By Rajan Philips –
The two most vulnerable groups to the coronavirus are the elderly and people of all age groups with pre-existing medical conditions, i.e. the so-called life-cycle illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, liver complications, lung disease etc. In both instances, the virus exploits the compromised immune systems of its hosts. That has been the general story in countries with large numbers of Covid-19 cases and fatalities. Italy has high life expectancy among its people and a high proportion of the elderly, traditionally attributed to additive free cooking using garlic and olive oil, and of course the local wine. Italy paid a high price to the pandemic in the richer northern parts of the country. In America, the Trump acolytes are racially blaming American diversity and obesity as vulnerable pre-existing conditions for the country’s virus curve (racing to two million cases) and mounting death toll (now past 100k), to divert attention from the Administration’s ‘chaotically disastrous’ (as Obama called it) handling of the crisis.
Sri Lanka, despite its economic woes, and with or without the now healthily cold-pressed coconut oil – like the always cold-pressed and healthy gingelly oil, has a remarkably high life expectancy and a high proportion of the elderly. And, touch wood, it is also having a low number of Covid-19 cases and an even lower death statistic, practically compared to every other country. If this overall pattern (even after taking into account the IPA’s alternative statistics which are not at all significantly higher) were to prevail over the global life of the current pandemic, the island’s pandemic experience may become the subject for future studies as a healthy deviant, quite in contrast to the way the malaria epidemic of the 1930s earned academic notoriety for the island in epidemiological studies as the ‘Ceylon epidemic.’ Let us not get ahead of ourselves, however, the way the government did self-congratulating itself almost three months ago.
What is common though, between then and now, are the country’s pre-existing non-medical conditions, which have become part of the Sri Lankan genome and are now blistering to the surface with the coronavirus acting as the default trigger. The economic condition is worse than Type 2 Diabetes; months long lockdown has further weakened the overall immune system and whole limbs of the economy are risking old school amputations. Add to that the chronic heart condition of the constitution, now under direct hydroxychloroquine attack by forensic quacks. Much of the respiratory media are hopelessly clogged up in pro-government apologetics, while the social media inhalers provide less oxygen and more laughing gas. Ethnic preoccupations have morphed from the violent epileptic seizures of old, to scabby skin eruptions in the body politic now. Lastly, and to safely land my unapologetic metaphorical flight, the government’s standard prescriptive options range between familial Task Force oil treatment for all symptoms and increasingly frequent application of military ventilators. You get the picture. The reality is worse. Even though the coronavirus is seemingly under control, thanks mostly to the island’s medical and public health genius.
The Economy
Everyday there is a new blueprint for the economy produced by well-meaning and thoughtful professional economists, academics and/or concerned business leaders. But Sri Lanka’s core problem is that the government has no cash and made it worse by slashing its tax revenues. Its redress allocations are less than a percentage point of the GDP, and nowhere near the redress measures in the neighbouring South Asian countries. The Rs. 5,000.00 Samurdhi disbursement, the only government handout so far, has reportedly not reached 44% of the have-not sections of the population. Traditional social cohesion and reciprocity might be at work in preventing widespread destitution. There is informal subsistence even though the informal economy is formally shut down. At the macrolevel, the government is looking for handouts from China and currency swaps with India. But how much will even the maximum help from the two Asian economies measure up to the country’s domestic needs and external shortfalls? There is no assessment. There is no plan. There is no more sign of the miracle that many thought they saw on November 16. It is not the virus that is to blame. The virus has only exposed the cluelessness to which hopes were unsuspectingly attached in November last year.
The government must first identify what it can realistically do in tough circumstances that the country is in. Not in the next two to five years, but the next two to five months, even two to five weeks. Nivard Cabraal is calling for 10% of the GDP (Rs. 1.5 trillion out of Rs. 15 trillion GDP) as stimulus to be garnered through “collective interventions,” over the next three to five years. Not the timeframe for the current urgency, nor the correct concept for the current situation. There is no collective intervention in any country. In wealthy countries, where interest rates are rock bottom and debt to GDP ratios are a Keynesian dream, the governments are bankrolling the stimulus. Huge private corporations are not ‘collectively intervening’, only collectively baying for government bailouts. The developing countries are hoping for collective global intervention, not collective domestic interventions. China is on its own, only the state will intervene, but it will need global trade even to assert its (relatively!) absolute advantage.
