19 March, 2024

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Taking A Stand On Sri Lanka Today: Rejoinder To Prof Laksiri Fernando

By Dayan Jayatilleka – 

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

“How do we understand the Asgiriya Chapter’s statement—because the crucial challenge is to comprehend it, whether or not one agrees with it in whole or in part (and I for one, do not).” ~ Dayan Jayatilleka, ‘Politics after Asgiriya’, The Island, June 24th 2017

Flattering as it is to interpretatively debate ‘Dayan Jayatilleka Thought’ or ‘DJ Chinthana’, let’s not make this about that or let’s do so only tangentially. What is far more important is the political content of this debate as it relates to Sri Lanka and the world, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

What is amply clear are the dividing lines, the lines of demarcation, between Prof. Laksiri Fernando and myself. As do all progressives and leftists in Sri Lanka, I regard the outcomes of 1956 and 1970 as more positive than negative. Laksiri takes the opposite view, and indeed does not seem to see anything positive about either 1956 or 1970! Like many, but not all Sri Lankan progressives and leftists, I see the negative side of 1956 and 1970, as I do of 2005—but I regard the primary aspect of those three turning points in our political history as positive, not negative.  In short, mine is a dialectical view.

Laksiri’s negative reading of 1956 and 1970 leaves him open to the obvious question: who in his view, should have won the elections of 1956 and 1970? If the center-left coalitions did not, it is the rightwing, pro-imperialist, comprador UNP that would have. So that is what Laksiri prefers. Even with the downsides of 1956 and 1970, the only available realistic choices were the comprador UNP or the SLFP-led center-left, nationalist coalitions. I prefer one outcome; Laksiri the opposite.

This is “not to do with the letters of the alphabet—UNP or SLFP”, as political columnist Surath Ambalangoda used to say. It is to do with the program and project of the government concerned. I am glad that Ranasinghe Premadasa beat Sirima Bandaranaike in 1988 because I considered him the more progressive (populist-patriotic) candidate though he represented the UNP. When I supported Premadasa, most of those who prefer Ranil’s UNP today opposed him (and reviled, even attempted to lynch me).      

What I see today are all the signs of another 1956 and 1970, by which I mean both the positive and negative signs. 1956 and 1970 happened because of certain stimuli; certain national and social challenges. ’56 and ’70 (and 2005) were blowback; a backlash. Today those same causative factors abound and the same backlash has begun.  That backlash has positive and negative aspects. I have suggested certain moves and measures to pre-empt, neutralize, or minimize those negative aspects of the “ethno religious radical right that has mobilized” as I called in ‘Politics After Asgiriya’: recomposing the government by ditching its pro-imperialist rightwing which is a magnet for an ultranationalist backlash; delinking the official SLFP from the UNP and sending it back into opposition so as to strengthen a moderate center in the oppositional space; conferring proper recognition on the moderate progressive Dinesh Gunawardena as Opposition leader and the 52 JO MPs as the legitimate Opposition, thereby de-radicalizing the coming wave.

However, I have also grasped the nettle and posed the question as to what the choices are if none of these measures are opted for. If so, and the obvious polarization sets in, I have explained why I would support the JO-SLPP Opposition bloc, even if, as is highly likely it will be supported by a “saffron wave”. I have supported my argument using Lenin, Stalin and Fidel Castro. If Laksiri has a problem with the perspective that the anti-imperialist, anti-neocolonial, anti-comprador, anti-neoliberal struggle is the main thing and that it is not checking the tick boxes of social progressivism that count so much as whether or not that social or political force objectively attacks/resists imperialism and its local puppets, then that’s not my problem, it is his.

Speaking quite plainly, I regard the battle ongoing in Syria as our equivalent of the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, and I am unhesitatingly and enthusiastically on the side of the Syrian Arab Army, President Bashar Assad, Putin’s Russia, Ayatollah Khameini’s Iran and Hassan Nasrallah’s Hezbollah, all engaged in protecting a state’s sovereign right to protect itself from terrorist barbarism.   

I support the re-convergence of Russia and China and their Eurasian strategy to ensure a more multipolar world; a world with a greater equilibrium and more space for countries such as ours.

Driving these choices of mine is the perspective, as Fidel enunciated, that after the fall of socialism, the most important thing for those of us in the global South is the struggle for national independence and the unity and sovereignty of our states. Russia and China are our objective allies in this struggle.

