28 March, 2024

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Victory Day: Least That We Forget

By Rajeewa Jayaweera

Rajeewa Jayaweera

Rajeewa Jayaweera

Cabinet spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne informed the media that “May 19, which was celebrated as ‘Victory Day’ during the Rajapaksa era will from this year onwards be observed as ‘Remembrance Day’ to recall the sacrifices of all those who had fought to maintain the unity and integrity of the country irrespective of their ethnicity”.Towards this end, it would be of interest to briefly examine Remembrance Day and Victory Day in Europe held to commemorate men in uniform who fell during the military conflicts of WWI and WII.

Remembrance Day (Poppy Day)

A memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states on 11 November since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who died in the line of duty.

In the United Kingdom, remembrance poppies are sold by The Royal British Legion. This is a charity providing financial, social, political and emotional support to those who have served or who are currently serving in the British Armed Forces, and their dependents. Therefore this day and event has significant importance to those men who gave their lives during WWI.

Victory Day in Europe

Generally known as V-E Day, VE Day or simply V Day was the public holiday celebrated on 8 May 1945 (7 May in Commonwealth realms) in UK to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany‘s unconditional surrender of its armed forces and the day the surrender instrument was signed in Berlin.

Mahinda 18 05 2015Military Parades are held by victorious allies. War veterans from European countries are still brought over to locations in which parades are held for their belated decorations to be pinned on them.

Over six million Jews who lost their lives during WWII are not part of this commemoration.

Russia (former Soviet Union) celebrate Victory Day with a massive military parade on 09 May, the day recognized by Joseph Stalin.

It is regrettable that our politicians are unable to adopt a unified stand even in so important an issue. It is also proof that the Sinhalese are a majority in Sri Lanka with a severe minority complex.

At the outset, it must be stated that until today, 19 May Victory Day was held to celebrate the military defeat of the LTTE, an internal terrorist group albeit one of the most ruthless in the world, by Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces .

The decision to change 19 May Victory Day to Remembrance Day has possibly arisen from a desire to vilify the former President. Nevertheless 19 May Victory Day should not be used for such a purpose. What is necessary is an acknowledgement by all political parties and all communities of the role played by the Armed Forces in defeating the LTTE which besides being a military victory is also a victory for the people of this island over terrorism.

To even think that 19 May Victory Day is limited to the Sinhalese community is a fallacy. It need be understood that it was a victory for the Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and other communities. The writer vividly recollects the freedom enjoyed by all communities throughout the country (North and East included) in our day to day lives prior to July 1983. Members of all communities were not stopped on the road for inspection of our NICs nor our vehicles searched at check-points. We could enter any government office without NICs and body checks. We left home in the mornings with the certainty of returning home unless due to an involvement in a traffic accident. We could check into hotels without producing our NIC. Our houses were not checked in the middle of the night without a search warrant by members of the Armed Forces. Members of Sinhalese and Muslim communities could live in the North and East. These are a few basic freedoms which we lost shortly after July 1983 and regained after May 2009. Besides this freedom, with the advent of LTTE terrorism, members of the Tamil community living in the North and East lost the freedom for many other activities in their day to day lives. Those lucky enough were able to escape and obtain asylum in Europe, USA, Canada and Australia. Those not so lucky came over to Colombo thus increasing the Tamil population in Colombo from 130,215 in 1981 to 231,318 in 2012 due to higher level of security they enjoyed in Colombo than in the North and East. Those unable to escape overseas nor to Colombo unfortunately had to remain in the North and East and live under the yoke of LTTE terrorism.

