19 March, 2024

Blog

Rajapaksa Regime Approaches Day Of Reckoning

By Ameer Ali

Dr. Ameer Ali

A desperate decision by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) to invite TNA leaders for talks followed by an equally desperate cancellation of that invitation reveals a lot more than what news headlines try to convey. On the one hand, it recalls what happened in the 1950s when Bandaranaike realized the folly of introducing the Sinhala Only Bill and events followed thereafter; and on the other, it admits an uncomfortable truth that the country has reached a dead end under GR’s so-called ‘alternate way’ to achieve prosperity and splendour and that the time has arrived to change direction. Above all, it also indicates that the day of reckoning is approaching Rajapaksa Regime (RR).

SWRD Bandaranaike came to power by mobilizing the forces of Sinhala nationalism and political Buddhism.  Having come to power with the support of these forces he could not avoid surrendering to their demands and one of those demands was to make Sinhala the only official language. Recently, his elder daughter Sunethra Bandaranaike was quite open and honest in admitting to a TV interviewer that what her father did was an inexplicable blunder that had brought the country to ruins. However, the Official Language Bill immediately earned the wrath and ire of the Tamil community, and the Federal Party (FP) launched its Satyagraha campaign against that Bill and demanded either federalism or equal status for Tamil Language. The racial riots that followed made SWRD realize that he had to make mends to calm the situation and strike a compromise with the Tamil minority. The infamous Banda-Chelva Pact was the result of that realization.  But the mistake he made was not to consult with and convince beforehand his backers at the election, the lay leaders of Sinhala nationalism and Buddhist hierocracy. That neglect left room for JR Jeyewardene to regroup the same nationalist forces, and his infamous march to Dalalada Maligawa, forced SWRD to abandon the pact, which ultimately ended in his assassination at the hands of a Buddhist monk.

The same mistake appears to have been repeated by GR last week in inviting TNA for talks, before consulting with and convincing his own supporters in the South the necessity of post-war reconciliation with minorities. Given the fact that there is no shortage of takers to champion the cause of Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism, both within the opposition as well as from his own ruling coalition, GR, in fear of an open revolt from his backyard, had no option but to cancel the invitation and postpone the meeting indefinitely. The situation is back to square one but the regime is reeling under multiple pressures.

The pressure is acute on economic front. An uncoordinated and impulsive approach to policy making has led to the  collapse of the national economy, with little over $4 billion in foreign reserves – just enough to finance three to four months of imports. Faced with a debt crisis leading towards default in servicing, widening balance of payments and domestic budget deficits, chronic shortages in consumer items and production inputs causing steep increase on cost of living, and worsening public health crisis compounded by the pandemic have taken their toll on the popularity of RR. Never in the history of independent Sri Lanka that a government elected with such overwhelming majority as this has lost so much in so short a time. In a sense, it is Covid-19, apart from the military, that is protecting RR by preventing the masses from openly gathering in large numbers and demanding the government to quit. It is therefore in RR’s political interest to allow Covid-19 to continue little longer. Is this the reason why the government is ignoring the advice of health experts and opting for sub-optimal solutions? 

While the economy is in tatters, the country’s post-war foreign relations are in shambles. In a world grappling with a new cold war between China and a US-led West, RR’s strong inclination to align too closely with China obviously raises concern within the other camp. It has also made neighbouring India, another regional power, to rethink its strategy towards future with Sri Lanka. Adding to this worry is the role of diaspora Tamils who are relentless in pressing Western governments, including UN agencies, to bring more pressure on RR to address the issue of reconciliation. This diaspora, like the pre-Word War II Jewish diaspora is economically resourceful, intellectually capable and politically influential in certain Western democracies such as Canada, UK, and US.

Until recently, governments in Sri Lanka had been quite dismissive of this diaspora and ridiculed its strength. All that seem to have evaporated with the passing of the UNHCR resolution in September last year. The fact that Tamil diaspora had a hand in pressing for this resolution is undisputable. Following that, there had been a few other developments internationally. The US Congress has decided to move ahead with a resolution to recognize North and East of Sri Lanka as Tamils’ traditional homeland.  That resolution has been sent to the Foreign Relations Committee and, if cleared, will be presented to the Congress. A few weeks before that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also passed a resolution condemning RR over its poor human rights record in relation to the minorities.  In this, a small but growing Muslim diaspora appears to have played a significant role. On top of these came the threat from European Union to withdraw its Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) concession on Sri Lankan exports. Being the second largest export destination for the island that withdrawal, if eventuates, would spell disaster to an already struggling economy. 

From the time GR became President, his bravado that Sri Lanka is a democratic sovereign country and that foreigners, including UN, should not interfere with domestic decisions taken by an elected government was meant chiefly for home consumption.  It was that bravado which also prompted RR to ignore UNHCR resolution and blamed the “vanquished Tamil Terrorists” for its false propaganda. It only demonstrates the immaturity or incompetence of the regime’s diplomatic approach towards international relations. Now that the chicken had come home to roost, a mood of desperation has set in. It was this desperation that prompted GR to schedule talks in a hurry with TNA leaders. Although it was too little too late, the tragedy is that, like Bandaranaike before him, neither the President, nor the Prime Minister and not even their ministers had the audacity to explain the reality and truth to their grassroot supporters in the South. Reconciliation with minorities cannot be postponed any longer. More than the UN and world powers, it is the country’s economic revival, internal peace and external reputation that demand it. By ignoring this, RR is edging towards its day of reckoning.    

*Dr. Ameer Ali, School of Business & Governance, Murdoch University, Western Australia

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Latest comments

  • 46
    7

    Rajapaksa Regime may be in near death situation, but not dead yet. Day of reckoning is still far off in my mind when I see the actions of RR regime in removing medical, educational, and other powers from the North-East not to mention the mushrooming of Buddhist shrines in Tamil-speaking people’s land. Actions speak louder than the talks they want to have with Tamils.

    Most important of all, Bhikkus are ever virulent more so than covid-19 and there in no vaccination against it.

    Supremacist Sinhala Buddhists are waiting for the promised prosperity and splendor of the Sinhala Buddhist people. How can they reconcile with concessions to Tamils and Muslims? Won’t they let loose the mother of all pogroms if such accommodation with Tamil speaking people is proposed?

    Anti-minority pogrom is the language the Sinhala Buddhist supremacist speak, not the dharma Buddha preached.

    With China the pre-eminent power on their side they won’t budge an inch.

    • 6
      42

      Thiru,
      To my knowledge, Sinhala Buddhists have not invaded Tamil Nadu where one can find ‘Tamil-speaking people’s land’ and building Buddhist shines over there.
      —-
      “…not to mention the mushrooming of Buddhist shrines in Tamil-speaking people’s land.”

      • 56
        2

        “mushrooming of Buddhist shrines”

        I’m not for the Tamils, not for the Sinhalese, or for anyone else …… not even for myself …….. but I’m for the truth.

        And I’m with Thiru on this one.

        Forget the Tamil areas …… All Saints Church, Borella goes back a long way ……. there was no Buddhist temple in the vicinity …… now there is a temple constructed close-by. Recently we attended a wedding at the church ……. exactly at the moment the ceremony started the temple started blaring Pirith or some nonsense from the loudspeakers aimed directly at the church and drowned and spoiled the young couples’ special day.

        The temple was not spreading Buddha’s Buddhism or attempting to endear Buddha to anyone ……… the temple was spreading shear human cussedness and insecurity …….. bastardy

        Unfortunately this is what “Buddhists” like EE are spreading ……… it’s their innate insecurity and has nothing to do with Buddha.

        The constitution theoretically (as it should be) ….. gives the same rights to all the citizens ……. but the minorities can’t enjoy their rights because of the unexamined incurable insecurities of the majority ….


        Btw …… I don’t even know what Buddha preached ……. but feel, I’m a better Buddhist than 95% of the Lankans who call themselves Buddhists. ……. go figure.

        • 28
          2

          “Unfortunately this is what “Buddhists” like EE are spreading ……… it’s their innate insecurity and has nothing to do with Buddha.”

          It is their paranoia, exacerbated by politicians and saffron clad power hungry lot make people feel insecure or their greed make them wanting for more at any cost as opposed to what Buddha’s “Great Renunciation”. The politicians and saffronistas are bent on keeping the people in constant Duḥkha, (suffering, unhappiness, pain, unsatisfactoriness or stress.

          It appears the saffron clad activists are disappointed with Gota (Asgiria blessed Sri Lankan Hitler) whom they helped to elect as the president. Probably they are plotting again to take control of Sri Lankan state, preparing to establish a ‘Clerical Fascism’ (Luigi Sturzo) perhaps.

          Nimal don’t take me seriously as I am only dropping names.

        • 1
          28

          nimal fernando,
          “The temple was not spreading Buddha’s Buddhism or attempting to endear Buddha to anyone ……… the temple was spreading shear human cussedness and insecurity …….. bastardy”

          Buddhist monks and temples have become a pain in the neck of anti-Sinhala Buddhist mafia.
          Buddhist monks have not promoted terrorism, provided support for terrorism or provided shelter to terrorists but others have done that.

