By Helasingha Bandara –
“I guess I should have paid more attention during Sinhala class when I was in school. Oh, well. But it would absolutely stupendous, dear Speaker, if someone in Parliament sponsors me to improve my Sinhala; both writing and pronunciation. Or we could come to terms with me reading the Budget in English, which is easier for me, next year.” – Ravi Karunanayake (Ceylon Today, 22 November 2015)
First, let us look at his claim that he cannot pronounce Sinhala words, at least some of them. This leaves him in the category of incapable, inefficient, untalented, unsuitable, incompetent people because he cannot pronounce English either, obvious isn’t it?
Wikipedia information
“Born to Tissa Anuruddha Mahanama Karunanayake and Carmaleka Karunanayake, daughter of former DIG Cyril Dissanayake. He is the eldest son in a family of two. Educated at S. Thomas’ Preparatory School, Kollupitiya up to his GCE Ordinary Level, after which he proceeded to Royal College Colombo for his Advanced Level examinations. He became a management accountant and worked for Delmege Group before heading up several directorships of new ventures in the travel industry”.
Wikipedia states that he is a Roman Catholic although his father’s name is very Buddhist. His maternal grandfather is a Dissanayaka, a typical Singhalese name. There is no mention of Ravi’s higher education at University level, local or foreign, if there is any. That leaves us with the billion Dollar question that how he cannot pronounce Sinhala words. Ravi was not born to native English speaking parents, he has not migrated to an English speaking country at a tender age, he has no education at a recognized educational institute in an English speaking country and he has not lived a considerable length of time in an English speaking country ( meaning over 20 years minimum). Linguists agree, if someone does not fulfill any of the above criteria he/she cannot speak English in the manner a native speaker would. In other words he/she will have a different pronunciation or an accent that is foreign to native speakers of English. Therefore in the context of his claim that he cannot pronounce Singhalese well he cannot pronounce English well either. I do not mean that he cannot speak English. He speaks our own brand of English. So our own brand of Singhalese would do for the reading of the budget.
People of East Asia and the Far East do not have that subservient mentality to feel that they need to pretend that they do not know their mother tongue. The Chinese President on his recent visit to the UK received a grand welcome that no Sri Lankan could ever imagine receiving from the UK. Yet even at the queen’s banquet the Chinese President spoke in Chinese and I for one did not notice that he suffered from any inferiority complex for not speaking in English. Even the Indians have learnt to respect their own languages. I have realized that all dignitaries and the celebrities visiting foreign countries have begun to speak in an Indian Language. They even believe that the place that English holds today may diminish and people have to learn Chinese or Hindi instead. Be it reality or fantasy, I respect the fact that they do not feel their languages are inferior. The disease is rampant only in our tiny country. It is a shame that some people still do not realize that the knowledge of two or more languages certainly is better than knowing one and even that not fully.
Recently I participated in a presentation in Colombo. The speaker had lived 27 years in the UK and of course had received his post graduate education in two British universities. During his presentation in Singhalese he did not use a single English word but fluent Sinhalese. At the same event another Singhalese person who had received only the local school education and lived all his life in Sri Lanka, speaking in English claimed that he is not capable of delivering his speech in Sinhalese. I did not know whether to laugh or to cry.
We cannot simply forget it when political leaders follow this sort of ludicrous trends because in an undereducated and underdeveloped society like ours millions are prepared to emulate. Please stop pretending, every one of us should be able to speak Tamil or Singhalese and additionally English. I have no doubt you will speak your mother tongue better than any other language.
The other fact is that reading the budget in your English can be easier for you, no argument mister. As a public servant you cannot ignore the fact that millions of people in our country do not understand if you do so. Therefore you should either become the Finance Minister of the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and at least Nigeria or deliver the budget speech in Singhalese with a Tamil interpreter or vice versa.
Jim softy / November 23, 2015
He can not speak Sinhala.
HE would say the same if he were in england, I mean he would say I cannot speak English well because I was in Sri lanka.
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Pena Kiyanna / November 23, 2015
“Helasinghe”‘s level of English knowledge does not look crash hot either, despite claims that he has “lived 27 years in the UK and of course had received his post graduate education in two British universities”.
