Bishop Lakshman Wickremasinghe
When Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike‘s Civic Rights were to be removed, Bishop Lakshman Wickremesinghe wrote to the President JR Jayewardene a very frank letter about the injustice of it all, and warned the President, that this was a step which would undermine the very basic foundation of a real democracy.
Your Excellency,
MRS SIRIMAVO R.D.BANDARANAIKE – CIVIC DISABILITY
With due respect, I am sending this letter to you regarding the Resolution tabled in Parliament to make Mrs. Sirimavo R.D. Bandaranaike subject to disability, on the recommendation of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry.
I am appealing to you not to proceed with the aforementioned Resolution, and also not to take any further action on this matter for the following reasons :
1.The proceedings of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry cannot be described as a fair and impartial judicial process. The reasons for saying so have been provided in the Statement issued by the Civil Rights Movement of Sri Lanka, of which I am Chairman for the time being. A copy of this Statement would have been sent to you.
In view of this, to proceed with the Resolution in Parliament so as to subject Mrs. Bandaranaike to civic disabilities such as depriving her of her seat in Parliament and of her right to contest the general elections in 1983 or before, will be to act in a way that is neither impartial nor fair.
In the Buddhist tradition the righteous ruler must govern with both impartiality and fair-play, in addition to acting justly. Since you are a national leader who intends to build a righteous society based on Buddhist principles, the confidence many people have placed in you is at stake on this occasion.
2.Again, in view of what had been said about the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry, to deprive your chief political opponent, who alone is able to muster an effective opposition to your party in this country at the present time, of her right to sit in Parliament and to contest the next general elections as leader of her party or a coalition of parties, is to undermine one of the basic foundations of a vibrant democracy. This foundation is the presence of an effective opposition party capable of forming an alternative government.
The people expect that a national leader of your stature and experience will not so act as to undermine such a basic foundation of real democracy.
3. If this action is proceeded with, it will deepen the divisions already existing within the nation, and especially among the Sinhala people. The spirit of bitterness and desire for revenge will be further aggravated. The kind of stability you require for implementing your development programme will be severely undermined. Dissent and opposition will seek expression in ways that are extra-parliamentary; and the increasing use of the security forces will be required to maintain an outward show of stability.
The cost to rapid development, a vibrant democracy and righteous society will far outweigh the temporary gain of proceeding with the Resolution now tabled in Parliament.
Yours sincerely
Rt Rev. Bishop Lakshman Wickremesinghe.
[Letters to His Excellency J.R.Jayewardene 1980] Reproduced on 8 February 2021 from A selection of writings by the late Right Reverend Bishop Lakshman Wickremesinghe, Bishop of Kurunegala, Chairman of the Civil Rights Movement of Sri Lanka, published by CRM on Human Rights Day 10 December 1983. Sent by Suriya Wickremasinghe, Secretary CRM.
eeakdavi / February 9, 2021
Bishop Lakshman’s letter is a timely reminder. Of course this SL regime (Executive?) will ignore it as imperiously as JR did.
It is necessary to invite all the forces opposed to militarisation, the push towards dictatorship or anti minority to join a broad alliance against the peril. Only a pluperfect idiot, pursuing narrow sectarian games, or worse, hoping to undermine an alliance will say “don’t allow this person or that person to join an opposition front”. Such persons do exist. It’s “dumb to allow Ranil to join” in the tune of those who underhand are actually playing Gotha’s game. Wonder what Sajith thinks of this mentality? Ranil, the TNA, the JVP, the Maoists, Civil Society, Liberals and jack-in-the-box, anyone who is prepared to fight Gotha’s dictatorial schemes must be accommodated in a fighting front.
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S. C. Pasqual / February 9, 2021
Yes prof.
We have to keep Ranil at the helm at whatever the cost.
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I concur.
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MyView / February 9, 2021
But Ranil is the mole for Gota Camp and is complicit in bringing the country to this sad state.
Yes, except Ranil, anyone who is prepared to fight Gotha’s dictatorial schemes should be accommodated.
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Whimpy Kid / February 9, 2021
If anyone’s civic rights are to be removed – Former commander in chief – Exucutive President of Sri Lanka – Maithreepala Sirisena’s civic rights should be removed first for jepodising national security and allowing the Easter Sunday Bombings to happen on his watch.
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Native Vedda / February 9, 2021
Whimpy Kid
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Island (8 February 2021) reported with photograph that Sarath Weerasekera intents to set up Public Security Committees in every village. As a first step he had didtributed SIM cards to each member.
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This is march of fascism.
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Now its is legal to peep through your window while you are making love to your partner or happily self actualizing. May be your next door neighbour is a member of this Public Security Committees, euphemism for group of snitches/voyeurs.
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If you are an exhibitionist it should enhance your state of bliss.
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Rumble 2021 / February 9, 2021
Dear NV
You changed your mind and now you wish we did not mistreat Late Hon Mrs SWRD then……you kept on saying she was many things including “weeping widow” remark etc??
You did not mean that correct.
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MyView / February 9, 2021
Dear NV
I rather like your politically correct linguist effort in two phrases above.
……..or happily self actualizing.
