By Tisaranee Gunasekara –
“The tragic paradox of the electoral route to authoritarianism is that democracy’s assassins use the very institutions of democracy – gradually, subtly, and even legally – to kill it.” ~ Stephen Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (How Democracies Die)
“As if our democracy was nothing but a short-lived dream,” says Brazilian filmmaker Petra Costa in The Edge of Democracy, her new documentary dealing with the slow unravelling of democracy in Brazil.
It’s a familiar feeling, here in Sri Lanka, as a triumphant national-populism begins its annihilating march over democratic institutions.
This week, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa summoned the media bosses, to make clear to them the new lay of the land. “I do not intend to pressure the media in any way,” he told them. Most reportage of that meeting focused on this sentence, interpreting it as an absolute assurance of media freedom. Ignored or forgotten was the sentence that came immediately after: “But I think if media propagate lies, it is an insult to the people of the country.”
Take the two sentences as a whole (as they were meant to be), and the presidential pronouncement points not to a state of freedom but to one of freedom-unfreedom. There is freedom to burnish the image of the country, to excoriate the enemies of the nation. But there is no freedom to say anything the rulers would interpret as damaging to the country’s reputation. Building up the country’s reputation is the media’s responsibility and anything that is written or said in the service of that patriotic cause is the truth.
For instance, there is freedom to attack, in the meanest terms, the employee of the Swiss Embassy who is at the centre of the alleged abduction-molestation case. Turn her from alleged victim to proven criminal, reveal her name and family details, ignore her pitiful attempts to cover her face and publicise her photographs – and you can be certain of a pat on the back from the president himself.
No official censorship is in place and none is needed. As that master propagandist, Dr. Josef Goebbels put it, “We don’t want everyone to blow the same hone, but only want them to blow according to one plan” (The German Dictatorship – Karl Dietrich Bracher).
The Swiss Embassy incident is seminal in understanding not just how media freedom will work in practice, but how justice will be done in real life. Even as the CID was investigating the case, Defence Secretary and retired general Kamal Gunaratne publicly accused the Tamil Diaspora of instigating the incident. This week, the president himself weighed in, pronouncing that no crime had happened, ergo there were no criminals for the investigators to find, just a woman who is bad or mad of both. Given these unambiguous pronouncements by the men in charge, what hope of an impartial inquiry? What chance for truth? What room for justice, for anyone who earns the Rajapaksa ire by countering their narrative?
Slash and Burn
Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected the president of Sri Lanka on November 17th. His investiture took place on November 18th at the Ruwanwelisaya, that ultimate symbol of Sinhala-Buddhism. On 20th November Ranil Wickremesinghe resigned from premiership. On November 21st, President Gotabaya appointed older brother Mahinda as the new Prime Minister.
The next day, the upending of the CID began.
The three top sleuths of the CID were given transfers which were not just punitive but also humiliating. SSP Shani Abeysekara was removed from the post of Director, CID and appointed as the personal assistant to the DIG of the Southern Province. Inspector Nishantha Silva who headed the CID’s Organised Crime Investigation Unit was packed off to Negambo. Some days later, ASP Tissera, the supervising officer of IP Silva, was banished to the Field Force Headquarters. And the SSP who was reportedly in charge of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s security was appointed as the new head of the CID.
All these measures got the instant approval of the supposedly independent Police Commission.
Next came the proposal to the cabinet by Premier Rajapaksa, to set up a special presidential commission “to investigate those government officials who conducted investigations into the conduct of other public officials who were targets of political witch-hunts during the last government” (Daily News – 7.12.2019). In Sri Lanka, presidential commissions (unlike Commissions of Inquiry) had been used by governments as instruments of vengeance against the political opponents. Given this history, the message would be loud and clear. Public officials, especially police officers, who had any involvement in any investigation/trial involving SLPP politicians or their supporters will be targeted.
Thus schooled, the CID is hard at work. The witch hunt targeting Dr. Shafi Sahabdeen has been resumed. This time he will be guilty of whatever insane charge his detractors see fit to foist on him. And, according to internet reports, the CID has formally requested the courts to revoke the red notice on Udayanga Weeratunga. SSP Thilakaratne, the new CID head, had reportedly informed the Magistrate that Mr. Weeratunga was an innocent victim of a vengeful persecution by the previous administration, because he is a first cousin of President Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa.
The reconstructed CID is also in charge of investigating the new conspiracy to assassinate the President or a member of his family. A Muslim man from Valachchanai is in custody and investigations are pending. Will this plot go the way of the faux Naxalite conspiracy of 1982 which was used by the JR Jayewardene government to imprison the SLFP’s best and brightest campaigners in time for the infamous referendum? Is this a prelude to the upcoming parliamentary election, the chosen path to reach the coveted two-thirds?
What comes next?
During the Reichstag Fire trial of 1933, the top Nazis were unhappy about the independent conduct of the judges. “Mein Fuhrer, it is an absolute disgrace the way these High Court judges are behaving. You would think we were on trial, not the Communists,” Herman Goering was quoted complaining. Hitler’s answer was, “It is only a question of time. We shall soon have those old fellows talking our language” (Hitler – Ernst Hanfstaengl).
Former CJ Shirani Bandaranayake, in her memoir, Hold me in Contempt, writes that one of the first indications of the coming impeachment was a series of scathing attacks on the judiciary by the state-owned SLBC. Last week, an infamous Rajapaksa acolyte unleashed a diatribe against five magistrates, three members of the AG’s Department and several lawyers, mentioning by name. Ajith Prasanna, a retired military officer turned lawyer, attacked the magistrates for giving “verdicts that would not be given by judges with a normal brain”. The retired major is a particularly noxious gadfly, but would he have mentioned five magistrates by name and impugned their professionalism, impartiality, ethics and even sanity, without an assurance of political protection from on high?
It is not yet a month since the presidential election. In that short time, there had been three physical attacks on media personnel; one website office was raided and two web journalists summoned to the CID. Several women activists of the Frontline Socialist Party have been detained by the police.
The SLPP loyalists and fellow travellers too have joined in the search for public enemies. For instance, SLFP’s Reginald Cooray was reportedly pummelled by SLPP supporters last week. In another example, the director of the Cancer Hospital, Dr. Wasantha Dissanayake launched a hysterical verbal assault on MHM Mohamed, the head of the non-profit Fight Cancer, using the most uncouth anti-Muslims terms.
In one of his Facebook posts, Dr. Dassanayake is reported saying, “Is this a country gone to Mohammads? The President will discover all. He doesn’t go begging for minority votes.” The doctor’s Muslim-bashing is his doing. But the enabling environment in which it is happening was created by the outcome of the presidential election. This doctor, who is also a public servant, believes that he can display his racism in the crudest terms without suffering either societal opprobrium or official/legal consequences. What gives him that certitude?
“The power to kill and degrade saves the servile soul from utter emptiness,” wrote. Camus (The Rebel). A medical doctor, and the head of one of the most important public hospitals in Sri Lanka, is unashamed to use the most obscene language on Facebook, under his own name. Consider the example he is setting. Doesn’t this herald the coming death not just of democracy and the rule of law but also of decency as a public and private value?
Rajapaksa Raj; Saffron Rules
Soon after he was released from jail via a presidential pardon, the rabble-rousing monk, Galagoda-Atte Gnanasara said, “We are going to make a government of Sinhalese alone.” (Api thani Sinhala anduwak hadanawa).
Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism’s first article of faith is the rejection of the pluralist nature of Sri Lanka. The refusal to accept minorities as co-owners of the country is justified by claiming that that minorities are untrustworthy aliens, forever conspiring to take ‘our’ country away from ‘us’, aided and abetted by the West and India. From that phobia to the hallucination that Sinhala Buddhists are the most endangered species on earth is but a short step.
Minority phobia and Western conspiracies formed a key component of the SLPP’s presidential campaign. Sinhala-Buddhist monks manufactured an unbreakable link between the survival of Sinhala-Buddhism and the restoration of Rajapaksa rule. The election was presented as the last chance to save Sri Lanka for Sinhala-Buddhists. The relics from Naga Lokaya (Cobra World) drama, in which the chief incumbent of the Kelaniya temple played a star role, demonstrated the irrational and absurd depths to which Sinhala-Buddhist monks (as distinct from Buddhist monks) were willing to plummet in the service of Rajapaksa raj.
Days before the presidential election, Ududumbara Kashyapa Thera, a well known preacher monk, started a fast unto death against the MCC agreement. The fast was given hyped publicity by the pro-SLPP media. Since the monk concerned had no history of rabble-rousing, and a reputation for piety, his stand against the MCC carried weight and gave some credence to the demented stories about the agreement as a tool of separation.
Asked about the MCC Agreement, the monk is reported saying that he had not read the treaty, had no time to study the implications of the treaty. So this erudite and pious monk started a fast unto death against an agreement he knew nothing about. His opposition was based not on knowledge but on hearsay. The agreement was in the public domain, yet he didn’t think it was necessary to read it. Even now, he doesn’t see a problem with his actions.
This is the new ethos – the unravelling of democracy, the deification of the irrational, and the normalisation of indecency.
The work to turn a flawed pluralist democracy into a Sinhala-Buddhist raj is taking place in a landscape increasingly characterised by ‘degraded values and gangster morality’ (to quote Camus). Its main victims will be Tamils, Muslims, Christians, and anti-Rajapaksa Sinhalese. But the madness will not stop at that. Extremism is cannibalistic, always and everywhere. Already pro-Rajapaksa monks have publicly targeted two key pro-Rajapaksa personalities, Milinda Moragoda and Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, accusing them of being Christian fundamentalists and fifth columnists.