          • 10
            0

            Evil, they are like a pandemic just like you a variant. Don’t get me wrong in Lanka not just them but there are many different types but lived like parasites now mutated and turned virulent. Covid may reach 2 years but we Lankans have been living with your kind since independence.

          • 7
            0

            Eagle,
            “Buddhist monks have not promoted terrorism, provided support for terrorism”
            Several Buddhist monks were arrested in 1971 and 1989 for supporting JVP terrorism .Some were cremated involuntarily. You should respect their sacrifices. So you were born after 1989? I wouldn’t have thought you were that young.

        • 4
          0

          Dear Nimal Fernando

          .
          This response to your comment beginning “mushrooming of Buddhist shrines”, but it may well fall twenty places for analysable reasons.
          .
          If some people missed seeing this article after 2.00 am on Sunday, the 20th, that is correct. I informed CT with BCC to author, and he has told me this:
          .
          Truth hurts, but cannot be hidden for ever, Panini.

          Thanks

          Ameer

          .
          I’m sure that we’re in perfect agreement, but don’t interpret literally. These moral laws don’t hold good in a universe which is described by the laws of science.
          .
          Not always the approach. These lines were written by William Cowper:

          .
          God moves in a mysterious way
          His wonders to perform
          He plants His footsteps in the sea
          And rides upon the storm
          .
          They are given fine treatment here, with large choir and half a symphony orchestra, but there’s no audience, although years before CORONA.
          .
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu1tvqcyY44
          .
          I’ll say more after sleeping on it. But remember poor, honest Cowper went mad after he wrote “John Gilpin’s Ride” which appeared in schoolboy Poetry Anthologies.
          .
          Who studies Literature nowadays? Manel Fonseka thanked & sent me this link:
          .
          https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/19/novelists-issue-plea-to-save-english-degrees-as-demand-slumps

          • 4
            0

            This is a link to a 53-minute Sinhala interview of Ranil Wickremasinghe by Chamuditha. I was sent it by a very decent guy! These are two guys whom I don’t respect!
            .

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJZ-UFDCX7Y
            .
            I have sampled, jumping from point to point. I don’t think that anybody should waste time listening to any of this. You cannot expect this snake-in-the-grass to reveal anything of use to us. From the little I listened to, he acknowledges that corrupt politicians help each other! You can be sure that Ranil will have plans. He will not tell us. We just have to observe how he conducts himself from day to day.

            .
            These professional politicians are our enemies. However, I don’t express what a guy calling himself “nk” on CT has been saying. I continue to repose faith in the group calling itself National People’s Power (Jathika Jana Balavegaya in Sinhala) which currently has three MPs in Parliament.

        • 2
          2

          “mushrooming of Buddhist shrines”
          .
          But it is quite okay to plant a Church in every Buddhist and Hindu village.

          • 4
            1

            Just because there is a Church in every Buddhist and Hindu village, does not make it correct for the Sri Lankan state , armed forces and police to forcibly convert ancient Hindu shrines in Tamil areas and appropriate private Tamil lands or even common land that is used for public benefit to build Buddhist Viharas and erect Buddha statues in the north and east, solely for the purpose of Sinhalization of Tamil areas. 90% of these Churches have been there for years and were built legally on private land that was purchased legally, whereas all these mushrooming Buddhist shrines are being built erected illegally on the premises of ancient Hindu temples and private Tamil lands. Fake concocted history is being used to justify these actions. The government and the armed forces think that the Tamils are now a vanquished occupied people with no international support, therefore they can do anything with them, their lands and their places of worship, erase their history by concocting fake history and get away with it.

      • 29
        1

        Eagle Blind Eye

        “To my knowledge, Sinhala Buddhists have not invaded Tamil Nadu where one can find ‘Tamil-speaking people’s land’ and building Buddhist shines over there.”

        Brilliant, if not Sinhala/Buddhists who built those Buddhist Vihares and Buddhas shrines in Southern India?

        According to scholars (not Champika nor HLD M) it was your public racist Anagarika Homless Dharmapala who about 100 odd years ago first manufactured a new identity being Sinhala/Buddhists for Sinhalese and Buddhists and popularised it with large dose of racism. You are still suffering from that particular toxin in addition to your greed, jealousy, stupidity,……. .

      • 13
        0

        Can the Sinhala Buddhist please say “Sadu Sadu Sadu” in recognition of the great job they did in electing crooks.

        “State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal said even after the recent fuel price hike, our petroleum prices are far lower”.

    • 32
      2

      Rajapakses are just a miniscule component …….. of a greater problem/malady.

      Don’t forget, the Rajapakses were voted back into power a short 1.5 years ago …… with great fanfare and support of the Mahanayakes, the Cardinals, many eminent citizens …….. and the 6.9 million of adult age.

      Look back …..this circus ……. cycle of hope and disappointment ……. has been going back for 70 odd years …… all the way back to independence.

      More than anything ……… it’s our essence as a people that needs to be questioned/examined.

      Superficial examinations ……. of flawed individuals ……… are just band-aid

      If not …… another …….. slightly better or much worse than a Rajapakse ……. is waiting around the corner.

      • 15
        2

        nimal fernando

        “Superficial examinations ……. of flawed individuals ……… are just band-aid”

        Please listen to Tamil Nadu Finance Minister(of 68 Million) and let us know what you think about him and compare him with our Finance Minister (of 21 Million):

        Interview with Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR || PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GF-fH-iWFU

        • 10
          0

          Native,
          This is the intellectual capacity that real leaders should have. One may not like his politics but Putin doesn’t shout, doesn’t lose his temper, doesn’t need a teleprompter…

          https://youtu.be/g2kIIiC3EZs

          • 10
            1

            old codger

            Brilliant.
            Do you agree with me that soman, EE, Ravi Perera (the Sinhala speaking Demela) ……all our generals, monks and Wimal are smart people and we are idiots?

            • 8
              0

              Native,
              Anyone who has to shout to prove something is an idiot.

          • 0
            0

            Thanks, quite a revelation to me; I’d imagined that Putin was an absolute devil. As oc says, we nevertheless can’t approve of his politics.
            .
            Goes to show just how low we have fallen.

            • 2
              0

              S.M,
              That’s why we need a variety of information sources. Some people are painted as devils because they aren’t as pliable as some other people would want. Never depend on media to form your views for you.

        • 0
          0

          Homo Sapien thinking vs that of a Genus Gorilla.

      • 10
        3

        This is vintage nimal fernando!

      • 7
        21

        nimal fernando,
        You are right. Rajapakses are just a miniscule component …….. of a greater problem/malady. Those who are responsible for the problem/malady this country face are racist separatist politicians and Wahhabi Muslim extremists and politicians who support them. Unless these elements are removed from the system, Sri Lanka cannot move forward.

      • 8
        0

        I agree with you other than the word imminent. This would be like calling Gota doctor. Then again in Sri Lanka the nickname for the moonshine maker is”Dosthara”

    • 9
      0

      Thiru,
      The other day i saw some tamil complaining on facebook about sinhala colonisation in the NE and some sinhalese replied saying its ‘justified as sri lanka is a sinhala buddhist land and tamils are invaders’.
      Nandasena spoke to the BBC many years ago and this issue was brought up. His excuse was that minorities are living in the south, so why cant sinhalese live in the north. He failed to mention the fact that tamils have to purchase land in the south (often having to pay extra to bribe sinhalese government officials who try to sabotage and make things extra hard for them). They are not coming into the south with police, military, archaeology department and political backing, to steal sinhala lands and setup free tamil colonies in the south. The reverse of this is what is happening in the NE.

      • 4
        0

        Dear Humble… Brilliant!

        So much for Nandasena putting his stupidity and lack of character on display repeatedly over the years!

        Years later, 6.9million decided he deserved a grand opportunity to display even more of it bigger and better.

  • 39
    6

    It is not the time for celebration of victory over Rajapaksa regime or bringing back the other regime. It is time for realisation of truth that this country was brought down by alternative governments and Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism policy. Buddhists Sinhala community should realise that their politicians and Buddhist clergy or leadership failed the country by dividing the people and using violence against other communities. They should realise there is a difference between true Buddhism and what is practiced by our leadership.
    Tamil and Muslim leadership should also realise there is nothing to bargain in order to support these regimes on promises. If there is a real change the regimes should apologies for the whole population and educate the people what is good for the country and people and to get their support to change the policies and implement them immediately. For example, if you can make changes for 20th amendment why can’t you change for devolution of power or get rid of the executive power of a single person from a single family.

