By Rajan Philips –
Rajan Philips
The country has barely escaped from the burden of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. It is now facing the threat of newer vistas – the vistas of Social Market Economy, courtesy of the new President, Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Gota-Ranil transition may have been all smooth and seamless at the summit, but down in the troughs it is all the same turmoil and travails. After securing his election as President with 134 votes on July 20, Ranil Wickremesinghe would seem to have succeeded in getting all MPs on board with the exception of the three JVP MPs. It is a different story outside parliament and despite the appearances of calm, the gulf between the people and parliament has gotten wider after Gota flew away and Ranil took over.
All due credit to the JVP for standing on principle, but in politics as in life people seem to instinctively follow Omar Khayyam to “take the cash and let the credit go!” Ranil Wickremesinghe and the JVP were partners in yahapalanaya and he used the JVP well, especially getting it to undertake a decoy 20th Amendment for abolishing the presidency to serve his own political ends. He let it go nowhere. Now he wants to take the country everywhere. And he has neither time nor use anymore for the JVP and its principles.
Delivering his maiden presidential speech in parliament on Wednesday, August 3, the President made sweeping promises including a 25-year economic plan and a People’s Assembly to formulate and implement fundamental political and constitutional reforms. And of all it to be done “during my tenure!” For a 73 year old who became a substitute president through a parliamentary vote, Wickremesinghe is acting like a young president with a landslide majority directly from the people. Days after his maiden speech in parliament, the President was out talking again, this time before a captive audience assembled by the Advocata Institute, elaborating on the vistas and virtues of a Social Market Economy for the beleaguered country.
No time for Vistas or Pied Piper
There’s nothing wrong with vistas. Politics is never without “grand ambitions and sweeping vistas,” to recall Trotsky’s felicitous phrase, but it is also, and more often than not, “the art of the possible,” in Bismarck’s practical take. Now is the time of the impossible for Sri Lanka, and not the time for vistas. The people are in no mood for it. No body can do anything if the people were to rise in revolt if the IMF relief takes more months and essential supplies stop coming, but the President has no business to play the Pied Piper when people are helplessly hurting.
The people are anxious about the next two days, two weeks, and at most two months. Not 25 years! The President and his whole government, whether all-party, multi-party or no-party, should be concerned about the fuel supply and other essential supplies, and not some social market economy which can be a past time if and when that luxury can be afforded. While the fuel crisis is acknowledged as the worst of all crises, no one in the government has come out and explained why the Sapugaskanda refinery is continuing to be kept out of operations when it has the capacity to deliver 43% of the country’s fuel requirements. According to CPC Engineers the refinery has capacity to meet 100% of the kerosene requirement, nearly 30% of diesel, 16% of petrol, and close to 10% of LP gas. It could also meet the requirements of the Kelanitissa and Sapugaskanda power plants.
Curtailing and stopping the refinery operations is another Gota-era, and technically ill-advised, blunder. The foreign exchange shortage is no excuse, because with the refinery closed the country has to import 100% of its refined petroleum requirements and not 57%. Even when it comes to importing the refined products, it is not clear why the Gota-government moved away from the traditional petroleum suppliers and opted for spot purchasing. The six largest suppliers are UAE, Singapore, India, South Africa, Maldives and Malaysia. While supplies from India have been continuing, no one hears anything about any arrangement with the other five suppliers. One would think that the traditional suppliers would be more reliable and affordable than new spot sources.
President Wickremesinghe has been running the show for three months, from the time he became Prime Minister, and it is a fair question to ask if any short term fuel supply plan has been developed other than reacting in fits and starts. Privatizing the CPC cannot be done overnight and it is not the immediate solution to the current crisis. Nor are the vistas of a social market economy. Even the negotiations with IMF are now not expected to be concluded before the end of the year. What is the government’s immediate ‘bridging’ arrangement going to be? Hardly the time for social market economy vistas.
On the political and constitutional side, the President seems to be taking the same 25-year economic planning approach and wants to introduce “a comprehensive series of political reforms,” with the promise that “I will carry out those reforms during my tenure. However, not based on my own opinion, but with the consent of the Parliament based on the views of the youth, women and other people.”
What tenure? Gota’s tenure that ends in 2024, or a new term following a new presidential election? There is more with the President “taking measures to establish a People’s Assembly in order to decide which social and political reforms should be implemented. A mechanism to obtain views of all interested parties is being prepared through the People’s Assembly through the consultation of political parties, various organizations etc,. I specially invite the youth engaged in activism and youth who are not to provide their views.”
