19 March, 2024

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Reply To Emil van der Poorten’s Allegations

By Lakshman Kiriella

Lakshman Kiriella

Lakshman Kiriella

My ref : MPI/3/1/2/Gen – 08

May 2015

Mr. E.H. Van der Poorten
Halgolla 50 Acre Estate
Galagedara

Dear Sir,

Payment of subsidy for rubber producers in the Galagedara area on May 16th, 2015

Reference your undated letter addressed to me with the above title.

I have obtained a detailed report from the Director General of the Rubber Development Department on the contents of your above mentioned letter. According to the report provided by the Director General with relevant supporting documents, and the information I have gathered from the officers attended to the aforesaid function, I regret to inform you that the contents of your letter appears to be false, baseless, misleading and malicious.

Rubber Development Department has arranged 02 functions on 16th May at 9.30 AM at Hatharaliyadda and 11.30 AM at Galagedara. The primary function of these events was to educate rubber growers on the guaranteed price scheme. The meeting at Galagedara which you attended was scheduled to be held at 11.30 AM. I arrived there around 11.40 AM and therefore, it is absolutely incorrect to mention that I was two hours late. Further, Rubber Development Department has organized a training session for participants before my arrival, though your letter gives the impression that participants were made to wait long hours without any purpose until my presence.

There were 03 categories of participants invited for this programme.

Those who were qualified for the guaranteed price and to receive cheques.

Those who have applied but not get qualified due to various shortcomings in their applications.

Those who were invited to create awareness among rubber growers on the guaranteed price scheme.

According to the information available in the Rubber Development Department, you have been invited to attend this meeting as you come under the above second category. Although you have made an application on 30-04-2015 to receive guaranteed price concession with two invoices dated 25-03-2015 and 27-04-2015 for a total quantity of 716 kg, the Rubber Development Department officials have found that your land has not been registered with them, which is a mandatory requirement to be eligible for this payment. Then, the Rubber Development Department has taken prompt actions to conduct a preliminary inspection of your land and also to inform you to provide necessary documents for the registration, which you have failed to provide up to date. Accordingly, you have been invited for the event held in Galagedara to make you aware of the requirements and to complete the processing of the application if you provide the documents on that day, as all relevant officials were available at the event in your area. At no stage, any one from the Rubber Development Department has given you the hope that you would receive a cheque at the event.

Contrary to what you have mentioned in the letter, 173 cheques worth of around 3.7 million rupees were handed over to qualified rubber growers at this event. However, the Rubber Development Department acknowledges that 07 eligible farmers could not be granted cheques on that day due to a technical fault of the printing machine of the Accounts Division of the Regional Office. However, these farmers were also issued cheques on the next first working day.

I was also informed that many Rubber Development Department officials including the Director General and the Regional Deputy Director stayed at the premises after my departure to discuss with participants on their issues. It has been confirmed that you have not raised any issue in their presence. It suggests that your letter, which has been copied to media, is an attempt to give a wrong view about this programme, which has earned the confidence of rubber growers since its inception.

Please note that as the contents of your letter have been published in a news website, I am compelled to send a copy of this letter to the same website to make public aware of the actual situation pertaining to your allegations.

Yours faithfully,
Lakshman Kiriella (M.P.)
Minister of Plantation Industries

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Latest comments

  • 15
    2

    Thank you Minister for clraifying the issue and publishing a copy of your letter. These days a lot of news are published by different journalists and the innocent reading public are compelled to believe what is said there. Sometimes some of these journalists do not verify the facts before they present their essays. They want to present with explosive news.

  • 14
    3

    My3 need to change not just the political culture but the general culture from the ground up.

    Things like punctuality in everyone is woeful. Its also excused as “Sri Lankan time” as if to say its OK to keep people waiting.

    Integrity does not exist. If you promise to deliver then it must happen. If not provide adequate lead time to find alternate sources.

  • 1
    17

    Who is lying, Poorten or Kiri…

    Or should we rephrase… Who is the bigger and Better?..

    I thought this was all about the Cow Manure Dole .. Apparently it is not.

    Neither Poorten a small holder with 50 Acres of our Motherland under his belt..

    Wonder how many of those 5.8 Million who didn’t want Mahendran’s Mate Ranil or even this Kakka Face have even a 10 Perch block?.

    Yahapalanaya for Sure…..

    • 16
      0

      Good for Kiriella for replying unlike other ministers

      Good for CT as it shows that public figures tend to take the CT articles seriously like our buddy Kiriella

      Good for K A Sumanasekera as now his master will want to make burn midnight oil and write furiously defending and praising the MR regime,which mean Athal Sumane gets paid more frequently ;-)

      A win win situation for all,how cool is that ah

  • 13
    2

    At last, Laxman Kiriella has done something worthwhile (he is no plantation minister) in exposing this [Edited out] Vander Pooten (no) character for the lying, grandstanding fraud he is.

