24 June, 2025

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Re-Engaging With Diaspora Will Contribute To Reconciliation

By Jehan Perera

Jehan Perera

There are indications that the government wishes to restart the reconciliation process that came to a halt with the defeat of the former government in November 2019 after four years of its rule and with many of its pledges unfulfilled. The victory of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the presidential elections brought the internationally backed reconciliation process to a halt. During the time of the previous government international experts set up offices, some even in the Prime Minister’s Office to work on reconciliation mechanisms. Two of them saw the light of day—the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations. However, the potentially most important one, the Truth-seeking Commission fell off the table due to the infighting between the former president and prime minister.

Government members might deny that the reconciliation process ever stopped and so that restarting it becomes irrelevant. But with the rise of Covid and the downturn of the economy they cannot, in good faith, use the government’s favourite formula for reconciliation which is development. NGO members have been publicly chastised by government officials for focusing their attention on the matters relating to reconciliation, whereas the priority as seen by these government officials are bread and butter issues that will directly impact on the development process. This accounts for the criticism levelled against the reconciliation process. They have described reconciliation programs as a waste of time and money.

The president’s tweet has put the government’s commitment to reconciliation back on the table in a more focused manner. “We are committed to work with the @UN to ensure accountability & human dev. to achieve lasting peace & reconciliation. We are dedicated to resolving the issues within the democratic & legal frame to ensure justice & reconciliation by implementing necessary institutional reforms.”-Tweet by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa July 21, 2021. It is only after the President’s tweet that it can be said with any reasonable amount of confidence that the government is accepting of the need for reconciliation that goes beyond development and encompasses the more politically controversial areas of peace, reconciliation, accountability and institutional reform.

Serious Commitment 

The question remains regarding the government’s seriousness of commitment to the reconciliation process and whether the president’s tweet was only words or words that could become tangible manifestations of deeds. Making his words correspond to deeds, the president recently met with a group of committed peacebuilding NGO leaders to whom he explained his thinking on a wide range of topics but with a focus on reconciliation. He also said he would like to work with them to take forward the process of reconciliation. On the other hand, barely a week later the Ministry of Defence which reports directly to the president has presented a proposal to the cabinet of ministers to bring all NGOs under one authority but without discussing the contents of this proposal with the NGOs or even making the draft available to them.

Another statement by the president during his meeting with the peacebuilding NGOs was regarding the holding of provincial council elections soon. He mentioned that he had a discussion with the Election Commission and advised them to come with a plan to hold the elections and make the necessary legal amendments in the law for this purpose. On the other hand, the government’s coalition partner, the SLFP which is headed by former president Maithripala Sirisena has put forward a proposal to the constitutional reform committee that provincial councils should be replaced by the much smaller sized district councils. This is a throwback to the early 1980s when this scheme was tried and failed. The district as a unit of devolution has never been accepted by the Tamil political parties and it is hardly likely to get their assent at this time.

The desire of a section of the government to limit the size of the unit of devolution of power to the district is on account of the long standing apprehension that the Tamil people want a separate state as their final goal. But this was not the way that the demand for the devolution of power began. This was highlighted by Dr Nirmala Chandrahasan, the daughter of one of the founders of the Federal Party, Dr E M V Naganathan, whose 50th death anniversary was commemorated recently with local and international participation on Zoom. She said that her father had wanted a federal solution to make the Tamil and Sinhalese people partners rather than antagonists. He had said “the Sinhalese people are our friends; the unitary constitution is our enemy.” The vision he had was of a united country in which the Sinhalese and Tamils worked together collaboratively rather than undermine each other.

Tamil Diaspora 

There were many participants at the webinar on the late Dr Naganathan who were from the Diaspora. There are an estimated 3 million members of the Diaspora today, most of them Tamil. Many of them have done well in their adopted lands and hold positions of influence and wealth. They can be a great asset to Sri Lanka’s development if they can be convinced that the reconciliation process is for real and is not a short term one for narrow political purposes. At that webinar was a member of the Diaspora who had come back to Sri Lanka and spent nearly five years working in the north for the displaced people there, only to leave the country after the Easter bombings when the security forces began to look at anyone out of the ordinary, and especially from the Diaspora, with suspicion.