India seems to be eclectic in its approach, and there is a spirited national debate in the country about the Modi government’s economic policy involving, among others, two pan Indian national leaders from Tamil Nadu, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and former (Congress) Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. And out of nowhere last Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu State government signed 17 MOUs with companies from eleven countries (Australia, China, England Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States) for investments with local partners in the manufacturing of heavy vehicles, electronics, footwear, energy, medical equipment etc. The MOUs involve IR 150 billion ($2 billion) capital and will generate 47,000 new jobs. What efforts are being made by any of Sri Lanka’s Task Forces to pull off anything like this?
Mr. Cabraal’s ‘collective intervention’ terminology is his newest euphemism for pilfering 2.6 million EPF members of as much as Rs. 500 million, or a third of his stimulus target. Ostensibly, the scheme will create for the members a “life-line” of their own making by prematurely withdrawing from their life savings to pay current debts. This at a time when their government is asking for debt moratorium from all its creditors. Where is the moral equivalence here? Leave alone the long-term loss to the employees and their becoming a burden to future governments with depleted savings. He has other fanciful ideas such as facilitating 100-day stays in Sri Lanka for elderly American, Chinese, and European tourists, for the 2020/21 winter season. There is one hitch. Who is going to fly them so early, even if they are willing to venture out after escaping the virus at home? Mr. Cabraal is also highlighting the importance of global help, which should mean more than China and India, as well as reinforcements by the IMF and the World Bank. The question is what impacts will Sri Lanka’s political conditions and ethnic differences have on the prospects of Sri Lanka getting the global economic support it needs?
A missed opportunity
Long before the Supreme Court was petitioned over election timing and the status of parliament, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya suggested a conference among Party leaders, the Prime Minister, and the President to pre-emptively address the emerging constitutional impasse. While correctly refusing to go along with the roguish idea for the Speaker to summon the dissolved parliament, Mr. Jayasuriya even more correctly warned that failure to consultatively address the constitutional issue will have huge implications for Sri Lanka obtaining global support to the extent it is needed.
In all the economic proposals that are being spawned now, it is taken for granted that maximum global support is a given – no matter happens to parliament, whether or not elections are held, regardless of minority complaints, and regardless as well of the increasing normalization of military secondments to civilian positions in the state apparatus. That external support should not be taken as a given is the lesson the new Rajapaksa Administration should learn from the last Rajapaksa Administration. That is the difference between the external experience of the last year of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Administration and that of the first year of Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Administration. Sri Lanka lost its external goodwill in 2014 and regained some of it in 2015. It is likely to happen again, and the loss of goodwill will also last a lot longer with adverse implications for the economy and public health.
Whichever way the Supreme Court rules, everyone is already a loser. If the Court were to conclude that parliament should be recalled, government supporters will whip up a backlash against the opposition parties and will do everything possible to make life miserable for the opposition. The opposition is in such a disarray that it can neither create nor benefit from another pro-democracy wave as in October 2018. Given Sajith Premadasa’s role during that tumult, one cannot expect him to show either initiative or backbone in the current situation. Ranil Wickremesinghe was an unworthy and inconsequential beneficiary of the 2018 wave, and he will again be unworthy of his status and inconsequential in his actions.
On the other hand, if the Court were to agree with the government’s position that parliament can remain dissolved while the Election Commission expedites the holding of the postponed election, the government supporters will be jubilant but there will be sulking across a wide swathe of the rest of the population including the Sinhalese. Constitutional governance would have been delivered an insufferable blow, but there will be no public accounting for it. The creeping militarization of civil administration will be given an additional push. Much of the media outlets will applaud and welcome the verdict as the last word on the matter and urge the country to move on. It will be the last word, no doubt, but one that will raise more questions than it would answer. And it will not be the last word externally, among Sri Lanka’s trading partners and international agencies.
