By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
The Tamil politicians and civil society movements are about to blow it—yet again.
A week after the TNA’s Mr. Wigneswaran, Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, presiding over a militant mobilization at Mullivaikkal, greatly exceeded the remit of the Provincial Council by declaring a Tamil Genocide Day and a Tamil Genocide Week, the TNA’s Mr. Sumanthiran hopes to move the draft of a new Constitution which will give more power to the Provincial Councils and less power to the Center vis-a-vis those councils. And he thinks the parliament will give the draft a two thirds majority and the country will ratify it at a referendum by majority vote, or that the Sinhalese will vote ‘NO’ while the Tamils vote ‘YES’ and show the world the results of their ‘plebiscite’.
The Tamil politicians must take the self-deprecatory Sinhala folk saying “Sinhala modaya, kavun kanda yodaya” far too seriously—a habit I would have thought had ended on the same day they are so eager to commemorate, i.e. May 18th at Mullivaikkal. The ‘good cop-bad cop’ division of labor just won’t work.
What is much more likely is that the Northern Provincial Council will go the way it did in 1990, when a UNP President, Ranasinghe Premadasa, was forced to dissolve it. The rhetoric and symbolism that is manifesting itself in the North is such that the Yahapalanaya government is in all probability the last that will tolerate such outrageous provocation.
With the Jaffna university students playing the militant catalytic role of the Northern student and youth fronts, the Thamil Ilaignar Peravai (Tamil Youth League) and Thamil Manavar Peravai (Tamil Students League) of the early 1970s, under very different circumstances indeed (with a liberal government currently in office rather than the discriminatory one of that earlier time), the next President and government are likely to be elected in 2019-2020 on a platform of putting the lid back on.
To put it bluntly, a bloodless, constitutional ‘Tiananmen solution’ may become inevitable under a local Deng Xiaoping equivalent.
To spell that out, on present form the Northern Provincial Council won’t last longer than 18 months, if that. This is not to say that the 13th amendment will or can be scrapped. It means that the 13th amendment will remain on the books while the Northern PC goes back into mothballs as it did from 1990 to 2013. It also means that Jaffna University may have an extended vacation along Southern lines (where campuses have a history of remaining shut for extended periods).
This does not mean that Sinhala diktat must or will be imposed in the North. The 13th amendment helpfully provides for an Interim Administration, and the North can be run by one such, comprising of pragmatic Tamil political elements, until good sense dawns in that part of the island.
SLPP slip-up
Anyone with the most cursory acquaintance of either Sri Lanka’s political history or arithmetic should see the need for a broad anti-UNP alliance and that no single political party could win at the next election. In short, a passing acquaintance with the basics of Sri Lankan politics and political strategy should show the flaw in the SLPP’s recent assertion that such an alliance was not necessary.
It has been an axiom of Ceylonese/Sri Lankan politics that the UNP can be defeated only by a center-left alliance or as it is sometimes known, the broadest united front of anti-UNP forces.
Whenever the SLFP has won it has been at the head of a coalition and whenever it has lost it has been shorn of partners and allies.
This has been so much the case that the UNP strategists have, through the decades, made it a goal to break up the coalitions headed by the SLFP. Today the SLFP is not what it used to be and its place has been taken by the SLPP.
This also means that what was true of the SLFP is also true for its successor party, the SLPP.
Certainly the SLPP which scored an impressive 40% at the 2018 local government election, cannot bridge the gap of 10% without the support of the SLFP.
It may think that it has won that 10% away from the SLFP already, but that an unproven assumption and in any case is far too risky an assumption to make.
It must be recalled that when President Rajapaksa lost in January 2015 he had scored in the high 40% percent range and when Mrs. Bandaranaike lost the 1988 Presidential election she had scored almost 45% of the vote, which is more than the Pohottuwa has. 45% is just not good enough, and that is even more so for 40%.
On present form, it cannot be ruled out that at a Presidential election the leading Opposition candidate may not get the requisite 50.1% in the first round and may have to head into the run-off.
It is true that Ranil Wickremesinghe, a chronically unsuccessful Presidential candidate is the front-runner on the UNP side, in the Presidential stakes. Even his manifest political weakness provides no excuse for a go it alone strategy on the part of the Opposition. Faced with as alienating and alienated UNP leader as Sir John Kotelawela, the progressive forces still chose to adopt a broad front strategy rather than a single party strategy, when contesting the 1956 General election.
Furthermore, there is absolutely no guarantee that Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the UNP’s candidate next year. The years 1988 and 2015 are the best examples of the unorthodox candidacies that could lurk. Any Opposition strategist who does not consciously strive to unite all possible anti-UNP forces and even dissident elements from within the UNP, is only setting the Opposition up for an ambush.
A grasp of political history would acquaint any strategist with the tale of the ‘Yamuna’ discussions of 1947, when Sri Nissanka brought together the divided Left and the independents, including SWRD Bandaranaike, at his home (named ‘Yamuna’) in an effort to form a progressive administration. It was a feasible goal which was shot down by Dr. Colvin R de Silva who, with his typical intellectual arrogance and sectarianism, denounced such a coalition government as a “three-headed donkey”.
Thus did Ceylon miss the chance of avoiding a UNP government and commencing its life as an independent state with a progressive and patriotic coalition government, which would have been a closer approximation of the Nehruvian model than was 1956.
The anti-UNP forces never made the same mistake again. In 1950, the Communist Party at its 4th Congress in Matara, put forward the line of the broadest anti-imperialist united front. By 1956, Philip Gunawardene, who had already had broken away from the sectarian LSSP, joined SWRD’s SLFP in a coalition, the MEP, under the symbol of which the 1956 election was contested. The highly intelligent SWRD Bandaranaike did not say that a united front was not necessary and that the SLFP could defeat the UNP on its own! Indeed the first result, from Matale, announced the victory of Nimal Karunatilleke, who was not a member of the SLFP, but of the left.
