By M.A. Sumanthiran –
M. A. Sumanthiran MP
Thank you Mr. Deputy Chairman.
The Hon. Minister for External Affairs concluded with a question: ‘Is this right? Can we be happy with the way our Motherland is being treated by the United Nations system?’ I’d like to suggest that the question – more relevant question and the more serious question is not that. Is this how our Motherland should treat us, who are also citizens of this country? Merely because we are inferior in number that the greater in number should treat us as second class, or worse, third class citizens of this country. If you can answer that question in good conscience as you claimed then most of these issues can be resolved.
The Hon. Minister for External Affairs chose to speak in the Queen’s English, a language that he is familiar with. He is also equally or more familiar with his own Mother tongue but he chose to speak in English today, a Western language. He is one who has benefited from Western education, even Western scholarship and he chose to cast aspersions on Western civilization. Counting the number of countries that he said have co-sponsored this Resolution, even in that I’m saddened that he was not up to date. Perhaps his colleague in Geneva does not keep him apprised of what’s happening there. He should have been there, not his colleague. He has probably read the newspapers that said 32 countries have co-sponsored the resolution when in fact 43 countries, Hon. Minister, let me set the record straight, 43 countries have co-sponsored the Resolution and your colleague in Geneva is obviously not keeping you updated on what’s happening there. You’re 2 days late. Obviously you’re not getting information. You’re reading newspapers and gathering information.
Your complaint about who is sponsoring the Resolution – who sponsored the 2009 resolution in which government of Sri Lanka gave all of these assurances? It is on the 2009 resolution that the Resolution today is worded. It is on the 2009 resolution that the resolution passed on the 23rd of March last year was also worded. Who sponsored those resolutions? When the Resolution is carried today, you’ll be surprised to know that countries from all continents have supported this Resolution.
(interruption) The Hon. Minister made an appeal to us not to disturb him when he spoke. After he made that appeal we did not disturb him. He does not have the grace to tell his backbenchers to do the same to us. This is how you treat the minorities in your country. You claim a privilege; you get all upset when you are corrected. We respected you when you spoke and didn’t say a word after you appealed to us to remain quiet when you spoke. But you sit there dumbfounded when your backbenchers treat us like this. This is your problem. This is precisely the issue in this country. You think that because we are a numerical minority we don’t have a voice? That we cannot speak? Absolute arrogance…(interruption)
Speaker: Hon. Azwer, please sit down
M.A. Sumanthiran: You do not know what is happening to your own community. You are a purchased commodity.
Speaker: Hon. Sumanthiran, don’t attack him, continue with your subject.
M.A. Sumanthiran: No, he is a purchased commodity.
The amendment that is being moved today is only to extend the validity period of the Resettlement Authority from 6 years to 9 years. The Hon. Minister for External Affairs chose to speak on the Resolution in Geneva rather than on this Bill. I will speak on this Bill first and then deal with some of those matters that he raised as to what is happening in Geneva. Perhaps he has been given the forum there to give vent to his feelings and he has chosen this Parliament, the only forum that has been made available to him, so although not directly relevant he dealt with those matters.
The Minister for Resettlement very correctly answered questions that were posed while he was on his feet, by the Hon. Member for Hambantota from the UNP and revealed many truths. We’ve had the greatest respect for the Minister for Resettlement. From the time he was appointed to that post, he has chosen, and has always been careful to include us, to consult with us. I remember the very next day he sent a note from there saying that he wanted to have discussions with us, and he has acted in that good spirit. In that spirit he answered truthfully the questions that were posed to him by the Hon. Member for Hambantota. He said that 470 houses have been built by the government in 4 years. Utterly shameful. If that is your resettlement, surely 3 more years is not enough for you. Aren’t you ashamed to admit to this House that that is all you can do when there were over 250, 000 houses that were razed to the ground? We have raised this from 2010 – from the mini budget in 2010. What is the government doing about this? We had to appeal to India. India promised 50,000 houses. Only 1000 are in the process of being made.
(interruption)
Minister for Commerce is interfering. Because of his interference and (that of) another cabinet colleague of his from the North even the implementation of the (construction of) houses in the North have been so delayed that the beneficiary list could not be settled for so long, after four years.
(interruption)
The vote has been carried in Geneva. I’d like to inform the Hon. Minister for External Affairs of the happy news that the resolution has been carried with an overwhelming majority, with only 13 voting against.
(interruption)
The Hon. Minister for Resettlement during his speech conceded that there were some houses that were built down Madu Road in the Mannar district. That is true, 52 houses were built. Now we asked that question – in 2011 October 23rd in this House I placed a report in which we even gave pictures of those houses. I’d like to ask the Minister one question about that. How many Tamil people have been given houses out of those 52 houses? Not one. Now I don’t mind other communities being given houses. I’m not against that. I think other communities – Sinhalese – who lived in the North must come and live. We welcome them to come back and live. Muslims who were very wrongly chased away from the North must come back and live, and we support that process. In fact my Party Leader has even given it in writing to India, saying that Muslim persons must be given houses in the houses that they allocate. But I am asking this question, out of those 470 houses, I know that in one lot of 52 houses, not even one Tamil family has benefited out of those. Now why is this? Why do you treat the Tamil people like this? You do that and then you bitterly complain that the United Nations is passing a resolution to promote reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.