In March of this year, the government banned 15 Tamil Diaspora organisations and 424 persons after it lost the vote at the UN Human Rights Council on Resolution 46/1. The government had reason to be upset as the resolution authorized the setting up of a special unit in the UN High Commissioner’s office to gather information and evidence on human rights violations taking place in Sri Lanka. But whether the knee jerk reaction to ban the diaspora organisations was a wise one is the question. This action has set in motion a vicious cycle in which these organisations and individuals will work in opposition to the Sri Lankan state rather than seek to support it. It is significant that in the aftermath of these bans, the Ontario Parliament in Canada passed a resolution on genocide in Sri Lanka, the US Congress has a pending resolution on the failure to negotiate a political solution and the EU Parliament’s resolution threatening GSP Plus withdrawal was passed.

One of the prerequisites of a reconciliation process is to rebuild trust that has been lost as a result of conflict. The government has already embarked upon a confidence building process by releasing 16 long term LTTE prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act with more such releases in the pipeline. The government has also pledged to revise the PTA in accordance with international standards due to the recommendations of the Nawaz Commission which has been set up to look into the recommendations of previous commissions. Another confidence building measure could be the lifting of the ban on the Tamil Diaspora organisations which were banned instantly following Geneva failure. Engaging in constructive dialogue with them will determine whether they become friends and not enemies in Sri Lanka’s bid for development, as envisioned more than half century ago by Dr E M V Naganathan.

Latest comments

  • 25
    3

    Jehan Perera,

    I appreciate your point of view on reconciliation. However there are several fundamental matters that need be rectified by the Sinhalese lead Sri Lankan state.

    The Tamil diaspora is wealthy you say: How did they achieve wealth and recognition? Hard work, education and employment based on talent and most important of all corruption-free environment in the Western countries where they are settled.

    Morally and financially corrupt Sinhalese politicians resorted to the corrupt way through racism to come to power and stay in power. The present government including the president resorted to extreme racism and gained massive power: This way they are corrupt no only themselves but they have poisoned the minds of majority of Sinhalese to be morally corrupt by becoming extremely racist.

    Unless these fundamental problems are addressed peace, democracy and prosperity are illusive dreams for Sri Lankans.

    Who will bell these big cats – the racist pride of Sinhalese lions?

    • 1
      12

      Thiru,
      There are two Tamil Diasporas. One is LTTE Tamil Diaspora and the other Non-LTTE Tamil Diaspora. What you say is true for Non-LTTE Tamil Diaspora and I doubt very much they are interested in Sri Lanka any more. LTTE Tamil Diaspora earned their money mainly through human trafficking, arms smuggling, drug business, credit card scams and extortions from Non-LTTE Tamil Diaspora. They might be interested in bringing their ‘Black Money’ to Sri Lanka to convert them to ‘White Money.
      —-
      “How did they achieve wealth and recognition? Hard work, education and employment based on talent…”

    • 12
      2

      Reconciliation can only come about with truth and justice. When there is no desire to admit the truth and no commitment to deliver justice, this is an empty rhetoric. With UNHRC meeting on the horizon and Economic sanctions on the cards, naturally government has to do something to hoodwink the world that they are serious. Change of foreign minister post from hardline Dinesh Gunawardena to soft spoken Prof. Peiris is an exercise to tell the world that they are serious about engaging with UN and EU. Once the UNHCR sessions are off, where they have escaped strictures and have bought time, the matter will be dropped. Unlike Tamil politicians, sincere members of Tamil diaspora cannot be bought over by force or money.

      • 1
        3

        Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
        “Reconciliation can only come about with truth and justice.”
        —–
        Agree. But the problem is Tamils do not want to face the truth that they started the war against Native Sinhalayo and they do not want justice to be served to the real victims of Tamil terrorism who are Sinhalayo.
        The word “reconciliation” has lost its force and meaning because Tamils are using it as a tool to cover up atrocities committed by them against Sinhalayo, blame the Government and majority Sinhalayo and dictate terms to the Government and Sinhalayo. Reconciliation is a two way thing.

  • 20
    2

    Continuation of my comment.

    I missed a very important factor: Rule of law.

    According to a famous Nobel prize winning economist prosperity and upward mobility are hard to achieve for people in the lower ranks of a society where rule of law is missing.

    People in the diaspora are, I am sure, wise enough to know this factor. They would be foolish to invest their hard earned money in Sri Lanka where rule of law is lacking.

    Look at Singapore which strictly adheres to rule of law and find willing investors from all over the world including companies and individuals.

    • 1
      3

      Thiru,
      “Look at Singapore which strictly adheres to rule of law and find willing investors from all over the world including companies and individuals.”
      —-
      Sri Lanka could not attract investors not because there was no ‘Rule of Law’ but because there was no peace and stability due to Tamil terrorists that terrorized the country for 33 years. Singapore was lucky, they did not have separatist Tamils.

