Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and Leader of the Sri Lanka delegation to the Human Rights Committee Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha asked the Human Rights Committee to “judge Sri Lanka in proportion to the challenges Sri Lanka has continued to face as a country emerging from a 30 year terrorist conflict”.
Ambassador Aryasinha
The Ambassador made this observation in responding to comments made during the consideration of Sri Lanka’s 5th Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) by the Human Rights Committee, which was held on 7-8 October 2014 in Geneva. The Human Rights Committee comprises a body of independent experts from 18 countries that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its State parties.
Responding to a question raised by the Committee as to why the PTA is still in existence in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Aryasinha said Sri Lanka does not shy away from making considered choices and is adept at differentiating, in the best interest of its people. He recalled that notwithstanding security concerns, the government had speedily resettled almost all internally displaced persons, that out of approximately 12,000 LTTE ex-combatants who have been reintegrated into society, all but 114 are undergoing rehabilitation, and 84 are under legal proceedings, and that in 2011 the government had allowed emergency to lapse, which at the time many felt was too hasty. In spite of concerns raised, the Government of Sri Lanka had taken these calculated risks. He said, the government had to keep the PTA in effect, albeit reluctantly, due to recent incidents pointing to attempts at the resurgence of terrorism in Sri Lanka with involvement of external networks. He pointed out that such caution was also taken by many governments who have had to face the threat of terrorism.
In his opening statement, the Ambassador welcomed the opportunity to interact with the Human Rights Committee, and through it to continue the constructive engagement Sri Lanka has maintained with the processes of the UN human rights mechanisms.
Tracing the dramatic transformation that had taken place in Sri Lanka since the country last presented its report to the Human Rights Committee in 2003, the Ambassador also referred to an observation made by the Committee’s Chair Sir Nigel Rodley, at the opening of the current session of the Human Rights Committee, that “what was happening in Syria and Iraq with respect to a group that was pursuing policies that were simply the antithesis of universal values and human rights standards,” and a “brazen challenge to the international community”. He reminded the Committee that Sri Lanka also overcame a similar brazen challenge, when in 2009 it defeated the ruthless terror of the LTTE, a group that also claimed a mono-ethnic state glorifying murder. He said that “it is fortunate that on what is happening today, the international community is taking note, coming together to meet the threat and is exercising remedies for it. He recalled that “however for us in Sri Lanka, while terrorism began in the early 1980s, it was not until 1992 when Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India was killed that the world started recognising the ruthlessness of the LTTE. It was not until 1996 when the US banned the LTTE that the Western world recognised our problem. And it was only after 2001 following 9/11 that actually this question got any real attention”.
Ambassador Aryasinha said Sri Lanka views the promotion and protection of human rights not as an end in itself but as an indispensable component of peace building and reconciliation following a three decade long conflict against separatist terrorism. In a country where no one was spared the horrors of terrorism, the government of Sri Lanka has succeeded in restoring to the entirety of Sri Lanka’s population the most important right – the right to life. He said the Committee should look at the ensuing developments relating to civil and political rights in Sri Lanka in this context. The Government has taken measures to ensure sustainable peace and reconciliation and rapid development in the country, as it is an important step to ensure the full enjoyment of civil and political rights by all.
The Government delegation led by Ambassador Aryasinha, comprised S.B Divaratne, Advisor to the President and Secretary, Special Bureau of Reconciliation, Janaka Sugathadasa, Secretary, Ministry of Resettlement, Eric Illayapparachchi, Secretary, Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs, Nimal Kotawalagedara, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms, K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Law and Order, Bimba Jayasinghe Tillekeratne, PC, Senior Additional Solicitor General, Samantha Jayasuriya, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva, Sashikala Premawardhane, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Nerin Pulle, Deputy Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Department, Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director, Ministry of External Affairs, Priyanga Wickramasinghe, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva, Rajiv Goonetilleke, Senior State Counsel and Dilini Gunasekera, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva.
