By Latheef Farook –
Latheef Farook
Sri Lanka’s main stream media, both print and electronic, has miserably failed to highlight the ongoing US-European backed Israeli genocide of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Thereby they denied the right of the readers to know the truth.
There were a few feature articles analyzing the worst ever war crime since World War 2. However the daily killings and maiming of innocent Palestinian men, women, children and new born babies, flattening of more than 85 percent of the residential buildings besides the destruction of hospitals, schools and essential services never found any place in the local media.
Israeli genocide in Gaza by air, sea and land began in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October to free their lands occupied by Israel to restore their rigths and dignity. So far Israel has killed more than 19,000 innocent civilians and half of them children and more than 3000 women. Since Oct 7 Israel displaced more than 85 percent of the population of 2.3 million and deprived them of water, food, electricity, fuel, medicine and other essential items .
Israeli cruelty has been such that its military bulldozers even wrecked several burial grounds and even buried living civilians in the Kamal Adwan Hospital courtyard, according to Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila.
The United States, the sole super power and the so called champion of human rights, stand fully behind this genocide supplying sophisticated weapons, providing financial and diplomatic support and blocking numerous United Nations resolutions calling for ceasefire to end the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinian civilians.
In the entire west while governments support Israel’s genocide people in general support the just Palestinian cause. So much so young Americans are so fed up with their government’s support to Israeli war crimes that more than 30 percent of them are demanding the dismantling of the artificial state of Israel itself planted in Palestinian soil.
People all over the world including Sri Lanka – Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and others – began coming out in mass protests, including US and European capitals, demanding Israel stop killing and starving Palestinians to death. Media worldwide, except pro Jewish western media, continue to provide wide coverage.
However what is happening in Gaza seems to be not news worthy for the local media. Sri Lankan media in general depends on the Jewish owned and pro Israeli western media for its coverage of international affairs. This mindset also contributed to the failure of the local media to provide a true picture of the on going Israeli barbarity in Gaza.Irony is this also included television networks which claim to cover local and international developments.
Some senior journalists attributed this to ignorance and indifference of journalists while others suggested that such a news blackout was influenced by Israeli and US, European embassies in Colombo.
Israeli embassy influencing the media in the island is not something new. For example they succeeded in doing so during the June 1967 US-European backed Israel war during which Israel captured Egypt’s Gaza and Sinai desert, Jordan’s West Bank and East Jerusalem, Syria’s Golan Heights and part of South Lebanon .
Another example is my own experience. It was the time,d uring the second half of 19760s, I started my journalistic career with the now defunct Independent Newspapers. I had seen the Israeli envoy visit this office frequently and spend long hours with Managing Director Mr D.B. Dhanapala who was in charge of the editorial. They were often joined by Mr Sepala Gunasena, the Owner. During these visits he never failed to meet Dr Gamini Wijewardene, the Editor of English language daily SUN and Mr David Karunaratne, the Editor of Sinhala daily DAWASA.
It so happened that often the day after the Israeli envoy’s meeting with Dr Karunaratne, Dawasa used to carry cartoons ridiculing Muslims using derogatory words such as “thambiya”.
It was during this period that Mr Dhanapala asked me whether I would like to go abroad. I was thrilled and said “yes” as going abroad was a dream in those days. Then came the shock when he told me “get ready to go to Israel”. Shattered within seconds I politely turned down the offer in view of Israel’s crime records.
Few days later our colleague, the Muslim Sports Editor of Sun, was forced to accept the offer. His hastily arranged flight schedule by Air Ceylon was from Ratmalana, Bombay and Rome to Tel Aviv. He left Ratmalana Airport around 11 am and by 11.30 noon proof copy of the following day’s SUN first page carrying a despatch supposed to have been filed by this journalist from Tel Aviv stating that the Muslims in Israel were very happy under Israel, was on the table of Dr Wijewardene.
We were all shocked at what the Israeli envoy was up to. This utterly false story was written by the Israeli legation in Colombo without the journalist’s knowledge. Few days later when I asked Dr Gamini Wijewardene “how could sports editor write such a story half hour after he left the island , the always cheerful Dr Wijewardene said with a smile“ ask LOKKA”-meaning Dhanapala.
So much for Israel’s longstanding and well established policy of exploiting the media to sell lies and deception to mislead the public. Judging from the refusal of local media to adequately cover Israeli barbarity in Gaza one cannot help but suspect that they had successfully penetrated the media .