I try to be consistent in what I say and do. It is because my views are those stated above, that I support those political and social forces in Sri Lanka that stand for or approximate these positions and I stand against those who are on the other side of this divide. Thus, I stand with the JO and its leaders, even if they support and are supported by the Sangha whose ideological stance I do not support, identify with or endorse but whose objective role and stance against the regime, I regard as more positive than negative a strategic development.  If Laksiri had read DC Wijewardena’s 700 page classic, “The Revolt in the Temple” (1953), he would recall how the Sangha factor fed into the 1956 outcome, and would see where the Asgiriya intervention, unprecedented in recent decades, fits in the unfolding scenario.

Laksiri thinks we are not heading for a 1956 or 1970. As someone who lives in Sydney, he cannot sense the anger in our society. I can and do, every day. Why does he think the JO is sweeping the multipurpose cooperative society (MPCS) elections in the most diverse areas, beating by a large margin the UNP and official SLFP even when their votes are put together? Why does he think the Yahapalana government is running scared of elections? We’ll be lucky if the polarization and backlash stop at a 1956, 1970 or 2005 endgame.

Let’s dispense with the Rajapaksa and family rule issue. Raul was Defence Minister throughout Fidel’s leadership of Cuba and that was not because of nepotism but because he was the best for the job. I think the JO is superbly led in parliament by Dinesh Gunawardena and has a really talented collection of progressive personalities, such as our closest equivalent to Jeremy Corbyn, Vasudeva Nanayakkara (a friend of Corbyn), Dullas Alahapperuma, Vidura Wickramanayaka, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga, Dilum Amunugama, Namal Rajapaksa et al.

Addressing together with Mahinda Rajapaksa, Dinesh Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Dullas Alahapperuma and Wimal Weerawansa, the large Dehiwela conclave of Trade Union delegates of the ‘Center to Save Our National Assets’, I suggested that today’s ‘Pancha Maha Balavegaya’ should actually be an ‘Ashta Maha Balavegaya’ consisting of the Sangha-Guru-Veda-Govi-Kamkaru-Sisu-Sebala-Vurtheeyavedee! 

I am of the firm view that given the national crisis we are mired in, and the nature of that crisis, we need the strongest, most experienced and successful personalities to lead us out of where we are, to the best we can realistically be given our sociocultural matrix—a (Mahathirian) Malaysia. Sri Lanka needs a new model of state: a developmentalist, modernizing and technocratic state of the East Asian model. And that translates into a leadership duo of Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Given the 19th amendment, this means Mahinda as PM and Gota as President.

For any task one has to select the best tools. We need a blowtorch and a Black and Decker power drill to get us out of this mess, and that means a new vanguard of MR+GR+the best of the former armed forces combat commanders.

From the time I made his acquaintance 40 years ago, Laksiri Fernando and I always had this recurrent problem of his Trotskyism, and decades later of his support for CBK’s “peace” (appeasement) moves, Sudu Nelum ideology and her Constitutional “package”. His latest polemic and his support for the wretched regime of Ranil Wickremesinghe, place him clearly in the pro-imperialist, Rightist and reactionary camp, against the patriotic forces. Those who feel the same way may wish to join him.        

I have stated the issues and the choices as clearly as I can. This isn’t about me. The readers are free to think through the issues and decide which side they are on.

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Latest comments

  • 5
    1

    SP Dr.DJ,
    You claim that the political content you wrie relates to SL & the world, yesterday, today & tomorrow.

    If that is the case how about the political analysis “Prophecies of Bandaranayake ” wrote by CV Vivekananthan ( A-A-L ) in Daily Mirror on 2017-06-24 ?
    He has quoted what SWRD said to the monks ” If you are against the pact, I would certainly tear it up but it will endanger the future of the country, you have to think about it “.
    Clearly it was also about yesterday, today & tomorrow.
    Can you counter his arguements ?

    What did Colvin R DE SILVA talk about yesterday , today and tomorrow in 1956 on SWRD brought in turning point ?

    You as a political analyst and a SL PhD holder almost wite every other day writes in the media.
    Why not you write a one on an urgent basis ? It will be relavant to yesterday, today & tomorrow. The topic I’m giving you :

    Which balavegaya ( Ashta, Pancha, Nava, Desa or Castro ) was responsible for killing a great SL Leader like CBK’s father SWRD ? and Why ?

    The ball is in your court .