A key factor in the issue is members of the Tamil community who remained in the North and East. Most lost their livelihood. With an ongoing conflict between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military, the ordinary person lost the right to give their children a decent education. They had no choice but to surrender their children of a certain age to the LTTE war machine or to make arrangements to have them smuggled overseas or to Colombo. As the situation grew worse, even minors were not spared and taken as child soldiers. Those in the North and East lost most of their land commandeered by the LTTE, who were eventually evicted by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. Even those members of the Tamil community living overseas were not spared. Some were compelled to pay ‘blood money’ into LTTE coffers under threat of their kith and kin living in the North and East being harmed. Land owners living both abroad and in Sri Lanka had given up any hope of ever regaining their land. This is now in the process of being rectified. The Armed Forces rescued over 300,000 Tamil civilians in May 2009, who were being moved around and finally used as human shields by the LTTE.

Suffice to state that many politicians including those who regularly voted in Parliament against Emergency Regulations and those holding high positions in successive administrations surrounded themselves with members of the Armed Forces for protection whenever they stepped outside their abodes. The fate of at least some of them might have been similar to those of Mr Lakshman Kadirgamar and Mr Appapillai Amirthalingam if not for members of the Armed Forces.

Last but not least, all those who have visited Sri Lanka since 19 May 2009 including the likes of David Cameron, Narendra Modi and John Kerry and have given unsolicited advice on “Human Rights”, “cooperative Federalism” and “to work with the ICRC and the UN in order to investigate missing persons” would not have set foot in this country if not for the eradication of terrorism by the Armed Forces.

This is the freedom we have regained thanks to the Armed Forces. Former US President John F Kennedy once said “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan”. Notwithstanding the many claiming credit for the 19 May victory, it is an undeniable and inalienable fact that it was the Sri Lankan Armed Forces who paved the way to this victory. The beneficiaries and thus by extension the victors are the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burgers and all others in this country.

Critics will no doubt raise issues such as injustices, indignities, atrocities and the shameful 1983 pogroms suffered by the Tamil community which is understandable. The writer concedes that the former administration failed in moving forward on a political solution after the eradication of the LTTE. In brief, the former administration won the war and lost the peace. However, such issues belong elsewhere and not in the context of 19 May Victory Day.

Not to acknowledge the contribution by the Armed Forces by discontinuing the 19 May Victory Day is an injustice to the Armed Forces and an act of an ungrateful nation similar to the act of the imprisonment of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka. The contribution by the Armed Forces should not in any way be devalued due to attempts by former President to use the military triumph for personal glorification. The military is not at fault for the lack of a lasting political solution acceptable to all communities subsequent to the military victory. It lies with our worthy politicians.

If all communities were to accept the contributions made by the Armed Forces as they should, in restoring peace in the country after 30 years, 19 May Victory Day would enhance national reconciliation rather than be an impediment.

Besides contributions made by the Armed Forces in fighting the LTTE from 1980 till 2009, let us also not forget their contributions in 1971 and during the 1987-90 period.

One of the recommendations by the LLRC, ignored in their wisdom by the former administration is for the declaration of one day to commemorate all those who died during the conflict. This could be easily implemented in the form of a ‘Remembrance Day’ or ‘Reconciliation Day’ on an alternate date

That is the least that could be offered by a grateful nation to the memory of those who ‘gave their tomorrow’ and those who were ‘willing to give their tomorrow’ for the peace dividend currently enjoyed by each and every one in Sri Lanka today, regardless of race, religion or political affiliations.

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Latest comments

  • 7
    18

    Ranil must be the only Prime Minister in the World , who insulted the Armed Forces as the Opposition Leader, when the brave forces were engaged in a life or death War against a deadly Terrorist Organization’

    And still became the PM after the brave Armed Forces sacrificed 30,000 young soldiers to give the current freedom to the Nation.

    The only consolation the great majority who contributed those brave sons of theirs have is, that Rani is not an Elected PM.

    If Ranil is allowed on stage and receive a salute from the Soldiers , specially the Disabled soldiers, it will be the ultimate insult to the dead ones……

    • 9
      4

      K.A Sumanasekera

      “when the brave forces were engaged in a life or death War against a deadly Terrorist Organization’”

      Were they?