The Hon. Minister asked the question…he criticized the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This happened even in Geneva by his colleague who was rude to the High Commissioner and at least one country protested in the Council itself that the Hon. Minister for Plantation Industries was rude. The Minister for Plantation Industries goes to Geneva while the External affairs Minister sits here. The Minister for External Affairs also should be careful. He constantly referred to the High Commissioner for Human Rights as ‘Navanathan Pillay’. She is not ‘Navanathan Pillay’. You must know that it is a basic tenet that you pronounce the name of the person (correctly) – that is how you respect that person. She is Navanetham Pillay, not ‘Navanathan Pillay’. He said that she’s shifting the goal post. Having said that she’s shifting the goal post he later in his speech conceded that 7 days after the war ended she called for international investigations. How is she shifting the goal post then? On the 26th of May 2009 she called for international investigations. In March 2013 also she is calling for international investigations. Where is she shifting the goal post? And if international investigations were called for in 2009, 26th of May, what is the complaint that the Minister makes? His Excellency the President himself signed a Joint Communiqué with the Secretary General of the United Nations in Colombo assuring that the allegations of violations of international law will be inquired into. So, even your own President conceded that there were allegations that needed to be inquired into.
Now I want to say something about international investigations since such umbrage is being taken at the word ‘international’.
There are credible allegations against both sides that fought the war. One is the LTTE, the other is the government of Sri Lanka. Can you have an inquiry conducted by one of those accused persons? Can that ever be acceptable? Any inquiry must be independent, nobody can dispute that. Any inquiry must be independent. And in this instance, if the inquiry is to be independent it must necessarily be international. How can you have a local inquiry when one of the accused persons is the government of Sri Lanka, and that has been conceded to by no less a person than His Excellency the President in the Joint Communiqué that he signed on the 26th of May 2009?
He’s talking about bullying, countries being bullied. Who is being bullied within the country? Who is being bullied within the country? The Hon. Leader of the Opposition, just one day in Jaffna recounted his own experience. When the people there are being bullied by your military intelligence personnel? You can’t have one meeting there. Muslim women can’t walk on the streets of this country today in their traditional dress. In Manampitiya, Hon. Minister, a young girl in an abaya, was walking and she was attacked. She has made a complaint to the Polannaruwa police. On the day the Mattala airport was opened, the same night a church in Weerakettiya was attacked by a mob, unfortunately led by religious leaders – by Buddhist monks. And they go and demonstrate before the Indian High Commission saying two venerable monks have been attacked in Tamil Nadu. We condemn those attacks. We don’t support that. No monk should be attacked in Tamil Nadu. But why aren’t they complaining about the church being attacked in Weerakettiya, in your own country, before you look at other countries? Why aren’t they going in processions protesting that Muslim women are being attacked on the road? You don’t go on processions for that, you only have to complain about other countries. Look at yourself, inside, first. You put your house right. If you put your house right no one else will ever be able to point fingers at you. You have this happening in your own country. You treat people who are numerically in the minority like dirt, and then you have the brass to stand up and pontificate about international interference and call that bullying. When you get a little bit of the taste of your own medicine you are smarting but you can’t understand how much we feel being treated like dirt in this country. You talk about changing the goal post. What did your government do? They started talks with us. You were in that delegation that talked with us. 10th of January 2011, 3rd of February 2011, 18th of March 2011. All 3 times we gave proposals to you. You are the government. You had nothing to say. You had no proposals to give. You could not even respond to our own proposals. For 5 months and 7 meetings you came and sat there.
(interruption)
In resettlement, what is the progress that you have made? The LLRC at paragraph 9.134 very specifically says ‘the government must disengage security forces from all civil administration related activity as rapidly as possible’. That has not been done. It is because the security forces have not been disengaged and it is because they occupy land that people have not been resettled. The Hon. Minister for Resettlement was very forthright. Talking about Keppapilavu he said ‘I have no authority. When they’re able to be resettled there I can do that. But now they are in temporary places.’ Why are they in temporary places? Because there’s a large military cantonment that has been built in Keppapilavu and people are being kept out. What has happened in Mullikulam. Hon. Minister for Mannar district will know what has happened in Mullikulam. What has happened in Valikamam North? What has happened in Sampoor? Why aren’t people being resettled? His Excellency the President on the 26th of May 2009, when he signed the Joint Communiqué, a second assurance that he gave was that all displaced persons will be resettled in their own places before the end of that year. That year. 2009. And in 2013 you come to this House and you want to extend the period of the Resettlement Authority for another 3 years. 4 years after His Excellency’s deadline ended you come and ask for another 3 years for the Resettlement Authority. What is the Resettlement Authority doing? Nothing. It is the Presidential Task Force that controls everything. There is no Resettlement Authority. I don’t know why the Minister for Resettlement wants this Authority, to extend this period. Resettlement is not complete. He concedes – 200,000 people are still not resettled. Even others who are said to be resettled only have to look at the carpet roads and the bridges and know that the government has money to do all of that but will not spend on priorities such as their own shelter and their livelihood.
