7 December, 2024

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NPP’s Economic Diplomacy; Non-Aligned In The Best Interests Of The Nation

By Amila Muthukutti

Amila Muthukutti

It is with the increasing interconnectedness of the countries in the world that the role of economic diplomacy has taken pride of place in today’s economic policies. In other words, the fact that how a government promotes the state’s economic interests, using its diplomatic ties with other nations, is highly critical to stay ahead of the economic competition. This has resulted in a higher number of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and alliances. Consequently, every nation in the world uses its economic resources to achieve a set foreign policy target or vice versa.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) recently in an interview with BBC Sinhala Service revealed salient features of their foreign policy to promote trade and investments which always come under criticism, mainly due to misconceptions.

FDI

Needless to state that Foreign Direct Investments plays a crucial role in economic growth of developing countries like ours, as it injects not only capital but also technology into that economy. However, if that investment jeopardizes related industries and, in the end, national interests, it should be ruled out without delay. In my view, it cannot be interpreted as being against foreign investments.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elaborating his stance on foreign investment, stated that they are not against AMUL Dairy’s investment in Sri Lanka, but against giving authority of the dairy industry to a foreign investor. In his words, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC is the institution whose job is to develop infrastructure for the IT industry in the country, when sold to a competitor, can we expect that foreign investor to upgrade infrastructure necessary for development of the IT industry? Similarly, Sri Lankan Airline is one of the main facilitators to Sri Lankan tourism, when sold to a competitor, can we expect that foreign investor to develop our national carrier, so that tourists can conveniently come to Sri Lanka? As the answer is NO, rulers should think twice, before strategically important enterprises are sold to foreigners.

Misconception

There is an attempt to spread the misconception among the public that NPP’s policies are unfavorable to investments and the economy, as its roots are with Marxism. However, we all can experience the plight of the economy that other two main parties have created for us. Recently, Shantha Jayarathne writing an article “NPP’s stance on foreign investment: Unravelling misconceptions”  in reply to Prof. Rohan Samarajiva’s article “JVP’s plan to exclude foreign investors from the energy sector” suggests readers to discern the nuances of the NPP’s stance on foreign investment rather than succumbing to misleading portrayals that may be driven by political motives.

When questioned about acquiring sold enterprises, Anura Kumara Dissanayake frankly replied that as an economically bankrupt nation, we are not in a position to bargain with other nations, while we are seeking donations or loans from them. This is to be appreciated, when other politicians promise to acquire those enterprises, after coming into power.

Foreign policy 

Anura Kumara Dissanayake obviously stated that their foreign policy is based on non-aligned policy, specifically mentioning on relations with China and India. Even though the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was established in 1961, when the world was divided into two; socialist camp headed by USSR and capitalist camp headed by USA, there are several superpowers including China and India at present. Therefore, it is imperative for Sri Lanka to have a non-aligned foreign policy which previous rulers deviated from time to time.

He further stated that with the power struggle between China and India, we should be mindful of the way in which India thinks of our economic and foreign policies. Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is likely to pose a threat to India, owing to its geographical location. On the other hand, Sri Lanka is important for China too. Hence, he identified it as their responsibility not to make the country a place for a proxy war between those two nations.

In conclusion, having strategically balanced relations with China and India without compromising the one with the other will be a key priority for any government in the future, as India is on a rapid economic journey. Strengthening bilateral, multilateral relations and most importantly trade agreements is also a highly contributing factor in this regard. Japan too must not be forgotten. It is a well-shaped and well-balanced foreign policy that creates new economic opportunities.

Latest comments

  • 5
    13

    THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
    .
    The priority requirement is a National Development Plan that is based on Sri Lanka’s strengths and opportunities as well as aspirations of its people.
    .
    Foreign, trade, economic, investment and other related policies, including domestic ones, may have to be drawn and shaped based on this plan, in such a way that they facilitate the operationalisation of this plan.
    .
    Not rocket science. A few good brains should be able to do it.
    .
    That will provide a template or a foundation upon which we engage (or disengage) investors and other nations, India and China included.

    • 13
      1

      Ruchira

      “The priority requirement is a National Development Plan that is based on Sri Lanka’s strengths and opportunities as well as aspirations of its people.”

      Before you go on designing a “National Development Plan” you have to come up with a plan to educate Tamil and Sinhalese speaking people as why both people are very stupid and self destructive.

      Please refer to the research paper below:

      Reconstructing the population history of the Sinhalese, the major ethnic group in Śrī Laṅkā by
      Prajjval Pratap Singh
      Sachin Kumar
      Nagarjuna Pasupuleti
      P.R. Weerasooriya
      George van Driem
      Kamani H. Tennekoon
      Niraj Rai
      Gyaneshwer Chaubey
      R. Ranasinghe

      https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(23)01874-6

      You will do well to read above paper and then think through the socio, politico, economic history of this island and justify why these people are so stupid who want to hurt each other and themselves.

      • 1
        9

        This study and a few others on the same subject were discussed, mainly by me and LankaScot, under two recent articles that appeared here on Colombo Telegraph. One of the articles was written by none other than C.V.Wigneswaran and the other was by someone that appeared to be a member of Tamil Diaspora community who had recently visited Sri Lanka. Both seem to claim that Sinhalese have descended from South Indian Dravidian community. But this and some other studies that were discussed do not seem to support such a conclusive claim. For an example the study you have linked here concludes: “This excess sharing of smaller segments suggests a closer, deeply rooted common genetic ancestry of the Sinhalese with the Marāṭhā.” That said Sri Lankan Tamils are genetically more closer to Sinhalese than South Indian Tamils of today. It is how these findings are interpreted that matter than the findings themselves, and the limitations of them.

        • 2
          8

          National Development has become a priority given the economic crisis the country is in. It is not the time to split hairs about who descended from who and start further divisions among ethnic communities. Goal of development could be a common goal around all communities could gather. It is upto the leadership of the country to structure developmental process in such a unifying way, but opposition may not come from Sinhalese to such an excercise.

          • 0
            9

            PS: “….but opposition may not come from Sinhalese to such an excercise.”
            .
            You may see the comment by the person who use the handle Ajith below for further proof for this claim.

            • 2
              1

              Hello Ruchira,
              I have sent an email to Professor Dissanayake, lets see if he or his team responds before I try anyone else.
              Best regards

              • 0
                2

                LankaScot – Great! Let’s see how it goes.
                Cheers!

        • 9
          1

          Are the Sinhalese of a monolithic ethnicity?
          I do not want to name caste groups.

          • 0
            10

            “Are the Sinhalese of a monolithic ethnicity?”
            .
            Anything you read here that suggests this?

            • 6
              1

              Check it out

            • 5
              1

              Ruchira
              Let’s be honest.
              1. Do you think the Sinhalese are all of one ethnicity?
              2. Do you think they are not all of the same ethnicity?
              If you choose either of the above, give reasons.