All of this could have been easily avoided if the government had responsibly taken the simple constitutional steps that were subtly implied by Karu Jayasuriya and explicitly articulated by legal luminaries like Nihal Jayawickrama and Savitri Goonesekere. Parliament could have been recalled, attended to the limited business that it was recalled for, and gone into dissolution again. And the Election Commission, with all the puerile externalization of internal matters and the equally puerile internalization of external politics, would have been able to go ahead with setting an appropriate date and organizing the election with advice from public health officials. The country would have won, and no one would have lost. At least one of the pre-existing conditions would have been treated and the government would have been one degree freer to turn its energies towards the other conditions. That would have been too easy and too good to be true.
leelagemalli / May 31, 2020
Thank you Mr; but srilanken Prime minister himself does not care about the social distancing.
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Leaders should be exemplary, whatever they do in public. But Mahinda Rajakashe has never respected the law and order in this country.
Thondaman s death has made it very clear, did the gathering care about the social distancing ? what has POLICE igp Mr Ajitha Rohana got to see about this ?
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If Dr Merkel in Germany behaved going against the law and order, german police would never be submissive but ask her to correct the mistake. that is the difference between civilized world and the uncivilized srilanka.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 31, 2020
Dear Rajan, the reasons for low mortality and hardly any use of ventilators in Sri Lanka needs to be found. Merely dismissing it that it was a less virulent strain C that caused it, will not be acceptable. I am told that when a person is tested positive, he is admitted to hospital and given hydroxychloroquine 200 mg BD (maximum dose) for 5 days. Did this have an effect on prognosis. With current test having 100 % specificity, you cannot say that most of those tested were false positives. In UK, of the non-whites, after Africans and Phillipinos, it was Sri Lankan Tamils who succumbed. In the west death was also due to over reacting of normal immune system (Cytokine storm).
As for Tamil Nadu, not only they signed 17 MOUs with foreign investors, they have formed a committee of their officials and experts from Singapore, Japan,, South Korea and Taiwan etc, to solicit industries to trans-locate there. All these were done without the involvement of the central government. One Chinese contractor in Singapore told me thirty years ago that Tamil labour is the second best after Thais for their hard work and obedience. Only people in Sri Lanka who can emulate it is Jaffna Tamils (Jews of the east), but the racist government will never allow them.
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SJ / May 31, 2020
“Only people in Sri Lanka who can emulate it is Jaffna Tamils…”
If this sentence is analysed correctly, it makes poor sense. The nearest one gets is that Tamils are the only ones that emulate others.
Of what avail are the claimed paper qualifications?
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Jews of the East! Tell that to Benjamin Netanyahu so that he may have a good laugh amid his troubles.
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old codger / June 1, 2020
SJ,
Is it you or Dr.G being anti-Semitic ?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / June 1, 2020
Stupid Sivasegaram, problem with you is your unsound mind due to which you are jumping into conclusions without thinking. What I said was that among those in Sri Lanka, only Tamils can emulate Indian Tamils, which infers that Sinhalese cannot. British recognized the hard work and obedience of Ceylon Tamils who occupied positions in government service in Sri Lanka and Malay states. You do not seem to know the meaning of emulate, which is matching others by following their practice. Your paper qualifications have made you an intellectual idiot.
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SJ / June 1, 2020
OC
Things have come to a stage where anything with a hint of criticism of Israel is branded antisemitic by certain quarters.
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I was always amused by references to Brahmins of South India and Tamils of Lanka that place them on par with the Jews.
As the Jews may not treat the GS analogy as a compliment, your guess is good as anyone’s.
Perhaps he was provoking antisemitic sentiments.
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SJ / May 31, 2020
“As for Tamil Nadu, not only they signed 17 MOUs with foreign investors….”
What has this to do with the subject of the comment?
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Phillipinos? Check with the dictionary. There are only Filipinos.
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If your emulation refers to what the Tamilnadu folk have done, what ‘it’ refers to is two sentences away.
Also the article ‘the’ should precede ‘only people’.
Was there a composition component to your English tests?
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Watch it:
By the looks of recent developments, you seem to be losing your marbles.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / June 1, 2020
Stupid Sivasegaram. Did you read the comment by one Sonali, that people are making idiotic comments without reading article properly. You seem to fit into that category of people. The news about signing of MOUs is mentioned in para 6 , line 4. Filipino is Americanized form of Phillipino. Country is called Phllipines and not Fillipines. You are unaware that proper names can be written in different forms as long as they sound the same. eg Amarasekera/Amerasekara, or Soysa (Karawe)/ Zoysa (Salagama). I have to delete several words such as “The” in order to keep to the limit enforced by administrators. Tamil Nadu folk have done both, to develop their state, as well as receive respect as good labour force. Therefore the word “It” appearing where it is, can mean either. I may be losing my marbles, but you have already lost your wisdom.
