By Sumanasiri Liyanage –
Sumanasiri Liyanage
Much acclaimed three day visit of the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to Jaffna and the Northern Province has, in my opinion, raised a substantial issue with regard to good governance. This visit happened immediately after the troika’s (President Maithripala Sirisena, the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike) visit to Jaffna to attend the ceremony of handing over of 425 acres of land owned by the people in Kankasanturai, Myleddy and Palaly. Although this was, as I reiterated in this column, a much delayed exercise, the new government should be commended at least for taking first step in resettling people in their own land from which they were forcefully displaced for 30 years. We believe the rest of the land in Jaffna and Sampur will be handed over to their legal owners in the due course without much delay. Handing over ceremony was well attended and the dignitaries included the President Maithripala Sirisena, the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike together with the Chief Minister of the Northern Province, C. V. Wigneswaran. What we had witnessed in the subsequent three day visit of the Prime Minister was a conspicuous absence of the Chief Minister of the Northern Province in any of the newspaper frames published in the Colombo newspapers.
It was not clear why the CM and the Provincial Council members of the NPC were absent in any of the meetings attended by the PM. Was it because they were not invited by the PM’s office? Or was it because they decided to boycott those meetings following the remarks made by the PM over an Indian TV channel? NPC sources said the invitation sent to the Council on the Prime Minister’s visit was “not properly delivered”. However, a couple of weeks ago, the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe was reported to have said that “I don’t discuss Jaffna with Wigneswaran. I discuss with the TNA in Parliament.” He also said that he would not talk to the CM when he visits Jaffna. However, it is interesting to note that the TNA parliamentarians were present at the meeting. The Secretary General of TNA, Mavai Senathirajah, spokesman Suresh Premachandran and E. Saravanabavan participated in the functions attended by the PM.
The issue that I seek to raise in this article is of fundamental nature and not about the technicality of the invitation procedure. Commenting on the absence of the CM and NPC members, Minister Maheswaran said Chief Minister Wigneswaran and the NPC Councillors should not have snubbed Wickremesinghe as the purpose of the visit was to address the humanitarian issues in the North. This statement and the statement previously made by the Prime Minister demonstrates the total misunderstanding on the issue of devolution and the arrogant attitudes of the center politicians. The UPFA government introduced and implemented uthuru wasanthaya (Northern Spring) program as a step to reconstruct the war-torn area. Of course the program had many structural weaknesses such as over emphasis and prioritizing big infra-structure program while neglecting small irrigation, village roads etc. Notwithstanding these weaknesses one of the principal drawbacks of the uthuru wasanthaya was that it was designed to implement by the central government. Prime Minister and the Minister Maheswaran should know that if the intention is to address humanitarian issues, what is needed is not the mere participation of the NPC but the full responsibility of implementing them by the NPC. If the Prime Minister thinks that he can address the issues in the Northern Province by talking to the TNA members marginalizing and sidelining the elected NPC and its Chief Minister, I would submit that he is making the same error what the previous UPFA government arrogantly did. It is imperative to note many of the issues that he sought to address in his three days visit are devolved subjects or the subjects in the concurrent list.
Northern Province has always had special relationship with Colombo even in colonial days. A former GA to Jaffna, Neville Jayaweera in his book mingling history with insights informed us one aspect of this special relationship. He writes: “I said that one of the duties of the GA Jaffna was to receive visiting High Commissioners and Ambassadors in his office or Residency. It was a convention special to Jaffna, from a long way back, and did not normally devolve on the GAs of other districts. I believe the convention was established from as far back as the mid 1880s, long before even Colombo had any foreign embassies on its soil.” He added: “I believe that this convention was later endorsed by the Ministry of Defence and External Affairs because of sensitive political circumstances prevailing in Jaffna”. (Jaffna Exorcising The Past and Holding the Vision: An Autobiographical Reflection on the Ethnic Conflict)Conventions are often times stronger than laws. This specificity of Jaffna and the North suggests that some kind of constitutional asymmetry has to be introduced and well respected in implementing the 13th Amendment until new constitutional design is agreed upon.
