By Piyatissa Andarawewa –
What befell Tissa Vitarana speaks much for Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s style of government. Much was expected of Gotabaya and his Viyathmaga professionals. That Gotabaya failed is not surprising. He was never a politician or a good administrator. He ran away from the Ealam War to the US and returned only to be involved in his brother Mahinda’s Presidential election campaign. As Secretary, Defence (he was fond of being described as Defence Secretary as in the country of his adoption, where Ministers are “Secretaries”) he was known to be ruthless and caustic and wielded power more than Ministers did only due to his relationship to the President. He was never known to have ideas of his own. But the voters who elected him believed that the Viyathmaga professionals would make up for anything that Gotabaya did not have. Now, it seems, the Viyathmaga guys and gals have hardly any professionalism or original thinking.
Vitarana
The treatment or, rather the ill-treatment of Tissa Vitarana (Tissa V) by Gotabaya is illustrative of the latter’s own ills. GR cannot interact with genuine professionals who are independent when it comes to their fields of expertise. Forget that Tissa V is Dr NM Perera’s nephew who cannot hold a candle to NM as a politician. Forget that he has ruined the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the country’s oldest political party, to the extent that his would-be successors are all more Rajapaksists than Sama Samajists and will surely take the Union Place party office with them to the Pohottuwa camp. But to give the devil his due, Tissa V is a scientist and a very good one in his own right.
Just look at his credentials: Doctor of Medicine degree in clinical medicine from the University of Ceylon; Diploma in Bacteriology from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Ph.D. in Virology from the University of London; head of Virology in the Medical Research Institute (MRI) from 1972 to 1994; Director of the MRI from 1983 to 1994; consultant virologist at the Edinburgh City Hospital’s Regional Virus Laboratory in the 1980s; deputy director of the Victoria Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Melbourne from 1991 to 1993; Professor of Microbiology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura from 1995 to 2000; advisor to the World Health Organization on virology for years.
Gota
One of his detractors claimed that Tissa V is not entitled to call himself “Professor” as he was not awarded the title of “Professor Emeritus” upon his retirement because he was not a senior professor for ten years, which is a requirement. Oh, come on! Yes, the only MP in the current Parliament who is a genuine Professor Emeritus is G.L. Peiris. But isn’t Tissa V miles ahead of Channa Jayasumana who calls himself Professor having being an Associate Professor at Rajarata University for a few years? We live in a country where Associate Professors allow people to call them “Professor Emeritus” after retirement.
The undeniable fact is that Tissa V is one of the best virologists in this country. Even at the age of 87, he has only to say that he is available to invited to any global initiative on Covid-19. But Gotabaya and his Viyathmaga advisors don’t want him any where near a local Covid-19 committee or task force. It is well and good that Sudarshani Fernandopulle was appointed Minister of State in charge of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention. But isn’t Tissa V the obvious choice to be Minister with Cabinet rank in charge of COVID prevention? What is worse is that Tissa V is not even been given enough Parliamentary time to talk on the subject. Is it because he is against some economic policies of the Government too?
The Viyathmaga “professionals” have failed. One of the best examples is Seetha Arambepola, an ENT specialist who made people cry with her emotion-driven speeches in the run-up to the elections and the election campaigns. Come COVID-19 and she assures the country – “We have a secret cure for COVID”. People are dying in the hundreds. Where, pray, is that cure?
First, we had the Eliyantha White’s “pan kalaya” which the Minister of Health herself and other dignitaries poured into the rivers of Sri Lanka to rid the country of COVID. Then came a succession of “Paniyas” – the Dhammika Paniya, Sudarshana Paniya, Ravana Paniya and the latest is “Hada Sarani” that a psychiatrist from Karapitiya Hospital is supposed to have made. Imagine a psychiatrist coming out with a cure for COVID-19!
All this when the foremost virologist in the country is kept out of anti-COVID initiatives and even denied speaking time in Parliament.
chiv / May 6, 2021
FOOLS PARADISE
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eeakdavi / May 6, 2021
I believe I was the first person to ask that TV and not Army Silva head the nation’s covid task force. This is because despite my political differences with him, and they are enormous, TV as an accomplished scientist. His work on a committee, I forget its name, to make proposals to overcome Sinhala-Tamil friction also showed that he was a meticulous worker.