When purity is the deciding factor, every road ends in the inquisition or the concentration camp.
The Gotabaya Rajapaksa victory is being hailed by some as the new 1956; correctly so. But 1956 would not have happened had it not been for the politico-social upheaval caused by the rice price hike of 1953. SWRD Bandaranaike took the resulting discontent and directed it into an ethno-religious channel. Once elected, he tried to distance himself from the forces he himself unleashed, and paid the ultimate price.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa is unlikely to tread that path. SWRD Bandaranaike used an already existing extremist fringe for his benefit. The Rajapaksas created their own extremist fringe. Having being elected on a Sinhala-Buddhist platform, Gotabaya Rajapaksa is likely to rule as a Sinhala-Buddhist leader, irrespective of the cost to Sri Lanka.
JD / December 15, 2019
The work to turn a flawed pluralist democracy into a Sinhala-Buddhist raj is taking place in a landscape increasingly characterised by ‘degraded values and gangster morality’ (to quote Camus). Its main victims will be Tamils, Muslims, Christians, and anti-Rajapaksa Sinhalese.
In between these lines say a lot and almost everything.
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Desperate Sinhalaya / December 15, 2019
Dear TG,
even if we including those 60 lacks of people would stand against the uncultured rascals and bastards of high magnitude, there are blind and deaf masses in our motherland, who would now say, the newly elected has done lot more good within last 3 weeks alone. Can you imagine ? For them, youngesters and any street gangs to have got together for wall arts seem to be a big thing, irrespective of over a dozen of journalists have already been attacked physically, reflecting their good old politics prior to 2015. ‘
So, even talking about these things is similar to doing it to a wall. Our sinhalayas are the most stupid people I have ever seen in my life. I have now stopped calling back to me family down there, since they too have been caught by the wave which even any one would stand against democrazy but to support extremism and natioalism of lanken nature.
Most of these people name themselves as buddhists are the worst I have ever seen, and guilliable similar to any tribal folks from black africa. I mean, now our people are even far stupidier than then poorest nation – Ethiopians.
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Not long ago, that Kamal Gunaratne was headlined in lanken press to have been cruel against his pupils at their pvt own school. There even many stood against him, to the very same manner, Galle pohottuwa PS member raththaran, whose rape case was burried by them, for the moment, for their own survival…. i have no idea why the media men stay behind ballige putha Rajapaska mafia promoting them doing whatever they continue is right. To me, if Rajakashe would have been punished by today, would be the best ever news I can think of.. for a better future for this nation.
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S. C. Pasqual / December 16, 2019
Idt. Desperate Sinhalaya,
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Funny reading your comment…
It shows how desperate you really are….
Go along this road some more time… and you will end up in a asylum.
NICE.
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Sinhala_Man / December 16, 2019
Dear Desperate Sinhalaya,
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What do you make of these two stories from the country whose citizen our President Gota possibly still is?
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/16/homeless-supreme-court-living-street-crime/4403793002/
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It brings to mind the murder of beggars in Colpetty some years back. Were those murder-mysteries ever solved? I came across that particular report only a couple of hours ago.
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And then there was this. I hope that you will take note of the number of persons “Disliking” this video. In those countries, too, people don’t like to acknowledge that such things happen.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8aScevad0A
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Few have the courage to face upto reality. That applies to all of us. Those with reputations for being good, generous, and liberal, as well as those recognised by most “Respectable People” to be crooks and murderers. The line dividing them becomes ever more blurred.
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Consider this:
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On Friday, the 13th (Oh, my God, I should have known not to do anything at all on such a day!), I messaged a guy, at 2.00 a.m., whom I had reason to respect. I asked him for his e-mail address. It arrived with an audible “ping” at 10.43 am the same calendar day. I rang him back at 10.48 – five minutes later, and we agreed to have a chat at 9.00 pm. We talked for 53 minutes, 42 seconds, and then he had to go. Despite my asking for his views, he hardly spoke. He said that there what I said was most interesting, and there was uncanny accuracy in all that I recounted.
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Am I getting close to 300 words? tbc
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Sinhala_Man / December 17, 2019
Continuing – PART TWO
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Let me do the all-important relevance check:
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What I have analysed here, is an on-going effort to ensure that our future is that bit brighter because of what we’re doing. The lies, half-truths, distortions and withholding of information, comes from us as well – many may feel that “they” (the Rajapaksas) are worse, but is that an excuse? End of riddles!
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What I have to say now concerns not the Uva villagers whom I’ve worked with for so long, but a school so elite that the Rajapaksa brothers, Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha had to be sent there. How were they admitted? I’ve been told that their mother’ brother, Nishantha Wickremasinghe, was actually my class-mate for some time. I have no memory of him – I’m glad! Those are politicians – they like being talked about,for good or ill. I will not reveal the names of the living “educationists” right now – in the hope that they will re-think their strategies. The school is still good. Parts of the Board of Governors stink.
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We like to talk as though the rot is owing to politicians only. No, our entire society is rotten, including those whom you would least suspect. If they demand that I name them, instead of casting innuendos, I shall do so right now. For those (few?) readers who don’t yet know me by name, it’s Panini Edirisinhe. This concerns the Board that Governs the four S. Thomas’ Colleges, at Mt Lavinia (focus is there in these comments), Gurutalawa, Bandarawela and Kollupitiya (Colombo 3 if Tamil readers find this puzzling). The last two are “Keble Schools” – founded by my Godfather, William Thomas of that ilk, in 1942 and 1938 respectively.
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Sinhala_Man / December 17, 2019
Dear Readers, permit me to name this PART TWO (a), and pick up the narrative about Wednesday. The reason is this.
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Exposing matters of this nature could sometimes cause immense damage to institutions. If by then, I have received assurances that changes will be made, I shall stop scattering even more poop around. But I’m pessimistic: the Augean Stable had to be cleaned, and only Herakles could do it. I’m not of Herculean proportions, but I alone seem to be privy to all the necessary gen.
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I thought that the man I spoke to was the Board Member representing the staff of the parent-school. But he told me that although he had been elected unopposed in February 2016, he has now resigned and is teaching once more in the alma mater.
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What a wonderful affirmation of the Worth of Teachers that is!
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Leelagemalli / December 15, 2019
I have no doubt, that the truths will succeed one day. All blatant lies being spread, had been spread out, in order them to return to power and escape from investigations on high level crimes such as THADJUDEEN murder (to me this is only comparable to that of Jamal Khashoggi whose was dismembered live in that Saudi Embassy in Turkey, and covered it as no other did sofar)´, Lasantha W and Ekanaligoda. Lives of those victimized would never get the justice they expected. Good governance did their job properly, things would and could have turned out to be better for a great srilanka free from Rajaakshe barbarians, but now the bus is gone.
I still believe, that the Swiss SAGA is overshadowed by the govt.
They can kill own people raw – they proved it during their previous terms.
Lanken Minority brothers and sisters should be well aware of the ground realities of the country when electing Rajapakshe supporters in next general election.
I heard GR adding his remarks to the press yestreday, that he would respect the freedom of press, even if his undergorund net works becoming stronger harming journalists further. .WIthin the last few weeks alone, th enumber that got hurt by govt men are reported to be over 25 or so. May well, some SOCIAL media men would not come forward to express themselves.
All in all, we can see lot more next days and how these CRIMINALS bunch would govern the country, with a loads of debts, that they themselves made during MAHINDA time, …… we and the world are watching. .. closely. I think there will be lot more RESOLUTIONS keep coming towards to us from next UNHRC sessions on. That is also fine… our majority of people should be learnt a lession…. with a trade embargo or any hard actions against the nation… would be welcome….. they can only see it right, when they are hard hit….. what a nation whose general knowledge is far below to that of some very poor african people.
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S. C. Pasqual / December 16, 2019
Leelagemalli…
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truth already succeeded on presidential election day my child…
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No worries
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And…
In Swiss drama….
By playing in to that foolish girl’s hands…
Swiss ambassador has given us the best trump card GR ever had.
We will use it any time we choose..
We will use it any way we choose..
There is nothing you can do..
Have a nice day.
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Leelagemalli / December 17, 2019
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Amarasiri / December 16, 2019
Tissaranee Gunasekera,
“Having being elected on a Sinhala-Buddhist platform, Gotabaya Rajapaksa is likely to rule as a Sinhala-Buddhist leader, irrespective of the cost to Sri Lanka.”
Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected by the Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhists” .”, mean IQ 79, most of whom prostrate to imbecile monks, who distorted Buddhism, and is an insult to the Buddha. For the Rajapaksas, it does not matter, as long as it is a vehicle for them to be in power ,
However, sooner or later they have to deliver,. They have to make payment The loans taken taken so far. Prostrating to imbecile monks do not create goods and crevices and increase economic output.
The world can manage without Sri Lanka, and the Paras in the Land. The world has alternate options. However, the Paras are dependent on the rest of the world. Time to beg from the Chinese , the West, the Indians and the Middle Easterners.
The first 6 kings of Lanka did not prostrate to imbecile monks. There were none.
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S. C. Pasqual / December 16, 2019
Mr. Amarasiri aka mean IQ 12,
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When are you going to visit your big heroine (Swiss drama actress) in remand prison.??
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Amarasiri / December 17, 2019
S. C. Pasqual,
Amarasiri is after the TRUTH.
What is the TRUTH.? Was the women abducted or not ? That is what Amersisri is PRIMARILY interested in, just like the Earth spinning on its axis and orbiting the Sun.
Galileo was imprisoned too by the Pope, , but the Earth continued to around the Sun .
