28 March, 2024

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President’s Forthcoming Address To UN Will Highlight Challenges To Reconciliation 

By Jehan Perera

Jehan Perera

The recent interventions of President Maithripala Sirisena into issues of governance brings out sharp differences of opinion within the government coalition he heads. The most significant of these is his bid to break free from the commitments made by the government to the international community with regard to issues of war time accountability for serious human rights violations. In October 2015 the newly elected government eased tensions that had been escalating between the previous government and sections of the international community and which had contributed to the imposition of economic sanctions. The European Union had withdrawn the GSP Plus tariff concession and there were indications of further sanctions to come. By co-sponsoring UN Resolution 30/1 at the UN Human Rights Council, the government pledged to embark on a wide ranging series of actions that would deal with the past and pave the way for national reconciliation.

However, the issue of accountability for war crimes and human rights violations as a result of international pressure has been a controversial one to the Sri Lankan security forces and the Sinhalese ethnic majority. Recently President Sirisena has been stating that he will amicably propose alternatives to the commitments that the government made in Geneva. The most controversial of those has been to have the participation of the international community in the establishment of a special judicial mechanism to look into questions of accountability. Both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have clarified that this international participation does not amount to the setting up of hybrid courts in which international judges sit in judgment alongside national judges.

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that he will go before the UN General Asssembly to urge in an amicable manner that the resolution on Sri Lanka co-sponsored by the government should be amended as it had led to the perception that the Sri Lankan security forces were being unfairly targeted for punitive action. He has said he will submit these proposals to the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres as well as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. The President said that the proposals aim at solving issues and providing relief without causing harm to the pride of the security forces or endangering Lanka’s independence. The president will be addressing the UN General Assembly on September 25.

Political Siege

The government is today under political siege for many reasons, not least for failing to boost the economy and ensure adequate trickle down to the masses of people. But another major reason is for having co-sponsored UNHRC resolution 30/1 of October 2015 which set out ambitious targets to be achieved within a two year framework. The daunting nature of the government’s task in implementing this “Geneva Resolution” becomes clear in the absence of support from within the ranks of government for its implementation. Every reform has been contested, including the establishment of the Office of Missing Persons. It was therefore no surprise that in March 2017, the Sri Lankan government requested a further two years to implement the transitional justice agenda set out in UNHRC resolution 30/1.

Last week, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who commanded the army in the concluding phase of the war, and is a cabinet minister, claimed that the cabinet of ministers was unaware of the contents of UNHRC resolution 30/1 at the time it was signed by the government. Even today it would not be too surprising if knowledge of what that resolution contains is a haze to the members of the government. In these circumstances, it is to the credit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and a handful of ministers such as Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera (who signed UNHRC resolution 30/1 on behalf of the government as Foreign Minister) that the transitional justice process is moving forward at all. They have accepted the need to reach international standard. The question is how to accommodate those standards to national political realities.

The Office of Missing Persons (OMP) is the first of the transitional justice mechanisms to be established in keeping with the pledges of UNHRC resolution 30/1. Last week it issued its interim report. This is a comprehensive document with strong recommendations. The question is how much can and will be implemented. The OMP recommended the publication of a full list of all detention centres as well as detainees and ensure that persons are not detained in any unauthorised detention centres. However, there is a fundamental problem that the OMP will need to deal with. This is the fact that the Sri Lankan security forces, the defense establishment and the Sinhalese ethnic majority led by President Sirisena himself see in every effort to dig into the past, an insidious attempt to find evidence that will one day incriminate those who won the war in a court of law.

Slow Movement 

Despite these contrary pressures, the government is still pushing ahead, even if slowly. The second transitional justice mechanism, the Office for Reparations, has recently been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and is now to be placed before Parliament to be passed into law. The third mechanism, the Truth seeking Commission is on the drawing board. In the context of Sri Lanka’s divided polity and opinion on the issue of transitional justice there will be a need for more time, more wisdom and more political will to find the way forward. In other parts of the world, these processes have taken decades to unfold. However, it will be important for President Sirisena and the government to be mindful that UN institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council have their own mandates and autonomy.

The UN Human Rights Council, which co-sponsored UNHRC Resolution 30/1 is not under the direct control of the UN General Assembly. This explains why even the United States, though arguably the most powerful country in the world, was unable to influence the UNHRC and has withdrawn from that institution while denouncing it. Therefore it is not reasonable to believe that the international community, especially those whose mandate is to protect human rights, will be prepared to negotiate and water down the need for accountability as measured by international standards as against Sri Lankan standards. The President’s actions are also likely to come at a political cost to the government as they will not be acceptable to the Tamil people and to their elected representatives.

