ancestors slept with the Portuguese, Dutch, British and every other sailor or foreigner that came to the shore and has nothing to do with North Indian origin. Got all this from the wrong side of the bed from harlot female ancestors. The fairest Chingkallams , the upper caste Kandyans and the Radala are all descended from Pandian Thamizh or from The Telugu origin Thamizh Naickers of Madurai. Wanker.
Go to North India and see how many are light skinned. Do not get your impressions from Bollywood movies. The average North Indian does not look like that at all
/
Lanka Canuck / March 21, 2021
RAVI PERERA,
From your Portuguese name Perera, it is understood that you have a lighter skin (a low caste Tamil mixed to a Parangi and converted to Sinhala-Buddhist). The physical appearance of the majority of Sinhalese and Tamils are identical and their complexion is very similar (most of them are dark skinned while there are also fair skinned on both sides). This is why, if they wear the same clothes/dress, it is very difficult to differentiate between the two (only the culture and language can differentiate them). If the Sinhalese and Tamils looked different, during the war, the security forces and the public would have easily identified the suicide bombers in advance and taken prior action. The DNA tests also shows that both Sinhalese and Tamils are almost the same genetically. If you find any fair skinned attractive Sinhalese, the one and only reason is down the family line there is definitely a Parangi Sudda like in your case.
/
old codger / March 23, 2021
Well, the resolution has been passed, with India abstaining, along with many Muslim countries. Will the Professor Grand Admiral resign even now?
/
Lester / March 19, 2021
Ravi Perera,
“You seem to be wanting the UN and the western countries to intervene and come up with a truly democratic system.”
There was no democracy under the LTTE. Cyanide capsules, Marxism, child soldiers, suicide bombings. The Sri Lanka Government saved the SL Tamils from this madness. SL Tamils should be grateful. It raises 2 questions: (1) why did the Tamils pursue this madness for so long? (2) what is the reputation of the Tamils? The answer to the first question likely has to do with the Diaspora being out of touch with reality, combined with some kind of narcistic pathology. As for the 2nd question, Tamils should think carefully, as it will directly impact their relations with the rest of the world.
/
Lester / March 19, 2021
” India should hopefully realise that Sinhala People hate them immensely”
A Sri Lankan navel cadet saved Rajiv Gandhi’s life in 1987: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV-A9BDd1HY.
India tried to give SL Tamils federalism, what did the Tamils do? Chase the IPKF away and assassinate the Indian PM.
SL Tamils have been losing for the last 73 years. So many are now landless refugees in the West. For some reason, they want to get revenge on S. Lanka, and by extension, Sinhalese. I am not sure what this would accomplish. Look at what happened to Tamils since 1983. If you turn S. Lanka into another Korea, it will be even worse.
/
Rohan25 / March 19, 2021
Two lowlife Sinhalese Buddhist Fascists chatting to each other
/
Rohan25 / March 19, 2021
Tamils did not chase the IPKF , crafty cunning JR and Premadasa armed the LTTE to chase the IPKF and a Sinhalese soldier aimed to kill Rajiv who was doing JR’S bidding and betraying the Tamil but he failed miserably but instead of court martialing him, he was declared temporarily insane , then made a hero and he even entered the parliament as part the Rajapakse party. We all know that you are an out and out racist who lies and misinforms. India tried to give federalism. Yes indeed they are trying very hard. Don’t make me laugh. If they really tried and wanted to it would have been done. Especially after 2009. They helped Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese to defeat the LTTE and commit war crimes on the Tamthe Rajapakses promised them that a federalism will granted to the Tamils. This is what they keep on saying. Just platitudes.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / March 19, 2021
There is news that India is having talks with Sri Lanka on taking back Kachchativu. If the diplomatic move fails, will there be military move like in Crimean peninsula.
/
RAVI PERERA / March 20, 2021
Gnana Katha,
Yet another piece of news to keep you amused.
/
Lester / March 21, 2021
Sankaralingam,
“If the diplomatic move fails, will there be military move like in Crimean peninsula.”
India will never help SL Tamils after Rajiv incident. Gandhi family is very powerful in India. SL Tamils have no military solution now, as North and East will be fully militarized for the next 500 years.
