By M. A. Sumanthiran –
This statement is being issued in order to clarify our position with regard to the political solution for the Tamil National Question, the 13th amendment to the constitution, the conduct of the long delayed provincial council elections and the All Party conferences convened by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Tamil People have, since 1956, consistently given the Tamil political parties a mandate to work towards a political solution to the Tamil National Question by means of a federal arrangement in the North-East, which was recognized as the ‘historical habitation’ of the Tamil speaking people in the Indo-Lanka Accord that was signed on the 29th of July 1987, which provided for a measure of devolution to the provinces, including land and police powers.
The Government of India has actively engaged in this pursuit for the past 40 years after Sri Lanka accepted the good offices offered by India consequent to the 1983 July violence against the Tamils. Most recently too, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi conveyed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, India’s hope that the Government of Sri Lanka will fulfill the aspirations of the Tamils and drive the process of rebuilding for Equality, Justice and Peace. He also hoped that Sri Lanka will fulfill its commitment to implement the 13th amendment and conduct the Provincial Council’s Elections ; and will ensure a life of respect and dignity for the Tamil community of Sri Lanka. Later, at the press briefing the Foreign Secretary of India reiterated:
“Nothing could be more explicit in terms of what discussions took place, what we put forward, the fact that India continues to look forward to a political solution that addresses the aspirations of the Tamil community, of course aspirations for equality, Justice and self – respect within the framework of united and prosperous Sri Lanka. Prime Minister also clearly said that… expressed our belief that a meaningful devolution of powers and the full implementation of the 13th amendment are essential components of addressing and facilitating the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. This has been our consistent position and this was put forward during the meeting between the two leaders”
Our position is that power sharing must be in a federal structure, consistent with the aspirations of the Tamil People expressed at every election since 1956. The 13th amendment to the constitution is part of the constitution of Sri Lanka, and not a separate appendage. The President and all of us have taken an oath to uphold and defend it. Thus the non – implementation of any part of the constitution is a violation of the whole. To that extent, we insist on the full implementation of the devolution arrangement currently extant in our constitution. That however will not meet with the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil People. That we need to make power sharing arrangement meaningful has been recognized both locally through various processes from Mangala Moonesinghe Select Committee until the Constitutional Assembly 2016 – 2019, under then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and in at least three separate joint statements made with India, during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure.
Nine Provincial councils that were functioning, albeit with deficiencies, have ceased to be due to a legal snag in the process of changing the electoral system. The select committee on electoral reform under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in its Report submitted to this Parliament last year has stated that the provincial council elections which has been stalled for more than three years negates the democratic right of the people, and has recommended to hold the election under the PR system that existed previously. It also recommended that suitable legislation be enacted to enable this. I have presented a private member’s Bill in line with this recommendations, the first reading of which is over. This Bill was challenged in the Supreme Court and the Court has ruled that it can be enacted by a simple majority if recommended changes are made to some clauses in the Bill.
The Tamil National Alliance unequivocally conveyed to the President at the very first All Party Conference on 10th December 2022 that Provincial Council elections must be held without further delay. We also discussed measures necessary to make devolution meaningful. Several discussions were held with the President and at the second All Party Conference on 26th January 2023 again we reiterated our position. It was the same position that was conveyed at the last All Party Conference that was held on 26th July 2023. There was absolutely no change of positions by the Tamil National Alliance; nor is there any contradiction between calling for immediate provincial council elections and enhanced and meaningful devolution. In fact one without the other is meaningless.
*On behalf of TNA, M A Sumanthiran, MP, Jaffna District
Tony / August 1, 2023
Let Tamils’ motherland Tamil Nadu take care of Tamil problems. Sinhala Buddhist Sri Lanka must take care of her indigenous bhoomiputhra Sinhala Buddhists first.
/
Ask any REAL lawyer, they will educate you as to why the hell 13 amendment is ILLEGAL.
/
Ask Modi and Tamil Nadu government to facilitate Tamils’ Right of Return to their Motherland Tamil Nadu. Problem solved!
/
Ajith / August 1, 2023
Tamil nadu free Rice donation is working Tony. Are you a Buddhist Monk?
Refrain from harming living beings.
Refrain from taking that which is not freely given.
Refrain from sexual misconduct.
Refrain from wrong speech; such as lying, idle chatter, malicious gossip or harsh speech.
Refrain from intoxicating drink and drugs which lead to carelessness.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 1, 2023
13th amendment was passed in parliament with 2/3 majority and authorised by full bench of supreme court, who held that there was no need for referendum. So it is legal. Denial of rights of provincial councils enshrined in the act is illegal. 13th amendment was the consequence of Indo-Lanka accord, which is an agreement between two states. Therefore supreme court of Srilanka has no jurisdiction over it, and the north east de-merger effected by it is Illegal.
/
RAVI PERERA / August 2, 2023
“herefore supreme court of Srilanka has no jurisdiction over it, and the north east de-merger effected by it is Illegal.”
Oh really….. You are so intelligent
/
davidthegood / August 2, 2023
Ajith, You ask budddhist monks to refrain. Today’s Upasampada is for Karava caste Amarapura nikaya and not siyam nikaya govi. How can you eliminate division
/
Native Vedda / August 1, 2023
Tony
–
“Let Tamils’ motherland Tamil Nadu take care of Tamil problems. “
–
What are the Tamil problems?
Any sensible member of this island would have told us that it was a Sinhala/Buddhist problem imposed on Sinhalese, Buddhists, Tamils, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, ………………….. and the rest of the people.
–
“Ask any REAL lawyer, they will educate you as to why the hell 13 amendment is ILLEGAL.”
–
“REAL Lawyer” how about Namal Baby, Mahinda, ……. ?
–
“Problem solved!”
–
Of course partially.
What about the rest of the population who arrived in this island from South India and converted themselves into Sinhala/Buddhism?
–
You cannot leave them here on this island.
Please remove them from this land of ours.
/
Mahila / August 1, 2023
What about “imports” made during the Portuguese, Dutch, and English colonialist period???? Those b—–s talk as if they were dropped from heaven and are most divine creatures!!!??? There are some Spanish and French inputs too, though very Sparingly and therefore insignificant!!!???
Don’t forget them conveniently!!!
/
leelagemalli / August 2, 2023
Dear Readers,
.
Tony, idiots like that abound in our homeland, and they don’t even respect their own race. Unfortunately, this is our cancer in our country.
.
These very close people should be rehabilitated to give the youth a better future. I mean the youth of all communities alike. I wish that they would not be confronted with the fears of all kinds that we experienced during the decades of civil war.
–
Also, Tony doesn’t necessarily share the opinion of all Sinhalese.
–
I believe there are more Sinhalese today who would tolerate fedearlism than there were a few years ago. If the PC doesn’t work, we should work in this country for a federalism that allows all Sri Lankans to live equally.
/
Jeeves / August 5, 2023
Tony, Tamil’s ‘motherland’ TamilNadu keeps remembering the connection of the Tamil’s of Lanka to its history from ancient times (Refer to Mahavansa if you believe only what it says). On the other hand, Sinhalese’ motherland, (Bengal or Orissa) , doesn’t remember the connection to the Sinhalese in total and blissful oblivion of that fact.
Sinhalese’ history is more intertwined with, and recorded in, the Tamil Nadu history only. So much so that the early Bengali, Odhissa immigrants to this then-blessed land didn’t even bother to go beg brides for them in their motherland and instead went to the motherland of their co-early-Tamil-immigrants to get brides. They were treated well and given princess and other women of status as their wives. Such was the trust in the beginning between the two immigrant groups to this then-blessed land. (You can refer to the Mahavansa if you will trust that source alone)
Then they somehow got entangled in the politics of dominance between the rival Tamil Kingdoms, namely Chera, Chola, Pandyas of Tamilnadu and mainly supported Pandiyan kingdom. Maybe for that fact that that is where they got their wives from. To a lesser degree They supported Cheras as well.