President Sirisena’s recent interventions in regard to a case involving the Chief of Defence Staff Rear Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne who is wanted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with allegedly aiding and abetting a navy officer in a criminal case has led to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) demanding that the entire range of accountability issues here should be subjected to international judicial process. Jaffna District MP and TNA spokesman M A Sumanthiran has told The Island that interference by ‘highest authorities in the country’ meant that the victims could not expect justice through domestic judicial process. There is a need therefor for more and more leaders within the government to understand the complex elements of transitional justice that need to be followed for Sri Lanka’s transition to a reconciled society.

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Latest comments

  • 19
    8

    Failed State and time up for Hybrid courts and International judges.
    ICC is watching.

    • 4
      1

      Jehan Perera,

      RE:President’s Forthcoming Address To UN Will Highlight Challenges To Reconciliation

      “The recent interventions of President Maithripala Sirisena into issues of governance brings out sharp differences of opinion within the government coalition he heads. The most significant of these is his bid to break free from the commitments made by the government to the international community with regard to issues of war time accountability for serious human rights violations.”

      Welcome to the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, illegally occupied by Para sfrom India, populated by the Paras with a mean IQ of 79, who elect their Para leaders, to turn the Land into a Land like No Other.

      Perhaps more people will visit the Land like No Other , to see what t is all about.

    • 6
      1

      Thengai Srinivasan

      Watch this clip, a huge rally in support of your request and beyond organised obviously by those who collected funds in Europe. Or is it in support of Gota’s candidacy?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OebyLV9Au_U

      Janabalaya Kolambata
      Here is Janabalaya Eelamta.

      Why do they chant
      “We want Thamil Eelam”, Our Home Land Thamil Eelam, Our Leader Prabharan, …” if indeed they demand justice?

      I hear Our Leader Prabharan.
      I want to hear “Apata ona Mahinda/Gota in Geneva”.

      Could we have a Janabalaya in Geneva for Gota.
      Gota/Namal should organize Janabalayas in every Western capital challenging Janabalayas Eelamta.

      Just to prove Tamils and Sinhalese from the same stupid gene.

      • 3
        0

        NV:

        Do you think any of these guys will want to come and settle down in Eelam if they get it?
        What a crazy world we live in.

        • 2
          0

          Burt

          True.
          A few will.

          Another crazy lot, is the Gloabal Sri Lanka Forum:
          http://globalsrilankanforum.org/

          Again it sounds like Global Tamil Forum.
          sinhala.net is exactly the mirror image of tamil.net.

          Well this is stupid Sri Lankans. Poverty in thinking and creativity. It’s all about tit for tat mindset.

      • 1
        0

        Thengai Srinivasan/Native Vedda,

        “Why do they chant
        “We want Thamil Eelam”, Our Home Land Thamil Eelam, Our Leader Prabharan, …” if indeed they demand justice?”

        Is it because:

        1. The Para-Tamil people are still discriminated by the Para-Sinhala people?

        2. The Para-“upper-class “Tamil people are still discriminating the “low-caste” Para-Tamil People?

        Caste, Class and Prabhakaran’s struggle

        http://www.island.lk/2001/02/25/politi01.html

        3. Will the Eelam, of the Para-Tamil people, both “high” and ‘low” caste can then collectively discriminate against the other Paras, like Para-Muslims and ethnically cleanse them, from the Para-Tamil occupied areas of the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, just like during the 1990’s?

        After all, the Para-Sinhala and Para-Tamils ethnically cleanse the Native Veddah Aethho.

    • 0
      0

      “At the residence of former Deputy Speaker and National List MP Tilanga Sumathipala last week. Although, MP Dilan Perera tried to intervene on several occasions, Dissanayake, a Cabinet member of the previous Rajapaksa administration said that the media, too, were aware of some of those executed after they had surrendered though they remained silent. “Both you and we don’t talk about those who had been executed,” the National List MP said.”

  • 5
    17

    We had reconciliation all the time after 1989 July. Even during the height of the war while bombs are exploding in the Southern parts of the country we had reconciliation. But it is now threatened by the actions of UNCHR, Tamil politicians, NGO personnel like Jehan Perera et al. Their actions will keep a permanent division among the different ethnicities.

  • 9
    2

    Yes indeed we have lot more to achieve in th eline of getting rea recociliation could be started.
    But Media in the country is supporting only Rajapashes.
    See alone the issues such as price reduction of heart drugs are not in the air in SL, even if poor pepole could die not knowing the newly introduced prices.
    I have seen, most of the prices reduced by Minister will undoubtedly help saving the life of those heart patients.