  • 11
    2

    Haven’t we heard this over and over leading up to UNHRC. This time there is a bonus with GSP on the chopping block and Fx drained as never before.

  • 6
    1

    Mr. Jehan Perera’s sentiments are good, but unfortunately they inhabit the no-man’s land in the increasingly polarized mentality of Eelam separatism and Sinhala-Buddhist exclusivism.

    • 5
      2

      ASD
      Yes, then can we stop at complaining?
      Cannot some of be a little more positive?
      I do not suggest taking off from JP’s ideas, but at a mass level.

  • 18
    1

    Third point I like to mention is that over seven decades large numbers of Tamils have lost their properties, lives and raped by marauding Sinhalese mobs in periodic pogroms instigated by Sinhalese politicians. The ruling Sinhalese politicians are now at their worst since independence.

    Furthermore the Sinhalese dominated Sri Lankan state has stolen Tamil people’s lands and colonized with Sinhalese from the South. Armed forces also grab Tamil people’s lands to do vegetable gardens while the Tamils have lost their livelihood.

    What makes the Tamil diaspora to believe that things are different now? Conditions in Sri Lanka are not conducive for overseas investment by anybody until the house is cleaned up free from racism, corruption and rule of law strictly adhered to. Only vultures like China will hover over Sri Lanka to plunder whatever they could at bargain prices.

    • 2
      7

      Thiru,
      Do Sinhalayo have to remind Tamils million times that telling Native Sinhalayo colonize their own country is absurd. The truth is Dravidians brought to Yapanaya by Portuguese and Dutch are occupying land belonged to Sinhalayo in NE and claim NE is their ‘Traditional Homeland’.
      —–
      “Furthermore the Sinhalese dominated Sri Lankan state has stolen Tamil people’s lands and colonized with Sinhalese from the South.”

    • 4
      10

      “large numbers of Tamils … raped by marauding Sinhalese mobs in periodic pogroms instigated by Sinhalese politicians.”
      *
      T, is this not a little over the top?

  • 8
    12

    No one in SL wants reconciliation anymore.

    • 5
      1

      Gatam: You can choose between Reconciliation and the Begging Bowl!

      • 0
        0

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8ZoqE6MoTA

        Worry not! Very soon Sri Lanka is going to be a Chinese colony Enjoy while you can..

        • 1
          0

          Burt

          Thanks for the link.
          Palki Sharma not only has brains but she is also very attractive presenter.
          Which one first drew you to her?

    • 3
      3

      GATAM,
      Oh No! For some people ‘Reconciliation’ is their bread and butter. They want to keep it alive.

    • 6
      1

      Have you conducted a survey?
      Speak for yourself.

  • 2
    8

    President Rajapakshe should lay down few conditions to restart reconciliation.
    1. Accept that Tamils who passed Vaddukkodei Resolution to create a separate State for Dravidians brought to Yapanaya by Portuguese and Dutch and declared war against Sinhalayo are the aggressor and Native Sinhalayo are the victims.
    2. Tamils who waged war against Native Sinhalayo should apologize for the atrocities committed by them against Sinhalayo for three decades.
    3. Tamils should say they are willing to live in Sri Lanka accepting that Sri Lanka is a ‘Unitary State’ and will never talk about separate State, Federal System or Devolution of power.
    4. Tamils should withdraw all charges fabricated against Sri Lanka Armed Forces.
    5. Tamils should return all the land grabbed by Tamils and Muslims after Sinhalayo were chased away from NE.
    6. Tamil politicians should stop distorting the history of Sinhale.
    7. Tamil politicians should stop making statements like ‘Sinhalayo are not welcome in the North’, ‘Buddhist temples should not be built in the North’.

