U. S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz took to Twitter last evening to cry ‘Fake news!’ on the information revealed in weekend media about the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and its adverse impacts on Sri Lanka and its sovereignty.
Sharing the Colombo Telegraph story, she described its contents as ‘blatant misinformation’ and repeated the same old reassaurance that ‘there is no plan or intention to establish a US base in Sri Lanka.’
Below is the tweet:
Ambassador Teplitz goes on to note that the SOFA – which the US Mission in Colombo also calls the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) – exclusively focuses only the facilitation of cooperation and reiterates would respect the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
The Colombo Telegraph story was based on the draft SOFA currently under negotiation between the Government of Sri Lanka and the U.S., published by the Sunday Times. It was featured in ST alongside the political column of the Sunday Times penned by veteran defense correspondent and columnist Iqbal Athas.
To call information revealed by the Sunday Times and one of Sri lanka’s senior most defense and political columnists, misinformation is quite a grave accusation.
The Ambassador could also perhaps shed some light as to why the agreement went from being called the SOFA to the VFA .
This is not the first time the Embassy in Colombo chose to rename military activities they plan in Sri Lanka following negative publicity, misleading local audiences.
What is currently known as the Temporary Cargo Transfer Initiative (TCTI) where U.S. aircrafts use Sri lankan airports as a point to transfer goods to its aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis, was originally known as the ‘Logistics Hub’. It was renamed following blackash regarding the operation’s ulterior motives.
Amarasiri / July 2, 2019
CT,
Fake News?
WMD was Fake News.
The Fake News was used to attack Iraq.
Gulf of Tonkin was Fake News.
Recent issues with Iran are Fake News. The list is too long.
The question is, are there some Paras with sufficient IQ, well above the mean of 79, to see through this, before they turn the Land of Native Veddah Aethho into a theater for war between the New set of Paras. Why do the old set of Paras need this?
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Eagle Eye / July 2, 2019
Amarasiri,
“…before they turn the Land of Native Veddah Aethho into a theater for war..”
—
Correction:
…before they turn the Land of Native Veddah Aethho and Native Sinhalayo into a theater for war …
—
Please watch if you can understand Sinhala:
New Horizons in History of Sri Lanka – An Archeological Perspective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqNtK_xFtIE
Sri Lanka Ethihasaya Pilibanda Nawa Soya Geneem by Raj Somadeva (Part 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFFsKC-I9PE
—
Sri Lanka Ethihasaya Pilibanda Nawa Soya Geneem by Raj Somadeva (Part 2)
https://id.leisure.lv/video/0WX5bF025NKFY1U%3D.html
or read: ‘Sri Lankawe Adi Ethihasaya’ by Raj Somadeva, Gurulugomi Prakashakayo, Maharagama, 2016. ISBN:978-955-8696-46-0
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Dinuk / July 3, 2019
Alina should be sent back to Washington or hell! She has been interfering in Sri Lanka’s domestic affairs and Weaponizing Buddhism – visiting the Temple of the Tooth to sell SOFA. This is also a violation of the US constitution’s separation of Church and State too.
Meanwhile, US Special Operations Forces (SOF) that own and operate IS are already in Sri lanka and were behind the Easter Carnage– to get the SOFA agreement signed so that Sri Lanka could be turned into a military base, and invaded by 150 fake US Peace Corps operatives to game the elections and keep US puppet Bondscam Ranil and his butterflies who also protect US citizens Gota and Basil and Mahinda Jarapaasa, in power now that Diego Garcia military base is in question with the ICJ and UNGA vote against UK, US and NATO occupation of Chago Islands.
Alina should shut up and get out of Sri Lanka and there should be massive protests outside the US embassy as Sri Lanka does not need US and Japan’s fake Development Aid projects and highways for the US war machine to do its transprot logistics and Japan to sell cars. Sri Lanka needs to ask China to build a high speed rail system to preserve the environment, reduce carbon pollution etc.
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Old codger / July 3, 2019
Eagle,
The prof. Uses more English than Sinhala. Either he isn’t very good in Sinhala, or Sinhala doesn’t have the necessary concepts. Interesting anyway.
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Amarasiri / July 4, 2019
Ambassador,
What is Fake news?
What is False Flag operation?
WMD? What did the ambassador to Iraq say?
http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Wimal-tells-US-envoy:-Divulge-SOFA-contents-negotiated-with-SL/108-170521
If it is Fake news, then the truth news must be disclosed. Why are they not disclosing?
