The UN Human Rights Committee has called upon the government of Sri Lanka to take effective measures to ensure members of the judiciary are protected from improper influence, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences including those of the executive or legislature.
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
Noting their concerns over the issues that have arisen in the constitutional, legal framework and independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka that have posed threats to upholding human rights, the Committee also expressed concern over the implementation of the 18 Amendment in their concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of Sri Lanka that was released today.
It had furthermore expressed concern at the impeachment of the Chief Justice in 2013 while calling on the government to repeal the 18th amendment and to take legislative and other measures to ensure transparent and impartial processes when making appointments to the judiciary and other independent bodies.
Among the other issues discussed in relation to Sri Lanka’s human rights performance, the Committee had also expressed concern over the limited territorial scope of the mandate of the Presidential Commission investigating into missing persons and the lack of fast paced investigation and prosecutions over such matters.
It had also expressed grave concern over the reports of continued enforced disappearances including human rights defenders, journalists, clergymen and activists.
Sri Lanka’s human rights performance was reviewed for the fifth time on October 7 and 8 before the UN Human Rights Committee where a range of issues pertaining to human rights including non-discrimination, minority rights, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression were discussed between the experts of the Committee and the Sri Lankan delegation.
To read the concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of Sri Lanka click here
Eusense / October 30, 2014
If Ranil becomes the President he will make sure everything the UNHRC wants Sri Lanka to do will be done. So have patience till January UNHRC!
The only problem is the UNHRC, the west, TNA, Diaspora and NGO activities are giving MR a solid footing by the majority population. My take is, the Tamils need to abandon Tamil political parties and the above entities and rally with the Sinhalese to get rid of MR. Tamils will be better off with the UNP than the TNA or any other. What problems did Tamil politicians solve other than creating more resentment? Endless protests, boycotting, petitioning to foreign entities will not help solve problems!
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Anpu / October 31, 2014
Eusense,
“Tamils will be better off with the UNP”
UNP and SLFP are the same as far as Tamils are concerned. My parents and grand parents supported UNP after independence.
/
Eusense / October 31, 2014
Anpu,
What good has the Tamil political parties done for the Tamils so far? Can you elaborate?
/
Burning Issue / October 31, 2014
Euse,
Every word you wrote sounds condescending and insincere! The Tamils know as to where they stand and what they should do. The present TNA leadership is sincere and well meaning; they will not compromise their principles for ministry posts and perks.
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Eusense / October 31, 2014
BI,
You need to be realistic. Tell me any Tamil leadership that has got anything beneficial to the Tamils. What they did so far was protests, boycotting, hartal, styagraha and terrorism. Don’t you think it is now time to try peaceful and amicable negotiations with the gov. Though I say this I am still unaware of rights that the Tamils lack which only the Sinhalese have.
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Burning_Issue / October 31, 2014
Euse,
“Tell me any Tamil leadership that has got anything beneficial to the Tamils.”
Tell me as to which Sinhala leadership adhere to the principles of Democracy? Protesting, Satyaheraging, winning elections, civil disobediences and not restricted to, are the means by which people express their dissatisfactions and agitate for change. The Sinhala leaderships never recognised the outpouring grievances of the Tamil people. The Tamil polity in the past did engage; agreed on pacts; compromised; pleaded; yet, the majority stood and watched the distinguished Tamil politicians were being attached and beaten in from of the Galle Face Green. Amirthalingham was literality slapped and humiliated by a police constable.
Yes, the Tamils did work with the Sinhala, but all along, there was/is collective Sinhala undermining of the Tamils no matter what colour of the party is in power. The Tamils took up arms and unfortunately, ended up with an inimitable, intransigent, and unscrupulous fellow like VP. That episode is now in the past politically speaking. Now, the situation is that the Tamils Question is internationalised, and it is right and proper for the Tamil polity to make use of this situation in order to secure a form of political future for the Tamils. The investigations on war crimes and crimes humanity will duly conclude creating a platform for Sri Lanka to introspect and correct it’s past. Whether it will be the Rajapaksas or other, it does not matter, a change is inevitable. You know what, I have always said this, the Tamils will ultimately restore democracy in Sri Lanka for good of all!
/
Eusense / October 31, 2014
Burning_Issue,
Are you the burning issue I responded or a fake? If you are the real BI why do you have two accounts? Are you up to something??
Anyway, I am writing about “Tamil leadership that has got anything beneficial to the Tamils” and that is what I need you to answer me. I am not talking about “Sinhala leadership adhere to the principles of Democracy?” That is a different topic and I would debate about it another time.