……..If you are an exhibitionist it should enhance your state of bliss.
It is true to say, not to use some words when the necessity can be accomplished with a smart turn of phrase.
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MyView / February 9, 2021
Oh so sorry – linguist = linguistic.
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Ajith / February 9, 2021
Whimpy Kid,
It is like punishing the arrow instead of who sent the arrow to kill a bird. This commission is only punish on the other side which is Ranil. However, Ranil’s period is over already. The commission is not authorised to find out the truth. The real person who organised the Easter Bombing is the one who appointed this commission. Along with Ranil Sampanthan and Sumanthiran because they worked with Ranil in the case of illegal appointment of Mahinda Rajapakse as the PM by Sirisena against to the constitution. In this country you can violate the constitution but you can’t take legal action against Rajapakse family.
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Whimpy Kid / February 9, 2021
NV,
You should be happy because this govt is thinking of public security without
totally neglecting national security like the previous “yahpalanaya” mob.
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paragon / February 9, 2021
loku aiya MAHINDA THE POLITICAL KING will not allow power hungry GOTHAYA to do excessive political revenge as this will have adversary effect for his CHILDREN BORN WITH SILVER SPOON IN THEIR MOUTH AND THEIR DREAM OF HAVING FAMILY TREE EXPANDED BEYOND 2025.as what MAHINDA and his brooms WIMALAYA AND GONPULLE DID TO EASTERN TERMINAL they will find a way out to sweep GOTHAYAS ACTIONS under the carpet to keep their future political ambitions bright.HOME AND HOME MATCH IS ALREADY TAKING PLACE UNDER THE DARK which will open up between temple trees and MIRIGANA WALUWA VERY SOON UNDER THE FULL MOON.
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Simon / February 9, 2021
That move by JRJ in removing the “Civic Rights” of Mrs. B was the “Turning Point” of “Foreign Relations” with India. The “Bandaranaike Family” was more than “Friendship” to the then “Gandi Family”. When this happened, the “Gandi Family” made a “U” turn, and from there onwards, Sri Lanka was made to “PAY” the “Penalty”. The main actor on the Indian side was Ambassador Dixit. No one even could imagine and reached the “Capabilities” of Dixit from the Sri Lanka Government of JRJ. Through, Dixit, India “DID” what they “WANTED” to do to JRJ in “Retaliation” for what he did to Mrs.B – the “Life Long Friend”. That “History” is too long to write here; but “Political Analysts” have already done it and all those are in print form. Now coming back to this present day “Initiative” of GR’s Government is much more “Dangerous” to Sri Lanka than what JRJ did to Mrs.B. This is a case where the entire “Legal System” of the country is to be “Dececrated” in the eye of the International Arena and a “Challenge” to the Democratic System of Governing. At this stage, the country and the outside world are “AWARE” of the “Recommendations” of a “Kangaroo Court” that have been referred to a “Special Presidential Commission” to “STATE” the course of proceeding to “Implement” what has been “Presented” to the President.
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davidthegood / February 9, 2021
Bishop Wickremasinghe knew that Daniel’s night vision was a man was speaking pompous words. Then a court was seated and books were opened. This pompous mouth prevailed for a while against righteous people, until a judgment was made for a ruling kingdom against this intention of changing times and law. to consumed and destroyed it forever. Righteous people got back the rule. The account ended. But Daniel was greatly troubled. He prayed and received further revelation about an end time picture with wars, plagues, natural disasters, trials, wrath, tribulation, army from the east marching across Euphrates to war in Megiddo called Armageddon. The return of the kingly rule of the resurrected prince of peace is a shocking account in Daniel 7. The bible is only a revealed historical account of events before they happen and which will be fulfilled.
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Svenson / February 10, 2021
Davidthegood, would you like a job as Mahinda Rajapakse’s new astrologer?
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davidthegood / February 13, 2021
Svenson, Sorry to disappoint you but I don’t believe that star role is about the calculated future of individual lives, specially about their births, marriages and deaths. The depicted 12 constellations tell a true story I did not invent, the gospel in the stars. Starts with Virgo, the virgin birth of Jesus, Gemini twins are both son of man and son of God, Libra scale balances zero as Jesus paid the price for sin of all humans, Capricorn goat and fish is the dual nature, Aquarius water bearer is a flow of the Holy Spirit, Pisces 2 as 1 cant survive, Aries ram Jesus became sacrifice, Sagittarius archer white horse with bow, Scorpio sting of satan, protection in crab Cancer, Bull force tramples enemy, Leo is triumphant lions kingdom, ruling forever. Bible forbids misleading occultic astrological calculations, rather trust God to provide/protect
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davidthegood / February 15, 2021
Svenson, I like to convey just one verse from Isaiah 47,13 exactly as it is written “You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels. Let now the astrologers, the star gazers and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you.”
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Buddhist1 / February 10, 2021
If the politicians civic rights are being deprived by the current government, what can an individual citizen expect for his or her civic rights?
The solution would only be a new Constitution which protects the civic rights of all individuals and this constitution like any other country’s constitution should be written to protect the non-majority citizens interest and not the majority citizens interest.
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