The bigger problem is that marginalization of TV is a symptom of what will happen anybody who is not a Gotabahaya stooge, or is slightly left inclined or has a brain. The author should therefore have used a few sentences to flay those who sell themselves for a mess of pottage – Tissa, DEW, Vasu among others.
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SJ / May 6, 2021
Overall, DEW has conducted himself with greater dignity than the LSSP legends.
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nimal fernando / May 7, 2021
Tissa Vitarana is old enough to know that qui cum canibus concumbunt cum pulicibus surgent ( Gotta talk to profs/intellectuals in a language they understand and fond of!) :))
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As Michel Cohen learnt …….. and now Rudy Giuliani, Matt Gates, Mitt Romney ……….. are learning
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When it comes to morals/ethics there is very little room for compromise.
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I don’t follow that rule but know it exist …….. my father followed it to the letter.
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He was a Leftist/Commie once ……. but his faith lapsed ……… he couldn’t go on living a lie.
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old codger / May 7, 2021
Nimal,
Thank God for Google. Dogs and fleas indeed👌👌
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Mallaiyuran / May 6, 2021
I am not praising anybody for anything, but trying to recognize something what I see. How easy it was to corrupt NM & Colvin to Siri Ma O, but still something seen as Left in the pots of Tissa and DEW. Tissa, many times asked that he wants to be in the Covid -19 Management. He did not ask for any minister post, he asked for a chance to work for people. If the Modayas elected Aanduwa had an iota of attachment to the people elected them, Tissa would have been a senior partner in that instead of military juntas and tourists’ guide woman Pavitra. Then why Tissa still in that cesspool? (Probably he wants to be Left (alone) to regret for his mistakes until the end of the dramas of this world)
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Simon / May 7, 2021
eeakdavi: Isn’t TV not a Gotabahaya stooge? Over decades of political “Careers” in the Left Movement, where have ALL those “Marxist Socialist Leaders” ended? I don’t have any hesitation to call ALL of them “STOOGES” of the “Reactionary Forces” that brought this country to today’s dismal status. They contributed and still continue to contribute (by the “Survivors”) to be “Stooges” for their own “Welfare”, “Glory” and “Survival”. My assessment applies even to some of the present-day “Socialists” born out of several “Civil Society” (Viyathmaga, Yuthukama, Eliya, etc.) Leaders and Activists. I would request you to read the book written by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera titled “Gal Pilimaya, Bol Pilimaya” (Stone Statue, Fake Statue) page 27. You will know clearly what is happening to these “Psedueo” activists. This book was printed by MP Gevindu Kumaratunga in 1988. Where is this “Gevindu K” today? Isn’t he a “STOOGE”?
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Native Vedda / May 7, 2021
Simon
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“This book was printed by MP Gevindu Kumaratunga in 1988. Where is this “Gevindu K” today? Isn’t he a “STOOGE”?
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He has been seen passing new constitutional drafts to Gota on stage not just once but several times. Nobody knows how many different constitutional drafts Gota received from him. Do you have any idea?
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Thiha / May 6, 2021
This is all very true and also all very sad. Sri Lankan governments never protected or respected their academics. This is why most of them live overseas and shine in their fields. Politics trumps all else. Humanity and decency is also not appreciated by the local voters who prefer thugs and those who have thuggish tendencies. In the olden days of Dr N M Perera. those that took up politics came from families whose parents were aristocrats well respected in the villages from where they came from. Most had liniages that went back to the days of Sri Lankan monarchy. But all that changed. In order to take up politics one had to have a gang of thugs loyal to them in the villages they came from. The thugs did the electioneering which included beating up one the opponents campeign. In the not too distant past drug dealers and Hooch peddlers sent their man to parliament with he help of their respective gang of thugs. Now the Hooch paddlers, drug dealers them selves have become MPs and ministers.
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Noel / May 6, 2021
Very true and agree with you 100%
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SJ / May 6, 2021
T
This is no defence of any government.
But how do academics behave?
Can one who runs behind politicians for favours justifiably command respect?
There are a few too many academics who will do anything to be made a professor.
There are nevertheless several who become professors through dint of hard work and without resorting to cheating. Their honour is compromised by the ‘anything for a merit point’ academics.
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GATAM / May 6, 2021
Tissa Vitharana cannot get elected. No one votes for him. People dropped him.
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SJ / May 6, 2021
Will anybody vote for you– even on CT?
Why are you personalizing issues.
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GATAM / May 6, 2021
SJ, you are the one personalizing it. I’m not a politician.