/
Lester / March 20, 2021
VP was never interested in federalism or devolution. He had several opportunities, first with Premadasa, then India, then with CBK/Ranil, then with Norway. LTTE used every “ceasefire” agreement to re-arm. So-called “negotiation” was just an excuse to buy time. Karuna defected for this exact reason; he knew VP is a maniac who will not negotiate in good faith. The only moderating influence on VP was Balasingham; when Balasingham died, VP reached the maximum level of psychotic. Hiding behind 30,000 civilians until he was cornered on a 14×5 m lagoon, in the mud.
/
RAVI PERERA / March 20, 2021
Rohan thanbi,
“Tamils did not chase the IPKF , crafty cunning JR and Premadasa armed the LTTE to chase the IPKF and a Sinhalese soldier aimed to kill Rajiv who was doing JR’S bidding and betraying the Tamil”
Yes it indeed was a cunning move by JR. Finally your boss helped us by creat Rajive Ghost.
Almost 100% of the sinhalese sre racists when it comes to Tamils. Inspite of the recent incidents the sinhalayas do not feel this way towards most Muslims.
/
Native Vedda / March 21, 2021
RAVI PERERA
The Sinhala Speaking Demela
–
“Yes it indeed was a cunning move by JR. Finally your boss helped us by creat Rajive Ghost.”
–
When you visit your mates at High Commission for your regular hot Palak Pakoda and Chai, ask them if JR helped your brethren VP to get rid of IPKF.
–
“Almost 100% of the sinhalese sre racists “
–
Not true, only those Anagarika’s Sinhala/Buddhist mad grand children are.
You have special place among them, a typical mad Sinhala/Buddhist racist who unashamedly beg Hindians for everything from A to Z, while being a watcher of their toilet habits.
/
Lanka Canuck / March 21, 2021
RAVI PERERA,
“Almost 100% of the sinhalese are racists when it comes to Tamils.”
NO, that’s not true.
Only the descendants of South Indian Dalit Tamils (overnight converts) who settled in the Southern parts of Sri Lanka, converted to Buddhism and adopted the ‘Sinhala’ label to hide their low caste South Indian identity/ancestry have become patriots and champions of Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism or rather 100% anti-Tamil racists. They have become distinct, ‘North Indian Sinhabahu’s Lion-blooded Sinhala Aryans’, the Nationalist Patriots and guardians of Buddhism claiming ancient Sinhala-Buddhist heritage and call themselves the blood relatives of Dutugemunu. You are one of the best examples. Please do not put all the Sinhalese into this group.
Prof. K.M. de Silva, Dr. Paul E. Pieris, and Prof. Gananath Obeyesekere have very clearly elaborated in their publications that they are all South Indians who got converted to Buddhism and became Sinhalese.
/
Native Vedda / March 20, 2021
Lester
–
“India tried to give SL Tamils federalism, what did the Tamils do? Chase the IPKF away and assassinate the Indian PM.”
–
When the Sinhala/Buddhist cowards were hiding behind their women folks’ back, it is the stupid bump VP who reclaimed the sovereignty (whatever it maybe) and preserved it, for which the baby brigade sacrificed their life.
–
Shavendra was hiding in Presidential palace at the time, his father must be well connected.
–
Cowards, cowards, ……………… hypocrites.
–
Hope you would stop insulting your own intelligence (if you possess it).
/
Lester / March 21, 2021
Vedda,
Who was hiding at Nanthikadal? VP or Shavendra? Kindly explain for the benefit of all readers.
/
Rumble 2021 / March 19, 2021
Dear Naman
Are you sure you are not TNA man under the name of Naman or a foreign secret service sabotage inc pls?
Your narrative is so incorrect……it sounded like the Suthenthiran article headline since 1948….please note I Am a Jaffna man knows the full in and out Naman.
It is the case that India played cat and mouse to weaken Sri Lanka allowed LTTE to for all the drama until LTTE got the better of them..they let matters infest more until a time we are nobody as a Nation and got together and completed the cause in 2009.
Remember SL has been fighting the FP/TULF treachery/treason that created the PLOTE/TELO/LTTE/EPDP/EPRLF……who killed all the Tamils in Jaffna first before they turned on the Sinhalese coupled with the JVP.