Though no one knows, the way Karunanyake spoke Sinhala shows that he is not a native Sinhala speaker. It was not a pronunciation problem as has been misdignosed by Helasinghe.He struggled with verb endings, showing his lack of familiarity with the language.
The Wikipedia entry can be written and amended to give out information you would like the world to know. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Without prejudice, Karunanyaka is not a born Sinhalese.
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Jim softy / November 23, 2015
You look like one with colonial mentality.
what is the correct format for English ?
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KNICKERBLOCKERGLORY / November 24, 2015
I say Jim softly, either you speak correct English or you don’t. There is nothing to be ashamed of a person demanding of a cabinet minister who speaks in English to speak properly. What is disgusting is his trying to indicate he is not good in Sinhalese. That is really a disgusting and shameful admission.
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The_ slanting_ rays_ of_ the_setting_ sun / November 23, 2015
Apparently Ravi wants to be noticed and Bandara is washing the linen.
Yaman Bando Wesak Balana.
Man’s love of words is his first step toward ignorance, and his love for definitions the second. The more he analyzes, the more he has need to define, and the more he defines, the more he aims at an impossible logical perfection, for the effort of aiming at a logical perfection is only a sign of ignorance.
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Justice & Fairplay / November 24, 2015
Brilliant, Slanting Rays, quite a brilliant encapsulation.
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Amarasiri / November 23, 2015
Can he Divide?
2/2 = ?
Wimal Weerawansa says 2/2 =0
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Justice & Fairplay / November 25, 2015
Dear Amarasiri,
Yes, Yes, perhaps this Weerawansa bloke with his superior brand of ‘ahanna baritone’ oratory considers the slash in the above equation as a minus sign written under the affluence of incohol!!!
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Snowden Edward Asange / November 23, 2015
HELASINGHA BANDARA, I am no fan of Ravi but b4 u put him down U must put ur house in order……Isn’t it SINHALESE and NOT Sin”G”halese…?
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Ken Robert / November 23, 2015
Snowden
Well spotted. Native sinhalese usually write sinhala instead of singhala.
Absence ha, ga in tamil alphabet could lead tamil native speakers to write as singhala instead of sinhala.
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Snowden Edward Asange / November 23, 2015
TY sir…I have noticed..only Tamil speakers type as SinGhalese…
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Tamil / November 23, 2015
Both forms are in dictionaries.
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salam / November 23, 2015
words..abstracts..
Jihad means overkill infidel??
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samuel jayaweera / November 23, 2015
The writer may be right in his views, but he should know nobody is perfect and each and every individual is different. So, why should we attack the person just becase he inisisted that he cant pronounce sinhala better. To each his own is my response to this.
Having lived in the Europe for the last 3 decades, I feel there are a minority in SL that feel alone being able to speak English is a prerequisite for them to behave different – after all old girls from St Bridget – I met in Europe behave as if they are not srilankens. We perfectly know that it is not the langauge but we have been raised matters in this life. THe kind of behaviours I have noticed also among the afro folks that only speak either English or French. These are consequences of being colonised by British. While living in Europe, one would notice that English is just an another langaguage.
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sama / November 23, 2015
Hey guys, I feel every time back in the country- that English speaking srilankens behave as if they dont belong to SRILANKA. Today s young generation after all – in colombo area – behave as if they have no idea about the rest of srilanka. This is a kind of inferiority complex – that can be the stumbling block for young graduates to shy learning spoken langague today. The problem could be common for all the former colonies of the UK, but the Indians in general have no shame even if their gujarati or marati accent be mixed with their pronunciation for English.
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Babalawathie / November 23, 2015
Who is this Helasinghe ? Why is he up to attack Ravi personally ?
Even late good sons of the nation – Bandaranayake, Kadirgamar, JRJ all had their accents. Nelson Mandela and Bush and the many had their accent.
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Nirmala N / November 24, 2015
Jim softy
Well said.
Even Putin, Hu Jintao, Olond and many other world leaders can’t speak English.
Even our patia Wimal Boruwanse will not speak English.
Do you want me to start a tutorial college in Colombo with my degree in English in USA. I can be a real American English teacher.
