By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
Rajitha Senaratne was neither the first nor the most important ‘Yahapalana’ political figure to make a pitch for federalism. The first and most significant was ex-President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga two years ago. The second was Mangala Samaraweera who keeps saying “what’s wrong with federalism? It is not separation”. The fact that Rajitha chose to make an even stronger pitch for federalism two years later when the political situation is changing, is significant.
When he endorsed and advocated federalism in his SJV Chelvanayakam memorial lecture this year, Rajitha was not speaking in his capacity as Cabinet spokesperson. But what is important is that we have for the first time, a Cabinet spokesperson who is a federalist, just as we have for the first time, a Foreign Minister who is a federalist, and a former President who is also in charge of reconciliation, who is a federalist.
One cannot fault the TNA or the organizers of the SJV Chelvanayakam memorial lecture for having cherry-picked CBK and Rajitha, for this speaking slot. One can however fault the speakers concerned. More important than fault-finding though, is to understand what their common stand signifies.
Chandrika belongs to the SLFP, and Rajitha and Mangala to the UNP. The first two named also belonged, as I did, to the SLMP of which Vijaya Kumaratunga (martyred by JVP assassins) was the iconic founder-leader, and the United Socialist Alliance (USA), a broad Left front of which the SLMP was the largest party.
What is striking is that federalism was never and is not now, the stand of either the SLFP or the UNP, to which these personalities belong. Yet, they chose to espouse that cause.
If one is to tend towards charity and claim that this stand is a throwback, nostalgic or otherwise, to shared progressive past, that would also be inaccurate, or simply put, a lie. Neither Vijaya nor the SLMP nor the United Socialist Alliance (USA) ever stood for federalism. Vijaya and the SLMP as well as the USA were for devolution, which is the transfer of power downwards and outwards, from center to the provincial periphery. Vijaya supported the Bandaranaike-Chelvanakayam Pact of 1957 and the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987 (though he was opposed to the merger).
As was made clear by Vijaya in a lecture delivered at the Center for Society and Religion (CSR) about a year before he died, Vijaya relied mainly on a social rather than a political solution to the ethnic question, though he certainly did advocate provincial devolution.
His faith resided mainly in encouraging as a matter of policy the growing interaction between the youth of North and South, dismaying the more bookishly dogmatic young student activists in the CSR audience by saying only half-jokingly, that Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher youngsters meeting, getting to know each other, falling in love, getting married and having children would be the best guarantee of national integration.
In its entire history the Ceylonese/Sri Lankan Left supported federalism only once and that was fleetingly, in the 1940s when it presented its views to the Soulbury Commission. When SJV Chelvanayakam raised the banner of federalism, the Left was unambiguous in its rejection and none were so sharp and sustained in their criticism of federalism than the Tamil Marxists of the Communist party and the LSSP. Of these, N Sanmugathasan stood out for his polemical vehemence.
The Marxist left was so allergic to federalism and suspicious of the Federal Party that it did not actively support even the non-federal B-C Pact in 1957, when arguably it should have.
Therefore, when CBK, Rajitha and their few fellow-travelers attempt to cover up their federalism in a red, pink or purple cloak, they are being deceitful and hypocritical.
To move from the orthodox or traditional Marxists to the democratic New Left that Vijaya pioneered, or, to the put it more accurately, to understand the common stand taken by the Left of both ‘Old’ and ‘New’ streams, one only has to look at the voluminous document presented by them and accepted by the Political Parties conference convened by President Jayewardene in June 1986, in response to a letter from Vijaya Kumaratunga.
The Left was represented at the Conference by Vijaya, Pieter Keuneman, Dr. Colvin R de Silva, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, DEW Gunasekara et al. It was the ‘A Team’ of the anti-chauvinist Left movement. The document they produced, which Vijaya subsequently summarized and defended in a superb performance on TV when interviewed by Prof Tilak Ratnakara, and was published in full by the Government Press, had no mention whatsoever of either federalism or the abolition of the executive presidency—the two pillars of the current proposal for a new Constitution, supposedly aimed at politically solving the ethno-national issue. In fact the Left’s stand did not support the merger of the North and East. The proposal was a detailed working out of a scheme of devolution to nine provinces.
