By Vishwamithra –
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” ~ Samuel Beckett
We have been focusing mostly on the Opposition, largely on Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his party, National People’s Power (NPP). There is reason for this. AKD’s rise has been perceptible; some may have described it as meteoric; others as unbelievable. Whatever the adjective one uses, the exhibitionistic fashion the NPP has been engaging in its political campaign has in turn engaged the focus of the masses. The abject conditions of the economy, its radical relationship to the personal lives of the people at large, its grave impact on their daily lives, its negative effect on the stripping of somewhat relative luxuries enjoyed by the middleclass and the lower middleclass not yet being deterred by the stringent application of the IMF recommendations has captured our collective attention.
The effects of the IMF-recommended measures may have had a noteworthy impact on the macro economy of the country. But has it succeeded to raise the economic condition of the average man living in the remote village in the country? Have his curses and sighs been curtailed? Have his children’s yearnings been satisfied? Are his children going to have a better life than their parents? These painful questions would undoubtedly bother the villager. His daily routine has changed. It has changed for the worse. The anxiety has been doubled; his despair is killing him; his loneliness is enveloping him and threatening to throttle him to death. Yet he has to go on living; he simply cannot give up hoping for a better sunrise. His hope for a better sunset than his sunrise sees no end. The finite span of his vision cannot capture the nuances of a complex life; nor does it allow him to venture into fresh lines of thinking, let alone new action.
The whole context of polity has undergone severe change and it’s threatening to destroy all what we has collected as our memories and pathetic legacy. The IMF calculus has not been able to read these subtle facets of life of an average villager. As an unfortunate consequence of this ‘failure’ on the part of these international lending agencies, politicians whose responsibility and duty is to implement the said recommendations do not possess that specific aspect of knowledge and information to impart into the populace. The populace loses trust in the politicians. When they lose that sacred element of trust, the system breaks down and restoration of that trust is almost impossible.
That is the fundamental advantage the National People’s Power (NPP) enjoys today. Although the NPP has not been tested and tried as a governing party in the past seventy five years, that very fact is presenting itself as the sole reason why the people are being attracted towards its leaders and pronounced policies. When one adds the skills and talents of those leaders to contextualize and orate in rich vernacular, the people listen. Gathering in thousands at the NPP rallies is no accident. When the people have lost their trust in the existing leadership, they look for alternatives, not substitutes. In the last seventy five years, it was a cycle of substitution; the Senanayakes and Jayewardenes were substituted by the Bandaranaikes and Rajapaksas. The battle between the traditional right versus the traditional left continued unbroken for three quarters of a century. Little wonder that the people got utterly fed up of this maddening cycle of musical chairs.
Nevertheless, insertion of Ranil Wickremesinghe into the cycle from outside the frame of Parliament and people’s choice has taken the people, not really by surprise; but by its own logic of constitutional application. The social media has made it much simpler and faster than a decade ago for the people to assimilate the subtle and shady aspects of our constitution. The youth, the segment of our population that is most occupied and educated to navigate the social media have learnt how to absorb and spread what they receive in their own Smartphones. Ranil Wickremesinghe, instead of embracing this fast-developing technological element of society-educating methodology, decided to hurl his venomous and nasty attacks on the users of this aspect of social media. Facebook and WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter etc. have become a no-no for Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Caved in a thoroughly forgettable past and pretending to be flirting with the Western social circles, Ranil has been successful in deceiving a select crowd that he’s the answer to the fervent economic issues confronting the nation. Never at home with the masses, always happy to be amongst his close cohorts, he is continuing to be engaging in the most anti-society repressive measures that bring unspeakable sources of annoyance to the people. His psychological make up is beyond the mundane levels and coupled with an attitude pregnant with nasty vengeance and warped reasoning, Ranil proceeds to be a constant reminder of a man without a home and a happy past, present or future.
Yet to the utter sorrow of the voter, Ranil Wickremaesinghe is the Executive President and there is no way that the voter can disbar him from power. The only way in which Ranil can be ousted from that seat is through elections. The only way in which Ranil can stay on in power is to win at the elections. There is no other way that is open for Ranil. He cannot suspend the Constitution. He cannot postpone the election. He has to decide between contesting or not. In such a cruel circumstance, all indications are that he will contest.
Once that decision is made what options does he have? From what party would he contest? What coalition he would attempt to assemble? In the event he succeeds in assembling a coalition, which Party or Parties would join him? To discuss these options, in order to arrive at a reasonably accurate answer, we have to dig into the current political milieu and find out what appears as reasonable and what appears as impossible.