You still talk about “The Sinhala leaderships never recognized the outpouring grievances of the Tamil people”. What are these grievances? What rights do an average Tamils don’t have but an average Sinhalese have? None of you are answering that question! As a Sinhalese SL citizen I would like to know these from a Tamil who undergo these said grievances. If they are legitimate I would support any gov. that would give those “rights” to the Tamils.
All what you say about using international power and platforms etc. are meaningless if you can’t spell out what specific problems the Tamils have. It is wishful thinking to say “the Tamils will ultimately restore democracy in Sri Lanka for good of all” specially after a waging a terror war against Sri Lanka and killing over 100,000 of citizens for 30 years!
/
Burning Issue / November 1, 2014
Euse,
Keep your pants on as I am the same person. When I write from different sources CT categorises me differently.
You appear thick and Incongurous with many accepted principles of this world! Your questions are like asking a father of a poor family of many children as to what have you done to your children. The father of course is well-meaning and cares deeply about his children but owing to no fault of his own, he cannot make things better for his children. It is because, the family is being deprived of their due rights by the bigger family that wants everything for them. The father tried all means possible reasoning with the bigger family but to no avail! The father knows, if he looses his grip no matter how weaker the family gets, it will be a total disaster to their future wellbeing as a family. The family will disintegrate and will be in danger of being completely engulfed by the bigger family. There are ample evidences existing all around him to come to this conclusion.
So, Euse, I have ellustrated the predicament of the Tamils as well as I could. If you still want to persist on being an imbecile by exhibiting your majority arrogence, I cannot help you. The Tamils are no different to the other communities around the world who stand up for their rights amids severe adversity, hardship, and persecution.
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Eusense / November 1, 2014
BI
I am amazed why none of the Tamils here including you who are so vocal of Tamil rights don’t state what these rights the Tamils lack compared to the Sinhalese! You have the nerve even to write long scenarios unrelated to the issue on hand and to state that I “exhibiting your majority arrogence” while I am trying to learn your lack of human rights!
If you feel I am arrogant please take my posts sentence by sentence and show me where I am wrong or arrogant. Your story about the poor father has nothing to do with what is happening in SL because there are more Sinhalese families under similar conditions than Tamils. Why are you so selfish only thinking about the welfare of the Tamils? There are millions of families in the world who are poor for some reason, either because of their own mistakes or some other reason. No body can do anything for that and some call it “karma”! But that is not a reason to raise arms against the gov. or have a separate state.
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Burning Issue / November 2, 2014
euse
I have told you before that I am not an idiot to inculcate you with things that your are already privy to. The Sri Lankan Tamil question is well documented and they are available on public forums for you to re-familiarise if you so wish! It is about time you grow up and be a mature adult on these forums.
“I am amazed why none of the Tamils here including you who are so vocal of Tamil rights don’t state what these rights the Tamils lack compared to the Sinhalese! “
This is because, we Tamils are completely bewildered as to your selective ignorance! Your arrogant chauvinistic pandering is amusing and tiering at times. You need to ask yourself as to why the learned professors such as DJ, Rajeeva Wijesinge, and Tissa Vitharana openly support power devolution for the North and East Provinces. If, as you claim, the Tamils are equal to the Sinhala, why then these people support a different governing structure?
Let’s us look at the political parties that contributed to the APRC deliberations, and eventual outcome of the proposals.
The Parties participated:
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
2. SriLanka Freedom Party
3. United NationalParty
4. Communist Party of SriLanka
5. Ceylon Workers’ Congress
6. Sri Lanka Muslim congress
7. National Unity Alliance
8. Jathika Hela Urumaya
9. Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
10. Upcountry Peoples Front
11. All Ceylon Muslim Congress
12. National Congress
13. Western Peoples Front
14. Ealam People’s democratic Party
15. Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pu
What were they all doing if, as you claim, the Tamils were qual to the Sinhala?
The personnel who constituted the APRC committee:
Hon.Prof. Tissa VitharanaM.P, Hon.Prof. Viswa WarnapalaM.P Hon.P DayaratneM.P, Mr.Rajah Collure, Mr.R Yogarajan, Mr.M Nizam Kariapper, Mr.AbdulKalam, Mr.Udaya Gammanpila Prof.NalindeSilva, Mr.SVijesandiran, Mr.YLSHameed, Dr.Adambawa Uthumalebbe, Dr.N Kumaragurubaran, Mr.SThavarajah, Ms.Maheshwary Velautham, Mr.Sivathasan, and Ms.Sivageetha Prabaharan
Look at those people above including Mr Udaya Gammanpila, who represented the JHU! These people jointly made a proposal that is boarded on a Federal Solution to the national question. Why did they do that? It is extremely insulting and juvenile to ask the Tamils to list their grievances in the year 2014 when Vicissitude of injustices and blatant endeavours of subjugation of the Tamils is right in front of us. It is about time you Grow Up for goodness sake!
