By P. Soma Palan –
P. Soma Palan
Member of Parliament, Ananda Aluthgamage (AA) has proposed an Amendment to the Presidential Election Law, in Parliament, as reported in the Daily Mirror of 28th March. I wish to respond as follows:
Ananda Aluthgamage states that “We all believe that only a Buddhist (that is Sinhala) could become the Head of State, but it is more important to include a clause in the Presidential Election Law, saying one has to become a parent to be eligible to contest the Presidency”. What a profound piece of thought. It would even baffle a half sane person. He says it is because that, “only a parent with children could understand the needs of the people”. Why only the President? Even those who get elected to Parliament and come to serve the people should also be eligible to contest elections only if, he or she is a parent, who will understand the needs of the people. Those bachelors and married people without the status of parenthood should be debarred from contesting elections, both General and Provincial. The President is only an individual. Whereas, Members of Parliament are 225, who should “understand the needs of the people” more and better, particularly their electorates, than the President.
Further, Mr. Ananda Aluthgamage states that “parenthood is the only condition to understand the needs of the ” If this is so, then the Monks of the Buddhist Sangha and the Priests of the Christian Church, who are “Celibates” should be disqualified from giving pontifical advice to the State, as they are incapable of understanding the needs of the people.
To understand the needs of the people, it does not necessarily require the status of parenthood. What it requires is, education, knowledge and awareness, which is woefully lacking in our politicians.
The other limb of his statement states that “only a Buddhist (means Sinhala) could become the Head of State”. This violates the Constitution, which says all citizens are equal. Sri Lanka is a Democratic country and not a Theocratic State, at least “de jure”. But “de facto” it is a theocratic State. However, Mr. Ananda Aluthgamage is honest enough to overtly say that only Sinhala Buddhist should be the President of the country. But covertly, the Government ensures that ,all important Leadership positions are held by the Sinhala Buddhists, such as the Chief Justice, Attorney General, the Speaker of the Parliament, Auditor General, Prime Minister and even Heads of Ministries and Corporations. Example the removal of the Director General of Customs, Mrs Charles. Even the Captain of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team- example the obstacles faced by Angelo Mathews as Captain. It is widely believed that a potential Prime Minster, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar was pre-emptively eliminated by assassination.
In the Daily Mirror of same date, the writer, Ravi Nagawatte reiterated this rule in his article “Buddhist Sri Lanka at Crossroads” that “only a Sinhala Buddhist can become the Head of State in this country”. He even says that “this condition is a blessing in a way because it forces the Head of State of this nation to be a cultured and religious minded individual who has compassion towards everyone”. According to Mr. Ravi Nagawatte only a Sinhala Buddhist can be a cultured and religious minded individual, who would have compassion towards everyone, and no one else. This is the doctrine of religious absolutism. These noble qualities are the preserve and prerogative of the Sinhala Buddhists only. Implied in this statement is the notion that individuals of other religions have no such virtues.
critical thinking / April 5, 2019
It is now four context.. MS, Ranil, Gota, AKD,. we could see a big fight. MS knows neither MR nor Ranil will save him next time. I want to see how MS is punished in coming election by people. I want to see How AKD will do in this next election. There is gossip, that MS might bring all cases against to MR family to win election. so, this next election is a historical election in Sri Lanka. all forces of national interest and personal interest will fight for next election for their personal survival. Next election is all about personal interest of all these people except AKD.
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Real Revolutionist / April 5, 2019
critical thinking
Ranil is going to be substituted by a Tamil assuring 100% Tamil votes + majority Muslim votes.
It’s well known that Tamils have racism in blood.
Generally there’re more women voters in Muslim community as they have more than one wife in a household so a promising to attract Muslim women will be more advantages sacrificing Muslim men’s votes.
So promise them relief from men’s grip; let them a right to have 4 hubbies, ban abaya etc..
Most probably it’ll bring UNP into power; the only available option for them.
Ability to field a Tamil Buddhist will pave the way to grab some Sinhala Buddhist votes too.
UNP must use its creativity.
This Tamil candidate concept of the UNP can keep Sajith & Karu; the headaches of the party clearly aside.