Options for Ranil Wickremesinghe:
1. Contest on the UNP ticket
2. Contest on a coalition between UNP and Pohottuwa ticket
3. Contest on a coalition between UNP and SJB ticket
4. Retire from politics
1. Contest on UNP ticket
It’s an easy choice to make but the results will be disastrous. The man who could not secure a single seat for the UNP at the last General Elections would be decimated if he contests as a candidate of the UNP. The old traditional UNP voters are with the Samagi Jana Balavegaya today. Not only the voters, the second tier of leadership consisting of Sajith Premadasa, Ranjit Madduma Bandara, Kabir Hashim, Eran Wickremaratne and Harsha de Silva are seriously vying to be occupying Ministerial seats if and when their leader Sajith becomes the next Executive President. So it’s no option for him to take at this juncture.
2. Contest on a coalition between UNP and Pohottuwa ticket
The proposition of the United National Party forming a coalition with the Rajapaksa-led Pohottuwa group would not be the burial of the UNP, it will be the 3-months’ Dana after the cremation. Most, if not all, of the corruption charges led against our politicians are centrally focused on the Rajapaksa family; not that the UNP could be exonerated of that sin either, but the very collapse of the economy in 2022 April/May has been sourced by many pundits to the Rajapaksa family and their close henchmen and women. In such a cruel context, to be associated even remotely with Rajapaksas and the Pohottuwa rogues cuts an easy and undeterred path to vanishing. Ranil Wickremasinghe may be a cynical practitioner and advocate of crooked politics but I still maintain that he is not stupid. Aligning oneself with the Pohottuwa is political hara-kiri although more than one hara-kiri could be easily traced to Wickremasinghe and his cohorts.
3. Contest on a coalition between UNP and SJB ticket
The most logical option available for Ranil Wickremesinghe is a pact with Samagi Jana Balavegaya led by Sajith Premadasa. For a pact with the UNP and Ranil might be a tempting proposition for Sajith, provided Sajith is promised Premiership in a Ranil-led government; yet what positions are offered to of the rest of the SJB and its second tier leadership led by Eran, Harsha, Kabir and Madduma Bandara could be a make or break point in the discussions. Even if the second tier leadership is promised heaven and moon, there is no guarantee that they would agree to a coalition government with the Ranil-led UNP. The fissure between Eran and the crowd and Ranil Wickremesinghe may have gone too deep to be mended. Furthermore, there is no surety that Sajith would agree to work under President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Moreover, Sajith and the SJB would realize that any combination with Ranil and UNP would spell certain electoral disaster when pitted against AKD and the NPP. NPP would welcome such an electoral marriage between the SJB and the UNP.
4. Retire from Politics
The fourth option seems to be the wisest decision Ranil could make at this juncture. If he were ever to retire with a modicum of dignity, Ranil should realize that there is no way out for him other than retirement. That decision might depress his close cohorts such as Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Sagala Ratnayake and Vajira Abeywardana, but politics is a cruel enterprise in which one has to make hard and ruthless decisions.
Ranil may have succeeded in stabilizing the country’s free falling economy. He may have applied some breaks to that free fall. Nevertheless, the fall does not seem to have halted. The acceleration of the fall is certainly slowed down. But the hardships undergone by the rural villager, both in the South and North, has not been checked at all. Ranil’s retirement, of course, would be a bit of sweet news to all those who have expressed their total departure from the status quo.
*The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com
nimal fernando / January 25, 2024
“Ranil may have succeeded in stabilizing the country’s free falling economy. He may have applied some breaks to that free fall.”
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Wishful thinking of the economic-ignorant ……. every one before Ranil had to pay back our loans (principal + interest …….. even Cabrral paid out $500 million a few days before the country was declared bankrupt.) Ranil has a luxury no one else had – that no journo talks about – and comes out looking like an economic wizard.
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Ever heard of Capitalized interest ……… Capitalized interest is the unpaid amount of interest that is added to the principal balance of a loan. ……….. Do ye believe Ranil has some magic for that? :))
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Ranil is a cornered jackal …….. the hounds are closing in.
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Fox hunting used to be only for the blue bloods …….. now within reach of the Lankan common man …… they smell blood ……..
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Nathan / January 26, 2024
nimal fernando,
You keep hammering Ranil at every opportunity, and deservedly so.
But, that causes no ripples. Does that mean you are blue blooded as well!
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nimal fernando / January 26, 2024
This is a man a president of a country is paying homage to …….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qCP8LK5rDg
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Is there any hope for the country? :)))
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Sandy Dee / January 27, 2024
Vishwamithra, Fourth option wd be best, both for him and SL but knowing the man’s track record of hanging on come hail or sunshine, that’s a “not-happening” scenario . With option 3, if the SJB does decide to open the door to him, why shd SP settle for PM? He shd be Prez – which he has promised to abolish, and then PM. RW can be given an “advisor” position and kicked upstairs to some dusty room.
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Tony / January 25, 2024
Retirement or Retirement from politics.
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Ruchira / January 25, 2024
“The IMF calculus has not been able to read these subtle facets of life of an average villager.”
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Are they ever a concern of the likes of the IMF or other lending institutes or the economy in general, the success of which usually is measured by macroeconomic indicators rather than the quality of life of the average rural villagers? For whom there is the social safety net, in the form of Aswaduma in Sri Lanka, if there’s anything at all.
