By R. Sampanthan –
We are now in the process of making a new constitution and the claims that the special fore-place, the foremost place, given to Buddhism should continue are very widely heard. I do not know what the new constitution is going to state. But I do think that if a religion is given the foremost place under a constitutional provision stating that all religions are equal and that there shall be no discrimination, it does not seem too meaningful.
Remarks by Leader of the Opposition R. Samapanthan at the Public function in Jaffna on 20 Jan. 2017 on “an Evening with Shri Navin B. Chawla on Mother Teresa, Now Saint Teresa of Calcutta.”
Preamble: Chairperson’s Introduction by Dr. Dushyanthi Hoole, lately Professor of Chemistry and Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Michigan State University
Our theme today is secularism. The word Secularism has its origins in the Old French seculer, from Latin saecularis. It is used in Christian Latin to mean ‘the world’ to differentiate The Church from the State.
Prof. Dushyanthi Hoole
Today peoples of different faiths live together. In such a situation, we hold on to our own faiths but hold common secular values when working together in common spaces. The struggle for secularism is an ongoing battle. The term proselytism has taken on a negative connotation. Proselytism means the promotion of a religion by using means, and for motives, which do not safeguard the freedom and dignity of the human person. It is also not in the spirit of the Gospel. It is good to recall Pope Benedict as quoted by the new Pope: ‘Remember what Benedict XVI said: ‘The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.’
Our first speaker this evening is the Hon. Rajavarodhayam Sampanthan. He is the much respected and dearly loved Leader of the Opposition. He was chosen to speak as the only member of a political party to address us today because of his known commitment to secularism. His is the only party in Sri Lanka, and he the only leader of note, who stands resolutely for a secular Sri Lanka. When the Prime Minister claimed that all parties have agreed to giving Buddhism the foremost place in Sri Lanka, Mr. Sampanthan publicly disagreed through the TNA Spokesman the Hon. M.A. Sumanthiran who is also with us today. Indeed, the Hon. Sampanthan has a very special place in Tamil hearts. He has kept the Tamil people in dialog with the state, rather than continuing confrontation. He has kept our hopes up in these extremely difficult times. His task is a difficult one; for Tamils feel that successive governments have cheated us many times by making pledges that were never honoured and will never honor. However, as Mr. Sampanthan himself put it recently, there is no alternative to negotiating and working with the government. He is truly a national leader. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Hon. Rajavarodhayam Sampanthan.
Speech by R. Sampanthan:
I’d like to say a few words on this occasion. I’m happy that the organizer of the event, [Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole], has thought it fit to summon me also to speak at the event. I might comment by saying a few words about Mother Teresa. She perhaps has rendered more humanitarian service in the 20th century to mankind – much more than anyone else – for a very long period of time.
Born in Europe, she had lived in India, and worked in the slums, in Calcutta in particular, looking after the poorest of the poor, rendering service to the more deprived sections of society; persons unable to look after themselves for various reasons – orphans and widows. And the service she has rendered had been of an order which is almost unbelievable. She was awarded several recognitions for her service, both in India and by the world community and eventually she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I believe the institutions she commenced both in India and in other parts of the world are continuing to function even after her demise. We must all be most grateful to this great humanitarian worker who may not have directly had an impact on the lives of many of us but whose service to humanity is something which all of us must acknowledge with the deepest appreciation and be ever grateful for.
R Sampanthan
Mr. Navin Chawla is here today to speak on secularism and I have no doubt he will also make references to Mother Teresa and her service. One significant feature in Mother Teresa’s life was that she was a Roman Catholic but she lived and largely worked with people in India mostly who were I think not Catholic. She was eventually made a Saint – honored with sainthood, canonized, after she died.
I might say a few words on secularism. The lady who introduced me, Prof. Dushyanthi Hoole, referred to my secular credentials. Yes we all believe in secularism. By that we mean that the state and religion must be independent of each other. The state cannot depend on religion and religion cannot depend on the state. In our secular country, every citizen has got the freedom to choose his religion – according to his function, according to his wish. He is entitled to practice that religion; to pursue that religion; and to propagate that religion. He has full freedom to do so. The state will not interfere with him in any way. The state has no right to interfere with him in any way. He is in no way bound to carry out any religious wish or dictate that the state may seek to impose.
In a secular state that can’t happen. That is the most important feature of secularism; that people are free to have the independence to choose their religion, to practice their religion, and to pursue and propagate their religion according to their conscience and wish. And be in no way controlled by the state.
India is a secular country. The Indian constitution in its preamble states that India is a socialist, secular, democratic country. The USA is a secular state, where people practice their religion according to their wish without in any way being dictated by the state. That is their fundamental right that is not denied to them. What is the point of having a postural secular state? [The state must be really secular].
We can have a theocratic state; a theocracy where priests rule us. In Europe at different points of time there have been theocracies, being dependant on religion, dependant on Christianity, where there has been no distinction between state and religion. These have never been found to be satisfactory. These have always been found to be messy with people not knowing whether they owe allegiance to the state or to religion. Secularism has been found to be much superior. Much more advanced, much more acceptable than living in a theocratic state.
One other option has been an atheistic state. Some states have been atheistic in character. The Soviet Union has sometimes had atheistic characteristics; which means you cannot practice any religion. You cannot practice religion at all. You believe there is nothing called God. In secularism, in a secular state, people believe in God. People believe in the existence of some superior being. Under that system, the supreme being is guiding our destinies and they owe loyalty to that superior being. Their belief is, their conviction is, that superior being is a source of guidance to them all through their lives. But in an atheistic state that is not possible. Sometimes even parts of China have been atheistic. That is probably on account of their political philosophy also; that is their belief in communism.
In Sri Lanka we have a rather mixed situation. When we achieved independence in 1947 there was the Soulbury Constitution – which in Section 29 defining the legislative part of government said that no government can enact any legislation which confers a benefit on any community or religion that is not conferred on all others. Similarly no government can enact legislation that deprives any community or religion of any advantage which is not imposed on all others. That was a restriction imposed on the legislative power of the state under the 1947 constitution. That constitution was repealed in 1972. And we had a constitution which stated that Sri Lanka shall give Buddhism the foremost place and it shall be the duty of the state to foster and protect Buddhism. The 1972 constitution was repealed by the 1978 constitution which also states that Sri Lanka shall give the foremost place to Buddhism and that it shall be the duty of the state to protect and foster the Buddha sasana.
We are now in the process of making a new constitution and the claims that the special fore-place, the foremost place, given to Buddhism should continue are very widely heard. I do not know what the new constitution is going to state. But I do think that if a religion is given the foremost place under a constitutional provision stating that all religions are equal and that there shall be no discrimination, it does not seem too meaningful.
True enough these provisions of the 1972 and 1978 constitutions seem to protect the fundamental rights given to all people to practice the religion of their choice. But nevertheless the foremost place given to one religion seems to adversely impact on the principle of secularism as it is accepted in many civilized parts of the world.
So we are due to hear from Mr. Navin Chawla this evening his views on Saint Teresa and secularism and the various aspects thereof. We would like our country to be a secular country where every citizen is able to feel that he enjoys equality; with no discrimination whatever in regard to the practice of religion, and that he has perfect choice in regard to the religion he should practice; and he must be able to do so with liberty and with freedom in accordance with his functions and his wishes.