    • 7
      30

      Ajith,
      Sinhala politicians or Buddhist Clergy did not divide the communities and use violence.
      Division of Sinhala and Tamil communities was the work of separatist Tamil politicians that emerged in 1930s, long before Sinhalayo gained Independence from British rule. G.G. Ponnambalam laid the foundation to keep the two communities apart by giving a racially motivated speech at Nawalapitiya denigrating the Sinhala-Buddhist culture, its history and the people igniting the first Tamil-Sinhala riots in 1939. S. J. V.Chelvanayakam who came from Malaya to Sinhale during British rule took it further by establishing the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (toned down as Federal Party in English) in 1949 which had as its hidden agenda the establishment of a separate state. Their effort to keep the two communities apart culminated when Tamil politicians passed the Vaddukkodei Resolution to create a separate State for the Tamils in the North by grabbing almost one third of the country of Sinhalayo and declared war on Sinhala Nation.
      Tamil politicians wanted to keep the two communities apart for their political survival but keep on putting the blame on Sinhala politicians, Sinhala Buddhists and Buddhist monks.
      —–
      “Buddhists Sinhala community should realise that their politicians and Buddhist clergy or leadership failed the country by dividing the people and using violence against other communities.”

      • 20
        2

        Eagle Blind Eye

        “G.G. Ponnambalam laid the foundation to keep the two communities apart by giving a racially motivated speech at Nawalapitiya denigrating the Sinhala-Buddhist culture, its history and the people igniting the first Tamil-Sinhala riots in 1939.”

        Please provide evidence, name, source, page no, ….. publisher.
        It was not a Tamil-Sinhala riots in 1939 but was a trade union dispute.
        The racial/religious riot also took place in Kottahena in 1883 and then in 1915 riots.

        FYI the public racist Aryan Nazi supporting Anagarika Homeless Dharmapala was born in 17 September 1864 and G G Ponnambalam was born in 1901.

        I suggest you pull your head wherever it is now and free HLD M from his agony.

      • 16
        0

        “Division of Sinhala and Tamil communities was the work of separatist Tamil politicians that emerged in 1930s”

        Is this according to the Mahawansa crap?

        • 6
          1

          Majority in our country would not question themselves, but tend to follow the other.
          :
          This has been abused by the GOSL from the day one. රජය රටේ ඉන්න හැමදෙනාම ගොනාට අන්දන විදියක් පේන්නෙ මට විතරද.. ? They have been fooling the nation going beyond all the ethics and morals. May be that can cause people s indifference nature to be blessed with real rise. A rise that we never experienced before. No facts and figures of anything, let alone about COVID 19 are respected by the govt today. Consequence is increase number of COVID deaths. Rajaakshes have no hearts about srilankens, but their family circles. Latter is becoming clear hour by hour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7wixJFmeak

  • 30
    4

    Banda’s language policy started the intercommunal strife which led to the disastrous civil war.
    Now the military machine which is called ‘government’ in Sri Lanka is trying to exclude the minorities from democratic rights and privileges.

    • 9
      5

      J
      The problem goes a long way back.
      It was elitist and business rivalry at the root of it.
      There was an anti-Malayali campaign in the 1930s driven by AEG.
      Also “Sinhala Only” was proposed in the State Council.
      You may know who was behind riots in 1958, 1977, and 1983 among others.
      But the FP/TNA went behind the very same villains.

      • 3
        1

        The problem may go back long but the problem remains and problem worsened is real. There is no difference between UNP and SLFP both came from same gene. The answer to who was behind those riots is Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism which is the mantra of both Richest political families served for their British masters. Sinhala only, Buddhist only policy belongs to both richest Family.

      • 3
        1

        SJ

        “You may know who was behind riots in 1958, 1977, and 1983 among others.
        But the FP/TNA went behind the very same villains.”

        The Bandaranaike–Chelvanayakam Pact was signed by Ranil Wickremesinghe and Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam in 1957.

  • 5
    31

    Amir Ali “Reconciliation with minorities cannot be postponed any longer”. What does “Reconciliation” mean here? Oxford dictionary gives it as “An end to a disagreement or conflict with somebody and the start of a good relationship again”. Do we have any loss of relationship with somebody? “Reconciliation” is a word we should get rid of as far as present-day Sri Lanka is concerned. Keeping it forever would be bread and butter for some Tamil politicians.

    • 16
      1

      E
      There has been an armed conflict. Many have died. Many are disabled for life. Much property has been lost.
      The wounds are still sore. There is bitterness, however small.
      There is need to heal.
      That demands sensitivity on all sides in dealing with others.
      However, a government has a bigger responsibility.
      Let us be more positive and get out of this blame game.

  • 4
    31

    Only sustainable solution is to divide the island into 3 mono-ethnic nations equitably and relocating people based on ethnicity. Anything else will lead to more bloodshed, HR violations and same old disasters.

    • 16
      10

      Gatam, the worst racism is Muslim claim to eastern province. How can descendants of those who went there as refugees claim land above those who are original people of the land. On the other hand Muslims through fear will never claim an inch of land populated by Sinhalese. What happened to Rishard Badiudin when he tried to appropriate lands in Puttalam district to settle Muslims, should be a proof Muslim inability. What makes you think that Tamils will forever be powerless, for Muslims to commit atrocities in east and parts of north.This is why European nations have raised concerns about behaviour of Muslim immigrants.

      • 4
        15

        Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam,
        You are right.
        Descendants of refugees who were settled in the East by King Senerath after they were saved from persecution by Portuguese as well as descendants of laborers brought by Portuguese and Dutch from Hindusthan to Yapanaya have no right to claim land in North East of the country as their land because Sinhalayo are the original people who lived in that area and developed the area building massive irrigation systems. All the historical and archeological evidences from North East provide proof that Sinhalayo lived in that area.
        —–
        “How can descendants of those who went there as refugees claim land above those who are original people of the land.”

        • 16
          0

          Eagle,
          “Descendants of refugees who were settled in the East by King Senerath after they were saved from persecution by Portuguese as well as descendants of laborers brought by Portuguese”
          No, no, please don’t write this in CT. Go and use these brilliant arguments of yours in Geneva and Washington. That should convince them finally that you lot are a bunch of nitwits, and will surely put the final nail in your coffin. You are simply doing the diaspora’s work for them.

          • 4
            1

            OC
            You cannot denounce EE’s bigotry without touching on the bit of bigotry that triggered it.
            I wonder why CT encourages such racist crap.

            • 3
              1

              S.J,
              I suppose if Eagle didn’t exist, he would have to be invented.

              • 0
                0

                S.J,
                We know Dr. G actually exists. No need to invent him.

      • 8
        9

        Dr. Gnana S.

        1. When, Where and How did the Muslims make a claim to the eastern province? Are you
        referring to the REFUSAL of the Muslims to surrender to the Tamil Terrorists and Thwart
        their Evil Plan to Create Ealam?

        2. When and Where exactly did Rishard Badiudin tried to appropriate lands in Puttalam
        district to settle Muslims?

        3. From where were the Muslims that Rishard Badidudin tried to settle? Were they landless
        people? If so, how did they become landless?

        4. Sure, Tamils had power, the Terrorists among them that is, from about the mid 1980s till
        they were routed in 2009. They used this power, among other things, to drive out All the
        Muslims in the North in 1990, at a few hours’ notice, with just the clothes they were
        wearing and those Muslims and their off-springs are still refugees, after 3 decades, in the
        rest of the country.

        5. Can you provide details of the “atrocities” committed by the Muslims in the “east and
        parts of north” with evidence and sources?

        • 9
          5

          Muhandiram, please write in your real name without being a coward distorting the truth.
          You are a typical Islamic bigot, who refuses to accept atrocities committed by Muslims.
          1. Muslim politicians like Athaulla, Hisbulla, Ameer Ali etc have been saying that Muslims are the majority in eastern province, Muslims must rule it. You can only rule a land it it belongs to you. Even after years of murder and ethnic cleansing of Tamils by Sinhalese and Muslims and settlement of large amount of Sinhalese in state sponsored colonization schemes, still Tamils are the majority in eastern province. If creating Eelam is evil plan, what about creation of Pakistan from Hindu land. Muslims will receive divine retribution for the crimes they committed on Tamils in time to come.
          2 Ask Sinhalese about what Rishard Badiudin did and how they stopped it.
          3. Muslims have become landless because of population explosion. This is major political issue and if Muslims do not control their birth rate, Sinhalese are going to act.

          • 8
            6

            4. Tamils never had genuine power. Just because some youths had guns, does not mean that they had power. Driving out of Muslims was not correct, but Sinhalese and Muslims have also driven out Tamils. After every riots, Tamils were driven out of their lands by Sinhalese, which Muslim politicians approved. Muslims were driven out only in 1990, but from 1985, Muslims had committed murder and ethnic cleansing of Tamils in eastern province. After Easter bombing, it has been revealed that Muslim informants were funded by successive governments. They were giving information about LTTE activity and after repeated warnings not to do so, that LTTE expelled Muslims. In east, after repeated pleading and warning to stop killing Tamils, that LTTE carried out Katankudy massacre. Strangely after that killing of Tamils by Muslims stopped, After expelling Muslims, none of their properties have been appropriated by Tamils, unlike in east where Muslims have done so. Most of the Muslims expelled from north have returned while none of Tamils expelled by Muslims in east have been allowed to return.