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Easton Scott / May 31, 2020
Thank you, Rajan Philips for another exquisite piece of writing.
“What is common though, between then and now, are the country’s pre-existing non-medical conditions, which have become part of the Sri Lankan genome and are now blistering to the surface with the coronavirus acting as the default trigger. The economic condition is worse than Type 2 Diabetes; months long lockdown has further weakened the overall immune system and whole limbs of the economy are risking old school amputations. Add to that the chronic heart condition of the constitution, now under direct hydroxychloroquine attack by forensic quacks. Much of the respiratory media are hopelessly clogged up in pro-government apologetics, while the social media inhalers provide less oxygen and more laughing gas. Ethnic preoccupations have morphed from the violent epileptic seizures of old, to scabby skin eruptions in the body politic now. Lastly, and to safely land my unapologetic metaphorical flight, the government’s standard prescriptive options range between familial Task Force oil treatment for all symptoms and increasingly frequent application of military ventilators.”
LMFAO amidst spasms of sadness.
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S. C. Pasqual / May 31, 2020
Found two inconsistencies
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1. You claim “‘In America – Trump Administration’s – chaotically disastrous – two million cases and mounting death””
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What about SL…..?
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2. Please don’t quote these two politically biased people.
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a. Jayampathy Wickramaratne is an UNP National List MP. All claims and arguments are framed along party interest. He is no independent constitutional matters.
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b. Savitri Goonesekere wanted us to “Respect The People’s Mandate” on 2015 but not in 2019.
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leelagemalli / May 31, 2020
WOW Ms.Pasqual,
you are highly talented at shooting the messengers as no other. But why not you go back to your kindergarten to learn the basics ? How dare you buggers to attack Dr Wickramanratne , Prof. Jayawickrama or the like world recognized constitutional experts ? :
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Your master thesis according to Ravi Perera should be very likely on ” Irrepairable slave making mentality of the political leadership for their survival in so called democracies in third world countries”. Your god father, the rascal rajapakshes have made this nation 4 th World countries within the short period of their come back since Nov 2019.
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S. C. Pasqual / May 31, 2020
Mr. leela ge …..,
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My dear child,
Your comments are getting funnier and idiotic by day.
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Your constitutional expert Jayampathy Wickramaratne……….
#…… advised RW to ignore supreme court objections to the 19th amendment.
#….. tried to argue that UNP MPs plus 1 SLMC MP can be a national government so that they can maintain a jumbo cabinet.
#….. couldn’t get his well advertised constitution beyond draft level.
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Do you want more….?
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His interpretation of the constitutional is always framed by what works for RW.
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leelagemalli / May 31, 2020
Mrs SCP,
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We can provide you with you
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Listen bp listen !!!
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In that 52-day coup and susbsequent dissolvement of the parliament
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Dr Wichramaratne and all including JVP lawers were in the optiion BPs would have to hide their tail behind the real legs, immediately after SC makes it verdict…
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If y<oyu were not reborn, you should be very clear, was no thtat the case, BP Stupid Sirisena had to reappoint Mr Wickramasinghe (Mr Decentman in srilanken politics) back to power… remember you Alzheimer patient ?
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If not for Dr WICRAMARATNE and other experts, today the people would not have been in safe. Thanks to their implementation of commissions, only, ballige puthas have been struggling today about holding elections.
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No doubt in an atmosphere where NO commission was existent, things would have gone worst, and today srilankens would have gone dead by COVID 19.. to the very same manner it affected to some countries. All these are clear to those who respect the facts, but IDIOTS that know nothing but to go on backlicking services to Rajakashes rascals, … no point of even worth wasting our precious time.
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Go back to you cage and lick the bones provided by Rajanos.
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Get well Mrs Pasqual .. more will come to corner you next days. JAYA niyathiyi.
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leelagemalli / May 31, 2020
Apologies , i have made number of typos… will correct them tomrorow.
