A member of the Election Commission, Prof.S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole has been intimidated by the police, a highly placed source closed to the Speaker and the Chairman of the Constitutional Council told Colombo Telegraph.
Police officer Wanninayake speaks to Prof Jeevan Hoole’s elder brother Dr. Rajan Hoole with Black Maria like vehicle (WP LF 0711) and armed police
According to a complaint made by Prof. Ratnajeewan Hoole, mid-morning on 16th August, an armed police party called at the home of Prof. Hoole in Jaffna and wanted to take him away to the Jaffna police station under an old warrant issued in 2011 at the instigation of Douglas Devananda that everyone knew was vindictive. “There is no doubt that the attempted arrest was triggered by Prof. Hoole’s role as an outspoken member of the Commission and DIG Jaffna knew about it,” the source told Colombo Telegraph.
In the complaint Prof Hoole said: “The police came to my home today with a warrant for my arrest. They know who I am. There is even a (long-forgotten) sign up book at my gate for police patrols from when I joined the Commission. My house is in front of the Department of Education, a church, and a government school besides being next to a church school. The incident attracted much public attention – I feel that the Election Commission is being demeaned by publicly making out that I am a criminal. After all, how can a criminal be responsible for elections? As I detail below, the incident has evoked much fear in me on whether the Election Commission can be independent and in my wife and children on whether we can be safe in Sri Lanka.”
As Prof. Hoole says in his letter, the incident is troubling when this happens just after he challenged the police working in Sinhalese in the North and East and the Commission invoking Article 33(1)(d) of the Constitution on the duty of the President to heed the advice of the Election Commission and giving advice to the President on the postponement of election
“Democracy has been under attack before, but there was always spirited resistance. In the 1980s for example, Jayewardene never had a moment of peace. There was always a spirited opposition, in parliament and outside. Even in the worst times there were great parliamentarians, whom people of all communities could look up to and trust – H. Sri Nissanka, T.B. Subasinghe, Senator Nadesan and Sarath Muttetuwegama immediately come to mind. Cross over has become so much a disease that the majority of MPs have no set position between government and opposition, and are awaiting the right price. Never have the pledges of politicians and their words been so empty, and they don’t care,” the source said.
“The expectations from the revolution of 2015 were great and changes in the structure of commissions held out promise. One of them was the new Election Commission with three members taking joint responsibility for decisions. It was harder to control by visible and invisible pressures, than a commission of one. The present Commission has resisted political pressures and fought against postponement of elections. This incident describes an insidious attempt to muzzle it. If the nation is to sustain itself, democracy can never become meaningless. Every tier that holds it in place must be fought for before it is too late,” the source further said.
We publish below the official complaint by Prof Ratnajeevan Hoole:
88 Chemmany Road
Nallur,
Jaffna.
16 Aug.2017.
Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council
H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President
Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister
Hon. R. Sampanthan, Leader of the Opposition
Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe P.C, Minister of Justice
Hon. Sagala Ratnayaka, Minister for Law and Order
Mr. Pujith Jayasundara, Inspector General of Police
Respected Sirs,
Police Harassment in the North, Demeaning Respect for the Election Commission
Demeaning the Election Commission
While people in the South are used to our police treating them with the respect owed to citizens, it is very different in the North. Bear with me as I explain please.
I am a member of the Election Commission. The police came to my home today with a warrant for my arrest. They know who I am. There is even a (long-forgotten) sign up book at my gate for police patrols from when I joined the Commission. My house is in front of the Department of Education, a church, and a government school besides being next to a church school. The incident attracted much public attention – I feel that the Election Commission is being demeaned by publicly making out that I am a criminal. After all, how can a criminal be responsible for elections? As I detail below, the incident has evoked much fear in me on whether the Election Commission can be independent and in my wife and children on whether we can be safe in Sri Lanka.
Kayts Incident
The police purported to act on an old 2011 warrant when a Minister of the then government, Hon. Douglas Devananda, filed false criminal charges against me in retaliation for reporting election irregularities of the then government in July 2011; this included the harassment of opposition candidates, police jeeps going about without number plates, and the President’s double life-size poster placed inside polling stations in Kayts. It was falsely alleged that I aggravated government supporters and thereby instigated a riot. Hence the charges were criminal charges.
I was served with summons in the form of a letter; however, in the letter my name was misspelt and the legal procedures had not been accurately followed. I was advised by different lawyers to flee because the said summons were not proper and because they feared the culture of political fomented in Kayts by the then government. Flee I did, and the open warrant was issued.
Return to Sri Lanka and Disappointment
I returned on 26 Aug. 2015 as soon as the new government was elected. I welcomed the changes promised and felt I ought to return to show confidence as a Tamil at a time the new government promised reconciliation and the restoration of law and order. I was elated that the 100 point program promised restoration in office to those victimized. The President in a special speech in Parliament on 1 Sept. 2015 promised a red carpet welcome to those of us returning to build a united Sri Lanka.
On arrival in Colombo on the 26th, I went straight from the airport to court in Kayts, reporting there on the 27th. I was released on bail with my brother and daughter standing surety, and the warrant was recalled. The Kayts OIC issued me a letter saying that the warrant was recalled.
The judge initially in charge, Hon. Lenin Kumar, had written to the AG saying the case had no legal standing but did not wish to throw out the case on his own authority because he was known to me from church and school. The AG’s department simply returned the file without comment. It was the first indication to me that not all was well with the 2015 revolution. It seemed that the AG was afraid that the old regime would return and was reluctant to act.
I tried to be restored in the university position that was my due from which I had been kept out chiefly owing to victimization by the EPDP-controlled Council at Jaffna University, where too returnees after the war in 2009 had been promised a welcome by the then President. Despite new appointments to the Jaffna Council in July 2015, the old regime in Jaffna University and stonewalling on allegations into administrative abuse in appointments still continued. Despite having served with academic and administrative distinction as senior professor in Engineering at Peradeniya, the selection committee appointed by the new council in Jaffna, found me unqualified even to be Senior Lecturer. I mention this only to point out that the resources available to give this country and the war-torn area in need of upliftment and new hope, are being sacrificed to corruption and vindictiveness thrown up by an old order and a lack of will in the new.
After several court appearances spanning the past 2years, at each of which the new magistrate asked the police for evidence of where the alleged riot started. Month after month when the police asked for time to complete investigations, Hon. A.M.M. Riyal dismissed the case against me, writing in his judgement dated 16 Jan. 2017 that he had seen no evidence of an investigation [whether into the politically instigated complaint against me or about the election abuses I reported, which triggered the complaint] into the charges and doubted there ever was one. The police were visibly livid that day.
Incident today (16 Aug. 2017)
It was the warrant from 2011 that the police brought to justify my arrest. Around mid-day, two policemen arrived at my residence on a motorbike (police ID numbers: 46073 and 39447). One of the two policemen, who could barely read Tamil, kept asking for a yellow receipt that would have been given to me when I reported to court. The other seemed rude and angry, shouting over the gate that if I did not produce the yellow slip he would take me to prison. I told them that, though I did not have a yellow slip, the case judgement dismissing the charges should be ample evidence that the warrant was not valid. After all, there could have been no judgement without my reporting to court. I showed them the court judgement with the original court stamp dismissing the case, noting that the reference (B157/2011) was the same as on the warrant. I further suggested that any documentation should also be held by court, and a simple follow up should settle any confusion. It was to no avail as they did not read Tamil and seemed uneducated in legal procedures and angry that I knew no Sinhalese although under article 24 of our constitution Tamil is the language of administration in the North and East.
By now a crowd had gathered. My brother Rajan Hoole also came, soon followed by my Assistant Commissioner and driver. The two policemen continued to insist that I should go with them to the Jaffna Police Station. I refused to go with them because they had no legitimate reason to arrest me and it would have demeaned the Commission. I also said police stations are dangerous places and alluded to the Human Rights Commission saying so, and to recent arrests of high ranking police officers for collusion in murder cases. They then brought in additional policemen with machine guns in a vehicle to take me away in. I asked why the machine guns but received no answer.
It was an attempt to place me under effective arrest without a warrant or a charge sheet and in contempt of court. It is the business of the police to do their homework and no citizen could legitimately be expected to carry details of encounters with the police and the courts around to be produced instantly. That is not the citizen’s business, particularly when he is innocent of any offence and the court has said so. Any police officer should know the gravity of acting in contempt of court.
In the meantime, I had contacted the Election Commission. Chairman Mr. Mahinda Deshapriya thereupon contacted police headquarters and in turn DIG North was contacted. I asked the police at my house to call up the Jaffna Police Station, which they refused. Then one Mr. Wanninayake (31417), I believe at the rank of Inspector and a seemingly decent person, asked me to get into the Maria and I refused again saying the police station is a dangerous place for us Tamils. Then he asked me to come in my vehicle, which again I refused. He finally contacted Jaffna Police Station and soon left apologizing.
