28 March, 2024

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TNA Condemns President’s Act Of Pardoning BBS Gnanasara

“The Tamil National Alliance unequivocally condemns the President’s act of pardoning Ven. Gnanasara Thero by abusing the Constitutional powers vested in the Head of State,” says the TNA Spokesperson M A Sumanthiran.

Gnanasara

General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, Galagoda Atte Gnanasara was jailed by the Court of Appeal for committing the offence of contempt against the Magistrate’s Court of Homagama. The conviction and sentencing happened after the learned Magistrate complained to the Court of Appeal, and after a trial at which he was afforded every opportunity to defend himself. His appeal to the Supreme Court was later dismissed.

Issuing a statement today the TNA said; “This was the one instance when the Thero was dealt with under the law when his conduct in instigating violence against the non-Buddhist citizens of the country never drew any action against him by the law enforcement agencies.

“Sri Lanka now faces the challenge of containing racial and religious bigotry if the country is to move forward with all citizens being treated as equals. In addressing this challenge the government must scrupulously deal with all hate-mongers, whichever ethnic or religious group they belong to. When the call of the hour was to be severe on all purveyors of hate equally, the President’s act of showing extreme leniency to a Buddhist monk sends a very wrong message to the country. The message is that it is acceptable for violence to be instigated against the minorities, but that even innocuous acts that the majority community feels uncomfortable about will be dealt with severely. This is to take Majoritarianism to yet another level.

“We call upon all right-thinking people to unreservedly condemn this act of the President and work towards reversing this dangerous trend.”

The Commissioner General of Prisons a short while ago told media that he received the order by President Maithripala Sirisena to release Gnanasara.

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Latest comments

  • 14
    29

    Colombo telegraph publishes articles in support of Ranil Wickramasinghe

    • 6
      8

      Because It is owned by people close to Mangala Samaraweera

  • 1
    2

    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

    • 9
      21

      This is run by the UNP. That’s common sense.

      • 7
        0

        Andare or “Modaya”
        Be thankful to UNP if they are running it as they have not prevented a modaya from posting.

      • 2
        6

        Colombo Telegraph is mouthpiece of UNP, funded by bond-scam money , they get money in milliond of US$, so they work for their master Ponna UNP leadership. CT doesn’t even allow any comment against their pay masters . This is as good as infamous – cheap Lanka-E-news, the english version of it.

    • 28
      4

      The minorities, Tamils and the Muslims, always end up saving the Singhalese from the Singhalese ……….. they saved us from the illegal putsch in October.

      Now only the TNA has the courage to condemn this dastardly diabolical act.

      • 20
        3

        nimal fernando

        “The minorities, Tamils and the Muslims, always end up saving the Singhalese from the Singhalese ……….. they saved us from the illegal putsch in October.”

        Not only October putsch but before that in January 2015.
        Are you seriously getting old?

        • 14
          0

          Nimal Fdo!

          You are right. ‘Aru kadakku maddum annannum thampium- Kadantha pin nee yaro nan yaro’ . A Tamil saying meaning ‘Until we cross the river we are brothers but after crossing we are no longer brothers’ . This situation prevails always between the Sinhalese and Tamils, especially in politics .

        • 0
          0

          “Are you seriously getting old?”

          Well, I’m not too sure. :)) ……. I sure can withstand a lot of crap from all around; is that a sure sign?

          In a soldier’s stance, I aimed my hand at the mongrel dogs who teach
          Fearing not that I’d become my enemy in the instant that I preach
          My existence led by confusion boats, mutiny from stern to bow
          Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now

          Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats too noble to neglect
          Deceived me into thinking I had something to protect
          Good and bad, I define these terms quite clear, no doubt, somehow
          Ah, but I was so much older then I’m younger than that now — Dylan (My Back Pages)

          • 2
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            nimal fernando

            If mundane things don’t make you angry it is sure sign of aging.
            Take care.