Thank you.
*M. A. Sumanthiran – speech in Parliament on 21st March 2013 (Resettlement Authority Bill)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUBLrASrmCI
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmJyGukslpU
Maghribi / March 26, 2013
CONFLICT IS SO UNJUST AND UGLY THAT ALL WHO WAGE IT MUST TRY TO CUT OFF THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE WITHIN THEMSELVES.
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Real Peace / March 26, 2013
Mr Sumanthiran’s speech reminds me of Martin Luthar King’s “I have a dream”
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Jaliya Wickramasinghe / March 28, 2013
Dear Real Peace
You and Mr. Sumanthiran group who once praised the LTTE badly need a brain wash or a paradigm shift now because the reality seems to be millions of miles away from you.
Mr. Suamndiran’s total speech is based on the old myths or he is desperately trying to dig back those;
1. Minorities are being mistreated in SL since independence
2. Tamils cannot live with majority
3. LTTE/TNA are the sole representatives of SL Tamils and even of Muslims
4. Tamil Homeland in N&E of Sri Lanka
5. Separate Tamil land for 50% of the Tamil population or 6% of the country total population live in N&E and the Tamil land takes 75% of the costal belt and 80% of the total land and sea reserves of Sri Lanka.
6. Military win is the way for the Tamil get a land in SL
7. LTTE/TNA and GOSL are equal
But the great reality is that all those myths were sunken in Nathikadal lagoon in 2009 and there is no point and use in talking about such stupid ideas now as the political solution demanded based on those myths has already been given the way the LTTE deserved.
Other realities are
1. 13A and the LLRC need afresh countrywide mandate before implementing any of those sensitive pledges such as power devolution and national security related issues; resettlement in critical places, Military withdrawal etc.
2. UN or UNHRC officials who does not responsible for the people have no authority over country internal matters, no matter what promises the politicians have made to them or to any external leader in his personal or at any of the above forums.
3. LTTErs are terrorists and the GOSL is a democratic government. LTTE terrorism is no more as GOSL legitimately destroyed it in 2009 and the TNA lost its ideology of home land since then. All the etnic groups have been saved now. No external 3rd party has any business there. If the SL military or any body has done wrong there are enough local courts for anyone to try.
4. Sri Lanka is a fully democratic, Independent and sovereign state which is moving forward since then in a great speed.
5. GOSL governs all the country as a unitary state and any change to it is made only on peoples will; that is on it’s parliament base.
6. Minorities in Sri Lanka live with full civic rights as the majority
4. Sri Lanka including the N&E is the homeland for all the Sri Lankans.
On this reality Mr. Sumandiran’s speech is nothing but a plop.
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Exasperated / March 29, 2013
Jaliya you Poor soulless man, you are hooting in wilderness while Mr Sumanthiran’s entire speech is studded with proven facts. What a courageous parliamentarian he is while you are a paid coolie!
This is the unfortunate situation in this so called democracy. The numerically bigger ethnicities shout down the minority simply because the latter are less in number and have no voice. Then you label it democracy!
What a sad country?
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Jim Hardy / March 26, 2013
Fantastic Good speech.
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Husni Jabir / March 26, 2013
Mr. Sumanthiran, The only one with a spine, within the parliament.
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Celerati Editorial / March 26, 2013
The issue is simple: the government will never investigate itself, pretty much as the Tamil diaspora will never investigate the LTTE. Until the Tamil leadership will accept to come to terms with the bloody heritage of the Tigers, the government will always be backed by India, US and Europe.
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Dr Laksiri Fernando / March 26, 2013
I first received the text of the speech of Mr Sumanthrian through a ‘Sinhala’ friend who circulated the same among a wide circle of expatriate academics. He was in complete agreement or sympathy with what Mr Sumanthiran said. The sender was a professor of engineering in a well established international university.
It is shameful what the Minister of External affairs has said in Parliament. We are ashamed that he is a former academic. The right question undoubtedly is “why our motherland treats our Tamil and Muslim brothers and sisters in such a shameful manner?” We should not be concerned about the UN or the West if we do the right thing. Even after 4 years, the government has only built 45O houses. What an achievement! Along the Madu road, out of 52 houses built none was given to Tamils!