On the other hand the local media in general, except a few, also refuse to entertain articles providing the true picture depriving the readers the right to know what is happening in the world.
gamini / December 19, 2023
Many Muslims condemn the Genocide in Gaza, but fail to understand the Genocide committed by the Muslims backed Hamas, committed on the 7th of October, that triggered the episode. If one is to look at the Geographical Map of the region, one could observe that Israel occupies an insignificant portion of land mass surrounded by an Ocean of Arab States. These Arab States were established from the time Mohammad spread Islam 1400 yrs ago through Holy Wars, that was also Genocidal. The Jews have been living in their Country Israel, from time immemorial and have been persecuted by many and having to face the Holocaust under Hitler. It was much to the relief of the Jews that Israel was recognized as their country by the UN in 1948 before the Arabs were endowed with Petro Dollars to influence world opinion, what they are indulging right now.
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Sarath / December 19, 2023
The media is largely moribund. The various media organisations publish articles written by amateurs and given to them for free. Their news stories are mostly police news, made public for free. The pages, online or print, are filled with m stly ads and foreign news. There is an embarassing overabundance of advertorials passed off as news. The few staff reporters and cameramen are paid and treated badly. They do their jobs mostly for professional love. The anglo-saxon world, the West and Israel pour out their version of good and bad and the Gaza horrors. Our media, not having the resources for independent capability, or just intellectually deficient or lazy, publish those one-sided news events and bulletins.
A pathetic state of affairs.
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Mallaiyuran / December 19, 2023
Hey La Theef where were to ask the same question from Colombo Media you when the Tamil Genocide was taking place? Tell Hamas to return the hostages, then collect their Amudes from Israel and go home. There are two state solutions from. Tell them not to keep spoiling it. You know Hakeem gave a hand to send the UN back home to make it war without witnesses. Anything you can talk about here is from international media operating when Israel allows them there. Colombo Media for safety reasons did not operate in Wanni, and not now in Palestine either.
(P.s. I stopped reading your cook up when your writing went extremely anti-Tamils. Thank God when you turned on Sinhalese, they taught you to watch your back by turning on innocents’ business men and women like Ampara restaurant with the accused of wander behith. Now I see you are back to spew your racism with the excuse of Palestinians. On this you are not going to have any excuses, you are on your own. But talk to Colombo employment agencies to make sure enough Muslim workers in the first 10,000 batch Evil Emperor are sending to Israel. I am writing only in response to the title.)
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Mallaiyuran / December 20, 2023
Langkang people are going to pay a much heavier price for Hamas attacks, more than many others. Evil looking forward much more like Israel-Hamas fight to distract people, rather than doing anything to improve the economy. Do you guys remember when Evil sent out of his office the previous American Ambassador, Athul Keshap, on America’s Jerusalem office? Today Evil turned his slate to the other side and sent a small group of Langkang’s foreign job seekers with much funfair as the start of another 10,000 to be sent off. Houthi terrorists are attacking softer targets only to support Hama’s stand up against Israeli hostages. Major Shipping companies are trying expensive routes or even suspending their sea hauling activities. This could turn out to be the next biggest blow to the world’s economy after Covid-19. Today, after a French ship was attacked, France bragged of wiping out Houthi terrorists, while condemning Israel wiping out Hamas terrorists. Our La Theef was bragging the Rapist Army’s and Razick Kulu’s bravery when Muslim community was handsomely benefiting from the Tamils Genocide war. Now he is attacking the Colombo Media for blackout in the Israel-Hamas war, or rather not taking Hamas side openly.
It looks like La Theef has stocked up well and is hoarding essential items, if Houthi terrorists bring down the already broken Langkang food supply system, to take care of his family.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / December 20, 2023
The blatant lies that the Western media, controlled by the Jewish lobby have been spewing has been astounding. Even in the face of much footage coming through, of genocide and ethnic cleansing of Gaza to depopulate it, the western media was reluctant to do much. Al Jazeera, operating out of Qatar was a far more reliable and balanced media outlet that revealed the ugly truth of what the Jews really are. Sri Lanka being a nation of lotus eaters, don’t really care much unless its happening to them. They don’t even rally against injustices in other countries. and are focused on their bread or rice etc. Sri Lanka is not mature that way, compared to people in Europe and north America who came out in their thousands to support the just indignation of their Muslim brothers and sisters while their governments took Israel’s and the US side. There is no wonder that Sri Lankans can be easily manipulated to believe any lies. Our local parasitic political class knows this much better than anyone else.