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eusense / November 3, 2014
Bi
You write all this garbage when I asked you a simple question! Why can’t you just write even one right the Tamils don’t have??? If you don’t give me an answer please don’t reply my posts.
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ajith / October 31, 2014
Tamils not only wants their rights as equals to Sinhalese but also wants Sri Lanka to be a country where true democracy flourishes and the rule of law should rule the country instead of the law of the jungle. Both SLFP and UNP are responsible for the current state of the Nation. Whether it is west or East or whether it is India or China all uses Srilanka as dumping ground and play game with the lives of innocent Tamils and Sinhalese. Throughout the history since Independence SLFP and UNP used Tamils for their power game. Over the six decades over 200000 innocent civilians were massacred in this game and now it is considered that this nation as a failed state and place not suitable for humanity.
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eusense / October 31, 2014
ajith,
Please post a list of rights only the Sinhalese have but not the Tamils.
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ajith / October 31, 2014
I don’t have a right to live in Sri Lanka but you have a right in Sri Lanka. You can kill me and you will be not charged but even if I touch you you can sentence to death. Do you understand the difference?
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Eusense / October 31, 2014
Before understanding the difference, I don’t even understand what you are trying to say!
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samuelb / November 1, 2014
YOu and the like take always longer. That we are very clear today
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Oma Yang / November 1, 2014
Go back to school, cos the more you post, the saying “Empty vessels make the most noise” starts corresponding to you!…..you are becoming a Nuisance.
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ajith / November 2, 2014
You are right you are acting like a deaf. You don’t want to understand the truth. The nation was in blood since 1958. Every prime minister and every presidents say Tamils have problem and how many negotiations, how many all party groups, how many commissions, LLRC, 13Plus and war crimes, crimes against humanity …….Why?
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Anpu / October 31, 2014
eusense,
You are nonsense!
“Of the 1,300 people who received dual citizenship, not one of them was a Tamil,” Sumanthiran http://www.ceylontoday.lk/51-76623-news-detail-like-ltte-wartime-clearance-sumanthiran.html
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Eusense / November 1, 2014
Anpu,
How does Sumanitharan know this information? What ever the Tamil politicians say appears to be the truth?
You also have to realize that the Terror war which killed over 100,000 and terrorized the country for 30 years was totally funded by the Tamil diaspora. I am not saying that every Tamil diaspora did so, but majority was involved. They who did so committed treason against the country and should be identified and brought to justice. For this reason any Tamil diaspora applying for duel citizenship should be extensively investigated case by case to make sure that they were not involved in terrorist or anti-Sri Lankan activities. Even photographs of protesters who carried placards of Parayabakaran in London and Toronto and other countries has to be compared with DC applicants to make sure they were not involved. All this takes time.
Personally I support this kind of strict screening to make sure my country will never go through what it went through during the past 30 years.
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Ram / November 1, 2014
I am aware of a Tamil (the most undeserving) Sinhala-hater being one of the first to get it, and boasting how easy it was to do so, and immediately bought a house in Kandy. I still wonder why he did not want to do so in his ‘beloved’ Jaffna.
Gotabhaya obviously realised his mistake later, hence the new regulations.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / October 31, 2014
Yes we all saw how democracy and equal rights flourished when We Thamizh had that 30 year opportunity to do what we wanted :D
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Ram / November 1, 2014
Hasn’t Kusal Perera reminded us that the LTTE no longer exists. It must have vpourised. Then again Wigneswaran recognised the terrorist leaders as heroes.
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Native Vedda / November 1, 2014
Wee Thamizh D:Siva Sankaran Sarma Menon
Brilliant.
This must be your thought for the day comment.
Thanks
Here is one that you may ignore:
“There are more quarrels smothered by just shutting your mouth,
and holding it shut, than by all the wisdom in the world.”
Henry Ward Beecher
/
Anpu / October 31, 2014
Eusense,
“Tamils will be better off with the UNP”
As I said before UNP or SLFP does not make any difference as far as Tamils concerned. Same applies to the modern Left.
(1)
“The two main parties, the United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), that have alternately ruled Sri Lanka for the past six decades, despite a number of attempts to reach such a consensus, have at crucial moments backtracked to return to what has been described as ‘acrimonious competition’.”
