By R Hariharan –
Col. (retd) R.Hariharan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had faced more flak and investigations than any other aspirant stepping into the shoes of a prime minister, has shown on Day-1 that he is a man of his own mind. His spectacular election victory owed it to his planning, execution and management of his election strategy. His relentless campaign against odds has shown as a one who leads from the front, not losing sight of overall goals, and an uncanny knack to get his way through overcoming his detractors both within and outside the BJP. Last but not least is his ability to pick a team and motivate them to give their best.
Many of these qualities came to the fore on his Day-1 in office. The BJP accustomed to its geriatric leadership functioning was infused with energy; of course the elderly leaders despite all the bowing and touching of feet were put to the pasture as younger leaders took over key functions. They had put their faith in him and it was pay off time. But under Modi they will have to emerge as achievers.
This was in marked contrast to cabinet making process of Dr Manmohan Singh. It was directed from the top with little opportunity for the Prime Minister to demur. Naturally it had disastrous impact upon the PM’s hydra-headed team’s performance and accountability.
Another promise Modi has kept is to balance the need for merit and talent in the cabinet against the political compulsions of maintaining caste, religious and regional and coalition partners in its composition. He had promised a lean cabinet and put together a team of 44 ministers. However, unoccupied berths in some of the key ministries like Defence promise to swell the numbers before the Budget session in July.
Invitation to SAARC leaders
Much has been read in Modi’s invitation to SAARC leaders to attend his inaugural ceremony. Some of the news anchors always keen to read tea leaves have called it a foreign policy coup. To do so would be overkill. But Modi the opportunist used the happy occasion to garner some good will in the neighbourhood where a lot of suspicion lingers about how he would lead the government.
On the other hand, Modi the showman knows that to be respected as the Prime Minister of the largest democracy, he has to give a thorough makeover of his image tarred by the Western press and English media that described him as a Fascist and anti-Muslim hawk. And he just used the opportunity offered by the inaugural ceremony. This would enable him to set the right tone for enlarging his international acceptability.
By inviting the SAARC leaders he has probably made a good start in this exercise. But for the skeptics to believe it was much more than a cosmetic exercise, the yardstick would be on the government’s performance in the coming months.
He has also sent a strong message of his preference for India’s immediate neighbourhood as his foreign policy priority. The message would have been more inclusive if Myanmar Prime Minister had also been invited for the inaugural.
Inclusion of Mauritius among the invitees is a strong indicator of the importance Modi attaches to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) which has implications for the strategic security of the IOR. In tandem with Maldives and Sri Lanka, India’s two other Indian Ocean neighbours, it gives inkling to the likely enlargement of the nascent maritime security cooperation between India and its island neighbours.
Both China and the U.S. who see themselves as strategic stakeholders would have taken note of Modi’s style. It portends a confident, strong, and assertive leadership in India’s dealings with other countries.
Nationally, the Congress opposition despite some nit-picking had no other choice but to support his decision to invite SAARC leaders. The other battered regional satraps had little to comment as they were busy putting their houses in order. We can see this happening more often if Modi delivers some of his promises in real time.
Invitation to Nawaz Sharif
By inviting Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa in spite of opposition from sections within his own coalition, Modi had demonstrated that he has firm control over the government. Modi has also shown that while he is aware of concerns of coalition partners and states his decision, he would not hesitate to get through his decision if need be in the national interest.
Both the foreign leaders have reciprocated the good will behind the invitation from Modi by releasing Indian fishermen in their custody. Despite all the bonhomie shown in photo opportunities with them, Modi has reminded the two leaders that India was determined to pursue its core interests in building a win-win relationship with its neighbours and they need to help remove the impediments in its way.
In the case of Pakistan, he seem to have highlighted the key issues of trans-border terrorism, the need to speed up follow up action in Pakistan on 26/11 terror attacks, and opening up of Pakistan for Indian trade. Nawaz Sharif despite his more guarded reaction seem to have agreed to cooperate with India to ensure that the democratic government in Afghanistan is not destabilized after the withdrawal of U.S. forces by Taliban terrorists. If this goes through it would be a remarkable breakthrough to address India’s key security concerns relating of Afghanistan affecting the stability of the entire region.
It would not be true to narrative to read much more than it in the meetings. They are ice-breakers to provide the two sides to understand the nature of change in Indian leadership, while providing the Indian Prime Minister an opportunity to put through his foreign policy exercise. Further progress in relationship can only through after ground is carefully prepared by the respective governments.
Invitation to Mahinda Rajapaksa
The meeting between Modi and President Rajapaksa has both an international and national context. Modi has shown his readiness to build upon the strong relationship existing between the two countries. At the same time, he has requested Sri Lanka “to expedite the process of national reconciliation in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Tamil community for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka” in the words of the Secretary Ministry of External Affairs Ms Sujata Singh. This would remind Rajapaksa that he had still not delivered upon his promises and caution him of possible impact on the relationship if he continues to delay. He has also reassured Rajapaksa that though some of his political partners are supporters of Tamil Eelam, there was no change in his government’s stand on a united Sri Lanka.
Despite all the drama with Vaiko’s loud protests in the Capital, the din of black flag demonstrations in Tamil Nadu, and the State Chief Minister Ms J Jayalalithaa going into a sulk, Modi’s absolute majority in parliament has given him an opportunity to structure his Sri Lanka policy to make it vibrant. It has also given him a chance to build upon the BJP alliance in Tamil Nadu as the state politics is in a state of flux after Ms Jayalalithaa scored a stunning victory reducing the opposition to single digit.
BJP’s present partners in the state are political light weights; despite their reservations on Modi’s Sri Lanka policy they are likely to be more benefitted by continuing the alliance with the BJP. This would enable them to have some clout at the Centre essential for their survival. After seeing Modi in action, some of these parties might rethink on the viability of pursuing a hawkish stance on Sri Lanka.
The DMK, though reduced to a zero in the parliament, still retains the loyalty of nearly one fourth of voters. However, the party has still not recovered from the leadership paralysis that struck it after the drubbing at polls. The fratricidal struggle for the party leadership between the DMK leader Karunanidhi’s scions Alagiri and Stalin continues.
As though these are not enough, Kalaignar Karunanidhi is in for hard days in his old age as both his party and the family network that build a huge fortune are in shambles. The Damocles’ Sword of corruption trials are hanging over his octegenrian wife Mrs Dayalu, daughter Kanimozhi , nephew Dayanidhi Maran and party loyalist A Raja.
As corruption trials are likely to be speeded up as promised in the BJP manifesto, DMK will have to rework its political strategies to survive. This might induce the DMK to forget its much-hyped preference for secular partnership to take a re-look at the BJP alliance in the state.
At the state level, Ms Jayalalithaa went into hyperbole on Modi’s invitation to Rajapaksa describing it as betrayal and insensitivity to Tamil feelings on the Sri Lanka issue. Lack of reaction from Modi probably made her boycott the inaugural ceremony. Not only that, she went on to ban her party’s 37 newly-elected parliamentarians from attending it.
While this was in keeping with her “black or white” style of seeing more enemies than friends, her not so friendly response to Modi has to be understood at two levels –personal and political. With political pundits predicting the possibility of a hung parliament, her prime ministerial ambitions soared. Despite securing 37 of the 39 seats, Modi’s landslide victory nationwide has put paid to her ambitions.
Her boycott of Modi’s inaugural shows that she was far from reconciled with the outcome of the elections at the national level. With this negative attitude, Ms Jayalalithaa has lost a good opportunity to recoup the good personal equation she used to enjoy with Modi.
Politically, she needs to improve her relationship with the Modi government to mend her fractured Centre-state relationship of the past. She needs to domit as she needs Centre’s cooperation and good will to see through some of the ambitious projects in the state. With the state assembly elections due in another year and a half, she needs to show results as the DMK and all other opposition parties will be working hard to put up a better performance. So she can be expected to evolve a face saving method of building better relations with Modi and the Centre in that order in the coming months. And the politically savvy prime minister may reciprocate such an overture if there is a future in it.
Thus the emerging political environment in the state improves the chances for Modi to work out a holistic Sri Lanka policy. Such a policy should address India’s national imperatives as well as the state’s specific concerns on Sri Lanka Tamils. It can give meaningful expression to India’s and Tamil Nadu’s concerns not only to serve national interests, but also remove some of the bottlenecks in India-Sri Lanka relations. But for all this to happen Modi has the difficult task of delivering his promises; and India and the world will be watching.
*This is a summary of author’s comments made on May 27 to English and Tamil newspapers and magazines as well as on TV news channels. Col R Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies and the South Asia Analysis Group. E-Mail: colhari@yahoo.com. Blog: www.colhariharan.org
Maghribi / May 28, 2014
Can the tiny Island deceive it’s giant neighbour as before?
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Thiru / May 28, 2014
Maghribi ,
You bet, it can and will always do deceive!
These islanders are smarter than the mainlanders.
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Maghribi / May 28, 2014
Thiru
Got a strong feeling deception has reached the end of the rope. Look out for the winds of massive change.
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Eusense / May 29, 2014
Some elements have been waiting for that for over 5 years nothing came by!
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Native Vedda / May 29, 2014
Thiru
I found this lyrics by poet Subramanya Bharathi in one those obscure websites. The ideas,words and the music are brilliant. I copied and pasted the entire song and its translation below.