            • 9
              6

              5. Several human rights organisations like JTHR and NESOHR have documented in detail about atrocities committed by Muslims in east. There had been several articles about it in Colombo Telegraph. Please refer to them. Hisbullah has openly crowed about demolishing Hindu temple in Ottamavadi and putting up shops and giving them to Muslims. Hindu temple in Sammanthurai was demolished and Mosque built over it. Do not try to cover up atrocities by Muslims by feigning ignorance.
              Please remember that following Easter bombing, it was restraint shown by Catholics that prevented a massacre of Muslims, and this tolerance will not last long, especially when Muslims guilty of giving financial and logistical support to the bombers are walking free due to action of corrupt Sinhala politicians and officials.

              • 8
                0

                Its nice to see more and more people discussing muslim involvement in sri lankas violent history. How they collaborated with sinhala governments since the 1950s to destroy tamils.
                Because almost all the discussion over the islands violent history has focused on the LTTE or the sinhala government. Muslims managed to play the victim and slip under the radar until the easter bombings. Some of them claim it was self defence but sorry that does not fly. When you are attacked by sinhala buddhist mobs, you dont attack tamil churches and then claim it was ‘self defence’.
                I myself have heard from up country tamils who said they identified muslims among the sinhalese mobs during the 1983 riots.
                I heard from a tamil who lives in colombo who told me that a muslim let it slip from his mouth way back in the 1950s, that muslims should support anti-tamil violence, as they can displace tamils, then take their land and businesses.
                I have personally spoken to a pakistani muslim from london who praised lankan muslim migrants in the UK who he claimed were working hard to spread islam there.
                Dr Abdul khan who helped build pakistans military power, once praised his ‘lankan muslim brothers’ who helped him smuggle all sorts of materials into pakistan to build their military.

              • 7
                0

                Another smoking gun was all the military equipment found in muslim homes and mosques during police raids after the easter bombings.
                My intuition told me it was stuff given to them way back in the 1980s when they formed the ‘homeguards’ and carried out attacks on tamil civilians in the NE. The racist retired soldier shamal perera confirmed my suspicions by admitting it himself some time back! He said the armed forces helped create illegal group of muslim mercenaries so they could send them forward to do alot of their dirty work in the NE.
                The discovery of these weapons and military uniforms after the easter incident was quickly hushed up by the media and government.

          • 2
            6

            Gnana.

            “You can only rule a land it it belongs to you”

            Very correct. The entire land of Sri Lanka belongs to the sinhalayas (Possibly with the exception of Jaffna Peninsular). While Muslims are the majority in Trinco and Ampara, 78% of the ampara district and 67% of Trinco are sinhala areas. Tamils are a majority in Batti only. You talk of state sponsored colonisation by the sinhalese, it may be state sponsored colonisation for you Tamils but for us Sinhalese , it is getting our purana land back. This is no different to the blacks moving in to farms etc owned by whites in South Africa.
            Creating an eelam in Sri lanka is an evil plan , you can create an eelam in Tamil Nadu. India will allow this for sure. You talk of Muslims receiving divinie tribute, in time to come, no they don’t as long as they keep good relations with the sinhal and not spread extremism. With whatever that happened to the Muslims in Aluthgama etc there is no hatred of muslims by the sinhalese but there is when it comes to Tamils. You dreams of owning an inch of East is only a dream.

            • 5
              3

              Ravi Perera the converted Chingkallam speaking Thamizh from a rotten pear grove in Thamizh Nadu South India. We all know that many or these recently converted Chingkallam speaking Thamizh who were imported into the island during the Portuguese and Dutch era are now the biggest anti Thamizh racists, as they need to prove to the original Chingkallams what good Chingkallams they are . You Eagle thaatha and many others here are good examples. Now let us come to your argument. Even until 1970 other than coastal Amparai from Kalmunai to Samanthurai. All other areas in the east had a Thamizh majority. Trincomallee had a more than 70% Thamizh majority and had two Thamizh members of parliament were returned from Trincomalee and one Thullkan. No Chingkallams until that anti Thamizh Sirimamavo whose great grand father signed the Kandyan convention in Thamizh as Ravathai( the original Thamizh name now Chingkalized to Ratwatte) , started to dump thousands of out so area Chingkallam ,into ethnically cleansed Thamizh lands in Trincomallee . Her education Minister was that other fake Arab Thullukan , who started the standardization scheme to deny more qualified Thamizh higher education. He also used this opportunity and his position of not only denying Thamizh higher education but to ethnically cleans and marginalize Thamizh in the Amparai and Trincomallee areas to deliberately convert all these to Islamic areas.

              • 3
                3

                It was from his time that the marginalization of and ethnic cleansing of Thamizh especially in the east earnestly began by both Chingkallams and these South Indian refugee Thullukans. Even upto 1950 Chingkallams were not eve 4% of the east now 23% and the state now declaring large tracts of forest and agricultural/grazing lands taken from Thamizh and Thamizh Muslim villages as lands belonging to Chingkallams. Very soon they will declare the entire east as Chingkallam as they think the can do it and get away with it .
                You are here to deliberately create mischief between the Thamizh and Muslim Thamizh in the east and then use it to steal the east for the Chingkallams , whilst southern Thullkans like Muhandiranm want to run behind the Chingkallams and with their support, steal the Thamizh east and if possible the north for their fake Arab converted immigrant Dravidian Thamizh refugee community from South India, who only arrived in the east a few centuries ago begging for refuge from the Thamizh.

                • 3
                  3

                  . Everthing about the east its ancient history, rulers and is Thamizh Hindu or at times Thamizh Buddhist. At times parts of the east came under the loose control of the Chingkalla/Thamizh kings of Kandy, whom the eastern Thamizh considered to be a Thamizh Hindu, that they really were, but there is no dispute about the Thamizhness of the east. This is why the Portuguese, then the Dutch, later the British and even the 1987 Indo Sri Lankan accord declared the east as the homeland of the Eezham Thamizh. The vast majority of the Thamizh population in the east, especially south of Trincomalee are Thamizhed Vedda who have been in this land for more than 20000 years and now these recent arrivals with the aid of a racist Chingkalla state are telling these land does not belong to majority Hindu Thamizh Veddah and Mukkuvas, who again have been there for thousands of years but to recently arrived Chingkallams and converted South Indian origin Muslim Thyamizh Thulluka refugees and declaring large parts of Thamizh land as Chingkalla and Thulluka land. We will soo how long this genocidal dance will last. India and the west should now have realized their folly by overtly and covertly siding with the Chingkallams to defeat the LTTE.

                  • 3
                    3

                    The Rajapakses promised lots of things, that once LTTE is defeated, federalism and justice to Thamizh will be granted and as usual failed to deliver but deliberately invited the Chinese and Russians to counter the west and see the result. The Chingkallams have always done this from ancient times. Now the These highly radicalized fake Arab South Indian converted Thamizh Thullkans, especially in the east who have been brainwashed by their elite and religious leaders to think that they are some sort of Arabs, think now is the best time to steal the ancient Hindu Thamizh east, to set up a fake Arab Islamic Salafis/Wahhabi state and become thorn in the region. If the west and India support this nonsense for this converted Thamizh Muslims from South India, They are only inviting more trouble . These people who are ethnically Thamizh only arrived here as refugees a few centuries ago and were given land and Thamizh Hindu women for wives to settle down by the local Thamizh chiefs now want to steal the lands of the original inhabitants who took pity on them as fellow Thamizh, all in the name of Islam.
                    India and the west should now have realized their folly by overtly and covertly siding with the Chingkallams to defeat the LTTE.

                    • 1
                      2

                      “The Rajapakse promised lots of things, that once LTTE is defeated, federalism”
                      Rajapaksa never promised to give federaliasm. infact under pressure he said 13 plus. Wether it is Rajapaksa or any passa, no sinhala leader will be able to grant federalism or even the 13th amendment.

                      “eliberately invited the Chinese and Russians to counter the west and see the result. The Chingkallams have always done this from ancient times”

                      There is a tinge of sadness in you. Sinhalayas have and always will do similar things when dealing with big powers. (Unlike facing the big talking tamils)

                    • 0
                      1

                      “ancient history of the east is Tamil and the only people who were imported from South India by the Portuguese and then the Dutch are the ancestors of the so called Chingkalla Karawa, Salagama, Durawa, Hunu etc who now make up around half the present day Chingkallams”

                      You are showing your ignorance here Kutti,Those sinhala castes your refering to make up only about 8% of the total sinhala population. They have added a lot of color to the sinhala community. They are malayalee origins, learnt sinhala and well and truly integrated into the sinhala community. The boat people from Tamil Nadu ended up in East, Vanni and some in the peninsula as well.

                      Those tamil names you are refering to in the Maps are what the Tamil surveyors changed into from the original sinhala names. What do I gain by lieing to some one like you. I am a privileged citizen in this country and not a second class citizen.
                      Wether it is low caste or high caste Tamil is a tamil. His caste does not make a difference when it comes to his qualities or….

