The announcement by the UN of a suspension of Sri Lankan soldiers going abroad as peacekeepers is a sad day for the country. This is a direct consequence of the Sri Lankan President’s move to woo election support by appointing alleged war criminal, Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, to the post of Army Commander, despite the warnings that this would affect peacekeeping.
Yasmin Sooka – Executive Director – International Truth & Justice Project
Shavendra Silva commanded the Sri Lankan Army’s 58 Division in the final phase of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2008-9. There are reasonable grounds to say his forces were involved in indiscriminate and intentional attacks conducted against the civilian population, attacks on hospitals and medical staff, attacks on No Fire Zones and the use of prohibited and indiscriminate weapons. The scale of civilian casualties and injuries among the civilian population as a result was nothing short of catastrophic. However ten years after the war ended and despite committing itself to a transitional justice programme, Sri Lankan politicians still shamefully hail Silva as a “war hero”. As a result younger soldiers who joined after the civil war are now barred from peacekeeping jobs.
“Shavendra Silva’s appointment was a tragic own goal for the country. We would much rather see Sri Lanka enlist the help of the international community to implement genuine criminal accountability for the crimes of the past to give victims and their families truth and justice and reform its security services to eliminate ongoing torture,” said Truth & Justice Project’s Executive Director, Yasmin Sooka.
The ITJP has been documenting recent cases of torture by the police and army in Sri Lanka – 79 such cases since 2015 – including in the last year.
For many years, ITJP staff have been working on the vetting of security and public officials, meticulously researching individual units and their locations in the final phase of the civil war and building up expertise on units, as well as dossiers on individuals. The research was based on detailed knowledge of the conduct of the war derived from interviewing hundreds of survivors and eyewitnesses, combined with open source research, including the Army’s own Situation Reports which had been deleted from the Internet but were retrieved. The work focused on identifying the regimental units present in a location where there were credible allegations that violations of international humanitarian law occurred, in order to argue that the risk to the United Nations in deploying such a person was unacceptably high.
“Many Sinhalese and Tamils who want their security forces to be held accountable, discreetly assisted in this research and we are immensely grateful to them though we can’t name them for security reasons,” said Yasmin Sooka. “Already the news that the UN is acting has given hope to Tamil victims of the war who have yet to see any justice.”
What is known about the suspension suggests currently deployed Sri Lankan peacekeeping units will remain in place until their tour ends but then be replaced by soldiers from another country. However, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations appears to be adding a proviso that it might override the suspension if it exposed UN operations to serious operational risk.
“We will be looking for more clarity from the United Nations on what this means; the reputational risk to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations would be enormous if it tries to fudge this important human rights issue. If you are going to talk about a ‘zero tolerance policy’ it has to be zero and it has to be done with conviction,” said Ms. Sooka. (By ITJP)
jehan / September 27, 2019
Stupidity to the fore, UN pays min usd 2000 per peace keeping solder , 2000 x usd 2000 = 4000000per month lost due to sira logic. we need statesman not buruwo.
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Champa / September 27, 2019
Jehan
Damn the money!
The defeat of LTTE have saved thousand times bigger US Dollars than peanuts received by our Army working as UN’s peace keeping force.
There is no way Sri Lanka removes Shavendra Silva from his post due to some flimsy excuses by the UN.
Publish your allegations against our Army Commander along with evidence, for everybody to see.
Prove your allegation, UN, before jumping into your own conclusions.
The UN cannot be the alleger, prosecutor and juror, all three.
Have some common sense, UN!
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Emil van der Poorten / September 28, 2019
Champa:
Do you think your posturing is going to make one whit of difference to international public opinion.
It is idiots like you who can’t get out of the chauvinistic well in which you spend your lives that get this country into bigger and bigger “doo-doo.”
That godaya from Polonnaruwa doesn’t help either.
Have you and your ilk ever considered the need for Sri Lanka to save its own soul by NOT countenancing murder and mayhem? Or is that impossible from under the rock of a pseudonym under which you hide?
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Champa / September 28, 2019
Emil van der Poorten
International public opinion? What’s that? This is only an opinion of LTTE diaspora and the paid officials of the UN, based on unsubstantiated allegations against our valiant Army Commander.
What chauvinism are you talking about?
What murder and mayhem are you talking about?
Stop promoting martyrdom and suicide terrorism.
All terrorists should be perished in order to protect law abiding citizens. It is not murder. It is a national service. The duty of the government is to protect civilians at any cost. That is what our Army did in North and East by eliminating LTTE terrorists. Sinhalese parents sent their sons, in many cases, only son in the family, to the war against LTTE terrorists to protect the lives of Tamils and Muslims in North and East. Your selective amnesia is disgusting.
Even after Easter Sunday suicide bombing by Muslims, cowardly TNA and other Tamil politicians fell on their knees seeking protection from our Army. It was only when former Army Commander, lionhearted Mahesh Senannayake took his boys to the street, the rest of the Muslim suicide bombers ran and blew themselves, along with their children. Many others who were planning to attack temples to incite Sinhalese Buddhists hid themselves.
“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” – A Quote by Albert Einstein
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / September 29, 2019
The following war crimes have been committed:
1. Preventing adequate food and medical supplies to Tamils. Government sent food and medical supplies only for 150,000 persons, when the number of people who crossed over after end of war was 330,000
2. Shelling and bombing of hospitals and refugee centers whose co-ordinates were given to government by red cross. Strangely those safe zones whose co-ordinates were not given to government were not bombed or shelled.