Please do not write creative stories please as we have enough story tellers from Tamil Nadu and Jaffna made a living out of the miserly they have created around the world already.
/
Mahila / March 19, 2021
The resolution calls upon SL amongst other things that were manifestly wrong, to implement:
1) The 13th Amendment in full (including Police and Land powers which were left out or not implemented)
2).Agree to an investigation locally by SL and bring to account any and all responsible for HR violations and reparations on those cases.
So, my take is that, once the resolution is passed on 23rd then it is incumbent on SL to comply. If not it would be against the UN Mandate and resolution of the UNHRC/UN.
Then any of the countries that moved the resolution, jointly or severally or by proxy could attempt to implement it by other means.
If the resolution does not pass muster, then it is a different story all over and you may have a possibility of a respite.
You need to think carefully on this. Otherwise, it will cost SL dearly.
/
Rumble 2021 / March 20, 2021
Dear M
Well said
“Then any of the countries that moved the resolution, jointly or severally or by proxy could attempt to implement it by other means”.
This is the art of subduing/slaving a Nation. UN security council has a new member called India unofficially..can do what you want..no questions asked.
Anyone fall for the news narratives India this China that just doing what we used to do America this and Soviet that….in Cold War times…stupid Nations fell for them even with the non aligned movement which was systematically taken out to pave for the new ventures.
Any idiots who spoke of Communism/Marxism/Capitalism are all just that contributed to the downfall of their Nations historically..is our turn and we are rendered helpless destitudes ever since the JVP drama and Thimbu discussions a FP/TC crime.
Indian embassy in Jaffna, SL children washing toilets everywhere now a divided country….upcountry is intact and the Tea estates remains a National shame….now the GoSL has to backdown on the Burque and let down Muslim woman rights/liberation.
/
Sinhala_Man / March 19, 2021
This headline is misleading. In my view if India supports the resolution, then they support Sri Lanka and her people.
.
If they oppose the resolution, then they support this government which tricked its way to a mandate some months ago. The actual voting was reflected in the results.
/
Lester / March 20, 2021
India “assured” support to Sri Lanka because India is afraid of Chinese influence in Sri Lanka. China’s power is growing daily, while India is still struggling to build toilets. China already defeated India in 1962, this time the Chinese military is 1000x stronger, plus China is in full control of Tibet. Very likely, China will invade Taiwan within the next 5-10 years, putting it into a direct conflict with the US military. China also has a strong presence in Africa and is looking to expand its influence in the Middle East. If China is successful, the balance of power will shift greatly from West to East and all these resolutions (UNHCR, etc.) will amount to nothing. So the best option for S Lanka is to stall and do nothing.
/
Velu / March 20, 2021
India will definitely support SL in Geneva, because the major proportion of the SL’s import export business is undertaken by the Indian’s in SL. This is the foremost interest of the Indian govt, not the SL Tamil issues or HR issues. The Tamils issues will be forgotten by the Indian govt. after the Tamil Nadu election scheduled to be held in April/2021. The HR issues are for media consumption.
/
chiv / March 23, 2021
By not showing up, I guess in Lanka you can call it as support.
/
hanchopancha / March 23, 2021
The unfortunate people of Srilanka can only turn towards the Sky an pray. Hon. Mr. Ranjan Ramanayaka who called a spade a spade which is the absolute truth when he said that the Justice System is corrupt which indeed it is was sentenced to atrocious 4 years of RI. His application to have it reviewed by a 5 Judge Bench was just denied. Prior to the annulment of the right of the citizens to appeal to the Privy Council by one of the most corrupt minds of the nation Ex-CJ Sarath N. Silva he, Mr. Ramanayaka enjoyed the right to have his incongruous sentence automatically reviewed. It indeed is a great violation of the Human Rights of the people when a most basic and fundamental right of the people gets just rubbed off without an equivalent measure mitigates the principle of the entire justice system. Let us pray and hope that UNHRC will bring some little rain to this parched land.
/
chiv / March 23, 2021
Yes India absconded. What I speculated is now confirmed You can now call it as real support . Please do not forget to send a thank you note.
/