                  • 1
                    3

                    “Everthing about the east its ancient history, rulers and is Thamizh Hindu or at times Thamizh Buddhist.”

                    Everything about East was and is Sinhala. Initially it was part of Ruuhuna kingdom later part of kandyan kingdom. Tamil and Muslim areas of the east are restrcited to a 10 miles from the coast, vast majority of the east (Interior) was and is sinhala and will always be sinhala. No protugees and Dutch or the british or even India declalred East as tamil homeland. Tamil homeland is in Tamil Nadu. If any of them declared part of Sinhale as a Tamil homeland they should have carved out atleast a federal state. In the Indo Lanka accord where JR J had to sign under pressure East is considered an area of historic tamil habitation along with other communities. So, once agin you are lieing. Inspite of you Tamils lieing you have not got anywhere. The Tamils in the east are the people who were brought here to work in Tobacco plantations by dutch.
                    Why would India and th west regret about supporting snhalese. West does not care a damn for you tamils and they will support a regime where they could further their interests. After kiliing Rajiv Gandhi India will never go beyond a certain limit when it comes to supporting Tamils.

                    • 2
                      1

                      Keep on lying rotten pear. There are no tobacco plantations in the east and the ancient history of the east is Tamil and the only people who were imported from South India by the Portuguese and then the Dutch are the ancestors of the so called Chingkalla Karawa, Salagama, Durawa, Hunu etc who now make up around half the present day Chingkallams. They were imported to do menial and service work and were settled along the western and southern littorals . You are one of them. A few thousand low castes were settled in the north to work as indentured labour to the Vellalar landlords in their tobacco plantations and they ultimately got assimilated into the Nalavar caste. Stop lying. Amparai is was Tamil before 1950s and the original name for Galoya is Pattipalai Aru. Go read all the maps of the north and east prior to 1948 and every place , river and hill has a Thamizh name, Nothing Chingkallam. To increase the Chingkalla population in Amparai and in the east the government deliberately made Lahugala that was part of the Uva province as part of Amparai district in the east.

              • 0
                3

                Pandi, you call me a Tamil who converted to a Sinhalese. As far as I know all my relations /ancestors (Except for a few Burgurs) have all been sinhala. The characteristics and the looks of my ancestors are very different to the Tamils.
                Now the people imported during protugees and dutch areas you are refering to are the tamils who live in East today. There were Malayalees too who came during that time , unlike the tamils they have made a good contribution to the sinhala community. They have married and integrated well into the sinhala society and are playing a pivotol role in the fight against the Tamils.

                “Even until 1970 other than coastal Amparai from Kalmunai to Samanthurai”
                Absolute lie. 78% of Ampara was always sihala majority and it is in these areas that more sinhalayas were settled. (Gal Oya). Vast tracks of Trinco interior was and is Sinhla areas and more peope where settled in these purana villages. It is the suddas who commited a crime by taking large tracks of sparsely populated sinhala villages and annexing them with muslim and tamil (which were relatively thickly populated) areas to craete an illusion.
                When protugees came the Tamil kingdom was restricted to an area smaller than Todays Northern Province.

            • 5
              0

              If you want to compare sri lanka to south africa you got it wrong.
              Tamils are not equivalent to white colonialists. As you know both lands were ruled by the white man.
              In south africa the first nations people are the khoisan and are equivalent to the veddha of sri lanka.
              Several bantu tribes arrived from the congo region and displaced the khoisan.
              They have been involved in power struggles over post-apartheid south africa as one tribe wants to rule it all and undermine all the others.
              There are alot of tensions over there between zulus, xhosa, khoisan etc.
              This is akin to sinhala vs tamil problem in sri lanka

              • 0
                2

                Tamils certainly are not like the whites of South Africa, you and I know that.
                Creation of present day provincial boundries happened to the detriment of the sinhalese, where large tracks of sparesly populated sinhalese lands were annexed with relatively thickly populated Tamil areas to create an illusion called the eastern province

          • 5
            4

            Gnana S

            You want me to change my name???? Just who do you think you are? What sort of a BS is this coming from one who calls himself a Dr.? Obviously, you are one of those Tamils who insist that we should call ourselves ‘Tamils’ and not Muslims. Get a life man.

            1. So, what some Muslim politicians have allegedly said that since Muslims are the
            majority in the eastern province, they must rule it, becomes a “claim” by the Muslims
            to the eastern province! How silly. And what a funny logic from a Tamil Doctor!! The
            Tamils claiming the North and East to be theirs using the same logic and Plunging the
            country into a Bloody War for almost 3 decades is PERFECTLY alright. But a Muslim
            Cannot even make a statement using the same logic!!!

            2. I asked you because of what you said. It is for you to prove what you say. If you can’t,
            you must have the decency to admit your inability instead of wasting our time.

            3. What Rubbish. Do you know that the former LTTE commander of the East, Karikalan,
            has stated that Muslims had no land rights in the Eastern Province?

            • 4
              3

              Contd.

              Gnana S

              4. How RIDICULOUS, DISGUSTING and DISGUSTING is the claim that “…..but from 1985,
              Muslims had committed murder and ethnic cleansing of Tamils in eastern
              province.” How could the Muslims even think of doing any harm to the Tamils after
              1985, when the fully armed Tamil Terror groups were virtually in control of the East,
              and more so, after the Police Stations in the East surrendered to the LTTE on the
              orders of President R. Premadasa, and did surrender on June 11, 1990?

              Fact is, in the 3 Districts in the Eastern Province, Muslims suffered almost 15,000
              incidents of Land Grabbing by the Tamils totaling close to 63,000 Acres of land. But,
              the Tamil Terrorist Propaganda Machinery is in full swing trying to make the
              victims the Offenders and vice versa.

              5. In view of 4 above, the reports of the so called “human rights organisations like
              JTHR and NESOHR” are obviously very much FLAWED and NOT worth the Paper on
              which they are written.

              • 4
                2

                CORRECTION

                Sorry, the word “DISGUSTING” repeated. It should read under 4:

                How RIDICULOUS, DISGUSTING and DIABOLICAL.

        • 7
          5

          You are a typical southern fake Arab, South Indian origin converted Thullukan, who is an Islamic fanatic and worship anything remotely connected to Arabs and Arab culture and want the island’s Thamizh Muslims to discard/disown their Thamizh ethnicity and Thamizh Islamic practices and become pathetic carbon clones of the Gulf Arabs and fight with their fellow non Muslim Thamizh in the name of Islam and Arabism. Especially in the Thamizh areas and take over Eeham Thamizh lands with help of the Chingkallams. However run behind Chingkallams down south, even if they kick you to have good life. Listen whoever you are being a Muslim and Islam means automatically does not mean you are some sort of Arab and have hate your own ethnicity and culture. Most of the world’s Muslims are not Arab and largely live in the Indian subcontinent and Indonesia and they are proud of their ethnicity and culture. Only low caste converts to Islam want to badly become Arab wannabes. Even your fellow Thamizh Muslims in South India, from whom the Sri Lankan Muslims originate are proud to be Thamizh and identify themselves as Thamizh.

          • 5
            4

            These converted Dravidian South Indian origin, Thullukans from the time of independence, have been aiding and abetting the Cjhingkallams in the name of Islam and a fake Arab origin, to discriminate marginalize, ethnically cleanse and commit war crimes on the Thamizh. They were happily ethnically cleansing Thamizh and destroying Hindu temples in the east and then were going to start this in the north and the LTTE found out in time and took action. Their aim was to take over ancient Thamizh Hindu lands in the north and east, with the help of the Chingkallams to create a fake Arab Salafist/Wahhabi Islamic land for their converted fake Arab immigrant community from South India. 72% if them live in the Chingkalla south and only 28% of them in Thamizh areas where they share a common language and ethnicity. Yet this Islamic homeland that will later become a thorn in the region for India was to be solely in Thamizh areas. They were being the aggressors and were playing the victim, very successfully until they got caught in the Easter bombings. Their politicians were trying to achieve this by settling out of area and even foreign Muslims in the Wilpattu corridor Mannar and the Vanni in the north and many parts in the east Everyone known about this. Yet this man still wants to come here and play victim.

          • 1
            0

            Pandi kutti,
            The caste system is not something to be proud of.

            • 3
              2

              No it is not. However stating the truth and their real origin to people who go around falesely trumpeting that they are descendants of Arab traders who came to the island and South India, therefore superior in every way to the Tamils that is disgusting, when in reality the vast majority of them are descended from low caste or untouchable Tamils from South India, who converted to Islam and if there is any Arab or anything else in them it is minimal and largely came from the wrong side of the bed. These Arab traders generally would have been married to their first cousins and their legal wife and children would have been left in their homeland. They would have had comfort women at every port that they visited and these would not have been their wives and would have come from largely low caste Tamil women. This is the truth. So why pretend you are something else and claim superiority. What makes them think that an Arab is superior to an Indian or a Tamil that they really are? Shows their brainwashed warped way of thinking and their inferiority complex. I must admit the caste system has never affected me , as I am from a upper Vellalar Protestant Christian family from Vadukoddai/Araly region.