Read the full statement by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka – Geneva here
CHANAKYAN / October 9, 2014
Sri Lanka is being judged quite correctly by the self-inflicted chaos of five and a half years since the end of the war in May 2009.
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aratai / October 9, 2014
.
This must be the most difficult, highest paid job in the world.
I remember Iraq’s PR at UN (during Sadaam’s period) and Uganda’s PR (during Idi Amin’s period) making similar comments.
:-)
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Sun / October 9, 2014
who is going to buy what this man makes every effort to explain ?
Even if this and other handful of ones seen as qualified diplomats, standing on the wrong side cant bring anyone further.
Entire MR administration is the biggest failure that no senior diplomats grasphed it right time. perhpas, Dayan J and other two to be away have helped them saving their souls rather than continuing their support to this THE ruling over corrupted HIGHLY questional MR regime.
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Piranha / October 9, 2014
How many times is this man going to give the same excuses? The PTA is still in place to ensure no serious opposition develop to the regime. The attacks against the HR defenders and NGOs are conducted to stop them from exposing the lies of the regime. I don’t think any one is listening to Aryasinha and rightly so.
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Eusense / October 9, 2014
piran
Until MR regime leaves which would happen coming January. What do you think will happen then?
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Native Vedda / October 9, 2014
Piranha
Nuisance’s crystal ball predicts “MR regime leaves which would happen coming January”
What does your ball predict given that elections are not won on majority counted votes but on how hard Gota catches Election Commissioners ba**s?
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Sama / October 9, 2014
How can they even think of the proportions when looking at the manner the bunch of thugs currently in power behave today ? Just ignorning rule of law and order as if they dont see the way the many are concerned – should also be beyond world standards or human ethics. Ambassadors, visiting parliamentarians and all kind kind of opponents to their criminal agendas including Journalists and free men and women have no right to express their views today – as no other times in the past – also considering the days the country s war was at its all heights. CBKs days were not this much downfalls with human rights issues – how come the very same UNHRC not to have raised these issues to that time – even at the brutal days of Premadasa where over 50k went missing leaving no whereabouts to trace anymore ?
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Samuel Jaya / October 11, 2014
Who knows next man to leave Rajaapkshe Oligarchy … will be Ravinath… Chris Nonis days did not stay hype that longer ..
like the glass tear into piece, the popularty of the brutal regime in the days to come. People will change their minds.. as no other times in the past.
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Leelawathie / October 9, 2014
If MR regime expects others to treat them concerning what you have added here, he should also be ready to deliver good human rights records. Today, women and men are beaten on day lights with direct mediation of MR men and women. There are enough prima facie evidence to charge MR administration but they handle also judicial system by bribing CJ favourably to them: Today, there is ZERO justice for the average living in the country. People have fears that one would not be able to describe it. Not even just average, parliamentarians like Vasu and Dew WOULD not utter a single word – knwoing the consequences well. Even former president is shut up because she knows if she would – life can face the relative brutal acts being usually practised by Rajapakseh against anyone that would go agains tthem.
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Amarasiri / October 9, 2014
Ambassador Aryasinha
RE:Sri Lanka Should Be Judged In Proportion To The Challenges Faced By A Country Emerging From A 30 Year Terrorist Conflict: Ravinatha
Sri Lanka Should Be Judged In Proportion To The Sinhala Buddhist Racism and Chauvinism Displayed since independence and the discrimination the Tamils were subjected to, and the resulting 30 year war.
Crimes were committed by the Sinhalese Buddhist since independence that were never addressed.
It is critical for the UN ti address issue once and put this Racism and Chauvinism to rest.
Do not believe anything the Sri Lankan officials say, because they all are liars.
Go with facts on the ground.
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justice / October 9, 2014
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/challenges-and-attacks-against-civil-society-in-sri-lanka/
Sudarshana Gunawardena has eneumerated most ongoing human rights violations in this forum – quoted above.
Five long years are more than sufficient to correct these.
