“Sinhala people are not bad people but certain politicians are trying to create fear among the Sinhala people portraying that the new Constitution will divide the country,” the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance and Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan said today.
“We don’t want to divide the country but we want every person in this country to feel that he/she belongs to this country and this country belongs to them, we don’t want anyone to be treated the way we have been treated in this country, we want and we will treat Sinhalese and Muslims in this country with dignity and equality,” he said in the meeting held today between the visiting US Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Alice Wells and the Tamil National Alliance led by Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan. The meeting was held at the residence of the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap.
Sampanthan apprised the Ambassador on the current political situation in the country especially the matters pertaining to the Constitution making process. Briefing the background the conflict Sampanthan said “every Tamil person in this country has been affected by violence, and we have been deprived of our rights in this country, as a result of it over 1.5million Tamil people have fled the country”. “We want the remaining Tamil people in this country to live with dignity and those who have left the country to comeback,” he added.
Sampanthan highlighted the need to frame a new Constitution which will preserve and protect the dignity of all people in Sri Lanka. “Unlike previous, times this time there had been much ground work done with regard to framing the new Constitution and we cannot afford to allow these processes to fail,” he said. Speaking on the power sharing arrangements in the new Constitution Sampanthan said, genuine power sharing arrangement is vital, and people should be able to decide on things that matter to their day to day life, in places where they have lived continuously.
Speaking about the response of the Sinhala people regard to the new Constitution Sampanthan said: “Sinhala people are not bad people but certain politicians are trying to create fear among the Sinhala people portraying that this Constitution will divide the country”. “We don’t want to divide the country but we want every person in this country to feel that he/she belongs to this country and this country belongs to them,” he added. Speaking further Sampanthan said “we don’t want anyone to be treated the way we have been treated in this country, we want and we will treat Sinhalese and Muslims in this country with dignity and equality”.
“We need to optimize and seize this opportunity” he added. “this is the first time that the two major parties of this country have come together and there is an opportunity to get multi party consensus to the new Constitution and I am confident that we will get the 2/3 majority in Parliament and subsequently the Constitution will have to be approved by people at a referendum,” he said.
Responding to a query M. A. Sumanthiran said that those who instigate communal and racial sentiments among the public are the ones who see themselves as losers as a result of this new Constitution being framed. Further, he said that the public representation committee on constitutional reforms reports that people across the country want a new Constitution.
Sampanthan stressed that this is not an ethnic issue anymore but it is an issue of power sharing which will be a benefit to all people in Sri Lanka. “we have heard from the Chief Ministers from all the provinces saying they want more powers in matters related to their provinces,” he said.
Speaking on the release of private lands occupied by the armed forces Sampanthan said these lands must be released and given to the owners they have the right to return to their lands armed forces cannot continue to use these lands while the people are protesting demanding the release of these lands. Further Sampanthan said the issues of the missing persons must be addressed immediately to give the families of the disappeared some solace by ascertaining the truth through a credible inquiry.
Sampanthan brought to the notice of the Ambassador Alice that the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act has not been repealed yet, though the government has promised to repeal it. “persons continue to be in custody under this law unjustifiably” he said.
Ambassador Alice thanked the TNA leader and the delegation and said “it is my honor to meet a leader with a principled position” and assured that the US government will continue to support and engage with the Government of Sri Lanka in addressing the above-mentioned matters.
Along with Sampanthan Parliamenterians, Adaikkalanathan, Siddarththan and Sumanthran were presented at the meeting while with ambassador Alice Wells US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap and other embassy officials were present at the meeting.
Kumaran / September 1, 2017
Tamils are also not a “bad people”. Only politicians like Chelvanayagam, Sampanthan, CV etc create problems!
What a statement to make to visiting dignitaries!! He looks up, and spits!!
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Eusense / September 1, 2017
kumaran,
If Tamils are not “bad people”, why did they suicide bombed and killed innocent people and many other Tamils supported and financed those terrorists for 30 years???
Did you support and/or financed them? If you did you are a bad Tamil. If you did not support them, did you try to stop those terror activities? if not, you are again a bad Tamil!
/
Tamil from the north / September 1, 2017
Nuisance, for the very same reason why many Sinhalese rejoiced over the bombing of civilians in the North and thought all who got killed were LTTE members. We have idiots on both sides, so stop talking crap and shut up. Open your dull head a bit and grow up. You and your like minded fools completely forgot what your great Dutegemunu (MR) did with 3 hoodlums from the LTTE. He gave one a ministerial job, other chief minister and the last something else. Do you know who they are? They murdered 600 surrendered policemen. These policemen were poor folks from the south, came to make a living and lost their lives.
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Eusense / September 2, 2017
TFTN
Sinhalese rejoiced not because bombing of civilians. Because finally the 30 year terror reign by Tamil terrorist was terminated. The Tamil civilians killed as collateral damage will be Sri Lanka’s heroes in my mind. You need to stop talking crap and explain why you don’t agree with what I stated in my post.
/
Tamil from the north / September 2, 2017
Nuisance, You need to stop talking crap and explain why you don’t agree with what I stated in my post?
TFN: is this even a question for me to ponder and provide you an answer. You are dumb as dumb can be. Idiot, the war started in 1985 and ended in 2009. Tell me what happened when racist hoodlums among the Sinhalese (Majority are good people and the dirty minority like you) laughed and rejoiced from 1985-2008? Children were slaughtered, women were slaughtered, old and innocent young were slaughtered and it was all funny? Collateral damage? Bastard, you call that collateral damage? Have you lost innocent family members to this nasty war? I have and I know they had nothing to do with it. Most even opposed the LTTE like me from the inception of the group. Answer my question about Karuna, Pillayan and Inniyabarathy? ANSWER THAT and we can have chat. I know cowards like you run circles around people to evade answering questions with substance!!!
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Eusense / September 2, 2017
Mr Tamil from north,
I have heard enough of this Tamils being slaughtered trash. If that happened there would be a reason. There would be no Tamils living in SL if those slaughters happened for no reason. How did you
and stupid vedda escape slaughter? I like to know! How do 50% of the Tamil population
living in the south survive this “slaughter’??? Stop writing crap.
