28 March, 2024

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The Rupavahini Black-Out Of The Jaffna University Clash

By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

I watched Rupavahini news the night (16th July) Jaffna University students clashed. The purpose was to find out about the clash that had taken place at Jaffna University. Let’s consider the time allocated by this state-run television station for various news stories, in the order telecast:

1. The Turkish coup attempt: 3.12 minutes

2. A rubbish story about an Army Intelligence Officer arrested over allegedly connection to the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge: 1.07 minutes [Rupavahini claims that Lasantha died from gunshot injuries!. The second lie that Rupavahini trots out based on a Police claim is that the suspect was arrested on account of having abducted and later interrogated the person who was driving Lasantha’s vehicle at the time he was killed !]

3. The operation to arrest Udayanga Weeratunga: 1.56 minutes

4. A feature on opposition views of the current political situation devoted to the arrest of Namal Rajapaksa: 2.09 minutes [While S.B., Tilvin, Ajith P Perera, Bimal Rathnayake and Bandula Lal expressed views against Namal, there was time allocated for Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to raise a question as to why the JVP lodged a complaint against Namal]

5. An important piece of news about child safety: 1.30 minutes

6. A segment on the controlled prices of essential items: 2.57 minutes

7. The introduction of a system to streamline public transport: 1.16 minutes

8. Local news in brief: 2.29 minutes [a protest in Thanamalwila demanding clean water, a bus accident, a protest in Gampaha over the environmental impact of a power generation project, a fact-finding mission by the Media Minister regarding the construction of a bridge in Bentota and issues related to the tourism industry in Kalpitiya]

9. Sajith Premadasa’s comments on the construction of a village in Tissamaharama in the name of Narendra Singh Modi and how ECTA would propel Sri Lanka to prosperity: 1.39 minutes

10. Nimal Siripala’s inspection of the Matara-Beliatta railway line, it’s construction and his comments: 2.13 minutes

11. Foreign News – a presentation of video (sources unknown) related to the Nice attack: 2.13 minutes

12. Sports News: of the 2.23 minutes devoted to sports, 1.43 minutes for a volleyball tournament where Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was present, 40 seconds on Sri Lankan students who had returned to the island after securing medals (including a gold) in a tournament held in Russia, and 34 seconds about the Sri Lanka ‘A’ cricket team winning a match in England.

This news telecast which lasted 26 minutes and 56 seconds did not once mention the clash that took place in Jaffna University.

What was the incident that Sri Lankans most wanted to be informed about during the 24 hours prior to the telecast of this news programme? What is the incident that caught the attention of the citizens most via Twitter, Facebook, SMS and rumour? In short what was the incident that provoked the Deputy Media Minister to get involved in a debate following an FB post? Why didn’t Rupavahini allocate any time for this matter as is expected of a television station responsible to the general public? Was it blacked out following the absurd ‘logic’ of a ‘responsibility’ to prevent inter-ethnic unrest?

Those responsible should understand that censorship does not yield anything positive. Even when new media was absent such censorship did not do any good. Such a course of action only adds fuel to rumour and mischief-making. The responsibility of any public service broadcaster (as Rupavahini is expected to be) is to report the incident in a professional manner.

When the path is cleared for rumour-mongers the general public has to turn to conventional media to obtain a professional and accurate account or at least the position of the Government.

The Deputy Media Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana has authored a book on conflict reporting. The Director General of Government Information, Ranga Kalansooriya’s doctorate is on conflict reporting and media. Before taking up that position Kalansooriya was the Asia-Pacific Advisor for International Media Support, an institution that trains journalists the world over about conflict-sensitive media practices. The handbook for journalists on the subject (Conflict Sensitive Journalism) printed and distributed by this institution has only a single line on its first page: “Professional journalists do not set out to reduct a conflict. They seek to present accurate and impartial news. But it is often through good reporting that conflict is reduced.”

It is unfortunate that the Government is yet to issue a statement on the incident.

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Latest comments

  • 19
    12

    This is nothing but the “yahapalana way of imposing authority on media”, Mr. Kurukulasuriya!

    • 12
      14

      Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

      RE:The Rupavahini Black-Out Of The Jaffna University Clash

      It is good. A smart move.

      Why should the country be distracted by the antics of Para-Tamils and Para-Sinhala, in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, where the Para-National Average IQ is 79, and these student’s IQs are not much different.

