28 March, 2024

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‘Lifetime Commitment Award’ To Dr Brian Senewiratne

By Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah

Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah

Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah

On May 15, 2016, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) at the Fifth Sitting of the Second Parliament presented TGTE’s prestigious, ‘Lifetime Commitment Award‘ to a Sinhalese, Dr Brian Senewiratne – an 84 year old Senator in the TGTE. It was in recognition of, “his lifelong commitment and invaluable and dedicated contribution rendered to the Eelam Tamil Nation in educating the Sinhala Nation and the international community – in furthering the cause of human rights, human dignity, and gender justice and of the liberation of Tamil Eelam.”

The award was presented to Dr Brian Senewiratne by TGTE’s Prime Minister, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran in the presence of Speaker, Nagalingam Balachandran, Deputy Prime Minister, Ambalavaner Thavendra Rajah, Senators, Members of Parliament and many distinguished guests.

As a fellow Senator of the TGTE, I had the, “high honour” of introducing Dr Senewiratne at the award ceremony. Referring to him, as I have always done, as “Our Sinhala Hero”, I had to go back 68 years to be able to only scratch the surface of this larger than life personality that the TGTE was honouring:

Dr Senewiratne’s commitment has not only been lifelong but remarkable: In 1948 as a 16 year old schoolboy he protested at the disenfranchisement and decitizenisation of nearly a million Plantation “Indian” Tamils in one of the first Acts of the newly independent country, Ceylon; in 1956, as an undergraduate in Cambridge University, he refused to meet his uncle, Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in London who had changed the Official Language from English to Sinhala Only because he felt strongly that it was discriminatory, unjust and undemocratic; in 1971 he also strongly opposed the so-called “Standardisation of university entrance marks” introduced for admissions to the universities, obviously directed against Tamil-medium students where Tamil students had to obtain a higher mark than the Sinhalese to enter the University, stating that this was blatant discrimination in education; in 1972 as a Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the Peradeniya University in Kandy, he took up the cause of the Plantation Tamils again when his aunt, Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike took no action when her Sinhalese goons hounded out Plantation Tamils from their miserable shacks and were dying on the streets of Kandy; in 1977, then in Australia, he continued to challenge the Sri Lankan government under J R Jayewardene accusing him of devaluing Parliament and setting up a Presidential dictatorship and for circumventing the constitutional safeguards that had been designed to protect the Tamils against the “tyranny of the majority”; in 1983, after the massacre of Tamils in the July 1983 pogrom, he published a book: “The 1983 Massacre – Unanswered Questions” in which he held that the Jayawardena government was responsible for this crime; in 1984, his publication: “Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka” was banned in Sri Lanka.Brian's Award Ceremony

From 1984 onwards, Dr Senewiratne has recorded and distributed a number of DVDs to draw attention to the humanitarian tragedy in Sri Lanka and has lobbied and addressed Parliamentarians and Human Rights groups in Australia, Canada, UK, US, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Switzerland and the European Members of Parliament; in 2008, he met with Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town, and other ANC leaders in South Africa to present the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka; again in 2008, he addressed several Canadian universities, including the University of York and the University of Toronto to motivate the youth and take a courageous and determined stand against violation of human rights and the abuse of democracy; he has addressed meetings and rallies organised by the Refuge Action Collective in support of asylum seekers; he has delivered countless lectures, radio and TV interviews, and written numerous articles and some books – the most recent being a 210-page comprehensive account of “Sri Lanka: Sexual Violence of Tamils by the Armed Forces”; he has been invited by Peter Arndt, Head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, Peace and Justice Section” to join a select group to campaign for peace and justice in Sri Lanka; in 2015, he addressed members of his own community in a much need publication, “What the majority Sinhalese must know”; as a Senator of the TGTE he has contributed to drafting the “Road Map to Tamil Eelam”; he has been honoured in the US, UK, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia; in March 2009, Canadians for Genocide Education (an umbrella organisation of some 48 multiracial, multicultural and religious organisations) selected him to deliver the annual Genocide Education Lecture at the University of Toronto and receive the prestigious ‘Educators Award for 2009 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to genocide education and prevention where he spoke on: “Peace with Justice in Sri Lanka. Genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils. Its causes and Solution”.

It’s now 68 long years since the young 16 year old, showed incredible courage to stand up and protest an unjust and repugnant piece of legislation. But the veteran human rights activist has not relented in his determination to fight for the underdog. The Consultant Physician, now in Brisbane, Australia, continues his long struggle to bring peace with justice to the Tamil people in the North and East of Sri Lanka, where according to him, the plight of the Tamils and Muslims is no better; despite a change in the government from the murderous Rajapaksa regime to that of Maitripala Sirisena (President) and Ranil Wickremasinghe (Prime Minister). Dr Senewiratne maintains where the Tamils and Muslims in the North and East are concerned, 8 January 2005 has only been a name-change from Rajapaksa to Sirisena. Dr Senewiratne’s recently released book: ’Sri Lanka: Sexual Violence of Tamils by the Armed Forces’, sets this out in full.

At the presentation, many of the Senators, Members of Parliament and guests paid their tributes to Dr. Senewiratne. Of particular importance was a comment by Professor Nadarajah Sriskandarajah (Sweden) who was a student in the Peradeniya University. He was not a medical student. He referred to the work done by Dr Senewiratne trying to address the medical problems faced by the Plantation Tamils – people who seemed to be of no concern to the authorities (or anyone else): He spoke of how Dr Senewiratne set up a clinic in the grounds of the Anglican Church in the Peradeniya campus which was in a remote corner of the Campus, right next door to where the Plantation Tamils in the Hantana tea estate lived; and of how scores of patients attended the clinic which was run by medical students, students who did other subjects, volunteer doctors and, of course, Dr Senewiratne; and of how despite the fact the clinic was in full swing delivering a much needed service, the authorities ordered that the clinic be closed because they claimed that, ‘politics were being introduced into the Church’!

In my tribute to Dr. Senewiratne, I recalled the article I wrote in the Colombo Telegraph “Dr. Brian Senewiratne Our Hero Amongst The Sinhalese“: where I called him, “a living legend”: “Dr. Senewiratne’s international advocacy work and activism illustrates his dedicated and exemplary service to the cause of human rights, human dignity and social justice. His life’s work, both as a health professional caring for the sick and as a human rights advocate, championing the rights of the underdog, acting with the courage of his convictions, is a testament to what a true consummate humanitarian he is. Undoubtedly he is a living legend and we salute him.”

I wasn’t wrong then, I am not wrong now, when the TGTE itself and Prime Minister Rudrakumaran have seen it fit to accord him the recognition he so richly deserves.

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Latest comments

  • 9
    10

    I thought Suren Surendran sent PM Rudrakumran to pastures with his mate Dr Brian.

    Apparently it is not so.

    They are back with a vengeance , with the PM looking like Vellala Sambandan in his Eelaam national dress and awarding themselves these momentos.

    We now know Vellala Wigneswaran’s Model for the Eelaam, which was handed in to Batalanada Ranil’s CC by the TNA leader, Vellala Sambandan.

    As late as a couple of days ago , TELO, EPRP, EPRLF and various other local Vellala outfits gave the “tick” for the Wiggy Model.

    Except the Yahapaana Minister Mano Ganeshan, for obvious reasons.

    The Reasons I don’t want to digress as it takes space.

    Wonder whether PM Rudrakumran and his Government have submitted their Model?

    Can this Senator write another article to tell us about it, if there is one.

    This TNGTE as I understand have a lot of Dalits as same as our people in the Joint Opposition.

    Are they happy with Wiggy’s Model?

    I mean Wiggy’s Model for the North, or the mini Eelaam in Udu Pussellawa?.