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While heading home, I happened to add this message.
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S. C. Pasqual / June 1, 2020
Mr. leela ge …..,
Madem Sonali.
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When you mentioned the word BP next to SONALI….. I wonder who is B and who is P.
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sonali / May 31, 2020
CT must devise a method that tests the IQ of people who want to send in a comment. That way the magazine can eliminate the buffoons and illiterates, the Pasquals of the world, who merely waste peoples’ time.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 31, 2020
I agree fully. That will eliminate imbeciles and impostors, the Kali types.
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S. C. Pasqual / May 31, 2020
Madem. sonali,
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What made you think that your IQ is better than mine.
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leelagemalli / May 31, 2020
Ms Pasqual,
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Not only Ms SONALI… all of us are in the same view if we may say so finally.
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Why not you seriously meet up with your THERAPIST next ?
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Poet Lothario / June 1, 2020
Gon Leela and bother are ‘gonnu’ as per the full meaning.of the word.
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Will anyone with two cents worth of brains spend so much time on writing crap like he does, for no impact other than derision by even the moderately intelligent readers.
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This mental patient Gonleelalge mallivshould be locked up in asylum to swank to his liking without making CT a laughing stock of the country. May be Rohana R. Wasala and Satyajit Andradi will keep company in his dream world!
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SJ / May 31, 2020
Did you consider the prospect that you may be at risk.
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SJ / May 31, 2020
I meant all who assume high IQs for themselves
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Poet Lothario / May 31, 2020
Through my earlier comment, I wanted to give a plug to experts on almost every thing on Sri Lankan media, people like Rohana R. Wasala and Satyajith Andradi (Elaharaka+Mee haraka name!) in particular. .
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But it looks like the Poet Lothario has used his dirty fingers to remove my comment.
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CT, could you please make it appear again.
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leelagemalli / May 31, 2020
You the kind of racists woul dnot be welcome on this platform.
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First go back to the KINDERGARTEN and learn let alone the basics.
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Good luck !.
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chiv / May 31, 2020
Rajan, as always subtle but succinct. Your medical Euphemism is classic. Too Good ( with your permission I am saving it for future referral). . Bottom line, its just an individual,s EGO ,arrogance and inflexibility , which is going to be the turning point in Lankan political history. Smart politicians are able to recognize the opening for negotiation and deal making, where as in case of Gotha “all events big or small are managed as in WAR”. I am surprised to see , even MR has not much say on this matter. Rajan, please keep writing. Though our situation will remain from worse to ugly, your writings are real gem.
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Eagle Eye / May 31, 2020
Sri Lanka had the potential but could not attract foreign investments mainly because of:
1. Marxist hypocrite dong kee politicians (LSSP and CP) who branded foreign investors and capitalists coming to exploit labor.
2. Marxist hypocrite dong kee politicians who encouraged workers to strike even for the slightest shortcoming.
3. 1983 riots triggered as a result of killing 13 Sri Lankan Army soldiers by ‘Para’ Demalu.
4. Terrorist campaign carried out by ‘Para’ Demala LTTE barbarians that lasted for three decades.
5. Terrorist attack carried out by Wahabi Muslim terrorists.
6. Objections raised by politicians of Jaathiya Vinashakarana Peramuna against establishment of private universities.
7. Instability of Governments produced by the rotten Parliamentary democratic system imposed by Brits.
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“What efforts are being made by any of Sri Lanka’s Task Forces to pull off anything like this?”
India is a country with a fast growing economy and a huge population that can provide cheap labor.
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leelagemalli / May 31, 2020
You are telling half truth Mr EE the most known racist of tamil community.
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Was not BP Rajakshes behind those demontrations if I may rewine your hard disc ?
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Now with BPs grabbing power, what happened to those protests went on round the clock even during the PE campaigning days remember ? What happeend to SOLDIERS that were brought to go on strikes ?
What happened to UNIVERSITY students that went on strikes on the orders of BPs and hidden henchmen of Rajapakshe balu kalliya … ?
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Let me tell you if you call ” PARA DEMALA ” in the same time you hve to find terms to name rascal Rajakshes who looted the state to the core, and made us the world champions to be naive and nail biters regarding CHINESE INVESTMENT INJECTION which brought nothing but the inflation making unborn child life long debtors ?