Thus, if the federalist stand is not that of the UNP, SLFP or the Left, but is articulated by those who belong to and often claim to speak on behalf those formations (or once did), then who and what are these individuals representing? Whose stand is it really?
Apart from the TNA of course, the three mainstream politicians who make a plug for federalism—Chandrika, Mangala and Rajitha—have something in common. What is common to them, apart from their federalism, is CBK herself. They are old ‘Sudu Nelum’ and ‘Package’ operators, belonging to a faction and ideology that hardcore SLFPers in the CBK administration like Anuruddha Ratwatte and Ratnasiri Wickremanayake detested.
Mangala and Rajitha are CBK loyalists more than they are UNP or she is SLFP. This troika acts as a lobby or pressure group, pushing for a federal new Constitution on two flanks i.e. within the UNP and the SLFP. This is of course the line, not only of the TNA, but of the Tamil Diaspora, the international NGOs, the West, and tacitly India.
Their federalism does not stem from any progressive thinking but precisely from the ideology they really adhere to and are practitioners of, namely neoliberal globalization. Their commitment is not to Sri Lanka but to the neoliberal world order. Their federalism is part of their neoliberalism.
The federalist lobby of CBK-Mangala-Rajitha has no mandate to canvass the cause of federalism. This federalist caucus is operating as a Fifth Column behind UNP and SLFP lines, causing grave social, political and electoral harm to both parties, the stability of the Government in general and the interests of the President in particular.
nimal fernando / May 2, 2017
Dayan,
“pitch for federalism.”
You were demanding separation-ism with your good buddy Annamalai Varatharajah Perumal. Now all of a sudden you are worried about federalism eh?
“the stability of the Government in general and the interests of the President in particular.”
Now you are, all of a sudden worried about the stability of the government and the interests of the president!
Can you make up your bloody mind what you are on about …… what you want to be?
Man, if tomorrow you wake up and want to be a woman and represent SL in the Miss Universe contest, I’ll shoot you myself, for taking smart-patriotism too far.
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words / May 2, 2017
Nope..that would be Ranil wanting to take part in the Ms. universe contest!
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 3, 2017
Dear Dayan,
Please state the facts correctly. Your heading “Sinhala federal Party” is both mischievous and misleading, coined to carry out your agenda of creating animosity between Sinhalese and Tamils. The first group to demand Federalism were the Kandyans, and when they did it Tamils did not give support. Second group to demand federalism was Sinhala Maha Sabah of SWRD and when they did it, Tamils did not give support. It is only in 1950 in the aftermath of disenfranchising of Tamils of recent Indian origin that SJVC left Tamil Congress and started a party named Federal party.
Had Sinhalese agreed to the demand of Tamils for federal set up, none of these problems would have arisen. Unfortunately Sinhala politicians have driven into the minds of Sinhalese people that if federalism is granted, it will lead to separation. What is required in Srilanka is unity in diversity, which is achievable by a federal set up. World has changed since the second world war when countries were born with the colonial boundaries. Now it has become necessary that this concept has to be revisited to grant justice to oppressed people. Is a third war the answer to this.
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nimal fernando / May 2, 2017
Dayan,
Can you remember the good old Ambulance-thingy ……. the gift from India?
What a fuss/racket you guys of the JO made how RAW agents were going to ride all over SL in ambulances! HA ha ha ha …… Is it any wonder that Lanka is a million years away from the “modern-times?”
BTW Yesterday I saw a RAW agent riding in an ambulance looking for you; I diverted him in the direction of Basil’s …….. unclaimed mansion.
What are friends for?
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2017
nimal fernando
Speaking of Ambulance, Dayan would have needed one had he met any of the old JVP hands. He would have needed fresh clothes too.
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Rajash / May 3, 2017
Dayan needs a ride in white van first followed by the inevitable ambulance.
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Benjamin Fernando / May 2, 2017
There are no other way than going to federalism or the like minded power devolutions if anyone would want to see sustainable solutions in terms of any country consisting of varied ethinicities.
I really dont know why the folks are even today that far from Federalism.
My view is some extrimists forces and devious and malcious energies of the kind of DJs block any one becoming aware about the real federalism practically in action in Europe.