What is Fake are the Para-Sinhala who claim to be Naives, when they are Paras demonstrated by the latest genetic studies in the mitochondrial DNA of the Paras and the Native Veddah Aethho .
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Champa / July 2, 2019
This is a blatant lie by the US Ambassador.
This is NOT fake news.
As CT says, the name is changed to mislead our folks.
First it is ACSA!
Then SOFA!
Now VFA!.
Thank you for the clarification, Madame Ambassador!!!!!!!!
There is another name which is Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
The US has signed a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines, which has the same contents as SOFA, such as;
(i) immunity from local criminal/other laws,
(ii) exemption from visa, passport, tax regulations,
(iii) unlimited and unrestricted movements of US military personnel, cargo, vessels and aircraft!!!!!!!
As mentioned before, once this agreement is signed, we will lose all land, air and naval rights to USA!!!!!
Under our Constitution, an agreement between the two countries cannot be signed by way of a REPLY to a letter from a Foreign Embassy.
This agreement, in whatever name it is, has to receive the approval of our Supreme Court.
These agreements, VFA and EDCA allow the US military to stay an extended period.
Ranil has already agreed to give 200 years’ stay!!!
Moreover, under this agreement, they can maintain air and naval bases in Sri Lanka.
In the case of the Philippines, which is 5 times bigger than Sri Lanka, it was a US colony until 1946. After that, the US has signed a Mutual Defense Treaty allowing them to have military bases in the Philippines, which has a 36,289 km coastline. (Our coastline is only 1,340 km!!!!)
This is not over.
Once this agreement is signed with the US, India will demand a similar agreement with Sri Lanka.
That’s why they want Mattala, Palaly, Batticaloa airports and KKS, Colombo ET and some other regional ports in NE!!!!!
Guys, Sinhalese, WAKE UP fools.
Let’s rise against the US invasion!!!!!!
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Cholan / July 2, 2019
KeKeKeKe
Modayas are sleeping as usual after drinking attack.
In Vietnam during US occupation 100s of Monks went on self immolation In front of US embassy.
One will need backbone to do this.
Better let US manage North East and Greater China manage South West …It is clear now Modayas have no brain to run the country.
Cheers
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Amarasiri / July 4, 2019
Cholan,
Para-Sinhala Para-“Buddhist “ Monks are cowards. They won’t fast nor will they burn themselves.
Cowards!
Now among the Para-Sinhala there are many Traitors and cowards.
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Native Vedda / July 2, 2019
Champass
–
Look at the bright side of large contingent of American forces stepping on our soil. Sex workers like you will not only have ample business but also paid in dollars. Isn’t it your patriotic duty to generate more income in dollars? Your pimp also would get paid in dollars.
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Champa / July 3, 2019
Para Vedda
“The Nature wants us to react, to return blow for blow, cheating for cheating, lie for lie or hit back with our all might. Then it requires a superdivine power to not to hit back and to keep control.” —- Swami Vivekananda
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2019
Champass
–
Very good,
Have you ever taken trouble to grasp what this awakened Indian telling you to do? By the way he is a decent wise descendant of Bengali.
–
Bengal deported all those nasty lot to this island while retaining all those best ones for itself, Tagore, Amartya Sen, Chandra Bose, Satyajit Ray, ….
–
I do not understand how three Tamils namely
C. V. Raman
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan had won Nobel Prizes for science while their Sinhala brethren have won none.
–
The Tamil Diaspora must have bribed the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
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Old codger / July 3, 2019
Native,
You must also inquire why that unqualified Tamil S. Ramanujan is more famous than our own mathematical genius Nalin De Silva.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2019
Old codger
–
You mean the “Jathika Chinthanaya” Marxist man.
Poor professor, I do not know how many times he switched his Chintanaya. The last time I checked he wanted to ban Western Dressess in Kelaniya University. Before that he welcome Indian nuclear test at Pokhran in May 1998.
–
Before that he was a follower of Austrian Paul Feyerabend, ….
Once he supported Eelam struggle before turning himself into a fully fledged card carrying Sinhala/Buddhist racists.
–
He is all over the place.
–
The problem with our local “INTELLECTUALS” is that their aim is limited to lower level, they do not need to work hard, use their brain, …… simply using their family connection, party connection, bribing ….. anyone can become somebody or simply being a racist.