              • 0
                0

                Hello OC,
                As far as I can tell from the Genetic Studies/Reports that I have read recently (older research has mostly been superseded) there are differences between Up Country, Low Country, Moors, Sri Lanka Tamils, Indian Tamils and others. But this does not define an Ethnic Group. Ethnic Groups are in the main self-defining. To give an example from Scotland, The Gaels mainly in the Highlands and West Coast, the Shetlanders and Orcadians identify separately from the Midland Scots. Even in my part of the North East we see ourselves as different from the West Coasters in Glasgow etc. But we are all Scots. We have Pictish, Viking, Norman, Anglo-Saxon, Irish and some ancient Beaker Folk DNA.
                So basically it is up to you and your kin to determine your Ethnicity.
                Best regards

                • 0
                  0

                  By the way OC,
                  In one recent paper the Vedda people from Pollebadda were most closely related to Up-country Sinhalese from Thuppitiya.
                  Maybe you will have an explanation as I have no idea where Pollebadda is?
                  Best regards

                  • 0
                    6

                    LankaScot – Thank you for your two comments.
                    .
                    OC/SJ – I think we have been here earlier. You may have to define what ethnicity is to begin with.
                    .
                    I think I did mention this, probabbly in the discussion made under CVW’s write up in which he claimed something based on “latest DNA studies”. If DNA studies prove anything at all, it is that (1) we (Sinhales and Tamils) are genetically closely related; (2) that we all are genetically diverse people.
                    .
                    I think someone else also raised the question if you have any Tamil or Sinhalese genes? A question that I believe should be taken seriously.
                    .
                    So in response to your question (1) what is ethnicity? and (2) what is monolithic ethnicity?

                • 4
                  1

                  LS,
                  Ethnic groups are also classified in terms of descent. That is the problem here, with some refusing to recognise the diversity of their origins (though having a common language). The descent argument is used to claim the right of tenure, so to speak, while ignoring the fact that many of the speakers of the same language arrived much later than the putative ancestor. It’s true we are all Africans. Also, we have to factor in that the island was physically connected to the sub-continent in recent geological time.
                  I don’t suppose any of your Scots were originally French speakers who arrived 500 years (or less) ago, and took to wearing kilts?😄

              • 0
                8

                SJ/OC – Ethnicity is not a biological trait. You can’t find anything about ethnicity in DNA studies. Please see my answer under LankaScot’s comments below and his answers to the very same question too.

                • 5
                  1

                  Ruchira,
                  “Ethnicity is not a biological trait. You can’t find anything about ethnicity in DNA studies. “
                  Really? How come the researchers you quote talk about Jaffna Tamils being closer to Sinhalese than to Indian Tamils? How do they find out?
                  “belonging to a population group or subgroup made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent.” “descent ” is the key word here
                  Let’s be specific. If a plantation Tamil family living in the South speaks perfect Sinhala, are they of Sinhalese or Tamil ethnicity?
                  A clear answer please.

                  • 7
                    0

                    Don’t u guys think that Ruchira s IQ level is questionable? .
                    .
                    He is just wasting 😒 his time on CT..
                    .
                    Alas, Srilanka!

                    • 2
                      0

                      LM,
                      Or wasting our time.?

                  • 0
                    7

                    “If a plantation Tamil family living in the South speaks perfect Sinhala, are they of Sinhalese or Tamil ethnicity?”
                    .
                    I was referring to the historical contexts in which these studies are done that spans over thousand of years.
                    .
                    I am no expert to give black and white answers that’s why Lester has contacted some of the authors of these studies to see if they could explain the meaning of them in plain language.

                    • 4
                      1

                      “I was referring to the historical contexts in which these studies are done that spans over thousand of years.”
                      You must be joking. DNA was only discovered in the last century.

                    • 0
                      6

                      OC – meant to say about the historical contexts as revealed by the DNA studies.

                  • 0
                    6

                    OC – Sri Lankan Tamils are genetically closer to Sinhalese than South Indian Tamils. What is the ethnicity of Sri Lankan Tamils based on these DNA findings?

                    • 5
                      1

                      Ruchira,
                      They are Tamils because their DNA is significantly different from the Sinhalese DNA.Even if they all started speaking Sinhala and became Buddhists tomorrow, they would still be Tamils.
                      You are the one that said DNA doesn’t indicate ethnicity.

                  • 0
                    6

                    OC – “The wide array of genetic markers currently available provide an opportunity for reliably elucidating their genetic affinities. However, depending on the type of genetic markers used, the ancestral information of populations deduced from the analyses could be quite different.”

        • 3
          2

          Hello Ruchira,
          As you and others said before – it would be educational if some of the authors listed above contributed an article on recent Genetic studies of Sri Lankan populations. From some of the studies it looks like Sri Lankan Tamils are only distantly related to Indian Tamils. How did this happen? As SJ and others have mentioned any new analysis should take into account the many ethnicities that exist in SriLanka.
          I am not persuaded by many that claim a Dravidian Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) ancestry. The North-West India to South – East India Cline seems to contradict such a hypothesis, but given any evidence I am willing to change my mind
          For those with an axe to grind – looking at La Longue Duree it doesn’t matter what mix of ancestors we have, we all began in Africa around 100,000 years or so ago. Life is short, there is no afterlife, so make the best of it.
          Best regards

          • 1
            8

            LankaScot – Thank you for the comment. Yes I agree with on all points you have addressed in it.
            .
            (1) We need an expert interpretation of these studies in lay man’s terms to better understand what they mean.
            .
            (a) Like I said before I/we could request some of the above authors to write an explanation to CT. I am planning do it myself but it will take sometime as I have some other priorities atm. But there’s no guarantee that they would oblige. I think there’s a book published by someone on the subject, but unfortunately I can’t remember the title nor I was successful in tracing it online. I will keep trying and keep you informed if I succeed finding it.
            .
            (b) Meanwhile you could take the initiative to write to some of these authors, probabbly the corresponding author/s of the published studies or other authors via them, making such request.
            .
            TBC

            • 2
              8

              LankaScot – Continued from above…
              .
              (c) Alternatively you could write to the Editor Colombo Telegraph making a request for him to take the initiative and invite one of these authors to write an explanatory piece.
              .
              (d) Finally I think Native Vedda who has brought up this is in a far more better position than both of us to make such a request an initiate it, if he really keen.
              .
              (2) “As SJ and others have mentioned any new analysis should take into account the many ethnicities that exist in SriLanka.” – Yes, perhaps like he has mentioned, including different caste sub groups in future studies may shed a better light. Especially for the benefit of those who still see the society through a casteist lense and make various caste basee claims to the heritage, especially that of Sinhalese.
              .
              TBC