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nimal fernando / May 2, 2017
“There are no other way than going to federalism or the like minded power devolutions”
For the sake of not offending my Tamil brethren I would have liked to have agreed with you, but I know it’s not going to work.
People like to focus on one single thing and think if this happens all our problems are solved. Unfortunately things don’t work that way. Independence from the White-man was going to solve our problems. Mahaveli scheme was going to solve all our economic problems. Look where we are.
People want to “get away” from bad-governance, and Tamils are at an advantage where they can project bad-governance as discrimination – equal treatment of all citizens is a cornerstone of good-governance – and ask for “independence.” The majority Sinhalese have no such luck. They can’t ask for independence from their own rulers! The only way the Sinhalese can have independence/separate-state is to leave the country. Which has happened en-masse. Well …… but the Sinhalese don’t see it that way.
The world is what it is.
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Amarasiri / May 2, 2017
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
RE: The Sinhala Federal Party
The Sinhala Federal Party, The Tamil Tederal Party and Mahinda Rajapaksa and Cronies Party, aka JO.
What happened ? You were not at the Mahinda Rajapaksa and Cronies Party, aka JO, Pary Rally, aka May Day Rally, where MaRa and Cronies have hijacked the Workers Rights. It was all about Mahinda Rajapaksa and Cronies Party, aka JO. , rights to fleece the populace and the workers.
The low average IQ of 79 of the Para-Sihala as well as the Para-Tamils and the other Paras certainly helps.
Remember, All are Paras, except the Native Veddah Aethho.
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old codger / May 2, 2017
Amarasiri,
Was DJ not invited? So the poor guy actually is PNG with Mahinda.
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Amarasiri / May 3, 2017
old codger
“Was DJ not invited? So the poor guy actually is PNG with Mahinda.”
Was Mahinda overflowing with displaced cronies, and had to give some space for the other cronies?
What does the rally numbers say? Will Mahinda Rajapaksa and cronies who had 5 years after the war will be able to fix it? What about the Theory of Induction?
From Facebook, from the Intelligence Unit, reports on the attendance at the May day Rallies are:
Mahinda, JO, මහින්ද 105,000
Ranil, UNP, රනිල් 65,000
Maitri, SLFP ,මෛත්රී 58,000
JVP ජවිපෙ 15,000
Total who wanted to see Mahinda, JO 105,000= 43.2%
Total who Did NOT want to see Mahinda and JO =65k+58K+15k = 138,000 =56.8%
Total overall attendance =138,000 +105,000 = 243,000 =100%
Mahinda got 48.2% of the Presidential Vote 2 years ago. Therefore, he has lost 10% of his base over the last 2 years, and unlikely to gain them back.
The numbers are skewed because of extensive busing, but tells a story of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s base declining.
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old codger / May 3, 2017
“Total who wanted to see Mahinda, JO 105,000= 43.2% Total who Did NOT want to see Mahinda and JO =65k+58K+15k = 138,000 =56.8% “
Amarasiri, you are a GENIUS. What an interpretation of the crowds!
So there is still hope.
I hear Dayan will start his own party soon. Symbol : Katussa (chameleon)
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Native Vedda / May 3, 2017
old codger
Amarasiri is has been doing a great service to the people who cannot use their logical faculty. Though relevant background information is available from Amarasiri and other sources most die hard cronies cannot grasp the message and underlying truth.
We want more Amarasiris and less Dayans.
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Aurangzeb / May 3, 2017
SL needs no federalism.
Tamil Nadu is just 40km away. Go there. You find federalism and Tamil homeland.
Why oh why reinvent the wheel when it was always there in Tamil Nadu!
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Rohan / May 3, 2017
Good the ancestors of the vast majority of the present day Sinhalese and 99% of the Sri Lankan Muslims migrated from Tamil Nadu and it is 40 KM away so why don’t you return to the bosom of your motherland.
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Naman / May 3, 2017
A very good reply to Dayan.
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Bakaladasa / May 2, 2017
This Poor vagabond Dayan was not invited to the JO May day rally. The horse (Gota) that he was backing or rather wanted to be the jokey was also not invited. It was a Basil show.