    • 7
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      “such as our closest equivalent to Jeremy Corbyn, Vasudeva Nanayakkara (a friend of Corbyn),”

      ………….. Soooooo …………. being a friend of some white-man gives a freeloader like Vasudeva mythical powers, eh? …………. Perhaps it’s too late now, but hope at least in the next birth you’ll get over the need/mentality to suck up to the Whites ………. the colonial hangovers ………….. wonder what good ol’ Fidel would have thought of it? …………….

      “Namal Rajapaksa” ……………….. so, already trying to buy an insurance policy, eh? ……………

      Oh boy! ………. Dayan has really lost the plot this time! …………….. Time for Men-in-White to haul him away. ……………… and for all the psychiatrists at Angoda to abandon ship. …………. Dayan is one guy who can make even the best psychiatrists climb walls. ………….. He can make psychiatrists go mad. ……………….. Phew, that’s some rare talent!

    • 4
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      Please God’s sake, think twice before being passed the next to THE public DJ. This is a kind
      request being made to you, after studying your articles closely.

      Yours is becoming today even more disgusting.

      So what is the point of harrasing the larger portions of the CT readers this way ? Not even a single person would feel yours have been timeworthy. Just because you refer men known to you one behind the other, nothing can change about the opinions either. The cream of each of the articles are pleasing Rajaakshes for your own selfish gains.

      Besides, how can a person with a good doctorate (I doubt it today you to have claimed a good doctorate – may be it just sounded high profesisonal just because you filled it with moutains of references to sound the text contents as is the case with your articles). to continue go after brutal men calling them on and on to be the best to represent us. I hate to see this NADAGAM again.
      I had then a kind neigbour in my student hostel whose behaviour was by large similar to that of an autist. Austism is a gentic disorder, which the person would not care about the listners, but he continues whatever he thinks is right, but in some areas, his memories are excellent compared to any other average. When he started answering to one simple question raised in the area of any simple item of day today, he explained and explained being in NON-STOP mode, no matter the listner would become sick. SO IS THE CASE WITH YOUR ARTICLES DJ. PLEASE RETHINK BEFORE COMING WITH THE NEXT WITHIN NEXT 24 hours.

    • 3
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      Mr NON PhD;

      I have been a commentator to CT for the last 3- years If my memory is right. From that day onwards, there are regular article writers one of which has been DJ. Thisaranee G is one another and Prof. David and several others too are there, but they bring their articles by large on valuable topis.

      To tell you truth, most of the articles DJ has been brining to CT audience are mostly supportive to Rajakashes and Sajith Premadasa. AND most of them contain no rightly questioning issues such as why Rajaakshes have a set of allegations on high profile crimes and murders. He seems to be enjoying having written supportive articles, but in the same time, we the commentators feel, he fully ignores the critical questions on Rajaakshes.
      He often adds his attacks to hurt CBK-RW but sounds to be somewhat polite towards MY3: May well be, DJ is still believing to approach MY3 for his next diplomatic post.
      All in all, what i want you and other readers to know is – DJ may be a DOCTORATE holder, but his levels has now been fallen to all low…. I am afraid, I cant distinquish his today with that of a known rascal turned out to be the most vociferous to JO today-wimal weerawanse. Latter would do any public statement filled with sinhala vulgar terms, just pleasing former Leader.

  • 8
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    Did I read Namal’s name among his list of talented collection of progressive personalities; What has come of Dayan Jayatilleka!

    • 6
      2

      Unreal,

      If we are to take Daddy-Rajapaksa’s view expressed on AlJazeera that DJ is such a low-life that would change his mind to suit/serve at the will of the current pay-master, [Edited out]

    • 4
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      Unreal ———–“What has come of Dayan Jayatilleka!” —————–Be real.

      • 4
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        NV, I am never in disagreement with your routine assessment of Dayan Jayatilleka. However, this particular comment of mine was intentional. Is there a single progressive personality in DJ’s list? No. None. However, not even Dinesh Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Dullas Alahapperuma, Vidura Wickramanayaka, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga, or Dilum Amunugama would wish to see Namal Rajapaksa mentioned along with them, whatever list that may be!

    • 5
      1

      Rajash —— The little fascist war monger types “Vasudeva Nanayakkara (a friend of Corbyn)” – Please do us a favour. Could you confirm it with Jeremy Corbyn’s office. Is Jeremy Corbyn a mango friend of Vasu who for years warned us of the bonapartists of this island. Now he had sold himself to generic bonapartists.

