Thisuri Wanniarachchi
It was simply disgraceful listening to our members of the opposition speak in Nugegoda yesterday, but let’s get some facts straight.
First of all, let’s be real about crowd size. MR was President of this country for almost a decade. Don’t be awestruck by the fact that he can bring 5,000 people to a rally. I mean this was a man who got 6 million votes in 2010 and and 5 million in 2015, if he can’t bring a fraction of that down to a supermarket car park that’s not normal, so let’s chill about the numbers.
Secondly, this country is a democracy. That’s all we’ve got. That’s why it stung really hard when MR changed the democratic terms in our constitution to run for an extra term of Presidency. In political science, that’s called a constitutional coup. It happened in Congo, it happened in Burundi, it happened in Zimbabwe, and it happened in Sri Lanka in 2014. That’s what we went down in political science textbooks as, a country with constitutional coups. That shifts us from a democracy to an autocracy. We restored our democracy through the 19th amendment in 2015 so a President won’t have those executive powers to blackmail a parliament into a constitutional coup again. And now to hear Kumara Welgama say “We will make Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa the Prime Minister in 2017” is a threat to our democracy. MR ran for President and Prime Minister and lost both elections. Not just once, but twice. The people rejected him multiple times but he just won’t give up. MR has gone from a king and a savior to the creepy ex-boyfriend who keeps following you down the Nugegoda bus stand. We just want to be like, “dude, stop following us, just give up and go start a new life and take your loser friends with you.” We have to agree that despite the many decades of corruption in this country, the racism, the sexism, the homophobia, all we have had is the fact that we can vote every 4/6 years and choose our representatives. And for someone to threaten the core principle this country is held together by is disgraceful. And we must not take that lightly.
Thirdly, the homophobia. There were kids coming home from tuition classes yesterday, there were kids watching the news last night, who heard the classless words of these full grown adults yesterday. The fact that they think calling someone homosexual is an insult alone shows their miseducation. You want to call this government a homosexual government? Great. Then, that’s what it is. And guess what our homosexual government got us GSP+, a $1.5 billion IMF allocation, restored our diplomatic ties, gave MR and his JO friends the the freedom to protest and disrupt people’s daily life just to make a political statement, without being blocked by barricades, shot at or picked up later that night by a white van. So I’ll take a homosexual government any day over your Rajapaksa-Welgama-Weerawansa straight masculine macho government that put us $64 billion in debt, killed teenagers when they protested for clean water and changed the words in the constitution to their benefit.
I know you have frustrations with this current government, most of us do. Politics is frustrating. Think about it, for the first time in our history two of the largest parties in the country, that have for many decades shared completely opposing political views, built on opposite values and have run against and attacked each other are working together; of course it’s going to be frustrating. And if we are to grow, we have to be frustrated, we have to be angry, and we have to demand more. But don’t make the mistake of mixing up the frustration you have with the current government with the fear you felt of the previous one. There’s a big difference and we have to acknowledge that.
All this being said, yesterday made me incredibly proud. I realized that today our democracy is stronger than it ever was. My country is the kind of country that an opposition party with a minority of support can exercise their freedom of assembly, without being arrested, or obstructed. Tolerance is a key part of democracy and yesterday it shun brighter than ever, and we have (in the words of the JO) our homosexual government to thank for it.
m / January 29, 2017
Thanks intern Thushari! Yep, thanks for writing an essay about the topic at the “three-wheelers’ park”. Your summer internship is over, get to some real fking issues…
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Jacob / January 29, 2017
A joker behind a monitor. Democracy is about freedom of speech. If you don’t like what’s written don’t read. Go back to your porn and start jerking off.
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Silva / January 29, 2017
It is a globally accepted fact as per modern medical science that LGBTI is no longer a question of morality but something to do with the biological aspect of one’s life and is inborn. This truth has been acknowledged by the modern world. In modern society irrespective of whether it is west or east, the LGBTI are treated not only as normal but are even provided with special facilities. Only totally ignorant complete idiots will call it a sickness and oppose it.