    • 8
      8

      wow usha are u treating the bugger for a nice candle lit dinner. Lucky Brian Senewiratne

      • 4
        2

        The senator is putting on a very coy smile at the award ceremony. Wonder whether the UNSG attended along with David Milliband. Has PM of TGTE awarded the equivalent of the Nobel Prize to Jon Snow of Channel 4?

      • 2
        1

        Usha states Brian furthering the cause of human rights. Shame he could not lecture to the guy who gave him the price and the group he represented about human rights as according to the UNHCR.. still it’s good to see a joke after a long time

    • 6
      8

      KA Sumanasekara, tell me why it does not surprise me to see a vile racist pig’s comment to be the first one? You are a low class pariah from down south who pops his head every time the Tamil question comes up.

      • 4
        3

        Dear Native,

        Can you please organize one of those “Shawl Ponndai” for this poor Vellala from Scarborough.,

        I will buy him a ticket for that ” Dollar ” bus which comes to NYC from Toronto. And he can take the MTA to New Jersey.

        Tell your mate the PM, to organize some Dinner before sending him to take the Bus back.

        Unless you want to chip in for a B & B in one of those Budget Digs in NJ for the poor fella.

        Cheers, buddy..

        • 3
          2

          Sumane bugger, why don’t you borrow some money from the Tsunami thief MR and send it to me. Better yet, you can resurrect your dead heroes Rohana Wijayaweera and Upatissa Gamanayake and ask them whether they can help you pay for food.

        • 2
          2

          KASmaalam

          “I will buy him a ticket for that ” Dollar ” bus which comes to NYC from Toronto. And he can take the MTA to New Jersey.”

          Has Champika Karunaratne agreed to reimburse you those expenses? Is he one of those pioneers who took part in the gold rush to Vanni?

    • 0
      0

      You should really feeling out of place with the “Vellala ” taking their due place in society. BTW what is our cast “Rodiya”?

      • 1
        1

        Hey Berty,

        You guys wouldn’t give even a chair for Thamilselvam tribe, although he sacrificed his life to give Vellalas their Eelaam.

        In fact I met six Rohinga girls who were reading Palms of the St Anne’s pilgrims to earn a few quid.

        Two of them told me that I am a nice fella who is destined to be rich.That was even before I gave them a couple of hundred LKR and the left over lunch with freshly caught Fish curry.

        They told me that they come all the way from the Hill Country and their mother tongue is Tamil.

        No wonder your new Hero, Vellala CM and his handler Vellala Sambandan have asked Batalanada Ranil for a half Eelaam for the Estate Tamils.

  • 14
    13

    D. Brian Seneviratne
    I am unable to resist using the words of Nehru when I think of the mission Dr. Seneviratne has pursued with tenacity and purpose. Referring to a great soul Nehru said “He was not of the world’s ordinary coinage. He was minted of a rare and extraordinary variety”. It is of this stuff that leaders are made and Dr. Seneviratne wears this mantle most gracefully. The Island nation never had the good fortune of having such a personage at the helm or anywhere around. Tamils of Sri Lanka have had the privilege of such great leadership wafting across their destiny for almost seven decades.

    As Usha describes lucidly, his sense of justice threw him into the open at the tender age of sixteen. It was really the political arena and he had the strength of conviction to de-ethnisize himself. He displayed his precocity and has been relentless to this day for 68 years. It speaks volumes for the Tamil community to have picked up such a personality from another community, to shower words of praise for so long and to confer the highest honour of ‘Lifetime Commitment Award’. If there is one to merit it unreservedly, it is Dr. Brian Seneviratne and TGTE has made this award most graciously.

    • 9
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      Dr. Brian Seneviratne is one of the greatest Sinhalese men Sri Lanka has produced during the past 50 years. He is definitely our Hero amongst the Sinhalese. Hats off to you Sir!

    • 8
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      Reminiscent of Mr. Idi Amin!

    • 7
      0

      Brian is a good man to criticize the ruling SL governments left, right and center and his family tussles with the Agalawatte’s is well known

      Has he ever criticized the LTTE for untold violence against its own people?

      It is time for Brian for reflection and not receiving award for his failures.

  • 6
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    Yes, Brian Senerviratna must be lauded, he is a humanitarian, non racist and has a highly developed rational mind.

    However TGTE, tamasha’s aside, the need of the moment is flood relief and other assistance to the massive number of people who are suffering due to the recent deluge in Sri Lanka. By the way, the majority of those who died and disappeared due to the Aranayaka landslide were Tamil estate workers. So if you have some built up reserves of money, now is the time to show your hand of humanity.

  • 16
    11

    This is duly recognising a good man who dares to fearlessly see through decades of State-encouraged racial prejudice. Thanks to Usha, I learn of his consistent stand against discrimination to the minorities from the late 1950s. We have thousands of true sons of Sri Lanka such as he not just as well known. Among them my friend Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratna, the late Adrian Wijemanne, the late Shelton Ranarajah – all of whom refused to bow down before bogus nationalism and crass demagoguery. The late Ven. Maduluwewe Sobita Thero could be one of the first from the Buddhist Sinhala mainstream to see what we would call in Lankan Singlish as “the coming colours”

    For those Sinhalese who call Dr. Seneviratne a traitor to the Sinhalese let me remind them of Brian’s insistance if the same injustices heaped upon the Tamils were to be inflicted on the Sinhalese he would fight for the Sinhalese with equal fervour.

    We are fortunate, at this ripe old age where others would prefer a life of ease, pace and calm Dr. Brian, a man with a historical mission to bring justice for an entire Tamil Nation, battles on. As Shakespeare reminded us “true nobility is exempt from fear”

    Backlash

    • 21
      17

      B
      I don’t call him a traitor. I call him a terrorist who aided a brutal terror group who were respinsible for the death of over 150k of Sri Lankan citizens. He should be charged and punished for this genocide to gethet with Balasinghm and usha women.

      • 12
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        eusense:

        You should be charged for abetting and the regime for the alleged commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity. A coward like you should have fought with the soldiers but instead hid behind the skirts. By the way, you are at liberty to get Balasingam from his next world if you are that smart you stupid donkey. You didn’t have the guts to stop Cameron from walking past you into Jaffna but now like a hero monkey chatter as if the end game is in your hands.

        “He should be charged and punished for this genocide to gethet with Balasinghm and usha women.”

        A dud donkey like you do not know even the difference between “charging” and “punishing”. No wonder Sri Lanka is in such dire straits. May be it is time you should don the robes.

        • 10
          5

          “You should be charged”

          Unfortunately, Tamil eelam courts don’t function now.

          IT is only in mythical tamil eelam courts now.

          • 4
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            jim softly:

            You see, this is what I mean by donkeys and there appears to be no shortage. How more stupid can one get talking about a non-existent Tamil eelam court. You pull the hair out so that your brain can function properly and may be, just may be, you can guess where do you think alleged perpetrators of crimes will be charged. What a nuisance.

        • 9
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          jansee
          There is nothing in your post other than stupidity and personal attacks. How do you know whether I fought with the soldiers or was behind the skirt? How did you escape the genocide and ethnic cleansing to live and write trash like this?
          How retarded are you to say Balasingham is in the next world when I wrote about his wife who distributed CN capsules to Tamil children? First try to read my post and understand before responding with nonsense.
          I thought the separatist Tamils like you are looking for justice. But does not believe in a legal system where a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.
          Please stop responding to my posts if you have nothing intelligent to say.