A people’s assembly? When people are standing in queues to get their basic needs? It would seem that the President is spreading his canvas for too wide when neither he nor the country has the resources to do all at once. And he seems to be setting himself up for the long haul at the age of 73. Is the country ready for it? Better, does the country deserve it? That is the question. Rajapaksas failed because they were clueless about what needed to be done, and reckless in doing what should never have been done. In President Wickremesinghe, the country might be having the opposite problem. Wanting to do too much, with too few resources and with too little immediate planning. The country needs a soft landing with predictable supplies, and not a leap without looking from one vista to another.
chiv / August 8, 2022
Rajan, does Ranil knows what he means by “social market economy” ? ( is it same as his Uncle’s / party economics ). After trying to reduce prices of oil, gas, diesel, which are not available, Ranil has now come up with 25 years economy plan. He also promised to solve economy and race issues which he and his uncle couldn’t all their life.( they were part of the problem ). After Mahinda and Pissu Sira now Ranil has come up with his own Chinthanaya. According to him, “South Asia can have integration in dancing and cooking but not trade”. Great.
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nimal fernando / August 8, 2022
“Ranil has now come up with 25 years economy plan.”
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I have total faith in Ranil.
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He is a man of committees ……… his economic committee will sit for 25 years.
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If the economy has not developed by then ……. you can’t blame the guy for not trying.
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To hell with the country …….. at least every member of the committee would’ve economically developed. ………We only need a few more committees for the rest of the country to develop.
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The man has vision.
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nimal fernando / August 10, 2022
“Days after his maiden speech in parliament, the President was out talking again, this time before a captive audience assembled by the Advocata Institute”
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Ranil is speaking on a full stomach …….. to an equally well fed small audience ……….. of fellow parasites who have never had to worry about a square meal.
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His greater audience out there …….. is starving ……. and hungry. ……… And not listening.
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We have always had nothing but talk.
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Talk is cheap.
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SJ / August 8, 2022
“South Asia can have integration in dancing and cooking but not trade.”
It is no pledge but only an observation, rather witty.
Do you disagree that it is hard reality, at least in the visible feature?
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Dayan / August 9, 2022
@chiv – The truth is we are slowly slipping in to the situation of syria where regional and global powers clashes to dictate what Sri Lankans suppose to do. Even at the height of economic collapse some section of the society busy illegally acquiring private and public lands to spread dharma by erecting statutes, etc(not sure for whom) and causing clashes between communities. With the direct presence of China now in SL, it is impossible to play the neutral role card on global economic and polical game. The reality is we all be under modern day economic slaves of the dictors and feel equal and happy about it in near future without worry our own freedom and independece.
Those in power or influence the rulers believe creating a monolithic society in a longer run ensure peace and prosperity where some believe diversification and treat them all equal bring more productive to the country. Unfortunately there won’t be any winners from both the schools of thoughts.
We all under some kind of slavary make us all feel equal will be a possible future solution focus we are driving towards.. Our independece day will be less and less meaningful in the coming days…
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SJ / August 9, 2022
“The truth is we are slowly slipping in to the situation of syria”
I have heard of other analogies.
Syria is something very original.
When will we have the equivalent of IS and its US & Saudi sponsors moving into action?
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chiv / August 10, 2022
Dayan , I fully agree. It’s us, in such pathetic situation. Retired Prof, SJ, South Asian economies in Jan this year , were projected to expand collectively by 7.0% and 7.5 % in 2023. India is expected to grow 7.5 in 2022 and 8 % in 2023. Due to Lanka’s bankruptcy, forecast has been revised down wards by 1.0% , (6.0 and 6.5%, according to WB)). In 2021 GDP (PPP) per capita world ranking Singapore, Qatar, Macau, Brunei and Hong Kong are in first ten ranking. Middle Eastern countries, Taiwan, S. Korea, Japan and Turkey are within world 50 ranking. Lanka in 2021 was in 25th position in South Asia and 94 in world ranking. Today as Dayan said we are in the first 5 highest inflation countries. As Ranil mentioned, Chinese debt trap will lead to dancing and cooking ( frequently seen in long queues ) amidst bankruptcy, not trade. An observation, rather witty. Type facts instead of parroting.
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srikrish / August 8, 2022
Rajan Philips,
You are being unfair to Ranil. There is always a short term and a long term. The peril we are in is because we did not care about the long term perspectives.
Ranil is the result of an accident whether we like or not it is the fate of the country as long for the next two and a half years.
Rajan don’t go on a personnel vendetta against Ranil and succumb to the mass hysteria, .
Whenever we got some money-Revenue, grants or loans we went on a spending spree forgetting long term implications,about repayment of the loans and the long term consequences to the national economy resulting in the present crisis.
Now Ranil has the contour of a Road map, that has to go through critical evaluation , widespread discussions and finally general acceptance by the entire population at large with necessary adjustments, then the ownership passes to the hands of the people whether Ranil is in power or not whether Ranil is alive or not.
It is the people that matter, it is their baby.
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Nathan / August 8, 2022
srikrish,
If Rajan is pessimistic, I you are too optimistic.
Which past performance of Ranil justifies your optimism.
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srikrish / August 8, 2022
Nathan,
I am not optimistic. I am a supporter of aragalaya without any reservation on a long term perspective and expect a system change before anything else.
We are wasting our time and energy on sending home individuals– first Rajapalses and Now Ranil and after Ranil may be it is the turn of Sajith.
There will be no end to this circus.
I believe in a total revolution as the panacea for all the ills–system change, not individual changes.