You are asking a stupid question about Karuna et. al. I consider them as Sri Lankan heroes. They helped bring peace to the country. They should be reworded.
/
Native Vedda / September 2, 2017
Tamil from the north
–
Did we celebrate when Sinhala/Buddhist terrorists were terminated, not just once but twice?
–
Are you sure you want to continue to read the same typing year in year out from bigots such as sach, bloody Nuisance, Shenali, Sarojini,…………………………? Names could be different typing are the same.
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Burt / September 1, 2017
There is a “very simple” explanation. If I do explain you would say I am justifying suicide bombing, so I will leave it to your imagination.
Small tip: don’t sit when your imagining, your putting too much pressure on your brain.
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Jimsofty / September 1, 2017
Dumb Cartoon character. Suicide bombers are good when victims are tamils.
/
Kumaran / September 2, 2017
Eusense, all I am saying is, it is the lop-sided ideas of individual politicians. Yes, SWRDB was one such, as well as those Sinhalas who raised the language question in the early 1950s. Suicide bombing was carried out by young, indoctrinated men and women of Tamil origin, just as we see young men and women of Middle East origin as well as Europeans doing the same thing in a more violent way now n Europe. We also see white, Anglo Saxons conducting violence in the United States. They called the “Antifa”. There are also the “white supremacists, Neo Nazis, “Black Lives Matter” etc It has nothing to do with the ethnicity, it is just the inspiration they get from their political bosses.
Incidentally, I am not a Tamil in the strict sense of the term. I am a Sri Lankan and my roots are Portuguese, North Indian, Dutch etc, !!
/
Rohan / September 2, 2017
/If Tamils are not “bad people”, why did they suicide bombed and killed innocent people and many other Tamils supported and financed those terrorists for 30 years???/
Why didn’t you ask, ‘if Sinhalese are not bad people, why they killed, raped, looted, …. Tamil people during those so called riots’?
There were many,but the major ones were 1956, 1977 and 1983.
So, did you ever talk against those Sinhala terrorists?
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Eusense / September 2, 2017
Rohan
You seem like a novice. I never said Sinhalese are good people, in fact according to this article a Tamil is telling so.
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Analyst / September 1, 2017
Hope Jaffna does not become A Taliban who kills women and men when married into other than Vellalas.
Heard of HONOUR KILLINGS??
If the pattern of threats from certain groups of Jaffna Tamils is true , it will be a true disaster.
This kind of mentality should be NIPPED IN THE BUD!
Hope Sampanthar and Wiggie will take note.
It looks like the ugly mentality among Jaffnites now will become a future disaster.
This is all due to do with RACISM, SECULISM, ECONOMICAL DEPRIVATION , THE UGLY THREATS FROM CERTAIN GROUPS ARE SURFACING.
In the past the Parents tolerated and gave their blessings when a daughter or son married a Southerner , Same happened vice versa from the Sinhala community.
North and East should be protected from this kind of threats from certain groups.
I know the country is not the same now to compare with life 7 Decades ago.
Someone suggested both Nationalities need to learn both Languages .
I fully agree with it , that does not mean all the Employments from the North and East to be given away to Majority community which leaves the North and Easterners JOBLESS and drain their Economy by the Southerners.
That will be a disaster for Tamils and Muslims in the region.
Everything left in the hands of Army and Police too are wrong.
/
SJ / September 2, 2017
Analyst
Much has been achieved through struggle by the oppressed castes, especially the militant campaign of 1966-1972.
There is caste arrogance and discrimination on scales that existed among Sinhalese not very long ago. These are issues to fight about. Caste operates a lot more subtly than it did 50 years ago. It is true that we have cronyism based on all manner of identity.
But to extrapolate from what happens in N India (to a less extent in the South) to this country is folly.
/
Rohan / September 2, 2017
/In the past the Parents tolerated and gave their blessings when a daughter or son married a Southerner , Same happened vice versa from the Sinhala community./
But, when those families tried to survive in a mixed marriage challenges, the ‘rioting’ Sinhala terrorists attacked those families as well. Can you say NO?
/
Analyst / September 2, 2017
Rohan
I agree with you 100%
Who created the mass murder and torture of Tamils since 1958 ??
National costume dressed ( mass murderer SWRD ) Followed by JRJ , MR and Goat GR
finished off Tamils because of Jealousy in the name of Racism!!
These are the leaders who whipped up HATE among the Srilankan Minorities!
The whole nation of Majority ( except few) were ready to slaughter the Tamils .
The nations economy, education, natural resources all suffered due to that , the country is on the BEGGING BOWL for every FREE AID FROM RICH NATIONS.
We are the poorest neighbours of South Asians.
How good is that??
The wealth of the nation ,was plundered by these leaders , so too the Rest .
So what ?? the families of these leaders are well off in the name of Poor illiterate Modayas.
Shouldn’t we not proud of the fact that at least the families of these Crook Leaders are enjoying our wealth??
/
Bunjappu / September 2, 2017
Kumaran,
Sampathan is a jem of a person. He has understood what others did not.
That is why he has been now sacrificing his enegies towards the reconciliation.
/
justice / September 1, 2017
Retention of PTA in spite of promises to abolish it, is indication of desire to be able to arrest Tamils without judicial process.
Recently, a Tamil man riding a lorry on top of a pile of sand in a lorry was shot dead on suspicion that the sand was illegally collected, when the lorry could have been stopped by shooting at the tyres. There has been no judicial inquiry.
Earlier, five policemen shot dead two students on a motorcycle. No case yet.
Such shootings do not occur in Sinhala majority areas.
Alienation of lands belonging to citizens, by the army, does not happen in Sinhala majority areas.
All this shows that Tamils are treated as “second class” citizens.
Any new constitution should specifically prohibit law enforcement being unequally enforced on peoples of different ethnicities.
This is what Tamil leaders desire, and convey to representatives of other countries.
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Eusense / September 1, 2017
justice,
You are telling half stories!
Those driver/rider were asked to stop by the Police. Why did not they stop??
For god’s sake everyone (Tamils and Sinhalese) should stop when ordered by law enforcement. Are you saying that if the man riding on top of a pile of sand was a Sinhalese he wouldn’t be shot?