The LSSP joined the SLFP in coalition in 1964, at Mrs. Bandaranaike’s invitation. Half a century ago, in 1968 at the Bogambara grounds, the Communist Party joined the united front on a common program, and the winning coalition of 1970, the Second Silent Revolution, was born.
Sri Lankan society is so diverse and Sinhala society is itself so uneven and complex– especially with the new and millennial voters– that no party can claim to unite under it banner, all progressive, democratic, nationalist and anti-imperialist forces.
This is where the united front comes in. Only a broad front of anti-UNP forces can guarantee victory even under favorable national circumstances. As Mao said “unite the many, defeat the few!” “Unite all the forces that can be united, neutralize those who cannot, isolate the main enemy”.
Some absurdly want to fight both the UNP and the SLFP, and possibly the UNP, SLFP, JVP and all the Tamil and Muslim parties! Again as Mao used to say “he who wishes to overthrow everybody, eventually succeeds in overthrowing nobody!”
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 24, 2018
Dear Dayan, except a few Sinhalese, the rest are not in favour of sharing of power and territory with Tamils, and will try at every instance to sabotage it. Election to Northern provincial council was held due to Indian pressure, if not for which Mahinda would not have held it. Provincial council system itself was introduced by India and Sri Lanka accepted it as there was no other choice. Premadasa at the outset started sabotaging the system by various methods. He established Assistant government Agent offices and brought them under central government. He introduced Pradesiya Sabhas and brought them under central government. He refused to devolve police and land power to provincial councils, which is still not being done despite the existence of provincial councils for over 30 years. Read the report by Varadharaja Perumal, how Premadasa sabotaged devolution. He found an excuse to dissolve it, and now Sinhala extremists ae looking for an excuse to dissolve the present council, and bring it under central government rule. Has any governor of other seven provinces behaved in the way that governors of northern and eastern provinces are behaving. Tamils will never get justice without foreign intervention, and that will definitely come.
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Dr Dolittle / May 24, 2018
“To spell that out, on present form the Northern Provincial Council won’t last longer than 18 months”
Dr. Dayan must be thinking that by writing all this rubbish, he can influence the Yahapalana government to sack/dissolve the NPC. They are not so foolish Dr. Dayan to sallow your dead rope. Everybody know your ulterior motive, if the NPC is dissolved, there will be non-violent campaigns/civic uprising by the Tamils (both Sri Lanka and abroad) involving large masses (tens of thousands) which may even cause the government to fall (if that is what Dr. Dayan is aiming at). Yahapalana leaders are much more intelligent than you Dr. Dayan. All what you tried so far was utter failure.
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Champa / May 25, 2018
Hoooooo, c’mon Dayan, when did you write this article? 100% sure it should be prior to media reports revealing Dayasiri Jayasekera’s Rs. 1 million bribe from a company connected with PTL? :D :D :D I believe more to come. Guys, look at the timing!!! The news came just after MR’s meeting with Orphans-16!
About two week ago some Union President has urged the President to reveal names of 108 persons who had been bribed by Arjun Aloysius. Dayasiri’s case is a prime example that game is on! Who knows, may be all Orphans-16 are on the list.
This news is more than enough to ridicule and dismiss Dayan’s suggestion that MR (SLPP) should get together with SLFP and all other anti-UNP parties. HELL NO!!!! If MR does that, he will lose votes cos’ people can’t stand SLFP, UNP and JVP.
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I don’t see any reason to worry about the 40% votes received at the LG election. There are ways for MR to attract voters from other parties. Plugging with politicians who are morons in the eyes of voters will mark MR’s downfall. I understand the need to spoil ⅔ for Ranil in the Parliament. But there is a way to do it. There is a popular Sinhalese saying, now I don’t remember the exact words, but it is like, ‘It is ok to eat steak, as long as you don’t eat it on your shoulder’ or some similar thing. My apologies, I think it is little harsh. They were known for keeping their legs on both sides. MR should slow down on “patching up” with trash (sorry again) but pay more attention to real issues.
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mugalan / May 25, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Champa / May 25, 2018
Not only the Northern Provincial Council, but the entire Provincial Council system should be abolished. PCs were forced on us by India as a way to stop Prabhakaran’s bloodbath which never happened. When MR defeated LTTE he should have dissolved them as the purpose of establishing them was no longer valid. As long as NPC exists, LTTE sympathizers will try to resurrect the outfit. Therefore, it should go. The next President should take his mandate as a referendum in favour of the abolition of PCs.
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Jim softy / May 24, 2018
Your analysis is good for Octagenarians. All these different three wheeler parties, are they going to establisha govt in this Kalpa. they all are for money, prestige and grandure. SO what you say, there are no politicians who can build common sense political party which satisfy the majority people, I don’t mean buddhists only. You say political party is to accomodate the different views of politicians. So, the only way to go is a united front. IT is politicaly bankrupt ideology of those who are used to manipulate and exploit voters. Voters do not matter it is those who wants some wealth and luxury at the expesne of the country that matters.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 24, 2018
Dear Dayan, there is a rumour that USA has refused to revoke the citizenship of Gota, which shows that they do not want Gota to be president of Sri Lanka with or without powers. No one can play double game in international politics especially with super powers like USA. His visit to China where he had reportedly given assurance of his support to China, may be the cause of this USA decision.
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Mallaiyuran / May 24, 2018
Thero write essays only to hide debacles of Sinhala Modayas. All these time the Sinhala Parties surviving by cheating the Modayas. Modaya has been guided by Sinhala Intellectuals to dead end path. Next is not JVP uprising. It will be UNP, SLFP and Slap Party all get together, forming a Che Guevara against all Sinhala Intellectuals. That day they would not have any path to run and hide, including their master consultant, Thero de Silva.