The state of law and order in the North is very unsatisfactory. No one in Colombo would accept the police coming home with machine guns and speaking alanguage they do not understand, and then trying to effect an arrest without any charges. If this was a genuine effort, did they not even think that a 6 year old warrant may be totally out of date as it was in this case? Why send non-Tamil-speaking officers who could not read a judgement in Tamil to recognize the warrant as irrelevant?
Preserving the Revolution of 2015
I think you would understand the general insecurity felt by the people in the region when a member of the Election Commission could be treated in this manner. It should not be the experience of any innocent person living with his wife and daughters to have armed policemen descending on his home out of the blues with machine guns, and harassing him like a criminal (although even criminals deserve more respect than I have seen them given here but I digress).
Of particular relevance is why the police suddenly dug up an irrelevant warrant from 6 years ago. Do they not check with the issuing court whether it is still valid after 6 years? Is it the indictment of the police by the Kayts judge? There surely is more to it.
The government ought to do something if the revolution of 2015 is to have any meaning to us, the people of Sri Lanka. Somehow, this incident today has already reached the Prime Minister’s ears and he has conveyed to me the assurance that there is concern at the very top and action is being taken with suitable instructions having been given to Hon. Sagala Ratnayaka, the Minister for Law and Order. He has said this will never happen again. I sincerely thank the Prime Minister.
However, this matter is far deeper than one man’s problems. Punishing those responsible allows the same unfair structure inimical to Tamils to continue. High profile people will have their problems solved case by case. The vast majority will continue to suffer. I respectfully ask for structural change.
In my case alone, we should make an active effort to bring in a Tamil-speaking police force at least for the North and East, have better ‘service orientation’ among the police, make sure the police are educated on at least the basic law and human rights, and ensure accountability and transparency in following up complaints of police corruption and intimidation.
Further, I have been publicly insulted and with me, the Election Commission would wonder if there is a message in this for us. Firm action in the form of a public apology to the Commission is necessary. Without it, the Commission would always wonder if our voicing opposition to the postponement of elections, and advising the president under article33(1)(d) on the duty of the President to act on the advice of the commission on creating proper conditions for free and fair election, would lead to another similar incident.
Respectfully,
Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
Member, Election Commission
CC: Election Commission
APPENDIX
Related to the foregoing, I also raise the issue of the connected case of travel on the A9 and the problems from the Police functioning in Sinhalese in the North and East.
Culture of Police Bribery in the North
I am currently in an ongoing case challenging a speeding ticket received while travelling the A9, a road described by Rajasingham Jayadevan in the Sri Lanka Guardian (7 Feb. 2013) as the Bribery Highway to the North. In this ongoing case, I challenge the corruption of police which I am forced to witness during my frequent travels. As described below, there have been many incendiary remarks and actions by the police, who are not accustomed to having their authority challenged. One court officer has threatened me, while numerous policemen have yelled and glared threateningly at me and my family. Could this case be related to the withdrawn Open Warrant from 2011 being suddenly dug up today?
I have been stopped several times on the A9 during my weekly trips to Colombo on Election Commission business. On these many stops, the vast majority have been ‘addressed’ by my drivers. While I myself pay the fines when the driver truly made a mistake, I have never paid, nor condoned the paying of, bribes. My drivers, however, take it with a smile – one even boasts of carrying money in Rs.20 notes and forking out Rs. 300 in 20 rupee notes when asked for Rs. 500. The policeman could not count in public the numerous notes that had been given to him surreptitiously in front of the watching public and my driver escaped paying Rs. 300. Here are some examples:
1. A member of the Assemblies of God, as recounted by his Pastor, near Puttalam accelerated from a 50 kmph zone as soon as he saw the 70 kmph sign but before he had reached the actual sign. Clocked at 56 kmph, he refused to pay the Rs. 2,000 bribe demanded by the policeman. The policeman wrote “Reckless Driving at56 kmph above the posted speed limit of 50 kmph” or words to that effect in Sinhalese. The Christian, unable to read Sinhalese, went away thinking the ticket was just for speeding and realized the actual charge only later. He pled guilty and paid the fine rather than face further harassment as advised by his Puttalam lawyer.
2. A bus owner whom I have befriended through frequent trips told me that he collects Rs. 40,000 from passengers. It costs him Rs. 12,000 per trip for diesel – and then driver Rs. 2,500, conductor Rs. 2000, wear and tear Rs. 5000, route permit Rs. 3,000, and leasing of bus Rs. 5,000. His basic cost is Rs. 29,500 per trip from Jaffna to Colombo or vice versa. On top of this he pays about Rs. 1500 per trip to the police, when they falsely accuse him of speeding or try to find faults like bald tyres, a route sign not visible etc. He thus makes Rs. 10,500 a day, leaving out sudden expenses like a tyre burst which can cost him Rs. 60,000. Taking the bus on 12 July night, I tried to peer by the side of the bus. The conductor went to the rear end of the bus where he makes the payment as if showing the vehicle documents. This happened 7 times on that trip, with Rs. 300-500 per stop. The driver reluctantly admitted to me that this is what he does, adding that if there are no faults he has to pay nothing. The bus owner, my friend, also confirmed this.
3. I was recently stopped while driving 60 kmph ina 70 kmph zone on the A12 (approximately 14 km towards Anuradhapura of Puttalam (at Karuwalagaswewa). The policeman who stopped me showed me a radar reading of 80 kmph. I was asked to pay the spot fine, which is written only in the English version of the temporary licence they give, and which is never to be paid to the police. The very words “spot fine” mean it is to be paid then and there as if to suggest that those who read English pay the police on the spot. The Tamil version speaks of leverage (thendam) rather than a fine (thandanam) as if to suggest leveraging an immovable policeman through a bribe. I declined the spot fine, accepted the ticket, and had a friend in the Commission at Anuradhapura pay the fine at the Post office to avoid the hassle of my having to go back to Puttalam.
Subsequently, due to the frequency and blatancy of police corruption, I have been urged by the Commission not to drive to avoid the problems of corrupt policemen making money like this on the A9. This makes it difficult for me to work.
Mankulam Police and Physical Threat
On 26 June, 2017 I could not get a driver and was forced to drive myself from Jaffna to Colombo for an Election Commission meeting. While driving at 67kmph just South of Muruhandy, I was stopped by the Mankulam Police who showed me a radar reading of 83 kmph. I will not get into details because the matter is sub judice, but, frankly, I was fed-up with this corrupt police culture which sets only two options – paying the police or returning to isolated places to retrieve my licence after paying the fine.
This time, fed up with putting up as I am expected to, I drove straight to the Mankulam police station where I filed a complaint. The police were reluctant to take down my complaint and advised me three times to pay the fine of Rs. 1000, telling me that it would be cheaper than fighting the fine in court. It took me almost an hour to convince them to take down my complaint, which in itself a hindrance and unethical. Yes, the lawyers and hotel and travel bills are costing me thousands – but fighting this ticket is something I need to do for the poor harassed people of the North.
I have pled not guilty. In court in Mullaitivu, I have learnt while cross-examining the policeman who issued the ticket to me in Sinhalese that the Mankulam Police Chief Marlon Perera had not even queried the policeman with the false radar reading. Such is the state of law and order in Sri Lanka.
The first court date being 13 July, I went to Colombo for the Commission meeting on 12 July by bus, not wishing to run into the thieves in uniform again. However, relevant to this letter is that I objected in court on 13 July to the police leading evidence in Sinhalese, to their writing traffic tickets in Sinhalese, and the Tamil, English and Sinhalese versions of the ticket not being consistent. Fortunately, the strict judge has followed the law by providing a translator. But the people suffer in criminal cases where the police prosecute in Sinhalese. Most cases involved fishing in prohibited areas, and selling/transporting liquor or sand. The fines are usually Rs. 1000 to 5000. If the cases were in Tamil, those charged could simply plead guilty and go away paying only the fine. When it is in Sinhalese, there is usually a Tamil lawyer whose only job seems to be to be an interpreter and for this, the accused pays a lot more than a fine. My barber’s wife who was there to pay a fine for someone, told my wife who as my witness had to sit out with her, that in addition to the fine they have to pay something to the police to avoid delays. She mentioned Rs. 12,000 when the fine was only Rs. 10,000.
The many policemen in court started shouting when I stated that policemen who cannot work in Tamil should not come to work in the North and that there is no point in upholding minor laws on speed limits while abusing the constitution’s article 24 on Tamil being the language of administration in the North and East. As I went out of court, a policeman who was in court taking care of those on remand (or was working in that area) came out, made friendly conversation and fondled my Commission ID card, asking for my name, where I worked, etc. Then, he suddenly turned grim turning off the façade of being friendly. Staring directly into my eyes, he jabbed his index finger into my chest without any words and moved away. Was it at threat? I intended reporting this to the judge but the man did not show up on the next two court dates of 20 July and 2 Aug. The next date is 7 Sept. The new incident today makes me wonder if the Mankulam police contacted their friends in Kayts and Jaffna. Or is it something worse as in the next section?