–
Children are taught how to become a Patriotic Corrupt Sinhala/Buddhist rather than honest high achiever, possibility of reaching the skies, …
–
Look how Taraki understood my comment reacted to it.
Her pettiness is obvious, because she is another little islander.
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SJ / July 4, 2019
OC
To be more accurate Ramanujan did not have formal training in pure mathematics. His skills were recognized at home by people who mattered, although not by everyone.
*
In fairness to Nalin, he was a brilliant mathematician. How many mathematicians from this country, including brilliant Tamils, could hold a candle to Ramanujan?
Interestingly, many Tamil nationalists who sneer at everything Brahmin avoid saying that Ramanujan was a Brahmin.
*
Nalin was among the seven brilliant university academic founder members of the NSSP. All but Vickramabahu left the NSSP, but only Nalin ended up as a racist, as adamant in his racist reasoning as in his Trotskyist reasoning at one time. (He even stubbornly defended some LTTE misdeeds then I was told by a colleague.)
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Old codger / July 4, 2019
SJ,
I didn’t know he was once a Trotskyist. What a career, from Trotskyism to Natha Deviyo.
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Taraki / July 3, 2019
‘I do not understand how ……’
It is simple. India has a much larger population than Sri Lanka. These three Tamils are not Sri Lankan, they are Indian Tamils.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2019
Taraki
–
“It is simple. India has a much larger population than Sri Lanka. “
–
Brilliant excuse why you stupid people couldn’t achieve, whether you are a Tamil or a Sinhalese from this island.
–
FYI
–
Sir C V Raman was awarded Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930.
The Tamil population of India in 1931 was about 23,472, 099.
The estimated population of this island right now is 21,019,309.
–
You should park your bum firmly on the floor. There is nothing to gloat about as Sri Lanky, irrespective of language you speak or religious tradition you belonged to.
–
Little islanders should remain little until the achieve something that the entire world can be proud of.
–
“It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt”
― Mark Twain
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Amarasiri / July 4, 2019
Native Veddah,
It is the mean IQ of 79 of the Para-Sinhala, aggravated by the Para-Buddhism , and the Paras have not yet learned Buddhism. Forget about Nobel Prizes.
Are there stupidity prizes available to be earned by the Paras?
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2019
Amarasiri
–
Taraki, wannihami, somass, Lal Loo, Eagle Blind Eye, Jimmy, ….. believe Tamil Diaspora bought three Nobel prizes for C. V. Raman Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
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raman / July 3, 2019
Taraki,
There are 72 million Tamils in India. Roughly 3 times SL population. So we should have produced at least 1 genius. Not even a CEO of Pepsi Co. SL Tamils have the singer MIA at least. Why no Sinhalese? Is there something not so simple?
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SJ / July 4, 2019
R
Be fair.
The Sinhalese have scaled greater heights in theatre and dance than Tamils here.
Do you seriously consider MIA a high calibre musical genius?
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2019
SJ
–
“The Sinhalese have scaled greater heights in theatre and dance than Tamils here”
–
Agreed, however Thanks to Tagore and Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, … where such great artists as Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Lionel Edirisinghe, …. studied their craft or were trained in their art.
–
Being little islanders Tamils and Sinhalese find it most difficult to acknowledge India’s contributions to these proud little islander’s advancement in art and culture.
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SJ / July 4, 2019
T
There is something to console you.
Most Sinhalese and Tamils here are descendants of South Indians who arrived during the colonial centuries.
If you are among them, you can take pride in your cultural links to the great Tamil scientists– all Brahmins though.
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Old codger / July 4, 2019
SJ,
“f you are among them, you can take pride in your cultural links to the great Tamil scientists–”
You have a point there. But that is the last thing some would want I hear Nalin De Silva once walked out of an interview when asked about his Kerala origin ge-name.
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rbh / July 2, 2019
VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) – exclusively focuses only the facilitation of cooperation and reiterates would respect the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
What all are after is military presents not base. uses of information collection of sri lanka.gathering and analyzing mission-sensitive intelligence
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Mallaiyuran / July 2, 2019
Iqbal is man saved by America from the hand of Old Royal Beasts. I believe he is a dual citizen, like all other political main hands in Lankawe. But Iqbal, like all other Lankan Muslims authors, is an anti-American author.