    • 9
      1

      Eagle Kilavan, as per the latest DNA analysis done in 2019. The Eezhm Thamizh and the Kandyan Chingkallams ( not the recent South Indian origin Radalla and Pandarans) but the actual Kandyan peasansts are very closely related. Further the DNA of ancient Chingkalla Purana villagers who live around Sigiriya, whose theri ancestory can be traced to the era of Chingkalla kings from 6AD, and have no outside interaction, is the closest to the Eezham Thamizh from the north and east, that even to the other Chingkallams like you , who are all mongreals and descended from recent South Indian immigrants, Portuguese,Malays, Dutch, British and everthing else. Proving that the ancient Chingkallams were Dravidians , who spoke either proper Thamizh, like the Naga or the local semi Thamizh dialect Elu loke most Yakka. It is only after the arrival of Buddhism and Pali/Prakrit and Sanskrit language that came with it, semi Thamizh Elu became Hela( old Chingkallam) and Chingkallam became Sinhale and the lion fairy tale was concocted to justify this name, that is really a Prakritized veriosn of the ancient Thamizh name Chingkallam. You can keep on lying but DNA does not lie. orginal Chingkallams from Purana villages are very closely related to Eezham Thamizh, than to other Chingkalla hybrids like you. All the low caste South Indian imports that the Portuguese and Dutch brought, have all become Chingkallams.

      • 1
        4

        Pandi Kutti,
        Give me the source.

        “as per the latest DNA analysis done in 2019.”

    • 4
      2

      Blind Eagle
      Who asked the reconciliation…?
      We don’t need anything from this shit Lanka, TNA are just political brokers
      their concern is government pension and concession free vehicle permit,

      Your Rajathuma don’t have to to do anything we the diaspora are very safe and happily enjoying the scenes what are happening in Shit Lankan native Sinhalayo,
      Now the Singa leys going to burn the corpses using tyres …Does it ring the bell..?
      Karma is inevitable , by the way pass the message to your Mr.Gotler. It
      doesn’t matter whether he reconcile or not we won’t spare a single penny to Shit Lanka, because we don’t want break the sweat of endless “Sapa”

  • 7
    2

    “Reconciliation” word is used to many resolutions at a time when there is a pressure from International community and it is passed 12 years and now the President and the parliament is talking about it again when there is a pressure after EUs threat of removal of GSP Plus, recent USA Senate resolution on Sri Lanka and forthcoming UNHRC resolution in September 2021.

    At the end of the war, Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa in front of UN Sec council Secretary council promised many things including reconciliation, reconstruction, political solution, 13 Plus, and others. What happened over the 12 years is cheat, promise, cheat, promise but nothing happened on this but many things happened. They include militarization, colonization, land grab, Task force to change the historical facts and cultural destruction and many other.
    You cannot have a reconciliation with the same attitude. Tamil speaking people should not fall into the trap of talks or discussions or invest a single penny unless the changes they promised are implemented permanently and ensure these changes are irreversible.

    • 1
      5

      Ajith,
      “They include militarization, colonization, land grab, …”
      —-
      Please check the meaning of ‘Colonization’ before you use the keyboard next time.
      It was Tamils who came to Yapanaya to help Portuguese and Dutch to exploit the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo that grabbed land belonged to Native Sinhalayo in NE after chasing them out and came out with the bogus claim ‘Traditional Homeland’.

    • 3
      0

      Ajith you are correct I saw that on Australian TV to in 2009 too , Rajapakse when interviewed soon after May 2009, promised reconsruction , reconciliation, just Tamil rights and 13A Plus . He also praised India, west and other countries for their immense and support help to win the war against the LTTE . Now India and the west are blinking. They helped the Sinhalese to win the war against the island’s Tamils, who were fighting for their just rights, against state terrorism and opression against them, thingking that the Sri Lankan government will reward them with all sorts of facilities and concession in the island. They would have even buried the issue of the Sri Lankan Tamils and the war crimes commited against them foreever from the attention of the world, if China had not swooped in and got all the rewards.

      • 3
        0

        Now this current concern for human rights and the crocodile tears shed about the plight of the island’s Tamils and the toothless resolutions that are beign passed against Sri Lanka in the UN, is just an eyewash and a tactic, by the west and India, to press the cunning Sinhalese to wean them away from China. India still is overtly and covertly supportign the Sinhalese , as it is largely run by anti Tamils. North Indians, Malayalis and some people who call themselves Tamil but in reality against any Tamil, other than themselves or Tamils from their own caste. Even if China is at its southern doorstep the anti Tamis in Delhi will still support the Sinhalese . The SriLanka government is also cunningly playing the west, India and China against each other and in the meantime destroy the Tamils. If the Sri Lankan government returns to the bossom of the west and India, notice the Tamil, human rights, war crimes and other issues will become a non issue and will be surpressed. The Tamil issue and reconciliation is being used for Sri Lanka to toe the line. No genuine concern for the Tamils from the time Britain gave independene to now. We are not white Europeans or light skinned wester Asians. Another dark South Asian people so who cares

