By Sumanasiri Liyanage –
Sumanasiri Liyanage
Since the successful execution of 100 days program of President Maithripala Sirisena is key to the future of his strategy for a national government, it is instructive to redo it through the reflection of the aspirations and hopes as they were expressed by the people at the election. Of course different peoples have had different expectations and hopes. At least their priorities may be different. The interests of the urban middle class when they voted at the last election might have been democracy and good governance. Almost all might have been despised bribery and corruption. However, numerically small nations would have seen election as a space of raising the issue of security and protecting their identity. It seems the government is now working on bringing in 19th Amendment to the Constitution by repealing the infamous 18th Amendment that negated independent commission set up by the 17th Amendment. Also it allowed president to hold office more than twice. We still do not know for sure what would be included in the 19th Amendment, but it seems it will be in line with the proposal submitted by Rev Athuraliya Rathana, MP and his pivithuru lowak movement. As the 100 days program was careful in even mentioning the national question, the issue may not be specifically be addressed in the 19th Amendment.
In my opinion, there is a main drawback in the pre- as well as post- election democracy discourse in Sri Lanka. Mr Sumanthiran, a TNA leader was reported to have said that the reestablishment of democracy in general will help the numerically small nations in general and Tamils in particular. I do not contest that, but the establishment of democracy in general is not adequate for the resolution of the specific democratic issues of the numerically small nations. It is instructive to note that general democracy prevailed in the first two decades after independence, but democracy of numerically small nations, particularly of Tamils were curtailed in the same period later leading to an armed conflict. Both Lenin and Trotsky defining democracy in broad historical terms suggested three main tasks of democratic transformation, namely (1) democratization of the state; (2) national integration that include self-determination of oppressed nations; and (3) resolution of the agrarian question, i.e, abolishing feudal and pre-capitalist remnants in the rural sector. Mr Sumanthiran and many others focused only on the first aspect of democratic transformation and their discussion was confined to its positive side effects on numerically smaller nations. My submission is that this limited version of democracy will not help in attaining democratic transition in Sri Lanka. The second and the third issues should be consciously addressed and incorporated in the struggle for democracy. I add. If we are rereading and enriching the 100 days program in the light of electoral experience, specific proposals on those issues should be included.
G. G. Ponnambalam
It is interesting to see that some leading members of the new government have seen the national question as an issue that is inescapable. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has in India raised that the new government will go for de-militarization of the North and East. It is commendable and the appointment of civilian Governor to the Northern Province should be duly appreciated. As far as we know the Governor of the Eastern Province had imposed so many restrictions for functioning of elected provincial council. Has he been removed?
Prime Minister, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, has also mentioned the implementation of the 13th Amendment. He said: “We will introduce these reforms while preserving the unitary character of the Constitution. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution will be implemented subject to that principle.” The statement sounds promising, but the qualification is absurd. 13th Amendment was introduced within the framework of unitary state as enshrined in the Article 2 of the Constitution. What is the meaning of the qualifier, ‘subject to [unitary] principle’?
I do not argue that in next 100 days the country should move from unitary state to federal state. I prefer to adopt a reformist position in place of a revolutionary position in constitution-making and state restructuring. Such a strategy would avoid putting undue pressure on the new government. So it is instructive to look at doable reforms within a short period, may be in 100 days, to address the burning issue of national question that has been evolved in the last 10 years incorporating new dimensions. Let me suggest 4 reforms that can be implemented without two third majority in the Parliament.
- 13th Amendment should be implemented fully and the limited police and land powers in the Amendment should be devolved to the Provincial Councils without further delay.
- LLRC report recommended separation of the police force from the Ministry of Defence. It should be gazette that the Department of Police be included in the Home Ministry.
- Mr. Somapala Gunadheera wrote in the Island last week that the provincial Governor should be the change agent in the province. Recently, Rev. Maduluwave Sobhitha has also tried to inflate the position of Provincial Governor. I think this view may destroy the idea of devolution reducing it to mere decentralization. Hence, the Chief Minister and the Cabinet should be made principal change agents in the province and all district secretaries should be put under the Provincial Secretary as far as functioning of the provincial subjects are concerned. Thus Provincial Secretary should be the principal executive officer of the province. To facilitate this process, de-militarization of the North and Eastern Province is imperative.