Para-Sinhala Para”Buddhist” Imbecile idiots, mean IQ 79, are prostrating to Para-saffron clad monks, so that the monks can maintain their hegemony over the imbeciles, promising unproven Nirvana, Nibnana Heaven. Hell, Apaya etc., while very damaging to society, is SECONDARY. They all are distorting Buddhism and is an insult to the Buddha.
By the way the first Para-Kings did NOT prostrate to saffron clad monks, because there were none.
You have a better chance of getting to Nirvana or Nibbana if you stop prostrating to saffron clad Para-imbecile monks, and just follow the teachings of Buddha.
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Eagle Eye / December 17, 2019
“Amarasiri is after the TRUTH.”
What a joke!
Can tell the truth to the don-key but cannot force the don-key to accept the truth that Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo are Native People in Sinhale and all the others are ‘Para’ people squatting in the Land of Native Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo.
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There is no difference between ancient Greek dumbos who believed that Sun is going round the earth and this guy.
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Amarasiri / December 17, 2019
Eagle Confused Eye,
Donkeys, Para-Sinhala Donkeys, cannot comprehend modern genetics and mitochondrial DNA Haplo groups, because their mean IQ is 79, and decreasing, because they are prostrating to imbecile saffron clad monks.
As a first step, stop prostrating to imbecile monks. The first 6 Para-Kings did not prostate to the monks.
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Eagle Eye / December 18, 2019
Amanasiri,
I have told again and again that modern genetics and mitochondrial DNA Haplo groups have not given any evidence to show that Sinhalayo came from Hindia. Yet the don-key cannot understand that.
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Thinker / December 16, 2019
At the very least now all sane people must get together and peacefully split the Island nation into Sinhala nation and Tamil nation and relocate people to make it happen. Their aspirations differ totally. It is insane living in one nation and calling each other fools and racists. Sinhalese will have their Sinhala Buddhist nation while Tamils will have Tamil Elam. Let’s put behind 2,500 years of differences and hostility by creating two different nations.
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Sunil / December 16, 2019
Chitral Somapala attacked by Gotabaya Rajapaksa Fascist supporters during a performance! Why no coverage!?
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babalawathie mudunkotuwa / December 17, 2019
Sunil,
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Media mafia cut them by their own. Topplinig of former govt was done by MEDIA mafia handled by Derana TV and Hiru TV. Hiru will get their brother released amidst the protests of human rights activists in the days to come. ‘
They will sign that MCC even if that ballige putha Wimala Weerawansa and the dried pumpkin WASIDEWA stood against it prior to the election. These men are like the BLUE FLIES being found on heaps of excreta.
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Ahead of us will be PSYCHOSIS for SURE as had been practised in the country prior to 2015.
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[edited out]
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JD / December 15, 2019
It looks, November 18th, 2019, LTTE was annihilated again.
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Karthigesu M Nirmalan-Nathan / December 16, 2019
It was the date a nation committed suicide. The day modias prevailed. Un bloody believable. LTTE did not appear by itself, you moron. It was the product of SWRD Bandaranayakes “Suya Basa’, legislation you idiot.
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Sinhala_Man / December 15, 2019
As you say, Thisaranee, it is a possible claim that there is the freedom to speak; and then it is made out that some things that were told were lies, and then to harass even those who have written seriously, and taken responsibility for what was said.
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The first dichotomy then is truth vs lies.
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But there is a second dichotomy. That between clear statements by identified people and vague claims, doublespeak, jokes, innuendo, all sorts of unverifiable messages sent over all sorts of devices and formats that appear to fashion the thinking of individuals more than all else.
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This is what makes it more and more difficult to stop mischievous elements from spreading disinformation of all sorts. Now, these “lies” can come from what “we ” say, and what “they” say. This is the problem.
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Yes, I like you, feel that the lies emanate mainly from people trying to cause hate and division – and, like you, I tend to identify that with those currently holding the reins of power. That power also was obtained by preventing people from thinking clearly.
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However, the victory won by Gota through ballots actually cast was real. This is now the problem that we are faced with.
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Native Vedda / December 15, 2019
Sinhala_Man
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“To view the opposition as dangerous is to misunderstand the basic concepts of democracy. To oppress the opposition is to assault the very foundation of democracy.”
― Aung San Suu Kyi, Letters from Burma
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However she didn’t stop genocide being committed on Rohingya people, simply it didn’t matter to her. Unlike Gota, Mahinda and others she has the B***S to face off ICJ.
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Desperate Sinhalaya / December 15, 2019
Please name of God, take care of you Mr Sinhala Man. I know you for some time now. I dont want you to get abducted and caught by their underground squad. We stay behind our avatars but you are known to them. So please take care of you Mr Gentleman. I really love you.. Greetings from Berlin…. I am sinhalaya but I dont want to call me sinhala today for the single reaons, our people betrayed us again.
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mandy / December 15, 2019
Reply to Sinhalaya
You say you live in Berlin and do you know what is the truth and what is fake news living so far away?
For the first time SL showed to the world that minority votes do not matter when the country is at grave risk of more religious violence. Somewhat similar to what happened in the British election. The middle class votes did not carry the day but the white working class votes did.
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Sinhala_Man / December 16, 2019
Dear Desperate Sinhalaya,
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The concern that you show for me, and my safety sounds genuine. My sincere thanks. I didn’t think very seriously when I began calling myself as “Sinhala_Man”: but I had two clear intentions. I feel that there are many Sinhalese people who are unhappy that we’ve become so racist. So, this was a message to them to come out – as you have done, dear “Desperate”. Yes, I realise that it is more dangerous for me here in Sri Lanka, than for you in Europe.
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However, the way I look at it, I’m now over seventy years old. This is as much as we were ever meant to live by Nature. Like any animal, I fear death, but I don’t see much purpose in living a timorous coward.
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My name was also meant even more to re-assure Tamils (and more recently Muslims) that there are some of our people who will never be racists. Was there a need to divulge so much? I felt that to gain credibility for whatever I was saying, I had to reveal who I was. Sometimes I wonder if I have gone overboard.
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“Call no man happy until he is dead” – Sophocles. Since it occurs in a play, there is the dramatic situation also to consider. We all must die. Much as we hate the idea, we’ve got to be ready to go into nothingness. All attempts to make us believe in God I firmly repudiate. But I’d certainly prefer a dignified death – a passing surrounded by those near and dear – and to be forgotten by all a few years’ later.
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But torture and unnecessary suffering – what you get when whitevanned – I’d rather all that didn’t come my way.
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Desperate Sinhalaya / December 17, 2019
Dear Mr SM,
yes we all must die oneday. This is becoming more clear to me since my mother does not live any more. But I really dont want you the like whole hearted srilankens being destroyed by uncultured rascals. Dont be naive, you are a good SEEYA -Grand pa so as a beloved husband and the dearest father to your children. If we know entire environment is run by rascals as the supporters of the elected men, why to risk it by your own. I wish you all the best. An another day, I am about to start and see it further. THe weather is freezing cold outside, but I sacrifice my work for the world being able to contribute my part.
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I am so lucky to have left the country to be able to get on with knolwedgeble people in Europe.
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Earlier I thought we should do what we can for the sake of our poor people back in home country. For my own reasons, now I have changed my mind toally moving out of srilanka Mr SM. If we do good to the poor, we have lot more good and grateful people in this world. They must not necessarily be in SL even if It is my motherland. I always highly appreciated the manner how you made wholehearted efforts towards improvement of the awareness of the people on preferential voting. But it ended up in vain, since main media until the election day did not give a due place.
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This is good old srilanka Mr SM, just talk to your circles, how many among them would have been informed enough on the truths of the lanken politics.Most of the people are filled with hatreds rather than kindness. Ironically they call themselves “sinhala buddhists”:
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Sinhala_Man / December 17, 2019
Thanks for those kind words, Desperate Sinhalaya.
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Yes, so many Sri Lankans not using Preferential Voting this year was a tragedy. Who will undertake the task of educating the people in 2024?
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There was no way that we could have stopped Gota being elected this year, but had it been necessary for him to depend on Preference Votes to win by the same margin, the electorate would have been better able to make intelligent choices in the future.
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I have no choice; I must continue to live here. It is because I have written sense that you have decided to say these nice things to me.
.
Now let us cease to mutually back slap one another until a real issue comes up. I have indicated one, above. I hope that you, and other readers, do the necessary spadework now, so that we are in a position to respond creatively.
.
Think about this:
.
http://isu.indstate.edu/ilnprof/ENG451/ISLAND/
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There were many links to that subject. I chose one at random (I’m not at my large computer). There was a reason why the Pera University Department of English encouraged us to study Donne’s work. That is real education – leaving us to work out the implications. I wish such education for all. But plans must be realistic; not this rubbishy playing to the gallery:
.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/how-popular-presidential-election-promise-can-be-fulfilled-university-education-for-all-those-who-qualify-at-gce-a-l/
.
/
N. Ethirveerasingam / December 18, 2019
Dear Sinhala-Man. I will google Panini Edirisinhe to know more about you. I see you like John Donne. At O/L my English teachers Mahalingam, Rajaratnam and Alagakone introduced my class to Poetry. John Donne’s Meditation 17 No Man is an Island was of special interest. In our village Periyavillan in the St John’s church. As a child I liked the chime of the bell. When a Christian died the bell sound was different and sad. My mother will send some one to know who passed away. When we learned about the poem we could relate to it. It is not until I was at UCLA its meaning became more clear. I had read it many times during the war years when bombing and death and displacement were frequent. I hope the Rule of Law is adhered to by all so we can resolve our problems and become a country of peaceful people.