  • 2
    1

    JP, Writers analyse and argue. Next generalize and speak on behalf of imaginary people who are supposed to resist without even taking a vote from them. Pride has overtaken the know alls as the majority are silent. What we read are opinions and not truth. We do want reconciliation without wars but then no arms deals. We do want peace and rest but most agendas work on chaos. We do want education when the push is for militarization. There is no doubt that the diaspora can be a great investment asset, but the pride of SB will get touched. If there is just one brain at the top, Covid will die as the Wuhan release of more mutants is nullified with a new vaccine. Humans can benefit so much in this island paradise simply living in the reality of truth

    • 3
      3

      dtg
      You sound as if you are in possession of the Truth, nothing but the Truth’.

      • 0
        1

        SJ, I am sure that you are aware of what Jesus said to Thomas. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14,6 . To be in possession, one needs to believe in the heart, speak with the mouth and act on that word in faith. Then when that manifests in real life, there is no difficulty to believe all other revelations as well

        • 0
          0

          dtg
          I am also aware of many other people who found other ways that helped them and humanity as a whole.
          JC is just one option.
          I think that you should try polytheism. I can assure you that it is more fun and most relaxing.

  • 7
    0

    Jehan Perera
    Why do you keep lying that there was ever any reconciliation in the NE of Sri lanka since 2009?
    In reality we are seeing the exact opposite since the war ended.

  • 3
    1

    Jehan Perera,
    I appreciate your incessant efforts to bring reconciliation among communities in Sri Lanka. Failures do not weaken your sprite. You have the stamina to face all criticism with courage.

    One day , our quarrelling communities will reconcile since there is no alternative to reconciliation.

    If not today it should succeed sooner or later.

    It is the bounden duty of all thinking people to jointly campaign and do everything possible to succeed.

  • 2
    8

    The tweet is against the Sinhala-Buddhist mandate given to the president. What Sri Lanka should do is buy time. Criminal western imperialists’ supremacy over the world is rapidly declining. Sri Lanka’s friend China is the next super power. Young Africans are angry to the core with criminal western imperialists for utter barbaric ways they have been treated since 15th century. There for African continent will definitely be allied with superior China.
    /
    Sinhalese don’t need reconciliation because they gave their last answer to Tamils in Nandicadal mangrow lagoon on 18 May 2009. Tamils enjoy far more privileges in Sri Lanka than in Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, or even in Tamil India.
    /
    NGOs must be regulated. They should be transparent and must be able to prove who funds them. But the government of Sri Lanka has the right to ban any person or organisation deemed a threat to national security.
    /
    Jehan, problem is solved. Don’t keep the fire going. Find something else to write about.

  • 7
    1

    Interesting how there is all this sudden talk of reconciliation when it seems china is not going to save sri lanka and the west has refused to help unless the communal problems on the island are solved.

    • 1
      5

      Humble,
      “…unless the communal problems on the island are solved.”
      —-
      A guy who said Tamils cannot live with Native Sinhalayo and proposed to create a separate State for Dravidians came to Yapanaya to help Portuguese and Dutch to exploit the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo and declared war against Native Sinhalayo live in a luxury house provided by Sinhalayo in Colombo 7. All the Tamil politicians who scream that Sinhalayo carried out genocide of Tamils also live in Colombo amongst Sinhalayo who they consider as their arch enemy. No Tamils have returned to their so called ‘Traditional Homeland’ after Tamil terrorists were defeated but more Tamils are leaving the so called ‘Traditional Homeland’ and coming to South to live amongst Sinhalayo.

      Muslims are scattered all over the island and live amongst Sinhalayo without any problem.

      So what communal problems are you talking?

  • 3
    0

    JP, I wish to further state that without reconciliation between aggrieved parties, there can be no reconciliation between man and his living creator who gave humans his living breath. No big bangs or evolution can create life. When humans die, this life giving breath goes back to where it came from and which is called the spirit of man. No devil has power to stop it. Most of our religious dilemmas are with regard to the soul of man or his personality which can have enlightened mind, will which is free to choose good or evil, and emotions which reflect either the nature of the creator like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control or the nature of the fallen devil like anger, fear, doubt, unbelief, immorality, pride, hatred, idol worship, murder, sorcery, selfish ambition etc The soul having creator like nature is attached to his spirit at death, but the creator will not accept the foul soul which religions say dies but it cannot vanish. So reconciling with diaspora is the better choice.

    • 3
      4

      Your shopping list for bad things has “idol worship”.
      Does it cover Virgin Mary?