I wish to assure Mr Sumanthiran that there are so many right minded people and academics who are completely against the fast evolving racist policies of the government. Other than ‘racism’ I have no other word to describe the present policies of the government. I also wish to call upon my academic colleagues in the Sri Lankan university system to strongly oppose the government’s discriminatory policies and express their solidarity with their Tamil and Muslim colleagues.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 26, 2013
Prof,
The Indians, the Australians and NGO s have also built houses. There may be other countries helping with this aspect too. However, this comment does not detract the fact that the people are in dire need of housing. There is also much corruption in how these houses are allocated.
Prof. G.L. Pieris is a disgrace not only to the academia he comes from, but to the positions he held and the position he holds now. I have seen his performance twice from the audience and concluded that he is a shamelessly, unprincipled man.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Dev / March 26, 2013
“shamelessly, unprincipled man” !
Lest we forget, shall we all remind ourselves who came as part of the diaspora group to “praise” the government and give it legitimacy? A google search to this effect will give the names of those people….seems like “The pot calling the kettle black” here
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gamini / March 26, 2013
If someone could kindly explain why these characters should wear clothes as they have no shame, although they profess to be Academics. (Doctors)
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k.kovian / March 26, 2013
Becos they ready to surrender their dignity, but never support their own people. Simply spinless morons.
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Gulp / March 27, 2013
The GL Pieris is the mother of gripe in whichever parlays he sit.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 27, 2013
I have spent time researching the number of damaged and destroyed housing units that have been rebuilt since the war ended. I found it an almost impossible task. It was estimated that 160,000 housing units were damaged and destroyed as of May’2009. Of these, the follwing number of units have been rebuilt or built anew, according to figures I picked up in my search:
Sri Lanka government built – 470 units
Indian government aided – 1000 Units ( target 49,000 units)
Japanese aided – 513 units
EU+ Australia+ Swiss aided – 3785 units (target 4600 units)
Lebara Foundation – 50 units
This is a very incomplete story.
Many have rebuilt with their personal funds or with some asiistance from the government. Various NGOs and individuals have assisted in repairing and rebuilding houses. It is difficult to come by figures.
If anyone has access to reliable figures, it will be useful to assess the current situation more accurately.
Dr.Rajasingham narendran
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Hela / March 26, 2013
At least Sri Lanka should be proud that it provides space for these separatists & terrorist sympathisers to speak. You need to look only a little bit further than 4 years to find out what these fellows said & did during the hay days of their ‘boys’, their ‘sole representatives of Tamils’. The US who sponsored that partisan resolution would never have allowed such citizens of the US to speak freely in the US (they might only allow a Christian preacher to burn the Quran or might send drones after such free speaking American citizens). When he points one finger at the govt he must know many of his own fingers are pointing at him and his ilk for their conduct of the past 30 years of armed conflict (why these pious people only focus on the last stages of the armed conflict, one wonders).
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Peace Lover / March 26, 2013
@Hela your talking absolute bullshit ,in the US there is full freedom of speech to say anything they want ,please educate yourself and then speak up or else you look like a proverbial ‘modaya’
also speaking in parliment is a right and dont think its a special privelege given by the Govt and for your good information Sumanthiran never spoke to support the ltte in this speech at all all he is asking is that Tamils and Muslims be treated equally which unfortunately you and your friends cant comprehend (must be the genes so how to blame you machan)
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Hela / March 27, 2013
PL,
The so called freedom of speech in the US is a fraud. Yes, it allows burning of Quran and hate speeches against Islam. Just try and do the same for Bible.
Yes, it allows criticism of Obama. Rajapakse get criticised everyday in SL. But try and form a radical political party like JVP in USA and see what happens.
US sent drones and killed it’s own citizens for only supporting violent idealogy like what Sumanthiran and his ilk did in Sri Lanka (for 30 years or more) until 4 years ago. USA would never allow a guy like Sumanthiran in it’s Congress or the Senate.
Don’t try to fool us with the current antics of Sumanthiran in the parliament. He became a ‘poosa’ only after 2009. He has blood in his hands and we don’t forget that. However, the government and the nation has demonstrated that it is willing to work with anyone even with blood in their hands like former JVP members, like Karuna, KP, Daya Master, the 10,000 LTTE combatants, like Douglas, if it helps the lives of the general population of all ethnicities in this country who sufferred the most.
But like Sumanthiran, all others who lick arses of countries like USA and try to destabilise Sri Lanka or change the regime elected by the people through devious methods, they (including Sumanthiran) will face the resistance of the local population, the people of the soil, like they resisted the mighty terror of LTTE (aided by India one time and funded from the West throughout), like they resisted Portugese, Dutch & British invasions and like they resisted South Indian invasions thousands of years ago.
It is a proud legacy that many don’t understand and get surprised when confronted.
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Native Vedda / March 27, 2013
Hela
“Rajapakse get criticised everyday in SL.”
Not enough, people should demand more.
“But try and form a radical political party like JVP in USA and see what happens.”
JVP is not a radical party, it is a racist party and you will find many racists in the USA. Similar in ideology and action JVP and LTTE were/are Polpotists, there is no progressive radicalism in both racists and terrorist outfits.