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Ajith / January 25, 2024
If RW ignores SLPP or Rajapaksa family that is the end for him. There is a reason for Rajapaksas allowed their MPs to vote for all the draconian laws and bills to suppress the voice of the people. Rajapaksas knows very well about Ranil Wickremasingha and his weaknesses. Why has he not taken any attempt to bring Rajapaksas under the law? We should know during the presidential and parliamentary elections he supported Rajapaksas, not Sajith? The fact is Ranil always protect Rajapaksas and Rajapaksas protect Ranil.
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Ruchira / January 25, 2024
Isn’t it ironic that the very person who professes to create a “Smart Country” in which the citizens are expected to harness the potential of modern technology, and wants to pioneer digital transformation, himself introducing an “Online Safety Bill”, to curtail the very same citizens from utilizing the full potential of such technology?
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Here’s an excerpt from the government’s very own news portal reporting on Ranils “Smart Country” initiative:
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“The theme for this year’s UNP Anniversary … was “Smart Country – 2048.” […] “…where every citizen recognizes their potential, … harnessing modern technology…”
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Full report here: https://www.news.lk/news/political-current-affairs/item/35811-the-primary-objective-is-to-establish-sri-lanka-as-a-smart-country
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Isn’t it sheer hypocrisy or may be Ranil prefers a Smart Country with Dumb People?
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Him and Mahinda, both should have been retired long time ago. Yet greed for power, among other things, keeps them coming back over and over again, for more and more.
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SJ / January 25, 2024
R
Singapore is still much a police state.
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Ruchira / January 26, 2024
SJ – The reason why we should not emulate them. Despite their successes, there are, from what I’ve heard, unspoken aspects of Singapore that many find undesirable, which they effectively hide.
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old codger / January 26, 2024
Ruchira,
“The reason why we should not emulate them.”
Singapore is no democracy. It controls its mass media efficiently. It is a First World country using Third World labour from its neighbours. But it is an economic success.
Do you have an example of a country that went from Third World to fully developed in a generation while practicing full democracy, which we can emulate?
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Ruchira / January 26, 2024
OC – “It is a First World country using Third World labour from its neighbours” – Has always been the case, everywhere.
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We can always find what works for us. I don’t find Singapore or the other newly developed countries in Asia or the Middle Eatern countries for that matter, very impressive.
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Something rather out of place in most of them. I think it’s the importation of the so called ‘development’ from the West. Where it is not the natural progression of their culture or the society. Sadly a model we too may have to follow.
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NPP is atleast attempting or seems to be attempting something different here.
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Development is not about having high rising buildings or highways as opposed to most who look upto places like Singapore or Dubai, just to give a couple of examples, seems to think.
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I believe we can do better. There’s plenty of cheap labour in neighbouring India. We lack leaders with audacity, vision and competency.
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What we’ve got are imbeciles like Ranil. Then you have the likes of Vajira Abeywardena, nothing but a perverted joker, Range Bandara, another gallery pleaser, Akila Viraj – nothing significant comes to mind that is descriptive of him, and one and only Ruwan Wijewrdena, heir to the UNP throne, better served as a plus size model.
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Sajith Jalani Balawegaya is no better.
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old codger / January 27, 2024
Ruchira,
“There’s plenty of cheap labour in neighbouring India. We lack leaders with audacity, vision and competency.”
Yes, and that’s how the plantation economy worked, on migrant labour. But do you think the JVP will agree to that?
“Cheap” is a relative word. A Bengali or Assamese who can hardly make 300 rupees a day can get 4 times that by simply taking a train southwards.
It happens even here. Supermarkets nowadays have a heavy intake of Plantation Tamils.
As to local development models, what are they? If there are any, as opposed to Western ones, will they work without an element of coercion, eg, forcing farm children to stay in their villages? Also, “freedom of expression ” is a Western concept, is it not? Like Marxism for another.
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Ruchira / January 28, 2024
OC – Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that NPP has a development model that is totally unique. At least they seem to be trying to formulate something of their own as opposed to complete importation of a model prescribed by the likes of the IMF.
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Do you find their approach particularly coercive?
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Yes we live in a westernized world so most concepts are western including freedom of expression.
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As per the countries like Singapore, I don’t necessarily dislike them, just don’t find them impressive. We could have done better long time ago imo. That’s the point.
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As per reference to cheap labour in India; I was merely pointing out, since you mentioned Singaporean success was dependent on cheap labour, we too could have done the same if we wanted to. And I hold the likes of Wickremasinghe and his party, among others, responsible for not doing so.
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You could see that recently the UNP held several of their key meetings in the Southern Province and Vajira Abeywardena, the joker, was seen talking (Suddenly) about ships that cruise off the shores of the Southern Coast.
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Ruchira / January 28, 2024
OC – The bottom line is there’s nothing totally unique we could do. There are set things that we could do and we have to decide what and how we are going to do them. Most importantly on whom we as citizens entrust the task of chosing and deciding what to do in what manner.