          • 2
            5

            eusense:

            Instead of you talking about Tamil children, talk about the thousands of sinhalese youths murdered by your sinhala soldiers, then may be you will realise who the retard is. To this day their loved ones are still grieving and reading some of the reports of the brutality with which they were decapitated and unceremoniously dumped in the dark alleys. The Tamils are perfectly capable of squeezing the balls of those sinhalese criminals and don’t need donkeys to help. Instead of dancing with your dick, spare the grief of those sinhalese who still are looking for answers for those grievous murders. Can’t even touch your own back but want to preach others. So, how can I be wrong in calling you a donkey?

            • 4
              2

              jansee
              Let me tell you what I have to “talk about the thousands of sinhalese youths murdered by your sinhala soldiers”.
              They deserve it. Why? you don’t resort to violence and terrorizing innocent citizens for your benefit. Negotiate and negotiate that is the only way to go. I say this for the Tamils too.

              • 3
                5

                Eusense,

                “Negotiate and negotiate that is the only way to go.”
                Negotiate with whom?

                Have you heard of the pacts? Dudley selva, Banda selva,…

                What happened to those pacts?

                Sinhalese govts committed genocide and it is continuing to do that. http://hrbrief.org/2015/01/the-legal-case-of-the-tamil-genocide/

              • 1
                4

                eusense:

                Tell your load of rubbish to the many victims who was not even given a chance to negotiate and those who negotiated were met with thuggery. Isn’t it a pity (or tragedy) that your dark brain is still trapped in a donkey’s capsule>

            • 5
              2

              This is stupidity in the best form, lowering the standard of awards _

              • 4
                5

                Sarojimi

                “This is stupidity in the best form, lowering the standard of awards _”

                Of course it is cheap.

                Guess who got honourary title ‘Sri Rohana Janaranjana’?

                Guess who got honourary title Vishva Keerthi Tri Sinhaladeeshwara?

                Guess who got honourary title Doctor of Law from the University of Colombo?

                guess who got honourary title of Professor Emeritus

    • 4
      3

      The Shelton Ranarajas of SL are a rare species these days. Absolutely a wonderful human.

  • 18
    4

    This is a joke, one in very bad taste. No one would dispute that Dr.Senewiratne has been a supporter of the ‘Tamil Cause’ and has a reputation as a Human Rights advocate. We now have a bunch of exiles calling themselves Prime Minister, deputy prime minister, senators of the transitional government of Tamil Elam, choosing to honour their ‘Sinhalese Icon’ I might remind this motley crowd of wishful thinkers, the human rights issues in Sri lanka were not confined to the Tamils, but irrespective of ethnicity to all those who stood up for Human rights, the rule of law amongst the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslim. We all know who these champions are and were. The moral stature of such men and women are such they do not seek recognition or honours. I am surprised that the CT has given such exaggerated publicity those who still seek the division of this island. Or perhaps its all tongue in Cheek? or the Freedom of the Asses

    • 1
      9

      Ranmal:

      At least he didn’t drop his pants to tarnish the “motherland”. And is there such a thing as “rule of law” in Sri Lanka. It has always been the politicians’ law. During the reign of Mahinda Rajapakse, it was the law of Mahinda Rajapakse and Gotabaya Rajapakse. When the constitution and this rule of law you are so cosy about were being raped right under your nose, this phony sword that you got lost in the deep blue sea.

  • 12
    4

    I wonder whether in his book ‘Sri Lanka: Sexual Violence of Tamils by the Armed Forces’ Dr. Seneviratne has written about the sexual violence committed by IPKF? Some people have ‘selective amnesia’ when writing on this kind of issues. I hope Dr. Seneviratne has not suffered from that diseases.

    • 4
      7

      IPKF time was not known as a period “Rape Used as Weapon”. But, as the way you raised the concern, rape was rampant that time too. For example, if American troops make any mistakes in Japan or Iraq or Afghanistan, the governments of those countries,while they take their legal actions in their internal courts and remedy the victims, immediately bring it to the attention of American Goverment and ensure the safety of the women are enhanced. In the case of IPKF case, Lankan government aided IPKF by ignoring its responsibility. It was the Tamils’ enemy Rajiv who reduced the severity of the problem by placing Tamil Nadu regiments at the end of it.

      Dr.Senewiratne is not trying to bring out 1958 rapes on Tamil Women or 1961, 1971,1977,1983 and so forth. The book is mainly about the final War period and following it.

      The Handbook ,with predominalty sextual violence,is describing & reporting about the gender violence too. So he has pointed out that how the Tamils cultural placement of women in the society was easily making them target for external violators to take advantage of the situation. He has pointed out even the opposites, where the Tamils allows women to own lands, when the land were taken by army it was taken from their dowry deeds but when lands were issued for them it was issued to the non existing male members on the insistence of army.

      A reasonably complete account of what happened to Tamil women in Sri lanka after freedom might easily pass 1,000 of pages. A history of plantation workers’ migration before freedom may journey along with the story of Tamil women, if somebody want to work in that area too. How the Negombo Tamils came to Lankawe and got assimilated as low caste Sinhalese is another painful part of Tamils story. Certainly working on these,- after the European Invasion and the destruction of their protective Kingdom, -and bring out the painful history of Tamils in Lankawe is massive volumes of compendium outstanding to be embedded into the history of Lankawe. This might, if properly completely, will out do the books of American Slavery. In America, where wealth is rolling and Whites are cooperating, a reasonable work is done, and being done. (Obama has become even the president already.) But the Tamils situation is completely different in Lankawe. (Even TN’s condition are not very conducive). So the work outstanding there is beyond anybody’s wildest dream. Getting down into that is not the interest of an human right activist person like Dr.Senewiratne. Earlier, on many occasions, NPC’s CM CV had requested to invite UNESCO to straighten shortfall of the Tamils part in the history of Lanakwe.

      Dr.Senewiratne’s handbook is a very good report for the NGOs and ICs who want to look into matter and bring some action to correct the dire situation of Tamil women in contemporary Wildlife Sanctuary.

      • 1
        1

        Autonomous lunatic Mallaiyuran is back!

  • 21
    16

    Plantation Tamils certainly had better medical facilities than the Sinhalese who were driven from their lands during Colonialism, and living in slums. Many estate Tamils were pulled out of their huts and lived on the streets before they were sent back to India. But Sirimavo worked with India to resettle them on islands off the coast of India (much better than how India treats its poor untouchable people).

    University entrance followed the quota system according to ethnic proportionality. However, Jaffna soon gained its own university on public money.

    1983 was indeed a terrible time for Tamils. Everybody agrees that Jayawardena’s stance during these times was most cruel towards Tamils, and disgraceful for Sri Lanka.

    Dr. Brian Senewiratne saw the sufferings of some of the Tamils, but forgot to use reasoning and inquiry on a wider scale, and especially on the despair and desperation of the Sinhalese. Living in Kandy, he was not aware of the many Sinhala slum areas away from Kandy. From Kandy, he went to England and Australia, and felt that all of Sri Lanka was like the exclusive Kandy region.

    He saw Tamil used quite liberally in Kandyan Buddhist temples, but didn’t realize that millions of masses in the rest of the South hadn’t a clue of the language. He didn’t realize that Sinhala-only was imperative for the Southern masses, and the capital city Colombo which was in the South (however, Tamil was always official language in the North).

    He is so wrong in propagating his mode of thought. He has to examine all sides of the issue, and be fair and just to over 80% of the population that speaks Sinhalese.