In the earlier CT’s essay too, Iqbal has accused USA manipulating Languages and fooling ministers to sign the ACSA. https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/pompeo-cancelled-sl-visit-because-us-failed-to-persuade-sl-to-accept-sofa-athas/
It seems Iqbal is not aware it is not American Embassy’s translation is used in cabinet. Iqbal pretended like English and Sinhala are Arabic to Aanduwa ministers so they could not read any one of them and singed blindly. Iqbal did not bother to compare and show that it was the translation differences the reason for the ministers to sign ACSA; otherwise they would have out rightly rejected it. But now Easter Sunday PSC is pretending like Hezbollah’s Arabic only dealing are Black and White and his university funds are legal transfers. But BoC is saying it is not sure how the money came into accounts. Hezbollah is back in supervising his constructions, while still staying out under resignation (A new governor is in place). We yet to have to see Iqbal writes any essay about Hezbollah frauds, or Rishard or Hakeem or other Muslim jugglery politicians’ frauds. Remember Hakeem was about to make one man National unity government? Where is Iqbal’s comment for that? The first ACSA was signed by Old Brother Prince, which for long time, not just to Iqbal, even no ministers in cabinet did know until and after 2015 when this renewal talk came up. Iqbal is silent on that too, still.
Why didn’t CT pass copy of its story to have commented to American embassy before it printed Iqbal version? Did Iqbal reply anywhere for Embassy Tweet? If so then CT should give a link of that here.
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Amarasiri / July 2, 2019
Mallaiyiran,
Why do do you need to bring the ethnicity of the writer, if it is true? If it is not in the best interest of the land? At least he has the interests of the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, and does not want the land to be a theater of war between two sets of new Paras. Unfortunately some of the older Paras, Para-Sinhala are Traitors, like Jon Juan Dharmapala, who handed over the Kotte Kingdom to the Para-Portuguese .
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Mallaiyuran / July 2, 2019
Amare,
It is estimated there is about 25,000 Chinese in Lankawe. There are 11 small landing edged in north is assigned to China, but no projects are identified of what to do with those ports. It will be another century for American soldiers to catchup 25,000 level. Even in the main war theaters, America doesn’t have that amount of personnel. Just don’t panic.
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Amarasiri / July 4, 2019
Mallaiyuran,
The number of America military personnel went from zero or close to 1 million when Saudi Arabia gave permission during the Gulf War. One of the reasons for Bin Laden to turn to terrorism was the presence of US personnel in Arabia.
When and if a conflict with China or Iran occurred, the number of military personnel can go from zero to 1 million. The question is do the Para-Sinhala, mean IQ 79, understand this, or are they simply Traitors? Whose interest is this agreement serving?
Why turn the Land into a tester of war? During World War 2, Turkey, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland etc stayed neutral.
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Mallaiyuran / July 4, 2019
Amare,
There is no point in crying for spilled milk. It is Lankawe gave Colombo Pong Cing to China and brought Chinese atomic subs to create show of might. You know Old Royal sold the country to China and that is why America is urged to come in. If America is not coming you are going to see this from India, after their economy improves a little bit (-say economy may hold India for another 10 years). The milk is spilled now. If New King, whom was a West sponsored traitor, had not won, things might have been different for Lankawe. By now there would not be enough money to import for white rice and red chili for rice and Sambol. Rs would be 1800 per dollar. It was Ranil who has dodged West until now. You don’t know, I don’t the tomorrow story of Tamils and Sinhalese in Lankawe. Country did not move on any direction from 1948. Even in the next election if Old Brother Prince stands he has more chance to win than anybody else. If he wins there is no doubt 18A coming back. No light on any tunnel.
If American Army comes in Tamils will have to go for compromised solution. That may be a better deal for Sinhalese. America coming in is not a solution to fix Sinhala Buddhists’ tranny. You know Marcos did all while American Army was there. That is the case in Malaysia corruptions too. But American firms will take courage to come and invest. Economy can (if people wanted) improve like Japan, Korea or Singapore. Mass will be more educated. In 15-20 year new generation will demand the Sinhala Buddhist political leaders to start a new era.
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SJ / July 4, 2019
Mallung, it is those who are obsessed with 25,000 Chinese being here who are panicking.
Under drug-induced confusion one cannot tell between civilian and military presence.
Kick the habit.
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Mallaiyuran / July 4, 2019
Savams, it is American Military 25,000 not deva’s paramilitary troop to do trade for Rapist Army or run hotel in private citizen land or rape and forcefully take those women to Kilinochi Hospital to sterilize. All army cases in Iraq and Afghanistan are investigated and compensation paid. Even the famous Afghan ICRC hospital completely rebuild and the military personnel caused that accident punished accordingly. About a million rapes Paramilitary did together with Rapist Army but not one single case went through.