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Ruchira / January 28, 2024
OC – on the question of freedom of expression. I don’t see why we can’t give freedom of expression to people while also engaged in developmental efforts. What and where is the contradiction? As fas as the OSB is concerned its clear that it is an attempt to crush political opponents, dissent and criticisms to ensure the political success of certain people. Other than that I don’t see any actual purpose to curtail the freedoms of people. Do you?
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old codger / January 28, 2024
Ruchira,
“We could have done better (than Singapore) long time ago imo. That’s the point.”
Let’s analyse that. I believe you base your opinion on the much-repeated tale that Ceylon was better off than Singapore or Japan in the 50’s, purportedly according to Lee Kwan Yew himself. But let’s look at the data:
Japan’s per capita GDP in 1945, the year of its surrender in World War II, was $1,346 in 1990 US dollars
The UN’s, World Bank’s, and IMF’s estimates for Ceylon’s per capita figures in 1950 stood respectively at 311, 326, and 331. USD.
Singapore itself had a Ford car factory in 1939.
Do you not think that we are fed too many stories of our past greatness?
The fact is neither Japan, Singapore, or even China followed “indigenous” modes of development. China did have limits on internal labour migration.
Freedom of expression was not a factor either. Gota tried some sort of “indigenous” system and bankrupted us, so let us not experiment further. The truth is that there is no development without pain.
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
OC – “…I believe you base your opinion on the much-repeated tale that Ceylon was better off than Singapore or Japan in the 50’s,…”
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Yes I have heard the story and have referred to it myself as well. Thanks for the data. But I didn’t base my comment on it. I have used it in the past to show the downfall we have had while both Singapore and Japan progressed.
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As per a development plan, without wasting much effort let me refer you to the three part comment I’ve made under Dr. Ameer Ali’s most recent post. I made a special mention of you too. ;)
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I am not referring to any indegenous economic plan. Where have I stated anything of the sort? Don’t put words in other people’s mouths.
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
OC – Here’s the link to Dr. Ali’s latest article, titled “RW, IMF and The Economy”:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/rw-imf-the-economy/
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old codger / January 28, 2024
Ruchira,
“Singaporean success was dependent on cheap labour, we too could have done the same if we wanted to. And I hold the likes of Wickremasinghe and his party, among others, responsible for not doing so.”
How do you justify that statement? Use of imported labour is a political hot potato. If it was allowed freely, it would be the JVP and its unions that would protest first. As it is, labour indeed is imported quietly under tourist visas for places like the Dockyard and steel Mills. Perhaps you don’t know that JVP unions have negotiated themselves 25% automatic annual increments ?
RW never had the power to make policy decisions of that sort without being ousted.
I know Vajira is an idiot. But, thankfully, he doesn’t make policy.
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
OC – My statement in full is as follows:
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“As per reference to cheap labour in India; I was merely pointing out, since you mentioned Singaporean success was dependent on cheap labour, we too could have done the same if we wanted to. And I hold the likes of Wickremasinghe and his party, among others, responsible for not doing so.”
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What you have quoted is only a part and that does not reflect what I meant. May be you should reread what i have written.
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old codger / January 29, 2024
Ruchira
Aren’t you basically blaming RW for NOT using imported labour?
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Lester / January 29, 2024
Ruchira,
“There’s plenty of cheap labour in neighbouring India.”
You cannot just bring in hordes of migrants and expect economic success. The British brought very high IQ Chinese to Singapore. These people are successful anywhere : Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, USA, etc. They were so successful in Australia that at one time Australia banned them altogether. The people the British imported into Sri Lanka are different. low caste, low IQ. They were picked from the bottom of the barrel. Germany did a similar thing with Turks. Turks were imported into Germany starting in the 1960’s. They have never fully integrated into society, socio-economically they are at the bottom. Later on, Merkel had to quit because her immigration policy of bringing in 1M+ Arabs failed. Chinese went to the USA originally to build railroads, now they are among the top earners in that country.
So overall, Singapore is just a statistical anomaly. It’s success has more to do with Confucian ethics than capitalist economics. In my opinion, self-sufficiency is the best development model. Sri Lanka was self-sufficient for thousands of years before Europeans exploited the place.
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
Lester – “You cannot just bring in hordes of migrants and expect economic success.” I agree. I am not suggesting that we do.
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
Lester – My take on the matter I’ve tried to summarise here:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/rw-imf-the-economy/
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Cheap labour was mentioned in response to something old codger had mentioned on a previous comment.
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Thx for the various examples of failed attempts of imported labour.
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You should seriously start writing your own articles.
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old codger / January 29, 2024
Ruchira,
Do you agree with this statement?
“The people the British imported into Sri Lanka are different. low caste, low IQ.”
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
OC – Given it was unskilled labour and class system that may have existed at the time I am sure it has some truth. But what are you really asking? If that justifies mistreating them?