3. Use of unauthorized weapons like cluster bombs and chemical agents. All foreigners were asked to leave the area to cover this. Also people who were injured by these cluster bombs and chemicals were executed to prevent them crossing over and exposing the strocity.
4. Withholding medical supplies to injured and allowing them to die. In a war, there are three types of wounded : walking wounded, moderately wounded and severely wounded. After end of war, only walking wounded and few moderately wounded who had relatives to carry across, came over to camps. This proves that most of the moderately wounded and all severely wounded were wither allowed to die or executed.
5. Burning of bodies in incinerators and dissolving the remains in sulfuric acid barrels in order to cover up the number killed.
6. Summary execution of those who surrendered..
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Champa / September 29, 2019
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
Utter lies.
1.) I am glad to hear that you have admitted the government has sent food and medicine to civilians in North.
It is common knowledge that food, medicine and other essentials sent by the government were seized by LTTE terrorists.
During the last phase of war, our military have even donated their own meals to starving terrorists!!!!! Your Sun-god Prabhakaran never cared about his cadre.
.
2.) Our military has never shelled or bombed hospitals or refugee camps. In fact, there were no hospitals in the war zone where heavy fighting occurred as they were moved to other safe areas.
Besides, why did military want coordinates of hospitals and refugee camps from the Red Cross, when it was our Army which provided full security to such places?
No-fire zones were declared by our military, NOT the Red Cross. Therefore, there was no need for our military to get their coordinates from the Red Cross. Terrorists couldn’t target no-fire zones as they have been constantly relocated for civilian protection.
.
3). Foreigners were asked to move out of the war zone for their own safety, the same way the civilians were asked to move to no-fire zones.
You have no evidence to prove our military used cluster bombs or chemicals. If they have done, there should have been human casualties and/or injured animals and damaged houses and buildings. Your statement that those who were injured by so called cluster bombs and chemicals have all been executed is convenient bulls… as there is no way for you to prove your allegation.
Besides, our military didn’t have any facilities to fire cluster bombs or chemicals. It was the LTTE which had all the sophisticated arms and incendiary ammunition which could use chemicals such as napalm and white-phosphorus.
.
Continued….
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / October 1, 2019
Champa the bigoted Sinhala racist, do not come out with lame excuses.
1. Anyone seizing the food and medicine sent is not an excuse to reduce the amount to serve the entire population in the war zone. It was deliberately done to attack the people. Even before the last stages, government imposed an economic embargo on the north first from 1984 to 1987 and then from 1990. Only during the period of IPKF, Tamils got adequate food and medicine.
2. There is satellite evidence of bombing and shelling of safe zones. I am told that Pakistani pilots were engaged to carry out this dastardly act. There were three doctors who were in that zone who gave evidence to foreign press and were arrested and forced to retract that statement. One of them escaped to USA and is a witness to these atrocities. To say that there were no hospitals in the war zone or that army gave full security to safe areas is a blatant lie.
3. There are brave journalists who cover dangerous areas, and many have been killed. Therefore if option was given to them many of them would have taken the risk and stayed on to bring out the truth. There is evidence to prove the import of cluster bombs and poison gases for the war, as movements of suspicious air crafts and ships bringing these are on record.
If you are sure about your denials why are you frightened to face an impartial international inquiry to ascertain the truth. If it is done there will be several of your war heroes ending up in death row for this crime on Tamils. Hindus believe that even if you escape human punishment, you cannot escape divine retribution, which will descend on all those criminals very soon.
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Lester / September 29, 2019
” Use of unauthorized weapons like cluster bombs and chemical agents. “
Cluster munitions, including bombs, cannot cause the deaths of 40K people in 5 months. Remember, Darusman insists on this 40K figure, based on info from “credible” sources. As a reference, readers should look to Syria, where it is well-known the government used cluster munitions. In 3 years, the casualty rate was only 2221.
“Syrian forces used at least 249 cluster munitions in ten out of Syria’s fourteen governorates between July 2012 and July 2014. This number only reflects incidents in which remnants of cluster munitions were recorded and identified, so the actual figure may be higher. According to the same source, 2,221 people in Syria were killed or wounded by cluster munitions between 2012 and the end of 2015.”
—–
Cluster “muntions” includes cluster bombs. ” Types identified include unguided air-dropped munitions such as RBK-500 series cluster bombs, surface-to-surface rockets, including the 122mm Sakr rocket, and 9M55K 300mm rockets launched by the modern Russian BM-30 multiple rocket launcher.”
—-
As I said earlier, if the intended purpose of GOSL was to intentionally target Tamil civilians in open areas, the casualty rate should have been much higher.
Most likely scenario, LTTE used “safe zones” and NFZ’s to launch attacks, SLA/SLAF retaliated, of course some civilians got killed, and Darusman wrote its fairy tale.
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Justice and Fairplay / October 2, 2019
Champa, there is a feeling of hopelessness one feels when one reads your posts. Hopelessness through fear for the future of this country , especially if you represent the majority view in Sri Lanka.
As long as people think and speak the way you do, justice FOR ALL can only be a pipe dream.
