19 March, 2024

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Systemic Change: Its Enemies & Friends

By Ameer Ali

Dr. Ameer Ali

The core demand of aragalaya is to bring about systemic change in the country’s political governance and economy. “Gota-Go-Home” and “No 225” are only means to that end. Although there had been widespread support for the core demand especially within the intelligentsia, civil societies and even sections of the media and Sangha, yet, during the last few weeks, and since the resignation of the previous prime minister, a counter struggle seems to be on foot led by the old guards to preserve the status quo. The so-called All-Party Government is the product of that struggle, and the proposed 21A drafted by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) also reflects that desire. Unless the core demand of aragalaya is met, chances of achieving economic progress and political stability would be minimal.

A Pernicious System

When Sri Lanka gained political independence in 1948, it inherited the Westminster model of parliamentary democracy with party system. The 1947 Constitution introduced a bicameral legislature with other safeguards to prevent the rise of ethnic-based majoritarian rule. Within a few decades however, that exactly what happened and Sri Lanka effectively became an ethno-nationalist democracy founded on an ideology of Sinhala-Buddhist Majoritarianism (SBM). That majoritarian rule systematically became tyrannous leading ultimately to a civil war, the cost of which set the process for the country’s economy to go bankrupt. SBM ideology was theoretically rationalized on grounds of mytho-history and an assumed fear of minorities. SBM to thrive needed an enemy and that enemy was artificially manufactured from time to time. Practically every government that came into power since 1950s was the product of SBM which, like a magnet, swung the votes of innocent Sinhala-Buddhist voters to elect populist leaders championing the cause of that ideology. What was pernicious about SBM was the leverage it provided to unscrupulous and ambitious politicians who advanced their own private agendas and interests at the expense of the people, and then to exploit Buddhism to get exonerated form their crimes and misdeeds. While voters remained mesmerized by promises of prosperity, misrule and mismanagement were allowed to become systemic, which eventually sapped the vitality of parliamentary democracy. As a result, society became stratified and remained split ethnically, linguistically and religiously; communalism flourished; economic growth and development turned spasmodic at best; income and wealth distribution skewed increasingly in favour of a few; and, the whole country became treated like a pariah internationally. Parties and personalities in power did change almost regularly, but the ideology of SBM remained a permanent fixer.

Economic mismanagement, scandalous financial waste and loot, political crimes and blatant disregard to human rights reached their acme during the regime of Rajapaksas. They not only drained the economy of its substance, but also for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, caused starvation and malnutrition visit hundreds of thousands of ordinary households. It was that alarming scarcity of food in combination with shortages of essentials including medicine that finally awakened the young generation of educated Sinhala-Buddhist men and women and made them realize that the politico-economic system built on the edifice of SBM is pernicious and self-destructive and therefore demanded an end to it. Their awakening and realization culminated in the aragalaya, which meant not a revolution in its chaotic and violent image, but a peaceful agitation with unwavering determination to exert pressure upon the ruling elite to turn away from that pernicious system and its seven decades old politico-economic trajectory. In essence, it meant the demise of SBM, and along with it, other ethno-religious ideologies that arose to counter SBM. Soon, the aragalaya started by the Sinhala-Buddhist youth attracted their counterparts among minority communities and transformed it into a national struggle for systemic change. Aragalaya holds promises for a truly democratic and egalitarian polity in future Sri Lanka.

In sum, the core demand of the younger generation hit the right nerve in the country’s body politic. Practically every piece of publication appeared in this journal and elsewhere supported that call, and academists, journalists, civil right groups and progressive thinkers offered multiple ways of realizing its objective without violence. Surprisingly, even among conservative political parties there were a few who added their own voice of support to that change. In spite of all that, what is happening now in the parliament is a desperate attempt in the name of speedy economic revival and patriotism to preserve the status quo – not in the belief that it would bring “prosperity and splendour” at any time in the future, but to find, firstly, sufficient time to protect and provide escape routes to the culprits whose calculated loot and mismanagement brought ruination to the country, and secondly to maintain the critical role of SBM as the permanent fixer.

On the first, information is circulating with denial that one of the Maldivian leaders is busy brokering deals with Rajapaksas for their asylum in that tourist paradise. It is becoming clear by the day that there is little resolve and preparation in the All-Party government of RW to produce before law the entire previous leadership, which played a key role in recent violence and more than that for their reckless economic mismanagement. And on the second, President GR’s selection of ministers to the new cabinet along with ministerial secretaries speaks volumes of his commitment to SBM. Will a man who came to power championing that ideology and made public commitment to protect it at all cost ever surrender it for another?

Rearguard Action

The so-called All-Party Government appointed by GR and led by his adjutant Prime Minister RW – an election loser who should have been brought before the law for his role in the infamous bond scandal and in the macabre Easter incident during yahapalana government – with an expected 25-member cabinet, all picked from the existing pack of 225, is a calculated ploy to frustrate the aragalaya and retain the status quo. GR’s previous instructions to the police not to invade and disturb the peaceful existence of Gotagogama, and RW’s cunning public statement to support aragalaya’s demand for Gota-Go-Home are measures intended to cause disillusionment among protestors, dissipate them and ultimately end with kindness the struggle for systemic change. According to the SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, RW’s proposed 21A amendment to disempower the executive president appears to be doing the opposite. Parliamentarians who have jumped already and are prepared to jump in future from SJB, SLFP, UNP and the so-called independents, in support of RW’s achcharu government, all stand to benefit from the existing system. There are plenty of SMB demagogues among them who would champion its cause when an election is declared. These turncoats would at least wish to continue with the existing system until their term of office ends in 2024. Therefore, the All-Party Government is a conspiratorially devised political artefact intended to rebuff the aspirations of an awakened generation. Incidentally and surprisingly, even the former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, in her recent interview with Indian journalist Karan Thapar on her proposals for a change in governance, left this ideology totally unreviewed. These are the enemies of systemic change. What then is the alternative?

Friends of Systemic Change

RW’s achcharu government cannot last long partly because of its built-in instability and partly because it has no structural plan to set the economy on a sustainable growth path. With the flow of economic and financial assistance from friendly countries, and from international entities such as IMF, WB, ADB and so on, some of the immediate difficulties faced by the nation may be met and that too only to a limited extent. This amount of limited assistance however, would have flowed into the country even without RW’s effort, because Sri Lanka is so strategically positioned in the context of Indian Ocean geopolitics that the world powers could not afford to watch it descending to anarchy through bankruptcy. But drawing and implementing a structural plan is a long-term affair that needs a stable government supported by the majority of people. That cannot be accomplished without a general election.

It is estimated that almost two-thirds of voters in Sri Lanka are below forty years of age and more than fifty percent of them are women. Aragalaya, which is gender balanced and reckoned to have won the support of nearly 85 percent of the population, undoubtedly represents that majority. In the next parliamentary elections therefore, their votes would decide the winner. But so far and quite wisely, aragalaya had remained apolitical. But can it remain so indefinitely given the rearguard action from the old system?

On the key demand for systemic change there seems to be total affinity between the new generation and the three progressive groups, JVP, NPP and FSP. However, the problem seems to be within the trio, which still has to agree on a common platform and plan of action to take the youngsters along with them. Fighting over ideological finer points is a historic past time among progressives. The country cannot afford that luxury at the moment. Sooner the trio understand this greater need, form a broad coalition, take the new generation with it and face the coming electoral battle, it would better for the country and its masses. JVP/NPP/FSP trio are the only friends of aragalaya at present.

*Dr. Ameer Ali, Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Western Australia

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  • 23
    0

    One change is the imprisonment today of Shashi Weerawansa.

    • 14
      7

      Imprisonment is not enough.
      The country must be wiped clean of the entire band of crooks.
      We have to adopt the guillotine system and pass anyone who has had anything to do with politics, held positions in the civil service, military, police, and what have you…
      Not to mention the Rajapaksa family and their bunch of ass lickers.
      Sorry, it is a gruesome job but needs to be done if Sri Lanka is to stand a chance of a revival.
      Let us route out corruption from the top.
      If the guillotine system is cumbersome we could go for a much faster method, like monoxide. But it must be done…
      It happend in Ghana in the 80s when rollings took over. Ghana was transformed overnight from being the most corrupt and impoverished country in Africa to one of the best.
      They say you cannot make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, now the time has come for that.
      Sorry but from the ongoing it can be seen that our politicians have crossed the point of no return. This is the only way.