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Mallaiyuran / May 2, 2017
This Poor vagabond Dayan was not invited to the JO May day rally.
Is that true?
I wrote this on Ranjitha’s thread as all expected Thero will be picking on that. But I did not think he would be bumped out of the stage he was yearning for of.
“But I have a call to Thero de Silva. As he has been on the preparation and sifting through slogans to the May Day at Galle Face, if he has read this, please let us have your opinion at the May Day, referring you read Rajitha in CT. That will stop Rajitha talking one in English and another in Sinhala.
Mallaiyuran
April 27, 2017 at 10:45 pm”
His kingdom was French Embassy; once he ousted of there he is king without kingdom; Yes he is a vagabond now.
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B Perera / May 2, 2017
For the first time DJ has written something without mentioning “Rajapakses”. That is what the country needs.
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K.Pillai / May 2, 2017
Dayan does not know what federalism is. He does not possess the prowess to find out. He can only just about grasp what MR and/or GR tell him.
Always associated PhD with “ability to think logically”. Dayan simply cannot. [Edited out]
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Simon De Silva / May 2, 2017
But he has completed a doctorate in Malacy and Jealousy of srilanken extremists. That has taken him to all margins. But not making him aware about the preliminary definition. That is DJ. He is idiosyncratic to his teenage thoughts.
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PayyagalaSiddilebee / May 2, 2017
I guess his should have been Malice and Jealousy of him rather than about the like minded ultra so called patriots. ?
Can anybody please let me now what this DJ has dont to the country in the post war episodes ?
And in the new era ?
He is corned by his 4 walls not allowing him any diplomatic posts.. so his target is no different from some poor people that would even kill some one for an arrack bottle.
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K.Pillai / May 3, 2017
CT [Edited out]
Agree with your decision to edit out a portion.
Appreciate your diligence. Thanks.
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Anpu / May 2, 2017
“What is striking is that federalism was never and is not now, the stand of either the SLFP or the UNP, to which these personalities belong. Yet, they chose to espouse that cause. “
What is striking is both SLFP and UNP wants Buddhism as the official religion. Yet most leaders from these two parties do not PRACTICE.
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Anpu / May 2, 2017
“The federalist lobby of CBK-Mangala-Rajitha has no mandate to canvass the cause of federalism. This federalist caucus is operating as a Fifth Column behind UNP and SLFP lines, causing grave social, political and electoral harm to both parties, the stability of the Government in general and the interests of the President in particular. “
You idiot. it is not about the parties. IT IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
After 70 odd years, BOTH UNP and SLFP are working together with TNA to go forward.
[Edited out]like you are hindering the progress.
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Annesley Dias / May 2, 2017
For once DR DJ the expert Phony Political Scientist has not commented on Ranil and UNP may be change of heart.
As Dr Rajitha commented on may day that the rogues and murderers will be dealt with before the next mayday has made DJ think twice of supporting the JO.
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K A Sumanasekera / May 2, 2017
Rajitha has his son, Chandrika has both Son and a daughter..
Both of them want their children to be the next generation of Politicians to rule over Srilankans.
After they conspired with the West and the Diaspora to roll Rjapaksa and hoisted the unwinnable Dr Ranil as the PM , how can they get votes from the great majority to make their children Political leaders.
Unless the Vellalas and the Wahabis cast their votes for them.
Rajitha has already stitched up the Wahabi vote after Aluthgama riots. which some say is part of Rajitha strategy.
Now he is working on the Vellala Vote.
Because even UNP voters who have some patriotism left in them wouldn’t have a bar of the Rajitha.and Chandrika clan.
So what other alternatives do they they have to ensure the Political future of their children.
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
“After they conspired with the West and the Diaspora to roll Rjapaksa and hoisted the unwinnable Dr Ranil as the PM , how can they get votes from the great majority to make their children Political leaders.”
So you don’t think Sirisena is grooming his brat to lead the racist Blue party. You don’t need to worry too much about Ranil.
Does it mean you want the clan and its off springs who have been already proven being huge liability, take over the country even though the criminal fraternity didn’t win enough votes to continue its rampage?
By the way the clan and cronies would not be punished. Therefore you are safe.