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Let us be very clear, now with all is being exposed, that Gota and his WIYATH BALUMAGA are not all its cracked upto be…. they are scoring far behind that ULTRA modaya SIRISENA.. who betrayed all that converged to get rid of BPs in 2015.
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Now Nandasena former PERTROL SHED man in the USA, has finally proved, he is nothing but not even comparable to a gramasewakaya… who could fullfill at least HUNDRED DAY Program to the best.
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leelagemalli / June 1, 2020
pardon – it should be ultra racist to tamil community. I hate each time reading PARA Demala. ..
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Eagle Eye / June 1, 2020
Leelagemalli says:
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“Was not BP Rajakshes”
“Now with BPs grabbing power,”
“Rajapakshe balu kalliya”
“rascal Rajakshes”
“who betrayed all that converged to get rid of BPs in 2015.”
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Something wrong with the upbringing.
Low quality product from low quality raw materials imported from Dravida Nadu by colonial parasites.
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leelagemalli / June 1, 2020
EE,
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Please get back to your usual hateful comments. Then the intelligent CT readers would agree with me more as to why I have used those terms above.
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But I assure you the CT readership that I wont use sinhala filthy on this forum again except few inevitable circumstances. We are all homo sapiens on our way to become ” homo deus” and it is natural that we show our emotions back and forth.
That is human btw. But I have not attacked any srilankens so far just because they are born to other religions or races contrary to yours that almost cause hatreds on this platform as if smelly stinky creatures would pollute their environment.
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SJ / May 31, 2020
Assuming that your assumptions are right,
1. The LSSP & CP do not matter for much since 1977.
2. The Marxists have very little control over trade unions since early 1980s. The JVP, if you count it as Marxist, has clout in a few sectors but not to seriously disrupt industry.
3. How can a people that lacks self control and launch a blood bath in response to the killing of 13 soldiers be disciplined enough to perform to attact foreign investors?
4. If the government wished to solve the issues by fair and peaceful means, could the LTTE have risen? See the way it responded to ’83 July.
5. The impact of the ‘terrorist Muslim attack’ was far less than that of the riots that followed, planned by SB fanatics.
6. What will be the net gain for the countries from private universities? Does the country have an educational plan that links with the economy and industry?
7. JRJ had broken with the ‘rotten Parliamentary democratic system imposed by Brits’ to have an executive presidency that can do all but perform sex change. We had 42 years of it, much longer than under the Soulbury and Sirima B. constitutions put together. What are you wailing about?
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Eagle Eye / June 1, 2020
SJ,
At the time Portuguese occupied part of the country in 1505, Sinhale was predominantly a Sinhala Buddhist country. Demalu who were the remnants of invaders from Hinduasthan were very few. Large majority of Demalu (about 98%) in Sinhale are the descendants of slaves brought from Hindusthan by colonial parasites after 1505.
When Europeans colonized Sinhale, they colonized the country that belonged to Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo who lived in this country for thousands of years. It was the freedom of those native people that was taken away by force by colonial rulers. They were the people who were oppressed by colonial rulers.
When British gave Independence in 1948, they gave the freedom that they robbed from Native Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo. Demalu who were imported by colonial rulers were aliens in this country. As a matter of fact, Demalu became a part of the Colonial Government and helped Brits to oppress and kill Sinhalayo. So Independence had no relevance to them.
After gaining freedom, Sinhalayo wanted to made changes according to their aspirations as a free and sovereign nation in a democratic and peaceful manner but it was racist Demalu who were not really a part of the country that was colonized by Europeans who resorted to violence. So do not try to clean your hands tainted with blood by putting the blame on Sinhalayo and the Government.
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SJ / June 1, 2020
A good majority of the Sinhalayo were brought in to provide services to the elite as well as colonial rulers.
EE
Thanks for conceding the points made by me by your well considered silence.
How do you explain the very low social status of significant caste groups even as late as 20th Century?
Are the Salagama really Sinhalese?
Are not the Karawe of Tamil and Malayali origin?
When did the Durawe arrive here?
What happened to the mercenaries why entered the island over centuries?
What is rich about Sinhalese identity is its ability to accept and adopt: racially and culturally.
