By Daya Gamage –
Daya Gamage
Two news items stood out last week in Sri Lanka: both well connected to the July 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed by both countries. The Energy Minister Gammanpila,on October 4, told parliament that the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm was handed over to India under the Accord. Then the Indian Foreign Secretary was in Colombo to encourage the government to ‘properly’ implement the Thirteenth Amendment and quicken the process to hold provincial council elections.
India has been, since Gotabaya Rajapaksa became the president, repeatedly asking Sri Lanka to attend to both of these issues.
During his visit to Colombo in March 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the project to develop the upper tank farm in Trincimalee would help the coastal town become a regional petroleum hub.
This year on February 19 Minister Udaya Gammanpila reported to have said that his government was “proud to re-acquire” the oil tanks being denied access since 2003 when Sri Lanka leased out 99 oil tanks to IOC for 35 years.
In response to the Minister’s statement a reply from the Indian diplomatic mission in Colombo denying reports that the old deal was scrapped said “the two governments have consulted each other to explore mutually acceptable modalities for jointly developing and operating the facility in accordance with existing bilateral understanding, including the Memorandum of Understanding of 2017.
Both these issues, and many more, have been on India’s foreign policy agenda, and all these are by-products of the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed between President Jayewardene and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Regarding the ‘Trinco Oil Deal’, Minister Gammanpila most recently quite correctly referred to Clause 2 Section III of the Accord which says “The work of restoring and operating the Trincomalee Oil Tank will be undertaken as a joint operation between India and Sri Lanka.”
Since the ’87 Accord, the whole trajectory of Sri Lanka’s domestic politics – with extremely heavy external domination and influence – was toward the devolution of administrative power to the provinces – along with the vital energy issue – often mentioning about the promulgation of a federal system. This external influence prevented successive administrations to focus on the validity of the Accord which had an agenda solely written by the Government of India. What is most interesting is that the Norwegians who initiated 2002-2005 Peace Talks were in fact working within the ’87 Accord, and so was Washington heavily involved in implementing the ‘devolution aspect’ of the Accord which it thought would redress minority Tamil grievances.
No interest was taken – all these years – even to consider that the devolution was undertaken due to an Accord that was forced on Sri Lanka under military/political coercion by the neighboring power.
With the election of Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1994, under external pressure, she proposed substantial devolution to the north-east provinces, in fact proposing to hand over the provinces to an independent LTTE rule for five years. All these were result of the provisions of the ’87 Accord. With Ranil Wickremasinghe gaining a majority in the 2001 parliamentary election, the Norwegian Peace Talks commenced with Washington heavily involved. Talks were focused on devolution and strengthening the provincial council system. With the advent of the Rajapaksa administration in 2005, the regime in fact proposed 13-PLUS, an improvement of the already existing 13th Amendment.
In addition to military violations of Sri Lankan sovereignty and territorial integrity on eve of the signing of the Accord, were the conditions that India tried to impose on Sri Lankan foreign policy through the Accord. Besides the text of the main accord, an exchange of letters was appended as an annexure that was clearly outside the scope of the ethnic conflict. As Rajiv Gandhi later explained India’s intent: “It is in the exchange of these letters that we have seen to the security problems in our region: . . . hostile forces are not allowed to come into our region, . . . forces prejudicial to India’s interests will not be present on Sri Lankan soil, . . . Sri Lanka’s ports, including Trincomalee, will not be given for military use, [and]. . . any broadcasting facilities that are set up in Sri Lanka will not be used for military or intelligence purposes.” (1)
Since the advent of the Rajapaksas’ administration the Indian Government has pressed Colombo persistently to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified as part of the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement. (Indian Foreign Secretary has already told the government to implement the 13th amendment and hold PC elections during his visit last week.)
Given the persistent salience of the 13th Amendment in Indo-Sri Lankan diplomatic discourse, it would be appropriate to say about the underlying legality of the amendment and its checkered implementation. First, there is a reasonable argument to be made that the bilateral accord that mandated the devolutionary restructuring of the Sri Lankan government was illegal from its inception. Although signed by Jayawardene the accord was obtained by India under the threat of military action. The threat of forcible intervention must have been perceived as real to persuade the Sri Lankan president to agree to Indian occupation of the North although that surely added fuel to the Sinhalese insurrection in the South. Lt. Gen. A.S. Kalkat, the commander of the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) during 1987-1990, explained in a recent interview that Rajiv Gandhi had felt compelled by domestic political pressures from Tamil Nadu to launch the military intervention and that he had extracted the Accord from Jayawardene by the show of power projection that was the food drop. The General opined that the Accord, opposed by both the Sri Lankan people and the LTTE, was fundamentally flawed in granting autonomy to one fifth of the population spread over one third of the area of the island. The lesson for India and the U.S., he said, is that “an outside power cannot give a political dispensation; only the government of the country could give [that to] its citizens.” (2)
Because Sri Lanka continues to pressured by external powers operating through the United Nations and International Court of Justice (ICJ) to implement fully its 13th Amendment, Colombo to date has not given serious thought to invalidating the 1987 Accord. But the Amendment was imposed on the country under duress rather than being legislated through democratic debate, and it remains politically controversial. What is less debatable is that the Indian airdrop and threatening diplomatic communications from New Delhi to Colombo prior to the IPKF were violative of at least the spirit of Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter. That Article enjoins all member states to “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.” Both the Security Council and the General Assembly have adopted numerous resolutions that contain implicit or explicit references to Article 2(4), condemning, deploring or expressing concern about acts of aggression or the launching of armed intervention. A number of resolutions contained calls for a withdrawal of troops from foreign territories. (3)
In addition, Article 51 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties states that an “expression of a state’s consent to be bound by [a] treaty which has been procured by coercion of its representative through acts or threats directed against him shall be without legal effect. (4) Similarly, Article 52 of the same Convention provides that “a treaty is void if its conclusion has been procured by the threat or use of force in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations.”
Some Indian commentators have argued that Sri Lanka cannot withdraw from the 1987 Accord—and by extension the Amendment—by reason of the Vienna Convention because neither Sri Lanka nor India are signatories to the Convention. The United States has never ratified the Vienna Convention, but its Department of State as early as 1971 acknowledged that the Convention constitutes “the authoritative guide to current treaty law and practice,” even for non-parties. (5) Despite being a non-signatory, the US Government has frequently brought cases before the ICJ based on alleged violations of the Vienna Convention. In short, neither India nor the US Government has standing under international law to press the Sri Lanka to honor commitments imposed on it illegally.
This is how Washington collaborated with India in the latter’s foreign policy dicta on Sri Lanka, and it’s best to know.
An assessment prepared jointly by the State Department and CIA in 1986 – an year before the Accord was signed – shows that Washington was deeply aware of India’s hegemonic ambitions in the Indian Ocean Region and cautioned that “U.S. military aid [to the Jayawardene government], in our view, would seriously complicate U.S. relations with India. . . . [The separatist war] will make the Sri Lankan government increasingly eager for U.S. military aid. [Such] support would seriously strain Indo-U.S. relations. (6)
Washington’s appeasement did not end, however, with helping New Delhi conceal its dirty secrets about nurturing the LTTE. In a declassified intelligence report, U.S. analysts correctly assessed that the Government of India wanted the U.S. to remain uninvolved in resolving the Sri Lankan conflict and to eschew military assistance to the Government of Sri Lanka, but to support Indian initiatives, including potential military intervention. In the words of the report, dated May 17, 1985:
“We believe New Delhi wants the United States to defer to India’s lead in resolving the conflict, to treat the insurgency as a regional issue, and to continue to urge Colombo to accept the need for a negotiated solution. Should the Sri Lanka communal conflict deteriorate to the point where New Delhi becomes convinced of the need to intervene militarily to restore order, the Indians look to Washington for political support, or at the least, for diplomatic acquiescence. New Delhi would characterize Indian military intervention as aimed solely at restoring public order, not an expression of Indian expansionism within the region. The Indians will assume Jayawardene would turn to the United States for military support, but they will urge Washington to turn down such requests. In our assessment, New Delhi would not call for or even welcome a greater role for the United States in resolving the Sri Lankan communal conflict.” (7)
It is clear, however, that Washington agreed with New Delhi that the emergence of the LTTE separatist movement was the result of real Tamil grievances. Washington and New Delhi both accepted the narrative promulgated by Tamil activists that the underlying cause of those grievances was growing Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism.