      • 5
        6

        Dear HT (Jaffna Man – i.e. Professor Jeevan Hoole) has been doing things here.
        .
        So really, you want to guillotine everybody who had anything to do with the government – or to use carbon monoxide!
        .
        Who is going to make these decisions? And you pride yourself on rationality!
        .
        I’ve wanted to talk to you on WhatsApp, but you’ve been dodging me. Why can’t you guys who live comfortably abroad just mind your business whilst we go about cleaning up this country systematically.
        .
        Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela

      • 6
        4

        HT, you are spot on!! I hope and wish that day dawns sooner…..

        Ranil, the traitor, says the next 6 months will be the toughest. I sincerely hope he is right!!

        Because then many silly lankans will be starving having only just one meal a day and then hit the road taking law in to their hands looking for those 225 rogues….
        But unfortunately there will be no Carbon monoxide available to punish the rogues because there wont be a litre of petrol left in the country to burn!!

        • 3
          0

          Thanks, Jit
          It is better to treat the root cause of our problem at this time and set up a citizen-friendly government.
          In my humble opinion, Sri Lanka can be developed to great heights by a competent government.
          Sri Lanka have many resources and attributes that can be developed to world-class standards.
          Unlike in many countries where the female population is uneducated, our female population are educated and can be empowered to be productive this is a serious advantage we have in addition to many other natural blessings such as a massive coast line, availability of irrigation water, not to mention the strategic location and untapped landmass.
          A good and a pro-citizen-government is must to change the status quo.
          We can become another Dubai or a Singapore.

        • 2
          3

          So, Jit, even we, who can rightly claim to be not complicit in all this evil, suffer only to provide entertainment for you guys.
          .
          And it looks as though Human Touch who lives a life in luxury in an African country, seems literally to mean what he says, since he quotes the experience of Ghana.
          .
          Given that there is no carbon monoxide to slay us who never ran away, Jit may agree that fellows like me can be guillotined. Safely out of the country, and still taking the precaution of remaining anonymous they advocate indiscriminate violence . These intemperate fellows are my fellow Sinhalese.
          .
          Thank God that there are intelligent and realistic Tamils like chiv and Nathan to talk sense.
          .
          Panini Edirisinhe

          • 2
            0

            Panini, where in my comment did I ever state that the ordinary people be hunted and punished??

            What does “….looking for those 225 rogues….” mean?

            The entire population??

            • 1
              0

              Thanks for having decided to spare me, Jit. However, I may well succumb to starvation before that. I agree that you may not wish me ill; it’s just that when a revolution comes, innocent individuals also get caught up.
              .
              The problem is that you don’t know what conditions here are like. This will make it clear:
              .
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zziC7B4i0uU
              .
              It’s brilliant; but there is no hamming. You have to do some thinking while watching. I’ve already given the link below the Hoole article,
              .
              https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sri-lanka-tamils-no-choice-but-to-join-gotagogama-stay-put-or-go-abroad/
              .
              but you may miss it there.
              .
              A glib and hackneyed reference you once made to Marie Antoinette recommending cake for the hoi polloi set me exploring that, and educating myself. Neither she nor Louis XVI were monsters; I learnt many strange things, which you will never learn. The two Louis before that were bad.
              .
              Similarly with the Romanovs of Russia.
              .
              You’re right about the Rajapaksas; but all 225? That’s lazy, and irresponsible.

    • 13
      3

      It’s a game played by politicians for themselves ……… the ordinary citizens have nothing to do with it …….. just helpless passive observers ……….


      Ranil Wickramasinghe …….. a man who has destroyed everything in his path ……. even, sometimes, when he saved them …….. has finally arrive at his Waterloo ……. the zenith of his path of destruction …… now, there is no fork in the path for him to take

      He will be hung upside down in the Galle Face Green with the Rajapakses ……… It’ll be the fitting epitaph for the death of post-independence politics.

      While cleaning their faces of spit ……….. if Native can stuff Mahinda’s b##ls in Ranil’s mouth ……… it’ll be a fitting epitaph for Ranil ……….

      • 18
        2

        “Sinhala-Buddhism” is dead.

        Let the real Buddha rise from the ashes.

        • 2
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          nimal fernando,
          “Sinhala-Buddhism” is dead.

          But unfortunately ‘Tamil Racism’ and ‘Tamil Separatism’ are still alive.

          • 9
            1

            ‘Tamil Racism’

            ‘Tamil Racism’ can’t exist in a vacuum ………. it’ll die when Sinhala Racism dies ………

            ‘Tamil Separatism’ ….. so says EE from Toronto! ……… Which is greater ‘Tamil Separatism’ or Sinhala-Separatism?

            Visit Gota & Basil in LA …… to learn about Sinhala-Separatism ……. firsthand ……. :))


            Thanks for the entertainment ……… you guys make my day! ……. Really!!

            • 0
              4

              nimal fernando,
              “Tamil Racism’ can’t exist in a vacuum ………. it’ll die when Sinhala Racism dies ………”
              ===
              There was no racism in Sinhale until Brits promoted that under their ‘Divide and Rule’ policy. Vellala Tamil politicians mastered it and used that for their political survival.
              Sinhala Buddhists accepted a Nayakkar guy as their King. Sinhala Kings married Dravida princesses and built ‘Devala’ in Buddhist temples so that the Queen can practice her religion.

              Racist GG Ponnambalam started the anti-Sinhala Buddhist campaign in 1939 by delivering a racially charged speech at Nawalapitiya ridiculing Mahawansha and denigrating the Sinhala-Buddhist culture, its history and the people. Racist SJV Chelvanayakam started the separatist campaign officially in 1949 by forming Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (toned down as Federal Party in English but the real meaning was Tamil State Party) which had as its hidden agenda the establishment of a separate state. These racists told Tamils in Yapanaya not to learn Sinhala. There was no ‘Sinhala Only’ policy in 1939 or 1949.

              • 4
                0

                EE,

                I don’t know any of that, way before my time ………. even before Native’s grandmother’s time …….

                All sorts of rights and wrongs were done in ancient times ……. It’s all water under the bridge ……… why keep harping on it? ……… What good does it do?

                It’s only a start ……. but the attitude among the young in the Aragalaya is very encouraging ……. the bitter and twisted old fuckers of all sides ………. should stand aside and let the youth build/create the country they want …….


                Are your kids as bitter and twisted as you are, EE? What a legacy to pass on! …….. Children of all sides deserve better. …….. Nothing’s ever going to be perfect …… but fairness and unity can achieve a lot more than discrimination, division, bitterness and animosity ………


                “Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call
                Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the hall
                For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
                The battle outside ragin’
                Will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
                For the times, they are a-changin’

                Come mothers and fathers throughout the land
                And don’t criticize what you can’t understand
                Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command
                Your old road is rapidly aging
                Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand
                For the times, they are a-changin'”

          • 10
            1

            Evil do mot worry. With the end of SB not just Tamil but all separatism will .simultaneously end. . It’s like the fever associated with sepsis. You treat the abscess/ sepsis appropriately, there will not be any fever afterwards. If you treat the fever alone, the patient dies.

        • 4
          0

          Madagoda BP abeythissa fake monk became deaf for their own reasons.
          .
          So is the case with Ghanasara dadoriya / these men were highly instrumental bringing back the Rajapakshes.
          .
          🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

      • 8
        1

        nimal fernando

        “While cleaning their faces of spit ……….. if Native can stuff Mahinda’s b##ls in Ranil’s mouth ……… it’ll be a fitting epitaph for Ranil ……….”

        You are a secret admirer of both and want both to have fun.
        I know it.
        Both may enjoy it.