Ravinatha’s bluff has been called – his weak plea is pathetic and laughable.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 9, 2014
“Ambassador Aryasinha said Sri Lanka views the promotion and protection of human rights not as an end in itself but as an indispensable component of peace building and reconciliation following a three decade long conflict against separatist terrorism.”
It would have been edifying if the Ambassor had listed the peace building and reconciliation efforts of the government, since the war ended on 19th May’2009.
No doubt a lot of infrastructure building with concrete, tar , steel and wire has taken place;and schools, hospitals and a civil administrative system is functioning in the north and east.
While these are necessary, was the ‘Brazen’ Tamil militancy the result of the demand for for concrete, bricks, tar and metal? They had all these before the war. The ‘Crass’ misgovernance that has continued to increase in geometric proportions from independence to this day, resulted not only in the brazen Tamil militancy, but also in two Sinhala insurgencies, which were also brazen.
The Tamils wanted a measure of poltical authority to manage their affairs and when this was denied the Tamil youth started a brazen resistance, which unfortunately became a nighmare for the Tamils themselves. The brazenes was admirable, but the terror and idiocy that accompanied its were crass to say the least.
The defeat of the LTTE did not decimate the Tamil aspirations to manage their affairs. The defeat of the LTTE of course demanded that the war-ravaged ( a combined effort of the LTTE and the armed forces) infra-structure be restored and improved. Thankfully,this has been done and continues to be done.
However has the human tragedy been addresed as it should have? Whta solutions have been offered to the war-maimed, war-widows, war-orphans, those deprived of education andvocational training. What has ben done to revive agriculure and marketting of agricultural products? What has been done to return lands stolen from the displaced and the driven-out. Where are the employment opportunities for the Tamil youth?
However, Tamil poltical aspirations have not only been unaddressed, but have been further undermined in the post-war years. The PC elections to the north was akin to that of a reluctant bridegroom who was dragged to the wedding ceremony, but was permitted to gleefully rape the bride! The bride wanted the wedding, but the bridegroom did not. The bride wanted to be a wife, but she became showpiece to the world during the day and rape victim in the dark shadows!
What is the reality today? The ultimate aspiration of the Dutugemunus of today is being vocalized by the BBS today, supported by the JHU openly. Sri Lanka is to become Sinhale and the Tamils and Muslims are expected to become Sinhala-Tamils, Sinhala-Hindus, Sinhala-Christians and Sinhala-Muslims! There will not be any minorities in the country-exactly what our President wanted! The problem will be resolved and there will be peace and reconciliation forever!! What a cruel joke? This government is to treat not only the people of Sri Lanka, but the world also as village idiots!
Will MR and his government explain their stance on the BBS demands? I suspect the government is behind the BBS and its ‘Brazen + Crass’ demands. It expects to receive the 5,000,000 votes the BBS promises to deliver. I think the BBS cannot find anywhere near five million fools among the Sinhala-Budhists. I hope I am not wrong!
My response and that of most of the Tamils and Muslims would be, absolutely not, go to HELL, come what may!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Anpu / October 9, 2014
Well said Dr RN.
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Ram / October 9, 2014
Why should ‘BBS aspirations’ be any less relevant than the ‘Tamil aspirations’ of the NP Tamils.? I would suggest that they are comparable. Today they have again become aspirations whereas 5 years ago they were to be exacted at the point of a gun. Today the pretence is that it was for ‘equality’, when we full well know that it was for a mono-ethnic racist ‘Tamil State’ akin the the ‘Jewish State’ and the ‘Islamic State’. Till we are brave enough to face the truth, and make the necessary adjustments, some NP Tamils will remain self-alienated and destructive. Some have, and are making hay. Good luck to them.
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Native Vedda / October 10, 2014
Ramu
“Today the pretence is that it was for ‘equality’, when we full well know that it was for a mono-ethnic racist ‘Tamil State’”
The aspiration of the racist Sinhala/Buddhits has always been to build a exclusive Sinhala/Buddhists ghetto in the Indian Ocean. They have of course partly succeeded in their endeavour. BBS is of course lost patient and wants to speed up the process.