- An amendment to the constitution has to be introduced primarily because of the inadequacy of the 13th Amendment to Constitution as a solution to the national question. The concept of federalism was rejected by many in the past arguing Sri Lanka is a small country. Federalism takes into account not only the issues of size in the country but more importantly diversity of the country. However, the current situation will not allow to go for a major surgery in the field of constitution-making. Moreover, the issue of Muslims goes beyond territoriality. There is non-territorial dimension in Tamil and Kandyan Tamil question as well. How could we address this issue? I would suggest a setting up of a bicameral legislature. The second chamber elected by an electoral college consisting of all elected provincial councilors following the Ponnambalam Principle of 50: 50 that in my opinion one of most innovative proposal for constitution-making in a diverse society. What does it mean? I propose 35 member of second chamber. Out of 35, 15 should be elected by Sinhala Provincial Councilors and 15 by the provincial councilors belonging to other nationalities. The Election commissioner may decide how 15 seats allocated on the basis of their respective population share. The remaining five members may be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council to represent Malays (1), Burghers (1), Veddas (1), Colombo Chettis (1) and others (1). Any legislation that has an impact on ethnicity and religion can to be vetoed by the second chamber. 20th Amendment to the constitution may set up a second chamber and amendment may also include a minor change to several articles of the Constitution including Article 4 (a). Does it need a referendum? I do not think so, but legal experts can give a definite answer to that question.
*The writer is the co-coordinator of the Marx School – e-mail: sumane_l@yahoo.com
soma / January 27, 2015
These writers live in cloud cuckoo land.
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crazyoldmansl / January 27, 2015
With all due respect my lord, I think that what you call “General Democracy” is a lot more important that what Lenin and company had in mind and it is in fact much more difficult than simply handing the minority nationalists over to the keeping of their own petty tyrants and torturers.
Can we begin with that infamous 6th amendment being removed so that I can start a democratic party of Thamileelam with the objective of a setting up a separate state for the people of Thamileelam – whoever they may be – without being made a criminal by the state of Sri Lanka…?
I am not at all certain as to whether the “middle class” in Sri Lanka really supports “General Democracy” unless “Democracy” happens to be the name of a “General” who promises them an autocratic regime willing and able to oppress the minorities and preferably eradicate them once and for all.
So as far as I am concerned I shall settle for “General Democracy” for starters and my good lord I very much doubt that you will so much as lift your little finger to help establish this “general Democracy” which would quite naturally have to begin with the establishment and defense of my freedom to advocate and canvass the establishment of one or more states. I think that a state of Colombo with “General Democracy” as its ideology may be a good idea. This will of course be possible only if “General Democracy” prevails.
So my good lord lets see if that little finger is lifted before we venture into territory defined by Lenin the great precisely in order to avoid the establishment of “General Democracy” and instead to enable the emergence of a cabal of Dictators of the Proletariat who can do just that – Dictate to the Proletariat.
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Vibhushana / January 27, 2015
50:50 again? Only Sumane from “Marx School” would be stupid enough even to mention it.
Instead of trying to bend democracy, teach these Tamils how to co-exist and shed their narrow mindedness. I would conduct a workshop for the ITAK fellows on this subject.
They wont come naturally. They will resist first. So offer a carrot first. Perhaps tell them how great Tamil language can be. Then use the stick and let them know they will be shipped to Tamil Nadu if the nuisance does not cease.
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Anpu / January 27, 2015
“They wont come naturally. They will resist first. So offer a carrot first. Perhaps tell them how great Tamil language can be. Then use the stick and let them know they will be shipped to Tamil Nadu if the nuisance does not cease.”
That is how DSS cheated the Tamils
http://sangam.org/happened-65-years/
Sinhala Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake…
• Plantation Tamils deprived of citizenship – 1948/50 http://tamilnation.co/indictment/indict001.htm
• Sinhala Lion Flag imposed as National Flag by majority will http://tamilnation.co/indictment/indict002.htm
• Sinhala colonisation of Tamil Homeland http://tamilnation.co/indictment/indict003.htm
“narrow mindedness”
Sinhalese Buddhist – are they broad minded? Do they practice Buddhism?
You do not need to tell us how Tamil is great. The whole world knows it.