    • 1
      2

      Sinhalese are 74% but 80% speak Sinhalese may Tamil hating part Tamil half castes who are married to recently Sinhalised Kurukuala Karaiyar like you speak Sinhalese exclusively.
      As per your own government statistics on language Around 75% speak Sinhalese as their mother tongue and 24% Speak Tamil as their mother tongue and around 78% of the population are fluent or have some fluency in Sinhalese whilst around 25% of the population are very fluent or have some fluency in Tamil.
      As per these statistics both languages should be the official languages in every part of the island and it should be compulsory for all to learn all three languages. Including part Tamil, Tamil hating mongrels like you. What is your problem?
      Trying to bring out stupid excuses like southern Sinhalese only speaking Sinhalese has nothing to with official languages. It is time that they also learnt Tamil and vice versa.
      Colombo is on the western littoral and at until a few centuries ago was Tamil. The word Colombo itself is derived from Tamil. It has the same root as Kollam (Quilon) in Kerala. Even now the names of many suburbs around Colombo have a Tamil origin. Pettah. Kotte, wellampitiya, Borella. Get your facts correct before posting. Evil Tamil hating part Tamil half caste

  • 4
    3

    yes. there were several dignitories among sinhalese who were very much concerned and reasonable when it came to tamil matters, discriminatory legislation etc.
    we have to remember the thoughts of our left leaders like dr.NM, c.r.d silva and the list is very lengthy. latter they changed their views in keeping with the sinhal electoral politics and that is another story.
    what surprised me was they could not influence the sinhala electorate thro’ their liberal approach to the national question and other liberal views.can someone enlighten me on their impact on the majority?
    look at the plantation indian tamil community? in spite of their historical backwardness and deplorable living conditions they attracted very few sympathicers who came forward to ameliorate their conditions. the UNP which confiscated their franchise and citizenship in 1948 had to give in and restore them in 1980s not because of a change of mind but because of external factors such as the ltte, pressure from the CWC, and of course to face the international community as a reformed boy.
    -dayal

  • 10
    9

    Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah

    “On May 15, 2016, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) at the Fifth Sitting of the Second Parliament presented TGTE’s prestigious, ‘Lifetime Commitment Award‘ to a Sinhalese, Dr Brian Senewiratne – an 84 year old Senator in the TGTE.”

    We remember building sand castles when we were young. We also remember playing cops and robbers. We see children talking to their imaginary friends and heroes. We also see them enacting their own plays. We also see children playing with building blocks, until the mother breaks the unfinished building and put them back in boxes, threatens to chuck away their toys.

    We also remember your thesiath thalaivaru (national leader) dishonoring many people with the titles Mavirar, Mamanithar, ……..

    Lately I am told the stupid Tamils make it a must to honour each other adorning with a shawl ponnadai (precious golden cloth). The golden shawl is missing.

    I find it difficult when I see a gorgeous women standing next to a flag depicting a horrible beast.

    • 8
      3

      Didn’t see Senators Milliband , Kurchner,and of course the President of the Senate Hon Mr Solheim..

      Wonder whether they have already got their “Shawl Ponnadai”?

      Batalanda Ranil & Bodhi Dira will have to wait another 4 years , plus a bit , according to the the Yaha[alana Minister Dilin Perera’s latest release…

      • 4
        3

        KASmaalam KA Sumanasekera

        “Didn’t see Senators Milliband , Kurchner,and of course the President of the Senate Hon Mr Solheim..”

        Its unfair that you have completely forgotten Blake, Menon, Nambiar, Narayanan, Vijay Singh, ……. who immensely helped VP to win the war for MR.

        In fact it is MR who should honour them with shawl ponnadai (precious golden cloth) in public.

        Please get the Sangas to bestow some ridiculous Sanskrit honorary names on them and the unis to award them honorary doctorates. Amma could spare a few ponnadais for this occasion.

  • 13
    8

    If anybody supports Peelam project, He is a living legend, Isn’t he?
    Heeeheeeeehee!

    • 6
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      srinath.gunaratne

      “If anybody supports Peelam project, He is a living legend, Isn’t he? Heeeheeeeehee!”

      It is up to the Hinduians to decide whether one is a legend or farce.

      If one believes that the Sinhala/Buddhist state destroyed the Eelam dream he/she is indeed living in a cloud cuckoo land.

      Well, there are a few dreamers like them.

      Hindia believes Sri Lanka is a Sinhala state of Hindia. What do you have to say to the Hinidans?

      • 4
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        Vedda
        Not a bright response.
        Not only india, the US and China thinks the same.

        • 5
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          Nuisance the stupid I

          Hindia believes Sri Lanka is a Sinhala state of Hindia. What do you have to say to the Hinidans?

        • 4
          5

          Euse,

          Since you are a bright one, please tell me about your understanding of democracy. I can then see how smart you are that you denounced NM’s view that I posted on the other threat!

          • 2
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            bi
            I am not going to waste my time with what NM, a communists, say or his ideas are. His party name says it all; Sama Samaja Party! That means every entity in the society needs to be shared with all. That principal is history now. None of the countries that practiced such nonsense has sunk.

            He spoke about Tamils not for the love of Tamils. His greater agenda was to share wealth of the people, who educated themselves, worked hard, being competitive and made their life productive, with lazy, uneducated, noncompetitive losers who look for spoon feeding and free goodies.
            So don’t get exited about NM!

            • 4
              3

              Euse,

              We are not discussing as to the merits of communism but about democracy that is the heart of the matter with everything evil in Sri Lanka. I say that the Sinhala majority has been exercising majority hegemony over the minorities since 1948 with democracy as cover. Hence, without prevaricating you need to tell me as to which part of what NM said about democracy that you disagree with and why. You need to be a grown up for once and face the real issues.

              Here I quote NM again in terms of what he said about democracy in 1955 during language debate:

              “….If democracy is to be treated as an arithmetical concept that whatever the majority decides must be accepted that if the majority decides that the majority religion must prevail it must be accepted merely because they have got superiority in members, that is not democracy. Where you have different religions, the sovereignty of the majority is automatically checked by those inalienable rights that the minorities have which cannot be overridden by the mere whim and fancy of a majority. The test of a democratic decision is the morality of the law. It is not merely a counting of heads but whether in point of fact the minorities are given full consideration of their points of view. Democracy means an adjustment of different points of view, it means giving full weight to the rights of minority communities. That is what democracy means, it is not merely a counting of heads”

              Come on Euse; please critique him in any aspects of what he said. I am asking this because it is extremely relevant to Sri Lankan current predicament and the future aspirations of Sri Lanka as a nation. If you have a backbone and genuinely interested in democracy, you will have a crack at this!

              • 2
                3

                BI
                You need to get real.
                Politicians all say good things for us to hear. Democracy is the choice of majority of the people. Once the selection is made the politicians have to satisfy the majority if they to become reelected. NM says all good things. However, his underlying principals are different from others. As you are a fan of him what would you do if he now says as few Sri Lankans are dirt poor we need to divided the money and land of all others to these poor people. Would you agree?
                He said ” majority decides that the majority religion must prevail it must be accepted merely because they have got superiority in members,” That is fine as long as you are free to practice your own religion the way you want.

                He says “The test of a democratic decision is the morality of the law. It is not merely a counting of heads but whether in point of fact the minorities are given full consideration of their points of view. Democracy means an adjustment of different points of view, it means giving full weight to the rights of minority communities. That is what democracy means, it is not merely a counting of heads” All sounds very impressive!
                In fact democracy starts with counting of heads. “morality” can be interpreted differently by different groups. If there is no clear consensus the majority will prevail. But the important fact is whether any laws enacted by the gov. is immoral towards the minorities. You are the best person to answer that? What laws enacted by the majority group discriminate or suppress the minority Tamils?

                • 0
                  0

                  Euse,

                  What you have done is to reinforce my belief that you are down-right Sinhala chauvinist; thank you!

                  “Democracy is the choice of majority of the people.”