    Expcting the payment without meeting the legislative criterion of registering with the government is the sort of special treatment he expects from our country where he continues to reside as a foreigner.
    Such frauds are the biggest problem Sri Lanka faces.

    Thank you Mr Kiriella for put the matter right.

  • 3
    0

    [Edited out]

  • 8
    0

    Over to you Mr Van der Poorten ….

  • 12
    0

    I am a regular reader of CT and I have appreciated Mr. Van der Poorten’s contributions and I am also a supporter of yahapalanaya and to the return to the Rule of law and democracy. I have always associated honesty and responsibility with the actions of Mr. Kirialla.So I thank him for letting the readers of CT know his version of the incident referred to by Mr. Van der Poorten.

  • 14
    1

    Very good action by the Minister in issuing a prompt reply and copying to CT as well. This means that the Minister’s office is keeping a close tab on public complaints. Well done! Big difference to Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dictatorial attitude.

    If the Minister is right then I apologize for saying such Ministers must be kicked out.

    Now let us wait for Emil’s response. Did Emil make a mistake?

  • 2
    0

    There is an Intergritty crisis risen???????????
    Why would Vanderpooten bring in baseless allegations ?
    Something fishy?…..Personal or Official…..OR an oversight ?

    • 5
      0

      thondamannar:
      Intriguing comment. Perhaps a clue lies in previous contributions with regard to this Minister’s conduct vis a vis the proposed road through Udawattakelle and the matter of members of the current government “buying insurance” from the previous regime!
      No one’s perfect, but I’d never hesitate to pit my integrity against someone whose track record speaks far louder than any official pronouncements! No contest, in fact!

  • 4
    2

    Why….even the UNP don’t like colonial masters! Emil van der Poorten, as long as you are not smuggling in workers from TN, you have every right to the 3.5 million. That is a huge amount! I tell you what: open the job market to the Sinhalese. Use the 3.5 million to buy rubber-tapping machines. The Sinhalese will find it cool.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B4ZuwYTwug

    ps. are the trees harmed in any way? do they feel pain?

    • 0
      3

      Ramona Therese Fernando:
      Are you in some kind of competition with “Sumaney” for “Idiot of the week?” If you are, I’m glad that I do not have to judge any such contest! Also, with the kind name you bear, you should be a little careful going around making xenophobic comments, though!

      • 3
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        Hey….. I was being on your side ok! With a name like mine being xenophobic is an impossibility. Speak for yourself Van der Poorten.

  • 4
    1

    Tsk,Tsk……

    Pooten,

    Your reply is awaited …………

    Seems like you are ” another brick ” on the ” previous governance ” wall.

    I wonder why Colombo Telegraph entertains these sheets? (pun intended).

    Well, to each his own.

    • 1
      1

      Ahfzil:
      It is obvious the level of your literacy hasn’t permitted your comprehension of what I’ve had to say OVER SEVERAL YEARS PAST about the previous regime.
      Even though it seems that such conduct would be beyond your understanding, I happen to be one of those people who doesn’t express opinions on the basis of what I am paid by this or that politician.

  • 8
    0

    I was pleasantly surprised to read Minister Lakshman Kiriella’s response this morning.

    There is yahapalanaya in action right there.
    If it were 6 months ago Mr. Van Der Pooten would have had a response of a different sort!

    Today the minister comes out to tell his angle of the story. As we can see, this government seems to respect, citizens grievances. That’s how a democracy is run. Government of the people, by the people for the people.

    Whether the Minister is right or Mr. Van Der Poorten is right is not the highlight. The fact that a Minister cares enough to respond to a letter of complaint goes a long way to show that there is a marked improvement in Governance.

    If more ministers are to follow suit by actually getting to the bottom of matters arising, by being hands on, we would have a much better public service in Sri Lanka.

    Well done Minister. You make us proud.

  • 6
    0

    Dear Mr. Kiriella,

    For the first time in a long time, we are witnessing professional politics! And that is why we all elected people like you, RW …. etc.

    Carry on the good work. We wish you luck and success in all your Yahapalana endeavors. As for this “Shooting” brat the rascal has been caught with his pants down!

  • 9
    2

    ramona therese fernando

    “Why….even the UNP don’t like colonial masters! Emil van der Poorten, as long as you are not smuggling in workers from TN,”

    When did the last time anyone smuggle workers from TN?

    Are you mad?

    Irrespective of their race, religion and region Sri Lankans have been active smuggling their Kallathonies to Europe, Americas, Australia, Far and Middle East and incidentally TN has provided sanctuary to 150,000 in their homeland.

    They will help you to settle there whenever you decide to live in TN even though you are suffering from advanced stages of paranoia.

    • 4
      3

      Native,

      Let me help you attain greater depth of analysis:

      Your question : When did the last time anyone smuggle workers from TN?