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old codger / January 29, 2024
Ruchira,
Don’t you think something is wrong with someone who describes the main foreign income earners of the nation as ” low caste / low IQ” ?
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Ruchira / January 30, 2024
Meant to say caste system Not class.
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
OC – You have above asked: “Aren’t you basically blaming RW for NOT using imported labour?”
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Sorry I may not have been clear. I said so in response to you saying that’s what Singapore did.
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Meaning if that’s what was required to do I find those who were leading the country for not doing so.
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Whether that was the right thing to have done is a different question.
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What I am saying is it is the leaders’ responsibility to find out what needs to be done and do it. Which seems to have not happened. Yes so I hold them responsible for not doing whatever that should have been done.
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Labour importation is just an example.
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I’ve been using the mobile and it is not the most user friendly to make comments as the visible field left to type comments is small and gets narrower too as you make series of comments and at times it make you lose the focus as you can’t see what you have typed at the start without scrolling up, which too is cumbersome.
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Sorry if I wasn’t clear.
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
Hi OC – for some reason I don’t seem to be able to respond directly respond to the latest comments you have made here. So I’m making separate comments that may not appear directly under your comments.
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You ask: “…something is wrong with someone who describes the main foreign income earners of the nation as ” low caste / low IQ” ?”
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Yes it is a little disrespectful but if one wants to get technical I guess one has to say what one has to say.
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Hiw many Tamils here make it a point to say that low country Sinhales are recent immigrants of low caste Tamils from South India?
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If it’s the mention of caste you are referring to I guess all such mentions are equally disrespectful regardless of any contribution to the economy.
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But I agree he could have used more polite language.
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But insulting various factions of the population and communities seems to be the norm here. So I’m not sure why him doing so make it especially wrong?
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leelagemalli / January 30, 2024
OC,
this business man has a vision.
Please watch the Video.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFSxAzKurOU
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old codger / January 29, 2024
Ruchira,
Lester is good at dressing up his prejudices as facts. Even Sri Lankans earn more than Chinese in USA. Indians are at the top.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_groups_in_the_United_States_by_household_income
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
OC – Thanks. That’s interesting information. The table gives the median household income of 17 different ethnic groups out of which Chinese rank number six. So in Lester’s defence one cannot find fault whennhe said that the Chinese are among the top earners. But let’s see what he has to say. We all have our prejudices, so I am sure he too does.
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SJ / January 29, 2024
Prejudice deriving from ignorance is characteristically different from that born of bigotry.
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Lester / January 30, 2024
SJ and Ruchira,
Ask OC his opinion of Prabhakaran. Pot calling kettle black? Then we can have a frank discussion on prejudice, bigotry etc.
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Ruchira / January 30, 2024
SJ – I think Lester has elaborated on this. I guess it’s neither.
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Lester / January 30, 2024
Ruchira,
I wouldn’t draw any conclusions by comparing Indians in the USA to Chinese. We have around 174 years of data for the latter, but Indians are newcomers (last century). If the variable is income, the Chinese group shows mean reversion, whereas with Indians the data is probably skewed (sample being first generation H1B workers living mostly in expensive urban areas). If you want to go this route, it would be better to compare Chinese globally with Indians globally. Let me give you data directly from the LSE: “In Malaysia, the average Chinese household had 1.9 times as much wealth as the Bumiputera (Khalid 2007); in the Philippines, the Chinese account for 1 per cent of the population and well over half the wealth (Chua 2003). The same is true in varying degrees in Indonesia, Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.” And then (ambe! moment) we can compare India to China.
My earlier point: better for SL to have educated as opposed to materially well off people, though the two may not always be mutually exclusive.
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Ruchira / January 30, 2024
Lester – Thanks. The ball now is clearly in OC’s court!
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Lester / January 30, 2024
There is some question here about the estate workers.Yes, they were drawn from the lowest castes. Refer to the “International Journal of Sociology and
Anthropology”, “Estate Tamils of Sri Lanka – a socio economic review” where it says “the bulk of the Indian Tamil plantation workers in Sri Lanka were drawn from the most depressed and lowest caste groups in South India.” In India they are known as “dalits” and offered government assistance.
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Ruchira / January 30, 2024
Lester – That’s what I thought too and meant when I said if one wants to get technical. Looks like OCs prejudices are getting exposed! :D
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nimal fernando / January 26, 2024
Sanath Nishantha’s eulogy …….. by the great Lankan impartial commentator our own Native! ….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TRY0uj1bp4
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RIP
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old codger / January 26, 2024
Nimal
It seems that the illustrious Sanath N has either been disowned by the Roman Catholic Church, or like some others, surreptitiously converted to a more politically correct faith. I am currently going through all available videos of his lying-in-state looking for a Cross or even a junior priest. Will the Cardinal grace the occasion?
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nimal fernando / January 27, 2024
OC,
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It’s what you aptly termed “Shape Shape culture” ……….. people will make sure they will cosy up to any crook/criminal/murderer …….. if it helps them to remain in their unearned privileged positions.