Did anyone talk about worker’s rights in those multiple May Day rallies? Each clip is more than three hours. Could you summarise the salient points (lies)from each rally.
If you haven’t recovered from yesterday’s tamashas (also means – a fuss or commotion) please do take time to respond to my request. Knowing you even if you don’t respond it wouldn’t make much differences.
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K A Sumanasekera / May 2, 2017
Dear Native,
Did you listen to the baby Red Elephant who took LKR 25 Lakhs from Batalanda Ranil.
He heaped the ultimate insult on your dear Dr Ranil calling him a fraud who helped fraudsters .
Wonder what happened to the truck loads of cash your Diaspora mates had lined up in London to help War Widows and their families.
I traveled from Mannar to Mullative via Yarlpanam. but didn’t see any Diaspora dollars in Dalits hands,
Even a one hundred Ruppiah note was appreciated by the poor Dalits, who serve guests in Diaspora run hotels.
All the hotels where I stayed are owned by Diasporeans in Canada .
No sign of LTTE , But there are plenty of Donkeys still in Mannar.
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sbarrkum / May 3, 2017
Finally one who travels around in the North.
Maybe you stayed at Nelly Star.
Did you see the Catholic Orphanage at Mankulam Junction.
Rebuilt by the Army. No plaques to credit the work.
Ask the Sister in charge.
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jimsofty / May 2, 2017
Is Rajitha a possible Prime minister candiate. IS that what he is aiming for ?
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Thamilan / May 2, 2017
The word Federalism has been mentioned since SWRD’s time.If it had been granted, we could have avoided the war and the killings in the 1980’s.
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jimsofty / May 2, 2017
As I understand, the day tghe 13th amendment came into life, Sri lanka became a federal country. Tamils showed who they are the day when Dayan Jayathilake’s boss at that time declared a separate kingdom in the east. Now, the Wiggi has his own kingdom, he doe snot develop that instead, use tribalism card to fool the Tamils.
Even the HArthal that happend recently is pacifying LTTE cadres and ananthi Sathitharan who is a former LTTE cader. HEr barbarian husband killed lot of Tamil youth. Now, she has forgottenall that and is looking for missing people for others. Dumb Tamils cheers that.
Like that I can write exceeding 300 letters.
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AJ / May 3, 2017
Sinhalese are still showing the true colours with their ‘SINHALE’ separatist ideology. Muslims and Tamils let the Sinhalese stay here instead of sending them back to India without a life jacket. Why can’t the Sinhalese be grateful?
Monks have more human rights now that they have less obtackles to come out as gay, why can’t they celebrate their perverted sexuality originated in beastality and be happy?
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prem / May 2, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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punchinilame / May 2, 2017
Dayan is in a way finding out that Fedaralism has come to stay, with all his
mutterings! Most will welcome his slow change, in keeping with the times.
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Anpu / May 2, 2017
Dr. Senaratne was delivering a key note address with a theme of ” Humanity, the confluence of North and South” in the May Day event held under the aegis of Democratic National organization at the Nallur Sangiliyan Park, yesterday.
Speaking further he said, we came to this very Sangiliyan park for the election campaign and we gave lot of promises at that time. We gave several promises such as ” we will return all things robbed from you”, ” we will release all siblings suffering the prisons” , ” we will account for missing persons.”, “we will employment for youths.” and ” we will houses for the house-less “.
But the promises had not been fulfilled properly. That work is being done on a slow pace. We were able to release little of your lands. we failed in returning every inch owned by you. Children from both sides gave their lives. but problems are not solved yet.I will come for the next May Day rally after solving all your problems.
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nalmen / May 2, 2017
three blind mice running after wiggy
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soma / May 2, 2017
There is only two months distance between federalism and declaration of separation. Forced to choose between I would rather raise my hand for separation as it is an unnecessary wastage of my two month’s time.
Federal Sri Lanka will need huge military resources to maintain it federal. If the Tamil political class has now come round to federalism because they lost the war what logically follows is present compromise is only until they regain the strength. India is no example to follow. India is a stable federal structure because any part is tiny compared to the whole- 36 federal units. More over India as a whole is a nuclear power with a huge military and no single unit can ever break free. India crushed Sheikh separatism in no time while it took 30 long years for us.