/
Sinhala_Man / December 19, 2019
Dear Dr Ethirveerasingam,
.
Isn’t that a flattering thing for you to say that you will do? Alas, you will not find me so distinguished as to have a Wikipedia entry, as you do.
.
Yes, I have enjoyed Donne since I, too, was introduced to him at O. Levels fifty-five years ago. What is important is that students who have “done” some literature should voluntarily return to it for inspiration and solace.
.
Donne was an Anglican Priest who wrote passionate love poetry in which he uses religious metaphors, and religious poetry which has strong sexual overtones. At least some of it.
.
This meditation, if I recall rightly, began as a serious consideration of his plight when he was very ill. Having recovered, he then polished it into a poem, and finally, it exists as a Sermon that he preached. When looking for a reference yesterday, it seemed that links existed to all those genres which were “inspired” by the experience.
.
I hope that other readers will note that I don’t pretend to “know” everything about Donne or about the work. It is the experience that matters. Unfortunately, today all subjects are reduced to “covering” syllabi with a view to getting oneself a certificate to present at a job interview. Yes, from the sublime to the ridiculous.
.
Well, after providing you with the link to Donne, I have rubbished the article on Universities by Professor Gunewardena. Today, I’ve had to reconsider that judgement in the light of Ethir’s remarkable comment on it. Yes, that comment by Dr Ethir on Universities is remarkable.
.
TBC
/
Sinhala_Man / December 19, 2019
Continuing:
.
Incidentally, Beethoven is another inspiration for me. Youtube has by now allowed me to experience almost everything that Beethoven ever wrote. Shouldn’t we make light of our own suffering, when we consider about fifteen years of deafness for the greatest musician of them all? What agony would it have been writing all that music knowing he’d never hear it? I just marvel at his endurance, but cannot perform on any instrument, or even sing!
.
Well, all these concerns ought to be explored as response to Prof. Gunewardena’s article on Education. It would be wonderful to educate all the children of Sri Lanka so that they could experience the way that we were enabled to. Yes, in those senses we were highly privileged, but I know also that these are very much minority interests. It is difficult to persuade anybody to think all these experiences as necessary for all round education. Actually, I know that there’s little purpose talking about these things.
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Amarasiri / December 16, 2019
Tisssranee and Sinhala Man,
Looks like you have not read Buddhism Betrayed (Part 1) by Dr. Stanley Thambiah, Chicago University Press, 1992, with a forward by Lal Jayawardana.
Perhaps you two can write Buddhism Betrayed by the Rajapaksa Mafia, Part 2, 2019.
By the way, the first 6 kings of Lanka did not prostrate to imbecile monks.Can somebody tell that to Gotabaya?
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N. Ethirveerasingam / December 16, 2019
Sinhala-Man.
When you and Tissaranee agree on the trajectory SL is taking Tamils, Muslim and Sinhala liberals have reasons to be concerned.
India, China, Pakistan, Japan are trying to befriend GR admin. Will the Middle East join the others? What will USA do. Swiss and EU seem to resist the new admin. Events in March 2020 will Be a Test for GR administration.
/
Ad / December 15, 2019
This is Hooligan Politicians kingdom. The motto is “you save me when you are in power and I will save you when I am in power. Let us rob the idiotic citizens as much as possible.”
They can achieve this only by deceiving the citizens.
/
Kusal / December 15, 2019
The title should read as Return of the “Ninja” and let me quote my favourite legend Bruce Lee, he said:
I fear not the man who has practiced 1,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 1,000 times.
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Hela / December 15, 2019
Sinhala Buddhists were challenged to show their unity at the elections. TG and their ilk calculated and said that they have to hoodwink only about 35% of Sinhala (or Sinhala Buddhist) voters for their minoritarian hegemony to be continued. Their cousin Badurdeen thundered that Sinhala Buddhists will never win a democratic contest on their own. TG’s freedom fighter Hakeem threatened media institutions that decided to support the nationalist cause (their version of media freedom!). The main speakers of TG’s stage only spoke of how they are going to hang Rajapaksas. TG’s smart propagandist Rajitha brought their most favorite white van to the stage in such a dramatic fashion, everybody thought Gotabaya had committed “harakiri”by pitting himself against such colossal yahapalana intellectual force until people started to see through the truth behind the false beards. TG, did you expect a different outcome by openly challenging and ridiculing Sinhala Buddhists and their religious institutions? Do you still think Rajitha’s pistol barrel sucking Swiss roll can reverse the democratic verdict of 16th November?
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Citizen Silva / December 15, 2019
Thisaraneee ………..
What’s the point of Ranil Style democracy if it means BOMBS going off at places of worship, and hotels targeting foreign visitors to the country?
No one expects a place of religion , a hospital, a hotel, a school to be bombed.
Please stop writing this rubbish and support the current government to eradicate all forms of extrimism and terrorism.
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hiridu / December 15, 2019
Exactly.
TG’s article is utter rubbish. Unfortunately she epitomises the type of individuals that abounds in Colombo SL who are hell bent on destroying the country again.
Her first paragraph shows how TG misinterpret statements. We all know how fake news is spread and published. It is absolutely essential for the president to say BOTH sentences.
Please give us a break from your stupidity and allow the new government to govern first.
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Upali / December 16, 2019
Sow the wind will reap the worlwind.
/
Words / December 15, 2019
I wish the author would also wrote about Rajitha, the bearded white van drivers and crocodiles in moneragala!
But no.. that doesn’t suit her agenda does it?
I wish she would write about how terrible and stupid it was for the international media to assume the Swiss episode was done by govt. Without a shred of evidence
But no..thst doesn’t suit her agenda does it?
TG.. shame on you..after 5 years of a comedy government citizens are feeling good about their government.
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lal / December 16, 2019
No bombs, no room for Tamil Terrorism therefore no democracy in Sri Lanka. The fact that a clear majority voted for the man of their choice and not a puppet shows the nation is fascist beyond doubt. Time to jump into leaky boats and sail in the opposite direction to Tamil Nadu!
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Kabaragoya / December 15, 2019
Tyranny contains the seeds of its own destruction. History shows that tyrants do not last. We have to take comfort. Let Gota do his worst. People will act if he does it soon. I believe in Karma. Gota and Mahinda and their henchman will have the furies following them. They will not escape their karma even with all those pirith nools and trips to South Indian temples. We shall then see the truth in Buddhism.
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Puswatte-Arachchi / December 15, 2019
Tisaranee,
The bottom line of your article, “Having being elected on a Sinhala-Buddhist platform, Gotabaya Rajapaksa is likely to rule as a Sinhala-Buddhist leader, irrespective of the cost to Sri Lanka.” sums up the prisoner’s choice you are facing.
/
Regardless of your personal views and preferences, Sri Lanka, in the final analysis, is a Sinhala Buddhist country with a 3000 year old civilisation, ransacked by 500 years of European colonialism. the people are finding their way back to the old glory.
/
So what is unusual or unacceptable about the Nov 17 election? Isn’t that return to normalcy?
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Lankan / December 15, 2019
If the Rajapakses are guilty of at least some of the allegations against them, it can’t be called normal, or acceptable
/
Native Vedda / December 15, 2019
Puswatte-Arachchi
–
“in the final analysis, is a Sinhala Buddhist country with a 3000 year old civilisation, ransacked by 500 years of European colonialism.”
–
Please clarify what you meant by “Sinhala Buddhist country with a 3000 year old civilisation”?
/
S. C. Pasqual / December 15, 2019
Mr. Native Vedda,
/
I don’t think you can understand what “Puswatte-Arachchi”” is saying.
You have to get some school education first.
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j.muthu / December 15, 2019
Oi native, you become a modaya questioning typical sinhala modayas…..they live in fools paradise as you know it…..Dumb idiot going to suffer soon…
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Jayasuriya / December 16, 2019
j.muthu
Hoho poor little man, keep dreaming you okay? just remember the more damage done to Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese, the more the minorities will suffer than us. Your di-ass-pora pursued a campaign of putting our war heroes in prison with those unp traitors and look how many tamils died in the easter bombings, when will you tamils learn?
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Jayasuriya / December 16, 2019
Native Vedda
How about you read a book about Sri Lankan history instead of reading that fantasy garbage from tamilnet that talks about kumari kandam and get your head out of your own ass. We Sinhalese have fought for this country over and over and earned the right to call it our homeland, you people just prance in out of nowhere like a bunch of fairies and start demanding Sri Lanka as your own country.
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
Jayasuriya
–
” We Sinhalese have fought for this country over and over and earned the right to call it our homeland, “
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Most wars were fought among yourselves the gene sharing stupid people, one can describe it only as sibling rivalry.
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The Cholas, the Pandyas, the Cheras, House of Vijaya(?), House of Lambakanna, Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, Kingdom of Dambadeniya, Kingdom of Gampola, Kingdom of Kotte, Kingdom of Sitawaka, Kingdom of Kandy, ……… mostly considered closely linked through various relationship.
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Don’t forget when they fought among themselves they indeed brought in South Indian Mercenaries, the Erivirar. –
You may be a descendant of these mercenaries. Check your DNA to trace the origin of your ancestry in South India.
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By the way please recommend and let me have details of your choice of history book(s) simply because I wish to know which book has had profound impact on you and why you are so stupid to understand a simple issue.