Both governments also projected onto Sri Lanka their panacea for ethnic discord—federalism—without prescribing mechanisms to protect democracy in devolved jurisdictions and prevents them for being used as bases for renewed separatism.
It is good time that Sri Lanka summons her guts and dignity to abrogate the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, as the above narration explicitly denote India’s forceful attempt to re-structure Sri Lanka’s domestic as well as its foreign policy trajectory. It is important for Sri Lanka to note the stand Washington has take on Accords that are forcibly imposed and the position it has taken in reference to Global Charters.
Rajiv Gandhi, Foreign Affairs Reports, 36:208 (July/October 1987) New Delhi, p. 241
Interview with Lt. Gen. A.S. Kalkat, https//www.youtube/com/watch?v=UnhVo7oeLv4
https://legal.un.org/repertory/art2/english/rep_supp7_vol1_art2_4.pdf
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, May 22, 1969, Art. 7, 1155 U.N.T.S. 331, 334.
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, “Treaties and Other International Agreements,” Prepared for the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, January 2001 (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CPRT-106SPRT66922/html/CPRT-106SPRT66922.htm)
CIA/State Dept intelligence report, December 30, 1983 (https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/document/cia-rdp85t00287r000801760001-1
The Department of State and the Directorate of Intelligence of the CIA, September 1986. Joint assessment declassified in January 2012. https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/doc/CIA-RDP88T00096R000300340001-2.pdf
Lasantha Pethiyagoda / October 7, 2021
Major powers and regional powers generally co-operate when the issue is with a minnow like Sri Lanka. it would be different in Taiwan for example, as the US will do anything dirty to slow or stop China’s rapid ascension as a world power and side with Taiwan. It has also been evident in numerous vetoes against hugely popular resolutions brought against the Mid East hegemon Israel.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / October 8, 2021
“It is good time that Sri Lanka summons its guts and dignity and abrogate 1987 Indo-Lanka accord”. Well and good. Similarly it is good time that Tamils summon their guts and dignity and abrogate the annexation of Jaffna kingdom with rest of the island as the above act denotes Britain’s forceful attempt to restructure Jaffna’s domestic as well as foreign relation status. This armchair pundit does not understand that Srima-Shastri agreement was against UN charter of forced ethnic cleansing and Kachativu agreement was concluded without the consent of Tamil Nadu, the legitimate owners of the land.
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Rohan25 / October 9, 2021
Yes, correct. All these Sinhalese hardliners and pseudo nationalists, especially the ones living the good life in the west and only return to the island for a cheap luxurious holiday, jump up and down and want any pact local or international to be abrogated if there is anything there remotely favourable to the Tamils but keep very quiet about pacts that are illegal and goes against the UN charter like the Srima=Shastru pact that is in reality forced ethnic cleansing and the Kachativu agreement. We Tamils should also sue Britain and abrogate the forceful annexation of the former Tamil Jaffna kingdom and the EasternVannimai chiefdoms, with the Sinhalese lands down south to create a colony called Ceylon, in 1833 without our consent, making us lose our sovereignty and become a minority in the whole island and giving the Sinhalese power over us in our own lands, leading to the current situation.
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Rohan25 / October 9, 2021
These racists are very quiet about this. None of the Sinhalese leaders has ever honoured any pacts, local or international. Their signature is worth nothing. They just lie to the international community, the UN, that they will honour and fulfil these agreements but once they return forget about this until the next UN meeting. They just fool the world, that is ready to be fooled with their fake promise. ” Yes, we are looking into this and have set up a commission.” This is deliberate time stalling and these commissions amount to nothing. Instead of passing laws that redress the grievances and provide Tamils justice. India the west and the UN also are aware of this but pretend to go along, as they really do not care about what happened to the Tamils and these Sinhalese know this. They have been allowed to get away with all sorts of war crimes and atrocities against the Tamils, that other countries were not allowed.
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Eagle Eye / October 9, 2021
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam,
“Well and good. Similarly it is good time that Tamils summon their guts and dignity and abrogate the annexation of Jaffna kingdom with rest of the island…”
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It is high time that Tamils who are bogged down in ‘Vadukkodei Resolution’ crap come out from that and face the truth.
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There was no Jaffna Kingdom to annex. Yapanaya was handed over to Portuguese by a Sinhala King. Kandyan Convention was between Native Sinhalayo and British colonial rulers to hand over Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo to British. No reference to Tamil Kingdoms or involvement of Tamils.
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justice / October 9, 2021
Jaffna Kingdom is here:-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaffna_Kingdom
Please read through
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / October 10, 2021
Mahindapala, according to archaeological findings there were only two kingdoms in pre historic times. First the Veddha kingdom with its capital in Vaharai and second the Dravidian kingdom with its capital in Mathottam. There were no other ethnic group in the land during those times. It is the land of Vedhas and Dravidians, that a bunch of criminal kallathonis abrogated and set up the kingdom of Anuradhapura. Sinhalese who were dead scared of Cholas ran away and established Kandyan kingdom much later. By the way Kandyan convention was signed in Tamil, which was the official language.
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Mahila / October 9, 2021
Part 1 (To Continue)
EE,
Reference,
1. “Kandyan Convention was between Native Sinhalayo and British colonial rulers to hand over Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo to British.”
2. “No reference to Tamil Kingdoms or involvement of Tamils.”
It is indeed stunning and revealing to the core aspect of the issue. No doubt at all.
You have struck absolute GOLD!
A. That Kandyan Convention (KC) was between Native Sinhalayo to handover Sinhale or the Kandyan Kingdom (KK) to the British Empire (BE) ‘The British Crown’
a. ’Ceding of Sinhale at the conclusion of the war by the vanquished to the winning British Imperial Army. “Spoils of war”
b. That is reflected by the King of the British Empire, becoming the King of Ceylon (Sinhale) attested by the Kandyan Chieftains of the Court of deposed King of Sinhale King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe. (Circa 19th century – 1815)
c. None of those chieftains represented the North of Ceylon or parts of eastern Ceylon
B. Therefore, it is clear that KC did not cede the territory of North Ceylon or parts of Eastern Ceylon under this treaty (KC) to BE as spoils of war!
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Mahila / October 9, 2021
Part 2 Continued
C. The part B was forgone conclusion as the territory of North Ceylon (Yapanaya/Jaffna pattnam) and Eastern Ceylon, (Trincomalee – French Naval base and Protectorate), were part of the Tamil Kingdom of the North Ceylon
D. Jaffna Pattnam ceded to the Portuguese in the 17th century, when the Portuguese became governing coastal regions of Ceylon, encircling the KK!
E. Eastern Ceylon (Trincomalee and environs by the French to British as part of a European Armistice in 17th century)
F. The Portuguese handed the Tamil Kingdom to the Dutch 16th century, who in turn die handover to the BE by a separate and independent treaty in late 18th century.
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Mahila / October 9, 2021
Part 3 Continued
G. It is axiomatic that the KC – King Sri Wickrema or his chieftains could not cede as “spoils of the war” between Kandyan King and BE,
a. Territory not under their control, or
b. accrued to the BE by other means and already under their control by another war with another sovereign ruler, or
c. KK writ did not exist in territory so claimed improperly
d. Hence could not have been ceded by the KC in the 19th century!
e. By your own admission, if Sinhale was ceded by the KC, then Yapanaya excluded
f. Therefor Yapanaya does not belong to Sinhale! (QED)
The conclusion therefore is that the BE or the Imperial Government of Her Majesty the Queen 11, Queen of The United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Queen of Ceylon, have or may have erred in the decision of granting independence in the manner they did, as one entity, without due diligence, consulting independently the constituent successors of the original parties/territories, ceding the respective areas.
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Eagle Eye / October 10, 2021
Mahila,
“Jaffna Pattnam ceded to the Portuguese in the 17th century, when the Portuguese became governing coastal regions of Ceylon, encircling the KK!”
—-
It is high time that Tamils who are bogged down in ‘Batakotte (Vadukkodei) Resolution’ crap come out from that and face the truth.