The fundamental issue with federalism is while in a unitary set up everyone is equal irrespective race or religion in a federal structure this equality is diluted. Tamils within Sinhala federal units will be next to second class citizens while within Tamil federal units there will be intense internal divisions based on religion. Those who practise Islam will be heavily discriminated.
You can hear parrot like repetition of federal and federal. Has anyone proposed a geographical federal structure for Sri Lanka in which benefits federalism will cover at least of at least 90% of the Tamils(Tamil speaking people)?
Soma
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2017
सोमस जी (somass ji)
नमस्ते जी(Namaste Ji)
“Forced to choose between I would rather raise my hand for separation as it is an unnecessary wastage of my two month’s time.”
Have the Hindians given their written consent in Hindi?
धन्यवाद! सोमस जी (Thanks somass ji)
जय हिंद Jai Hind
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jimsofty / May 2, 2017
Native Vedda:
Are you the owner of this site. We understand that you are Tamil and UNP. Just leave along people. YOu are just a pain in the as, just a donkey braying from behind.
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old codger / May 2, 2017
Native,
Please be gentle with Jimmy. I hear Jimmy is an old lady in a mental asylum in UK. Her only recreation is writing to CT. She is actually Muslim but writes these things so that Buddhism gets a bad name.
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2017
jimsofty the dimwit
“YOu are just a pain in the as,”
That is exactly what I want to be.
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jimsofty / May 2, 2017
One solution is give thenm federal setup and sell weapons when dalits and tobacco farmers are killing each other and when sunnis and wahabis are killing others. Ask all those to go their homeland leaving south for us.
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Al-faqurlah / May 5, 2017
Cinnamon peelers and toddy tappers are killing themselves in the south. Why do not ask them to go to Bangladesh of Afghanistan.
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Lanki / May 2, 2017
Educated fools and “Puss Pundits” are the cause for all the trouble in Sri Lanka. Does it matter if its Federalism or any other form. At the end of the day they are just labels. What matters most is how the power is divided between local governments, provincial governments and the center. This is the most important factor. Just because Dayan is educated he amply proves that he is a “Puss Pundit”.
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Mallaiyuran / May 2, 2017
Rajitha questioned “Why the federalism is only for Tamils; why not for Sinhalese too”. Tamils may have a question on his honesty; but that is a different subject. But the Joint Comedy Club propagandist, Thero’s blah blah is not anywhere near to answer Rajitha’s question. He has not contested Rajitha that it is bad for Sinhalese, let alone the Tamils. His mind is not clear of what to talk. But cunning he is selling Vijaya Kumaratunga.
SLFP is the dirtiest party Sinhalese ever created. Now, most of them are filtered out into the Joint Comedy Club. There was chance for New King to sack all of those and clean the party. But he too is very conscious of the object the party formation. So cannot clean the party or sack the crooks. This pig was also wading in that pool of cess. Thero Comedies know the SLFP notoriety image is important for them to survive. They are unlikely to leave the SLFP too. That is the story of Jar and the cap matching each other. But here the interesting part is the ultimate crooks like Thero showing a renewed interest in Vijaya Kumaratunga.
Jayalalitha sacked all Shashikala family from ADMK. But she reinstated Shashikala latter. Now that family is blamed of having killed Jayalalitha under the stringent oversight of Shashikala. . But they carried her coffin replica to win election. The game Thero playing is inferiors even to that.
SLFP formed the JVP. Sirimavo chased Chandrika out of SLFP to prop up Anura. Vijaya was working against SLFP & JVP. Old King and many others in the SLFP were active member of that time JVP. JVP killed Vijaya. In fact SLFP is fully responsible for his death.
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Mallaiyuran / May 2, 2017
Thero and the Joint Comedy club are plotting to capture SLFP headquarters. In these circumstances, Thero and comedies have started to show a renewed interest in putting cutouts for Vijaya. He died 30 years ago. Until last 16th February, when his 30th anniversary was passed, neither SLFP nor Thero Comedies, not even the party he formed, including Chandrika showed interest to put out this cutout.
