By Samantha Power –
On my final day in Colombo last November, I hosted a town hall for local students. They reflected Sri Lanka’s incredible diversity – they hailed from every corner of the country, and represented all of its faith communities. And they asked me tough, probing questions on topics like accountability, human rights, reconciliation, and the role of women in society. These young people were inspiring – in their thoughtfulness, and their fierce determination to improve their country. It was clear that they want what everyone in this room wants for Sri Lanka: a country which is peaceful and democratic, and in which every citizen has a fair chance to build a better life. In just sixteen short months, President Siresena and his administration have given them new reason to believe that this goal is attainable. Today, through your work, you will help move Sri Lanka even closer towards achieving it.
Thank you, Ambassador Froman. Minister Samarawickrama, thank you as well. There were two reasons that I flew down from New York to join you today. The first is that I fell in love with Sri Lankan food during my visits, and I was told there would be string hoppers, curries, and pol sambol for breakfast. It appears I was misled.
Fortunately, the second reason for my trip down is far more important. I came because of the importance President Obama places on the United States’ bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka. More specifically, I came to underscore the United States’ commitment to Sri Lanka’s continued progress, and our determination to support President Sirisena’s goal of ensuring that this progress delivers socio-economic benefits for all Sri Lankans.
Of course, the fact that we are here at all reflects just how much has changed since January 2015. That month, Sri Lankans cast their votes for a new era: one in which their leadership committed to seeking a durable peace, an accountable democracy, a new relationship with the outside world, and expanded economic opportunities for all.
In the sixteen months since that election, President Sirisena’s administration has made extraordinary progress towards these goals. The difference in the political and security climate is felt across the island. When I visited in November, the change since my last visit in 2010 was palpable. People told me that it felt like a climate of fear had been lifted: activists felt safe to work openly and criticize the government; journalists reported freely; political prisoners were being released; land was being returned to the people; and the internally displaced were going home. As part of its determination to deal with abuses of the past, the government had committed to justice and reconciliation processes which will serve all Sri Lankans. I have never seen a country take such swift strides in such little time.
But you do not have to visit Sri Lanka to see how much has changed. It is similarly evident in Sri Lanka’s new role on the world stage. To cite one example, after becoming a sad example of creeping authoritarianism, it has emerged since January 2015 as a global advocate on issues like human rights and democratic accountability. In an era when too many other leaders are trying to change constitutions to abolish term limits, President Sirisena’s government passed an amendment to Sri Lanka’s that reintroduced a two-term limit and reduced the power of his office. To cite another example, Sri Lanka demonstrated last November its emerging leadership in UN peacekeeping, when President Sirisena announced new military and police commitments – including infantry battalions, special forces, and combat logistics units. This was one of the most impressive and significant pledges made at President Obama’s peacekeeping summit. Now, there is still much work to be done, including towards key goals like addressing corruption, advancing transitional justice, and improving the quality of governance. We are clear-eyed about the challenges still ahead, and that includes the one that brings us here today: ensuring that this progress also extends to Sri Lanka’s economy, and that it leads to improvements in the daily lives of all Sri Lankans. Sri Lankans are understandably impatient –they want to see a democracy dividend quickly. Now, achieving the socio-economic growth which Sri Lankans seek and deserve will take time, particularly given the legacy of war and the corruption and economic mismanagement of recent years. But the Joint Action Plan being adopted today will help make it happen. It will expand trade, encourage foreign investment, and spur growth – and in doing so, it will boost employment, income, and living standards.
This comprehensive effort will rightly work to empower women economically – a strategically important focus, given the long established economic benefits countries derive when they tap the talents and productive capacity of all of their citizens. Sri Lanka has already achieved impressively high rates of female education, with women making up 60% of university undergraduates – but the principles laid out in the Joint Action Plan, and the initiatives they facilitate, will help further break down barriers for women entrepreneurs, to the benefit of all Sri Lankans. The United States we will seek to leverage our assistance this year to further support broad-based economic growth. Sri Lanka’s acceptance as a threshold member of the Millennium Challenge Corporation will provide another means through which we can provide financial and development assistance.