Why not try?
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Stupid nation / April 5, 2019
Of course there will more votes the bunch of people your mom slept with it .
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ralli hamid / April 6, 2019
RR the subject is “Presidential Candidate Should Be A Parent To Be Eligible”, so what Muslims law like four wives go to do this. You who belongs to tree climbing bastard cannot keep away racist donkey comments.
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Real Revolutionist / April 6, 2019
rally hamid
Relax man, see carefully. Mine’s a response to critical thinking. Pls blame critical.
However, I wonder how can my comment be racial?
Sad to say you have a kind of phobia that keeps you away from truth.
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Santhushya Fernando / April 5, 2019
Cry, cry, the beloved country…. ( Alan Paton. Cry the beloved country).
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bindu / April 5, 2019
I know who will lose …..M S
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Kumar Sriskanda / April 5, 2019
Ananda Aluthgamage had shown his colours that he is not fit to sit in the parliament. I wonder as to what is his education level.
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Native Vedda / April 5, 2019
Kumar Sriskanda
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“Ananda Aluthgamage had shown his colours that he is not fit to sit in the parliament. I wonder as to what is his education level.”
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Is there anyone else who is fit to sit in the parliament?
Will Ananda Aluthgamage subject himself for a DNA test to establish his lineage?
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Do we have to know the details of the resident monks of the nearby Vihares or nearby Tamil shop owners who were from the North at the time of his birth?
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shankar / April 5, 2019
are illegitimate children considered for parenthood?Instead of calling parent,call it father or mother.
What about adopting a child to qualify.is it permitted?
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Eagle Eye / April 5, 2019
Sri Lanka should follow China and adopt a ‘Two Children’ policy. Free health, education and any other social benefits should be given only to two children and for others parents should be asked to pay the full cost. Such a policy will be a deterrent to those who breed like rabbits.
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Babalathappu / April 6, 2019
China is a country with 1600 Mio people. Why should we at all be comparable with China ? We are just 22 Mio. We could better be compared with that of Malaysia whose Population is 25 mio.
Lanken free education should only be permitted those who cant afford it. Just leaving it for all free, it just wastes the sources.
That way, they can also provide the students with better education.
And this should also be the case with free health. Then only we can improve the prevailing systems.
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shankar / April 6, 2019
Babalathappu /
“We are just 22 Mio. We could better be compared with that of Malaysia whose Population is 25 mio.”
we are 21 meow and malaysia is 32 meow.Malaysia has been breeding like rabbits.
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SL kolla / April 5, 2019
Rest in Peace, ‘Sinhala Buddhist Sri Lanka’.
It is the phrase ‘Sinhala Buddhist’ which prevents the development of this country. Compare with Singapore, where talent, skills and experience wins instead of racist policies.
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Champa / April 5, 2019
SL kolla
How about Vellalar Tamils? Is there any Kudimakkal Tamil MPs in Parliament?
Sinhalese Buddhists is the majority in Sri Lanka. Therefore, President and the Prime Minister both should be Sinhalese Buddhists. People have already realized their mistake in electing Maithri and Ranil who tried to promote secularism in Sri Lanka.
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Lankan / April 5, 2019
Champa, Champa, Champa….take a break…have a kit kat
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Sinhala_Man / April 5, 2019
Champa,
.
I’m sure that you would have kept to your word and read what I had to say about the Maldivan Elections.
.
Why don’t you comment on some worthwhile subject like that instead of playing the buffoon here?
.
I grant that you never undertook to give me feedback, but it would be welcome. Not on the writing. I know it is lousy; but on how you assess the situation there.
.
Remember that 750 years ago they were a 100% Buddhist country.
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JD / April 6, 2019
All the minorities are defining Democracy the way they want. Sinhala Majority should chase out Sinhala Politicians who are corrupt and take over the reign.
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SL kolla / April 6, 2019
Champa,
People won’t give a f**k about majority/minority if they are really keen to march forward as a country. Also foolish racists like you are really a curse to this country.