The thing is, if this is only rumor, still America will not back off from dealing with Lankawe. America was watching Lankawe for long time. America was concerned Rajiv entering Lankawe on behalf of Tamils (tough Rajiv entered to help Sinhala Intellectuals). This is one of the reasons America was against Tamils that time. Later it bridged the gap with India because it noted China was building the String of Perl. But Sonia was getting her commission from China; so she ignored American experts’ warning. China quickly brought Lankawe under its control while America was working to eliminate the differences with India. In any case, India was more important to America than Lankawe, so showed a blind eye to Sinhala politicians’ games. Now India tolerates American interference in Indian Ocean. The Modaya Sinhala Intellectuals are still hoping to chase the Tiger, the America, with a winnowing fan, the China. It may happen. There are stories of it too had happened. But it is very little chance. But the real chance is, they are going to be killed eaten by the tiger, unless they successfully tame the Tiger.
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Percy / May 25, 2018
That is a stupid statement Sakkara. Citizenship can be revoked by the holder of the citizenship as well. What US does is of little relevance as Gota can unilaterally revoke his citizenship.US can keep on molly coddling the eealamists.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 26, 2018
Percy you are a frog in the well knowing only about Sri Lanka. You can just tear the Sri Lanka passport or nationality papers to renounce citizenship without informing Sri Lanka authorities, just like Sri Lankans who have migrated had done. In the west or USA it is different. Gota is not a born US citizen and at the time he applied for US citizenship, he would have declared total allegiance to the country. He cannot get away from this as and when he wants to leave without the consent of USA.
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mugalan / May 25, 2018
Srilanka should also cancel his citizen ship whether he wants to contest.
Anyway could prisoners contest elections under srilankan Laws
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wannihami / May 26, 2018
Gnana, no US will not do that, they cannot do that specially to a citizen’s by naturalization. So you are correct it is a rumor, may be you should not spread those.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 27, 2018
Wannihami, there is some truth about it. Gota is a dual citizen – American first and Sri Lankan second. This is because he is holding American passport with Sri Lanka citizenship status endorsed in it. For him to be a Sri Lankan first and American second, he must hold a Sri Lanka passport with American citizenship status endorsed in it. No western country permits a foreign national to have dual citizenship with them. Therefore if Gota wants to revoke US citizenship, he must first revoke SL citizenship to be a full US citizen and then revoke US citizenship and then reapply for SL citizenship. This is a big problem because USA will not give back his citizenship in case he loses or after completing his term. His family members who got their US citizenship as dependants, may lose US citizenship. Also his opponents will see that he is not given SL citizenship in time for the election, and the whole purpose of this exercise is lost.
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Jim softy / May 24, 2018
In Sri lanka, all these three wheeler parties, Tamils and muslims are important because Sinhala politicians have really destroyed the system because they are very incompetant both mentally, ideologically and in their agenda for the country. Politicians want to dominate Tamil Tribalism because, they do not know how to approach that. Wigneswaran know he did not do anything so only thing he canescape is play the Tribal game. Even in that one, he discriminates Dalit Tamils and poor Tamils.
What you are saying is ViyathMAga presented their ECONOMIC Revival platform but who is going to benefit from that. IS the country going to be self sufficient from that or Are we going to import rice, fill the paddy fileds and build housing schemes so that rich politicians can invest. IS your economic revival of upliftment going to help the majority of PEople ( I Do not mean ethnic groups sinhala or Tamil). Only thing I heard Shngrila what ever is owned by Mahinda Rajapakse. What solutions you have in your politcal plat form to problems like SAITM, are we going to send only the rich kids to obtain a Degtee from NEPAL, BANGLADESH, CHINA etc., How you are going to solve the Fertiliser application is a must and Farmers are suffering with CKDUs, How you are going to handle we import Cars and Petroleum fuels and cars and increase the rate of Cancers in colombo and suburbs. YOu peole presented your program to educated, professionals and businessmen.
Instead you think you presented the economic platform to the country and now you want to discuss how to select the parties, nothing about the majority of the people (not ethnic specific).
Besides, one calculation was far away from the truth. Recently, Sri lanka poverty line was Rs 4600 or less which is about US $ 35 and that is equivalent to US $ 420 per year. the poverty line. So, who is earning US $ 4000 a year if that iw what you meant.
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Jim softy / May 24, 2018
What Sri lanka needs is not playing Sinhala buddhist supremacism or extremism by some, Tamil Tribalism by some, and the lichchavi Stule govt and 1o million jobs to chinese, Indians pakisthanis etc, some real eyes opneed approach, not a manipulation, exploitation any more. Even what minoritis are saying the saem thing. Politicians are very incompetatn so they play the Religious extremism, Tribalism games. what religious extremism when they cancelled the cultures affairs ministery and instead we have Religious affairs. That says lot of incompetancy among politicians. Do British celebrate muslims in the middle of celebrating royalty. USA is a new country. they say rally around the flag and it is completely white domination. Even the long timel iving black people are neglected.
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Kumar Paran / May 24, 2018
Dr DJ, you say: “This does not mean that Sinhala diktat must or will be imposed in the North.”
~~~
You kidding, Dr DJ, when did it ever stop? For crying out loud, what planet are you on?
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justice / May 24, 2018
All this blah blah ignores the fact that Tamils of the northeast are forced to exist under the military regime which makes life hell for hem.
They are forced to endure the loss of their homes, lands and livelihoods and live like refugees in their own country.
Some are even in jail for past 20 tears or more without being charged in courts – this does not exist in any other country.
The Buddhist clergy approve and promote this state of affairs.
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Taraki / May 24, 2018
They wanted to live under the military regime of VP, so why complain now?
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Native Vedda / May 24, 2018
Taraki
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“They wanted to live under the military regime of VP”
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Be precise, who wanted to live under VP’s bum?
Well would you have lived under Rohana’s boot and his bum?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 24, 2018
Tamils prefer to live under the military regime of a Tamil terrorist than the military regime of Sinhala terrorists, just like how the Sinhalese prefer to live under corrupt Sinhala regime than under a foreign ruler who would bring prosperity to the nation.