Thank you.
S.R.H. Hoole / January 24, 2017
Mr. Sampanthan after meetings in Batticaloa, drove to Jaffna on the 20th, and arrived at 3:50 pm for our 4 O’Clock meeting.
I am used to politicians who invariably come late while all who have come on time are made to wait because it is taken to be rude to start without the chief guest. The politician in turn seems to think that by making us wait he is enhancing his importance, whereas in reality all of us are cursing him for making us wait. At seminars in Jaffna almost everyone comes late because proceedings do not ever start on time.
I thank Mr. Sampanthan for his punctuality and rare example, and commend his exemplary timeliness to all. St. Patrick’s College by the hall where we met may take just pride that Mr. Sampanthan is her product where these good civic habits of common courtesy were instilled in the young Sampanthan.
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malik / January 24, 2017
my my what a saint of Secularism R Sampanthan has become these days. When his mentor was brutally murdered by a fascist death cult, was it no the same saint who joined hands with the said fascist death cult for many many years, The True representatives of the Tamil people he said as he described the fascist death cult. still like all politicians in lanka how they change, remarkable.
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Don Stanley / January 24, 2017
Mr, Sampanthan you made and very good speech in the Parliament of Corrupt clowns, saying that Sri Lanka stinks of corruption, but no one from the previous Mahinda Jarapassa regime has been indicted or convicted. Politicians of the UNP and SLFP collaborate in Corruption and delude the masses with Racism and hate speech.
Majority of UNP and SLFP politicians are Parasites on the body politic, corrupt slime.
Mr. Sampanthan, as the Americans would say; THE BUCK STOPS AT RANIL AND SIRA.
Ranil Wickramasinghe and Mahinda Jarapassa should share the same Prions Cell. They are accountable for the Culture of impunity for Financial Crimes committed by politicians and their cronies.
The failure to hold anyone accountable for FINANCIAL CRIMES is also due to the corrupt IMF and US led global economic system which benefits the global 1 percent and the United States and Europe. Financial Crimes and criminals have immunity in the United States a country where the president has not declared his tax returns. Ranil Wickramasinghe dances to the tunes of his corrupt US Harvard University Economic hit men who never address the issue of ECONOMIC CRIME though they love to talk about War Crimes. This is because US economy and its off shore tax havens profit from the corruption in Sri Lanka and other Global South countries.
You need to name and shame Bond Scam Ranil Wickramasinghe and Prezident Sira as corrupt in the Parliament of corrupt clowns.
Mr. Sampathan
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Kalupahana / January 25, 2017
Dead on Don! SL is a tragedy of Corruption!
Mr. Sampanthan is an honest man and he should name and shame Ranil Wickramasinghe and Sira in the Parliament of Corrupt Morons who are playing with smoke and mirrors.
Jarapalanaya is the name of their stinking game of UNP and SLFP – to beggar Sri Lanka and sell it off to the Chinese and the US with help of IMF.
Sri Lanka is more corrupt under Bond Scam Ranil than under MR and so much time and energy of the county has been wasted on this BULLSHIT bond scam of Ranil. So much energy of civil society and the govt. in the Parliament of Corrupt Morons wasted because of Ranil still trying to stop investigation of Mahendran and Perpetual Treasuring.
THE BUCK STOPS WITH RANIL WICKRAMASINGHE and he must go along with his US Economic hit men advisors.
The clown WIjedasa Jarapassa must also be removed from the Ministry of Justice so that past and present corruption cases that he is blocking can proceeed.
The international community and Colombo NGOs on the peace and reconciliation band wagon have turned a blind eye to Corruption even though attacks on minorities are routinely organized by corrupt politicians to distract people from their corruption.
Once the corrupt who are also MOST RACIST are put behind bars reconciliation and peace will be easier in Sri Lanka.
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Nimal / January 24, 2017
Good old days in 1950 our leaders were punctual and it was a legacy left by the good colonials.I remember Sir Oliver coming to our collage in Kotte for the prize giving on time.During that time one could predict the time by the extension of the Colombo Kandy train to Matale going past out house.
Today our leaders have brought the country to the gutter leval,truly shameful.
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soma / January 24, 2017
The constitution should not carry the words ‘religion'(none of the religions by name nor the ‘ethnicity'(none of the ethnic groups by name).
Sampanthan demands that ‘Tamils’ be recognized as a distinct racial entity.
Sampanthan is a secularist but a racist. His secularism is a cover for the support of Christian Tamils.
Soma
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Spring Koha / January 24, 2017
Methinks that ‘Soma’ is economical with the factual. As any historian of US Presidency knows, Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible when taking the oath in 1901, and both John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce swore on a book of law, with the intention that they were swearing on the constitution.
Careful Soma, you could out-trump Trump when it comes to factuality.
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K A Sumanasekera / January 24, 2017
According to the Vellala Party Leader US is a secular State.
How cool..
Wonder why the new President Trump sought the blessings of the Father , Son and the Holy ghost on all Americans at the end of his speech.
Abraham publicly declared that he or his Vellala Party will not do reconciliation unless the Yahapalana Government expunges Buddhism from the Constitution.
Now Mr Sambandan confirms it.
Can the NGO boss Dr Jehan bring the three centers in to one, with the person who needs the Solution and Reconciliation the most, is hell bent on downgrading and banishing the Religion of the 70 percent of the inhabitant population?.
Looks like Dr Jehan has his work cut out.
BTW Why couldn’t Sambandan’s other idol and moral supporter for Eealam, the late CM Jayalalitha couldn’t become a Mother Theresa?
I mean she had tens of thousands of Crores stashed away in Foreign banks, And she didn’t have any children or grand children to enjoy the wealth.
Wonder whether she left anything in her last will for the TNA.and Samabanadn to achieve the goal of Global Tamil Eelaam, because Modies in Hindustan will never allow any Eelaam there.
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soma / January 24, 2017
I am a well wisher of “Global Tamil Eelaam” popularly known as “Cyber Ealaam”.
SL Govt should provide free Internet access to every Tamil. Volkswagen de Silva is planing to launch his own balloon for this purpose as his earlier plan with Google has met the same fate as his Volkswagen.
Soma
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K A Sumanasekera / January 25, 2017
UNP PhDs are not much chop… Are they?…..
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Ajith / January 25, 2017
It is not secular state Sumanasekaram. It is a Blood thirsty Lion born Sinhala animal kingdom.
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Thamilan / January 24, 2017
Can the TNA elect a younger (new generation) leader please?
These sort of speeches we have heard many a time!
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sekara / January 24, 2017
Thamilan
I can appreciate your frustration.
But what makes you think that a younger person will be any better?
The problem is in the ideology and class alignment of the TNA (as well as of its rivals).
What is needed is a more progressive, people-oriented alternative that will seek solutions that rely on people’s participation in decision making and not hope for some foreigner to deliver the Tamils.