    We dont need to be worried about Rajpaksehs recent visit paid to India

    Please check the link down

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Kdk004Gsk

    • 15
      3

      Simon,

      As long as these 3rd grade Media Channels exist eg: Hiru, Derana, and Sirasa there can be no peace in Srilanka.
      Rajapucksas will be back if no action is taken related to frauds, disappearance and murders.

      • 14
        2

        Sandra@

        why is that it takes that long to come with verdicts for all the high crimes committed by Rajapakshe.
        Like for exmaple, that Thadjudeen case is more than evident them to have murdered that boy.
        And lasantha s killing and the evidence heaped up are more than enough to charge them.
        Not forgetting that 23 Prisoners being gunned down as if animals were slaughtered out… the kind of investigations are completed already right ? But no verdicts come out yet, not a single case EXCEPT that Bhratha laksheman case was finalized.
        I think the total ignorance is governing.
        So how can they repeatedly make statements that Lanken JUIDICIARY is independent ?
        Be them in former or current govts, if there are culprits, why no tthey get punishments ?

        • 8
          1

          Simon,

          Start with helping hambantota, and end with Wasim Thajudeen.

          • 2
            0

            Sandra,
            There is no hope for that. Anyone trying to keep politics out of investigations and be independent will be sidelined with cooked-up charges.

            “DIG in charge of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) Nalaka de Silva has been temporarily transferred to the IT division yesterday, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.”

            • 3
              1

              Burt

              Do you remember just before the last presidential elections Mahinda made a thinly veiled threat to those who were planning to switch side that he had files on them?

              Did Sirisena/Ranil demand to see the files?

              • 2
                0

                NV:
                Good question? More over everyone is screaming of corruption but they too have not demanded that they should know what is there in those files.

                The President threatening the CID and instructing the military not to provide information to the CID is a clear obstruction of justice and a clear impeachable offence and what has the UNP done. Not a word on it.

                How do you expect any public servant to discharge his duty?

        • 11
          1

          1.Proven Tsunami Fund Swindler.
          2.Suspected Mass Murderer under UN investigation.
          2.Suspected serial killer Lasantha, Bharatha, Ekneheliyagoda Thajudeen, Joseph, Raviraj etc.
          3.Proven Avenger Sarath Fonseka, Shirani Bandaranayake, Upul Jayasuriya.
          4.Proven liar. Abolition of Presidency, Promise of 13+, Mathata Thitha.
          5.Proven Racist Genocide of Tamils, Harrassment of Muslims and Christians through Booru Balu Sena.
          6. Proven Supporter of Corruption and wastage of public funds. COPE Findings.
          8. Massacre of Innocents at Rathupaswela, Katunayaka, Welikada

          etc.. to continue

          • 4
            1

            M. Somarama – 9. Proven rapist and the list goes on and on.

      • 2
        1

        Even in England, there are priorities to some news whose value is held above anything else.

        But in today s context SRILANKEN media authorities (STATE MEDIA DEPT) to allow Derana, Hiru and Sirasa and other printed media to EXCLULSIVEY be busy iwth negative headlines about the current govt is beyond my undrestnading.

        Why is that ? Is this press freedom ?
        Derana makes ANY NEWS RELATED to former alleged criminals as their MAIN headlines while HIru does the same.
        Sirisa is only busy with BOND SCAM and any steps taken by RW as no go according to them.
        But I listend to WHAT MR may have added in his interviews and compared them with those of Mr Wickramasinge in Vietnam. – THERE what came to know is.. RW is highly intelligent and never betrayed the nation or own folks.
        But just that he has been not wearing lanken HYPOCRITIC costumES to show that they are locals… makes HIM RW the man to be attacked by Press That should be not right.
        Latter alone is RACISM AS i see it.
        No anyone born to this soil would ever want any wrong being applied to motherland.
        Just blatant lies being spread Rajapkashe to earn bonus is A CURSE TO HIS entire rest of life. I hate to see this happeneing.

  • 2
    1

    who will believe what kajusena has to say

  • 8
    4

    Only way this matter is resolved is to isolate Srilanka and impose strict economic sanctions.

    • 5
      9

      Ajith
      Then Tamils in the North will be the first lot to die from starvation as a result of economic sanctions.

      • 9
        0

        Champa
        Economic sanctions hit the poor the most, whether Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher. Hope it will not come to it. I worked in a country many years ago that was under economic sanctions/ trade embargo and saw the suffering with my own eyes. Hope the President will act cautiously and deliver the right message at the UN.

        • 8
          1

          Steve,

          no point of talking to walls – so is the case with the kind of men or women that pracitse oldest professions.

          So please just ignoare Champawathi. He or she would do anything pleasing her or his perks.. being offered by Rajapakshes to her or him to protect them in CT or other forums.