      What my Elders reminded me is the fact that those war criminals continued kill innocent civilians across the island from 5th April 1971. The only time that they had to fight a war against an invading foreign forces was in 1987, but they chose not to. The war criminals were hiding behind their women folks and VP’s fat bum.

      Where were you when Hindians invaded this island?

      Were you hiding behind your grandmother or granddaughter, or behind LTTE’s child soldiers?

      • 3
        7

        Dear Native,

        You got a point mate…

        Just checked with my elders.

        Your darling Diaspora CBK’s Mum was in charge in 1971.

        Your buddy Ranil’s uncle was in charge July 83.

        Your new mate, the guardian of the Southern Sinhala Buddhists and their protector from the Elite and the Anglicans . our own Keselwatta Kid’s dear departed Dad was in charge in 88/89.

        He even gave AK 47s to your LTTE boys.

        And he used the ” Boys” to take care of your Hindian relos.

        I must thank you for giving me the opportunity to reflect on the past deeds of the UNP and their new allay CBK on this important day for all inhabitants who suffered under the Hero of the NPC CM, and Anura Kumara’s JVP.

        • 1
          0

          ok leave aside mrs B and JRJ and Keselwatte Kid (71,83,88-89) but where was K A Sumanasekera(m) in 88-89 when the Indians invaded our shores,dont tell me you were hiding under your wifes skirt pal!

          also where was BBS and Wimal W at that time????

    • 2
      2

      I was told that the Intelligence Unit was betrayed to the LTTE by the same person.

  • 20
    3

    It has to be remembered that the war that ended on 19.05. 2009 was a civil war and not a war of liberation. There cannot be any denial there were thousands of innocent victims to this war. What is now being sought is reconciliation and not celebration of victory of one community over the other. Any war is brutal and in the concepts of every religion there are no victors in any war. All are losers.

    Hence it should be accepted by all reasonable people that the decision of the government to change the victory day to a Remembrance Day was made in the the interests of harmony and long term welfare in the country. All those who died are citizens of this country. The kith and kin of the dead, their friends and well wishers all have the right to remember the dead to whichever side the dead person belonged. That is the civilised way of doing things.

    Sengodan. M

    • 3
      1

      Instead of calling it a victory day where feelings could be hurt..it should be called a reconciliation day… Let the lives of the ones who fought gallantly for a united SL and died in the process NOT be in vain…Hope this is not politicized for the selfish gains of some..

      In war it not who won or lost but who is left….digging up wounds will not help….healing has to take place and trust between communities should be built..

      NO !! the likes of BBS’s Dilantha and Gandassara will NEVER be able to do this…

    • 2
      1

      I agree it is the civilized way. But why all you people criticizing SLK government. British, French, US and Russian have been celebrating their 1st and 2nd world war victories against Germany, Italy and Japan for almost a century now, year after year. Why won’t you people go and give a lesson on civilized and HR ways to these brutes as well. Just be thankful that terrorism in SLK was stopped on its heels in 2009. All freedom loving citizen should be celebrating it every year for generations, as well as doing your prayers to the dead, but not under a tiger colors.

    • 0
      2

      sengodan
      Check the meaning of a “civil war” before you write next time. What we had was a terrorist war where a group of terrorist terrorized all civilians by suicide bombing and attacking the countries defense forces which tried to protect its citizens.

  • 4
    7

    There is a lot of sense in what Rajeeva says. Terrorism affected ALL communities. May 19th 2009 brought relief to ALL irrespective of race, cast or religion. Greed and hatred are making interested parties to obscure that and twist its commemoration into a ‘Sinhala triumphalism’ or ‘Rajapakse triumphalism.’ No citizen of Sri Lanka can deny or forget the sacrifices of military personnel who made peace (or absence of violent conflict) a reality. We need to look beyond what is dished out by those with hidden agenda of course using a pliant media

  • 16
    1

    A War Victory is a Victory against another Country.