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soma / May 24, 2018
I know. That is why always demand Tamils (Tamil speaking people) living in Sinhala majority areas should be physically relocated into North East. Dr Gnana, before we move them when will they start going voluntarily?
Soma
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 25, 2018
For Tamil people to move into North East, you must move the administrative and economic centres to those areas. If Tamils can transact business while living in their areas both with local and international communities, then there is no need for them to remain in the south. First transfer power and territory to Tamils, remove all Sinhala army and police from those areas, set up legislature for them to pass laws, and courts under their control, put up buildings to house the offices, establish Air and sea ports for Tamils to travel directly abroad without through southern ports. Without that how do you expect them to move out. During the last 30 years nearly half million Tamils most of whom who lived in the south, have left the country for foreign climes. If they can translocate abroad, what will prevent them from moving internally. So please impress upon your government to leave Tamils alone and get out from their areas.
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soma / May 25, 2018
Dr Gnana
Thank you. I realise it has to be a negotiated settlement in parallel with creation of Tamil Homeland. Need of the hour is an awareness campaign aimed at Tamils (Tamil speaking people) over the inevitable relocation in case a Tamil Homeland is agreed upon. A referendum among them would be appropriate. CM Wingeswaran and Native Vedda on this column are doing some greate service in that direction educating the Tamils about genocidal nature of the Sinhala Buddhists. Many more are needed.
” If they can translocate abroad, what will prevent them from moving internally.”
That is the question. So there won’t be any difficulty in persuading them you reckon? Good. Having lived among the Sinhalese they will never move into NE – that’s my opinion anyway. But they have no choice.
Dr Gnana do you personally know any Tamil family who moved into North when Prabacaran ran a defacto Tamil state. I know Wingeswaran and Sumathitharan preferred Colombo.
Soma
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 26, 2018
Soma, Prabakaran did not run a de facto Tamil state, though he claimed as such. He was only holding real estate by force and keeping the people to toe his line under gun point. Though he was boasting that he had an army, navy, police and administrators, it was not a complete state which could generate income and pay the employees. For Tamils to move under his jurisdiction, it should have been a de jure Tamil state recognised by the world and able to transact directly with them. Also war was raging with Sri Lankan security forces attacking Tamils and their properties indiscriminately. It is only an insane person would translocate under these circumstances. If conditions are met for full independence, at least 90% of Sri Lanka Tamils (not Indian Tamils) living in the south will move into north east Tamil homeland.
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Percy / May 25, 2018
Sakkara
Then what are those Tamils doing in a South India and Singapore where they are treated as shit.The largest Tamil community in the world is in India but their language is not a national language.
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2018
Percy the pathetic
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“The largest Tamil community in the world is in India but their language is not a national language.”
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If Hindia recognise Tamil as national language and promise to wipe clean shit from their bum will you and your family go back to south India which is naturally your ancestral homeland?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 26, 2018
Percy do not display your ignorance due to your racist bigotry. The first deputy prime minister of Singapore late Rajaratnam was a Sri Lankan Tamil. Current finance minister and deputy PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam is also a Sri Lankan Tamil. At least two Indian Tamils have held the post of President and several Indian Tamils have been ministers. Late Prof S. S. Ratnam who was once the president of world gynaecologist association attached to national university of Singapore was a Sri Lankan. Tamil is an official language in Singapore and Tamil is written in all government publications and notices. You will see this when you board Singapore Airlines in Colombo and as you arrive in Changi airport Tamil sign “Nalvaravu” welcomes you to the country. It is the Sinhala housemaids and Sinhala labourers who are treated as shit in Singapore and you could see them on Sundays hanging around in Serangoon. As for India Tamil is one of the 25, recognised as national languages and it is north Indian racism that is preventing Tamil to be made an official language, but now Tamil has been declared a classical language alongside Sanskrit after it was proved that Tamil is older than Sanskrit, which status other Indian languages do not have. For north Indians all south Indians are shit, and they complain that white man is considering north Indians as shit. For your information Sinhalese are also considered as shit by north Indians, however much you protest that you are Aryan descendants. Did you hear that when north Indian racists living in Singapore wanted Tamil be removed and make Hindi as the official language, Singapore government flatly refused saying that for them India means Tamil.
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Rohan / May 26, 2018
Stupid person there is no national language in India not even Hindi
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/06/24/for-the-last-time-hindi-is-not-the-national-language-of-india_a_22952944/
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mugalan / May 25, 2018
Srilanka should also cancel his citizen ship whether he wants to contest.
Anyway could prisoners contest elections under srilankan Laws
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sach / May 24, 2018
what nonsense if they are living under a military regime how come they celebrate the terrorist gang
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Mallaiyuran / May 24, 2018
A meaningless, half-baked essay on the eve of Slap Party Star, Old Brother Prince’s candidacy was derogated by America. Thero is not denying the Colombo Media’s news. There is no suggestion for the fixing of this new development. Thero has to take responsibility of bogusly promoting him to this level and sitting and watching his fall. Instead Thero is attempting to detour the attention of enemies as well as the supporters.
Slap Party is a bride never brought to the stage. Groom will be coming on 2020 January. She got ready too early and spilled on her wedding dress already; She cannot be in the wedding, as this. She needs a new dress and remake up to wedding. Kill the Tamils and kill the 13A cannot be the slogan for the next election. IC is watching, especially of the Old Royal family’s action. China will not be the safe heaven.
Thero did not talk about Old Brother Prince’s handicap. Anna Nadai Nadakkpoi Kaakam than Nadaiyum Kedduthaam. (The crow attempted the Swan’s stylish walk, but it doesn’t know now, how easily it has been walking, ealier.) It is not Old Brother Prince lost election, but may face legal problems in US. The question outstanding is will America use Universal Jurisdiction on Old Brother Prince. Will it storm into Lankawe to pick him up if Lankawe refuse to hand him over? A US citizen cannot have two citizenships. It can be only US citizenship.