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Even your illustrious hero Ranil is cozing up to this crook …….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzEu4O-ORJw :))))
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Native’s gone MIA!
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This is the best entertainment in town ……. Riveting! :))
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old codger / January 27, 2024
Nimal,
Nurse Hamuduruwo seems more worried about competition from the Bodhisattva than anything else🤣🤣
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Mahila / January 27, 2024
With the Graceful Persuasion of Lady S!!!
Political Correctness is the Name of the Game!!!???
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Jack / January 26, 2024
Ranil’s choice in the future is accountability for
Batalanda torture camp
Given leadership to Murderous underworld figures like Sotti Upali and Gonawala Sunil
Violent suppression of peaceful “Aragalaya”
Siphoning public money in Central bank bond scandal
Misusing public money for unwanted foreign trips and meeting.
Giving protection to Rajapakse thieves
Passing draconian bill to suppress social media and unwanted anti terrorist laws
More than his choice It is the choice of the public to prosecute him for multiple offenses he performed and punished him within the frame of law.
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SJ / January 26, 2024
J
RW’s culpability in Batalada was at most his likely knowledge of such a torture camp.
Did he siphon public money in Central bank bond scandal? He let an improper transaction happen and did not allow a proper inquiry. but that is not theft by him.
Do not get carried over by emotion. One false charge can bring down the entire charge sheet.
*
Politically he is bad news, and that is what matters.
We await some better news from rivals. Will they offer any?
Should you not push harder in that direction?
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Jack / January 27, 2024
SJ
Thank you
Do you believe Ranil has no involvement in underworld?
Do you believe good Ranil is deceived by Arajun Mahendran, RaviK and Arjun A.
Do you believe Ranil has no support from Good Mahinda and Pohttuwa.
Do you believe online safety bill will protect people and improve freedom of expression.
Do you believe proposed anti terrorist bill will not cause arbitrary detention of political activist?
Do you believe best thing happened to country is Mahinda if not Gota then Ranil?
if yes your conclusions are correct according to that thinking pattern.
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SJ / January 27, 2024
J
Thanks.
But sorry that you cannot hold me to things that I never said.
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davidthegood / January 26, 2024
Jack, Ranil’s punishment for these multiple offences will not bring back the money stolen by Moulanas
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deepthi silva / January 26, 2024
No problem is too big for the pol bellied man with his hands in the pocket !
He has found a solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. He has a plan for the non-aligned movement. He is a prophet on renewable energy. There is nothing he does not know about history ,politics and economics. In other words a lunatic who thinks he is all these !
One small problem ,he has not written anything on any of these subjects. Only a silly book on Buddhism !
Although Rejected by the people at the last elections he does not feel embarrassed to act like he is wanted by the people !
Even his wife is a philosopher ! I have not seen anything written by her on English literature or any philosophical topic. But she is a philosopher !
A power couple like no other !
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SJ / January 26, 2024
“pol bellied man”!
What does the belly of your hero look like?
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deepthi silva / January 27, 2024
My hero ? You know ? !!
Are you so blind that you refuse to see what a scoundrel this man Ranil is.
Do you think Ranil has never received money from Aloysius/ Mahendran ?
Do you think he has a moral right to decide anything that affects our nation ? Has he got a moral right to have cocktails at Buckingham Palace ? What about Davos ! How many times has he gone there with our tax money ?
He is President only because the Rajapaksa ( Sanath Nisantha types) scum need him.
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SJ / January 27, 2024
Do not get your knickers into a twist.
I only wanted to know about the looks of your hero.
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old codger / January 27, 2024
SJ,
Do not mention knickers.
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deepthi silva / January 28, 2024
Yes, knickers not relevant, in this case you should refer to jockstraps worn by young men in Colombo !
By the way since 1977, how many foreign countries has Ranil visited ?
Also examine the countries his wife accompanies him to – 90% posh countries like UK, Japan , France., USA ,where she can refer to philosophy while staying in 7 star hotels . For sake of diplomacy sometimes to a grand event in India or tourist destinations like Egypt or Bali
There should be a complete research on this endless travels of this man to show his con job on the nation.
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old codger / January 28, 2024
DS,
“con job on the nation.”
Why is it that people who have run away to live comfortably abroad still force their superior suggestions on us low-grade peasants?
This is my country, not yours.
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SJ / January 28, 2024
“Why is it that people who have run away to live comfortably abroad still force their superior suggestions on us low-grade peasants?”
OC
I hope that other preachers hereabouts will miss your comment.
You risk big trouble.
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leelagemalli / January 28, 2024
Dear Readers,
.
this is about INDIA and how they get onw ith their social media freedom.
.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1700749
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And how it is done in Vietnam for example
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1700749
.
I think some sort of guidelines should be given to those who abuse it from mornings to evenings.
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deepthi silva / January 30, 2024
So OC you identify yourself ! Not only an old codger but also a low grade peasant !