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Lester / December 21, 2023
Lasantha Pethiyagoda,
“Sri Lanka being a nation of lotus eaters, don’t really care much unless its happening to them.”
Sri Lanka is a mature nation and does not see the need to interfere in the affairs of all other countries. Compare with the USA, which has been at war 225 out of 243 years since 1776. Most of the present worlds conflicts, including Israel/Palestine, can be attributed to either British or Western colonialism. War is still a big business for Western Europe and the newcomer, USA. They have moved to a new stage called “proxy war.”By supplying arms to one or more players, they can try to influence a desired outcome while reaping massive financial rewards in the process.
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Native Vedda / December 21, 2023
Lester
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At last you are back.. Stay in this forum, you will learn a few things.
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“Sri Lanka is a mature nation and does not see the need to interfere in the affairs of all other countries.”
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Please go ahead, give it a try and forget recovery.
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“War is still a big business for Western Europe and the newcomer, USA.”
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For China, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Hindia …… war is charitable act.
Brilliant. These benevolent countries supply arms to Sri Lanka on charitable basis, no payments received.
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“They have moved to a new stage called “proxy war.”
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Proxy wars have been going on for donkey’s years.
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Lester / December 22, 2023
Vedda,
Here is a statistic for you: “Sales of military weapons between the U.S. and foreign governments shot up to nearly $51.9 billion in fiscal 2022.”
USA has 750 military bases in 80 countries. What about China, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Hindia?
Your knowledge of world militaries is weak.
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Native Vedda / December 22, 2023
Lester
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Good to have you back in this forum.
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“Your knowledge of world militaries is weak.”
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I never claimed to possess any expert knowledge on anything. I am just an wanderer however I know a very stupid person when I see one, or hear from one.
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““Sales of military weapons between the U.S. and foreign governments shot up to nearly $51.9 billion in fiscal 2022.”
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Brilliant.
Tell us:
How many bases does Sri Lanka has for all its armed forces including STF?
Total number of troops in service including army, navy, airforce, ….. STF, …. volunteers, death squad, ….
What was the total expenditure on defence (including commission, bribe, consultancy, ….. over the past 75 years.)
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Since you claimed to be an experts on defence affairs I will be grateful if you provide me with the above details and a schedule of payments received by Sri Lankans as being commissions, details of payer.
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Lester / December 22, 2023
Vedda,
At the present moment, Sri Lanka is irrelevant on the global stage. Sri Lanka is a small fish in a sea of sharks. The water in that sea is the US dollar (reserve currency). USA has to either fight or finance endless wars to protect the hegemony of the dollar, otherwise its economy will collapse from the $33 trillion USD debt. Similar to Britain, since the US sold its manufacturing base in the 1980’s (outsourcing), their government has been running at a deficit since that time. That means the government has to borrow large amounts of money continuously to cover its expenses. When there is conflict in the world, global investors buy US backed assets, either stocks, bonds, or real estate.
The main competitor to the USA in the future is China. The main question for Sri Lanka going forward is whom to ally with, East or West? Not fake freedom struggle, Aragalaya, etc. These will not be remembered in 30 years.
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Native Vedda / December 23, 2023
Lester
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“At the present moment, Sri Lanka is irrelevant on the global stage. Sri Lanka is a small fish in a sea of sharks.” Lester 22 December 2023
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“Sri Lanka is a mature nation and does not see the need to interfere in the affairs of all other countries.” – Lester 21 December 2023 (above).
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Can you make up your mind?
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“The main competitor to the USA in the future is China.”
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Are you too in the speculating business?
You have not given reasons to support your speculation.
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“The main question for Sri Lanka going forward is whom to ally with, East or West?”
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Sri Lanka does not even have the choice to go to West or go to East. All it has to do is when groped by countries small or large keep its mouth shut and pretend it is enjoying the experience. This is the outcome of entire people being abused by Sri Lankan leaders, Saffronistas, Armed forces, State, ………… over 75 years.
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Take care.
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SJ / December 20, 2023
“Sri Lankan Media Miserably Failed To Cover Israeli Genocide In Gaza”
Is it the only subject?
LF, you yourself seem to be missing out on many serious omissions and utterly biased reports.
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Sarath / December 20, 2023
What is Lanka up to? Sending workers to the war-monger Israel. Then calling for an end to hostilities in Palestine. If our morals are so mixed up, we should also be sending workers to Amsterdam’s Red Light District, and red-light districts worldwide. Seems our government is only interested in foreign exchange, at whatever cost. Morality be damned. That’s what a den of rogues can get up to. Shame!