          Trade embargo is no definition to Rajakshes since they have kept their funds grabed from poor man in foreign cournties.

          • 0
            3

            Babalathappu
            I don’t think a trade embargo will have any impact on the “profession” attributed to Champawathie by a loser like you.

            • 4
              1

              Chimpa, so start saving all the money from your hard work, you can feed the country when the sanctions hit the nation. :)

        • 1
          5

          Steve
          I said that because Tamils have no heart in them. They want to see the country is destroyed and people are suffered including their own people.
          They have this habit of asking foreign intervention and economic sanctions on Sri Lanka for a long time.
          This economic sanction idea is rubbish. No country is going to impose economic sanctions based on President’s speech about which I don’t want to make a comment as he hasn’t done it yet. You know him, don’t you? We have to wait for the actuality of the speech.

          • 2
            0

            Champa
            No community will succeed in destroying this beautiful country ( JVP and LTTE failed). Politicians are the ones who are quite capable of destroying this country. There are human rights issues that have to be resolved one way or the other. The International Community are watching, and they have a right to do so. Almost ten years have passed since the end of the war. The President is in a “catch 22” situation. The UN will perhaps need a firm commitment and a time frame from the Sri Lankan government.

      • 6
        1

        Champa

        “Then Tamils in the North will be the first lot to die from starvation as a result of economic sanctions.”

        The first step towards making Wigneshwaran much much happier. Hindians will give him LTTE’s much elusive Tamil Eelam on a platter. Trinco Sam will the founder President of Tamil Eelam and Wiggy the first Prime Minister.

        Both will be eternally grateful to you stupid racist.

        Do them a favour, impose sanctions on North East.
        It is sad VP is no longer alive to fight a war against the Hindian anymore.

        • 0
          5

          Hindian Dimwitta
          OMG man, your appointment with the local optician is long overdue.
          It was Ajith who wanted economic sanctions, not I.
          Mine was only a reply to his heartless comment.

      • 8
        2

        Champa,
        You are not worried about poor Sinhalese starving as a result of economic sanction as long as Mahinda in the chair. We all know Mahinda planned to reduce the Vanni population from 400,000 to 70, 000 in 2009. Your ultimative motive is Sinhala Buddhists only Nation.

        • 1
          8

          Ajith
          Poor Sinhalese will never starve as well-off Sinhalese always help the poor. Generosity is in our blood.
          It’s the opposite for Tamils. Wealthy Tamils never help their poor people.
          It is Sinhalese who take essential food/other items to North/East and distribute them among the needy.
          .
          No. Mahinda never had any plans to “reduce” Tamils. That’s an absolute lie.
          Tamils migrated in 100K from 2007-2010.
          1). According to “ICG 2010 & Orjuela 2012”, there are 1 million SL Tamils overseas.
          2). According to “Vimalarajah and Cheran 2010”, there are around 180,000 in the UK and 200,000 to 300,000 in Canada.
          3). According to Carley Foster, Ryerson University, in “2007”, there were ONLY 143,000 Tamils in Canada.
          4). According to HRW-2006, there were ONLY 120,000 Tamils in UK in “2006.”
          5). That means between 2006&2010, 60,000 Tamils have arrived in UK.
          6). And around 157,000 Tamils have arrived in Canada between 2007&2010.
          7). Check Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, India, Norway, South Africa, Holland too.
          All the “missing,” “killed” or “reduced” TAMILS ARE OVERSEAS!!!
          .
          It is ridiculous to say my motive is a Sinhala Buddhists ‘only’ nation.
          Our kings and forefathers who fought to protect this country from invaders, let migrant Tamils and Muslims stay.
          I only don’t tolerate them trying to uproot our heritage in the North/East and vilifying our Army. I take pride in helping all communities live in peace and prosperity, in any way I can.
          .
          Having a grudge against Mahinda is childish.
          He saved Tamils from terrorists, improved their livelihood and developed the war-ravaged North building a remarkable resilience among the Tamil community, post-conflict.
          The return of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be a Blessing, not only for Sinhalese but also for Tamils/Muslims.

          • 5
            2

            Champa
            “Poor Sinhalese will never starve as well-off Sinhalese always help the poor”: The richest of all rich Sinhalese, your King, robbed Tsunami money !!!

            • 1
              3

              Steve
              No he didn’t. If he did, this government would have investigated about it.