For how long, Thero is thinking his maters will be conducting this dupe master politics, cheating the entire world, other than China? China is holding Lankawe politicians, Ranil, New King and Old King et al on the hair by its loans. The world’s finance is control by capitalistic Western Democracies. Can Lankawe cut off West, earn on its own and repay the Chinese loans? The world’s biggest crook like Ranil and others are fooling Sinhala Modayas with an answer of “Yes”.
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Jim softy / May 24, 2018
MAllaiyuran the Tamil Modaya: Can USA unilaterally say any one that you can not give up your citizenship. that is stupid statement.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 24, 2018
Soft Jimmy, when USA takes a stand it is unquestionable by a minion. Let us see whether your weeraya Gota can reverse this unilateral decision of USA. Will Gota risk of being charged for treason, his family expelled and properties confiscated.
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Mallaiyuran / May 24, 2018
Softy,
You are apparently not asking me for the proof of USA rejecting the release application. If you had, that would have been my hardest part to get back to you. But your question is why Uncle Sam is outsmarting Appe Aanduwa. That is only a war of 2500 years old Appa Diplomacy and 500 years old Pizza diplomacy. You know we were watching in the past 5000 years old Chinese Scallion Pancake diplomacy has been winning Old Kings and Ranil’s 2500 years old Appa Diplomacy and 2500 years old Appa Diplomacy has been winning Robert Blake and John Kerry’s 500 years old pizza diplomacy. The answer for your question of if Uncle Sam is being smart or stupid is the outcome of the experience in cooking of the diplomacy. There is good chance Appa winning Pizza this time too. The one step Old Brother Prince taken is, he had declared it is his brother has to decide if he can stand for election. In other words, if a prove leaks out of Uncle Sam’s rejection, then the explanation is application was not made with intention of standing in the election. It is wonderful, smart statement comparing with Uncle Sam’s refusal. This guy is over 18; his brother stood in the election; his brother can’t any longer stand in election; this guy is now saying it is his brother will be deciding! What would he do in the day to day matters if he wins the election? The truth is, he is reluctant to accept that it is Uncle Sam is only deciding his candidature. He, covertly indicating that Uncle Sam would force him into election, but that is not its order to him by Uncle Sam, now. Remember, there was wide spread speculation in Colombo Media after his return from USA that he would stand as Uncle Sam’s rep in 2020. But he made it complicated by going to China immediately after that.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 25, 2018
What do you mean by 2500 year old Aappa diplomacy. Appam is a Tamil food which Sinhalese have copied and therefore it is wrong to associate appam with Sinhalese. The correct wording would be 2500 year old Kavung diplomacy.
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Rohan / May 26, 2018
Kavung is also from TamilNadu/Kerala it is called Nei Appam. Everything about them is Tamil
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / May 24, 2018
The only nonsense is you Dayan . You and around 50% of the so called Sinhalese , many of them now beating the anti Tamil drum on this forum and other forums , are purely descended from recently migrated largely low caste Indian Tamil immigrants, yet to you recently Sinhalised Buddhist and some Catholic fascists, everything about Tamil and the Tamil people is nonsense. Is it nonsense to remember 70000-145000 dead Tamils , who were deliberately killed by the former government and the Sinhalese Sri Lankan armed forces. It is a war crime and indeed a targeted genocidal act. This may be nonsense to you but not to us. To us Sinhalese down south having victory celebrations and calling the war criminal armed forces braves and celebrating the deliberate calculated death of 70000- 145000 innocent Tamil civilians at the hands of the Sinhalese government and armed forces and the forcible eviction and ethnic cleansing of thousands of Tamils from their lands , with the Sinhalese armed forces forcible stealing their lands, smack of outright racism fascism triumphalism by a brainwashed group of people on another group of people , who are their fellow countrymen and were forced to fight for their just rights in their own land. Go and get a life you racist with very recent low caste immigrant Indian Tamil ancestry. The only nonsense is Sinhalese celebrating the killing of 70000-145000 Tamils and calling war heroes day not Tamils mourning this occasion.
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Eagle Eye / May 24, 2018
Real Siva Sankaran Sharma aka Goebble Reborn,
“The only nonsense is Sinhalese celebrating the killing of 70000-145000 Tamils and calling war heroes day not Tamils mourning this occasion.”
Any idea what happened to these dead bodies? Vanished to thin air! One thing is clear. Stupid Demalu pick these numbers from thin air.
People in Sri Lanka irrespective of ethnicity, race or religion have every right to celebrate because Sri Lankan Armed Forces managed to eliminate one of the most ruthless megalomaniac Prabhakaran aka Pol Pot of Sri Lanka and his terrorist outfit LTTE who is responsible for converting the country to a killing field. Now all the people in the country live in peace. More and more Demalu from North migrate to South and work and transfer money. Demala mothers do not live in fear that their children will be taken forcibly and recruited as child soldiers. Between 2009-2015 there was a rapid growth in economy of North and Eastern Provinces improving the living conditions of people.
The problem is, a small section of Demala community can not come to terms with the defeat and blow to their pride. They lived in the dream world thinking that LTTE is undefeatable. They hate Mahinda Rajapakse and Gotabhaya Rajapakse for giving the leadership for that victory and engage in mud-slinging campaign. Ungrateful Demalu!
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Think / May 24, 2018
NPC Chief Minister Wigneswaran is absolutely correct when he said, “Every 18th of May should be declared as Tamil Genocide Day”.
The entire world is aware of the Tamil genocide, war crimes, human rights abuse and crimes against humanity that took place in Sri Lanka during the final stage of the internal war between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils. Only a Pariah State like SL and some imbecilic morons will want to celebrate a civil war victory, otherwise who in his/her right mind wants to celebrate war victory after a civil war involving its own people/citizens.