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Raj / December 16, 2019
An additional note to Tisaranee,
Didn’t the people of Sri Lanka give you and your Yahapalana gang a chance to demonstrate your honesty, affection, and integrity toward Sri Lanka in 2015? What did you do with that mandate for the last 4 and half years? You tried your best to undermine the values of the majority Sinhalese, and then, ridicule their age-old institutions, beliefs, and traditions. You wanted to flatten their collective psyche, erase the history and bring that freaking neo-liberal dictatorship to our motherland. Didn’t you?
Do you know that it was also the self same age-old beliefs, institutions, traditions that encouraged the majority Sinhalese to welcome and give protection to beleaguered minority communities when they were about to be destroyed by none other than the grand parents of your current masters who ruled to divide and destroy this beautiful island since 1505.
Believe me, the average Sri Lankans are politically wiser than most journalists who appear on CT.
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
Raj
–
“Believe me, the average Sri Lankans are politically wiser than most journalists who appear on CT.”
–
Indeed they are.
They make simple informed choices, they vote for free rice from the Moon, 8 measure of free rice, being masochists they have fascination and respect for mass murderers, highly skilled crooks, saffron brigade, sadists and hangmen.
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Shantha / December 15, 2019
Well written Tisaranee.
It is extremely sad that citizens in this country should feel marginalized, and live in constant fear of being the target of racism, and violent attacks. No nation can ever progress under these circumstances, and no leader can succeed until ALL citizens feel they belong here, are not discriminated, and will not have to fear for their lives and property, when marauding mobs, are organized to attack them at the will of some leader, who use them as tools to achieve his devious agenda.
Setting the majority against the minority has been the pattern for years, and it is always well coordinated. From the Saffron robes thugs, the racist media, to the pro Israel/Indian trolls, we have seen them all raise their ugly heads for the last few months, all attacking the Muslims, and their religion. Do they want this to be another Myanmar? Are the nations that advice, and sell weapons to, Sri Lanka part of this campaign? Look hard and you can their fingerprints too.
It does not bode well for the peace and unity of this country, and the safety and security of peace loving citizens. The return of the Rajapaksa’s also means the return of fear and uncertainty for the minority in this country.
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Simon De Silva / December 15, 2019
Yes, see today, there are no any kind of protests. No arguments coming from that barbaric GMOA. Nor would any tradeunions STAND againt even if CEMEnt prices went up over the last 3 weeks. No matters what it is, people try to talk high about wall arts.. rather than anything else. No talks against MCC…. no talks about ballige putha s wife or family being american. so called buddhist monks, real thakkadiyas do nothing but look as if they are satisfied with the low level performances of elected Mr King barbarian.
To me, if a natural catastrophe would take the bunch thugs away from SL, would be the greatest day to think of a better future.
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JD / December 15, 2019
It is extremely sad that citizens in this country should feel marginalized, and live in constant fear of being the target of racism, and violent attacks.
Sinhala buddhists are marginalied since 1505.
Zaharan, being a Wahabi, did not attack Sinhala buddhists, instead he attacked, his arch enemy.
Zaharan was forced into it.
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Mallaiyuran / December 16, 2019
Softy,
Llewellyn & Gellert(the dog) Story?
Zaharan killed the Tamil Christians to save your people. But you destroyed Muslims?
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
JD – Jim Softy
–
“Sinhala buddhists are marginalied since 1505.”
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So you are unleashing your bottled up colonial anger (maddogs) on innocent “others”.
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A brilliant strategy which could speed up your race to hit bottom fairly quickly.
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Mano / December 15, 2019
”Having being elected on a Sinhala-Buddhist platform, Gotabaya Rajapaksa is likely to rule as a Sinhala-Buddhist leader, irrespective of the cost to Sri Lanka.”Quote.
THE ERA OF GOLDEN REIGN HAS COME A REALITY.
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Shantha / December 16, 2019
More like the era of the terror reign has become a nightmare.
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velu Rasiah / December 15, 2019
Mr. Gunasekara, your’s is well thought out and genuine piece of analysis. However, just like the monk Kashyapa Thera, pro-rajapakse supporters live on hear-say. The country is going to pay for it in the near future. It has been reported the literacy rate is SL is around 80-90%. I wonder what kind of literacy they assessed, may be like what pro-rajapkse clan is doing.
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Raj / December 16, 2019
Velu,
Did you question their literacy rate when they voted the Yahapalana donkeys to power in 2015?
Why this double talk, my friend? Respect their decision and accept the defeat like a gentleman.
Even big nations such as Russia, India, UK, USA, China, Japan gave several chances to Pirabaharan, and finally decided to cobble him (Read DBSJ’s article on Anton Balasingham’s 10th death anniversary: Dec 14 for details; nobody gives you an indefinite chance under democracy)!
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ajith / December 15, 2019
A very good article. This is the period for them to cheat ordinary Sinhalese to show that they are for Sinhalese and all others are not for Sinhalese. Until the general election we may see lot of drama’s to convince Sinhala people to get two third majority to change the constitution to get back the full executive power. Even the Swiss employee drama is now used to show that it is the work of international plot against Srilanka. Nobody knows the truth behind what really happened. So far nobody knows who was behind the Easter bombings.
One truth is that they are capable to do anything at any time in Srilanka as long as Buddhist Sinhala Mahanayake’s is on the side of them. Within 4 years almost all the crimes committed by this regime during 2005 to 2015 is forgotten and now they endorsed all of these crimes are not crimes.
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Rangarajan Srinivas / December 15, 2019
Your article makes me ponder: public welcome given to Suu Kui, the leader of Myanmar after her arrival from the Netherlands where she gave a three- days hearing. Her staunch silence with an expression of no remorse, when confronted with questions of genocide, rape and destruction of Rohingya people is disturbing. Is the Srilankan Sinhala Buddhist majority who overwhelmingly voted for the current president also think in the same lines though such a scenario is yet to be evolved? Moral values, democracy and the sense of decency can be trampled upon in the name of religious, ethnic fervour? Are we heading for an era where anything is justifiable? Hope we have enough courage to resist such faulty thinking. (I admire those who supported the oppositional candidates whatever their differences and the pious, noble Buddhist monks who either remained silent in the way Lord Buddha expected or encouraged people to think in a righteous way.
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Champa / December 15, 2019
Rangarajan Sirinivas
There is no reason for Sinhalese Buddhists to show remorse when there was no genocide, rape or destruction caused on the part of our Army.
Show proof then we will talk.
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Native Vedda / December 16, 2019
Champass
–
“There is no reason for Sinhalese Buddhists to show remorse when there was no genocide, rape or destruction caused on the part of our Army.”
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In case you misunderstood the word Genocide, which actually means “the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.”.
–
By the way it appears Aung San Suu Kyi seems to have b***s facing off ICJ while Mahinda, Gota, Kamal, Sarath, Shavendra, …. other single handed generals seem to lost theirs.
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Why don’t you help them find theirs?
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Champa / December 16, 2019
Machang Keyboard Vedda
First of all, there is no similarity in what happened in Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
In our case, for 34 years, Sri Lanka fought against a terrorist group called LTTE which was named by the CIA as the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world at the time, which had air, land and naval power, unstoppable flow of funds and arms and ammunition in addition to local and international terrorist training, support and encouragement for creating a fear psychosis and terror, massacring unarmed civilians full of buses, trains and in crowded places and entire villages, causing massive destruction to infrastructure, aircraft, ships and military bases and disruption to the country’s economy.
Your definition of genocide does not applicable to our Army as they targetted only armed terrorists who waged a guerrilla war.
The last phase of the war was a direct battle between LTTE terrorists and Sri Lanka Security Forces.
In order to minimize civilian casualties, Sri Lanka Army heavily deployed foot soldiers which caused 40,701 galorous soldiers wounded and disabled for life, in addition to the 28,708 valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives in their effort to protect civilians in Northern and Eastern Provinces.
No genocide, whatsoever, was casued in Sri Lanka against Tamils.
In fact, our Army prevented a well orchestrated genocide by LTTE at the last phase of war by rescuing a human shield comprised of over 300,000 Tamil civilians including elders, women and children.
Our Army fought ONLY against LTTE terrorists who did not have any ethnicity, race or religion. Mind my reminding you, LTTE killed almost all prominent Tamil politicians, an Indian Prime Minister and a few Sinhalese politicians including a President, in addition to a massive number of other civilians.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 16, 2019
Champa, I am a medical witness to the genocide, rape and destruction caused by the security forces. Not only me but there are several people who are willing to testify. Why is the government not holding an inquiry on this for the last 10 years. Now documents relating to these atrocities have reached Geneva and will be presented at a fair trial.
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Jayasuriya / December 16, 2019
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
You guys were witness to the whole genocide yet apparently you guys seem to be blind when the ltte were taking hostages in the nfz and the army had to rescue them.
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Raj / December 16, 2019
Dear Dr. Gnana,
Are you also a witness to the atrocities and crimes committed by the LTTE? Was it right to herd 300,000 people like cattle and move them against their will from Killinochi to Nandikadal lagoon with the horrible and sinister intention of keeping them as a human shield? How about child soldiers used as cannon fodder by the LTTE. Was it right to shoot and kill wounded LTTE cadres when they asked for help? Are you prepared to give the above info with evidence to so-called fair trial in Geneva?
Will the current Swiss embassy fiasco be also submitted to the same trial?
Do you think Geneva is Russel Peter’s stage for another comedy?
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Lester / December 17, 2019
“I am a medical witness to the genocide, rape and destruction caused by the security forces.”
Are you also a “medical witness” to the kidnapping, torture, child conscription, suicide bombing, drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, lamp post hanging, mass murder, and ethnic cleansing caused by Sun God & his organization? If you materially contributed to these activities, including financially, that makes you an accessory to high crimes.