The Government in Colombo has always attempted to weaken the 13th Amendment by changing laws, using lacunas in the Amendment and mere using powers of the central government. Hence, the chief administrative officer of the province, the Provincial Secretary has been sidelined since the late 1980s giving more powers to the GAs who come under the central government. It appears that the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his three days visit to Jaffna and the North adopted the same practice. It is necessary to add that such a practice based on supremacy, arrogance, and authority has nothing to do with good governance. Ending his three day visit to north, the Prime Minister revealed that he would appoint a special officer from the prime minister’s office to look after the North. This begs a question. What is devolution for? What is the special capacity and capability the PM’s office has over the CM’s administrative mechanism to govern the north?
*The writer is the Dean, Faculty of Management and Finance, SANASA Institute of Business and Development Studies – e-mail: sumane_l@yahoo.com
Heretic / March 30, 2015
“The UPFA government introduced and implemented uthuru wasanthaya (Northern Spring) program as a step to reconstruct the war-torn area. Of course the program had many structural weaknesses such as over emphasis and prioritizing big infra-structure program while neglecting small irrigation, village roads etc.Notwithstanding these weaknesses one of the principal drawbacks of the uthuru wasanthaya was that it was designed to implement by the central government. Prime Minister and the Minister Maheswaran should know that if the intention is to address humanitarian issues, what is needed is not the mere participation of the NPC but the full responsibility of implementing them by the NPC.””
This is true but one reason might have been that there was nobody to suggest and implement smaller projects. The NPC is still very young and learning what they can do and how. There were also the known problems the NPC had with the chief secretary and governor. In addition Douglas was trying his best to get his share of the action. I hope that the situation is better know and the government should try to allow the NPC to do more. Unfortunately the NPC might be unwilling or unable to cooperate because they have their own agenda and priorities.
There were small scale development schemes to help villages, farmers etc but my understanding is that often these were not fully implemented by the Divisional Secretariats.
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Kettikaran / March 30, 2015
One of the qualities of an aspiring Statesman and peace builder is to be free of pettiness. If Wiggie has in some way, by omission or commission, offended the PM the way out is to privately talk this over with. I was surprised, having such high regard for Ranil’s experience in governance and diplomacy, he should chose an Indian Tamil TV channel to call the CM/NPC a “liar” – un-parliamentary indeed – and refuse to meet him. How can you help the Tamils in the North if you refuse to deal with their duly elected CM? Now he carries out the threat. It is the people of Jaffna that will eventually suffer from this squabble while the new regime is all out to win the Jaffna Tamils over.
Or is Ranil playing to the gallery. It is common knowledge anyone doing as little to the Tamils as possible is assured of popular support in the Sinhala South. Wiggie is already portrayed badly in the Sinhala media and Ranil’s petty politics might bring him rewards – in the short term.
Kettikaran
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punchinilame / March 30, 2015
Ranil is pursuing his attempts to install UNPers and henchmen for direct control by him
to get at the NP Votes and he cannot do so via TNA/CM etc. If National Govt. is formed,
i.e. with TNA /JVP etc things may have to chnage.
His consent to use Palay Airport to connect with India will open to a horde of Tamils
arriving to JAFFNA conveniently skipping Katunayake and the hassles attached thereof.
This is another welcome move to good governance.
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Lanka Watch / March 31, 2015
Punchi – Grading Palaly airport in Jaffna as an international airport makes sense to the travelling Public to and from Jaffna. It will be very convenient for the long haul passengers from Europe, Canada, USA and Australia, as within an hour or two, of landing in Jaffna, via Chennai, where most international airlines operate direct flights,
they could be with their kith and kin in their homes. Also people of Northern province can reach Chennai or Trichi or Trivandrum in 30 to 45 mins.travelling time by air at almost half the price due shorter distance than from BIA, but now they do a zic zac route via Colombo and the hassles involved, are tremendous, like carting their baggage to and from BIA, the extra transport cost involved and the lost time.