Only the Anti-Tamil dumb racists (Dayan and his Masters) masquerading as ultra-nationalists/Sinhala patriots among the majority Sinhalese will call the Tamil Genocide Day as the Sinhala Victory Day after killing tens of thousands of its own citizen. By calling it a Victory Day and celebrating the war victory is nothing but hurting the feelings of the Tamils Nation of SL who have already lost their loved ones (innocent children, women, old people and so on) and undergone immense trauma due to the genocidal war and harassment by the Sinhalese. It is not only against national unity but also against humanitarianism.
It is not the matter of winning a domestic civil war and celebrating it, the real issue is what created the war and why, how much destruction it caused in terms of men (human lives), material (property), and money (country’s wealth) and how to avoid it from happening again in the future. The biggest challenge for Sri Lanka is how to make the foolish Sinhalese to think and analyze our past effectively in order to build a brighter future. However, due to people like Dayan and his Masters, Sri Lanka is still going on the reverse gear, sinking into untold misery, innocently immersed in perverted and foolish beliefs and actions that is preventing the Sinhalese in not only giving the Tamils their rights but also hindering the reconciliation process.
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Jim softy / May 24, 2018
Dayan Jayathilake: all those Tamils who wrote here are Protestants. what they say is We are beiong discrminated every where, by our own Tamils, by Tamilnadu our own home land qand even the foreign countries that we thought the greener pastures. So, they want Sti lanka to forget the past and not to question it anymore and let them live in Sri lanka as Normal people. Some still have the intention of getting the eelam. So, Army has to monitor them. I think Malliyurine is the only Eelamist in here.
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Pandi Kutty / May 25, 2018
Hi Jimmy we all know that you are soft on the head. Are you soft elsewhere too? Is all this softness and the resulting frustration of not able to do anything, making you wail and cry irrationally?
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RajanS / May 24, 2018
The Ultra-racist DJ couldn’t stand that the victimized civilian Tamil people are mourning their deads just because they are Tamils. He wants to make sure that the Tamils don’t have any rights even to mourn their deaths. What a racist he is.
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Upali / May 24, 2018
Thank you Dayan you admit that the UNP is the only party which contest alone and win.
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Steve / May 24, 2018
“Certainly the SLPP which scored an impressive 40% at the 2018 local government election, cannot bridge the gap of 10% without the support of the SLFP.”
Nothing impressive, just a flash in the pan. If the UNP and SLFP can get their act together they can completely wipe out the SLPP 40% at the next elections. SLPP will go the same way as the DUNF.
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K.Pillai / May 24, 2018
Dayan Jayatilleka: Your desire to “Bring back the MR-team” has reached phobic level.
Listen Dayan, there are allegations that corruption/nepotism/impunity are accepted practices in the MR team. Please make discrete inquiries. If there are reasons to believe that there are grounds, why do you ask us to support them?
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Upali / May 24, 2018
Humans are considered civilized and are separate from animals because they mourn their dead. Animals don’t.
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perianna / May 24, 2018
Let alone this Bu——dayan He is a racist to the core and licking GR’s back to be some one. Mind you your GR will have to go back to the US he has no place here. So your days are also numbered. Leave the North CM he is also a racist playing racial politics. We do not want a divided country. We donot even want a separate governance, what we want is development and growth of the entire country. That can be achieved only by new leadership with new vision. Send Sumanthiran and even the whole TNA out and we should have new leaders. In the south we need some one like Basil or Sajith all the others are failed politicians. The worst is Ranil. Dayan should be banished from the island.
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K A Sumanasekera / May 24, 2018
Latest Demographics of Srilanka.
Sinhalese 75 , Tamils 11,5 Muslims 9.5 Hindian Tamils 4, as the percentage inhabitant population
Out of the 11.5 nearly half live in Colombo and its suburbs.
Is Dr Ranil going to give 5 % of the inhabitant population to control one quarter of the land which is the North?.
What about the nearly 5 % of the Hindian Tamils. Are they going to get one quarter ?.
Are the Muslims who are nearly 10 % also going to get only a quarter?.
Doesn’t sound right?.
How about dividing the whole land into 4 quarters.
And divide the population equally into each quarter.
With each quarter having its own Premier and Parliament to run their own affairs?.
Even if they want to fight with other quarters , they will be even stevens ….
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Native Vedda / May 24, 2018
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
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“Sinhalese 75 , Tamils 11,5 Muslims 9.5 Hindian Tamils 4, as the percentage inhabitant population”
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Awesome
What it indicates is that Sinhalese have been working full time, part time, over time to increase their population from 700 men to about about 16 million men and women. Is that why many Sinhala/Buddhist men do not go to work and live off from free rice from moon, thieving from Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, ……………………….?
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wannihami / May 24, 2018
Just to educate you Native, whoever became Buddhist and spoke Sinhala became a Sinhalese, it is not too late for you to become a Sinhala Buddhist.
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2018
wannihami
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Lets forget about Sinhala/Buddhist (whatever it is) for a second.
Thank you for your invitation.
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I understand the awakened one taught path to self awareness and liberation from your own state of Duka, not the parochial, violent, crooked, criminal, way of life of impunity, …. 100 or so years old racist doctrine of Sinhala/Buddhism of the noisy minority.
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When are you going to become a Buddhist, a follower of Awakened One (Prof Gananath Obeyesekere prefers Awakened one to enlightened one, stay tuned you could learn more Buddhism than from any of your saffron clad thugs ).
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BTW was Buddha born in a Sinhala/Buddhist family in Weeraketiya Sri Lanka or Ellawala Walawwa in Ratnapura and spoke old Sinhala which some say later became known as Prakrit the language of Indian elites. So you think Buddha himself founded Sinhala/Buddhism.
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Why are you trying to sell a fake religion to us when there is real stuff (void of your racial, parochial, criminal, caste, ……….. content) if you look for it. Tell me why haven’t your Sinhala/Buddhist leaders (crooks) invited Dalai Lama to this island? Are they worried his teaching might expose fraudulent/hypocritical/violent nature of Sinhala/Buddhism?