      • 1
        0

        S.J,
        I think D is more of a Bible- thumping type than a Virgin Mary type.

  • 0
    2

    SJ, Genuine virgin Mary of the gospels, the mother of Jesus, a widow at the cross, was handed to his beloved believing disciple John to take care of. After the resurrection when they saw Jesus and believed in him, Mary and her other children were part of 120 in the upper room for Pentecostal birth of the church, they became part of it. The dormition abbey near the upper room is where she died. She was buried in the kidron valley at foot of mount of olives, current church of the sepulcher the tomb of Mary, all of which I have visited. What caused human confusion was Semiramis in old testament times, the wife of dead Nimrod, satanic counterfeit to mimic the virgin birth, through temple prostitutes. She was called queen of heaven and produced a son and has been worshipped mother/son in many countries as Ishtar. But Jer.44, 3 and 8 forbid them as idol gods, long before Mary’s time. Infant Jesus grew up, crucified, resurrected, ascended, glorified, coming again to Jerusalem, hence the satanic battle of nations against Jerusalem.

    • 2
      0

      dtg
      I asked a simple question.
      I will rephrase it:
      Will you denounce the worship of Virgin Mary as idol worship?

      • 0
        1

        SJ, Worship levels needs definition. Even Buddhists worship clergy and parents with bowing, hindu gods, kaliamma, gnanakka, all at varying levels of surrender to them. God’s 10 commandments in Deut.5 and Exod.20 speaks of heart worship from the creator. “I am your god, no other gods, not bow and serve as sin goes down bloodline for generations.” Even disciple of Jesus got it wrong, John worshipping a revelatory angel. Rev.19,10. The wonder of god’s kingdom is that repentance leads to forgiveness and hence not denounced or judged for failure, when through heart revelation coming in a later stage of life transforms one who is truly worshipping creator, redeemer, almighty god. Trying to put virgin Mary who is called “blessed” into an ancient fake Semiramis called “queen of heaven” is a deceptive process already used to put islam and church together in a one world religion which even includes snake charmers and other demon worshipping occultists. Adam walked and talked with God only.

        • 0
          2

          SJ, To go a little further, you want a simple answer, but we are dealing with a topic which is not quite so simple. Virgin Mary was not just only historically real and genuine but the birth of Jesus was not just the usual natural union of sperm and egg. Luke 1,35 says God’s spirit on her and his power over her put in her womb the holy son of God, sinless so he could pay for sin of all. Jesus is coming back to Jerusalem. There is a cloud of witnesses in paradise but there is no record in bible of Mary coming back on visitations to earth, and calling humans to come to her. In Cana, real Mary said “Whatever Jesus says to you do” So there is Mary and also fake queen of heaven, and God says “No other gods but me “

          • 0
            0

            dtg
            I did not ask for an explanation.
            I asked, do you or do you not approve of worshiping Virgin Mary?
            You are reluctant to say yes or no.
            I do not mind it either way.
            *
            Have you considered the possibility that Mary was kept busy with chores assigned by God and got late to return, perhaps why the Bible missed out on her rerturn.
            *
            Muslims truly believe in “no other gods but me” (Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! La ilaha illa Allah.) and call Muhammed, Jesus and Moses “Nabi” (God’s messenger).
            If Jesus is son of God, he is the closest to God that humanity got.
            So people worship him. But is it not idol worship?
            Then what about his mother (Holy Mary mother of God).
            Is not She deserving of worship if her son by God is?
            *
            Islam seems most consistent with your rejection of idol worship.
            But polytheism is more democratic. It gives you choice.
            *
            There are new faiths like Vaxism and Antivaxism.
            They are all the fad now the world over.
            The Vaxers are at the throat of Antivaxers and vice versa.
            Any thoughts?

            • 0
              1

              SJ, You want short answers which are superficial. Accept the evil one still alive and twists truth to deceive, like the 2 trees. So when vaccines openly say how prepared, they are a help on earth from creator god Jehovah to protect even those who do not believe in him but only the vaccine. But atheistic communism is antigod and suspicious even for vaccines. So people are wary. Allah discovered 500 years after Jesus resurrection and disputes Jesus, putting Mohammed above and has nothing to do with creation, and can’t forgive. The final battle is for Jerusalem to which Christ will return, satan preventing. Islam accepts human Mary but not divine Jesus. See the deception only sorted out through bible and nature of Jehovah. Mother of god not in bible, only mother of Jesus when born human. God is theocracy with one plan only.