                  This is the majority hegemony that I have referred to before. You know exactly what democracy is but your innate fear psychology does not allow you to be just! This is the Sinhala ill that has ruined this nation! Democracy means peoples are represented fairly even within a majority/minority situations. Britain practices first-passed-the-post system, by which the English can elect a government that governs the whole of UK. The successive voting pattern manifested that there was a disparity and democratically necessitated setting up of Sottish parliament and Welsh assembly. This was done to ensure that the minority sentiments are heard and represented. The same situation existed in Canada with Quebec; see how the democracy is adjusted to accommodate the grievances of the French-speaking people of Quebec.

                  NM stated:
                  “…Democracy means an adjustment of different points of view, it means giving full weight to the rights of minority communities. That is what democracy means, it is not merely a counting of heads”

                  You said:
                  “Once the selection is made the politicians have to satisfy the majority if they to become reelected”

                  Don’t you feel ashamed for uttering the above statement? Of course some politicians are unscrupulous; this is why it is important to establish a just system of governance! Both SWRD and Dudley signed pacts with SJVC in order to rectify the gross negligence resulted as a direct consequence of the Sinhala Only. Both pacts were abrogated owing to chauvinists like you objected. Had one of the pacts been implemented, VP would not have had a separatist platform and countless human lives would have been saved. Democracy means understanding the dynamics of the populous and demography; then devise a system of governance that represents the peoples fairly. Sri Lanka was not organically evolved; it was put together as one country by the Brits. In this situation, the democracy should be tailored by way of regional autonomy with one national identity.

                  This is to ensure in NM’s words that “…the sovereignty of the majority is automatically checked by those inalienable rights that the minorities have which cannot be overridden by the mere whim and fancy of a majority.”

                  So Euse, isn’t what the international community has been preaching the Sri Lankan Sinhala leaders? Isn’t what that the Sinhala leaders have promised the international community that they will rectify? Accept the following as indisputable facts:

                  There are two indigenous languages
                  Multiple faiths
                  There are clearly defined ethnic habitual areas

                  Respect the above and empower the people adequately underpinning with a Sri Lankan identity. This is what is required for Sri Lanka.

        • 3
          2

          Dear Eusense,
          NV says:”Hindia believes Sri Lanka is a Sinhala state of Hindia. What do you have to say to the Hinidans?”
          The less thick among Sri Lankans know this to be perfectly true, and act accordingly. JR in the 30’s tried to get us into India but got downvoted by the rather thick Senanayakes.

          • 3
            4

            old codger

            JR wanted this island to be annexed to India as another state or within a confederation.

          • 4
            4

            oc
            What I have to say to the Indians are many; “Are you nuts”, Go fly a kite” and many more I can’t write here!! Indians can “believe” what ever they want but reality is something else.
            Retarded Vedda is praying that India will conquer SL one day to get even, as the Tamil terrorists were crushed by the DFSL. He brings up this all the time.
            Why are you talking about the 30s when we were under the colonial rule trying to win independence?

            • 4
              3

              Nuisance

              “What I have to say to the Indians are many; “Are you nuts”, Go fly a kite”

              Remember on 4 June 1987, during Operation Poomalai (Operation Flower Garland)the Hindians flew a few kites, five An-32s and five Mirage 2000s.

              When Hindians caught the old fox by his b***s his heart and mind followed and was forced to sign Indo-Lanka pact.

              Since then I hear Hindians have upgraded their Army, Navy, Air force and the choice of their home made missiles,…….

              “Retarded Vedda is praying that India will conquer SL one day to get even”

              The Hindians do not have to re-concur this island, the island is being ruled from Delhi by them.

              • 2
                2

                vedda
                “Remember on 4 June 1987, during Operation Poomalai (Operation Flower Garland)the Hindians flew a few kites, five An-32s and five Mirage 2000s.”

                So what?

                “When Hindians caught the old fox by his b***s his heart and mind followed and was forced to sign Indo-Lanka pact.”

                So what??

                “Since then I hear Hindians have upgraded their Army, Navy, Air force and the choice of their home made missiles,……. “

                So what???

                “The Hindians do not have to re-concur this island, the island is being ruled from Delhi by them. “

                So what?????
                What are you trying to say? to be afraid and live in fear?? OK,OK I will respect and make offerings of flowers and candles to Indians from now on!
                You did not write about the latest; Indians updating latrines from the Rail tracks to the bushes?

            • 4
              2

              Eusense,
              “Retarded Vedda is praying that India will conquer SL one day to get even, as the Tamil terrorists were crushed”
              “Why are you talking about the 30s when we were under the colonial rule trying to win independence? “
              Would there have BEEN any Tamil Terrorists if JRJ had his way then? So wouldn’t we have been better off?
              Also remember that it was due to India that we got our so-called independence.

              • 4
                2

                oc
                If you think we would have been better off with JR’s plan, you could even move to India now. No, I wouldn’t support JR’s plan if I was living during that period. Tamils deciding to be terrorists because we stayed as an independent country is not the problem of Sinhalese. Tamils have the right to be terrorists or exemplary citizens. Some opted the first. Tamils as a 10% minority has to live the way other minorities live in other countries.
                I don’t care whether India is responsible for our independence or not. What do you want us to do for India even if they are the reason we got our independence? Worship them everyday with flowers and candles??

                • 2
                  3

                  Euse,

                  “Tamils deciding to be terrorists because we stayed as an independent country is not the problem of Sinhalese.”

                  You Sinhala made VP and other rebel groups; you guys engineered the formation of such a situation; fattened it with burning the Jaffna library and the despicable July 83! Terrorists are not born but made and you are responsible for that lock, stock and barrel. Take some responsibility for a change. This is why I asked questions about the concept of democracy that you decline to answer for a very good reason!

                  • 2
                    3

                    bi
                    Are you saying VP did something smart?
                    Why did the rest 99.99% of Tamils did not do such a smart move?

                    I have explained what democracy is. If you don’t agree correct me.

    • 8
      8

      You know the Peelam project is in trouble when the likes of Dr BS are its champions :D

      Maybe one of Dr BS’s alter egos can get the award next? Perhaps a female one, to promote diversity in Peelam and all that :D

      • 2
        5

        Comedian Sarma,

        Man I missed your comedy :D way to go man :D

      • 2
        7

        Our Namboodiri is astonished by a fearless gorgeous woman (Senator Usha Sriskandarajah) conducting the honoring ceremony of a Sinhala Man. The normal expectation of the Rapist army introduced order of the culture is if Tamil woman sees a Sinhala Man 100 yards away, she has to run away at a neck breaking speed to save her life. Further when a Namboodiri walk on a road others have to yield him the path. It is not strange out Namboodiri is puzzled here seeing the CT’s photo.

        Here the situation is, Dr.Senewiratne is not one in Sinhala Rapist Army and Senator Usha is the not the one Appe Aandu rehabilitated in its prison to show fear. Dr.Senewiratne is not just a one in Sinhala Army to others fear of him on the appearance, he is much more refined than most of us. Kandyan Sinhalese look down at Negombo Tamil Sinhalese; and the Negombo Tamil Sinhalese look down at Tamils. Within Tamil they all look down at upcountry Tamils. This is the order of the status everybody in Lankawe follows.
        Dr.Senewiratne is married a Tamil lady. Now he is a brother, a brother in law, Uncle and Grandpa for Tamils ladies. They do not have any fear of socializing with such an inner-family, relative man.
        Dr.Senewiratne selected his lifelong partner while fighting against the Indian-Pakistani citizenship act and Sinhala Only.
        This is where a man’s real intention and dedications is revealed instead of one’s politically painted masks. He is not a taboo person or politically masked like our Hybrid Patriot Thero Dayan De Silva who held a ministerial post Under Varadhar in NEPC. Thero Dayan De Silva’s attachment to Tamils cause is sheer dupe. Further, we know those characters die hard to power and fame.