How can it be your country !
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leelagemalli / January 28, 2024
Unfortunately, this toxic female character (Deepthi de Silva) is clearly ostracized in the UK, where she is supposed to be a former doctor and today behaves like Pavitra Vanniarachchi. I really don’t know what’s going through her head.
Anything that comes out of this stupid character is contrary to the facts. how can the like ever have been academics ?
In the last 2 decades when the Madamulana beasts completely destroyed it, the abusive woman focused on Ceylon politics and it must be very clear that there were various donors to fund the election campaign. It did not exempt not only UNP but SLFP and all other parties including SO CALLED CLEAN “JVP-NPP”. So how can it only be aimed at RW’s politics? It is very biased. This woman who was a staunch supporter of Rajapaksa politics should either study it or she should give up what she really doesn’t know. So we can accuse Allocious of giving money to all the politicians… right? When will your botox-baby grow?
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Naman / January 26, 2024
The abject poverty in SL is multifactorial. The number one cause is the desire of the Sinhala buddhists to subject the minorities to enormous difficulties– Standardisation/
Sinhala only/ State sponsored violence against Tamil Speaking citizens (TSC)/ State sponsored colonisation of traditional Tamil Areas/ Occupation of large areas in N&E of SL by Government defence forces/ Interference of the livelihoods of the Locals [TSC]/
Making the hard working tea estate workers in the Up-country Stateless.
When honesty and hard work aren’t appreciated & the Parasites have free access to Government coffers, our country can not be redeemed. How ever much TAX is collected GoSL should count its CENTS carefully when it comes to spending.
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Sinhala_Man / January 26, 2024
It is difficult to keep track of all the 225 people in Parliament. Yesterday morning (the 25th) I woke to see a report that one of them, Sanath Nishantha, had died in a “tragic” motor accident. I took the adjective at its face value.
.
We should not work with stereotypes, and all the positive reports about what the man had been when living, and how much outpouring of tears by our current President, former President, etc, made me feel that we had indeed lost a great and committed legislator – until I clicked on the links that the brilliant “nimal fernando” had posted.
.
I’m beginning to feel that all those outpourings of grief are unjustified. I’ve been determined to desist from submitting links, but just now, I have read what this Sanath Nishantha’s driver has said:
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https://www.adaderana.lk/news/96738/driver-of-sanath-nishanthas-vehicle-details-chilling-moment-of-fatal-collision
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He says that he overtook a car on “the wrong side” because he was travelling at twice the speed limit in his efforts to get the Minister to the important events that he was attending on our behalf. Many politicians have paid tribute to this outstanding hero. Perhaps Ranil should provide helicopters to our noble guardians.
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Ruchira / January 27, 2024
SM – He is one of the well know Rajapakse lackeys. An ace boot licker. The one who paid Namal’s thumping electricity bill to the CEB on his behalf. The one born out of Namal’s wedding. A man whose success according to his own words had been made possible by Rajapakses and is among those who appeared to have been groomed and brought up by them.
.
Thanks for sharing the Adaderana news item. I was wondering how it may have happened and suspecting a probable DUI, as they were coming back from a wedding reception. I guess this driver’s statement explains it.
.
There are strict guidelines on how to drive on a highway. I can remember going through an information booklet issued to educate the drivers when I for the very first time had to drive on a highway.
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I guess if they stuck to basic rules and guidelines such as the speed limit and keeping the necessary distance from the vehicle in the front, something that is hardcto do if you break the first rule, this could have been avoided.
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They I believe were not blessed with such wisdom and their disregard to the rules in general seems to haven’t helped either.
.
It’s not good to speak ill of the dead but parliament would be a better place with his absence. He was one vile person.
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Sinhala_Man / January 27, 2024
Dear Vishwamithra,
.
You have said, “When the people have lost their trust in the existing leadership, they look for alternatives … the Senanayakes and Jayewardenes were substituted by the Bandaranaikes and Rajapaksas.”
.
One reason why many in the Upper Classes have expressed dis-satisfaction with the rise of the Anura Kumara Dissanayake seems to be because many Sinhalese look back on what they consider “a golden age” soon after independence, that ended with 1956. In a comment on another article a few days ago, “old codger” took issue with me over that phrase. Who looked back like that? I wasn’t able to answer then. It is many Sinhalese, (not all) collectively, by fits and starts. Not by me, not by AKD, and not by many Sinhalese when stimulated into thinking by being confronted with what then happened.
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Almost none of us have any memory, informed by adult judgement, of what those days were like. This article,
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https://island.lk/when-two-richards-fought-for-kelaniya-in-the-1956-elction/
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that a newspaper has reproduced yesterday, appears to me to have been carefully re-searched.
.
To be continued…
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Sinhala_Man / January 27, 2024
Continuing…
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That article provides us with insights that show the 1950s to have been riddled with inconsistencies similar to those that Vishwamithra describes.
.
