Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
Foreign Refugees in Sri Lanka
According to Human Rights Watch there are some 1600 asylum seekers in Sri Lanka and they need the urgent protection of the Sri Lankan government as committed to the UN when they were accepted as refugees. They include Afghans, Iranians and Pakistanis. While most are Ahmadiyyas, there are even some Christians. I have tasted sumptuous meals prepared by them when they were working as cooks for a Christian Workers’ Fellowship lunch. One did his theology degree here and is an Anglican priest today, considered an asset to the Church here. Granting asylum to so many is one of Sri Lanka’s rare and proud achievements in support of minorities needing protection. This achievement is now under threat.
The Telegraph (UK) has reported that 1000 Muslim refugees have been forced from their homes in retaliatory attacks following the Easter Sunday bombings. Reflecting our shame, few local newspapers have reported on this.
Says the Telegraph, “A small number of Christian refugees from the three countries have also been caught up in attacks through mistaken identity.” It quotes Tariq Ahmed, a 58-year-old Pakistani Ahmadiyya as telling the Associated Press that in Pakistan they were chased off saying they are not Muslims but “in Sri Lanka, people attack us because they say we are Muslims.”
Adds the Telegraph report, “Around 650 refugees are said to have sought shelter at a mosque in the city of Pasyala, near Negombo. Others are believed to be staying in police stations or local schools while 30 Iranians have barricaded themselves inside their homes.”
Church Response
The Christian Church has responded as commanded in many places in the Bible. To quote just three that confessing Muslims too are bound by,
1. Of immediate relevance: “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. (Leviticus 19:33)
2. Offering refuge even to foreign murderers: These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there (Numbers 35:15)
3. Giving a portion of our harvest to the poor: And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 19:10).
Many Sri Lankans, particularly Tamils, are the beneficiaries of this now internationally accepted biblical ethos underlying political asylum. The Sri Lankan Church has come forward to offer protection to threatened Muslims invigorated by Bishop Dhiloraj Canagasabey’s bold statement:
The Christian community cannot and must not act on the basis of “an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth,” in these trying times, […] ” It is sad that humans have arrogated to themselves the right to commit mass murder in the name of God Almighty the giver of Life, […] Life belongs to God and no one has the right except God to take one’s life away. […] We cannot and must not act on the basis of “an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth” but we will follow the Master’s example and cry the same cry He cried on the cross with so much of sadness and heaviness of heart saying-“Father, Forgive them for they do not know what they do. […] The Executive and the Legislature were busy working on their own petty agendas and it appears that those under them were also polarized and paralyzed by this division. This Island nation which bled for almost four decades is bleeding again. If those who have been elected genuinely loved their country, this should not have been allowed to happen. This is a Total Betrayal of the entire Nation.”
Police Unable to Protect Refuge Seeking Refugees
Accordingly some refugees were housed in a church building by Church leaders of the National Christian Council in Athurugiriya but overnight, Church sources tell me, Buddhist monks marched on the shelter leading angry villagers. The refugees had to be sent back to the police station. The Church was told by the police that they cannot offer protection, despite that being the primary police duty.
As the government including the President told us that the government would protect Muslims under threat, nothing was done as some virulent Buddhist Monks led the charge on the refugees. Their argument is similar to that used in June 2007 saying it is dangerous to have Tamils in Colombo. The Defence Ministry as quoted in the Times of India then had “Police Chief Victor Perera” defending the eviction:
“The move was necessary to secure the capital city and protect it against bomb attacks by Tamil Tiger rebels who allegedly live among Tamil guests staying in low budget hostels.”
Just read substituting the word Muslim for Tamil – it is the same hegemonic tactic of ethnic cleansing again, this time of Muslims by the government – I say government because it is abdicating its commitment to the UN to protect the refugees when accepting them as refugees. Government’s refusal to act on Indian intelligence on the then imminent holocaust, reminds me of SWRD Bandaranaike and JR Jayawardene fiddling in their times as riots raged, the latter adding fuel by threatening the Tamils
“If you want war, let there be war. If you want peace let there be peace. This is not what I say. The people of Sri Lanka say that.”
That expulsion was reversed by a successful challenge in the Supreme Court by the Centre for Policy Alternatives where M.A. Sumanthiran appeared opposing the expulsion. Today what are the people of Sri Lanka saying to Muslims through their silence and attacks on innocent refugees?
My Church sources inform me that when Mr. A.T. Ariyaratne of Sarvodaya tried to take some Muslim refugees to their buildings, some monks leading villagers whipped into a rage would not even let the refugees get off the bus. It is people like Mr. Ariyaratne and the Church who are at least proving that some of us Sri Lankans are still human.
Deadened Empathy From Tamils
And what of the Tamils who went through the holocausts and expulsions? What are they saying? Tamil sources say that these communalist monks told the government to send the refugees to Tamils areas if they wished but not to any other are, and that some Tamil leaders are angered. While M.A.Sumanthiran, MP is agreeable to accepting the refugees in the North in keeping with his arguments in court in 2007 and his position as a Methodist Lay Preacher, MPs Sivasakthi Anandan and Charles Nirmalanathan are vehemently opposed, the latter swearing that even if his leader Mr. Rajavarothayam Sampanthan ordered him to, he would vote against the government if the refugees were sent to the North. We Tamils are unable to learn from our expulsion from Colombo!