It is the system that is at fault.
Until and unless the system is completely changed, there is no redemption for the country.
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Nathan / August 8, 2022
srikrish,
The Aragalaya should succeed for us to get out of the political morass we have gotten into. It is for that very reason we must make sure that Ranil doesn’t get a chance to take the wind out of our sails.
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Ajith / August 8, 2022
Srikrish,
Yes, we need to have long term plan but the most important matter here is how he is going to deal the corruption which is taking nearly half of our revenues. Do you know long it will take to prepare a plan?
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srikrish / August 8, 2022
Ajith,
Yes! You are correct.! Ranil will not be able to do it nor anyone else. It is the system that is at fault. Unless the existing system is destroyed and replaced by a progressive realistic system that could rectify all the ills facing the country- isolated treatment won’t do.
By changing pillows will you be able to cure the headache?
There is one and only one solution, that is a revolution for a system change
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Ajith / August 8, 2022
Thanks srikrish. The system change is the need of the hour, not verbal planning.
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SJ / August 8, 2022
SK
“Rajan don’t go on a personnel vendetta against Ranil”
I too get that impression.
But RP is not alone in that matter.
I doubt if RW can deliver– especially in the long run. But, so far, he has, at least, not made things worse.
You are right that it is too early to judge economic performance.
Politically there are clear signs that are worrying to several, but pleasing to a few.
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srikrish / August 9, 2022
SJ,
For the IMF route, Ranil is the best bet. He may succeed or fail.
If he succeeds, it will be a field day for the neo- liberal western capitalist open economy model for the next few decades.
But if he doesn’t, a long period of instability and chaos will follow until aragalaya succeeds and a dynamic systemic change becomes a reality.
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Nathan / August 8, 2022
Old Codger, I am addressing this to you.
You asked for 6 months on behalf of Ranil. I did. Naughty Rajan is dampening my hope!
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old codger / August 8, 2022
“While the fuel crisis is acknowledged as the worst of all crises, no one in the government has come out and explained why the Sapugaskanda refinery is continuing to be kept out of operations when it has the capacity to deliver 43% of the country’s fuel requirements. According to CPC Engineers”
One would expect the CPC employees to come up with this sort of rubbish. Even 8 years ago, the government was taxing Petrol imported from Singapore by LIOC, just to keep CPC competitive. I believe the amount was Rs.35 per litre.
The CPC refinery is outdated and overstaffed. Most of its technical staff are overpaid, to stop poaching by Middle Eastern countries. CPC, like Srilankan, is another white elephant losing billions annually.
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srikrish / August 8, 2022
Old Codger,
Your prescription is valid only if the Fuel shortage is the only problem.
But it is not so.
It is only one of the many problems -Our imports are much more than the exports. Our expenditure is more than our revenue for the last 74 years since independence- -continuous deficit budgeting.
Further our corruption, mismanagement, our bad governance, our lack of respect for the rule of law our human rights violations are all in a sorry state.
By isolating the issues we are not going to solve the crisis.
We have to find total solution. That is why we advocate “system change”.
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old codger / August 8, 2022
SK,
I was only referring to the Sapugaskanda refinery, and the ludicrous claims often made by its self-serving employees. Rajan seems to have fallen for those claims. Even at the best of times, the CPC couldn’t produce fuel at a lesser price than the Singapore market. So, what’s the big idea in running it? Obviously to keep a lot of people employed.
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SJ / August 9, 2022
OC
There is the question of scale and optimising of the distribution of the products of cracking.
CPC should have modernized the process long ago, and it is never too late.
In fairness, CPC was also undermined by different organs of the state undermining its financial management. Non-payment for fuel and electricity by the defence sector had a serious impact.
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leelagemalli / August 8, 2022
Nathan,
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No matter what anyone says or does, what is in front of our eyes is the suffering of people today and in the days to come. The “struggle” threw the brothers out of their tyranny, it was too much, and now we must work for a common cause.
One thing that became clear day by day is that the whole people are mixing in the “Gotabhayagama crowd” to fill their bellies without any charge and not to struggle for their heads.
The saddest irony is that people living near COLOMBO, if a famine occurs, will die in thousands more than in any rural corner. Sri Lanka is a lucky country even though palm, jackfruit, cassava and sweet potato are used to sustain the rural people.
Thanks to the Sinhalese diaspora, we gave them free drinks and food. At CT we know very well that if people are hungry we need to solve it before we ask them to behave in a civilized manner. First things first. In such a background, the International Monetary Fund should first bail us out and pull our nation out of the pit we are in. The further we fall back, the worse the outcome it will be.
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TBC
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leelagemalli / August 8, 2022
2
Think about it, the condition of the patient brought to the intensive care unit is similar to the situation we are experiencing in Sri Lankan politics today. It is exactly the same, acceptable or not, however, a life-saving operation should be done as soon as possible. If various thinkers, MPs, sit around a dying animal and struggle for a piece of meat as usual, it will deteriorate hour by hour. In the end you will not achieve anything. I agree with Dr. Harsha de Silva who explains that the coming days are crucial.