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Hela / September 28, 2019
Emil,
Very recently US likened UNHCR to a cesspit. SL doesn’t need to take bogus allegations of terrorist sympathisers seriously. South Africa’s LTTE links are well known. The Souh AfricanYasmin Sooka’s discredited attempts to subjugate SL for US/India Geopolitical ambitions cannot be covered under the carpet. It smells too much.
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Eagle Eye / September 28, 2019
“Many Sinhalese and Tamils who want their security forces to be held accountable, discreetly assisted in this research and we are immensely grateful to them though we can’t name them for security reasons,”
No need to name them. the Jehans and Emils are some of them!!!
/
nimal fernando / September 28, 2019
“Damn the money!”
–
–
“Lanka is full of fools; I’ll be a fool not to take advantage of them.” — Mahinda Rajapakse
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This is a very simple thang …….. it’s a tussle between the stupid and the users-of-the-stupid/gullible.
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People who say the soldiers don’t need the money, they should be patriotic, are the ones who have become filthy rich by the war; it’s them who don’t need the money …… they have made enough.
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The fools who fought with “patriotism” in their hearts always ends up in the bottom of the heap ……. the cunning make mega millions by using other’s “patriotism”/stupidity/gullibility ……… Mahinda, Gota, Shavendra have been well rewarded for others losing life and limb …… Mhinda’s son didn’t even set foot within 100 miles of a battlefield ……. that’s how this game is played …….. all over the world …….
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American VA hospitals are clogged with broken-bodied “patriotic” men and women ……. while every president since Clinton have very smartly avoided wars where the young were fed by cunning pols as cannon fodder ……… but Ah! listen to their “patriotic” speeches! ……Mahinda et al are in the shade ……
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When I had to choose a side in my life ye know which side I chose …….. only difference is I can survive on my own and tell people to their face what I am ……….. don’t have to resort to false “patriotism” and all the rest of the bullshit like Mahinda, Gota, Ranil, Sajith, Cardinal, Mahanayakes …………
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Do ye buggers out there even have a bloody clue what freedom/luxury that is? ……… Not to live a lie?
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Not daily having to resort to deception to survive?
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nimal fernando / September 28, 2019
continued
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From the comments ………. I bet 90% don’t even have a frigging clue!
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You buggers deserve what ye get ………. Mahinda, Basil, Gota, Ranil, Sajith ………….
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The first simple rational lesson …….. none of those guys have come forward to serve the country or the people ……. hope ye brains can handle that! …… Then the next rational question that follows is “Then for what?”
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Your guess is not as good as my certainty! :)) …….. That’s the difference between the gullible and the not-gullible.
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Simple …… isn’t it?
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Old codger / September 28, 2019
Nimal,
Politicians are ever ready to let you lay down your life for their country.
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Tony / September 28, 2019
The war was won by blanket bombing of innocent Tamils. As far as the army was concerned, Tamil lives were cheap. They would have not done the same in Sinhala populated areas. Furthermore, the tigers used the Tamils as human shields and even Prabakaran was taken by surprise. The UN is aware of this.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / September 29, 2019
“UN cannot be the alleger, prosecutor and juror, all three”. In the same logic, Sri Lanka cannot be the criminal, prosecutor and the judge, all three. This clearly proves that an independent international inquiry is needed for war crimes committed by Sri Lanka.
Have some common sense, Sri Lanka!. Please do not try to cover up war crimes as I am a medical witness to it.. Allow us to prove the allegation Sri Lanka, before jumping into your own conclusion. The amount of money swindled by Sinhala politicians is thousand times bigger than peanuts saved by defeating LTTE.
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Bawa / October 6, 2019
‘Lingam’, one poster called you a pompous ass but I insisted that you are not pompous.
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Latha / October 1, 2019
There is a limit to protecting a war criminals . There will be a day he will pay for, in or out of this earth. Like wise those who are clapping hands and rejoicing his achievements – they too are entitled to the same fate. Not just not in terms economics and financial setback , but spiritually doomed to hell.
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latha / October 1, 2019
Like the bad karma fallen on Prabakaran?
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Burt / October 2, 2019
“Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops in UN peacekeeping missions, overseas have generated revenue of Rs. 739.21 million last year, SLA’s 2018 Annual Report released on 17 Sept said. Report was released before UN suspended SL peacekeeping missions. “
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Amarasiri / September 27, 2019
jehan,
“Stupidity to the fore, UN pays min usd 2000 per peace keeping solder , ..”
Sirisena, is a Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist”. and stupidity is a virtue for him and many others like him.
Now these soldiers will have to come home, and do nothing. or commit robberies and rapes.
They, the Para-Sinhala “Buddhists” pray to trees, statues, and prostrate to imbecile monks clad in saffron clothes. Their mean IQ is 79.
“
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NAK / September 27, 2019
UN peace keeping is a dangerous job that very few countries have accepted.
We must not allow the UN or US to take us hostage on that count and we must protect our dignity above all.
If the UN decides send our troops back then all the troops must be recalled at the same time,they must not be allowed to keep some to do only the dirty jobs that no one else will do.
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Mallaiyuran / September 27, 2019
” We must not allow the UN or US to take us hostage on that count and we must protect our dignity above all.
Yes, you rather send your women folk to Middle East. While you wander in Pain queue and Free Biryani queue, the desert bosses will take care of them. That is very safe for you.
Is there a shameful country like Lankawe in the world? (There may few poorer African countries). And any Modayas below you?