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SJ / December 21, 2023
S
The UNP is a party of imperialist stooges. Pity that after 1978 the SLFP went passive.
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Native Vedda / December 23, 2023
“The UNP is a party of imperialist stooges. Pity that after 1978 the SLFP went passive.”
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Didn’t the SLFP gloriously carry peacefully rising Mao’s ……
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Lester
You have a partner who can help you fight Western imperialists.
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Captain Morgan / December 20, 2023
“Sri Lankan Media Miserably Failed To Cover Israeli Genocide In Gaza”
When Sri Lankan Media miserably failed to cover Genocide on home ground, how can one expect it to cover genocide in a faraway place?
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Kanapathy Varunan / December 20, 2023
Not only the Sri Lankan media but even the Tamil-speaking Muslims kept their mouth shut during the genocide of the Tamils. They were indeed rejoicing. They learned a lesson after the easter blast… I don’t understand the reason why they go by their religion instead of their race- Tamils. To get better treatment from the Sinhalese?
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SJ / December 21, 2023
How many Tamils opened their mouth about for instance the Kaaththaankudi Mosque massacre by the LTTE?
I can give pretty long list.
How many went so far as to justify the ethnic cleansing by the LTTE in the North?
Sad!
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SJ / December 22, 2023
It seems an embarrassing question.
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SJ / December 23, 2023
No.
It is.
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Mallaiyuran / December 23, 2023
The list on the other side- i.e, Muslim guards and Rapist army is much longer. You never collected and preserved evidence of anything. Just lazily copy and paste the Appe Aanduwa funded, Rohan and Bald heads edited Wikipedia articles. If you honestly have any of your evidence, send a copy to UNHRC and publish it in CT. If a War Crime/ Genocide investigation appears, personally take it there. You never wrote a comment in CT with a line, but always quipping thinking that is illumination. If you brag you have a long list, ………. please don’t make my chest bones break laughing at you.
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Kanapathy Varunan / December 23, 2023
How could you have spoken about Kaththankudi massacre when the Muslims were encouraging the army to kill the Tamils?
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Native Vedda / December 23, 2023
Kanapathy Varunan
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“They were indeed rejoicing.”
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You mean to say the entire Muslim population was rejoicing ….?
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Did the entire Tamil population of Sri Lanka rejoice when Premadasa and Rajiv Gandhi were killed by bomb?
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Lester / December 21, 2023
Muslims served Sri Lanka well, in the war against Tiger terrorists. There were many distinguished soldiers from that community. And Muslims did not ask for a separatist state, despite the rapid increase in their demographics. Being successful traders, Muslims contribute to the local economy. On the other hand, Israeli support was also vital for the war against Tiger terrorists. Therefore, the Sri Lankan media is doing the right thing by remaining silent. The issue itself is better resolved by the Arabs themselves, for example, OPEC, who continue their oil sales to Israel.
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SJ / December 22, 2023
“And Muslims did not ask for a separatist state, despite the rapid increase in their demographics.”
That are scattered across the island. A separate state even for 50% of them is not feasible but they can have autonomy in a number of regions, and they have asked for it much to the dislike of some Tamil nationalists.
Lester, I think that you could do without bending facts to fit into your distorted vision.
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Lester / December 22, 2023
SJ,
“but they can have autonomy in a number of regions.”
They (Muslims) will probably have a (federal) setup in the future, based on just demographics. It will be with a different, more liberal government. Unlike Jewish Zionists, who are eager to live in every part of Palestine/Israel, most Sinhala-Buddhists, other than a few monks, have little interest in colonizing the North and East. Various Sri Lankan governments used prison convicts for that purpose. Tamils will be on the losing end of any such political proposal, at least in the short-term. That is not my opinion, it is a historical fact. Some elements of the Tamil community wanted a separate state, they gambled the house. A binary wager – all or none. Those who lose a war must succumb to the winner’s demands. The same thing will happen to Palestinians, unfortunately. They are betting their whole future on Hamas.
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SJ / December 23, 2023
I am talking about large communities that have existed for centuries.
I am not interested in the red herrings that you draw.
Such arrangements exist in several countries for national minorities who do not have a contiguous territory .
It is a matter of respecting the right of a people to its right to defend identity, territory and culture.
It goes equally well for Hill Country Tamils.