            • 0
              0

              Don’t judge human standards for anything including ageing by your Your Ugudu standards. By the way, what is the expected life time of an Uguduwa?

      • 14
        3

        Nimal,
        Muslims? When was the last time Muslim political leadership took a principled stand or issued a condemnation in the case of Gnasara? They are busy kissing the arse of both the major Sinhala political parties for their own survival. It is the Tamils who had always taken a principled stand.
        Anyway, I agree with the other Tamil commentators here. TNA is more worried about safeguarding ‘democracy’ of the Sinhala polity and the interests of the ruling establishment than those of the people whom they claim to represent. They got their priorities mixed up.

        • 0
          0

          Thamizh,
          we HAVE to agree with you more.
          ::
          Even that Asath Sally, whom I thought would stand to protect Muslim bretheren, ended up being caught by SIRISENAs, vulgar politics of the day.
          .
          Hakeem AND others too, were given lot more chances to protect their community and also the nation, but none of them were successful not even 5%.
          .

          Now Asath Salley, the man who was the main vocal to stand against Ghanasara ended up by having betrayed the MUSLIM community getting the Sivuru wearing aggressive man released from the prison.
          :
          Where on the earth the kind of high criminals earn the kind of release ? if not in Srilankan governed by SINHALA RACIAL POLITY.

  • 19
    2

    With AIYO SIRISENA at the helm is our beloved country going to the dogs.

    First he trampled the constitution and sacked the Prime Minister and burnt his fingers whilst also getting a kick up his buttocks by the Supreme Court.

    Then he looked up at the ceiling to see whether his b..ls were dangling up there when the NSC was trying to put their dumb heads together as to what they could do with the warnings coming from India and elsewhere.

    He then stays on in Singapore when our country was at wits end to comprehend as to what calamity befell us on 21/4.

    Worst of all he had a TAMASHA at the Hilton with more than 250 dead souls hovering up in the ceiling of the ballroom without a care in the world and went ahead with the wedding of his son.

    Now he has released Gnanasara a convict who was convicted no less by the Court of Appeal which has been the nail in our country’s coffin.

    Come Presidential election time, AIYO SIRISENA would not get more than 50,000 votes. Mark my words. he should then be hauled to the highest court and put in jail with the key thrown in the deepest end of the Indian Ocean never to be found again.

    • 15
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      Gnanasara, Don Prasad, Amit terrorist are freed after serving a few months in jail with political support. These criminals should be jailed under terrorism law for creating hate speech, racism burning places of worship, house business. Why is the law different for the majority Buddhist.I t looks like a drama. Today the politicians have to blame for all these ongoing problems in Sri Lanka they use these tools to create disharmony against societies in order to be in power. Shame on the.

    • 5
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      Yeah right. That’s why the SC called 19A the dumbest amendment ever. Ranil and his cabal should be held contempt for illegally altering the constitution by not adhering to SCs guidelines.

    • 0
      0

      We should be blamed for having a mad monkey to act as the president for 22 mios of highly literate south asians ?
      .
      Sure, if we would have used a ” coconut husk instead”, too could drive away the Rajaakshes in 2015, since people, th emasses across the country had been so pissed of Rajaapkshe authoritarian politics.
      :
      Now question arises, why lanken courts at all convict the criminals ?
      .
      Secondly, what justice being served to those even less criminalized but being jailed in prisons sofar ?
      :
      I have no doubt, Ghanasara should have molested over numbers of child monks in his monkhood sofar.
      :
      And to god s wonder, I am surprised, MOST notorious Ghansara is not at all sick since he is out how come, ? is the also suffering from BASIL RAJAPKASHE SYNDROME ?

    • 0
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      You forgot, he deserted the country and was in China,,while the country was set ablaze through a well planned retaliatory mob violence against innocent minority.

  • 4
    5

    Majoritarianism my azz. He should look at his own party and count how many non vellalas represent the parliament. If it’s zero now that’s Majoritarianism. To put it simply, Vellala Majoritarianism.