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jayt / September 27, 2019
Sinhalese Modayas are lowest to the poorest African country. They become lowest because they accepted foreign spies brought by British as their leaders. Sinhalese Modayas mean Modayas. They never had a brain to question “hey who are these leaders? is British created these fake Govigama with Sinhalese names?
If they ever had that brain, they never would have fall into Western and Jewish tricks in the last 30 years of bloody war.
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Eagle Eye / September 27, 2019
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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Amarasiri / September 29, 2019
Mallaiyuran,
“And any Modayas below you” ?
When the mean IQ is 79, when Wimal Buruwansa says 2/2 =0, and the Modayas prostrate to saffron clad imbecile Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist “ monks, who were abused as child monks, not that many.
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Native Vedda / September 27, 2019
NAKia
–
“UN peace keeping is a dangerous job that very few countries have accepted.”
–
Are you sure you know what you are talking about?
There are 193 member countries in the UN out of which 93 countries contributing 91,216 military observers, police, and troops to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
–
What is your problem?
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Burt / September 27, 2019
Accused war criminals, rapists and kidnappers have no dignity among the civilized world. So worry not! you have no dignity to protect until you bring criminals to justice or clear them with a independent, impartial and open investigation.
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Burt / September 27, 2019
What is NAK’s problem?
Sour Milk.
:)
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Simonis / September 28, 2019
So during the war LTTE has been used the civilians, as there shield. And many of NGO people are LTTE friendly dogs they will having dollars for this works. Even LTTE dogs, didn’t leave the 14-15 years old children’s, and they has been catch up perforce. So many children they trained as a LTTE members, so who’s saying, “this is not a human rights elimination. No one can fingers inside Sri Lankan problems we know how to clear that all. Even America has been killed so many children’s and peoples in Syria, Iraq and Libya so there isn’t war crime ? During the war our Soldiers has been gave there own food for the Tamil peoples, that who’s suffering with the war. During the Easter bomb attack sinhalese Buddhist peoples are donated blood, and even our Sri Lankan honourable cardinal Malkam Ranjith father was said “with Buddhist culture every nationality can stay peaceful” so the now government is so weak and useless that’s the reason are happening in this all things and hopefully it will going to change.
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latha / September 28, 2019
Burto
Wait until the world’s end.
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Native Vedda / September 28, 2019
latha
–
“Wait until the world’s end.”
–
Where is your placard stating, “Repent! The end is nigh.”?
Or are you planning to end it right away?
Are you Hela the exiled daughter of Odin?
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Suranga / September 27, 2019
Please don’t bray like Wimal W., without checking the facts. Any military job is dangerous that is why they are paid handsomely. UN doesn’t force us to send troops, we negotiate and get it for our troops. Our soldiers are very willing to be in UN troops for the benefits they get. This UN decision, not to accept our soldiers, is a big blow to us. As Mallaiyuran very rightly said is it more dignified to send our women to Middle East to get battered and sometimes to get sexually harassed by men in those households? Cardboard heroes like saffron robe Rathana, and donkey WW shout at the top of their lungs against all Muslims while sending our women to Islamic countries to clean their cesspits. If we are such a chivalrous race, why they don’t suggest a solution to this without braying for their cheap political gain? When are we going to realize we have to stop “wanse kabal gaema” and to get the support from the developed countries? We have to keep our dignity not by WW boorish way, but by a civilized and astute way while getting all the support from developed countries, especially from USA. For that we need real leaders who know how to negotiate. Not petty minded lunatics, bloodthirsty oppressors, or ingenuous dreamers who are living in the last century.
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Kalu Nangi / September 28, 2019
Very Good Comment!
Defeating terrorism made us proud to be Sri Lankans. But we need to face reality and have the guts to face consequences for whatever crimes committed. What’s the point in glorifying Shavendra Silva if he is not man enough to face an impartial inquiry.
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Champa / September 28, 2019
Suranga
A simple answer to your comment.
Sri Lanka will not sell her Army Commander for a few thousand US dollars received by deploying our forces in peacekeeping measures.
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Suranga / September 28, 2019
Champa,
Try to see the big picture with an open mind, leaving aside party politics or your favourite politician. It is not about a few thousands of US dollars at stake here. It is the integrity of our motherland. I have nothing against Shavendra, he is a good soldier. Petty minded MY3 didn’t appoint him for the love of the country. He did it for personal reasons, vengeance and to get at RW, and maybe for his protection when he loses the job in the future. Due to lunacy he is trying to put our country to South Sudan level in front of international arena. That is the problem. Fortunately his days are numbered.
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Champa / September 28, 2019
Suranga
Shavendra was the Second-in-Command when Mahesh was the Army Commander. There was no reason for the President to deprive him with his due promotion when Mahesh retired.
The international community knows nothing about the real sacrifices made by our Army.
One day, one day, the world should see the heavy price paid by our Army in order to protect Tamils and Muslims in North and East.
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Sinhala_Man / September 28, 2019
True, Suranga,
.
All Sri Lankans now dream of “foreign jobs”, whether they have the skills or not. Most soldiers would be thinking of U.N. service as a “foreign jobs”.
.
Champa, don’t you think that what they did in Haiti, mirrors what a few of them at least did in the Eelam Wars? I will grant that some of the soldiers may have had noble visions (I don’t personally believe that the average soldier was such a heroic figure). But not all, surely.