/
Tamil from the north / September 1, 2017
IDIOT Nuisance, can you explain why those poor students were slaughtered by the STF in Trinco and there has been no enquiry?
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Jimsofty / September 1, 2017
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Native Vedda / September 1, 2017
Tamil from the north
–
“can you explain why those poor students were slaughtered by the STF in Trinco”
–
Can you ask the SJ the same question?
–
I guess he would say the students had no business when they were killed, they shouldn’t have been out there in the first place, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. He would definitely blame the victims if they happened to be Tamils.
/
Tamil from the north / September 2, 2017
NV, I don’t know why people cannot think outside of the Tamil/Sinhala thing. This was an unnecessary war instigated by dirty rascals from the south which was followed by similar rascals from the north. At the end a lot of good people either died or ran away from the country. Today the country is going down a slippery slope and I see bastards sitting here and writing the Tamils did this and Sinhalese did that. Sri Lankans are very good at talking of the past forever. These rascals like Nuisance, are only interested in one thing…………that is to claim Lanka as a Buddhist country and all minorities are to get out. They fail to realize, just like the Tamils, the Sinhalese seized this country from your folks. Now we are all busy trying to justify who it belongs to. In my opinion, this beautiful country belongs to your folks first and everyone equally afterwards. I hope this explains everything.
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Eusense / September 2, 2017
tftn,
Did you support Tamil terrorism?
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Shrikharan / September 2, 2017
Tamil from the north
Do you expect Eusense to answer! She will conveniently avoid answering this question posed by you or simply deny such thing ever happened. Else turn the story around and tell the students shot the STF so STF shot back.
/
Eusense / September 2, 2017
tftn
For every incidence there is a story behind, which you and I don’t know. If it is not, no Tamil has to be living today.
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justice / September 2, 2017
Should every driver (and / or passenger in the vehicle of whatever ethnicity), who does not stop, be shot dead ?
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Eusense / September 2, 2017
J
Yes.
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Jonny / September 2, 2017
Oh.. you forgot to mention that the man on top of the lorry was carrying a board with “I am a tamil”
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SJ / September 1, 2017
J
“All this shows that Tamils are treated as “second class” citizens.”
*
Then there are third class citizens among Tamils.
Have Tamil leaders given much thought to it?
Are all Sinhalese First Class citizens?
*
If we start with ethnic identity as the basis we end up against a brick wall.
I have little faith in the new constitution, but will not stand in the way of any effort to seek some degree of fairness.
A solution is possible only through work at grassroots.
/
Chelvam / September 1, 2017
SJ, I think you are fudging the issue
Yes there are second and third class Sinhalese. There are first and third class Tamils.
You are implying that all of us face problems and thereby trivializing the problems that Tamils face.
The fact is that proportionately more Sinhalese get first class treatment and more Tamils get second class treatment..
Please do not try to hide this because it is what is relevant
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SJ / September 2, 2017
The pathetic reality of Tamil nationalist politics is that it refuses to address oppression within the nationality in the name of unity.
It dislikes the oppressed sections of different ethnic identity getting together.
Its attitude towards Muslims and Hill Country Tamils ranges between contempt (at times patronizing) and crass indifference.
*
After seeing recent developments like the ongoing issue of crematoriums amid crowded settlements and Tamil nationalist leaders’ response (only Sivajilingam even bothered to talk to the protesters), I will not brush aside Vellala arrogance lightly. Caste, class and gender are issues where the Tamils have much catching up to do.
*
The worst affected Tamils include civilian war victims and combatants. Do the Tamil leaders care? They are only making endless speeches and passing irrelevant resolutions by the score. Their problem is trivialized– mainly by whom?
*
It is time that the Tamil nationalists got used to a more inclusive approach rather than blaming all on the “other”.
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Native Vedda / September 1, 2017
SJ
–
“If we start with ethnic identity as the basis we end up against a brick wall.”
–
We will start with workers of the world unite. The panacea for all problem, bring back Siri Mao’s Socialism on national agenda, rigorously impose, …… . Every single problem will be solved. People can live happily ever after, possibly on free rice from Moon/Mars. ——
–
Make sure exit permit system is being reintroduced as petty bourgeoisie/traitors/Bonapartists may flea the country.
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soma / September 2, 2017
Native
Sampanthan is wrong. _ Sinhalese ARE bad people. A notion I like to see established in the heads of all Tamils{Tamil speaking people} living outside North and East. I am counting on your support.
Soma
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2017
somass ji
–
“Sinhalese ARE bad people. “
–
You are wrong however Sinhalese don’t seem to know the need nor realise the urgency in weeding out the nasty little Sinhala/Buddhist fascists among them, simply because they are stupid. In other word they need to understand how little cancer cells kill a huge human being. Hence the urgent need to quarantine you and your ilks in an exclusive ghetto and subsequently deal with.
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Rohan / September 2, 2017
Slime Jar as usual apologising Sinhalese racism and Muslim opportunism and blaming the victims the Tamils. Yes there are lots of poor downtrodden Sinhalese, however this due to other social reason and does not give the Sri Lankan State right to commit genocide war crimes and discrimination on the island’s Tamils. Got it
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Jeff / September 1, 2017
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Shan / September 1, 2017
A ‘Kumbakarnan’ only yesterday awoke to enlightenment?! Is this what he has been seeking after all these years? Tamil politicians are worse than Sinhala politicians.
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Native Vedda / September 1, 2017
Shan
–
“Tamil politicians are worse than Sinhala politicians.”
–
Could you cite any comprehensive comparative studies.
Thanks
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Eusense / September 2, 2017
stupid vedda
You need citations???? Look at your Tamil leaders since independence. What have they done for the Tamils???
The recent one, parayabakaran wiped out one whole generation of Tamils.
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B S Perera / September 1, 2017
I have not seen my friends and in-laws who are Tamils having any discrimination in the society and I as a Sinhalese do not enjoy anything special that they do not enjoy. Even during the LTTE times I did not see any animosity between the two nations. Talking about Reconciliation is a project promoted by politicians of both sides for their survival while creating friction among people. What we need is proficiency in both languages (S & T) among all people as that is what we lack.
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Unreal / September 1, 2017
I like your initials!