              • 1
                9

                LS Continued from above…
                .
                (3) “I am not persuaded by many that claim a Dravidian Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) ancestry. […] but given any evidence I am willing to change my mind. – My sentiments too.
                .
                (4) “we all began in Africa around 100,000 years or so ago. Life is short, there is no afterlife, so make the best of it.” – Couldn’t have said it better and I’ve been trying to say the same myself.
                .
                Furthermore if one wants one can go a little further down the history of evolution and discover that all of us humans share a common ancestry with apes, monkeys and other such primates too. A fact that anyone should find sobering and may instill some humility (hopefully) too in mankind.
                .
                To put it bluntly we are nothing but monkeys that learnt to walk and talk among few other things.
                .
                What perhaps required is, to leave behind our monkey ways and become more humane and civilized in outlook and conduct. May be its our ‘monkey genes’ that prevent us from doing so!?
                .
                Hope you are enjoying the Sri Lankan weather and everything else that is Sri Lankan…

          • 0
            8

            LankaScot,
            .
            WRT getting an expert to interpret these various genetics studies in a way that lay people could understand, please feel free to take the initiative yourself. I am sure you are knowledgeable enough on DNA studies to make a good and compelling request. Below are a couple of Sri Lankan scholars that you could approach and request for a possible essay targetting the general public, the average reader:
            .
            (1) Prof Kamani Tennekoon: Senior Professor of Molecular Life Sciences at the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo.
            .
            Her profile: https://www.res.cmb.ac.lk/ibmbb/kamani/
            .
            Her email could be found here: https://www.ibmbb.cmb.ac.lk/acedemic-staff/
            .
            TBC

          • 0
            8

            LankaScot –
            .
            In addition, you may find the following book titled ‘Sinhala’ by authour Dileep Chandralal, too relevant, but it’s published in 2010, not sure if any genetic studies done since then invalidates any of its contents.
            .
            https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/books/9789027288530#chapters
            .
            Here’s an excerpt from the abstract provided of the book:
            .
            “Sinhala is one of the official languages of Sri Lanka and the mother tongue of over 70% of the population. […] As for the genetic relation, it belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. Although the earliest surviving literature in Sinhala dates from the 8th century A.D. its written tradition has traced a longer path of more than 2000 years.”
            .
            Haven’t read the book, but it seems to be quite at odds with what’s being discussed here.
            .
            Cheers!

            • 0
              4

              Hello Ruchira,
              Thanks for the tip about Dileep Chandralal’s book. The Historical Development of Sinhala and the incorporation of many Tamil and other influences are explained, but he is pretty clear that Sinhala is an Indo Aryan language with borrowings of lexicon and grammar from Tamil.
              The remainder of the book (which I am slowly working my way through) is highly linguistic and sometimes heavy going. As an example from the book – “Accompanying this change, an obvious difference between the basic clause and the emphatic/focus clause has surfaced with respect to word-order. In emphatic/focus clauses, the newly focused constituent has shifted from pre-predicate position to sentence-final position, as in (18).”
              You have to read it in context to make sense, but hopefully at the end I will understand why parts of Sinhala seem so “Alien” to me.😎
              Best regards

              • 0
                5

                LS – Well…
                .
                “but hopefully at the end I will understand why parts of Sinhala seem so “Alien” to me.😎”
                .
                Let’s hope so. :D

          • 1
            7

            LankaScot-
            .
            Here’s another study titled “Ethnic Reality of Sri Lankans: A Hidden Story Unravelled”, that you may find interesting.
            .
            The report on which concludes: “As pointed out by the researchers, these align well with the historical claims of population movements in ancient Eurasia. Sinhalese are believed to be descended from Indo- Aryans, who set forth from the borders of the Caspian and Black sea towards Europe and South Asia, early in the third millennium BC. Accordingly, European and South Asian civilizations of today share a common genetic background reflecting their Bronze Age common ancestors. Tamils on the other hand are believed to have descended from the indigenous people of the Indian subcontinent. However, Sri Lankan Tamils have mixed with Sinhalese over nearly two millennia, unlike the Indian Tamils, …”, which too seems to differ the popular opinion on Colombo Telegraph.
            .
            Read the full write up here: https://science.cmb.ac.lk/ethnic-reality-of-sri-lankans-eng/
            .
            Maybe all these researchers are biased of having a Mahawamsa Mindset eh…? You being a Scot, you could be an independent judge!
            .
            Cheers!

            • 1
              7

              LankaScot – Continued from above…
              .
              Accordingly, European and South Asian civilizations of today share a common genetic background reflecting their Bronze Age common ancestors. Tamils on the other hand are believed to have descended from the indigenous people of the Indian subcontinent. However, Sri Lankan Tamils have mixed with Sinhalese over nearly two millennia, unlike the Indian Tamils, …”, which too seems to differ the popular opinion on Colombo Telegraph.
              .
              Read the full write up here: https://science.cmb.ac.lk/ethnic-reality-of-sri-lankans-eng/
              .
              Maybe all these researchers are biased of having a Mahawamsa Mindset eh…? You being a Scot, you could be an independent judge!
              .
              Cheers!

              • 1
                6

                LankaScot – Here’s the original paper on which the above write up is based.
                .
                “X-chromosomal STR based genetic polymorphisms and demographic history of Sri Lankan ethnicities and their relationship with global populations”
                .
                By Nandika Perera, Gayani Galhena & Gaya Ranawaka
                .
                Published in Scientific Reports volume 11, Article number: 12748 (2021)
                .
                https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-92314-9
                .

          • 3
            1

            LS,
            .
            “looking at La Longue Duree it doesn’t matter what mix of ancestors we have, we all began in Africa around 100,000 years or so ago. Life is short, there is no afterlife, so make the best of it..”
            I fully agree with you LS.

            Unfortunately, in an economically collapsing Sri Lanka, we still have Sri Lankan (Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim) racists in various guises. Perhaps, I believe, the numbers that experts can sum up may be higher than Israel today.
            .
            As you said above, neither the Boston evolutionists nor anyone else has found a plausible explanation for the true stories of human evolution. What is known is like a drop in the ocean. There are full loop holes in whatever the so far finds.

    • 9
      2

      “The priority requirement is a development plan.”
      The priority should be national unity. None of the development plans will work without national unity. NPP should understand that the country continues to suffer economically, politically because of the failed national unity. The country had two insurgencies by JVP and a continued war with Tamils throughout the period of Sri Lankan independence. Still that continues. The fundamental factor that caused corruption, lawlessness, misuse of power, poverty, intervention of super powers etc. NPP should ask Why India, China and West continue to interfere in our politics? Why does the Country continue to interfere through the UN? Why does China invest in unproductive sectors and make us a permanent dependent? If the Banda-Chelva agreement was accepted on that time you should have no riots, no wars,no intervention of super powers. So, the important factor is national unity and rule of law.