      • 0
        2

        Dr.G.S, Word muslim gives a picture of race, ethnicity, clothes, beard, body scars, a totally unique human being, whose religion leads to the Mecca Kaaba in Saudi Arabia. Other religions include many nationalities, buddhism being in south east Asia, Japan and China. Why do Sri Lankan buddhists feel threatened and are fearful. Under the present state in our nation, I would not be proud to even be called a buddhist. As I understand end time events where NASA has confirmed the coming of an asteroid Apophis to destroy part of the planet in 2029, and the support of communist east for Iran’s nuclear programmes against the west, and the final war to divide Jerusalem to give a part of it to the muslim world, world war 3 and Armageddon are possibilities now for silk road armies.

        • 0
          0

          David,
          “As I understand end time events where NASA has confirmed the coming of an asteroid Apophis to destroy part of the planet in 2029, “
          Really? Is it for real this time? How many cans of sardines should I stock up? I have a lot of rotten sardines from each of the 627 times the world ended in the last 40 years.

          • 0
            0

            old codger, NASA confirmed Apophis headed in this direction, but later I understand that with today’s technology and artificial intelligence, it may be possible to obstruct or deviate it for less destruction. World is not going to end anyway, but a new kingdom age will dawn when a war begins to divide Jerusalem and nations gather for it. Reason is that resurrected Jesus is coming back to defend his city over which he will reign. He is not coming to a moslem city. The open portal over Jerusalem is believed to be the same as in the garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve walked and talked with God before sinning by listening to the devil. Proof of faith when it happens is bread and wine.

    • 16
      0

      Why can’t we make a system where everyone is equal …….and respect each of their culture,after all we all human,we lived side by side we earned respect,but now……..we have to get from Bangladesh

      • 5
        4

        “Why can’t we make a system where everyone is equal”
        C, are you a red by any chance?

    • 19
      0

      GATAM,
      .
      Readers don’t like being insulted like this. How many times have you copied this from your HDD, and pasted it?
      .
      Lost count?

      • 7
        0

        Sinhala Man please pardon those ignorant who are incapable of providing anything different/ more.

    • 1
      4

      Two.
      Muslims are Tamils who practise Islam.
      Division to be based on language.

      Soma

  • 29
    3

    IT will be difficult for Sinhala politics to move out of the Mahavamsa mud hole. There is nothing left for the present lot of Sinhala politicians if they get out of that mud hole. The “Maha” Sangha will not allow that to happen. For seventy years since independence that has been the situation. It will not change. Now, the army has been brought into the equation. The “Maha” Viru will not allow changes. The way out for the Tamils and the Muslims is to look to themselves and develop the economy of their areas. Both have powerful diasporas to look to to achieve this except that there will be continuous Sinhala interference out os jealousy, which is another feature of their dog in the manger policy. One day a Sinhala leader will emerge to lead the sinhala people to light. Then, they will crawl out of the mud hole, wipe the shit off themselves, and look to the progress of the country.

    • 4
      16

      Cicero,
      Guys who do not have a history in Sinhale>Ceylon>Sri Lanka are jealous of Mahawansa and try to ridicule that document. Only Chinese and Sinhalayo have this kind of documents in the world. G.G. Ponnambalam started this in 1939. Sinhala politics do not have to move out of Mahawansa that contains the heritage of Sinhala Buddhists running into more than 2000 years.
      It is Tamil politicians who have to move out of the ‘Imaginary History’ that runs into more than 3000 years.
      —-
      “IT will be difficult for Sinhala politics to move out of the Mahavamsa mud hole.”

      • 16
        1

        Eagle,
        “Guys who do not have a history in Sinhale>Ceylon>Sri Lanka are jealous of Mahawansa and try to ridicule that document”
        Didn’t the Mahavamsa have instructions on how to make a bullock cart? Is that why the Portuguese had to show Sinhalayo how to do it, and also how to plant manioc?

  • 30
    3

    “GR, in fear of an open revolt from his backyard, had no option but to cancel the invitation and postpone the meeting indefinitely. “
    So much for the “strong leader” voted in by the 6.9 million gullibles. The would-be Hitler is clearly turning out to be a sheep in wolf’s clothing. This intellectual dwarf is now afraid of his own shadow. I can’t say whether he is even aware of the consequences of his kindergarten decision-making on things like the fertilizer ban. The fuel price hike is finally a good decision, but again, why pretend that is Gammanpila’s? The man still seems to want to give the impression that we can keep on spending money we don’t have. The release of Shani Abeysekera is a sign that the pressure from the UNHRC and the EU is working . The arrogant a…holes in this regime are finally learning that there are problems even China can’t help them with.

    • 28
      2

      What can be more stupid than annoying your closest neighbour and pissing off your biggest export customers?
      This caving in to foreign pressure is a slap in the face to those “patriots” who rode their high horse of “sovereignty” during the UNHRC sessions. These characters live in a surreal world where sovereignty can justify anything, and an alleged 2500 years of civilization excuses outright murder.
      Do they not realize how inanely tribal their arguments sound in places like Geneva or Washington?
      It’s still too early to tell which way the regime is turning. Perhaps we can , when and if Ratnayaka the child killing Ranaviruwa is thrown back in jail, and Dr.Shafi is released.

      • 5
        8

        Sometimes the neighbour can be very hard to please (like Cuba’s neighbour).
        *
        If our closest neighbour learns a little diplomacy it could help.
        Do you remember the names Dixit and Shivshankar Menon?
        Goplalkrishna Gandhi was a very civilized and competent diplomat, and lucky too to be here in less troubled times..

        • 1
          0

          SJ,
          Well, finally it seems that someone has thought of an innovative solution to the Indian trawler problem by dumping old buses on our side. Nobody can object to that, since non-trawler fishermen aren’t affected.

          • 0
            1

            OC
            What the corroding metal will do to marine life is not our concern I guess.
            We may have fish rich in minerals.

    • 3
      2

      OC
      Sometimes avoiding publicity for meetings until the deck is clear helps.
      *
      Mrs Thatcher and IRA were negotiating behind the backs of a hostile group of Unionists.
      Much progress was in sight by the time Ian Paisly stared his tantrums.
      The media acted responsibly.

      • 8
        0

        S.J,
        A responsible Sri Lankan media? Isn’t that an oxymoron?

        • 6
          1

          S.J,
          I am surprised that (so far) Dr. Ameer Ali has not been criticized for being a Muslim.

          • 2
            1

            OC
            He has been on occasion when he spoke up for the Muslims.
            *
            The tragedy is that every racist here expects that a person is duty bound to defend (desirably, praise however untruthfully) his/her own community.
            The ‘traitor’ they say is worse than an enemy.

    • 11
      0

      Thanks, Dr. Ameer Ali, for yet another piece of excellent writing.
      .
      PART ONE
      .
      How pathetic Gota sounds! His latest “speech” starts at 30 seconds in this 2 minute Sinhala video.
      .
      https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/06/18/video-president-says-inaccurate-data-on-covid-deaths-forced-extension-of-restrictions/
      .
      Our need now is not regime change, but living peacefully. Sounds naïve; this military “intellectual dwarf” must be replaced by people who know the realities of politics. A non-politician like me will continue to repose faith in the JVP-led NPP Grouping (JJB in Sinhalese; Tamil?).
      .
      Imagining that we can easily change regime is unrealistic. They could turn ever-nastier towards individuals like oc and me. Old codger’s safety lies in nobody knowing his identity – not me, anyway, but he seems an intelligent and cultured Sinhalese agnostic. His matchless comments wield influence on this site, but we know that the limited readership here is insufficient to bring about regime change, although influencing some people who matter.
      .
      For my safety I force everybody to know who I am, so that if I’m white-vanned, it can’t be concealed.
      .
      The JVP’s problem is that although they have a hard core of Marxist-revolutionaries, committed grass-rootists for realistic political activity, they are almost all Sinhalese.

      • 3
        0

        Sinhala Man, JVP sinhala and diaspora tamil can reconcile as engineer Visvanathan from France (Chamuditha) with roots here has earned big money like other diaspora. Dollar money they wish to invest here has no ethnicity, and will get us out of trap of debt immediately as well as ease off EU and UNHRC sanctions. Freedom ensures votes too.