.
That was the mistake Gota made – claiming that civilian casualties were “Zero”. Now, who would believe such stories?
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latha / September 29, 2019
Sinhala_man
‘All Sri Lankans now dreams of foreign jobs’
Did you do a survey to find out that.
‘I don’t personally believe that average soldier was such a heroic figure’
who cares what you believe man. If they were not, SL is still a killing field. Now you can walk without fear of a bomb blast.
By the way why you choose the name Sinhala Man. Do you think an Indian to call him an Indian, he should have to know many of major Indian languages.
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jayt / September 27, 2019
It was Jews who stole Sri lanka army and Jews went rampage in the UN with a resolution and ordered Sri lanka to be slave for Jews. Remember by that time already Jews got Hilary Clinton become a Jew through her daughter marriage. that is how mass murder in Libya took place. At that time, Jews already had set date to smuggle millions Arabs into Europe as a part of expansion of world Jewish government..
Jews consider nobody can beat their spy network in North America and Europe, but They are little bit shocked after a CIA officer broke into their communication System in The Whitehouse.
.
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Aelajo / September 28, 2019
Jayt, how idiotic to blame Jews and Arabs and every other country for the mess created by ourselves?
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jayt / September 29, 2019
I am not an idiot, but basically when it come to Singhalese problem , you are right.
If there is no Sinhalese traitors, no foreigners can come and “plug in.”
I agree Jews and Arabs have patriotism and Sinhalese do not know what is the patriotism.
Comparing Jews and Muslim. Jews are the best in patriotism regardless Jews respect to others or honest towards others.
I have to admit myself if Sinhalese to survive, Sinhalese have to adopt at least partially Jewish system. or we cannot criticize Jewish system when it come to patriotism.
However Jews are success because Jews are one. And Singhalese are not success A. Sinhalese do not have patriotism. B. Sinhalese are not one group.
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jayt / September 29, 2019
Jews in Israel have politic, but only it is politic, when come to defence Jews are one group in the whole world. Can Sinhalese do that? forget about that, Sinhalese fellow in Sri lanka connote be one. All their leaders are foreigners who came with British and stole Sinhala Govigama identity to become prime ministers or presidents
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justice / September 27, 2019
Sri Lanka – at least a part of it – is ruled by the armed forces.
This is evident in instances of civilian strife – as shown in the recent Neeraviyadi Temple fiasco where army soldiers marched in white civilian uniform waving red flags – while the police were enforcing the law.
The armed forces have got used to treating civilians especially in the northeast with contempt.
This attitude seems to be ingrained in those who are/were ‘peacekeepers’.
What happened in Haiti earlier is well known.
Only in Sri Lanka has the army been given “police powers”.
In most other countries, the motto of the army and police is to “Protect and Serve”.
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Bawa / September 27, 2019
Sooka has yet to comment in her many reports on a single act of violence by the LTTE. She is obsessed with Sri Lankan Tamil affairs despite not being an ethnic Tamil.
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jayt / September 27, 2019
Because all third world scavengers bribed by West and Jews. So this scavengers make harmful defamatory statement against Sri lanka and become rich. There is nothing to be scared of Sri lanka. Look at how they protect themselves from Arab and Palestinian: they condone Israelis and cry in front Arabs. Look all Tamil and Jew supporting western countries passed resolutions against Israel but nothing happened. After resolution, they parties with Jews in the Western capital to celebrate “espionage success”
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Suranga / September 28, 2019
Hello Bawa,
How can you compare LTTE action with our military action? LTTE was a ruthless terrorist organization which was not bound by any laws. Army is a responsibility of Sri Lankan Government and it has to be abide by international laws. Because LTTE did violent attacks, army cannot do the same. Government is responsible for Army’s action. It was not a “chakgudu”game in Medamulana. There’s no relevance whether Ms. Sooka is Sri Lankan Tamil or any other. Ms. Sooka is doing her job. When will our people get the clarity on issues. Why they cannot look at a situation without getting personal? .
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Hela / September 28, 2019
Sooka is a LTTE sympathiser……….
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Tamil from the north / October 4, 2019
@Hela boy, the biggest LTTE sympathizer is Mahinda/Gota and Basil for the following reasons;
•Karuna amman – massacred 600 surrendered policemen and killed and maimed thousands of military personnel and employed as a Deputy Minister in the government.
•Pillayan – Karuna’s sidekick who assisted Karuna in murdering those poor policemen and killing and maiming 1000’s military personnel appointed as Eastern Province chief minister.
•Donated Rs. 180,000,000 to that tooth paste advertisement idiot of the LTTE Thamilchelvan in the Vanni jungles to prevent the Tamils from voting UNP.
•Gave safe harbour to the sole gun runner KP Pathmanathan whose arms procurement helped the LTTE to massacre 100’s of thousands of civilians and military personnel. He is still living in Colombo quite comfortably.
•Douglas Devananda (EPDP killer) who massacred 100’s soldiers and innocent civilians given a deputy minister job with STF body guards – he was not part of the LTTE but another group that fought the state.
Do you want me to go on? Can you counter this idiot racist?
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Native Vedda / September 28, 2019
Bawa
–
“Sooka has yet to comment in her many reports on a single act of violence by the LTTE. “
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Perhaps you could help her, collect/gather all those LTTE share of atrocities forward it to her.