      National IQ Scores – Country Rankings

      http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html

      • 8
        10

        [Edited out] Amarasairi,

        There are only a handful of parasinhalayo and parademalo in SL. You definitely fit one of these groups. Feel free to pick your lot. You ignorant [Edited out]. For you it may be a distraction but on that day it was serious incident that the public had the right to know. Were the other news articles more important? Talk sense or stop wasting valuable space .

        Keeping such incidents away from the general public is not the answer but for the Govt to act positively and firmly against the aggressors regardless of their ethnicity. This did not happen in this instance and the Tamilnet posted the victims as aggressors. What a country. Looks like any aggression from minorities are treated with kid gloves whilst similar episodes by sinhalese are treat with heavy hand.

        This is clearly to appease the west to show that minorities are not mistreated.

        • 11
          9

          gamunu

          “Keeping such incidents away from the general public is not the answer but for the Govt to act positively and firmly against the aggressors regardless of their ethnicity. This did not happen in this instance and the Tamilnet posted the victims as aggressors. “

          This is something the University administrators screwed up, and the Govt. has to step in and put out the brush fires, started by the Paras.

          There is a question as to whether the Govt. will investigate and “punish” those who are responsible for the screw up. This Govt. does not seem to know how to punish perpetrators. They are sent to Jails as Hotels. Some idiots screw up and all the other idiots want to waste their time. No wonder the Average IQ for the Paras is 79! Even if fully disclosed, many idiots cannot comprehend the issues. So, just fix it solve it and punish some and move on.

          A perpetrator is often a suspect until it has been proven that he or she carried out the offense. The word usually describes someone who’s committed a crime, but any wrongdoing will do.

          • 6
            5

            This man Amarasiri has the impudence to change his tune like the infamous Rajitha Senarathna.
            He makes wild allegations about any and every body opposed to the Yhapalana/Dharmishta ruling clan. He uses foul language to abuse his freedom granted by CIA sponsored Colombo Telegraph.
            Only conclusion one can make about the handful of cheer leaders for this dictatorial government of CIA is that they are paid handomely in Dollars .

            • 13
              2

              This is the actual fact:

              The Sinhala military-backed Sinhala students numbering more than Tamils at the Science Faculty of the University of Jaffna attacked the Tamil students after violently staging Kandyan dance opposing the usual traditional Tamil cultural program at the welcoming ceremony to new students in the faculty.

              The episode quickly escalated into a clash between Tamil and Sinhala students for more than one hour. Tamil students from other faculties mobilised to defend their fellow students at the Science Faculty and Sinhala military intelligence personnel in civil clothes entered the premises brutally attacking Tamil students. More than 10 students were rushed to hospital with injuries since the clash started.

              The real culprits behind the Jaffna University clash is the Sinhala Army. It is they who urged the Sinhala students to create trouble. There is talk in the town that the SL military personal loyal to Gotabaya Rajapakshe were involved in instigating the Sinhala students to go ahead with the Kandyan dance and attack the Tamil students if they protest. This is an attempt by the joint opposition to create an island wide ethnic violence or rather another black July to destabilize the present government.

              The government should be commended for controlling the situation without giving it unnecessary publicity which would have only benefited the Rajapakshes and their cohorts.

              • 0
                0

                Kumar.From where did you get this version of the incident.

          • 1
            0

            Amarasiri (or whatever it is) ,

            There is term in my language for some one like you. It is “paharaya” or “pathadaya”. Pick the one that suits you best. Reading your worthless posts it is evident your vitriolic attacks are aimed primarily at sinhalese and then the Tamils. That leaves me to conclude you are neither a sinhala or Tamil background. It is up to others to deduce the result.
            I suggest the following to you:
            1. Go check the number of brain cells you have. Can be easily done as cretins like you do not have much.
            2. Go check you ancestry. You must akin to tree dwelling species. That may be why you insult the nation as parayas and so forth.
            If you call sinhalese and Tamils and parayas it must affect your family and relatives too if they are from those races. So I can safely assume you are neither. I pity that you may pass your DNA to your sons and daughters. I am proud of my DNA.