The Election Commission: Being muzzled?
The Election Commission is in a position of confrontation with the government. We have repeatedly called for elections to be held without postponement. I have written several articles on this and spoken publicly, and have been commended in Parliament by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena. We as a Commission are in a sensitive position, having just written to HE the President with all three of us signing and invoking article 33(1)(d), which makes it the duty of the President to act on the advice of the Commission. Some friends say that this visit by the police to my home with machine guns is a signal for the Commission to be silent. Although I hope this is not the case, the situation of our country makes me wonder.
The Kayts judgement was before the police who were the prosecutors. Was the recalled warrant being used to try to arrest me not a contempt of court? Can the police who did this to a member of the Election Commission, ever be trusted to help and work under the Commission in the time of Elections as constitutionally mandated? I fear for democracy even as I hope I am wrong. That they would do what they did to me to, say, Mr.Mahinda Deshapriya, is unthinkable.
The cases of:
1) The last DIG (North) hiding a suspect with known involvement in school girl Thivya’s rape and murder,
2) The prosecution of poor people in our courts in Sinhalese in violation of the constitution, and their being forced to hire lawyers to mediate the language barrier,
3) The issuance of tickets in Sinhalese in violation of the constitution ignoring the plight of Tamils when they do not know which police station or court to go to; and
4) The rampant corruption on the A9 making it impossible for lawful people to drive while Police Chiefs like Marlon Perera ignore complaints against crooked policemen by the public all show that the police break the law frequently and cry for urgent action by the author
Saman Adikari / August 21, 2017
Comment By Sinhala man…..
Yes we want next all elections are due; but current ruling a Parties alliance led by MS , CBK and UNP-Ranil .Wicks has wrongful manner of that “good governance and rule of law” has NOT act property .
They( current regime)that indefinitely postpone all Local Council Elections.
We believed that there are over-due even of Local council elections are violated Sovereignty of Right and that suppressed the People Right to VOTE? Not a ‘Democracy’!
The People of Majority Sri Lankan (Ceylon) an advocated Universal Franchises even before 1931.
But that Minority Community at time an Opposed ,that was Sad part of History of Universal Franchises in Island?
Last 80 years our experiencers of Minorities stand and their positions has change is welcome?
Is good that Professor Dr Hoole has taken now in favors of promoting Councils elections ?
We appreciated his role ,that want e- Professor must show that denied GUN -Rule politics of LTTE and TNA advocated for so-called that Tamil-Homeland in North & Eastern as more important as an Rational Man?>
/
Sinhala_Man / August 25, 2017
I’ve just been wondering what sort of important job it is that Prof. Jeevan Hoole has landed. I’m shocked with what I have so far discovered.
http://www.lankanewsweb.net/news/item/2472-if-no-assets-and-liabilities-affirmed-no-civic-rights-election-commission
All educated Sri Lankans know that the Chairman of the Commission is a remarkably jovial and colourful character named Mahinda Deshapriya who has a journalist brother Sunanda Deshpariya. The brothers are known for strange clothes and unruly hair. Not much in terms of biographical detail on the web.
There’s nothing except the name of Nalin J. Abeysekara, “the former editor of the department of legal draftsman and President’s Counsel”. So much about Jeevan Hoole. Now, why can’t he behave himself like Abeysekara, once he’s got in to a well-paid job?
*
A shock there! Apparently they are almost not paid!
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=150743
*
Now that really surprised me! There are Assistant Commissioners and clerks, I know, who are in a pensionable service. I am one of the hundreds of thousands of “government servants” joyfully pressed in to service at election time. We used to look forward to it; we were very well fed (either at the polling station where it was quite an adventure staying overnight, or at a counting station in a large town. Sometimes one performed both duties). Later one submitted travelling and subsistence claims which were always paid in full – unless of course one claimed to have travelled by helicopter. Hold on: I think one could claim for horseback travel, without ever having to prove one’s ability to ride a horse – let alone own one!
Quite a safe adventure for us it was; it doesn’t look as though Jeevan Hoole’s adventure, recounted here, was quite as enjoyable. And remember it was undergone because he took this job seriously.
*
I wonder whether anybody could let us know more about this business of conducting elections, and possible perks/ corruption?
/
John / August 21, 2017
Hoole is a spoiled trouble maker who intimidated the police officer. Only Sri Lankan language is Sinhala, every Sri Lankan citizen must be able to speak Sinhala.
–
The whole point of a language is to communicate with one another. So, minorities must speak majorities’ language, if they don’t, it will cause tension and bitterness.
–
Already, more than 85% citizens speak Sinhala, and the rest who are not willing to speak Sinhala, must be sent back to their native Tamil Nadu. There are some Tamils who pretend that they can’t speak Sinhala.
–
It’s time to get rid of Tamil medium education and the status Tamil as an official language in Sri Lanka. Even Tamil Nadu Tamils (the original and genuine Tamils) have started speaking Hindi and integrating with the main stream community which they refused before. Hindi medium schools are mushrooming all over Tamil Nadu.
–
There are areas in Sri Lanka that native Sinhalese can’t speak their native language in their native Sri Lanka. WHAT’S THE MEANING OF THIS??????
–
If the native Sinhala politicians had been tough on unruly Tamils from 1948 Independence, unnecessary deaths, disappearance, pogroms , the civil war, foreign threats, etc could have been prevented.
/
Jamis Banda / August 21, 2017
Sinhala is spoken ONLY in some parts of Sri Lanka (South, West, and Central, that is only 2/3rds and not the whole country) by 70% of the Sri Lankan population (Sinhalese). In the rest of the country (North and East that is 1/3rds of the country) Tamil is spoken and is also an official language. Tamil is also a language spoken in several parts of the world from West right up to the East by more than 80 million people. It is also the most ancient living language in the world. When compared to Tamil, Sinhala is a tribal language spoken in some parts of Sri Lanka and not known the world. Why should the people in the Tamil speaking North & East learn Sinhala? What is the advantage of learning a language that is good for nothing and aliens to N&E Tamils?
/
Sinhala_Man / August 21, 2017
Dear Jamis Banda,
Some Sinhalese there are who want to make it mandatory for all you Tamils to learn Sinhala. I’m not one of them. I think that it would be good if all of us Sinhalese (who speak a tribal language!) learnt Tamil. However, I don’t know any Tamil at all!
*
Young children just absorb languages (“acquire” is the word used in pedagogy), and if one can expose all kids to the three languages that we think ought to be taught in Sri Lanka, the job is done! But has any of us got any idea of the huge logistical problem that it presents? Plain impossible! It would be an achievement if an urban slum kid learns to use just one language in an acceptable form – in speech alone!
*
After puberty languages have to be laboriously taught/learnt. I’m saying this as though I know all about it! That is NOT the case, but I’ve been a teacher of English, so it is with a little knowledge that I speak, but this is a subject that should be considered in depth by educationists.
*
Never mind the theorising, and the pontificating. Just promote the learning of these three languages where possible, and be satisfied with modest results! I know that although you may get polemical as a strategy you will not disapprove of what I say! Thanks for sharing your views.
/
Tamil from the north / August 23, 2017
Sinhala-Man, you don’t have to learn Tamil by force, but if you think it will be a good thing to learn then you should go ahead. I don’t speak Sinhala and I wish I did. I have no issues with good people whether they are Sinhalese or Tamils or whatever. It is the dirty racists who piss me off. My parents grew up in Colombo and studied there and spoke Sinhala fluently. I was raised in a family where we were taught kindness towards the Sinhala brothers and sisters. My family wanted me to live in Colombo and possibly even marry a Sinhala girl. But I refused to live in the south as I knew I will be home sick. But anyway, you appear to be a good man and stay like that.
/
Jimsofty / August 22, 2017
Gon Jamis Bando: Initialy, Tamil was the only spoken language all over the world . Even Dinosaurs talked it. Now, Tamils becoming extinct. Even in Sinhale where Tamil was born, 70% of the people are talking Sinhala. Pawam da Tamils.
/
Jamis Banda / August 22, 2017
Jimsothy the dumbo:
“Initialy, Tamil was the only spoken language all over the world.”
Very true, Tamil is the most ancient living language of the world, all others died. This is already proved by world historians and Linguists.
“Even Dinosaurs talked it.”
Yes, the people who lived during the time of Dinosaurs also talked Tamil.
“Now, Tamils becoming extinct.”
Almost all the world languages originated from Tamil, and still Tamil did not become extinct.
“Even in Sinhale where Tamil was born, 70% of the people are talking Sinhala.”