/
Ajith / August 1, 2023
The behaviour of President at the All party conference is unacceptable to any one. If he wants to implement 13th amendment in full as it was passed with two third majority in Parliament in 1987. I don’t think any legal constraints in implementing them and if there is one he should go to the judiciary. If he needs the approval of current parliament then first he should talk to the members who elected him as President, not to the Tamil Parties. He is now talking about Presidential election first and then Parliament election and then Provincial election. What will happen if he is not elected as President in that election? What is the legal validity of this decision? Can the new President cancel your decision immediately?
The fact is that President is not honest about it. It is very clear that He wants to put the blame on tamil politicians.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 1, 2023
“He wants to put the blame on Tamil politicians”. That is because Tamil politicians are behaving like idiots and are giving the chance for Ranil to put the blame on them.
/
Native Vedda / August 2, 2023
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
–
“That is because Tamil politicians are behaving like idiots”
–
Okay what exactly
do you want Tamil politicians to do to prove they are not behaving like idiots?
–
“… are giving the chance for Ranil to put the blame on them”
–
What do you want them to do to prevent Ranil blaming on them?
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 2, 2023
Any Tamil politician who wants Tamils to believe that by making speeches in parliament, releasing media statements and meeting foreign dignitaries, they could win the rights of Tamils is a crook, coward and fool. Sumanthiran and the fellow Tamil MPs are in this category. It is said that power does not give in without a struggle, which could be armed or if you do not like it peaceful one, but struggle has to take place. You cannot solve problems without precipitating a crisis. Recent Aragalaya is a good example. Problem is that Tamil politicians do not want to struggle, to get assaulted, imprisoned or killed. They want to sit in comfort and let people fight it out undergoing suffering and then step in and take the glory. As to prevent Ranil blaming them, they should follow what I have written in the article which appears below, which approach will place Ranil in a spot. You should make other party to make mistakes and pounce on them. Here Tamil politicians are behaving like idiots and naturally Ranil is blaming them.
/
Native Vedda / August 3, 2023
“Problem is that Tamil politicians do not want to struggle, to get assaulted, imprisoned or killed. “
–
Well look who is talking?
A Doctor,
Well off,
Well fed,
Safe
Lives in a relatively secure place,country
Not often threatened by police, army, thugs, saffronistas,
….
….
…..
If people/persons are really critical of Tamil Leadership, then of course it would only be reasonable that they themselves took over the party leadership and make sure under his her leadership struggle intensified and transformed.
–
Hope to see you along with others in the front.
/
leelagemalli / August 3, 2023
NV,
.
you are spot on !
.
Instead of trying to deal with the poisonous reptiles, he adds fuel. I don’t know why these people can’t see beyond that.
Even today, Germany’s senior figures have not come out in public to talk about things related to the war. However, our people are provoking every community, whether they are Sinhala or Tamil. It says that we have not learned from such a brutal war to treat everyone equally, even if we wish we could.
/
Anpu / August 4, 2023
Dr Gnana Sankaralingam
” struggle has to take place”
May I ask you what would be your contribution in the struggle?
Politicians are “making speeches in parliament, releasing media statements and meeting foreign dignitaries”
You are living comfortably and writing articles from a very safe place.
I am making comments anonymously ….
/
leelagemalli / August 3, 2023
GS,
whom you meant ? Wiggie ?
–
Wiggie is more less like GLP. So that is why i believe, old men should finally see it right.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 1, 2023
Dear Mr Sumanthiran,
.
We are both citizens of this country that is now officially named “Sri Lanka”. Owing to the different languages that we refer to as our “mother tongues”:, you are called a Tamil, and I’m referred to as a Sinhalese. The two groups are suspicious of each other.
.
Ranil Wickremasinghe’s efforts right now are to confuse us, and I’m glad that you’re countering his efforts.
.
We must make it possible for all citizens to live with dignity in this country. For this, devolution of power (so that each individual is empowered) is very necessary. Let us work to that end.
.
Unfortunately, the 13th Amendment was introduced for political reasons, and is regarded with suspicion/hostility by most citizens.
.
Please continue to call the bluff of this dishonest man. Our urgent need now is for Elections, so that each of our citizens has a say in what happens. What I feel and say, may not be what prevails. I must accept that. We need honest legislators, and you are one.
.
For a variety of reasons, my support is for the NPP.
.
Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela (NIC 483111444V)
/
Nathan / August 1, 2023
“The two groups are suspicious of each other.”
I accept that the Tamils suspect the Sinhalese.
Please tell me, Sinhala_Man, what your suspicions are, of Tamils.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 2, 2023
Dear Nathan,
.
Let’s call it “prejudice”, then, and not suspicion.
.
Please don’t imagine that I, Panini Edirisinhe, am suspicious. I’m, making a very general statement. This is understandable for a number of reasons. First, this 13th Amendment was forced upon this country. I’ve actually thanked Mr Sumanthiran.
.
Secondly, it is Ranil Wickeremasinghe who is trying to force its “full implementation” using the support of some crook MPs whom nobody trusts.
.
It is possible that there are some factual mistakes in what I have just stated; if such errors are pointed out, I will not return here to correct myself. I know that we cannot insist on a fresh Presidential Election although it is common sense.
.
Ranil could dissolve parliament, but not doing so is his prerogative. However, by what rationale does he not conduct Local Government Election? I’m not accepting his excuse that there is no money.
/
Nathan / August 3, 2023
Dear Sinhala_Man,
You know that I am stingy with words.
What is “prejudice”, – a preconceived opinion, not based on reason.
That is a serious allegation, more troubling than ‘suspicion’!
.
“13th Amendment was forced upon this country”.
Let us examine how and 13th Amendment came about. It was AFTER many a hardships were ‘thrust’ on Tamils. Is it fair for you to put me on the spot.
The 13th Amendment was a consolation – partial relief – to us, and no less helpful for the country to get on track.
.
“The ethnic issue has been the bane of our country. It must be solved. But not in this hurry”.
I am in disbelief at your, ‘not in a hurry’.
/
old codger / August 4, 2023
Nathan,
SM nowadays has lost his ability to think . He simply spouts anything that the JVP puts in his head, like “this 13th Amendment was forced upon this country. “.
Soon enough he’ll be parroting their old lines about planting manioc and killing off all over 70.
/
leelagemalli / August 5, 2023
OC and Nathan,
.
“SM nowadays has lost his ability to think “
–
Has the Sinhala_ man ever used his brain? And kindly let us know when ?
–
I think never.
He is easily manipulated by the surface values and stage presentations of cry babies. SM does not have any knowledge based on logical arguments, what are the specialties of JVP led NPP etc.
–
/
Sinhala_Man / August 5, 2023
Dear Nathan,
,
I’ve responded to you at the bottom of this page.
.
I’ve decided to ignore what many of the others are saying.
.
It’s just a waste of time,
.
Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela
/
Sinhala_Man / August 2, 2023
Many of you live abroad. Please take seriously the reports that the South-West Monsoon has failed. We may be very short of rice.
.
Why are we importing eggs and chicken, and selling them at rates that few can afford? Blame mainly the Rajapaksas for that. If you walk around the City of Colombo, you wouldn’t realise how acute the food crisis is. It is really bad now. It doesn’t affect Ranil and his cohorts much.
.
I have lived almost my entire life in this country, so I have a reasonable idea of what sort of rainfall to expect from April to October. It appears to be much less than usual.
.
Of course I agree that we can’t be satisfied with such vague impressions. This is unfortunate, if true. I urge you to study the rainfall figures.
.
The ethnic issue has been the bane of our country. It must be solved. But not in this hurry.
/
Jeeves / August 5, 2023
Yes. Not in a hurry indeed.
The post independence conflict has been going on for only about 75 years.
Not sure about the count of the casualties on both sides put together. Maybe 300,000? Maybe.
But it is a long way from a staggering number like a million.
No need to hurry.
Let’s wait for the numbers to reach a respectable level for us.
/
leelagemalli / August 2, 2023
Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela (NIC 483111444V)@
JVP led NPP @ estranged SM who never had the guts to respond constructively to our long awaited conundrums.