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“She is obsessed with Sri Lankan Tamil affairs despite not being an ethnic Tamil.”
–
So is Michael Wolfgang Laurence Morris, Baron Naseby
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Baaba / September 28, 2019
Bawa
LTTE was a terrorist organization proscribed by many countries around the world. Act of violence is the trademark of terrorism. Why should Sooka prepare reports and comment on proscribed terrorists?
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Aelajo / September 28, 2019
Bawa, LTTE was a terrorist organisation (spawned by a stupid Govt).
But stupid Govt can’t act like terrorists, understand?
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Aelajo / September 28, 2019
Bawa, LTTE was a terrorist organisation (spawned by a stupid Govt).
But stupid Govt can’t act like terrorists, understand?
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Real Revolutionist / September 27, 2019
President is right in this regard, hero must be seen as hero.
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Estate Labourer / September 27, 2019
R.R. – Only a Zero will make a Hero out of a War Criminal.
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Real Revolutionist / September 28, 2019
Estate labourer
War Criminal charge has to be proven.
It’s easy to make charges but difficult to prove.
Isn’t terrorism a crime?
How can any army make a perfect battle with a set of well organized terrorists/criminals.
There should be a system to the world; not to listen to charges of HR violations/war crime charges when the war is against terrorists (like LTTE)
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Burt / September 27, 2019
If Sri Lanka has the misfortune to elect a sociopath as the next president. Sri Lanka would face a worse situation than this from the civilized and developed nations.
Sri Lanka will have to be dependent on China, Iran etc.
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Lester / September 27, 2019
“There are reasonable grounds to say his forces were involved in indiscriminate and intentional attacks conducted against the civilian population, attacks on hospitals and medical staff, attacks on No Fire Zones and the use of prohibited and indiscriminate weapons.”
What are the reasonable grounds? The ITJP was not there on the battlefield, we can safely assume its sources are primarily LTTE supporters. The civilians were trying to run to the Army side and the LTTE was shooting the civilians in the legs. Some LTTE also hid among the civilians and used them as a cover to kill soldiers when they got the chance. The government had to finish the war as soon as possible because of the bad publicity created by groups like ITJP and Amnesty. LTTE was firing motars and rockets from the hospitals and NFZ’s, that’s why the Army may have retaliated by taking out these targets. LTTE did not follow any conventions of war, When it became apparent they had lost the war, they hid among the civilians and tried to drag the war out as long as possible. Anyway, the UN Peacekeeping Force has failed in most of its missions, so Sri Lanka is not losing anything here. I will give one example. There are supposedly UN peacekeepers on the border between Lebanon and Israel. But Israel routinely violates the airspace of the Lebanese with full knowledge of the so-called peacekeepers.
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Champa / September 27, 2019
Who cares?
Sri Lanka will NOT change the Army Commander.
What will we lose by this ban? Only some US Dollars received by Sri Lanka’s peace keeping forces.
Shavendra Silva has rendered a sterling service in eliminating LTTE terrorism, which cannot be measured by money.
We, Sinhalese, stand by our valiant Army Commander, as one!!!!
The UN can go to hell.
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ceylonee / September 28, 2019
SEND GANNASARA , RATNA KAAVI ROWDIES to UN FORCE. IT WILL BE ADD FAME TO SRILANKA
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Abhaya Premawardena / September 27, 2019
This is why UN has become a joke. It has become a political tool of some mad liberal conspiracy and is slowly becoming irrelevant
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Gemini Cricket ? / September 27, 2019
Abhaya Premature-wardana
All these years when our soldiers were going on UN peace keeping missions, the UN was not a joke, it was fine and dandy!
Now that the tables have turned, it has become a joke, what a pathetic comment from a pathetic human being.
This is how most of us reason. We think we can change reality by wishing it.
Sorry man, sour grapes will never turn sweet.
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Champa / September 28, 2019
UN has become a joke because they have taken this decision based on unproven allegations.
Tell them to prove their allegations first and then impose any bans.
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ceylonee / September 29, 2019
we appoint you as a HEAD OF UN . Do the investigation.. haa .
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Aelajo / September 28, 2019
Sadly, Sri Lanka is the bigger joke
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shankar / September 27, 2019
proof is in the pudding,sorry, semen.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / September 27, 2019
—————–2000 x usd 2000 = 4000000per month lost—————–
Then Tamils will have to cover for those losses. We must get the good Brigadier to do some Cash Mining in Minority areas.
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Emil van der Poorten / September 28, 2019
RETARDED:
Doesn’t Canada have a loony bin for the likes of you? Or are you in your rightful place as Head of the brigade that shall remain nameless?
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Kalu Nangi / September 28, 2019
What a warped mind!
You should go to a head shrinker. Too many blood baths during the war has totally distorted your brain.
We are in 2019….its 10 years since the end of the war. We are supposed to unite as one nation, not create issues to divide.
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Tamil from the north / October 4, 2019
Oh boy, the Retarded loser Shemale Perehera never fails to amuse me.
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sach / September 27, 2019
Proof like what? If you go through ITJP reports, they do not have any evidence to substantiate their claims just like that childish Darusman panel report. The Sri Lankan government’s then apprehensions about the Darusman panel report becomes clear and acceptable when looking at the work done by hired Yasmin Zooka. The government of Sri Lanka never answered the claims made by Zooka and the NGOs.