Let me conclude. On my final day in Colombo last November, I hosted a town hall for local students. They reflected Sri Lanka’s incredible diversity – they hailed from every corner of the country, and represented all of its faith communities. And they asked me tough, probing questions on topics like accountability, human rights, reconciliation, and the role of women in society. These young people were inspiring – in their thoughtfulness, and their fierce determination to improve their country. It was clear that they want what everyone in this room wants for Sri Lanka: a country which is peaceful and democratic, and in which every citizen has a fair chance to build a better life. In just sixteen short months, President Siresena and his administration have given them new reason to believe that this goal is attainable. Today, through your work, you will help move Sri Lanka even closer towards achieving it.
Thank you, and good luck.
*Opening Statement, US-Sri Lanka TIFA Council Meeting – Ambassador Samantha Power – April 28, 2016
J.MUTHU / April 29, 2016
[Edited out]
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paul / April 29, 2016
That’s the wisest thing you have ever posted. Congratulations.
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Davidson Panabokke / May 2, 2016
”emerging leadership in UN peacekeeping”:
Hmmm.. they’re keeping the North and East in tiptop condition(by farming, building including running pre-schools, refusing to hand them over to Dept of Education:
http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=17793
FormerPresident Rajapakse didn’t allowpeacekeeping force suggested by UNSR for extrajudicial killings in 2006/7/8 when journalists, politicians, priests, aid workers, students …. were getting murdered in highly militarised areas. The new government hasn’t started investigation of these murders, has fits and starts on media freedom, dragging feet without passing FoI bill, …. not trying enough to be different from previous regime(does it want to be?), ….. …. ………..
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Native Vedda / April 29, 2016
JAMIS MUTHU BANDA the Tamil speaking Sinhalam
” [Edited out]”
Brilliant
Thanks for keeping it brief.
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Zorro / April 30, 2016
Samantha Power,
So it’s going to be dirt cheap- Who wants to eat cheap dirt?
(government servants worldwide are just the same- dirty dirty)
Professor Politicians are the worst because they are unable to perform in their profession so they kill the profession once in power. look around the world) My head of department told me on last day you are going to make it in your field and i did very well while the ones who scored very high went to teach for a song- we were fans of Rand and was never surprised to see Bill and Mark- like fountain head. we disliked Gail Wynand and Peter Keating.
Intelligent men always doubt while the stupid are cocksure- even on CT newsroom. The island has long been fed with the Anglo/Irish conflict. Well the Irish believe in Gun and Judiciary which does not work. But the English have tentacles in their brains so they rule and that is our heritage. I await to have Boris Johnson as our PM- the pin up boy of Chinese youth You know know his journalistic, Classical language skills Of course he knows when to use the F word too as he did in the lift.
Last November when I watched The Trump on CNN he became my man- He will not be beaten. He spends his own cash while both GOP/Dems most billionaire’s spend the money of multi-nationals to grant favours and make the poor miserable and die in inflicted wars.- that’s the business you know too. The Trump is an instant hit with Putin and Xi and that’s how we see the world.
Barry Hussain/Hillary has over ridden the Judiciary which has never happened in the history of USA.
You are part of that scheme and enter this island as a greedy tourist because you can never have your emerald island because it’s the 2nd largest yacht building site in the world. You are playing the cheap game of child politics. Your husband’s brains were the brains that gave you your position. State Department was spoilt by non-other than Hillary overriding with sex appointments and continued by Kerry- Senior Athul and Junior Desai. Barry could not even nominate Srinivasan the 97/0 as Judge SC. Barry robbed us all with Change then Hope. What a filthy spinner- Zero contracts and unemployment massaged. How many Vets are committing suicide on a daily basis?
We all need a better economy and the 2 Trump, Boris can deliver that without being under the hammer of multinationals. There won’t be Iraq and NK Jong would go missing… etc we had enough and enough. We live in a global village and you could have the food you relish even at Bali-please go away as you have done more than enough and not the pretty bird at University anymore. I have to speak from the soul for the island I was born though I will never return as the whole world is my oyster.
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Boom Boom / April 29, 2016
What will this woman could ever do for Sri Lanka? She is a political appointment and when Obama goes in November she will also be kaput.
When she is not in ‘power’ there will be war crimes charges filed against her for organising the bombing that killed 600000 innocent civilians in Libya.