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Analyst / September 2, 2017
Unreal
Are you a donkey?? I like your initials! I like your name too!!!
What a comment ! What a Waste of space CT had to endure.
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Unreal / September 2, 2017
B S Perera made a comment. Mine was a rejoinder. It was not a comment on his name or his initials. It was a pun on his comment itself! His was real BS!
*
Just adopting a name doesn’t make you one.
*
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Thappu / September 1, 2017
Could someone make clear what Sampanthan meant when he ‘stressed that this is not an ethnic issue anymore but it is an issue of power sharing’ which will be a benefit to all people in Sri Lanka.
*
Wasn’t the issue an ‘ethnic issue’? What has changed, now. It was a lack of power sharing all along?
*
Was it the Constitutions we have had that caused power sharing an issue? How can a new Constitution all of a sudden make disappear the problems we have been facing?
*
How can the coming together of the two major parties solve the ethnic issue? Was their alliance formed for the purpose of resolving the national question? Where is the hint that ‘they’ are working towards bringing a solution to the ethnic divide?
*
There are many good Sinhalese people. But, these good people are too few in comparison to the other much more bad people among us. The good people – both Sinhalese and Tamils – are equally powerless.
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Sellam / September 1, 2017
Mr.Sambanthan did not know what he was talking about. Don’t you know he is ageing. Politicians have forked tongues.
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Rajash / September 1, 2017
is he implying that Sinhalese are not bad people but they are “modayas” to be hoodwinked by the politicians >>>>>as the going say>>>>”you can fool all the people some of the time”>>>>>you can fool some of the people all of the time”>>>>>but “you can fool all of the sinhala people all of the time???”>>>
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Non PhD / September 1, 2017
I agree with Mr. Sampanthan to a larger extent. Good example is Sarath Fonseka.
SF in the best interest of the country, prepared to give evidence against Jagath Jayasooriya for committing crimes.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / September 2, 2017
I have my doubts that Sarath Fonseka is going to speak the truth about war crimes committed by Jagath Jayasuriya with best of intentions. Can anyone let us know whether Jagath Jayasuriya insulted and manhandled Sarath Fonseka on the instigation of Mahinda and Gota and this is in retaliation for that. If that is not so, Sarath Fonseka must give evidence against every perpetrators of war crimes against Tamils as he had the command responsibility over these criminals.
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Eusense / September 2, 2017
sankaralingam
Let me be clear, what you are saying is Paryabakaran started a terror war against citizens of SL by suicide bombing and killing over 100,000 civilians for over 30+ years (and you funded it too). The SL gov. who fought this brutal but coward terrorists, who fought in civilian clothes and used citizens as human shields, annihilated these killers. And now you want war crimes investigations???
If ending the war was a war crime can you first point out to me a list of Tiger terrorists who died at the end of this war?
Or are you saying only civilians were killed and no terrorist were killed?
If so, what happened to these terrorists? Are you saying that there were no terrorist but civilians fought this war? or those terrorist were from Mars and they disappeared in to thin air after they lost????
Why not a single family of these terrorist are coming forward to say the terrorists were family/friends of theirs?
If this war was not won how many more innocent civilians would have been killed by now by these brutal killers?
I like to hear your side of the story.
/
Jimsofty / September 2, 2017
Only think I know Sarath Fonseka proved that he is not a Leader by showing hatred and revenge to his subordinate who foght the war with him. they did a grand job thanks to everybody yet finally he is showing he is not a civilian Leader. why should people vote him. If he becomes a president, he will be far ruthless than JRJ or Mahinda Rajapakse.
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wannihami / September 1, 2017
“we don’t want anyone to be treated the way we have been treated in this country, we want and we will treat Sinhalese and Muslims in this country with dignity and equality”.
Condescending and lying at the same time..
Madam Ambassador, do go for a walk around Colombo, are Tamils second class citizens? They live and go about as free as any other citizen of the country. In Col 6 (Welawatta) most business are owned by Tamils and they are flourishing, , many Tamils own 50.million Rupee and above valued apartments in the Havelock City, Crescat, and other luxury high rises of the Colombo skyline. Madam Ambassador, look at all the development activities (e.g. the spanking new bridge over the Jaffna lagoon), the free ferry services to the residents of the islands, a beautiful city in Killinocchi, the large businesses like MAS holdings building factories there providing employment.
If the Tamil people are treated like second class citizens in Sri Lanka why are the ones who have emigrated coming back in troves to buy property here? Isn’t it because they are treated like second class citizens in the west but not in Sr Lanka? Madam Ambassador look at the statistics, why are such a huge population of Tamils live among the Sinhalese in the south (Colombo and Kandy), a lot more than in the North and East, and while Sinhalese are not welcome to live among the Tamils in Jaffna. There is devolution of power in the current constitution so why a new constitution? What is needed is both groups to be bilingual, and the Sinhala children are now learning Tamil as a mandatory subject. A new constitution will only create friction among Sinhalese and Tamils and may start another blood bath, it is proposed as a tool to buy votes and for nothing else. Madam Ambassador, please look at the statistics.
/
Siva Sankaran Sharma / September 2, 2017
Colombo and the western littoral north of Colombo until Puttalam was once Tamil. Just look at 90% of the place names in these regions , all have a Tamil origin and not Sinhalese. Even the word Colombo has a Tamil origin and is synonymous with Kollam or Quilon in Kerala. The Tamil root name for both these cities in the same. Look at all the Tamil root names for many of the suburbs in Colombo Kottai( Fort) Pettai( Pettah) Kotanchenai( Kotahena) Mattakuli( Mattakuliya) Muhatuwaram ( Modera) Borella( Borellu) derived from the Tamil work Parukkai meaning small stones( Parai stone) Vellam pidi( Wellampitiya) the list goes on. The presence of a Tamil mercantile community that arrived in the island during medieval times from South India the Colombo Chetties , attest the presence of Tamils in these areas from ancient times.