Even in Sinhala part of Sri Lanka (South, West & Central), Sinhala which originated from Tamil is spoken by 70%.
Paw do Jimsothy Modayass.
/
pirabakaran- velupillai / August 21, 2017
John
You sound more like a proper Charlie( a simpleton without any brains). You Sinhala Kallathonies who came from all over India mainly Tamilnadu and Kerala and to a little extent from Orissa are now barking like mad dogs for your so-called language rights after taking over the Land of the Native Dravidians/Austroloids.
Orissa( Kalinga )or Vengi in Tamil is also a Dravida land and Time to time Tamil Royal families married amongst the Venginadu Royalty to consolidate their power i.e. RajendraCholan1. You kalla thonies have made bogus fanciful stories of criminals coming to Srilanka from Lala lands ( Lunatic asylum in colloquial English)and marrying the natives here. The Western Orientalist who wanted to divide and rule gave currency to and actively encouraged the promotion of these nonsensical theories such as Sinhala race being Aryan etc. Mahavansa is such a garbage written to support the usurpers to justify their actions of Taking over the Native Lands.
/
Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 21, 2017
86% do not speak Sinhalese as their first language only 75% and the rest speak Tamil. and they also have the same right to their language and land as the Sinhalese. Other than very short spans just lasting a few years, the Sinhalese never had any control of the Tamil lands in the north and east of the island for the past 2500 years. It is only after 1948 they had control , thanks to the British, who handed the entire island to the Sinhalese racists. Contrary to what is stated the British never favoured the Tamils but used them , the Jaffna Tamils for their hard work and industry. The poor Indian Tamil estate workers to create immense wealth for them cultivating Tea and Rubber. They always favoured the Sinhalese, as the Sinhalese kow towed to them and gave them women and men for their pleasure. Even in India they did great damage to the Tamils. In 1865 they banned the use of the local Tamil language that was used by 90% of the population of Kerala and forcibly imposed the highly Sanskritised dialect of the immigrant Namboodhiris and their half caste Nair bastards, as they were British allies. This is the reason even now the simple spoken Malayalam of the masses is almost Tamil, whilst the language used in the media is some dialect that is more closer to Sanskrit than Tamil.
/
pirabakaran- velupillai / August 21, 2017
Some psedo- scholars are trying to say Ellu is a pakirit language and the ancestor of the Modern Sinhala, before accepting this hypothesis let us examine this suggestion seriously first, there is also a language called Elu an Austonesian language spoken in Paupua Newguine this makes us wonder whether the elu of Eelam is also an Autronesian language. However, eminent Phililogists such as Rev father David following extensive research had stated Elu was in fact a Dravidian language in his research paper entitled “Elathil Naam anaivarum Thaameelare” meaning we are all Tamil or Tamil related fork in Eelam. These research material with many other valuable manuscripts , books etc were burnt by the Sinhala racist when they burnt the Jaffna Library. The motive for burning Jaffna Library is to obliterate the evidence of Tamil antiquity in the island.
turning to other points in your message . No there are no Hindi schools in Tamilnadu Tamils and other Dravidians don’t want to accept that language amongst their midst.
Northeast or in fact the entire Eelam belonged to the Tamils once upon a Time, you forigen Vandals have forcibly colonised most of the country with your mongrel race and continuing to do so in the North East as well now. Mongrels by not being pedigreed wouldn’t have one single parent country to go to If you carefully think about it why can’t you sinhala mongrels be thrown out to Tamil nadu / kerarala, orissa and portugal. you can be thrown back and scattered all over SouthIndia.
Your argument that Sinhala is only spoken here means you therefore belong here doesn’t make any sense. The original people here are Dravidians ( Tamils). Now go and invent another theory to suit your needs.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 22, 2017
I am informed that they have found an inscription around Balangoda area which they believe to be about 6,000 years old. I hope the archaeology department gets it read properly which may throw a light to the original language used in Srilanka. I also hope that it will not go missing like what happened to Tamil stone inscription found in Tissamaharama. I am sure that this language found in Balangoda, is similar to the language spoken by Papuans as well Australian aborigines. Only known language that was around at that time Elu which is proto-Tamil.
/
Lankan / August 26, 2017
@pirabakaran
To be honest Most people in the Indian subcontinent have Dravidian in them including most North Indians. But yes Tamils have the least intermixing with outsiders. But when you refuse to acknowledge that most South Asians have Dravidian in them you are pitting everyone against Tamils.
/
John / August 21, 2017
In the picture, it seems that Hoole is about to hit the police officer with a ‘Karate shot’.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 21, 2017
I’m replying John, but I don’t know which John. It is difficult enough dealing with real issues, but now we have guys who don’t stick to their identities, and we are forced to look at gravitas. I think that all you Johns (except may be the first to use the name), have to show more concern for other readers. I’ve not only been consistent, but also revealed my name and pictures at various times. this response is als meant for “Drama Queen” below.
Yes, it’s an odd picture – not one that was posed for. Please find out more about Dr Rajan Hoole because you may not be satisfied with what I say. He almost never responds; there are enough carefully written and researched articles by him. Google his name and you’ll find out more.
*
However, I did phone Rajan, and discussed the photograph with him. He said that contrary to appearances, he was rather nervous. And they were mindful of the fact that they are people who have lived decent, peaceful lives. It was very wrong of someone to have sent these policemen armed as they are, in a Black Maria, to their home. Are we going to accept this as the norm in our country is what I myself ask you.
*
My message to all readers is: Why are we allowing the discussion to get diverted to language and other issues that have already been done to death? At the bottom of these happenings is Prof. Jeevan Hoole’s efforts on OUR behalf – on behalf of ALL citizens of Sri Lanka, that our right to exercise our franchise be respected. Do we want to be free people in a peaceful country, or do we wish to have all our civic rights usurped by some corrupt Members of Parliament (elected as always by our collective will!).
*
Democracy unfortunately demands eternal vigilance!
/
Drama Queen / August 21, 2017
I wonder how come Mr Right couldn’t communicate with the Police Inspector in his native language!
Mr Right went to school in 60s. There was no war in North during that time. Then Mr Right went to Moratuwa for his undergraduate studies. How come he couldn’t learn to speak Sinhala language? Then Mr Right even worked in Pera.
People grew up in 80s and after can claim that they weren’t given a chance to learn Sinhala language in North. What is wrong with learning a third language in SL? You all want management jobs with lifelong job security. You all want to be respected by all others but you won’t communicate with others without your preferred language?
Mr Right has enough time to go after any social issue that bothers him. But he couldn’t follow up with the court to clear his name from a pending court case? Normally people would challenge a system to help the weakest links. It’s a shame that Mr Right is challenging a system to escape from a speeding ticket.
PS: Next time when you snap a photo from a hiding place, make sure to snap it when the PI raise his hand and your spokesperson back up in shocked. In this photo the PI seem like a victim. The PI just followed his job. Don’t be a drama queen. Just work with your lawyer to clear your name.
/
Pandi Kutti / August 21, 2017
Drama Queen stick to your Sinhalese village dramas instead of commenting here. You are only good enough for this. How come the Drama Queen and the rest of the Sinhalese cannot or will not learn Tamil, that is the first language of 25% of the country’s population and the majority language in all 8 districts in the north and east and also the majority language in many parts of the Central and Uva provinces and is the first language of the majority within metropolitan Colombo area, but will learn every other language under the sun. After all 40% of Sinhalese vocabulary is derived from Tamil and is grammar syntax lexicon and alphabet is purely derived from Tamil. Further half the present day so called Sinhalese are descended from recently migrated Indian Tamils, therefore the mother tongue of their grand parents or great grand parents would have been Tamil, I will only take a little effort for Sinhalese Drama Queens like you to learn Tamil . Most probably the recently Sinhalised Karawa population arund Moratuwa were speaking to Prof. Hoole in Tamil, as it would have been very familiar to them, as it was their grand parents first language
/
Jimsofty / August 22, 2017
Pandi Kutti: Everything you say is correct. but, you dalit Tamils are not accepted and your talking is worth nothing else where in the world including your motherland Tsouth India. So, you people try to bully innocent police officrs. Because, you people show infront of Police constables that you people are big shots. Police should have taken away the driver’s licence of this two guys for the fruad. I say, all three Hoolies are dihinest buggers. Onw living the West came to talk some BS. Another one has a DSc yet he shows his strength showing his anti-sinhala ttitude while living among and living because of sinhala people. the last one looks the same.
/
Native Vedda / August 21, 2017
Drama Queen
–
Why do you expect every Tom, Dick and Harry to learn Sinhala which is spoken only by a 14 million stupid people? There are other languages spoken by large number of people and with large opportunities.
–
Why don’t you go back to South India which is your ancestral homeland has a huge market potential. Learn one of the languages and assimilate into the South Indian people.