A politician must be accepted by the people. Otherwise how can he be a politician?
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Noel / May 6, 2021
Gatam
You are wrong about T.V.He is a genuine politician.
You talk about people, they are as bad as the present day politicians.
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SJ / May 6, 2021
G
I am not personalizing but drawing your attention to the absurdity of your insulting a person who was never into vote fetching.
In the old system he may have been a Senator.
He is criticized here for his failings in political conduct.
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If the worth of a political leader is measured by popular vote, we will rate the likes of Wimal Weerawansa very highly.
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leelagemalli / May 6, 2021
Dear PA,
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Part I
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thanks for your analysis. Thanks also for highlighting the academic records of Prof. TV.
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If not experienced virologists, who should be the ones to address the issues in today’s COVID crisis ?
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Unfortunately, this is not clear to weeraketiya cattle thieves and their henchmen? Is that at all a thing to be surprise ? No.
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This we though question, uneducated bastards, became leaders through BLATANT lies and fake public perception/adulation- they would not care much. It is like talking to walls/deaf and blind. President Gota showed up in the parliament yestreday, I did not see any exemplary remarks being made by him, even if his villagers would still feel that „ Gota should be the leader for srilankens whose literacy rate is over 93-95%.“. I have no doubt, so called „ wiyathmaga members“ would raise the same quesiton, but not in public as of today. Seetha Arambawella though an ENT specialist, she should have much in common with that Diana Gamage, and is lost today, not being able to face the very same nation. Ministry of health has become a place for jokers, though they talked much about tangible changes after gaining power on their side…. I know Dr Sudath Samarweera; who is the current powerful man in health ministry, but he is like a caricature for some reasons.
TO BE CONTD.
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leelagemalli / May 6, 2021
Part II
They cant yet issue a notification on all various kind of arrivals in BIA in this COVID crisis. Most oft he notifications are not addressed all passengers. This they should be ashamed actually.
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Sudath and his team do not seem to know how to get on with the crisis situation, but we still remember that good men –Dr Anil Jasinghe and Dr Jayaruwan Bandara, a head from MRI did their best or made genuine efforts to do the best at the begining of the COVID breakthrough….Jayaruwan s whereabouts are not clear today…. If he is treated with the same procedure, applied with Eknaligoda is not clear either
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Rajapakhes are mlechcha men, and the public perception was made other way around for their comeback… Today it has become a KENDA HALIYAk – A BOWL of Poridge for all, people being let in a lurk… they cant keep hopes anymore for their future… specially ones injected with first dose of Astrazeneca are set in anxities, not knowing when they would be given the second dose. :… and most ridiculously… there are no records maintained, to whom they provided the first dose…. Can you guys imagine ? This is very typical to Rajaakshe administration. Mahinda has not left behind any records who may have abused statefunds during their first JUNTA regime… remember ?
to be contd
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leelagemalli / May 6, 2021
Part III
Brave JVPrs and young UNP MPs/Ministers reteirated the facts, but MAD COWs/MERCY cows dominated srilanka just ignored it. Today media giants that have become „ become laundary men“ ruin this country feeding the people with BLATANT lies.
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Tom e, the situation is more or less like we are boarded in a plane headed by a mad pilot. YOu dont know if you would at all end up saving your own life. However, people stay as if they are no different amazonian sloths for some reasons. My friends in Geneva, question me today as to why people in our country too behave like typical indians whose population is 1.4 billions.
Not just most known virologist, Prof. TV but almost any others that louded and kept hopes to do the due for the nation are seen „ failed „ today under Double-Pakshes‘ rule.
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On the other hand, in a society, Kali amma controlled masons could become pancea makers within short period of time, what cant go wrong ?
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Leaving all aside, Prof. TV s WHO connections could bring lot more to the nation at this critical juncture of COVID crisis, but brothers would not care much about any wise decisions but go after chinese companies and mafia networks, sometimes not respecting that we are all not RAJAPAKSHE SUPPORTERS.
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hanchopancha / May 6, 2021
LSSP was founded based on the Marxist Principles which intrinsically contradicts the inclinations of the human psychology in general. It was inculcated into the minds of Srilankan understudies who went to the west to study and by them got transplanted in Srilankan soil more like a garden variety, like a fad or a band wagon to get on to. It had been in the path of degeneration since the inception and presently what we see is the rotting carcass of it. Any supra mundane thoughts are beyond the periphery of little Srilankan minds
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Sinhala_Man / May 6, 2021
Oh, yes, dear Navalage Charles Upasena Cooray,
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And the majority of your comments are obliquely aimed at ensuring that you make the people question the bona fides of our Judicial System as a whole. All because you are still obsessed with a land dispute where the judicial verdicts all went against you. You want it changed by administrative fiat. If that gets done, then you’ll praise the said “Administrators”.