.
You, the clown of CT, are in his age group and you should better be aware how such people tick.
However you were never vocal against MEDAMULANA mafia man, even if you only lived within the country at the time. Mahinda and his henchmen toppled the entire society.
People are to blame equally for their indifference and stupidity.
That is ALL about your potential as a former school teacher. There you stayed constantly like a crocodile fed with clay.
:
RW and CBK are not necessarily liars. if yes, you should also be a grand liar to our eyes. Actually, we now hold you as a clown, that is another story.
.
However, I dont think it was a bad decision of incumbent president to call for an APC, because he himself promised to Honourable MP Sumanthiran and all that a permanent solution to the long standing ethiic issue would be brought soon. We underestimate the poisonousness of our racists, their performamnce are way beyond that of israelis.
–
However, after entering the water only RW notices that the water is deeper than appeared to be and this folk is more racial and sabotagers than the other way around.
/
leelagemalli / August 2, 2023
cont.
However, I study in Europe that people should not be too harsh in public about their ethnic differences. I have seldom heard of minorities being allowed to incite violence in European countries again and again. Even if they have some incidents, they do not allow the media to highlight such incidents so that the majority can take revenge on the minorities. This is how they relate to the mainstream media of this civilized world.
However, after entering the water only RW notices that the water is deeper than appeared to be and this folk is more racial and sabotagers than the other way around. That was also the case with FORMER President CBK, who also made genune effort to bring a sustainable solution, and ended up being branded as “Wisky lady” by Rajapakshe supporters. Her charactor was assasinated as no other neigoburing countries treated to any of their female poiliticians.
–
Books were published with the backing of murderous and unpredictable JVP and other racists being funded by BASIL rajapakshe , remember ? I dont need to remind you how JVP Barbarism ended up in 89-92 in that country by killing over 50K youth across the island.
/
Native Vedda / August 2, 2023
Sinhala_Man
–
“The two groups are suspicious of each other.”
–
Both are stupid, paranoid and claim to have exclusive rights over many things including land, …… Sad but true.
–
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 2, 2023
13th Amendment was introduced as a solution for demand of autonomy by Tamils as the Sinhala regime refused to accommodate rights of Tamils to rule themselves. If Sinhalese regard it with suspicion/hostility, it is their paranoid state of mind. If Sinhalese do not like it, they must put forward and alternate proposal which falls within international norms and acceptable to most Tamils as fair. Problem is that other than few Sinhalese, the rest are not in favour of granting rights of Tamils to ensure justice and equality to live with dignity and safety..
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 1, 2023
Stop hoodwinking of Tamils by sweet talk. You are nothing but a “Paditha Muttal” with no political acumen. Few days ago you said that we can talk to Ranil and settle the problem, now you are talking like this. You are a lackey of Ranil and this is just bogus. During Yahapalana regime you supported Ranil to sabotage provincial council to conduct the election on new system. Now you are asking to conduct provincial council elections. Curse of the widow, whom you deprived of her legitimate place will fall on you. Tamils should reject this crook.
/
SJ / August 1, 2023
” Curse of the widow, whom you deprived of her legitimate place will fall on you.”
Did the curse of Mrs B do any harm to JRJ?
How can one who is “nothing but a Paditha Muttal” hoodwink Tamils by sweet talk?
It takes at least slight intelligence, which certainly is more than GS’s.
/
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 2, 2023
Mrs B was convicted for a crime and deprived of civil status. So however much she cursed nothing would happen. Mrs B committed injustice to JR by preventing him at the airport to board a plane to Australia to be with his son who was having personal problem, for which she paid the price. Sivasegaram, you cannot understand these with your shrunken brain.
/
SJ / August 3, 2023
GS
Go through some history of the subject matter before coming up with your usual not very intelligent explanations.
BTW
A quack may not know that the worst form of brain deformity is a twisted brain– like yours.
/
Sinhala_Man / August 2, 2023
Dear Gnana,
.
I refer to your comment beginning, “Stop hoodwinking of Tamils by sweet talk.“
.
The way the comment has got arranged on the page (in terms of indents, etc) it looks as though you are responding to my comment. However, that doesn’t make sense. Assuming that you had addressed this comment to Sumanthiran, I will not pursue this. I have no desire to come between Northern Tamils, and the Members of Parliament representing you.
.
My own comment may not have seemed very profound, but, really, we should not accord any recognition to Ranil after his refusal to hold the local government in March. That is what marks him out as a dishonest man, and we ought not to take any account of his pronouncement on long-term plans. His wish, and that of some of his acolytes, is to draw us into long-term plans, but we should resist those overtures of his.
/
Douglas / August 1, 2023
Mr. Sumanthiram: You along with the rest of the hierarchy of TNA must retire soon. To you and all of your gang, this “Tamil” question is like a beggar’s wound that never heals, or more specifically not allowed to heal, because that gives a comfortable lifeline. It is high time the people in North, South, West, and East get together to work out a NEW CONSTITUTION that would provide equality in all matters of politics, economics, and social empowerment.
Why run to India to solve our problems? Aren’t there capable people in this country to find solutions to our problems.? What is required is a firm resolve to unite and work out a fair and equitable solution.
Let us all UNITE and turn a NEW LEAF in managing our affairs to secure our freedom and sovereignty.
/
leelagemalli / August 2, 2023
Honourable MP Sumanthiran,
.
Thanks for the article. I have no hope for the future of this country because people’s attitudes will not change by making a paradigm shift about Sri Lanka. While President Ranil and former President CBK looked closely at the serious issue, Rajapakse instead widened the wound for the past 15 years. The problem is that good leaders are unable to build consensus in a country where the majority is racist or close to racist. Those who silent too are more into racism than the opposite.
–
The Sinhalese regard their own Sinhalese coming from some regions with some disdain, and this is displayed well from their violence in public universities.
– It’s in their genes. I’ve noticed it’s also somewhat valid for tamils and muslims, and I believe perhaps for the entire “South Asian region”.
.
However, senior Tamil and muslim politicians also danced to the tune of Mahinda’s racist thinking and their rabble-rousing politics, marginalizing CBK and other leaders who could have solved the problem long ago. Professor GLP or others are also responsible for their selfish politics in the last 15 years.
–
tbc.
/
leelagemalli / August 2, 2023
cont.
To be honest, I don’t know how the JVP-led NPP will treat Tamil Sri Lankans if the crying babies are given a chance to rule this nation.
Although they left half-baked information on the real critical issues of the nation on the island, they did not say anything concrete about the long-term ethnic issues, how they improve economy etc.
:
I always believe in you as a true politician who sincerely seeks solutions to the long-standing ethnic problem of this island nation. I follow your speeches in and out of Parliament very closely with much hope and concern.
–
As per my understanding you are also facing various problems because your senior colleagues are not genuine to solve this problem at once.
–
And people like Arun Siddharth reveals that the biggest obstacle to building a common consensus on this alarming issue is the caste and religion in the Northern Province. People in the South and others do not know the true culture of Tamil Sri Lankans living in the North yet today and any detailed information about it.
.
That young politician from Batticaloa, Manikkam used his mouth publicly to provoke anyone in or outside Parliament, despite being very vocal about some Tamil issues in the area.
tbc
.
/
davidthegood / August 2, 2023
LM You mention that caste and religion divide in the north. Today’s Upasampada in south too is the same, Amarapura nikaya of the karava caste being cut off by govi siyam nikaya. Stop talking of consensus.
/
leelagemalli / August 2, 2023
DTG,
.
I think you need to read it again and get back to me, my question is building consensus in Sri Lanka as a whole is not an easy task. It is the same in families, schools and temples. That is why they cant reach out any agreement within them easily.
That’s what I shared with you in my previous posts. And caste-based divisions are more common among Tamils than Sinhalese. seeing is believing. I know the Tamil diaspora living in Europe and how they live apart in their own community. Some do not talk to their own people because they cannot deal with some fishing families or other low caste people. I don’t understand Tamil so I don’t have more information about it. I knew that some of my good friends (Lankan Tamils) told me that they had real big problems with their marriages and they later had to separate from their partners.