If the govt. is interested in promoting Sri Lankan/Mihin airlines, they could build a new regional airport around Vanni to accommodate the North central province passengers as well and operate direct flights to India and middle east,considered most profitable routes
and operate feeder services to BIA to connect Sri Lankan airline long haul services to Europe and Australasia.Looking into People’s convenience is good governance and air traffic will improve from these areas due less hassles and travel,becomes not time consuming.
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backlash / March 31, 2015
Even the most rabidly anti-Tamil Govt in Cbo will have to soon come to terms with the fact the large and regularly increasing traffic of diaspora Tamils to Jaffna must be given a hearing to.
Most international airlines stop in at Chennai and the Jaffna traffic would rather fly to Jaffna from Chennai rather than via Colombo, which involves a most cumbersome, costly and unwelcome almost 12-20 hour risk-ridden BIA-Jaffna surface ride. Besides, those corrupt Immigration and Customs officials, used to fleecing these visitors for utterly insignificant “reasons” – will fight to the last to protect their “privileges” They will discover many reasons of “security” “sovereignty” to mislead the Govt so that they can continue with their devil
It is better for the current liberal GoSL to solve this issue rather than risk this being placed in future Agendas of bilateral talks between the two Govts.
Backlash
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Javi. / March 31, 2015
So you are the Archer fan then you must like the fascist Frederick Forsyth too-
brass tacks!!
You need transit visa and Chennai is not handled by Tamil immigration officers of Nadu (Vaiko type) don’t take visa for grunted.
India does not need your 2 rotten mango baggage it has enough and more good ones.
The west is end of the world for you just enjoy it. Don’t come with your terror to India once again as you are not wanted sen-tamil.
Queens University Belfast- the University’s Chancellor, Mr Kamalesh Sharma, will complete his initial five year period on 31 December 2014 and has confirmed to the Vice-Chancellor that he does not wish to be considered for a second term.
This man came from a middle- middle class background and joined Foreign Service which is almost impossible in India where DPL is hot competition at University and work placement. He arranged an India/Ireland FDI for Ian Presley and in turn made Passa on behalf of Unionist. While you JT’s were holding the smoking gun of Cat-O-Lic Irish- Gun and judiciary. Now you want to be like the Scots who retained the English Crown for several years as caretaker and defendant of the Union. You become Muslim (marry one) because they speak your sen-tamil now (all Chennai billboards are written in English script).
Then perhaps you would get a transit visa from Chennai.
Not just Bush & Blair but Hilary was a big time liar (50000 e-mail) and a phone tapper not a woman of freedom. Obama is nowhere just planning his retirement having got the Muslim Bin with the help of Musharraf born at Delhi.
She was for diversity (that is what EU and Atlantic treaty is all about- culture of Europeans is easy to conceive) but not for immigration which is a different ball game.
Rahul the Kashmiri will continue playing Kashmiri politics and your island is another Kashmiri where none can be trusted especially the JT’s who killed a Hindu PM which even a nuclear power could not achieve- you speak tamil become musl;im and you are free and the world is free of terror of village tamils.
Where is your ever loving Vaiko?? The Karnataka woman Jayalalithaa made a mistake on the second attempt while in the first she was a success- she ended up drinking 3 times moru because the wheat laddu mixed with water was a nightmare for her.
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backlash / April 1, 2015
I don’t get the mixed-up garbage you write – of many things, all irrelevant. If you mean a Visa to India by the Tamil diaspora please educate yourself the Indian Visa-on-Arrival is already in effect for all those stopping in Chennai en route Jaffna (or Sri Lanka) Of course, Muslims like you will be sent through the microscope for your established perfidious nature. VoA was allowed to SL PP holders earlier but was withdrawn when it was found Muslim GoSL officials and terrorist-supporters sold their PPs to Pakistani terrorist to enter India with plans to attack Indian targets.