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Your comments are couched in some of the best English used by Sri Lankans. If only you could write comments in which your ulterior motive” wasn’t so clear on display – to me.
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So me you attack. Do you remember this memorable instance?
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/my-role-as-archbishop-of-canterbury-appointing-bishop-of-colombo/
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If some politician were to help you get your land away from your sister, then you would sing hosannas to him. I realise that not many readers see through you.
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You are indeed a very clever man.
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hanchopancha / May 6, 2021
I am sorry. I must call you an idiot because you behave like as if you know everything. You have not yet learned to respect people’s privacy. It was not my sister who grabbed the land. I hold the clear title to it. I was living overseas and left it in her hands. She was kidnapped by patrons of the Underworld named Nawala Nihal and took illegal possession of the land. Nobody new where she was until police came to inform of her death. I am not a greedy person at all. I am fighting for justice in her name. The Srilankan justice system has become a dry cleaning laundry for criminals. Organized Crime Prevention Division of the Police sided with the criminal Mafia. I paid lot of money to a lawyer up front for him to file a private criminal case but he slithered out making me to suspect that he collected money from the other party as well.
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SJ / May 6, 2021
CT
This I guess is a forum where ideas contend.
It will be civilized for people not to resort to personal attacks.
Decency demands respect for the privacy of a writer using a pseudonym.
Exception may be tolerated if a pseudonym is used for personal abuse and vilification of others. Even there, it is healthy to stop at exposing falsehoods and criticizing foul language.
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hanchopancha / May 6, 2021
It occurred to me that I have to inform the Stupid_Man that the Statue of Ven. Anagarika Dharmapala got erected at the Narahenpita Junction by the confluence of thoughts of the Defendant of my land case and Ex-Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva. People call them Pals at Play and Pray (Prey). Now you should know how justice got flushed down the toilet.
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SJ / May 6, 2021
H
I kindly appeal to you to curtail this.
CT readers will be spared the washing of more dirty linen.
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leelagemalli / May 7, 2021
HP,
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could you kindly provide us with any comments which Mr SM has proven him to be a know-all ?
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I thought SM is the peace point of CT platform. I really dont know what others feel, but some of us surely miss him if he would be away from his postings for a day or 2. .
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Not all but a large number of lawyers in SL are real criminals. This I got to know from a German national, who has been caught by lawyer#s tricks for such a long time.
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hanchopancha / May 7, 2021
SJ, LM.
Who the hell he is to think that he is at liberty to cast aspersions or otherwise about others. Out from the blues he comes and make stupid remarks thinking he is talking to a class of school kids. I was too gullible and naive to believe, respect and trust him in the first place. That was my stupidity to unload my problem (the independence of judges compromised, which must be considered a national calamity) to him. He has got no right to make judgment of others which he does; good or bad, proves what an idiot he is.
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hanchopancha / May 7, 2021
LM,
How does it appear to your sophisticated mind when two Chief Justices get involved with notorious criminals to conspire and commit a heinous crime to make themselves quite rich. Then ensure that the individuals who commit the actual crime are beyond the reach of the arms of the law. The victim after spending a fortune in time and money in the courts of law end up loosing all the hard earned money as well as the property. They knelt on the throats of the judges. You can call it legalized robbery. PSC, Attorney General and the Minister of Justice are morphed to dead mules. SJ. This is no dirty linen. It is a bad precedent which affects every citizen adversely.
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Simon / May 6, 2021
Sinhala_Man: I do not miss reading your comments. This comment addressed to one “Cooray” doesn’t refer to the subject matter that is discussed in the main article. A very rare “episode” between “Cooray” and you. As I understand you were a “Teacher” and from that perspective, to read your comment (digressing from the main subject) is very disturbing. What’s happening? Are you OK?