–
A mere 14 million descendants of Kallathonies from South India trying to dictate others how they live, what they eat, what they learn, how they mate, ………………..
–
Go and Talk to your people in the South and North of India who may be able to help you with backward migration.
/
Drama Queen / August 23, 2017
Native,
What made you to assume that I am not a Tamil? Because I questioned the Drama Queen why he couldn’t communicate with the IP in officer’s native language? The IP shouldn’t work in Jaffna because he couldn’t communicate in Tamil? How long are we going to argue with this language issue?
How many brownie points are we going to score by proving our point again and again? What is wrong with learning the 3d language in SL. Why not try out a reverse logic then encourage both parties to learn 3rd language. My old man also boycotted to sit for the 3rd language exam during his time. He said he did it because that’s what all his coworkers did. And he just followed them. I see the same pattern is repeating again.
I bet most of the guardians of Tamil language in this forum wouldn’t write all 247 Tamil letters on their own within an hour. Most of their kids or grand kids are not going to use Tamil at home.
Tamil language and culture survived over thousands of years without any contribution from these fakers.
These warriors and their supporters are just using the language and religion as a tool either to manipulate their personal gains or they are overreacting because of their personal experience at home.
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / August 22, 2017
Tamils speak or pretend not to be able to speak Sinhalese for their advantage.
I remember last time I was in SL, I went to the passport office for a renewal. There was this Tamil man behaving inappropriately. The lady spoke to him in Sinhalese and he pretended to not understand. A little later the Immigration officer asked in Sinhalese who he can help next, this man jumped out of his seat to be serviced next fully understanding the officer’s language.
I barged forward, told the Immigration officer, this man needs a translator from Jaffna and to help instead. The officer duly helped me instead of helping him.
LOL!
/
pirabakaran- velupillai / August 23, 2017
Retarded Lt Reginald Shitmal Pootha
Hey man do you know what common sense is ? Obviously being a Sinhala fool ( modaya ) you don’t have any reason to know what sense is let alone common sense. The Tamil man you have mentioned would have used his common sense unlike you to read the situation and to find out that the Lady at the Passport office was simply asking who is next in the queue. You don’t need any Sinhalese to understand that all you need is your common sense.
You being a retarded Lieutenant couldn’t understand that due to your DNA deficiency as a person belonging to an intellectually inferior race/ breed.
/
Chelvam / August 23, 2017
Man, you make no sense because you are a racist and lack understanding, thinking that toilet cleaning is good only for some races (and, I suppose, your wife too, who cleans your toilet for you, unless you yourself do it at home — see your comment and my response elsewhere here).
Think of many Sri Lankans who are poor in their English. If the immigration officer asks who is next, most would understand. But if you get into complex conversation, they will not. Can that not be the situation of the Tamil man and the Sinhalese immigration Official who served you out of turn?
You, Sir, are also a cad for having jumped the queue.
Go figure, as they say
/
Tamil from the north / August 24, 2017
Toilet cleaner cum coolie Reginald Shamal Perera: I barged forward, told the Immigration officer, this man needs a translator from Jaffna and to help instead. The officer duly helped me instead of helping him.
TFN: Maybe next time you visit a mental asylum do the same. Then they will realize that they have a real mad man and help you right away. LOL!!!!! Also you will only do this in SL. If you tried this in another country, the Tamil guy would have beaten your goo pukka.
/
Jimsofty / August 22, 2017
I think Rathanjeevan Hoole is using his Racism for Civil Disobedience. He may be saying on his own, how he is doing by not obeying the country’s laws. In this case, Traffic laws and not paying traffic fines. Here, he has used his brother to bully the police officer and he had photographed it. I think this article and the comments are enough to arrest him and take to the courts for his anti-govt activities.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 25, 2017
Dear Drama Queen,
The ramifications of this article are serious, so may I appeal to you and all others to eschew unnecessary insults, name-calling and sarcasm? It’ll be good if you could all scroll down to the bottom of the comments: elder brother Dr Rajan Hoole’s wise words are right now the penultimate one; I wish the well-meaning last comment had been placed elsewhere.
*
Our main concern, when discussing this article, ought to be the preservation of our right to vote at the proper time – even if it looks as though the result is not going to be the one we personally would favour. Next there are concerns about the abuse of police power, and
the right of a very considerable minority to have their language and culture respected.
Yes, let’s aim at producing trilingualism, but do it rationally, realistically and over the long term. It WOULD have been wonderful if Jeevan Hoole had learnt Sinhala while at Moratuwa University. Now it is too late, but we must understand why that didn’t happen. He was sent there almost as a punishment. He was not allowed to see acquisition of the language as a positive goal. Sinhala was imposed on people like him, by people whom he saw as hostile. Why doesn’t the entire country now use English fluently, considering the the immense resources devoted to it? Because of the “Kaduwa” factor. Try to understand, please.
*
Learning any language is not easy, but let’s recognise that trilingualism is vital for Sri Lanka. The failures in this respect are for different reasons – and 96% (that’s just guesstimate!) have failed to even approach fluency in three languages. The community that has fared best in this respect are the Muslims. I don’t know Tamil – no need to explain why, and I’m past the age when I should try correct that failing.
*
My claim is that my bilingualism, plus a non-judgemental ATTITUDE, are a reasonable starting point for reconcilliation. Let’s drop negativity, and (please don’t get provoked by this) nasty racism. Think of future generations.
/
Ad / August 21, 2017
Different language is a different format of same information. Language offers information and enhances knowledge. There is no race or religion in language. Knowing more languages only helps to communicate with many. Discrimination by language spoken only proves that there is some underlying fear or jealousy.
RH’s case has to be taken seriously. It only shows how empty our politicians are.
/
Jimsofty / August 22, 2017
Stupid AD: Read your own statements and see how you contradicts one after the other. that is typical Tamils. IF knowing more languages helps to communicate better why Tamil migrents in Sri lanka who lived in Katubedda, Peradeniya, now in Colombo cannot talk in Sinhala. ————–It looks he wanted to avoid paying the speeding ticket. So, they bullied the Police officer.
/
pirabakaran- velupillai / August 23, 2017
Jim Dick brain
You are talking through your puke, I also lived in Dehiwala for 10 years but I can’t speak more than 5 words in Sinhalam, One word I know I have already used here as most of you fools use that part of the body to talk in Sinhala to the Tamil speakers. The other 4 words if I use here I am sure CT editor will delete my post.
/
Jimsofty / August 23, 2017
YOu Tamil coolies are very big in here We meet overses, I remember those days, when your sungod was losing. YOu Tamils looked pathetic.
/
N. Ethirveerasingam / August 21, 2017
Thank you Ratnajeevan Hoole for standing up to reform the police to abide by law and order and abide by the constitution and the rule of law. Tamils should not rest until Tamil and Tamil speaking police are appointed to The North and most of the East and the government implement the language policy fully. The Prime Minister, the President, the Ministers are all aware of the problem. They have no power over those who are making the decisions on what happens in the North and East.
My brother was a sub inspector for ten years. He never accepted bribe nor did he allow policemen he supervised nor his officers in charge to accept bribe. He got transferred often! He refused to take the Sinhala language exam though he spoke and wrote Sinhala in the Sinhala areas where he worked. He never got an increment or promotion. He resigned after 10 years in 1966 and took up farming. He was married to a Sinhala Buddhist from Gampaha who practiced Buddhism in her daily life. They both passed away within 11 days of each other.
Our police have the ability to be the best in the world in all respect. When will they be independent and have the freedom to be loyal to the constitution and the best in the world?
/
Sinhala_Man / August 21, 2017
Dear Dr N. Ethirveerasingam,
This is a bit off topic, but is it correct to say that you had a brother / half brother, named Nagalingam Ratnasingam, who was a teacher at S. Thomas’College, Gurutalawa?
If so, Dr Rajan Hoole will tell you that he was taught by him.
*
You, yourself were the man who brought us glory by winning an Asian Games Gold Medal in the high jump. That was in the days when all jumpers (and I wasn’t one!) used what was called the “Western Roll”. Nowadays, there are guys who would have been taught what is called the “Fosbury Flop”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosbury_Flop
*
I’m sorry that this is rather a “koheda yanne, malle pol” (means “rather irrelevant”) comment. You would obviously have learnt that way of jumping and beaten all comers, if people had realised that there were other ways of jumping.
The same goes for your brother deciding NOT to sit his Sinhala Proficiency Test, doesn’t it? I guess it was because we Sinhalese were not forced to learn Tamil – and I haven’t! Excuse: it’s bloody difficult to learn a language!
*
Anyway, never mind the political gestures your brother THEN felt it necessary to make. That climate has only got worse, now. Let’s change all that!
*
Now, why not trot around to Chemmani Road and say “Hi!’ to Rajan?