The whole world also know how great is Buddhism. Not Sinhala Buddhism
Statement on the Status of Tamil as a Classical Language by George Hart
April 11, 2000
I have been a Professor of Tamil at the University of California, Berkeley, since 1975 and am currently holder of the Tamil Chair at that institution. My degree, which I received in 1970, is in Sanskrit, from Harvard, and my first employment was as a Sanskrit professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1969. Besides Tamil and Sanskrit, I know the classical languages of Latin and Greek and have read extensively in their literatures in the original. I am also well-acquainted with comparative linguistics and the literatures of modern Europe (I know Russian, German, and French and have read extensively in those languages) as well as the literatures of modern India, which, with the exception of Tamil and some Malayalam, I have read in translation. I have spent much time discussing Telugu literature and its tradition with V. Narayanarao, one of the greatest living Telugu scholars, and so I know that tradition especially well. As a long-standing member of a South Asian Studies department, I have also been exposed to the richness of both Hindi literature, and I have read in detail about Mahadevi Varma, Tulsi, and Kabir.
I have spent many years — most of my life (since 1963) — studying Sanskrit. I have read in the original all of Kalidasa, Magha, and parts of Bharavi and Sri Harsa. I have also read in the original the fifth book of the Rig Veda as well as many other sections, many of the Upanisads, most of the Mahabharata, the Kathasaritsagara, Adi Sankara’s works, and many other works in Sanskrit.
I say this not because I wish to show my erudition, but rather to establish my fitness for judging whether a literature is classical. Let me state unequivocally that, by any criteria one may choose, Tamil is one of the great classical literatures and traditions of the world.
The reasons for this are many; let me consider them one by one.
First, Tamil is of considerable antiquity. It predates the literatures of other modern Indian languages by more than a thousand years. Its oldest work, the Tolkappiyam,, contains parts that, judging from the earliest Tamil inscriptions, date back to about 200 BCE. The greatest works of ancient Tamil, the Sangam anthologies and the Pattuppattu, date to the first two centuries of the current era. They are the first great secular body of poetry written in India, predating Kalidasa’s works by two hundred years.
Second, Tamil constitutes the only literary tradition indigenous to India that is not derived from Sanskrit. Indeed, its literature arose before the influence of Sanskrit in the South became strong and so is qualitatively different from anything we have in Sanskrit or other Indian languages. It has its own poetic theory, its own grammatical tradition, its own esthetics, and, above all, a large body of literature that is quite unique. It shows a sort of Indian sensibility that is quite different from anything in Sanskrit or other Indian languages, and it contains its own extremely rich and vast intellectual tradition.
Third, the quality of classical Tamil literature is such that it is fit to stand beside the great literatures of Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Persian and Arabic. The subtlety and profundity of its works, their varied scope (Tamil is the only premodern Indian literature to treat the subaltern extensively), and their universality qualify Tamil to stand as one of the great classical traditions and literatures of the world. Everyone knows the Tirukkural, one of the world’s greatest works on ethics; but this is merely one of a myriad of major and extremely varied works that comprise the Tamil classical tradition. There is not a facet of human existence that is not explored and illuminated by this great literature.
Finally, Tamil is one of the primary independent sources of modern Indian culture and tradition. I have written extensively on the influence of a Southern tradition on the Sanskrit poetic tradition. But equally important, the great sacred works of Tamil Hinduism, beginning with the Sangam Anthologies, have undergirded the development of modern Hinduism. Their ideas were taken into the Bhagavata Purana and other texts (in Telugu and Kannada as well as Sanskrit), whence they spread all over India. Tamil has its own works that are considered to be as sacred as the Vedas and that are recited alongside Vedic mantras in the great Vaisnava temples of South India (such as Tirupati). And just as Sanskrit is the source of the modern Indo-Aryan languages, classical Tamil is the source language of modern Tamil and Malayalam. As Sanskrit is the most conservative and least changed of the Indo-Aryan languages, Tamil is the most conservative of the Dravidian languages, the touchstone that linguists must consult to understand the nature and development of Dravidian.
In trying to discern why Tamil has not been recognized as a classical language, I can see only a political reason: there is a fear that if Tamil is selected as a classical language, other Indian languages may claim similar status. This is an unnecessary worry. I am well aware of the richness of the modern Indian languages — I know that they are among the most fecund and productive languages on earth, each having begotten a modern (and often medieval) literature that can stand with any of the major literatures of the world. Yet none of them is a classical language. Like English and the other modern languages of Europe (with the exception of Greek), they rose on preexisting traditions rather late and developed in the second millennium. The fact that Greek is universally recognized as a classical language in Europe does not lead the French or the English to claim classical status for their languages.