    • 5
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      Unreal———-“Did I read Namal’s name among his list of talented collection of progressive personalities;”———————————————————————————————————– Why not, he topped his final year at Law College, a rare achievement. Namal would have completed his double PhD if his father wasn’t deposed in the January 2015 coup. He has proven skills in businesses such as running Carlton Leisure and night races, even Sri Lankan Airlines seconded most beautiful air hostess to work for Namal, a top youth organiser of Blue Brigade, ………………….. I think you are bit jealous about Namal’s achievements.

    • 2
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      DJ called Weerawansa a rising star! This tells you all what you need to know!

    • 1
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      Unreal – Sometimes, memory loss can be a contributory factor!

  • 6
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    DJ,

    you may be bringing one behind the other. You have been in a dream of your own from that day on wards.

    Just elaborate us please if any predictions you made prior to last election ended up succeeding yours ?

    But to tell you the truth, all what Prof. LFernando made prior to election and since then have always been succeesful.
    Knowing the truth, you continuously make yourself a CLOWN for some reasons ( may more likely be pathological).

    You even risked by sitting with those dogs from the Nugegdoa stage on… but dont you think, that you have been infected by the tick today ?

    You have always been comparing ours with that of CUBA ,in what context you have been doing so ? Do you think that our majority of vote eligibles do behave pro-cuban style politcs ?Then tell us why JVP was defeated even during the last election?

    Your thoughts are good enough to discuss in a round table, but no means applicable to lanken ground realities.

  • 5
    2

    This guy wants a fascist future for SL. He contemplates rule by a psychopath as president and a kleptocrat as prime minister with former army commanders who need to stand trial for various war crimes. Has the Centre to Save our National Assets recovered the loot stolen by the Rajapakses? Has Wimal Weerawansa returned the bribes and other benefits he and his wife mulcted from the state? V. Nanayakara and his wife got freebies thrown their way by the Rajapakses. The list DJ provides is of men only slightly more tainted than he. This Ashta Balavegaya has such big-time crooks that it would become the laughing stock of the people. DJ is already a major joke who simply cannot stop digging himself into a greater hole.

    • 4
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      Mama Sinhalam———–“This guy wants a fascist future for SL.”——– I do agree with you. He also comes from a long line of modified human. The war monger types:———“I try to be consistent in what I say and do.”—————The little fascist does not say “since when and how long” ——-Here we need the exact date and time to the seconds. ———–Little fascist further types:”The readers are free to think through the issues and decide which side they are on.”————-The readers always think freely, and the little fascist wants to stop them by introducing ban on CT and other liberal media. Now he wants the clan back in different packaging and guises , but the fleet of vans remain white unless of course Gota decides ” It doesn’t matter whether the van is white or black, as long as it catches perceived enemies of the clan.”

  • 5
    2

    Can one imagine that if Namal, Prasanna and Wimal, who are under investigation are deemed to be in the best team, what the level of thinking is ?? This certainly takes him into a different Doctoral level !!!

    It is a pity that despite all his reading, he cannot maintain consistency and thus making a joke of himself.

    • 6
      2

      R.P. Perera – “This certainly takes him into a different doctoral level!!!”. He has no level in comparison with Dr. Laksiri Fernando. Dayan is just a clown.

  • 5
    1

    DL concludes: “This isn’t about me”. It is about you, your views and judgement Dayan. For example your list of talented progressive personalities (closest equivalent to Jeremy Corbyn) include Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Dullas Alahapperuma, Vidura Wickramanayaka, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga, Dilum Amunugama, Namal Rajapaksa et al. How many agree with you? Namal scored 98% in a Law examination paper. Has he shown any brilliance before or after?
    You say: “…………We need a blowtorch and a Black and Decker power drill to get us out of this mess, and that means a new vanguard of MR+GR+the best of the former armed forces combat commanders”. Which one of these is the power drill, blow torch? By the way Black and Decker is no longer a sought after tool.
    Those who call your views DL Chinthanaya are being cynical – do not get carried away Dayan.
    Dayan stop trying to be relevant.

  • 5
    2

    Don’t vomit on the dining table. Please use the commode Dayan .

    • 5
      2

      Mohamed Hisham—–“Please use the commode Dayan .” —————————How about sharing Mahindapala’s spittoon (padikkama)?