How long have you planned to live off from your manufactured mythical history?
“Till we are brave enough to face the truth, and make the necessary adjustments, some NP Tamils will remain self-alienated and destructive.”
It is their problem and not yours. Whilst leaving the North East Tamils to deal with it you better find ways and means to problems faced by 15 million people in the south.
Why should self alienation of the North East Tamils bother you? If they want to live in a mono-ethnic racist ‘Tamil State’ so be it.
I see crocodiles do shed tears.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 10, 2014
Native Vedda,
I remember the Panchatantra story of the crocodile that befriended a monkey and took it for a ride in the river, with intention of eating it. The clever monkey escaped using its wit!
Thanks to MR, whole bunch of crocodiles have gathered around the river bank tree intending to make a meal of the monkeys,
Dr.RN
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Native Vedda / October 10, 2014
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
The Tamils and Sinhala/Buddhists continue to harbour a false faith that they are capable of outsmarting each other. In that stupid process both are doomed. Look at the devastation.
Without critically reading the past history we go no where and racist on both sides with their own share of mythical history, old and new,believe in and celebrate their temporary victories as being permanent ones, fortunes could change any time.
The empires of the past and present with their devastating arsenals have not been successful in fitting many different peoples into one model which they hoped they could control (360 spectrum) 24/7/52 by making minor changes to variables. Here in this island the stupid state continues to believe in ruling the entire people only with iron fist. As we have seen in the past those all powerful state (as some stupid believe) has failed and will fail.
Those who believe they have successfully destroyed terrorism in the north and south should sit down for a history lesson of the entire world covering the period from 1917 to date rather than gloating about the temporary war victory according to Mahawamsa.
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Eusense / October 9, 2014
Narendran,
You appear to have found a couple of new words; Brazen and aspiration. Good for you!
I don’t know even why this Ambassador is trying to talk about peace building, human rights and reconciliation! The terrorist are gone and there is peace in the country and no terrorists to reconcile with. Gov. having the defense forces in the N&E is to make sure history don’t repeat. Any attempts to destabilize the country should be dealt with a heavy hand. Some may say it mounts to violation of human rights but for peace loving and law abiding citizens like me it is nothing else than prevention of terror. Sri Lanka a poor 3rd world country was tormented with terror, funded by the Tamil diaspora, for over 30 years without any help from the west or any foreign countries or NGOs. The west was further shooting our morals down by naming it “Sri Lanka’s un-winnable war” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/sri_lanka/183765.stm)
Now Sri Lanka should answer to these rouge countries and the UN agencies that never even attempted to stop the carnage? Fat chances!
You passionately talk about aspirations of Tamils. Have you ever thought of aspirations of poor powerless Sinhalese who are more than 80% of the population? How about other ethnic groups and their aspirations to manage their affairs? Do you support religious groups, different casts, people of different sexual orientations and people with different skin complexions to manage their affairs too? You got to be kidding me!
This is my take on this. Until the Tamil politicians,the diaspora and the paid NGOs stop confrontational attitudes and show clear unfettered corporation with the SL gov. the status quo should prevail. In my mind no more taking chances after 30 years of hell the country went through!
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Dr,Rajasingham Narendran / October 10, 2014
Eusense,
Have you read Ambassador Ravinatha’s full presentation? If not please do so? You will find he brazenly uses the word brazen. I have used the word crass to describe what has unfolded, is unfolding and will unfold in Sri Lanka. The victims understand the pain more than the perpetrators and hence can be more passionate when talking about it!
Dr.RN
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 10, 2014
Eusense,
The links below are to an essay by Niro Dissanayake and the other is my response to a previous essay. I am unable to find the lin link to his previous essay. The reference to me by name in his second essay is coincidental and has no connection to the reason why I am providing the link.