National Christian Council, the NCC
In response a band of true Christian leaders – and I do mean leaders more than in name – is determined to help the UN resettle these refugees among us at least till a lasting solution is found. The Ven. Fr. Sam Ponniah (Anglican Archdeacon of Jaffna) is part of this band of national leaders from the NCC. They are trying to house the refugees in the homes of Christian volunteers. Fr. Ponniah hopes that by helping small groups – like 10 families in Jaffna – we can do our duty by them while ensuring their safety.
The Military Tightens its Grip on Jaffna
In the meantime as rights in general are eroded, as I write (3 May) the 513 Brigade has moved some 300 troops into Jaffna University and begun a search of every building. Having discovered a picture of V. Prabhakaran’s and a map of Eelam in the students’ union office besides a pair of binoculars and boots (said to be standard military gear) elsewhere, the President and Secretary of the students’ movement have been arrested. Now everyone entering the university undergoes a search. The find seems to have been a ruse for the military to tighten its grip on us.
The two arrested union leaders are ardent devotees of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress but despite many lawyers in Jaffna being from that party no one came forward to appear for them. This reflects the general fear of the armed forces. In the end, Sumanthiran, saying the two cannot go without a defence when having a Prabhakaran photo or a map of Eelam is no crime, decided to represent the abandoned unionists in court today.
C.V. Wigneswaran Enters Fray
The two students were charged under 4 laws – the PTA, laws promulgated in Aug.2011 under the PTA, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Emergency Regulations passed on 22 April. They have been remanded until 16 May by the Jaffna Magistrate, and the TNA is negotiating with the new Attorney General because his consent is required for them to be enlarged on bail.
Former NP Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran jumped into the fray capitalizing on the plight of the two student union leaders. He faulted the TNA for not opposing the Emergency Regulations. He also accused the TNA of asking the army to not leave Jaffna.
In response, the TNA today, 3 May, issued a statement in Tamil explaining that even without the regulations the two students would have been charged under the other three laws. It further said that, yes, they did not oppose the Emergency Regulations but have opposed the draconian laws passed subsequently under those regulations which have been used to charge the union leaders. The statement also denies that the TNA ever asked the army not to leave Jaffna and that the only person who so asked is Ananthi Sasitharan, former TNA Provincial Minister, the widow of disappeared Sea Tiger Elilan and the LTTE’s Trinco Head, and, importantly, an ally of Mr. Wigneswaran’s who is seen by the TNA as trying to wreck it.
[Note: The Daily Mirror of 3 May 2019 quotes ITAK leader Mavai Senathirajah as saying during a May Day speech in Kilinochchi: “The army and the police security should be beefed up to ensure people’s security.” However a reporter who heard the speech says that what Senathirajah actually said was in Tamil and it is “We are being pushed to ask for more security but we will not.” This reporter says the actual statement was doctored by a TV station by leaving out the last bit and newspapers like the Daily Mirror were misled. Indeed such a change in policy by the TNA is major and unlikely to be made in an impromptu speech.]
Heading for a Military Dictatorship?
Where are we heading? Were the warnings from India on imminent bombings not heeded to promote chaos as an excuse for the military to play a bigger role? And what of Government Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne’s claim that the previous government had been paying Muslim and Buddhist extremists? Why did the military move into Jaffna University seemingly trying to foment trouble in a peaceful university?
The answers lie in the present military spokesman Brigadier Sumith Attapattu’s recent statement that even if the government asks the military to vacate all occupied Tamil lands, they will not. That is treason and a violation of our constitution. And no disciplinary action? That is anarchy.
Anarchy is the beginning of a dictatorship. Are the seeds of anarchy being deliberately planted to make way for the military to take over?
JD / May 4, 2019
Protestant Tamils and LTTE rump are against ARMY is Army is doing something good. So, Army has to work their own way without getting swayed by these scoundrels. Keep the Morale and work harder. In another 14 days, they can celebrate again throwing a dead dog to the funeral fire.
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Xavier Mariampillai / May 5, 2019
Desist from your self promotion, Hoole! You have no standing on the matter. The refugees should be sent back to Pakistan. Your family could join them! We can’t accommodate ISIS moles. Sri Lanka has enough problems. It doesn’t need more. You have no right to speak for us. Do you want Catholic churches bombed in Jaffna? You perhaps do!
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Radical Ideas / May 6, 2019
Prof. Hoole, as you have said, in Sri Lanka, we have a totally Fascist system painted with Buddhism and its talk of a “2500” years tradition thay no one able see or sight anywhere near. The Sinhala Racist Network has always been Fascist and the monks who are worst than the Nazis or the Zionist Jews. Here, we have a shameless twits who calls for the expulsion of foreign refugees. In the meantime the slut relatives of these Buddhist racists are living in the Middle East Muslim countries earning and leading a much better life. As we know in Kuwait, UAE, Oman and Qatar, where many illegal Sri Lankans are still making money and sending it back home. I think, the Muslim countries will come to about the racist SL govt system. If they too follow the same racism that the Sinhala Racist Network and the Govigama Mafia Ruling Elites are doing to the Muslims, Sri Lanka will become a Zimbabwe or a Somalia in South Asia.
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Lanka Perera / May 8, 2019
Radical ideas you seem to be a Muslim, like your fellow Muslims are suffering from inferiority complex due to being either low caste Tamil converts or descendants of low caste Sinhalese women who had cohabited with Arab travelers. Worst racists in the world are Muslims, and Sri Lanka is no exception to that.
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Praba / May 8, 2019
JD
Are you learning to write English or Writing to learn English. It looks like a bit of both.. Dont waste space on CT just get a blackboard and scribble.