          • 1
            2

            Champawathi you are very smart in misinterpreting thing. Just to talk to your British rulers how your fore fathers captured the last King of Wildlife Sanctuary Lankawe and gave to them for a lunch time Biriyani and Arrack. Tamil King Dathusenan the TN Dam building technology to Lankawe. His son who had become Cinnamon peeler (though still carrying the Tamil Name Kasiappan) put his father in the Dam and poured the concrete mixture, for the Dam. Vijeya did that to his father and his father did it to his father. When Vijeya was deported, he came to Lankawe and earned Kuveni’s curses. Don Stephen did it to Solomon West Ridgway Dias. Isn’t it one of your forefathers shot SWRD? Then JR did it to Sirimavo, Richard. P did to JR, Old King did to Chandrika, but when it came to Ranil’s turn to do it to Old King, it ended up as “No leader, No Commander, No Soldier will be prosecuted”.

            I can go ahead and write the real current circumstances but unfortunately, it is only You, New King, like the ones, who are dragging Lankawe’s IQ to below 79, on the other side. So you are not going to put effort to understand it but going baffle a lot of rubbish. If you have been reading the Colombo Media you know Old King withdraw sacrificing any one of his members in the name of EP. Ask Mangala what he saw when he went with American Commanders to Diego Naval Base and why he signed the resolution 30/1 even going against Ranil. Because India put Parippu when JR was starving Tamils, America is still standing outside and gives a chance to India to deal with it. You can believe it or no, unlike North Korea or Iran, there won’t be any sanctions on Lankawe, but it is going to be only a one blow smashing from Diego Base, when the time is ripe.

          • 5
            1

            Champa,
            I am very sympathetic about your mental status and your fake stories. If Rich Sinhalese are helping poor Sinhalese why can’t Mahinda spend his billions of wealth to improve the country’s current economic status and living standard of poor Sinhalese. Do you have any statistics about the number of Sinhalese living under poverty?

            • 0
              0

              Ajith
              This is your stupidest comment so far.
              Did you take a leaf out o Hindian Vedda’s book?

          • 4
            1

            Champa the …………….

            “Poor Sinhalese will never starve as well-off Sinhalese always help the poor. Generosity is in our blood.”

            Every government since the early 1960s visited many foreign countries with begging bowl and pledged to feed the people rice which was supposed to have been imported from the moon.

            Then of course government was forced to lie to the people pledging to provide them 8 measures of free grain and never fulfilled its promises.

            You are sound like scatterbrain ramona grandma therese fernando.

        • 5
          1

          Why should she ?

          She should be worried about her customers.. then only she would feel… her services are hugly hit by them.

          Champawathi would never sense it. Nor woudl Rajapakshes. Wimal Ponnawansa to be protected by Champawathie is beyond all beearing. If I were someone in LANKEN DEFENCE; I would have done almsot everything but going through the bunch of files being heaped, and locked up even Mafia boss by today:
          HAVE no whatsoever mercy for any Rajaakshe men. I want to see them being jailed beofre long. If Sarath Fonseka was prisoned, why not Rajapakshes ?

          • 0
            5

            LEELAGEMALLI
            Before you, Yahapalanaya Police, Defence and the government, I am sure have gone through “Mahinda’s files” and failed to find anything against him.
            That is why they stay like cats who swallow threads.
            Other Rajapaksas I don’t know. Not bothered.

            • 1
              1

              Champawathi,

              I feel sorry for you because of your over enthusiasm to stand in the front portion of queue for Biriyani and arrack, everybody filling up your hands and mouth with scoops of Meethodamulla Badu.

              America blamed the Old Comedy fool as had swindle $18B. Now Colombo Media blowing a dynamite of he is going on a special invitation to President Trump. New King has been bragging from November 2016 to February 2017 that he is going on a special invitation to have repealed the Resolution 30/1. You know it was larger flop than that of Wimal Nana’s Lemon Puff feasting in front of UN Building. ( It was the $18B Philanthropist throw the Lemon Puff party to Nana.) Colombo Media is playing a gimmick that America wants this guy as the President in the next election. Humbug! That is only because Colombo Media is trying to hide the shame of this guy going to America. America will never want this guy back to lead Lankawe or neither ever will believe this guy’s promises. You know America banned Son Prince going to US and did nothing about Old Brother Prince going there. Then the only possible explanation of why America wants him there is to ask him to tell them honestly what parts of the Lankawe is already sold to China as Freehold, and really how much Lankawe owes to China. You know now Japan trying to check what games China playing in Hangbangtota. The happy part is Japan can throw money and have the port released, but who knows what other parts this crook has sold with secret deals. That is why America wants to know before it attempts in future any military actions from Diego base, what parts of Lankawe is really owned by China, with full sovereignty.