I can Americanise Mahinda’s and Shirani’s spoken English.
Trick of the trade is to make an impact.
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salam / November 24, 2015
“Trick of the trade is to make an impact.”
nalla thambi,
very american is to have a `niche in the market`
1.2 billion mandarin;
0.503billion world wide english;
0.487 billion ww hindi.
who needs adoption of sinhala / tamil??
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asaipillai / November 23, 2015
Aney HB yo!
Do you have bee in your bonnet? What’s wrong with you? “Ravi cannot pronounce English either”???Who pronounces English correctly? English is spoken worldwide with varying accents. Aussies, Kiwis, Americans, Scots, Irish and so on. All have their own accent and proud of it. SWRD had his own style and damn good of him and of course the Yalpanam man had his own. Now the Chinese too… So which one do you think is correct?
Same goes for Sinhala – the down south man would say “rabang” for soap while others would say “sabang”. “pahalaiy” for 15 while others would say “pahalawai”
So do not be a dickhead HB. Limit your pen. Otherwise I would say “Palayang bung yanna!” lol!!!!
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Articulator / November 23, 2015
“Dickhead” sounds most appropriate!
Helaya’s opening statement defies logic! (“First, let us look at his claim that he cannot pronounce Sinhala words, at least some of them. This leaves him in the category of incapable, inefficient, untalented, unsuitable, incompetent people because he cannot pronounce English either, obvious isn’t it?”).
What’s so “obvious” about mispronunciation being associated with “incapable, inefficient, untalented, unsuitable, incompetent people”?
That bee must be buzzing furiously inside the Dickhead’s bonnet!
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Funlover / November 23, 2015
I’ll say to the Lion of Hela ‘palayang yako’! But asaipillai, Child of Love, I know no one in the South who says Rabang for Soap. I have seen people rabang gahanawa on ceremonial occasions.
I am a proud Sri Lankan when I spend a few weeks’ holidays in Sri Lanka, which I departed 35 years ago. My spoken English is an Aloysian hotchpotch of Noeline Ranasinghe, Anton & Mervyn Ferreira, Manatunga, Vedamuthu, Miss Anghie, Frs de Burra, Pogany, Morelli, Chiriatti, and Paul Caspersz. Knowledge of Buddhism, Sinhala, and Typewriting I acquired from the adorable Talaguli Jinadasa (he was so tongue in cheek!). The Sinhala Buddhist resident caretaker couple of my house in Piliyandala say I know more Buddhism than most of the Buddhists, and speak more respectable Sinhala than many of them can manage. When I visit my native Galle I speak to the Muslims and the few Tamils left there in their own dialect, slightly different due to the passage of time, stirring a nostalgic tickle in their ears. The former do enjoy my rational discourses on religion too, for, thanks to the internet, you can acquire a knowledge of anything you wish from the very best sources. Excuses there are no more for acquiring and dishing out superstition and idolatry, like praying to a dead man at his grave to grant one’s wishes.
By the way, Lion of Hela, I am kind of put off by your puerile comments. CT is not a forum for 8 year olds. But thanks anyway for the excuse to recall my joyful days and to give CT readers a glimpse into who I am.
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Rarityminds / November 23, 2015
Funlover, normally I dont even read your comments. May be few months ago, you happened to add few derogatory terms to CT and that hurt us among CT readers.
But to be honest, you sound to be a good guy not to have forgotten your native. There are guys u know they would love to say to have lost their natives. They may feel that is a thing to be proud of. Where about in Galle are u from ? Are u too old mahindian ?
Yes, they call Soap as Raban… and raban kella down there. But today, may be they dont have soap anymore.. Sunlight and other Life something were the soap brands were available to us to my days (4 decades ago in the country). Today, I have seen some european shampoo products are aviable in lanken food city markets.
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Rarityminds / November 23, 2015
We dont want to compare anyone further. Just remembering the way God father of the freedom – Nelson Mandela – see how he pronounced his English. English is being pronounced by a various set of accent sometimes even within one state but living on various provinces. Lankens in general seem to have no knowledge but tend to criticise based on the limited overall knowledge about the topic. That is what I noticed having overread the current article.