Niro Dissanayake is what I would call the typical Sinhala-Buddhist and represents the thoughts and feelings of the majority.
His is the approach and the healing touch that is required now. The BBS and their like should be weeded out before they cause irreparable damage to not only the Sinahla-Bddhists in their name and push this country once again into the abyss.
The voice of the majority of the Sinhala-Buddhists must be heard at least now and the noise of the minority amongst not be confused with that of the majority.
http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/06/sinhala_and_tamils_where_do_we.html
http://www.tamilweek.com/DutugemunuStrategy_EllalanResponce_1030.html
Incidentally, the Tamils are not asking for a mono-ethnic state, but for minimal political powers to manage their affairs in the provinces where they are a majority. Their will treat the minorities amongst them much better than they have been trated within Sri Lanka. The Tamils will welcome, treat well and protect any Sinhalese who chooses to live amongst them at their own volition.What is not acceptable is State-sponsored colonization and ill-motivated attempts at demographic change.
To those who harp on the caste issue among the Tamils- whom the call Dalids- a word used in India to refer to the untouchables- is akin to flogging a dead or dying horse. There are also no untouchables in the north or the east. The caste problem in jaffna is now no different from that xisting in the south. The vellalahs are a minority now. Many who claim to be Vellalahs are not of the original mint.
When I see apparently intelligent and to all appearences knowledgeable persons engaging in flippant arguments regarding the serious issue, it pains me no end. This is no time for flippancy, sacrcasm, distortions and lies.
We have to face the facts- the truth- as they are now and resolve them in cultured way required by the postive features of the 21st century and not the worst in man, that manifested in the past and in yet manifesting around us.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 10, 2014
Apologies for the unexplainable double entry.
Dr.RN
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 10, 2014
Eusense,
The links below are to an essay by Niro Dissanayake and the other is my response to a previous essay. I am unable to find the lin link to his previous essay. The reference to me by name in his second essay is coincidental and has no connection to the reason why I am providing the link.
Niro Dissanayake is what I would call the typical Sinhala-Buddhist and represents the thoughts and feelings of the majority.
His is the approach and the healing touch that is required now. The BBS and their like should be weeded out before they cause irreparable damage to not only the Sinahla-Bddhists in their name and push this country once again into the abyss.
The voice of the majority of the Sinhala-Buddhists must be heard at least now and the noise of the minority amongst not be confused with that of the majority.
http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/06/sinhala_and_tamils_where_do_we.html
http://www.tamilweek.com/DutugemunuStrategy_EllalanResponce_1030.html
Incidentally, the Tamils are not asking for a mono-ethnic state, but for minimal political powers to manage their affairs in the provinces where they are a majority. Their will treat the minorities amongst them much better than they have been trated within Sri Lanka. The Tamils will welcome, treat well and protect any Sinhalese who chooses to live amongst them at their own volition.What is not acceptable is State-sponsored colonization and ill-motivated attempts at demographic change.
To those who harp on the caste issue among the Tamils- whom the call Dalids- a word used in India to refer to the untouchables- is akin to flogging a dead or dying horse. There are also no untouchables in the north or the east. The caste problem in jaffna is now no different from that xisting in the south. The vellalahs are a minority now. Many who claim to be Vellalahs are not of the original mint.
When I see apparently intelligent and to all appearences knowledgeable persons engaging in flippant arguments regarding the serious issue, it pains me no end. This is no time for flippancy, sacrcasm, distortions and lies.
We have to face the facts- the truth- as they are now and resolve them in a cultured way required by the postive features of the 21st century and not the worst in man, that manifested in the past and in yet manifesting around us.
My time in this abode are limited, but I wish to see an all inclusive Sri Lanka, where Buddhism is a lodestone and not a burden and a curse, before I depart.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Eusense / October 10, 2014
Narendran,
You say “The victims understand the pain more than the perpetrators and hence can be more passionate when talking about it!”