/
Douglas / August 2, 2023
In news. Yesterday a “Delegation” from Tamil Parties including Sampanthan has gone to meet the Indian High Commissioner to discuss matters relating to “13A”.
Isn’t that a show of complete disregard to the INDEPENDENCE and SOVEREIGNTY of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka? OR
Are they trying another game of TWISTINH ARMS that was executed by Rajiv Gandhi on JRJ?
Jokes continue.
/
old codger / August 4, 2023
Douglas,
13A was introduced under Indian influence. So, there is nothing wrong in the Tamil parties talking to the Indians. The Indians are the “umpires”.
If the Sri Lankans had the ability to solve their own problems, the 13A wouldn’t have been necessary. You talk about sovereignty. Do you think we deserve it?
/
leelagemalli / August 4, 2023
OC,
.
Biased Perception in sinhalaya is in their genetics. So is the case with Tamil or anyothers born to south asian region. Facts lie aside, but they argue being based on invisible karma or any other theories. Perhaps, self-aggrandizement make them blind.
.
If Karmic Retribution is the truth, how on earth Mahinda Rajapakshe who is the key person of lanken crisis stays unstoned yet today ?In the same time, Sadam Hussaine and Tripoli man were attacked by their own men and their legal provisions by taking them eternally away from the public s eye.
/
Plato / August 2, 2023
So Douglas, your considered view that the delegation of Tamil Parties discussing the 13thA.with the Indian High Commissioner amounts to a total disregard of the INDEPENDENCE and SOVEREIGNTY of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Srilanka eh?
You are joking………..
/
Douglas / August 3, 2023
Plato: Yes. I am joking because the Tamil Parties are also joking. They only enjoy jokes and I too make them “Jokers”.
I am surprised why the President at the All Party Meeting didn’t ask: ” Where are Provincial Councils and Local Government Bodies for me to give the full implementation of the “13A”?
Remember this President asked that in Parliament when he when the Local Government Elections would be held. He replied and asked: ” Where is an election for me to hold an election?”
So, when JOKERS meet JOKERS, what I am to do? I too have to joke because that is what they understand.
/
Native Vedda / August 5, 2023
Douglas
–
“I too have to joke because that is what they understand.”
–
Please forget 13A, provincial elections, …..
I laugh whenever Lankies mention Sovereignty.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / August 3, 2023
Since the 13th Amendment is part and parcel of the Constitution, it has to be implemented without dragging anymore. We should never forget that the 13th Amendment is a bi-product of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord which is binding on both India and Sri Lanka. If Sri Lanka keeps on dragging, then the Tamil politicians should openly support the ideology of AKHAND BHARAT and India is under a moral obligation to march into Sri Lanka. Since the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was applauded at the General Assembly of the UN, the UN will not condemn India, if India intervenes into the domestic affairs of Sri Lanka. India has provided sufficient financial assistance to Sri Lanka and was insisting to hold the Provincial Election for purpose of implementing the 13th Amendment. Sri Lanka’s explanations are very unreasonable.
/
shankar / August 3, 2023
Crafty Ranil threw the bait and the tamil leaders got hooked.If i was there i would not have gone and bitten the bait but just told ranil that the 13th amendment is a internation agreement between 2 countries albeit on the taml issue ad no referendum or anything was conducted in the north east whict it affects to see what the tamil people living there feel about it.So therefore no need of calling the tamil leaders to discuss it.Just deal with india,the other party about resolving the issue of non implementation and whther itshould be replaced by another agreement between the two countries,this time with a referendum held in the areas where people are affected positively or negatively by it.
/
shankar / August 3, 2023
cont
i should have said in the last sentence”where people are living affected by positive and negative effects.In otherwords since the 13th amendment was introduced in all provinces,not onlyte northern and eastern,every province should have had a referendum.Ifin any province more than 50% vote for it then it should be implemented in full in that province only.The ones less than 50%,no need of 13th amendment.
basically it as nothing to do with the tamil leadershit, has only everything to do with the govt to govt agreement and a referendum to obtain permission from the people.
sadly it did not deliver the required effect because it was handled in a bad way by not following appropriate procedures by the immature but well meaning Rajiv ghandhi.
/
shankar / August 3, 2023
some tamils might be wondering why i am saying this.A tamil should always look for the long term interest of tamils unlike selfish prabhaharan who attcked the IPKF and got himself embroiled in the 13th amendment without just stepping aside and saying publicly to india that the LTTE is neutral on the 13th amendment and advises india to see what the tamils think of it by having a referendum.If prabha had publicly stated this rajiv would have been in a bind.Life is like a chess game with someone making a move and you making the countermove.Unfortunately dumb and dumber prabha and rajiv were not chess players.WE have had some brilliant chess players and now one 17 year old has even for the first time ever yesterday entered the 2nd round of the world chess chamionships and will be playing a polish grandmaster next. also remember grandmaster visvanathan anand te greatest indian chess player.Would these guys have the made the same moves as prabha and rajiv or advised them to?
/
shankar / August 3, 2023
cont
when i mean the long term interest of tamils,what i mean is if the tamil leadershit gets embroiled in the 13A as did selfish prabha,then just like at that time it did,now also the long term interests of the tamils will get affected,because the world and specifically india and tamilnadu will just move on thinking that the tamil leadershit has solved the problem of the tamils. For example Wiggy who opposed the 13A now say it is okay for police powers not being devolved as long as police carry only batons. Tamil leadrshit should just say they are neutral on the 13 A,ask the people what they thin with a referendum.or abolish it and replace it with something else.
/
shankar / August 3, 2023
contd
so the tamil leadershit should make it clear that the 13th amendment is only a step in the right direction for the tamils and not the ultimate solution which is quasi federalism as what tamilnadu has with india.The area can be discussed later,whther it should be north only,north and east,north and some parts of the east ,but not the extent of the devolution,which is not negotiable.
/
leelagemalli / August 3, 2023
Shankar,
.
The solution can be brought to them by claiming it is a home-grown solution for our own, but what if it looks like a federal government in India, Germany, Switzerland, Canada or other similar countries?
–
Sri Lanka needs to look for experts soon, because no one else, the average mindset of our people be rationalized (regardless of race) needs to undergo a fundamental change is the need of the hour. That is why I repeated, that should have been done, immediately after long held war was declared to be over.
However, bastards and rascals (produced by DA Rajapakshe) did not give a damn to see it right. Instead they looted the nation.
–
I think the most important thing for “our nation” is the name of the solution.
–
Federalism is interpeted by many as ” land division of the country”. They are forced to think, they take our land…….. ????
/
leelagemalli / August 3, 2023
cont.
.
European point of view, they see things would have been much easier in terms of ushering a new era in island nation, however, those who are born in that country do see the depth of the issue, and why it stays permamently unresolved.
–
They are born idiots, and they take more time than ethiiopians or other new born economy runners.
–
Just as our people mix psychiatry with psychology or geriatrics with senior homes , the wording needs to be changed in Sri Lankan issues.
Just think, just because a poor western singer (but a colombo girl) in Sri Lanka sings the national anthem with a different accent, they attacks the woman in public, as if we don’t have other critical issues to address?????
–
In a civilized world, just giving her a warning would have been enough, but our venomous reptiles led society have run Sri Lanka (my home country), people hang around with unnecessary things. This is SOUTH ASIAN DNA – the collection of world’s most poisonous human beasts
/
shankar / August 4, 2023
leelagemalli
“I think the most important thing for “our nation” is the name of the solution.”
–The name of the solution should be quasi federalism as in india..It is different from canada,switz etc which is full federalism.In india the president can bring in presidential rule when the situation warrants it,like when MGR died and his wife and mistress were fighting for power and neglecting the state.So until elections were held it was presidential rule.Also in india if anybody talks of seccession from india they will be jailed. Can’t fool all the people all the time.
“Federalism is interpeted by many as ” land division of the country”. They are forced to think, they take our land…….. ????”
let them think what they want.That is why external pressure will be needed.