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justice / May 4, 2019
“religion” is the “opium” of the masses.
Religion has caused more wars than race/politics.
The Tamil Buddhist Governor should have spoken with the Sangha and the army.
Is he ‘approving’ the extreme Buddhist line?
He wants refugees to return from India – will they, with all this happening?
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Anon / May 5, 2019
The Governor is not Buddhist. He has published on Buddhist politics. That said, he has no personal religion.
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Mr. Eko / May 8, 2019
No no religion is not the opium of the mass. Power is. Everybody knows Buddhism, Jainism, and many small shramanic religions do not advocate violence one bit. Abrahamic religions are social reformations for the betterment of society. They encourage harmony.
So extremist are almost always comprised of athiests or folk with radical political idiologies like marxism or facisism. Marxist/socialists killed many millions and continue to devastate the world even today. Left and right wing facisism is destroying Murican culture and politics. China has a thought police. Do I need to go on? Liberal mass, devoid of compassion and driven by radical reletivist agendas, degraded moral values, always putting blame on religion are the real perps.
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Waiting for Elections / May 4, 2019
Professor Hoole, could you please explain your particular role in the dictatorship?
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As a member of the election council, why aren’t you answerable to the voters of Sri lanka as to why there are no elections in the country for any of the provincial councils?
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Sinhala_Man / May 6, 2019
Deat Waiting for Elections,
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Our country is such a mess that we must have the two most important elections as early as possible. Of course, you’re right about it being the Provincial Council election being due first. We must not allow the politicians to make any other changes to the election schedule. In fact, it would be good if this opportunity is taken to fix the unpredictable Election dates for the next century to ensure that these elections are conducted in such a manner that it’s only a fully aware electorate that votes.
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How is the President going to be chosen if there are three relatively strong candidates, instead of the customary two?
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/next-presidential-elections-are-the-media-doing-justice-by-the-nation/
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You expect the Elections Commission to perform miracles, and then, I bet you’ll vote for just one candidate instead of voting first for a candidate so honest that his/her chances of getting elected are almost nil. Please see the comments that I have made on the voting system, so that at least in 2025 we will have more strong candidates than just our traditional two.
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We get the government we deserve.
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P. Sivakumaran / May 4, 2019
Abrahamic religions are proselytising religions which have caused so much of bloodshed in the world. Yet, they quote scriptures to make us believe that peace is their property. Until Sinhala Buddhism came along, Buddhism was a non-proselytizing religion with a deep philosophy. Likewise, Modi’s Hinduism in India. It is best Christians do not talk of peace as their property and feel superior about it. Until Europeans came with Christianity and the Moguls came with Islam, there were few wars in the name of religion in South Asia. We all need to strive for peace which is what all the great books of our moral traditions teach us. We must strive towards it rather than try to make out that the scriptures contain more about peace than other religions. That is sheer bunkum and religious chauvinism which does not help us at this moment. As to the Jaffna Campus incident, it may well spark off a new movement against the Sinhalese occupation of the NorthEast.
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Punchi Point / May 4, 2019
Tamils and their totally screwed mentality which makes them live in an alternative reality where lies, fanaticism, anti-Sinhala sentiments rule. This Tamil man Hoole cannot write anything without twisting everything to put the blame on the Sinhalese, even in a time like this where the whole country needs to stand together and face IS he is writing this BS. The army is the only ones who are trained to tackle bombs and fight terrorists face to face. If you want to do the job Mr. Hoole why don’t you go and do it without writing all this BS.
You reveal what Tamil political reality and relationship to politics and politicians is when you say “The two arrested union leaders are ardent devotees of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress… ” . FYI if a political party have devotees then there is a big problem because we are dealing with religion and not politics. I hope you understand the implications of this, although I know you won’t since in your totally screwed up world politics and religion is the same. We saw how Prabakaran ruled you people and how you Tamils worshiped him. At the end he was using you people as a human shield and shooting and killing you, even then you all were supporting him. ISIS and the LTTE are two sides of the same coin. Srilankan army will do everything needed to put down both. That’s the only way Srilankans both Tamil and Sinhala and also Muslims can be safe from being killed by LTTE or ISIS terrorists.
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Pandi Kutti / May 5, 2019
Please take your Punchi ( little) pointer and brain somewhere else and post all this garbage there. A nice Chingkalla Buddhist Fascist sites. The will appreciate your rubbish as they are rubbish themselves.
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Ranjith(SPRRW) / May 4, 2019
Islamism is not a religion. It is a military doctrine with one objective.That is to make whole world adhere to Allah.Coexistence, respect for others is bullshit for them. They may show some respect & lie low until get upper hand in respect of man power.Here local Islamist miscalculated miscalculated their power. They calculated manpower with number of Muslims live in entire subcontinent including Maldives.Funny thing is our politicians still keep Islamism as official religion. It was included in our constitution as well as official religion Although It says the other religion worshipers are vile animals. corrections should be done soon. Otherwise This Island will be yet another Labonan I suppose. .
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Ibo / May 5, 2019
Kochchia Ranjith(SPRRW),
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“Funny thing is our politicians still keep Islamism as official religion”
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Islamism is not Islam. What are you trying to say about some manpower and calculation there, I can’t understand? You’re confused these days, don’t get enough Kassippu?