      • 7
        1

        “Sri Lanka Telecom PLC is the institution whose job is to develop infrastructure for the IT industry in the country, when sold to a competitor, can we expect that foreign investor to upgrade infrastructure necessary for development of the IT industry? Similarly, Sri Lankan Airline is one of the main facilitators to Sri Lankan tourism, when sold to a competitor, can we expect that foreign investor to develop our national carrier, so that tourists can conveniently come to Sri Lanka? “
        What rubbish! Where do most tourists come from? India and Russia, in that order. If their citizens want to come here, their airlines will certainly take up the load. Emirates has a hub in Dubai through which practically anyone from anywhere can get here.
        As to the IT industry, SLT itself is already 49% Malaysian. Its biggest competitor, Dialog, is 100% Malaysian. So what’s the big deal? If foreign investors own infrastructure, does this worthy think they won’t upgrade it to make more money?

      • 4
        2

        Ajith,
        How many times did they kneel before the IMF?
        .
        The current one is the 17th time.

        Even today, how much resistance is paid against IMF reocmmendations or involvment by protests consisting of various saboteurs?

        CANCER OF THE NATION IS SO CALLED UNIONISTS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BUILD A CONSENSUS REGARDING NATIONAL POLICIES…. is not that so ?

        The Janata Vimukthi Peramuna-led group, which is rapidly polarizing across the divided nation, does not seem to be talking about the long-known “communal problem and its solution” .

        Likewise, they started solving the communal issue x times but not wholeheartedly even today, but it is considered a “tantalus ordeal” because no elected government has failed to build a national consensus on this dreaded issue.

        I think they need to rebuild the nation by feeding them facts and future plans. It can only succeed if all political parties, civil organizations, religious sentiments and other culprits realize that Sri Lanka is now hanging on to the last straw. Only by correctly understanding the truth can we achieve our long-desired economic goals and prosperity for all good.

      • 1
        10

        “The priority should be national unity. None of the development plans will work without national unity. “
        .
        One may have to define what ‘national unity’ means. There have always been conflicts between ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, particularly between Sinhalese and Tamils. They didn’t start with SWRDB’s OLA in 1956 as some would like us to believe. Throughout the history there have been communal conflicts on the island.
        .
        If one were to wait for national unity one may have to wait for ever for development to take place. Unity imv is different from providing any political solution to the conflict. It may not be achieved regardless of the provision of any political solution to the so called ethnic problem or regardless of the type of political solution provided.
        .
        Israel has developed despite the conflict that has been going on with the Palastinians throughtout its existence. India is troubled with communal conflicts internally as well as conflicts with its neighbours all around. Taiwan has succeeded despite the tensions it has with mainland China.
        .
        TBC

        • 0
          8

          Continued…
          .
          Therefore I think unity is not a prerequisite for development. Infact development could be a unifying force. What is required are pragmatic solutions based on human rights and democratic principles so that people of all communities could lead a dignified life, participating and enjoying the fruits of the outcomes of the developmental process.
          .
          The New York Times Journalist Thomas Friedman in one of his books states, that no two countries that have the presence of McDonalds on their shores have ever gone to war with each other. I do not know how factually true this is or if it remains to be true to this day, but what it simply means is that once there’s a certain level of development people are focused more on development than petty conflicts over various issues.
          .
          Any contrary notions I believe come from a mindset saboteuring.

          • 0
            6

            *saboteuring mindset.

          • 0
            7

            Continued….
            .
            Below is the source for the Friedman’s theory.
            .
            “He supported that observation, as a theory, by stating that when a country has reached an economic development where it has a middle class strong enough to support a McDonald’s network, it would become a “McDonald’s country”, and will not be interested in fighting wars anymore.”
            .
            https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lexus_and_the_Olive_Tree#:~:text=The%20book%20puts%20forward%20a,a%20war%20against%20each%20other.
            .
            Let me also mention that it was Lester that recently mentioned here on CT about having a sizeable middle class is a way to end conflicts.
            .
            As usual he was challenged by his rivals; and it is such perspectives that he has I agree with, something that has been at the receiving end of jokes and insults alike on CT.

            • 0
              8

              In conclusion, prioritization of development is the way forward, to come out of the economic crisis we are in as well as to achieve national unity!

            • 0
              7

              Here’s the example closer to ‘home’, perhaps yours more than mine:
              .
              “THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MODI: THE NEW STRENGTH OF INDIA”
              .
              “Since his election in 2014, this man of the people, so skilled in communication, has undertaken some profound economic reforms but is also driving a nationalist and populist internal shift, to the detriment of minorities, women, and human rights.”
              .
              Source: https://www.zed.fr/en/catalog/the-world-according-to-modi
              .
              Does it look like if unity is the priority? Not to me…

              • 7
                1

                Ruchira,
                “Does it look like if unity is the priority? Not to me…”
                No, of course not. Your understanding of the limits of Modi’s power are coloured by your local experience. All the Southern states, where Modi has no say, are economically better off than most of the the Hindi heartland.

                • 0
                  6

                  I think I have quoted and linked an Al Jazeera report on Modi’s Greater India project, somewhere in response to a comment made by veddah. You may have a look at it. I am not talking about Southern states I am talking about India as a whole and its behaviour as reflected by domestic as well as external affairs. I also have earlier referenced an Arundhati Roy’s speech showing what Modi and BJP’s ideal are all about. That too may shed some light. No idea why anyone want to focus just on Southern States whenever the issue of India is brought in.

                  • 7
                    1

                    “No idea why anyone want to focus just on Southern States whenever the issue of India is brought in.”
                    Because you think that India is an economic monolith. It isn’t. Each state is free to follow its own economic program. What sector it wants to develop is up to the state leadership. Federalism in action, which I suppose is contrary to your narrative of “Federalism =Separation “. Let’s be honest.

                    • 1
                      6

                      “Because you think that India is an economic monolith.”
                      .
                      Where have I claimed anything as such?
                      .
                      My complaint has been India’s hegemonic geopolitics. So called Akhand Bharat or Greater India in the guise of a Neighbourhood first policy.
                      .
                      Federalism in India is not as same as federalism in Sri Lanka or anywhere else. .
                      You don’t have to create a Federation in Sri Lanka because that is what is in place in India or Switzerland or in the United Kingdom or any other place.
                      .
                      I object to creating federal states along ethnic lines in Sri Lanka. I have given reasons too for this.
                      .
                      FYI (even your so called fascist) Lester has got the gist of the argument.
                      .
                      Sadly you haven’t. Perhaps many other dinasours here have not got it too. They promote fake theories, to justify a federal state in North and East, which is a residue of the demand of a seperate state that was crushed in a 30 year war that ended violently.