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Eagle Eye / June 1, 2020
SJ,
Sinhalayo do not have a caste system like Hindus in which high caste people come from one part of the body of Maha Brahma and low caste people from another part. What Sinhalayo have is a guild system based on professions. Sinhala Kings introduced this system as division of labor so as to promote certain groups specializing on the assigned field and pass the skills from generation to generation.
Caste system and oppression based on caste is widespread among Hindu Demala people even at present. Before talking about discrimination by Sinhalayo, eliminate discrimination and oppression prevailing among Demala people.
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old codger / June 1, 2020
S.J,
If Eagle could reveal his “ge” name, one could decide on exactly how “native Sinhalaya” he is. In religion too, converts are more extreme than the others.
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old codger / June 2, 2020
Eagle,
“What Sinhalayo have is a guild system based on professions. “
Simple questions for you: What guild does the Malwatta Mahanayaka belong to? Can a carpenter from Moratuwa become Malwatta Mahanayaka? For that matter, CAN YOU?
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old codger / June 1, 2020
Eagle,
You blame everybody but your own “Native Sinhalayo” for the mess this country is in. Just go to your history book and check the last time we had a healthy economy. Who was doing the work then? Cheap labour from India. Who was teaching? Teachers from India. Who was lending money? Chetties and Afghans. Who managed big companies? Brits. You get my drift?
Now tell me who screwed it all up?
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old codger / June 1, 2020
Eagle,
Another point for you to ponder:
Who was running the schools pre-1960 ?
Why did your God Mahinda send his sons to St.Thomas’s instead of Sinhala Buddhist Ananda? Does he know something that you don’t???
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leelagemalli / June 1, 2020
OC,
.
I can talk to a wall but not to EE and his NATIVE-SINHALAYOs: That is why they also within my family circles hate me today. To their eyes, I am NGO worker. To EE I am Thamil Nadu Para Demala. I am what I am but I was like that also in my childhood. I never had issues against others.
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Mahinda S real face is not yet clear to his slaves. would neve be clear to them either. He is a mask-wearer no doubt about that. I have got to knnow one european man in 70ties, that has worked with MR family and revealed us a lot about their INSIDE stories. Now that European has stood against MR et al, knowing the corruption levels of the family. He questions, why the kind of politicians would not change their MIND set in that part of the world ?
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I am born to a sinhala family, but after moving out of the country, I dont care today who I am but I respect any homo sapiens regardless of their race, religion and what other barriers. It is not just that I have to , me being out of the country but realizing that we are all homo sapiens.
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old codger / June 1, 2020
Leela,
Don’t tell me you take EE seriously? Just use him as light entertainment when you’re bored. Like talking to a baby. Babies too keep repeating stuff. And they shit all the time too.
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SJ / June 2, 2020
OC
So you recommend baby talk I guess.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / June 2, 2020
“Why did your god Mahinda send his sons to St. Thomas’ instead of Sinhala Buddhist Ananda? As for Ananda or Royal his sons did not qualify on two mile rule or father old boy concession. At that time he was in opposition and had no clout to bend rules to get his sons admitted to Ananda or Royal. He studied in Richmond, Nalanda (sacked) and Thurstan. He is totally angry with Nalanda and though he identifies himself with Thurstan, he may have felt it to be below his standard. As for STC, his father-in-law and brothers-in-law were Thomians, and naturally sons schooled there. For your information, except die hard Buddhists, rest prefer Royal or STC over Ananda.
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Eagle Eye / June 1, 2020
old codger,
What you tell are the outcome of colonial rule. In 1948, British left but large majority of Sinhalayo did not get true independence. Whenever, Sinhalayo attempted to change and regain what they lost due to colonial rule two groups; Christian Sinhala ‘Kalu Suddas’ and Wellala Demalu stood in their way.
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old codger / June 2, 2020
Eagle,
You haven’t answered the question, as usual. Who kept this country prosperous till 1956?
If you don’t know, it was Tamil govt servants, Burgher policemen and railwaymen, Indian plantation workers etc.
People were given jobs on ability. Whether you were native Sinhalaya or a politician’s bootlicker didn’t matter.
Now we even have a Police spokesman who says indiscipline is a colonial introduction!
Tell me, WHO screwed it all up?
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