—-
There was no Jaffna Kingdom. This is a story concocted by separatist Tamils who prepared ‘Batakotte (Vadukkodei) Resolution’. There was a Dravida war load who came from Hindusthan called Sankili controlling Yapanaya. Sankili signed the Nallur Convention in 1619 with Portuguese. After that he was taken to Goa and hanged. That was the end of the so called ‘Jaffna Kingdom’ or ‘Tamil Kingdom’.
Later, King Senerath of Kandy sent an army to Yapanaya and took control of Yapanaya but afterwards they were defeated by Portuguese and the Sinhala King ceded Yapanaya to Portuguese. So, the last battle for Yapanaya was fought by Sinhalayo and not by Tamils and power flowed from Sinhala-Buddhist King to the Portuguese in 1629. This negates the basic argument in the Batakotte Resolution that power was transferred by the Tamil king to the Portuguese.
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old codger / October 10, 2021
Eagle,
“Kandyan Convention was between Native Sinhalayo and British colonial rulers to hand over Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo to British. No reference to Tamil Kingdoms or involvement of Tamils.”
But signed in Tamil, no? Why???
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Mahila / October 12, 2021
Hi OC,
Kandyan Kingdom was ruled by Tamils from, Ramanthapuram/Rameswaram/Pandya dynasty!
You have some threatening prisoners with “hand guns held to the head”, probably not realising that their forefathers knew only Tamil and not Sinhalese! Proof look at the signature on the KC document.
Unless they claim it is not Tamil, but Prakrit/Sanskrit/Ancient Sinhalese!
Whatever suits the means!!
Jokers at large, do not know their own history and genealogy!!!
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Mahila / October 10, 2021
Part 1
Your reference,
“There was no Jaffna Kingdom to annex.
Yapanaya was handed over to Portuguese by a Sinhala King.”.
1. Who was this Sinhalese King? “A SINHALESE KING” –NAMELESS, short of being obnoxious towards a Monarch – lack of respect to his majesty!!
2. What was his Seat of Power in Ceylon when Jaffna Kingdom lost its independence?
a. Kotte Kingdom?
b. Kandyan Kingdom?
3. What was the reason for ceding the Jaffna kingdom and date?
Definitely it cannot be the Kotte Kingdom of Parakramabahu IV and his son Prince Sapumal!?
Yes, that event was in 1450 AD. Prince Sapumal invaded and captured the Jaffna Kingdom (JK), Prince Sapumal as the winner, ruled Jaffna as King, for 17 years – “Chenpaha Perumal” until 1467. When Parakramabahu IV died son Prince Sapumal ascended, succeeding Parakramabahu IV.
Soon after that in 1467, (Middle 15th Century CE) JK regained independence from Kotte Kingdom after decisive battle, with invading Kotte kingdom army. Death of Prince Sapumal coincides.
The Kotte Kingdom declined as a seat of power in Ceylon, after the JK loss, ceded to Portugal or Direct Portuguese rule after the death of Dharmapala (Dom João Dharmapala) Grandson of Bhuvanaikabahu VII (1468 – 1550).
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Mahila / October 10, 2021
Part 2
Kotte Kingdom became protectorate of the King of Portugal (as the JK blocked assistance to Kotte King by their traditional allies Vijayanagar Empire of western India) to wade off the incursions of the Kandyan and Sitawake Kingdoms. The Portuguese empire controlled Ceylon as a protectorate between 1597 and 1658. (Beginning of 17th century of CE)
When Don Juan of Kotte ceded as a protectorate to the King of Portugal, Jaffna Kingdom was an independent Kingdom in Ceylon, so no Sinhalese Kingdom or King had power to cede!?.
So the claim that JK and Yapanaya was handed over to the Portuguese by ‘A’ Sinhalese King is false and baseless and without substantive material facts, so as many other claims made by some and does not stack up with historical facts as laid out herein.
It was then acclaimed as a strong seat of power and other regional kingdoms in Ceylon paid tributes.
Historical records reveal, “It was less Feudal than most of the other regional kingdoms on the island of Ceylon (T. Abeysinghe, Jaffna under Portuguese) of the same period”. Perhaps the people of JK became cast conscious and discriminatory trying to mirror others in the island of late!
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Mahila / October 10, 2021
Part 3
That is why the low caste people lament about discrimination due to cast, which was not inherent and noticeable during the era of the JK, as can be seen.
JK known as the Kingdom of Aryachakravarti (1215–1624 AD or CE), JK was established post Magha of Kalinga invasion, a tribute-paying feudatory of the Pandyan Empire in modern South India in 1258. JK gained independence in 1323, with the defeat of the South Indian Pandyan Empire in 1323 by the Delhi Sultanate forces.
JK continued to be independent after 1323 CE, except for the 17 years of Prince Sapumal’s rule from 1450 to 1467 annexed to Kotte Kingdom.
a tribute-paying feudatory of the Pandyan Empire in modern South India since 1258, gaining independence in 1323, with the defeat of the Pandyan Kingdom in 1323 by the Delhi Sultanate.
JK power extended to the port/harbour in Batticaloa/Trincomalee, in NE and Mannar Pearl Fisheries and Puttalam/Chilaw coastal belt in the south west of Ceylon and commonly known as “Demala Pattana”. Number of cities in the present day Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee Districts were prominent parts of the then “Demala Patna”
So What’s Deal? None!!! Usual Puswedilla!!!
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Eagle Eye / October 11, 2021
Mahila,
“Who was this Sinhalese King?”
—–
Senarath Adahasin who was the king of the Kingdom of Kandy from 1604 to 1635.
The war lord Sankili II signed Nallur Convention with Portuguese in 1619. Subsequently, he was taken to Goa and hanged.
King Senerat’s army under the leadership of Captain Atapattu captured Yapanaya from Portuguese but they were defeated by Portuguese army sent from the south by the General Constantine de Saa. After that, Yapanaya was ceded to Portuguese in 1629 by Sinhala Buddhist King Senerath and not by Dravidians.
The capture of Jaffna by King Senarat in 1629 is also recorded by Captain Ribeiro who wrote : “But while our (Portuguese) army was laying waste to the whole of that (Kandyan) kingdom, the General (Constantine de Saa) was advised that the King had sent five thousand chosen men to Jafanapatao under the command of Modeliar of his Atapata, the Captain of his personal bodyguard; he knew that that kingdom and fortress were feebly garrisoned, and that Felippe de Oliviera, who had brought it under the dominion of the Portuguese, was dead.” – (p. 87, The Historic Tragedy of the Island of Ceilao, Captain Joao Ribeiro, translated by Paul E. Peiris, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi. 1999).
Fr. Queroz too had devoted a chunk of his history to the conquest of Jaffna. Referring to Modliyar Atapattu’s expedition to Jaffna he wrote : “This was the last battle in the conquest of Jaffna.”
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Eagle Eye / October 11, 2021
Mahila,
Anyway, Sankili II who signed the Nallur Convention in 1619 is not an indigenous person. He was a ‘Kallathoni’ Dravidian. He had no authority to give land in Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo to foreigners.
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GATAM / October 11, 2021
The writer knows nothing he is talking about.
Just the usual nationalist chest thumping. Factually incorrect.
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Good Sense / October 8, 2021
The author has painfully researched and submitted as to why the Indo-Lanka accord of the 1980’s should be abrogated. I appeal to the author to do research on every treaty that Sri Lanka and India, list out the obligations and rights of each of the parties under such agreements and highlight the obligations that each country has failed to implement. I am told by Foreign Service Mandarins that almost every agreement with India is essentially one sided and implemented in a cockeyed manner so that Sri Lanka is a vasal state of India. They tell me that the Ministry headed by a Professor cum Admiral, has walked right into the Indian hands by first saying that Sri Lankan Foreign Policy is “India First” and now tells that Sri Lanka would never act hostile to Indian security interests. The officials tell me that for years, some junior fellow in the Indian High Commission must tell that Sri Lankan action is not in the Indian security interests and that’s final. They said that even to the erection of the Lotus Tower was named as a security concern and “Yahapalana” Government is credited for summarily dismissing the matter.
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GATAM / October 11, 2021
What he says is incorrect. Do your own research.
Just a pack of old nationalist lies.
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GATAM / October 8, 2021
A Sri Lankan dip-low-mat. Not surprising.
Rest assured India is here to stay and 13 amendment is also here to stay!