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I believe we can still export Sri Lankan labor to European and Eastern European countries if G to G contracts are done as caretakers or nurses (minimum 1500 euro/month) rather than domestic workers.
Dayan Jayathilaka aka Dayan Virwanse should get involved in deals like this rather than trying to grab the next post… because if Dayan Jayathilaka has a heart, he should come forward to help people in Europe find jobs more than anyone else today. These parasites have lived lavish lifestyles at people’s expense, but not 1% of it has been given. That is why they owe so much to Sri Lanka.
tbc
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leelagemalli / August 8, 2022
3/
There are many vacancies in many rural areas of Germany and Poland and several other countries in Europe. If Mr. Kadiragamar were alive today, there is no doubt that he would have made agreements between the European countries and us. At that time his reputation was at its peak in Europe, and he was shot dead by Rajapaksa.
Many of our women have been betrayed to the Middle East so they are afraid to hire uneducated, illiterate men. To meet their expectations, nurses and caregivers can be offered preparatory courses before being granted their work visa.
As said before, about 5 billion dollars can be spent to bring Sri Lanka back to normal. It is only 1/4 of the stolen wealth of the Rajapaksa family. It is 1/10 of the countries total debt.
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Tourism and general export development can achieve this in the next 6 months.
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– It should not be forgotten that remittances should be brought into the country with more emphasis on Sri Lankan migrant workers in Middle Eastern countries.
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leelagemalli / August 8, 2022
4/
They should save a small amount of what they remit and lend it when they return to the country. Majority of them are exported to the Middle East without proper education and no vocational training. Before they export to those countries, they should be given vocational training at the district level. This can be done easily if local level organizations come together. No one should be allowed to leave the country and the quota should be distributed among districts and constituencies.
In proper guidance they can be uplifted. This can be done by empowering these migrant workers by giving them hope for a better future. It will also be a favorable situation for the government. Majority of them are from poor population and they need proper guidance. Some people express themselves through YT videos, so social analysts can gather details about those visitors and their families.
Banks should provide loans to those working communities in the Middle East so that they will encourage their contribution to the country. Every employee who leaves the country is usually covered. However, these insurance companies have proven to be the number one scammers. If those poor guest workers are caught 100%, they will not give any support. This needs to be cleaned.. today or when?
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leelagemalli / August 9, 2022
The time has come to examine why a trade agreement between Sri Lanka and European countries has not been implemented so far. Is it a colossal mistake by Sri Lankan diplomats or politicians, or both?
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An increasing number of African states are easily fulfilling their bilateral trade agreement these days, however, why is Sri Lanka far from their focus as a potential nation and destination? If Europeans open their eyes, clothing, household items, vegetables, fruits and other ornaments are made in Africa. Not only cheap Chinese accessories, but also finishes from Africa are increasing in European markets.
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leelagemalli / August 9, 2022
I mean new trade agreements.
I know clothing, minor crops, tea, rubber, coconut but not as much as before.
Competitors today are really high and sometimes our tea quota has been moved to Kenya and some other countries that are keen to capture the market.
With political instability, if Sri Lanka has achieved that status before, all other nations are trying their best to grab that status.
The Rajapaksas should have thought of all this beforehand. They narrowed their priorities but thought they would be exempt from criminal investigations. That was their first motive for gaining power. Now everyone will not think twice, but they are sure that Rajapaksa is a big criminal in every way.
If the markets were open, but with the introduction of political turmoil, it could fall sharply. That is not what we, the sinking nation, should hope for now. Even social media should stop criticizing Sri Lanka’s powerful nations or potential clients.
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Eagle Eye / August 8, 2022
leelagemalli,
“No matter what anyone says or does, what is in front of our eyes is the suffering of people today and in the days to come.”
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This suffering is nothing compared to the suffering people went through during three decades that Tamil terrorists massacred Sinhala Buddhists using suicide bombers, chemical weapons, AK47s, land mines, claymore bombs, swords and machetes.
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leelagemalli / August 10, 2022
1/
Potta EE,
.Mlechcha EE or such persons have a hateful nature by birth. His five senses are regulated by racism against minorities. There is nothing you can do about your genetic makeup. It is natural. If your stereotypical racists are the majority in Sri Lanka the minorities will never expect their rights. I thought the Israelis would be the champions of racism, but that’s a lie, our Sinhalese bastards are the world champions of racism. They have no brain, look at the level of racist agreement in their stupid evil mentality.
The brutal three-decade war was in its relay race. The leaders fought with the insurgents, but they made every effort to minimize civilian casualties. However, it was pushed in a different direction after the monsters became leaders. If someone has other fantasy stories about it, he or she should question it today, how did the dragons react in the post-war era? There they plundered the state money like no other leader in the whole of South Asia and became world rich. WHOEVER whatever said and done, I am firmly believing that civilians were killed and burried by the war end mastered by Rajapakse brutal adminitration.