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Kalagola Abey / September 2, 2017
Lick the high heels of the American Jewess weell. They really love you because of your past support by spying for colonialist Jews.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / September 2, 2017
contd; Lastly , There has hardly been any Sinhalese presence in the north or east but always a Tamil presence in the south, from kings aristocrats , traders and commoners. Unlike the Sinhalese in the north and east who were settled there illegally by all Sinhalese governments on ethnically cleansed Tamil lands to deliberately change the demography in the north and east and are still doing so and they have now been joined by the Muslims in this ethnic cleaning anti Tamil activities, the Tamils down south arrived and legally purchased their lands and have greatly contributed to the culture and economy of the Sinhalese south by trade and business. Unlike the Sinhalese and now the Muslims ( now financed by Pakistan and certain Gulf nations) who attempting to change the history and Tamil Hindu character of the north and east, by changing place names and destroying Hindu temples and building Buddah statues and Mosques in these places , the Tamils have never attempted to do this in the south .There are attempts now being made by the Sri Lankan armed forces and Buddhist monks in the north to forcibly convert poor Tamil Hindus to Buddhism and convert them to Sinhalese Buddhists. A recent visit by a very high ranking Buddhist prelate from Kandy with regards to this forced conversion and Sinhalisation of poor Tamil Hindus is of grave concern. He made a comment that the ancient Tamil village called Poothur, one of the targeted villages in the north is derived from Buddah and Oor./Ur the ancient Tamil word for place or village. What a silly comment Poothoor means in Tamil/Malayalam the new village and has nothing to do with Lord Buddha. The Muslims were attempting the same in the Amparai district. Trying to forcibly convert poor Tamil Hindus to Islam, especially after the fall of the LTTE in 2009.
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Rohan / September 2, 2017
/Madam Ambassador, do go for a walk around Colombo, are Tamils second class citizens? They live and go about as free as any other citizen of the country. In Col 6 (Welawatta) most business are owned by Tamils and they are flourishing, , many Tamils own 50.million Rupee and above valued apartments in the Havelock City, Crescat, and other luxury high rises of the Colombo skyline. /
Shall we start a riot and loot them all?
/A new constitution will only create friction among Sinhalese and Tamils and may start another blood bath, it is proposed as a tool to buy votes and for nothing else. Madam Ambassador, please look at the statistics./
Ha! What would new constitution do to start another blood bath? Are we talking about the blood baths that happened in 1956, 1977, 1983, etc.?
/
K.Pillai / September 2, 2017
Sampanthan’s “Sinhalese Are Not Bad People But Certain Politicians Create Fear Among Them” is patronising.
The world over the majority have moral convictions. For want of a suitable term let us call them good people. Unfortunately the power to govern is often hijacked by the “not good people” with plenty of money. For example: Trump in US (There is a chance to roll him over). Erdogan of Turkey is preparing a life of plenty for himself.
In SL the language/religion divide has been exploited by politicians for about seventy years. Spending power has become the main tool. The silent majority does not have this resource.
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Mallaiyuran / September 2, 2017
“Ambassador Alice thanked the TNA leader and the delegation and said “it is my honor to meet a leader with a principled position” and assured that the US government will continue to support and engage with the Government of Sri Lanka in addressing the above-mentioned matters.”
One more diplomat has indicated that Sampanthar is politically correct. Sampanthar is a person who try to be politically correct. This has earned credit for him within the circle of political leaders and diplomats, but have frustrated Tamils by his failure to bring out Tamils’ plight to the world. Sampanthar misses the difference between being politically correct and fighting for Tamils’ freedom diplomatically.
Expressing an opinion of Sinhalese are not other than normal or ordinary people but the leaders, who are scheming to hanging over the power are exploiting them is world known fact. I do not get what Sampanthar tried to convey the American Under Secretary by this statement that she would not know or she may be able to use it to comprehend more of the current Tamils’ status.
“Sinhalese Are Not Bad People But Certain Politicians Create Fear Among Them“. The sentence sounds something like it appeared in the middle of the conversation. Sampanthar or Sumanthiran releasing the full report may clarify the talk took place before this.
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John / September 2, 2017
Tamils might not the worst in the world.
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There is no new constitution and certainly no need for a new constitution. Bullies: America, India, and UN must not stick their nose in the constitution. If they do, then, it will be a serious violation of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
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There are native Sinhalese without a land of their own and Sinhala population is growing as well. All Sinhalese have for themselves is this small island. Most of the so-called-Tamils in Northern province are actually KALLATHONIs, who should be sent back to Tamil Nadu immediately .
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Prevention of Terrorism Act is too soft, it must be replaced with a much more harsher ‘Act’ and tell the countries who are harboring the Tamil Eelam war criminal diaspora (Rudrakumaran, Adel Balasinham, etc) to extradite.
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Are Tamil treated as first class citizens in Briton, America, etc? Is Tamil language an official language in Briton, America, etc? Can Tamils study in Tamil medium in Briton, America, etc? Are Tamil represented in British, American, etc national flag? But native Sinhalese have given all of the mentioned and many more to spoiled alien Tamils. Sinhalese must stop over pampering these ungrateful Tamil.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / September 3, 2017
The History of Tamil in the island is far older than Sinhalese. The original religion of the island was Saivaism as evidenced by the five Iswarams and Kathirkamam , in honour of the Tamil god Lord Murugan. This is the reason many Sri Lankan Tamil males are named Kathirgammar. Now this ancient prehistoric Tamil Hindu shrine has been converted to a Buddhist Shrine by Sinhalese racists and the name changed to Kataragamma . Even the Vedda’s in the island worshipped Tamil lord Murigan. The native dialect/language of the island was Elu , which was a simple Dravidian language and was semi or Proto Tamil and the county called Eelam/Eezham or Chingkallam( the land of toddy or metal in Tamil or the red or cooper coloured land) , Old Sinhalese Hela is a mixture of the native semi Tamil Elu and Prakrit that came with Indian migration and Buddhism. Like Elu and the Veddah dialect it was very close to its Tamil mother in its pronunciation, than modern Sinhalese , which itself if 40% Tamil based in vocabulary. Sinhalese are largely descended from Tamils and their DNA proves this and the vast majority of them from low caste imports from South India who brought into the island by the Portuguese and Dutch. SO are the Sri Lankan Muslims or Moors as they love to call themselves. There is very little Arab or Moor or anything else in them . The are more than 90% descended from low caste Indian Tamil Hindu converts who migrated to the island a few centuries ago and now in the name of their religion are claiming all sorts of fake origins completely ignoring their 90% or more Dravidian Tamil origin, despite speaking Tamil. History of Sinhalese in the island is only from the 7Th century, whereas history of Tamil is more than 2000 years old as evidenced by ancient inscriptions found.