She will also be charged with the murder of Muamer Gadaff, his son and his adopted daughter.
She should rot in hell.
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Eusense / April 30, 2016
Boom,
Looks like the pro-terror Tamil has declared war against the US!
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Patriot / April 29, 2016
Yaba yaba yaba yaba Sirisena yaba yaba yaba yaba Sirisena. Yaba yaba Sirisena. Hmmmm..impressive yaba yaba. Helo still no bags of Gold. Yaba yaba yaba. Should at least get the reimbursement for the string hopper breakfast in Dollars. At 150 bucks it will turn Sirisena a small profit from the 133 days. Yaba Yaba meeharak. Call me again I will fly from Timbaktoo. In conclusion Yaba Yaba Sirisena.
PS
US Embassy please publish this speech in newspapers or else Sirisena will not get to know.
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justice / April 29, 2016
The U.S ambassador has been successfully ‘brain washed’.
Good show by our diplomatic corps.
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Zorro / April 30, 2016
“The U.S ambassador has been successfully ‘brain washed’.”
Its what generally happens when:
Professional Politicians shake hands with Professional Professors.
Net result Piss-Poor Protoplasm, Probable Placement Problem.
The fact that both Stalin and Mao grew to become dictators under Democrat Roosevelt and the American peoples hard earned cash is exhibit 1 to the world.
Today none GOP/Dem barring Trump is able to have Putin Xi support.
The audacity for Barry to keep that Nobel prize.
While simple folk world wide return their awards etc on principal.
Stupid debating teams of USA that are forced to listen- take it from one ear let it fly from the other should be the motto hence forth.- USA is nothing but full fledged `sex appeal` under Democrats.
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Zorro / April 30, 2016
YEAR OF THE MONKEY-INDIAN MONKEY AND CHINESE MONKEY-
THE CURIOUS AND CLEVER.
Don’t you think a man is the most amazing of animals if you insist that we are animals?
Man alone has invented a civilisation, and this is not something to be lightly dismissed.
British student Eleanor Hawkins arrested in Malaysia for posing naked on top of a sacred mountain- she was not shot but released.
Dylann Roof (USA) and Anders Behring Breivik(Norway) were white supremacism and never treated bad at all.
The knowledge that we have an animal heritage and that we are very near the beasts might help to check our behaving like beasts.
Only the development of our life to bring it into harmony with our instincts can save us. I consider the education of our senses and our emotions rather more important than the education of ideas.
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Eusense / April 30, 2016
zoro
Please get your brain examined
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Zorro / May 1, 2016
Eusense,
you have no brain what a shame.
tickle your middle and lets see which end smiles.
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PROUDMAN / April 30, 2016
Justice
One must have a brain to be washed. This woman is [Edited out]
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ramona therese fernando / April 29, 2016
The billion-dollar question is : Will your Joint Action Plan allow China’s String-of-Pearls!
ps. Why were you mislead about the breakfast? Weren’t you given the string hoppers, curries, and pol sambol?
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Zorro / April 30, 2016
“”The billion-dollar question is : Will your Joint Action Plan allow China’s String-of-Pearls! “”
You have no brain it never gets in bottom dark half burger
It seems you don’t even know the father of the island. When slave traders and catholic crusaders Portuguese Goa ferried Chinese slaves because there still are Chinese fishing gear at Cochin the locals released them and drew them away.
Cochin is the pendants of your imaginary necklace. Xi was whisked away to Ahmadabad though Chinese experts had spent months studying the place.
Until Pakistan created by bigot Truman Democrat joins the father nation to become Akhand Bharat once again.
There would never be port development of vulnerable Cochin from Roman period- only VOC came the other way because Jan Huyghen van Linschoten drew the first maps seated as Secretary Archbishop Portuguese Goa. The Brits established the very first mounted Police at Madras Presidency and that is how the island was ruled to its glory-
Fathers of Freedom of the island hid at Tamil Nadu in women’s sari.
The rest is history of cannibals from 1948.
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anotherbuddhist / April 29, 2016
I am looking towards a Donald Trump presidency. We do not have to put up with the smoke and mirrors bilateral relations we had with US under liberals/ Democrats. A Trump presidency will deal straight down the line/ with transparency. We will know what is coming at us! And it may not be all that bad.