/
Buddhist1 / August 3, 2023
I am in favour of all the communities in Sri Lanka having equal rights not only in their status. I also believe that every religion including Buddhism should have the same right as the other religions without any special mention or status in the constitution.
Having said the above, in a democracy, no single community, irrespective of the fact it is a major or non-major community should be given any special position. Tamil communities can demand and should get equal rights in every aspect including government jobs on a proportional basis and in the selection of police, and armed forces including in the selection of judges and civil servants. All these appointments, especially ones that are selected by the government should be on the ratio of the population mix.
Tamil politicians should also remember there is only one land and there are no Tamil lands and Sinhala lands, we have only the land called Sri Lanka. If we are going to claim ancestral claims, then the question arises how far in history should we go and where should we start to decide to whom that particular land belongs? All that every political party should realize is we are at this present time and there is no point in going back in history but only to look forward to the future. The future is not in dividing the land as ancestral lands.
/
shankar / August 4, 2023
bhuddhist 1
bhuddhist 1 “I also believe that every religion including Buddhism should have the same right as the other religions without any special mention or status in the constitution.”
you are absolutely correct.It ceases to be a secular constitution now.
“All these appointments, especially ones that are selected by the government should be on the ratio of the population mix.”
i prefer on meritocracy.This will also include gender,age in addition to ethnicity.Let the best srilankan win the job.i know that will never happen here that is why i prefer quasi federalism as in tamilnadu,for the tamil people to manage their own affairs.
“If we are going to claim ancestral claims, then the question arises how far in history should we go and where should we start to decide to whom that particular land belongs?”
we have to only go to the pre colonial times.All others in the world got their independence from colonial masters except srilankan tamils who had their own kingdom.the jaffna kingdom before the portueguese invaded it in 1515.When the british left the sinhalese got their independence on a platter because india and pakistan got it after fighting for it,but the tamls did not automatically get it because that fool GG ponnambalam did not ask for it like jinnah asked for pakistan and got it.
/
shankar / August 4, 2023
cont
The future is not in dividing the land as ancestral lands.
I also agree with you that the division of the country is not good for the future,but since the sinhalese have shown they are first class bullies of minorities since independence and have thrown all lord bhuddha preachings out the window,it is essential that the tamils have pre independence lands as quasi federal state in order manage themselves.
we have to only go to the pre colonial times.All others in the world got their independence from colonial masters except srilankan tamils who had their own kingdom.the jaffna kingdom before the portueguese invaded it in 1515.When the british left the sinhalese got their independence on a platter because india and pakistan got it after fighting for it,but the tamls did not automatically get it because that fool GG ponnambalam did not ask for it like jinnah asked for pakistan and got it.
The future is not in dividing the land as ancestral lands.
I also agree with you that the division of the country is not good for the future,but since the sinhalese have shown they are first class bullies of minorities since independence and have thrown all lord bhuddha preachings out the window,it is essential that the tamils have pre independence lands as quasi federal state in order manage themselves.
/
shankar / August 4, 2023
cont
“The future is not in dividing the land as ancestral lands.”
I also agree with you that the division of the country is not good for the future,but since the sinhalese have shown they are first class bullies of minorities since independence and have thrown all lord bhuddha preachings out the window,it is essential that the tamils have pre independence lands as quasi federal state in order manage themselves.You are a true bhuddhist but most others aren’t.
/
shankar / August 4, 2023
cont
a quasi federal state as in india and tamilnadu is not a division of a country.
/
old codger / August 4, 2023
Buddhist1,
“Tamil communities can demand and should get equal rights in every aspect including government jobs on a proportional basis and in the selection of police, and armed forces including in the selection of judges and civil servants.”
What happens when the abilities of each community, for cultural reasons, are different?
There is a good reason why for example, Muslims dominate the trades in 1st Cross Street, or Tamils do the same in 3rd Cross Steet. Mrs B tried her best to dismantle the system, but it was disastrous, with unimaginative bureaucrats in charge of everything from dry fish to transistors.
The problem, I believe, stems from resentment at the success of those perceived as “others”, which is encouraged openly by mendacious clergy and opportunist politicians. If there is anything to be learnt from Singapore, it is their ability to view all citizens as equal Singaporeans.
/
Buddhist1 / August 4, 2023
Old codger,
If for cultural reasons the abilities are different, why should a person with no or lower abilities be posted to a position? If you see the educational qualifications and skill levels of younger persons in SL you will note that there are no cultural differences, the only differences can be observed from the persons in the estates and villages. This is because the governments past and present have failed them. We need a country run and managed by skilled persons, not duds.
Talking about Muslims dominating business, if you go to Kadawatha you will see Sinhalese dominating businesses. Muslims are dominating businesses because over the years due to racial riots where Sinhalese repeatedly attacked the Tamil businesses the Muslims have moved in.
The problem today is most Sinhalese political parties are RACIALLY BIAS PARTIES.
/
old codger / August 5, 2023
Buddhist 1,
“Talking about Muslims dominating business, if you go to Kadawatha you will see Sinhalese dominating businesses. “
That is an artificial situation. I happen to live in the area.
Perhaps you don’t know that in the 50’s and into the 70’s Tamils did do a lot of business in Kadawata and nearby. But they were all driven out after 1977. There is also a Sinhala merchant mafia that prevents minorities doing business. However, nowadays, there is an influx of young Tamil shop workers, but not yet owners.
Even Sarath Weerasekara in his article complains about Tamils in the jewellery business.
That is a good example of differing abilities, because even Sinhala jewellers are in the habit of employing South Indian artisans on tourist visas.
/
Buddhist1 / August 5, 2023
Old Codger,
I see you agree with my point. Thank you.
/
Native Vedda / August 5, 2023
old codger
–
“Mrs B tried her best to dismantle the system, but it was disastrous, with unimaginative bureaucrats in charge of everything from dry fish to transistors.”
–
It appears by telling the truth you are directly or indirectly trying to insult SJ and his love for the weeping widow.
/
leelagemalli / August 4, 2023
Buddhist,
.
It is good to see you think that we are all the same in terms of citizenship rights, but can you say that minorities in this hellish country are given equal rights? Uneducated sanga brigades avoid it happening. That is why Sarath Weerasekara, the man of Mahinda created self-made riots to show UNHRC. This was loudly revealed by POLONNARUWA donkey in 2016 or 2017.
The lyrics are beautiful but are they practical yet today?
–
I have met Tamil brethren in europe begging me ( I am Sinhala) to visit Sri Lankan embassies in Europe to assist them with their passports. Even if My relatives did draw a line between the Sinhalese and Tamil people, so I even devoted my precious time to them. I am born non-racial. I always raised the question”why” in my life time. To be honest, if I belonged to the minority, I woudl have done whatever I could to win my rights.
/
leelagemalli / August 4, 2023
cont.
.
Why would they even think of seeking my help in this matter if the authorities treated them equally? Sure they should fight for their rights, but dont forget, they are usually treated with another spoon. That we should condemn forever. If we would not do, who would ?
–
SriLankan, the national airline, treats ethnic Tamils (Northern Sri Lankans) with extreme discrimination. I have evidence in my pocket, so I can prove this. Some people don’t know English but that should not be a parameter to treat them badly. The same is done when Sinhalese domestic workers return home to the island. Basta, we Sinhalese should practice treating others equally. Many of us are racist and racist no doubt about it.
.
I think we could repeat it a few times, however it seems to run a round without bending. The problem will remain forever, but people’s worries will increase. That is why the communal problem of Tamils and Muslims should be solved wholeheartedly regardless of the extremist thinkers of North/East and South
/
Buddhist1 / August 4, 2023
Thank you Old Codger.