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Spring Koha / January 24, 2017
Ever since our democratic-minded politicians latched on to the simple challenge that Sinhalese-Buddhist constitute 74% of the electorate, the die was cast. Banda became champion of Language and religion, irresistible twin prongs to the hearts of the majority. The rest is history. Every grubby Sinhala politician took to the temple to show credentials and be identified as defender of the faith. Drug-dealers, thugs and other undesirables queued up to be seen with anything in a yellow robe.
No Sinhalese politician in Sri Lanka will not so much as break wind without getting the nod from someone in a yellow robe. Including now the de facto Mahanayake, Gnanasara (the new defender of Sinhalese race and religion) and confidante of the highest in the land.
For a religion to look to mere mortals to ‘protect’ it is the height of ridiculousness. In Sri Lanka it is the curse, and cross, that we all must bear.
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Nimal / January 24, 2017
Spring Koha
Very well put, couldn’t agree more.
Sri lanka should be multi-ethnic and secular where religions and state should be detached.
Though some here have stated about UK and USA where Christian rituals are practised at ceremonies,doesnt mean that the politicians are subservient to their faith.These progressive Western countries are very much detached from their religion and they don’t have priests taking the front seats in every official event,they don’t have politicians going to see their high priests for each and every situation.Politicans are elected by the people to serve the country and the people honestly and with some dedication but in our country they are selfseeking,dishonest,coniving,etc. They never fail to fool the people with the stupid dress code,never fail to impress the people by going to temples, wearing pirith nula etc.Not that they are good Buddhists,but just the opposite.
Just look at our own Kandy MP who has no time whatsoever to meet the people but indulge in doing deals without our consultation.He is another joker trying to fool us like naming the highway Dalada High way,won’t take action to remove the road by the maligawa that is chocking the people with high air pollution. If the politician could have night races by the Maligawa why not people be allowed to drive past?
They are playing the main religion to divide and rule the communities, showing complete disregard to the people and tax payers.
In a truly secular country like UK there are in built institutions that are there to protect the nation on secular line. That is the only way a civilized country would survive. Even in UK there are defects which are minor that will be overcome, yet it is a country that people want to settle and we in SL must follow their example or we will be forever be prisoners in our own countries.
We in Kandy is facing more problems where the main religion is exploited where the MP is advocating a tunnel to be built to avoid opening the road by the Maligawa without giving any thought to the taxpaying people and I wonder what privilege one might harvest? Then using the land vacated by the prision.We don’t want any buildings erected there that attract more traffic but strongly advice to build a recreation park for the residents of Kandy.In a secular country these extravagances are prevented by strict scrutiny,which is proper in a true democracy.
.
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Agnos / January 25, 2017
Spring Koha,
I have suggested that Sri Lanka can declare a small area in Anuradhapura, Kandy, etc. as exclusive to Buddhism and let the Mahanayakes control it as in Vatican.
But the rest of the country and its governance should be free of any interference by the prelates and preserve secularism.
Those who are drafting the new constitution can consider it.
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Spring Koha / January 25, 2017
Agnos,
Excellent suggestion! Indeed Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy are already sacred cities (and UNESCO World Heritage sites).
The problem is that with religious fanatics, you give them a finger, but they want the whole hand. In Sri Lanka, the insidious practice is that any itinerant man in a yellow robe can place a bo-tree and declare that spot, and the surrounding land, ‘sacred’. An abomination!
Re the constitution, I have made my proposals. But do not hold your breath.
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sekara / January 24, 2017
Mr RS has got the wrong end of the stick:
“One other option has been an atheistic state. Some states have been atheistic in character. The Soviet Union has sometimes had atheistic characteristics; which means you cannot practice any religion. You cannot practice religion at all. You believe there is nothing called God. In secularism, in a secular state, people believe in God.”
A communist is necessarily an atheist because of the dialectical materialist view of the world.
Practice of religion was not banned in any socialist (aka communist) state. The Soviet state was not atheistic but secular. So were all other socialist states.
The Orthodox Church of Russia remained a very wealthy organization throughout the socialist period.
The Marxist view of religion is that religion as individual faith is not only to be allowed but also to be defended.
Interference in state affairs by institutionalized religion, the hierarchy especially, and social disruption by fanatical groups were never acceptable under socialism.
Socialist choice is between the right to believe in a religion or not to believe in any.
Marxist atheism is not fearful of religion. It is religious establishments that have been fearful of not merely communism but left ideology as a whole. Buddhism and Islam were historically more accommodative than Christianity. (The Church persecuted Liberation Theologists for decades in the 20th Century. The list is very long.)
Why should everybody believe in God in a secular state? True secularism is where everybody has the right to believe or not believe in God, soul, rebirth, resurrection, heaven and hell– the lot.
Buddhism like Jainism, is in theory, atheistic.
Oriental religions are free of the concept of creator God.
If anyone practices intolerance towards another religion it is likely to be a believer of a religion. Atheists (except for a handful of fanatics who are not Marxists) are, at worst, indifferent towards religious rights.
So God(s), if any and if fair, should be more approving of atheists than believers.
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Uthungan / January 24, 2017
A true atheist does not go around attacking religions people believe in.
They are a very tolerant lot and will be willing to discuss in a rational way patiently without
getting perturbed when any believer questions their neutrality about God or religion.
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srinath gunaratne / January 24, 2017
Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country just like Briton US and all the other western Europe countries are Christian countries and Like Middle east is Muslim!
Anybody trying to change this would be a fool and will not be tolerated!
We need a bill of rights like Sangari said.
Everyone is equal in front of the law!
Sometimes I wonder why our leaders get all the religious leaders to a function and invoke blessings from non existent gods!
Fit in or XXXX off! Like Australians say!
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Simon De Silva / January 24, 2017
Sure, it is a buddhist country, but they are all born buddhists. Like me and you – too – we are nothe exception.
But the manner some facists men led groups practise not non- violanism but the opposite, pleasing their pay masters. Who have been the pay masters if not Rajaakshes that grabed and looted and ruined the nation.
If your stance would have been different, I respect, but please leave me your answers to the followings:
A) What BBS did to Aluthgama was right to your eye ?
B) What BBS did to Muslim that fought for their Halal … you think it was right ?
But you live in the UK right ? Why you the like minded idiots cant get this yet ?
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srinath gunaratne / January 25, 2017
Simon
BBS monkeys need to be caged! Why the current government does not do it?
This country is for all of us without breaking it into pieces!
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Simon De Silva / January 25, 2017
it is simple – they are not practising JUNGLE LAW – as beliaththa rascals did it. Just because you have been hell bent spicing the extrementa of Beliaththa rascals we must not follow the same path right ?
Once the eunach BBS head was arrested and the investigations got started, however, the meeharak in lanken counrts having beeing trained to act supportive to Rajaakshe mantra, even today, their verdicts too are so mild. Today there is a big war between state ministers and the public servants. Public servants are like injected mice- dont do their job wholeheartedly.
There politicians are helpless.
Lately I thought to bring few more investments of small scales tothe country, I thought I could start that easily if I would ask few of my friends that have got qualified in the US to do the job. But they have still been waiting to start with the paper work.
It is very slow the way srilanken authorities work in very many areas.
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Burning Issue / January 24, 2017
Srinath,
we cannot tolerate your ignorance! Britain and US are secular countries where majority religion is Christianity. Sri Lanka is not a secular country where all are equal! This is the contention!