                    • 2
                      7

                      Old Codger,

                      Federalism can work in S. Lanka if there is an economically strong middle class. It will not work in other circumstances, because radicalized youth will turn to Marxism/anarchy (JVP) or separatism (LTTE) or religious terrorism (Kattankudy). Federalism works well in Switzerland because the standard of living is very high. There is no benefit from cessation in that case. Federalism is no guarantee of success. India is still lagging behind China, which has no devolution of power. Even with federalism, India has a huge problem with separatists. Most recently is the “Khalistan movement”, which caused a diplomatic rift with Canada. There is also Kashmir. There are separatists in the DMK as well.

                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Separatism_in_India

                    • 5
                      1

                      Ruchira,
                      “Federalism in India is not as same as federalism in Sri Lanka or anywhere else. .
                      You don’t have to create a Federation in Sri Lanka because that is what is in place in India or Switzerland or in the United Kingdom or any other place”
                      Of course it isn’t. Indian federalism includes police and language powers and other things which would be unthinkable to those who have turned the word into something sacrilegious in SL. And it is ethnic based.
                      We don’t have to follow them. The best solution would be equal opportunities for all irrespective of ethnicity or religion, but that is clearly impossible. According to majoritarians, it is unfair if a minority, through its own efforts, hogs a greater share of benefits.
                      You may be highly critical of India, but in India nobody complains about Sikhs dominating the army , Tamils controlling finance, or even Parsees controlling industry.

                    • 0
                      3

                      OC – For one last time. My contention about India has mainly been about its foreign affairs not domestic ones. Whenever I referred to the latter it was to show that all is not as rosy as it seems in India as some would like us to believe. For example Rajan Philips in one of his essays. I have raised my objections and have given reasons. You are free to disagree. A confrontational discourse of back and forth comments is futile as there is nothing more to add. Have a good weekend.

          • 1
            9

            “Therefore I think unity is not a prerequisite for development. In fact development could be a unifying force.”

            Basically what you are saying is that development should come before unity. That makes sense. If people are poor, they start subscribing to stupid ideologies: sharia, separatism, white supremacy etc. This is where terrorists are recruited from, not the demographic who frequent the Ritz Carlton or Taj. Poverty leads desperation and emotional vulnerability. Now how does this model work? Singapore is a good example. It it is not a democracy in the Western sense, since one family has run it for most of its existence. It was created out of a race riot, with the Malays and Chinese choosing not to live together due to “insurmountable” cultural differences. The success of Singapore? It is run like a well-oiled machine. Chinese dominate, but everyone works hard, pays taxes and has access to upward socioeconomic mobility. People who break the law, even for small infractions, are severely punished.

            • 1
              8

              Lester – “If people are poor, they start subscribing to stupid ideologies: sharia, separatism, white supremacy etc. This is where terrorists are recruited from, not the demographic who frequent the Ritz Carlton or Taj. Poverty leads desperation and emotional vulnerability”.
              .
              Yes, you are right. I think I can agree. It’s capitalism at work. Singapore like you have highlighted is a good example, eventhough it’s not ideal in terms of civil liberties.

            • 5
              0

              Lester,
              “Federalism can work in S. Lanka if there is an economically strong middle class. “
              There is a much stronger middle class in SL now than there was in Tamilnadu or Haryana when they started developing.

            • 4
              1

              “Therefore I think unity is not a prerequisite for development. In fact development could be a unifying force.”
              Lester, are you talking about the man who said in the 1970s, that he was copying the model called Ceylon to develop Singapore? Then why did that model, which was already established in Ceylon didn’t work for Langkang, but worked for Singapore, when he used it there? Did you think about it? Did you read and ponder about that “one man’s”’ writing in his biography about the destructive racism that kept growing in Langkang, not relenting, unlike in Malaysia? You wish to copy the “one man’s” methods’ external symptoms, but not ready to follow his in-depth advice? The man who created the success story of Singapore has, in his explanation of Singapore’s success, condemned Langkang’s racism. Why are you, you who forced the model that delivered a success story in Singapore to fail in Langkang, trying to give your own interpretation for his success? Racial war in Singapore is over. Do you see a need there for ICCPR or PTA, OSA, or…. in Singapore after it was freed. Don’t you think if Tamil Eelam was freed in 1958, Langkang and Tamil Eelam would be beyond Malaysia and Singapore?

            • 3
              1

              ……….” The success of Singapore? It is run like a well-oiled machine. Chinese dominate, but everyone works hard, pays taxes and has access to upward socioeconomic mobility. ”
              Your inability to understand the difference between a High Criminal IGP using PTA like laws to round up ordinary drug addicts to make Langkang appear in the eyes of IMF that the Langkang had already fulfilled IMF conditions for next tranche and then the Singapore strictly enforcing its laws is making you to discount the Singapore’s status on the world position. Singapore is the number one city on the livable index for the fifteenth time in 2022. Singapore is not a democracy comparable to Sweden, Switzerland or New Zealand. But what is the law comparable to the PTA in Singapore you see? Whom there is the IGP. What type of KuYukthi operation was initiated to torture the population by the state government?

            • 4
              1

              Next to the white dominant colonies like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, it was Ceylon in the highest status within the countries freed by Britain. How many people have repeatedly brought Bangladesh, a beggar country, here which was only recently separated from Pakistan. Where is Pakistan’s loan burden standing and where Is Bangladesh’s fast-growing economy going? For the past four terms Bangladesh was happy with their PM. But still Pakistan struggled to set up an election system from 1948 to elect them a government same as Langkang.
              Your sheepishness is you badly misunderstanding the status of the minds of the people of Langkang. Even the IMF has predicted a dangerous riot around the next election. Like India’s warning about the 4/21 Jihadi war, Evil is not ready to make the country cool down, heeding that IMF’s warning, but he and his acolytes are pouring racism oil to make it flare up larger than 1983. This time people would go for a bloodbath in the style of the French Revolution, unless the NPP hangs them high on the political criminals after the election. It seems only Royal rowdies are ready to run to Uganda. Prasana like crooks still looking for left out to squeeze the last drop. That doesn’t look too smart.

          • 6
            1

            Ruchira,
            “Thomas Friedman in one of his books states, that no two countries that have the presence of McDonalds on their shores have ever gone to war with each other.”
            Try Russia and Ukraine
            Or India and Pakistan.
            Or Iraq and Kuwait
            As for “petty conflicts over various issues”, try Northern Ireland and Spain.

            • 0
              7

              It’s Capitalist theory. You may want to take up with Thomas Friedman himseld for any inconsistencies in it, as I have already made my disclaimers known in the original comment.

              • 7
                1

                Ruchira,
                If you use fallacious evidence, it follows that whatever conclusions you derive are also fallacious.. Garbage in garbage out.
                As to your agreement with Lester on “If people are poor, they start subscribing to stupid ideologies:”, I know you are clueless about history, but you could have checked whether Germans were poor in 1939.
                Not everything is as black and white as the two of you try to make out.