“This process first congealed in a context where the Sinhalese voters constituted about three-fourths of the total electorate and the ethnic minority votes were not critical for either the UNP or SLFP to win a parliamentary majority. The politics of ethnic-outbidding thus generated a kind of pan-Sinhalese consensus for Sinhalese ethnic hegemony in the polity. Elections have, even as recently as in 2005, been an occasion for Sinhalese political leaders to renew, revalidate and reinforce the Sinhalese social contract of consensus.”
JAYADEVA UYANGODA http://www.india-seminar.com/2007/576/576_jayadeva_uyangoda.htm
(2)
“This government, which has so brazenly turned Parliament into an object of ridicule – by enticing unscrupulous members of the opposition to cross over for personal gain and by providing executive posts to almost half the members of the house “
R Sampanthan – https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/is-the-president-acting-against-the-country/
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Eusense / October 31, 2014
Anpu,
I hope you have not forgotten that Sri Lanka is a democracy. In other words a system of government chosen by the whole population. When you take the whole population Sinhalese are the majority and choosing a gov. depends on this group. Can you blame the Sinhalese for that? or can you blame the Tamils for that because why they are a minority? Nobody can change that and that is how it is! If one day Tamils become 50% of the population then things will happen.
Look at democracies around the world. In the US Black minority is 25% of the population. Few decades ago they had no right to vote, own land, have an education and even sit with the majority. Why did not we see terrorism there? Today they have won most of their rights. Have they got everything? No, there is discrimination when applying for jobs, Universities, loans, buying homes and even walking on the street while black – getting arrested on suspicion!
What problems do Tamils have compared to that?
Anpu, be real. Every minority in every country has their own grievances. There is no solution for that other than separating those countries to several smaller countries! This will get really out of hand if all kinds of minorities based on religion, language, color, sexual orientation etc. etc. start demanding separate countries. The best solution is to forget difference, learn languages, assimilate, improve your self and live happily the remaining years of your life. This is exactly what the the progressive learned wealthy Tamils in the south have done.
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Burning Issue / November 1, 2014
Euse,
You are totally confused; Sri lanka is not a democracy but a majoritarian hegemony. This is why we are in this mess. If you want to know the true meaning of Democracy, you refer to the 1955 Hansard. During the parliamentary debate on the destructive language bill, DR N.M. Perera eloquently described the true meaning of Democracy. What we have in Sri lanka is the whim and fancy of the majority fanatics. There is no surprise that ignorance is the major blemish that causes havoc around the world.
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Eusense / November 1, 2014
BI,
I was talking about electing our leaders by the majority population. If you think what is happening is not democracy it is your prerogative and I am not going to debate personal issues of yours.
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Burning Issue / November 2, 2014
euse,
“I was talking about electing our leaders by the majority population.”
Wow! You unwittingly admit to the majoritarian rule in Sri Lanka. Yes the Majority community is electing your leaders, and the same leaders serve the majority community to their whim and fancy. This is a not a Democracy.
DR N.M. Pourer stated in 1955:
“If democracy is to be treated as an arithmetical concept
that whatever the majority decides must be accepted that if
the majority decides that the majority religion must prevail
it must be accepted merely because they have got
superiority in members, that is not democracy. Where you
have different religions, the sovereignty of the majority is
automatically checked by those inalienable rights that the
minorities have which cannot be overridden by the mere
whim and fancy of a majority. The test of a democratic
decision is the morality of the law. It is not merely a
counting of heads but whether in point of fact the minorities
are given full consideration of their points of view.
Democracy means an adjustment of different points of
view, it means giving full weight to the rights of minority
communities. That is what democracy means, it is not
merely a counting of heads.”
You have got a lot of learning to do; hope, you do this as a matter of urgency as you have been driving people up the wall by asking stupid questions!
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eusense / November 3, 2014
BI,
Don’t be naive. No where in this world where the majority select the leadership cater to every demand of the minority. Do you know what discrimination of minorities are going on in the US, UK, Canada or any other country? Yes, NM Perera who is a leftist will say anything to grab power. How did he want SL to select its leaders? Fist fights???
There are no separate laws or rights for the majority in SL, every body has equal rights. Are you implying that “full consideration of their points of view” means that the minority should be given self rule and a separate country?? Get real BI!
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Burning Issue / November 4, 2014
Euse,
You know how to operate and search the net, don’t you? Why are you bothering people by asking stupid questions? I have given you the list of parties and people who worked towards a new governing structure in order to educate you of the accepted position that the Tamils require to have a grater say in their affairs. If you still do not get it, you will never get it!