To qualify as a classical tradition, a language must fit several criteria: it should be ancient, it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly on its own not as an offshoot of another tradition, and it must have a large and extremely rich body of ancient literature. Unlike the other modern languages of India, Tamil meets each of these requirements. It is extremely old (as old as Latin and older than Arabic); it arose as an entirely independent tradition, with almost no influence from Sanskrit or other languages; and its ancient literature is indescribably vast and rich.
It seems strange to me that I should have to write an essay such as this claiming that Tamil is a classical literature — it is akin to claiming that India is a great country or Hinduism is one of the world’s great religions. The status of Tamil as one of the great classical languages of the world is something that is patently obvious to anyone who knows the subject. To deny that Tamil is a classical language is to deny a vital and central part of the greatness and richness of Indian culture.
Sincerely,
George L. Hart
Professor of Tamil
Chair in Tamil Studies
http://southasia.berkeley.edu/tamil-classes
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Ram / January 27, 2015
It is NOT their narrow-mindedness that is at issue here. It is the GREED for land, that is not theirs but is within the borders that they wish to control on the basis of a falsehood that they’ve tried to convince others is the truth. It seems that some ‘Sinhala’ are willing to lay down and die without protecting their inheritance for the generations to follow.
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Vibhushana / January 28, 2015
Ram,
Mahinda really cocked up things. Otherwise I agree with you.
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mal or mahulchandran spencer / January 27, 2015
1. Well said and may it also be well done as well. Mr Sumanasiri Liyanage a revival and revisiting of a vexed matter coming from one with a Singhalese sounding name is very much appreciated and welcome at this juncture in human history and geography. I am not quite aware of how Mr GGP marketed or sold that concept but am aware that at one stage a 60/40 was offered but some greedy Tamils rejected that too.
2. It’s should be so obvious to anyone with an iota of humane and human thought and feeling that none of us ever asked to be born as we are all by-products of our parents pleasure and their cultural constraints and brain washings. Further none of us ever chose our parents, place of birth, country, nationality, first language, class, caste, religion or it’s sub-sect nor even the bio-socio-political ideological slant be it to the right, left or anywhere in-between as that too is found to be mostly accidental and genetically and/or epigenetically determined by along with other cultural overtones and hues.
3. Further even though quality of our laws, policies, principles and decisions we in any society determine is really the product of the quantity of its numbers or group members such as to give the maximum benefit to the most with the least inconvenience to the least. Our basic human desires, needs and wants are the same irrespective of whether one belongs to a minority or a majority and these accidents of life should not unreasonably give any member of the human race a special privileges, advantage or rights over other humans or even some other animals who at times exhibit better traits than humans.
4. Democracy be it direct or indirect through electoral colleges should not over advantage any group over others lesser numbered groups for the larger for having over indulged enjoyed greater sexual pleasures and increasing their numbers through over copulations encouraged, dictated and determined through superstitious, supernatural, false and fallaciously unscientific beliefs without any evidence and/or a rational foundation. As such Mr Sumanasiri Liyanage’s fourth reform is most welcome to help prevent or minimise the chances of another Nigerian “Boko Haram” arising in SL or anywhere on this earth.
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mal or mahulchandran c spencer / January 28, 2015
Revised 4th Paragraph to be more realistic.
4. Democracy, be it direct or indirect through electoral colleges should not unreasonably advantage any group over others of lesser numbered groups. Merely because the larger groups for having over indulged, enjoyed greater sexual pleasures thereby increasing their numbers through over copulations encouraged, dictated to and determined through superstitious, supernatural, false and fallaciously unscientific beliefs without any evidence and/or a rational foundation. Hence Mr Sumanasiri Liyanage’s fourth reform is most welcome to help prevent or minimise the chances of another Nigerian “Boko Haram” arising in SL or anywhere on this earth.
Yet the big question is will those with power, authority and responsibility pay heed to these concerns when they go about superstitiously venerating tree trunks and being controlled and impelled by the Buddhist priesthood not unlike the theocratic state like Iran?
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BBS Rep / January 27, 2015
Sumanasiri Liyanage, you say “Of course different peoples have had different expectations and hopes” meaning with MS coming to power. But the expectations and hopes of the politicians remain the same – nepotism and jobs for the boys.
See, MS has appointed his brother to a cushy job.
Liyanage my friend, don’t expect much from any Sri Lankan politicians. They are all the same, more or less.