Don’t forget to go for English language classes as a matter of priority. You badly need this before you start again to contaminate society with your aimless and stinking pen.
Backlash
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Sellam / March 30, 2015
Mr.Sumanasiri Lyanage
You are absolutely correct that without the NPC, whose Chief Minister is very popular among the Tamils, the government cannot implement anything in the North. The good intensions of the Government have to be shown as practicably as it could instead of accusing the Chief Minister. Minster Maheswaran’s voice in the North would not be heard except for a few of her followers. She has to satisfy her boss by accusing the Chief Minister and other councillors for not attending the meetings. But she failed to know what her boss stated to the media with regard to the first citizen of the Northern province.
The Chief Minister was against any motion brought forward by the members before the council of the genocide committed by the Armed forces against the civilians during the war. But later for some reason, he himself presented a report and a motion of genocide in the council. The Prime Minister did not like it. and that was the reason the Chief Minister was not invited in the proper way. The Prime Minister was trying to throw his weight, I suppose.
The stationing of the Armed forces in the North has been the top priority under the guise of security, that the people of North whose lands and homes are forcibly occupied by the Armed forces are still in camps and in relatives houses agonising. The Tamils will not consent for a reconciliation until the army is removed from their occupied lands, missing persons found or Report on the investigation of genocide is submitted and those found guilty punished.
What is 425 acres of land that was released with a big ceremony. The Government forcibly takes over the private lands and little by little hand over to the owners with a ceremony. What a joke it is? The land released is nothing when compared to the extent of lands still forcibly occupied by the armed forces consisting of 10 or more villages and towns in Vali-North, namely Part of Keerimalai, Kankesanturai, Maviddapuram, Oorani, Thyiddy, Myliddy North and South, Palaly, Vasavillan, part of Kadduvan and Iddaikadu (East of Palaly). If the government is sincere in reconciliation, there are many things to be done by the government.
The 13th amendment is no solution to the Tamil problem. A federal Constitution is the only solution for Sri Lanka. The position of NPC with a Chief Minister with no powers is no answer to the Tamil problem.
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soma / March 31, 2015
Dear Mr Sellam
“The 13th amendment is no solution to the Tamil problem. A federal Constitution is the only solution for Sri Lanka. The position of NPC with a Chief Minister with no powers is no answer to the Tamil problem.”
How do you propose to accommodate the 50%+ of the Tamil speaking people scattered in pockets outside North/East under a federal structure? In case a federal solution for North/East is implemented against the wish of the majority 70% Sinhalese they will (should) demand this 50% be physically moved to North/East for the Tamil speaking people left behind will eternally be subjected to extreme discrimination and occasional episodes of genocidal attempts the basis on which the federal structure for North/East is presently demanded.
Soma
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Kettikaran / April 1, 2015
Soma,
The savage and inhuman scenario you have in mind is not new.
It has been tried and tested by the Sinhalese before – in the
Inginiyagala-Gal Oya areas in the Amparai District in the mid-1950s – nationally in 1977 and 1983. Generations old Tamil held assets in the Amparai area went to the hands of Sinhala thugs for a song and now much of them with Muslims.
Sri Lanka will have to find civilised and legal ways of crossing that bridge when the time comes – under the supervision of the international community.
Kettikaran
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soma / April 1, 2015
Dear mr kettikaran
You forgot to mention the expulsion of 72,000 Muslims from Northern province of by the Tamils in 1990.
Yes, as you suggest moving of 50+% of Tamil speaking people presently occupying areas outside north/east into north/east will have to be pre organized by the international community as you seem to have acknowledged that there is no practical way of accommodating them under a federal structure.