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Champa / April 6, 2019
SL kolla
Shoooooo, I wish Analyst notices your comment and can’t wait to see his reaction!
What is wrong with telling the truth?
Fifteen to twenty years ago people in Western, North American and Nordic countries were believed that Tamils were the majority in Sri Lanka!!!!! Such successful was LTTE’s false propaganda.
Whenever I get a chance I remind everybody that it is Sinhalese who are the majority in Sri Lanka. You have no right to deny my right to tell the truth.
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SL kolla / April 6, 2019
Champa,
I agree that Sinhalese is the majority. But the attitude of jumping over the moon just because one is part of the majority is what I really hate. You will never understand…
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Native Vedda / April 6, 2019
SL kolla
–
“I agree that Sinhalese is the majority.”
–
It means they have more stupid people than the rest of the people put together.
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Champa / April 6, 2019
Hindian Vedda
What a joker!
Sinhalese had a well developed ancient civilization where even India was no match.
We are the first in the world who used solar power,
the first gold, silver, steel and iron tools,
the first binocular,
the first hand knitting machine,
the first hospital and surgeries,
the first pair of spectacles,
the first 9-storey building stood on 40X40 stone pillars with a copper roof (2nd BC),
the first rain harvesting system,
the invention of grenade,
the tallest+largest building built with bricks (3rd BC) and many more..
.
Do you know Hindian Vedda, at the Hindian Science Congress, your own Hindian Andhra University vice-chancellor G. Nageswara Rao said that our first king, Maha Rawana had 24 aircraft and that ancient Lanka had many airports at the time!!! Not a single scientist opposed to his claim. It is not Right brothers, it is our Sinhalese King Maha Rawana who invented the first aircraft!!!
It is time Sinhalese explore Rawana’s history.
Like many others, I also believe that he has a connection to the beautifully carved Sigiriya Rock.
The palace ruins on the rock proves an astonishing architecture, engineering and advanced technology.
It is a mystery to many as to how bricks and other tools were taken to the top of the Sigiriya Rock to build this palace as there are no signs of stairways or anything else to go to the top.
Andhra University vice-chancellor G Nageswara Rao’s revelations come handy here. There is no doubt that ancient aircraft – Vimanas – were used to take bricks, tools and workers to the top of the Rock.
I can’t stop thinking about Sigiriya Rock. Once the slave government is gone, we should seriously consider in exploring the mystery surrounded by Sigiriya Rock and open the actual hidden Dvara of the rock.
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Native Vedda / April 7, 2019
Champass
–
Keep going, it is becoming weider and weider, ……………..
–
According to your favourite conman,
the Vice Chancellor of Andhra University “that India possessed the knowledge of stem cell research, test tube fertilisation and even guided missiles thousands of years ago, providing as evidence, tales from the Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Speaking at the Indian Science Congress on Friday, G Nageshwar Rao said, “We had hundreds of Kauravas from one mother because of stem cell research and test tube baby technology. It happened a few thousand years ago. This was science in this country.”
ndtv.com
January 05, 2019
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Am surprised why he didn’t mention Indian scientific achievement of human -animal cross fertilisation in East India about 2500 years ago.
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Champa / April 7, 2019
Hindian Vedda
I am not interested in the Indian part. Why should I?
Your last para is also applied to India, which has no bearing on Sinhalese who are descendants of original inhabitants of Lanka’s Yakkha people.
If you have forgotten, when Vijaya Hora arrived, Lanka was ruled by a Yakkha King.
No matter how much you try to connect, Sinhalese are in every way different from Indians and Tamis.
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Native Vedda / April 7, 2019
Champass
–
“No matter how much you try to connect, Sinhalese are in every way different from Indians and Tamis.”
–
Isn’t it what the public racist Anagarika Homeless Dharmapala tried and miserably failed in his attempt first to concoct a new identity (Sinhala/Buddhist through protestant Buddhism), and then allied with Hitler and Japanese emperor to show Aryan Sinhala/Buddhist superiority over others, roared as if there was no tomorrow, left a trail of destruction which still reverberate throughout the island?
–
Increasingly you sound like romano grandma theresa fernando. Maybe both of you are sisters or one and the same.