/
Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 4, 2023
Government jobs and jobs in the armed forces, police etc should be given according to population. 70% for the Sinhalese 20% for the Tamils and 10% for the Muslims. 20% for the Tamils is reasonable as their population was around 25% or slightly more at the time of independence and even until the 1970s, until they were forced to migrate on a large scale due to deliberate discrimination by the Sri Lankan state and ethnic cleansing activities and making over a million Indian origin estate Tamils stateless and forcibly repatriating them to India. University entrances, especially for science and other professional courses should be strictly merit basis and also professional employment. If all schools everywhere are equally developed and everyone is given more or less the same opportunity, the people selected and this merit basis will more or less follow the population basis.
/
Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 4, 2023
Contrary to what you state like most Sinhalese, there is a recognised ancient Tamil homeland in the north and east of the country and the rest of the country had been the homeland of the Sinhalese. Thanks to the British the island from 1833 may now be one land but it was never before that, other than a short period prior to European colonisation the Tamil parts of the island had been ruled by local Tamil kings and chiefs or by South Indian Tamil dynasties, however, the Sinhalese parts of the island had been ruled for long periods by Tamil kings, largely South Indian and many of the so-called Sinhalese kings, were of local Tamil Naga ancestry or of South Indian origin, the last being the Telugu Origin Tamil Naickers of Madurai. Even the Portuguese and Dutch colonials recognised this and ruled the coastal Tamil parts of the island under their position separately from the coastal Sinhalese areas. Sri Lanka, like India and many other ex-colonial nations, are artificial creations that were created for the ex-colonial master’s economic, political and strategic convenience, not taking into account any of the history, the people and their relationships. This is the reason there is so much strife in these nations.
/
Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 4, 2023
Only nations like India, Singapore and others that have been mature enough to recognise this diversity give equal rights and federalism have thrived. Every nation has separate homelands for different ethnolinguistic groups, like Switzerland, Belgium, the UK, and Canada to name a few and have provided a federal form of government, in recognition of these ancient homelands especially to minority nations within these nations to safeguard them from majority onslaught in their historical areas and preserve their language and culture.
It may be one country now but the Tamil people urgently need to have their ancient homeland recognised and preserved from further racist Sinhalese Buddhist onslaught, that has been constant and now very aggressive with the intention of destroying the island’s Tamils, their language, history and culture and their achievement and falsely claiming everything as Sinhalese. Individual Sinhalese have every right to come to the north and east and purchase lands legally and build temples on legally purchased land, just like individual Tamils and Muslims, do down south However, the Sri Lankan state and various government bodies like the Archaeological and other government departments or the armed forces, should have no legal right under various cocked up excuses, pretences, fake history to forcibly acquire thousands of acres of private Tamil and public lands in these areas for Sinhalese colonisation and to build Buddhist Viharas, many instances destroying ancient Hindu temples.
/
Liger / August 4, 2023
Where is federalism in Singapore? They dont even have provinces. Actually a great example for Sri Lanka to follow.
The Walloons and Flemish hate one another, Scotland (and much of N. Ireland) wants to leave the UK, Canada is barely keeping Quebec in its territory. Other places with ethno-federalism/ethno-provinces such as Ethiopia, Myanmar do not serve as good examples either.
The fog of war being lifted has meant that the BJP is starting to see Lanka (via her Sinhala, Moor and Tamil people) as more reliable partners than Eelamists whose ‘next step’ will be to further dilute the Indian center and provide so much autonomy to Tamil Nadu that it will be considered a nation of its own.
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / August 5, 2023
Liger,
Why don’t you turn your eyes towards Switzerland. Today Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world and there is equality for everyone. Why can’t Sri Lanka follow the trend of Swtizerland. In Switzerland they don’t place statues of other faiths in other’s place of worship. They always respect each other’s faith. Canada too respects other’s faith. In fact, Canada has declared November as the month of Hindus and Hindus flags are flying in front of the Parliament.
/
leelagemalli / August 5, 2023
AR,
Sri Lanka should have been a developed nation long ago if our common people could be easily convinced. Unfortunately, the biggest obstacle in front of them is their own thinking. They are more paranoid than fact believers. And they are very weak in decision making.
.
As someone who lived in CH, I would like to say that it is not correct to compare ordinary Swiss citizens with our citizen.
We can only compare with South Asian or Southeast Asian countries.
Sri Lankans and South Asians are ruled by their myths and have a great influence on ordinary thinkers by restricting karma or other tricks. As Prof. Kaur once said, our people regardless of their education level fall for easy tricks based on their Sinhala-Buddhist, Hindu or any other religion.
–
The average Swiss burgher or any indigenous EU citizen acts with respect to his conscience while our people and their psyche are destroyed by their South Asian mentality.
/
Liger / August 5, 2023
Switzerland doesnt have to deal with Germany, Italy and France trying to work underhandedly to annex the ethno-states. It is a well-known and open secret that TN and Tamil-diaspora are obsessed with annexing parts of Lanka. Thankfully the North Indians are starting to see that TN is playing a long-game. I believe its called salami-slicing – i.e. towards an independent Tamil-nation.
/
Native Vedda / August 5, 2023
Liar
–
“Thankfully the North Indians are starting to see that TN is playing a long-game.”
–
As far as the Hindians are concerned Sri Lanka is a Sinhala state of Hindia (like Kerala – Malayala state, Gujarat – Gujarati state, …..) and North East is part of Tamilnadu.
–
Hindia has given Sri Lanka a long rope it is up to the people to use it to climb up the deep pit or as usual hang themselves by the missed opportunities.
/
shankar / August 5, 2023
liger
“Where is federalism in Singapore? They dont even have provinces. Actually a great example for Sri Lanka to follow.”
singapore itself is a breaaway state from malaysia.Are indirectly hinting that better to be like singapore and for the sri lankan tamils to breakaway permanently form sri lanka?Are you a eeelamist in disguise?
/
Liger / August 5, 2023
such strange mental gymnastics you attempt…we are talking about the sovereign multicultural and multiethnic nation of Singapore (similar to multicultural and multiethnic Lanka) and how it is administered. Lanka should follow that example and get rid of provinces, while at the same time ensuring that India doesnt feel slighted by Lanka not enforcing what Rajiv tried to enforce. BJP power is here to stay with or without TN support. Lanka can and continues to provide support for anti-secessionist movements in India. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the rest of South Asia should make haste in for an EU-style alliance. This will be the only thing that halts the separatist attempts of peelamists and others.
/
shankar / August 6, 2023
liger
“nation of Singapore (similar to multicultural and multiethnic Lanka) and how it is administered. ”
I agree with you that when it comes to administration we can copy singapore,but the question is in what aspects of admnistration?I have always said that sri lanka administrators should copy what singapore does in administration,such as ant corruption laws and enforcement,anti crime laws,racial laws,constitution etc etc but not in the areawise units.
Singapore is only 700 sq.km while sri lanka is 65500 sq.km.As we are nearly 100 times bigger can we adminiser the country like singapore without provinces.Taiwan is half our size and same population and administers itself with 13 counties.So 13 provinces seems reasonable for sri lanka too.
singapore broke away from malaysia.If the north of sri lanka or north east of sri lanka breaks away then there does not need to be provinces as the area will be smaller just like for singapore and they can administer it with 1 or 2 units.
as for the 13th amendment i believe a referendum should be held in each province(when they have the provincial elections to reduce the cost)and if any province does not want it why push it down their throat.By now the people will know whether it is beneficial or not,or just another layer of administration.
/
shankar / August 6, 2023
cont
singapore broke away from malaysia.If the north of sri lanka or north east of sri lanka breaks away then there does not need to be provinces as the area will be smaller just like for singapore and they can administer it with 1 or 2 units.
as for the 13th amendment i believe a referendum should be held in each province(when they have the provincial elections to reduce the cost)and if any province does not want it why push it down their throat.By now the people will know whether it is beneficial or not,or just another layer of administration.
/
shankar / August 6, 2023
liger “India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the rest of South Asia should make haste in for an EU-style alliance. “
i agree with you tat an alliance is necessary.However when you create an alliance between 2 countries they must match each other in a manner that each one gets stronger by getting something that the other has.We have only a 22mln population.If we join with india say in a indo union( IU ) then we become a part of a population of 1.5 bln which is the largest in the world.So we get rid of our weakness by joining the union and from a rank of 57 we become no 1.
we are 122nd in size with only 65500 sq.km. India has 3.3 mln sq.km and is 8th largest in size just behind the EU which is about approx 4mln sq.m.There fore india does not need any more land but we sure do and by joing with india The Indo Union will be 8th in the world and we will get rid of a glaring weakness.