/
Jimsofty / August 22, 2017
This Sinhala man was trying to say he was Sinhal and see how this dalit is acting now.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 22, 2017
Your attack is totally unwarranted and shows your low breed. Please remember what Buddha said, “Person becomes great by his deed and not by birth”. He may be a Dalit, but by your behaviour you are the inferior. It is well known that he is one Panini Edirisinghe writing under this pseudo name. At least he has the courage to make known his identity, but you are a coward hiding under a pseudo name and churning out disgraceful racist and idiotic statements.
/
Jimsofty / August 22, 2017
Ada Sankaralingam: for me, there is something wrong with him. It is just like how Brian Senevirathne behaves.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 28, 2017
I don’t personally know Brian Seneviratne, but I DO know of him. His wife is Tamil, but what of it? He has the courage to ALWAYS write under his own name.
Regarding his content: one has to give him credit for a good deal of research, and he writes well. The problem with what he writes (I don’t read more than a fraction of it) is that he identifies too much with the LTTE. I may be wrong, because I usually take only a cursory look at what he writes, since his line is predictable: like YOU in that respect, Jimsofty. But the facts can be startling.
*
Can’t you get this straight, please, Jimmy? Dr Rajan Hoole was under dire threat from the Tigers, who actually shot and killed his co-author, Rajani Thiranagama, a Tamil married to a Sinhalese who si still with us. Quite simply, Jimmy, I’m a Sinhalese who is not racist. What’s wrong with that?
*
Well, at least I seem to be baffling you!
/
Sinhala_Man / August 22, 2017
Dear Jimsofty,
Yes, how AM I now acting? I am a Sinhala Man, and Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam, has even correctly given you my name. Am I not entitled to have Tamil friends?
I have never met Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam. However, I now know something of him owing to certain frank and honest exchanges between us on Colombo Telegraph. Ironically, those exchanges began about three years ago with us ATTACKING each other! Now we obviously respect each other, even if we have different viewpoints. That is the way forward – not insulting, harassing, bullying, and cowardly name-calling.
Jimmy, I have clearly given you my identity below. I even, once, gave you my phone number and suggested that we discuss some of these issues – at my expense. No, you don’t want to.
It may be that by responding to you so many times you imagine that you have achieved something. No!
*
YOU are doing IMMENSE DAMAGE to our ENTIRE society on this island! I appeal to you to re-think.
*
Lastly, agitate for Regular Elections, whether it suits the incumbent powers that be, or not. And try to elect honest people. We can only keep trying.
/
Jimsofty / August 22, 2017
So, your brother was a stupid man.
/
pirabakaran- velupillai / August 21, 2017
Now following the Tamils debunking the Aryan myth of the Sinhale , They are now trying to invent another equally fanciful myth of Hela diva , Hela urumaya garbage. These Sinhala fools who need educating in Human migration let me say to them that even the very world Hela is a corruption of the world Eelam. 10 thousand years ago Elamo-dravidian language was spoken all over South Asia including Iran. Then there was not even the smell of Aryans any where in this part of the world.
Are you Kalu -Sinhalese really Aryan ? Instead of Deluding your selves with these grandiose learn your true history and teach it to your Children at School. The true History is You are as much Dravidian as the Tamils or for that matter Muslims in Srilanka are. Fighting a fratricidal war will once again destroy this beautiful homeland of ours. Your vituperative argument or rants for that matter will re-ignite the communal passions. Not every one in Srilanka has the capacity at the moment to think rationally. Sinhalese with their bravado as the victors of the war could inadvertently start another war which they might not be able to win. Learn Tamil if you want to deal with the Tamil people.
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / August 21, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / August 21, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
N. Ethirveerasingam / August 21, 2017
Sinhala Man,
Yes my Half Brother who lived with us till he got married taught at St Thomas Gurutalawa. He was also their Cadet Master. In 1983 he and his children displaced to India and then beyond. He did come back for visits during Ranil’s “Peace Talks.” He was the leader of the young sportsmen at Athiady where he grew up. He introduced to us all sports. He and our friends Karunadasa, Gunadasa, Ameradasa, Gunapala, who were neighbours and many other school boys played all games in the back or front yard of our houses till we made the school teams. Sad they left in 1958 after I went to univ in Calif in 1956.
We cannot step in the same river twice – Herodotus. But we can build relationship taking into consideration of the past 60 years of enmity. Though it wont be during my life time, the foundation need to be built. To do that we have the dig the ground first. Individually we have the will but collectively we are a mess.
My brother passed away in Sydney of Brain Cancer at 80. All my siblings are no longer living except for a half-brother from my father’s side, who is 93 and who don’t want to know anything about sports.
I have never met Rajan Hoole but I have enjoyed reading his many writings during the past 30 years. I will drop in at the Univ and meet him. I have met his younger brother at the JC Technical Institute. A great man. I am not too fond of Ratnajeevan’s writings but I do respect his right to express his views of the Police and the politics and his courage to express his views. May be some day I will too.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 22, 2017
Dear Ethir (that was how Headlines in newspapers had your name!),
Rajan retired from the University about two years ago – as Senior Lecturer. His seniority in University service had got lost during his 15 years as a vagabond in the South of Sri Lanka, and so he never became the Professor he deserved to be. It was after 46 years or so that we met each other face to face last year. His wife is still a librarian in the University.
He is a recluse, so look up Rajan at home. As a Jaffna man you ought to be able to identify the locality from Jeevan’s description and from what is shown in the photograph. There is a glimpse of the Jaffna Zonal Education Office in the photograph. I DON’T know Jaffna – visited only three times – the first as long ago as 1968. There’s more to Tamil society than Jaffna, and I’m a guy with no knowledge of your language, but clearly we are now focussing on a bit of the country that symbolises a lot for all in this country. The issues are much larger than individuals.
Rajan and I both have vivid memories of your brother. As for Jeevan, I have come to know him only recently. It may be that some of the things that he writes about are not to your taste (or mine!), but he is a very bold, honest and courageous man.
*
At this juncture the entire country ought to support his call for integrity in the running of affairs in the country, and DEMAND those Provincial Councils polls NOW – even if we fear that far too many will vote foolishly. We’ve got to stop manipulating!
Thanks not only for your gracious response, but also for the honesty that is reflected in your writing.
/
douglas / August 21, 2017
The main issue in this presentation is related to the “visit” of Police Officers “armed” with a warrant that has been recalled by the Courts. Let us forget the personal status of the person visited. The question is: Have the Police acted “Legally” As per the details given in the article, the answer is a simple “NO”. Who gave “orders” and sent a Police Team to visit the person to be “arrested” in terms of the Warrant? Did that “Authorized Police Authority” performed his/her duties entrusted within a well balanced circumstantial assessment, such as re-checking the “validity” of the warrant? So the complainant of this case MUST lodge this issue with the now functioning Police Commission together with a complaint to Courts for violation of his “Civil Rights” with a huge claim of compensation. That is the way to go about in establishing Good Governance and teach a ever lasting “Lesson” to the Authorities concerned. Please note, it is not the personal status of the affected that matters; but the public in general. This looks a “Well Worth” a case to proceed in the matter of upholding Justice and Law & Order.
/
Jimsofty / August 22, 2017
some people are really biased towards police and favouring the fraud by Rathan jeevan hoole using how Rajan hoole is bulying a police officer, while the other hoole did wnat to go and finish the warrent against him. IT looks he had something to hide and all the way he is dishonest. showing his brother bullying the photograph, he had phoned EC. He talks very often, he gets speed tickets and probbaly he doe snot pay those saying why I should pay to sinhala people. He is very arrogant and racist.
/
Thanga / August 22, 2017
The thrust of the article by Hoole is about police corruption. This is a fact well known to all, including politicians. Not only the Police, all those involved in law enforcement are corrupt, example Customs department. I travelled to Ceylon in 2004 and did all the travelling by bus/van. Once I bordered a van plying between Vavuniya and Colombo. The van was stopped every 10-15 kms by the police. Immediately, the conductor will descend from the vehicle and have a quick conversation with the police. The matter will be settled and the conductor will tell the driver to proceed. I was (including the family) stopped at Thandikulam on our way to Jaffna. The army personnel and police treated those who held foreign passports right royally compared to the local folks. One woman soldier told me in broken English her brother was killed in action and the government appointed her to serve the army. She spoke to policemen on duty and cleared our vehicle without inspecting the baggages. When everything was finished she demanded payment for her services. Corruption is endemic not only in Ceylon, but in Malaysia, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The only exception is Singapore. 1/2
/
Thanga / August 22, 2017
In Singapore Tamil though spoken by less than 7% of the population is one of the official languages. In every government department a Tamil can transact his business in Tamil. Marriage registration can be done in Tamil. In fact the staff encourage you to do it in Tamil. In Canada both English and French are official languages. If anyone does not understand English like going to a hospital/immigration offices/courts, translators are available to interpret from Tamil to English. Where there are heavy concentrations of Tamils/Chinese, the hospital bill boards/signs are in Tamil/Chinese. The phylosophy is that hospitals exist to serve the people not the otherway round. Every citizen is treated equally and their dignity is respected. The policemen always addresses the common man as ‘Sir’ and is courteous and polite to the point of acute embarrassment.