        Dr.Senewiratne is from Sirimavo Family. There is nobody else is close to his talent and Intelligent in Sirimavo’s Family. We all know about Anura. Chandika never completed her undergraduate studies in Paris. Dr.Senewiratne is MA(Camb), MBBChir(Camb), MBBS Hons(London), MD(London), FRCP(London), FRACP. (It may or may not be a complete list of his designations. I just listed all of what I know.) Under the Sinhalese customs only, ruled families rule the country. Had he chosen a different direction, he might have held couple of ministries, couple of times the PM Post and at least two terms the EP too. But now he is only a senator in TGTE.

        • 4
          2

          Mallai

          That is what all the Tamil women in Colombo do. when they see Sinhalese!
          We have Tamils in Colombo than in Jaffna!

          Keep spreading lies and hatred!

          Senator, Prime minister, hee heeeehe heee!

        • 0
          3

          Cool story, bro :D

          • 1
            1

            Thanks man for for the compliments!

            Namboothiris can starts, once started, other than quickly recoil their tails, can not bark for too long.

            Are you struggling without knowing anything to say like the monkey pulled wedge on its ledge?

        • 0
          0

          I am a Sharma/Sarma and this man and a few others have stolen my name and identity to post at various forums.
          Sarma is not a Namboothiri Brahmin name. It is a common Brahmin name but definitely not used by the Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala.
          In North India it is Sharma. However in Tamil Nadu and Kerala many Tamil Brahmins use Sarma instead of Sharma. Sharma is also quite a common name amongst the Jaffna Brahmins.
          Tamil Brahmins divided into three groups Iyers Iyengars and Gurukkal. Iyers are usually Srauta-Smartha and Iyengars are Vaishnavites and the Gurukkal are Saivites. Iyers form the majority of the Tamil Brahmin population. However in Jaffna the Tamil Brahmins are usually Gurukkal as they are Saivite and Jaffna is staunchly Saivite.
          The Sect Sivacharay or gurukkal form the hereditary priesthood in the Siva and Sakthi temples . We are Saivites and adhere to the philosophy of Saiva Sidddhanta. In Tamils we are called Kurukkals.

  • 14
    7

    I normally do not respond to these especially when it is about me but i must thank “Backlash” for reminding me about Shelton Ranaraja – a classmate of mine, a close friend and a fine human being. People like Shelton are not made anymore like that. Pity – since they are most needed NOW.
    Brian Senewiratne

    • 12
      9

      BS
      You aided and supported these separatist terrorist tamil’s suicide murdering of innocent Sri Lankan citizens. In the eyes of Sri Lankan citizens you are a war criminal and you should be arrested if you enter Sri Lanka and punished for treason.

      • 8
        8

        Euse,

        “In the eyes of Sri Lankan citizens you are a war criminal and you should be arrested if you enter Sri Lanka and punished for treason.”

        No; in the eyes of a downright chauvinist like you, you should say!

      • 7
        5

        eusense:

        It is already an acknowledged notion that when the sinhala regime opens its mouth it is littered with lies and are literally frauds. What does that make you?

        You are so orchestrated that I can’t help erase your donkey person out of my mind. That Karuna story being arrested in London had mud splashed all over Gotabaya’s face. Who would want to visit a pathetic sinking country? Brian can visit UK but can your uncle Rajapakse do the same? White vans, raping and murdering tourists – what a horrible country.

        • 6
          3

          jansee,
          Why are you trying to attack me with this kind of garbage? Why don’t you come up with real facts at least for once?

          You said; “You are so orchestrated that I can’t help erase your donkey person out of my mind. “
          You meant; “I don’t have real facts to counter your statements”

          Good luck to you and your TGTE Elam which will be for ever transitional until, it’s soon to come death.

          • 1
            4

            eusense:

            Which part unravels you – is it the one where a happy couple came holidaying for Christmas but the lady was raped and when her man went to save her, he was murdered. You know what the “rule of law” in your country did until it was taken up in the international forum. You see, while you were babbling just like a donkey I have presented the facts.

            I will be kind enough to return that “good luck” dish because I know a rotten person in a rotten country needs it more.

      • 3
        2

        This cannot be true. How can he get an award for that sort of thing?

      • 3
        2

        Nuisance, you are an absolute nutter. Go and get help.

  • 10
    3

    As a Tamil living in SL let me say that the self styled operation of this organization is childish and so inappropriate. These are bitter folk who left our shores many years ago perhaps for justifiable reasons. That has changed so much now. The LTTE he fought a determined but useless war which achieved nothing for the Tamil people. I don’t for a moment endorse that everything is great for the Tamils in this land. A lot of work has to be done towards reconciliation. At least we know this government is taking some positive steps unlike the racist MR gov of he past. We have war a chance and it failed miserably. Now let’s give peace a chance and unite with all communities.

    Usha and her narrow minded folk don’t lads not the leaders of the Tamils in SL. They can live in their dream world and let us in peace. They give them silly positions called PM, senator like play school and feel so happy about their egos. What crap is this!!!!!!!! The world has moved on and I like to remind them that we live in the 21st century.

    • 2
      5

      Suthakaran,
      ” They give them silly positions called PM, senator like play school and feel so happy about their egos. What crap is this!!!!!!!! The world has moved on and I like to remind them that we live in the 21st century. “

      Leave them to their play-acting, they probably won’t us do any harm, like the Mahanayakes of South America, Japan, and Antarctica. But Doctor Mervyn Silva is a different matter.

      • 6
        5

        oc
        As decent intellectual you should condemn these “Play School” activity of this sect of Tamils. They are the ones who funded the terror reign of the LTTE with countless unnecessary innocent civilian deaths. These low lives should have used that money for the welfare of Northern Tamils who may have after 30 year taken over Sri Lanka economically rather than by terrorism. Why don’t you hold this sect responsible for wiping out a whole generation of Tamil youth?

        • 4
          4

          Dear eusense,
          You say:”should have used that money for the welfare of Northern Tamils who may have after 30 year taken over Sri Lanka economically rather than by terrorism. Why don’t you hold this sect responsible for wiping out a whole generation”
          This may surprise you, but I think Brian S is not all bad. The people who should be condemned are the ones who didn’t allow the Tamils to take over educationally and economically 50 years ago.The Burghers left quietly but the Tamils didn’t have that choice, did they?

          • 4
            6

            oc
            There are millions of Tamils who are doing very well in education, financially and socially in the south and both N&E. Don’t come up with lame excuses. Lazy Tamils who have no intention of improving their lives are the ones who whine with this kind of nonsensical stories. I am surprised you too are backing them up. Every ethnic group has this kind of people who keep complaining and making excuses Sinhalese included.

            • 3
              2

              Eusense,
              What I am trying to get at is that if you treat all citizens equally, irrespective of their minority or majority status,we wouldn’t have had all these problems. The govt and you may shout from the rooftops that “There are millions of Tamils who are doing very well in education, financially and socially in the south and both N&E.” but in practice there are glass ceilings based on ethnicity. For example in Kiribathgoda there is not a single Tamil or Muslim business. Those who try are discreetly encouraged by black flags to go away. Even the local People’s Bank has signs and forms only in Sinhala. Check it out if you want.
              Why is it that Christian churches have to get permission to do anything in “Buddhist areas” when Buddhist monks can operate under any bo-tree ? There is one who has set himself up a 100 yards from a church in Dalugama. If there are recognized “Buddhist areas”, why are Tamil areas or Christian areas not allowed?
              Eusense, I don’t know about you, but I live in the real world. I believe each ethnic group is good at something, and they should be allowed to do it. For example Muslims are good Businessmen. The Tamils are good administrators ,educators, and businessmen.
              The Sinhalese are good paddy farmers. If the Sinhalese make up 95% of the police and forces, and hold most government jobs(at which they are inept) do you think that is fair?
              If 1000 people apply for 25 jobs, and the most suitable are all non-Sinhalese, they should be given the jobs.