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hanchopancha / May 7, 2021
Thank you Simon. The Man is nuts. He totally digressed from the subject we were on. He is not educated to appreciate and respect peoples privacy. I am a not a Psychiatrist but it is safe to point out that the man suffers from an inferiority complex. In all of his comments the nucleus is his egotism. To me mostly rubbish coming out of his hat. I never intended to bring out in public my dirty laundry. Last time too he provoked me to say things that I normally desist. It is no surprise with his caliber of school teachers Srilanka has become the begging bowl of the world. If not for the generosity of the kind world out there by this time half of the population would have perished by COVID19 or Wuhan Virus.
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leelagemalli / May 7, 2021
Simon,
May be it is digressing the main topic but SM would never tolerate injustice. 😌😌😌
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Captain Morgan / May 6, 2021
The writer says of Gotabaya, “He was never a politician or a good administrator.” Of course, everyone would agree that he was never a politician but many people continue to regard him as a good administrator. But the truth is, if he was able to administer anything at all effectively, it was entirely due to the fact that while he was Secretary of Defence he wielded unlimited power as he happened to be the incumbent president’s brother and he also had access to unlimited state resources (Billions of Rupees + the entire Security & Defense Apparatus) during that period. His priorities as an administrator were rather controversial and I am convinced that more able administrators with those same resources could have and would have accomplished so much more.
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Jayasiri Samarakoon / May 6, 2021
Speaking about Professors and Emeritus Professors, I heard this story about Carlo Fonseka. Carlo had just retired after an illustrious career at Kelaniya Uni. He was at some meeting and the minutes of the previous meeting were read out for confirmation. Carlo was described in the minutes as “Professor”. Carlo said that it must be corrected to “Dr.” as he has retired. Another academic then said, “Yes, Carlo but you have served more than 10 years as Senior Professor and you are entitled to use the term “Professor” as you are a Professor Emeritus. Carlo responded: “Yes, but the appointment takes a couple of months. The Senate has to recommend and the University Council has to appoint. Let’s wait till then”. That was the caliber of the man. As the writer correctly says, G.L.Peris has been the only Professor Emeritus in the last so many Parliaments. Vishwa Warnapala, Tissa Vitarana, Rajiva Wiesinghe– none of them were Emeritus Professors. Also Channa Jayasumana and Charitha Herath in the present Parliament. But what can the academic community or UGC do? In fact, as the writer points out, many associate professors call themselves “Professor” after retirment.
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Black Lankan / May 7, 2021
I say blind eagle alias HLD, have you forgetten what you goons did to tamil men, women, kids, infants from 1956 in the name of buddhism. Have you forgotten how you rascals scooped the eyes of kuttimani and gave it to him. Bloody cowards How you ran for your worthless life from Lake House Daily Noise office on that kotti friday no one will forget. That was “Runner Singhas” good at beating dead snakes. So VP gave you back in style. He should have even cut off your worthless dick. If not for hindians and others you will be working in the fields of jaffna. Dont worry soon chinese will cut off all what you are left with.
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Raj-UK / May 6, 2021
UK, with a population of about 65m, has one Health Minister but advised by the SAGE committee, comprised of health professionals, virologists, academics & economists. The UK govt. mishandled the pandemic initially but the professionals behind the scene & the free media that holds the govt. to task, ensured better handling of the process subsequently, & today, the pandemic is very much under control with almost all the adult population vaccinated systematically. In contrast, SL, with a population of about 22m, has 2 ministers for health & a bunch of military & self acclaimed pundits to combat the pandemic. The health minister has proved herself to be backward in thinking while the minister responsible for pandemics, although a western medical professional, both promoted an unscientific, divine ‘inspired’ home concoction in public. Whether it is ignorance, stupidity, political strategy or sheer indifference, the handling of the pandemic & rolling out the limited supply of vaccine have been chaotic, despite boasting that SL has done better than even developed countries in controlling the pandemic initially.
The only reason I can think of for this sorry situation is, that, senior govt. politicians in SL do not want outsiders to ‘steal the limelight’, therefore, scientists & other professionals are side-lined, even at the expense of the country. Political blunders spread the pandemic uncontrollably in India & I only hope SL will not end up same.
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Ajith / May 6, 2021
Tissa Vitharane & GL Peries are two clear examples who became a power greedy disgraced back boneless products of Sri Lanka. They are worse than Rajapaksas because Rajapaksas born and grow with violence, cheating and power greedy but with so much education, knowledge and skills they became part of violence, racism, and dictatorship to destroy the democracy and civilisation.
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Noel / May 6, 2021
Ajith
You are wrong about Tissa V.He is not greedy for power,a mild person and an educated person, a very rare commodity in the present parliament..