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ramona therese fernando / April 29, 2016
Exactly, anotherbuddhist!
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Zorro / April 30, 2016
You are a lizard anotherbuddhist like Ramone
Trump cannot be hoodwinked.
eggheads you need to be bombed first- no shape shape shape.
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Eusense / April 30, 2016
another,
Apparently, you are ignorant about Trump’s stand on pro-terror actives. Yeah, you will see transparency of a different kind if he comes to power. If Hillary comes, it will be more of Samantha Powers.
Good luck!
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anotherbuddhist / April 30, 2016
Essence
No nonsense, you think Samantha Powers is better than Trump’s minions…. Read the comments below on her form! Wake up!
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sbarrkum / April 29, 2016
For a start Samantha Power could help heal war torn Libya. The invasion of Libya was promoted by Samantha Power because of what she saw as “the failure of the United States to prevent massacre and genocide, time and time again” in her Pulitzer Prize-winning book.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/may/08/libya-middleeast
Now that Libya is a failed state, because of a War of her own promotion, where Hillary Clinton said we “We came, we saw, he died” and then laughed. Now that the US does not even have an embassy Libya, it seems Samantha Power is no longer interested in helping heal war torn Libya. Absolutely no responsibility for consequences of her actions.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/clinton-on-qaddafi-we-came-we-saw-he-died/
Sri Lanka has just 92 prisoners per 100,000. The US has 698 prisoners per 100,000 of which close to 50% are black AfricanAmericans. The US black AfricanAmerican population and the Sri Lankan Tamil population percentages are approximately of the same order, around 15%. So even if every single person in Sri Lankas prisons was a Tamil (Tamils are under represented in the prison population), it still would not equal the brutal inequality that the US metes out to its black African American minorities.
Every week we hear of a black person being shot by the police. There are more black men in the U.S. prisons than the total prison population in India, Argentina, Canada, Lebanon, Japan, Germany, Finland, Israel and England combined.
I don’t think the US treatment of minorities is one that Sri Lanka should emulate. If any the US should learn from Sri Lanka.
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Native Vedda / April 30, 2016
sbarrkum
“I don’t think the US treatment of minorities is one that Sri Lanka should emulate. If any the US should learn from Sri Lanka.”
Learn what, how to send a rocket to Mars?
“Every week we hear of a black person being shot by the police. There are more black men in the U.S. prisons than the total prison population in India, Argentina, Canada, Lebanon, Japan, Germany, Finland, Israel and England combined”
Are you a civil right activist?
Your contribution is much needed here in this island than in the USA.
By the way are you implying that in competition with USA we should also send our bombers, drones, missiles to kill more Libyan?
Maybe a few white vans would do the trick. Hence, it is advisable for the USA to learn from Sri Lanka.
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Boom Boom / April 30, 2016
Native Veddah and Samantha Power are part of the global Fifth Column tasked with drawing other countries to limelight at the UN so that Israel could carry on killing women, children and destroy houses of poor people.
It is just that Veddah is doing it in hiding in the backwoods of Sri Lanka, occupying robbed land!
Whatever they do, as they believe in an Armagaddon, when the day arrives, they will have to be paying for the millions they wiped out through colonialism and other lies and they will rot in hell.
A temple will not save them. May Allah’s curse be on them.
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Native Vedda / April 30, 2016
Boom Boom
“Native Veddah and Samantha Power are part of the global Fifth Column”
Fifth column
A group within a country at war who are sympathetic to or working for its enemies.
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Eusense / April 30, 2016
vedda,
What a nonsensical response!
You should try writing comedy.. then again, please don’t!
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Zorro / April 30, 2016
“What a nonsensical response!”
California highwayman- Iguana
You are no nomad and neither did you listen to him on CNN 1st 16 videos.
Journo asked him how you would solve Iraq.
Trump: What Iraq? It won’t be on the map and within month I would have Exxon and others pump the Oil.
Better you run till you get a stitch.
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Eusense / May 1, 2016
You better run and get your brain examined
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Zorro / May 1, 2016
Soldier Hegel egghead,
What steps would you take if someone held a bayonet at you??