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John / September 5, 2017
Real,
Don’t lie! Sinhalese’ ancestors are the original inhabitants on the Indian subcontinent. Tamil were from North-West India.
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DNA tests are not reliable in such matters.
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2017
Johnny English Baby
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Are you still typing about my ancestral land? Haven’t you gone back to your mother country the UK yet?
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John / September 2, 2017
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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K A Sumanasekera / September 2, 2017
Sampathar has been kind ……Isn’t he ?……But then what else can he say………His clan member and Dr Ranil’s buddy Diaspora Mahendran made a fortune in just 3 months into Yahapalanaya…….I mean that fortune must be the mother of all Fortunes………..Dr Mahendran’s SIL made LKR 11 Billion profit for the Family outfit PT. in 12 months………. Now, its CEO SIL is the richest kid in Yahapalana Colombo , with TV staions, Print Mredia and even a mega Brewery to go along with Bond Trading and Investment Banking…….. That was all done with inside information with the help of Modern Technology thanks to Metropolitan Digital Services………Miss wells would have been thrilled to hear it …..But then Ms Wells would have realized that Keseps clan member dobbed in Sampathar’s other clan member e Diaspora Rajendran…..And poor Rajendran is in the Brox… He didn’t even rob a single Dollar from the hard working US Citizens Pension Funds……..Raja only made a few phone calls with Kesep’s Clan member and see what happened to him…………
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Malwis / September 2, 2017
Sinhalese Are Not Bad People But Certain Politicians Create Fear Among Them”
It would say “Tamils Are Not Bad People But Certain Politicians Create Fear Among Them”
Mr Sampandhan ,You Tamil leaders create problems for innocent Tamil people.Once you become a pariament member ,you go and settled in Colombo.And they have their own business in Colombo.Put their children in international Schools or Royal College.
Then when you go to Jaffna ,spoil innocent Tamil s mind that ,they Sinhalese are discriminating.
This was what happened for last 50 or more years.
But after the terrorism was abolished in 2009 how many billions of US dollers ,last govt. spent to develop the infrastructure in North.Built schools which were not functioning for many years /demolished due to the war with terrorism.
The real truth is the tamils who lives with Sinhalese are enjoying the dignity and equality than they enjoy in Jaffna , which is discriminated by high cast an vellaalas.
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Native Vedda / September 2, 2017
Malwis
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“But after the terrorism was abolished in 2009 how many billions of US dollers ,last govt. spent to develop the infrastructure in North.Built schools which were not functioning for many years /demolished due to the war with terrorism.”
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Could you give us some figures on the amount spent in the North East excluding commissions, kickbacks, bribes, …..etc, paid to officials, Ministers, …….. ? Could you also let us have figures for the years from 1948 to 1983 you think the state actually spent in North East.
Don’t bother if you haven’t got the figures.
“The real truth is the tamils who lives with Sinhalese are enjoying the dignity and equality than they enjoy in Jaffna , which is discriminated by high cast an vellaalas.”
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They did enjoy dignity and equality when the Citizenship Act was passed in 1948, Sinhala only language policy law was passed in 1956 and imposed mercilessly since, followed by several riots, 1958, 1961, 1977, 1983, …………. and during the long war.
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I think you should revisit your own history since 1948. Do you remember how many houses did you destroy during the riots from 1958 to 1983 and how many houses did you loot?
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soma / September 3, 2017
NV
Irrespective of all what you have mentioned the proof that
“Tamils who lives with Sinhalese are enjoying the dignity and equality than they enjoy in Jaffna , which is discriminated by high cast an vellaalas.” is true is the fact that the only wish of a Tamil is to live in the South. Ask an estate Tamil about living in the next superpower in an environment of their own language, religion and culture among their own kith and kin to realise that Sinhala society is much superior.
Soma
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2017
somass ji
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Crocodiles do shed tears.
Wolf does care for the well being of lambs.
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Since 1948 the the Sinhala/Buddhist noisy minority has been in power and has had “supreme power” to effects changes. Why haven’t those powers been used to liberate those estate folks politically, economically and socially making their living and working conditions at least bearable?
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somass please note this is not a forum for you to sit, yawn and imagine a Utopian Sinhala/Buddhist fascist ghetto. There are other fascist forums best fit your desires and cater for your paranoia. Please do join them.
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As a self hating Tamil SJ might consider joining you.
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K A Sumanasekera / September 3, 2017
Dear Native…………….Obviously you haven’t been to your Native Land since Mr Pirahaparan departed …….Beautiful freeway from Puttalam all the way to Yalpanam via Mannar with breath taking views of the Mannar Lagoons from the Bridge………………Then from Yalapanam ( Mulayive ) all the way to Trincomalee via Pulmudai………….Again on beautiful all new sealed Highway ……..Rio Ice Cream although Dalits can’t afford it…….. How much all that would have cost for our Tax Payers…….. What are the current Yahapalana Tax Payers have contributed to Dalits in the North except pay Dr Ranil’s mate Diaspora Mahendran and SIL LKR 11 Billion…………And your TNA & UNP mates sending Maheshwaran and Sivajilingam to help Swiss Kumar………..
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
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My native land is in deep South though the entire island is my ancestral land. Unlike the Kallthonies my people were here first. Will you find out from your relatives if they have any Erivirar symbols, weapons, images, flags, tomb stones, ….. ?
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Please ask Ambassador Bandul(u)a Jayasekara (by the way Bandulu is a Telungu name) if MR planned and built Rio Ice Cream Bar single handedly? If not how much commission did his brother receive from the owners for granting permission to run this business?
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K A Sumanasekera / September 3, 2017
Dear Native,…………Dr Kumar said our ancestors are Chimps who came from Chad………Do you mean to say you are one of them…….Good Luck mate……..
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
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“Dr Kumar said our ancestors are Chimps who came from Chad………Do you mean to say you are one of them”
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My ancestors left Africa as anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens).