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TBC
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leelagemalli / August 10, 2022
2/
All this will surely be revealed in the future. They have hidden heavens all over the world. Pandora revelations and other big funding scams have come to light recently, however, the fate of the victimized parties is that the host countries do not disclose the hidden funds. Bond scams were thrown and RW but the truths are dubious yet today.
Hambantota wild boars are neither moral nor ethical, but like predators they follow their upbringing. However, with the true diplomatic mission of late Mr. Kadiragamer defeating the LTTE under CBK terms, it became easy for any selfish leader around the world to go for it and defeat them militarily. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s beginnings made him seem helpless, even though collectivism carried him forward militarily.
So that credit should be shared by all parties, however, how do we expect criminals to share the credit? It was more reflected in Rajapaksa’s behavior in the post-war period (2009 to 2015). It will be most evident from 2019 to July 2022. A fishmonger may be skilled at killing and preparing fish, but he or she may not be expected to make a delicious fish dish. That is the nature of it.
tbc
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leelagemalli / August 10, 2022
3/However, Sri Lanka’s media was bought by Rajapaksa, who repeatedly looted the funds. That money was used to bribe journalists.People are made like donkeys to believe anything any everything, because they know how stupid sinhala buddhists can be. They would believe anything without cross questioning. That is their mindset, which is made by soothsayers and astrologists under Rajapakshes casuistry. If anyone would challenge, please archive all the last 15 years how TV and printed media brought coverages more about astro and witchery on and on. People are waken up by astro news. All those astro and witchery men became COUNTRY s wealthy portions.
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Senior level journalists were impressed by the offer of laptops while the country’s so-called arts leaders and heads of other fields were strategically blinded by their progress. Calling themselves ” investigative journalists ” sirasa TV too joined hand with Rajapkshes back and forth. The majors have their fan base – can you imagine Rajapakse’s tactics to turn such a fan base into his own vote base? stupid people glorified it saying that it should be the talent of Rajapakseh brothers, making OPPOSITION parties like lame.
tbc
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leelagemalli / August 10, 2022
4/
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However, Sri Lanka’s media was bought by Rajapaksa, who repeatedly looted the funds. That money was used to bribe journalists.People are made like donkeys to believe anything any everything, because they know how stupid sinhala buddhists can be. They would believe anything without cross questioning. That is their mindset, which is made by soothsayers and astrologists under Rajapakshes casuistry. If anyone would challenge, please archive all the last 15 years how TV and printed media brought coverages more about astro and witchery on and on. People are waken up by astro news. All those astro and witchery men became COUNTRY s wealthy portions.
.
Senior level journalists were impressed by the offer of laptops while the country’s so-called arts leaders and heads of other fields were strategically blinded by their progress. Calling themselves ” investigative journalists ” sirasa TV too joined hand with Rajapkshes back and forth. The majors have their fan base – can you imagine Rajapakse’s tactics to turn such a fan base into his own vote base? stupid people glorified it saying that it should be the talent of Rajapakseh brothers, making OPPOSITION parties like lame.
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Mr. FM Sarath Fonseka, a true warrior in the field, will explain this very well. But the children of DA Rajapaksa, aka Bandaranayaka’s servant boy, made hay from that situation for their own political upheaval.
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tbc
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leelagemalli / August 10, 2022
5/
As of today, the nation and the country have been destroyed beyond repair. The Bandaranaikes built the country but the Rajapaksas destroyed the country. Three decades ago I entered Europe, and my college professors welcomed me saying I was from a “the beautiful paradise of Bandaranaike”. But today, if students go anywhere, they are unwelcome saying that they are big criminals who looted the state of the country. The Rajapaksas are known to the world today as “dead robbers”. They looted also tsunami funds that world communities donated to rebuild houses for the tsunami victimized people. There are enough evidence, but judiciary of this country is highjacked by Rajapakshe family. They appointed judges of their choice to allow the loot and please the criminals.
Although the civil war indirectly affected the rest of the country, it was hell for the northerners. Racists did not pay attention to its destructive nature in the South and other provinces because it hit the North hard. They were happy to see how the Tamil people were oppressed in those 3 decades. The pictures that went out to the world were likened to Ethiopia or Rwanda at that time. Even though the war is not over now, they are struggling to turn back.
:
tbc
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leelagemalli / August 10, 2022
6/
The wonder is that people were NOT seen standing in serpentine queues , those days, even for a day to get their daily needs and fuel. CBK conditions clearly showed that the leaders could serve their people decently if they are not stealthy minded. SRILANKEN airline as a merger with Emirates brought billions of profits to the state, under her, but extremism/chronism and MEDAMULANISM of Mahinda twisted it by driving emirates from the country. Remember ?
Needless to say, the late peace warrior Kadiragamar (probably by Mahinda Rajapaksa) if he lived things would not have reached out to this levels. iN retrospect, I feel Mahinda Rajapkshe s reactions are no different to a honey badger which is known as fearless but stupid(A mammal widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Due to its wide range and occurrence in diverse habitats, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List)
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Mahila / August 11, 2022
EE,
Morning.
You are still buried in matters which ended almost 12-13 years ago??