That was no “Golden Age”. Today the young are exhibiting certain ideals, and there were idealists even then. But much of the strategies employed then were as sordid, although somewhat different.
What Ranil is doing now parallels what J.R. Jayawardena appears to have done then. There are differences without a doubt, but many of the battles fought then seem to presage what Ranil is trying now. How much in-breeding there appears to have been among the rulers! I thought that I had a good overview of that period, but I learnt there of many crafty artifices that I hadn’t realised.
.
The attraction of the NPP for us today is that they are shunning all those practices that were there throughout the 1950s, but that don’t seem to come together in our minds. Thank you, Vishwamithra.
.
Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 483111444V)
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old codger / January 27, 2024
SM,
“That was no “Golden Age”
I am glad to see that you are capable of accepting your mistakes.
How about this corollary: All Sri Lankans live better lives today than they did in the 1950s.
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leelagemalli / January 28, 2024
OC,
.
Who knows, it might be a mistake for him. Of course, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That is the nature of SM.
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LankaScot / January 29, 2024
Hello OC,
I was brought up in Scotland during what was termed “Austerity Britain by David Kynaston”. When I came to live here in Sri Lanka in 2021 I thought that I had been transported back in time to my childhood days. Here in the Central province cooking in our village is mainly by wood fire (like my Gt Grandmother’s) or gas-hob (but we had piped Gas Supply). My wife has a small grocery shop that sells items straight from 1950s UK (chocolate bars as thin as “Five Boys” Top Loading Washing Powder and Lifeboy soap, to name a few). There are many car spares/repairs businesses, people (mainly men) buy cigarettes in 1s or 2s. Wine-shops are like fortified police stations. Even the TV adverts are copies of UK TV from the 50s and 60s. My father watched TV in the 1930s, my wife first watched TV (in Black and White) in the late 1980s. Even the children’s English school books reflect a language and ethos from the 1950s or before. Sri Lanka’s Stalinist Governments past and present have a lot to answer for. It is up to the youth of this Country to change them.
Best regards
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old codger / January 29, 2024
LS,
The chocolate manufacturers ought to be sued for false advertising. But they have to survive. Imported chocolates are heavily taxed, but these guys are still unable to put out a real chocolate, even with local raw materials.
Lifebuoy, Sunlight etc are leftovers from the 50’s. SR toothpaste disappeared in the 70’s.🙂
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old codger / January 29, 2024
LS,
Colombo had piped gas and a tram service into the 60’s, but persons in power decided neither was economical
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SJ / January 29, 2024
oc
I do not want to advertise any product, but some good quality chocolates are made here. Standard has improved over the years.
If you ask the French, they will say that nothing like a chocolate comes out of Britain. (The same about cheese.)
Much of it can be a matter of personal taste.
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Ruchira / January 30, 2024
“but some good quality chocolates are made here.” – no chocolate expert here, but I was going to say the same. Our chocolates aren’t bad.
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Ruchira / January 29, 2024
LankaScot – Looks like you’ve got interesting stories to tell. :)
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LankaScot / January 29, 2024
Hello Ruchira,
To paraphrase Monty Python ” The children today would never believe you”
Best regards
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Ruchira / January 30, 2024
LS – More the reason why they should be told?
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SJ / January 29, 2024
A minor error I suspect in ‘my wife first watched TV (in Black and White) in the late 1980s.”
We had colour television by 1982 I think.
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Ruchira / January 30, 2024
SJ – Yeah, but he is referring his wife first watching TV. Not when TV became available here.
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LankaScot / January 30, 2024
Hello SJ,
You are right but they didn’t have a colour TV – they were very expensive.
Best regards
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nimal fernando / January 27, 2024
” I clicked on the links that the brilliant “nimal fernando” “
–
How long am I going to stay “brilliant” ………. the next comment is against AKD/JVP/NPP! …………. :)))))
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old codger / January 27, 2024
Nimal,
Don’t push your luck. But at least you haven’t published your ID number so that Mahinda Amaraweera can hunt you down for insulting Sanath’s sacred memory……
https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Group-connected-to-certain-political-party-posting-insulting-posts-Amaraweera/108-275720
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leelagemalli / January 28, 2024
SM and all,
.
SN, who died in that accident, faced several other accidents in the last few weeks.
Often he was released from court for some reason. How can we do that if we continue to trust the judiciary to be “independent”? My 15 year old nephew questioned me and I was speechless.
–
And if any sane person had studied the thug nature of the deceased victim in the last 15 months, the thug driver could not have had a better character. Blinded by Mahinda thinking, he might have even tattooed the mare’s linga on his chest, but that should not lead this nation astray round the clock.
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SJ / January 27, 2024
What about the more practical options:
Contest in his own right as an independent
Contest as the common Tamil candidate, as they have not found one yet.
Organize a coup d’état and have himself appointed.
I am sure that the last is the secret wish of some foreign powers.
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Ruchira / January 27, 2024
I thought that’s what already happened…
/