    Does Sri Lanka Celebrate the ending of the JVP Insurrection as a War
    Victory?

    An ending of an uprising by the Citizens of a Country cannot be called a War Victory!

    That would be Confirming that the North and East of Sri Lanka is a Separate Country called Eelam!

  • 6
    2

    Rajeewa Jayaweera

    RE: Victory Day: Last That We Forget

    “That is the least that could be offered by a grateful nation to the memory of those who ‘gave their tomorrow’ and those who were ‘willing to give their tomorrow’ for the peace dividend currently enjoyed by each and every one in Sri Lanka today, regardless of race, religion or political affiliations.”

    In Sri Lanka, it should be called Remembrance Day or Liberation Day,

    Remembrance for Remembering all those who died, direct and indirect combatants due to the post 1948 Conflicts.

    Liberation Day: Because it liberates the Racists and Chauvinists from their ailment in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho.

    The True Way to Liberation. LTTE or JVP(National Liberation Front) is not needed for Liberation.

    When we are aware of the happiness we enjoy, and give thanks for it,
    our awareness of the bounty of blessings we receive is itself a true path to liberation.

    http://www.rk-world.org/dharmaworld/dw_2012ajpresident.aspx

  • 11
    2

    Rajeeva,

    I beg to differ.

    Remembrance day is for all to reflect on the tragedy and horror that Sri Lanka was. Remembrance day is for those who died, the pathetic masses of Tamils who had no where to flee, the surrendering LTTE cadres who were tortured and killed and also those among the armed forces who died.

    It was not a victory at all. All told only horror from beginning to end. Horror of communal violence that gave birth to the horrors of LTTE and the horror of putting them down. No one to blame but ourselves for all this horror in the Dharmadveepa. What is there to celebrate but light some lamps for the dead and sigh a deep sigh shame.

  • 8
    1

    looks like mr is lighting a lamp for a ballistic rocket or a male organ? and jayaweera is cheering all the deaths including civilians at mullivaikal.

    also this is not a contest between the state and ‘terrorists’ but one between state terrorism for 40 years and a liberation struggle gone authoritarian where state terrorism played a huge role in creating terror.

  • 5
    0

    I’m sure he means “Lest we Forget!” also Kennedy was paraphrasing the ‘defeat is an orphan’ saying.

    • 1
      0

      Thank you! Lest we forget! from Kipling’s poem Recessional, please CT get a proper copy editor!!

  • 7
    2

    Ever stopped to wonder what would be happening now, if MR & Co. were still in power? Would the Ms. Sooka, HRW, Kerry, Cameron, TNA, the Diaspora etc have been able to even voice an opinion? Would Colombotelegraph and Lankaenews etc be in circulation? IF MR should return, then what?!

    Just GIVE My3 time. Don’t be hasty and impatient. There is an unpredictable Sinhala/Buddhist majority, who cannot be liquidated. Given time, My3 will sort out all wrongs.

    • 0
      1

      Really? You want Kerry and Cameron to run your country, have some self respect buddy, it will do you good!

  • 2
    8

    It is a sad fact that although the Terrorists killed persons from all communities, and threatened the lives and livelihoods of all Sri Lankans, not all Sri Lankans are willing to celebrate Victory over the terrorist campaign.

    These few people prefer to live under the Terrorist threat. So be it. They are suicidal.

  • 2
    8

    “What is necessary is an acknowledgement by all political parties and all communities of the role played by the Armed Forces in defeating the LTTE which besides being a military victory is also a victory for the people of this island over terrorism.”

    Exactly.

    To put it bluntly, if the LTTE won and was celebrating today as victory day I would not be opposed to that. I would not ask them to make this day a remembrance day.

    For this reason I would want all of Sri Lanka to celebrate Victory Day today.

    It is ironic that Sri Lanka is denied its Victory day, and those who support the LTTE are denied their remembrance day.