      My Answer : Never! Previously to modern immigration, customs and coast-guard system, Indians came and went from our shore like nobody’s business. All were welcome and became Lankan, and especially Sinhalese if they were non-threatening. Only one time did they come in chain-gangs was when the British brought them over to work in the tea and rubber estates in the 18-1900’s. After that, they were given some kind of choice on whether to stay or go back to the motherland. As per Van der Poorten, I making an incongruous statement to highlight any unfairness by the Rubber Development Department for any rejection to his application.

      By Sri Lankan Kallithonies, I will take it that you mean all races of Sri Lanka. All races of Sri Lanka have been migrating all around the world in authorized ways according to modern immigration, customs and coastguard systems (there must be another one word for this department, of course).

      Some are refugees (or pretending to be refugees because they are enamored of life in the West) and left Sri Lanka because they refused to till the Lankan soil side by side with the Sinhalese.

      • 4
        3

        ramona therese

        “After that, they were given some kind of choice on whether to stay or go back to the motherland.”

        About 900,000 hard working people were made stateless over night in 1948.

        “left Sri Lanka because they refused to till the Lankan soil side by side with the Sinhalese”

        Why do the toiling Sinhalese also leave this island in thousands, to the west as Kallathonies and to Middle East Medieval kingdoms as serfs or slaves?

        • 4
          0

          Native Vedda,
          Estate Tamils were eventually given statehood. Countries like Malaysia who had South Indian workers sent most of them back when their terms of contract was over this happening at independence with the right of the country to send back unofficial expatriate workers and gain useful occupation for their citizens on their own people’s terms).

          Those Sinhalese/Lankans who go to the West are less than 1%. Yet they are the brains that should stay, and they are the brains who took a lot of the county money away with them. Those who go to the middle-east are those who are still suffering the effects of long-term war which resulted in a poor economic condition for the country – the reason being that the Tamils refused to till the soil with the Sinhalese and started terrorism.

          It might look like the Sinhalese chased away the Tamils, but it was more of Tamils deliberately swarming and swamping the whole country and especially the capital city to take over of what they felt belonged to them and only to them. If they had worked side by side with the Sinhalese and learned the language and customs, then it would have been their right to live wherever they wished. Likewise, in the North, Sinhalese should have been allowed to live in those areas and learn the language and customs of the Tamils.

          • 2
            2

            ramona therese fernando

            “Estate Tamils were eventually given statehood.”

            When were they given statehood (you meant citizenship)?

            “Malaysia who had South Indian workers sent most of them back when their terms of contract was over this happening at independence with the right of the country to send back unofficial expatriate workers and gain useful occupation for their citizens on their own people’s terms).”

            We are not discussing Malaya therefore stick to this island’s shameful history. What percentage of the estate labour force constitute Sinhalese? Perhaps 0%. Those hard working plantation workers’ enormous contribution cannot be simply dismissed as complying with contract. Most importantly they lost their citizenship after toiling and dying for many generations. The ownership of land still remains with the owners of the plantations though it was said the state was planning to redistribute it to the rightful Bhumiputras who refused to work in the estates. However Bhumiputras can’t stand work leave alone hard work.

            “Those Sinhalese/Lankans who go to the West are less than 1%. Yet they are the brains that should stay,”

            Seriously, if they are the brain why would they chose to work in Tamils owned restaurants, petrol station and mini super markets? And those brains want Tamil lawyers to act for them.

            “Those who go to the middle-east are those who are still suffering the effects of long-term war which resulted in a poor economic condition for the country”

            I am told that people were rushing to Middle East even in the early 1970s. The war is not the reason as to why they are forced to work in the medieval kingdoms.

            “It might look like the Sinhalese chased away the Tamils,”

            Of course they were forced to leave.

            Do you know how many Sinhala speaking people have claimed asylum in Australia in 2013, 4 years after the end of war? How did they go to Australia? Did they take Kallathonie or what?

            ” If they had worked side by side with the Sinhalese and learned the language and customs, then it would have been their right to live wherever they wished.”

            Why should they learn Sinhala in the first place? Why don’t the Sinhalese learn Tamil?

            What is Sinhalese custom? Oh I remember now, isn’t it about spreading white sheet under brides bum on her first night?

            Or is it about Sunday sil Monday kill?

            • 1
              0

              [Edited out]

              • 2
                2

                K.A Sumanasekera

                “[Edited out]”

                Have you given up on great majority inhabitants, dalits, Ranil, Ravi, Vellalas, Christian, Abraham, Diaspora, Cameron, ……. ?

                • 2
                  2

                  Dear Native,

                  I only tried to stand up for our Sinhala Culture and Sinhala customs..

                  It looks like not the right thing to do in Yahapalanaya , which all those you mentioned above have worked so hard to give to our great majority Inhabitant Population.