    • 4
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      Andare

      “Majoritarianism my azz.”

      Could you explain what “my azz” is all about?

      Tyranny of the majority
      – a situation in which a group of people are treated unfairly because their situation is different from the situation of most of the people in a democratic country.

      ” He should look at his own party and count how many non vellalas represent the parliament.”

      Are we now into counting caste in the parliament.
      Tell us how many non Radala, non Vellala, Non Nayakka, non descendants of Kallathonies South Indians, Non Govi, ……………….. in the parliament?

      Pull your head from your azz you will be able to clearly see, count, …………..

      • 5
        3

        He’s b1tching about a Sinhala Majoritarianism. That’s what Vellalas has been whining all along. But they forgot how they once overrepresented in the public sector thanks to British. Ever since British decided to grant independence they are complaining about Majoritarianism. In their mind Sinhala MPs should be less than 50% of the total MPs of parliament !
        that’s their idea of democracy .

        • 7
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          Yeah it is the fault of the british for tamils to be intelligent isn’t? lol.. its the british fault for all the riots, sinhala only and standardization too?

        • 5
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          Andare 2.0

          “But they forgot how they once overrepresented in the public sector thanks to British.”

          Please provide supporting materials to your finding above.

          “In their mind Sinhala MPs should be less than 50% of the total MPs of parliament !”

          Don’t you think it is a good idea?
          Fewer crooks, murderers, drug dealers, stupids, ….. in the parliament better for the country, fewer Tax free vehicles, perks, bribes, less bickering, less ….

          What is your idea of democracy?
          Would you like more stupid people in the parliament, more stupid people in the state institutions, ………………….

          • 0
            0

            Native Vedda, You say ““But they forgot how they once overrepresented in the public sector thanks to British.”Please provide supporting materials to your finding above.”.
            I think you are born in the late 20th century and had not got any lessons on Sri Lankan history. As regards Sri Lankan history you must be in a wonderland believing the fictitious story of Ramayanaya or your mythical “homeland” in the North and East of this country.
            Andarec – the comentator above – correctly said ““But they forgot how they once over represented in the public sector thanks to British.” It was the British policy to undermind the majority community and give all privileges to the minorities. Hence almost all government departments were maned by the Tamils from Jaffna. Railway Dept. and the Postal Depts were over 95%. Almost always top jobs were held by the Tamils, including the armed forces. Till the latter part of the 1960s the percentage of Tamil students in Medical and Engineering faculties in the 2 Universities of Colombo and Peradeniya were more than 85%. All these when the Tamil population was less than 11%. There was real discrimination against the Sinhalese. When the successive governments tried to rectify this imbalance, all hell broke out, Tamil politicians going on rampage arousing communal violence.

  • 4
    6

    Did TNA comment when President’s assassin was dealt under the Law and released in a similar manner?
    TNA did not have the courage to condemn then………… What irony is this?

    • 3
      3

      thondamany

      “Did TNA comment when President’s assassin was dealt under the Law and released in a similar manner?”

      Which president are we talking about?
      President Kennedy?

      • 3
        0

        No Lincoln.

      • 0
        0

        Which President do you think he is talking about? Ugudu President?

  • 5
    4

    TNA, sinhala families are being settled in tamil owned lands with the support of district Secretariat, quiet on that.
    But blabbering nonsense to cover the historical mistake you did on January 2015.
    we told you in 2015 not get involved in party fighting among singalese. did you listen?now don’t cry wolf.

  • 3
    4

    It’s funny to hear from Sambandan when he complains Tamils have to live like 2nd class citizens in this country while he is living a luxurious life thanks tax payers money. He as a MP receives an official residence. Security , duty free vehicles, pension and many more. As a Sinhalaya I get nothing like that and yet I’m a first class citizen and Sambandan is a 2nd class citizen ? I would rather be a 2nd class citizen like Sambandan.

    • 3
      1

      Andare 2.0

      “He as a MP receives an official residence.”