                • 1
                  3

                  Hello OC,
                  Not that I agree with the poor theory, but yes prior to 1939 the Germans suffered poverty.This was due in part to the reparations they had to endure after the 1st World War. Hyperinflation was drastic in Germany. I still puzzle over how a civilised people could allow the rise in Fascism (the middle class did nothing to stop it) and the subsequent Holocaust that ensued.
                  Best regards

                  • 0
                    6

                    LankaScot – Not an attempt to justify Friedman but he I think is referring to the modern world. Particularly the globalised world that came to in the last few decades mainly.

                    • 0
                      5

                      *came to existence

                    • 5
                      0

                      Ruchira,
                      Before you post such “pop-economics”, don’t you think you should verify whether it stands up to even a cursory scrutiny?

                  • 7
                    1

                    LS,
                    That’s why I picked 1939, you see.”Meanwhile, Schacht’s administration achieved a rapid decline in the unemployment rate, the largest of any country during the Great Depression.[20] By 1938, unemployment was practically extinct.[27]”
                    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Nazi_Germany
                    So, Germans under Hitler were quite happy by 1939, and raised no objections, as you say.

                  • 0
                    6

                    LankaScot/OC –
                    .
                    Here’s what Friedman had to say about his ‘theory’:
                    .
                    “I was both amazed and amused by how much the Golden Arches Theory had gotten around and how intensely certain people wanted to prove it wrong. They were mostly realists and out-of-work Cold Warriors who insisted that politics, and the never-ending struggle between nation-states, were the immutable defining feature of international affairs, and they were professionally and psychologically threatened by the idea that globalization and economic integration might actually influence geopolitics in some very new and fundamental ways.”
                    .
                    “…Friedman said that he framed this theory in terms of McDonald’s Golden Arches “with tongue slightly in cheek””
                    .

                    • 0
                      4

                      OC – “Before you post such “pop-economics”, don’t you think you should verify whether it stands up to even a cursory scrutiny?”
                      .
                      Nothing to scrutinize. Ot was mentioned to emphasise a certain idea that was presented. That’s all. As usual splitting hairs about it without paying attention to the idea presented is the issue. In any case if you read the links provided it would have been clear, but you didn’t. Friedman himself has clarified this.
                      .
                      Even the standard economic theories are challenged and it was not presented as a standard economic theory to be scrutinized.
                      .

                • 0
                  6

                  “Not everything is as black and white as the two of you try to make out.”
                  .
                  Yes I can agree. It is the reason that Friedman’s theory may hold some merit.
                  .
                  Conflicts have arisen due to many reasons.
                  .
                  What lester has explained and to which I agree is just one aspect.
                  .
                  Like you said nothing is black and white. There are always shades of various forms.
                  .
                  The fact that there are historical evidence to prove that a certain conflict was not a result of poverty, doesn’t necessarily mean conflicts couldn’t occur along such lines.
                  .
                  What Friedman refers to are about conflicts that haven’t taken place. Conflicts that, on the other hand, have taken place do not necessarily invalidate his claim completely.
                  .
                  These are not hard sciences governed by rigid theories to completely accept or deny them.

                  • 0
                    5

                    Also see my comment to LankaScot above.

            • 1
              5

              LankaScot/OC – Thomas Friedman I believe was neither sociologist nor an anthropologist. I do not know his background but he was a known journalist. And these writings are what some people call Pop-science as they are not strict scientific work. So it is implied that what they say should be taken with a pinch of salt so to speak.
              .
              Another such writer whose work I am familiar with is Michael Gladwell – more recent than Friedman. Among his work is a book called “Blink” in which he makes certain interesting claims about how our minds work and how we take decisions. Soon after its publication another writer wrote a book called “Think” arguing against and refuting what Gladwell claims in his book “Blink”. I will leave it upto you to figure out the subjects or the arguments addressed in each if you are so inclined and to decide who is telling the truth and who isn’t, as some have already been accusing me of writing pages and pages – so I will stop at that. Hope the weekend is a pleasant one despite the heat!

        • 8
          0

          “Israel has developed despite the conflict that has been going on with the Palastinians throughtout its existence.”
          Even the Palestinians would have developed if the US had given them 130 billion USD over 75 years.
          https://www.axios.com/2023/11/04/us-israel-aid-military-funding-chart

          • 0
            5

            Well….. never mind I will leave it upto you to decide (interpret) what I have said in a manner you want and/or understand. No point in arguing back and forth if don’t see the point I am trying to make.

            • 0
              4

              *if you

    • 8
      2

      Dear Rational Thinkers,

      Further arguments would not be necessary, the biggest obstacle to the national development plan is the fraud created by Sinhala Buddhists in this country.

      I am sorry for the minorities that have other beliefs. Unfortunately, they should continue facing the disadavantages even if their thoughts would have been progressive.
      Sinhala buddhists of yet today, work BEING based on a book which was summarised and published in a stone age.
      They interpret their SINHALA Buddhism according to a book (Mahawansaya) summarized by a monk centuries ago. I wonder why the well-educated monks of
      today could not revise it using all the archaeological and other facts that have been revealed to the world today. That PINGUTTHARAYA aka chief monk of MOST respected Kelaniya Raja Maha viharaya the manner spoke to the press is far beyond the truth about true teachings of buddha.

      Most radical monks that presided any kind of political parades of buddhist racists politicians such Rajapakshe have not the basic knowledge in true buddhism. High chapter monks just abuse their mouth time over time for no good reason, however the place given to the MONKS in the society is being abused by them.

    • 3
      0

      (Part I)
      “NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. A FEW GOOD BRAINS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT”
      I agree, it’s not as complicated as Rocket Science, but needs, WILL and PURSUASION!!??
      How very true?? So why didn’t it happen for last 75 years since Independence?? Who or what held them back???
      Before you could pronounce and answer for National Development Plan for the whole country, let us see, why these Guys, who call themselves as Erudite, Emancipated, cannot even discern, which orifice in their body, spouts smelly stuff!! ULTIMATE IGNORANCE!
      This country had the facility of Free education since 1931 and there was a Board of Ministers first and since 1948 Cabinet of Ministers with a Prime Minister, with elections every 5 years until 1970!? 22 Years to be specific, and the beggars (who were governing) did not realise, that the Curriculum, Standard of Education, ancillary Facilities (such as Libraries, Sports grounds) were lacking and lagging behind in South, than that of Private schools (Missionary) in the North!!! There wasn’t many private Missionary schools in the south as the Southern Polity boycotted, preferred Pirivena education and not Christian Missionary, schools to protect their predominant religion in the south Sri Lanka!!
      (TBC)