“Don’t try to fool us with the current antics of Sumanthiran in the parliament.”
You don’t need Sumanthiran to fool you, and have been fooling yourselves and the entire island for many decades. Sumanthiran is only an incidental new comer to the enterprise of fooling oneself.
“But like Sumanthiran, all others who lick arses of countries like USA and try to destabilise Sri Lanka”
Sumanthiran, all others licked Sinhala/Buddhist arses for many decades. Nothing happened and now they looking to greener pasture like his Sinhala/Buddhist brethren who have been doing the same for many decades. Whats wrong with it?
Do you think Indian, Chinese, Russian Pakistani ….and other arses are good for Sinhala Buddhists?
Effectively the stupid Sinhala/Buddhists and stupid Tamils have been reduced to licking others’ arses irrespective of their colour, brown, black, yellow or white.
Grow up Hela, stop licking and start thinking which is too much for you lankies.
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Peace Lover / March 27, 2013
Dear Hela
1st get your facts correct and then talk or else you making a fool of yourself and your cause
You say “Yes, it allows burning of Quran and hate speeches against Islam. Just try and do the same for Bible.”
Please refer below
See the reaction for Quran burning in US by world leaders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_World_Outreach_Center_Quran-burning_controversy#Governmental_reactions
its a free country and yes you can burn a Bible in the US and they wont arrest you Hela (not that I advice burning of either the Bible or the Quran)
you say
“US sent drones and killed it’s own citizens for only supporting violent idealogy “
Please can you give referance for that point when US did it and where?
you say “Sumanthiran became a poosa after 2009 and had blood on his hands before”
Did you know that he bacame an MP only in 2010 !!! so get your facts right and then talk
please refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._A._Sumanthiran
you say
” former JVP members, like Karuna, KP, Daya Master, the 10,000 LTTE combatants, like Douglas,”
Please note that
Karuna,KP or Daya master were not JVP members nor was Douglas LTTE he was EPDP and still is!!!
Hela please stop making a fool of yourself here you seem to be totally muddled and messed up,get your facts straight and then talk or else you become a laughing stock!
And do stop ranting over and over again about resisting the Protugese or the Dutch when you cant even prevent a Govt Minister tieng a govt servant to the tree like an Animal !
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Peace Lover / March 27, 2013
Hela for your information the UK Govt has just lost an appeal to deport hate preacher Abu Qatada back,thats their legal system where even a foriegn national gets treated very fairly
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21955844
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Hela / March 29, 2013
PL,
Abu Qatada’s case only proves the dupliciy of British Home Ministry & the government. While it provides a heaven for Tamil terrorist leaders & their sympathisers, it tries to persecute only Islamic followers.
Of course this is not news. It was publicly admitted by that former BBC female reporter in Sri Lanka who has testified to confirm LTTE membership of Tamil asylum seekers so that they get asylum in UK.
What a definition of freedom?
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Hela / March 29, 2013
Hey PL,
Just as a test can you get an Islamic clerick in the US to publicly burn a bible? It doesn’t matter what the rest of the world says. We were discussing the characteristics of the so called freedom of speech in the US.
“US sent drones and killed it’s own citizens for only supporting violent idealogy ”. Please read about US drone attacks in Yemen. You will find the nswers.
“Did you know that he bacame an MP only in 2010 !!! “. Of course I know. But it is nothing to do with what I said. Sumanthiran didn’t fall from the sky in 2010 to be nominated as a MP.
“Karuna,KP or Daya master were not JVP members nor was Douglas LTTE he was EPDP and still is!!!”. You seem to have got your something entangled here. Please re read.
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Truth / March 26, 2013
Hela…Hela… Hela…You need to grow up and then see the bigger picture. We had 30 years of war and you and the likes of you in Silly Lanka have still not learnt a lesson.
It is no point finding fault with other countries (e.g., US); just get your house in order that is the important point. Let other countries sort themselves out. If another country criticises you, accept it, try to learn from it and do batter than them and not bury your head in the sand like the king of Rajafukistan.
Furthermore,why do you draw the line at 30 years, I draw the line when Banda screwed the island. We are still paying for the mistakes he made and that was followed by his wife. That family was the tragedy of Lanka.
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Hela / March 27, 2013
Truth,
Your attempt to cover the truth by deception doesn’t work.
We don’t have to worry about other countries, and we are capable of looking after our own country, Sri Lanka. However what you are trying to conceal here is that it is the US who is meddling in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs aided and abetted by separatist, terrorist god fathers such as Sumanthiran.
We see the bigger picture better than you, because we keep our heads high and are attentive to what is happening around us.
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Native Vedda / March 27, 2013
Hela
Get your reality checked.
If you don’t treat your wife well outsiders will grope her and make you feel impotent.
When she start enjoying don’t complain.
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Hela / March 29, 2013
Hey Vedda,
Good to hear that SL Tamil leadership is enjoying their prostitution (I thought they lick only arses. But it seems to be more than that). Let them enjoy it for while (what do you think?).