    • 3
      0

      Vanguard

      “For this reason I would want all of Sri Lanka to celebrate Victory Day today.”

      You should also celebrate victory day for winning the war against JVP, Welikada prison massacre, Weliweriya, Chilaw, ………

      And Lasantha’s killing, white van day, ……….. would be a fitting tribute to the armed forces, war criminals, murder squads, ……… if the state cares to celebrate …

  • 7
    2

    Ayubowan Rajeewa ( another Rjeewa a smart patriot like that of R.Wieyasinghe and his bracket DJ ),

    I went through the archives and read most of your analysis.

    Any person ( regardless of Singhalese , Tamil , Muslim, Burgher, Malay, Veddha in Srilanka or overseas ) with common sense can see you are a typical well to do Singhalese supremacist who mixes selective facts and distorted facts to prove that your analysis are fair to all.You pretend as if you practice Buddha’s teachings as a guide for your analysis.

    My simple question to you is why you have conveniently left out so many dates that all Srilankans/ or Ceylonese should remember as a defeat day/ remembrance day since Feb 4th, 1948.

    All these sad days occured under Sinhalese Buddhist Political Leadership between 4th Feb 1948 and 8th January 2015 except Sir John Kottalawela Leadership.Now there is an opportunity to put the country in an enlightened path under God sent MAITHIRI but you are trying to undermine it with your skewed write ups.

    Your Rajapakse heroes have missed the opportunity since 2010 to take the path showed by Emperor Asoka did after war victory over Kalinga. Instead Rajapakse portrays himself as Duty Gemunu even at Vihare Mahadevi Park last night.

    Please allow MAITHIRI to follow Asoka footsteps and bring good governance, peace and prosperity to Srilanka.

  • 7
    1

    Rajeewa

    So, Your issue has been if the May 19 is a day of Remembrance or Victory; Victory over terrorists or remembrance of all those who were killed.

    The entire world knows what happened and have been happening in SL, the current government knows, but people like you have been buried your heads in the sand and are pretending you don’t know a thing about innocent people who lost their lives and those loved ones still feeling the pains. Will they be part of this day of national celebration that you advocate?. Or, do you feel those who lost their loved-ones’ feeling and anxiety that these kind of celebrations might help re-live will be acceptable and can be ignored. Do you want them also to come and celebrate or want to leave them mourn on their own in their corners.

    You say, “Besides contributions made by the Armed Forces in fighting the LTTE from 1980 till 2009, let us also not forget their contributions in 1971 and during the 1987-90 period.” What kind of Day you propose for the achievement of any sorts for uprising of Sinhala Youth 1971 and 1987-90; Victory or Remembrance?. With due respect to those who lost lives, this achievement might fit into a true victory as there was no involvement of carpet bombing or shooting of those whose hand wound behind their bodies.

    Although I feel terminating LTTE at least in 2009 is a good thing for SL, and particularly for Tamil, if not VP would have made a Ethiopia in Vanni, most of Tamils do not share that view. It is not purely because he was a Tamil, but simply there should be a person like him to handle the SL Army and their atrocities are horrendous. When recall those days, how many nasty experiences, once I was travelling from Mannar to Colombo and caught the early morning bus to Vavuniya. Caught up with army when passing just about Giant Tank at Murunkan. what they did was they took all the passengers down and made us walk with them about 20m or so in front. Thought the agony would end when we reach other army camp at Murunkan but extended up to other camp at Parayanalamkulam. Luckily no land mines or LTTE confrontation, and survived but when we reached Vavuniya it was just about 6pm, and a curfew was imposed there those days. Listening to the pleading of passengers the driver dropped us at a church and the night was spent there. SL Army never treated the people like one of them as they believed all Tamils were with LTTE, which helped the LTTE to keep their sympathy for a while and then it turned into dominance over the people. So, those people like you saying LTTE used them as human shield inside the NFZ may have some veracity however, from the point of view people, what made them to ran away with withdrawing LTTE was the fear of SL Army walk them as shield for them if they stay put at their homes. Theirs was the situation of devil or deep sea, either way, despite, had to find out who was the lesser devil, and the answer was always LTTE. At the end, such a decision made them pay dearly at the hand of both parties. Doesn’t it deserve a celebration, you should tell.