                  Nothing serious,,You can relax…

                  • 2
                    1

                    K.A Sumanasekera

                    “I only tried to stand up for our Sinhala Culture and Sinhala customs..”

                    Those who champion Sinhala culture, Sinhala customs and Sinhala/Buddhism seem to have lost the plot and do not know what these mean to them.

                    Now could you find time to do bit more research into the concepts of Sinhala culture, customs and Buddhism and let the readers know you know what you are talking about.

                    A word of caution, you know my Elders are active seekers of information, knowledge and wisdom. Therefore would you please stop your usual bull and directly address the issue?

                    “Nothing serious,,You can relax…”

                    I will not relax until you explained adequately.

                    Its not a crime if you have no clue about Sinhala culture, customs and Buddhism.

            • 3
              1

              Native Vedda,
              “By the 1990s most of these had been given Sri Lankan citizenship.” (Wikepedia on Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka).

              If we compare Sri Lanka to Malaysia, then we can see parallels and also realize a lesser degree of shame. The Indians felt truly blessed to come to Sri Lanka, compared to the ignominy and harsh life they left behind in India of which their families endured for over 4,000 years as per the Hindu caste system. In Sri Lanka, they were treated with some respect and dignity.

              Of course Sinhalese aren’t going to work as rubber tappers. It was their land that was taken over. Previously, for over a million years, they were living peacefully with the Buddhist religion (a Buddhism even prior to Gautama Buddha), in prosperous egalitarian little farms, within the cool climes of the fresh forests.

              But the British forced people to work like crazy. And for what? To fill their coffers so their aristocrats could lord over the world. And they are still at it!

              Sinhalese 1% went to the West because some blasted British and German came and told them they were descendants of Aryans (they also told that to Tutsis). So, fellows are trying to keep up to that resplendent notion of theirs. Those Nazis also told our gullible Sinhalese mutts of the purity of Aryan womanhood….and so Sinhalese, seeing also that Veddas did such things, decided to place the white sheet (but they learned these things from the Middle Easterners too). Previously to all these disturbances, Sinhalese were an egalitarian, forgiving, non-discriminatory people. They had their own cultural Buddhistic ways of dealing with family and marital issues with the faculty of reasoning, together with familial and communal advice, counseling and forgiveness. In this epoch, they have become plain Evil ! Things will change soon once their country is put back into normalcy and equanimity.

              Ps. all countries were rushing to the ME even in the 70’s. And yeah, Sinhalese can learn Tamil too if they go North – I mentioned that already.

              • 1
                1

                ramona therese fernando

                ““By the 1990s most of these had been given Sri Lankan citizenship.” (Wikepedia on Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka).”

                These facts should be in your finger tips rather than constantly referring to wiki.

                They were granted citizenship in 1988 after Hindians kicked JR harder, where it actually hurt him the most, his arrogance and vanity. Pending citizenship were given to 80,000 stateless people in 2003.

                “The Indians felt truly blessed to come to Sri Lanka, compared to the ignominy and harsh life they left behind in India of which their families endured for over 4,000 years as per the Hindu caste system.”

                Could you cite your evidence.

                Their life did got worse working for the Planters, while their employers and the country prospered which was not shared among the workers. Again you have proved your ignorance of history. Without their hard work and sacrifice you would not have enjoyed the standard of living that you you are proud of. Its their sweat and blood, that paid for your costs of imports including food and fuel and other luxuries. One is not expected to be grateful to these hard working people however one can refrain from denigrating these people who sacrificed their entire life feeding the arrogant, racist, and the most laziest.

                Your penultimate para does not deserve a response.

                “And yeah, Sinhalese can learn Tamil too if they go North – I mentioned that already.”

                Why aren’t the policemen and war criminals who are occupying the North learn Tamil?

                You are an ignorant and enjoy being a bigot.

                • 1
                  0

                  “Indian migrant workers in Malaysia – part 1”, written by Amarjit Kaur, who is a Professor of Economic History at the University of New England : “British India with its teeming poverty-stricken millions and caste-ridden society was the preferred provider for this labour.” (para2, section 2, lines 9-11)

                  Native Vedda,
                  In other words, from shanties with little food and constant begging, they came to places like Sri Lanka and were given housing and employment in cool climes of the up and mid country. From being kicked and trampled upon by the Hindu hierarchy of mother India, they were given their first ever taste of egalitarianism in the land of the Buddha. (some were forced a bit at first – hence the chain-gangs, but the British soon realized that these people came only too willingly).

                  Now Sinhalese could have worked on the estates, by why they should have done so. Their lands and livelihoods were taken away. If they worked in the estates for the British it would have made no sense because they would be working on their very own destroyed ancestral grounds for a foreign entity.