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When did you last meditate?
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You do not need to hide or run away.
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Native Vedda / May 25, 2018
wannihami
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Did those who became Marxist and spoke Sinhala become a Sinhala Marxist?
Did those who became Maoist and spoke Sinhala become a Sinhala Maoist?
Did those who became Racist and spoke Sinhala become a Sinhala Racist?
Did those who became fascists and spoke Sinhala become a Sinhala Fascist?
Did those who became war criminals and spoke Sinhala become a Sinhala war criminal?
Did those who became Hindus and spoke Sinhala become a Sinhala Hindus?
Did those who became Muslims and spoke Sinhala become a Sinhala Muslims?
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When and why did Sinhala/Buddhists start calling themselves Sinhala/Buddhist.
Is it because they doubted their own identity in the nature and were not sure about their faith in and learning and practicing of the awakened one’s teaching?
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Please go hide if you haven’t got the answers to above questions. Whatever you do please stop your bull.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / May 25, 2018
As per even your government stats out of the 11.5% 70% live in the North and East and 90% of the rest live in the greater Colombo area , where there has been a Tamil presence for centuries, and most of these people have lived here for generations and are not recent arrivals. There is a large Sri Lankan Tamil population that lives along the north western coast largely around Negombo, Chilaw and Puttalam. These are remnants of the ancient Sri Lankan Tamil population that did not take a Sinhalese identity and are still stubbornly clinging to their Tamil identity ,when all their neighbours and relatives have become Sinhalese within the last century or two. Colombo and the western coast north to it until Puttalam just south if Mannar was once part of the Tamil homeland. This is the reason there are so many Tamil origin names , that have now been given a twist. NeerKallaupu -Negombo Chilaapam. Chilaw. Puttalam. Annamadu. Etc. Chilaw was the summer capital of the Jaffna kingdom. Go and read your history and get your fact correct , before posting garbage here.
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Rajash / May 24, 2018
Any one knows a cure Dayan’s verbal diarrhea
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mugalan / May 25, 2018
Srilanka should also cancel his citizen ship whether he wants to contest.
Anyway could prisoners contest elections under srilankan Laws
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Nimal Tissa Wijetunga / May 24, 2018
The more the Tamil politicians talk about, commemoration of war dead in the North, more they talk about Tamil Elam, more they talk about separatist agenda, more they talked against Buddhism and more they talked about Tamil Genocidal Day, do not expect any reconciliation with the Majority and by doing so, the current so called Tamil Leaders Taking the destructive violent path for Tamil masses by poisoning their minds as same as the previous leaders did since 1933 on non-existing demands and unrealistic solutions, which will never ever going to happen in the land of Sri Lanka although some are barking like dogs.
In view of the above, we would like to caution the Tamil masses that this kind of poisoning may end up another round of violent and destructive annihilation as same as what happened to LTTE after 30 years as the conflict brought the Tamil Masses enormous level of destruction, devastation, Cyanide capsule around the necks of children, force recruitment to use as cannon fodder in the battlefields, no schooling etc.
In the circumstances, we are very confident that Tamil masses may get the wisdom not to listen to so called Tamil Leaders for the sake of your families and the future of you all. Today, everybody is living in this country is facing serious economic hardships due to increase in Bus Fares, fuel prices, and all the essential commodities and the TNA or any other so called tamil leaders not yet talk about those in the parliament or outside as it is very clear that those talk about the above nonsense such as Genocidal day, Elam, Federalism etc for their benefits and survival and not because they are really concerned about the Tamil masses and their well being and we propose the Tamil masses to protest against this kind of behaviour when the so called leaders come to the villages.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 25, 2018
What reconciliation that you are talking about. Except for a handful of Sinhalese, for the rest Tamils must accept what they give and live like second class citizens. For reconciliation to begin, justice must prevail like what happened in South Africa. Last government did not make any attempt towards restorative justice and the present government is dilly dallying to hoodwink the international community hoping that as time goes by they will lose interest. Tamils are not putting forward non existing demands and unrealistic solutions, but the demand to regain their lost sovereignty which was taken from them and not returned, and solutions based on international norms. Yes Tamils may be barking like dogs, which is better than Sinhala racists in foreign countries living like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. Please remember Tamils have self respect and will not forego their rights for the sake of bus fares, fuel prices or salary increases. Mark my words very soon there will be international intervention to bring justice to Tamils.
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Thanga / May 24, 2018
A few Sinhalese hardliners are scaremongering the Tamils not to ask for autonomy in their historical habitat since that will end in another Mullivaikkal. Maybe or maybe not. But if Sinhala supremacists continue to deny Tamils self-rule, then the civil war will continue in some other form. It is true the Tamils lost lives, land, property etc. So are the Sinhalese. The Sinhalese people also paid a heavy price to secure the pyrrhic victory. More than 35 thousand soldiers lost their lives and twice that number wounded. Now the country is in debt up to the neck Not only the thief running for his life gets tired. the man who chases him also gets tired. In war, both the Tamils and Sinhalese suffered massive losses. The country’s economy is in bad shape and the government is sinking because of foreign debts. DJ does not care since he is well off in society. He can afford to beat the racial drum and fan the flames of racism.
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Sach / May 25, 2018
The number of casualties in SL armed forces is less than 30000. That too is due to CBK and RW. If you want war, let us have it.
But looking at NPC, I think north is going Kashmir direction. That is fine. We will have a disabled war wiery north and secure the rest of the country.
I ‘ll have a Kashmir type north with assurance of no bombs in south. It won’t harm us. But it will harm you.
And we have already cut off east from your so called Elam..what the hell you ‘re gonna do……
It is education institutions in north that will stop functioning making whole north unlivable. No visas for Tamils abroad. …what u gonna do…
Did u see how we acted when indians came here?. They killed and raped you. You idiots completely turned things around for us. Remember you are not the only one with so called self respect. ..stupid Tamil
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Jim softy / May 24, 2018
Tamil politicians talk about EELAm, self determination mean Tamils do not have problems to be addressed by politicians. So, neglect them and let them dance the TRIBAL MUSIC. They need a way to hold onto their employment. I heard Anandasangareee also wants to forward a presidential candidate.