  • 3
    1

    Rajeewa JAyaweera is out of mind.

    Sinhala people are only 17 million in the world.

    During the JVP times, thousands of Sinhala youth died no one talked about. How many countries are talking about the Suicide bombers and black tigers died and their rights.

    Tamils are over 100 million Catholics/christians and muslims are each close to TWO billion in the world.

  • 3
    3

    VICTORY ??? fake..artificial..borrowed ..

    without the help of 36 countries and with the banned chemical weapons from poverty India even this fake victory is not possible ..and your forces will fight (??) for another 50 years ….

    It iy your grandfather..father..cousins..uncles by their actions from 1956 to 1983 created the LTTE…accept this truth

    Don’t she crocodile tears for TAMILS ..

    Cheers

  • 2
    3

    Thank you for all your comments – both negative and positive.

    I note with regret that many have misunderstood the purpose of this article.

    It is not to make light of the the suffering and death brought about by this conflict to those of all communities, especially those of the Tamil community or the need of an Remembrance Day for them.

    I would like to highlight that the Armed Fores did not wage war against the Tamil people – only against the LTTE elements in that community. Many others received the protection of the Armed Forces all over the island including the 300,000 plus rescued during the tail end.

    Remembrance of whose who died in the conflict is a separate issue to that of acknowledging the contribution made by the Armed Forces. Hence the need for separate events.

    The Armed Forces of any nation is an institution which need to be cherished but kept under civilian control at all times.

    Mahinda Rajapaksa is an individual who was voted into the most important office in this land by a majority twice but has now been rejected. Bringing him into this issue serves no purpose as he now is an ordinary citizen.

    • 2
      1

      The members of the LTTE were and still ARE citizens of Sri Lanka. The administration of the government funded by its budget ran in all areas of the country throughout the war.

      Decent chap as you may be Rajive that does not change the simple fact that your thinking makes you an ABSOLUTE IDIOT!

      Unfortunately there are quite a few ABSOLUTE IDIOTS who share your thinking who are still around.

      These repeated dirty, ugly, sordid episodes of Sri Lankan history where incompetent governments use the state to murder increasingly large numbers of young people must be seen as the abuse of power that they do constitute and the abusers of power identified and PUNISHED.

      If your STUPID IDIOTIC thinking prevails we will soon, possibly within weeks or at the most months see another episode of this killing of the youth.

    • 0
      1

      It seems you are living in another planet…….

      In conflict like this UN staff and Red Cross should have allowed to access the Tamils who were panicked and surrendered…..this never happens..uneducated thug Doggabaya has ignored all international norms ,rules ..and went on taking revenge including raping shivering Tamil girls

      SL Army saved Tamils ???? pure imagination

      The truth is massacre started using prohibited chemical weapons supplied by poverty India later butchering surrendered Tamils with white flags

      Please wait till coming september all will be exposed this is why Murderpakse & Co., are panicked now…

      Do you think parents ..mothers..sisters..brothers who are searching for their beloved ones are idiots ..do you know how they suffer daily basis …

      Remember you can dance for this borrowed..fake..artificial victory but kids are growing up searching for their loved ones when they grow up no idea what they will do after hearing all these massacres ….

      It is your grandfather..father..uncle..cousins who have paved the way for the birth of LTTE …

    • 2
      0

      Rajeewa Jayaweera types:

      “I would like to highlight that the Armed Fores did not wage war against the Tamil people – only against the LTTE elements in that community. Many others received the protection of the Armed Forces all over the island including the 300,000 plus rescued during the tail end.”