                  Can you imagine someone coming into your home, taking over and making you the servant? For their own security, the invaders would kick you out and take in others to serve them. If you did stay on(in spite of the humiliation), you would demand a decent wage at least. But if the invader to your house is a capitalist hell bent on making the most amount of money, he certainly would not keep you. You would be out in the streets begging for your next meal. So, whilst the South Indians were busy working hard for their sustenance (thanking their karma and gods for their measure of time into the beautiful hill country of Sri Lanka), Sinhalese race was with begging bowls amongst the stray dogs in hot dusty shanty-towns of the coastal cities.

                  Hey Native Vedda, if you knew exactly estate workers were given citizenship, why did you ask the question at all, and pretend that they do not have citizenship even to this day. Nowadays, thanks to Wiki, even an ordinary person like me can look things up. So, one cannot bluff another too much anymore.

                  You said : Without their hard work and sacrifice you would not have enjoyed the standard of living that you are proud of. Its their sweat and blood, that paid for your costs of imports including food and fuel and other luxuries.

                  I say : The standard of living I have is because since I was very young, I like so many other Lankans, have lived in other countries. All those tea and rubber estates did nothing much for the country. They made a lot of money for the British, but the estates destroyed the land, and killed the initiative of Lankans to move at their own and pace and ability into the next era of prosperity, balance, and peace that they lost since colonization.

                  You ask: Why aren’t the policemen and war criminals who are occupying the North learn Tamil?

                  I say : How do you know they are not? From what I hear, there is a conscientious effort undertaken for Sinhalese all over the Island to learn Tamil. Rajapakse himself, learned to speak Tamil.

                  I will end by saying that in true Buddhist style, more should be done for the estate workers in this day and age, especially since the coffers of Sri Lanka are comparatively full at this time, ever since Rajapakse, and now there is Sirisena.

                  • 1
                    1

                    ramona therese fernando

                    “How do you know they are not? From what I hear, there is a conscientious effort undertaken for Sinhalese all over the Island to learn Tamil.”

                    Have you ever taken trouble to check their linguistic competency? When you visit this island next time around please do visit North East to have a chat or two with law enforcers in Tamil. Let us know your observations.

                    “I will end by saying that in true Buddhist style, more should be done for the estate workers in this day and age,”

                    While you are on about Buddhist style, would you now consider how these Buddhist institution managed their slaves? How Buddhism which opposed slavery was tinkered to accept slavery in its monastics orders in this island?

                    Hope you would one day enlighten me with what you perceive as differences between “4000” years old South Indian caste system and compatibility of Buddhism with slavery as recorded in this thrice blessed island.

                    I am willing to help you with your education please refer to the the list below:

                    REDEMPTION OF SLAVES IN ANCIENT SRI LANKA
                    in The Faces of freedom: the manumission and emancipation of slaves in Old World and New World Slavery

                    TEMPLE SLAVERY IN ANCIENT SRI LANKA
                    The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities, vol. 33, nos 1 & 2, 2007

                    MANAGING FEMALE SLAVES IN ANCIENT SRI LANKA
                    Modern Sri Lanka Studies: A Journal of the Social Sciences, vol.2 no. 2 (new series), 2007

                    COLOURED SLAVERY IN CEYLON (SRI LANKA)
                    The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Colombo Branch. vol. 54, (new series), 2008.

                    BUDDHISM AND SLAVERY: ETHICS BEHIND IT
                    The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Colombo Branch. Vol. 15, 2009.

                    THE ABOLITION OF COLONIAL AND PRE-COLONIAL ‘SLAVERY’ FROM CEYLON (SRI LANKA)
                    Journal of Cultural and Social History, the Journal of the social history society, Liverpool, UK, vol. 7.3, 2010.

                    Please feel free to refer Wiki for your research.

                    • 1
                      0

                      Native Vedda,

                      Here are some links to give you some idea that caste system in Sri Lanka is of quite a different concept to the caste system of India. This shows that Dalits and lower castes, although a occupying lower strata of Lankan society, yet have it a good lot better in Sri Lanka than in India.

                      1) “The Buddha, himself born into the warrior caste, was a severe critic of the caste system…………….However, the system in these countries [Sri Lanka, Tibet, and Japan] has never been either as severe or as rigid as the Hindu system and fortunately it is now beginning to fade away.” http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/dharmadata/fdd53.htm

                      2) “Compared to India, it [the caste system] is less significant and less visible in many respects, but about 90 per cent of the Sri Lanka population still recognizes it for some purposes at least. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_Sri_Lanka

                      3) “Eyewitnesses said that around 5,000 Dalits from Saurashtra and Kutch and other parts of the state attended “Chalo Buddh Ki Aur” event and converted to Buddhism in the presence of Bikhhu Sanghasena, the founder of the Mahabodhi International Medication Centre (MIMC), and leaders of Mahabodhi Society from Sri Lanka.” https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/in-gujarat-thousands-of-dalits-choose-buddhism-for-a-new-identity/

                      Sri Lankan “caste” system is more like one what the US and England practices, where the richer and more powerful attain a more prominent place in society. But when better facilities for livelihood come into place, more opportunities opened up for the lower strata, blurring the divides to a large extent.