I am determined not take your bait!
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Burning Issue / November 4, 2014
Euse,
If anyone needs to get real it is you!
Please outline as to what exactly is wrong with UK and USA democratically speaking? The U.S. is a federated country; the UK is a United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland with devolved governing structures. Where would you point your finger at in keeping with what NM said.
If NM wanted to gain power, he would have chosen to pander to the chauvinists like you. But he did not, instead, he tried to educate his fellow parliamentarians as to the meaning of Democracy!
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Amarasiri / November 1, 2014
Eusense
“If Ranil becomes the President he will make sure everything the UNHRC wants Sri Lanka to do will be done. So have patience till January UNHRC! “
Will he brig in the Great Satan and the Little Satans?
Read Between the lines. See who is behind? Norway, Christian West? others? Who funded BBS?
The Answer is There? Ask the Same question.
The Covert Origins of ISIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMjXbuj7BPI
Published on Aug 29, 2014 Evidence exposing who put ISIS in power, and how it was done. Sources and full transcript:
http://scgnews.com/the-covert-origins..
Syrian Airstrikes On ISIS Are Proving More Precise Than Coalition Strikes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c4XkEIe9aQ
/
Buddhist / October 30, 2014
The most recent human rights violation to the Buddhist is where the President Rajapakse who is a Buddhist did not give visa for His Holiness Dalai Lama to visit Sri Lanka but is giving a visa for his Holiness the Pope to visit. Where is Bodu Bala Sena and Ravana Balaya on this? I am not against the Pope visiting Sri Lanka but I am worried about the violation which Cardinal Malcom is perpetrating by inviting the Pope during a period of Presidential election! Was the Cardinal BRIBED as usual?
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Eusense / October 31, 2014
You need to look at “behind the scene” activities too. China is the main reason why SL was able to get rid of the LTTE terror. The West just called it the “un-winnable war of Sri Lanka” and had no interest in bringing peace. Currently, no other country helps SL economically compared to China. Why is the west dragging their feet in punishing SL for this bogus human right violation issue? It is because of China! If SL is not supportive of China whom do you think we should be supportive of? MR has to show his gratitude to China. MR is shrewd, for him China is more important than Dali Lama. What was Lama doing when SL was bombarded by suicide bombings? Did he comment or condemn the LTTE terrorists? You are misinforming here, MR gov. had invited the Pope as soon as he was elected. No Pope will make an official visit to a country without an invitation from that country’s government.
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Anpu / October 31, 2014
eusense,
“China is the main reason why SL was able to get rid of the LTTE “
You are kidding.
It is USA,India and then the rest.
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Eusense / October 31, 2014
Anpu,
Give me your evidence of US, India and the rest helping. Us even was trying to get Parayabakaran out of SL at the end!
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Native Vedda / October 31, 2014
Anpu
“You are kidding. It is USA,India and then the rest.”
She isn’t kidding and has been quite serious due to her 0% brain activity and 0% capacity to learn,critically think, and to say something logically plausible, suffers from arrested development.
Please you should bear with Nuisance.
/
Native Vedda / October 31, 2014
Nuisance
“China is the main reason why SL was able to get rid of the LTTE terror.”
I fought India’s war, too, says President
by S Venkat Narayan Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 29: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he has “fought India’s war” too by militarily eliminating the LTTE, which had assassinated former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi 18 years ago.
In an interview to Indian newsmagazine “The Week” published in its latest issue, Rajapaksa says: “I think my war is part of the South Asian campaign against terrorism. In fact, by eliminating the LTTE militarily, I have fought India’s war.”
The President thanks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ruling Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi and the Indian people for the support extended to Sri Lanka during the war.
“Nothing is more important for me than what India thinks,” he declared.
He is planning to visit India next month to personally thank Indian leaders for their support and to discuss plans for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the civil war-ravaged northern and eastern provinces.
Rajapaksa said: “My victory coincided with Sonia Gandhi’s electoral victory. I have written to her congratulating her on winning the elections. India’s moral support during the war was most important.”
He explained that the India-Sri Lanka Agreement of July 1987 led to the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution. In that way, the homegrown approach covers the position of India, too. This time, a political solution will be devised after taking every shade of Sri Lankan opinion into consideration, he added.
“Since peace is in the interest of Sri Lanka, we have to sit down and decide on its content ourselves,” the president said.
He invited Indian industrialists to invest in, and contribute to, the development of Sri Lanka, especially since the security atmosphere will see a radical transformation from now on.
Asked if he wants to build bridges with politicians in Tamil Nadu, he pointed out that he has been congratulated by many Tamil Nadu politicians after the war.