    • 8
      0

      PART TWO
      .
      A majority even of the Sinhalese still fear them because of the “mistakes” they made in 1971 and around 1989. No need to analyse that. The Blues (“kapuwath nil”) and the Greens (kapuwath kola) fellows will keep harping on that past.
      .
      Wijeweera & Co. focussed attention on holding on to Sinhalese support at the expense of support from the Tamils and the Muslims.
      .
      The NPP display of decency in nominating Dr Harini Amarasuriya as its National List MP is therefore important. It is she, a fluent speaker of English, who must take the message to “the Minorities” that what is going to be ushered in, at some time in the future, is a truly Lankan government.
      .
      The alternative to trusting the NPP is turning to an honest egotist like Nagananda Kodituwakku.
      .
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYxRNekhhTc
      .
      Dr Jeevan Hoole must get these 30 minutes in Sinhala explained to him: the usefulness of the affidavit Nagananda got from him a month ago. Ends in anti-climax.
      .
      What did Sepal Amerasinghe suggest before the parliamentary election?
      .
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H_YVt4BsNU&list=UU58y6NhWQ_IkAUJdYqtmtQg&index=166

      Boycotting elections!
      .
      Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 483111444V) aka “Sinhala_Man”

      • 11
        0

        S.M,

        .
        A majority even of the Sinhalese still fear them because of the “mistakes” they made in 1971 and around 1989. No need to analyse that. The Blues (“kapuwath nil”) and the Greens (kapuwath kola) fellows will keep harping on that past.”
        True, but I can’t understand why this memory is so selective. Surely the other two have done even more damage (even if in small doses)? Whatever the JVP did was a reaction to that, just like what the LTTE did.
        BTW, I don’t think I’m important enough to get white-vanned. A wheelbarrow, maybe.
        .

    • 2
      1

      Old Codger, China can’t help in UNHRC and EU pressure but I heard yesterday’s Chamuditha interview of engineer Visvanathan from France who still has family connections here and willing to invest thru diaspora in Port city or elsewhere. If I were prez, I would rush allow and pay off country debts fast and then face any music afterwards. Selling or transferring Fort properties will bring in an orchestra of hate music. Choose a lesser evil than know it all.

  • 17
    10

    I can understand the continued stupidity of TNA. Fools.

    The idiot Tamils have been continuously outfoxed in every way by the Modayas from day one.

    Have TNA not learned from the 70 year history, more so in the last 12 years, that a home-grown solution to resolve the Tamil ethnic problems will never ever be possible, under a majoritarian Buddhist chauvinistic regimes, and no way with GR, and that a collective united Tamil voice with the Tamil Diaspora for a referendum, to demand India and the International community as the only option for a peaceful political solution?

    What does their common approach and joint statements made with other local political leaders, Civil Society and the Diaspora, to the UNHRC and to the International community mean, a bluff?

    Have TNA not realised that they are no longer the sole representatives of the Tamils in the island? Does this need to be confirmed again in the Provincial Council Elections.

    TNA is not interested in representing the Tamils, they are there to negotiate their perks with jerks.

    GR has set it up to suck TNA to the table, to make believe, so that to play the Sinhala chauvinistic card that he had rejected all bogus TNA / Tamil request / demands, to become the sole champion for Sinhala supremacy.

    Dishonest educated fools.

    • 6
      1

      Manicka Vasagar,
      You are saying that TNA is not interested in representing the Tamils. Are you?
      You represent a few diaspora, insignificant in number. Other than that you have no status among Tamils.
      Crying in the wilderness is the only contribution you can claim yours.
      .
      You may be describing yourself with your, ‘Dishonest educated fool’. Even then, I don’t know if ‘educated’ fits you.

    • 3
      9

      I understand that delimitation commission is reducing the number of seats of Jaffna district to six and transfer that seat to Gampaha district. In which case at the next election, Sumanthiran will have to commit massive fraud to get elected. This meeting was hatched in secrecy with the sole intention of distracting EU from removing GSP status painting a picture of reconciliation.
      How can one agree for a meeting without an agenda, especially on problems faced by Tamils. Hoodwinking exercise on Tamils by TNA politicians who do not want to struggle for justice.

    • 13
      2

      Yes, the govt. on its own will not give us Tamils any rights. It needs Foreign intervention — UNHCR, the EU’s GSP withdrawal, India’s insistence on 13+, the US Congress resolution, etc.

      In today’s world however outsiders cannot intervene in the affairs of a sovereign nation unless the nation is totally morally bankrupt and as bloody and murderous as our government is.

      The TNA are no fools. The role they play as a peaceable, democratic party with the backing of Tamils is this. By negotiating with the govt. taking reasonable positions, the TNA is demonstrating that this government is intent on majoritarianism and suppression of all reasonable minority rights and opposition.
      That is a necessary precursor to countries wanting democracy in Sri Lanka intervening for more freedoms for us.
      The TNA is playing a necessary role and must continue to do so. Negotiating in good faith and coming empty is part of the proof that stronger tactics are necessary with this obdurate regime. The TNA is only giving more rope for this regime to hang itself

      • 3
        4

        Jaffna Man, you are a typical frog in the well. Interference in internal affairs of a sovereign nation has been going on from time to time. Bangladesh, break up of Yugoslavia, East Timor and South Sudan are examples. See how Turkey is blatantly interfering in other countries like Libya and Iraq, and now wants to enter Afghanistan. It is well known in international circles that Sinhalese are intransigent and Sri Lanka is an oppressive state. During five years of Yahapalana rule, TNA took Tamils for a ride getting nothing in return for the support given. To say that TNA is giving rope to this regime to hang itself shows your inability to grasp things. Necessary role that TNA has to play is to stage agitations to highlight the problems, without leaving it to people who have lost lands, lost their beloved ones and suffering discrimination to do it. Any genuine Tamil politician who is fighting for the rights of Tamils, will be either in prison or six feet under.

        • 3
          0

          Any genuine Tamil politician who is fighting for the rights of Tamils, will be either in prison or six feet under
          ————
          You just explained the reason yourself right there!
          How many people are willing to end up prison or dead for speaking out for their people and their rights? Only a small minority within a community.
          All across the world this is how it is. The masses will always choose comfort over pain or even death.

    • 1
      15

      Manicka Vasagar,
      Didn’t Ranil Wickramasinghe give North East on a platter to Prabhakaran as a peaceful political solution to a non-existing ethnic problem in Sinhale. Instead of accepting that, Prabhakaran decided to grab the land belong to Sinhalayo to create a separate State and went on massacring Sinhalayo using suicide bombers, claymore bombs, AK47s and chemical weapons.
      After losing the war, now Tamils say:
      India Saranam Gachchami
      International Community Saranam Gachchami
      to get a peaceful political solution. What a joke!
      —-
      “…to demand India and the International community as the only option for a peaceful political solution”

      • 4
        1

        Eagle Blind Eye

        Wake up Kumbakarna, wake up.

    • 2
      7

      You are right.
      .
      What more can you say of TNA or shall I say ITAK politics! It has been the same since day one. What else can you expect when the so called representatives need the security of the very oppressor to meet his own people? They really have no strategy other than to suck up to the establishment, particularly India, and when everything fails claim that the Sinhalese have betrayed them again and asking the youth to sacrifice, while they run away and hide in India. I think and hope Tamil people have got a bit smarter this time to believe in their antics.
      .
      If Tamil people continue to exist, it is only through their resistance and not through diplomacy politics of TNA/ITAK. That is why Sinhalam is afraid of a Mullivaikal monument that is symbolic of Tamil resistance that they have the need to mobilize their army platoons to prevent people coming together under various pretexts than they are of Sumanthirans.

    • 4
      4

      “The idiot Tamils have been continuously outfoxed in every way by the Modayas from day one.”
      If so, how can you call them Modayas?
      Tamil leaders constantly fox themselves by isolating themselves from potential allies and going after confidence tricksters.

      • 2
        0

        “Tamil leaders constantly fox themselves by isolating themselves from potential allies and going after confidence tricksters.”

        Past and potential allies,
        Anagarika
        Mao
        Siri Mao
        Erich Honecker
        Xi Jinping‎
        Zhou Enlai
        Pol Pot
        Suharto
        Marcos
        Kim Il-sung
        Kim Jong-il
        Kim Jong-un
        Enver Hoxha
        Idi Amin
        Saddam
        Pappa Doc
        Pinochet
        Sarath Weerasekera
        Wimal Weerawansa
        Somawansa
        Sarath Fonseka
        …..
        ……
        …….
        Asgiria
        Malwattu
        Gnanasara
        …..
        …..

      • 3
        0

        SJ Thaatha you and Eagle Thaatha should dance a jig to this song

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcFVfw5e93Y

  • 3
    0

    That very crucial and politically important meeting with TNA summoned by the President would have been “Postponed Indefinitely” on the advice of the PM and the Governing party. The reasons are very many and amongst (1) This President – Nandasena Gotabhaya Rajapakse has “PROVED” to be a “NO-BRAINER” in matters of Governing and Policy Decisions. (2) The PM and other experienced politicians in the Government are well aware of the “MESS” and “MOCKERY” this fool of a President would make at a meeting with political stalwarts like Sampanthan and Sumanthiran. (3) The Governing party needs to “PLAY” and “BUY” time till the return of the “Political Maestro” – Basil Rajapakse’s arrival to make him available at the meeting to avoid the possibility of “Embarassment” that the President is certain to bring about.

    This “President” and “HIS” Government have already fallen into a deep hole in a “Cess-Pit” and all of them are “Struggling” to come out of that pit’s mouth but of no avail. Now the “PResident” looks for even a “STRAW” to hang as per the saying “The man who fell into the well even hangs on to a straw to save a life”. I doubt TNA providing that much-needed “Straw” because they know this “Daval Miguel Re Danial” (Miguel during the day and Danial during night times)- venomous reptile hidden in the “Woods of Armed Forces Comrades”.