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Eagle Eye / October 8, 2021
GATAM,
“A Sri Lankan dip-low-mat. Not surprising. ..
Rest assured India is here to stay and 13 amendment is also here to stay!”
===
True! Due to ungrateful actions of ‘Paradeshi’ people who were allowed to settle down in their country by Native Sinhalayo .
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GATAM / October 11, 2021
EE,
But the Sinhalayo are not the natives. They came in boats in 543BC and landed in Mannar according to Sinhala history.
There were people in the island at that time.
A woman named Kuveni was abused by Sinhala invaders, impregnated her, chased away her sons and ultimately killed her!
Sounds familiar?
1983? 2009?
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Punchi Point / October 14, 2021
You seem to have misunderstood what “natives” means – FYI if Sinhalese are not the natives and indigenes of this island, you will not find a single native or indigenous nation on this planet outside Africa.
BTW, we do not need lessons on our history by Tamils or Muslims. You obviously got the whole Kuveni story wrong, which is understandable as you are an alien. 1983 was a reaction to killing and desecrating the dead bodies of 13 soldiers and many more acts of provocations. The Tamils, including civilians were not innocent babies, when they were showing open support to terrorists and insulting and threatening Sinhalese, in the middle of Colombo. There are hundreds of such riots all over the world. 2009 was the end of the terrorists. Casualties of war happens, but both 1983 and 2009 are highly exaggerated when it comes to casualties. Cry or rejoice, as you wish. Whatever happens both Tamils and Muslims are aliens in this island, and will never ever be anything else, than aliens leeching on innocent Sinhalese blood. Get into your thick head that the Sinhalese have the right peacefully in their island, without the Tamils and Muslims trying to squeeze the living breath out of the innocent Sinhalese people.
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Thiru / October 8, 2021
Sri Lanka: Abrogate ’87 Indo-SL Accord – It Contravenes UN Charter:
Yes, do it.
Let the UN start investigations into the violation of international laws by Sri Lanka during the war, more intensely near the end killing many thousands of innocent Tamils.
An international tribunal should decide what to do about the ongoing genocide of Tamils.
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Eagle Eye / October 8, 2021
Thiru,
“An international tribunal should decide what to do about the ongoing genocide of Tamils.”
—-
While genocide of Tamils is going on all the Tamil politicians live happily with their families in Colombo side by side with Sinhalayo and the number of Tamils moving to Sinhala areas keep on increasing. Given such a situation, genocide of Tamils cannot be the work of Native Sinhalayo but by some other party.
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GATAM / October 11, 2021
EE,
Genitalocide is also genocide.
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old codger / October 8, 2021
When will “patriots” like Mr G understand that Sri Lanka is 30 miles from India, not China? Imagine the consequences. The Indians could decide to unilaterally take back Kachchativu, which would put the fishing grounds firmly on the Indian side.
Then again, now that we have a real shortage of parippu, perhaps it’s time to consider Mr. Gamage’s suggestion and abrogate the agreement.
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Eagle Eye / October 8, 2021
old codger,
“The Indians could decide to unilaterally take back Kachchativu, which would put the fishing grounds firmly on the Indian side.”
—-
Even now Tamil fishermen cry saying that Tamil Nadu fishermen come and catch fish in Sri Lankan territorial waters and asking the Government of Sri Lanka to intervene. If what you say happens Tamil fishermen will starve to death. So, Sri Lankan Tamils should join Sinhalayo to fight against such action,
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old codger / October 8, 2021
Native,
“So, Sri Lankan Tamils should join Sinhalayo to fight against such action,”
But isn’t it Daya Gamage, a Sinhalaya, who is proposing abrogating the treaty? Maybe he wants the Tamils to starve?
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Native Vedda / October 9, 2021
old codger
–
“Maybe he wants the Tamils to starve?”
–
Probably Daya Gamage wants to watch from under his bed or behind his grandma, those Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, An Ilyushin Il-78MKI, ….. Tejas, Dassault Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, …………………. roaring in the Sri Lankan (sovereign?) sky, dropping, floor, rice, oil, gas cylinders, sugar, vaccines, Turmeric, ….
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Native Vedda / October 9, 2021
old codger
–
Daya Gamage forgot to remember that VP is no longer alive to provide his services to fight the Hindians.
–
/
Native Vedda / October 9, 2021
Eagle Blind Eye
–
“Sri Lankan Tamils should join Sinhalayo to fight against such action,”
–
Sri Lankan Tamils are descendants of Kallathonies from South India, so are the Sinhalese.
–
You should be preparing to leave this island along with your Tamil speaking brethren if all of you want to avoid starvation and death.
/
chiv / October 8, 2021
OC, Pseudo Patriots allege India of so many things but doesn’t mind Chinese debt trap, taking over assets and keeping them on a remote control. But when ever in emergency, need of cash/loans, services, Oxygen, fight LTTE they grudgingly plead to their big brother. Any country has the right to be concerned of their safety. When people bring criminals to their house the next door neighbor obviously, will be very concerned, isn’t it ??? Our cooks occasionally say “India first” , which is to please for favors or avoid wrath. Even Indians do not take these statements seriously anymore. Mahinda can promise anything in the world only to back track or deny after few years. Just see how many versions do Gommanpillay has about Trinco tanks. Even the minority doesn’t trust what our govt promise, and why would the Indians ???
/
Rajan / October 8, 2021
Why only Kachathivu, what about North-Eastern Srilanka?
/
Native Vedda / October 8, 2021
Rajan
–
“Why only Kachathivu, what about North-Eastern Srilanka?”
–
I am sorry you must be a novice in this area of discussions.
As far as Hindians are concerned Sri Lanka is a Sinhala State of Hindia. They believe North East is part of Tamilnadu, whether you like it or not. A merged North East could either jointly form a district of Thamilnadu or could form two separate districts (மாவட்டம்).
–
There is no need for the question of whether Katchatheevu is part of Sri Lanka or Hindia to be raised as the Hindians believe the entire Sri Lanka is part of their Akhand Bharat.
–
Forget China’s String of Pearls strategy.
Hope you are happy now.
/
soma / October 8, 2021
That will help us to move the Tamils presently occupying Sinhala majority areas back into North East.
–
Soma
/
Native Vedda / October 9, 2021
soman
–
“That will help us to move the Tamils presently occupying Sinhala majority areas back into North East.”
–
That will help us to move the Tamils, Sinhalese, and Muslim presently occupying entire island back into Tamil Nadu.
–
The present benevolent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu seems to spring miracles, who definitely will look after you lot well.
–
Tell him it was you who made VP what he was while he was an active terrorist.
/
Native Vedda / October 9, 2021
old codger
–
“The Indians could decide to unilaterally take back Kachchativu,…… “
–
Do you remember Dr Shavendra (MBBS, MRCP ….) used to host some sort of international seminar named “Galle Dialogue” since the end of the war with much fanfare?
–
At the end of one of the “Galle Dialogue” during the question time one of the retired top ranking Hindian naval officer asked Shavendra about the core strategy they used to destroy LTTE (knowing very well it was VP and Hindians who vanquished LTTE). Like his fellow little lankies he came up with no explanation, as you know how they bull s**t, and try verbal gymnastics, and finally Shavendra destroyed himself.
–
The Hindian casually told Shavendra, Hindia is capable of flattening Sri Lanka’s military installations within 24 hours. China is 4000 miles away from Gota’s bunker.
–
/
GATAM / October 11, 2021
You expect too much from a SL dip-low-mat.
/
Nathan / October 8, 2021
Daya Gamage is known for making tongue-in-cheek Statements.
Look at, ‘With the advent of the Rajapaksa administration in 2005, the regime in fact proposed 13-PLUS, an improvement of the already existing 13th Amendment’.
The 13th Amendment is yet to be implemented in letter and spirit. Tamil provinces are yet to see Police and Land powers devolved to them.
How does one propose a 13-PLUS, when even a 13th Amendment does not exist!
/
Eagle Eye / October 8, 2021
Nathan,
“Tamil provinces are yet to see Police and Land powers devolved to them.”
—-
In the first place, there are no such thing as ‘Tamil Provinces’ in Sinhale/Sri Lanka.
Land and Police powers were not given because a section of the Tamil community in the North do not want the Government to give those powers to NPC. Only V Tamils want Land and Police powers so that they can maintain their dominance over D Tamils.