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Tamil from the north / December 16, 2019
Champa, welcome back after 3 days of inactivity. Were you busy somewhere else? Remember I gave you a lot of living proof and your reply were the following;
•Nice Try
•Try again
Until to date I am trying to figure out what the above two meant? Again I will tell you, look around that gamarala bastard Mahinda and see how many LTTE killers are around him. Also bloody Thatai (bald) thugs oh sorry I meant Monks tell what needs to be done politically? Isn’t their job in a temple? Also why are you back on CT leaving the oldest profession?
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Shantha / December 16, 2019
There are some types in denial. Even if you show them pictures, videos, and documents, they will still be in denial or blame the victims.
You are one of them.
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Douglas / December 15, 2019
“Gotabaya Rajapakse is likely to rule as a Sinhala-Buddhist leader irrespective of cost to Sri Lanka”. That could be the “Sugar Coating” of the pill dispensed to Sinhala -Buddhists to establish his “Rule”; but to GR it is to “Clean” the “Bitter Part” of the same pill, that was waiting to be “Indigestible”, if he failed to get elected. We saw it happened, when the AG appeared in courts and retrieved the indictment on GR, claiming that a President is “Immune” to all acts of “commissions and omissions”. That was in relation to a “SURE” case of “Commission” of “Misappropriation” of Public Funds to build a “Memorial” for the Late father of “Rajapakse Family”. There are many more, “HE” is indicted and will be eventually “Removed” and set “Free” in the name of a “Sacred” clause of our Constitution. Now there are many more such “Indictments” pending in courts against his brothers, nephews, cousins, e.g. Basil, Namal, Yoshitha, Udyanga, Jaliya, and the list goes on. Then there are other “Cohorts” who got organized into “Viyathmaga” and “Eliya” several of whom are facing court cases, who worked day and night to make GR the “KING”. Next come the “Political Bands” such as Wimal, Udya,Johonston, Aluthgamage. The Sinhala-Buddhists tasted the “Sweet Sugar” part; but failed to identify the “Bitter Part” that GR was aiming to “Dispense” with. But, now, some of the “Saffron Clothed” are beginning to realize the effect of that “sweet part” , in that, disturbances are appearing visibly against some persons such as Nalaka Godahewa of “Viyathmaga” and Milinda Moragoda of “Parthfinder”. Many more to appear in the days to come. That “Cost” to Sri Lanka “Sinhala-Buddhist” rule will come for an “AUDIT” in the future as and when the events start unfolding.
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Native Vedda / December 16, 2019
Douglas
–
Every Tom Dick and Harry claim (including Gota, Sarath, Kamal, …… those who were/are in the killing business and making money out of misery) claim this is a Buddhist country.
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On what basis countries become Buddhist, Sinhala/Buddhist, Hindu, Christians, Islamic, …… who names them such and on what authority?
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I have read media reporting various types of Bombs for example Islamic Bomb, Hindu Bomb, Zionist Bomb, Christian Bomb, …… I never knew countries are known by religion.
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Don’t you think those who actively claim religious affinity for religion are the biggest crooks, hiding behind religions, especially so the members of the armed forces. How long do you think they are going to use, abuse, misuse, …. religion to hang on to power?
–
If Buddha is around what would he say to these war criminals?
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Jayasuriya / December 16, 2019
Native Vedda
“On what basis countries become Buddhist, Sinhala/Buddhist”
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Do you consider tamil nadu to be a tamil nation? on what basis?
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
Jayasuriya
–
“Do you consider tamil nadu to be a tamil nation? on what basis?”
–
I am sorry are we discussing about Sri Lanka or India?
Why don’t you stick to this island.
The question I posed is beyond you.
You need not to respond if you haven’t got an answer.
–
As a descendant of Kallathonie convert you may have a tendency to refer back to your ancestral homeland, kingdom, …. in South India, whereas I don’t.
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jehan / December 15, 2019
A 19 year old boy died in Prison -most probably tortured by the authorities. His name Zainul Abdeen Jaleel Mohamed. He was a muslim. He was never charged under any terrorism law. Suspects are killed.
Lasantha killed himself
thajudeen drove into a wall
Swiss embassy employee kidnapped herself.
Gota law. This will lead to more people killed/white vanned. we are seeing the next myanmar.
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babalath appu / December 15, 2019
Jehan, miraculously enough, our traitor – jouranlists dance to the tune of the barbarians. See, i have no doubt, if they are bold enough, they could bring all the coverage revealing the truths. I have no doubt, swiss incident was made – overshadowed in favour of them. But they dont know how the SWISS would counter attack them in next few weeks. The Swiss are one of the powerful nations in Europe. Not even EU citizens would be easy to get on with them. As one single powerful NON-EU citizens, the swiss are very powerful by every means. Let s wait and see.
If anyone would seek my support, I willsurely help the Swiss by revealing lot more about lanken ground realities than trying even think of saving our own nation.
Here i have to sit with the right people …. I have lost my faith kept on our folks. May be I am a traitor for the time being, but I am eternally ANTI -RAJAPAKSHE rascals.
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Jayasuriya / December 16, 2019
babalath appu
“I am eternally ANTI -RAJAPAKSHE rascals.”
–
So you are willing to sell betray your own country just to get at rajapaksa’s? tell me, do you also plan on selling your mother to get a new car?
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
Jayasuriya
–
“So you are willing to sell betray your own country just to get at rajapaksa’s”
–
I am not sure if babalath appu could sell anything as he may not possess is whatever left in this island unsold. He could be one of us a dispossessed voter without power. You know who is in a position to rob, sell and blame the victims.
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The entire clan is back in business, first move was authorising the sand Mafia to freely deal in sand. Therefore they have the absolute power to abuse it absolutely.
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” tell me, do you also plan on selling your mother to get a new car?”
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Come on you have been doing it for the past 40 years sending your mother, daughters, granddaughters, wife, mistress, sisters, aunts, nieces, ……. to medieval middle east kingdoms so that you could buy all the creature comforts.
–
/
Native Vedda / December 16, 2019
jehan
–
In the North East hundred of thousands of people committed Mass suicide, suffered self inflicted wounds, set fire to Library, houses, …..
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Jayasuriya / December 16, 2019
Native Vedda
Why don’t you also talk about how they were rescued from the nfz or how they were getting food, water and clothes from the govt. this whole time? oh wait, I forgot, you only talk about bullshit that fits the agenda of your dead terrorist buddies, lol.
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Jenna / December 17, 2019
Exactly.
The Tamil diaspora only talk about one side. There are many atrocities LTTE caused to their own people.
LTTE is the only terrorist organisation that used child soldiers abducting them from their mothers.
LTTE echelons however lived in luxury whilst robbing an entire generation’s childhoods.
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
Jenna
–
“LTTE is the only terrorist organisation that used child soldiers abducting them from their mothers.”
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I never knew this, thanks for informing us. I thought only governments of
Afghanistan, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen recruited child soldiers and a number of non state actors in such countries as Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Congo, Nigeria, Syria, …….. and the Philippines too forcefully employed them in armed conflict.
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Thanks for enlightening this forum.
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Lester / December 17, 2019
Jenna, spot on. Everything begins and ends with the LTTE. There is no point holding GOSL accountable, as the war was entirely defensive in nature. If a wild cat jumps on your face, you will do what you can to save yourself, including killing the cat.
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
Jayasuriya
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Probably the mass murderers were surprised to see/expect many to survive despite the targeted heavy bombing and shelling. Then they were happy to round them up and selectively kill the surrenderors.
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Why don’t you get the single handed generals to provide the detail list of all people surrendered to the armed forces and being detained in internment camp and details of those who were freed, and seek explanation for the discrepancies. .
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Have you dealt with and accounted for those innocent people who were involuntarily made to disappear in 1971 and between 1987 and 1991?
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Are you one of those who guarding the internment camp or part of the death squad? If you were, this is your last chance for redemption, ……..
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By any chance you are Sisira Mendis’s personal assistant?
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Kern / December 16, 2019
Jehan, Christians blew up their own churches.
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Raj-UK / December 15, 2019
Tissaranee
I do admire your guts. You certainly have the balls (pardon my expression) but with the apparent return of white vans, as to be deduced by the Swiss Embassy fiasco, I fear that one will be coming your way soon.
In ‘pay to view’ channels, such as, Netflix, there are many documentaries, some dramatised but based on facts, about South American drug barons & corrupt state officials, including Governors, Senators, the Judiciary, Military & law enforcement agencies, as well as, behind the scene king makers in affluent society, posing as generous patron but sleazy businessmen in reality. In this scenario, despite the violence & brutality faced by the poor citizens, there have been brave journalists who have paid the ultimate price with their lives for exposing the truth. Those who had the courage to stand up were dealt with mercilessly, often tortured before murdered & even their families were not spared. It is unbelievable that such atrocities have taken place & seems more like fiction or scenes from violent movies but it is the current situation, particularly, in some South American countries. The situation in Mexico, as depicted by the documentary on the life of drug lord, El Chapo, comes to mind when I think of SL now. SL has been relatively safe in this context but I am not so sure in the coming years. Journalists who stand by their professional ethics are often unsung heroes & I sincerely hope that you wont end up with the same fate as all those activists whose lives have been cut short by brutal regimes.
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Citizen Silva / December 15, 2019
Rangarajan,
Did you have any remose when the Easter Suday bombs went off?
When the central bus stand bombs went off?
The train bomb,
killing of buddhis, monks
The central bank bomb, butchering of innocent villagers in Weli Oya?