        • 4
          1

          Native,

          That was especially for you ……. knew anything about b##ls ……… would pique your interest and evoke a comment …….. :)))

          Mao’s are embalmed and on display …….. only the most dedicated acolytes are allowed into the chamber ……… :))

      • 0
        0

        Nimal. you are a bit credulous, aren’t you??

        “…..the ordinary citizens have nothing to do with it……”

        Then these 225 must have been appointed by Xie Jinping?? Narendra Modi? or may be Donald Trump in 2020!

        Also, does 6.9m rings a bell??

        • 2
          0

          Jit,

          I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure you realize that what you understood is not what I meant. :))


          I meant the political drama taking place now ……… have people got anything to do or any input to shape it? ……… The pols are playing the drama for themselves: not for the country or the people.

          The game is played solely by the pols …….. the people are just passive observers ……

          Voting in elections is a whole different shindig ……… people always have to choose between two sets of promises ……… promises that’ll be always broken ………

          What other choices have the people got in elections? …….. History is a good guide …….. ordinary people are just helpless victims …….. damned if they do and damned if they don’t……

    • 9
      0

      Of what significance is that to the people …. ?
      (Remember the reward Duminda received?)

      • 1
        0

        Hirunika has got half-way towards taking away the reward given by Gota.
        .
        Got to be grateful to the three brave judges, too.
        .
        But there’s still work to be done.

    • 9
      0

      That is another revengeful act because her husband/ main condom support to Rajapakse pimp co. Has now turned out to be realizing, to some extent , the size of the damage being made by alpha animals raised and released by sataka designer DA Rajapakshe..
      .if Kaputas could his Gamapa properties / case against that palace build be exonerated by hijacking srilanken judiciary/ the very same authority to act Buruwanse s case reasonably- Nandamalin s song text reechoing my ears as I am writing this. Thirisannu must be punished in a public execution/ period 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

    • 2
      0

      No! That’s just what happens when you cross a Rajapaksa.

      • 3
        0

        But there are rumours she ll be free on bailout on the 30th May.
        .
        Actually Wimal Buruwanse should be hung in a public ceremony/ that can well help our people s spirit.
        .
        😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
        .

    • 2
      0

      JM,
      .
      Kiribath (milk rice) eaters are slowly getting ready to celeberate it next week – this is what I heard from some youth active for Aragalaya.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6TOfm8JBKo

      Mynah’s statement made to CID is said to be caught by huge criticism of those who gathered to MYNAGAMA on the 9th.May. As I predicted it in Nov 2019, all is now turning positive to my predictions the consequences that the nation would be cursed with once BPs returned to ruin the nation.

  • 0
    0

    Ameer Ali, today Wimal’s wife is sentenced to prison for two years. This again is an achievement of Aragalaya. People may say only because of Wimal left govt. But I think it’s because the judiciary has got it’s breathing space now. Before it was totally suppressed by Mafia family. I remember at one point judges were scared to deliver sentence, and those who did prior like in Duminda’s case were worried about repercussions, after him being pardoned by none other than Mr. terminator now, Sir. Fail. In the mean time Gotha appointed Wasantha. K yet another murderer in three man committee to investigate recent violence. Family continues with their BS and Aragalaya should not give up for sanity to prevail.

  • 21
    0

    “JVP/NPP/FSP trio are the only friends of aragalaya at present”. AND this is the problem. Violence met by violence is not a solution to any social, economical or political problem. The younger generation may not have experienced the violence and destruction of life in the 1970s and in 1989. But most of this generation experienced the more recent episodes of crimes committed against our Tamil brethren and the Muslim and Christian communities. And in spite of that voted for a candidate who is now, known to have master minded these astrocities.
    Why were we silent when Tamil students were abducted and murdered? Why were we silent when Christians were murdered at worship? Why were we silent bystanders when houses and property belonging to the Muslim community were destroyed prior to and after the Easter mayhem?
    Like Silindu in Leonard Wolf’s “Village in the Jungle”/”Baddegama”, do we louse away in our front yards till death and destruction come knocking at our own doors and then break into a “shoot on site” rampage?
    Let’s be sincerely happy and proud that the youth have awakened to the injustices and corruption; crimes committed against our people. But has there been a real change in the mindset and thinking of the 85% of the citizens to accept the equal rights of “the other”?

    • 2
      23

      Indi,
      “But most of this generation experienced the more recent episodes of crimes committed against our Tamil brethren and the Muslim and Christian communities”.

      You are twisting the truth. Sinhalayo did not commit crimes against Tamils, Muslims or Christians.
      It was Tamils who declared war against indigenous Sinhala Buddhists and carried out the brutal terrorist campaign against Sinhala Buddhists and massacred thousands of innocent Sinhala men, women, children, Buddhist monks and even fetus of Sinhala pregnant women just to grab land belong to Sinhalayo in NE to create a separate State for Tamils in Yapanaya. Christians extend their support to Tamil terrorists.

      It was Muslims who carried out terrorist attacks and shattered peace enjoyed by people after eliminating Tamil terrorists by Sri Lanka Armed Forces.

      Please do not try to put the blame on Sinhala Buddhists and clean your blood-soaked hands.

      • 0
        0

        DEEP SLUMBER is recommended instead of ‘SLEEP WALKING’, is Dangerous!!

    • 2
      21

      Indi,
      “Why were we silent when Tamil students were abducted …”
      —-
      Are you talking about abduction of Tamil students by Tamil terrorists and recruiting them as child soldiers?

  • 17
    0

    Time for change. Don’t miss the opportunity.

    • 2
      19

      Ajith,
      “Time for change.”

      Change racist, separatist Tamil politicians in Yapanaya who say ‘Sinhalayo are not welcome in the North’; ‘Buddhist temples cannot be built in the North’; ‘Buddha statues cannot be erected in the North’ as if they own Northern part of Sinhale/Sri Lanka. If not, do not talk about reconciliation.

  • 24
    2

    … Unless the core demand of aragalaya is met, chances of achieving economic progress and political stability would be minimal, says Ameer Ali. Nothing more to the truth.
    .
    I have said before. I am saying it again. Ameer Ali is a patriot.
    .
    I wish to draw a parallel. Our economic problem is wedged to the national question. Our political stability is hinged to the national question.
    .
    Our people are broadly intelligent. At the same time, they are narrowly racists.
    .
    Aragalaya is the beginning of dismantling of racism in our midst. Once we cleanse us of that pervasive racism no one could stop our ascend to a stable nation, – politically, economically, and socially.
    .
    The last word. Unless Aragalaya succeeds we will be doomed for ever.

    • 2
      14

      Nathan,
      “Our economic problem is wedged to the national question.”

      What is the ‘NATIONAL QUESTION’ you are talking?

      • 1
        2

        What is the economic problem these rouges are talking about ?

    • 1
      18

      Nathan,
      “Once we cleanse us of that pervasive racism no one could stop our ascend to a stable nation,…”
      —-
      If Tamil politicians in Yapanaya who used racism for their political survival thought about what you say long time ago and allowed Tamil people to live in peace and harmony with indigenous Sinhalayo who accommodated them in their country instead of promoting racism, separatism and terrorism, things could have been completely different in Sinhale/Sri Lanka.

  • 13
    3

    The Aragalaya is the one and only chance for the total overhaul of the Political culture in Srilanka-,taken to a new low by the Rajapaksa political cabal.

    The Rajapaksa cabal is now buying time. We see the same old faces scrambling into Ministerial slots,falling over each other.

    The only way to resolve the Economic Crisis is to change the System as well. This is what the Aragalaya is all about.

    The counter Revolution to the Aragalaya is led by the Rajapaksa acolyte Ranil.W.who is now viewed as a Puppet on a string…………….

    • 2
      12

      Plato,
      “The only way to resolve the Economic Crisis is to change the System as well.”

      The economic crisis is mainly a shortage of $$$s to repay debts and to import essential items. What kind of changes in the system you envisage that will drop bundles of $$$s from the sky?
      In 2015, ‘Regime Change’ mafia used the term ‘Wenasa’ (Change) to fool the youths. This time they came up with ‘System Change’. Those who wanted system change have got what they wanted by fooling the youths; remove ‘Medamulana Hora and replace with ‘Mahabenku Hora’.