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Amarasiri / November 23, 2015
[edited out]
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Rajash / November 23, 2015
The issue is not with the language proficiency, but basic intelligence.
apparently he can pronounce “yes sir” very well in English and Sinhala
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Amarasiri / November 23, 2015
Rajash
“The issue is not with the language proficiency, but basic intelligence. “
You are on to something here. The average IQ of Sri Lankans is 79, and the ministers are not far off. What is his Z score? It will tell a lot.
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Ram / November 23, 2015
Apparently sufficient to become an Accountant and to be the Finance Minister in a third world country. He could not run the Central bank however, as well as the present incumbent does.
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Nirmala N / November 24, 2015
Rajash
Well said.
Let us start a tutorial school in Colombo for the politicians of Sri Lanka.
We can turn them around.
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kumaran / November 23, 2015
Lets hear your comments about the BUDGET and leave the language out. We had several budgets by excellent Sinhala and English speakers but the BUDGET. Its the BUDGET, stupid.
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nimal fernando / November 23, 2015
Enough of this Uncle-Tom-ing Mr Karunanayake. Substance is what matters, even if you convey it in sign language.
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BunjiAppu / November 23, 2015
You are dead right Ms Fernando.
As if we dont have any other alarming issues to hang on, these guys are on their malicious mode attacking the person. Instead they could also join the nation right today – MR free adminsitration – if they really want to see the nation s rise agianst corruption, abuses and any anti-issues that block us being achieved.
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BunjiAppu / November 23, 2015
what happened to that -MR KNOWALL of the nation ? Self proclaimed analyst – Jayathilaka ? Man s colours may have been changed to this date ? We criticise the west and other countries for our problems. I believe today, having gone thorugh all these – we the lankens should be made accoutable for our problems. Those who have governed this nations and some other figures whose minds sets not have been normal have driven us to the levels that we experience it today. Post conlonial mentality holders such as Dayan and the like are a weed that the lankens cant irradicate easily. These men have done more harm than good to this nation.
Since Jaythilaka is back from France – what has he done except being entwined to MR group to attack CBK, RW and My3. Today not being able to succeed, he may be cornered to his 4-walls as if a dog hide its tail behind the rear legs.
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Upul / November 23, 2015
Talk to Ravi’s batch mates at Royal and they will educate you about his capabilities, or lack thereof.
His only redeeming quality has been his loyalty to Ranil W during Sajith Premadasa’s antics about 3 years ago. I think even Ranil W has figured out that Ravi is a liability not worth carrying.
A few major rackets that have not seen the light of day as yet despite all the talk by the opposition.
1. The disposal of assets of the CWE to his chosen henchman during UNP’s ill-fated 2003 govt.
2. Raj Rajaratnam’s money deposits into Ravi’s accounts. Still not
explained except the claim it was a private transaction.
3. How did a CIMA qualified accountant acquire the assets he presently owns? Does he have a Midas touch?
How is it that the Yahapalanaya crowd have never publicly declared their assets???? Is’nt a good example the best symbol of proper governance.
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Amarasiri / November 23, 2015
Upul
“Ravi’s batch mates at Royal “
It makes sense now.
Can he figure 2/2 =?
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gamini / November 23, 2015
Upul
You seem to be another ‘Dickhead’. If Ravi has robbed as you allege, do you seriously believe that MR just did nothing about it for ten years?
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Leelagemalli / November 23, 2015
Gamini,
long time no see, hope you are doing well.
Please add your valuable comments to the forum. You are an another good commnetator, I admired a lot for that day on.
What has happened to that Dayan Jayathilaka to this date ? Why does not he continue his kind of articles as he did in thevery first days of the MY3-Ranil govt ( I mean at the begining – after 8th Jan chased away the mafia king)
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Lotuseater / November 23, 2015
Agree with Nimal Fernando. Also far better to be more proficient in English than Sinhala, in my opinion. Those who want to harp about Sinhala can go listen to eloquent Sinhala speakers like Weerawansa. It is this inward-looking obsession of a rather insignificant “Sinhala urumaya” that has gotten Sri Lanka into a rut. Maybe its time to let it go. I for one have no qualms if my kids never learn a lick of Sinhala – what a waste.