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Exasperated / March 29, 2013
Pretty ugly analogy but unfortunately the type that people like Hela would understand!
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Thrishantha / March 26, 2013
Very good professional speech. Wish other opposition MPs in the parliament would learn from MP M.A. Sumanthiran how to leave a good record in Hanzard. Hope the Government side got the message that they have to be honest with the reconcilliation process. They are dragging their feet on this due to their foundations of racism.
The Government’s “fighting terrorism” is a fashionable claim to make. We really don’t know how far those who “fight terrorism” constitute the womb of terrorism itself, and how far they keep their moral high grounds while fighting, and whether they end up being terrorists themselves or not. Sri Lankans, please think about this. This US resolution is not the main reason why we should try to improve the civil rights and liberties of all citizens in Sri Lanka. It is for our own good, we should credibly investigate widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, demilitarize the north of Sri Lanka, implement impartial land dispute resolution mechanisms, re-evaluate detention policies, strengthen formerly independent civil institutions, reach a political settlement on the devolution of power to the provinces, promote and protect the right of freedom of expression for all and enact rule of law reforms, and condemn extrajudicial killings, torture, and violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as intimidation of and reprisals against human rights defenders, members of civil society and journalists, and threats to judicial independence and the rule of law, and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief (ex. activities of Bodu Bala Sena with total impunity). The defense secretary himself openly gave patronage to Bodu Bala Sena by being the chief guest in one of their events. None of their mob activities were punished under the law. Then, they turn around and complain about international pressure.
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Rohan / March 26, 2013
“At least Sri Lanka should be proud that it provides space for these separatists & terrorist sympathisers to speak.”
WOW Thanks :) we are grateful to you!!
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Safa / March 26, 2013
Hypocrisy and racism of the govt is exposed. Houses and roads being built but not for the IDP’s. Billions spent on Mattala, Magmpura but unwilling to provide houseing for 200,000 displaced persons who are Tamils.
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kamal nissanka / March 26, 2013
G.L. should resign
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gamini / March 26, 2013
You must be joking, if any to resign as only those with self respect would do so and certainly not these nincompoops.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 26, 2013
Sumanthiran is a bright spark in the Tamil political firmament. I hope he is not diminished by the forces and individuals he has to work with. He has to make his own independent forays into various parts of the north and east and get a greater grasp of the realities. In many instances, he has been given wrong or distorted information, which he has referred to in parliament. In order to enhance his credibility and give moral force to his admirable eloquence, he has to investigate the veracity of everything he is told. The Tamils need a leader of stature now and Sumanthiran has the potential to be the leader we need. He has to work hard to transform this potential into a reality. He has to also capture the imagination of the Tamils and others in this country, with his vision, wisdom and dynamism. He has to develop attributes radically different ( better) than his colleagues in parliament and outside. He should definitely not cast himself in the mould of the mediocrities around him. He has to also work at transforming the TNA and attracting forward thinking and intelligent young men and women to its ranks.
I wish him good luck and safe journey in the difficult times ahead.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Dev / March 26, 2013
I would suggest you stick to praising Gota and MR and leave our Sumanthiran (and TNA) alone and not jinx him to failure !
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justice / March 26, 2013
Dev,
I agree with you.
Narendran is a wolf in sheeps clothing.
He works for the Military Intelligence probably.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 27, 2013
Dev and Justice,
Are you tigers covered in cow hide? A legitimate question ain’t it?
Dr. RN
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Dev / March 27, 2013
when nothing else works try the tiger card !!! A google search of you reveals all about your actions and nothing further needs to be told ….
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NAK / March 27, 2013
But first he’ll have to let go of the tiger’s tail that he is currently clutching on to!
One cannot just demand respect and good treatment,one has to earn and Mr.Sumanthiran has the potential and time to do that.But right now he just a remnant of the LTTE.
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wick / March 26, 2013
TNA racists, how is it you are now calling sri lanka your motherland when you guys are always demanding separate states and eelams? get lost and get a life!
The TNA is a racist organisation who does not want peace harmony and unity between the sinhala, tamil and muslims. They campaigned for UNHRC resolutions and they are now shouting in the parliament? What has the TNA done for the northern tamils? nothing.
The TNA do not want peace harmony between sinhala, tamil and muslims in the north the rest of the country or in the east. They are forever ‘complaining’ about sinhala or muslims people going to live in the north which they have a perfect right to do since many were thrown out by the LTTE before.
The TNAs only weapon for garnering votes is to shout about how bad the govt is. However neither the separatists abroad, those extremists in tamil nadu nor the TNA has done anything for the average tamil person in the country? no nothing. India ‘promised’ they will build 50,000 houses but nothing there has happened either.
The TNA should realise that the only way is for the northern tamils is to live is in peace and harmony with everybody else and take a leaf out of the book of some of the eastern tamils or the up country tamils who are really good examples to follow. The TNA should learn from these good examples of how to live in peace and harmony.