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Mallaiyuran / May 4, 2019
There were short sighted Tamil politicians too protested the foreign refugees to be resettled in North. There is no question in the dirty secret intention of the Aanduwa in using opportunities like that. But I asked myself a question like “If the Western cities had refused to accommodate the shadow of my face falling on their soil my, by now, my bones might have dissolved in the Atlantic Ocean water, isn’t it?” The refugees fear about their government and ISIS and much as we fear about Aanduwa and ISIS.
It is irrelevant for us weather Puttlam Sinhala Buddhist hate them as ISIS or Puttlam Muslim fearing then Pakistan, Bengali spies. We have to rational on dealing with them. Without any prove we cannot punish them. (Puthar Thalam- The plot where Tamil Buddhists live –That name could be 1500 years old)
The better way is NPC negotiate with Aanduwa to humanistic handling of this issue. Aanduwa without playing games with human life or bothering those Northern populations, battered by war must settle them on the best available place. CV, Mavai like politicians should initiate resettling the displaced refugees in appropriate areas in the North, based on the needs.
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Peace lover / May 5, 2019
Mallaiyuran
First time you have received more thumbs down. Can’t you realise you are wrong on the question of settling the refugees in North. North & East Tamils are desperate in seeking helping hands to have a descent meal. Govt is not interested in helping them. Tamil MPs are keen in helping themselves. At this juncture dumbing the refugees in North would create more misery to everyone. Don’t think they are inhumane.
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Kakkus / May 6, 2019
Mullaioooran, I get the feeling that you are a retired nothing to do tamil refugee in a Western country. Am I right?
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Mallaiyuran / May 6, 2019
Hey Dutch era Lavatory still functioning without retiring, sorry man because I don’t know who you are.
But, though he revenged me, Thanks god, whom he has let a lot of constructive things with you to do, collecting everyone’s excreted dirt and enjoy it.
Any way who is that? Allah – Shiva- Buddha……..? Because unlike of us (Tamils), only Sinhala Buddhists seeking to eat our flesh, but of these refugees, many kind stray dogs on streets are wandering to taste flesh under camouflage of religion, culture, patriotism, nationalism……
nilai maarinaal gunam maaruvaar – poy
needhiyum naermayum thaeduvaar – thinam
jaadhiyum baedhamum kooruvaar – adhu
vaedhan vidhiyenroadhuvaar
manidhan maarivittaan…madhaththil aerivittaan
…..
paaril iyarkai padaiththaiyellaam
paavi manidhan piriththuvaiththaanae
manidhan maarivittaan…madhaththil aerivittaan
(Changes thier nature with changes of circumstances.
Hypocrisy is the justice and honesty they preach.
Spends their day time in advocating racisms & divisions,
Then they make it as “That is the Judgement of the God”
……
The grace of the nature is creating all these beauty and
The sin of the man is splitting and destroying it.)
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paul / May 6, 2019
Kakkus, you have upset the bugger. You were too close to the truth. He couldn’t handle the truth. No Truth-handler he etc etc etc. He wouldn’t know the truth if it walked up to him and kicked him in the balls. Sorry, ball.
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Douglas / May 4, 2019
Dr. Hoole: At this moment of “THREAT” to National Security ( people and property of every citizen) why don’t you leave aside your “AGENDA” for a moment and allow those entrusted with that job of restoring us the much wanted and desired “Freedom” and “Peace” to fulfill their task. When they – the Security Forces have given us that “Peace” and “Freedom” back, you too would be “ENTITLED” to proceed with your own “AGENDA” provided that does not “Infringe” with “ENTITLEMENTS” of others. It is not necessary to tell you that, because you know it by “EXPERIENCE”.
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jehan / May 5, 2019
why does the private media take pictures of suspects. are they covered legally or trying to start a 1983 type riot against muslims. kitchen tools like basic knifes are taken by the police and suspects produced. this looks like a set-up for race riots.
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Good Sense / May 5, 2019
Prof. Hoole is known to dot every i and cross every t. In a crisis situation like this it is not possible to achieve that target 100%. The issue, as demonstrated now, unlike New Zealand, the political leadership of the country which is now in the hands of President Sirisena and Premier Ranil well below par to face this kind of challenge. The danger is that the military establishment is likely to say to the political establishment that you expect us to clean up a mess that you yourself neglected to address and find fault with us after doing the dirty work for you. If the patience run out, that is the end of the Democracy of this country. Remember that the military top brass has attributed “Too much freedom and too much peace” as the cause for this calamity.
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Agnos / May 5, 2019
Genuine refugees should be supported and welcomed. Of course vigilance is required against ISIS-friendly people masquerading as refugees, but others should be supported. In time, they will integrate into the local culture and contribute to the economy and culture.
Everyone should work to ensure that the country doesn’t slide into military dictatorship.
In the US, right after 9/11, there was a lot of anxiety and overreaction against ordinary Muslim people. But it became clear that the vast majority of Muslim people .did not support Al Qaeda and ISIS, and violence against Muslims has been prevented ( except for occasional and isolated attacks).
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Mano / May 5, 2019
The country is ripe for a WELL REFINED DICTATORSHIP.
Send all the international Refugees in Sri Lanka to the NORTH , and make it a land of Ghettos along with the Tamils there under Army oppression and the Aava Group to do the dirty clean up job.
Let Hoole be the Chief Administrator of the Province and Suren or Suman as Governor.
The Refugee problem and the Eelam demand is solved in the Mullivaikal style.