Soma
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Kettikaran / April 2, 2015
Dear Madam Soma:
I am sure your political knowledge is sufficient to be aware why Muslims in Jaffna were evicted in those difficult days (19902) You know they are back there already. That is unfortunately the negative side of foolish politics in which the Tamil Nation suffered most – at the hands of desperate “Tamil leaders” I must concede.
As to the dream of some of you to evict all Tamils in the South to the North East, all of us know the armed forces and Sinhala prejudice from 1948 continues to work on this Grand Strategy. Batticaloa is no longer Tamil held territory as a result. However, with governance in the South getting diabolically bankrupt and collapsing, Tamils will be drawn gradually to a more peaceful and economically stable NEP that is surely on the way. It is the fear of the strong resolve of a born-again NEP that resulted in that thieving bunch of Rajapakses to use the armed forces to deny the rights of the popular ballot to the Wigneswaren-lead NPC. Happily for the State they had traitors like Devananda and Thavarasa to sell the Tamil soul for their personal fortunes.
Denial of the rights and the future of the Tamils can be delayed but it cannot be denied any longer. The history of this
2-Nation in one country land will be restored to its pre-1505 reality in the near future. That, my good lady, is not a threat but a statement of what is surely to come. The NEP will develop through honest and good governance helped by the international community and the million Tamils who were forced out of the country of their antiquity and birth. A multi-billion dollar fund will be floated in due time for diaspora Tamils to invest to re-build the Tamil Nation in Sri Lanka. We know hardline Sinhala supremacists, lead by a politicised Buddhist clergy, is aware of this and will oppose it. But history and the world is against them. Fortunately, the Sirisena-Ranil-CBK-Mangala regime is trying to save the Sinhala nation from destroying itself but those Buddhist priests, who ruined the country in the post-1956 period will not rest until the Sinhala nation is reduced to paupers. Already nearly 2 million are slaves in the Arab lands and many others are escaping in boats, whose controlling powers were found to be at the head of the Rajapakse government.
Happily, in that reality we will find ways of means to accommodate a fair number of Sinhalese in the same way bright Sinhala students from the NCP, NWP gained their good education in Jaffna prior to the Sinhala Buddhist Revolution of 1956. The latter, alas, in the words of most Sinhalese was to progressively destroy this once blessed land. The aim of the Tamils to build the NEP is not to harm the Sinhala Nation but to build a honest system of governance there that may benefit Tamils, Sinhalese, those of the Muslim faith, Burghers and others.
Good-day
Kettikaran
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soma / April 3, 2015
Dear mr K
I was exceedingly happy to read through your comment with the promise of great days ahead for the “Tamil Nation”. Hope the present desire to live in the south will fade away soon.
Sinhalese too will be happy to return to pre 1505 days where our pristine green mountains will be returned to the Sinhala peasants and other pockets filled with exploding Tamil speaking people will be free.
Soma
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Lanka Watch / March 30, 2015
Mr. Wigneswaran, CM, NPC gets into controversies after controversies in recent times and unless he is reined in, the Northern province will suffer at the end. CM should have grabbed the occasion of
the visit by PM and discussed many matters concerning the developments
in the Northern province, as such chances do not come very often and by his boycott, he has paved the way for Douglas and the criminal gang to creep into ministries. PM cannot be overshadowed as he is the head of the Cabinet. One should not take a TV interview of the PM as final and the CM should have had one to one talks with the PM and sorted the differences,if any, amicably instead of making known his objections in the form of a boycott.
PM, as he knows is blunt at times and does not use diplomatic language in dealing with matters of concern. His statement that he will ‘shoot at sight’,at the Indian fishermen,who porch into Sri Lankan territorial
waters w/o permission is an example but India did not take serious note
of the statement. Likewise he may have said something personal to the CM and they both being Royalists, could have sorted it out personally,
instead of fighting it out openly at the expense of the losing the
privileges to be given to the Northern people.