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firoza / November 23, 2015
Colombo telegraph, I just wasted my time reading this crap. This is why we can not prosper as a nation. Writer is focussing on trivial matters when we ought to give due consideration to the main matter here which is the budget. Its time that we stop gossiping on people’s disabilities and come out with some positive or negative criticism on the budget to develop as a nation. Use your pen for a worthy cause People are now not interested in their pedigrees or back ground. In the current scenario it’s their action that matters.
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kp / November 23, 2015
A man points at an oncoming train. Helasinghe looks at the finger. The man gets off the railway track. Helasinghe stays, staring at the spot where the finger was, wondering what on earth is going on.
Helasinghe’s family have a quiet funeral at the Borella cemetery.
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E W Golding / November 23, 2015
This Helasingha Bandara’s English is pretty poor as well.
“There is no mention of Ravi’s higher education at University level, local or foreign, if there is any”. In idiomatic English this should read “if he had had any”.
“. . . billion Dollar question that how he cannot .. .”. (i) The ‘that’ before ‘how’ is grammatically incorrect. (ii) It is incorrect to capitalize dollar.
“. . follow this sort of ludicrous trends . . .”
The pronoun ‘(t)his’ is singular the noun ‘trends’ is plural!
And about 8 more errors in simple grammar and idiom. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Then there is the question of Native Speakers. Being a native speaker and speaking and pronouncing English well are two different matters because English as a lingua franca has many accepted international pronunciation families. There are many fine English pronunciations all over the world and are recognized as such. A few examples are Jawaharlal Nehru and polished Indian English speakers, Lee Kwan Yew and Singaporean English in general, V.S. Naipaul and many fine speakers who employ Trinidadian and Jamaican pronunciation. Finally the newsreaders on the Hong Kong English news channels (Chinese ethnicity) who have a very attractive British English accent and pronunciation that is natural to the territory.
In America and Australia, but I daresay not New Zealand, they have not pronounced English ‘properly’ for decades but I wonder what this clown Helasinghe Bandara has to say about these NATIVE hues? In Texas they speak a completely unknown tongue!
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srilal / November 23, 2015
E W Golding,
Let me chip in here , you pointed out some of the grammatical errors which HB had supposedly made , shall we go through couple of them please ?
“There is no mention of Ravi’s higher education at University level, local or foreign, if there is any”. In idiomatic English this should read “if he had had any”.
“If he had had any “, this is the 3 rd conditionals ( or type 3) if clause , then the main clause must be in its present perfect form beginning with a modal verb.
ex (IF + Past perfect ) , (would + present perfect)
““. . . billion Dollar question that how he cannot .. .”. (i) The ‘that’ before ‘how’ is grammatically incorrect. (ii) It is incorrect to capitalize dollar. “
” That ” functions as a relative pronoun in an adjective clause here , please be kind enough to educate the readers about the grammatical error that you found here as well.
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Leelagemalli / November 23, 2015
You are simply the best among the few commentators that I admire a lot on this forum: You, Native and other few could be the reason me to continue joining this valuable forum.
I still rememember the days – you predicted as no other, if CBK would not support- there would not be a change from Mafia Kingo to anyone.
That was like above all royal astrologers predictions :)
You have always been right – Srilal – THANKS.
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srilal / November 23, 2015
Leelagemalli ,
Thanks mate , yes you are right , if CBK hadn’t put her all weight behind the common candidate , MY3 wouldn’t have been the president today, period ! we all did our part whichever possible to oust the Mafia king ;nevertheless , Mafia King still keep haunting the nation by issuing various ,vague ,threatening statements every now and then . MY3 and RW must revoke his civic rights before he raises his ugly head again.
Cheers.
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Snowden Edward Asange / November 23, 2015
I say…instead of stripping MR’s civic rights.. just hand him and Gota to the UN war crimes tribunal… and we all can live happily ever after…..
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srilal / November 24, 2015
Snowden Edward Asange ,
We srilankans have tendency to think from the heart instead of brain ;thus , No government would survive if any of the so called war heroes were to hand over to UN . the best option is to strip his civic rights for his countless crimes which he had committed under his watch. as for Gota and the rest of the criminals , they must spend the time behind bars , ideally a life sentence without parole.