              • 0
                0

                Mallaiyuran
                MR didn’t confirm as far as I know. But if it becomes true, I can only say that America is only following the footsteps of India after it’s successful attempt to speed up their well orchestrated conspiracy to acquire strategically and economically important national assets by shrewdly using Mahinda as a “bait”.
                It was in support of the slave government which earned the wrath of people for selling our most valuable national assets. India wanted to give the impression to Mahinda’s supporters that Mahinda approves those projects controlled by India even though he never said that.
                For eg: After Mahinda’s visit to India, the government has expedited signing MOUs with India.
                JO is also masterfully distracted by bogus assassination drama in order to score some plus points to President during his visit to NY.
                If Mahinda visited America, (I don’t know) then the slave government will start speeding up stalled or new projects with the US as Mahinda falls for America’s trap too, with his eyes open. Then GL, Basil’s trumpet, will boast how America gave an unprecedented welcome to MR.
                In both the cases, it is Basil who is apparently working in collaboration with India and US and at home with Ranil. He is hell bent on creating traces of suspicion about Mahinda in order to dip his popularity. I don’t blame Mahinda. He was in this position in 2014 misled by his brothers and henchmen. He had no clue at the time, he has no clue now.
                This is the reason I am telling over and over, the next President should not be a Rajapaksa and that, it is imperative for someone else to be above them so that Rajapaksas will not have their own say in matters that are detrimental to the future of the country.

        • 1
          1

          Ajith, the poor Sinhalese will be taken care of with the revenues generated by Champa from the Panadura brothels

          • 0
            0

            Lost Tamil from the North-pole
            Not any more. Remember, I sold them to you.

      • 5
        1

        Champa:
        What a load of crap? North will not only survive but will thrive with local production. What you say has been already been tried and failed. Sirima was the first person to restrict food and medicine to the North and it did not work then and its not going to work now.

        • 0
          4

          Burt
          OMG, when you read a reply of mine to someone, read the comment to which I am replying FIRST.
          My comment was ONLY the reply to Ajith, who said:
          Quote: “Only way this matter is resolved is to isolate Srilanka and impose strict economic sanctions.” Unquote:
          I now can see how the number of civilian casualties at the last phase of the war ROSE from 4000 to 40,000!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

          • 0
            4

            To elaborate further, the number of civilian casualties was first 4,000 according to foreign analysts.
            The Sri Lankan government didn’t target any civilians but people were killed due to LTTE’s reckless shelling, bombing, shooting and holding them as a human shield.
            Then suddenly, the number of casualties rose to 40,000 from 4,000 and that is the number UNHRC and foreign governments, including UK, NOW believe.
            Back to the topic;
            It was “Ajith” (Tamils side) who said “Only way this matter is resolved is to isolate Srilanka and impose strict economic sanctions.”
            Then I replied “Ajith – Then (meaning, if it happens) Tamils in the North will be the FIRST LOT to die from starvation as a result of economic sanctions” (because they totally rely on the government.)
            NOW, more than 4 people are accusing me for CALLING FOR ECONOMIC SANCTIONS which was Ajith’s idea not mine. One even accused me for “imposing economic sanctions” in favour of India!!!!!
            This is just a simple example how “people” distort the truth and (advertently or inadvertently) put the blame on someone who has nothing to do with the accusation.
            This forum is said to be for intellectuals like them. They wish me to disappear as they think that this is not a place for a country bumpkin (bayya) like me.

            • 2
              2

              Champa
              Correct, you did not call for economic sanctions (it was Ajith). The responses were for your comments that the Tamils in the North will be the first lot to die from starvation. If the sanctions hit deep it will be the entire country and especially the very poor that will die of starvation.

              On the other hand now that Rajapakse and Modi are good machans India may smuggle food across the Palk Strait to feed the people in the north.

              • 0
                0

                Steve
                I didn’t write such a sentence – “Tamils in the North will be the first lot to die from starvation?????”
                I addressed it to “Ajith” and my first word was “Then.” Meaning “if that (what Ajith says happens), Tamils….. blah blah blah….
                And I didn’t say only Tamils will die. I said “they will be the FIRST LOT. ” Meaning there will be more such lots who will die of starvation
                There is no reason for me to write that sentence if Ajith didn’t call for severe sanctions on Sri Lanka.
                Tamils are world famous for distorting truth. Their “homeland myth” is still believed by some foreigners because Sinhalese didn’t counter it worldwide. Otherwise a ruthless terrorist leader like Prabhakaran will never have received the support from Western countries. He portrayed himself as someone who fight to recapture his “kingdom.” LTTE’s overseas propaganda machine masterfully misled the world to cover up Prabhakaran’s carnage back home.