            My suggestion to you is in the future to have a balanced sensible, approach to issues instead of bashing Rajapaksas and sinhala buddhists. It is time you learn to respect others and their views. Finally stop being a “coolie to RW”and speak out if you see unfairness whether they were committed by the majority or any other minority group. It sis people like you create racial disharmony, not the media who are expected to report unbiased true reports and not the Govt propaganda to hide the truth.

        • 1
          5

          gamunu

          //”There are only a handful of parasinhalayo and parademalo in SL. “//

          The Land of Native Veddah Aethho is infested Island wide by the Para-Sinhalayo and Para-Demalo and other Paras. They are making a mess, as shown at Jaffna recently, in promoting their respective Para-cultures.

          The Vedda Tribe

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f89NuukY32U

          Tamil-speaking Veddas of Vaharai await war recovery support

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeFCuZwexRw

          Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people: their relations within the island and with the Indian subcontinental populations

          Journal of Human Genetics (2014) 59, 28–36; doi:10.1038/jhg.2013.112; published online 7 November 2013

          http://www.nature.com/jhg/journal/v59/n1/full/jhg2013112a.html

          Through a comparison with the mtDNA HVS-1 and part of HVS-2 of Indian database, both Tamils and Sinhalese clusters were affiliated with Indian subcontinent populations than Vedda people who are believed to be the native population of the island of Sri Lanka.

    • 3
      1

      @ Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

      That’s rich coming from you.
      How many stories have colombo telegraph blacked out?

      Also how many times fact-less and misleading stories have Colombo telegraph published here(Lies)?

      still it is nice to see the inner mind of a person who so called represents ‘ in journalism truth is a process’ if only that was true.

      And how the watered down incident of the jaffna uni incident you have decided to publish.

      you are hardly the judge given the shameless record of CMB telegraph

      • 1
        1

        Mr. Nuwan, I would like to know those misleading stories, would you be able to share them with CT readers?

  • 27
    13

    What is the use of telecasting it and create more problem between ethnic groups. you all want to see another black July. don’t make the students fight as a ethnic issue. actually this is the very good decision. government might tell some words regarding this

    • 20
      8

      Nirmal, I agree fully.
      It is most sensible in such matters to inform the public after the facts are well established.

      • 6
        0

        The following facts should clearly be established:
        1. Did the army intelligence provide Kandyan dancers and urged the Sinhala students to create trouble.
        2. Did Sinhala students start the violence by attacking Tamil students when the procession was going.
        3. Were army personnel present in the scene in civil clothes and take part in assaulting Tamil students.
        If a fair panel holds inquiry, truth will come out.

    • 16
      5

      Yes there are opportunistic politicians like joint opposition wants to create another bloodbath in the soil again to takeover the power and create a dictatorship by Mahinda family and destroy the nation.People should not fall into the trap of the opportunistic rascist propaganda.If that happen again, the consequences is going to be huge.

    • 18
      0

      Which century are you living in? Today when traditional media is not in the scene, social media kicks in.
      Remember when we were growing up, government was repeating the mantra “KATA KATHA WALATA NORAWATENNA”. Well, if you don’t get the news you expect from the responsible and reliable outlet, you’d resort to Gossip…That’s the whole point of this article.
      A good journalist would dig in, talk to all, the students, staff, police etc and file a report from the site. There is no such reporting. Especially when things happen outside Colombo these lazy bums don’t even bother….why?

    • 3
      3

      @ Nirmalanandan,

      I agree with your comment.big brother attitude have created the incident.

      (R & Silsilah)

    • 6
      3

      I agree with 100% with Nirmal.

      This is responsible journalism.What is the point in showing communal clashes, when the government is trying to bring the two communities together.

    • 12
      0

      I think that I KNOW that Jaffna University has been a disgrace to the Northern Province for years now because of an unsuitable lady imposed on them by the Rajapaksas at the insistence of Douglas Devananda.

      The incident was minor, but most unfortunate. Let’s hope that this dies down. It is potentially dangerous.

      Who is the Chairman of the UGC? Still Prof. Mohan de Silva – who is a decent guy? Why has he not done anything yet about replacing the VC?