/
Nathan / October 8, 2021
Eagle Eye,
You say that Land and Police powers were not given because a section of the Tamil community in the North do not want the Government to give those powers to NPC.
You are a knowledgeable man. I’ll take you on your word.
Now, tell me, isn’t there a section of the Sinhala community wanting to give the rights of Tamils to them.
Why be selective. Why don’t you support that as well!
/
Eagle Eye / October 9, 2021
Nathan,
“Now, tell me, isn’t there a section of the Sinhala community wanting to give the rights of Tamils to them.”
—-
At the time citizenship was given, Native Sinhalayo gave same rights enjoyed by them to Malabars (Tamils after 1911) who came from Malabar region in Hindusthan and settled down in Yapanaya after 12th century. In addition to equal rights, the Malabars were given a special right to retain ‘Thesawalamei’, a Malabar customary law brought by them and codified by Dutch. Can you please tell us what more rights Tamils want from Native Sinhalayo?
/
GATAM / October 11, 2021
In the same token police and land powers must be given to Sinhala only PC cabinets in all Sinhala Provinces.
/
Native Vedda / October 9, 2021
Eagle Blind Eye
–
“In the first place, there are no such thing as ‘Tamil Provinces’ in Sinhale/Sri Lanka”
–
True, there are no Tamil Provinces nor Sinhale/Sri Lanka.
/
soma / October 9, 2021
Nathan
Land powers to Tamil majority provinces will be accompanied with land powers to Sinhala majority provinces. Provincial level Sinhala politicos with police powers will see to that Tamils within will be reduced to second class citizens.
They will monopolize the natural resources like water strangling arid North East.
IF I WERE A TAMIL I WOULD STRONGLY OPPOSE LAND AND POLICE POWERS TO PROVINCES AS MAJORITY OF TAMILS ARE LIVING OUTSIDE NORTH EAST.
–
Soma
/
Nathan / October 9, 2021
Soma,
With your intelligence, when you make such unintelligent comments, it makes me suspect that you are deceptive to the core!
Tamils are already second class citizens, by the deception of the entire ruling class.
.
NB: If you were a Tamil, you would make Eagle Eye more happy!
/
soma / October 10, 2021
No deception Nathan
Police and land powers for Sinhala majority provinces will seriously impact the Tamils in those provinces.
–
Soma
/
GATAM / October 11, 2021
Soma,
In a good way!
Please let’s agree to give land and police powers to provinces. Please man.
/
GATAM / October 11, 2021
What Soma says in this instance is correct. You are not very clever to see it.
Just imagine Sinhala only politicians having fun with police and land powers in Sinhala Provinces including Western Province. They will appoint all police officers of Wellawatte police station and will tell them what to do.
Second class will look like gold class when you become 10th class.
/
soma / October 13, 2021
“Second class will look like gold class when you become 10th class.”
You said it.
–
Soma
/
Captain Morgan / October 8, 2021
All I can say is that Sri Lankan leaders, whether prime ministers or presidents, always tell lies and go back on their promises and words. Not only spoken words, our leaders will not even honour signed and sealed agreements or treaties with their signature on it.
Both Bandaranaike and Dudley Senanayake did not honour the pacts they made with Chelvanayakam, the state of Sri Lanka is not prepared to implement the Indo-Sri Lanka Pact signed by J.R. Jayewardene; then Mahinda Rajapaksa is not willing to make good on his written and spoken promises to give the North-East Province 13A Plus!
So one can only conclude that the signatures and seals of Sri Lankan Prime Ministers and Presidents have no worth or value at all. There are even so many private citizens who would go to extreme lengths and make any sacrifice to protect the value of their signatures, but not Sri Lankan leaders!
/
Eagle Eye / October 8, 2021
Sri Lanka had the opportunity to finish Tamil Terrorists during Vadamarachchi Operation in 1987 if ‘Parippu Dropper’ did not intervene and saved the terrorist leader who was nurtured by them to destabilize this country. Due to that wicked action, Tamil terrorism dragged on for another 22 years killing hundreds of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim civilians, politicians, members of the Armed Forces and causing colossal damage to property, infrastructure and the economy. So, ‘Parippu Droppers’ should be held responsible for the lives lost and damage to property and infrastructure.
/
old codger / October 8, 2021
Eagle,
Are you trying to promote Canadian parippu over Indian parippu?
/
chiv / October 9, 2021
OC are you trying to promote Evil Eagle over Gamage ??? I really do not see any difference, do you ???
/
Mahila / October 9, 2021
OC,
When People realised, that Indian Parippu – Red Split Lentils (popularly called Masoor dhal is not originated from Mysore region, India) but a product predominantly grown and exported by Turkey. Even Wimale of ‘Weerasngili’ and ‘Lemon Puff’ fame, hung down his head in shame! He repented so much that he never even spoke about ‘Masala Wade’, which he adored from the ‘Kadale’ shop at the Borrella market after that!! Sin Aney! POW! No Bite, during tea time specially doing a hard day’s work in the press, proof reading and publishing 24/7!
People were prevented from eating/storing/buying/using Lentils because it was ‘thought and not fact’ it was Indian!!
What a Lacuna in knowledge, that happened from 1950’s! Not only editors but Editors-in-Chief were not knowledgeable on that!!
It was sea change.
Some still think is a good starting point for a constructive conversation.
Very amusing
/
old codger / October 9, 2021
Mahila,
You must add that strange vegetable called B onions. Are A onions also available?
/
Mahila / October 12, 2021
OC,
True, I should have.
They now call it any name without the word ‘Bombay’.
Trade is more educated
/
GATAM / October 11, 2021
EE,
Why didn’t the SLAF also drop parippu in the north with a deceptive description made in India?
I’m looking at solving the broader ethnic problem, for good!
/
Eagle Eye / October 11, 2021
GATAM,
“I’m looking at solving the broader ethnic problem, for good!”
—-
Want to solve the broader ethnic problem and create a border problem.
/
GATAM / October 12, 2021
EE,
Border problems are easy to handle than internal problems.
What would you prefer.
A nasty family member or a nasty neighbor?
Coronavirus inside you or outside you?
Diarrhea inside you or outside you?
The enemy within is worse than the enemy at the gates.
/
soma / October 8, 2021
There is only one solution to this problem.
Sinhalese must initiate a movement demanding Tamils (all Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion or the date of arrival) living outside North East should be returned to North East. The resulting dialogue will expose hypocrisy of the so called ‘separatists’ and India realising the danger ( rather impracticality) of creating territorial divisions in the island based on ethnicity and religion.
There is no other way to demonstrate that majority of Tamils dislike a Tamil only enclave and they do not believe that Sinhalese are discriminatory.
.
/
soma / October 8, 2021
TAMILS IN SINHALA MAJORITY AREAS MUST RELOCATE THEMSELVES TO NORTH EAST .
INDIA SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE.
–
Soma
/
old codger / October 8, 2021
Soma,
“TAMILS IN SINHALA MAJORITY AREAS MUST RELOCATE THEMSELVES TO NORTH EAST .”
What about the Nadesan family? The 160 million dollars will give the North an unfair advantage, don’t you think?
/
soma / October 9, 2021
Old Codger
It will be divided 50-50 as one is Tamil and the other Sinhalese.
–
Soma
/
Mahila / October 9, 2021
OC,
No doubts whatsoever of imbalance of wealth becoming a source of irritant between the North and South of Sri Lanka, by virtue of the US $ 160 Million of Thiru Nadesan (TN) and Nirupama Rajapaksa (NR)!OC,
No doubts whatsoever of imbalance of wealth becoming a source of irritant between the North and South of Sri Lanka, by virtue of the US $ 160 Million of Thiru Nadesan (TN) and Nirupama Rajapaksa (NR)!
Retained in hambantota!!
Perhaps, important modern reality has missed your attention, quite understandable, given the fact of subtle nature of events!! Kept under ‘wraps’ so that voters are kept away from the “goings-on”, to deter change of mind/heart of voters. Past sins covered up!!!
For instance the 3 electorates of Hambantota District, has wealthier personae of 100 to 200 times over that of TN+NR combine. 16 to US $ 32 Billion (Not millions)!!!!