Now let us look at india and its strengts and weakneses..It does not need more people.At 1429 mln it has enough and is no 1 recently overtaking china which has 1425 mln.It does not need more land,but it does need more coastline.
/
shankar / August 6, 2023
cont
It has only 17000 kmof coastline.If it joins sri lanka with it in a Indo Union then the IU will have 20000 km.If maldives too is added The IU will have 22000 km.
Adding pakistan and bangladesh to the IU will not give any additional benefits to india,sri lanka and maldives in the IU.because now the IU has enough population and area to compete with the rest of the world and stuffing itself with more people will only result in unecessary complications.
It is nearby countries with coastlines and small populations that the IU should seek to bolster itself with.Madagascar,seychelles and mauritius comes to mind. NO need of going too fast like the EU did.First india and sri lanka and wait some years to see the resultsthen add maldives then wait somemore and add others.
Now let us look at india and its strengts and weakneses..It does not need more people.At 1429 mln it has enough and is no 1 recently overtaking china which has 1425 mln.It does not need more land,but it does need more coastline.It has only 17000 kmof coastline.If it joins sri lanka with it in a Indo Union then the IU will have 20000 km.If maldives too is added The IU will have 22000 km.
/
leelagemalli / August 6, 2023
Shankar,
.
Unfortunatlely, most of our people in CT are not knowledgeable about many of our critical topics, however in their minds they are experts. It is in our South Asian genes.
Dr. GS talks about “fair share” while talking about federalism. can you imagine?
–
What is the role of the federal government in Germany?
The exclusive legislative jurisdiction of the federal government includes defense, foreign affairs, immigration, citizenship, communications, and currency standards, whereas the states have exclusive jurisdiction on the police (excluding federal police), most of education, the press, freedom of assembly, public housing …
–
What is the role of the parliament in Germany?
It is the chief legislative body on the federal level. The individual states (Bundesländer) of Germany participate in legislative process through the Bundesrat, a separate assembly. The Bundestag also elects and oversees the chancellor, Germany’s head of government, and sets the government budget.
/
Native Vedda / August 5, 2023
Liar
–
“Where is federalism in Singapore? “
–
Where was Singapore in 1948?
What is/are Singapore’s Official Languages?
What Lee Kwan (father of Singapore) had to tell about Sri Lanka?
–
To start with please listen toLee:
“Had we chosen Chinese, which was our majority language, we would have perished, economically and politically”
–
Singapore didn’t have stupid racist donkeys and saffron mad dogs as their leaders, therefore they are where they are now.
–
Please always remind yourself the following quote by Mark Twain:
“It is better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
/
Liger / August 5, 2023
so why are you talking?
/
Native Vedda / August 5, 2023
Liar
–
“so why are you talking?”
–
Trying to put some sense into very stupid minds although it is a vain attempt.
/
Liger / August 5, 2023
its true that talking to yourself and trying to convince yourself that you’re anything other than terror-worshipping scum isnt going to get you anywhere. so listen your boy Twain and shut it Senile Vedda aka Native Matta
/
Native Vedda / August 6, 2023
Liar
–
“so listen your boy Twain and shut it Senile Vedda aka Native Matta”
–
Seriously, calm down.
Could you decode and enlighten us with your encrypted typing.
/
shankar / August 6, 2023
native veddha
“Liar”
liger is not a liar,but may be a tiger mixed with a lion, a off spring of sinhalese and tamil and therefore has some seperatist tendencies because he wants us to seperate like singapore did from malaysia,but have close links with SL too.
BTW if GG ponnambalam had asked for the Jaffna kingdom to be given independence from the british instead of 50% votes for minorities, would the jaffna kingdom as a seperate country like singapore now be flourishing like singapore .After all Lee kuan Yew himself said that jaffna tamils contributed immensly to singapore and looked after them. In SL they got beaten up.
https://tamilculture.com/ceylon-tamils-sri-lanka-contributed-singapore-years/
/
Buddhist1 / August 4, 2023
Siva Shankaran Sharma,
You call the Sinhalese RACISTS, do you think Tamils are not RACISTS? Most of those living in SL are RACISTS, that’s because of the brainwashing done by the politicians and religious leaders.
/
Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 5, 2023
Sorry, I disagree with you. There may be some Tamils who are racists, as you will find racists and extremists everywhere. However, most Tamils are not but most Sinhalese are and this is why the country is in a mess. Tamils demanding their just rights to education, employment, and protection of their homeland, language, culture and history from state-sponsored Sinhalese racism and encroachment, is not racism but to many racist Sinhalese with the Mahavamsa mentality, brainwashed by their politicians, elite, clergy it will be racism as they now think the entire island is theirs, this is also reflected in your comments, stating there is no historical traditional homeland and everything belongs to everyone, meaning everything belongs to the Sinhalese majority and they can do what they want. Denying Tamils their land and history. You may appear and sound reasonable but you are not and can not fool me
/
Buddhist1 / August 5, 2023
Siva Sankaran Sharma,
If you have lived among Sinhalese and Sinhalese most of them who have lived among Tamils are not racists. Racists are those Tamils who have never lived among Tamils and Sinhalese who have not lived among Tamils.
/
Buddhist1 / August 4, 2023
Siva Shankaran Sharma,
Tamil Homelands – are you crazy? Where are the Tamils of Jaffna living now? Most of them are living in the western countries. None of their children will ever come back to SL to live here. Those who are living in Vavuniya are not traditional Tamils of the Northern province, they are Tamils who got misplaced during the racial riots from upcountry. If you want to give a traditional land to Tamils then should there be another traditional land carved out within the Northern Tamil Traditional land as Indian Tamil or Upcountry Tamil traditional land?
Even today the Northern and Eastern province Tamil politicians do not consider the upcountry Tamils as part of their group. So there are still divisions among Tamils in SL.
If you choose history to begin from British times then the Majority will choose the history to begin from Dutugamunu’s time. Who can say which beginning is correct?
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 5, 2023
The North and East of the island have from ancient times been continuously inhabited by Tamils and have been ruled by them for most of their history, until European colonisation. Even the ancient common-era kings who ruled the island never claimed to be Sinhalese or Aryan as they were not. There were either Hindu or Buddhist local Tamil Nagas or were from South Indian Tamil dynasties. Until independence other than in a few stray border villages there were no Sinhalese in the north or east. Even the Buddhist ruins in these areas largely belong to the ancient Tamil Buddhists, who later reconverted back to Hinduism and a lot of them belong to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism and Sinhalese never belonged to this sect, whilst ancient Tamil Buddhists belonged to both sects. Now all are being falsely claimed as Sinhalese to aid Sinhalese colonisation of Tamil lands. The South Indian Tamil Muslims with a dash of Arab or other Western Asian or North Indian origin only arrived here, especially in the East as refugees a few centuries ago. Fleeing persecution. They are also ethnic Tamils, speaking Tamil, despite denying this fact. This is why they fled to the Tamil NE and were given refuge and Tamil Hindu Muukuva women as brides to start families as they were fellow Tamils.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 5, 2023
They have a right to live here, with justice and dignity but have no right to claim the NE as their homeland, just like the immigrants in Europe have no right to claim a homeland over the native white Europeans but have the right to live in peace and dignity. The Sinhalese have no right to claim the entire island as theirs as it was never theirs. Only the southern central and western parts and for most of their history were ruled by Tamil kings and aristocrats, most of whom had a South Indian origin and spoke Tamil, despite calling themselves Sinhalese Buddhists to preserve their power and wealth. Go and look into the ancestry of most Sinhalese upper castes, both low country and Kandyan and within a few generations ago, they were all Tamils. Despite many of them now beating the anti-Tamil drum. If the Sinhalese had ruled the entire island before the European colonisation and the Tamils were the subjects of Sinhalese kings and rulers then they can claim and state, that there is no Tamil Homeland but it was not, it was the other way around and only thanks to the British who created a new colony called Ceylon in 1833.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 5, 2023
Go and look into the ancestry of most Sinhalese upper castes, both low country and Kandyan and within a few generations ago, they were all Tamils. Despite many of them now beating the anti-Tamil drum. If the Sinhalese had ruled the entire island before the European colonisation and the Tamils were the subjects of Sinhalese kings and rulers then they can claim and state, that there is no Tamil Homeland but it was not, it was the other way around and only thanks to the British who created a new colony called Ceylon in 1833. The Sinhalese who were confined to the southern parts of the island became a majority on the whole island and got control in 1948. Otherwise, you never had control of the NE before 1948, so it is you who is crazy denying the obvious truth for racist reasons. I can see through you. Pretending to be reasonable and not overtly racist but still racist and wanting the entire island for Sinhalese Buddhism by stating there is no such thing as a Tamil homeland. If there was no such thing why were Tamils inhabiting these lands with hardly any Sinhalese living in these areas before independence from ancient times and being ruled by local or South Indian origin Tamil kings and chiefs?