      He was denied an official residence while he was the opposition leader. Pull your head from wherever it is to see the real stuff..

      “As a Sinhalaya I get nothing like that and yet I’m a first class citizen and Sambandan is a 2nd class citizen ?”

      Stop moaning and stop being a stupid.
      Go find a job with a Sinhala/Buddhist politician as his b***s carrier, …. then you could become rich overnight (see KASmaalam K A Sumanasekere). There aren’t many vacancies for this particular plum job however you may have to wait in the queue.

      • 1
        0

        He was denied an official residence while he was the opposition leader. Pull your head from wherever it is to see the real stuff..

        He’s still living in his ex official residence dumbazz and he still receives all privileges as he did before thanks to Ranil kissing Sambandan’s stinky b*tt to get TNA support for his traitorous donkey government.

        • 1
          1

          Andareass

          You are yet to pull your head:
          When did R Sambandan relocated to Officials Opposition Leader’s resident?
          Where is the current opposition leader living since 28 October 2018?

          If you haven’t got a clue you could keep your head wherever it is now?

          • 0
            0

            Stinking Uguduwa, do you have put in your stinking 2 cents worth in every subject? How come you have free time to make so many comments while having your head where you assume other’s heads are. Is it because you are paid for each stinking word in your comments?
            .

    • 0
      0

      i myself saw sampanthan living like a poor fellow at the summit flats having some broken chairs. villa was given not sampanthan but to the oppo. leader.
      daya

  • 3
    1

    I am happy to see that the TNA has still some principles and policies left with them to care and talk about. In this case their paymasters have perhaps granted permission.

  • 7
    1

    TNA, especially Sambandan and Sumandra don’t have any moral rights to complain about the Hon President Srisena, because they asked the Tamil people to vote for him unconditionally. The President is doing his job known to everyone. The TNA leaders that wanted to deceive the Tamils, still want to deceive them again and looking for talking points for the next election. Its the preparation for the next election. They must be ignored. Sambandan is upset now since he lost his dream job of Opposition Leader and knows well its not coming back. The UNP/TNA leader Sumandra is examining the ground to prepare for his next move for his egoistical needs.He most likely ends up leading the illiterate TNA members whose only aim is to get car permits and other perks. The rest of the Tamil clans such Wignesara, Gajjan Pondabmalam and others will help divide the Tamils into three or more segments to help the Southern parties. Finally a young Tamil will realize one day at his 16th birthday and start his new journey. It could be a cycle.

  • 0
    3

    Current last attack on 21/4 by Muslim Local terrorist,and their training camps and armming are behind by LTTE ex-Military cadres in Eastern and north-eastern Jungles.Undoubtedly they paid big amount of foreign currency for supply of arms and training of local Muslim terrorist by funding from largest Sunni -Muslim country in West Asian nation. This is a public secret which that maintain and do not that reveled by highest tire ruling party of that UNP’s helmsman.
    By and large that blessing of high-level Tamil politician are neux to build-up Muslim Terrorist good-will by leading Tamil Politician in the parliamentarian which having well connected to UNP’s leadership at the top level.So we came to know that security clearance of Terrorist has been under UNP supervision authorities.
    Recently that JVP connection has been get caught by leading Muslim Businessmen that closed relationship with Risahried Buiadeen & as well as JVP list member of Parliament ! …No need to provide more explaining on that JVP was key political-outfit behind Terror attack on 21/4 by Thauffic Jammad or ISIS Terrorist by Wickrasinghe’s version of that “Global Terrorism”.
    In nutshell the Tamil Terrorist of LTTE of Diaspores and JVP having solid interconnection of 21/4 Terrorist act by killed 40) Prayers in Easter Sunday of 21/4/19.
    These political outfits of JVP+LTTE are same boat of politics and having common platform to be establishment for that anti -establishment outfits which that working against nation democracy and sovereignty of an People of an Island.
    Where is that TNA stand on 21/4 incident by currently?
    Well experiences and lessons says of the past 71 years of history of modern post-colonial era is concern that TNA was inherited from of separatism of TULF and politics of Federal Party separatism also turn into extremism of ‘Tamil homeland’ of Terrorism.