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ramona therese fernando / January 27, 2015
Sounds a good deal………except that American strategic interests in Sri Lanka could mean greater involvement with India, which means trade with TN, which means greater Northern involvement, …………unless we bypass TN and trade with Bengal or someplace (although TN will be more effective as it is just across the Palk)…….lol……..ooh la la……..rajapaksa knew what he was doing………
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sach / January 27, 2015
Is there any medal or prize given to a perfect democracy in the world? Our local marxists who have no electoral base trying to make a so called perfect democracy in SL….is there a country like that?
Western countries like US, UK go against democratic traditions when it comes to protecting their national integrity and sovereignty.NO? why it is NOT practical
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Srinath. Gunaratne / January 27, 2015
Sri Lanka have plenty of money for this crazy ideas
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Sellam / January 27, 2015
I say that the four proposals made by Liyanage is not feasible. First of all the three main races of people in Sri lanka have to come together, again which is not feasible and will not happen as the attitude of the Sinhala people is completely biased and subjugated. One of the proposal about the 13th amendment to be introduced with limited land and police powers. Why does the writer says “Limited”. So he doesn’t trust the Tamil people to be given full land and police powers. Take any country where local administration is in force, that administration is given full Land and Police powers. Under the circumstances, I do not believe that even Federalism is the answer for the Tamils. Setting up of a Second Chamber with 50-50 representation in that Chamber is for what purpose and with what powers? Setting up of a second chamber is to dupe the Tamils? Therefore the Tamil people have to decide their fate and not imposed by Sinhala politicians. Any Sinhala Governments that come to power, view the minorities as second class citizens and they do not want to willingly power share with the minorities. Those governments may supress the voice of the Tamils with their mighty military means but it will not happen always as our Earth is slowing down from its spinning.
I would like to ask the writer about the Sri Lankan National Flag. Should the Tamils respect that flag and sing national anthem in Sinhala. You put yourself in the position of the Tamils and tell us how the writer view it.
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Mallaiyuran / January 28, 2015
As the Sinhala Intellectuals are capable of mustering 2/3 at any time (this time they had to go one against other, so winning one was elected by Tamils), anywhere with the anti-Tamil propaganda, there is nothing a solution other than self determination referendum.
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Old Yarlppanathan / January 29, 2015
Realities and Future – Tamils of North and East – Sri Lanka
The decisive battle of 2009 changed the political, social, cultural, Economic land escape of Tamils, inhabitants of Sri Lanka.
The Muslims and Indian Tamils opted, adopted different approach, than the Tamils of Indigenous origin.
After the war ended, a realistic assessment of the situation of Tamils, as at present , in short, is as follows,
The cumulative wealth, wisdom, culture is completely lost. The animalistic, Brutish, lower grade values dominate, at every level, strata, spectrum prevalent, present in the society/People, who dominate the scenes of North/East of Sri Lanka.
The Men of values, culture, character have withdrawn, and taken/adopting a non participating, non contributing, ostrich position/posture, to alter the present, perilous, situation
Wulchers hover over the landscape, for remnants of left overs of the war, and for share of development under takings, activities for commission.
Type of Leadership changes
After the dark ages of colonial rule the advent of sir, P. Ramanathan, Arunachalam, Hindu Board. S. Rajaratnam, under the guidance of Sri La Siri Arumuga Navalar, initiated a movement of Educational Development of the people. These personalities, spiritual aspect, manifested as compassion in action, and sacrifice and created/initiated the formation of 200 feeder schools, one teacher training collage and number of colleges long be0fore dawn of independence, which were taken over by GOSL in 1963 by Hon .Srimavo Govt.,
By mobilizing (People), activating them, guiding them for a transformation of the entire society, which permeated into every spectrum, is a marvel silent revolution.
This resulted in creating a highly literate respectable, culture and value based society. After Demise of Sir P. Ramanathan triemvate, the leadership did not have a committed, creative determined, thinking and planning, working, attitude to achieve development, by mobilizing the community, and its people, for implementing.
The pattern of leadership, divorced from people, and new culture was engineered, and a culture to do everything, only through the state council/parliament. G.G.Ponnambalam, after Sir P.Ramanathan, though highly educated, articulate, persuasive, flam buoyant, confined his role, only representing matters to state council, and after Independence to parliament and never believed in mobilizing people, for collective, productive action.
After independence, he saw, the changing scenario, of number based power operating structure, bestowed on the destiny of Sri Lanka, where power of Tamils voice became feeble/not heard., due to number based power of democracy.