There was no Starvation and shortages then in Sri Lanka except in the North East, which was war-ridden??
Now we have Starvation since this year (2021) RIGHT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WITHOUT EXCEPTION!!!
Why are we still “BURIED IN THE DARK AGES” and trying to Comment on Current affairs and Happenings in SL!!
Still a possible feat!!??
Real commitment to eliminate human suffering?!
Learn from the past, and Move Forward, looking forward!! Not backwards??
Few have this incessant fear that someone is trying to GET THEM!!
Get real, that happens in Chicago!!??
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Thiru / August 8, 2022
None of the Sri Lankan leaders since independence has been interested in developing a peaceful, prosperous nation uniting its people: Meritocracy was jettisoned very early and replaced with Sinhala only, Buddhism first, oppressing the Tamils and other minorities. They were/are not interested in gathering all the human resources for achieving prosperity, and a larger national pie.
Resources of the nation, both human and material, were destroyed during the periodic pogroms against Tamils, and Tamils exiled from the country. Thirty years of war against the Tamils destroyed significant amount of the wealth of the nation and intellectual capital.
Let’s not forget the Malayalees, and burghers, together with a huge population of hard working estate Tamils were driven out of the country. This surely is not the way a country can foresee vistas of prosperity and splendor, not even for the Sinhalese alone.
Now the Sinhalese leaders are not only fooling the people, they are trying to do the same with the international community. Lenders have been foolish in lending large sums of money to Sri Lanka for unprofitable and wealth destroying ventures. Remember all the war war crimes committed by the Sinhalese armed forces and the political leaders during the war? Borrowed money was used for all those crimes!
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SJ / August 9, 2022
T
Tamil nationalists did not care two hoots about Malayalees, and Burghers, and “estate” Tamils being driven out of the country. They were just as cynical as the SB chauvinists.
They did not count the West coast Tamils as part of them, and thus lost a whole chunk of Tamil Catholics to Sinhala identity. The North–East divide is as bad as it was before 1956. Do some soul-searching first.
Tamils have been so well trained in self pity by Tamil nationalist leaders that they can cry only for themselves.
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Svenson / August 8, 2022
Thiru, remember all the crimes committed by the LTTE? The massacres, the suicide bombs, the air attacks, the assassinations, the kidnapped Tamil children, the human shields? Borrowed money was never used for those crimes. Money was stolen from banks or made from extortion, prostitution, people smuggling, drugs, arms trading……you must be so proud.
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cugan / August 9, 2022
Kill the crocodile or tamil thats being the mentality harvested
No IMF WB stop the glory of Buddha
The champions
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Native Vedda / August 9, 2022
Svenson
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“Money was stolen from banks or made from extortion, prostitution, people smuggling, drugs, arms trading……you must be so proud.”
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Thanks for letting us know about LTTE’s income stream.
How much did they charge you for procurement of services from LTTE run brothels? Where did you buy those services?
Did you go all the way to Vanni to procure the services or you could easily access them in any part of the country? Why didn’t you report it to police or publish it in news papers?
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Svenson / August 10, 2022
Brilliant! The erudite Vedda is lost for words.
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Pandi Kutti / August 9, 2022
Svenson the fake Viking even per your racist Chingkalla statistics the LTTE was responsible for 5% of the killings and other crimes committed on civilians on the island. 95% of the killings and all other atricities were committed by the Sri Lankan state, armed forces/police, Chingkalla thugs and criminals, who were pretending to be innocent civilians and Muslim home guards and 99% of their victims were innocent Thamizh civilians. The LTTE was responsible for around 3000 Chingkalla, Muslims and Thamizh civilian deaths. We do not know how many of them were innocent civilians or Chingkalla and Muslim home guards, thugs, and criminal elements pretending to be civilians. The Thamizh killed were largely collaborators and quislings. Compare this to the activities of the Sri Lankan state and armed forces that forced made a million Indian origin estate Thamizh, whose ancestors lived on the island for generations and then most of the foreign exchange stateless soon after independence, forced around 1.2 million indigenous Eezham Thamizh to flee the nation, largely to the west. Committed large scaled ethnic cleansing and war crimes on the island’s Thamizh and killed around 300000 of them, 145000 in May 2009
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Pandi Kutti / August 9, 2022
. LTTE frowned upon illicit sex and drugs and other crimes. AntiEezhami Thamizh Indians many very powerful Chingkallams were deliberately spreading these stories but when challenged to provide proof could never provide any proof and back off. Please provide proof of these dealings instead of constantly posting racist anti-Thamizh lies and garbage under a fake Viking name from a western nation, where you have most probably taken refuge, taking advantage of the war against the islands Thamizh by the Sri Lankan state.
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Svenson / August 10, 2022
Yeah, yeah, sure piglet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aranthalawa_massacre
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Svenson / August 11, 2022
Usual pig sh.. from a small pig https://twitter.com/lanka_world/status/1555100310259257344/photo/1
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leelagemalli / August 10, 2022
Svenson,
.