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Taraki / January 24, 2017
‘Britain and US are secular countries where majority religion is Christianity’
Rubbish! Britain is a Christian country. The Queen is the head of the nation and the Established Church (i.e the Anglican Church of England, not the Catholics). Anglican Bishops sit as of right in the House of Lords. Only a Christian can become King or Queen. Look at any British coin, it has incribed on it the letters DG REG – dei gratia regina – Queen by the grace of God.
I have no quarell with any of this but do you still think Britain is a secular country?
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Burning Issue / January 24, 2017
Taraki,
“I have no quarell with any of this but do you still think Britain is a secular country?”
Please do not speculate with peripheral knowledge! Constitutional Monarchy means that the Queen’s duties are ceremonial only and not executive. The Parliament is supreme and statute laws govern the country and equality of all faiths has been enshrined in the rule of law. The Church of England or even the Anglican Archbishop cannot influence or demand concurrence any issue whatsoever over parliament. Get over it mister; you need to learn a lot!
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Nimal / January 25, 2017
Hear hear Burning issue.
Sri Lanka is forced to live a non secular life,deliberatly set up by the thieving politicians who secretly live a secular life but expect us to eat the humble pie.
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Taraki / January 25, 2017
Rubbish! If Bishops sit in the House of Lords they most certainly influence decisions, usually for the better. Get your facts right before you start typing nonsense. Britain IS a Christian country. Read the UK Government website (unless you think the BBS are running it)
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2012/02/17/britain-christian-country/
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Nimal / January 29, 2017
Takari
All religions are represented in the house of lords and none have special previlages.UK is strictly a secular country.
There are many drinking bars inside the parliament complex, not Christian artifacts.
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Uthungan / January 24, 2017
Taraki
What has God to do with religion.?
Tell me if God is a Muslim,Christian,or Hindu.?
Buddha is not considered as God because he is known to have born in a human form to his royal parents.
I do not think he ever got bothered about religion let alone God.
He saw death, poverty, sickness,unhappiness,war and pestilence and reasoned out the causes for them and became enlightened.
He is the only one who gave sensible answers when a seeker of ‘Truth’ asked him about God. The Buddha replied according to what the questioner wished to hear because the Buddha knew what the questioner needed as areply depending on the stage of the development of that questioner’s mind.
How our SB’s siblings in our little island read the the teachings Buddha is on that basis.
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Taraki / January 24, 2017
Uthungan, there is a saying ‘Koheda yanne, malle pol.’ I am sure there must be a Tamil equivalent.
I was replying to BI’s contention that Britain was a secular nation, tht’s all.
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Nimal / January 25, 2017
Unlike SL UK is a secular country.
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Taraki / January 25, 2017
A good joke from Uthungan – ‘What has God to do with religion.?’
Now, I think there is some confusion in these many comments. I think that what many people really mean is –
Britain is a Christian (not a secular) country but it allows the unhindered practice of other religions. Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country but it does not allow unhindered practice of other religions.
Well that is interesting. Perhaps Sri Lanka should follow the Christian example and start ‘temple planting’ in Christian areas like Madhu, Wattala, Negombo.
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soma / January 24, 2017
BI
Sri Lanka IS a secular country. Before you ask the next foolish question let me provide the answer in advance: Queen is the head of Anglican Church.
Soma
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Burning Issue / January 24, 2017
soma,
I do not need to ask a foolish question as I know you are foolish! Britain does not have written constitution and Constitutional Monarchy means that Queen is the head of the state and the head of Church of England. There are also church of Wales and Church of Scotland to which the Queen has no association in my view. UK Is secular by way of the parliamentary statute where the parliament is supreme. Today’s verdict on the BREXIT triggering of the Article 50 has established beyond doubt that the Parliament is supreme. This is the nature of the British rule of law! Do you want to ask me a question?
The Head of the Anglican Church is the Archbishop of Canterbury make no mistake!
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jim softy / January 25, 2017
Burning Issue:
As you are a Tamil you write everything in support of you.
Britain does not have a constitution. But, it has a privy council. That is those humans always decide inthe name of the majority. Constitution cannot do that kind of favourations as it is already written and would be interpreted by a panel justices headed by Tamil or muslim judges.
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AJ / January 28, 2017
Tamils and Musmlims are smart enough to become Supreme Court judges. Sinhalese are genetically stupid people. This is just your admittance.
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Nimal / January 29, 2017
B.I
You are wrong. Some are more equal than the others. Live in SL like us to find the difference.
Politicians and even cops are above the law and so are some privileged people and that doesn’t happen in UK.
Here is one example which I witnessed.
I went see my sister at ICU at the Kandy hospital three years ago where ordinary tax paying folks like us had to remove the shoes while some just allowed past and I was very hurt as I have never walked barefoot for decades and when I inquired who the entire family that were admitted as visitors to see a patient, I was told the patient is private secretary to the governor of central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa.When I meet him next I want to bring this up.
Then the road by Maligawa is only opened to privileged people and night races and we have to suffer the polluted air due to traffic congestion. They are using their advantage as politicians and the main religion to divide and rule. All this talk about sacred areas are absurd in this day and age, mainly to exploit our religious sentiments where no country worth it’s salt practice this and they come among the most corrupt and backward countries that we call failed states. By the way I am a practising Buddhist where I try to follow it’s precepts. Sadly Sri is nowhere near a Buddhist country as one has only to drive on the road where intolerance and lack of respect and regard to others are very much absent while it is just the opposite in countries like UK and that’s why they are so advanced and progressive. When our politicians are hauled before courts in handcuffs tells much about our gutter culture not conducive to the noble religion.
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malik / January 24, 2017
Briton US and europe are very bad examples. one should never follow hypocrisy, only secular nation believe it!!!! is India where a person no matter the religion has and can be in high office.
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Nimal / January 29, 2017
Malik
I disagree with you.
If India is better than UK,how come thousands of Indians want to settle in UK but hardly anyone other way?Just give a serious thought to this.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / January 25, 2017
The entire island was never Buddhist. The Southern seven provinces excluding the north west coast was Buddhist. The North East and North West coast was Hindu( Saivite). Therefore calling the entire island Sinhalese and Buddhist is not correct. Historically there were two ancient nations in the island, living in their own land. The Sinhalese and Eelam Tamils. In the south west and central parts Sinhalese Buddhists and in the north and east Eelam Tamils. Just because the British for their own administrative convenience amalgamated the Sinhalese and Eelam Tamil parts of the island and created a new colony called Ceylon ( Now Sri Lanka) in 1833 and made the Sinhalese who were only confined to the southern parts of the island until then a majority in the whole island and the Eelam Tamil nation that was a majority in their own land a minority in the island, does not mean the island is Sinhalese and Buddhist. This is like the English stating Great Britain is only English. Tamil is still the mother tongue of 24-25% of the island’s population and even government statistics state almost 24% of the island only exclusively speak Tamil.