  • 3
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    DJ [Edited out]

  • 2
    3

    Will these these arguments rescue our nation from this Political and Economic vandalism of Yahapalana government ?………Economically Dr Ranil and his cohorts are hell bent of selling everything , which the Public own to Private companies and Individuals , mainly from India……Politically Dr Ranil’s anti Buddhist crusaders are firing both Barrels …. … with Dr Ranil’s Boy Minister Akila rolling out the Heavy Artillery to attack Asgiriya ….. Because the Mahanauyakas , came to the forefront to save Buddhasasana from Yahapalanaya…. The latest is one Mujibur calling the Sinhala Buddhist Politcal fighter Wimal Weere , the Son of Siddhartha….. While Dr Ranil’s Yahapalana guard dog Rajitha is calling GMOA who are trying to save the Sinhala Buddhists from Indians, a ” bunch of kinder kids ” who broke into Bodhi Sira’s Office ,, to have negotiations on SAITM…….And Bodhi Sira apparently calling Rajitha to assure that there was no discussions…….Now,, I know, why Dr Ranil, Kiriella , and Bodhi Sira are hellbent on pushing this SAITM to train Doctors to look after Yahapalana suckers going forward………….

    • 3
      1

      K A Sumanasekera, you can’t row the boat when there is no water and when the water gushes you stretch both hands with begging bowls- it’s only getting worse. It’s a matter of swapping like on the 15th January after elections- $$1.5 billion for helicopter local currency to save the prices from going through the roof. This time BoJo wants Diego Garcia so the swapping would be Hanuman’s Lanka – Samsara! Samsara! Suddha ge kale- Desmond De Silva and Indus River flowing from Tibet.

  • 2
    0

    Read your own writings since Lanka Guardian period and see how you have mutated again and again. major mutation occured when you surrendered to JR and RP with your disappointment by padmanaba letting Varather to be CM . Since then your emotional imbalance clouding your intellect. you learned much about Fidel! Still you couldn’t accept the implications of moral and ethical dimensions of MR. your emotionally hijacked thought processes not promoting progress. They are the major obstacles for next generation of youth to lead a new way forward for their country. people like you with good knowledge of the past history should help them not to make the past mistakes and encourage them to unite all communities for progress of humanity in srilanka.or Let srilanka live by astrologers predictions and give your intellectual astrological analysis to support their predictions.

  • 1
    2

    As do all progressives and leftists in Sri Lanka, I regard the outcomes of 1956 and 1970 as more positive than negative. Laksiri takes the opposite view, and indeed does not seem to see anything positive about either 1956 or 1970! Like many, but not all Sri Lankan progressives and leftists, I see the negative side of 1956 and 1970, as I do of 2005

    Ooohhhh! Coming down out Thero the Hero or the Zero? Could not sell the 1956 & 1970 in the CT. CT is not Local TV studio. That is why.

    Thero asking if would vote to the Pancha Padi Maha Wegaya do you want o vote for UNP? Comedy Thamai.

    Does Thero know what the Lanakweyan did in the great year of our lord in 2015? Isn’t for what constantly Thero was writing in 2014’s third quarter? Why this confusion coming to ask without voting to to SWRD to whom the Sinhala Modaya vote?

    Where is this guy is finding out a center left from Kandy Royal family, the Nayakas? Nayakas are really really center left? Thanjavur Royal Family, they are my gad sir, if never did know that. Further when was the Lankawe extremists, Ariya Buddhist Brahmin became center or left? If Thero cannot get along how the center left Solomon Dias started to get along with group? When the 1950s GOMA become peasant of the country to support a left group? Before SWRD invent his magic formula did this GOMA ever voted Pert or NM? The truth is well described in Mervyn de Silva’s quote, these are Language, Religious , Cultural & caste extremist, they are not center left. SWRD wanted Federal State to get rid the fish smelling Karava out of Colombo. How is this is center Left?

  • 0
    2

    “I am of the firm view that given the national crisis we are mired in, and the nature of that crisis, we need the strongest, most experienced and successful personalities to lead us out of where we are, to the best we can realistically be given our sociocultural matrix—a (Mahathirian) Malaysia. Sri Lanka needs a new model of state: a developmentalist, modernizing and technocratic state of the East Asian model. And that translates into a leadership duo of Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Given the 19th amendment, this means Mahinda as PM and Gota as President.