Although the Rajapaksas committed more crimes than I can count, he did it as an elected leader. However, any crimes committed by rebel leaders cannot be compared to crimes committed by elected leaders. if one would do so, he or she should be schizophants. But if today’s elected leaders commit crimes, they should be punished 1000 times more than those rebel leaders.
The irony is that even if crimes are committed today, you are given 200 soldiers to protect you and keep you on top. I think that if Mr. Mahinda had been in a jail cell, he could have saved all that money and used it for the poor… Yes or not?
A dog should be considered a dog in today’s context.
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Fakeculturebug / August 12, 2022
Rebels once armed, live in the shadows and often fail in creating lasting peace.
Elected leaders and their people who compare themselves with rebels, lower the whole standard…..and delude themselves by calling it “democracy”.
Having slept with the devil to win they lose the plot and trust in accountability to the world, while busy playing to the gallery.
What they have is dependency, an ongoing blame game…….that is hardly believed.
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Sinhala_Man / August 8, 2022
“Wickremesinghe is acting like a young president with a landslide majority directly from the people”
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Incredible that this should be so!
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We’re fed up. Life is impossible, and almost all our representatives in Parliament are ganging up against us.
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“Credit to the JVP for standing on principle.” Shame on the people also if they allow a “but” to follow!
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Prices keep rising, although fuel distribution has improved. The QR code seems to mean that people don’t spend days in queues. I never did; I walked. But I did get some petrol on Saturday. Aren’t people going to protest tomorrow?
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Our twin diaspora? Would it were united as one!
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Bharatha Thennnakone on 8/8/2022 calling for demonstrations in foreign countries on 9 August.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g57iOBQpaLo
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Twenty-five minutes from Paris, in Sinhala, but its calling for unity. There’s also 25 minutes from Los Angeles.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UESt6mHRfyk
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We don’t appear to be doing enough here.
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Plato / August 8, 2022
…………The country needs a soft landing with predictable supplies,and not a LEAP FORWARD without looking from one vista to another………
is the final line to this essay by Rajan Philips, who I believe is about the same age as
Ranil.W.
Gotas Great Leap Forward to achieve Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour,[ a dead rope by Viyath Maga] which he swallowed hook,line and sinker ended with his hasty retreat to Singapore……….
Where would Ranil go after his Great Leap Forward with another Vista not so splendid……………
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Simon / August 8, 2022
We had only around 2 years of Gota’s vista as a politician. Prior to him becoming the President we had his vista as a “Military Man” and that “Vista” spread over a long period. All that we now know and in simple analysis, that “Vista” of Gota is not at all healthy to establish a decent living for the people. The people understood his vista very clearly and were forced to leave his office as “President” and flee the country. Today his plight in facing his own life is pathetic and in a way, he is reaping what he has sown.
Now, what is the “VISTA” of Ranil W? We have seen his vista in his capacity as a “Politician”. His “Vista”, in simple terms is one of a “Bitter Pill” coated with “Sweet Honey”. Many people including those in the International Community have failed and miserably failed to locate the “Venomous Serpent” within him because his capabilities of “Hiding” his true nature are enormous and limitless. However, at the last Parliamentary Election, the PEOPLE saw his true colors and overwhelmingly REJECTED a seat in the Legislature. But hasn’t he proved his enormous capacity to “Cover Up” and DO whatever he wants? In short, he is a “Master” in playing “Gymnastics” (both in politics & social order) and “Mesmerizing” the unsuspecting onlookers. He has done that in “STYLE” in becoming the “8th” President
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cugan / August 8, 2022
70 odds along with 2500 where its lead to,super 69’s also has to flee ,from Sinhalea to Sinhapora where he could see how the fair country works and look after the citizens,
The devastation trumatize arrogant hijacked the Buddha philosophy too many statues of him ,every corner junction under the tree top of the mountains with behind him electric disco lights.
What a thick thaddias
Sir come back reminds even asked for pure drinking water.
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Bert / August 9, 2022
Ranil Rajapaksa is supposed to speak with the govt. MP’s property loss and compensation.
Before paying compensation to them Tamils should be paid compensation for all the destruction of property and life since 1956.
More often than not racial violence were instigated by politicians whether they were behind the scene or in the forefront.
Before any compensation is given to politicians they should declare their wealth, how they accumulated it what they really lost and what is the maximum the govt is contemplating paying per individual or family.
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ramona therese fernando / August 9, 2022
Social Market Economy. That’s taxation of the rich, and Socialism. Only the JVP can do that. With Ranil it will be a bluff.
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leelagemalli / August 10, 2022
RTF,
.
JVP ?.
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Why do you say so ?
.
Has they proved to be qualified to do so during last 40 years ? I could imagine, if you suggest it to be from NPPrs. But the line between the two is not yet clear to me. I thought any academic or high professionals would back NPP. My assumptions went blured having studied it on the 20th July.
Assuming that today’s context is upside down, the Mandate in Parliament is not reflecting the public perception. So everything is in chaos.