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Ranjith Gunawaradana / May 5, 2019
What I view that Hoole also member of Election Commission has directly an opposed for dissolution of corrupted Parliament by President. UNP current regime the most corrupted govt. since 1948 came into exist led by UNP of Wicks TNA, JVP and CBK by support of MS won mandate in 2015 Jan.8th.
The Current ruling regime of UNP leader of Wicks of UNP+TNA+JVP are suppressed RIGHT to Votes of citizens in local council and then turn into postponed Provincial Council Election by indefinitely.
The Out of 9 PC 8 of election has been that postponed by UNP R…Wicksmsinge and Sumatarian of MP of de facto leader TNA and JVP leaders .
Ongoing regime headed by Wicjamasinghe of UNP has not reflected Will and wish of citizens of that democracy of an Island by most failure of govt.ever field of governance ,including Security of nation and its citizens .Hence broken all promises years 2015/1/8 by UNP, TNA, JVP and CBK leadership….side by side by MS also………
Now ongoing Muslim political parties in UNP cabinet ministers has created new political violences by GUN POINT democracy blessing of Muslim Ministers of the current govt. That 21/4/19 killing 360 People in Church and 550 people been in hospitals is the result of GUN point violence not yet denied by UNP TNA and JVP leaders . According to leader of UNP Wicks said that is Global Terrorism, by 21/4 ,we seek globe solution on going crisis ,He seek US intervention as his Uncle JRJ idd that wanted to invited IPKF in 1987 July by Indo-Sri lanka accord. Now UNP planning for US Intervention of Global Terrorism of resist against for ISIS Terrorist attack in our soil.
There is two trend of dictatorship immediately face by citizens of Sri lankan?
1 Right vote has been suppressed by UNP govt.that promptly threat to democracy.
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K A Sumanasekera / May 5, 2019
So Leave the Rotting Grapes on the Ground so the Poor can have a Feed.. Nice one..
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That fits to a Tee with the Economic Policies of Dr Ranil’s Elite Anglican and Vellala Faction ..
Dr Ranil must have read the Bible from back to front, because I never came across that bit.
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What puzzles me is why this Dude is trying to drag our great majority, the Sinhala Buddhists into this.
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I know Dr Ranil, went to Anuradhapura just 2 weeks before Easter hoping to do it.-
And didn’t tell His Highness in Colombo what Dr Ranil’s Catholic Minister’s dear Dad heard , while lying on his Hospital bed.
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Hool’s mate Abraham has already put the blame on our inhabitants for the Easter Disaster by claiming that it was all because Sampathar didn’t get his Homeland.
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Tigers killed 300 in Kathankaddy.
Non of those Tiger supporters in high places were crying for the refugees let alone the dead.,
In fact whole Muslim Community was expunged from the North in just 24 hours.
The Bishops there were even talking about having their own Arch Bishop.. in Mannar .
Or is it Jaffna.
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Thank God Dr Malcolm Ranith is a wise man who is a true Srilankan.
TNA Tamils are wriggling every which way to turn the blame for this Disaster on the great majority who are the Sinhala Buddhists of the Nation.
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Dr Malcolm Ranith is aware of what is going on with the UNP and its Affiliates who are in dire straights..
I have great faith in Dr Malcolm Ranjith .
He will ensure that his people as well as his fellow inhabitants will come out of this with better things than what they have been through since January 2015..
God, give him Strength..
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Backlash / May 7, 2019
“I have great faith in Dr Malcolm Ranjith”
I have nothing against the cleric, who appears to be a good man.
But I often wondered why he encouraged and helped that notorious
gangster, killer and kidnapper Kudu Mervin and wife to gain an
audience from His Holiness the Pope. Needless to mention, the Vatican routine would have been influenced by the Cardinal’s recommendation to grant the request.
Backlash
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Vis8 / May 5, 2019
Sadly, this fiasco, especially the ‘declaration of emergency’ will be made to good use by this (useless) government. They will delay the elections indefinitely. As someone above has commented, will you (Prof. Hoole) , as a member of the election council do anything about it? Sri Lanka needs a strong government now. Since the current govt and the opposition are catering to themselves, Military rule is definitely an option. The military in Sri Lanka are not dictators. They are better than the selfish politicians we have now. They WILL take all steps to look after the country.
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sinhalese buddhist / May 5, 2019
Dear Sir
Are you trying to spread rumours? I thought you left the US to return to live in peace in Jaffna.
Please DO NOT contribute to the rumour mills to stoke racism – be it anti-sinhala or anti-muslim or anti-hindu.
Thank you
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Rohan / May 5, 2019
When the Portuguese started to persecute and kill Muslims living along the western coasts , many of the fleeing Muslims were given refuge in the eastern Tamil lands , as the Sinhalese did not want more of them in their lands. It does not matter that it was King Senarath who organised it but it was the Vannimai Tamils chieftains in the east , who took pity on them , as they were ethnic Tamils and took them in , gave them lands and even Tamil women to start families. Now look at what is happening to the Tamils in the east. The first few generations were grateful but as they multiplied like rats and grew in number and started to believe in lies and myths about their origin that they are Arabs and not ethnic Tamil Muslims and gradually got radicalised and gave up their tolerant Indian Sufi Islam for Arab Wahhabism , they are making life hell for the eastern Tamils, whose ancestors took pity on their ancestors and gave them refuge land to live and women to start a family. Now with Sinhalese help they have effectively marginalised the eastern Tamils , who are the real owners of the east.