I find the 5th verse puzzling the great poet writes
“(5)singala theevinukkor paalam amaippom, sedhuvai meduruththi veedhi samaippom,”
Translation:
“let us build a bridge to the island of Srilanka,
lets raise the level of land covered by Sethusamdram, and build roads from india to Srilanka,”
I am told that this song was composed in the early part of last century. He call this island as Sinhala Thivu (Sinhala Island).
Could you tell me as to why the greatest poet of Tamils would use words such as Sinhala Thivu (Sinhala Island)when many of you want this island to be known as Eelam?
A Tamil friend told me that this song was censored by Ceylon Board of Censors.
Enjoy reading and listening to the song.
Movie: Kai Kodutha Deivam
Poet: Subramanya Bharathi
Singer: T.M.Sounderajan
Music Director: M S Viswanathan & Ramamoorthy
Song Sequence: (1)-(1)-(2)(2)-(3)-(4)-(4)-(1)-(5)-(5)-(6)-(6)-(1)
(1)sindhu nadhiyin misai nilavinile,
chera nannaattilam pengaludane,
sundara thelunginil paattisaithu,
thonigal otti vilaiyaadi varuvom,
basking in the moonlight along the banks of the Sindhu river,
along with the youthful women from the fine country of Cheras (present day Tamilnadu and Kerala), composing and singing songs in the beautiful telugu language,lets row our boats and merrily play together,
(2)gangai nadhippuraththu godhumai pandam,
(3)kaaviri vetrilaikku maarukollvom,
(4)singa maraattiyartham kavidhaikondu,
seraththu thandhangal parisalippom,
lets exchange the products of wheat from the area around Ganges river,with the beetle leaves from the area around Cauvery,
lets get poems from the brave Marathas,and gift them back the elephants tusks from the Chera region,
——— verses in Telugu —————
(5)singala theevinukkor paalam amaippom,
sedhuvai meduruththi veedhi samaippom,
(6)vangaththil odi varum neerin migaiyaal,
vaiyaththu naadugalil payir seyyuvom,
let us build a bridge to the island of Srilanka, lets raise the level of land covered by Sethusamdram, and build roads from india to Srilanka,the excess water from the bengal region,and use it to irrigate (and cultivate) the other areas of our country…
http://tamilthathuvarasigan.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/kai-kodutha-deivam-sindhu-nadhiyin-misai/
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Rajash / May 29, 2014
Native Vedda -this is a beautiful song.I have it on collection. From the Movie Kai Kodutha Deivam . I remeber watching this movie at the Plaza theatre in Wellawette net to the good old Alerics ice cream out let.I watched the movie ofcourse from the gallery class, as I was a poor student and it’s more fun.
When the lyrics “singala theevinukkor paalam amaippom” came up every one in the gallry class were whistling and clapping.
The reason I think why he chose to use the word Sinhala Theevu is more to do with the rhytham and verse in a musical context than any thing else.
Sindhu Nathy
Sunthara Thamil
Sinhala Theevu
Sethuvai…
rhymes well?
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Native Vedda / May 30, 2014
Rajash
I am not convinced the greatest Tamil Kavi writes a sinthu naming this island as Sinhala Thivu just for the sake of rhyming words. There must me something more to this than what we already know.
I was told this song was banned by Board of Censors broadcasting on Radio Ceylon Tamil service. Is it true?
The reason seems to be one of fear among the Sinhalese Censors. The board feared that this song would encourage the Tamilnadu Tamils to build a bridge/road over Palk strait and cross over to this side of the sea. By banning the song they thought they could stop the idea spreading among the Tamils of this island.
Do you think the reason for the banning the song was valid and their fear justified?
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Rajash / May 30, 2014
NV I cannot remember this song being banned by Radio Ceylon. But if I accept your argument that this is not just rhyming words, then yes it is intriguing why Sri Lanka, as it called now is referred to as Sinhala Thivu?
I need to do some more research in to this, will get back to you.
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Mallaiyuran / May 30, 2014
Native Vedda,
It looks like you forgot your history too. By rewriting the true history they have made you too be convinced that this Island is a property of Sinhalese.
Let us leave the history aside; let’s not grind the same batter to prove this island is “children’s of lion’s Land”, so it is called Sinhalese Tivu. After all, not one Sinhalese name has last name Singh. In Lanka nobody ever did know the Singa(The Tamil word Chingam went to Pali and Sanskrit as Singa) story until the monks came from South India. The idea of the children of Singa was brought to Island by the North-Indian Monks who left the South India because of the religious war. The Sinhalese Language did not existed before that either. Very interestingly, Kerala language also born from Tamil, just only 1000 years ago, about 500 years after Sinhala was born. Bharathi calls in the same song it as Kerala Land.
There was never ever a name “Sinhalativu” to Lanka in Tamil before, during and after Bharathi’s time. Bharathi was not a historian, and was not writing history on that song. He was poet and wrote a song to say the inter-communication in Greater India, Sub Continent. That time, many believed Lanka too a part of India. So he included Lanka in the song of India. When he was singing the Beauty of the peoples, Trade of the peoples, friendliness of the peoples of India, he wanted say Sinhalese as his another neighbors and he wanted friendship with them too. If a Tamil poet had sing “Let us build a bridge to “Tamil and Sinhalese Island”, I do not think I have to tell you that would not make a meaning.
His start goes like this (roughly):
“In the bright light of the moon lit night
Over the flow of the silvery Sindhi
With beside the beauties of Kerala (land)
Singing songs in sweet tongue Telugu (language)
Let’s go for the fun of a boat-ride”
Now you may get the sense of his mood when he wrote the poem. It was only about friendship and interaction. It was not a history re-tracing. Apparently it was his, own concoction the “Sinhala Tivu”. The modern day’s racism was not there on his days. Monk Tharmapala has not spread his message. So Bharathi did not feel any guilt of calling Lanka with that word as he felt Lanka was part of India. Kerala, Kannada they all have a large number of Tamil populations residing in them. In his period the boarder was not an issue. Everybody was under Britain, with three or four different administrations. So he used the word Kerala Land to Malaiyalies and Sinhala Land for Sinhalese. You may notice that the song was about people, not about the lands. So, if you take the inverse meaning out of his song and allocate the Island for Sinhalese, you may lose the meaning of the song.
There is a Tamil name for Cinnamon as “Chingalam”. That was an old old usage like Changam period. So, some people argue that he meant the Cinnamon Land by “Sinhala Titu”. But the Song was about people. So he meant Sinhalese by “Sinhala Titu, not “Cinnamon Island”, where his song will lose meaning. When he said “let’s exchange betals(pan leaves) for wheat”, he is singing the south-north relationship.
Thanks for reminding that nice song with your link.
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Terrence / June 1, 2014
Native Vedda, thanks for mentioning the lovely song “sindhu nadhiyin misai nilavinile”. Though I dont believe in writing in these columns which is a waste of time, because u have brought this song and trying split hair I like to answer u. You have mentioned about a great tamil poet who has mentioned “singala thivu”.
1) Now let me too quote from another poem from circa 180 CE almost 2000 years before Subramaiya Bharathi. This is from a work called Patninappalai lines 185 – 193. These lines talk about the port city Kavirpoompatinam and describes what types of merchandise came this port from which countries. Let me quote
reference http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/utf8/pmuni0077.html
if u can read tamil if not ask ur friends to read it for u on the 7th lines it says Eelathu unnau, which means food from Eelam came to this port. Since u too have quoted from one poet I am sure u will have to accept this from another poet 2000 years prior to it, which clearly mention Eelam.
2) An inscription by Rajaraja in Tamil, found in the Mulbagal district of Karnataka, shows his accomplishments as early as the 19th year. An excerpt from such a Meikeerthi, an inscription recording great accomplishments, follows:[31]
This mentioned about the lands and countries ruled by Rajaraja cholan I circa 984 – 1012 AD. Agian if u can read it u can find it says as Eela mandalam. reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Raja_Chola_I
3) Since Rajendra Cholan’s mei kirthi is too long I will only post the relevant sentence. Here too it is mentioned as Eela mandalam.
Reference http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/utf8/pmuni0134.html 2.2.1 (26).
This is from a stone inscription from Tanjayur temple.
Now dont come to tell these are all by tamil poets and kings. Since u have mentioned a phrase from a tamil poet I too have mentioned several from same tamil poets and kings.
4) can u tell me Native Vedda in that “holy scripture” Mahavamsa at which point the word “sinhala” was used for the first time ?
None of the evidence above dont mention the word Sinhala as there was no Sinhala 1000 years back. Yes Subramaniya Bharathi mentioned about Sinhala thivu just about 100 years back only.
For urs and convenience of other readers I quoted all of those tamil lines. Unfortunately Ct don’t take up anything other than English!!!!!!!!!!. So go to those reference provided by me and get urself educated.
Thank you for reading patiently.
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Native Vedda / June 3, 2014
Terrence
Thanks for the links.
“u have brought this song and trying split hair”
It is my religious duty to split hair although I don’t belong to any of the major faiths.
“can u tell me Native Vedda in that “holy scripture” Mahavamsa at which point the word “sinhala” was used for the first time ?”