Then he quipped: “Look at the fate of LTTE supporters in Tamil Nadu in the elections. All those who supported the Tigers have been routed. The people of Tamil Nadu have given these terror supporters a fitting reply.” He was referring to the humiliating defeat of the likes of Vaiko and Dr Ramadas in the 15th parliamentary election.
The president said the next responsibility of the troops will be to contribute to the relief and rehabilitation of the displaced Tamil people in the north and northeast. Even during the war, they were building roads and bridges in the north, he added.
He also criticised certain NGOs and other aid agencies, and said: Tthese are the elite of Tamil society who had no clue about the hardship faced by the people in the LTTE-held northern Sri Lanka.”
Commenting on the allegations of human rights abuse by Lankan soldiers, Rajapaksa said he thinks that the human rights lobby has got its timing wrong. “Where were they when the LTTE terrorised Sri Lankans all these years?” he asked.
http://www.island.lk/2009/05/30/news2.html
Indias help eased world pressure in LTTE war
Written by Press Trust Of India | Colombo | Posted: November 17, 2009 3:00 am
Terming India its closest ally,Sri Lanka has said the countrys support during its war with the LTTE helped reduce the pressure mounted by the world community and allowed it to proceed with humanitarian operations in the war-ravaged north unhindered.
The relationship developed over the past four years with our closest ally,India,helped us in many ways in our war against terrorism, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said.
Indias support greatly helped reduce the pressure mounted by other nations, which allowed us to proceed with our humanitarian operations unhindered,Gotabhaya,brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa,said here on Sunday. It is very important that we strengthen this key relationship even further in the years to come, he said at a function here.
He persuaded western countries to help Sri Lanka more meaningfully to combat the threat that requires us to unite as a nation and speak with one voice,instead of being weakened and divided by petty considerations.
He said significant support was also received from other key allies that helped withstand the pressure being directed by the international community to leave the war unfinished. These countries also provided us vital material assistance towards the war effort,when barriers were put in place that prevented our obtaining military hardware from our western allies, Rajapaksa said in his address.
He said though the Tiger rebels will not be able to resurface in Sri Lanka,their financial network was a matter of concern. The minister said the capabilities of the Sri Lankan Defence Forces needed to be strengthened by maintaining high standards of professionalism and sophistication. He said the surveillance and rapid response capabilities of the Sri Lanka Navy had to be enhanced to protect the countrys coastline and to make sure that no arms or personnel could infiltrate into Lankan territory.
http://indianexpress.com/
India behind Lanka’s victory over LTTE: Book
PTI | Aug 23, 2009, 12.11PM IST
NEW DELHI: Even as it publicly refused to give Sri Lanka any offensive weapons for the war against LTTE, India had a “hidden hand” in the success of the island nation’s campaign over the terrorist outfit, says a new book.
Although in the initial days he was advised to seek a negotiated settlement with the Tamil Tigers, New Delhi saw merit in Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s argument that the LTTE was only biding its time to regroup and rearm itself and that war was inevitable sooner than later, says ‘Sri Lanka, From War to Peace’, by journalist Nitin Gokhale.
Defence and Strategic Affairs Editor with NDTV, Gokhale covered the 33-month Eelam War in Sri Lanka.
The Mi-17s that India ‘quietly gifted’ to Lanka were in addition to a Sukanya class offshore patrol vessel also gifted by the Indian Coast Guard to the Sri Lankan Navy in 2002. The choppers played a major role in several daring missions launched by the Sri Lankan Air Force to rescue the army’s deep penetration units and injured soldiers from deep inside LTTE-held territory, the book says.
“Hampered by domestic compulsion, New Delhi could not go beyond such meagre and clandestine transfer of military hardware. Publicly all India was willing to acknowledge was the supply of low-flying detection “Indra” radars to the Sri Lankan Air Force since this equipment was considered a defensive apparatus,” the author says.
Gokhale quotes senior Sri Lankan army officers saying that thanks to the Mi-17s, the soldiers operating behind enemy lines functioned with a greater degree of confidence since they knew these choppers were always at hand to come to their rescue whenever necessary. This surely was the key factor in our Special Forces delivering spectacular results.
Not wanting to annoy its Tamil Nadu allies like the DMK unnecessarily, New Delhi had a ‘politically most important message’ conveyed to Colombo to try and conclude the war against the LTTE (called Eelam War IV) before the summer of 2009 when India was expected to hold the general elections, Gokhale says.