They are stashed away in financial capitals of the world (Dubai, Seychelles, Monac) to the newly emerging Capital of SL, Hambantota, waiting to be renamed “Mahinda Rajapaksa Pura”, bordering the busy East West Sea Lanes connecting the Indo Pacific.
It is also within close proximity to the legendary Devinuwara Vishnu Devalaya, a place of Buddhist veneration for generations, is aptly the developing reality and grand plan soon to become the reality – depository of the Dalada relics from Kandy as is the customs of yore – the seat of Power!!!
/
SJ / October 8, 2021
Colombo is Tamil majority I am told.
Where will the Sinhalese go?
/
soma / October 9, 2021
SJ
Sinhalese in Colombo will have plenty of space when the Tamils are moved out.
–
Soma
/
Native Vedda / October 9, 2021
SJ
–
“Where will the Sinhalese go?”
–
To their ancestral land, South India.
/
Mahila / October 9, 2021
OC and SJ,
The land of George Rajapaksa or in Mulkirigala (the Chinese enclave) with 160 Million dollars of the overseas stash to prosperity with Thiru N, not to be discriminative on the issue!
Dues settled
/
Native Vedda / October 8, 2021
soman
–
“TAMILS IN SINHALA MAJORITY AREAS MUST RELOCATE THEMSELVES TO NORTH EAST . INDIA SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE.”
–
Nopes…………
Tamil, Sinhala, and Muslims in this island MUST RELOCATE THEMSELVES TO South India.
–
HINDIA SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE.
/
chiv / October 9, 2021
Native even Soman may want to move to Hindia after finding his land has been loaned.
/
Native Vedda / October 9, 2021
chiv
–
“Native even Soman may want to move to Hindia after finding his land has been loaned.”
–
I doubt it.
The 16 million cannot compete with with 1400 million.
Out of the 16 million we have more than 50,000 professors, 15,000 generals, 1 Field Marshall, 400,000 members of Ranaviruses. 70,000 members of Saffron Brigade, 5 Maha Sanghas, 225 crooks, dump asses except a few, …….
–
soman needs extraordinary skills to compete with Hindian crooks.
He cannot survive there.
Here we have a comfort zone created over 75 years by public racist Annagarikka Homeless Dharmapala and his supporters.
–
Even thuggery, corruption, inefficiency, violence, …… soman and his fellow racist cannot match RSS, VHS, …
/
Mahila / October 9, 2021
Soma,
All these trams location effort will be solved forever, if to recall the foresight of the eminent Oxfordian PM, before his emancipationist of the “Pancha Maha Balavegaya” prior to the Independence of then Ceylon from British to become a federation of the 3 states as a long time ago of the 3 Kingdoms.
Then, like US of A, we can trawl between NY and LA or Florida and Wyoming!
Traversing Pt Pedro to Pt Dondra to pray to Lord Vishnu or Colombo to Pasikuda for a well earned surf or sleep out would be very inviting.
Poor ‘Banda’, did not survive long to realise that dream!
What a pity?
Do not worry, we have the Sahodarayo Enterprises Inc., who are very interested in the American ways of doing things and they are very comfy to make life easier in SL. Have Hope in them to deliver a modality to overcome the problem with least pain!
No painful translocation please; as seen in Baharath becoming after British becoming Hindia and Pakistan/Bangladesh!!
/
GATAM / October 11, 2021
Yes. They must be relocated and Sinhalas in the north-east must also relocate to Sinhala Provinces. Same with Muslims. Then close the borders and declare three nations.
All problems are solved.
(If any 2 nations join together let them. Not our problem.)
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 9, 2021
Since the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was signed by two heads of Government, it cannot be abrogated unilaterally and is completely out of question. It is still in force. The delay in implementing the Peace Accord demonstrates the reluctant attitude of the Sri Lankan ruling politicians. When the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was tabled before the General Assembly, all the Western countries applauded it. It had not infringed the provisions of the United Nations Charter. Moreover India wanted a peaceful settlement between two communities in the country since Sri Lanka and India were members of the SAARC. This is the great diplomatic achievement of G.Parthasarathy. Mention should be made that it was R.Premadasa and V.Prabaharan who were against the Peace Accord and intended to challenge India through cowardly means. Meanwhile the Tamil political leaders too were somewhat not far-sighted as they should have pressurized India that in the event of dragging the implementation of the 13th Amendment, they should have requested India to declare North-East Province to be an Independent Territory within the Union of India in accordance with the Indian Constitution. There is also an evil motive in Gotabhaya to minimize the Tamil representative in the Northern Province by adding some Sinhalese regions with the view to defeat the provisions of the Peace Accord and the 13th Amendment, which India should take notice.
/
Eagle Eye / October 9, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM
“Moreover India wanted a peaceful settlement between two communities in the country since Sri Lanka and India were members of the SAARC.”
—-
Did Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord stop Tamil terrorists massacring Native Sinhalayo? Did India disarm Tamil terrorists as promised? Instead of disarming Tamil Terrorists, IPKF massacred Sinhalayo in Tirikunamale. As a result of Peace Accord, the person who initiated that was blown into pieces. 1,165 IPKF members returned in body bags and more than 3,000 were wounded. The cost of the blunder to India was estimated at over 10.3 billion Rupees. But there was no peace in Sri Lanka.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 10, 2021
Eagle Eye,
The IPKF was a Peace-keeping Force and not a Fighting Force. Moreover. the war with the terrorists is a war between the visible and the invisible. Please bearing mind that the LTTE resorted to cowardly methods in fighting the IPKF. I will give you some instances. About 50 IPKF soldiers were given arrack where poison was mixed. Another instance was when the IPKF was engaged in parachuting exercises, the LTTE cadres shot those soldiers and lastly the LTTE ambushed them. These are cowardly means of fighting. May I also give another instance where R.Premadasa transported some arms & ammunitions straight from the Colombo harbour to the Vanni jungles. Strictly speaking Sri Lankan political leaders were not genuine in implementing the Peace Accord. You should have asked this question from R.Premadasa as to why he has dishonoured the Peace Accord.
/
Eagle Eye / October 11, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
“The IPKF was a Peace-keeping Force and not a Fighting Force”
“India was taking adequate steps to prevent violations of human rights.”
—-
Was massacring innocent Sinhala civilians and killing Buddhist monks in Tirikunamale a part of the mandate of peace keeping? This is a war crime.
/
Eagle Eye / October 11, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
“You should have asked this question from R.Premadasa as to why he has dishonoured the Peace Accord.”
—-
President R.Premadasa dishonoured the Peace Accord because India and IPKF were not doing what they were expected to do under the peace accord. IPKF was supposed to disarm Tamil terrorists but they miserably failed to do that and they were ethnic cleansing of Sinhala Buddhists in NE.
/
Mahila / October 12, 2021
AR,
The editor-in-chief at that time was beholden to have that position and was silent than exhibiting true qualities of Journalism.
Proof the, “Pen is not always mightier than the Sword always”.
There are exceptions and this instance was such an exemplary one!
Lasantha W, at that time was just finding his way like an infant! Others in the media raised voices, not very loud and clear; muted!
Unnoticed and not effect!
/
Eagle Eye / October 9, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
If India did not intervene, Sri Lanka could have finish Tamil terrorism and restore peace by taking Prabhakaran into custody during Vadamarachchi Operation in 1987. Due to that wicked action, Tamil terrorism dragged on for another 22 years killing hundreds of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim civilians, politicians, members of the Armed Forces and causing colossal damage to property, infrastructure and the economy. Eventually the Government of Sri Lanka had to eliminate Tamil terrorists wasting enormous amount of tax payers’ money.
Moreover, Sri Lanka ended up having a white elephant called ‘Provincial Councils’ that came along with the 13th Amendment.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 10, 2021
Eagle Eye,
At that time Sri Lanka was not well equipped in tackling terrorism. It was not a wicked action by India at that time. India was taking adequate steps to prevent violations of human rights. Both the Sri Lankan Armed Forces & the LTTE were human rights violators. Establishment of Provincial Councils was the perfect solution for the settlement of peace. If Provincial Councils were allowed to function in its true perspective, Sri Lankan ruling politicians will lose fat commissions and also cannot harass the minority community. Provincial Council is not a white elephant if the numbers of Ministers are reduced to Fifteen and scrap out the creation of State Ministers. Even in advanced developed countries, they don’t have a giant cabinet like Sri Lanka. Moreover, India had a moral obligation to monitor the activities of Islamic terrorism also in order to safe-guard its sovereignty & territorial integrity. On the whole it was the Sri Lankan politicians who were instrumental for the reluctance of implementing the 13th Amendment.