That right does not infringe upon that of any other people.
If one does not respect that right I will not waste anybody’s time talking about it.
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Mallaiyuran / December 23, 2023
Do you understand Tamil? Then what SLMC and other Muslim parties talked with Leader Pirapaharan and Sampanthar Aiyya about Tamil Alagu? A separate area for Muslims in Hangbangtota? What do mean by “Individuals’ call” when Muslim parties are putting forward the Thani Alagu claim? Why did SLMC members like Harris and Nazeer stop Kalmunai North upgrading? Is that your idiotic argument that because Muslims living in the South, they are willing to release their claim for the East? In which school did you study your logic. Easter Sunday was easily organized by Appe Aanduwa using Muslims’ claim on the land. None of the Muslim parties were able to prove their clean hand when Yahapalanaya established a commission to investigate 4/21. So, Hezbollah and Rishard called OIC to sanctions to have the commission stopped, while Hakeem was in the commission. Sinhala Buddhist rowdies were not easily eye washed, so they carried out riots all over the South following 4/21. Only Muslim and Sinhalese have religious universities in Ceylon. Tamils need a separate country to establish a Tamil university.
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Native Vedda / December 22, 2023
Lester
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“And Muslims did not ask for a separatist state, despite the rapid increase in their demographics. “
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Muslims did not ask for a separatist state, I agree. However a few of them want to extend their Islamic Republic of Katankudi to all parts of the island. They believed their Khalifa would rule entire island where possible entire subcontinent, and beyond and enforce their Sharia law. It is another subject we can discuss it some other day if you don’t disappear from this forum.
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A couple of years ago you were an anti Islamic Muslim hater. Why sudden change? Have you had any Halal affection?
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Lester / December 22, 2023
Vedda,
There is no Muslim political party similar to TNA or LTTE that has asked for an independent state in Sri Lanka. There is no armed struggle towards that end. It doesn’t matter what a few individuals think, only what their politicians are doing, as policy changes usually occur at the political level.
“A couple of years ago you were an anti Islamic Muslim hater. Why sudden change?”
You are the hater. Look at all your comments on Sinhala Buddhists. On this forum, I merely questioned some verses in Quran regarding Creation, as well as demographics. Long before the Easter attacks, I warned that if Muslims carry out some kind of attack, Sinhalese will re-elect Gothabaya. That is exactly what happened.
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Native Vedda / December 23, 2023
Lester
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“There is no armed struggle towards that end.”
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What was the purpose of planting and detonating bombs at various public places and churches?
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You should meet and discuss the entire Easter Bombing episodes with Cross Dresser Ranjith.
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Native Vedda / December 23, 2023
Lester
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“I warned that if Muslims carry out some kind of attack, Sinhalese will re-elect Gothabaya”
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Then what happened?
Gota is full of hot air, “all bark and no bite”.
That butcher had nowhere to run, hide, ….
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Eventually the Sinhala/Buddhists who voted for him had egg on their face, …
Don’t forget he prided himself being elected by Pure Sinhala/Buddhists (Aryans).
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Lester / December 24, 2023
Vedda,
Easter Attacks were retaliation for the New Zealand mosque shooting. No idea why they chose Sri Lanka. The bombers were trained in ISIS camps. Nothing to do with a fake freedom struggle.
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Mallaiyuran / December 23, 2023
” There is no Muslim political party similar to TNA or LTTE “
That is because you divided Muslims into two as men & women by MMDA and tried to keep them within your palm. Do you have a law like that for Sinhalese or Tamils? If Muslims go alone, they have to follow UN prescription or will face sanctions. But under your cover, they need not worry about it. Your Modaya gang, even after you are bankrupted, is still the number in Human right violation. That is the reason LTTE wanted to go alone. Get it?
” I warned that if Muslims ………., Sinhalese will re-elect Gothabaya.
When Muslims were nice and obedient to you, unlike LTTEyers, why did you elect Gothapayal, whom you present as the “LTTE Eliminator”; now to eliminate Muslims? Or Just for a joke? Or did you goof thinking Muslims were not TNA? Do you know, because of your joke the country is bankrupt now. Don’t trumpet your mistake as deep thanking & you elected Hitler King to control the country, because Old Rowdy King has informed the media Gothapayal, you elected, couldn’t control the country, only Evil can, so even after they are against Evil’s Tax Increase, they have to keep him in power. Is that the kind of actions you call Sinhala Modaya’ s deeds and talks?
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