              • 0
                0

                I thought that my last answer was a little too long.
                Islam respects Jesus as a messenger of God.
                That is very decent of them.
                Will you not think that the ‘Son of God’ claim is rather unscientific.
                This guy God has reportedly told different stories to different people at different times. Is His plan to confuse people?
                Either he is a liar or those who interpret him are liars.
                *
                I think that an open ended faith renders the mind healthy.
                If you really cannot do without a ‘God’, try polytheism.
                It is very rich in literature.
                If you want to be true to your intelligence the choice is between atheism and agnosticism– boring though.

                • 0
                  0

                  S.J,
                  You seem to have run into another eel.

                  • 0
                    0

                    Didn’t the Virgin Mary predict that Russia would be converted? But sadly, it didn’t take to the flavour of Christianity that the recipient of the prediction followed.

                • 0
                  0

                  SJ, While thanking you for every effort at polytheism, the triune creator God alone inspired 40 authors over 1500 years to tell history as one story in advance, so that when events occur, faith rises re its truth. That is exciting and not boring, as restoration promised is to be like Adam intimately walking and talking with God. Use your intelligence to read one gospel for eg Matthew and see for yourself.

                  • 0
                    0

                    SJ,
                    Are you satisfied?
                    A triune God, says David. So you have three gods for the price of one.

  • 5
    1

    Pandi kutti’s comments are perfect.Don’t know to what extent the people like Eagle can understand DNA and things like that. According to the Mahavamsa – a fabricated story the sinhalayo’s ancestors is a lion and further you descended from Vijaya who was deported by his father with 700 Sinhalayo from India. Who were brought in from India? The tamils or the Vijaya/lion descended Sinhalayo? Does the Eagle know that Daluwatte signed the kandyan convention in tamil. The last King of kandy Sri Wicrama Rajasinga is a Tamil. Sri lanka will never see development until the sinhalayo come out of Sinhala- buddhist mind set.

  • 5
    0

    Hey Sivasegaram (SJ), the sick-minded,
    So you have kept a count whenever our womenfolk were raped and ravished during periodic pogroms ? What is the precise number you will dismiss as trivial? You freak out even on sensitive issues, miserable guy.

    —————–

    large numbers of Tamils … raped by marauding Sinhalese mobs in periodic pogroms instigated by Sinhalese politicians.”
    *
    T, is this not a little over the top?

    • 0
      5

      KSN
      I did not make any claims.
      *
      It was someone else who said “large numbers of Tamils … raped by marauding Sinhalese mobs in periodic pogroms instigated by Sinhalese politicians.”
      Ask him for the count.
      *
      Are you cured now?

      • 0
        0

        KSN
        Seems not yet.
        Sorry about it.

  • 4
    0

    If you study the Tamil diaspora all over there is a common thread. Majority of them fled Sri Lanka soon after a race riot 1958/59 1970s 1983, during the war years.

    The professional class were able to find a job and progress. Others showed the real Tamil resilience and set up business whether it a restaurant or a travel Agency or grocery chain or international telecom business or construction business etc etc etc

    The Tamil diaspora left Sri Lanka without a penny. !

    However the diaspora all over the world have a common thread to unite them. The old school, the family , the village they come from the suffering.

    Thanks to Sri Lanka Sinhala Buddhist Racism to drive out the Tamil diaspora from Sri Lanka , now collectively the GDP of Tamil diaspora is higher than Sri Lanka.

    The foreign exchange remittance of Tamil Diaspora is helping Sri Lanka FX reserves

    But unfortunately the Tamil Diaspora is also disunited….the curse of the Tamils of Sri Lanka…disunity .

    In Sri Lanka Tamils don’t have a united voice
    In the Diaspora its the same

    so Jehan “Re-Engaging With Diaspora Will Contribute To Reconciliation”
    not sure with which diaspora organisation you want to reunite

    • 1
      4

      “Thanks to Sri Lanka Sinhala Buddhist Racism to drive out the Tamil diaspora from Sri Lanka , now collectively the GDP of Tamil diaspora is higher than Sri Lanka.”
      Then what the hell is the Tamil Diaspora complaining about?
      Are they unhappy that the next pogrom will drive out the Muslims and not Tamils?
      *
      BTW
      The Gujarati were driven out of Uganda first by Milton Obote in the late 60s and then more brutally by Idi Amin in the 70s.
      When it comes to wealth, can any Tamil hold a candle to an average Gujarati businessman?