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Silva / January 29, 2017
Statistics shows 85% of the transgender people feel unsafe, they experience verbal, physical and sexual abuse and 75% of them have suffered depression, 41% of them have attempted suicide and their only crime is to be born as a transgender. Who is going to speak on their behalf?
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Justice & Fairplay / January 31, 2017
Thushani, yours is a very good piece and very well written. It makes everyone focus more on what has been achieved in the overall context than what has been not.
You may not want to focus on responses which are a vexation to yours and everyone else’s spirit. Great job; well done!
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Dihan / January 29, 2017
[Edited out] We are sorry, the comment language is English – CT
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TokyoRose / January 29, 2017
Your passion is flawed. You’re at the most expensive university in THE USA. You have wealth and privileges. You will not go back after graduation. You’ll get a graduate degree or a job in the USA. So this is vacuous self delusional opinions. I don’t care VVIPs are married to lesbians fool the lumpen masses in sri lanka. I don’t care for gay bashing but eventually people need to educated first before you try to sneak in legislation to get rid of out archaic Sodomy laws or start protecting special classes of people. Equal rights in the bedroom is fine. No one is prosecuted for being gay. Transgender will take a while for people to accept. You do that by starting a dialogue not forcing people to change.
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John / January 29, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Dharshana Kasthurirathna / January 29, 2017
i think the only thing she got right is calling this govt homosexual. no govt in the history of the mankind would have been dominated by gays as much as this one. interestingly, she sees lifting the limit of of presidential terms and holding elections properly as a ‘democratic coup’ while this homosexual govt hijacking the opposition using threats and bribes and handing over the opposition leadership to a racist party with 15 seats as a step towards democracy! postponing elections indefinitely is a step towards democracy! EU intervention into domestic affairs as a step towards democracy! man, who the hell is educating these ppl?
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Sunil Jayasinge / January 29, 2017
Thushari
What is your opinion about Ranil who lost 28 elections compared to MR’s two losses?
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Paul / January 29, 2017
Can you list these elections please? I have asked many people but nobody seems to know!
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Kavinga Yapa / January 29, 2017
Hold on to your pride, Thisuri. Hold on to it very tight. The real democracy storm is coming & you’re not gonna like it. Delayed elections, hapless oppositions & rejected constitutional reforms any many more to come. You hold on to your pride really tight, it might just be enough to get you through the storm! -Good luck-
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Lankan / January 29, 2017
so what’s coming? anything better?
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Nishan / January 29, 2017
When Ranil lost 29 elections it was never a issue of him coming back, but MR does the same everyone gets their paties twisted. Yeah there is a common term for that, it’s called hypocrisy. Hope that’s the same term in your political science books too.
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Peter / January 29, 2017
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Nethmi / January 29, 2017
“I know you have frustrations with this current government, most of us do. Politics is frustrating.”
What else can a one works at President media could come with? Trying to save your job is good Thisuri, this is real world and your Montessori like wordings won’t save you anymore
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Gihan J / January 29, 2017
True facts but WRONG conclusions..
Does the name Thisuri Wanniarachchi rings a bell to you guys.. Let me remind you some history
One who wrote the article named “What your schools didn’t teach you” in the same news blog. Ryt?
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/what-your-schools-didnt-teach-you/
Of Course having very good education from her school, (and from American feminist/LGBTQ sub-cultures themselves) she was taught what she didn’t really know about Colombo schools’ subcultures by some guy in a blog article.. (Oh man you gotta read that!)[Edited out]
But unfortunately for her (and for her fans obviously), She doesn’t seems to have learned that we are not talking about damn assed America or somewhere else in Europe..
Although I know your intentions are pure, and whole hearted, Let’s face it ma’am we are in the Sri Lanka.. We gotta be practical with it… You and your LGBTQ friends will exist.. But only in the bedrooms!
Future isn’t Today..
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DPJ / January 29, 2017
Sunil Jayasinghe
What are the 28 elections that Ranil lost. There are only four kinds of in Sri Lanka. They are Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial Council and Local Government. You are MARA talking shit.