In your case you are still trying to involve yourself back into earliest form of ape Nyanzapithecus alesi which was recently found in Napudet area Kenya. …..
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Take your own time. In the meantime read the following:
The Drunken Monkey Hypothesis
The study of fruit-eating animals could lead to
an evolutionary understanding of human alcohol abuse.
https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/3748/Stephens_and_Dudley.pdf
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Rajash / September 3, 2017
“The real truth is the tamils who lives with Sinhalese are enjoying the dignity and equality than they enjoy in Jaffna , which is discriminated by high cast an vellaalas.”
The isssue is that Tamils in Jaffna are living under the gun point of Sinhala Soldiers. The Govt is very smart and now they deploy two types of Sinhala soldiers in Jaffna.
one lot in uniform – always smiling and helpful.
another lot in civilian clothes – the shrewd and cunning spies.
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NAK / September 2, 2017
Meeting the emperors agents!!!
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Spring Koha / September 2, 2017
Good People,
The older I get the more convinced I am that the whole world is made up of ‘good’ people’ and ‘bad people’ (usually the one’s who do not agree with our own view, and ultimately resort to violence and worse to prevail).
All races, all nationalities, all communities have their share of ‘bad’ and ‘good’.
All our Sri Lankan communities have their share of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, and we know from bitter experience what happens when the red mist comes down.
Those who wish to do good, and bring harmony in their environment must always be vigilant, and always be willing to step up and be counted.
When good people do nothing, WE ALL go to the dogs.
As my old Latin teacher would say – Semper Vigilans.
You all go in Peace!
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Mallaiyuran / September 2, 2017
The matter is clear now. Sampanthar replied that Sinhalese are good people & they will agree to Tamils have their rights, but blaming only Sinhala Politicians for stalemate in Secret Solution making. At the same time, Sumanthiran answered that the opinion obtained from Sinhalese indicated they prefer a new constitution to resolve the problem. Now it is America’s responsibility to decide on a direction and press Yahapalanaya whether to expedite or withdraw from this fake secret solution constitution making. Yahapalanaya is using it only to delay the UNHRC actions until it has reinforced its “Ports, Lands and Highways” sales contracts with China. Once the contracts are affirmed Yahapalanaya will scrape the secret solution initiations and deny the resolution 30/1. It has position Tilak Marapana as the Foreign Affairs Minister only to play well this Appa Diplomacy game better than Previous minister Mangala Samaraweera
Nevertheless, America suspecting Sampanthar’s answer, -like that “Sinhalese may reject not be willing to approve a new constitution which accommodate Tamils’ rights in referendum” , or denying Sumanthiran’s answer like “getting Sinhalese opinion using NGOs is not a referendum “ citing American election in which Hilary led in opinion but lost the election, – may be also possible. In fact that may be a possible position of America, as that question had come out in the meeting between TNA and American diplomats. This might indicate America may not in future enthusiastically subscribe to Sampanthar’s secret solution and that would a be move out of its previous position of America.
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Mallaiyuran / September 2, 2017
When America placed war criminal Ponny to presidential candidacy in 2010, Obama’s Administration started the slogan of supporting Lankawe to its democratic reforms. America destroyed TNA to place a UNP supported CC in the 2015 election. In May 2015, Ex. Secretary Kerry visited Colombo and promised Yahapalanaya to be with it in all its endeavors of restructuring to democracy. Ex. Assistant Secretary Nisha Biswas repeated few times that promise in Colombo and Washington. It sounded like she was offering up to military support to Yahapalanaya to make and implement a new constitution that people would accept, but that had a chance that time of sabotaged by Joint Comedy Club(or Old Royals) with a military coup. In fact it is the same promise the new Assistant Secretary Alice too have given in this visit – i.e “U.S. Administration will continue to support Yahapalanaya Government in its reforms”. Ex. Secretary Kerry even blocked the UNHRC sponsored inquiries believing that may hurt Yahapalanaya on the reforms.
The Secret Solution quagmire is created by Obama Administration and if new Administration suspects the Yahapalanaya’s resolve to make an honest constitutional change to solve Tamils problems or TNA’s faith on new constitution being approved by Sinhalese to resolve Tamils problems, it should pull the plug of supporting this secret solution cheating and place new proposals to Tamils regain their rights. Or alternatively America should take Yahapalanaya to ICC, before Yahapalanaya has completed its maneuvering of fully securing it with the immoral sales contracts of “Lankawe’s Sovereignty for China to Safeguard War Criminals”
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D.Nimal / September 3, 2017
We cannot procedure that any cost an Island demarcated by Racial basis one for Tamil and other for Muslim in land of people of Sri Lankan .
Our country-land was undivided that 2600 years was , and there was no Tamil Separate regime in North or Eastern province in Sri lanka? By the way no Muslim of ISIS that regime in eastern part.
We were United and Unitary state that under the majority community since very inceptions .
I do want to contest that TNA leader comment ! Indeed is Good that leader of TNA rarely accepts that?
Tamil speaking political leaders of TNA, LTTE in Lanka and Tamil Diaspora who are always beg to USA, UK , Canada, Australia and EU countries by liberated them from So-called “Sinhalese Regime” suppression ?.
This political hipcoracy of right of “self determination” or” Homeland of Tamil speaking world “in Lanka is myth of Homeland for Tamils ? Who has born in land having every right to live equally. That is pillar of democracy .
They (TNA) ever-never asked from USA or UK that Tamil Nadu of Indian of 75 million of Tamil race is had been an oppression by Indian Center of BJP -RSS or INC , which that can be or that shall be liberated from Indian hegemonies? .
The leadership TNA is/was always believed that Western countries shall Liberated of “Not that Tamil People”, they seek that to be installed rough puppet Regime in —-North——Eastern Province under the leadership of TNA by military power for the Western Domination?
Until TNA and Tamil-Diasporas mend their way that come to an understanding and until give-up of anti- democracy and anti-establishment politics of Island, there is no amiable solution for devolution of power?
The politics of TNA still not in the Mainstream norms of Democracy that ongoing crossed border of political mind-set is more or less that similar to politics line of JVP and LTTE?
Both are political-outfits of Terrorist and anarchist credentials by in their origin and development of that destroyed all institutional Democracy of our soil? Indeed TNA has to get out that frame work?