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Ajith / May 6, 2021
Noel,
Mild person ignored and joined hand with the murder of Lasantha and a number journalists?
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SJ / May 6, 2021
“…not entitled to call himself “Professor” as he was not awarded the title of “Professor Emeritus” upon his retirement because he was not a senior professor for ten years, which is a requirement.”
There is a slight inaccuracy. One only needs to be professor for 10 years, not Senior Professor, a category that came in not long ago. Besides, Some universities are flexible about the 10 years. Peradeniya accepts 9.5 years if the balance 0.5 year is compensated in some way like sufficiently long service as Associate Professor.
Rules are rules and Prof. Vitharana missed it, although he is not entitled to call himself professor, people do call him that.
What does it matter what one is called, if one’s professional performance is outstanding? Titles are just decorations. Quality transcends all.
*
My question to Prof. Vitharana is why did he not comment at critical turns when wrong decisions were made.
The qualifications attributed to one without courage to speak out when absolutely necessary are of little value.
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Jayasiri Samarakoon / May 6, 2021
Whether it is 9.5 or 10 years does not matter much if the Senate approves it. The question is about people who call themselves Professor without even having the basic qualifications to be Professor Emeritus. Tissa Vitarana is no doubt a very good scientist but how can he call himself Professor Emeritus when he had only 5 years as a Professor, let alone a senior professor.? what about the others in and out of Parliament who either call themselves Professor or let others call them Professor when they are not entitled to use it? Tissa Vitarana, as his Party colleague Carlo did even while waiting for his formal appointment as Professor Emeritus, must tell others not to call him Professor, But he even calls himself Professor. Also Rajiva Wijesinghe, Channa Jayasumana, Charitha Herath etc.
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SJ / May 6, 2021
JS
I was only correcting a factual error and explaining the rule as applied.
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Even Senior Lecturers call themselves professors. Such is our society. It happens in India as well. No excuse, but an explanation.
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If Tissa Vitharana identifies himself Professor, that is improper, but no crime.
Very nearly every former student refers to his/her teacher Prof. if that is how he/she knew the teacher even for one day.
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old codger / May 6, 2021
S.J,
It seems this title mania is even more severe in the Sinhala media. I just saw a TV item that identified one person as a “Doctor”, a second one as a “Specialist Doctor” and the third as a”Senior Specialist Doctor”. I believe even dentists and vets are called “doctor” in this country.
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SJ / May 6, 2021
OC
Do you read the Tamil media? They are in the same boat.
*
This is from the website of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons:
Use of the courtesy title “Doctor” or “Dr”
1. Nothing prevents veterinary surgeons using the courtesy title ‘Doctor’ or ‘Dr’ if they wish to, however veterinary surgeons using the title must be careful not to mislead the public.
2. A courtesy title does not reflect academic attainment; instead, it is associated with professional standing. As a result, it is important that the use of ‘Doctor’ or ‘Dr’ by a veterinary surgeon does not suggest or imply that they hold a medical qualification or a PhD when they do not.
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A dentist cannot call himself a doctor, nor can an optician.
A dental surgeon or ophthalmologist is entitled to I guess.
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old codger / May 7, 2021
S.J,
In UK, TV technicians have been called Engineers for a long time, like engine drivers in USA.
I suppose that’s what “engineer” originally meant.
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SJ / May 7, 2021
OC
True.
The term engineer did not carry much respect in Britain until towards mid-20th Century.
Technical pesonnel traditionally called themselves engineers. There was justification as engineering grew out of practice and not out of universities.
The term carried more respect in Europe with different historical circumstances.
*
Did I narrate here earlier the story about a London high society female who conversed with much respect to a Ceylonese scholar who was at Imperial College in the 1930s?
When he proudly announced that he was an engineer, she responded “I thought you were a gentleman”. The conversation ended thus
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old codger / May 8, 2021
“When he proudly announced that he was an engineer, she responded “I thought you were a gentleman”.
😆😆
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leelagemalli / May 9, 2021
Hilarious ! Engineers had no place in the society to that time or what ?
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old codger / May 9, 2021
LM
A “gentleman” was not supposed to work with his hands in those days. That was the British caste system.