    • 1
      0

      Amarasiri (or whatever it is) ,

      There is term in my language for some one like you. It is “paharaya” or “pathadaya”. Pick the one that suits you best. Reading your worthless posts it is evident your vitriolic attacks are aimed primarily at sinhalese and then the Tamils. That leaves me to conclude you are neither a sinhala or Tamil background. It is up to others to deduce the result.
      I suggest the following to you:
      1. Go check the number of brain cells you have. Can be easily done as cretins like you do not have much.
      2. Go check you ancestry. You must akin to tree dwelling species. That may be why you insult the nation as parayas and so forth.
      If you call sinhalese and Tamils and parayas it must affect your family and relatives too if they are from those races. So I can safely assume you are neither. I pity that you may pass your DNA to your sons and daughters. I am proud of my DNA.

      My suggestion to you is in the future to have a balanced sensible, approach to issues instead of bashing Rajapaksas and sinhala buddhists. It is time you learn to respect others and their views. Finally stop being a “coolie to RW”and speak out if you see unfairness whether they were committed by the majority or any other minority group. It sis people like you create racial disharmony, not the media who are expected to report unbiased true reports and not the Govt propaganda to hide the truth.

    • 1
      1

      Nimal,
      I beg to disagree up to a point. Media can have an effect on ethnic issues but ethnic problems manifest if the Govt that meant to uphold law order does not take decisive impartial action to deal with rogue elements. JRJ did a similar mistake and we know what followed. Suppressing the majority views to satisfy the minority may have a short term effect but if not handled properly nation might erupt. There are enough evidence lately especially in the mid east with serious undesirable consequences.

      I am to understand today the matter was left in the hands of the Uni administration to handle instead of proper legal action taken against perpetrators. I am 200% certain of the findings. The blame will be fairly and squarely placed on the sinhala students with accusation on the armed personnel.
      If the Govt cannot handle this fairly do you think the Uni administration who are under the purview of TNA would come out with a correct sentence.

      This is the crux of the matter. I may also be branded as a racist but where is the law and order preached by the YAHAPALANAYA that attracted 62 million votes. Govt should not to please the diaspora who are ready to blame sinhalese at the first opportunity. Are the sinhalese to become spineless?

  • 5
    3

    Perhaps,Uvindu the reason for the black-out was to avoid a situation of falling from the frying pan into the fire!

    As for your para [2],Rupavahini has made an ass of itself!

  • 25
    10

    Thank you Rupavahini for not giving prominence to university violence. Dont you think Uvindu Derana and Hiru trying to ignite another black July.

  • 14
    6

    While govt keep quite and discourage media to publish about it all pro LTTE media go to town with reports saying Sinhala students attacked tamil students. anyone searhing web find so many false news published by pro LTTE news sites. This is exactly what happened in the past.

  • 8
    14

    Military intelligence personnel in civvies had entered the university premises and had taken part in the melee, ‘supporting’ the sinhalese students.

    Rupavahini may have wanted to avoided videos in which they could have been identified, and news reports of interviews in which this fact may have been mentioned – hence the ‘blackout’ of the incident.

    • 4
      3

      Please do not add fuel to the evil campaign of lies unless your wish is to shut down the university.

      • 0
        1

        [Edited out] Please write, instead of posting web links – CT

  • 13
    4

    THE TURKISH COUP ATTEMPT 3.12MINUTES. DO YOU KNOW UVINDU WHY SO MUCH AIRTIME ALLOCATED FOR THE COUP ATTEMPT. YAHAPALALNAYA IS SENDING OUT A MESSAGE TO THE JARAPUCKSA REGIME,BAYAGOTA,AND TO THE ARMY NAVY AIRFORCE NOT TO TRY A COUP USING THE FORCES. YAHAPALANAYA AND THE 6.3MILLION VOTERS WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY COUP ATTEMPT BY THE FORMER REGIME.

    • 9
      9

      Julampitiya Amare should not worry.
      1) Every coup in Sri lanka since independence was orchestrated against SLFP governments.
      The first coup was the assassination of S W R D Bandaranayake. There is a parallel to the Assassination and toppling of the first ever elected leftist leader -Allende- in South America in 1972 by CIA.
      2) then came the coup for military takeover of Sirimavo Bndaranayake’s government by a minority religious group in the forces.They were convicted in the highest court in sri lanka, but acquitted by the Colonial Privy Council in Britain on a technical point, and hardly surprising.
      3) The attempt by JVP to kill or arrest the leaders of the country in 1970 was foiled at the 11th hour.
      We now know that JVP is funded and sustained by CIA and the UNP government.
      4) The most successful coup to overthrow a government was again by CIA partnering with RAW. This was on 08th January 2015. John Kerry openly and without any reservation claimed the US involvement addressing the Geneva conference in March 2015, and Prsident Obama openly thanked Modi for India’s support in Regime change in Sri Lanka

      • 10
        5

        Ruwan Semasinghe, why did Jarapucksa Regime go for an election when they has 2 more years. This is what we call illan kewa or illan parippu. We need International experts to investigate Jaffna incident.