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Champa / April 6, 2019
SL kolla
The majority Sinhalese didn’t talk for 4, 5 decades. Now they are talking of their rights.
The world only heard the minority voice all this time. They believed in the lies spread by TNA, LTTE and Tamil intellectuals about fake Tamil Homeland. They were of the view that Sinhalese have acquired Tamil Homeland, when in actual terms it is the other way. Now it is our turn to tell the truth.
Our first mistake was not rising against terrorism for 30 years for which we had to pay a heavy price.
There is no way we repeat the same mistake. Sinhalese should rise as one against unsubstantiated allegations against our military.
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Eagle Eye / April 6, 2019
SL kolla,
Sinhale Buddhists developed this country. Dravidian, Portuguese, Dutch and British invaders ruined this country. Even today, agents of these ‘Parayas’ are trying to destabilize the country.
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Mallaiyuran / April 6, 2019
Eagle,
Here a sentence from Bharathi: ” Let us cut down with the root the Old World that is only fighting. Then we can build a new world-peaceful.”
North & South America, Australia, New Zealand…. are, in reality, New World countries. But I don’t know if Bharathi’s dream is fulfilled there, that is for a world without wars.
But even if Dravidian, Portuguese, Dutch and British invaders are of not success in demolishing Lankawe, please let us fall it down with root, ourselves. The five hundred years old New World Countries have developed them many hundred times more than the 2500 years old Sinhala Buddhist Lankawe. We don’t want this tortoise walk anymore. For the 2500 years development the Sinhala Buddhist did, a 17 million people Netherland captured Lankawe of 20 million & ruled for 100 years. Thanks for Britain, only they liberated Lankawe, after Ehelepola willingly handed over to them Kandy, like Ranil handed over Hangbangtota to China. So, let one of the white race come back and make us also part of the New World. Then, we all will have, economic freedom at least. Otherwise you are going to be begging in some Western Country forever and your wife and sister are going to be slaving in come Middle Eastern country.
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Charlie brown / April 6, 2019
Go to the pharmacy and see if you can get some strong ointment for that chip on your shoulder …blaming everyone else for your shortcomings… you’re not a twelve year old schoolboy are you !!
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Native Vedda / April 6, 2019
Eagle Blind Eye
–
“Sinhale Buddhists developed this country.”
–
Who are these Sinhala/Buddhists, not known before 1948?
What makes them Sinhala/Buddhists?
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Do you want us to believe Sinhala/Buddhists developed this country by discovering/inventing/manufacturing/ ……………….. Planes, automobiles, Ships, medicines, equipments, machines, processing, computers, artificial intelligence, genetics, gene editing, satellites, rockets, solved Fermat’s Last Theorem, brain surgery, printing, TV, radio, guns, multi barrels, tanks, ….. science, humanities, ….
–
Scientists believe gene editing and stem cells could help those born with many deficiencies. You should consult them or perhaps the Vedda Mahathya could provide you with those services.
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Eagle Eye / April 6, 2019
Dumbo,
Who built that massive irrigation system in the North Central part of the country? Your Grand Father?
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Native Vedda / April 7, 2019
Eagle Blind Eye
–
“Who built that massive irrigation system in the North Central part of the country? Your Grand Father?”
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Well I am sure your grandfather didn’t.
Perhaps he a Kallathonies was trying to convert himself into a Sinhala/Buddhist.
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Champika’s ancestors discovered Zero.
Perhaps your ancestors built the Kallanai.
I should think the Harappans, Egyptians, Chinese, Incas, …… subcontracted building and maintaining their Irrigation work to the Sinhala/Buddhists.
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Eagle Eye / April 7, 2019
Dumbo,
Sinhala Buddhists have a documented history as proof on how they developed this country. As Jane Russel point out you guys are jealous of that. What the hell you guys have except the fake history written by Dr.Gnana Sankaralingam and Siva Sankaran Sharma. Why don’t you join them and write another fake history book ‘Demalawansham’.
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Native Vedda / April 8, 2019
Eagle Blind Eye
–
“As Jane Russel point out you guys are jealous of that.”