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / August 22, 2017
Thanga,
In Toronto, you go to any Office building, sit in a lounge with a non-Sri Lankan colleague and sip on a coffee. What do you start to see? A Tamil man or a woman in Janitor clothing with a Lysol bottle on his hand walking like a man possessed.
What an embarrassment this is for us Sinhalese. I mean couldn’t the Tamils do any other job than working with the Toilet bucket and the plunger? Let the Blacks do it, let the Hispanic Amigoes do it, let the Chinese gooks do it. Why does it have to be you?
The embarrassment this brings to Sinhalese is so much that sometimes it’s suicidal.
/
Al-faqurlah / August 23, 2017
This is the same thing that you see in middle east and far east, the only difference is that in those countries it is the Sinhalese and Muslims who are seen carrying toilet buckets and plungers Is this not an embarrassment to you and other Sinhalese.
/
Tamil from the north / August 23, 2017
Army minion aka coolie Reginald Shamal Perera, The embarrassment this brings to Sinhalese is so much that sometimes it’s suicidal.
TFN: then why are you still alive? Please do the Sinhalese a great favour and commit suicide. It will also help your family if you have one.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 27, 2017
Dear TFN,
You would indeed be doing us all a great favour if you could pass on one of Prabha’s famed cyanide capsules to Samal Perera, and make sure he swallows it!
/
Tamil from the north / August 27, 2017
Sinhala_Man, I never ever cared for VP. He murdered so many folks I was very close with, civilians such lawyers, doctors, Prof.etc. But to your point, it appears this hoodlum Shamal has been wasting his time away swallowing kassippu instead of fighting the war like a real man
/
Sinhala_Man / August 27, 2017
Dear TFN,
I was never in any doubt that you were one who disapproved of VP. The problem is that so many of us necessarily make generalisations in life; it is almost inevitable. However, when we know that an issue is of some importance, then we must seek to analyse. And for this Dr Rajan Hoole’s writings are wonderful. DBS Jeyaraj is another.
You know, of course, that we have our own set of problems; I’m sure that I don’t have to detail them. Nagananda Kodituwakku is a man whom we can be proud of; it may be you could add some!
*
Let’s hope that future generations of Tamils are given an education that enables them to appreciate the reasons for the creation of the monstrous VP, but are able display the balance that so many who lived through those troubled times display. Meanwhile, it is true that hoolums like Shamal cannot be excused quite as easily. What motivation can they have to be so nasty?
/
pirabakaran- velupillai / August 23, 2017
Retarded Lt Reginald shitmal Puke
You must be living in one of the Game( village) in Srilanka not in Toronto. I have been travelling all over the world i.e. Middle East, Far east, Europe Australasia, where ever I go it is the Sinhala house maids who are living there on Toilet cleaning visas. The entire world now depends on Sinhala men and women for toilet cleaning and sexual services. Sinhala boys use their anuses to earn Dollars on Bentota, Beruwala beaches and Sinhala women are used as Sex slaves and toliet cleaners by Arabs. Lebanon is trying to proclaim Sinhala as their Kitchen language soon.
By the way are you sure the people you saw in Toroto are not your Ethnic cousins the Sinhala Toilet cleaners? The Tamils on the other hand are kicking some butts in science and technology all over the world , many of them have already won Nobel prizes for various scientific achievements. Why don’t You Retarded Lieutenant see a Psychiatrist for your delusions.
/
Chelvam / August 23, 2017
What a racist this man is!
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / August 23, 2017
You may have not read my posts where I said, Tamils received a raw deal from and us and we must correct it now. You may have also missed a post from me where I said Sinhalese and Tamils must unite.
You seem to be a reasonable person, so I will post in kind. But it’s your racists like the poster velupillai Prabahakaran that prompted me incite this racism tirade.
Have you condemned him for his racism?
/
Sinhala_Man / August 23, 2017
Dear
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera
I’m glad to hear of these other comments of yours.
The problems that we face are complex, so I don’t expect one simple solution. However, what explanations can you give for those disgusting “Janitor Comments”?
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / August 24, 2017
Tamil_Man,
I wanted to provoke these Tamil racists in hiding, so I said made that comment although I have nothing against hard working janitors.
They got provoked, shed their skins and well and truly revealed their racist qualities.
I never fail to say “hello” to all our Janitors. They know me as a Sri Lankan and I am sure they are proud of me for my standing in the company. So, I am not embarrassed at all with them.
/
Tamil from the north / August 24, 2017
Coolie Shamal Perera: I never fail to say “hello” to all our Janitors. They know me as a Sri Lankan and I am sure they are proud of me for my standing in the company. So, I am not embarrassed at all with them.
TFN: Hahahahahaha, what a bloody hoot, for your standing in the company? What company? Hambantota toilet production and feces removal company? Are you the head coolie?
/
Sinhala_Man / August 25, 2017
Dear TFN, it wasn’t that I had missed the fellows claims to be important in the “company” or the imputation that the “Janitors” were non-Sinhalese, but I thought, let’s appeal to the guy’s sense of decency.
*
I still think that we, from all communities, who try so hard to be decent, ought to desist from sinking to his level. He still could! Please don’t (on the other hand) imagine that I’m critical of you: the provocation from him is extreme.
/
Tamil from the north / August 25, 2017
Sinhala_Man, I agree with you 100% my friend. I hate racists and I show no difference towards a Sinhala brother or sister. Sinhalese get hurt the same way we Tamils do. Most times we all look the same and at times the Tamils a bit darker. But at the end we are all Sri Lankans. Also don’t forget, we have a share of these idiots amongst the Tamils as well and many of them are abroad.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 24, 2017
Dear Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera,
You’ve replied somebody whom you’ve called “Tamil_Man”. How is it that you haven’t replied me?
And, now that I come to think of it, could you please give me the links to some of your earlier comments?
By the way, in case you imagine that I’m playing tricks on you, please scroll up about fifteen comments to see what Jimsofty and Dr Sankaralingam have been saying.
/
Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / August 25, 2017
Tamil_man,
I am a veteran of the Armed forces of Sri Lanka. No monkey plays tricks on me. No monkey can play tricks on any soldier for that matter.
If you are a Sinhalese man as you claim to be but which I highly doubt, you are alive today because of us soldiers. For that the entire nation owes us a great deal. We are your saviours. You may disrespect us but that is your low upbringing. Even Lord Buddha and Jesus Christ were disrespected by rif-rafs like you.
I don’t follow much posts. As a soldier I don’t give an EFF about anyone’s opinion.
/
Tamil from the north / August 25, 2017
Coolie boy Reginald Shemale Perera; you are a veteran soldier but retired only as a Lt.,? That is pretty sad mate. Buddha never taught hatred and he was a noble man. Jesus was sent to be crucified, everything what happened to Jesus was written that way, not by fluke it happened. LTTE played tricks on you fellows for 30 odd years, where were you hiding under a straw mat in Hambantota? You are a keyboard warrior who fought and won wars sitting in front of a computer. You are nothing but a low life racist uneducated backward village idiot. Everything you say here, verbalize it in front of a bunch of Tamils in Canada or any other foreign country. Just do it and see what happens.
/
Jimsofty / August 25, 2017
Tamil KENEDIAN from the FROZEN North.YOu coolies are big shots overseas. Otherwise, who goes against Janitors ?
/
Tamil from the north / August 26, 2017
Ado Jim Shitty, the coolie from down south. I am a Canadian and damn proud of it. A country which accepted me and gave me all the freedom any human should have. A country, where I go wherever I want without being judged or hated. A country where even the poor are treated the same way as the middle class. The French who are the minorities are treated with utmost respect and most of our leaders are from Quebec. I wake up every day alive. I go to bed in the night knowing that no criminal state police will knock on my door and kill me. This is a country I am damn proud of. So you can stick it up your you know what. The above comment from you makes no sense, it is not even written with any type of coherence. I believe intelligent people and idiots like you speak a different language. Maybe ask your minion army buddy Shemale Perera. Maybe he can understand you better.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 27, 2017
I agree that there’s no point responding any more to the low scum Shamal Perera’s calculated insults. As for Jimsofty what I have found is that the guy has been posting innumerable comments without thinking seriously ever since CT began publishing seven or eight years ago. As for me, I’ve been active on CT only after it became possible to access without going through proxy servers.