                      In India however, castes are so fixed, and especially along racial lines, that even if opportunities ever did come up for the lower castes, religious dictates quickly squashed down that anomaly.

                      It was the converse in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, if there were times the Indian caste system did come in, like in the links you provided, (and there was always for the potential for this, seeing that Sri Lanka is so close to India, and with the Hindu kingdom in the North), it never really did hold and gradually faded away. If it did try to come back again, Buddha’s word made people feel uncomfortable and embarrassed about the whole thing.

                    • 1
                      1

                      ramona therese fernando

                      Why don’t you put some effort into studying slavery which was practiced (until British Abolished it in about 1844 ) in this island by lay people as well as the monastic institutions than wasting your time on telling me what I already knew?

    • 4
      0

      Native,

      Let me help you attain greater depth of analysis:

      Your question : When did the last time anyone smuggle workers from TN?

      My Answer : Never! Previously to modern immigration, customs and coast-guard system, Indians came and went from our shore like nobody’s business. All were welcome and became Lankan, and if they were non-threatening, they became especially Sinhalese. Only one time did they come in chain-gangs, was when the British brought them over to work in the tea and rubber estates in the 18-1900’s. After that, they were given some kind of choice on whether to stay or go back to the motherland. As per Van der Poorten, I was making an incongruous statement to highlight any unfairness by the Rubber Development Department for any rejection to his application.

      By Sri Lanakn Kallithonies, I will take it that you mean all races of Sri Lanka. All races of Sri Lanka have been migrating all around the world in authorized ways according to modern immigration, customs and coastguard systems (there must be another one word for this department, of course).

      Some are refugees (or pretending to be refugees because they are enamored of life in the West), and left Sri Lanka because they refused to till the Lankan soil side by side with the Sinhalese.

      • 2
        0

        Native Vedda,
        I couldn’t reply to you last comment because there is no reply button, so I am doing so here. This was your comment :

        ramona therese fernando Why don’t you put some effort into studying slavery which was practiced (until British Abolished it in about 1844 ) in this island by lay people as well as the monastic institutions than wasting your time on telling me what I already knew?

        I say : What looked like slavery to the British was division of labor with honor given to the Lankan hierarchy. So, when they saw the Lankan chain of command, they couldn’t understand it from their British viewpoint. Lankan division of labour was never the same as the Hindu caste system (except in the North).

        Coming from closed circuit societies, British didn’t see or realize that they too practiced ‘slavery’ amongst their own people. For example, they did not see that their lords and ladies paid pittance to their workers for hard work, and many were forced into beggary. Also in that feudal society, the workers scraped and bowed and followed protocol towards the masters. If Lankan persons had gone to England during those times in the same numbers the British went all over the place, they too would have seen a British slave system.

        British quickly and forcibly dismantled that Lankan chain of command, and installed in their own. They tried their best to convince the workers that their old system was slavery and the British system was the modern enlightened one, but the Lankans were not fooled of course. Lankans could do nothing – British had the guns.

        • 2
          1

          ramona therese fernando

          blabber, blabber, blabber, blabber, blabber, blabber

          You should take a break from displaying your ignorance, stupidity, bigotry, …….

          Go away, take your nonsense back to where it belongs, ………. do some reading, ………… and come back ….. I can wait.

          • 0
            0

            TEMPLE SLAVERY IN ANCIENT SRI LANKA

            Authors have different interpretations to the terms a dasa ‘serf while reading vahal as ‘slave.

            It seems that the ancient system revolved around paddy and land cultivation for island sustenance, and as per Buddhist religion, a great many persons became monks and nuns to fulfill the ever “higher-evolving-mind” or “arahant” quota. Such, was Sri Lanka, a Holy and Blessed Island.

            These monks/nuns of course were never a genetic continuum of familial caste/status (unlike in India). Nowhere in the text does it speak of e.g. Brahmin families begetting Brahmin monks. The Sangha seems to have come from the cross section of the kingdom. There might have been an attempt to keep it within a monkhood caste (as with the more temporary recent Kandyan kingdom which came from Hindued Tamil Nadu). But for over 2,000 years, Buddha’s message prevailed, and goodness or the “higher-evolved-mind” was recognizable in all different strata of society.

            Therefore, if a “Vellhala” Monk-Thero came across a Tamil-Elara slave who was also a Dalit who cleaned up after Elara and his elephants, and that slave had a holy look on his face and acted in accordance with the 5 precepts, the Tamil-Elara-Dalit slave was then ordained into monkhood. And this seems to have been quite prevalent, otherwise the exceptions to the general rule would have been much documented, and even their names would have been listed. Now in Hindu India, this kind of occurrence would have been and absolute no-no.