Sri Lanka should have suspended sending their army to UN peace keeping the moment UN started targetting us. An army is formed for country’s protection and not for foreign currency earning.
And as a response, Sri Lankan gov should ban the foreign funded NGOs specially run in North, limit issuing visas for LTTE supporters in west, go ahead with a defence pact with China, ban all Norwegian run NGOs and confiscate their property, start monitoring activities of Norwegian embassy.
Wikileaks articles now reveal us the genesis of this war crime accusations. The Americans had no information about so called war crimes and it was Norwegian NGOs which gave support to LTTE gave unsubstantiated infor to USA forcing them to go ahead attacking SL. The UN report made by ITJP hired lawyer, Zooka is totally based on unsubstantiated Norwegian NGO reports
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sach / September 27, 2019
ITJP accusations against Shavendra are like this. This army unit bombed here so Shavendra is responsible.
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Lester / September 28, 2019
The UN (Darusman Report) says up to 40,000 civilians died during the last stage of the war. There is some consensus that 350,000 people were displaced. So about 11% of all the people displaced were mortally affected by the “heavy weapons.” That cannot be true. If the SLA was blindly shelling and bombing hundreds of thousands of people closely packed together, as per Darusman, then at least 100K people (28%) should have died. These people were in open areas, they were easy targets. In the bombing of Dresden (1945) which lasted only 3 days, approximately 22,700 to 25,000 people were killed. This was in just 3 days, using low-flying planes from 1945, whereas the SLA had 5 months using jets and helicopters against an enemy with no aerial defense. The point is that it is easy to kill civilians in open areas. The “casualty rate” should have been much higher. Even though Darusman also blames LTTE for war crimes, Darusman is still lacking in objectivity. Darusman does not say how many of the 40K “civilians” were in fact LTTE, how many civilians were used as human shields, how many civilians simply committed suicide, etc. Darusman simply makes this preposterous claim of 40K and then justifies it with other spurious claims such as “The panel found that the Sri Lankan justice system was incapable of providing accountability.”That is like saying, you must have cheated on the school texam to get such a high score, because your brother before you was a bad student.
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Rtd. Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera / September 28, 2019
Demand from the UN compensation of 5 years worth of salary for each soldier, severance pay, Unused vacation benefits, continuation of Health benefits until suitable employment is found, counseling services for all soldiers, free legal advice and a one-time discharge fee.
And for every injured soldier while on UN duty, demand a continuous pension, a retroactive lump sum payment in addition to all of the ABOVE benefits.
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Burt / September 28, 2019
Whom do you want the cheque to be written to? Dumb Ass!
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thamizh / September 28, 2019
oh no what will the sinhala gallant forces do now?
they have no war to fight and the peace keeping mission is in question.
what will they do with such a large idle force? apart from occupying north and east, maybe they can start cleaning up hospitals, temples, drainages….
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anyway too little from UN – they had no qualms white washing and engaging with the same genocidal sl military all along and now coming up with some conditions.
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JD / September 28, 2019
I like if they impose sanctions on Sri lanka too. then Sri lanka can grow on it’s own. BTW, when they have peacekeeping forces from democratic human rights worshiping developed countries, those forces open fire on locals. In Sri lanka, we get this kind of bull$hit.
I heard NGO dollar Kaakkaas have submitted Maitrhipala sirisena a MOU about what Maithripala MUST do if he wants help from NGOs and INGOS. IT includes approving MCC-COMPACT and saying OK to SOFA-VFA. Maithripala is still thinking whether to run or accept Ranil in his side. More will come out once Sajith, Keselwatta kid hands over nominations. Already, EU is waiting to monitor the elections.
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soma / September 28, 2019
Tamils (all Tamil speaking people irrespective of their religion, caste or the date of arrival ) presently living outside NE must be well informed of Suka’s research.
The only way the Tamils can be saved from genocidal Sinhalese is a SEPARATE Homeland for ALL Tamils.
–
Soma
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Native Vedda / September 28, 2019
soman
–
What do you know about the Panadura Debate 1873?
The Sinhala/Buddhist activist claimed to have won the debate.
Was it true?
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John / September 28, 2019
The UN’s loss!!!!
No country is interested in sending their security forces to fight other people’s wars.
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Whole world knows that the allegations against Sri Lankan war heroes are lies. The West think that by accusing Sri Lanka of bogus war crimes, they can hide their war crimes of fundinang and arming LTTE for 30 years. It’s not a secret that the West is behind bogus ITJP as well.
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It’s time to expose these bogus human rights activists and their funders.
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Mallaiyuran / September 28, 2019
“It’s time to expose these bogus human rights activists and their funders. “
John,
Sound like money left with you out of the $18B to send Hakeem, Rishard, Deva, Karuna….. with the Sinhala Supporting actresses to spend some time in Geneva Hotels.
Good Idea; Good idea. Go with it.
(If you beat a dog tied with a leash still it barks.)
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K.Pillai / September 28, 2019
Lankan Armed Services were allowed to evolve modelled on Egypt i.e “Do anything. No questions”. It has become nearly 100% Sinhala Speaking with the mission to protect a certain family.
During the tragedy that was the Lankan 2019 Easter Sunday, RW tried to meet with the then Army Chief Mahesh Senanayake. His terse reply was thay he is waiting for instructions – from??