  • 21
    3

    Excellent piece -except for the assertion that “JVP/NPP/FSP trio are the only friends of aragalaya at present”. Alright. Let the trio declare their stance on the ethnic question – in a post-aragalaya dispensation?

    • 4
      18

      Karikalan S. Navaratnam,
      “Let the trio declare their stance on the ethnic question…”

      What ethnic question? Oh, you mean the one that Tamil politicians in Yapanaya who live in Colombo amongst Sinhalayo with their families use as ‘Higannage Thuwalaya’ (Beggar’s wound) for their political survival.

    • 4
      1

      KSN
      When have Tamil nationalists taken positions that take into account concerns of other people?
      They systematically rejected the friendship of people of other nationalities who will not fully endorse agree to their agenda. To them every Sinhalese ans Muslim is suspect.
      But they count on foreigners all along, and still do.
      To have a say in the “post-aragalaya dispensation” one has to display a modicum of commitment to the “aragalaya”, which concerns broad issues that are not specific to any community.
      What will change will change regardless of the views of parochial parties and persons, who will be left standing, still screaming out their bankrupt slogans.

      • 0
        0

        But they count on foreigners all along, and still do. Licking dogs once called Tamil Nadu CM’s father as a comedian. As soon as they saw the food from Stalin, they started to wag their tails and say thank you. Thank you may be the nature of the dogs, but for you, who was rejected to hang in a foreign country and throw sand in your dream, it will not come handy, isn’t it?.
        It is ironic Navaratnam’s father was the first one to tell SJV that his negotiations will not take Tamils anywhere. That time FP was with Dudley. Navam Sr might have seen Sri Ma O, one side preparing JVP to finish off Dudley, who attempted to break peace with Tamil, and geared in full swing to poison the racism to gain power to finalize the Sinhala Only, Privy Council verdicts and standardization. Did you hear your UNP comrade say in his speech to the nation that the State Council suited much better for WildLife Sanctuary Racists than the Dominion Status came in after the 1947 election, because the British Governor General was controlling the Sapta Councils?
        (Sorry, Navaratnam Jr, because it that not that he doesn’t want to reply to you, but he frown at others when they do, because replying to you demean the decent manner of replying to ones’ concerns. )

  • 7
    30

    “Sri Lanka effectively became an ethno-nationalist democracy founded on an ideology of Sinhala-Buddhist Majoritarianism (SBM).”

    Sinhale is the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo who evolved in this country and developed the country from scratch.
    Muslims who are the descendants of refugees from Hindusthan live in Sinhale because Sinhala Buddhists saved their ancestors from persecution by Portuguese and allowed them to settle down in interior parts of the country, allowed them to marry local women and convert them to Islam. Indigenous Sinhala Buddhists are the majority (75%) in Sinhale and they govern their country giving priority to their aspirations having been oppressed and treated as second class citizens by colonial rulers for nearly 450 years. If the descendants of refugees from Hindusthan think that this country has effectively become an ethno-nationalist democracy founded on an ideology of Sinhala-Buddhist Majoritarianism they are free to use the salon door. Sinhala Buddhists did not invite Muslims to their country. They only helped them when faced annihilation by Portuguese.

    • 6
      2

      (Part I)
      EE,
      Good morning,
      “If the descendants of refugees from Hindustan think that this country has effectively become an ethno-nationalist democracy founded on an ideology of Sinhala-Buddhist Majoritarianism they are free to use the SALON DOOR”
      It sounds as if the Mouth piece of the Messiah the most venerated Redeemer of Sri lank – Old Mynah – speaking, being the Pay master, of course dictates the position!!??
      Wondering, when the name change from Democratic, Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, to Majoritarian, Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka???
      Guided by your esteemed prophecy that may very good idea indeed!!
      Is it going to happen,
      A. Along with the 21st amendment which is deemed to happen in the forthcoming week due to ‘Aragalaya’ pressure and to ‘SAVE THE SOULS’ of our other REDEEMERS in the Saddle??!!
      Or,
      B. After the IMF and other International Lenders grant the much needed foreign exchange funds and restructuring of existing loans??? What you may call the “GOING FORWARD PLAN” of these learned rulers and mystifying deception??!!
      No surprises there, as this TEAM, is very well known for it??!!

    • 4
      1

      (Part II)
      If you need reference material for your next post-doctoral thesis, refer to
      1. promise of, 13the A Plus to the UN Secretary General post May 2009 war victory
      2. Similarly to Indian PM on his visit post May 2009 war victory
      Everyone knows (Public knowledge) what is happening now – not even an attempt to discuss??
      May be the ‘Powers that be’ would earnestly follow B, if the decide in a change at least be truthful in that respect – after getting the best outcome of the Loans, grants and Restructuring!!
      GOOD LUCK and believe that the rest of the world would continue to HAVE FAITH AND BELIEF IN SRI LANKANS AND SRI LANKA FOR POSTERITY and our children and future citizens??!!
      Path to Infinite Prosperity

    • 0
      0

      “Sinhale is the Land of Sinhalayo”

      Begging around the world for handouts. Its so corrupted and mismanaged that even little children in Tamil Nadu and China are giving their pocket money. What a disgrace.

      British gave a good country and this is what the “Sinhalayo” did.

    • 13
      3

      EE,
      A beautiful summary of Sinhalyo history in the animal Kingdom of SriLanka written by professor of Animal History EE born in 1000 years before the Birth of Buddha and still living in this animal kingdom. I hope all Sinhalayo are proud of your knowledge and skills which even Lord Buddha has to borrow it from you.

  • 8
    28

    “…on grounds of mytho-history…”

    What do you mean by ‘MYTHO-HISTORY’. Muslims who are the descendants of refugees from Hindusthan do not have a history in Sinhale but indigenous Sinhalayo have a documented history running into about 3000 years. Do not come to ridicule the history of Sinhalayo.

    • 12
      2

      EE,

      I suppose that the people dying in queues for petrol or LP gas, or due to starvation, are taking solace from someone’s ecstasy about the “documented history running into 3000 years.” While I no longer see people of your ilk still in SL on CT, you keep repeating the same drivel, proving that you are comfortably ensconced somewhere out of the country.

      • 2
        11

        Agnos,
        “…people dying in queues for petrol or LP gas…”
        —-
        This is nothing compared to the suffering people went through during three decades that Tamil terrorists massacred Sinhala Buddhists.
        There is no connection between scarcity of gas and fuel which is a temporary problem deliberately created by those who want to destabilize Sinhale so that they can exert pressure to grab parts of this country and the documented history of Sinhalayo.
        Sinhalayo who eliminated Tamil terrorists who bragged that they cannot be defeated militarily, overcoming the current economic crisis created by ‘Yahapalana’ Government by borrowing huge amount and wasted that money is nothing.

        • 7
          1

          Dumb Eagle Eye

          “This is nothing compared to the suffering people went through during three decades that Tamil terrorists massacred Sinhala Buddhists.”

          How could Bata wearing Baby Brigade massacre Sinhala people who were guarded by Sinhala/Buddhist patriotic forces?

          “……………………….problem deliberately created by those who want to destabilize Sinhale so that they can exert pressure to grab parts of this country and the documented history of Sinhalayo.”

          “Sinhalayo who eliminated Tamil terrorists who bragged that they cannot be defeated militarily, ………………………………………………………………………”

          Eagle Eye,


          It was VP and his LTTE which liberated the Sinhalese from Sinhala /Buddhism.
          The problem has been brewing since 4th February 1948.
          No one else was responsible for the mess except Mahinda and his b***s carriers.

          • 3
            0

            NV,
            .
            Each time, when I am compelled to read posts droping down from EE, I am used to forget it by listening to the videos of following nature.
            .
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGOA7uNm22o
            .
            That will help us all for sure, because I am hopeless for a better future in our motherland which is now ruined by RAJAPAKSHE bps.

            I have no idea if the authorities should introduce guillotine as was being used during french revolution, but the level of deteriorating levels – are beyond under control.