    For any task one has to select the best tools. We need a blowtorch and a Black and Decker power drill to get us out of this mess, and that means a new vanguard of MR+GR+the best of the former armed forces combat commanders. “

    Whatever all the “Pundits” and “keyboard warriors” says about DJ , the only way to pull this country out of the current economical and social crisis is summarized clearly in the above statement – This country needs leaders with clear vision , not politically correct lackeys with blurred visions – What is happening around the world shows that the people are becoming sick of politically correct egoistic leaders – because this category of leaders had failed miserably to address the real problems of the people that they are suppose govern.

    We have lost enough time already – unfortunately

  • 1
    0

    In other news: Karma is a B itch.

    “The police Tuesday morning recovered four bodies, including three children, hanging outside a house which had been torched in the Kamburupitiya area in Matara.
    According to reports, the four bodied of a father and his three children were discovered hanging from nooses tied to a bamboo pole stuck between two trees. 
    It is believed that the father had murdered his three children by hanging them before committing suicide himself. 
    A team of police officers were immediately dispatched to the location after the police emergency hotline had received information regarding a house on fire in the Beraliathura area in Kumburupitiya. 
    Upon reaching the burning home, police officers discovered the four bodies including two girls and boy who had been ordained as a Buddhist monk. The hands of the three children were tied behind their backs, according to reports. 
    The deceased have been identified as Wickramatunga Arachchi Pathiranage Priyantha (44), Wickramatunga Arachchi PathiranageKaushalya Sewwandi (16), Wickramatunga Arachchi Pathiranage Hiruni Sewwandika (10) and Ransegoda Mangala Thero (14). 
    The young Buddhist monk had only visited his home from the Temple on that fateful day, Ada Derana reporter said. 
    The bodies are still under police custody while the magistrate’s inquiry and postmortem examinations are to be carried out today (27). 
    Kamburupitiya Police is conducting an investigation. “

  • 4
    0

    Most CT readers think DJ is wasting his time by debating Laksiri Fernando. Judging by his many articles published here, he has showed that he is a man full of impractical ideas and brain the size of a mustard sees. Why waste time?

    • 3
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      Jacob@

      taking it for example – DJ s articles in general overflow with the comments. Most fo theose comments are personal attacks coming from various levels of commentators. Comments makers simly cant bear their anger towards this particular rabblerouser. As if the audience would take actors on the stage as CLOWNs, each time, DJ is thrown with all filthy loads.

      His thinking is totally different from the average. This does not necessarily mean that the commentators are not well-read, or or not having updated information, but simply they find DJ idiosyncratic thinking, not being consistent to his previous articles, but being VERYY MUCH blindfolded/mesmerished as is the case with any uneducated rural folks that at once believed what was telecasted or broadcasted through Rajaakshe BIASED media from that day onwards.

      Hedgemonies as we know today camed into being through gobbels style theories. vLikewise, even today, Dherana TV sender, emerged by the black money of Rajaakshes, behaves in faovour of Mahinda Rajakashe and his brutal men. People were kept in dark through their style teledramas and other programs that could perhaps divert the thinking of the masses. Today, one behind the other, latter media men bring interviews rabblerousing the nation.
      Yesterday for example, I heard Derana interviewing a minister of incumbent govt, but fully attacking the interviewee all along, that the current govt is not at able to manage anything. Interviewer sounded to be part of an agenda player. The freedom given to the media today is beyond all higher levels as no other govt did it sofar. Today, president and pm are being subjected to higher criticisms. No body would say anything. Democracy is overflowing.
      But I am in the view that we the people should stand against Derana or the like minded Rajapakshe biased media instititiution. The loads of complaints came in, since the new govt took over, are mountaneous. But none of them have been investigated to this date to the manner, almost breaking the promises kept by the 6.2 mio of voters in this country.

    • 1
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      Jacob Cohen – Dayan is giving us cheap entertainment, my friend!

  • 2
    4

    Broadly agree with DJ’s views here.

    The battle lines are being drawn and DJ is in the right side.

    • 1
      1

      Hela——“Broadly agree with DJ’s views here. The battle lines are being drawn and DJ is in the right side.” ————————————Finally Dayan the public racist has managed to convince one stupid to panic. It would be a great achievement for him hoping that that you would persuade the state to buy some arms, such as ICBM, Nuclear Bombs, Sukhoi Su-34, Pinnaka rocket launchers, ………prepare for nanotech war, …. What is in it for Dayan the war monger? A fat commission from the suppliers? ———-Please demand your share from the supplier for first to panic. ————When did you leave your Hela province of Papua New Guinea?