MS tries to curry favour. Hardly a week goes without promotions in the Armed Services.
MS hums: Anything you can do I can do better.
MR: No you can’t.
MS: Yes I can. Yes I can. Yes I can.
.
What the hell do you do with an Armed Services well past Use-by-Dates?
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Champa / September 28, 2019
What Ravinatha Aryasinha says is true. UN is cherry picking. UN plans to remove 25% of our peacekeeping forces from resilient cities while retaining them in vulnerable and high risk places.
This is the second time this matter has came up.
The GOSL should warn the UN that it will withdraw its entire contingent of troops from peacekeeping.
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Burt / September 29, 2019
If you don’t like it you can withdraw. No one is forcing Sri Lanka to send any troops. UN mitigates its risk by keeping rapists and looters in volatile areas. We know what happened in Haiti.
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Champa / September 29, 2019
Burt
Withdrawing is in protest of selective terminations based on flimsy excuses.
You have no evidence to accuse them as rapists or looters.
If you know what happened in Haiti, send a petition to UN. Who cares?
Our military was chosen for peacekeeping, as they excel in humanitarian operations.
How much we get from deploying them as peacekeepers? I can suggest some projects to our Army so that they can make similar amount of Dollars or even more.
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Good Sense / September 29, 2019
We are at cross roads. On one side it is the image. On the other side it is the national pride. Talking about the local scenario we were talking about the murders of Lasantha Wickrematunge, Wasim Thajudeen etc. The police gave incomplete reports to the AG when the latter called in for the reports. So no prosecutions only allegations and nothing beyond. However one may not like a person one must be fair to him. What is the credible evidence against Shavendra Silva? Is it only rhetoric? Spit it out. When this Government came in to power, my inquiries reveal that he was stationed somewhere near Dambulla. THEN NO WAR CRIMES NOR SOOKA’S CREDIBLE EVIDENCE. It should not be. If there is a case against him it must be dealt with irrespective of his position. The issue first mildly came up when the man out of the blue became the second in command. But after he became number one, particularly after he made the US personnel at JAIC HILTON to co-operate with the search as second in command, the attack against him intensified. If there is real evidence he should have been dealt with while he was enjoying the wilderness in Dambulla. Irrespective of the Dollars we must have principles. We should uphold principles of natural justice and bring to book any war criminals if any after due process backed by solid evidence. Some bloke told me, had Zahran and company attacked some Kovils instead of churches the anti-Shavendra lobby within Sri Lanka among the ordinary people outside the Army itself would dwindle. I would not go that far because violence against the innocent is intolerable.
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Nathan / September 29, 2019
Retarded Shemale. Done. Cheque is already written to your gahani’s name. Entire amount in one check. You can now distribute like tsunami fund, lotus tower, matara vaapagey museum, etc. can you remember the panu laden bath parcels distributed to soldiers. Retard is that guy who raped and killed Manamperi in 1971 is your appachhie? Thiefs of Dhamma Deepa.
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Nathan / September 29, 2019
Chompa, they know the lives of lankans have no value. Killing is part of culture. Riots is our motto. So they know getting lankans killed is nothing and no one will worry about it. The whole country is on a suicidal mission. So why worry Chompa. At least you are safe no, having run away.
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Champa / September 29, 2019
Nathan
I was very much here during LTTE’s carnage.
Killing spree was over 10 years ago.
After that, there was peace and the freedom of movement thanks to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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kali / October 3, 2019
The appointment of a War Criminal like Shavendra is a slap in the face for the Victims and the UN . At lease the UN has taken punitive measures and the next UN session will bring Sri Lanka to Comply under Gotha & MR. The consequences other wise will be disasterous. All the talk of it is only money and we dont care is sour grapes. Wait until Palaly becomes fully operational and Katinayaka will be starved of revenue. When Gotha squezes the Muslims the income from Arab Countrys will dwindle and Sinhala will start to realise every rupee counts. Already revenue from Tourism has been decimated and Garment Industry is decimae and 720 Million from peace keeping is a big amount.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / October 6, 2019
Dear Author
Thank you for the article.
It was a mistake that Hon President then allowed the army to be part of the UN in the first place after the war. The fact is SL armed forces were enrolled in the UN after war was completed has gone missing in the discussions. Can someone take the UN and the follies/bas**** supported the GOSL government to completed the war to Hague then????
In contrary to the article discussion It is likely the undue stress put on the GOSL at that time and the monetary interest may have allowed this to take place in the first place without any public discussion with regard to the well being of the armed forces in participating in the UN folly.
Yep there was a Palestine and now barely an acre exist under the UN and UN forces keeping a watch indeed………the same was true when Sri Lankan children in my Town called Jaffna were taken away from schools and tuition centres and brain washed and trained and sent back to SL do the destruction was never recorded (names of the camps yet to hit the interest and Hague), never discussed in the open nor has any world leaders put sanctions on India to date for foreign sponsored terrorism…..she has never been taken to task at the UN all because she has always been part of the Indian Ocean Geo political management.
Yep there was a wonderful North and East in a developing Country called SL used to be thriving in 70’s and now we are all made destitute (toilet washers as one of the commenters put it around the world quite rightfully) because of the FP/TULF folly taken all our lives to ghettoes with the help of Tamil Nadu gutter politics supervised by the Indian Government.
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