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K.Pillai / May 24, 2018
Dayan salaciously ~ “……….Certainly the SLPP which scored an impressive 40% at the 2018 local government election,………….”.
But but but SLPP used only the ‘language/religion-divide’ and copiously at that. The SLPP recycled this effectively.
You obviously approve this stance.
Should we?
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Nimal Tissa Wijetunga / May 24, 2018
Thanga,
Be careful about the bickering of Tamil political leaders and do not jum in to the band wagon of Self rule, genocidal day, Elam, federalism etc as Tamil masses will never go with those fanciful slogans anymore.
Let the TNA and other individuals discarded by Tamil masses to go to the dust bin of the history. Very soon Tamil masses will come together as Sri Lankans to develop this nation to the benefit of all people living here.
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Jim softy / May 24, 2018
Dayan Jayathilake: Now Tamil politicians have local and urbancouncils representing their communities. Mano ganeshan wanted two in his name and he has it. I hear now they say each caste wants to be in the parliament. Ranil was talking about making the PArliament over 300 MPs. that is why he was adament about givignn ORumiththa nadu and finish their loud cry.
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HelixHilton / May 25, 2018
Eelam will be established by end of 2019 or by 2020. US will immediately recognize it like South Sudan. Rest will be history.
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Mallaiyuran / May 25, 2018
Ranil gave Hangbangtota for China for 200 years just to get Old King $18B commission. If US will get Tamil Eelam, I will give Trinco on 50 years deal for that exchange. Because after 50 years Naval warfare will be changed a lot.
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soma / May 25, 2018
When will the Tamils(Tamils speaking people) in Sinhala majority areas be relocated into Ealam? Before or after?
Soma
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Pandi Kutti / May 25, 2018
When all state sponsored Sinhalese settlers in the north and east relocate back to the south. Pandi Kutti
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Native Vedda / May 26, 2018
somass
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“When will the Tamils(Tamils speaking people) in Sinhala majority areas be relocated into Ealam?”
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If you meant all those Tamils/Sinhala speaking people with South Indian DNA then its going to be a difficult exercise, it will account almost 99.99 % of the total population of this island.
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Instead I suggest you carve out 10 Square mile area for you and your ilk the Aryan Sinhala/Buddhist noisy fascist minority in deep south and name it Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto on one condition you round up all your fellow A S/B N F M and take them with you.
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Jim softy / May 25, 2018
HELIXHILTON: You told the same story when Dinosaurs were living.
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shankar / May 25, 2018
SLPP has a few options.It has fulfilled the first step of getting 40%.Now the next step is to get the 11%.
1.19 MPs have entered the opposition.Though they say they will form their own group the the SLPP can ask them to vote for their candidate.Until this group publicly endorse gota they cannot be sure.
I don’t know what percentage of votes this group of MP’s command,but assuming a 5% then the SLPP will have 45% for gota.Then if the SLPP can get Sirisena to support gota by giving him the PM position the it has the balance 7% to make gota the president and sira the PM.
2.If This option does not work out,then the SLPP has to talk to the JHU and get it on board.It was a stupid decision by mahinda to let the JHU leave his coalition because he arrogantly ded not even consider their demands,which were good for the country and not just personal demands of the JHU.IF the JHU comes aboard then by getting either sira on board or the dissidents in the SLFP,then the SLPP coalition can get its 51% to run the country.
dayan is right when he says only through a anti UNP coalition that the UNP can be kept out of government.For that the rajapakshes have to come down from their pedestal and share the power.
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Champa / May 26, 2018
shankar
Crap!
LG election didn’t show MR’s full strength. 40% was the maximum Basil could get for MR. The target for Presidential election should be over 60% without coupling with politicians whose sun is set.
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Nimal Tissa Wijethunga / May 25, 2018
Jim Softly,
You tell about Tamil Elam to Dinosaur. You are day dreaming similar all the Tamil political leaders since 1933.
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Nimal Tissa Wijethunga / May 25, 2018
Sankaralingam,
All these racist self rule, genoicidal day, federalism, Tamil Elam are slogans of Tamil diaosara living abroad and doing menial jobs in those places.
Nobody even the majority Tamil population will never buy those slogans anymore. Soon, your so called Tamil political leaders will be in the dust bin of the history.
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Naman / May 25, 2018
It is people like Dr.D.J. and Dr.G.L.Pieris who are the ‘intellectual’ supporters of the Rajapaksa clan who wants to whip up the Sinhalese to keep UP the DIVISIONS in SL and bring in death,destruction and POVERTY to the country. We need the MEDIA to publish predominantly articles written to promote peace and prosperity in the country and to bring in JUSTICE to the dead innocent victims and corrupt politicians.
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sach / May 25, 2018
Are you nuts? Is DJ or any Sinhalese whipping up to keep divisions in SL? Isn’t he criticizing Wiggie and Tamil politicians who do that?
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / May 25, 2018
Dear All, I innocently ask the question why some of you call Dayan so many names/insults? He may have different take on the historical prospective and make analysys accordingly from how he sees them. By sharing those thoughts how Dayan could be equated to all those injustices happened in our country? Offering solutions to our countries problems is every citizens rights and duty too specially we may not all have accesses to many information for our knowledge building?
I may not agree with some of the things he says has no other interpretation other than I do not see reason in what I heard…….then I make a counter argument respectfully and respectively and the dialog/conversation continues until we both learn form each other……other than that our exchanges should set example to our children too to follow/engage in more conducive/constructive two way discussions does not matter what the topic is correct? Now the technology allows us to learn/fact check/exchange thoughts much better than before and let us use this for our nations benefit thank you.
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