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Dr Vickramabahu / January 29, 2017
smart and brave,more women should come in .go ahead .
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Arshad / January 29, 2017
#Respect to the write….. #StandWithThisSoCalledHomosexualGovernment – Loosers gonna hate and winners gonna play..Peace out.
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Anonymous / January 29, 2017
Fuck the Government, Fuck the politicians, rebellion has just begun. We stand strong together with the LGBT community, for their basic human rights. And by the way screw you “Gihan J”.
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Mallaiyuran / January 29, 2017
“Freedom, Liberty, Rights, Equality, Secularism…” are bitter words in the mouth of Lankan politicians. They feed the Modaya crowd with the arrack and Biryani of “2500 Dutugemunu rule” of Sinhala Buddhism and Halal of “1500 years old MMDA” of Arabia. If there are uses for the New King’s Thriukkaivaal, that is to teach “A, AA, AE AEE…” the SinhaLE Wildlife Sanctuary politicians
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Kamal D ranasinghe / January 29, 2017
One of the bests article in it’s kind Thisuri Wanniarachchi.
Whatever or however it’s being called that is our very own and present government (WE ELECTED IT) has no decency while it’s practicing so called democracy with their own members in the parliament.
I guess we should not go further for characterizing the government since almost all the outlaws of the previous regime are in the laps of My3 and RW.
It’s a pity, isn’t it?
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Anil / January 29, 2017
Thushari You hit the nail on the head!!! great article,sadness is most of the srilanken forget about the past very soon.
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John / January 30, 2017
Very immature article.
Thisu, stop trying to be an American teenager.
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Aashik / January 30, 2017
Barricades are still available for university students.
No matter the government, student oppression is always there.
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Prageeth / January 30, 2017
[Edited out]
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sathan / January 30, 2017
Spoiler Alert! If you came here to read unbiased News. Sorry, Those are not exists here. Go find somewhere else dude.
P/S- Moderators, Please change your domain name to ranil’stelegraph or UNPtelegraph. You are too biased, you too cutyyy.
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DebateTheIssuesNotTheAuthor / January 30, 2017
To all those commentors who don’t agree with the article – that’s fine. You are all eligible to your own views. But calling the author a “[Edited out]” or accusing her of “trying to be an american teenager” doesn’t magically invalidate her case. If you want to give a different opinion than what is posted in the article please do so. But vulgarity, filth and name calling will not win an argument for you.
At least the author had the courage to stand up for what she believes in, which is much more than that done by most children her age. She is actively engaging in the political process even though she doesn’t live in Sri Lanka currently and that is something we should be proud of and commend her for even if we don’t have the same views.
Remember, these same proud Sri Lankans were once taught by the Tibetan Monk S Mahinda Thero and to this day we sing his praise. But suddenly when one of our own Sri Lankan children takes a stand for her beliefs we ridicule it just because she was educated in the US? Let’s debate about the issues guys. I am happy to hear your opinions. But let’s refrain from demeaning the yound lady’s name just because she believes in something you may not.
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Jigsaw Jakson / January 30, 2017
First of all, let’s be real about crowd size. MR was President of this country for almost a decade. Don’t be awestruck by the fact that he can bring 5,000 people to a rally. I mean this was a man who got 6 million votes in 2010 and and 5 million in 2015, if he can’t bring a fraction of that down to a supermarket car park that’s not normal, so let’s chill about the numbers
Thanks T
Lovely Article .
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Your Nightmare / January 30, 2017
Can you count how many times did the current prime minister loose? No matter how much you try to look unbiased, writing itself is self-explanatory, you are biased
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Nihal / January 30, 2017
America (and a plethora of other western countries) does not like cultures and moral standards of other countries trying to infiltrate their own and change their “American way” and they are right. In the US you do as the US does. No problem. BUT, please do not try to ram the US culture down Sri Lankan throats. The USA does not have a problem with gays and lesbians publicly displaying their sexual proclivities, but in Sri Lanka, we are a still very much a conservative society who do have a sense of shame we don’t like that; we don’t think it is decent and moral.So, let us be that, just as we permit America to be what she is and don’t dictate to her or her allies, let not he US or those allied to her and who think of her as the final word in all matters, dictate terms to us as to what is permissible or not culturally. America and her allies show case themselves as champions of tolerance.. well then tolerate our opinions too and allow us to be “Sri Lankans” and not pseudo- boot-licking- wanna-be Americana’s. That is a fair request – a just request, isn’t it?