          • 0
            1

            Native Vedda,
            “How could Bata wearing Baby Brigade massacre Sinhala people who were guarded by Sinhala/Buddhist patriotic forces?”

            Bata wearing Baby Brigade was branded as the ‘DEADLIEST TERRORISTS’ in the world by FBI.
            Bata wearing was not a problem to force Tamil women to become suicide bombers, use claymore bombs, chemical weapons, AK47s, swords and machetes to massacre Sinhala Buddhists.

        • 7
          1

          Eagle,
          “This is nothing compared to the suffering people went through during three decades that Tamil terrorists massacred Sinhala Buddhists.”
          Which is worse, getting killed or standing in a queue to get killed ?
          “a temporary problem deliberately created by those who want to destabilize Sinhale”
          So,
          a) Gota and MR created the problem to destabilise Sinhale.
          Or
          b) VP lost a battle but won the war.

          • 2
            0

            EE,
            You seem highly concerned about Sinhalayo.
            Perhaps you aren’t concerned about this country where a 9-year-old can’t walk safely on the road? What is the point of being “safe” if monks can rape 15 year olds, and sergeants who cut the throats of 5 year olds are pardoned by the President??

          • 0
            2

            old codger,
            “Gota and MR created the problem to destabilise Sinhale.”

            No. economic crisis was created by:
            Ranil (aka Maha Benku Hora) and PB Jayasundera (aka Aarthika Ghathakaya)
            Basil(aka Ugly American/Kaputa) and PB Jayasundera
            GR and MR are paying the price for what these guys did.

      • 8
        1

        Agnos, EE reminds me of my old dog , partially blind of cataract runs around pissing all over marking his presence. Many times he finds unable to relieve ( edited) and when can, he drops his few words of utter stupidity under each , dosen’t bother to read, react or respond, but run after next.

        • 2
          0

          Chiv
          “he drops his few words of utter stupidity under each , dosen’t bother to read, react or respond, but run after next”
          Rather like those who fed WhatsApp messages without reading them.

          • 0
            0

            Fwd, not fed.

        • 0
          0

          Editor, Colombo Telegraph
          What Chiv has written is not a reply to my comment but a personal attack. Does the comment policy of CT allow personal attacks? This is not the first time Moderators approved personal attacks on Eagle Eye. Is there a separate policy for Tamils?

          • 0
            0

            Eagle Eye, trust me it was never personal. Your pattern of replying kept reminding me of my closest companion ever ( not just a favorite pet dog). Since it’s loss I never had any. You just confirm what I said. You do not bother reading or comprehending. Least you responded.

            • 0
              0

              EE, forgot to add “I Love You”. ( just like my ?)

    • 9
      2

      Stop posting and repeating the same lies and rubbish, everywhere and on all forums and columns again and again like a broken record. The island was never Chingkalla only land, large parts of it were Thamizh also from ancient times. The Chingkalla ethnicity and language did evolve on the island but it evolved largely from Indian immigrants, largely from then Thamizh South India and some from Northeast India. The DNA of modern Chingkallams prove this is 55-70% Thamizh. The Chingkalla language is a mixture of Thamizh, Pali and Sanskrit. All originating from the Indian subcontinent and out of these three only Thamizh belongs to the region and a local version of it Elu belongs to the island. The other two to the plains of North India arrived with Buddhism and North East Indian immigrants. What is indigenous about all this, just because it evolved here from three Indian languages and Indian immigrants? Just because the north and east population largely remained Hindu and retained their Thamizh identity and did not convert to the Chingkalla Buddhist identity does not mean they do not belong or are not indigenous. The Chingkallams hardly controlled their lands until the British arrived and united the entire island and created a new colony called Ceylon in 1833. It is thanks to the British you got control of these Thamizh lands in the north and east and not before, so how can the entire island be yours?

      • 9
        1

        Made a million Indian origin Thamizh who lived on the island for generations stateless, soon after independence and forcibly deported most of them to India and chased around a million indigenous Thamizh, largely to the west during the 30-year-old war. What Dr Amees Ali states are 100% correct. A good article. This is not Chingkalla’s only land but the land of everyone who lives here and this also includes the Muslims. If they came from Hindustan so did the ancestors of 99% of the Chingkallams, so what is the difference? If the country is to develop and improve, this state-sponsored Chingkalla Buddhist racism and the myth and lies that the land only belongs to them must stop, as it never only belonged to them at all, this was a myth carefully created by all Chingkalla led governments from the time of independence. Thank the British that you got control of the entire island, including the Thamizh parts. It was not because of your efforts. Oh the over-bloated army with around 300000 personnel, that is solely there to occupy Thamizh areas and steal lands for the Thamizh and the pubic service that is now 99.99% Chingkallams should be trimmed to the bare minimum. They are white elephants. Even Britain with 60 million people and a world power does not have such a big army. Sorry, the whole thing got posted before I could divide it.

        • 2
          1

          Sorry steal land from the Thamizh and not for the Thamizh

      • 2
        9

        Pandi Kutti,
        “…from ancient times.”

        Is after 13th Century ancient?
        Obviously, as a descendant of a Dravidian came to Sinhale from Hindusthan and believe that manufactured history presented in Vaddukkodai Resolution is true your knowledge on real history of Sinhale is limited. You should attend a tuition class to learn true history of Sinhale.

        • 5
          1

          About the origin of Sri Lankan Thamizh, history reveals that they lived in the north and northwestern parts of the island more than 3000 years ago, as confirmed after the excavations of human remains, which were found in the buried urns in Anaicottai Manthai and Pomparippu. They were similar to the ones found in Tamil Nadu. This is my final reply to you here and not going to waste time

          • 0
            2

            Pandi Kutti,
            “This is my final reply to you here and not going to waste time”

            Please don’t. Let us continue the debate.
            ****
            No one denies that Dravidians were in Sinhale because they started invading this country from 3rd Century BC and invaded 53 time. Also, there were Dravidians who came as traders because Anuradhapura was a trade hub between East and West. All those Dravidians came from Hindusthan.
            Simply because Dravidians who came as invaders, traders or coolies lived in Sinhale they cannot claim NE as their ‘Traditional Homeland’ or land in NE is Tamil land and demand a separate State or a Federal State.
            Before Dravidians occupied NE, Sinhalayo were the inhabitants in that area. Sinhala Kingdoms Anuradhapura (377 BC to 1017 AD) and Polonnaruwa (1056–1232) were located in NE. Dravida invaders destroyed those Kingdoms and wiped out Sinhala settlements forcing Sinhalayo to retreat to South. Sinhalayo have historical and archeological evidences to support these claims.

          • 0
            2

            “as confirmed after the excavations of human remains”
            Really exciting what human remains can reveal to unquestioning minds!
            But is there not a lot of similarity between Tamils and Sinhalese buried long ago?

            • 2
              0

              “But is there not a lot of similarity between Tamils and Sinhalese buried long ago?”

              How long ago? Who buried it?

        • 7
          1

          Eagle,
          “You should attend a tuition class to learn true history of Sinhale.”
          Those who went to tuition classes are the ones that ruined the country.

          • 2
            0

            Exactly the truth OC.
            .
            You are spot on as always.
            Now time has come to discuss the point again and again.
            :
            EE, go and see you infront of a MIRROR. At least today, you will come to know how small you are.

            Get well soon, so that we could finally see it that you too are changing.
            .
            The following link would open you a better future.
            .
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVGqPa8cMLU
            .

          • 0
            0

            Thanks and with due and esteemed respect to Hon Bandula Gunawardena – the great provider of Tuition classes and only in that respect!!!

          • 0
            1

            old codger,
            “Those who went to tuition classes are the ones that ruined the country.”

            No. It was a guy who went to Royal College that ruined the country and created the present economic crisis.

        • 1
          0

          EE,
          You seem to be in front of a large wide MIRROR??!!
          Repeating to others your intentions!!!???

        • 1
          0

          MIRROR, MIRROR, AM I IN FRONT OF YOU????

    • 13
      2

      “Do not come to ridicule the history of Sinhalayo.”

      No one is ridiculing the history of the Sinhalayos but the Sinhalayos themselves!