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Black Lankan / May 6, 2021
Oh what a bloody shame. Gotta who proudly called himself as defence secretary owing to his megalomaniac mindset and won the war by all possible ruthless means of killing the Tamil civilians all our Sinhala brothers applauded him and ate Kiribatth. These guys never realised that he is a deadly, greedy, crude man without any empathy and would destroy anyone who did not listen to him or toe his line. Now our brothers are getting the taste and more to come. Balu Jayasumana is a third class bum sucker and a bloody racist and what he and the beraya weeramonkey did to that Muslim doctor at Kurunegala is unforgivable. Dr Vitharne is a soft spoken gentleman and always wanted ethnic unity to develop SL. G.L. Peries is a shameless nariya and a wavula and it is a shame to call him an intellect. Gotta will embark on very many minority beatings in order to please the racist Sinhalas and rabid racist monks while looting the country and selling it to Chinese. The whole system has collapsed and people are starving. I feel racists Sinhalese who have gone overseas must be brought back to SL as they are mostly responsible for this tragedy and bringing murders to power. One example is that Blind Eagle alias HLD a pathological racist who sought asylum in Australia.
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Eagle Eye / May 7, 2021
Black Lankan,
“Gotta who proudly called himself as defence secretary owing to his megalomaniac mindset and won the war by all possible ruthless means of killing the Tamil civilians all our Sinhala brothers applauded him and ate Kiribatth.”
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Yes, Sinhalayo applauded and ate kiribath because Rajapakses, Sarath Fonseka and ‘Ranaviruvo’ managed to eliminate LTTE Tamil terrorist barbarians led by megalomaniac Prabhakaran that slaughtered Sinhala men, women, children and even unborn babies for three decades.
They also liberated about 300,000 Tamil civilians kept as a human shield to protect their sss and shot when they tried to escape.
LTTE killed more Tamils than the number of Tamils killed during the military operation to eliminate Tamil terrorists.
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Native Vedda / May 8, 2021
Eagle Blind Eye
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“Yes, Sinhalayo applauded and ate kiribath because Rajapakses, Sarath Fonseka and ‘Ranaviruvo’ managed to eliminate LTTE Tamil terrorist ………….”
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Don’t be stupid, it was VP who single-handedly, with a lot of support from Hindians and some support from Americans obliterated LTTE. Full Stop.
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Buddhist1 / May 6, 2021
Is this a sponsored article to get Tissa V a better position? Tissa Vitarana is no saint. I have been watching him on TV debates and notice he does not openly attack the wrong acts of the Government but he makes statements that boarders an attack but not really so he could protect his seat and position. What a shameful act! I see the same in Vasudeva’s and Dinesh Gunewardena’s acts in the Parliament and outside. They were all respected politicians but today they have become “Cheap Thugs” who misbehave in the Parliament and outside. I will never hold a candle to provide light to Tissa V, Vasudeva, or Dinesh they have all lost the respect they could have commanded especially when 20A came to the Parliament for voting. These are the lowest of low – cheap politicans who ruin the country for their own personal benefit.
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Noel / May 6, 2021
Buddhist
Don’t agree with you.
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Native Vedda / May 8, 2021
Noel
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“Don’t agree with you.”
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Why not?
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leelagemalli / May 9, 2021
B1
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“I have been watching him on TV debates and notice he does not openly attack the wrong acts of the Government but he makes statements that boarders an attack but not really so he could protect his seat and position. What a shameful act!”
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These are just survival tricks – of Wasidewa, TV, Dew and the like bunch, that prove to have been suffering from ALZHEIMER syndrome, just hang on with mlechcha men, but not realizing the basics of their dangers.
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Black Lankan / May 6, 2021
Buddhist, then we will never ever find a single fellow to run SL dirty politics. I agree that Dinesh is a real fool. Do you have anyone in mind? Do you think Nimal Baby may be suitable? SL missed the bus and have to go on with the rotters.
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leelagemalli / May 7, 2021
Not only Dinesh, but also all the men listed below are ULTRA fools/ selfish men
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Wimal Buruwanse
Gonthadipila
Wasidewa
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And those SLFP minister of former govt (Nimal Siripala Silva, Dilan Perera, Thakkadi SB Dhisanayaka, AND and… )
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Young politicians are the future of this country (JVP, NPP, UNP, SJB, SLFP) those who went after POHOTTUWA are real criminals. Either they wanted to get exonerated from their court investgations or abuse statefun. Godherwa, Gonthadipila are very good examples for that)
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Native Vedda / May 8, 2021
Noel
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“Don’t agree with you.”
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Why not?
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