He brought the genocide resolution, which is of course a good piece of legislation, at the wrong time, dancing to the tune of Ms.Sasitharan &
Mr. Sivajilingam, not realising the adverse effect it brought in diplomatic circles.If he brought it under former regime,when atrocities
were going on in the N/E or if the UN and the current govt. failed to publish the UN report on war crimes, in Sept., then it is justifiable but not at a time when the govt. this time, is seriously trying to bring in a settlement for the Tamils and this act annoyed the PM. More over, Tamils think It was not up to the NPC to bring in this resolution
but should have been by TNA, who looks after problems concerning N/E Tamils and not only Northern Tamils.
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Jim softy / March 31, 2015
Wigneswaran is trying to plau Tamilnadu politics.
Ranil wickramsinghe is not allowing that.
that is all.
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Ajith / March 31, 2015
LTTE leader Pirabhaharan said that “Ranil is much dangerous than Mahinda”. Ranil proved his statement is correct. It is time for Tamils to teach him a lesson in the coming election.
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Jim softy / March 31, 2015
Even when Mahinda Rajapakse govt was functioning, Wigneswaran never met then prime minister and it was always the president that met with the NPC – chief minister.
Why now, Ranil wickramasinghe has to meet NPC councillors and Wigneswaran ?
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Native Vedda / March 31, 2015
Jim softy
“Even when Mahinda Rajapakse govt was functioning, Wigneswaran never met then prime minister and it was always the president that met with the NPC – chief minister.”
Then prime minister was too busy covering his back from his own party, president and family. Hence he was unable to meet the Chief minister.
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Mallaiyuran / March 31, 2015
We wrote on these pages at the election time. Many thought, including Father Emmanuel, that voting for the common candidate will help. But, TNA’s “Weda ivarai”. Sampanthar so easily lent to wedge to the party this time. Coming election, TNA’s parties will not be contesting under one umbrella. This was observed by Indians and Sushma Swaraj had an argument with Sampanthar and she advised Sampanthar on this. Major looser is FP. It looks like, many of its MP will not be returning after the election. On the provincial side, East will not be in Tamils hand any more.
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Sajith / March 31, 2015
Good article Sumanasiri. Ranil is did this to get more votes for UNP on wrong advice or by habit.By Respecting
NPC and delivering more resources for them to deliver good service he can win more votes and trust.
Feel sad. CM could have neglected PMs comment that CM was telling lies. As been a judge that was personally hurting.Although PM visit was good and lot of things got attention and pointed out. But created unnecessary drift. With CM and NPC participation it would have been a successful reconciliation beginning.
Abraham Lincoln said about others comments once something like he ignores them because if i deliver what i promised to my people all those criticisms become meaningless if I don’t accomplish my mission it doesn’t matter what they said or call me I have failed my self and let down people. I hope our honest politicians can have that discipline to protect them so their commitment to people not hindered by unhealthy criticisms may be sometime used intentionally to provoke desired results to achieve their goals and you fall prey to it. Thanks.Regards
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Dude / March 31, 2015
Bala some time before said Ranil could not be trusted.Father Emanuel also agrees. even his cousin rajiv says the same thing. So the singhalese and tamils are at least convergent on Ranil.
The regard i had for him, vanished into thin air re. his comments on India and wigneswaran. OF course NPC literally kicked the bucket at a most inappropiate time.
Whatever their weaknessess , the elected NPC has to resolve the problems, not a visiting PM.
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Jim softy / March 31, 2015
At present, UNP is a Christian Party. If Ranil can restructure the party, sinhala buddhists should consider him as future the president.
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Pacs / March 31, 2015
Mallaiyuran
Ananthy and Pathmini will emerge as elacted by thr tamils.
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Mallaiyuran / March 31, 2015
The sad fact is CV and Ananthi are the number one and two. Now they are sidelined by Federal Party.
During the election Ananthi was seen as honest freedom fighter. CV was seen as honest peace seeker. Tamils wanted their freedom and they wanted that sought in democratic way. So, they voted for these candidates as Number 1 and 2.