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sbarrkum / April 30, 2016
NV,
I live in Sri Lanka (in a small village) and a Sri Lankan citizen, no Green card, Dual citizenship etc.
>By the way are you implying that in competition
>with USA we should also send our bombers, drones,
>missiles to kill more Libyan?
Dont know what you mean. MR supported Khaddafi.
Also we dont have drones or missiles
>Maybe a few white vans would do the trick.
The US uses drones, and have yet to release the Guantanamo Detainees. You know Guantanamo Bay is in Cuba (occupied territory) and the site was selected to avoid the having to abide by the Geneva Convention rules for prisoners.
14 years prison Camp created by force in another country.
Human Rights at its best.
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Zorro / May 1, 2016
“”I live in Sri Lanka (in a small village) and a Sri Lankan citizen, no Green card, Dual citizenship etc.”
This is not what my Engineer Granddad who defended that island during the Japanese Raids would have liked to see. He did not fight in pits.
You folk ate the freedom and prosperity. Import from racist Malaysia- Vaddukoddai- Hydrocele.!! His son was wise.
The Sinhalese Hegel Eggheads.- needless to say more a stupid arrogant shape shape society.
““We came, we saw, he died” “
Yes I felt sick in the gut. She was out of my vocabulary long ago like many Chinese and Indians pointed out when she proved war- mandarin without the Heels.Satan- Apollyon. She will live in space with her cooperate Bilderberg Group, while we end up as Soylent Green.
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sbarrkum / April 30, 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp
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Zorro / May 1, 2016
sbarrkum ,
“”Now that Libya is a failed state, because of a War of her own promotion, where Hillary Clinton said we “We came, we saw, he died” and then laughed””
The catalyst to that war was the now freely educated Libyans who were pampered by Old Bedouin Gaddafi- I have met the man (and Saddam too) and he was human like anyone else. Lust for Power and the Greed as if there aren’t saner ways.
(Heard of Bose sound systems?? how did he start and how was he both HoD MIT and CEO Bose Corp- It died with him)
Free education- Aren’t you the Tamils who took to guns and the Sinhalese who took to guns of the same mentality? Always look inwards when you have an issue and the answer generally lies there- mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. (through my fault, through my fault,through my most grievous fault)
Show me a nation that does not exploit and does not have a secret police and I would gladly like to go there now and also sponsor your family.
The now `educated` Libyans and Iraqis seduced the west that they wanted western form of freedom and liberty and that they could handle it- So it all went bloody and gore. At war there is nothing called right but only the ones left.
The wise LKY and Choo his wife: What Asians/Africans value may not necessarily be what Americans or Europeans value. Westerners value the freedoms and liberties of the individual.
The US/UK was worried when LKY first brought order but they understood their own Chinese culture better than westerners. A man & woman who successfully planned new cities from scratch and made it prosper beyond any western thought.
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thondamanny / April 29, 2016
FROM WHERE WILL SHE PROVIDE goalies TO PROTECT SIRISENA’S GOALS OR BXLLS?
YES. A TRUMP PRESIDENCY WILL BE GOOD FOR THE WORLD FOR A CHANGE.
THE DIRECT TALKING UNKNOWN.
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Antany Peter / April 29, 2016
Of course it is important to maintain good ties to keep the division among Sinhalese, in order to achieve your ulterior motives. You had done a fantastic job for Tamils, they can’t do anything other than just following you blindly, even though Tamils are five times in population in the world compare to Sinhalese.
Eventually, good governance leaders will find out your ulterior motives, and conclude ‘we are not smart as we thought.’ The Rajapaksas thought that they were too smart, eventually they found the reality. Surely, good governance leaders’ turn will come in due time.
Tamils avoided people like me and gone backward. Likewise, it will happen to Sinhalese as well. Because the West knows how to keep the Tamil and Sinhalese leaders away from intellectuals. The West does a negative propaganda on smart people who do not join them. The Western Countries are the masters at occupying the high ground, and translating it into great power. In their hands morality becomes a weapon, they wield to attract attention to their cause while distracting attention to others. They make such a show of moral superiority that the others feel ashamed to disagree with them.