This is the same scenario that myself and my family went through during the 30 years of terror reign by the LTTE. No one knew whether our loved ones will come come back home in one piece once you set out to work. There were over 75,000 citizens killed. The only difference was we had no UN or NGOs to complain and our gov. was helpless. This traumatizing experience is the reason I blatantly oppose terrorism and every group who engage in it. Where terrorism is suspected I want the Gov. to take no more chances other than nipping it at the bud. To be honest with you, I am always suspicious of the activities of the current TNA politicians (who were formally linked to LTTE). What have they done for the people of north since they were elected? They appear to try secure their power rather than serving people. Until this trust is restored I do not want to talk about any handing over of power to these characters. If they get power they will be the same as corrupt Sinhalese politicians.
You say “When I see apparently intelligent and to all appearences knowledgeable persons engaging in flippant arguments regarding the serious issue, it pains me no end.”. This is your side of the coin and for us on the other side, we need to proceed with caution having gone through a long and difficult time.
I feel the biggest mistake the Tamil majority did was allow terrorism to take over. Terrorism not only failed but scared the SL population and brought many unexpected repercussions on Tamils. The major being giving MR a stronger hold. What Tamil politicians, diaspora and these paid NGOs are doing now is further securing his foot hold and delaying the whole healing process. Instead they should concentrate on developing the North and improving living standards of Tamils, leaving power sharing for a later date once they win the confidence of all Sri Lankans. I am pretty sure even the current regime will be out of office by then.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 11, 2014
Eusense,
I can feel the pains of the victims of the war and terrorism- the State, the JVP and the LTTE- regardless of whether they were Tamils, Sinhalese or Muslims, because I have experienced it personally.
However, what the Tamils have been subjected since 1956 to this day, has not been the experience of the other communities. Have you been a victiom of communal riots? Have you been aerially bombarded? Have you been in refugee/IDP camps? Have the buses you have been transported to the north and east after riots been stoned? Have you been looted and pillaged and left destitute? have barrels of human excreta been thrown at you from the air? Have you been discriminated because you are a Sinhalese? All this and more has happened to the Tamils because they were Tamils.
Yes, I accept the LTTE terrorism was unpardonable. The Tamils themselves were victions of LTTE terrorism. They looted, kidnapped, demanded and got ransom, lamp posted, summarily executed and forcibly conscripted Tamil youngsters in the name of Tamil liberation. The Tamils bore this pain stoically, because the pain that had been inflicted by State terrorism was collectively greater. I personally did not ever accept that the Tamils had to bear what they did under the LTTE, in the name of liberation. Further, enslavement to another is never the path to liberation! It is not the price any community should pay.
We do not want to be enslaved by anyone, in the post-war era. We have learned our lessons. We do not want to be told by anyone that we have to be Sinhala-Tamils. We want to be Tamils in Sri Lanka and yet be equal citizens in every way- undiscriminated, protected and respected. We want to manage our community affairs in areas where we are a majority. We want the north and east to be our safe havens given the history of communal riots in this country. We want the lands in the north and east to be ours, because we FEAR we will be chased out of the south whenever the government deems it fit to do so. We have responded to the conditions in Sri Lanka like a street dog frequently pelted with stones does-FEAR every time someone lifts his hand. There are Tamils yet who empathize with the LTTE because they were able to throw bigger stones back and hurt!
The original sin lay with the governments of Sri Lanka and the evil forces they mobilized. The Tamil response was also equally evil, though justifiable politically in terms of being left without recourse to democratic and civilized responses. The Tamils are being led to a similar frame of mind today, though they are incapable of reacting as before, due to being crippled in body and soul by the prolonged war and caught in the wedge created by the State and the LTTE. This does not mean that they will not resist to the extent possible and raise their voices in protest.
I was one who had hoped the government will change its historical attitude. I am now convinced that it will never.