Sampanthar went blind. Sumanthiran struggling had to Kathigamar’s fate. Sumanthiran was not happy with the Paper Boy Ministry Given to him. He rejected it and now surrendering much harder, pledging the entire party, TNA. Kathirgamar was alone fighting for his prime mister post. When he lost Tamils did not loses anything. When Sumanthiran lose, the entire Tamils will lose because they bet on the TNA. Sumanthiran can not become Prime Minister. He has to back off to save Tamils.
We wrote here, LTTE Mangala same to TNA mangala.
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soma / March 31, 2015
For Tamil political theorists reconciliation is the greatest stumbling block on the road to separitism so they constantly maintain a confrontational level with the Sinhalese. Wingeshwararam’s recent attempt was to poison the Tamil minds of generations to come. Considering the ulterior motive of this diabolical attempt “liar” is very much of an understatement.
Soma
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Javi. / April 1, 2015
“”This statement and the statement previously made by the Prime Minister demonstrates the total misunderstanding on the issue of devolution and the arrogant attitudes of the center politicians.””
Ranil is very much like his old uncle JR the muslim pulling westwards.
He wanted to shoot Indian fishermen who are not allowed to carry amobile phone to know where they are.
Just like the new fascist Italian foreign secretary EU- well she has been reprimanded by the rest of EU because NaMo cancelled the Business trip because her folk threw bullets in the Indian embassy Italy and wanted to be above the law.
EU needs India more than India-Israel-Russia defense and trade with China.
It’s time ranil kicked himself see what happened to Tony of Malaysia now in Indonesia handling Air.
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Javi. / April 1, 2015
“” It was a convention special to Jaffna, from a long way back, and did not normally devolve on the GAs of other districts. I believe the convention was established from as far back as the mid 1880s, long before even Colombo had any foreign embassies on its soil.”””
This was from lessons learnt by the English in handling the tobacco plantations of the north.
This was from lessons learnt from the rebellion further up in the East India Company.
(The British government took away the Company’s monopoly in 1813, and after 1834 it worked as the government’s agency until the 1857 India Mutiny when the Colonial Office took full control. The East India Company went out of existence in 1873.)
The rebellion is also known as India’s First War of Independence, the Great Rebellion, the Indian Rebellion, the Indian Mutiny, the Revolt of 1857, the Rebellion of 1857, the Uprising of 1857, theSepoy Rebellion and the Sepoy Mutiny.
The Scottish Highlanders won that war with rebels for England.
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Javi. / April 1, 2015
Sumane,
“What is devolution for? What is the special capacity and capability the PM’s office has over the CM’s administrative mechanism to govern the north?”
The former PM’s office was buddha and heroin.
The present PM’s office is for Pakistani healing Dance PhD from Colombo university.
& to start all over again what his uncle left behind to stay in power by gifting an elephant to Reagan.
It’s mela time elephants better jump in the sea- your four wheel drive is also now made in China for TATA/British.
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Nantha / April 1, 2015
RW and the government should realize that TNA headed by Sampanthan and the NPC headed by Justice CVW are the people to deal with and find a solution to the prolonged ethnic issue. If you believe that you can have some sort of understanding with Ms Maheswaran and Mr Devananda and carry on the business, you are missing a golden opportunity. On the othet hand there is grandson of the Great GG Ponnambalam and his team who are more radical.
Choice is yours Mr PM.
Nantha
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Jim softy / April 1, 2015
Probably, Sumanasiry Liyanage is affiliated with the Center for Policy Alternatives which wants to destroy Sri lanka to suit their needs.
Wigneswaran has become a Tamils Tribalisat who is from Colombo and grew among Sinhala people. Now, he has laid foundation for the next 30 year war. that is the all kinds of Genocide.
Why should Ranil wickramsinghe meet him and approve wingeswaran’s tribalist strategies ?