That factor alone tells us about the only way in which this government is preferable to that of the Rajapaksas. However, unless the misdeeds of the Rajapaksas are punished, and that soon, poor Maithri is doomed. I shed no tears for the UNP, which has time and again betrayed those who voted for them. Ranil being leader of the Party for Life seems to be the prime consideration, other issues are secondary.
Yes, I shall comment further in the next two days that there are ridiculous contradictions in what the guy says, and that one has to destroy the likes of him. There have been no contradictions in what either you or I have said – just plain, true facts.
I am sad that you have to rule out a return to the land of your birth, but I’m glad that you are happy in cold, cold Canada. We cannot expect such countries to accept indefinite numbers of economic migrants – or even political asylum seekers, but it is heartening to note your gratitude to your new country.
There is no point now going back thousands of years to talk of immigration patterns. We have to act in the present. The country you are in became white as a result of Colonialism, which is a phase of history that is now long past. As you say, what matters is that all live harmoniously together, and as you say most of your leaders are from the French-speaking Province. That is unthinkable here, with the likes of Shemal and the leaders whom they get elected to office.
The outlook here seems bleak, but let us do our best. And thank you, TFN, for still caring for OUR country despite being happy where you are. I won’t say that to every expatriate! Some just want to keep our problems simmering. You are more constructive in what you say, but please try not to give a chance to the likes of Shemal to justify their hate and insult-filled comments.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 27, 2017
Shamal Perera,
Let me set you this task:
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-thomian-pharisees-are-unrepentant-why-this-matters-to-all-sri-lankans/
That is third and last article of mine that was published in Colombo Telegraph last year. Please go through them and see if anything in them supports you claim that I’m anything except a “Sinhala Man”.
While you go on about your position in society, may I tell you that the house in Bandarawela that I live in was built by my father, but was let to tenants. Lt Col. Tissa Indika Weeratunga occupied it for two years around 1971 – the time of the first JVP insurrection. “Bull” was an amiable fellow, but I know that the role he played when posted to Jaffna was greatly instrumental in fomenting the war.
Years later, he died in Bedddgana, Kotte, in a house built by my sister, which he bought off her. His widow, Sonia (nee Rode), continues to live there, and I have vague memories of her when I was little more than a baby. Her father was the Education Dept boss in the Badulla District in the early 1950s.
*
So much for your name dropping!
/
Jimsofty / August 25, 2017
Sinhala Man: Are you half Tamil ?. I heard you some Panini, Are you Indian ? Or you have Estate Tamil background.
/
visa / August 29, 2017
“Sinhala Man: Are you half Tamil ?”
Sinhala man is a man with a working conscience. Has he got to be a Tamil to have a conscience?
/
Sapumal Kumaraya / August 23, 2017
Shemale Perera
In the Mid-East, you go to any Office building, sit in a lounge with a non-Sri Lankan colleague and sip on a coffee. What do you start to see? A Sinhala man or a Sinhala woman in Janitor clothing with a Lysol bottle on his hand walking like a possessed person.
The Sinhalese women are known as the best toilet cleaners/Janitors in the Mid-East. The Arabs have employed them in Airports, Hospitals, schools and Malls to clean toilets used by multi-nationals from the entire world.
What an embarrassment this is for us non-Sinhalese. I mean couldn’t the Sinhalese do any other job than working with the Toilet bucket and the plunger? Let the Indians do it (but they don’t), let the Pakistanis do it (but they don’t), let the Pilipino gooks do it (but they don’t), Why does it have to be the Sinhalese?
The embarrassment this brings to us the non-Sinhalese Sri Lankans is so much that sometimes it’s suicidal.
/
Jamis Banda / August 23, 2017
This Retarded Shemale Perera should go to the Middle East to have a cup of coffee and see how his people, the Sinhalese women there are working as Rocket Scientists.
More than 12 lakhs (12,000,000) Sri Lankan women (80% of them Sinhalese) work in Saudi Arabia as house maids, Janitors/cleaners and nannies. The Saudis call Sri Lanka as “the Country of Housemaids.” The Kuwaitis have gone to the extent of saying that “the Sri Lankan women are born to serve us as nannies and maids.” Another large number of Sinhalese women work in Kuwait as house maids, Janitors/cleaners and nannies. The Kuwaitis have gone to the extent of saying that “the Sri Lankan women are born to serve us as maids and Janitors”. In hypermarkets and shopping malls in the gulf countries, most of the cashiers and sales girls are either from Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal or India whereas the Janitors (floor/toilet cleaners) are only Sri Lankan women.
On the other hand, there are more than a million Sri Lankan Tamils (Diaspora) around the Western World from North America to Australia/New Zealand doing extremely well. The Tamils have become experts in everything good as well as bad, jack of all trades. The Tamil Diaspora will do anything and everything in the West to earn money and establish themselves. Today, their children are attending the top class universities in the World and have achieved what they could have never achieved in Sri Lanka. Most of them are top businessmen and professionals in their chosen field, whether it is medicine, science, engineering, IT technology or even space travel.
While the Sinhalese are slaving in the mid-east in tens of thousands, the Tamils are progressing extremely well in the Western countries in tens of thousands.
/
pirabakaran- velupillai / August 23, 2017
Retarded Lt Shitmal Poo
Machang!
I was at a party when one of my Lebanese mates casually mentioned that his house maid was Sinhalese I got so angry and disgusted in protest I walked out of the party, threatening him that I will deal with his sister. You know Shitmal what sort of threat I was going to carry out with his sister , you being an ex-leutinent of sort would have dealt with many Tamil sisters in the war zone you need no explanation for what I meant here. My blood boiled as you know we all have the same blood in our mother [Edited out] Lanka and I nearly kicked the Lebanese chap between his legs so that he will never touch our Sinhala sister at his home.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 24, 2017
Dear LankaDon,
Yes, this article, and some of the comments deserve careful study and consideration. I’m trying to draw the attention of readers to the 4 very pertinent points made by Dr Rajan Hoole, about the experience that his brother, Prof. Jeevan Hoole, has had to undergo.
The incident has an almost universal significance in that it represents how one individual has taken it on himself to fight on behalf of a some millions. Well, the population of our country is 22 million.
*
What has been written here immediately concerns the rights of all people in this country, and it is unfortunate that whenever a story emerges from Jaffna, many commenters focus on parochial issues, and tend to miss out on the true significance of what has got shown up. I will not try to improve upon the conclusions drawn by Dr Rajan Hoole, so I’m trying to place this above his comment.
/
Rajan Hoole / August 23, 2017
Trapped in Lawlessness and Disorder
In the correspondence above there is too much based on the individual, anger that the person could not speak Sinhalese, or mitigation of policemen who did not know Tamil. What is being missed is the potential nastiness of the system that could affect anyone in Lanka:
1. A vindictive complaint to the police in 2011 left unattended because it was known to be political. The Attorney General (a prospective Supreme Court judge) unwilling to take a stand for the same reason, leaving the Kayts Magistrate in a pickle.
2. This was all known to the Police or easily ascertainable by DIG Jaffna. The fact that two policemen came home in a hostile mood is a sign that they were on a political errand. This was further confirmed by the second group intent on taking the victim to the police station. They were not interested in contacting the Kayts Court or Police.
3. The victim was right to resist going to the station, where given the hostile mood (obviously articulated from the top), he feared, after his Mullaitivu experience, being pummelled in a dark corridor with no witnesses.
4. One fears greatly for ordinary persons held for long periods on alleged suspicion. For those living in Tamil areas it raises the question what do we do when the police come home in this manner? The victim, a well-known Tamil at the height of his profession, avoided what could have become a far worse fate because he could get an influential Sinhalese to speak to the authorities. What does an ordinary person do?
After January 2015, Tamil politics had ample opportunity to address these issues, but it is much easier to talk about Sinhalese oppression rather than attend to such pressing matters, including postwar crime.
/
LankaDon / August 24, 2017
Dear Prof. Hoole, I salute your brave stand against the corrupt policeman who were carrying out an illegal political intimidation. It is said that the fish rots from the head down, and I’m sure the top police brass or some corrupt politicians were behind this. I hope you can trace this up the chain to the real culprits. Ordinary Tamils can’t stand up like you did as they don’t have the connections and the channels like the EC you called to get help. I hope there will be structural changes and a change to the cultural mind-set regarding power & corruption. Many ordinary people accept this as part of life because they feel helpless and fear the system. All Sri Lankans who want to live in a peaceful country irrespective of race or religion should be grateful to you. I can’t think of another person living in the north who has the guts to expose this cancer in our system. Well played Sir!
/
Lankan / August 26, 2017
@pirabakaran
To be honest Most people in the Indian subcontinent have Dravidian in them including most North Indians. But yes Tamils have the least intermixing with outsiders. But when you refuse to acknowledge that most South Asians have Dravidian in them you are pitting everyone against Tamils.
/