      Look around …….. the state of the country today …….. no outsiders, no enemy ………… could’ve achieved such destruction!

      Prabakaran was too hasty …… he should’ve just bided his time without picking up a weapon ……… the Sinhalayos would’ve done his work for him ……… better than he could’ve ever imagined ……. even in his wildest dreams! :))

      • 3
        10

        nimal fernando,
        “…no enemy ………… could’ve achieved such destruction!”
        —-
        This is nothing compared to destruction and suffering people went through during the three decades that Tamil terrorists massacred Sinhala Buddhists using suicide bombers, claymore bombs. chemical weapons, swords and machetes

        • 2
          0

          Eagle
          “This is nothing compared to destruction and suffering people went through during the three decades”
          This is nothing compared to the fact that 5 year olds get raped, a 9 year old girl was murdered yesterday, and those who cut the throats of children are pardoned by the President. Is this all you can achieve in 3000 years of “recorded history “?

    • 13
      1

      Ultra stupid Eagle eye/
      .like or not those Hindus give your sinhala people saline today. U can better hide ur 2500 years heritage in ur anus to the manner ur drug and gem smugglers are used to do it.
      .
      As honourable Dr Siva makes it clear u guys have to use a big begging bowl and go around the world next days not forget6 to pay a visit to Addis abeba. .
      .
      Level of ur god fathers dragged this nation by their conniving politics is rejected by in and out of the island nation as of today. If people would me u they would have treated u to the man those mobs did it to that MP on the 9th May😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

  • 4
    15

    “…and an assumed fear of minorities.”

    Are you kidding? It is not assumed fear but real fear.

    Muslims started attacking Sinhala Buddhists in 1915 at Gampola that led to massacre of Sinhala Buddhists by British. In the recent past, on several places (Aluthgama, Digana, Gintota), Muslims attacked Sinhala Buddhists. When Sinhalayo retaliate, Muslims call that ‘Anti-Muslim Riots’. On Easter Sunday, Muslims carried out a series of terrorist attacks shattering the peace people enjoyed after Tamil terrorists were eliminated.

    Tamils started attacking Sinhalayo in 1958 in Yapanaya as a protest against the decision taken by the Government to change the English letter in car number plates to a Sinhala letter. Later, Tamils launched a full scale terrorist campaign targeting Sinhala Buddhists that went on for three decades to grab land belong to indigenous Sinhalayo in NE to create a separate State for Tamils in Yapanaya.

    • 0
      4

      Eagle Eye

      The government was only concentrating on minority distraction and fell into bankruptcy thank you for Indian for helping, Ranil is receiving like he won the race or thinking he done a great sacrifice and getting a golden cup, and now aragalaya is replying to for you

  • 10
    2

    HORA Gota is getting aid in kind from Tamil Nadu Hindustan for the survival of the sinhala buddhist masses interloppers thung vijaya’s decendents whose favourite past time is killing indigenous ceylon tamils

  • 7
    2

    HORA Gota is begging for international aid to further RIP OFF the intternational community and feather the RAKSHApakses pockets. The IMF I read have said for the beggar sinhala land to get IMF aid HORA Gota HAS TO GO!!!!

  • 10
    0

    Referring to the “JVP/FSP/NPP” trio makes it look like they are many different groups and a major force when in reality they represent a small population base in SL. The gerontocracy in SL has not allowed capable younger people to develop and grow as leaders. That is showing up in the dearth of good leaders available in the country.

    • 1
      3

      Is the suggestion that the “JVP/FSP/NPP” trio is also part of the “gerontocracy”.
      *
      How youthful are the leaders of the main political parties of the US?
      *
      It does not take a “gerontocracy” to screw up things. ‘Babes in the woods’ do it just as well.

      • 5
        0

        SJ,

        No, I didn’t say JVP/FSP/NPP is part of the gerontocracy.
        The US is a completely different country, so you can’t compare it to SL. In the US, there is no upper age limit for employees ( both the private sector and the public sector.) Most people retire when they are in the range of 67-72. Even here, people only grudgingly support older leaders. In SL, people become retirees when they are in the 55-65 age group. So why allow politicians to stay on past 70? It deprives young and energetic people of the chance to develop into good leaders.

      • 6
        1

        Agnos

        Are you discussing American politics or Sri Lankan one?
        A Mao’s b***s carrying old man believes you are discussing American politics.

      • 4
        0

        How youthful are the leaders of the main political parties of the US ? I guess more youthful than you..

  • 9
    2

    Dear Karikalan S. Navaratnam,
    .
    PART ONE

    .
    I agree with your rating of the article, but I have no reservations about the JVP/NPP/FSP trio of small political parties. Admittedly, this may be because I’m a Sinhalese.
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGbQdN6vCwM
    .
    I’ve just listened to 96 minutes of that, a very recent video of Anura Kumara Dissanayake fielding questions from three interviewers – in Sinhalese.
    .
    I would grant, without any hesitation, the criticisms of SMB attitudes by Dr Ameer Ali, and that Tamil speakers who don’t know sufficient Sinhalese, face huge problems in this, our native land. The existence of so many languages is a huge problem for all humans. One attempt to explain it was the Tower of Babel.
    .
    However, within our country, three languages only matter. I have never heard AKD speak in any language except Sinhala. It is possible that he understands the other two. Is there a fundamental fault in this? It would be wonderful if we could devise a way in which all children grow up using all three languages fluently, but it just doesn’t usually happen so. My Tamil is zero.

  • 6
    0

    PART TWO
    .
    What is important is that knowing only one language is not allowed to be a handicap. In my case, English is my best language, and I had to listen carefully to AKD. I can imagine you not being able to understand anything of it .
    .
    There are different ethnic groups. One has only to place a typical Swede, African, Lankan and Chinese together to realised that we have, for millennia, evolved in isolation. We Lankans are one.
    .
    https://tamilnation.org/books/eelam/indrapala
    .
    I haven’t been able to find a copy of that to read. Reprinting that, even at State expense, will be a negligible cost. Getting it translated into Tamil and Sinhalese, whilst the author is still alive, would be great. That would be a major undertaking; the actual cost, a fraction of what we waste on internecine wars, and now on maintaining armed forces – to shoot whom? At us Lankans, I fear! Hopefully, Indrapala understands all three languages, and will be able approve the results of the undertaking. At his age, he can’t be expected to re-write in two more languages!</b

  • 6
    0

    PART THREE
    .
    Once that is done, let us persuade all Lankans to accept that we are all ethnic Tamils, with the majority not able to use the Tamil language, but using Sinhalese (an advanced language in its own right, although lacking the antiquity of Tamil.)
    .
    Is there a huge problem in this, although it will arouse incredible emotions among the SMB fellows? In fact most will say that I’m mad to even suggest it!
    .
    However, the point is that this needn’t be a problem that concerns any of us when voting for a new government. The NPP is a loose grouping which doesn’t bother too much with ideology. Some non-JVP members ought to give us a clear insight into that. There are 27 other groups; does any of them have significant numbers? Is there one which will allow a non-Marxist member to join whilst retaining membership of some other Party?

    Let’s solve the language problems separately. Right now, in the schools, we have a trilingual policy, but there is little interest in learning the “other Swabasha”. Everyone wants English, but see how ineffective our efforts there have proved! I’ve taught it all my life!
    .
    Panini Edirisinhe

    • 5
      0

      “Everyone wants English, but see how ineffective our efforts there have proved! I’ve taught it all my life!”

      Language without ideas has zero value …….. language with ideas, engaging to the end ………… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVLpdzhcU0g

      English without ideas = All dressed up, nowhere to go ………. only good to achieve a social standing in Lankan society ……… make a social statement in society of ignoramuses ………

      Lanka is a nation of dilettantes ……… dilettantes delineate: you guys are the problem, not the solution.

      Might as well taught the sign-language of the primordial man! :))


      To get ahead ……. as a start, the new government of the youth should buy teachers tours/tickets to go and visit seats of real learning …….. if not they will be still peddling centuries old stultified colonial antiquities/garbage, the colonials themselves have discarded …….