According to R A L H Gunawardana the term Sihala (Pali) was mentioned once in Dipawamsa (4th to 5th Cent) and twice in Mahawamsa (6th Cent or later).
The People of the Lion: The Sinhala Identity and Ideology in History and Historiography
Gunawardana, R. A. L. H
http://www.dlib.pdn.ac.lk/archive/handle/123456789/2587
However K N O Dharmadasa argued that Sinhala were the “in people” therefore some literature didn’t specifically mention the term Sinhala. He goes on to cite various literary work from much earlier period, a few from India as well as many from this island.
Please refer to
The people of the lion : ethnic identity, ideology and historical revisionism in contemporary Sri Lanka
Dharmadasa, K. N. O.
http://www.dlib.pdn.ac.lk/archive/handle/123456789/2072
My initial question to Thiru was to find out if there was any historical reason for the Great Kavi call this island Sinhala Thivu.
It is interesting that you have enlarged the scope of our discussion.
We continue this discussion if you so desired.
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Pirana / June 23, 2014
Singala thievu is also known as Serandip which means seran theevu.
Sinhalam is a language belonging to the Dravidian family of languages.Sinhalam originates from the Dravidian word Seehalam.
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Leelagemalli / May 28, 2014
One of the funniest costumes is worn by Modi, next to that of his Burma counterpart: as if the man is about to leave for a ballet dance.
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sama / May 28, 2014
Srilanken “MODA” is said to have agreed with his counterpart in Maldives saying ” soon I ll be there”. Can anybody confirm whether MR happened to pay a visit to Maldives on his first day itself in India or later cancelled the trip to Maldives. I am intrested in how he has been abusing srilanken airlines for these trips as if it is his own taxi service. No secret that the airline has made billions of losses since 2005 under the expertiess of MR´s brother in law.
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Rajash / May 28, 2014
Apparently he travel on airmiles that he has accumulated
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Sun / May 28, 2014
I dont think anything would change dramatically in indian politics.
See it is a country of 1300 or more millions of varied cultures – with their nature have been more radical than seen in srilanken culture. In a country with 22 millions living, limited to not more than 10 ethincally varied citizens – seem to be stugglling in finding a consensus in terms of the country´s most alarming problems – which is home made soltuion for the major ethic minority of the nation. With Wimal Buruwansa´s radical party together with JHU radical policies standing on their way if going to devolve the power – nothing would be a reality in terms of any kind of peaceful solution to the cause under the umbrella of the current highly heterogenous coalition.
In contrast – UNP, DP, UPFA (CBK fraction) and several other parties would consider some more autonomy through prevailing PC system – surely we would come somewhat closer in finding the solution. lATTER is a reality than the former under MR radical plans.
Those who have just sowed the seeds of lies that RW AND CBK would allow to separate the country – will be there MR´s slogans to just to abuse the power. So long people would have no idea to study it properly, they would go on supporting Rajapakshes – the ethinic problems and unity between IC and the Island will remain as it is. This is the current stand of the lanken politics.
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Seelawathi Jayasinghe / May 28, 2014
I would not call it deceiving but it is more less like misguiding through the agendas of lowlevel politics played by MR regime. MR is cited by many when writing about the millitary victory that attacked own civilians of uknown numbers. Numbers went missing should still be recorrected – but no proper investigations are the intentions of the Regime. In order to fulfil the latter – IC is about to be ready with the mediation of UN ´s resolution in terms of an indepennt inquiry focusing on the human losses at the end phase of the war in 2009.
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sach / May 28, 2014
what deceiving?
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Rajash / May 28, 2014
The tiny island was not deceiving the giant neighbour on the contrary the Gandhi dynasty more specifically Sonia was safeguarding the tiny island. Now it’s going to be different. Just beacuse Modi invited the Presidnt of Sri Lanka and posed for the obligatory photo shoot out with a handshke doesnt mean anything.
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sach / May 29, 2014
why should sonia safegueard SL? are u out of your mind?
“Just beacuse Modi invited the Presidnt of Sri Lanka and posed for the obligatory photo shoot out with a handshke doesnt mean anything.”
Definitely :)
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Rajash / May 29, 2014
sach – why should sonia safegueard SL? are u out of your mind?.
where did I say Sonia is safeguarding SL?
I am replying to the rhetoric “Can the tiny Island deceive it’s giant neighbour as before? “by Maghribi >>the inference is that tiny island means the “regime”
I am using the same analogy in my refernce to “tiny island”
for god’s sake grow up.!!!!!!!!!!
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sach / May 30, 2014
“the Gandhi dynasty more specifically Sonia was safeguarding the tiny island”
this is where you said so…
In which dicyionary, terminology or even in coloquil usage would island means regime? When talking abt SL, island means SL and not regime. Idiot!
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Native Vedda / May 31, 2014
sach
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi popularly known as Mahathma whereas his grand daughter Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was a dictator.
What a pity.
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Maghribi / May 29, 2014
We Srilankans are really smart people, we will run circles around Modi et al. Just as we did to Dr. Singh, the UN and the IC. Now that is cool, I think.
We don’t have to agree, I am just leaving thought out there.
What do u think ? Can we take the bugger for a ride ?
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kali / May 29, 2014
Only if the tiny Island can bribe its way through as before. But I doubt it this time.
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Leelawathie / May 29, 2014
Hey guys, can anybody add me here whether the Modi´s was celebrated in a manner Srilanken Moda did it lavishly ? Spending millions for Kiribath eating and the like – not once several dozens of times since he is in the office ?
There Srilanken Moda -MR has to finally learn. India is one of poorest countries though ours is labelled as “middle income earning” country – for their brand to expand the family wealth on the cost of the rural masses of the country.
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Rajash / May 28, 2014
Very good title “Modi’s Day-1 In Office” compared to “Modi_fication”
I am not a fan of Hari Haran, but cant find fault with this one.
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K.A Sumanasekera / May 28, 2014
Diaspora buddy, and Praba protege , Tiger Vaiko doesn’t get a mention..
I mean a proper mention considering the fact that his supporters here portraying Vaiko as the best buddy of Modi who will help deliver Eelaam to Samabnadan & Co.
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lal / May 28, 2014
Considering talents and skills, Vacko has been promoted from being Joker to Court Jester!
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Native Vedda / May 28, 2014
lal Loo
“Considering talents and skills, Vacko has been promoted from being Joker to Court Jester!”
Are you regretting the fact that Weerawansa wasn’t given undue prominence?
Did your cousin Lalu Prasad Yadav contest the elections this year?
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Ajith / May 28, 2014
I think Modi clearly understood the feelings of the TN. He used his meeting with Mahinda to send a clear message regarding the devolution of power within a united Sri Lanka. He understand that President Mahinda is the barrier to reach a political solution to the North Eastern people. India need a genuine friendly Sri Lanka, not a threatening Sri Lanka. Under Congress regime, the priority was not India, it was revenge against LTTE and Tamils for personal reasons. Mahinda used the situation very well. For Modi, there are no personal reasons to surrender to Mahinda.
Jeyalalitha did the right think at right time by not attending the inaugural ceremony. Modi knows very well that BJP will never become a leading political party in TN. Though he won overall majority, the situation is not going to remain same for long. A good leader should always look at far ahead in making judgements and decisions. He is not going to stop the funding to TN because TN did not come for his ceremony. Both Modi and Jeyalalitha understands that they may need each other at some stage. Both also understand that Sri Lanka is not Mahinda.
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sach / May 28, 2014
“President Mahinda is the barrier to reach a political solution to the North Eastern people”
what nonsense! The biggest barrier to a political solution in SL is tamil national alliance and its pro ltte politicians. MR even if he wants to devolve power cant go ahead because of pro ltte and pro seperatist agenda of TNA. The day current political leaders of TNA who takes advice from seperatists is replaced by non racist and pragmatic leaders from tamils. Possible from younger generation, this problem will persists.
TNA believes if they can prove to the international that a devolution is not working in united SL they can get help for seperatism. So they do everything to make it difficult for gov to implement power devolution and currently 13A…….
The TRUTH…………
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Burning_Issue / May 28, 2014
Such,
Why do you write utter nonsense? TNA has put forward its aspirations on behalf of the Tamils. Where is the proposal from MR? What happened to the APRC? LLRC farce aren’t you ashamed?
If you want the Tamils to be subservient in complete subjugation, you will not get that from the Tamils. You may through a process of attrition, wipe out the Tamils from SL but it is going to be a long shot.
The devolution is not working because powers as defined in 13A have not been devolved. The centre is intrusive and disruptive. The TNA has no confidence that the Sinhala will give anything meaningful to the Tamils; this is why they are after international support. The current geo-political climate is conducive for TNA to seek support from the ic. I am sure that you would do the same if the tables are turned. So try and be rational and educate the Sinhala to allow the Tamils to live with dignity. Can you do that?
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sach / May 28, 2014
i am not saying MR is honest when he says he will go for a proper devolution. But MR can be pushed into it either by India, civil society in SL or IC as a whole. But no one can push TNA for a power devolution when they act like nothings is gonna work.
And there are concerns like defence and national intergrity of this country. when the tamil politicians seek seperatism in otherways gover would be reluctant to go forward, even if the gov want.