Dr.RN
Dr.RN
Dr.RN
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Lapatiya / October 9, 2014
That is true. We can apply the same theory for “Gutikaa Nonis” This guy also a Professional Liar like Gutikaa Nonis. Ravinatha will abandon his own theory when he meet that baggage boy. After that he will be known as “Gutikaa Ravinatha”
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jenn / October 9, 2014
lie after lie is not going to help Mother Lanka …….. no matter what kind of professionals you use lean up the mess finally they will get slapped and kicked out……. better speak the truth and come out clean and have a fresh Start for Mother Lanka…….. If not all this bad KARMA…. will turn Mother Lanka into LIVING BLOODY HELL Lanka…..
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Park / October 9, 2014
Ambassador Aryasinha, Yes I agree with you Sri Lanka faced terrorism for 30 years, but unfortunately after the defeat of LTTE, the State Terrorism has increased. Please read:
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/human-rights-defender-in-vavuniya-assaulted/
Do not forget the UN inquiry that is ongoing today includes state terrorism after the war as well. Are you telling us that the UN should stop investigating what happened during the LTTE war as we underwent 30 years of hardship? In that case what excuse have you got to stop the UN investigation of the State Terrorism that masses are experiencing today?
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Jim softy / October 9, 2014
Most of the people who comments here are left over LTTE rump.
In Sri lanka, politically active people are very indisciplined. the reason is the State needs to be a police state.
See how democratic western countries are functioning. they monitor every move of the citizen. Sri lanka should have a such a system as well as a system to protect the majority culture and the civilization.
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burt / October 9, 2014
Is he implying that Sri Lanka committed war crimes and crimes against humanity but the international community should not penalize it because of the 30 year war with terrorists.
Does this idiot for a minute put himself in the shoes of innocent civilians who the state did not protect for 30 years and when it decided to do something because of economic interests did not consider the plight of the civilians and butchered them in cold blood.
The state is responsible for every citizen of the country and it failed miserably. Without saying Zero civilian causalities the govt had a responsibility to investigate and compensate the effected and punish the war criminals. The whole country is paying for the govt failure to do justice to those civilians.
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Dr. Rajasingham Narendran / October 10, 2014
Burt,
Diplomats can be honest only if they are serving an honest government. Honesty can never be absolute with any government, as they seek to project and achieve their own objectives, to benefit their people and their country.
The difference is that governments in Sri Lanka are dishonest/ lie to protect individuals in the government and its instruments. With an enslaved media the truth is buried, distorted and replaced by lies. They do not lie for their country, but to serve their third rate masters. I am sure most squirm in their shoes when they do so,
I know of a senior Tamil diplomat serving in West Germany at that time being instructed by the Sirimavo government to discourage German scholars from attending the International Tamil Conference to be held in Jaffna. He had to carry out these instructions much against his natural inclinations. This was the price he paid to be in the diplomatic service.
Things are much worse now. It is wrong to blame dependent public servants for what the government instructs them to do. They have to earn their bread and support families, being persons who have no alternatives except the career path they chose. They suffer much indignity as servants of a despicable government and have to bear it stoically. However, there is no denying that there are elements who work in concert with the government to concoct and propagate lies. The current Minister of External Affairs, the top diplomat of this country, is second to none on this score. He stands condemned because he has alternatives and choices the career diplomats do not have.
Dr.RN
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citizen / October 10, 2014
Ambassador Ariyasinghe is a disgrace to our honest diplomats. This guy from the time of CBK has been the mouthpiece defending every criminal act happening in this country and whitewashing the regime in power. He is not a little bit concerned about his brothers and sisters of this country and will defend even the devil if he is allowed to stay as the Ambassador with all perks. He is another kind of mercenary.
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Samuel Jaya / October 11, 2014
You may be right.
In this case we can still respect DJ, TK and CN and RW.
All these mentioned are powerful and they leave away from the devil or perhaps not right it with DJ because he has always been in the licking mode. All others seem to be showing their dislike accordingly. RW has laready opened his mouth wider since CN is attacked.
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