You people were celebrating and having parties
The indecency of the Tamil diaspora that funded this
blood shed by supporting the bloody LTTE is the main problem
Many Tamils also died during these bombings
STOP this and there will be peace for all.
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Extra cover / December 16, 2019
A brilliant bit of journalism. Only buffoons would not understand what you have written.Yes, everything is Sinhala Buddhists to hell with the country.
Thank you once again.
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Native Vedda / December 16, 2019
Citizen Silva
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“Did you have any remose when the Easter Suday bombs went off?”
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On the other hand chief of these bombers was rewarded with arms, cash, and diplomatic cover when it suited the crooks, and handsomely paid when crooks wanted to have elections boycotted in certain areas.
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Did you have any remorse when innocent people were being slaughtered, their properties looted and burned down, women raped, children killed in 1956, 1961, 1971, 1977, 1981, 1983, …. between 1987 and 1991, … over 30 years, … when Hindians invaded this land and occupied it and committed war crimes, ….
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Didn’t you rejoice when people were suffering and celebrated it with Victory songs and Kiri Bath, …..gloated over mass killing, war criminals were being honoured with with LLD, DSc, and the Mahasangha bestowing honorary titles on, … ?
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Whom are you kidding Citizen Silva.
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Did you have any remorse when up country hard working people were disenfranchised, left to languish in limbo for more than 40 years, until the Hindians caught JR by his b***s and got him to grant citizenship.?
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I suggest you visit history of this island at least once.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / December 16, 2019
Dear Native,
–
All above have nothing to do with Nandasena..
–
Why didn’t you bring these up with your Guardian Angel Dr Ranil, who is related or associated with the perpetrators all those events?’
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And still associating with the relatives and friends of the Easter Event as well..
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
KASmaalam K.A. Sumanasekera
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“All above have nothing to do with Nandasena..”
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Seriously, he was in more than active service from April 1971 to 1992 then while being an American he was illegally employed from 2005 to 2015. Those two period saw massacres, mass killing, involuntary disappearances, ……………………. Don’t forget Gota’s brother was the president at the time not Ranil’s uncle.
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He is yet to account for involuntary disappearances, unmarked graves, Matale, Mannar, ……………….. pits, Mullivaaikkal open air abattoir.
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If you kill one person you are sentence to death. If you kill thousands you are a presidential material. If you rob an old lady you are sentenced to prison. On the other hand if you loot billions you are appointed as the Prime Minister and put in charge of country’s finances.
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In his post election speech he said he completely opposed to Nepotism, immediately he appoint his brother as Prime minister, his co murderer as top defence official, and another one to the lead a state corporation, allow sand mafia to have a field day, …. take a thief to Sultanate of New Delhi, ………….
–
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Citizen Silva / December 16, 2019
My dear Vedda,
Sinhala people never celebrate terrorim
whether the victims are Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim
poor Tamils and many Sri lankans of all ethnicities and religious groups living in Sri Lanka had to suffer
because idiots like you who finded the LTTE
More than the LTTE you are guilty of murder
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
Citizen Silva
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“Sinhala people never celebrate terrorim”
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What about state terrorism Victory Day celebrations on May 19?
JVP commemorate fallen heroes (terrorists) twice a year.
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“because idiots like you who finded the LTTE”
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Its a news to me.
However, didn’t your heroes Mahinda, Gota and Basil pay their equally deranged partner in war crimes VP a hefty fees for his services to democracy in 2005?
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Almost forgotten, how about Premadasa donating arms, ammunitions, cash, diplomatic cover in the late 1980s?
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Were there any top army officials in LTTE’s payroll?
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Jayasuriya / December 16, 2019
Citizen Silva
Give it up man, the tamils are too stupid to see through their own bullshit.
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Jayantha Pathberiya / December 15, 2019
A load of Hogwash! Don’t you think CT?
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Champa / December 15, 2019
I agree with the section about media.
The President has summoned media bosses and given them “a lecture” about what to publish and what not to publish. This is sheer manipulation and intimidation.
Standing by the country and standing by the government are two different matters. Sri Lankan media is not under obligation to stand by the government just to protect the name of the country. It is the duty of the government to conduct its affairs in a manner in which country’s name is not tarnished.
The following is what the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. has to say about it.
““Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.”
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Champa / December 15, 2019
About Garnier Banister Francis.
Despite various government sponsored assertions, guessing games and twists, it is now revealed that Mrs. Garnier Banister Francis has no other names and that her maiden name is Xavier (Sunday Times).
The following assumption is based on “official media reports” published in mainstream Sri Lankan media.
What is proved so far is the unprofessionalism of the CID, which is hell bent on proving that no such incident has happened.
CID says Garnier’s statement is contradictory, therefore it is fake?
Well, one can question whether a liar can go on and on for 4 days under the interrogation by CID officials?
The severity of the interrogation could have made her admit the very first day that she has lied. Has she done that even on the 4th day of the interrogation, I don’t know? If not, why?
Highly professional CID officials could detect on the very first day, sometimes even by looking at the person, whether she is lying or telling the truth.
This harsh tactic of 8 hour long aggressive interrogation for days and days could melt down even a highly trained liar or a serial killer.
We have seen this type of harsh interrogation against MPs of the Joint Opposition under the previous slave government. What makes the new government to continue such monstrous ways of treating “victims” or “conspirators?”
If Mahinda Rajapaksa was the President, he would have handled Garnier’s case more civilized, compassionate and gentle manner, taking into consideration that the person in question is one of our own women. That is the reason I was against a military man being chosen as the Presidential candidate.
The manner in which the President, the government and the CID handled Garnier’s case so far has damaged the country’s reputation, honour and ethics.
Shame on you, men!!!!
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punchinilame / December 16, 2019
Champa – the Swiss incident is a misfired incident of Gotas henchmen – my guess is the new DS. They wanted to get to the bottom of the
Asylum and did not care whether the Officer was a Swiss staffer, but
it was enough she was a native, judging by the mode of “treatment”.
The verdict has to be finally from HEs own CID – and if that Rugger Player or Lasantha could have been tackled, what is this so-called Diplomatic staff!
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 16, 2019
Dear Punchinilame, you have hit the nail on the head. In order to protect KG the real culprit, others are being harassed.
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Mallaiyuran / December 16, 2019
Champawati,
You think by confusing people by mixing truth with fallacies and asking for proof for the murders Royals did, you can save the Modaya Murderer, the Old King. Well the many days’ thief will be in prison one day. Wait & watch the Old King Nariya, worse than Ranil Nariya, ends up where without no ways to escape the UN Electric Chair. Real drama will crack open after their coveted 2/3.
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Sandy / December 16, 2019
Thank you Champa.
Yes. Absolute shame on these…
men..!?
ruthlessly questioning this dear lady till she faints..again and again..
Ugh..beyond disgusting..
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Raj / December 16, 2019
Champa,
This is what an experienced ex-diplomat has to say about G.B.Francis aka Xavier aka Sriyalatha Perera (the main actress of the Swiss drama).
“What we have is a convoluted version from the Swiss authorities without facts or evidence, a tall story that has grown ever taller and more complicated in the telling resulting in generalised disbelief in the incident actually occurring. How credible is it, for instance, that the mobile phone of a local employee contained highly confidential information of strategic importance to Switzerland, more important than that stolen by IP Silva?
It is apparent that the Swiss authorities were in contact with the alleged victim throughout, with the Ambassador speaking to the authorities on her behalf. In all likelihood, she was kept on Embassy premises with no justification provided for holding a Sri Lankan citizen, a local employee not entitled to diplomatic immunity, incommunicado for two weeks”. (cont’d)
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Raj / December 16, 2019
Having demanded an investigation into the incident and claimed that the alleged victim’s health had so deteriorated warranting airlifting to Switzerland by air ambulance, the Embassy refused to accede to Sri Lanka’s requests to allow the alleged victim to make a complaint so that investigations may be conducted, denying access to a Sri Lankan citizen, even withholding her name. By its failure to cooperate with the host state, the Swiss authorities have obstructed the course of justice and Sri Lanka’s ability to fulfill its obligations. The re-appearance of the local employee on Monday, 9 Dec. cannot be attributed to any cooperation by the Swiss Embassy, but to a Court order preventing her from leaving the country until that date and requiring that she give a statement before then.
(Cont..)
“By refusing to cooperate with the authorities of the host State, the Swiss Embassy acted in a manner incompatible with the UN Charter-based duty to cooperate. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations stipulates that In carrying out the functions of the mission, diplomats from sending states are duty bound to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state, the duty not to interfere in internal affairs, the duty not to misuse diplomatic premises for wrongful purpose, i.e, for purposes that are incompatible with the functions of the mission, and the duty not to affect in any way the rule concerning the exhaustion of remedies in the local courts, when applicable.”
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K.Pillai / December 15, 2019
In the 2018 Local Government elections Basil R proved with ease that the good old Lankan version of McCarthyism, namely the language/religion-divide still had traction. SLPP came into being based on “Reconciliation will lead to separation which will result in the annihilation of Sinhala-Buddhism”.
MR family’s SLPP has taken the next step in creating Heroic-Angels of the ilk of Gnanasara Thero.
The regime knows that tolerance of criticisms of the regime can be used to distract the International Community.
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Sam the Man / December 15, 2019
When this country has been turned into a drug ridden, lawless mafia governed state then all this government bashing, family bashing, political bashing and all bashing will come to an end.
All these so called intellectual people who are quoting from here there and everywhere will be the first rats on two legs to seek refuge in the very countries that will be responsible for dragging down Sri lanka to the very depths of the cesspit of no return.