        • 1
          1

          Nuisance, the entire Tamil youth was wiped out because of the racist policies of the Sinhala Buddhist racists from the south, which the Tamil TULF fellows capitalized for their benefit. While they were promoting other people’s children to fight for their cause, they sent their own children abroad to study and become professionals. One of the many dirty racist rascals is you. Disgusting, how do you wake up everyday and look in the mirror? Do you know what happened in this beautiful country of ours? Thousands of Sri Lankans unnecessarily lost their lives while criminals like the MR clan robbed the country, while filth like you sit there and talk about who is right and wrong.

      • 6
        3

        old codger

        Nuisance the stupid II types:

        “As decent intellectual you should condemn these “Play School” activity of this sect of Tamils.”

        A left-handed compliment to you from a stupid.

        This is like your partner telling you that “you are well endowed with the biggest willy in the neighborhood”

        Beware of stupids bearing gifts.

  • 8
    6

    Dr.Brian Seneviratne is unique in so many ways.By espousing the cause of the Tamils,even before the advent of the armed struggle and over a long period of time,since the turn of Independence,he has NOT been a rebel without a cause.
    Besides,he was not bothered about the backlash[I am not referring to our esteemed colleague Backlash] for the views that he has held.
    I salute him for his courage,though there may be a whole lot of others,who hold the same views,but will not want to upset the apple cart.!

    • 6
      6

      Dear Plato

      Let us remember Dr. Brian Seneviratne – like NM, Colvin, Leslie G, Bernard and many others – took up the cause of indigenous Tamils and those of recent Indian origin long before the words Federalism, Separate State and LTTE formed part of our political lexicon. He is one of those hundreds of learned and enlightened Sinhalese who had the foresight and intelligence to see matters in perspective before disaster struck. Include to that galaxy of stars SWRD, who way back in the 1930s councelled Federalism – for Sinhalese and Tamils – might do the country much good in unity, peace and economic development. Of course, he was forced to change in the 1950s due to political exigencies and the coming of the Apey Anduwa culture. Not only he was killed but also that opportunity to take this country – then a united nation – towards plural unity and economic prosperity. How I wish he had the vision to “upset the apple cart”, you refer to. We know today it was more than worth it.

      Backlash

  • 7
    4

    I Heard self appointed prime minister of this illegal government visuvanathan rudrakumaran is a janitor in new jersey? Can anyone confirm or deny?

    • 7
      4

      Eezham tamizh

      “I Heard self appointed prime minister of this illegal government visuvanathan rudrakumaran is a janitor in new jersey?”

      Let’s assume he is a janitor, why should it worry you? What is wrong being a janitor?

      Aren’t janitors human beings?

      As long as a janitor he does “An Honest Day’s Work For An Honest Day’s Pay” is fine with me.

      Do you have a problem with that and please explain why it is a problem for you and not aa issue for many other people?

      Are you related to the Dimwit Jimsofty?

      • 3
        4

        Dumb Native Veddo:

        Most of the LTTE rump are losers in the west. they don’t have jobs there, so work full time to screw up Tamils.

        • 5
          4

          jim softy dimwit

          “Most of the LTTE rump are losers in the west.”

          I am sorry, have they all lost their virginity?

          • 4
            3

            vedda
            Brian S had examined them and declared they are still virgins. He also said all separatist Tamil terrorists and pro-terrorists are all virgins!

      • 3
        0

        Hmmm “An Honest Day’s Work For An Honest Day’s Pay”

        In 2013, Circuit Judges Cabranes, Sack and Wesley were not that impressed with his work.

        https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/820639/in-re-rudrakumaran/

        UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the findings and recommendations of this Court’s
        Committee ……… Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran is PUBLICLY REPRIMANDED for his misconduct in this Court.

        The Committee concluded in its report that there was clear and
        convincing evidence that Rudrakumaran had engaged in misconduct warranting the imposition of discipline.

        The Committee found that Rudrakumaran had, inter alia:
        (a) defaulted on scheduling orders in twenty-seven cases, resulting in their dismissal, although he succeeded in reinstating eight of them; (

        2)created an unnecessary and substantial risk of potential injury to those clients who eventually received relief after their defaulted cases were reinstated;

        (3) caused injury or potential injury, through lack of reasonable diligence, to two clients who were denied reinstatement of their defaulted cases;

        (4) failed to withdraw seventeen cases despite knowing that the clients did not wish to proceed or that other circumstances rendered further proceedings unnecessary;

        (5) on a number of other occasions, violated this Court’s rules and orders by untimely filing various
        documents. Id. at 5-10.

        After considering various aggravating and
        mitigating factors, id. at 12-13, the Committee recommended that

        Rudrakumaran be publicly reprimanded, and required to complete
        eight hours of continuing legal education (“CLE”) classes, in law
        office management, and to submit periodic reports concerning his
        caseload, id. at 13

        P.S. any questions, talk to the judges.
        P.P.S – love to Alfred

  • 8
    7

    ha..hah….ha Toy TGTE, toy Ealam, toy TGTE prime minister, toy TGTE senators,…. TGTE people are bunch of idiots and jokers.

    It was unfortunate that in 1948 ‘ALL THE TAMILS’ were not disenfranchised and decitizenised, if the then leaders did that then Sinhalese would have lived happily, it is not too late to send the Tamil menace(people) back to Tamil Nadu.

    Besides Tamils in Sri Lanka are not genuine Tamils, they are Malabaris who have adapted Tamil identity. These Malabaris(Tamils) ancestors were plantation workers or fisher people, even Prabakaran the terrorist was Telugu or Malayalam and Chelvanayagam was Malaysian Malayalam. Also other so called Tamil heros are not Tamil, e.g: Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha is Kannada, MG Ramachandran was Malayalam, Kadunanidi is Telugu, the actor Rajinikanth is Marathi, etc.

    Sinhalese can’t differentiate South Indian very well, so they call anyone from South India ‘a Tamil’, that’s how so many South Indian got Tamil identity.

    Ancient Sinhalese lived in northern and eastern part of Sri Lanka, South Indian invaders and severe droughts pushed them to Southern part of the island. The names in Northern and Eastern part of the island are Tamilized Sinhalese names. Sinhalese are the rightful owners of the Island, everybody should be aware of that!!!!!

    There will never be a crazy Ealam within Sri Lankan shores!!!!!

    And thank you the diaspora ‘mad Ealam hell’ seekers for your voluntary self-disenfranchisement and self-decitizenisation.

    So Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah, stop wasting your old-age on ‘Crazy-Ealam-Hell’, instead start knitting and let the Tamil youth integrate with the Sinhales.

  • 9
    4

    A not existent country giving a non existent prestige award to a non scholar !

  • 0
    1

    [Edited out]

  • 4
    4

    “Dr. Senewiratne’s international advocacy work”

    Indeed, no Sinhalese or any other persosn for that matter is opposed to ‘international advocay work’ or the speaking for human rights.

    The fact is that no Sri Lankan can agree to the idea of a TGTE as it is a viloation of our Yahapalanaya constitution.

    It is Sri Lankan self-determination that has been denied for the last 68 years. By the separatists .

  • 3
    4

    Sorry he should be considered as a human rights activist of “Tamils” only.
    Never ever this man has raised a single word against the atrocities committed by ruthless Tigers.His selective sympathy is praised by Tamils which is understandable as he was very vocal about their human rights.No worries we have no problem with that as understandably Tamils had enough issues to raise with .He is one Sinhalese we can do without for sure as Sinhalese were insulted and defamed very badly by this gentleman maliciously .I propose this imaginary TGTE to offer him an honorary letter ” M ” to the end of his name hence all the conflicts of interests can be avoided.
    Thank you.