  • 8
    1

    I want to join issue with Manicka Vasagar for the vituperative language bordering on innuendoes in describing the TNA MPs. It shows his upbringing and character. He lives in comfort in a foreign land but dares to insult those who stand on the frontline in their homeland.

    In a way Manicka Vasagar is not insulting the TNA, he is insulting the Tamil people who elected the TNA MPs.

    It is the international community that wants the TNA to talk to the GOSL. TNA does not lose anything by talking to the President of Sri Lanka. What is the alternative?

    TNA is also talking to the internal community, especially the US, India, UK and EU. The Western countries now realise that the majority Sinhala – Buddhist government treats the Tamil and Muslim minorities as second class citizens.

    While President Gotabaya has no qualms in releasing convicted army personnel on murder charges but keep hundreds of ex=LTTE cadres without trial for decades in prison.

    Nobody has a magic wand to find a solution to the national question. The TNA has succeeded in convincing the Western countries that the Rajapaksa Regime is both racist and fascist!

    • 0
      4

      “The TNA has succeeded in convincing the Western countries that the Rajapaksa Regime is both racist and fascist!”
      Are you sure?
      I thought that it was a DIY job, well done.

    • 1
      2

      Thanga, there is nothing wrong in TNA talking to government, but it should be done in a transparent manner. There should be an agenda of topics for discussion, which should be debated among members of TNA, both inside and outside parliament and a common stand taken. When Siddharthan demanded from Sambandan about agenda and the purpose of the meeting, there was no satisfactory reply. Is this the genuine way to set about in negotiations to be conducted especially about problems faced by Tamils. Western countries knew that all Sinhala regimes were racist and some fascist, but some of them were backed despite these. If Rajapakse regime ditches China and leans to the west, or if new regime favouring the west is installed,TNA will be dropped like a brick. This is the reality.

  • 8
    1

    The late Palestinian intellectual Edward Saeed said that the responsibility of the intellectual is to “Speak Truth to Power”. Prof AA is using the same device. What I mean is that neither ES nor AA imagine that a malevolent regime will dutifully listen, mull over good advice, and change its sinful ways. No of course not; this is a rhetorical style for talking to the people themselves by pointing what a regime should do (but will not). Fine, understood.

    But our needs have crossed beyond scolding, pointing out the stupidities of the past, raging about the idiocy of RR etc. We have to collectively ponder strategies for climbing out of this hell hole. What alliances should we attempt to form? What the common minimum programme to unite sufficiently large numbers without compromising too much on principles? Which leaders are at least minimally trustworthy? (The sign over the door must say “All are Welcome, but first sign up to the Programme”). As the Double-Paksa regime crumbles Lanka must move on and prepare to meet coming challenges.

    • 0
      2

      “Edward Said” I think.

      • 1
        0

        S.J,
        It’s like ” Muhammad”, “Mohamed”, Yusuf, Usuf, Joseph, etc.

  • 7
    0

    There will be no reconciliation this government as well as all previous and future government are hell bent of committing structural genocide and appropriating the land of the Eelam Tamils , with fake planted archeological evidence and twisted history. Under guise of reconciliation and talks they are just hoodwinking the world and buying time to complete their structural genocide on the Eelam Tamils, complete their colonization schemes and make the Tamils not only a minority in the east but also a minority in the north. The Sinhalese have no intention of reconciliation or providing justice to the island’s Tamil minorities( Eelam Tamil, Indian origin and Tamil Muslims/Moors) . Originally they were only targeting the Eelam and Indian origin Tamils but now have included their former allies in the Eelam Tamil genocide, the Muslims or Muslim Tamils, as they think they are a threat to them and they now do not need their help to subdue the native Eelam Tamils.

    • 7
      0

      During the COVID pandemic and travel ban a few days ago, with the blessing of the fake Archeological Department that, everyone knows is a handmaid of Sinhalese Buddhist racism, a Buddhist monk accompanied by many senior army officers and members of the racist occupying Sinhalese armed forces had erected the foundation for a Buddhist Vihara and installed a Buddha statue at the ancient sacred Hindu site of Kuroothur Malai , with a fake claim that this is an ancient Buddhist site. Even if it was what right to do this. Only evidence found is an ancient eight headed Hindu Pallava Lingham, which they are now falesely claiming as an Anuradhapura period Buddhist structure to deliberately convert this ancient Saiva Hindu site to Buddhist. What are these senior Sinhalese army offices and members of the occupied armed forces, doing there. It looks like they are solely there not for law and order but to aid and convert Tamil Hindu areas to Sinhalese Buddhist. Why are they always seen with racist extremist Sinhalese Buddhist Facists and Monks. Constantly accompanying them in Tamil areas and helping them to construct and convert ancient Hindu temples in to Buddhist This is genocide and a war crime.

      • 8
        0

        Now they want to declare 1000s of acres of Tamil land surrounding this newly converted Buddhist temple on a sacred Hindu site as temple land belonging this Buddhist temple, to evict the local Tamils and settle outside Sinhalese. They have deliberately done this during the COVID travel ban, with the help of the occupying racist Sinhalese armed forces, as the local Tamils from the surrounding villages were not able to travel and stop this act. Using fake history to convert ancient Hindu temples and Tamil Buddhist shrines to Sinhalese Buddhist in order to displace the local Tamils and settle out of area Sinhalese.
        Now they want to declare 1000s of acres of Tamil land surrounding this newly converted Buddhist temple on a sacred Hindu site as temple land belonging this Buddhist temple, to evict the local Tamils and settle outside Sinhalese. They have deliberately done this during the COVID travel ban, with the help of the occupying racist Sinhalese armed forces, as the local Tamils from the surrounding villages were not able to travel and stop this act. Using fake history to convert ancient Hindu temples and Tamil Buddhist shrines to Sinhalese Buddhist in order to displace the local Tamils and settle out of area Sinhalese.

    • 1
      4

      Siva sankaram,

      “Native Eelam Tamils”

      Your Native land is Tamil Nadu. No amount of lieing is going to get you anywhere

      • 2
        1

        Yes we all know from where the Chingkalla Karawa, Salagama, Durawa most of whom have Portuguese surnames like Rotten Pear originated from. Thamizh Nadu. Now all converted to Chingkalla Buddhist or Catholic Fascism and beating the anti Thamizh Chigkalla Aryan drum The homeless one started this and you are continuing this.

        • 0
          1

          Rubbish. Karawa, Salagama and durava have their origins in Kerala. This is shown from their rabid anti Tamil stance and their enterprising nature.

          Princess Diana has Tamil roots too ?

      • 6
        0

        RAVI PERERA
        Sinhala Speaking Demela

        “Your Native land is Tamil Nadu. No amount of lieing is going to get you anywhere”

        So is yours.
        You are a descendant of Kallathonie from South India.
        Why don’t you check your Gene, your food, clothes, religion (Buddhism also came from South India) culture ………………………….. ?

        • 0
          1

          Hi Tamil Vedda,

          How is dish washing in Toronto

      • 1
        0

        We all know that you are a card carrying Sinhalese Buddhist Fascist. All your comments ooze of anti Tamil venom. This comment about Sri Lankan Tamils should return to Tamil Nadu is hilarious, especially coming from some one like you, as your ancestors are definitely recent immigrants from Tamil Nadu. DNA has also proven that the ancestors of most of the present day Sinhalese are from South India and largely from Tamil Nadu and not the Sri Lankan Tamils.

        • 0
          0

          “as your ancestors are definitely recent immigrants from Tamil Nadu”
          Absolutely not. My looks and qualities are very different to a Tamil.

  • 2
    1

    Rajapakse family synasty is to tal filu re, The resons are:
    1. Corruption through taking commissions
    2, Aappointing friends and relations irrespective of experience and skills
    3, Political victimizations
    4, Not honoring pacts
    5, Nominating a military man as president who had no contacts with people
    6, Ethnic and Religious destination
    7. Begging China for grant
    8. selling heritgae sites

    • 0
      3

      “family synasty is to tal filu re”
      *
      siht yb desufnoc ma I

  • 3
    0

    Sinhala Man please pardon those ignorant who are incapable of providing anything different/ more.

  • 2
    0

    A very good insight by Amir Ali.

    So, for how long will we carry this falsehood to divide the nation by ethnicity or religion. What has this resulted except to go backwards while poorer countries by adopting an open policy have gone forward. This is the benefit of promoting diversity to be inclusive for all. do we need any more lessons ?

    It is time that that our so-called leaders realized that brain washing the majority and depriving the minority cannot for work for ever. The very same Sinhalese Buddhists need to question what benefit such ill conceived policies have brought to them, except to prop up the greedy politicians to power.

    We are seeing yet another dangerous trend in the surfacing of the clergy claiming rights for the election of our political leaders. Will any political leader be brave enough to tackle this malady before it goes out of hand or has it already done irreparable damage ?

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