The funniest thing is all the names describing the so called Sinhalese Buddhist island are not Sinhalese but are of Tamil or Austronesian origin. Ceylon from Tamil Eelam Serendib from Tamil Cheran Theevu( the island of the Cherasn an ancient Tamil kingdom now modern day Kerala). Taprobane or Tambapanni derived from Tamaraparani river that still flows in southern Tamil Nadu. Sinhala or Chingkalam from Tamil the land of the red/copper soil. Lanka is of Austronesian origin. Yet according to Sinhalese Buddhist extremists the island is exclusively Sinhalese and Buddhist ignoring the fact that large parts of the island has and still is Tamil and Hindu with a much older history.
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srinath gunaratne / January 25, 2017
Go and read the comprehensive list of archaeological Buddhist sites created by Cyril Mathew, Before your sun goad destroyed ancient ruins.
I do not know he burned the Jaffna library, But this is one good list created by Mathew!
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Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / January 26, 2017
Don’t make me laugh Cyril Matthew is a well know Sinhalese Buddhist extremist who was one of the influential ministers who burnt the Jaffna library. He is of very recent Kerala origin belonging to the Eezhava toddy tapping community. Eezavas migrated to Kerala during prehistoric times from Eezham. Hence the name Eezhava or Thiyan closely associated with toddy tapping. Eezham or Eelam means the land of toddy or metal in Tamil. Even now the modern Tamil word for toddy is Era and in Sinhalese the E is dropped and it becomes Ra. Iyaam in Tamil means a sheet of metal and in Sinhalese Ilama means a vein of metal.
Lots of Tamils prior to the 10Th century Chola invasion to the island were also Buddhists not just the Sinhalese. Buddhism was one of the major religions in South India go to any part of South India to see the amount of Buddhist ruins. Buddhism is not the sole p[reserve of the Sinhalese. It was the ancient Tamils who were largely instrumental in the spread of Buddhism Hinduism and the Indian culture to the rest of the world, especially South East Asia. Just look at Borobudur or Angkor Wat Typical Dravidian Tamil architecture. Tamil has a lot of great epics based on Buddhism. Manimekallai ( which describes ancient Naga Tamil Buddhists in the north of the island) and Kundalakesi. The Buddhist ruins in the north and east of the island are all Tamil not Sinhalese. Many of them are Mahayana and not Theravada. As all the inscriptions are in Sanskrit (Mahayana) and not in Pali (Theravadha)Tamil Buddhist belonged to both sects. However Sinhalese Buddhists only belonged to the Theravada sects.
Your name Gunratane shows your recent Tamil origin. I should call you Gunaratnam or Kunarathinam
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justice / January 24, 2017
Agnosticism is as important as Secularism.
Any man can exist by doing good and avoiding evil, and, he does not need an ‘organised religion’.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticism
Many evils exist under, and in the name of, organised religions.
In short, “Do Good and Be Good”.
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Atheist / January 24, 2017
Perhaps you can ask the Hindu Dominant Modi about slow move towards Hinduvta. USA has a “GOD” in its pledge of allegiance and on their currency. Do you think that god is a Muslim or Hindu god? NO it is a CHRISTIAN god not Shiva. Malaysia is only 61% Muslim but has an official religion. Christianity is the accepted faith for Presidents of the US of A. NO muslim will ever be elected. So reality is that you are all being petty and touchy. So giving Buddhism a prominent place has not taken away from your multi god Hinduism or other faiths in SL. All are celebrated with public holidays. Please do not waste petty shit on this. Focus on devolution of economic decision making and land allocation powers and even police powers. I can support those. Let the majority feel good. What do you think is now happening in India? HINDUVTA De jure. Christianity De jure in USA. Islam is absolute in those oil rich backward feudal kingdoms with no freedoms.
When did giving Buddhist a prominent place affect your right to smash coconuts or sacrifice goats or chickens at Munneswaram. Lot of confused Buddhists do the same there asking for favours from Hindu gods. Commercialization of Christmas is huge in SL. You guys get all the holidays for all religions in absurdly high numbers not even found in India.
Stop this nonsense. SHOW ME an absolutely secular nation on earth and I will sell you a bridge to London
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Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / January 25, 2017
All these countries were Christians founded the nation or in the case of Malaysia the Malays are indigenous. In the case of India the Hindus,Still India is secular and in practice the so is the USA and Europe. However Sri Lanka was never exclusively Sinhalese and Buddhist, large parts of the island was Tamil and Hindu. It had two ancient nations Sinhalese and Eelam Tamils. One Buddhist and the other Hindu. The Sinhalese Buddhist never had control of the Tamil Hindu lands until 1948. Now claiming the island as exclusively Sinhalese and Buddhist and giving prominence to only Buddhism is incorrect. Remember there are not only Buddhists and Hindus now many of the island’s indigenous population are Muslims and Christians too. Why should all these people who are native to the land play second fiddle to the Buddhists who prior to 1833 were confined to the southern parts of the island and only became a majority throughout the island due to the British. All the ancient kings in the island including Kandy patronised Buddhism and Hinduism ( Saivaism)
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / January 26, 2017
Malays are not indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia. However they are the first immigrants from surrounding islands and belong to Malayo-polynesian ethnic group. Orang Asli (Ancient Man) are the original people of peninsular Malaysia, who are dark skinned with Afro hair and have genetic similarities with aborigines of Andaman, Adhivasis of Tamil Nadu and Veddhas of Srilanka.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / January 26, 2017
Correct I knew that but did not want to confuse the issue. The Malays are the first large scale immigrants The original Orang Asli{ meaning original man from the Arabic word Asal, which is even now commonly used in many Indian languages including Tamil. Asal ( orginal) Nasal( fake or copy)}, Are very small in numbers. Are you also aware that the word Malay Melaiyu is derived from the Tamil word Malai Ur meaning the land of Mountains. This was the word the ancient Tamils gave to this peninsular when they were trading there.
The Malays took this ancient Tamil places name to describe themselves just like the Sinhalese took one of the ancient Tamil names for the island Chingkalam ( the land of red/Copper) to identify and describe themselves when their ethnicity was formed in the south of the island.
The most Islamic part in the Malay peninsular is Kedah state. This is also a Tamil word. As ancient Tamil traders use to trade here with merchants from China and they used to exchange goods and utensils, as part of the trade. Hence the name Kedah from the Tamil word for utensil Kedaram.
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Atheist / January 24, 2017
Where was your voice when your heroes the LTTE were butchering Tamil dissidents and sinhalese villagers?
What you are doing here is bitching about smaller issues. Absurd, YOUR PARTY nor the Tamils have renounced Eelam. Do so first. Prove to people that you REJECT EELAM. In the name of reconciliation you are asking for a lot more from the majority and you give nothing. You give nothing.
Anandasangaree was the only genuine man. Eelam is dead. Velupillai is dead. Grow up and grow a pair. Reject Eelam by words and by print media. You are pursuing absurd stuff and you can see it is led by Evangelical christians and other christians and not Hindus. Hindus and Buddhists have thrived together for centuries. Stop fomenting trouble.
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Burning Issue / January 24, 2017
Atheist,
You are a funny sort of an atheist!
“Where was your voice when your heroes the LTTE were butchering Tamil dissidents and sinhalese villagers?”
Where were you when the Tamils were being massacred even before the LTTE came into being?
Where were you when the South sent the Tamils packing to the North on several occasions?