    • 1
      0

      Rajash

      SJ types:

      “When it comes to wealth, can any Tamil hold a candle to an average Gujarati businessman?”

      Were you comparing wealth of Diaspora Gujarati to Tamil Diaspora?
      No way one could evaluate the wealth of these two communities leave alone rest of the world.
      Is SJ implying that it was because of the stupidity of Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka (Tamil, Burgher, & Sinhala exodus preceded in Sri Lanka) Idi Amin did what he did in 1970s to Gujarati population in Uganda?

  • 2
    0

    The following illustrates how rule of law and property rights go hand in hand:

    “If you are dead you cannot own land. It’s a fact that has led to innumerable cases in India of people being registered dead and dispossessed of their property – and many have discovered that there is very little they can do about it, writes the BBC’s Chloe Hadjimatheou.”

    • 0
      0

      “If you are dead you cannot own land.”
      Is that why the British say “The King is dead. Long live the King”?
      Does that makes sure that the owner of all land is never dispossessed?

      • 2
        0

        The idea behind this is something similar to “Perpetual Existence” an essential attribute of Company/Corporation.

  • 3
    1

    JP’s expected show within Sori Sinhala Lanka flopped because the show started with climax scene – Sori Sinhala Lanka’s attorney general withdrew the case against Navy commander for the murder of 11 Tamils on the road, leave alone this is smaller than eye drop in the ocean of other Tamils’ tears.

    Now, engaging diaspora is being enacted.

    There are unconfirmed reports of Sori Sinhala Lanka demanding the US,

    1) to shut off all actions, protests etc.by Tamil diaspora in the name of terrorism in all countries where US has influence (mainly the West), including in international forums.

    2) Instigate the UN to ban LTTE permanently

    3) Deal with Sori Sinhala Lanka on its own in all affairs, i.e. not via Hindia.

    Trinco deal is said to be the price the Sori Sinhala Lanka is prepared to pay in return.

    Recent Sumanthiran and Peris meeting with the presence of US ambassador is also viewed in this context too.

    This broad plan is said to be the brain child of none other than the fixer, Milinda Morogoda, who dragged the US to form international safety net against LTTE and Tamils.

    Then all these overtures of reconciliation, accommodation, Gota’s tweet etc., are pretension to set the stage for US to take action on Sori Sinhala demands.

  • 3
    0

    There is will be no reconciliation, as the vast majority of the Sinhalese who are steeped and brainwashed by their Mahavamsa myth. Their politicians and their establishment do not want it. If there was a geninuine urge and will to reconcile it would have happened long ago. The LTTE would not have been born, there hardly would have been a Sri Lanka or Eelam Tamil diaspora and the 30 year old war. Just look at the past history and behaviour of the Sinhalese, their politicians and their establishment. Never wanted reconciliation and even if they did sign accords with the Tamil politicians and later an international agreement with India, broke it and dishonoured it and kept on fooling the world. What makes anyone think this past behaviour is going to change? Especially when they now think the Tamils are now defeated, thanks largely to India, the west and then China Pakistan and the rest of the world. All these countries are fighting with each other internationally but were united and helped the Sinhalese to defeat the Tamils and commit war crimes and structural genocide on them. Proves how cunning and good the Sinhaelse are in fooling the world and setting up one power against the other and getting what they want. They did this during ancient times, with the Cholas, Pandians, Cheras and Kalingas and are still doing it well.

    • 3
      0

      As for the Tamil politicians, there is nothing much to say especially the current TNA leadership. They had failed the Tamil people. Blindly agreed to unitary form of independence, gullibly trusing the Sinhalese politicians, withoug demanding a federal form of government and Tamil rights enshrined for all Tamil speakers. Eelam, Indian origin and Muslim Tamil. From the time of independence, brokering only,failing to achieve anything and given away everything. Land, employment, language rights, education , resulting in 1/3 of the Eelam Tamil population fleeing the island , half the Indian origin Tamil population made stateless and forcibly deported to India. This has now resulted in the Tamil population now reduced to 16% from the 26% at the time of independence up to the late early 60s. Britain also has to take blame. As they gave the island to the Sinhalese on a platter with no enshrined Tamil rights or a federal form of government. What was the TNA that was essential for the running of the so called Yahapalyama Sirisena/Ranil government doing. The answer nothing. Only feathering their nests and pensions. Could not even get the Tamil political prisoners released or even the North Kalmumai Tamil division, that is 95% Tamil made into a proper district or division.

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