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Buddhist1 / August 5, 2023
Siva Sankaran Sharma,
The DNA of the Sinhalese who have Tamil links are not truly Tamil DNA, they are Indian DNA and all Indians are not Tamil. This is what the Sinhalese believe and you are repeating it.
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Sinhala_Man / August 5, 2023
Dear Nathan,
When I survey the sixty-six comments above, I feel that you’re about the only one who deserves a response. We have made a mess of this country; much of it owing to the the conflict between communities.
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A solution seems to be a priority, the moves that are now on are not going to bring a solution. These are political moves designed to set us arguing with one another so as to allow Ranil Wickremasinghe to remain as de-facto President. There is little point in our wasting time discussing these moves.
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Of course, I’m aware why the Indian Prime Minister felt constrained to “drop parippu”, and then impose an Amendment to our Constitution. The Tamils were being treated abominably. However, I don’t think that we should allow this sort of discussion to crop up every so often and then peter out. Urgency there is, but not this sort of talk cropping up without any chance of making progress.
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Sinhala_Man / August 5, 2023
Some of the distinctions you make in the use of language are quite valid. A suspicion implies at least some evidence; prejudice requires none, and is more difficult to combat. Call it what you may, there are many individuals who are hostile to other communities.
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That does not mean that we can be constantly putting off legislation that will ensure justice to all :Lankans, irrespective of the community that they belong to. However, it is important to ensure that this legislation would be acceptable to as many people as possible. And that will not be possible if it is passed by the the current Parliament, where the majority of members are not respected by any of us. Will the next lot be any better? I hope so.
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You may feel that the way I’m now writing doesn’t display much sense of urgency. May be, but better that than making matters even worse by allowing us to get some sort of legislation passed by people whom we cannot trust. We don’t represent all the voters, and we shouldn’t imagine that we know all that will happen. I’m doing my best to get people to think rationally
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2023
SM
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As a die-hard Beethoven fan, you may find the article below interesting. His deafness is said to have started in his mid-40s. It is said that the latest DNA tests have revealed that..
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https://apnews.com/article/beethoven-dna-hair-deaf-liver-d2d8c50fdd951eb5f5b9fdae00f795a3
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Sinhala_Man / August 5, 2023
Far too many people seem to think that Politics is not something to be discussed. I disagree. However, I’m not a politician, and on some details I wouldn’t know what to say.
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I repose faith in the NPP, but they’re far from perfect. I’m now back in Bandarawela, but when I was in Maharagama, I visited the NPP Head Office at Pelawatte. Most of what I discuss has to do with “ethnic issues”. That includes the Muslims. Am I satisfied with what I achieved? I cannot say so, but now I have some idea of whom I should be speaking to and what I should be saying.
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It is not for us to decide for the entire country; coming up by train I had a longish chat with a moderate-sounding man from Galle. He said that even the SLPP cannot be totally written off at an election because they hd good peple ike Dr Ramesh Pathirana. I asked about Manusha Nanayakkara, a favourite of some who write here. No, an undesirable, i was told. And so it goes. It may not sound the ideal answer, but democracy must be respected.
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Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela .
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2023
How dare you, having spoken to a single man from Galle, offer an opinion? Is that not subjective ? Heading to Galle last month, I was on HIGHWAY express bus. Next to me sat a teacher-trainee (in saree) who is still in training program. I had a chat with her all along (90 min). From what I heard from her was only 5000 rps /month is what she is paid for that training (3 years). Can you guys imagine ? The young trainee is coming from a rural famliy from Polonnaruwa. Her middle class parents could afford her boarding and other fares during this period. She looked hard working young female. I really liked their hardworking nature. The place given in that society a female to enter school-teaching is still seen respectful.
SM’s judgemental mentality is where you need to make repair in your perception. You are always quick to make judgements. This might be connected with your own upbringing.
You are childish and will do anything to shamelessly but publicly promoting your thoughts.
.That is why we dont take anything serious when it comes from you the lot.
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It is commendable that you have now become a WEDIHITIYEK (Elder), at least today, after you arrived at the NPP headquarters.
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2023
cont.
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You are childish and will do anything to shamelessly but publicly promoting your thoughts.
.That is why we dont take anything serious when it comes from you the lot.
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It is commendable that you have now become a WEDIHITIYEK (Elder), at least today, after you arrived at the NPP headquarters.
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Yes, that’s why I always say, whole lot of Lankans in general are not reliable and it’s in their genes. This is yet not clear to JVP crying babies. That is why they make every effort to stand out only by attacking others, and their public-allegations.
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Medical graduate Ramesh Pathirana is not a good politician. His transfer became from his father to him. If his is said to be good, why not NAMAL BABYs ?
RP IS BIASED AND equally BRAINWASHED BY RAJAPAKSHE-MANTRA, SIMILAR TO THE STUPID AVERAGE OF RICHMOND HILL, GALLE. I know this guy since schooling days. It’s the diehard-SLFP (Kapuwath Nil) attitude that brings them into politics.
He is not a modest politician. However, if anyone who bows to Rajapakse is despicable to me, that alone sufficient me to brand him as highly corrupted.
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old codger / August 5, 2023
SM,
“Of course, I’m aware why the Indian Prime Minister felt constrained to “drop parippu”, and then impose an Amendment to our Constitution”
Please do tell us whether the NPP/JVP think so too? Or AKD at least?
“However, it is important to ensure that this legislation would be acceptable to as many people as possible.”
No, it isn’t. Quite often, the people won’t agree to what is right, because that is against the attitudes they have been brainwashed into. The majority will NOT agree to a decent solution to the ethnic problem.
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leelagemalli / August 5, 2023
OC,
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May SINHALA_MAN be blessed with unbiased thoughts.
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If it works on that line, it’s a real success for us. See, I am right :)
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He is gentle, but childish like a teenager. Just imagine how he has been attacking me all these months saying I don’t know Beethoven just because I don’t like classical music. His problem is that if he eats punnaku, he wants me to do the same. If I don’t agree, he becomes a mad bull.
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Native Vedda / August 6, 2023
old codger
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“The majority will NOT agree to a decent solution to the ethnic problem.”
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So they expect India to bailout them very often, feed them, fuel them, lend them, ……
What a cushy life all because they are Sinhala/Buddhists with 2500 years written history.
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Nathan / August 6, 2023
Sinhala_Man,
On a second thought, I wish to confront your wording.
“… owing to the the conflict between communities”.
Tamils are in disagreement. I agree. Why call it a conflict.
Conflict arises when there is a difference of opinion.
Tamils facing discrimination is factual. Verifiable. Not an opinion.
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Nathan / August 5, 2023
Dear Sinhala_Man,
Appreciate your kind words. Thank you.
Your, ‘Will the next lot be any better? I hope so’, turns me philosophical.
Life without expectations would be a lot easier to handle!
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