  • 3
    3

    With due respect to Dr Brian who deserve to be bestowed with this award for his commitment to see human rights are protected in this small island.

    As far as TGTE is concerned, they lost the plot and are out touch with ground realities. I wouldn’t surprise if Usha gets the life time award next year, and then Uruthira and others in the years to come. They seem to drive lot of enjoyment and satisfaction, feeling that they have done something out of these type of circus. A pack of jokers showing off at the expense of poor guys who just comes to grips with what is left for them to get with the life after facing the brunt of a brutal war and loosing every thing, including their loved ones. For them, to know these people are no longer live in this island must be a great relief.

    I propose that all senators be presented with some kind of awards in a seniority order annually- not kidding.

    • 6
      4

      Aia,

      I have my own views of the limitations and usefulness of the TGTE. But, if I were you, I will not belittle them. The world functions in a different way. Not necessarily the way the Sinhala majority thinks. Similar things were said of the Govt-in-Exile (Lusaka) of the African National Congress in the 1970s – a poor motley outfit that was fighting the mighty power of resourceful White South Africa. The great Margaret Thatcher spoke mockingly of ANC/Nelson Mandela and colleagues was certain their coming to power is a “pipe-dream” And, see what happened. Justice and an enlightened world chose to support the underdog Mandela and the ANC.

      Backlash

      • 1
        5

        Thanks Backlash.

        I don’t usually go on responding to comments made on a comment I made, as it would spiral into a tit-for-tat series. However, take an exception here also.

        Respect your comment, but not sure if we can compare ANC to TGTE. Among several reasons, one that stands out is ANC was on the ground and NM, a leader of majority population of a country, was prisoned. If you quoted this for mere mocking comparison, I have no issue.

        Comes back to TGTE, when you read a funny stuff, it tends to bring a funny response in you. I didn’t mean to belittle any of them, and to be able to do whatever they do in a free country, they are blessed one way or other. And, they didn’t seem to have worried missing the mother country, good for their well being. But they should see that their actions do not risk the life of those who live in the land they try to liberate. Liberating land is alright, but when you do so, you have got to have people to live in. I am sure senators’ off spring will not choose to live here. Most of the things they do, makes me to think as if they were more worried about the land mass than the people who live out there. All these people are an educated lot, and should understand what a serious cause they are trying to uphold; not like a movement guided by a 8th grader where you left with only option-his way or high way. Just trying to ignite a worse situation further without due consideration to these poor folks is a missing piece in their affair. I don’t want to see some one feeding some excuses to GoSL, to escape them from their responsibilities. If you think critically, we didn’t do well in that front through out the struggle, made ourselves into a laughing stock. Our politicians did for their own self-fish fulfillments, these mob seems doing for publicity and hobby?. And, they reinforce such believes with their actions, don’t they?.

  • 4
    1

    Myself, my spouse, family and friends, do not support TGTE that much. One reason being that some TGTE members, such as Rudrakumar were part of the LTTE which massacred Tamil youth from other groups, murdered some Muslim and Sinhalese civilians, and committed large number of human rights violations (which were less than the human rights violations by the murderous and genocidal Sinhala Buddhist armed forces). I wish that Brian exposed more of the hr violations of the LTTE. But, Brian very much deserves a lifetime achievement award, which I wish would have been awarded by another Tamil org which does not have very strong links with the LTTE.

    Some of the comments under this article have been posted by the same racist Sinhalese, some of whom seem to be on the payroll of the Sri Lanka military. Some of them have even posted very critical comments about Brian, using Tamil names!

    My spouse received info about the following books, which document the hr violations and genocide which Brian has relentlessly worked to expose to the world:

    [1] History of the conflict from 1805 to 1988:
    The Break-Up of Sri Lanka. By A.J.Wilson
    [2] The Tamil Genocide by Sri Lanka: The Global Failure to Protect Tamil Rights Under International Law. By Francis A. Boyle
    http://www.amazon.com/Tamil-Genocide-Sri-Lanka-International/dp/0932863701/ref=pd_sim_14_6?ie=UTF8&dpID=51UQXSWodUL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=1D9NPZQHJJSDJR0VJ5AM

    http://www.claritypress.com/Boyle-Tamil.html

    [3] The Cage: The Fight for Sri Lanka and the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers Paperback – September 4, 2012 by Gordon Weiss

    [4] Sri Lanka’s Secrets: How the Rajapaksa Regime Gets Away With Murder (Investigating Power) by Trevor Grant (Author), Geoffrey Robertson (Foreword)

    [5] Still Counting the Dead: Survivors of Sri Lanka’s Hidden War by Frances Harrison

    [6] The Cage: The Fight for Sri Lanka and the Last Days of the Tamil Tigers Paperback – September 4, 2012 by Gordon Weiss

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    My previous comment had a duplicate item – which is item [6] in that list.

    ***** Items [1] to [8] in my list are extremely important books *****

    Here is the continuation of the list:

    [6] ********************* Extremely important book. ***************

    Sri Lanka’s Secrets: How the Rajapaksa Regime Gets Away With Murder (Investigating Power) by Trevor Grant (Author), Geoffrey Robertson (Foreword)

    [7] ********************* Extremely important book. ***************

    Buddhism Betrayed?: Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka 1st Edition
    by Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah

    [8] ********************* Extremely important book. ***************

    Sri Lanka–Ethnic Fratricide and the Dismantling of Democracy
    by Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah

    [9] S.J.V.Chelvanayakam and the Crisis of Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism, 1947-77: A Political Biography Hardcover – May 26, 1994
    by A.Jeyaratnam Wilson

    [10] A Fleeting Moment in My Country: The Last Years of the LTTE De-Facto State Paperback – August 17, 2012
    by N. Malathy

    [11] The Tamil Eelam Liberation Struggle: State Terrorism and Ethnic Cleansing (1948-2009) Paperback – July 11, 2014
    by Dr Murugar Gunasingam

    [12] War Journey: Diary of a Tamil Tiger Paperback – May 1, 2013
    by Malaravan N. Malathy (Tr.)

    [13] Tamil Tigress: My Story as a Child Soldier in Sri Lanka’s Bloody Civil War Paperback – May 1, 2012
    by Niromi de Soyza

    [14] The Pen and the Gun: Selected Writings 1977 – 2001 Paperback – 2001
    by S. Sivanayagam

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    TGTE is a toothless Tiger and cannot bite. Brian Seneviratne can do with a few awards, he lacks those from the profession he was trained in – medicine!So why bother wasting any more words on this issue?

    • 2
      2

      anotherbuddhist
      Do you remember MR awarded the Sri Lanka Rathna to Dr Subramanian Swamy ostensibly for outstanding services to the nation? How many Lankans know who this man is. Do you? Subramanian in turn canvassed Modi to award Bharat Ratna to MR but was shooed off.

      Every Tamil appreciates the moral support and contribution by Brian Seneviratne over a period of nearly 70 years. He believed in what he stood for and is an example to revolutionaries.

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        Subramaniam Samy and Kamlesh Sharma, the former SG-Commonwealth Secretariat, did not bail out Rajapakse on several occasions for summa. Some notorious despots in under-developed countries, Banana Republics – if you wish – use Brokers to “buy” important but pliable officials in important bodies in the world. Remember ex-Canadian PM called Kamlesh Sharma “a Rajapaksa sheel” This is unprecedented in the world of global politics and the history of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Why did Stephen Harper do that??? It is indeed a strange world.

        A.D.J. Perera

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