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tika / November 24, 2015
Srilal,
Tentatively give the Mafia Boss Brothers a decade in solitary confinement.Now.
Just Do It.
What is the CJ there for …the buck stops with My3 and the 3 CBK,RW,MY3.
Wowlas.
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Navin / November 25, 2015
Atleast Mafia King was an honest thief; this guy is a thief thief.
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Appubaba / November 23, 2015
You sound to be Guru/Pundit for all us. – MAY I ask you for your qualifications please ?
Anyways, I dont think can agree with you here
“In America and Australia, but I daresay not New Zealand, they have not pronounced English ‘properly’ “
There are a large number of countries where you find native speakers for English. Do you think all these folks pronounce English as if US and UK people would do – no. I have Irish, Scotish and Brites working with me in Switzerland. Each of them speak their English as they have learnt it. So why not lankens are allowed to do so ?
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BUNJIAPPU / November 24, 2015
You may be right.
Lankens just knowing one European langauge seem to be swollen. I know myself well in the switzerland, they speak several langauages with higher proficiencies. Can you imagine ?
People in our countries show off mostly for no reason. That is the low IQ mentality.
See, there are other articles which I believe is interesting and need the discussion have no more comments than to this one…. people just spend attacking others more than doing any good to change the system. That is the nature of srilankens.
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Don Quixote / November 23, 2015
So if you can’t speak a language you are incompetent ? What form of deranged logic is that ?
Besides Ravi’s English seems to be a darned sight better that HB’s also if you can’t pronounce a few words properly during a 4 hour speech is that incompetence ?
Ever tried speaking for 4 hours non stop ?
this type of senseless character assassination from CT must be checked, otherwise very soon you will lose your rational readership.
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Native Vedda / November 23, 2015
Don Quixote
“Ever tried speaking for 4 hours non stop ?”
William Gladstone – 4 hours and 45 minutes, budget speech in 1953.
Haven’t you heard of Fidel Castros marathon speeches?
Castro – 4 hours 29 minutes in front of UN General Assembly in 1960.
Castro – 7 hours and 10 minutes at the 1986 Communist Party Congress.
VK Krishna Menon – 8 hours at UN Security Council in 1957.
Strom Thurmond – 24 hours and 18 minutes the longest filibustering at the US senate.
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Native Vedda / November 23, 2015
Sorry
“William Gladstone – 4 hours and 45 minutes, budget speech in 1953”
It should be read as 1853.
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baludeen / November 23, 2015
[Edited out]
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MirakRajBanda / November 23, 2015
Is he a clean man as Ranil thinks?
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Justic & Fairplay / November 23, 2015
What a parliamentarian SHOULD have are oratorical skills – be it in Sinhala or English.
Neither Ravi nor Ranil has them, in either language in my opinion.
Oratory is the skill to dismember an argument, clinically and with precision, so that not only does it do the job for his side with skill, it also heightens the listening pleasure of those who are listening. Personal and coarse attacks as now happens (The Prime Minister is not guilty of this)to ‘shut up’ the other side, is not clever debating at all.
Sadly, there are none in our parliament with such skills, if I am not mistaken. (Possibly Premadasa and Anura K D comes close to reckoning in Sinhalese?)
When I was in school our CIVICS class was taken to (old) parliament to witness parliamentary proceedings one day.
We listened to Pieter Keuneman, JR Jayewardene, and Dudley Senanayake on that day before returning back to school. It was an enthralling experience, never to be forgotten.
Of the lot, Pieter K was easily the best, followed by the clinical JRJ, with Dudley ending up last (in my view).
It would not be wrong to say that Dudley if alive today, would have been heads and shoulders above the present Diyawanna lot.
I never heard Colvin or NM in parliament, and I have no doubt it would have been a treat to listen to them any day.
They were ALL clever orators in both languages, and did not miss out on making the point they were making, most effectively and with poise, in either language.
Today most parliamentarians are not proficient in either language with the possible exception of the two names mentioned above when it comes to Sinhala speeches. As for clever speakers in English, the last we saw was Lakshman Kadirgamar; none other thereafter.