      Thought for the day …….. Yehali Sangakkara, Aragalaya: Galle Face Green :))

      • 1
        0

        Thanks, nimal .
        .
        I listened to ten minutes of Jeffery Brenzel; perhaps I will listen to it all later.
        .
        I think you know that I’ve been doing that sort of reading from adolescence; I was twice that age when it became required reading for me as an undergraduate. I was afraid that would be told that we haven’t succeeded with teaching English precisely because it was taught by guys like me.
        .
        No, but I’m quite seriously wondering how we can understand these linguistic differences and overcome them . We have to trust those whose language we don’t understand.

    • 4
      0

      S.M,
      “Is there one which will allow a non-Marxist member to join whilst retaining membership of some other Party?”
      I sense some confusion in your statement. I Don’t know, but is Harini Amarasuriya a member of any other party?
      Again, as far as I know, non-Marxists, Marxists, Sinhala chauvinists, ex-terrorists etc, can join parties like the SJB or Pohottuwa.

      • 1
        0

        I’m unsure of details, but I don’t think a person who hates Marx and “commies”, and looks under his bed every might, will be welcome in the NPP.
        .
        They don’t make a huge secret of NPP organisation, but isn’t it also true that however clearly something is explained, most people refuse to understand? I can’t find the video in which I heard Harini explaining it.
        .
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_People%27s_Power
        .
        When an important decision requires voting, each of the 28 Parties sends two delegates. Granted that the JVP matters most, they have only an equal say with the others in such situations.
        .
        I’ve had just one longish chat with Vijitha Herath. I didn’t want to waste his time; he told me that Harini belongs to an Intellectual Women’s Group.
        .
        How amateurish of me! Let me search. Voila!
        .
        https://www.npp.lk/policies/
        .
        I’m only a consistent supporter. This has just “growed” on me for five years; there are many things that I don’t know. Nor do I feel a need to study this in much greater detail since my vote will almost definitely go there.
        .
        The real need is for others, who are still undecided; please study.
        .
        So, there!

        • 1
          0

          SM,
          I found a rather curious detail in the Wiki page you quoted:
          “The NPP is Secular unlike the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna which is Marxist.[“
          When did Marxism become a religion???

          • 0
            0

            I have heard Marxism so described before. Also, as “Christianity without God”.
            .
            Is Buddhism a “religion”? There’s no God in Buddhism.
            .
            Comments here will soon be over. I’m going to focus on the Hoole article for a day or two.

  • 6
    1

    EE,
    Good Morning.
    “Muslims who are the descendants of refugees from Hindustan live in Sinhale because Sinhala Buddhists saved their ancestors from persecution by Portuguese and allowed them to settle down in interior parts of the country”
    Distorting history by ‘forgetting conveniently’, (Technological Inexactitude), that they were ‘INVITED’ by the KINGS OF YORE OF THE SINHALE to DEFEND THE ‘SINHALÉ’ kingdom from invaders and Marauders, because of their inability to defend on their own resources, without the ‘Muslim Invitees’ and settled in this country by marrying locals, empowering to have families and domicile in this country for the protection of the Kingdom???
    “DISTORTING HISTORY OR MANUFACTURED TRUTH IN PROCESS”!!!

    • 2
      0

      Mahila,
      It’s pointless reminding EE. He can’t actually remember anything. He simply quotes from a diary he keeps, while on his shift at the sewage plant, to keep his mind off the smell.

      • 1
        0

        OC,
        That must be a well invigorating smell to stimulate everything else other than his mind!!??
        Having said that I probably agree with you!, in TOTO

  • 4
    0

    Dr Ali’s essays are interesting and thought provoking. Good way to subjects ideas to discussion. It is convenient to judge an issue in the hindsight. Isn’t the coined up term ‘SBM’ equivalent to democracy in another territory? On the other hand which of the demand of minority should have been adopted? Ponnambalam, Chelva’s 50:50? Assume so. What would be the demand from Muslims? 25%? How can or how should it work? The way I see it from the time some of the Tamil hierarchy rejected the “independence’ the racism commenced and started to grow. Why cannot Tamil parties contest in places like Colombo with equally distributed population? At least parties with Sinhala names did contest in the North and East. Minorities and majority must learn to share.
    Definitely A new constitution must clearly express that the MPs must be elected. A president must be either directly elected by electorate or by the elected MPs. Nether President, Prime Minister or “Speaker” should not have a freehand in taking decisions. They should only be the conveyors or the messengers of parliamentarians. Sri Lankans need to grow up another at least 25 years more to attain the responsible patriotic status.
    Small but important issue is the pardoning of friendly or cashed up murderers by presidents. Making it a habit. Revoke the right.

    • 4
      0

      B
      “Ponnambalam, Chelva’s 50:50? Assume so. What would be the demand from Muslims? 25%?”
      Check out details before making sch declarations.

    • 6
      1

      Sorry, Chelvanayagam never demanded 50/50 and only wanted just Tamil rights within a federal setup. Which is reasonable. GG Ponambalam demanded 50/50 but it was not 50 % for Tamils only but for all other minorities. Tamils, Muslims or Moors, Burghers, Malays and everyone else. At the time of his demand, the percentage of Sinhalese on the island was 66%. Tamils around 26-28%. The rest were mainly Moors or Tamil speaking or Tamil Muslims. If his demand was 60% for the Sinhalese and 40% for all the other minorities it would have been very reasonable and nothing wrong with that. Pre-independence the Sinhalese had 60% of the parliamentary seats and the others 40%. It all changed later. In a proper democracy the minorities always get a higher proportion of parliamentary seats and the majority less, in order to safeguard. In Sri Lanka, it is the opposite. The majority takes everything and nothing for the rest.

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        Rohan,
        Proof it is a Majoritarianism clothed in Democracy??!!
        What a mockery??
        So the claim that
        1. GG’s proposal reserved 50% Parliament seats for Tamils, was INCORRECT!!??!!
        mere ‘SPIN’ to rubbish the proposal and BIN it, alternatively,
        2. GG’s proposal reserved 50% Parliament seats for Sinhalese, was CORRECT??!!
        If as you say, the Sinhalese were assured of 50% of seats, they would have been in the majority and could have governed well the country?!
        However, that would not work, because for that to work all Sinhalese have to unite as one??!!
        From what we have experienced up to now, they cannot do that, being so divisive!
        Motivated to ‘pull down’ anyone trying to ‘climb the ladder’ of progress!!
        It’s their valued “Past Time”! Otherwise, their State of Mind’ may never relax and be stress free!
        What a world in which we live??!!
        If that became reality, naturally lost the case to inveigle separation to masses to vote them in??!
        Proof, every government since independence have used ethnicity to garner votes!!
        STOCK FAB statement for victory!!
        Well, factor we are forgetting is, then claims, “API THAMAI KERE”, becomes history, because of divisive family aligned politics??!!
        What a world and spin???

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        Rohan25,
        “If his demand was 60% for the Sinhalese and 40% for all the other minorities it would have been very reasonable and nothing wrong with that.”

        Indigenous Sinhalayo gave 60-40 but greedy Tamils rejected that and insisted on 50-50 and created all the problems to Sinhalayo who accommodated Tamils in their country.

        Ranil gave almost one third of the country to megalomaniac terrorist Prabhakaran on a platter but greedy Tamils wanted their separate State Eelam and went on massacring Sinhala Buddhists and faced a humiliating defeat at Nandikadal.

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      Bindu,
      “Why cannot Tamil parties contest in places like Colombo with equally distributed population?”
      Have you not noticed that Mano Ganeshan gets himself elected from Colombo?
      “Ponnambalam, Chelva’s 50:50? Assume so. What would be the demand from Muslims? 25%?”
      What would you say to representation according to economic output?