“The Rajapakse regime was nothing if not shrewd”. Aware of dynamics that determined India’s Lankan policies, it was also conscious of India’s anxiety in losing strategic space in Sri Lanka. The Rajapakse brothers were pragmatic enough to realize that Lanka needed India’s support in war against the LTTE, total support from China and Pakistan notwithstanding”.
Colombo could ignore India but only upto a point, the author says.
So Mahinda Rajapakse hit upon an idea of an informal exchange mechanism between New Delhi and Colombo. He nominated both his brothers – Basil (MP and Presidential advisor) and Gotabaya, the Defence Secretary along with his own secretary Lalith Weeratunga.
India too reciprocated immediately. The Indian team comprised National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh.
Colombo may have been ambivalent about meeting Indian requests to end the operations before the general elections but the Sri Lankan leadership once again gratefully acknowledged the Indian Navy’s contribution in locating and destroying at least 10 ‘floating warehouses’ owned by the LTTE that were used by the Tigers to store arms, ammunition and even armoured personnel carriers.
Well-coordinated operations by the two navies between 2006 and 2009 actually broke the backbone of the Sea Tigers, Gokhale says.
Also, under an agreement between the two countries, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard frequently sent out ships to patrol the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. Presence of warships and Indian patrol vessels acted as firm deterrence against the Sea Tigers, the book says.
The book also notes the transformation of the Sri Lankan Air Force and Navy into lethal forces that played vital roles in victory over the LTTE. “The Sri Lankan Air Force had indeed come a long way from its inglorious days in the 1990s when it lost three aircraft to the LTTE’s ground fire in the assault on Jaffna”.
“What is not so well known is that the Sri Lankan Air Force jets almost killed Prabhakaran in one of the air raids on his hideout in Puththukudirippu. But as luck would have it, Prabhakaran had left the base minutes before the bombs rained on the target,” the book says.
Gokhale also says that if the Indians quietly helped the Sri Lankan Navy transform itself, the Lankan Air Force got a big boost from the Chinese and the Pakistanis. Pakistani personnel helped the Lankans in training and maintenance while the Chinese supplied them with vital equipment at a critical time. The Chinese gifted four F7 GS fighter planes which are the most sophisticated jets in Sri Lanka’s arsenal today with in-built air interception radar and carry four heat seeking missiles, he says.
After a successful campaign against the LTTE, President Rajapakse’s biggest challenge would be to win the peace by sparking reconciliation between its majority Sinhalese and minority Tamil ethnic populations, healing a rift that looks unbridgeable, Gokhale says. Rajapakse will have to restore to their homes and livelihoods some 300,000 Tamils in the North who fled the fighting only to be housed in camps.
“President Rajapakse and his team must avoid triumphalism to spoil the enormous goodwill that they have earned by winning the war. They must ensure that the death of one Prabhakaran does not lead to birth of another. Therein lies Mahinda Rajapakse’s test,” the book says.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
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Eusense / October 31, 2014
Vedda,
You need to read my post and understand before writing responses.
What I said was “China is the MAIN reason why SL was able to get rid of the LTTE terror.” and NOT “China is the ONLY reason why SL was able to get rid of the LTTE terror.”
You waste your time cutting and pasting these unnecessary clips! If you feel as a male you are superior and HAS to respond to my posts (even with irrelevances),I feel sorry for you.
MR being a shrewd politician and wanting to be in the good side of India he has quipped ” I have fought India’s war”, ““Nothing is more important for me than what India thinks,”, “My victory coincided with Sonia Gandhi’s electoral victory”, “He invited Indian industrialists to invest in, and contribute to, the development of Sri Lanka, especially since the security atmosphere will see a radical transformation from now on”. Do these sound like thanking India or a guilty little brother trying to make up with big brother?
“Indias support greatly helped reduce the pressure mounted by other nations” may be true but that was at later stages of the war after purchasing war equipment with help of China, attack air crafts and training from Pakistan and Israel and more guns and ammunition from East European countries and planing precise attacks on the terrorists.
Even your quoted book accept that “Lankan Air Force got a big boost from the Chinese and the Pakistanis. Pakistani personnel helped the Lankans in training and maintenance while the Chinese supplied them with vital equipment at a critical time. The Chinese gifted four F7 GS fighter planes which are the most sophisticated jets in Sri Lanka’s arsenal today with in-built air interception radar and carry four heat seeking missiles, he says.”
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Native Vedda / November 1, 2014
Nuisance
“What I said was “China is the MAIN reason why SL was able to get rid of the LTTE terror.” and NOT “China is the ONLY reason why SL was able to get rid of the LTTE terror.”
China was not the main reason.