If substance is all that matters, and not the style of delivery or language proficiency as some have mentioned, then, let us accept that as yet another lowering of a standard (like in many other instances), since the majority thinks so.
Great Nation US. We just accept; we don’t question. We shoot the messenger instead.
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maalumiris / November 23, 2015
Not many have oratorical skills., what passes for politicians oratorical skills in Sri Lanka is the ability to shout the loudest and use the basest language – thus appealing to the lowest common denominator
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Justice & Fairplay / November 24, 2015
Agree without question, Malumiris.
This is exactly how Dinesh the screecher, Wimal the fog horn, and Pak Nanayakkara (alias V’deva) and others of their ilk survive. They appeal to the baser strata of society, who have never heard of oratory in the first place. I am sure Sinhala Man would also agree.
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 23, 2015
Galleon Ravi seems to wear a Tie even at home.
So how can you expect him to speak the native dialect?.
Wonder whether this Catholic talks to our Mahanayakas also in English, when the venerables tie Pirith Nula to give him the Blessings of the Triple Gem for a healthy and long life to give our Colombo Elite , Anglicans , Vellalas and the Whabis Yahapalanaya.
And accrue lots of merit and then to proceed to Nirwana and give them also Yahapalanya without commissions of course…
Most probably Bodhi Sira and the other Yahapalan Gura, Batalanda also will be there with so many blessings from the Malwatta & Asgiriya, the two most holy places of the Elite.
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Native Vedda / November 23, 2015
KASmalam K.A Sumanasekera
Is there a difference between Vellala capitalism and Radala/Govi Socialism?
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 23, 2015
Dear Native,
Now your are talking mate….Have a good day
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Native Vedda / November 24, 2015
KASmalam K.A Sumanasekera
Just say you have no idea of both capitalism and socialism.
Is there a difference between Radala/Govi capitalism and Vellala socialism?
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dcn / November 23, 2015
It is a shame for both the writer and CT to produce articles like this when there are more important topics of much interest to the public.
We agree there were small slips in pronunciation in Sinhala when Ravi presented the budget last week and he is not a Sinhala orator. What is important is the substance of the presentation.
It looks the writer is envying the elevation of Ravi as Finance Minister and he is looking to pick holes to criticise him.
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whywhy / November 23, 2015
It will be unwise to think that native English speakers
in the UK ,US or Australia speak perfect English. They
know they do not. Many do not care for the grammar in
spoken English . Everybody is born with a language and
so is English man. English has about ten thousand
borrowed words in use and not all Englishmen know of
this or care about this. The case in India and Srilanka
particularly is that English is not just another
language but a sign of a class that even beggars want
to possess and everybody is doing everything to get
hold of it at any cost. Mad situation people like Ravi
are encouraging . I feel it like a sort of language
extremism .
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san / November 23, 2015
so what language does he speak at home ?? Sinhalese poor , English is bad , tamil dint hear any work from him , may be he is using sign language or he is not talking at all at home , any way it is a good budget .
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Pygmalion / November 23, 2015
Prof:Henry Higgins Prof:of Phonetics in the 1965 Film My Fair Lady[based on the Play PYGMALION by George Bernard Shaw] laments that the English themselves cannot speak proper English!
Prof:H.H also goes on to exclaim that English has not been spoken in America for years!
So essayist Helasinghe Bandara is holding a weak brief.
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The Professional / November 23, 2015
The members of the “opposition” within Yahapalana Government say that they did not understand what was presented for over four hours. If spoken language was the issue then there is no argument. But the printed versions were given after the speech. If those guys still say that they cannot understand it then it is an issue concerning literacy.
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Native Vedda / November 23, 2015
The Professional
“If those guys still say that they cannot understand it then it is an issue concerning literacy.”
So
No brains
No honesty
No compassion
No scruples
No hard work
No humility
No selflessness
…………
……..
…….
No vision
Now no literacy.
What else do they possess and why do the people vote for them.
Is it because they see their mirror image in those politicians with the same inherent traits (listed above) as the politicians?