What is wrong about talking about secularism in the context of Sri Lanka? Can you explain to me as to why several Buddha statues erected all over N&E post war? Who funded such expansive project?
Why are you so worked up about this issue?
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srinath gunaratne / January 25, 2017
Buddha statues were created for the Soldiers to worship, After while we build a temple and bring couple of monks, then we create a small sinhalses village, And sinhalese take over north and east!
Scared?
Every nuga tree in the hil country end up as a hindu kovil
They start with a cement siva linga, then couple of thrshules, then a small table,then small kovil, and slowly a big kovil!
We learned from the masters!
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Burning Issue / January 25, 2017
Srinath,
Thank you for confirming your hegemony! You are totally emboldened by your majority strength and sheer arrogance to utter such a post! There isn’t much can be expected from you but rubbish like this!
So let me summarise:
The state sponsored Buddha promotion
The state sponsored Sinhala only colonisation
So you expect the Tamils to embrace reconciliation; how arrogant can you get!
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srinath gunaratne / January 26, 2017
If you want to reconcile, come with open arms, Not with racism, mono ethnic enclaves, non divisive politics, trying to send war heroes who saved the country from terrorism,
Tamils suck Hillary,
Tamils suck Obama,
Breaking coconuts!
Can you accept your wife from a Sinhalese or Muslim or Tamil?
Can you accept your sons daughters get married to Sinhalese or Muslim or Tamil?
Can you accept Humans as humans?
Then come and call me racist!
As someone said, We do not have Buddhism in Sri Lanka, only rituals, I am trying to save at least those rituals, You can label me whatever you want!
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Burning Issue / January 27, 2017
Srinath,
“Then come and call me racist!”
If the hat fits you ware it!
I simply summarised what you wrote; is there anything that you disagree?
The more you write the more you manifest your stupidity! What a pity.
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Backlash / January 24, 2017
Western Europe prudently separated the Church from politics around the 17-18th centuries. Western Democracy was all the better by it. America followed – to her benefit.
In the alliance (or marriage, if you like) between the State and Religion the offspring is a convoluted, bloody, unstable nation as we see in Iran, Pakistan and other Islamic theocratic States. The wise Jennings saw to it that this island avoided the pitfall. It was the anti-Tamil and
toxic brain of JRJ that entered the scene (1972) to insist on Sri Lanka being made a Unitary State with Buddhism conferred an unequal role in what is supposed to be a Constitution that proclaims equality to all.
I cannot see ourselves untangling from this mess. The Sinhala Buddhist priests will have none of it. They are all over now – in politics, in Parliament, in business, in drug-trafficking and what have you. In all of these they have violated the Buddhas guidance. One prominent politically-active priest even has a regular political Column in an English daily.
Have these made our people better Buddhists? Has governance in our country or the vast majority of our people benefited by this? Is it not true even good, educated Buddhists are gravely worried about the state the country has declined to by this poisoned environment?
The Govt here today has the numbers to proclaim a Unitary Constitution but the minorities are unlikely to accept this. Sri Lanka moves from one era of disunity and bloodshed to another – unless divine intervention occurs in the interim.
Backlash
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jim softy / January 24, 2017
The word Secularism has its origins in the Old French seculer, from Latin saecularis. It is used in Christian Latin to mean ‘the world’ to differentiate The Church from the State.
Sampanthan – A Hindu – promoting Christian Ideology because he wants to be a politician.
This is how Tamils are, for money they would sell anything.
If Sambanthan wants to give equal place to religions, He should allow muslims and mosques in Jaffna first.
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Backlash / January 25, 2017
Jim Softy
I have seen some highly distilled “wisdom” from you in these pages. The present one takes you to a new low. The respected Lawyer-Statesman Sampanthan is one of the most respected leaders in Parliament. Neither is secularism a Christian construct. The insult you subject Tamils here can only come from a highly warped and sick mind. I have not heard any other community making this low claim about the Tamils. The ignoramus you are, it is time you educated yourself many Muslims returned to Jaffna years ago (post-2009) – with their mosques functioning freely and unhindered. Not merely Muslims, the fascist LTTE evicted many Tamil families too during their rule. BTW, the TNA also sacrificed a seat in Parliament not long ago for a Muslim brother.
Do continue to comment. But please observe restraint, decency and a sense of fairness in your observations.
Backlash
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Taraki / January 25, 2017
Muslims and mosques in Jaffna? They don’t even allow their own so-called ‘low caste’ Tamil Hindus in Jaffna. He has a lot to learn about equality.
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AJ / January 28, 2017
Tamils will only sell Dalit Sinhalese.
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jim softy / January 25, 2017
The funniest thing is HIndus believe “LIVE AND LET LIVE”. Instead, this so called Hindu Tamil politician got introduced by a Christian Tamil who talks about the christian word SECULARISM which promotes other christian denominations in the middle of Catholicism.
Is this Tamils fooling Tamils ?
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AJ / January 28, 2017
Haha Nirvana hypocrite. Budhist monks importing luxury vehicle and raping young boys and girls. Who are the Safron saree wearing trannies are trying to fool. Idiots
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HL Seneviratne / January 25, 2017
The honourable Leader of the Opposition is right. Religion and state should be separate, as it is in all civilized societies.
Religions are believed in and practiced by people. The state is an abstract entity. Religion has no place in it. The demand to bring in religion to the state is a trick of the politicians and other interested parties to benefit from it.
The state should not support any religion. Those who believe in religion should be free to believe and “support” their religion.
What Buddhism do we have in Sri Lanka anyway? There are no Buddhists in Sri Lanka, only ritualists. There is no Buddhism in Sri Lanka, only ritualism. We have a Sangha that is incapable of putting its own house into order. How else can we understand the Sangha hierarchy tolerating thug organizations like the BBS?
A brilliant case for monks to come out of their cloisters and perform service to the society was made by Bhikkhu Walpola Rahula in his THE HERITAGE OF THE BHIKKHU in the 1940s. He also wrote a book that ridiculed ritualism and invited Buddhists to be guided by the Buddha’s noble dharma.
There are a few monks who have understood that, and act like true disciples of the Buddha. I call upon this handful of monks to organize and expand their numbers so that they can play a social role, and help build a civilized society.
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jim softy / January 25, 2017
HL Senevirathne:
Religion and state should be separate, as it is in all civilized societies. Religions are believed in and practiced by people. The state is an abstract entity. Religion has no place in it.
It looks you are too old.
IF you are out of tough with the world, I ask a question from the country where you are living.
If you are correct, why in the USA, the specific denomination of the religion becomes a big deal during the election.
Why in the UK, Queen is still the head of the anglican church ?
Why Norwegian constitution specifies only oliticians from which religion should sit in their parliament ?
[Edited out]
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AJ / January 28, 2017
Why budhist monks are trannies ? Why Sinhalese are Dalits ? Why Sinhalese don’t make use of the free education funded by Tamil and Muslim Tax payers? If you answer these questions you will know the answer to the dumbest questions you post to swerve the readers from the pivotal point.
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Backlash / January 25, 2017
I salute you, H.L. Seneviratne, Sir, for your learning and liberalism.