        • 4
          8

          This illustrates my point. These CIA agents cannot respond to facts. All they can and are paid for is to use foul language and treential abuse, utter falsehoods, innuendos and wild allegations.
          The truth will ultimately prevail and the traitors will dance in the kettle till their demise when the water gets too hot!

    • 10
      1

      You may have to rethink after—-

      Obama Countdown
      Zoom
      187 days
      4502 hours
      270151 minutes
      16209064 seconds
      until Saturday, 21 January 2017

      Trump & Pence to turn on the pounds worth.you need miltary police state for development.

  • 11
    2

    Muslim behavior in mahiyangana and KAtaragama were those reported ever any where?

    Even muslims come here and talk about buddhist violence

  • 6
    6

    Hi,
    I am not sure whether you are a journalist or not! If you are one, putting an adjective “rubbish” to the report on Lasantha Wickramasinghe murder you inject you openion to that report! Journalists just repot the facts!

    Yes, people of Sri Lanka have the right to know what happened in Jaffna University. People should demand justice for the Sinhala students who were assaulted by Tamil students from the Science faculty. The assault is on tape,muse it and arrest them, charge them, convict them and expell from the University. This should not become a racial issue, but a law and order issue. That is how I feel!

    • 3
      0

      I don’t know whether you are a doctor or not, this is an opinion piece. Can’t you see that? The writer is correct using the word “rubbish” . Lasantha wasn’t killed becuse of gunshot injuries, second, he him self was driving at the time he was killed. no one was in the car apart from him.

    • 9
      3

      Dr. Parakrama Gurusinghe,

      “”””People should demand justice for the Sinhala students who were assaulted by Tamil students from the Science faculty. The assault is on tape,muse it and arrest them, charge them, convict them and expell from the University.”””””

      Yes people of Srilanka have the right to know the truth, not lies and assumptions. How did you come to the conclusion that justice was denied to Sinhala students? The assult of Sinhala students may be in tape but do you why that happened, why Sinhala students brought Kandiyan dance group in contrast to the decision made earlier and who was behind the scene doing this. Do you know that 95% of the police force in Jaffna are Sinhala? Let the law and order to do its work. You yourself made comments as a rascist!

  • 4
    0

    There can be no doubt most people would have received the news with much apprehension and would have feared that the wild ass will go to town with it. Whether it was the devil’s work the medium referred to, seems to have restrained itself reporting it and it might be a positive thing. Even the wild ass does not seem to have acted as feared. If the writer is trying to uphold media freedom one would wonder how he himself would have reported the episode. He should also know those mentioned in the last paragraph are stooges of yahapalanaya and objectivity is the last thing we can expect from them.

    • 0
      0

      Agreed ! This looks like “shit stirring” something that CT is getting notoriety for .

  • 1
    0

    “What was the incident that Sri Lankans most wanted to be informed about during the 24 hours prior to the telecast of this news programme? What is the incident that caught the attention of the citizens most via Twitter, Facebook, SMS and rumour? In short what was the incident that provoked the Deputy Media Minister to get involved in a debate following an FB post? Why didn’t Rupavahini allocate any time for this matter as is expected of a television station responsible to the general public? Was it blacked out following the absurd ‘logic’ of a ‘responsibility’ to prevent inter-ethnic unrest?”

    If there is one man who wants another war very soon it is none other than this man Uvindu!

  • 3
    0

    It seems my fellow Sri Lankans are conflicted and some are confused about what democracy and freedom is all about. Our constitution guarantees us the freedom of expression and assembly but the members of our legislative bodies and our law enforcement agencies either are ignorant or are deliberately selective in how these laws are implemented.

    You have to respect my right to say ANYTHING, unless you can later prove in court that my words have harmed you. Your feelings have nothing to do with my rights.