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              Champa:
              Sri Lanka’s stand has been that it did not commit any war crimes and it had a well disciplined military.
              Now one week before the Govirala addresses UNHRC and key member of the last govt says:
              “Rebel UPFA MP S.B. Dissanayake has reiterated that the army executed some LTTE personnel including one-time LTTE Eastern Commander Thambiraja Thurairajasingham aka Ramesh after they surrendered to the advancing troops.”
              This coupled with the Govirala interfering in the 11 missing children’s case will look like a fool.

              • 0
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                Burt
                Who believe in SB? He is not a rebel but a puppet. He proved to be a liar in the past. People defeated him at the last general election and then the President appointed him through the National List totally ignoring people’s mandate to keep him out of the August Assembly. He is only carrying out somebody’s contract for a political gain.
                JO should distance themselves from him.

  • 7
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    I agree with Sandra’s comment one hundred percent.
    Why is Ranilpaksa and My3paksa protecting them.

  • 1
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    “In these circumstances, it is to the credit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and a handful of ministers such as Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera (who signed UNHRC resolution 30/1 on behalf of the government as Foreign Minister) that the transitional justice process is moving forward at all. They have accepted the need to reach international standard”. Seriously? The current government threw out the LLRC report, recommendations and the action plan without trying to address gaps in it. They threw out the Paranagama report on Missing Persons without looking into implementing worthwhile recommendations in it. Can the author explain transitional justice processes that have happened which can be attributed to the actions of these individuals he is mentioning? The two reports and the recommendations, and the action plan for the LLRC report recommendations, began the process of transitional justice. If they had flaws, they could have been addressed. Some authors can have their heads in the sand and pretend there is transitional justice, but the public need not and do not have theirs in the sand, and they know the short sighted, politically motivated clap trap that this government has been doing since they came to power. They thought that Santa from the West would come and shower them with gifts. Santa did come, empty handed, and we ran back to China

  • 8
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    How can Sirisena “understand the complex elements of transitional justice” when he’s getting his advise from Shiral, Kili Maharaja, and the descendants of Shakyamuni?

    • 3
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      Sirsas Parrots have made him blind ..

      But we appointed him not for getting caught by any silly men.: That he shoudl be well aware of .

  • 2
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    There was no challenges to reconciliation during Rajapakse’s regime, as BBS implemented polices based Budhas teachings and Tamils are happy. There was no talk about reconciliation. Now we have to talk about reconciliation.

  • 2
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    The British Centre in Gampaha is pleased to announce its courses on the ‘Grammar of Governance’ in partnership with the Office of Missing Persons. A senior official of the OMP has attested to the credibility of the British Centre in Gampaha to grammarize human rights and provide English tuition for those seeking redress from the OMP.

  • 2
    1

    The UNHRC Resolution of 2015 is here:-
    https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/final-draft-resolution-on-sri-lanka-full-text/
    Ever since, every SL government has ignored it.

    The majority citizens are uncomfortable and feel guilty, but do not wish to penalise the “heroes” who “performed”.

    • 0
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      The majority citizens are angry and want to take revenge

  • 2
    2

    Falling at the feet of Buddhist or any clergy should be banned in Sri Lanka. All religions are taught to respect and treat all as equals this worship of Buddhist clergy might be why some Buddhists want to be above the law and feel they are gods or superior humans. Even the Buddha wouldn’t approve of such cultural practices.
    All religions have to stop worshipping clearly.
    Religions are used to defend and protect criminals by perverting the true teachings and poisoning the minds of the vulnerable.

    Pedoplia, drugs, alcohol and child abuse has crept into the ranks of religious clergy in Sri Lanka. Why is this not being exposed who is protecting these rotten individuals?
    These are the clergy who then go on to protect the criminals who are destroying Sri Lanka & Buddhism.

    These are the clergy who want a Gotabaya Hitler Rajapaksas President while Mahinda runs for the post of prime minister with the blessing of both China and India.

    They have faith that only the Rajapaksas will finish selling out the country and destabilizing it to such a point of vulnerability opening it up for their explanation.

  • 2
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    [Edited out] Please avoid using ALL CAPS – CT

  • 3
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    Theresa May has asked the Sri Lankan Government to pay compensation for war victims. Did UK pay compensation for the war victims in Iraq, Libya, Syria.
    UK is still protecting the most notorious war criminal Tony Blair and talking about war crimes in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka there was no war. What we had was a military operation against one of the most barbaric terrorist organization.
    Mother crab walking sideways and asking the baby crabs to walk straight.
    —————————————-
    When British ruled Sinhale, Demalu licked the a*s of Para Suddas and now Suddas are licking the a*s of Demalu to get their votes. What a world!