As I wrote many times in this forum Hindia persuaded Chandrika in early 2005 to go for all out war against LTTE. She reluctantly agreed. Since then Hindians
trained SL armed forces through out the war,
gave loans to sustain the war,
their military strategist were on the ground directing the war,
provided political and diplomatic cover,
when US Passific commander visited India twice to arrange evacuation of Vanni, Hindia stopped US intervention,
supplied satellite and other intelligence
supplied naval ships free of charge
supplied helicopters
maintained silence on heavy civilian causality
Supplied radars
destroyed LTTE’s warehouse ships near Andaman Island,
monitored and prevented LTTE’s supply line
All in all Hindian fought the war against LTTE without a shot being fired. In August 2008 Hindia persuaded the International Community and obtained their consent for their muted concern over civilian casualty.
Hindia played a major role in Karuna’s estrangement from VP and provided sanctuary for a few months.
These are complex issues that need information and an ability to think. Since you do not possess both I suggest you go play with nursery kids or with K A Sumana, Banda, mechanic, Ramu, wathie, sach, threshsa, Jimmy, Thonda, ……………ela kolla, nike boy, …. and other like minded people.
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Eusense / November 1, 2014
Vedda,
none of your Indian praises are valid for the final planing, fight and defeat of the terrorists. Sri Lanka therefore should be more loyal to China, Pakistan and Israel than India which at the beginning even supported the bogus human right issues of the UNHRC.
Before you try to solve complex issues try first to learn, read and understand postings here!
Good Luck.
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Anpu / November 7, 2014
Nonsense,
NV has told you enough.
This is from University of Bergen Research Fellow, Vijayshankar Asokan
““While several actors including US, UK, China, UN involved in different ways in the conflict in Sri Lanka which led to genocide of Eelam Tamils, the actor most severely and the most consistently perplexed in the Sri Lankan war has been India,” says University of Bergen Research Fellow, Vijayshankar Asokan in a submission he sent on “Indian complicity in the genocide of Eezham Tamils” to OHCHR investigation on Sri Lanka. A native of Tamil Nadu and studying in Norway since 2008, Mr. Vijayshankar in his submission was extensively citing Mr. Ku. Ramakrishnan, General Secretary of Periyar Dravidar Kazhakam, Mr. Erik Solheim, the failed peace facilitator and various reports as well as statements. “
The following were his conclusions:
Through various evidences presented here, it is evident India had criminal intent in executing genocide on Tamils and Tamil Home Land in the Island of Sri Lanka. This intent has taken the forms of aiding, abetting and/or being complicity. It can be summed up as follows.
1. Prepared a conducive environment to initiate genocide. These preparations were offered both militarily and diplomatically. Military aids during the period of 2000-2007 to destruct LTTE Naval Vessels and diplomatic pressures to EU in 2005 to proscribe LTTE amounted to tilting power in favour of one party that is GoSL. By fortifying one party with all might, India helped GoSL to unleash genocide without any retaliation from LTTE and also subdued any diplomatic pressure arising out of public protests in EU.
2. India had the capability to act to stop the genocide and was reluctant to act. This indicates its acceptance of killing Tamils. This act of not willing to prevent proves its intention.
3. India also warded off those states who express concern on war crimes happening in the Island. By keeping them at bay, India played a crucial role to ensure genocide took place without any hindrance. Acts of diplomatic dissuading and deceiving by the Government of India, kept the international community out of the issue and it facilitated complete genocidal onslaught against Tamils.
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Sunil Lanka / October 31, 2014
BBS and RAVANAS know POPE thousand times more important and valuable to MR than DALAI LAMA.
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Sunil Lanka / October 31, 2014
MR will invite even MAHASONA but not BUDDHA if he can get two votes more by that process. After doing that he will try to fool Buddha to get his blessing if possible by putting the blame on opposition for his deeds.
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eusense / October 31, 2014
That’s what I call a real politician!
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Sunil Lanka / October 31, 2014
BBS and RAVANAS know POPE thousand times more important and valuable to MR than DALAI LAMA.
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justice / October 31, 2014
A severe indictment against the anti-human rights activities of this government is made by the UNHRC.
What will be the response by the president and his ministers?
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Eusense / October 31, 2014
“Go fly a kite”
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cover point / October 31, 2014
We accuse the US for conspiring against us. Then MR asks them for their help
http://www.dailymirror.lk/55555/sl-requests-help-from-us
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Eusense / October 31, 2014
CP,
This is why MR asked for US “help”
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/us-says-lanka-not-sought-help-landslide-tragedy-064855100.html
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