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Abdul Kader. J / May 5, 2019
Rohan,
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“they are making life hell for the eastern Tamils, whose ancestors took pity on their ancestors and gave them refuge land to live and women to start a family”
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These buggers have their own history to suit their agenda…
How could the Tamils give lands to Muslims during Portuguese period when Tamils themselves were brought in from TN and made land owners by the Dutch during that period?
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Rohan / May 6, 2019
The only thing brought in from Tamil Nadu at that time were you fake Arab converted Dravidian low castes now creating havoc in the name of Islam and your fake Arab origin you imported Dravidian Indian Tamil low caste. We all know that you creatures are very opportunistic , selfish, self centres , backstabbers and liars. Your fake history and comments constantly running down the island’s indigenous Tamil population proves this. There is enough and more evidence regarding the ancient history of the island’s Tamils ,even from the European colonials. No one mentions of Arabs or Muslim homelands , as there were none, as you are recent converted low caste imports from Tamil Nadu /Kerala . now masquerading and creating a fake history and origin to steal lands from the Tamils.
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ghk / May 6, 2019
Rohan,
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Come on bro, how many times Vaiko, your kith and kin in TN ended up in jail protesting against SL govt? Vijaykath produced a film portraying VP and said never celebrate his birthday until you guys get your Eelam, and none of TN actors wanted to attend IIFA held in SL in protest for showing solidarity to you guys – now, it is a sin that you say you are nobody to them when the nature has gifted you the looks, color and the features that you can commit crimes in SL & hide among TN kith?
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So called indigested, sorry indigenous you invented Tamil language, pottus, vibhuti, lungis , kancheepuram sarees, pavadas, uthappam, bonda, sambar, thosa, vada etc.. and gave the copy-right to TN?
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Originating from TN, unloaded in SL by Dutch period, and calling yourselves indigenous is utterly unfair brother. As far as I can see only thing that is different from TN is your Tamil accent. All efforts for centuries spent on achieving this accent?
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Mama Sinhalam / May 7, 2019
Think of your berawe, karava, wahampura and salagama all low castes even among Sinhalese imported from South India. Which one of them are you? Even the up-country Sinhalaya imported wives from South India.
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Rohan / May 5, 2019
Now the UN and the Sri Lankan government wants to dump thousands of foreign non Tamil speaking Muslims on to the Tamil north ( why not in the Sinhalese areas again history repeating or in Islamic Malaysia or Indonesia) where thousands of local Tamils are displaced , living in abject poverty , under the yoke of a racist occupying racist Sinhalese army who has stolen their land and is hand in glove with Sinhalese Buddhist Fascists to colonise install Budda statues inside Hindu temples and settle Sinhalese. In the Mannar district a Shaitan is busy clearing the Willpattu wilderness and settling thousands of foreign and out of area Wahhabis on the pretext of settling displaced northern Muslims, most of whom now do not want to return to the north but remain in Puttalam. This is stupid all these foreign non Tamil speaking Muslims will remain quiet and grateful for a generation or two and then just like the eastern Tamil Muslims , will plan and plot to take over the land from the local Hindu/Christian Tamils in the name of Islam. The UN the Sri Lankan government cannot sort out what is happening to the Tamils but want to dump more trouble on to the Tamils.
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Eagle Eye / May 5, 2019
Rohan,
“Now the UN and the Sri Lankan government wants to dump thousands of foreign non Tamil speaking Muslims on to the Tamil north”
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At the time Portuguese came to Sinhale, majority of the people in Yapanaya were Sinhalayo. There were few Muslims and Demalu. These Demalu were the remnants of Dravidian invaders. Portuguese took the land from Sinhalayo by force using their gun power to cultivate tobacco and indigo. To work in these tobacco plantations, Portuguese brought thousands and thousands of Dravidians as slaves from Hindusthan and dumped them in Yapanaya. During Dutch and British rule, Wellala Demalu managed to establish the ownership of land once belonged to Sinhalayo. Wellala Demalu introduced the customary law ‘Thesawalamei that they brought from Malabar to keep the ownership among themselves denying low-caste Demala people the right to own land.
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Uthungan / May 7, 2019
Eagle eye
“These Demalu were the remains of Dravidian invaders”.
So you now seem to be in a phase of lucidity to admit that the Dravidians were inhabitants in the island even before the Portuguese and not brought by the Dutch later on to work on tobacco plantations in the North?
At this rate it will not be surprising when you one day admit that you too are a Dravidian.
You are progressing well.
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Native Vedda / May 7, 2019
Uthungan
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If you look at Eagle Blind Eye’s typing you know he is a recent convert to Sinhala/Buddhism, who is on his way to building a fascist state. Like other converts he is confused, guilt ridden, ashamed, unsure of oneself, ……………… trying to fit in with the rest of the Sinhala/Buddhist fascists.
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Probably he is longing for an identity reassignment.
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Lester / May 5, 2019
Some people on this forum call Sinhala-Buddhists as “fascists.” That is funny, because the same people now admit that these “fascists” allowed Muslim extremist groups to grow, for political purposes. There are many problems with this argument. First of all, a fascist government is only possible under a dictatorship. Even with emergency regulations & PTA, SL has never had a dictatorship. Since 1948, there has been never been a coup to usurp the role of President. Even the JVP were not fascists; they were anarchists with legitimate grievances. On the other hand, the LTTE and Wahhabi’s subscribe to fascism wholesale. The “Tamil Eelam” envisaged by the LTTE was a pure Tamil state. Suicide bombing, child soldiers, forced conscription, hero worship, and a dictator were all part and parcel of the LTTE fascist enterprise. The Wahhabis are similar; they will use violence over diplomacy, if the former is more expedient. The endgame is a pure Sunni Caliphate with Caliph and Shariah Law. So Sri Lanka HAD and still has a problem with fascism. The solution is not Christian solidarity, such as the author proposes. The government must boost its security capabilities and be willing to take extraordinary measures to prevent spectacular acts of terror. These are dangerous times.