That is not the problem of MR, i am quite sure any SL gover that comes to power would have to face this reality. For the last 30 years when peace talks failed IC and all tamils blamed it on govern while the reality was LTTE was not never into peacetalks, they had a different motive. If you look at things clearly that is the impression one can get looking at how TNA operates.
Lets look what TNA did after getting elected in NPC.
1. For every trivial thing started to pick a fight with gover.
2. Passed anti SL resolution. Now i dont want to get into a war crime debate with you as we have done many. Even if you wanted a war crime investigationm, the NPC passing the resolution is wrong as a part of this country.
3. You have LTTE ers in TNA. Can you deny this? Arent Sivaji, Ananthi, Sri Tharan, Suresh P LTTE people? Do you expect gover to devolve police powers to them?
4. Tamil leaders do not act in a way that is makes the rest of the people to believe them.
5. How many of TNA and tamil diaspora has rejected LTTE terrorism. read the comments here. Even you evaded the question when i asked, ‘who funded the war and prolonged the war’. Tamils need to get out of this mentality that they did nothing wrong and everyone else is wrong. You do NOT own upto the mess and suffering you created for all the people in this country. Do you?
6. Can you without a doubt say TNA is NOT influenced and even used by LTTE diaspora abroad? If not why does Sampanthan ask gov to ban the lift on diaspora groups?
7. And what is the so called memorial of dead on May 18th while all of the tamil civilians have crossed over to SL defence lines by end of April?
No one in SL want to subjugate Tamils. This is a very clever tactic to evade responsibility. whenever the acts of LTTE or TNA is questioned what is put through is “You want to subjugate tammils”. That is something not in my mind and i can vouch it is the same in many others. We just want to solve this issue for all and get out of this ethnic conflicts and move forward as a country.
And the other thing for tamils to have power devolution they need to win the trust of others as well. It is a mutual one. Do you expect others to go forward, when you do everything for seperatism?
The best devolution this country will afford at this moment will be 13A. To go beyond that we need to remove the LTTE elements and after a non separatist leader emerge from Tamils. Because you have given every reason to distrust you.
And i am not the only one who is saying this.
Read.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/172-opinion/19113-sampanthans-batticaloa-speech-an-utter-confusion.html
/////////////Our acceptance of this position does not mean ……that, in the event our right to internal self-determination is continuously denied, we will not claim our right under international law to external self-determination.”
“We must prove to the international community that we will never be able to realize our rights within a united Sri Lanka.”
These are two separate sentences excerpted from the speech made by Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, the Leader of the Illankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) at the 14th convention of the ITAK that was held in Batticaloa last week.
What would one gather from these two separate sentences taken together? In one sentence he says “we must prove to the world that we will never be able to realize our rights within a united Sri Lanka.” And in the second sentence he says that if the Tamils did not get a solution within a united Sri Lanka they would fight for a separate State (external self-determination).
Does he suggest that the Tamils must prove to the international community that they will never be able to realize their rights within a united Sri Lanka so that they would justifiably be able to fight for a separate State again?////////
/////The usage of wordings and the ambiguity in Mr. Sampanathan’s speech remind us the similar ambiguous statements by the LTTE leaders.////////
This is written by a tamil speaker. Even last week he wrote how TNA is stirring up ethnic hatred in North and situation is much like pre 80s.
……………..
The reality is TNA wants to make power devolution hard and nearly impossible thinking it would pave the way for seperatism……
/
Brening_Issue / May 29, 2014
Such,
I can write pages and pages giving Sinhala deceptions chronologically since 1948. I am sure that will be in vein as you are convinced that the TNA politics is about separatism! Everything that the Sinhala political leaders did was to cheat and deceive the Tamils.
Such deceptions aside, there were numerous atrocities to which no one was held accountable such as 1974 police brutality in Jaffna, burning of the Jaffna public library, black July 1983, Willikaddi Prison massacre, Binduluveeva massacre and lastly the mass killings of the civilians in May 2009 but not restricted to.
The Tamils have collectively lost faith with the Sinhala let alone with their political masters. The Tamils have rightly come to the conclusion that only the foreign-backed solution will be implemented. This is why the Tamil leaders are appealing to the foreign leaders. If you want to hide behind a Tamil Separatist banner and refusing to admit to the Sinhala intransigence, that is your protocol!
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sach / May 29, 2014
BI,
1. A foriegn backed solution and seperatism are two different things. Even 13 A is a foriegn backed solution.
what i am saying is TNA is trying to make that ‘foriegn backed solution’ nearly impossible to be properly implemented. They want to make sure that ‘foriegn backed solution’ is not going to work thinking it would pave the way for eelam.
Understand what i say , i didnt say a foriegn backed solution is wrong what i said was eelam. So my initial point that MR is Not the biggest barrier to a political solution in a united country is correct. Your tamil leaders are just a group of snobbish school girls who run everywhere to complain.
2. Of course sinhala poeple and gover did this and that and we did nothing wrong bla bla …..get out of your self righteous, self important and snobbish attitude. You were NO better, but worse. I have written thousand of words on this forum that majority of people in SL accept that policies of past leaders in this country were no good. And that they lead to LTTE. But that doesnt approve LTTE barbaric terrorism.
You cant absolve yourself from the responsibility of the mass killing and massacres of your contract killers. What about the victims of LTTE? Are you saying slaying little children, women and men, in border vilolages and suicide terrorism against civilians can be justified because of some policies of sinhala leaders 50 years back? Is that what you re saying?
The LTTE terrorism is the most brutal and horrendous terrorism even more than the islamist terrorism worldwide. None can match the barbarity of LTTE. If you think all these things can be justified because of Swabhasha policy and standardization you are not human. When will you tamils grow up and own up to your own terrorism and the barbarity funded by you? I have seen many sinhalese critical of sinhala politicians and gover. There are many sinhala journos going against SL gov. But where are the counterparts of them in tamil society?
I have never seen tamils as a society condemn LTTE terrorism, even the terrorism done by LTTE on their own tamils. Come to reality you have no problem with violence or loss of human lives It will matter to you ONLY if the victim is a tamil and the perpetrator a non tamil. You are the mirror image of Taliban supporters.
3. I too used to believe Sinhala leaders are the real cause for ethnic polarization. But after seeing how TNA acts and how tamil polity at large acts, my that stance is some what weakened. Though i still beleive sinhala politcians are largely responsible, tamil politicians should share blame. But i dont expect you to acknowledge that. If you cannot condemn the atrociteis and barbairsm of LTTE for 30 years on SL people as a whole, how can we expect maturity and decency from you to think in a broader way? How? To begin with a person who cant acknowledge the mistakes and barbarity of own kind is not in position to point at others.
4. I dont talk about Bindunuwewa and other things simply because i dont have facts at hand. But about 2009 massacres, there wasnt a massacre. Most probably collateral damage again largely due to LTTE taking the ppl as a human shield. when LTTE get inside civilians and attack the army and when army tried to counterattack LTTE cunningly move away.
And what about LTTE shooting at fleeing civilians? what do you say to that?
If there was any intended massacre, tamils nnumbering 300,000 would not have come to SLA side. And they were given food, healthcare and refuge by the gov.
As a people who sponsored conrtact killers to abduct their children and throw into battle fields you are hardly the one to talk about HR.
5. Did you read the article? That is written by a Tamil language journalist. Not a sinhala one. So making it ethnic oriented wont work.
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Eusense / May 29, 2014
burn,
What the minorities have got now is nothing less or more than what the majority population have. If you say no, give me of any rights that the Tamils don’t have but the Sinhalese have. There is no necessity for power devolution anywhere in the country. Tamils need to live as a minority 8% as any other minority in any other country. Tamils live in a country where more than 90% of the people speak Sinhalese. It is for their best interest that they learn Sinhalese and be successful in life similar to the Tamil professionals and businessmen who migrated to the south and leading better lives than even the Sinhalese. Tamils need to give up petty excuses of discrimination. If there was rampant discrimination how come there are thousands of wealthy Tamils living all over Sri Lanka? People like you are the lazy ambitionless who want everything spoon fed by the government and give a bad name for all Tamils!
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Sven Perera / May 29, 2014
You should be born blind though seem to have learnt something.
Else, I cant see why you raise this kind of stupid questions. Alone the land grab – if that was the case in any other areas – what would have done against the grabbers ? Please just feel it for the moment, if you were one whose lands have been taken by any arbitory guys telling you something evasive- what would NOT you have done to defend you ?
We the sinhalayas cant cover that – again and again. I really dont how stupid you guys should have been – to come with this way again and again ?
Do the tamils have same rights in srilanka ?
Do the muslims have same rights in srilanka ?
Do the bughers have same rights in srilanka ?
Even some sinahalyas are discriminated by Rajapakshe shenanigans today just for only reason them being rival politicos to them.
All these we read almost everyday – but you buggers to raise question fully ignoring -telling the same thousand times has now become a joke to many of us -CT readers.
Better have check your brain – whether you are far near to become an alzheimer patient whose memories are screened to be changing drastically.
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Eusense / May 29, 2014
sven,
I am not blind but can see beyond many. Land acquisition in Jaffna is called “land grab”. Now, what do you call land acquisition in the south for highways and other gov. projects?