One of the matter Vijaya was known is of his interest in Tamil status in Lankawe. Sinhalese hated him for it and his demise was mainly out of it. The Comedies are putting claim they conducted a Humanitarian Rescue mission of Tamil with Zero casualty. They think carrying Vijaya’s cutout would reinforce that claim. Tamils are not Modayas on that. Say that is true; in that case Tamils will ask the Comedies to prove their sincerity by sitting on the Electric Chair of UN to accept them as the same way Rama asked Sita to walk into fire to prove her chastity. Thero cannot play 2009 UNHRC game with Tamils. They are not Modayas to see Vijaya’s cutout and believe the Thero comedies have become like him.
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jimsofty / May 2, 2017
Dayan Jayathilake:
I found this from another website about the history of UNP, SLFP and most importantly how LSSP has destroyed the country. I am thinking whether LSSP was western agents or what.
I hope CT do not delete this saying it is too long.
In 1946 on the eve of Dominion Status, the establishment formed the United National Party (UNP) with the expectation that power would be transferred into their hands when colonial rule ended. However an anti-establishment opposition, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist Party were already there and ready to take them on at the first General Election in 1947.
In the decade that followed, the Left remained the main opposition in parliament. An LSSP stronghold was the urbanised south-western seaboard, which happened to be largely Roman Catholic. The result was that elections most often became a bitter contest between Marxist candidates and their Catholic opponents representing the UNP. Given the support that influential middle-class Catholics extended to the UNP, the Church hierarchy invariably found itself on a collision course with the Left Opposition.
With Protestant middle class interests also coinciding with the UNP’s conservatism, in the 1950s a strong alliance developed between the Christian community and the UNP. The emergence of S. W. R. D. Bandraranaike’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in 1951 did little to change this. The SLFP drew its support from a rural middle-class which in the South was largely Buddhist.
The SLFP also had the backing of nationalists who championed a state-supported Buddhist renaissance which automatically put them at odds with the Christian Church, which as a minority favoured a secular state. This divide was exacerbated after Mrs. Bandaranaike took office in July 1960.
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2017
jimsofty the dimwit
Haven’t you plagiarized (copy paste) the above paragraph from
Paul Caspersz: The politics of religion
by Jayantha Somasundaram
http://www.island.lk/2005/09/27/
features3.html
Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?
Always quote the source you stupid dimwit.
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Sellam / May 2, 2017
What a brain Dayan Jeyatileke has. He has a twisted tongue with a twisted brain. Is he aware that SWRD advocated Federalism in this country and he supported it. The Kandyans wanted federalism. What is wrong with federalism. there is nothing wrong with it except that the Tamils cannot rule themselves. There should be a new generation who could be capable of self rule.
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Thilag / May 2, 2017
Dayan
I am on your side, I sympathise with you.
You write so much in supportive of your boss who sacked you twice.
However, if your present writings are accepted by Mahina and gang, WHY THEY DIDNT GIVE YOU A PLATFORM in the Galle Face green, like they gave you in Nugegoda.
Politics is different from what you write in supportive of Mahinda gang.
Once they come to power, once again they will throw you into the bin.
Ask Basil, why you were not asked to give a speech in Galle face.
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Native Vedda / May 3, 2017
Thilag
“However, if your present writings are accepted by Mahina and gang, WHY THEY DIDNT GIVE YOU A PLATFORM in the Galle Face green, like they gave you in Nugegoda.”
Mahinda and his cronies know when to use condoms.
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Thilag / May 3, 2017
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Native Vedda / May 3, 2017
Thilag
Excellent
Thanks
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kettikaran / May 3, 2017
The duty of a senior academic-journalist in a charged and delicate atmosphere is to present thoughts in a manner to diffuse
the situation – not to exacerbate the divide. Sadly, DJ – now virulently anti-Yahapaalanaya and openly campaigning for the Rajapakse Brothers seeks to bring CBK, Mangala and Rajitha to public hatred. Look at the carefully calculated language “we have for the first time, a Cabinet spokesperson who is a federalist, just as we have for the first time, a Foreign Minister who is a federalist, and a former President who is also in charge of reconciliation, who is a federalist….” It is no secret the wider Sinhala mind, poisoned for decades making “Federalist” synonymous with the breaking-up of the Motherland. Anyone, Sinhalese or Tamil, even remotely suggesting Federalism is seen as a traitor.