    • 2
      0

      (Part II)
      They woke up only after the JVP, waking them up after 1966!! As a result, since they wanted to appease JVP followers, they identified the lapse and INTRODUCED STANDARDISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION ADMISSIONS FROM THE MERIT BASED SYSTEM OBTAINED, UNTIL THEN. ON THE PREMISE IT WAS A SHORT-TERM ADJUSTMENT AND ONCE THE FACILITIES OF SCHOOLS IN SOUTH SL, WITHIN THE TERM OF THAT GOVERNMENT!!!??? The Northern schools were cut down admission to university quotas and consequently Northern students deprived eligibility of admissions for HE slots!!?
      When anyone talks about planning, if they know what they are about, IS THE FACT, PROPER PLANNING ENTAILS SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD OR CUT-OFF TIME!!???
      Low and behold, the country was busy with every other thing than that PLAN TO UPGRADE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN SOUTH Sri Lanka FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE Sinhalese students, who had no gain whatever of Upgraded SCHOOLS, LABORATORIES, SPORTS GROUNDS AND LIBRARIES IN RURAL SINHALESE PROVICES by these WICKED politicians Governing US, all!!??
      They had Money and wherewithal, to spend Billions of USD and SLRs on other infrastructure to enhance their avarice!!!
      (TBC)

      • 3
        0

        (Part III)
        The net result was, very cruel, both the Northern students (Deprivation of NO More, Merit based admission and resulting discrimination) and the Southern Students mainly Sinhalese being deprived of Upgraded schools with comprehensive facilities to help educate them!!??
        IF THAT IS THE PLANNING THESE SCOUNDRELS COULD DO FOR 75 YEARS FROM INDEPENDENCE OR 52+ YEARS AFTER BELATEDLY IDENTIFYING THE ISSUE – LACK OF SCHOOL, EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, that speaks volumes of the intellect, Erudition, Skills, Aptitude and enabled ability of the SKUNKS who “PASS-OFF” as Policy Planners and Implementers!!!???
        Given that scenario, it is clearly discerned these Government Plan Implementers are utterly and totally incapable of any planning or Implementation and discard that expectation, GO FOR THE FEDERAL Model of Governance, FIRST AND FOREMOST, depending on the progress and motivation of the particular FEDERAL unit DEVELOPMENT FUNDS WOULD FLOW UNHINDERED!? INVESTORS HAVE FREE CHOICE OF CHOOSING Place and ITEM of INVESTMENT!!?? If and when that happens, FORESEE ‘Silver Lining’ in the sky, for all Sri Lankans!? ‘CONSTRUCTIVE COMPETITION’ between Federal Units!!?? Optimised speed in Development implementation of whole country!!?? One emulating results of the Other and faster Progress!!!?? Competitive Camaraderie would evolve for Successful SL!??

    • 0
      0

      “Similarly, Sri Lankan Airline is one of the main facilitators to Sri Lankan tourism, when sold to a competitor, can we expect that foreign investor to develop our national carrier, so that tourists can conveniently come to Sri Lanka? “”
      What claptrap!
      May I point out that Maldives, which gets more tourists than SL, has no international airline?

  • 13
    1

    What’d I say! ……… the plans are afoot for poor ol’ Ranil Aiyya ……… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK-0fhaUnBo

    It’s never about the country or the people ……. it’s all about obtaining and remaining in power. …….. Just can’t imagine how twisted and crooked these minds are ……. always scheming …… perpetually scheming …….. until the devil beckons ……

    Native, get your Ranil Aiyya to say Hi to Basil Aiyya for me.

    • 15
      1

      Nimal, this whole thing about economy seems , kicking the can down the lane and let future generations deal with our problems. See today’s article on DM “Economic policies in an election year” , by Dr. Sharmini Coorey , former dept director of IMF, currently a member of presidential advisory group on multilateral engagement and debt sustainability. According to her public debt would stay above 100 % of GDP even in 2027 / 28, and continue to stay at very high levels, above 95 % until 2032 ( pre – pandemic level was 90 % of GDP) . I have to agree with OC on this, that stupid Rajapaksa economics broke the camel’s back . To put this in perspective, debt of emerging or developing markets worldwide average 65 % of GDP (comparators) and 73 % of Asian GDP .

      • 7
        0

        ” “Economic policies in an election year” , by Dr. Sharmini Coorey”

        chiv,

        Thanks, interesting piece. Good of her to come out with a realistic appraisal. I’m not surprised she is in Ranil’s advisory group along with Native. She is one of Ranil’s Royal C buddie’s cousins ……. Andos who Ranil appointed as chairman of Air Lanka.

        Sharmini got a scholarship straight from Ladies’ into Harvard ……. bright gal ……..

        • 2
          0

          Nimal,
          Do I see a connection between Cooreys , Bandaranaikes, Edirisinhas, Wijesinhes, Wickremesinghes, etc…?
          Because you mentioned Ladies’.

          • 3
            0

            OC,

            What are you trying to do to me? …….. If I reveal too much, you won’t see a connection ……. what you’ll see is a parcel bomb being mailed from some remote PO in Banadarawela.

            She is also my cousin’s cousin ……she was very cute and boys were very keen on her in her school days.

            And my cousin – yes, the puny little school by the sea – was an utter rowdy. :)))

            • 1
              0

              Nimal,
              Just for confirmation, is she an Anglican?

              • 0
                0

                OC,

                They are very anglicized non-practising Buddhists. Her great grandmother gave money and land to establish Visaka College. I don’t know if she converted during her time in America.

                • 2
                  0

                  Nimal,
                  Many of those who spell their Sinhala family names in English a bit differently from the rest are either Anglicans, or used to be Anglicans. I think you know RW’s uncle was an Anglican Bishop. There is at least one Anglican in Bandarawela, yes.
                  BTW, no one converts to Anglicanism nowadays. 🤣🤣

          • 0
            4

            Old Codger,

            “Do I see a connection between Cooreys , Bandaranaikes, Edirisinhas, Wijesinhes, Wickremesinghes, etc…?”

            None of them attended a government school. Are you disappointed?

            • 3
              0

              Lester
              Being a foreigner, you wouldn’t know that RC is a government school…..

    • 12
      1

      nimal fernando

      “Native, get your Ranil Aiyya to say Hi to Basil Aiyya for me.”

      I thought you want to say bye bye to both of them.

      • 7
        1

        Like what Ranil has done all his political life! …… Hi and Bye ….. Hi and Bye ……

        For him, the good ol’ Bye …… is approaching rapidly ……. once again ……..

        Then will you be one of his Bridge buddies …… to while away the time? :))

        • 2
          4

          nimal fernando

          “Like what Ranil has done all his political life! …… Hi and Bye ….. Hi and Bye ……”

          Don’t forget Ranil was the one who inserted wedge between Karuna Amman and your hero Velupillai Prabaharan. Within 5 years LTTE collapsed (according to VP’s ball carriers it was not a defeat but an occasion on which arms were silenced by LTTE).