If the North East “land grab” is for security purposes I totally support that. Didn’t we have 30 years of terror due to lack of security in this region? I do not want any repetition of what happened. Would you??
By the way what term did you use for forcible land acquisition in the NE by the LTTE terror group? or were you even scared to say anything then?
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Burning_Issue / May 29, 2014
Euse,
You must not take people like me for an idiot! I suggest that you go and pretend as a Tamil for two weeks and then come on this forum and ask such a question.
The Tamils democratically demonstrated that they want grater autonomy. Scotland is perfectly ok within UK; despite promises of greater power devolution, there is a possibility that people of Scotland will vote for independence. Tamil people want to protect their culture, language and their historical habitual areas within a united Sri Lanka. This is totally democratic and congruous with international norms. It is about time the Sinhala come to terms with this inevitable reality!
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sach / May 29, 2014
BI,
“Tamil people want to protect their culture, language and their historical habitual areas within a united Sri Lanka.”
exactly!
In Sri Lanka tamils are not limited to north and east, Tamils live in greater colombo, rest of colombo suburbs and in central highlands. They not only live but celebrate their culture. Do you see them loosing their culture and language? Do you see them as a ppl at the verge of being extinct?
Now as you say you are for a united SL, honestly tell me.
1. DO you see TNA’s relationship with seperatist elements is conducive to any cooperation with gover?
2. Do you see NPC passing anti Lankan resolution as helping cooperation?
3. Do you see picking a fight with central gov always as cooperation?
4. TNA, celebrating LTTE and calling prabha a hero is cooperation?
now dont talk about what banda did 50 years ago, but answer these qns.
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Burining_Issue / May 29, 2014
Such,
Save your ignorance to yourself as you manifest Sinhala insecurity in abundance.
The Scots and the Welsh live in numbers outside of their respective historic places! Yeah the Tamils live outside of the N&E so what? The Tamils have their democratic right to self governing that the Sinhala arrogantly refusing to grant. The Tamils have no option but to use all none violent avenues available to achieve this. As I said before, you need to spend all your energies to educate your people about democracy and diversity.
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sach / May 30, 2014
Whenever a tamil has nothing to say others are ignorant.
What has the welsh and scot s got to do here. Did I say a political solution is not needed because tamils live elsewhere too? I pointed out the utter foolishness of your claim ‘that tamils have to protect their culture’ or otherwise it would be extinct.
You need not tell us to teach Sinhala ppl about democracy and diversity. One can see diversity going well in Sinhala villages. Tamils and Muslims live among larger Sinhala communities because of the tolerance of the Sinhala people in villages and good examples for diversity. This advice is surprising coming from you who had NO words to condemn LTTE atrocities including killing and ethnic cleansing of Sinhalese and Muslims from so called Tamil areas.
What happened to your so called lessons on democracy and diversity when LTTE was ruling the Wanni? What happened to them. A person who is NOT even decent enough to condemn the terrorism unleashed against innocent children, women and men is talking about democracy and diversity.
And I re iterate I have no problem with you pushing gov for a so called foreign backed solution, the problem I have is with you trying to make the foreign backed solution not workable and making it impossible to implement.
And try to think like a human other than a tamil, cos non tamils are humans too.
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Burning_Issue / May 30, 2014
Such,
I am rather tiered of your inability draw parallels between the Sinhala and Tamils in the context of insecurity!
The prime reason as to why the Sinhala have been intransigent because they are collectively insecure to the core. They feel that they are an endangered lot. This is why they have been endeavouring to construct an exclusive Sinhala Buddhist state. It is for the very reason the Tamils want to set up an administration for themselves; because they are insecure that through a process of attrition the Tamils would become Sinhala as in the case of Negamboo, Puttalam, and other similar areas.
Of course the examples of Scots and Wales have direct connotations to the predicament of the North and East of Sri Lanka. You try and tell the Scots and the Wales that, number of you live in England so you do not need greater autonomy and protection of your cultures, language etc. I tell you what you will be ripped to pieces!
The Tamils of Sri Lanka need to protect their language, cultures and a sense of belonging to their historical habitual areas. This is paramount to the Tamils and they have democratically demonstrated this desire at the NPC elections.
“What happened to your so called lessons on democracy and diversity when LTTE was ruling the Wanni? What happened to them.”
Are you an imbecile? You go and search on Groundviews under my alias to learn about my views of the LTTE. If you prefer, you can ask a contributor here by the name of Off the Cuff, he will tell you all about me and my views about the LTTE. You need to cut the crap and deal with the post war disasters in SL. The LTTE is history and the Sinhala are yet again squandering the opportunity to build a nation. The Sinhala Buddhist extremism is let loose unabated and being sponsored by the very regime that showcases defeating the LTTE. What is the meaning of celebrating defeating Tamil extremism with nurturing another?
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sach / May 30, 2014
First youre not answering any of the issues i raised.
1. It is the insecurity of any community that lead to any ethnic conflict. It is the same for sinhalese, tamils, and the reason for islamaphobia around the world. I did not question that. I did not say Tamils’ insecurity in N&E is unreasonable. I said claiming Tamil culture is in danger in SL is wrong, simply because it is not.
2. “The Tamils of Sri Lanka need to protect their language, cultures and a sense of belonging to their historical habitual areas.”
yeah but when some one blames the british for changing demography and importing ppl from south india to Central parts, you are very eager to protect the brits. Hypocrasy? why change of stance then?
3. And BI, I did NOT SAY power devolution is not needed or should not be given. If you actually did not understand or deliberately ignore I am pointing out that TNA IS PURPOSEFULLY TRYING TO MAKE POWER DEVOLUTION NON WORKABLE. And it is not only me who is saying that. Did you read the article?
Sampanthan has clearly said that ‘If we can prove to IC that we cant have power devolution in a united SL we can go for an external intervention and seperate country’. It is this stance i am questioning you.
4. You repeatedly say a power devolution is needed. And i am asking you where did i say ‘NO’? For a power devolution is to be successful, should not NPC be more cooperative with the gov? Are you saying NO?
5. You didnt say anything when i questioned about TNA’s relationship with seperatist elements abroad. How can this mantra ‘we need a power devolution in a united SL’ be trustworthy when you have connections with seperatists? And when you take advice from seperatists? Do not you think SL gover and its people needs to trust you as well?
And dont come with SL gover will not give a power devolution if we do not get support from them. That is big lie. MR would have to come up with a one. India will make sure it. And majority of SL ppl find nothing wrong with that.
6. why should i ask about your views on LTTE from OTC and tire myself up looking for them in GV? when i ask you, cant you say it here? that is a poor excuse.
When LTTE terrorism and support for it from tamil diaspora is pointed out by me, you always end up talking about what sinhala leaders did 50 years back.
That is justifying and whitewashing LTTE terrorism. When you give reasons for LTTE emergence that is justifying LTTE terrorism. You have never ever condemned LTTE terrorism rather approved. Even the one who is here with a ‘Dr’ has funded LTTE when it was killing people though now cry for humanity.
7. If you dont approve LTTE (which you havent stated though) why were you justifying Wiggie trying to make Prabha a hero. You cant claim LTTE as history when you celebrate LTTE on the day Prabha got killed. For you LTTE is alive when it is convenient to you and not when it is not.
And calling me names wont help you.
But again i am telling you when whitewashing LTTE and LTTE funders, non tamils are humans too.
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Burning_Issue / May 30, 2014
Such,
You write so much emotional rubbish going around and around in a mulberry bush!
What the Brits did was beyond our control. Given that the major European powers were engaged in colonisation, one has to judge the Brits in this context. All I said was that the Brits left Sri Lanka in a pretty good condition infrastructure wise and with a thoroughly workable secular administrative setup. This does not mean I condone everything what the colonial masters did! If you read and understand what I write literally and not in the contact of intention, you exhibit juvenile tendency to which I have no time!
“You cant claim LTTE as history when you celebrate LTTE on the day Prabha got killed. For you LTTE is alive when it is convenient to you and not when it is not. “
In case you had a mental blockage, let me remind you that along with VP there were countless number of civilians killed. I understand your paranoia about the LTTE, but as far as the Tamil people are concerned, the loss of life of their kith and kin is what they commemorate; this you have no stomach to accept.
The rest of your post is sheer drivel to which I have no time. If you were to support power devolution, you must show this in deeds; honour the 13A in full; respect diversity; control and punish the Buddhist extremists; respect law and order. If you achieve all these and still you see TNA showing signs of separatism, I will join hands with you to protest!
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sach / June 2, 2014
@BI,
The reason I have to go round and around the mulberry bush is you never answer questions I raise. I did not call you names like imbecile, so I am not the one emotional here.
How does the infrastructure justify deliberate demographic changes. You were giving excuses for Brits crimes. And going by your logic you can’t complain about alleged demographic changes by MR regime as well.
The reason is BI, on the day Prabha got none of the tamil civilians got killed. Even the alleged civilian deaths happened before Prabha’s death. It is like commemorating A’s death on the day of B’s death. And what was the major reason that caused civilian deaths? Human shield? Shooting at fleeing civilians? What about ICRC reports?
I don’t see how my post is a drivel. I asked you a set of questions which you never attempted to answer though you hit the reply button twice. Answer the questions. Is it that difficult? I have no problem with tamil people celebrating their kith and kin. I too share that idea, but I don’t see why A’s death needs to be commemorated on B’s death.