Though he was dissatisfied with the changes, he decided on a course of responsive cooperation, collaboration, for problem solving.
His period of Leadership was very crucial. Significant changes happened, for the country and destiny of people
Indian citizenship – He opted for a Problem solving resolving approach and worked out a solution / formula and time frame, with the Sri Lankan power structure / establishment based in a political agenda.
This was torpedoed by power seekers based on numbers on both sides, Sinhalese, upcountry Tamils Thondaman and his own flock, Chelvanayakam, leftist in south, playing number game of forces resulting in, not solving the upcountry Tamils problem, which resulted in, no power, to the Indian Tamils, up to the time of Srimavo Shasthiri pact, formula in 1963
If one, does some costing of the loss to the community, on time loss, economy, progress etc, for non cooperation, and anti activities, to the problem solving , resulting, in pushing the Indian community down the precipice, which will amount to a huge, financial, establishments, developments, and Politically, a colossal loss, resulting in Backwardness.
After independence, his (G.G) power started dwindling, as his own team, worked to undermine his power, and Chelvanayagam ascended the power structure, representing the Tamils. Tamils were divided into two camps.
In 1971 through G.G. had lost all his powers and charm, as duty bound, he along with other legal/constitutional luminaries, prepared a document/way out, to resolve the impasse, and handed over to Hon. Prime Minister, Madam Srimavo Bandaranayaka ,who intern handed over to the responsible minister Dr. Colvin R.De Silva and Felix Dian Bandaranayake.
When G.G met the prime Minister subsequently, she expressed regret her inability on this matter, as the two ministers had rejected the whole document. The responsible Ministers did not have the courtesy to have a discussion openly and sympathetically, is a matter of great regret which ended the constructive collaborative politics. G.G ended in frustration and regret for the future of the country and its people.
S.J.V Politics, was based on a similar model of Ponnampalam, and purely a platform based, retoretic.
Both did not create any full time establishments; mobilize people to do any kind of developmental activities for their own welfare, by the people.
He ( SJV ) clinched, the main idea of abandoned federalism, proposed originally by S.W.R.D Banderanayake in 1930’s, which was not acceptable to majority of Sinhalese, due to change of scenario in Politics, time and world trends.
This resulted in confrontational, antagonistic, suspicion created posture between the communities resulting in creating, and developing, displaying muscle power, manifested by violence and counter violence.
At the tail end of (GG and SJV), their life period, both withdrew from activities, SivaSithamparam and Amirthalingam, lost the Electorates, in 1971 elections. This made a change in the political scenario.
A vacuum was felt , created in Leader ship. People who thought deeply, realized the need for unified strength
Siva Sithamparam made first move, to meet Amirthalingam at Moolai, in 1971. This move of meeting, of two platform hostilities of Tamils, initiated engineered, made a sea of change.
It is Siva’s move, who on advise, initiated, engineered and finally resulted in the formation of T.U.F, for which S.J.V and G.G, unwillingly, due to change of circumstances, due to their inability to lead anymore, due to their age and failure of health, acceded to currents of trends and events, at that time yielded, and forced to, agree to hand over the reins which happened in 1974.
The calculation of the politicians and calculators of both parties based their new initiatives on power/ electoral seat sharing, and manipulations, for each group interest and advantage, to go to the parliament, enblock, which they achieved in 1977.
They failed to understand, take note or blind willfully, of the implications of deeper currents developing, running to emerge, amongst vibrant, politically energetic sectors, unfolding and coming to the surface for which they themselves were responsible
When they realized their inability, to full fill their platform promises, the new phenomenon, had shown itself bloomed and started unfolding, its presence and overtaken the events.
After the demise of Ponnambalam and Chelvanayakam, unfolded a culture of violence and armed struggle, based on non compromising command, and determined, steadfast leadership in, Pirabakaran
The entire community was a silent, willing / unwilling participants, to the new Trends. His Leadership was different in nature, to that of Ponnambalam and Chelvanayakam, and post period
He dedicated himself, full time, 24 x 7 x 12, for number of Years, in mobilizing, creating, directing operating, monitoring, all aspects, which included every activity, unlike the formers, resulting in creation of a spectacular phenomenon and establishments, which the world was critically watching, in amazement and wonder and monitoring the involvement, and possible impacts
A serious intellectual, dispassionate, objective, cost effective justification study of Leadership of all Tamil political actors pre and post independent era, will be a useful base study and could form a bedrock document for the formulation of future approach, philosophy, and development strategy.