    Within the confines of an institution like a university campus, there must be rules that govern assembly and demonstrations. It must be applied evenly to all, majority or minority. Why the dancing around with words? Did no one noticed the stupid reporting of a recent rape of a 14 year old girl..as minority community. What has her community got to do with the crime perpetrated upon her?

    One of our societal flaws is one group feels they can bully another group just because they have the numbers on their side. And the stupid politicians try to curry-favour with the most advantageous group they can find in the mix.

    Atleast 50% of the issue would be taken care of, if the political leadership were educated. There-in lies the irony.

  • 6
    1

    We are suffering from majoritarian complex.Didnt we have enogh.Havnt we gone thorugh enogh hell.When are we learning our lessons.
    What Jaffna students did to their Sinhalese conterparts is wrong and shameful.However oneneed to look at the root cause for this behaviour before jumping to conclusions.Dont forget Tamils are a wounded nation.Sinhalese have to be mindful about that.Why there were 50% Sinhalese students in Jaffna Uni and it is a disproprtionate number.25% should be the maximum if an ethnic mixture is needed.In tbeir own areas they should be given preference.That is the only way to de-escalate etbnoc tensions.
    When several meaningful steps were taken for ethnic harmony these trivial thingsshould not derail them.I am sure we dont need 83 July riots again paving the way for another seperstist campaon.Majority Sinhalse should act in constraint and patience is the virtue of all.
    Let the culprits be punished and law abiding authorities should do their job.We should stop spreading haterd.

  • 3
    15

    Bravo Uvindu! That’s real journalism…beyond an ostrich policy based on political correctness.

    • 6
      0

      Ha ha,
      P-to-the-fifth,
      isn’t the school teacher preaching christian values at university??
      Dumb Parent Syndrome.

    • 3
      1

      “Bravo Uvindu! That’s real journalism…beyond an ostrich policy based on political correctness. “

      I was wondering why it took so long for the Mahadanumutta to join the Pankatupancha Uvindu! Bravo!!!

    • 4
      0

      Dayan,
      Remove your doctor cover and cover with yellow rope. You talk about real journalism? Journalism during your regime! Lasantha !!!!!!!!!

  • 4
    0

    One should worry about the virtue of ones deeds when praises come from dubious sources

  • 5
    0

    The write up is to say that Rupavahini did not cover the Jaffna University student clash. Was there a need to sit with a stopwatch, time each segment of the news down to the last second and make a song and dance of this?

    University student brawls are not uncommon. Two weeks back Peradeniya University students doing shramadana cleanup fought over a trivial issue. This news is not sensitive.

    A brawl between students in Jaffna University should also be in the in the insensitive category but when it involves Tamil students against Sinhalese students this must be treated with care.

    There was a similar situation decades back. Agent provocateurs opened up a rumour tsunami which resulted in island-wide riots.

    Rupavahini has quite rightly used their prerogative responsibly.

  • 2
    0

    I believe the incident of affray and assault at the Jaffna campus was deliberately engineered to coincide with the Black July anniversary of 1983. Cultural events as far as I can remember to mark the start of the semester when freshers come to the university has no precedent over the years in any Lankan universities.
    This is an isolated gimmick conjured up by interested people to divert public attention in order to further the interests of their own agenda by provoking a retaliation by Tamil students by objecting to the expression their cultural sensitivities in their own patch of land and blaming them entirely of all the fault.

    • 0
      3

      cultural sensitivities in their own patch of land and blaming them entirely of all the fault. //

      LOL who the hell tamils are? some specialy humans with child like immaturity and mega size arrogance level?

  • 2
    5

    Nobody watches Rupavahini channel’s political programmes anymore. Now ‘Rupavahini’ political programms are hosted by NGO traitors. Host NGO traitors ask anti-Sinhala questions, guest NGO traitors answer the stupid questions….

    • 7
      2

      Nobody watches Derana, Hiru, Sirasa, political programs anymore REASON. All the stations mentioned bring in Racists like Dayan J Chapa Bandara,Bengamuwe, Kumaranatunge, Abayaramaya fellow, Buruwansa , Udaya Gommanpila

  • 0
    0

    Some Tamils celebrated what Pabakaran did in 1983 July.