  • 5
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    Mahinda and Gota had ample opportunities between 2009 with the defeat of LTTE and 2015 when he lost the election to turn this country to a new model of state. He had 2/3 rd majority to do this but he squandered that opportunity.

    He could have taken some time off to read the country’s history after independence to figure out the mistakes that were made and to correct them, read the history of Singapore’ s success in all spheres of activities and tried to implement some of them at least to make Sri Lanka as you call it new model of state. But the fact remains he didn’t.

    Colossal sums of Sri Lanka’s wealth which was mostly borrowed at interest was wasted in projects which did not bring any financial benefit to the nation, and some of them even did not make any economic sense. Here are some of them:

    1) The hedging scandal
    2) Mihin Air
    3) Hambantota port
    4) Mattala Airport
    5) Duty free permits
    6) Ad hoc changes in duties in particular for motor vehicles
    7) Taking over Air Lanka’s management from Emirates

    After winning the war MR and Gota became too arrogant (like Praba) thinking that they are undefeatable. But alas they were defeated.

    By the way this does not mean the present Yahalpalanaya has any concept to make this country a model state.

    The reason being it is the it is the same people who keep on rotating and coming back to power so what change can the Sri Lankan population expect.

    As Sri Lankans have no other options may be your dream of MR and Gota will come true in the next elections. But turning this country in to a new modern state will always be a pipe dream.

  • 3
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    Not a single comment here in support of “Dr.” DJ. Sad.

    • 2
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      But the boy would never see it, nevetheless come with the other crap within next 24 hours.
      He enjoys his write up, we the CT readership, become so fed up of seeing the so called Mr Selfproclaimed Analyst, not being able see it right LET alone today.

      • 1
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        sama – Have you noticed that the boy, with a pea brain, is quick to send “responders” to learned Professor Laksiri Fernando!

      • 1
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        sama – Correction, “rejoinder”

    • 2
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      Anas,

      Sorry, DJ has avid following by the likes of such, KS, Sumanasekara, Soma, Hela et al
      These people are known Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists! He is preaching to the converted!

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      Selective reading and memory……..Sounds like Trump’s tweeting……..

      Should any reasonable reader expect majority of CT’s audience to be such an enlightened lot? The fact most of them believed yamapalanaya to take the country to nirvana in itself is proof of their sheer stupidity.

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    Far better Stalin than Ranil-CBK-Mangala any day!

    http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Russians-Name-Stalin-Lenin-as-Most-Outstanding-World-Figures-20170627-0019.html

    Russians Name Stalin, Lenin as ‘Most Outstanding World Figures’

    A Russian Communist party activist carries a portrait of late Soviet leader Joseph Stalin during a May Day rally in Moscow on May 1, 2017. | Photo: AFP

    A December poll by the Levada Center also found that the majority of Russians would prefer living under the old Soviet Union.
    Russians have yet again named the late leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Joseph Stalin, as “the most outstanding figure” in world history, a new poll by the Levada Center published Monday indicates.

    [RELATED: Most Russians Prefer Return of Soviet Union and Socialism: Poll]

    Ranking him first in the free form poll — meaning, respondents weren’t given suggestions for answers — Stalin beat out Russian President Vladimir Putin, who came second alongside poet Alexander Pushkin.
    Third in the poll’s ranking, which surveyed 1,600 people in 137 places across Russia, was the late revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution.
    Only three non-Russians made the top 20: French leader Napoleon Bonaparte, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton.
    According to the Levada Center, public opinion of Stalin has been improving over the past few years, mostly due to Stalin’s role in leading the USSR to fight against Nazism in World War II.

    A December poll by the Center also found that the majority of Russians would prefer living under the old Soviet Union and would like to see the socialist system and the Soviet state restored.
    It found that over 50 percent of Russian citizens believe the collapse of the Soviet Union was bad and could have been avoided. Only 28 percent of the population surveyed felt positive about its collapse.
    The center also published that nostalgia for the USSR is at its highest point since 2000.

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    We don’t need stalin now. We need more of valcav cavel to be brave citizens to stand up and speak for your people

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    BTW DJ what you suggest as way forward for SAITM issue

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    I suppose if they fart loud and smelly , we can trust in our local genius to immediately examine every possible outcome in relation to it.

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