You idiot don’t know the difference between the American military and the Chinese prisoners who bring in mechdise and for Deva and for those prisoners Mangala import special cigarettes.
Turn back and show your butt to one of the school kid & ask to kick until all the force feed Punnakku thani completely come out through your nose so your dead brain can start to think. Tell Deva to stop his business because you don’t want to moonlight and you don’t need payments. Then we can kick you too.
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SJ / July 4, 2019
Amarasiri
It is not really the man that is talking but what he takes without prescription.
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Mallaiyuran / July 4, 2019
You, as usual find, go out and find a tree trunk or bolder rock to rub and let the pressure, build by Punnaaku Thanni, releases.
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rbh / July 2, 2019
First it is ACSA! is this cancelled and amended to SOFA, is SOFA cancelled and amended to VFA, is all three agreement now active, done in different stages will be fixed together and binded in one base.
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BP / July 2, 2019
What are our parliament and judiciary doing while Sirisena, Ranil, Mangala et al are surreptitiously signing various agreements harmful to the country?
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Eagle Eye / July 2, 2019
Did the voters in this country elect MPs of UNP to:
1. Protect the leader who masterminded the ‘Bond Scam?
2. Protect the leader who undertook the responsibility when he appointed his Royal mate as the Governor of Central Bank and later ignored his commitment?
3. Protect the leader who allowed the main culprit of Bond Scam to escape?
4. Protect the leader who is not taking any action to bring the former Governor of CB to face trial?
5. Protect the leader who is signing agreements with USA that could be detrimental to the sovereignty of the country without the approval from the Cabinet?
6. Protect the leader who failed to provide security to the people?
7. Protect the leader who ruined the economy?
8. Protect the leader who is turning a blind eye to corruption of his buddies?
9. Protect the leader who was scared to face the Presidential election and came to power from the back door using Sirisena.
—
You guys can protect your corrupt inefficient leader and enjoy the comfortable life but do not come and beg for our votes at the next election. You guys and you family will be branded as traitors and treat as untouchables.
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Lester / July 2, 2019
US already has big bases in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is no need to invade S. Lanka. In my estimation, the SOFA is more about strategic deterrence, namely, containing Chinese expansion.
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Mallaiyuran / July 2, 2019
Iqbal should not behave like a snake drank milk from owner to against America. He writes to international magazines. He may not want to make him as another Mahindapala.
Harris is challenging the Tamils and America. Harris said, leaving Kattankudy aside, Kalmunai is the only town Muslims have and he will not leave the Tamils area alone. This is what their nationalism. This is the Muslim Tamils’ patriotism. This is how they want to secure the Kizhakistan. He is challenging that he can recruit one hundred thousand Muslims against America. He is asking if Sampanthar can do the same. Here our message to Sampanthar “Sami Varam Koduthalum Muslim political Poosaariyal Varam Kodukkayinam”. (Even if god want to grant the boon priest will not authorize it.) Muslim ministers challenging to let Tamils’ blood flow if they receive any solution from Sinhalese. It can be today or tomorrow or even after 10-15 years, but if any solution comes to Tamils, it has to come from West or nothing will come. If Sampanthar wants to recruit one hundred thousand Tamils against America, Tamils will gather in millions against Sampanthar. Sumanthiran went to the protesting relative of Missing persons. They chased out all Tamil politicians. But they are carrying American, British or EU flags. Even those ignorant people understand the nature of the Muslim-Sinhala Government. So Sampanthar better not accept Harish Challenge. Let Harris earn his victories against America, but Tamils needs only a solution for them.
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SJ / July 4, 2019
Help!
Translation needed:
“Iqbal should not behave like a snake drank milk from owner to against America.”
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Mallaiyuran / July 4, 2019
Savasegaram,
Only boulder rocks and tree trunks can help you. Rub on them until you fell better. Until you find one, please don’t poop all over everywhere like a mad bog with diarrhea.
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bungler yapa / July 3, 2019
US is very good friend of the Sri Lanka and Hon.Ranil.
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Mano / July 4, 2019
WE have swallowed millions of blatant misinformation which in ordinary common man’s terminology (blatant lies). What harm if that number is more by just one single digit?
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