It is only when Sri lanka has a devilishly corrupt lawless government like the African & South American Banana Republics will all this bashing come to a end because the very bitches and bastards who are responsible for all this will be crouching in their holes through fear.
The Western World will never rest in peace until it sees Sri lanka in the same state as Libya, Iraq, Syria, and the African countries slowly bleeding to death.
We have a superb example how some “Maligawatte Whore” employed as a Assistant Migration Officer at the Swiss Embassy has almost damaged beyond repair the good Diplomatic relations between Sri lanka and Switzerland by a well concerted story with intention of getting refugee status.
Unfortunately for her all went wrong from day one.
The government should have gladly given her the freedom to exit the country because Switzerland needs people of this nature. One day all of Switzerland will turn racist and kick all foreigners out back to the very shit buckets they all came from. One cannot blame the Swiss.
[edited out]
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lal / December 16, 2019
Sam, Switzerland isn’t a land of angels. It has profited from mass murder of Jews by their Nazi cousins, and money deposited in Swiss banks by thieves around the world. The Swiss, like some other western nations have discovered the concept of “Human Rights” to bully and marginalise developing nations in order to impose their will and exploit resources. The worst and most barbaric behaviour towards humans have been by the Europeans; as in Algeria by the French, in Congo by the Belgians, in Abynesia by the Italians. All of the above barbaric animals are cousins of the Swiss. Take swiss concerns for “Human Rights” with a pinch of salt.
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Mallaiyuran / December 17, 2019
Lal the smart, because 2 centuries ago somebody did something to somebody, somewhere in the world, so is it your logic that you have an obligation to do that all Tamils, now? When Dom Juan handing over Kotte to Portuguese or Ehelepola was capturing Rajasingan and handed over to British, there were no courts in Lankawe. So would you like to disband them all and directly refer all your disputes to King, hereafter?
Nobody invented Human Rights to punish barbaric, uncivilized countries like Lankawe. These principles have been in the West for two- three centuries. They are made as obligatory Laws only after the lessons learnt during 2nd World War. That time all these uncivilized barbaric nations like Lankawe have been under colonial status for European. That time they didn’t needed any special tools to punish them. They could shoot the subhuman, shooting the wild boars. Don’t be silly. Still you have full freedom to quit UN and get rid of the Human Right obligations. Would you do it willingly?
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JD / December 15, 2019
Exactly happened in Sri lanka, British Conservative Party which is NATIONALISTIC now won. In Sri Lanka, A nationalist Leader was elected. In Britain, Jeremy Corbain lost and he said “he would not lead the Labour party to an election. In Sri Lanka, same Old UNP is still full of Bulls in the China Shop and Bond scammers or the great Bank robbers in Sri Lankan History.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / December 16, 2019
Ms T has nothing to worry.. Everything will be Hunky dory..
Not even one month of Nandasena Rule , Dr Mobius flew into Colombo to say he is going to move to Cinnamon Life , because it is more cool than his Pad in Singapore.
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Dr Mobius first preference is to make money for his shareholders,
And Dr Mobius always carry only Smart Money.
=
Swiss embassy enacted White Van Abduction and Sexual Molestaeion after Pistol Whipping the Throat turned out to be a Fizzer.
Mighty Swiss Ambassador has become the butt of the best jokes of the Colombo Port City.
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Unlike Dr Ranil who formed his F*******CID through a Gazette Notification to bring Rajapaksa to his Express Courts turned out to totally il legit as the recently retired SC pointed out.
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He reckon Dr Ranil would have forced to eat the Humble Pie if his F******CID brought any cases before his Express Court.
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Prez Nandasena didn’t have to do any of that .
The long suffering real CID Officers have volunteered to do even O/T without pay to fix the disasters which Dr Ranil has created.
And they are helping the newly restored Military Intelligence Network which Dr Ranil decimated, to provide safety and security specially for the Catholic Community to attend their X Mas Eve and New Years eve Masses. in Colombo.
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Native Vedda / December 16, 2019
KASmaalam K.A. Sumanasekera
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Recently I was told Mahinda promised your master David Cameron who was visiting his subjects in this island in Nov 2013 to deliver a lots of things.
Do you exactly know what Mahinda promised him?
–
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K.A. Sumanasekera / December 16, 2019
Dear Native,
–
Who is David Cameron ?????
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lal / December 16, 2019
FYI, Dravid Cameroon was the Head Prefect of Horrow College for Future Prime Ministers of goat Britain. He completed the course for intending Short Term Prime Ministers and succeeded in creating the Brexit fiasco and resigned. He is also credited for being a distinguished Head Prefect at school, parliament and in public life.
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K.A. Sumanasekera / December 17, 2019
Lal,
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That new bloke Boris…Did he go to this Horrow College too?..
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Native Vedda / December 17, 2019
KASmaalam K.A. Sumanasekera
–
Recently I was told Mahinda promised your master David Cameron who was visiting his subjects in this island in Nov 2013 to deliver a lots of things.
Do you exactly know what Mahinda promised him?
–
I know Mahinda rather keeps it confidential otherwise he may have to hide/bury his b***s , pride and gusto somewhere in Mullivaaikkal.
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Raj / December 16, 2019
“But I think if media propagate lies, it is an insult to the people of the country.”
Who doesn’t agree?
TG! Do you want Rajitha, Pa/Cha Ranawaka, AKD, Sampandan, and Wigneswanran type politicians to continue to lie through press conferences. Look how Rajitha talks as if he has seen everything! Where is the limit? Don’t they abuse the freedom of expression?
They lied and continue to lie but this time they have to be careful about what they utter to media. You too have to be careful since liars are not considered journalists anywhere in the world.
Nobody in your gang is ready to accept the democratic verdict given by the people of Sri Lanka. You accepted it in 2015 but what’s wrong with 2019 verdict? From where are you preaching about democracy? From the Mars?
Look at the Swiss embassy fiasco which has become a real embarrassment to the Swiss ambassador Mr. Mock, and his country Switzerland. Hasn’t it become a real mockery? Why can not you respect the will of the people expressed through democratic means?
What’s wrong with you and your gang?
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JD / December 16, 2019
Only thing I know People of the National Candidate project are very depressed. So, we know they never, never, never give up and as long as Sri Lanka is in the Indian Ocean these problems prevail. They will not stop preaching their version of Democracy.
I heard CHEK republic is also unhappy exactly the way that Sinhala Buddhist Supremacists are unhappy. Some how, Chek people are thinking whether can pull away their country to Asia because they think Asia is relatively problem free. On the other hand, Polish people thought of growing up from their Problems. But, recently, they got TWO TONS of Narcotics. They were thinking, my god what can we do with this much of this stuff. Amount of money they got from that transaction is larger than what we get from signing the MCC-COMPACT.
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watcher / December 16, 2019
[Edited out]
SL got huge structural issue arising from all political parties that are stealing from the peoples wealth.
If you want to fix major ills in SL, you need to use iron hand to fix these institutions since judiciary , AG, police are corrupt and all compromised.
Western powers with a former corrupt rent a former presidential got together and got an absolute moron as a president in 2015 and country suffer so much including muslim terror that was not there before..Muslims have contributed so much to SL and people need to acknowledge that.
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kebab / December 16, 2019
Meaningless and hypocritical.
The writer completely ignores Ranil- the biggest disaster to have hit the country and the fatal impact on the UNP.
Because of this devious half man the Rajapakses look good.
Ranil could not fight the war( his types never do ) so the Rajapakses fought it and became heroes.
As a half- baked pundit, Ranil dabbles in every thing and messes up big time. Statistically the Rajapakses managed the economy better.
Ranil pretended that people of his family background are superior. He proved he is superior only in devious robbing , even degrading our central bank with the appointment of a fat Thambi from Singapore( may be shapely too)
Ranil pretended he is a democrat.He brought in 19 amendment to stop MR from contesting a third time. But this rascal never applied similar principles to himself in the UNP where he has been the leader for 25 years( and never won the Presidency !)
Ranil says Rajapakses are undemocratic but he never held the Provincial elections, giving complicated excuses. Rajapkses have held every election on time.
Now he has appointed the doddering old Maropone ( one who is famous among the business circles for his operations as minister for defence and highways) to reform the UNP !
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Dionysus / December 16, 2019
The CID has now abducted the Swiss Embassy employee who was allegedly abducted. That’s how to describe what’s going on. The lady is being detained and subjected to session after session of interrogations, after which the obedient media pack is given their headlines. Initially we read or heard that the woman was a Tamil LTTE stooge seeking to defame the country. Now we are told she has “lied”, has “contradicted herself”, has told a “different stories” to her Swiss employees, she was trying to gain entry into Switzerland.
Seemingly no longer are CID interrogations confidential until presented in court. Instead the CID has become the court. It is using the media to tell us the woman is guilty of deception. Day after day it’s a different story. Now the woman’s sanity is being questioned. She is to be presented before psychiatrists. Hopefully they won’t declare her insane. Case closed.
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Dionysus / December 16, 2019
Alleged Swiss Embassy employee who was abducted once has been abducted again.
What was a straightforward case for the CID has become a circus merry-go-round. Embassy staff are usually selected for above-average education and experience. Their salaries and benefits are higher than those of resident populations. It is usually the case that after a certain number of years’ employment, the individual has the opportunity to apply for citizenship in the country the embassy represents.
So why would this woman endanger all such benefits by staging her own abduction?
Instead of this theatrical drama – that has foreign Sri Lanka embassy staff and their principals abroad amused, to say the least – the CID should go after the rogue police or military personnel who miscalculated and staged this illegal action. They can start by looking among their own ranks.
/