/
Eagle Eye / October 11, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
“At that time Sri Lanka was not well equipped in tackling terrorism.”
—
Could be true. Those who trained those terrorists might have had a better knowledge on how to deal with them. But it did not work. Tamil terrorism dragged on for another 22 years after Indian intervention.
/
Eagle Eye / October 9, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
“When the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was tabled before the General Assembly, all the Western countries applauded it.”
—-
They applauded and watched Tamil terrorists keep on massacring Sinhala Buddhist men, women, children and killed even the fetus of pregnant Sinhala women using suicide bombers, land mines, claymore bombs, chemical weapons, swords and machetes for 22 years throwing Peace Accord to the dust bin.
Few western countries who applauded extended their support to Tamil terrorists directly and indirectly.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 10, 2021
Eagle Eye,
In a country where there is no law & order anything can happen. It is not only the Sinhalese who were killed by the LTTE, but several Tamils too were shot dead by the Police & the Armed Forces. There were instances where many passengers while travelling in the vans & buses were shot dead after passing Puttalam. It is true that Western countries applauded the Peace Accord, but they were ignorant of the wicked attitude of the Sri Lanka Politicians and armed forces. If you maintain your argument, then why should 52 prisoners were murdered at the Welikade jail, especially when they were in the State custody. There is another important question why should R.Premadasa hired the Naval rating to attack Rajiv Gandhi soon after signing the Peace Accord. And why was that Naval rating been provided with a five-star treatment at Welikade Jail soon after conviction And why should the Naval rating be released soon after R.Premadasa assumed power as President of Sri Lanka. Do you mean to say there was law & order during Premadasa’s rule. The list is long.
/
Eagle Eye / October 11, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
“It is true that Western countries applauded the Peace Accord, but they were ignorant of the wicked attitude of the Sri Lanka Politicians and armed forces.”
—-
Western countries applauded the Peace Accord but they were ignorant of the hidden agenda of the messenger of peace and the real objectives of wicked Tamil politicians and Tamil terrorists.
/
Native Vedda / October 10, 2021
Eagle Blind Eye
–
“They applauded and watched Tamil terrorists keep on massacring Sinhala Buddhist men, women, children ………………………………….”
–
While Premadasa was helping LTTE in ways he could or where possible, the Sri Lankan armed forces were hiding behind their women folks too scared to fight IPKF and gun running for LTTE, Shavendra was hiding inside Premadasa’s amude as part of presidential guards.
–
Then of course Mahinda and his clan is eternally grateful to VP for winning the war, two elections for them and make them very, very, very rich.
/
Eagle Eye / October 10, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
The messengers of peace got what they wanted; fish tanks in Tirikunamale. People in Sri Lanka went through hell for 22 years.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 11, 2021
There is a proverb that if the village be divided into two parties, it will be advantageous to the comedians. Now what has the Sinhalese lost in implementing the 13th Amendment. Are they not winning the hearts of the Tamils and do you think the Tamils will ignore the Sinhalese. This is called Unity in Diversity.
/
GATAM / October 11, 2021
There is no unity in SL.
SL has no future as one nation. Just misery and violence.
Don’t be fooled by the lull in violence for now. It will certainly return.
Only solution divide the island into 3 mono ethnic nations and relocate people.
/
Eagle Eye / October 11, 2021
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
“Now what has the Sinhalese lost in implementing the 13th Amendment.”
—
What did Native Sinhalayo gain by implementing the 13th Amendment imposed on them threatening military action and almost pointing the gun at JRJ? Is that a civilized way of dealing with a sovereign country?
—
If 13th Amendment is implemented fully, Native Sinhalayo lose control of almost one third of the land in their country.
—
Ranil gave one third of the country to a terrorist to solve the problem but the problem dragged on.
—
Even Tamils rejected 13th Amendment.
—
Dalits in Yapanaya told the Government not to give land and police powers to NPC.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 12, 2021
Eagle Eye,
Had the 13th Amendment been implemented, there would have been Unity in Diversity. Never speculate. Implement and find out the result.
Ranil never gave one-third of the country to the terrorists. The so-called Ceasefire Agreement was a farce one because it was not signed in the presence of one another. Furthermore there was a law that no one can enter into an Agreement with the terrorists. The Ceasefire Agreement was a diplomatic act of Ranil Wickremasinghe to divert the attention of the LTTE. It was unfortunate that Chandrika miscalculated it and dissolved the government as well as on selfish grounds. The real reason for this crisis was that Sri Lanka did not shed blood like India which fought a bloody war against the British for its independence.
/
Native Vedda / October 14, 2021
Eagle Blind Eye,
–
” Ranil gave one third of the country to a terrorist to solve the problem but the problem dragged on.”
–
Premadasa gave LTTE money, arms, medicine, diplomatic cover, …………………………
Mahinda gave cash
–
What are you on about?
/
Ajith / October 9, 2021
If Sri Lanka need to abrogate Indo-Lanka accord what will India do?
It is true Indo – Lanka accord was not in the interest of Tamils of Sri Lanka, purely about the security of India. If India thinks that Sri Lanka is a threat to their security, India has to protect it security. Whether threat is real or not, they can make it as a threat and military action could be a possible option. Who was responsible for the intervention of India in Sri Lanka? It is Sri Lanka and its rulers.
Still nobody realises that internal stability and unity among communities is an essential requirement to avoid any intervention from outsiders. It is Indian intervention that brought Sri Lanka into war with Tamils and it is Indian intervention that brought down LTTE. Whichever way you think, Sri Lanka has no escape route from international intervention from India, China and USA.
/
Mallaiyuran / October 12, 2021
Sinhala Intellectual Viyathmaga has argues only from one side. That is why their judgement is labeled as Sinhala Jury Only Verdict. They knowingly fool the laymen Modayas with these fake debates. They say they don’t want to implement 13A because they are too proud to be consulted by India on Justice & Peace. Then, can they explain why they didn’t implement 16A? Is that just for fun they didn’t feel obliged to implement it? Or is that because they are absolute crooks? What the 11A says? Buddhism is an important religion, but other religions will have freedom to practice. During the war the state bombed 2700 Hindu temples and many Churches. When did they pay even a penny as compensation for these religious institutions? Why are the Yahapalanaya and Royal governments refusing to investigate the 4/21, but investigating Mawanella Buddha statue breaking? What happened when Yahapalanaya signed the Resolution 30/1? They broke it one sided.
Britain didn’t give the Island as one nation to Sinhala Buddhists to rule it over. Ivor Jennings’ constitution was a unitary constitution. The Dominion Unitary constitution remained open to be ratified by the other Nation State’s ministers, in other words Tamils acceptance of the constitution.
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Mallaiyuran / October 12, 2021
Remember, the condition of the Dominion constitution was that the “Tamils Ministers have to Ratify” the constitution. Voluntarily accepting a unitary constitution does not constitute a race voluntarily accepting the overruling of another race. A race voluntarily accepting another race ruling it is also not a valid contract in the modern world (Under UN Charter). That contract cannot be enforced by either party. In any condition, Sinhala Viyathmaha Intellectuals cannot circumvent that by any feeble arguments. Tamil ministers signed the dominion state unitary constitutions on the assumption that Britain will be the final authority on many decision-making processes. This dominion constitution had the requirement that the Queen approve eventual changes. Queen’s Justice Lords had the final say on the legal matters. Beyond all those implicit protective covers, the explicit minority protective cover, S 29 can be changed only by the affected minorities’ 2/3 majority votes. Though S29 was a section in the Saulbury constitution, considering the ministers signature requirement. in effect, it was an accord between two independent nation states with two separate territories. So, violating such an important S29 is equal to violating an international accord between two nations. In those circumstances any other accords the two nations signed to co-exist can become null and void at any parties’ choice.