I cant decide the decisions of the gover. The influence I have on gov is much much (negligible) less than the influence you have on TNA. It is because of the necessity of power devolution that we voted for Ranil in 2005 and even supported NPC elections last Septem. The law and order and BBS are concerns for us as well. But I don’t think these things really matter to the functioning of 13A.
My point was TNA’s determination to make 13A non workable to which you have no answers. You needn’t promise me of a protest on an internet forum as an anonymous. What about questioning and removing separatist tendencies and separatist forces in TNA?
/
Siripala / May 29, 2014
I think even if Eusense is said to have studied my ALMA mater, now should have been rotten to a well – like a frog not to see things in a widened way. Always coming with saying that the minorities or some sinhalese have everything equal in this country – should be real joke to anyone with sanity.
I know guys that have pointed finger at Tamils when going to meet up them for discourses. Some even got scared seeing them – sure many o them come to europe are not average educated ones, but to corner them in that way should not be acceptable. I also have met Tamils attacking sinhalaya thinking that everyone of them could go against them. Both I have met outside of srilanka. So the issue lies on both of us folks – what we have not seen sofar is studying each other folks well can only pave the way to the permament peace. Here, politicians, educationalists, senior professionals above all religious representatives in all religion must contribute their part. This is the reason why I believe – not just 10% of investments towards nation building will not bring us towards peace and reconciliation. If Mandela were within us, he would have asked we should invest more towards nation building than any kind of physical structure buildings. TOday is no too late.
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Eusense / May 29, 2014
Siripala,
If you think I am “rotten to a well – like a frog ” why don’t you enlighten me taking each of my statements and explaining why I am wrong/misguided. I have made many posts in CT but still I haven’t got a single acceptable counter post from any one. You being my ALMA mater, hopefully will show some wisdom.
Many including you make blanket statements of discrimination and inequality but never give specifics. I am not saying that SL has no discrimination against minorities. All minorities undergo discrimination in every country. What bothers me is why every one wants only SL to be perfect. Hopefully you can explain that to me.
I very much like to be politically correct but I use reality and common sense when I write which often is politically deficient! At the same time I love to see intelligent counter posts so that I can learn and correct my misconceptions.
By the way, have/do you discriminate Tamils?
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Eusense / May 29, 2014
burn,
If you consider your self not an idiot you should take every single sentence I wrote and show me why they are wrong.
Growing up in Kandy we had a Tamil neighbor who was an accountant spoke Tamil, English and Sinhalese had two kids who spoke mostly Sinhalese and English. One went to school with me, played cricket, went to movies, were in and out of each others homes. One kid went to medical school and the other did accountancy and moved to Colombo. So I don’t have to pretend as a Tamil for two weeks to learn what Tamils undergo. I didn’t see them as differently treated as we were treated. There were no rights that did not apply to them either. If there was any discrimination it would have been illegal and may have shown by some ignorant Sinhalese. But I am sure the current younger population is more liberal and understanding and mostly do not care about the race of others. What I see is the Tamil politicians and the diaspora are the ones that stir up unsubstantiated claims of discrimination etc. for their selfish agendas.
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Burning_Issue / May 30, 2014
Euse,
I grew up in Jaffna with children of a Sinhala family, who basically became Tamils! Did this experience teach me all about the Sinhala? Not at all! Your experience with Tamils growing up in Kandy might have given you a sense of perspective of diversity in SL and nothing more! I asked you to pretend as a Tamils implicitly not in Kandy but within N&E where Tamils are predominantly populated. You need to feel their pulse and experience the difficulties that they face day-to-day. You also walk into the Jaffna police station and make a complaint and observe the medium of the language used. Remember that you are a Tamil who cannot speak Sinhala.
“What I see is the Tamil politicians and the diaspora are the ones that stir up unsubstantiated claims of discrimination etc. for their selfish agendas.”
I see you are blinkered this is why you do not see that the Tamils collectively want a political solution recognising their grievances. You only have to look at the NPC election results under the TNA manifesto. They have democratically manifested clearly what they want. Are you a democrat? If you are you should pay serious attention to a need of a political settlement for the Tamils. As you claim, the “current younger population is more liberal”, then show this in deeds by cultivating a political settlement for the Tamil question that is democratic and just. The Tamils are not asking much are they?
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Eusense / May 30, 2014
Burn,
Can you explain why some Tamils do so well in the south and NE, like my neighbor, while you keep saying Tamils aren’t doing well in the NE? Can’t it be a problem with their own ambitions? I don’t think it is fair for you to accuse the Sinhalese as the cause for their misery? Even most Sinhalese in most parts of the country are not doing well at all compared to some Sinhalese. This is the norm in any society and you should not bring up race and discrimination to explain falter of some Tamils. If all Tamils of SL are not doing well I would accept that they are grossly discriminated and devoid of rights.
You write about a Jaffna Police station scenario. However, you need to grasp the fact that the NE was engulfed with LTTE terrorism for 30 years. As you know terrorist are unknown and unidentifiable and anybody can be a suspected terrorist. Under such conditions it would be foolish to recruit Tamils from this region to police and protect the country. Also, no Tamil will dare to join the Police force because of the brutality of the LTTE leaders who will consider them as traitors. It still exists. I hope you read the news item about a Tamil father killing his daughter because she wanted to join the SL army. What would be the outcome of all this? The lack and difficulty of recruiting Tamil speaking police officers. I feel it is premature for you to complain on these aspects because it takes time for normalcy to set in. 30 years is a long time that disrupted the whole country. In a way it is fair enough for the MR regime to ask for more time to bring in normalcy.
As for me TNA winning NPC, this is no reason for separation. It is like the Tamil Nadu population voting for Jayalalitha while Modi is voted as the prime minister. I do not support 8% of a population getting separation. TNA or any other party can write anything in their manifesto. My take is, as long as they are within the jurisdiction of Sri Lanka all citizens of SL should agree for any procedure like separation. If political parties of minorities in every country write election manifestos like the TNA and ask for separation there will be million countries in the world! By the way, what was the US/UN/EU response to the referendum by majority Russians for Crimea’s autonomy?
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Native Vedda / May 31, 2014
Nuisance
“Can you explain why some Tamils do so well in the south and NE, like my neighbor, while you keep saying Tamils aren’t doing well in the NE?”
Can you explain why some Sinhala/Buddhist do very well in the south while you refused to see many Sinhalese women languish in medieval middle east kingdoms working under most difficult conditions?
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eusense / May 31, 2014
vedda,
Where did I refuse to see and accept Sinhalese are not doing well? In fact majority of the Sinhalese are doing worse than Tamils. If any Sinhalese did not educate themselves and work hard they will need to work in the Middle East under difficult conditions. That I appreciate more than them getting involved in terrorism, like what the Tamils did.
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Native Vedda / May 31, 2014
Nuisance
“That I appreciate more than them getting involved in terrorism, like what the Tamils did.”
Could you confirm whether members of JVP were/are not exclusively Sinhala/Buddhists and they didn’t use terrorism as a tool to achieve whatever they set out to achieve as a result of their Sinhala/Buddhist terrorism scores of people were not maimed nor killed, and Sinhala/Buddhists state didn’t use terrorism which didn’t maim nor kill innocent people.
Perhaps the Sinhala/Buddhist state and the Sinhala/Buddhist JVP are Sinhala speaking Demelas.
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Burning_Issue / May 31, 2014
Euse,
This will be the last response to you; this is because it is futile to debate with one who is devoured by the phenomenon the Tamil separatism! I talk about a viable political solution but you hear it as Separatism. The TNA fought the NPC elections on a manifesto that stands for a united Sri Lanka and completely devoid of separatism. Unless you let go of this separatism paranoia, you will not see anything in the context that I was talking about.
Understand this as it is pure and simple: the Tamils have been fighting for their rights since the independence and it will never cease until there is a viable political solution. You cannot continue to subjugate the Tamils under the Sinhala Buddhist Hegemony; the times are changing and it is better for the Sinhala to come to terms with this reality.
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eusense / May 31, 2014
Burn,
You keep repeating this “no rights” for Tamils story but you or any other tamil has never come up with valid examples of “no rights”!
Singing the national anthem in Tamil and no Tamil speaking police in jaffna are nothing to lose sleep on. Both can be done easy. Say specifics when you ask for rights if you need results.
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vishvajith / May 29, 2014
baah humbug!
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sach / May 29, 2014
?? nothing to say?
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vishvajith / May 30, 2014
Much to say, a different place perhaps.
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sach / May 30, 2014
I see, in sinhala we say….natanna bari miniha polowa adai kianawa wage…….which means the person who cant dance gives excuses that the dance floor is not ok.
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Dave / May 29, 2014
As long as TNA exist , there will be no hope for reconciliation sri lanka. they should have been perished with Prabakaran so that Tamil in Sri Lanka could live peacefully live with Sinhalese.
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M.Sivananthan / May 29, 2014
Poor Jayalalitha showed her anger. Her party and her were dreaming to make her the next PM of India by hoping a minority government. Her party shamelessly propagated the same in news medias.
Now the TAMIL VOTE become ZERO in Indian politics. They cannot blackmail the center like DMK.