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    Serious writers like basil Fernando,(whom I respect) with international perspectives and respected career progression in HK and yourself from academia are saying serious things.But here we hijack it.We are best on reverse gear if not we have traffic…..The first guy who commented here was hopeful says he saw change….do you really think it was “a change” that the idealistic aragaliya youth want, anybody here knows what the puffing is about !
    Peoples bank? can’t COPE ? Investigating investigator and do pissu commission if all fails.No problem money printing or switch to Indian rupee. No cooking gas but tear gas only for tomorrow.
    Constitution ? We have 21 changes and sub sections at cost (all gil mart type), with rich history. Even England has none. Petrol only Horton, boss knows one step at a time in Tango, not like Baila .US wants full cv so far not sofar not bad.

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    AA,

    “………Sri Lanka is so strategically positioned in the context of Indian Ocean geopolitics that the world powers could not afford to watch it descending to anarchy through bankruptcy.”

    The best world powers can do is garner up the funds to let Motherland have a general election ASAP! The more the Rajapaksas are around, the worser the country will bankrupt itself. A brand-new government of the people, and brand-new constitution will usher in a brand new set of economic conditions conducive towards country and global prosperity.

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      (Part I)
      RTF,
      Good morning.
      “The best world powers can do is garner up the funds to let Motherland have a General Election (GE) ASAP! The more the Rajapaksa’s are around, the worser the country will bankrupt itself.”
      Understand and agree with you.
      Elections needed, Presidential (if not, abolished) and Parliament, get fresh governing mandate?!
      6.9 million Voters of 2019, are claiming that, they voted for ‘Sawbhakiya Dekma’ and ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ and not “Lack of essentials (Gas, Fuel, electricity), never ending queues and starvation”!! That may well be the case??!! Needs verification and therefore elections!!
      However, GE, will never be a solution, this point of time!
      We, Sri Lankans, are so glum, believe ‘Glib Talking’ politicians (with no credible attributes to check and verify, the utterances of the political Uthumanani at election rallies?!) are so susceptible and vulnerable to fall at their feet and their word to vote!!!
      Don’t be deluded that, past 2½ years (specifically last 1 year) will help voters make right choice?
      It’s my take, “Bad dream”?! Nothing more!!
      Politicking Moratorium – 2 years (not more) – an Interim Government, ensure economy recovers to enable the populace understand the differentiation of Governance – GOOD AND BAD?!

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      (PART II)
      After that, Sri Lankans (majority voters 55%, who are Rural Poor Peasants –not comprehensively internet savvy!) to sensibly differentiate, be smart ‘not to be inveigled’ by “PROMISES”, which are notoriously forgotten, once last vote counted, declaring “WIN”!
      Election PROMISE of “Rice from Moon (!)” after Neil Armstrong’s success on 20th July 1969!!!
      Those 2/3rd majority voted Sirimavo, majority believed, if not, ‘lock, stock and barrel’, US/USSR help to Madam!!
      Perhaps, didn’t understand Rice Plant doesn’t grow on the Moon to bring even superpowers helped!
      Just another case in point, just see how long it took for Sri Lankans to COME OUT OF CONTINUOUSLY VOTING EITHER SENANAYKE OR BANDARANAIKE ‘FAMILY RULE’??
      1947 – 1977 – 30 years melancholy, alternation with no tangible evolution/emancipation of progress
      The answer IS NOT A CONVINCING YES??!!
      “IN PROCESS, BUT A GREAT STRUGGLE YET”!!!
      I would dare say NOT YET, await latter 2nd half 2024, emanate clear thinking, unclutter mess!!

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        Mahila,

        No, now is the time for elections!

        Anymore of Ranil and Rajapaksas (the 2 R’s), and our macro-economic policy will be about attempting to recover and safeguard our Lankan money Rajapaksas placed on the alternate global monetary networks. It will be hard to gain loans from IMF, WB and other places with these 2 R’s around. The foreign entities will just give us bare-bone rations.

        The 2 R”s latest macro-economic ploy of “Lankan-first” on environmental and climate-recovery issues will not cut it with the global lenders. World bodies will be still very wary of the megalomanical tendencies of these incumbent Lankan leaders.

        50% rural dwellers were always bought by these politicians, and finally they now see the effects through their current starvation. We need a brand new macro-economic policy via the Socialist and semi-Socialist parties that incorporate Lankan work-ability with country monetary worth, and then build up from there.
        The Masses will vote on them readily this time around. Previously it was about safeguarding the Sinhala culture. Now even the Tamils don’t really care too much about pushing their agenda and are willing to work with the Sinhalese as one united Nation.

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      ramona therese fernando
      “A brand-new government of the people, and brand-new constitution will usher in a brand new set of economic conditions…”

      Brilliant idea.
      Can you please tell what are these new set of economic conditions that will usher as a result of a brand-new Government of the people and a brand-new Constitution and how those new economic conditions will bring $$$s which is the main issue at the moment.
      —-
      Even JVP leaders who demand an election do not say how that will solve the current economic crisis.

      • 0
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        Mahila,

        No, now is the time for elections!

        Anymore of Ranil and Rajapaksas (the 2 R’s), and our macro-economic policy will be about attempting to recover and safeguard our Lankan money Rajapaksas placed on the alternate global monetary networks. It will be hard to gain loans from IMF, WB and other places with these 2 R’s around. The foreign entities will just give us bare-bone rations.

        The 2 R”s latest macro-economic ploy of “Lankan-first” on environmental and climate-recovery issues will not cut it with the global lenders. World bodies will be still very wary of the megalomanical tendencies of these incumbent Lankan leaders.

        50% rural dwellers were always bought by these politicians, and finally they now see the effects through their current starvation. We need a brand new macro-economic policy via the Socialist and semi-Socialist parties that incorporate Lankan work-ability with country monetary worth, and then build up from there.
        The Masses will vote on them readily this time around. Previously it was about safeguarding the Sinhala culture. Now even the Tamils don’t really care too much about pushing their agenda and are willing to work with the Sinhalese as one united Nation.

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        EE,

        Any government in place will be able to beg bare-bones rations from the rest of the globe. JVP leaders will ensure they recover stolen monies in-country and globally, and incorporate it on the work-ability of the Lankan Masses. Economic and Political structural reforms will be based on Lankan reality and honor towards the Nation.

  • 0
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    Agnos writes” The gerontocracy in SL has not allowed capable younger people to develop and grow as leaders. That is showing up in the dearth of good leaders available in the country”.
    I think this is a very correct and relevant observation, specially with reference to the public sector. Having been in government service and later in the private, the difference in recognition of merit, dedication to the service and efficiency of the service rendered to the public is significant. In the private enterprise that I served in, the staff at whatever level was provided the opportunity and encouraged to rise in their career so that there was continuity in the quality of the particular service extended by the enterprise, to public service.
    This is something that must be addressed in the public, government sector; preparing and encouraging the staff within every department to be given appropriate opportunity to hold responsibility. They must be then held answerable to their individual service and commitment to the overall mission of that Department; the immediate line manager must monitor and guide the junior staff to this end.
    It is not just politicians that are responsible for where we are, but other state and private officials in positions of responsibility too, for being irresponsible and non-committed towards achieving the specific goals.

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    Ramona
    Agree with your 2nd para.I understand fair election is soon becoming a condition of democratic lenders.
    But as for the 1st para quoting AA I beg to differ.No country is indispensible in the real world. Alternatives exist for superpowers in any sea or landmass. Stability is a precondotion for investment of the IMF democratic model ,while militarised models like China may differ. If Sri lanka preffers a dictatorship they have the freedom to try that model and tag that route without affecting the national security of the quad countries. The regime and its sycophants will no doubt explain their decision to the Majority. No man is forcing them to borrow. Ranil or the Prez have options.

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      FCB,

      Agree. Our country is not indispensable….we’re nothing great. Yes, foreign lenders will need to see some democratic stability. Dictator ship, and we won’t get the loans of the West, for it won’t be profitable for them. But we desperately need them after the dictator drove us to ruin.

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    “System Change” is needed URGENTLY for all the concerned citizens of SL. We had ENOUGH of the current Parliament and its occupants. We need to DUMP them all as quickly as possible. It is futile to expect they will bring political and economic solutions to the SL citizens. We need a temporary GoSL headed by the Chief Justice and a dozen of able civilians.
    Clipping the powers of the President has to happen as soon as possible

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