            Most were surfs of the land appointed (or forced) by the king, for the land to be tilled (very much like serfdom of Europe). Besides tilling for the king, surfs also looked after the Buddha Sangha (again, very much like the churches of Europe). If the rulers did not lay down the instruction to the masses, Sri Lanka would have come under the serfdom of another powerful set of rulers, e.g. Elara from Tamil Nadu. Coastal people, besides being fishermen, were also guardians of the kingdom.

            On top of that, in a show of solidarity with the surfs or dasas, kings donated their children to the surf/dasa union.

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              ramona therese fernando

              You seem to write stories as you go along.

              Stop this nonsense and get back to reading, reading actual research papers.

              Please stop proving your ignorance as you have done satisfactorily in your previous comments.

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                I don’t merely read like you do Native Vehha. I read and analyze. You mustn’t be intimidated by good analysis. It is to my credit, that I can throw in a story or two into my analysis :)

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          ramona therese fernando

          “I couldn’t reply to you last comment because there is no reply button, so I am doing so here. This was your comment :”

          Find the comment which has last reply box, click it and you will see a dialogue box to type your response.

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            Better to write my comments below than above a previous one, needa.

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    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/

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      I only tried to help my mate Mr Poorten.

      But I forgot that Kirra’s mate Galleon has already warned the Journos & Journals that his patience on Press Freedom is limited…

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    So Kiriella has found some technical excuse from his bureaucrats…do we want this or do we want someone who should be given a subsidy given that subsidy ?

    What Kiriella should have done is facilitate the payment…now that is Yahapalanaya.

    Having said that getting a civil reply is a good first step.

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      Have the guts to respond under your [Edited out]

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        And what is Boom Boom ? The noise you make when fornicate ?!!

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          [Edited out]

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      Yeah Kiriella!

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    Mr. Kiriella:
    Simply put, your response is at significant variance with the facts as the WRITTEN invitation sent me by your staff person in Kegalle proves.

    You and your minions appear, for reasons best known to you, to have chosen to respond to a complaint about one particular application by referring to a totally different application for land owned by a different person! Very interesting indeed. I would also be most appreciative if you would ask your staff to stop calling me as late at 9:30 at night for reasons, again, best known to them (and you).

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      Emile,

      “Simply put, your response is at significant variance with the facts as the WRITTEN invitation sent me by your staff person in Kegalle proves.”

      Why don’t you scan the invitation and upload it here for us to see. I trust you but many others don’t.

      Sorry to repeat this if somebody else already suggested doing it.

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        Heretic and anyone else interested in who is telling the truth and who isn’t:
        Here’s a link to the letter of invitation:

        https://www.colombotelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/15.05.31-Copy-of-letter-.pdf

        It really would be great if some reader could find all the information Mr. Kiriella claims was in this letter.

        It read to me and such was confirmed by his local minion prior to the meeting that it was simply an invitation to a meeting to collect a cheque in payment of a government subsidy intended for those who grew and marketed rubber. Maybe the rest of the information Mr. K refers to was in some kind of invisible ink that ordinary mortals couldn’t see.

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    Post Script to the matter of registration of rubber land in respect of which subsidy was sought:

    Perhaps Mr Kiriella will care to respond to a simple question: if, as he claims, the land in respect of which the application was made was not registered as a rubber plantation, how did the very same department approve part of it for REPLANTING several years ago and, in fact, remit payments in respect thereof? Actions speak a darned sight louder than Ministerial Pronouncements though I suspect that I many now look forward to the next (retaliatory) step that Mr. K and his department is going to take!

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      I thought my mate Poorten would have demolished this Kirra with a kick ass article about how much good Kirra and his Kirri babas have done for the Dalits who work Mr Pooerten Rubber & Durian Plantations.

      As well as other Land Owners through out the country , including the Absentee Land Lord from the North….

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    Full marks to Minister Kiriella for ensuring a prompt reply. However, would Citizen Banda with no access to the media have received the same level of service.

    Notwithstanding the quick reply, there are clearly touches of ‘say something’ and throw in a few ‘red herrings’ in to fatten out the answer. I suspect there is more to the matter than meets the eye.

    I suspect we have not heard the last of this.

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    Half truths and full lies !

    That was the modus-operandi of the Rogue President and his minions.

    Now, [Edited out]is being victimized ? – He is complaining !

    Unless you are starving, don’t take advantage of subsidies, etc.

    The subsidies are meant to facilitate the needy.

    This is one of the ways that the rogues have taken advantage.

    SHAME ON YOU – POORTEN.

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    Excuse me Mr. Vander poo Ten….. These days the Ministers have got their wires crossed a little. Therefore, there could arise cross connections.