Now the LTTE which is an anti-Indian and anti-hindu outfit, lick the wounds.
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kali / May 29, 2014
Sivananthan you Muslim:
LTTE is not anti Indian. Used to be Anti Muslims for betraying.
But as for your wish that Tamil Vote is Zero You are wrong.
Jeyalalitha may not hhave a casting vote but there are powerful voices in the BJP.
1) Nirmala Sitharam – Miniser
2) Pon Radhakrishnan – Minister of State.
3) Dr.Ramadoss soon to be a minister.
Disappointing isn’t it. Tamils rule throughout India
Mr.Sathasivam Chief Justice of India
Mr.Raghavan Governor of Bank of India
Music Maestro A R Rahman
Many more and the list is endless.
In Sinhala Lanka the only Tamils in Powerful position are the people in charge of looting for MR and Gotha
Karuna
Douglas
Pillaiyan etc
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aratai / May 28, 2014
.
Modi has requested Sri Lanka “to expedite the process of national reconciliation in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Tamil community for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka” .
What he means by United Srilanka?
:-)
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Srihari / May 28, 2014
It’s absolutely mind-boggling that Indian observers/opinion makers like Hariharan are naive(or perhaps deliberately naive) to the happenings in SL, I mean can’t they see that tamils are never going to get justice in SL?? Only rational explanation that one can give to the indifferent attitude of Indian opinion-makers, Tamil Eelam might complicate matters and encourage separatism in India. UNHCR is the last hope for this God forsaken island!!!!
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jansee / May 28, 2014
Mani Shankar Aiyer lost even his deposit. Perhaps Hariharan too should test the waters if he thinks he has the “pulse” of Tamilnadu. People like him continue to write to earn a little dime, that’s all.
For the forseeable future the Union Indian govt will never allow Tamils to get their Eelam. When Venkiah Naidu insisted on a united SL, Vaiko, Vijayakanth, Ramadass still wanted to have a pact with BJP and hoist its flag but ended on the streets of Delhi hoisting a black flag indeed. Vijayakanth will become zero politics in the future.
Under the circumstances, the only way I can see Tamils getting their Eelam is if Mdm Jayalalitha helms the centre or a figure of Cameron stature is able to dismiss India standing in the way, as in the case of the latest resolution in the UNHRC. Nothing much can be expected from the US as how it meandered its way from a strong and then relented to a mild position during the last UNHRC (because of India) and the day was saved by the British, French & EU. Of course, there is another – when the SL regime continues to shoot itself in the foot as it does now. Whatever said and done, there cannot be two ways about it – Eelam should be the goal. The world has to see that there is no point in flogging a dead horse. There is nothing to celebrate between the Sinhalese and Tamils anymore.
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sach / May 29, 2014
For BI’s notice who is saying MR is the only barrier for a political resolution,
“Whatever said and done, there cannot be two ways about it – Eelam should be the goal.”
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sach / May 28, 2014
this is exactly why i say biggest barrier for power devolution in SL is tamil politics. They want to make it look like that tamils cant have devolution in a united SL.
Unlike others Indian gover very well knows what happen here and know how to differentiate propaganda and reality
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Seelawathi Jayasinghe / May 28, 2014
Best thing would be to empower PCs going through Germany´s SWITZERLAnd´S and any others peaceful and successful federal systems.
Just to be away from the problem – eating time again and agian, will not help any parties. Germany, Switzerland, India and all other embassies should work with local bodies (state bodies) bringing adequate informative forums on a regular manner to make better aware the people. All these should work in trilingual means so that media telecasts/broadcasts/electronic media programs be outreached to the masses regardless of them being rural or urban folks across the island. I have no doubt, if the state would give the highest priority to better and healthy awarness programmes with the approval of majority of political parties, people´s view would easily get transmogrified. Wimal weerawansa and others that are entwined with radical views should be sent to rehab centres as if weeds should be uprooted in order to culture should allow grow healthy.
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Rajash / May 28, 2014
Sach- “biggest barrier for power devolution in SL is tamil politics.”>>>rubbish. the biggest barrier historically is the racist buddhidt monks.>>>
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sach / May 28, 2014
In real terms, Buddhist monks have NO power in SL politics. Two were beaten in Parliament, the mahanayakas were told to shut up when they spoke against Fonseka arrest in 2010.
I repeat, as we needed to remove LTTE from the picture to stop bloodshed, TNA is a barrier to reconciliation and proper power devolution
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Rajash / May 29, 2014
Sach – “In real terms, Buddhist monks have NO power in SL politics”
ha ha dream on.
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sach / May 29, 2014
is that why monks got assaulted in parliament and the ones who did that get away with it?
Is that why monks were told to shut up in SF case and in Drug case?
The reality is monks cant influence politics in SL. They are just a tool at the hands of politicians. NO real power.
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vishvajith / May 29, 2014
ok, point taken, remove the TNA, then what Sach ? Who will represent the Tamil people ? What is your ideal expectation ?
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sach / May 29, 2014
Ideally Tamil leaders who are not tools of seperatist forces and part of the government. Those who stand for national unity of SL honestly. A person who detest LTTE terrorism.
Even if TNA is not removed TNA can be modified into a more reliable case by having proper visionary and patriotic leaders not some snobbish pro LTTE supporters of yesteryears. A leader who can command respect from sinhalese as well. I know once we tried with wiggie, but he doesnt have it. he is a nutcase at the hands of seperatist tools.
If we can find a tamil of that caliber i am quite sure he might be able to rise to the highest powers of SL.
Even if we cant do that what can we do?
Be critical of TNA without buying into everything they say.
But as Tamils are not the type of people to own upto their mistakes and responsibility for suport for terrorism, i hardly think we can expect that.
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vishvajith / May 29, 2014
Thanks.
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jansee / May 29, 2014
sach:
May be you have Douglas Devananda in mind. Oops, I forgot about Karuna and KP. When you have a stupid president who boasts of winning a war but grossly missed the opportunity to win the peace, you should take your grievances to MR. No sane person will believe you that MR has in him the remotest element of a statesman. He is a thug and his brother Gotabaya is a blood-thirsty tyrant. Another of his sibling, Basil, will sell the whole of SL lock-stock-and-barel if given half the chance. Tell your Sinhalese leaders to get right their acts, then the you can comment on how the Tamils ought to reciprocate. After all, the regime is in the dock, and not the TNA, because of its insincerity and foot-dragging towards peace and reconciliation.
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vibhushana / May 28, 2014
“State specific concerns on Sri Lanka Tamils.”
Quarter of all Tamils are illiterate and live in squalor with 8 hour daily power cuts. 22 km to Tamil Nadu yet most Tamils choose to leave to the west as refugees.
Its these filthy encroachers who Sri Lanka cannot get rid of from stealing in high seas now want to set the political agenda that Sri Lanka tax payer must pay for?
Surely there must be some god that have an answer to this?
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Burning_Issue / May 28, 2014
Your hatred towards the Tamils has no bounds! No matter how hard you try to belittle the Tamils, you know it well that, if you were to give same opportunities as the Sinhala, the Tamils will excel doubly! I am sure eventually, your inherent bigotry will slowly eat you away!
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sach / May 30, 2014
How about your hatred towards non tamil by approving and whitewashing LTTE terrorism?
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Ajith / May 28, 2014
It is not surprise such a filthy words from uneducated Sinhala Modaya’s like you. Tamils played a key role in improving the social, cultural and educational development of Sinhalese.
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sach / May 28, 2014
“Tamils played a key role in improving the social, cultural and educational development of Sinhalese.”
how?
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Lasantha / May 29, 2014
“Tamils played a key role in improving the social, cultural and educational development of Sinhalese.”
how?………
Hope you have eaten Dosai,vada,Parota,Puri, Mutton Biryani, Naan,roti,Masala dosai, sambal, “Parippu” Dhal,Indi Appam,”Appam” egge hoppers, Pittu,Vatalappam.
Better stay with Sinhala Amude and eating Helapa, aggala and Kiri Bath.
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sach / May 29, 2014
How is me eating tamil foods equate to Tamils contributing social, cultural and…development of Sinhalese?
I have seen tamils eating and enjoying sinhala foods also.
On a serious note, people of all ethnicities have contributed for the well being of all people in this country.
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sama / May 29, 2014
“On a serious note, people of all ethnicities have contributed for the well being of all people in this country. “
Bottom line is how much they have contributed for the well being of the all.
And what more to be done by them in order to build up peace – final peace as seen in Europe/WESTERN world ?
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AVB / May 28, 2014
vibhushana ,
If you take per capita economic and political refugees, Siri Lankan should be much higher than Indian. Again, if you consider migration after 1980, Siri Lanka even beat India as a country.
I can’t remember hearing Indian political refugees or Indian illegal boat migration in recent news. But in Australia and Japan, Siri Lankan political refugees are frequent news in TV.
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Rajash / May 28, 2014
“there must be some god that have an answer to this? “
Mahinda not go then?
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jansee / May 28, 2014
vibushana:
Why, are all your sinhalese are living in palaces?
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Srihari / May 29, 2014
There may be power cuts and conditions may be squalor but there is DIGNITY.