To put it in another way Real Buddhism, as preached by the Indian Prince Siddartha Gautham, has to be saved from unlearned men here posing as pious Buddhist practitioners. The level to which they have taken Buddhism today is sufficient reason for the Buddhist public and their hierarchy here to begin a thorough overhaul of the system. Buddhist priests must be kept out of worldly affairs. They should be guided to concentrate on the spiritual. Politics, business and related evils must be made strictly out of bounds for them – directly or via subtle means.
The late Madulwewe Sobita Thero realised the folly of it all and began
a cleansing process – somewhat later in the day, as it were. At last he realised the way out for unity and prosperity is to concede their dues to the Tamil Nation. But, unfortunately for the country, he either died or was killed. Yet, his splendid example is there to be followed. Luckily, we have thousands of learned Sinhalese like you who can still distinguish between right and wrong.
Backlash
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jim softy / January 26, 2017
buddhism should be protected as an endangered species.
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AJ / January 28, 2017
Hi Softy,
Get some Visgra to protect your species from extinction. Don’t blame others for your soft and microscopic willy
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Nimal / January 30, 2017
HL S
Very well put.
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Mallaiyuran / January 25, 2017
SJV was too honest not to tell a thief – “Thief”. But Sampanthar is different animal; well compromised, highly decent with political correctness. Normally few 2nd Generation Politicians maintain simplicity and humbleness. Dudley and Sampanthar are exceptions for this, in the South Asia.
Otherwise, he would not escape, soft peddling like this (see below the quote) instead of vigorously contest, even after Ranil had falsely implicated him that he accepted the constitutional’s position of Buddhism as the foremost religion: “But I do think that if a religion is given the foremost place under a constitutional provision stating that all religions are equal and that there shall be no discrimination, it does not seem too meaningful.”
But I would be with him one thing; – it may be like retiring to his mentality but through the back door- if vigorously contested the foremost status and bring it to outright secularism, will that help Lankawe? Is lacking secularism the problem of Lankawe? Is Sinhala Only the problem of Lankawe? Does JVP non Buddhist or Not Sinhalese? Is the $ 18 Billion only Thali Kodi gold or only Chinese commission? Lankawe’s problem is not this or not that. It is such an evil construction in every degree of 360 degrees of its circle, so, just the mere existent of it is a painful problem even for super powers like India, America, China Russia. Then, what to tell about the hell of weak minorities living in it?
So leaving the Lankawe is the only solution for Tamils. After Tamils have left them, Sinhala leaders can start to educate their Mass about real Buddhism, Secular democracy and so forth if that will do any good for them.
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sekara / January 26, 2017
M, you say:
SJV was too honest not to tell a thief – “Thief”.
How does it make him honest?
Perhaps it was the kind of honesty that stopped him from calling the murderers of Duraiappa, “Murderers!”
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Mallaiyuran / January 26, 2017
Mr. Sekara
What I meant was he (SJV) genuinely negotiated with SLFP in 1957. He genuinely negotiated with UNP in 1965. He contested the 1972 constitution and resigned his seat. In the whole Lankawe, he was the only one offered that kind of Challenge. Then in 1976, he, without reservations, explained that Sinhala Leaders will not be sincere in negotiating with Tamils. He called the thief a Thief. He did what he should do!
I am not aware of if SJV had ever favorable commented on Thuraiappah, or accepted his behaviors. But, in his latter days, he excused GG and made partnership with Thondaman.
“Ullankai Punnukku Pootha Kanaadi Ethukku?” (Do we need a magnifying glass to trace the wound in the palm?). Even if SJV did not confront Thuraiappah, his notoriety was well known.
Sampanthar Negotiated with Old Royal until Old was voted out. He kept talking about negotiation even after the Old Royal team one sided-ly cancelled and withdrew in January, 11th 2012. He negotiated with India though India never well received him. September 2011, he came from India and said he had told Delhi that upper house was not what he wanted, but 13A used as a basis and more had to be offered to Tamils. In 2012 Maaddu Pongal, after eating Old Royal’s Pokkai at Temple Tree House, FM Krishna said TNA must accept what Old Royals give Tamils. Sampanthar told Under Secretary Blake that in a negotiation both party should feel happy and Blake accepted that. After that, Under Secretary Blake took Lankawe to UNHRC.
Even every Tamil Nursery kid knows what is going to be the outcome of the constitution making. Sampanthar said in this speech he still doesn’t know what is there. At this time, he is most experienced politician in the country.
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sekara / January 26, 2017
SJVC’s silence on Duraiappaa’s murder is well known and commented on in these pages. That was Eezaththu Gandhi!
Whether you like someone or not, murder is murder.
If we can justify killing people whom we do not like, before long the world will be free of the human species.
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Mallaiyuran / January 26, 2017
I wonder why aren’t talking about Bastiampillai’s murder, but only Thuraiappah.
Thuraiappah was shot in 1975. Family believed Kumarasuriyar did it. 1976 Vattukkodai resolution went for armed struggle. LTTE claimed responsibility in 1978. SJV was sick not most of the 1976-1977 and died in April. Where in these circumstances SJV should have returned his old path of Ahimsa?
In 1972, SJV resigned from the government. That was final. After that, any position with government was only for technical reasons. February 1975 he did not go to parliament seeking a job there. He formed TULF in that period.
1. S.J.V. had accepted armed struggle. No point in investigating induvial cases until freedom archived and methods reviewed.
2. From 1972 Duraiappa’s SLFP refused work with FP, devastated North with Police. SJV did not want to feed Duraiappa’s Alsatian Police dogs, which was feeding with Tamil Girls, with Tamil boys too.
3. Alfred Duraiappa Heinous work of selling good family or famous family girls with the police control was hated by everybody. Doing that kind of heinous crime, using police control, can be stopped only by eliminating that person. Duraiappa and Bastiamplillai did to their race’s Tamil girls what ISIS is doing to Yazidi girls, now. That is where armed struggles germinate.
SJV would have been responsible to condemn it if FP members had killed Duraiappa for political reasons.
Duraiappa’s killing was not political, but related to his sex business. Kumarasuriyar was not shot for just being a SLFP traitor. Duraiappa used police to infiltrate in every aspect of Tamil. To stop that shame alone, any boy would have killed Duraiappa. That was the condition those days in Jaffna. Every Tom, dick and harry volunteered to do that. When Sivakumar attempted first, he was not in any real organized movement.
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Mallaiyuran / January 26, 2017
His Eezlaththu Gandhi title is not affecting his stand on armed struggle. Even Gandhi said “If it is a choice of between cowardice and violence, I pick violence”. Gandhi’s Ahimsa Path was against to a country it evolved into world’s foremost democracy. SJV picked the small Ampu to fight an elephant. But it was found out it cannot be fought out even with a spear.
”Whether you like someone or not, murder is murder.” your blunt and shallow argument of “Murder is Murder” cannot be answered with 300 words. You may want to take off time and read Geetha so you know why Krishna was saying killing is important if Dravidians wants to have the Aryan invasions stopped. Know that courts still hang criminals. Sinhala Jury decides Tamils kills but not the other way.
“If we can justify killing people whom we do not like, before long the world will be free of the human species“. This is a very immature, blunt statement. Durraippa is not everybody. There was no court to file a case against Durraiappa. Durraiappa was the government. People are 100% allowed to rebel against their tyranny government.