  • 2
    0

    Let’s not get sidetracked and distracted by irrelevancies but deal with the topic of the article – the President’s act of affording a pardon to the Rev Gnanasara Thero. And, very simply and clearly it is a disgrace. Not merely did the President give the man a pardon but before that he even visited him in prison – (how many prisoners are honoured with a visit from the Presdent?)- and after the pardon he invited him and his mother to his official residence! What do the President’s actions tell the rest of the country and the world? What respect has he shown for the rule of law? I cannot help thinking this pardon is nothing but a sneaky attempt to enlist the monk’s support for the President’s upcoming campaign for re-election. Has Gota lost part of his cheer squad?

  • 1
    2

    TNA condemned the 52 day usurper GoSL of 2018.
    All Lankan Political Parties condemned the ‘tragedy’ that was 2019 Lankan Easter Sunday. TNA was no exception.
    Now {“TNA Condemns President’s Act Of Pardoning BBS Gnanasara”}.
    ONLY Political Party to do so is TNA. None of the ‘others’ have mainly because of lack of courage.
    In fact leaders of SLPP protect, harbour and patronise Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) in general and Gnanasara in particular. BBS Buddhism has very little to do with Buddha’s teaching. Gnanasara wants a BBS-Buddhist Sinhala SL.
    One may ask “Who is the fairest of them all?”

  • 5
    0

    Tamil people whom I spoke to are generally unhappy with TNA leadership for making the statement against Ven. Gnanasara. Many Tamil people feel that Ven Gnasara did not do any harm to Tamil people. Many others who did lot of harm to Tamils are thriving in Sri Lanka.
    TNA leadership instead must concentrate on overcoming difficulties faced by Tamil people. There are many difficulties Tamils are facing at the moment.
    Tamil leaders must do things in a smart and sensible manner. They must also desist from acting selfishly.
    I have been reviewing the percentage of Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka. Data is available from early 19th century till now. It is in a clear downward trend from the day Sri Lanka achieved Independence. A regression analysis will show when Sri Lankan Tamils will extinct from the face of Sri Lanka. All Tamil leaders have a duty to prevent this happening.
    If I am a Tamil leader I will not condemn the release of Ven Gnanasara. Instead I will seek his blessings.
    I

    • 1
      0

      Shan

      “Many Tamil people feel that Ven Gnasara did not do any harm to Tamil people. “

      The saffron clad thug had his trigger happy national hangman who did everything the thug would have desired during and after the end of the war. Then why should he harm the Tamils, because they were being harmed enough by Gota?

      “If I am a Tamil leader I will not condemn the release of Ven Gnanasara. Instead I will seek his blessings.”

      Since you sound like a Sinhala/Buddhist fascist novice you would want to replace Max as Gnanasara’s b***s carrier.
      I wish you well.

  • 2
    0

    Problem is a very weak president and the culture of impunity makes SL the Banana Republic. Time for fresh young minds to take on the political reins; same old same old is not working; it’s ruining the country. It’s up to the voting public to think wisely!

  • 1
    0

    Sirisena should have released few LTTE prisoners when he released Gnasara to TNA to mouth shut.

  • 0
    0

    ““Sri Lanka now faces the challenge of containing racial and religious bigotry if the country is to move forward with all citizens being treated as equals.”

    Hehe, equals? TNA supported the LTTE to create an apartheid Tamil state. Gnanasara warned against Islamic extremism while politico’s were sleeping. Gnanasara should be in the Parliament, not Sumanthiran, whose boss died at Nanthikadal.

  • 0
    0

    Ganadara is growing a beard What does that imply He is the leader of Buddha Terrorist Group of Sri Lanka (BTGS) . a warning for worshiping places fr other religions

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