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sach / May 29, 2014
Tamils in India might be poor and their living standards worse than that of SL. But however corrupt their state politicians are, they have manufacturing facilities, power plants that produce power (unlike ours), hospital services where our Lankans also go for treatment, good software companies. The truth is TN is developing.
Look at SL. what industry did your MR start? look at power plants’ condition? Look at how young ones in SL migrating? where is funding for our research and scientific development and technological advancement?
Do you want SL to compete with rest of the world with a youth that is trying to get out of the country and the remaining ones are drug addicts and victims of food poison, state terror?
SL need a radical change. A change that is both beneficial for Sinhalese and Tamils living in SL.
Talking about the living standards of TN and their power cuts is useless. Take actions and be responsible for your country. We ve got a lot to do for this country of ours.
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kali / May 29, 2014
Vibushna You Sinkalam:
If you lot are all so rich ( living on borrowed money from China) why are you claimg asylum in the West claiming to have helped the Tamils. You idiot. Call youself Vibushna shame on you hiding behind a Hindu name.
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justice / May 28, 2014
Will Modi liberate the 166 Million dalits of india from bondage and brutalities unjustly inflicted on them daily by the so called ‘high’ castes?
Will he enforce water-seal latrines to prevent dalits carrying human excrement on their heads daily?
Will he enable special legislation to punish those who commit brutal attacks – including murder, rape, parading dalit women naked etc – by the ‘high’ castes – now they are not even arrested.
The so-called ‘untouchability’ is a permanent disgrace to the largest democracy.
Will he and his cabinet sit at the same table with dalits to eat?
Will he appoint educated persons from the “scheduled castes” – including dalits, to his cabinet?
Mahatma Ghandi failed to liberate the harijans a.k.a dalits.
If Modi liberates the dalits, he will be hailed as the true liberator of India.
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shankar / May 28, 2014
is this guy going to give us day by day articles.yawn.
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shankar / May 28, 2014
day 2-ate chappati with potatoes.celibate.
day 3- had some allo paratha.celibate.
day 4- Told sushma to deal with that bloody srilanka and not to talk about them to me anymore.Lunch- had channa masala with thakkali thokku a spicy south indian tomato chutney with pickle, delicious, which jaya showed how to cook,nice woman,bless her,must help her with that fishermen issue with that bloody srilanka,won’t let her steal their fish.celibate.
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adrian / May 29, 2014
Jayalalithaa should work to improve the economic lot of people in TN,instead of harping about the plight of SL Tamils, and helping polarize India’s neighbours against India.
All these lalithaas, vaikos and nidhis don’t give a sh*t about Sri Lankans – tamilian, muslim, sinhala or otherwise. All they want is to get into political power and enjoy the trappings of luxury for themselves and their relatives. They tried to use the Sri Lankan issue to emotionally appeal to the masses in TN, so the latter would not question the corruption, nepotism and plight of many lower class Tamilians in TN.
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Fathima Fukushima / May 29, 2014
Tamils in SL can go back to India and live there. Modi has assured them Indian citizenship.
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Tamodaya / May 29, 2014
After Modi won, Muslim commentators have gone missing!
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Native Vedda / May 29, 2014
adrian
“All these lalithaas, vaikos and nidhis don’t give a sh*t about Sri Lankans – tamilian, muslim, sinhala or otherwise.”
You have a point there.
Do the Sinhala/Buddhist give a s**t about their own people the Tamilian, Muslim, Sinhalese or otherwise?
If the Sinhala/Buddhist did then Lalithaas, Vaikos and Nidhis would have no reason to poke their nose into our business.
Don’t you think its as simple as that?
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Rajash / May 29, 2014
adrian”Jayalalithaa should work to improve the economic lot of people in TN instead of harping about the plight of SL Tamils, and helping polarize India’s neighbours against India.>>>let me analyse your statement in two parts..”Jayalalithaa should work to improve the economic lot of people in TN”
In India rich and poor live next to each other in all the major metropolis.not just TN. This is the structre of India. You drive off in your chauffer driven luxury car after dinner from a5 star hotel…and there are poor people knocking at your car window begging.” Indians are used to it. You simply cnt say ok lets stop defecne spending, space technology spending and look after these poor pepole. It does not work that way.The poverty cannot be erdicated but its a strucutre of Indian economy.
>>>Now lets look at your second statement “instead of harping about the plight of SL Tamils, and helping polarize India’s neighbours against India”<<< I am not sure what the hell you are talking here.Harping about Sri Lanka Tamils polarise India's neighbours against India?" Sri Lankan Tamils are so powerful? or are you talking through your hat and not sure what you mean?
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kali / May 29, 2014
Colonel:
As usual there are many holes in your argument and I just want to pick on a couple.
Modi won due to a number of factors and two important ones are Pro Modi relying on the promise of development and Anti Congress due to corruption and incumbency.
Invitation to Mahintha:
I disagree that it was the right thing to do. But as it turned out it has probably brought more benefit. But you cant take away the argument of the Tamilnadu Politicians on behalf of the Eelam Tamils that you don’t engage with someone who stands accused of Genocide and is the subject of an inquiry. Mr.Modi himself was barred from visiting USA until he was cleared albeit by an Indian Court of any wrong doing. Mahintha is still to be investigated so it was a powerful argument against his participation but for him it was an opportunity to legitimise his actions.
As for Jeyalalitha she will be proved right as things are starting to unravel.
Mahintha was given a 20 minute slot to be read the riots act and BJP made a Statement.He was told by Modi in no uncertain terms to implement 13th Amendment and go beyond. The issue of those still missing was also raised but MR as I understand was tight lipped. But arriving back in Sri Lanka MR has denied that anything regarding the implementation of the 13th Amendment was discussed. So that was his first deceipt since meeting Modi and he will be found out.
He is a prisoner of own prejudice and that of the 20 million Racists and time will tell.
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Bensen Burner / May 29, 2014
A refreshing estimation of Modi’s actions at his taking over. His strategy of inviting the SAARC leaders was brilliant thus avoiding the need to invite individually Rajapaksa and /or Nawaz Shariff. The jokers of the DMK and Vaiko who are not taken seriously by the Sri Lankan Tamils are as usual making capital of such invitation much to the detriment of the Sri Lankan Tamils as would be viewed by Modi. As for Jayalalitha’s attitude the writer does not mince his words in stating:” With this negative attitude, Ms Jayalalithaa has lost a good opportunity to recoup the good personal equation she used to enjoy with Modi”.Bensen
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Native Vedda / May 29, 2014
Bensen Burner
” The jokers of the DMK and Vaiko who are not taken seriously by the Sri Lankan Tamils are as usual making capital of such invitation much to the detriment of the Sri Lankan Tamils as would be viewed by Modi.”
I am told in the early 1980s MGR was not an enthusiastic Eelamista however he was encouraged to become one by Indra (female Hitler) and was handled by RAW minders. JR and Premadasa blamed MGR for militant activities in this island.
Vaiko and Jayalalitha could be a cover for Modi’s (Hindia’s) ulterior motives.
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Terrence / May 31, 2014
[Edited out] We are sorry, the comment language is English – CT
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Terrence / June 1, 2014
Native Vedda, thanks for mentioning the lovely song “sindhu nadhiyin misai nilavinile”. Though I dont believe in writing in these columns which is a waste of time, because u have brought this song and trying split hair I like to answer u. You have mentioned about a great tamil poet who has mentioned “singala thivu”.
1) Now let me too quote from another poem from circa 180 CE almost 2000 years before Subramaiya Bharathi. This is from a work called Patninappalai lines 185 – 193. These lines talk about the port city Kavirpoompatinam and describes what types of merchandise came this port from which countries. Let me quote
reference http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/utf8/pmuni0077.html
if u can read tamil if not ask ur friends to read it for u on the 7th lines it says Eelathu unnau, which means food from Eelam came to this port. Since u too have quoted from one poet I am sure u will have to accept this from another poet 2000 years prior to it, which clearly mention Eelam.
2) An inscription by Rajaraja in Tamil, found in the Mulbagal district of Karnataka, shows his accomplishments as early as the 19th year. An excerpt from such a Meikeerthi, an inscription recording great accomplishments, follows:[31]
This mentioned about the lands and countries ruled by Rajaraja cholan I circa 984 – 1012 AD. Agian if u can read it u can find it says as Eela mandalam. reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_Raja_Chola_I
3) Since Rajendra Cholan’s mei kirthi is too long I will only post the relevant sentence. Here too it is mentioned as Eela mandalam.
Reference http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/utf8/pmuni0134.html 2.2.1 (26).
This is from a stone inscription from Tanjayur temple.
Now dont come to tell these are all by tamil poets and kings. Since u have mentioned a phrase from a tamil poet I too have mentioned several from same tamil poets and kings.
4) can u tell me Native Vedda in that “holy scripture” Mahavamsa at which point the word “sinhala” was used for the first time ?
None of the evidence above dont mention the word Sinhala as there was no Sinhala 1000 years back. Yes Subramaniya Bharathi mentioned about Sinhala thivu just about 100 years back only.
For urs and convenience of other readers I quoted all of those tamil lines. Unfortunately Ct don’t take up anything other than English!!!!!!!!!!. So go to those reference provided by me and get urself educated.
Thank you for reading patiently.
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