My job is not condemning of Killing of Duraiappa, but justifying rebelling against tyrant Sinhala government. He was the government. Killing of Duraiappa was a clear action of rebelling against a tyranny government. It is not killing a neighbor for being jealous.
LTTE was recognized as a well-disciplined organization. But, Kathirgamar was successful in campaigning against that. Every killing they did had long background. When got power, they had their police and judges trained in West. It was no Sinhala Jury. They managed justifiably Castes and Women affairs. When thieves killed a pregnant woman, Tamil media wrote this week that LTTE is missing. That is Tamils, this is you!
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Kanga / January 26, 2017
Well said. SJV spent all his money and could not achieve a federal system. It is very unfortunate.
If a true Buddhist know what Buddha’s teaching are, SL will not be in this state!
All are using this good religion to achieve their success – what a sorry state of affairs.
SL will continue to remain so corrupt and sad, unless their true believe changes to good governance.
Kanga
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Mallaiyuran / January 26, 2017
SJV’s self-sacrifice did not work there. He spent his wealth. But it is the one invoked armed struggle. That is the one brought the world aware of Tyrant Sinhala governments’ Sinhala Jury verdicts.
I cannot advocate violence, but I have an obligation to justify LTTE’s rebel against the Sinhala tyrant government. You may notice that I am specific in my words, unlike Sekaram, who is standing off as “Murder is Murder”. He knows if he get down to specifics, there will be reasons why the Tamil people hated the Sinhala governments’’ agent Duraiappa and felt rebel against Duraiappa’s government.
I never supported JVP’s rebel against the same government against which LTTE rebelled. It is not being partial of that Sinhalese should not seek better life, but because Sinhala Governments were not tyrant to Sinhala people. Sinhala governments did not deport Negombo Tamils, but up country Tamils, though they both brought in by Colonist from same TN. The reason is because Negombo Tamils speak Sinhala, though they are from TN. The upcountry Tamils were deported because they resisted becoming Sinhalese, like Negombo Tamils. This rebelling right against a tyrant government is recognized even by UN.
Sekara thinks I am a Black Tiger. That is why he is coming around sheepishly blaming SJV for something he perceive LTTE did, to launch his full scale war on Black Tigers. That is silly.
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Mallaiyuran / January 26, 2017
The new Under Secretary Angela Aggeler is in Colombo. New King has asked a meeting with President Trump to repeal the September, 2015 resolution. It is given to understand she is doing an analysis for new administration to set up its policy on Lankawe. I do not know if Sampanthar has requested an appointment with her. Otherwise it will do serious damage.
New Royals have been putting a drama of making new constitution to save the Old Royals, their Patriotic Gemunus. So the 90 days promise was shifted to 2016 and it was argued as end 2016 and now let loose to fall in 2017 with an idea of dragging it after to March 2017. Lankawe tried its best to have the GSP+ approved before March 2017. Ranil flew few times to Europe. Now an answer for that is going to be after March. So far it is not known if USA has prepared any repealing resolution. But depending on that, Lankawe has not prepared any planning to submit on the next March 2017 sitting as requested by the resolution. The last Interim Oral report, July 2016, by UNHRC’s HC Prince Zeid was not pressing or persuasive enough to make Lankawe to move its butt on that. Lankawe has hooked deep into the next sitting of UNHRC’s members’ cooperation to its demand to repeal to introduce the new constitution.
I don’t know if it is a request of Lankawe, But the EU is planning to postpone Lankawe’s requirement to submit the action plan to March 2018. If that goes well USA’s repealing resolution may also postponed to March 2018. Then Lankawe has to postpone its constitution making also to be after March. So Sampanthar has to wait until March to see if the Constitutional change is true or fake.
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Hela / January 27, 2017
The Tamil separatists including Sambandan’s ulterior motives in championing so called secularism not practiced in majority of the countries are well known. How can secularism supports creation of an exclusivist mono ethnic Tamil North? The hubris was exposed long ago. The current attempts to subvert the country will be defeated.
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Arun Ravi / January 28, 2017
[Edited out] Comments should not exceed 300 words.Please read our Comments Policy for further details.
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Arun Ravi / January 29, 2017
What is Mr.Sampanthan’s trying to articulate about secularism? I just have a question for Mr.Sampanthan. Are you a true secularist politician?
In his articulation, he is trying to exhibit himself to the international viewers, he as a genuine person on the matter of secularism. But the fact is something different.
First, I want to clarify one thing that actually, what is meaning of secularism? Is it a demand of the sections of the society or a group of politicians those who have been showing them as liberals. In case of Sri Lanka, few Tamil politicians have been demanding for secular state. That means, Sri Lanka to be a country for all religion not for Buddhism only but majority of the people saying no, who are following Buddhism.
In my view, the logic of the Tamil nationalist is weak because Tamil nationalists are saying they don’t have religion, Hindus, catholic and Christians are Tamils so the identity of Tamil is important not religion. But the Sinhala Buddhist is not saying like that. They are saying they need religion and say that state should be given first priority for Buddhism. What is wrong with that? But Muslims can say that they need priority for religion because they are religious people but not Tamils because Tamil nationalism is not based on religion. That is based on the identity of Tamil language.
If religion is not a matter to Tamil people then why Sampanthan has worrying about the nature of state formation.
Mr.Sampanthan’s credibility on secularism is also questionable. Mr.Sampanthan has been donating sum of Lakh to Hindu Temples in Trincomale every year but he never given money for any institutional development for social welfare. The matter is well-known among Tamil people in Trincomalee. What is fact behind this? Is it secularism?
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Vithuran / January 29, 2017
Mr.Sampanthan has been arguing about secularism in Sri Lanka but I have questions on his credibility on this matter. I know he has been serving as a member of parliament last 40 years. My question is that is he occasionally support to any Buddhist temple so far? If anyone know that information please share that. He must did that if he was true secularist? Secularism is not an ideology. That is a way of life. In my observation many years, Sampanthan is not secularist; he is basically an orthodox Hindu man. He is strictly following the cast system which is influencing by varnashrama dharm. This is the system which is discriminated the own society as various divisions. If a person following this system then he never says that he is being a secularist.
The secularism is not a matter of state, which is a matter of people who believes different god for them. But one religion will dominate which is following by majority of the nation.
For example, Indian is seems to be a secular country but practically India is a Hindu nation. When a case filed in Indian Supreme Court, the court was said that Hindutva as “a way of life and not a religion.” The secularism is in India, which is a cover to protect the whole country .Sri Lanka is not Indi. In my view, the priority for Buddhism in Sri Lanka is not a problematic one. This is not a problem for ordinary Tamil people. Few Tamil politicians and Tamil catholic elites are raising this issue as a problematic one. In fact, Mr.Sampanthan must say this truth to the people who elected him as a leader of them. The real leaders should guide the people not guided by people. Mr.Sampanthan tries to guiding his people.
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Nimal / January 30, 2017
Vithuran
If Mr Sampanthan supports secularism, being a politician must keep well away from temples and churches. It’s not the time to indulge in this business as the crooks are giving it a bad name and he must not add to the problems we are facing.
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