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Please refer your source.
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JD / April 5, 2019
The constitution also must say Low caste Tamils can not be leaders or a Low caste must follow a high caste.
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Real Revolutionist / April 5, 2019
Might be better to have a childless on the top rather than having one with offspring carved in bellies everywhere.
But have to be careful of those who attempt to develop fetus in same sex bellies.
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Hard Truth / April 6, 2019
Real revolutionist,
You don’t like same-sex action, do you? Then you better be careful mate, because you all are going to get the huge instrument of the dragon up your a***es pretty soon. ROTFL.
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Real Revolutionist / April 6, 2019
Hard Truth
Oh boy, it’s well known that there’re fools with zero knowledge of male-female thrill, day dreaming so the a***e centers are strongly stitched these days to make them very small so huge instruments aren’t of use.
So go anywhere with that intention after reducing it.
Or there’re places that elephants haunt so take courage to visit such place.
ROTFL.
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K.Anaga / April 5, 2019
A Sinhales president like Wickrama Bahu Karunaratne will be better than Sampanthar or Sumanthiran for the Tamils.
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Real Revolutionist / April 7, 2019
k.Anaga
Ah, you have dream a prose to sing.
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K.Anaga / April 7, 2019
So what? RR
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K.Pillai / April 5, 2019
P Soma Palan has responded here to Member of Parliament, Ananda Aluthgamage’s proposed Amendment to the Presidential Election Law, “We all believe that only a Buddhist (that is Sinhala) could become the Head of State, but it is more important to include a clause in the Presidential Election Law, saying one has to become a parent to be eligible to contest the Presidency”.
Soma Palan suggests “This is half insane”.
Not really. Ananda Aluthgamage, presently in UNP, wants to join SLPP.
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Naman / April 5, 2019
JO is trying to say Ranil W is not qualified as he is not a father.
Gota R is a dual citizen ( a green card holder). The qualifications the Voting People expecting are being clean ,untainted ,Educated ,unbiased , etc.
We need new faces and not the RW/GR/ MS/
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Spring Koha / April 6, 2019
Good thing this bullshit was not around when that nice Mr Dudley Senanayake became Prime Minister.
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kolla / April 6, 2019
Judging from the unwholesome quality of the people around , we cannot say our parenting is any good !
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Hard Truth / April 6, 2019
Only a Sinhala Bhuddist should be president. Only a parent should be president. Only a man from the ‘gamaya’ should be president. only a man who wears the national dress should be the president.
The great patriots will always thunder so. Many of their criteria will be implemented de-facto. Some may even be implemented de-jure.
Is any of the patriots ever going to say “Only a person with a degree should be a president?” Noooo, that is discrimination.
The idiotic patriots will get what they wish for. When they find that their country is going backwards as a result, they will blame in on ‘western conspiracies’. The Tamils living in the west will have the last laugh. The patriots will console themselves by mumbling ‘oh, they might be doing well but that is because they wash the toilets’. And soon enough, the patriots will have to wash the Chinese toilets anyway, in their own thrice blessed Sinhala-Bhuddist motherland.
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Native Vedda / April 6, 2019
Hard Truth
–
“Is any of the patriots ever going to say “Only a person with a degree should be a president?” Noooo, that is discrimination.”
–
Is any of the patriots ever going to say “Only a person with wisdom should be a president?”
Is any of the patriots ever going to say “Only a person with b***s to implement progressive liberal policies” should be a president?”
….
….
…
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moda sinhalaya / April 6, 2019
I think it is better to have the rule as, “No one with children should become the president’ We have experiences from the past two presidents, people with children are involved in more corrupt deals, commissions from investements and selling state assets, etc. Then they have to pave the path for the children to earn millions for the grandchildren, in-laws etc. They are the ones who pressurize their fathers to hang on to power , not abolish executive presidency and work out deals with foreign investors selling state assets and new contracts.