Why Ranil wickramsinghe should support such a Tribalist winning the up coming NPC election ? Because, Ranil Wickramsinghe does not have any other thing to focus on ?
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Heretic / April 1, 2015
Jim,
RW and CM should meet and talk about the genocide resolution and other problems. As long as they avoid each other there will be no progress.
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kumarW / April 1, 2015
Mr. Liyanage
Partly it is the special relationship Northern Province had with Colombo that you referred to and special privileges that Tamils were given by the colonial rulers that lead to the ethnic divide. We all must stand for equal status to all communities of our country, but no special privileges.
When the present Government has done a lot to narrow the ethnic divide during the short period its been in power and address issues of the Northern Province the Northern Provincial Council passed the Genocide resolution, etc. As such, though I don’t agree with PM Ranil on most matters, must agree with him if he on purpose sidelined the Chief Minister.
Why is it that you are ignoring the most significant genocide resolution and blaming the PM even without being sure if the PM had not invited the Chief Minister or the Chief Minister decided to avoid PM’s visit?
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Anpu / April 2, 2015
Kumarw,
“privileges that Tamils were given by the colonial rulers that “
What crap you are talking about.
Tamils were given jobs as they had the necessary qualifications.
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mel / April 1, 2015
Best thing for Sri Lanka is to build a Jaffna wall akin to the Berlin wall dividing Jaffna from the rest of the country, so that the Tamils can have their dreamland of Eelam, but on condition they do not depend on the Sri Lankan government of the rest of the island for anything. That means they can have their own Eelam providing all they want education, health, housing employment etc with no hand outs whatsoever from the despised current central government. Since Tamils consider Tamil Nadu as their motherland they can seek help from them as they did during Prabhakaran’s terror regime. And as they are sure of their superiority, they should take back all those tamils who are living in other areas in the island beyond Jaffna, so that people in those areas will have more employment opportunities. There is no point pouring money from the rest of the country into an area if they do not wish to integrate with the rest of the country and work in unity for progress of the country. Then hopefully there will be peace without people having to look over their shoulders all the time, wondering when the next bomb is going to explode.
Jaffna always got special treatment from the British because Tamils accepted the British with open arms and let them get a foot hold in Jaffna, so the British were able to get control of the rest of the country. The British will be there to help them as well, so they stand to gain without the majority Sinhalese having to dish out funds and infrastructure to this special group and get blasted by bombs in return.
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Native Vedda / April 2, 2015
mel
Don’t waste time talking about matters that are beyond you.
The easiest solution is to send all those descendants of Kallathonies back to South India. If you really, really, really care about the people I suggest you catch the first boat back to your ancestral home in Erivirrar Pattinam.
Thamils of Tamil Nadu will be glad to receive their long lost brethren.
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Heretic / April 2, 2015
mel,
“Best thing for Sri Lanka is to build a Jaffna wall akin to the Berlin wall dividing Jaffna from the rest of the country, so that the Tamils can have their dreamland of Eelam, but on condition they do not depend on the Sri Lankan government of the rest of the island for anything. That means they can have their own Eelam providing all they want education, health, housing employment etc with no hand outs whatsoever from the despised current central government. Since Tamils consider Tamil Nadu as their motherland they can seek help from them as they did during Prabhakaran’s terror regime. And as they are sure of their superiority, they should take back all those tamils who are living in other areas in the island beyond Jaffna, so that people in those areas will have more employment opportunities. There is no point pouring money from the rest of the country into an area if they do not wish to integrate with the rest of the country and work in unity for progress of the country.”
A wall is not needed.
If the South “threatens” North with true independence including NO financing the voters here will fast understand economic reality. They would elect politicians who talk with the government and accept compromises.
The fact is that without government employment and investment there is pretty much nothing in the North. Diaspora remittances are used for consumption like food, scooters,repairing houses etc. This, of course,has been going on since British times.
On the other hand the cheapest and easiest way for the South is to cut off the North as you suggest.
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