DJ’s shrewd calculation may also well be to scare the fence-sitter Mairipala S not to dare share the thoughts with this trio. This in the background it is increasingly clear India and the donor community, that regularly supports Sri Lanka, seem to be convinced this is one way out for Sri Lanka’s many decades of political stalemate.
Kettikaran
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sinhala_voice / May 3, 2017
If there is federalism there CAN NOT be federalism based on the current geographical province , district setup.
1. Northern Province slightly increased
2. An Eastern province slightly reduced
3. A capital territory including Colombo and to the north including the air port.
The rest is called the Sinhale .
If there is federalism get ready to implement on these lines or forget about it.
Sinhala people lives in Sinhale with other minorities. The language of Sinhale is Sinhala and English (The language spoken in largest number of countries by the largest number of people).
If you are not ready IMPLEMENT this then YOU are ANTI-SINHALA, ANTI – BUDDHIST…=> Neoliberalist an apologists for Globalisation…What is the worldview of these people = MONEY what is the religion = “free market ” —if there is such a thing at ALL…..
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jimsofty / May 3, 2017
Dayan Jayathilake is Mahinda Rajapakse’s mouth piece. I think gotabaya Rajapakse should stay away and let the MR-BR, Jackol opposition to go on thier own.
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Non PhD / May 3, 2017
Dear Nimal Fernando,
I always appreciate your comments. Generally I agree with atleast 95 % of your comments.
I think in your counter comment about Benjamin Fernado’s points, you had overlooked some facts.
From 1959 there were so many riots against Tamils and lot of looting, burning and killings.
In 1959 majority of the Tamils who were in danger were made to stay in places like Wessley College and in various other centres and the then government put them in ships and sent to North and East. They were unloaded in Trinco harbour and Pt.Pedro or KKS harbour.
Since then were migrating for different reasons which includes economic migrants. Where as for majority of the Sinhalese who migrated did not have state terror or organised riots against them whether in the South or NE.
In the above matter we have to exclude both JVP and LTTE & other grouops because theirs was armed struggles against SLFP coalition and UNP governments.
Any peace and prosperity in SriLanka depends on the majority of Sinhalese Buddhists whether they live in SriLanka as citizens or as diaspora in foreign countries and either with dual citizenships or citizens of the new countries.
So to say it is the bad governance is the main issue and it is not a Tamils Sinhalese issue is over simplification.
How much positive contribution Sri Lankan Maha Sangha has lent to peace and prosperity of Sri Lanka ?
Majority of the JVP members during 1970/71 and 1988/91 were Sinhala Buddhists.
Can the Mahasangha purify the political cess pit of Sri Lanka ?
I do not think so because majority of the Sangha do not have any knowledge of real Buddhism.
Same applies to Hindu priests of India.
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Non PhD / May 3, 2017
Our smart patriot cum pivithuru political scientist Dr.DJ who quoted Karl Marx recently have the honesty to go to Kelaniya Vihare and give a sermon like Arat Mahinda did in Mhintale with starting slogan “Religion is the opium of the Sri Lankan Politicians ” ???
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shankar / May 3, 2017
“causing grave social, political and electoral harm to both parties, the stability of the Government in general and the interests of the President in particular.”
thanks for now worrying about the present regime and giving advise for it stability.
have you left the former regime?was it after mayday?
are you implying that sinhalese who favour federalism are traitors?Prabhaharan also bumped off the tamil ‘traitors’who espoused federalism in lieu of separation.
as for your contention that the tamil diaspora are for federalism,are you sure of that?I thought they are for separation,not federalism.If the government gives federalism they will call sampanthan a traitor.already sumanthiran is called a traitor by the diaspora.So dayan know your enemies first and what they want.
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Upali / May 3, 2017
According to Buddhism we don’t own anything on earth. These are defilements we have get rid of if we are to attain Nibbana. As Buddhists we have to donate whatever we have to seek emanicipation. Jathaka stories relate how Buddha donated through out his previous births his Eyes Head Flesh and Blood going to the extent of giving away his wife and children in his supreme endeavor to attain Nibbana,Here we are fighting for land 65000 sq. KM.
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