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Punchi Point / April 6, 2019
As long as this country is a unitary state it can have a non-Sinhala and non-Buddhist President. Outrageous claims and demands like this must be taken seriously, because this kind of people are the ones who have messed this country up. Anybody who tries to assume rights they do not have, like the “only a Sinhalese Buddhist can be President” jokers, must be arrested on the spot for violating the constitution. Ravi Nagawatte should take a look around the country to see the virtues of the Sinhala Buddhists….
For all the mess the Sinhalese leaders have brought upon this country, the best and reasonable remedy would be to bar all Sinhalese from contesting for the next parliamentary elections and Presidential elections. I hope we can get a Tamil President and a Tamil-Muslim parliament. This will also be a good punishment for the Tamils when they actually have to run the country, without sitting on their backs and complaining about everything. To make the punishment more painful, the Sinhalese should assume the Tamils’ role today, and complain about imaginary discrimination and imaginary problems and anything and everything possible, just like the Tamils are doing today. Let the roles be reversed and let’s see what happens…. It will the best political experiment ever. It will be good for all parties to see and experience what it is to be on the other side. And quite honestly I think a Tamil president would be a much better option, as most Tamil civil servants have always served this country well, and given what we have to choose from namely the pathetic Sinhalese political characters of today, I think our country has everything to gain by giving the Tamils a chance to run this country.
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Native Vedda / April 6, 2019
Punchi Point
Punchi Brain
Punchi Willi
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“As long as this country is a unitary state it can have a non-Sinhala and non-Buddhist President.”
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Thank you for your usual bigoted bull s**t.
1.The country remained a unitary state for over 71 years.
2. Tamils were never given proper ministries to administer.
3. Tamils/Muslims were never elected nor were appointed to top jobs.
4. You never defined nor explained what a unitary state means in legal and practical terms.
5.Why does it matter whether its a unitary or federal state?
6. What have you and the country achieved being a unitary state, apart from 2 southern insurrections and a long northern war, and the increase in number of those crooks and war criminals who have accumulated fantastic wealth and absolute power? And I forgot the tyre pyes and pile of dead bodies…………white vans, ….
7. …..
8…..
….
1000. …..
1001….
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whywhy / April 6, 2019
There are about a dozen live TV political programs of interviews and debates
every week with almost same circle of MPs and PCs turning every different
topics into one and the same mudslinging and degrading each other . Ever
since TV was introduced to the country , this is what people get for their
investment on a TV ! The viewers don’t even seem to understand that how
much they are being fooled on a daily basis by these and some other rubbish
programs that glue them to TV at a specific time running into hours till late
night ! Don’t forget that it is these people who elect their leaders and later
feel let down as usual after every election . So, where’s the end to this ? Just
look at the recent madness that dissolved the parliament and brought in a
new government ! The supreme court ruled it not only unconstitutional but
also illegal . Now , where’s the man who committed this madness ? Can a man
of highest position in a country behave like nothing happened and go as normal
in his job ? And if that is not enough , dream for come-back ? Is it worth for the
media even to mention that name linking with another term ? Is it not mad
people elect mad men to lead them ? Is it not carelessness on the part of the
general public to live badly the life that is so short ? In a real world , Sira , Bond and
Hora can not even imagine of going before a REAL PUBLIC !
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Mal / April 6, 2019
He should also have a prick not less than 5 inches… to be fair!
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shankar / April 7, 2019
mal
erect or not erect.Constitution must clearly mention that so no more supreme court attempts to interpret the constitution.Also mention fully erect or partially erect.We don’t want donkeys with limp ones more than 5 inches.They may give more pleasure to the woman but what about things like formulating a good budgets,policies etc which requires brains.A mexican woman used to bend and wash her clothes in the river.The men who pass by used to doggie fashion do it and pass on.She does not even turn around and look at the men and continues to do her washing.One day a donkey came and did it and was going away and the woman while continuing with her washing said,”whoever the guy who did it just now,please come again”.
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whywhy / April 7, 2019
Shankar ,
There are one million more women in the country , it’s reported .
So , donkey would fit the job !
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shankar / April 7, 2019
merit should be the only criteria to selection of the president.
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Bindu / April 13, 2019
Should a Teacher be a parent to teach little children. Bloody fool.
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