          The collapse of LTTE commenced when Norwegians started poking their nose in Sri Lankan affairs as they did with Palestinians. As always your mate VP thought his strategic brilliance will take him to his much cherished Tamil Eelam, because Norwegians were helping him to achieve his objective. That fool didn’t understand what the Norwegians had in store for him and LTTE. Ranil brought Norwegians to weaken LTTE and eventually destroy the idea of Tamil Eelam.

          Within 5 or 6 years Ranil successfully fulfilled that.

          Sinhala Buddhists (nothing to do with Sinhalese and Buddhists) should thank him and vote for him. Else they should be branded as TRAITORS.
          By the way I am not going to vote for UNP/Ranil anyway.

          • 5
            1

            Native,

            You’re interpreting history for a narrative you want to project to show Ranil in good light. What happened was a little different. :)))

            I’ll write when I have a little more time.

          • 2
            5

            Native,

            “Don’t forget Ranil was the one who inserted wedge between Karuna Amman and your hero Velupillai Prabaharan.”

            Not quite. Karuna was stealing money donated by the Diaspora and sending it to his wife in Malaysia. Prabhakaran was ready to kill him in an ambush, that is when Ranil intervened and brought him to Colombo. After that, Gotha used Karuna to set up a paramilitary (TMVP) that terrorized pro-LTTE people in the East. Very similar to what the CIA did with Pinochet in Chile. But TMVP did not fight against the LTTE in the major battles.

            “Within 5 years LTTE collapsed”

            LTTE did not collapse. They fought to the last man, minus fat pig and the top leadership. At the very end, there were dozens of suicide cadres blowing themselves up to prevent SLA from reaching fat pig. Soosai family tried to escape to India, they were caught. There was an airplane runway as well, but it was within range of SLA artillery.

            • 3
              0

              Aiyo Lester

              “Karuna was stealing money donated by the Diaspora and sending it to his wife in Malaysia.”

              Diaspora money (according to people in the know) did not come to SRI Lanka. The collection remained with LTTE agents abroad who invested in various ventures and paid for weapons.


              You lead us to believe
              Karuna didn’t have a wife in Malaysia the wife lived/lives(?) in the UK. It was K Pathmanathan (KP, the mule) who had a Thai wife in Thailand. Your cousin the Psychopath VP never accused Karuna of stealing money however he accused Karuna of being cowardice, for suggesting to carry on with the peace process.


              “Gotha used Karuna to set up a paramilitary (TMVP) that terrorized pro-LTTE people in the East.”

              You lead us to believe Gota and armed forces never committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

              “LTTE did not collapse.”

              The fighting in Mannar started in 2007. By the time LTTE’s collapse was already visible.

              You sound like LTTE’s Joseph Goebbels.

  • 8
    0

    The biggest obstacle to an NPP victory would be the concerted efforts of the criminals of both major political camps who, with their black money and funding of crooked corporate giants who will mount various mud campaigns to discredit the sincerity of the NPP. They have an existential fear that if the NPP comes to power, all their crooked schemes will be dismantled. They do not care that millions of poor people will rise in economic terms and eventually have far better health, nutrition, employment, security and justice with an NPP government.

  • 16
    1

    Talking abut the economy what is happening at Srilankan airline -a international embarrassment !

    There are rats all over this national carrier. The Chairman of Srilankan is rogue businessman Ashok Pathirage and his sidekick the sleazy Malaysian economic assassin Hans Wijesuriya.

    In another life, Ashok Pathirage ( Softlogic) is the chief sales agent for Dialog ( Hans Wijesuriya)

    It is that simple.!

    The simpleton Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided that these two can run our airline. All that happened during Covid and thereafter was that all off loaded passengers of Srilankan were accommodated at Movenpick the five star hotel owned by Softlogic !

    By the way, not only the present Board at Srilankan ( all political appointees) even those of previous boards enjoy many benefits including free air travel for their entire families.

    It is time that all the names of previous Board members and all the benefits they enjoyed and continue to enjoy are tabled in Parliament.

    Remember that this bankrupt country is paying billions of rupees to maintain this white elephant.

  • 1
    1

    The present outlook of the JVP/NPP reminds me of the English Poet John Donne……..
    No man is an Island……………….

  • 3
    0

    It is very difficult for any country other than the economic superpowers of china,US and EU to be nonaligned.All others will be dragged into one of these ones orbit and become aa satelite state .India is a potential economic superpower in the future though it is only about 40% of china now so it can resist a bit but i see it also being dragged into the (Quadrilateral secutity dialogue)QSD,commonly known as the QUAD consisting of the US,india,japan and australia to provide security to the south pacific.

    It is not a question of nonalignment lip service in the future, but which of the three economic superpowers are we are going to align with that is the question.For me the EU is te best because it is the most non controversial of the three and the other two may end up in a prolonged economic war one day with each other trying to emasculate the other and in the process weakening themselves.

  • 4
    1

    The author reports AKD as saying that if Telecom and Sri Lankan Airline are sold to foreigners, they would not make the necessary additional investments to expand the infrastructure and make efforts to provide a better service.
    How stupid an opinion is that (which the author, to his shame, cites approvingly)? Foreigners buy state-owned enterprises to make loss making ones profitable and profitable ones even more profitable and injecting additional capital and improving the service provided are a necessary part of that. Why else would they any thing in this country or any other country?

    • 1
      0

      Correction:
      “Why else would they BUY any thing in this country or any other country?”

    • 6
      0

      LJ,
      SLT -Mobitel, though touted as the “national telecom provider”, is half Malaysian owned. There is only one fully SL owned telco, Lanka Bell, and its performance is , to put it mildly, less than stellar.
      As to Srilankan, it has been eating up on average 17 billion annually (45 bn in 2023) since it was taken from Emirates. It may be cheaper to pay people to fly on other airlines.
      Apparently the author doesn’t know the difference between a national asset and a national liability.

  • 4
    0

    C’mon ……. you guys! Where is ye common sense? …….. Is it not so common in Lanka, these days?

    It doesn’t matter what the JVP/NPP ……. says, does, going to do, …………. their philosophy, their inexperience, their incompetence!

    It’s not the blooming JVP that bankrupted the bloody Air Lanka and ran it woefully at a perpetual loss: it’s the people who were in power Mahinda/Ranil/CBK/Sirisena/JR …….. have the firgging intellectual honesty and even and iota of commonsense to see it for what it is!

    Can the JVP with the greatest incompetence and inexperience ………. run it any worse?

    You guys can never get over your stultified moronic prejudices – for or against.

    Better die or shut up …….. and let fresh and young minds …….. take over. ………. The geriatric old farts have done enough damage.

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