Diaspora leaders, the TNA leaders, and the good governance leaders all feel ashamed to disagree with the Western propaganda. South Asia can only move forward when leaders take their stand for their people, not for the White man. Show me some courage of your forefathers who fearlessly fought against the white man to free our region.
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amal perera / April 30, 2016
“” You had done a fantastic job for Tamils, they can’t do anything other than just following you blindly,””
There is nothing she did for any Tamil, but Barak `Hussain` did everything to keep the Sinhala Buddhist and Muslims on the top of the world. So she is puting all the touches thinking Hillary Billary would come in. she is clear Miltary is not my job just here to play elle and lease out a retirement home maybe.
Donald Trump would do you all so better get ready with a boat.
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Antany Peter / April 30, 2016
Bring it on dude, bring Trump
The Asians are catching up with your fake morality, especially the dragon. Indians may by your BS, but the almighty dragon won’t. In due time the dragon will wiggle you all by its tail.
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amal perera / May 1, 2016
[Edited out]
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amal perera / May 1, 2016
“”The Asians are catching up with your fake morality, especially the dragon.”
Long time no flea??
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Eusense / April 30, 2016
Looks like for the pro-terror Tamils the game is over!
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jim softy / April 30, 2016
Can you believe it.
It is Same Samantha Power who said “Fk with Europe” now want to help MY3 or [Edited out]
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Zorro / April 30, 2016
Passing Fancy School Teachers Final Air Brush
“I came because of the importance President Obama places on the United States’ bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka.”
The pirates history- Control Freaks of the world.
“”In the sixteen months since that election, President Sirisena’s administration has made extraordinary progress towards these goals.”
The man who said I would resign in 100 days is loved by Yankee Doodle who is in love with our food.- Badagini Lambogini.
“I have never seen a country take such swift strides in such little time.”
Unable to call a spade a spade it’s about papering over feeling gay.
Land several Warlords- 250 military personnel per idiot.
Stick to Diego Garcia alone. Why only 5 marines??
Land where super brain Vickram Singh of State and Defense went nuts then resigned to work on charity with wife Smith.
“its emerging leadership in UN peacekeeping, “”
More paedophiles would be sent around the world unchecked by gay, lesbian, bisexual democrats.
“Joint Action Plan”- mortgage the present and future generations. You have not succeeded after the WW2 Marshall- It’s the new Obesity that is showing its face.
“”Today, through your work, you will help move Sri Lanka even closer towards achieving it.””
That was rubbing balm on wounds that you can never heal- please go away and don’t go back as there are enough of island in the Caribbean or better still at Israel.
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Mano Ratwatte / May 1, 2016
Fact is all senior appointments like this are political appointments. Even if Hillary wins I doubt if she will remain in office for long because of personal attacks she made in 2008 by calling her a “monster”. IF(a big if) Trump wins, the entire establishment will be toppled and all the pencil pushing bureaucrats in the US State Department, Indian Americans, Sri Lankan Americans etc will have to sing for their supper with the new song the US will sing. For example, if Trump will bomb the shit out of ISIS, then the US State department lovable employees including Indian American Keshap will have to sing this tune. Even naturalized first generation American Biswal will have to sing the new song; but I think Biswal is also a political appointee. She reminds me of typical nerdy fellow Indian colleagues who were protected and probably never worked a hourly pay job and remained hidden in their Indian communities except at University.
US says it is all about democracy in SL these days. I giggled when I read Samantha Powers’ and Kerry’s bloviated statements. Here is a great quote from the article I posted. Does it seem about democracy ? Again I will vote ONLY on foreign policy on Nov 8th and I do not see how I can vote for either Trump or Clinton.
EXCERPT
Just days before Egyptian security forces massacred 1,000 nonviolent protesters in the Cairo suburb of Rabaa in August 2013, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that Sisi was “restoring democracy.” In October 2014, at a conference in Cairo dedicated to raising funds to rebuild the areas of the Gaza Strip decimated by Israeli attacks that summer (a process that has yet to begin), Kerry lent Sisi further legitimacy, hailing the dictator for “the pivotal role that Egypt has played in this region for so long.” As Sisi’s courts intensified the regime’s repressive rule, overseeing the aforementioned jailing of 40,000 Egyptians and hundreds of arbitrary death sentences, Bill and Hillary Clinton met Sisi for a photo-op. And just this April, when Obama lifted an executive order barring weapons sales to Egypt, White House National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan noted, “The Administration will not make the so-called ‘democracy certification’ in that legislation.”