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Native Vedda / May 5, 2019
Lester
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“Some people on this forum call Sinhala-Buddhists as “fascists.”
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What’s wrong with it?
They are the Sinhala/Buddhist noisy fascist minority which has intensively worked hard to transform a liberal society into a fascist dictatorship, a security state.
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Only a week ago the former head of state and his national hangman met with the former security men, including an alleged ringleader of kidnap gang (may be plotting a Temple Tree Putsch). Most participants have blood in their hand although they are not yet been charged with war crimes, (committed between 1971 and 2015) .
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Keep your head buried in your own racist/fascist world hoping everything is tickety-boo.
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Mano Mudhole / May 5, 2019
Real Fascists are those who write the virtues of blood-sucking Portuguese, Dutch and British Jewish colonialism. These mulattos try to tell us that all Sri Lanka’s problems are the result of independence.
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These Fascist mulattos need to be held answerable when things settle down.
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Lester / May 5, 2019
Native Vedda,
You are confusing fascism with nationalism. BBS is an example of nationalism. ISIS committing genocide in Iraq and Syria to set up a caliphate is an example of fascism. Historically speaking, you can appease fascists, but negotiations are only a temporary solution, as the fascist will come back looking for more.
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Native Vedda / May 7, 2019
Lester
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BBS is the Mini Me Hitler Aryan Gota’s Sturmabteilung (Storm Detachment) or in fact bully boys. The Sinhala/Buddhism is being irrecoverably converted into Sinhala/Buddhist fascism.
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“Historically speaking, you can appease fascists, but negotiations are only a temporary solution, as the fascist will come back looking for more.”
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We can see this in the behaviour of saffron clad thugs and Gota’s bully boys whose eyes are filled with rage, hatred and murder.
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I suspect you are one of those Gota supporters who believe Gota will run train on time.
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Lester / May 8, 2019
Native Vedda,
You are throwing around terms without any context. It shows poor knowledge on your part.
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Paul Bearer / May 8, 2019
Native, did you know that the term tickety-boo came from the Hindi ‘Thik hai Babu’ meaning ‘everything is okay Sir’?
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Native Vedda / May 9, 2019
Paul Bearer
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“‘everything is okay Sir’?”
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Yes I do know.
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Strategist / May 5, 2019
Even in this crisis situation Hoole is acting like fool. Tamil people are also worried about radical islamisation. Arabic teachers in Tamil schools???
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Cross Bourne / May 6, 2019
Jesus knew what Judas was like. Yet he took him as a disciple to prevent Judas’ soul from going to damnation.
When St.Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to his certain death, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Do not stop a Christian moved by charity and his Lord’s commandment to love to keep refugees sent by UNHCR and brought home by the Police.
To call one a fool for that, well, they said it of Jesus hanging on the cross.
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FAHIM KNIGHT / May 5, 2019
Why the peaceful Catholics ?
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While agitating the West , they(means more than the group leaders overseas , ) wanted to kill two birds with one stone and what is that now?
Well the (1)misfired bloodbath that would have triggered an effort by Muslim Community to seek refuge especially in western nations,
by targeting the Catholics the West would have never let any Muslims in as refugees ,( simple excuse no way to screen so many to root out possible members of the group responsible) turn 3 , the frustrated young Muslims who may face harassment at many levels will be easy recruit and the rich could become the ransom payers for their fund.
While the others will be reaping many benefits in the name of war on terror the parasites from all walks of life will be feeding on the helpless .
If not for the wisdom of Rev.Archbishop & the discipline catholic Community , continued sincere and disciplined operations by the forces & police ,the Cooperation of The Muslim Community and of cause we do not wish to mix politics ,we need to
Give The President ,PM.and the government some credit for not allowing it to turn to another 83.
It was not just luck , it was the people who were the decision-makers from the Archiebishop to the forces ,police ,both communities involved and the Present Custodians of the Nation President,PM& government made the right decision for the first time ever in Sri Lanka history since Independence.
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Nimal Tissa Wijethunga / May 5, 2019
Hoole, Military tighten grip on security is good as anybody talk against Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan values shall be annihilated because that line of thinking always cause major problems.
Once up on a time, Vellalas deceived Tamil masses for a hypothetical Elam and also look for India as solutions to their problems. Now the Tamil masses learnt a lesson and they will never be deceived by anybody.
Similarly, Muslims look for Arabian peninsula for their problems will learn the lesson as well.
Therefore, Hoole that your rubbish will never be able to deceive anybody anymore.
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Native Vedda / May 7, 2019
Nimal Tissass Wijethunga
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“Military tighten grip on security is good as anybody talk against Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan values shall be annihilated because that line of thinking always cause major problems.”
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Could we have an English translation.
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Desperate Citizen / May 5, 2019
Citizens , be careful .
There are two.particular TV anchors from pvt TV stations one is a part time ,who was severely criticized for his racial attitudes in the past .
These two from two.pvt TV stations are struggling to push the country into a riot.
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Concerned / May 5, 2019
“(1600 refugess!) need the urgent protection of the Sri Lankan government as committed to the UN when they were accepted as refugees.”