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Rajash / September 3, 2017
To be honest we Tamils have to blame we Tamils.>>>>>The Tamil politicians since independence failed us.>>>>>>Then we had the world’s most admired liberation fighters and we Tamils double crossed and destroyed that too. >>>>>>Now poor Sampanthan says we Tamils love you Sinhalease….which was never in doubt.
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Rajan / September 3, 2017
Meaning of “not bad” in British
passable; fair; fairly good
Collins English Dictionary.
Meaning of “not bad” in American
good; fairly good; not unsatisfactory
Webster’s New World College Dictionary
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shankar / September 3, 2017
“Sinhalese Are Not Bad People”
he has not said they are good people.So what he is inferring to the US is that their conception of sinhalese being bad people is not quite correct.The sinhalese are not bad but they are not good too,but when they give federalism and northeast merger for sampu before his dies they will become good people.
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Native Vedda / September 3, 2017
shanker
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“.So what he is inferring to the US is that their conception of sinhalese being bad people is not quite correct.”
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What Sambandan forgot to mention is that Sinhalese are stupid people like his own.
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Call Me JP / September 3, 2017
Mr Sampathan,
Sinhalese are not bad people, nor are the Tamil’s people had or come to that the Muslims are bad people. In fact what I found in my extensive travels in Sri Lanka in the last 17 years is that politicians of all hue are the real villains of the peace. They pit one group against the other and create communal disharmony for their own selfish reasons. It helps them to stay in power, the old divide & rule policy. Mr Sampathan, you are or were part of the same problem, ask yourself why the Tamil people get less than favourable treatment and get marginalised. Well, let me tell you, it’s because people like you and your TNA party used your own Tamil people for your own ends. You refused them to be registered and given ID cards like every other citizen, god forbid, if that was to happen you would lose your biggest bargaining chip and you would be left high and dry. No more selling of beggars wound kind of politicking. I saw with my own eyes after the ending of the war how Tamil people came forward to get registered to get ID cards, once they got their ID cards the sky was the limit to their aspirations. They could then apply at any office to get a passport to leave the country if they so wished. Prior to that all the Tamil people could do was pay a kings ransome to human traffickers to be smuggled on some rusty boat to the west to claim political asylum. At least now, realise we can’t change the past but we can collectively learn from our past mistakes and make the future a better place for all our folks.
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D.Nimal / September 3, 2017
The Tamil political classes and Parties in NORTH-east, their vital interest and the aspirations People of Tamil are dramatically an opposites. The crux of matter of Capitalist Sustsnsibility has not in their road map of undertaken by TNA or other Tamil politicians?
TNA has join hand with south by joint efforts to unfinished task of pre-colonial order that shifted into new era of Democracy?
The Tamil political class and its policy makers are free to so-called experiment of “Homeland” seek different solutions as long as TNA can explain to public policy of by leaders have arrived at outdated of those solutions. TNA has to justify their homeland choices publicly and place them before Tamils in the context of comparable choice of set of policies made by suited majority Tamils-speaking people in Island?
The TNA and other Tamil political organization that really want do real political job for they have to leave unending game changes in power of politics. In just an opposites to that must that undertaken mission of uproot of backwardness among Tamil people in Island?
Therefor nexus to incomplete task of Democratic revolutionary agenda shall come priority of TNA? However if such democratic mechanism will not lead to widespread hypocrisy as policy makers continue by rationalization democracy their actions in loftier terms question of Tamil issue are concern in
Sri lanka.
TNA has to learn lessons of 30 years, War tone politics that dispersed people of whole Island might come to share a new identity democracy as common members of an organized of populace democracy .
TNA has to come to this flexibility and multiplicity of by NOT to bound to single ethnic ,religious and national, will created room in principally for re-establishments of a truly Democratic political community in Island by TNA. That is leadership expected from TNA leadership of majority people —–Sri lankan.
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Thanga / September 3, 2017
Most of the comments are off the mark! The claim Ceylon was an undivided country for 2,600 years is a joke. For most of history Ceylon was divided into Mayarata, Rajarata and Ruhunarata. The kingdom of Jaffna existed as a separate state from the beginning of the 13th century till it was defeated by the Portuguese in 1619. This apart, let us forget the past and build a strong Sri Lanka where all shades of people can live in peace. Diversity of people and religions are not weakness, but strength. Every citizen must feel proud of his country, its flag and its leaders. This is not the situation now. Tamils are asking for equal rights in terms of quality not quantity. The Sinhalese being in the majority will always dominate state power. They will dominate the armed forces which in the past was used as an instrument to impose domination over Tamils. Sampanthan is an honourable politician who wants a constitution acceptable to all three communities. He does not want to impose a constitution not acceptable to any one of the communities. He is placing the country first and nationality second. Empowering the provincial councils system will go a long way to improve relationship between Colombo and the peripheral. The absence of genuine peace is hampering economic development of the country as a whole.
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D.Nimal / September 4, 2017
Mr Thanga comment …..
Please read my point of view not that confined politics of Parliamentary Democracy. It has fail delivered Center of Control by bourgeoisies (comprador and national ) nothing that except Pool of Blood in
so-called “Democracy and People’s Sovereignty” an Island last 70 odd years.
Indeed most practical and viable an ideas of potential for good governances and rule of law step into New era of Democratic Revolution that keep besides that tyranny of ideologies in seeing political division of separatism of STATE ; as the political being to be addressed ,but as division of basic insignificance in moral of ethics of political ideology of democracy is NOT that suited to new era to be reconsidered by leadership of TNA.
We are New ERA in process of democratic ways and means need be address by suited to Globalization of changes of power balances of World power that into account by policy makers of TNA?
Sorry to say pioneer USA led Globalization has been abandoned that come an isolation democratic Globalization by political agenda of Trump-ism in White house administration.
The shifted of form New Globalization of Democracy has given a New Task and New Era of political democracy in Sri lanka.
It shall be involved next step of change of National politics Democracy in agenda by TNA leadership of quality of Tamil People aspirations not that going to Conflict of vital interest of Tamils People?
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D.Nimal / September 5, 2017
What happen to my last comment?
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