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Nihal / January 30, 2017
Also Thisuri, would you rant like this against the Middle-Eastern countries and Afghanistan,in this manner as well, while being in those countries or would you consider that as sticking you neck out far too far? A little maturity is required when engaging these topics. So, live a bit more and you will learn not to have an influenced lackey’s mentality.
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Hasini / January 30, 2017
The only part that makes sense is the first para about the crowd. Totally agreed!! When did Sri lankan Politicians speak clean words Thisuri? That was many years ago? So insulting homosexuality at Nugegoda doesn’t seem shocking.They’ve already spoken and are speaking utter filth,giving disgraceful comments in the parliament. Not just towards LGBTI community…but every single community in this country. You are calling this democracy? Then who chose the prime minister? What about the manipulative statement given by the president just before the General election? Subtle manipulation.. I’m a person who wanted a change. But Gosh..I’m done with this hypocrisy and mockery. And I must tell you this. I’m living here. In Sri Lanka.
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Jerome van Sanden / January 30, 2017
She is one awesome writer and yes she just gives it to you straight and after all it is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
ThanksThisuri WanniarachchiI eagerly look forward to your future contributions.
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Hela / January 30, 2017
So let’s scrutinise a little bit of this five star democracy of yahapalanaya which this person crowing about.
In which political science book it says that a president can have only two terms? Why can’t the electorate be given the choice to select whom they want? The democracy I have learnt says that it is based on people’s choice. Why can’t MR contest for the PM post? Is there any constitutional limitation? Is it because the writer doesn’t like MR? This mindset appears to be quite common with yahapalana acolytes. Is that democracy?
The writer talks about a couple of MR defeats but very conspicuously silent about 28 times RW was defeated by the people. Is it because the writer likes in her own definition, a homosexual government to that of a heterosexual one?
The writer can’t see her own nakedness in pointing fingers at her opponents about freedom of speech, protest etc. Writer must be thinking people are blind to the most recent protest at Hambantota where thugs were brought from elsewhere by the govt and attacked the protestors while enjoying police protection, where the IGP was caught ordering to attack Buddhist monks after forcefully disrobing them (then erasing the evidence filmed by media through a drone). The writer seems to think that people are unaware how the disabled soldiers were attacked at Galle Face, how the protesting university students were mercilessly hammered during the past two years of yamapalanaya. The writer conveniently forgets the govt inaction in the case of smashing the heads of Sinhala students at Jaffna University (may be that’s her definition of reconciliation…!). RW and UNP had hundreds of rallies and protests during the previous govt without blockades though JO couldn’t use Shalika grounds for May day march after already obtaining the approvals or couldn’t hold a rally at the Hyde park due to ditches being dug there. The yamapalana behaviour doesn’t demonstrate the fearlessness that writer tries to project about JO crowds. In fact yamapalana behaviour demonstrates the exact opposite….that of mortal fear.
MR gave the choice to the people to select their representatives including himself in line with the cherished democratic system in the country. What is this current mob doing? They take every possible step not to offer that choice to the people by postponing the elections. Is that the political science book read by the writer says as democracy? MS appointed RW as PM under a deal (not as part of a democratic process of establishing whether RW had backing of the majority) in Jan 2015. That is writer’s democracy too!!
MR didn’t do anything like the Batalanda butcher did. Writer might be able to fool some mentally retarded fellows with this kind of BS, but certainly not the intelligent masses. The writer must be thinking that the masses are goats (may be why they try to feed masses with croton and kos kola). The yamapalana acolytes will realise their folly sooner than later. That day they might feel grass and punnakku would be a better suited meal for them.
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