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Malini / November 23, 2015
Much ado about nothing. If he is comfortable giving the speech in English let him. We have qualified translators who can then translate it to Sinhala and Tamil. This is not an issue, we have far more important matters to focus on.
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sama / November 23, 2015
Great Malini.
As if we have nothing important than attakcing the personalities – this writer has got on to that level attacks. These men are no good to this nation. Like Dayawathies of the popular Kopikade tele series.
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Christian / November 23, 2015
The author of the main article says “Wikipedia states that he is a Roman Catholic although his father’s name is very Buddhist. His maternal grandfather is a Dissanayaka, a typical Singhalese name.”
Can a Roman Catholic not be Sinhalese? Are there no Silvas who are Buddhist? No Abeysekeras who are Christian? No Joshuas who are Hindu? No Sivapragasams who is Christian?
Yes to all of them
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chinthaka / November 23, 2015
Wait a minute. This recall me that I heard his name was first given in election registers as “Ravindran Karunayakam” . If it is true then he is not a singalease and must be a tamil of what ever origin. Assuming he is not an imposter, let us forgive him for his poor sinhala being a Tamil, he did it his best than our own Sihalaya’s Tamil ability. Am I correct?
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Sam / November 23, 2015
Very good arguement. Ravi K lived all his life in SL. He speaks Sri Lankan English not British English even though he would love to be able to do so.
His claim that he cannot speak Sinhala is nothing but false pretenses. Buddy, I heard the way you speak English. Your pronuciation is bloody atrocious. You cannot speak English either. You are a wanna be posh but a bayya.
Keep claiming you know English. That is the closest you will ever get to England.
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Know All / November 23, 2015
Well said, Malini. This is indeed much ado about nothing. I know of several Sinhalese who have never studied abroad but, due to various reasons, are not proficient in Sinhala. They don’t take any sort of pride for the position they are in, and, like the Minister, will admit to their shortcoming in this regard.
Helasingha Bandara is simply nit picking.
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Hiran / November 23, 2015
The writer is making a ludicrus point; actually he’s making little sense and belittling himself — read the other comments. What matters is that for more than 5 hours the hon. Minister did a valiant job and he presented a visionary budget with aplomb. I fail to understand as to why cheap articles are given such prominence and publicity to in the Colombotelegraph. Poor fella, Find a life!
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KP / November 23, 2015
This is the start of Yahapalanaya. This is the way they think and act.However, it is not respected by many votters. That’s why they need a sinhala pambaya on the top. However, the country is rulled by this type of ideots. We can see many in the near future.
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The Rogue Ayer / November 23, 2015
“First, let us look at his claim that he cannot pronounce Sinhala words, at least some of them. This leaves him in the category of incapable, inefficient, untalented, unsuitable, incompetent people because he cannot pronounce English either, obvious isn’t it?”
I cannot any Sinhala and my English is bad. Maybe honorable Ravi is a Tamil also?
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Native Vedda / November 24, 2015
The Rogue Ayer
“I cannot any Sinhala and my English is bad. Maybe honorable Ravi is a Tamil also?”
The Sinhalese speak Singlese and the Tamils speak Thanglish.
Is it a problem?
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Goraka / November 23, 2015
Believe it or not – Sri Lankans got a very weak culture.
We will rather wear like westerners, or smoke cigarette, marry like westerners, speak English, write in English, drink whiskey, gamble, etc. at a drop of a hat.
We might say we don’t like it, but we do it anyway, INCLUDING ME.
We call it progress, I call it a weak culture.
I am part of the problem.
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Sam Thesham / November 23, 2015
So! Ravi K cannot speak sinhalese fluently. What about it.
Its not a big deal. All Sri Lankan politicians can speak their mother tongue fluently but repeat but they are robbing the country left right and centre. I was educated at two good schools in the english language, i can speak, read and write sinhalese but not fluently so where does that place me ????????????????????????????
Am i uneducated ! no i am not. Thank you.
I am trying to improve my sinhalese as best as i can.
At least Ravi K is a Chartered Accountant.
What are the other politicos qualifications. ????????????????????????
Yes ! they are qualified to rob, cheat, lie, act like thugs, rape, murder etc etc.
Mr Bandara , please brush your teeth and take a bath.
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