    As for Kiriella’s Officials calling you at 9.30 p.m. bodes well for Yahapalanaya as it appears the Minister’s Yahapalanaya staff are working hard and long hours.

    Mmmmmmmmmmmmm food for though. Its a first time in the annals of Government Service………..

    Ahfzll……….. Subdidies are ment not for people like you BUT for the Plantation people to improve productivity.Mr. Van is absolutely within his rights. If the Minister & his Ministry are unable to serve Mr. Van, then they must demand the subsidy from Ravi.k. It was a peopl’s budget and it was passed in the Parliament.
    [Edited out]

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      Yeah Kirelle…..Tamil estate workers are citizens now and have the full and unalienable right to the 3.7 million.

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        ~ corrections :
        Yeah Kirielle…..Tamil estate workers are citizens now and have the undeniable and inalienable right to the 3.7 million.

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    Well done Lakshman Kiriella for replying direct. What matters is not whos is right or wrong but that you – a Minister – thought it fit to reply personally.

    Emil Van der Pooten would I am sure approve and even silently cheer.

    This is the way it should be.

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      Justice & Fairplay:
      You are right in the matter of a “response” from Ministerial Royalty, However, there is one little problem, Mr. K’s response leaves a great deal to be desired in the matter of accuracy and truth. To put it mildly. What he claims and what the letter of invitation said are two very different things!

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    Ramona Thererse…………. Tamil Estate Workers should demand for a British National Overseas Passports for them similar to those offered to the Chinese Hongkies prior to the 1997 handover.

    Its not too late.
    British have failed in their obligation because TEW were peasants and Chinese hongkies were rich.
    here again a class difference that denied TEW.

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      thondamannar

      “amil Estate Workers should demand for a British National Overseas Passports for them similar to those offered to the Chinese Hongkies prior to the 1997 handover.”

      Have you thought about what would have happened if those hard working Tamils withdrew their labour just after they were made stateless?

      You are an ignorant bigot with dead brain who has no responsibility feeding, clothing, …….. moving this country.

      Their contribution to this country is most important than lazy goons like you.

      You and your fellow racists should realise that without their labour this country would have closed for business long before you were born.

      If not for the women folks who sacrifice their life in Medieval Middle East Kingdoms you would have gone back to your mother land India with a begging bowl. They keep you fed, clothed, ….. give you pocket money so you can enjoy good life. For a change why don’t you go work in estates and give your women folks some respite. Is it too much to ask a shameless man whose full time job is to be a bigot/racist.

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        Native Vedda,

        “Have you thought about what would have happened if those hard working Tamils withdrew their labour just after they were made stateless?”

        What happens to our economy if they stop working now even temporarily?

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          Heretic:
          Tried to respond before but my internet connection seemed to have broken down.
          Anyway, the only reason I had not done as you suggested was that I was away from home for several days. Don’t have a scanner but will try to send CT a photograph of the letter for appropriate reproduction. It will prove who is lying (through their teeth, to put it mildly) and who is guilty of deliberate obfuscation!

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            Emil,

            “Don’t have a scanner but will try to send CT a photograph of the letter for appropriate reproduction.”

            I discovered accidentally that my Samsung can scan and upload to the Cloud. It can do so many things that I stopped using it.

            Thank you for your reply.

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          Heretic

          “What happens to our economy if they stop working now even temporarily?”

          The state may have to send the entire women folks to Middle East Medieval kingdoms while their men folks idle away their time here in this thrice blessed island.

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            Dear Native,

            Have been travelling for some weeks and missed most matters in depth.

            As to workers from South India in the pre-independence decades – now many of them reluctantly granted citizenship after 40 years –
            do you recall the issue some years before 1948 when, due to the racial and anti-Indian cries of men like that fraud Anagarika Dharmapala, the then (British) Indian Govt stopped the flow of vital labour from the Madras Presidency to Ceylon. This is said to have been at the insistence of Indian Congress leaders like Gandhi and Nehru. This worked adversely on crop production in Tea, Rubber and Coconut Estates. In sheer desperation, the Planters Society of Ceylon – a powerful body then – appealed to the Governor for the urgent resumption of labour from India. I believe the British Governor here appealed to his counterpart in Delhi, and after much haggling, the supply resumed. I understand before Delhi responded a delegation of Ceylon political leaders went to Delhi to canvass the plea. It will be interesting if someone in the readership can provide the names of the delegates. Someone speculated SWRD was one of them.

            Kettikaran

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              Kettikaran

              Let me see if any of my friends, the old codgers are aware of the above incident.

              Planters Association Used to publish its in take of Labour from India on a systematic way in its annual reports.

              Let me see if my Elders have access to these reports.

              Need more time.

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                Native V,

                Kumari Jayawardena and Suriya Wickremasinghe are two possibilities. The other whoever holds the late SP Amarasingham’s archives. DBS Jayaraj is still another who maintains copious
                data.

                Kettikaran

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