Politics and social mechanisms do not change easily. Governments do not operate, on philosophies but for their own interest, This current principals and methodologies were not acceptable to Pirabakaran, but based on pure single-minded determination, and failed, unwilling, to adopt new change and courses of actuals, and realities resulting in the loss of battle and connected establishments, Community’s wealth, resources and people, which were destroyed
New situation had dawned on the Tamil people of N & E Sri Lanka after 500 years of gradual development, as a significant community in the world in 2009.
War ended in 2009. The actions initiated, practiced to relief the simple sufferings of the people in all spheres, is archaic, painfully slow, encompassed by corruption, in all spheres including, govt. services, technical services, judiciary and its arms of execution of law and order. Relief operations, N.G.Oo health assistances by the implementers, actors of all types, shades, levels
Five years had passes after 2009. Only watching G.O.S.L programs manifestation.
Present scenario No Leadership – including political party arena:
No agenda for future / No collective thinking / No Collective action
No workers to think even. / No Collective Planning
No Collective Establishments / institutions for action / Implementation
No efforts for collective mobilization of People and Resources
Everyone minds, their own pottage, and their hubby holes
Others are begging and selling their souls
Such a great tragedy.
Various institutions, men of politics, governance, theoreticians, philosophers, nay the concerned people of the world, are raking their heads/minds, re the deeper currents and Unfoldment of this phenomenon and changes, to be done, to keep the world, harmonious and peaceful.
It is sad to note, the present Tamil plat formers of various Shades, who appear and represent platforms and parliament and outside, do not hold/have ability, to command, work and redeem the community to deliverance , except slogan shouting , and broad casting, the axioms, which is self evident to everyone and world.
Majority of the Tamil people, had lost trust and confidence, that the present system of politics and political basis, as the way for deliverance, facilitations, and to enable them, to contribute and standup – Why?
The present ground situation and realities, is an impediment to change confidence building / erase off mental attitudes, and scars of hard war, and related pain full experiences.
The operators and actors of the govt. machinery, whether they are Tamils or others, they are not sympathetic, forward looking, innovative, non compassionate, does not honestly discharge their duties, But, hell bent on using their position and power , not to serve but for show off their power , and display their ego, on a silently mourning, suffering , down trodden ,poor, helpless, ignorant population, who were one time, dignified, cultured, proud people.
People of all shades have learnt to keep their mouth shut, for the last thirty / forty years, with the advent of arms, troupes (Local, Foreign) rowdism, robbers, killers, vandals, rapists, and all shades of hooligans.
Though the regime charged at top level, what had happened down the line.
They tamils in 2015, do not dream of a life. Forgotten, their desires, ambitions of their choice, aspirations, and any targets to reach.
This is the ground reality, as at present. If all these had happened, due to karma over human failures, desires, and actions, what will be the future karma and its manifestations, to unfold?
Will there be a new leaders of young dynamic altruistic charge agents bloom and come to the front line to set new norms of character, culture, wisdom and vision which will synchronies with the world trends of technology, norms of future of 21st Century, who will take the community forward.
Is there a space for, all these good positive values, to bloom, to stand up for reconciliation, creativity, productivity and positive contribution. Are the people/GOSL/Tamils/Institutions/thoughts methodologies synchronies with world trends.
Articulators of various shades, put out their pious hopes and desires theories, from a platform of, outdated failed isms, obsolete, norms and not in terms of new norms, unfolding, from deeper currents of knowledge, technologies, and world trends, where boundaries are shattering. What is the agenda, work program for resurrection. Who will make the agenda work. Tamils should/Must think. What is the society, value, it intends to create. Outside the empty slogan shouting rhetoric exercise of unproductive, destructive negative, unrealistic nature, and the do gooders should restrain their ramblings and quoting copious date on others else where happenings being blind to ground realities, project their self image, ego boosting.
If a part of the body is afflicted, affected, want the whole body experience, its manifestations and effects.
Men Do Not Live by, Bread, Alone
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alex / January 29, 2015
I think it is helpful for the author to contemplate progressive steps, but it is unclear how his solutions allow regions to manage their own affairs. Devolution of power has been a big step towards people’s freedom of choice and wealth creation, to the degree that more regions in Western countries are demanding local power devolution. Anyway, good to hear a view, but as he says lets get Sri Lanka moving again in the right direction, and lets start with implementing what is already in the constitution.
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