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Peace Lover / March 26, 2013
wicky boy whne the Govt cannot give justice,when it cant even implement the LLRC recommendations made by people appointed by the Govt,what do you expect old man? of course when that aspect fails be it the TNA or Hirunika a Sinhalese will both go to the UN
You better find better ways to praise your paymasters in Goverment
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Native Vedda / March 26, 2013
wick
“The TNA do not want peace harmony between sinhala, tamil and muslims in the north the rest of the country or in the east. “
Peace on whose term one might ask.
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Senguttuvan / March 26, 2013
I wish to associate myself with readers’ comments about the strange behaviour of one of the most learned men in Parliament – Prof GL Peiris. I was at that Dinner of the Sri Lanka UK Society around 1993
when GLP was entering politics. He was the Guest Speaker and made such a brilliant speech endearing himself to all present – those from the Govt, the Opposition, the diplomatic corps and others. We hoped his inevitable entry into parliament will clean the stables of that once respected House – since producing rogues of different hues and cries. After 2 decades in Parliament, he has disappointed all of us. He has very little to show of what he has done to achieve peace and unity internally or win friends externally. He has proved to be the most opportunistic of them all sending principles and personal integrity to the winds. His criticism of the USA, the UNHC/HR not only lacked taste but is garbed in despicable innuendo and half-truths. He takes sycophancy to hitherto unknown depths. All this is clearly to hold on to his position with the Govt – but, good God, at what price.
I recall the words of Oliver Cromwell “In the name of God – please Go”
Senguttuvan
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gamini / March 26, 2013
There is the Educated Scum and the uneducated Scum. Grand Liar belongs to the Educated Scum, with no self respect, shame and open lust for position and power. Although the British emancipated the downtrodden providing Education, the British could not change the genes of persons.
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Senguttuvan / March 26, 2013
Gamini,
Spot on. Grand Liar Par-Excellence has run his course and will be
remembered in history for a short while – all for the wrong reasons.
Senguttuvan
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Rana / March 26, 2013
Sumanthiran, First of all I must say to you that you are not deserved to say SL is my or our motherland. Your one leg is in TN and the other in UK or Europe. Only your physical body is in here. So how can you ask,”Is this the way our mother country treat us”? Most of TNA members are criminals who conspired,help [directly or indirectly] and act against a sovereign govrnment. Alright people makes mistakes and finally they understand the truth and try to amend themselves. But even today You and other TNA members doing the same thing[mistake] with pro-LTTE diaspora internationally.I wonder why not parliament act against these members of parliament by at least proposing a “No Confidence Motion” to dispel them from parliament. If these kind of thing happened in UK or USA they are definitely in detention or jail.
Before 1980 people in Jaffna and other areas in North lived a peaceful life although most of them live under poverty like rest of the south. You and your party higher ups nourish the tiger cubs until they became a monster and finally this monster became a threat to your own survival. LTTE shattered peacful environment and kill all those who went against them. Now after MR and GR finally finish it and the peaceful dawn on SL, you and the TNA start the same sinister movement again with diaspora and powerful western countries. Do you and your TNA members believe these powerful nations? No they only use whatever resources they can grab to destabilise developing countries. Finally as a country wise we all become losers.
Finally you said government only built 470 houses for the tamils. You did not mention how many partly damaged houses repaired by forces and or various other INGO’s or NGO’S.
Can you say how much US Dollars spent by the diaspora before the recent UNHRC session to buy Channel4,various critics,lawyer’s,INGO’S,few sinhalese who bragging against SL government etc.. What’s the result they gained? Just another resolution. There were more than 100 UNHRC resolutions against Israel. Did anything happen to Israel? Why not you and the TNA not request them[TO DIASPORA] to build at least 100 houses for their own people.
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Probono Publico / March 26, 2013
I say Rana,He has every bloody right to call this his motherland just like you and me,and for your information he is born and bred in Colombo
Please update your knowledge UK and USA are free country and MP’s are free to say anything they want to and NO they are not put in jail for talking the truth unlike in your so ‘Buddhist Country’
Without attacking him without logic,please tell us how many rogues and criminals are there in the Govt benches? Please can you answer that?
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Rana / March 27, 2013
Probono, I know he was born in SL. It is better you have even rogues and criminals[not convicted by judiiary] in parliament if people elected them as their representatives at elections rather than traitors. Most TNA buddies are traitors to their mother land and they manipulate parliamentary privileges to go abroad and engage in mud-slinging camaign against SL, sponsored by diaspora.
UK and USA free country but when you become a traitor to your mother country, that is the end of you.