(source: http://www.thenation.com/article/its-time-us-support-democracy-not-dictatorship-egypt/)
IF US under Power-Bungling Susan Rice(clueless about Benghazi attacks) -Clinton-Obama were truly about democracy they would not have encouraged the Military overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood democratically elected regime after it first encouraged free elections.
Power insulted Israel in 2002 and even called for US led military force in Israel to resolve the Palestine problem and in a TV interview mentioned how rich and powerful the Jewish lobby is. That is a no-no in the USA and it possible the more anti-Israeli stance of the Obama administration is due to her policies and also Obama’s in contrast to the more consistent policies by all previous Republican or Democratic Presidents.
I was disappointed when she used a third world like phrase “our great president” referring to Obama. Proud, educated dignified American officials do not use such servile phrases. It is almost like she has a soft spot for him.It should be Mr. President and President of the USA not our great President like Mugabe or Kim Jong Un even in press interviews.
However, SL desperately needs export markets. We cannot sell our good to neighbours. So US can punish Sri Lanka in many ways when it refuses to toe the line of the superpower. The main reason SL is a focus is geo political. I have screamed about this over and over again. Ask yourself why the Bush regime censored 28 pages of the 9/11 report to protect Saudi interests and why even the Obama administration has NOT released those pages to the American public.
Saudi Arabia=OIL in massive cheap amounts=economic stability=money=puppet master=self interest
US will desire SL to be in their camp(RW will make sure of it) because of CHINA. Yet despite all the bragging of the garrulous Harrys of this regime had to go back to China with their tails tucked even after calling them the economic hitman. Sad. Yes MR regime put SL in a mess. No one doubts that but the promised goodies, handouts and candy did not fall from American skies did it.?However, survival and self preservation says RW’s approach is right for now. My fear is long term. US is eyeing Trincomalee as a possible strategic location in their plans to contain China. It is sad to see so many Anti Chinese blokes in the RW regime being hostile to China when China has been a better friend (in relative terms) than US. My biggest fear is SL will go the way of Philippines and be a target for Islamic Jihadi ISIS Al Qaeda types if there is visible increased US presence.
Please remember that in the 1980s due to JR’s arrogance, India got pissed off at SL. US put a VOA station targeting India; at that time during the cold wa India was solidly in the Soviet camp. They viewed any moves by the US with great suspicion and hostility. JR who pretended to be so smart was arrogant or bloody clueless. 1983 riots and heinous crimes against innocent tamils was conducted by UNP JSS thugs and not the JVP or LSSP. That enabled India to further arm and support separatist terrorists in SL.
IF US is all about “accountability and democracy” as Power who called Hillary a monster claims then ask why the fcuk is it backing a corrupt regime in Uganda where the man has constantly had rigged elections and has been in power for 30 odd years? Yoweri Musuveni brought some stability to Uganda but he is no democrat. Obama went to Saudi Arabia and did not tell them to free their women and become a democracy. What did the Obama Administration do in Egypt?
Geo politics and strategic games are critical. RW is pragmatic and engages in a bit of RealPolitik now. When US micturates on a nation like SL it has to open their mouths and swallow. That is survival. So with the good it accomplishes in the form of diplomatic propaganda outreach, USAID, SL still needs to be wary of Big Daddy US and its intentions. If SL had oil oozing out of its pores like Saudi Arabia does, MR could have created a house of Saudi/Rajapakse. Also be wary of the powerful Tamil Expat lobby in US politics now specially in the Hillary camp. However, I doubt if Power will be a power broker in a Hillary “Monster” administration. Of course most certainly none of them will be relevant in a Trump administration.
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New Vanguard / May 3, 2016
“Samantha Power Misses the Mark on Sri Lanka (Again)
The Obama administration’s messaging on Sri Lanka misses the mark yet again”
“Global champion of human rights and accountability? That’s quite an assertion.”
– The Diplomat
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