UN is mad to take the word of our politicians and bring in these hapless people here. The Sri Lankan politicians have been lying to the whole world from 1948 without batting an eyelid.
It is totally irresponsible on the part of the UN to trust any Sri Lankan President with minority people The UN should provide safety and subsistence for them or better, take them to a sincere country.
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whywhy / May 5, 2019
What’s being exposed almost everyday in our country is that how fast we are
becoming enemies and divided on every single step we take in whatever
name ! Why is that we rush to take on an entire community for the crime of a
few ? The whole country was put on alert and the entire Muslim community
was scanned , sowing the seeds of suspicion on every Muslim just for being a
Muslim ! This is exactly what some Buddhist extremists wanted and the rulers
provided ! Muslims were being misled not only by Muslim extremists but also
by Muslim Clerics , Muslim politicians , Muslim intellectuals and nearly
anybody who pretended to be a good Muslim , was an extremist and the wonder
is they didn’t know they were extremists . The same is true with majority of
Sinhalese against Muslims ! Deep inside there was hatred in all communities
waiting to explode any moment that was ripe ! Rulers of all hues just came to
power to pass time . For decades the situation was worsening and nothing was
done to arrest the situation and build firm bridges that would guarantee peace
and happiness ! I have asked one question many times over and over and asking
again , can a Muslim or a Tamil open a shop in Kiribathgoda town ? If not why ?
Don’t answer by asking if a Sinhalese can open one in Kattankudi because there
shouldn’t be any hindrance ! My position is if a Sinhalese couldn’t live in a
non-Sinhala area and Muslim or Tamil is not safe in a Sinhala dominated area ,
what country is it that we are talking about communal harmony ? Once upon a
time , yes we lived in harmony but it was short lived !
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Ranjith Gunawaradana / May 6, 2019
Since year 2001 by 9/11 overall policies of USA invading and intervention of Islam of Arabs and Muslim states has come a totally failure in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Pakistan and Agfatain. USA ever-never lessons of her past policy mistakes by themselves.
The case of US intervention an Sri lanka of Democratic Republic by sending USA troops to ours soil also end with failure. US is playing power game for Hegemony of their Global interest against Russia, China and other Islam countries( Iran and Turkey ). This will not work in Island for secret military purposed .
The country strategic location of Indian Ocean is a fact .We are neutral nation that not for save for the hegemony of any old or new power of Globe.
We have to learn a lessons 21/4/19 any intervention of ISlam or Muslim Terrorism is threat to our democratic order that is undeniable reality. That is the current objective situation that we are facing.
Two strategic task ahead before our nation by 21/4-19 attack by ISIS or Local link up ISIS that Muslim terror outfits support by Muslim Minsters of of UNP govt led by Wickramasighe .
1 We have to work on an eliminated Muslim or Islam terrorist-outfits from our soil by military means.
It is just WAR against extremist terrorism that advocated religion which that undermined FREEDOM
of Religion enjoy by other faiths of Christen and Hindus as well as Buddhist.
2 We need Ideological consues and interfaith dialogue and between Buddhism and Islamism, Christianity
Hinduism communities on long-term basis.
The aim interfaith dialogue of political perspective are base of harmonization of religions exist of different to permitted live and let them to live in peacefully an island .
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Ad / May 6, 2019
First treat them as human on a priority basis and then provide shelter and security. Then will analyze what to do to them. Govt. has the backing and without wasting time should act. If cannot formally request some organization to do the needful. It should not be neither here nor there case. Many Sri Lankans went to other countries as refugees and are settled down and doing well. Refugee is not a status to frown upon. They have come here because they are persecuted in their own country. Who knows, they may have good skills. Act with humanity.
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charles / May 7, 2019
You can have your opinion but do not talk like a idiot. Think about the country’s security first. A racist against Sinhalese.
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fashion / May 7, 2019
Dictatorship or military is something better than anarchy or current failed rulers.
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kali / May 8, 2019
Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
Deadened Empathy From Tamils
And what of the Tamils who went through the holocausts and expulsions? What are they saying? Tamil sources say that these communalist monks told the government to send the refugees to Tamils areas if they wished but not to any other are, and that some Tamil leaders are angered. While M.A.Sumanthiran, MP is agreeable to accepting the refugees in the North in keeping with his arguments in court in 2007 and his position as a Methodist Lay Preacher, MPs Sivasakthi Anandan and Charles Nirmalanathan are vehemently opposed, the latter swearing that even if his leader Mr. Rajavarothayam Sampanthan ordered him to, he would vote against the government if the refugees were sent to the North. We Tamils are unable to learn from our expulsion from Colombo!
*** With all due respect you are muddying the water and confusing the average reader You are wrong and Sumanthiran is also wrong.
Definition of a Refugee is someone who flees his coutry of origin due to Persecution which could be Religious , Political Believe or Ethnicity to a safe third Country but they have to claim asylum at the first avaialble opportunity.. In Sri Lanka the Agents of Persecution are the Majority although you could have Non State Agents Of Persectuion such as LTTE or Drug Barrons.
What you are talking about when you cant avail yourself to the Security Forces( for protection) who are predominantly Sinhalese and are the Agents of Peseution by protecting the Majority is ” INTERNAL FLIGHT OPTION ” . In a country like Sri Lanka Internal Flight Option is not avaialable because it is the same Jurisdiction throughout. But in a Country like India you can move to another State for Protection. So Sumanthiran is talking nonsense. Have a word with him or refer him Kali and I will advise him
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