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Probono Publico / March 27, 2013
Rana i think your listening too much to Daily News when you say mudslinging and all,I have a question to you in 1989 Vasudeva and our Hon President very rightly went to Geneva to complain about the HR violations here in Sri Lanka,do you think what they did was right or are they traitors too? PLEASE ANSWER THIS
also for your information when you say in UK/USA if your a traitor your finished is out of context as he is not a traitor but someone standing for whats right
Did you know that Hate preacher Abu Qatada who lives in UK and incites hate and rejoices when British soldiers are killed was about to be deported to Jordan (his country) but he had apparently won a legal battle and the court allowed him to stay and that man is a terrorist no doubt,and NO there were no white vans or extra judicial killings either,those are civillised countries
Please spare us the hassle and next time you give an example please do give us a valid one or else you look silly!
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m c spencer / March 27, 2013
Circa 1996 the so-called Hon GLP spoke at the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA). When it was open for questions, I asked him a series of questions and was told by the chair that he would answer only the first and that I should ask in person after the question time was over. When I tried to approach at the end of the q time him, he was cordoned off by SL dark looking body guard/s and I was not allowed approach him. This happened despite my being individually introduced to him at the commencement of the meeting by the president or chair of that meeting that when I left the meeting I told them that I will never ever attend any of their meetings and kept to it.
The truly Hon Mr M. A. Sumathiran is doing a great job and may we all hope that no harm befalls him. The interruptions he faced are very similar to what happened Melbourne on 7th March 2013 extract from ” This Is The Gist Of What I Had To Say In Westminster By Gordon Weiss”.” this meeting was high jacked by the SL high commissioners official and unofficial representatives of half a dozen or more given front row reserved seats. The chief spokesman distributed a couple of pamphlets one under the title of “ARE THE TAMILS (NOT CAMELS) REALLY COMING? “Where-in the SL population was given as 14 million when it is almost the same about 22 million in Australia these days.”
Despite over 6 decades malefic governances that has led to many continuing emigrating as refugees and asylum seekers risking their life and limbs most of the loud mouthed vociferous Sinhala -Budhistic ones know no bounds to their self righteous hypocrisy with a fair share of equally minded Tamils and Muslims as well. Some peoples brain software is irreparably corrupted and damaged through years of cultural and mematic brain washings especially after SWRD’s Sinhala only that they are best ignored and left to their own devices to find solace in wallowing in their own emotional pee, puss and poo.
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NAK / March 28, 2013
This LTTE left over asking others what they did,what have these morons done?except help destroying the poor Tamils.He must still be dreaming of becoming the PM of Dream Eeala.
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Peace Lover / March 28, 2013
Oh where is the very intelligent Hela huh,im awaiting his answer and seems that he has run away with his tail tucked between his legs
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Hela / March 29, 2013
Hey PL,
Like to have a taste of my ‘tail’? You seem to have mistook it for a tail. He…..he…..
What is there to comment on someone having diarrhea (pee, piss & poo all over)?
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Exasperated / March 29, 2013
He has now become NAK!
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DilMa / March 29, 2013
Having read through the speech and then the chain of comments – I feel we are not been objective. It seems everyone wants to white wash the side each belongs to and call fowl on every move the opposing side makes.
Childish, immature, rich with emotion.
Maojority vs minority power struggles are just human. And this is indeed why we have regulations, policies, constitutional frameworks, treaties both national, local or international to “govern” human natural tendencies of “bad behaviour”
The perennial problem is ones bad behaviour is heroic behavior to the opposing side. This is also a reality.
I saw one objective comment from somebody stating that an Independent investigation is only possible if it is international. While agreeing to this completely, I must say there is no real “independence” in international investigations either. Each representative carries a political agenda benefitting them. So the representatives must be carefully chosen, so all ideologies are represented, hopefuly diffusing extremism coming in to such investigations.
And for brothers or sisters who are shying away from investigations and becoming childishly defensive about matters been purely internal – I will say, don’t worry. It is ok to make mistakes, and learn from others and be better. We must seem continued betterment, just like we want to propagate in our work cultures and personal lives (CPD etc) So what’s wrong with constructive criticism and been pushed to do a little bit more extra to be better?
I have not reviewed facts and would appreciate if we can have the sources declared of the resettlement matter. Looking at what has been presented, we have over 250,000 houses destroyed. Only 470 odd houses been built. From this lot 52 in Mannar and non has been given to a tamil family. Assuming that the sources are verifiable and this is a fact – then we do have a serious problem isn’t it? Yes, Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils got displaced. But surely Tamils got displaced more considering the geographical limits the war was on. There has to be fairness to all in resettlement.
So my invitation to all brothers and sisters is to step out of the frame. To Tamils, to Sinhalese to Muslims. To those representing the majorities and minorities. Problem will be less complex if we first consider all as humans (very capable of both bad and good deeds) and then as Sri Lankans (though the second one is very difficult to citizens who have continued to feel harassed and unfairly treated just because of the name they carry)
Can’t we try?
After all we live only a short time – who knows what will happen after death?
Why waste time fighting each other (although even reading through the Mahavamsa – it is evident that for most part of recorded history Sri Lanka has been fighting within!) – isn’t it better to invest our collective energies on progress that each of us as individuals can make?
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