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gemson42 / October 12, 2021
Daya Gamage has raised very salient points for the first time and very timely when the Sri Lankan govt. is preparing to hold the PC elections. It is the citizens of Sri Lanka who should decide not out side forces, or dicks toms and harry s, as its an independent nation in terms of the Constitution. The Parliament is well represented by parties formed by all ethnic groups and there wont be any problem of solving national issues as hitherto done. I think the govt. and the opposition parties should take note of the facts stated in Daya’s article. It is upto the citizens of this country to take the final decision. Gemson42
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Punchi Point / October 13, 2021
With or without the Tamil problem, India would have been and will be a problem for Srilanka. India is a bully who is having conflicts with all its neighbours. India’s claims that Srilanka can be used by its so-called enemies to attack India is something that India will have to live with, unless India plans to occupy or extract accords under gunpoint from all its neighbours and demand that they abide by Indian LAW and WISHES. If China wants to attack India, China doesn’t need Srilanka, the whole north and north-eastern and north-western borders are available to China to launch attacks from.
With the Indo-Lanka accord, India’s purpose was to get a footing here. Indians, especially the north Indians, couldn’t care two hoots about the Tamils and they used the Tamils to get its will here. The 13th amendment was just another way ensuring India’s grip on Srilanka continue with the aid of Tamils and that ethnic conflict will continue in one form or another, as it was clear that Prabhakaran’s idea was nothing less than an independent Tamil state, and that he also planned to ultimately make the whole island into a Tamil state.
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Punchi Point / October 14, 2021
The validity of this whole accord should be taken up at the International Court of Justic (=ICJ) – this is an agreement which India got Srilanka to sign at gunpoint, and India didn’t keep its part of the agreement either. Besides, India had sponsored, financed, trained and armed Tamil terrorists for years, which is against international laws. Then in 1987 India offers to disarm very terrorists which it actually had armed, in return for permanent reservations against using Trincomalee harbour in anyway which India could interpret as going against Indian interests! In addition Tamil was made an official language island-wide and devolution of powers given in the 13th amendment was made under gunpoint. There has also been suggestions here at CT about annexing North-East to India, where the commentators claim they have infact discussed this with Indians. These are all extremely dangerous and illegal. We have to get international help. Tamils have absolutely no right to any part of this island, and no international court is ever going to rule in favour of division of this small island, especially when there is a natural and obvious alternative solution right across the Palk Strait, namely Tamilnadu for the Tamils’ homeland problem.
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Punchi Point / October 14, 2021
What India did to Srilanka by training Tamil rebels is deplorable and it is nothing but sponsoring and part-taking in international terrorism and the RAW operations within Srilanka are all completely illegal according to international law and rightfully speaking Srilanka should have brought the case to the ICJ, already in the late 1980’s. A comparable case is the case Nicaragua filed against USA in 1986, for sponsoring/financing Contras, where Nicaragua won.
Actually India should be held responsible for this violent drama India has created – the Tamil problem became a terrorist problem, solely because India gave Tamil rebels the necessary training, financing and backing. We should seek reparation for the financial and social destruction India’s actions has caused us. Tamil politicians are only interested in getting even with the Sinhalese, but what India did to the Srilankan Tamils is unforgivable – India made school boys into violent terrorists. Then their army came here and killed thousands of innocent Tamil civilians. I don’t condone any killings, but Prabhakaran did teach India a good lesson. Rajiv Ghandi had it coming, for the several double games he played on all of us. Now the shameless Indians are coming for more…..
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2021
Punchi Point
Punchi Brain
Punchi Mind
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“Actually India should be held responsible for this violent drama India has created – the Tamil problem became a terrorist problem, ….”
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It is not a Tamil Problem but a Sinhala/Buddhist problem imposed on rest of the people.
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“………………..the RAW operations within Srilanka are all completely illegal according to international law and rightfully speaking Srilanka should have brought the case to the ICJ, already in the late 1980’s.”
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You cowards, while the stupid VP fighting the IPKF your brave supper patriotic ranavirusses were hiding behind VP’s bum.
Ultimately it was left to a bunch of Bata wearing rag tag child soldiers to fight and evict the invading army and protect this island’s “SOVEREIGNTY”
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What a pathetic country, where its leaders, armed forces, saffron brigades, …. patriots were hiding behind their women folks.
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Go, do some useful work, read, wash your wife’s clothes, do the washing up, fetch water from well, water the garden, ….. I bet you have already sent your wife to Middle East.
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2021
Punchi Point
Punchi Brain
Punchi Mind
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Self Determination is inherent right of individual as well as a group of people.
It is simply because the perverted saffron brigade and dumb ass politician denied ordinary people their right to self determination this island continues to produce dumb asses and give them prominent places in the society.
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Learn, think, change, be useful to the community and country.
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I wonder why your brain does not function as it is supposed to.
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old codger / October 14, 2021
PP,
“just another way ensuring India’s grip on Srilanka”
Don’t you think that would be a good idea? We would have a rupee 3 times its present value, plenty of parippu, sugar, turmeric, onions, you could go to your Dambadiva without a visa,…..What are you griping about, little woman?
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Punchi Point / October 14, 2021
TAMIL CLAIMS TO SELF-DETERMINATION
The responses and reactions from the Tamils to Soma’s suggestion about establishing a separate Tamil state for the Tamils, and all Tamil speaking people move in there, shows what we can await in the future, in the form of undue and totally unjust demands of the Tamils.
A 30 year war has been fought and endless ways have been sought to resolve this issue of self-determination for the Tamils, but the one thing that needs to be done has not been done, namely taking this matter up in the UN and getting it referred to the ICJ. Whatever the recommendations/verdict that ICJ gives we can follow. We have to have outside international legal help to solve this issue. Solving the ethnic conflict will eliminate a huge security issue and prevent it being used and manipulated by countries like India, USA and China for their geo-political agendas. Tamils do not want to take this matter to the ICJ, because they know that they do not the rights they claim here. So the Tamils too are trying to claim discrimination, genocide etc, thinking that they can get a separate state using these claims –
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Punchi Point / October 14, 2021
– i.e. using highly controversial/proposed remedial secession, however, regardless of the Tamils’ claims about discrimination, genocide etc, and whether these claims/allegations are true or not, all these allegations are against the Srilankan state. The Srilankan state is not the Sinhalese people or the Sinhalese nation – more or less like the LTTE was not the Tamil people. Before Tamils start saying that the government is chosen by the Sinhalese mostly and therefore the Sinhalese as a nation is responsible for these allegations, I just have to that, just as much the Srilankan government positions are by vote, the Tamils did chose and support the LTTE more than the Sinhalese have ever supported any given government. So the issues of discrimination and genocide is something that the Tamils have to take to the International Criminal Court or in some way or another seek justice for the crimes they claim have been committed against them by the Srilankan state. Whatever happens in such a lawsuit/international case, it doesn’t change the irrevocable right of the Sinhalese people to this island or the fact that the Tamils are a relatively recent diaspora of Tamilnadu, and thus have no right to self-determination in this island.
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2021
Punchi Point
Punchi Brain
Punchi Mind
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“A 30 year war has been fought and endless ways have been sought to resolve this issue of self-determination for the Tamils, …………………………………………………………………..”
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Punchi Brain
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It is not about “self-determination” of just Tamils, but the people of the entire world and beyond.
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Please read:
Self-Determination Theory and Motivation
By Kendra Cherry
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In psychology, self-determination is an important concept that refers to each person’s ability to make choices and manage their own life. This ability plays an important role in psychological health and well-being. Self-determination allows people to feel that they have control over their choices and lives. It also has an impact on motivation—people feel more motivated to take action when they feel that what they do will have an effect on the outcome.
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The concept of self-determination has been applied to a wide variety of areas including education, work, parenting, exercise, and health. Research suggests that having high self-determination can foster success in many different domains of life.
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What Is Self-Determination Theory?
Self-determination theory suggests that people are motivated to grow and change by three innate and universal psychological needs.
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This theory suggests that people are able to become self-determined when their needs for competence, connection, and autonomy are fulfilled.
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The concept of intrinsic motivation, or engaging in activities for the inherent rewards of the behavior itself, plays an important role in self-determination theory.
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2021
Punchi Point
Punchi Brain
Punchi Mind
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Self Determination is inherent right of individual as well as a group of people.
It is simply because the perverted saffron brigade and dumb ass politician denied ordinary people their right to self determination this island continues to produce dumb asses and give them prominent places in the society.
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Learn, think, change, be useful to the community and country.
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I wonder why your brain does not function as it is supposed to.
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