  • 2
    0

    This July. 23rd of July is the day Black July started and heinous crimes were committed. Rumor mongering and hate speech can lead to misunderstandings. I do not know why incoming Freshmen have to be subjected to parades rather than seminars on adapting and perhaps language classes. But having said that, if that is the norm please let the UGC and each campus have a PROTOCOL spelling exactly what will be permitted and what will follow what in order of it happening. So this will stop last minute suprises and it will stop people from forcing one custom or the other.

    I can say from experience at Royal, our amazing Principal at that time continued the tradition of reading from the teachings of ALL religious every week at assembly despite the school being overwhelmingly Sinhalese; it did have Tamil and English stream classes too and therefore we had Tamil Hindu and Muslim students and a few burgher students too. Every week at Assembly readings from Dhammapada or some other teachings were followed by readings from Hindu Scriptures, followed by both Islamic and Christian verses. This was great because we go to listen to common themes of the main religions found in Sri Lanka.

    But at University level, one way or the other cannot be forced on young adults. Could this be another case of clashes between student groups rather than putting a race angle to it ?When I taught at Univ of SJpura, we constantly had clashes between JVP types and non JVP and UNP types(at that time UNP had strong unions before the 1987-90 dooshana period). We had to turn around and go back home some days because campus was closed. It happened frequently and most of the trouble makers were from the NON-Science faculties or what we called Arts and Commerce streams. Could this be one more of that from predominantly young men ?

    Sad to read this. They have a FREE education and they cannot relish that and get along? Why does everything have to be about race now? So stop this please before people with ulterior motives and those who are interested in fomenting unrest will capitalize on this unfortunate incident. Hatred begets hatred.

  • 3
    0

    If you look at the tape the Tamil kids were moving peacefully in the procession until that procession was attacked. It is very clear that the military backed Sinhala students instigated it and finally ended up in hospital. Things went wrong when the Kandyan dance which was not in the program agenda was imposed in an arrogant manner by the Sinhala students to show their highhandedness and the power they possess due to the occupied Sinhala military.

    There are certainly some vested interests by some Southern political groups in exaggerating the clash in order to benefit from the troubles thus created. However, this time the statements from the government and its ministers aim to appease the situation (unlike JR who was arrogant when he said “If you want war, you’ll have it”).

    A Jaffna-based senior journalist said that because of the language barrier, the Sinhalese students either stick to their own ethnic group or mingle with the predominantly Sinhalese army and police. And the Security Forces, who have traditionally been at odds with the Tamil students of Jaffna, could have instigated the Sinhalese students to make an issue of the inclusion of Kandyan dancing at the welcoming function. There are also rumours that this can be a conspiracy by the Rajapakshe loyalists within the Army to create another island wide Anti-Tamil pogrom.

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    Every once in a while Rupavahini does the right thing, By accident? By design? Doesn’t matter. This was a provincial matter that should stay just there.

    As bad the event, just as bad are those trying their best to get mileage out of it. Similarly, no one (in the all-powerful University administration) has seen fit to do the ‘honourable’ thing for failure to be ahead of the curve and prevent matters getting out of hand in the first place.

    With all due respect, this is at an University of little consequence. 99.95% of our citizenry would not have heard of Jaffna University. Not many would care about it either. IF the government can do anything, it can and should hold an impartial inquiry, identify the culprits and mete out justice. But, that remains a tall order just now in our Miracle of Asia so I should not hold my breath.

    Uvindu, this is happening in a pestilential month (at least it was in 1983) when I watched a devious set of bastards manipulate those who thought better, took the upper-hand, and wreaked havoc in our land. Never was the Edmund Burke quote (“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”) than at that time. In truth, the good men amongst us were overwhelmed by the evil battalions.

    Many of us at the time invoked never again.

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    A coup in the making sponsored by JO and the safron robed thugs. Hope Sira and Ranil take note of this. Keep the tri forces under control. A warning!! Rajafucksas and Thummulle buruwansa are trying to topple the democratically elected government through mayhem and violence.

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    Uvindu you must surely be a GOTA agent. Where were racists like you when the BBS tore Aluthgama apart ? Why the SILENCE then and UTTER OUTRAGE now ? Surely the Jaffna Uni incident was a Rajapaksa operation specifically Gota’s to further embroil the country in chaos. Get real or just enjoy the life where you are.

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