    • 4
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      Eagle Blind Eye

      “When British ruled Sinhale, Demalu licked the a*s of Para Suddas and now Suddas are licking the a*s of Demalu to get their votes. What a world!”

      Did you happily witness what was going on between Sudda and Demelas?
      You must be an expert bum watcher.
      Did you read it as fact from Mahanama’s Mahawamsa or did Kamalika Pieris tell you she saw Demelas licking white man’s bum?

      How did the people listed below manage to get their Knighthood?

      Ceylonese Knights Bachelor
      -‎
      Henry De Mel
      Charles Henry de Soysa
      Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala
      Cyril de Zoysa
      Marcus Fernando
      Thomas Garvin
      Ukwatte Jayasundera
      Edward Jayetileke
      John Kotelawala
      Archibald Campbell Lawrie
      Lalitha Rajapakse
      Arthur Ranasinghe
      Bennet Soysa

      Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire

      Claude Corea
      Susantha de Fonseka
      Eddie Jayamanne
      James Peiris
      Albert Peries
      Edwin Wijeyeratne

      Ceylonese knights

      Nicholas Attygalle
      Solomon Dias Bandaranaike
      Thomas de Sampayo
      Ernest de Silva
      Wilfred de Soysa
      Harry Dias Bandaranaike
      Leo Fernando
      E. R. de Fonseka
      Francis Soertsz
      Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke
      Frank Gunasekera
      Senerat Gunewardene
      Don Baron Jayatilaka
      Henry Kotalawala
      John Kotelawala
      Alexander Francis Molamure
      Richard Morgan (Ceylonese judge)
      James Peter Obeyesekere II
      Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere
      Forester Augustus Obeysekera
      Christopher Ondaatje
      Tikiri Bandara Panabokke II
      Paul Pieris
      Arthur Ranasinghe
      Philip Rodrigo
      John Tarbat
      Hector William van Cuylenburg
      Donatius Victoria
      Thomas Lister Villiers
      Arthur Wijewardena
      Gerard Wijeyekoon

      Well you must have mistook them for Demalus.
      You have problem with thinking straight.
      Did your mum decide to abort you when she was pregnant with you. Poor woman. She was only half successful.

  • 0
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    • 1
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      ” Did your mum decide to abort you when she was pregnant with you. Poor woman. She was only half successful. ”
      Yes Eagle, Your mom’s Gynecologist missed the neck, but CT has a sharper knife; fully successful! Enjoy it man!

  • 2
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    My3 is only worried about the cashew that will be served during his flight to the UN….he gives a hoot about Reconciliation…

  • 3
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    Any responsible government would never bring a resolution against one’s own country. UNP under RW did that AGAIN. That traitor Samaraya signed it. Future governments should renounce it no matter who heads it.

    • 4
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      sach

      Could you jog my memory, what was the resolution about?
      Are you familiar with its clauses?
      Please state the resolution and explain as to why it was wrong for Sri Lanka to co sponsor a resolution that cleverly saved Gota’s bum as well as thousands of other war criminals neck?

  • 0
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    Will MS confess that the real real real challenge is to overcome the language/religion-divide. This has growth of the culture of corruption/nepotism/impunity. This is killing off progress.

  • 0
    1

    Dear Jehan Perera and all participants,
    Is it still not clear to learned Journalists, learned Leaders, learned Academicians, and all responsible citizens of Sri Lanka you have missed a golden opportunity for an impartial independent inquiry for completely eradicating the long drawn racism, violence, and crimes pushed the Country deep down. Why don’t you love your Country more than you love the criminals? Why do you still live and continue to live with the same old notorious politicians. Are you planning the same for your future generations to live with fear and more violence? Come down to the real earth and remove immediately the same old notorious politicians responsible for driving down the Country for the last 70 years. They can never be good leaders for you. They have proved it to you on several occasions and the are even now cheating you. Their inheritance of the rule of law can never change however they pretend to be good! The rest of the world has advanced eradicating the past aristocratic realm and creating justice for all without exception. Look for a good future for yourself and not for opportunists!

  • 1
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    What are these so called international standards? Where are they implemented (or not implemented)? Why the resolution was not discussed in the legislature before Mangala signed it? On what authority Mangala signed it? Since the main sponsor of the resolution has withdrawn from UNHRC citing double standards followed by UNHRC why should SL follow it?

    • 2
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      Hela

      If Mangala didn’t sign it except every war criminal/single handed army commanders in this island the ordinary people by now would be eating manjoka with lunu and gammiris, drink katta with hakkuru, ride bullock cart, …………………

      On the other hand Hindians would be happily feeding their mates among the politicians, functionaries, top members of armed forces, crooks, ………….. you, ….

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