.what happened to the notherners, and progressive srilanken parliamentarians ? Why did they refrain from supporting NPP leader AKD lately ? why did they too support RW ? Why did they support, liliput Dulus (another back licker of Rajapakshes on decades).
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Sinhala_Man / August 12, 2022
Dear leelagemalli,
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PART ONE
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The JVP is the dominant group in the NPP. It is significant that the JVP realised that there was a need to broaden their approach and their base by agreeing to work with 27 other groups.
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You can remain critical of the JVP’s past. Yesterday, I had a chat with a sincere Up-country Tamil friend in Kandy who is perfectly trilingual (I don’t know whether he is literate in Sinhala, but I have witnessed how mono-lingual Sinhalese strangers have made inquiries from him, received sensible answers, and left without realising that they had been talking to a “Tamil”). He also made good progress with French. This was a guy whom I got to know during my Peradeniya days.
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He pointed out that Ranils’s Batalanda, etc. killed many more than the JVP did in 88/89. We’re not whitewashing the JVP of that period.
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Sinhala_Man / August 12, 2022
PART TWO
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I knew the JVP guys in 1982 & 1983. I had no problem with them, but I was not of them. This was in the University. We had problems with thee UNP in University affairs. The holocaust of 1983 was entirely the work of the UNP. Cyril Mathew was the front man, but he had the blessings of JRJ, and of RANIL (who cleverly stayed in the background).
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Then the JVP was proscribed. That was when the trouble started. Suppression and demonising the Araglaya is a similar move.
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If you now want to now start opposing the JVP section of NPP, please talk about what faults the CURRENT readers have made.
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Analysing what happened in 1988/89 may still be necessary. However, you are not in a position to do so. I was mostly out of the country. All that I have seen from you are emotional outbursts about your friends who got killed. Neither you, nor I, can undertake an objective study of that. Please leave that to qualified and committed professionals in History. Official government propaganda is not acceptable to me.
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Nor relevant. We have to move forward now.
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Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela
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Sinhala_Man / August 12, 2022
CONCLUSION
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You cannot support the NPP and be fiercely opposed to the JVP section of it.
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I’m actually quite supportive of thee JVP leaders. The supporters here are less educated, true. I’m culturally somewhat different is also true. I don’t know Max very well.
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However, I don’t regard Marxism as evil, or anything like that. I quite simply don’t know enough to make pronouncements.
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Mahila / August 11, 2022
RTF,
Good morning.
Presume you have independent, perhaps ‘NON-DISCLOSABLE’ proof of your claim!!!
US “Donald Trump style”, written all over!!!
‘Social market Economy’ or whatever one might chose to call it,
The PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE EATING1!
Sure you will agree!!
Did we have these shortages in 2015 to end 2019 during the 4½ years Yahapalanaya Tenure???
No, Not at all and price escalation was minimalistic?!!
USD exchange rate was only 180 to 200, escalation of 20SL Rs to a USD in 4½ years of Governance???
What more do you need??
No wonder we have Quacks all over and no shortages of Gnakka or Sumanadasa or ‘Paniya’ to cure Covid -19 and abundance of ‘Soothsayers’ and Clairvoyants to boot
Effect and Outcome ZILCH!!!
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Pon Lanka / August 9, 2022
In a situation when Gota is pleading to get an extension of his Visa in Singapore, while the culprit Mahinda who is responsible for all these problems faced by the country, is hiding from prosecution, at least Ranil has come forward to face these problems. Therefore, people undergoing difficulties have to be patient until some improvements and solutions are implemented.
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Naman / August 10, 2022
Aragalaya movement is based on non-violence. it is a welcome change in SL politics that has been hijacked by crooked scheming uncivilised uneducated lot over the last 7 decades. Politics based in racism and religious intolerance. Targetting the hard working Tamil speaking minorities in SL is THE CAUSE of economic downturn. The NEW GENERATION wants an HARMONIOUS united country that belongs to all the Sri Lankans.Enough money has been spent on defence. This deprived us in not having brand new trains /buses ; well equipped hospitals and schools. If People like EE wants to dominate in country’s politics there is NO HOPE for Sri Lankans. Long live ARAGALAYA.
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Bert / August 10, 2022
Gota on a R&R tour.
Sri Lanka’s former president expected to fly to Thailand – sources
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VanguardII / August 11, 2022
We have had promises of a Brighter Future, Good Governance and Vistas of Splendor. Now we are promised ‘system change’. What system is that, by the way, are people so foolish to run after castles in the sky?
With some semblance of a normalcy work with the situation instead of trying to follow the next pied piper. I think I have identified the problem here, it is the hopeless dreamers who support one political fantasy after another. Enough is enough.
How does electing a leader and ‘forcing him to flee’ reflect on the country? People didn’t get their “vistas of splendor” as promised. All you have is not a system change but a system of change that no-one wants.
Meanwhile Her Excellency Julie Chung has said this, as reported on Ada Derana, not sure if it is true, “Ambassador Chung further stated that she is pleased that no catastrophic incidents took place on the 9th of August.” Maybe she likes this social market economy idea.
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