      One should always remember the quote below before one start typing:

      I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.
      ― S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

      “The Armed Forces of any nation is an institution which need to be cherished but kept under civilian control at all times. “

      Of course you are right, however if you revisit the past, you would find 5th April 1971 was a special day for all of us, the day when the Sri Lankan armed forces and police began committing war crimes and crime against humanity with impunity. It didn’t stop until 8th January 2015.

      The troubling question that no Sinhala/Buddhist is prepared to respond to is this, why didn’t the state celebrate the victory over Southern terrorism? Why do the successive governments allow the Southern terrorists to remember their fallen comrades while the Northerners are barred from remembering their innocent victims?

      Three separate commissions which investigated war crimes and crime against humanity, committed by the armed forces between 1987 and 1990 produced three reports, gathering dust at the national archive.

      You will find evidence of atrocities committed by armed forces during that period. It is your freedom to cherish the war criminals but don’t expect the victims to respect them. In fact victims should have pursued the perpetrators and their morally bankrupt supporters.

  • 3
    3

    Rajeewa Jeyaweera,
    It may be a war victory of Sinhalese but definitely not for Tamils of Srilanka island. you are accepting that Tamils are not part of Sinhala Srilanka. You may even call the 1958, 1983 massacre of Tamils as a war victory of Sinhalese. For you victory of JVP by military was not a war victory because Mahinda was on the side of JVP. For you, Mahinda’s call for International intervention against Srilanka military war against JVP terrorism was State terrorism. On your scale of judgment Mahinda is the denominator, not Srilanka military. There is a valid reason for LTTE Terrorism and still that is a valid reason to justify LTTE war against Sinhala Fundamentalism. LTTE never attempted to capture the whole island but JVP terrorism was to capture the whole island.
    Maithiri is trying to heel the wounds of the 65 year old buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalists war against Tamils of this island but you people want to reignite the Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism in order to create another bloodbath of Tamils.

  • 2
    2

    Rajeeva,
    I don’t know who put the photo of Mahinda lighting the candle in front of Lion with sword towards minorites. But it tells the story of bloodbath agenda of Mahinda towards minorities.

  • 2
    2

    Rajeewa [Edited out],

    Your racist dig is rising to support the cruel uncivilized army who raped women and killed many and you are covering them in the name of liberation and war against terrorism. If what LTTE was engaged called as terrorism, what do you call the actions of army in North since end of the war? Civilization? Two different yardsticks to meausre?

    • 0
      0

      Counter terrorism

  • 4
    0

    Suggest , we should take a lesson from Mahabaratha Epic Poem.
    Both parties fought a very cruel war.Really it was a battle. One party represented Good and the other party Bad. The good side won. But at the end of the war all ended up in Heaven. Victors have shown mercy to the vanquished
    Only way to solve this problem is to Remember the dead and injured, whether they be sihala or tamil and provide a decent lively hood for dependants

  • 3
    2

    There is nothing to celebrate in a war waged by a state against its own citizens. Do we celebrate the victory against the insurgents in 1971?

    A war waged by a state against its own citizens is a shameful action and a clear indication that its government – or its successive governments – have abused its power.

    Only an ABSOLUTE IDIOT will compare the second world war with a sordid dirty war waged by a state against its own citizens!

    • 3
      2

      It is a war waged by about 10-15,000 Bata-slippered Tamil youth carrying small arms (the general GoSL estimate) against over 300,000 men in the army, navy, air-force (large numbers of Police excluded)armed to the teeth with the most modern weapons that, in a way, went out to bankrupt part of the Exchequer. Why it took 30 years baffles anyone with an iota of knowledge of basic warfare. It is all too well known a notorious army man is said to have kept 10 (US) cents to every bullet and $25 for every grenade used in the war during the time he was in the driving seat. That is, not counting the more expensive sensitive equipment like Tanks, MMBLs, Artillery equipment etc. One reason to mull over was when a former military VVIP was caught red-handed with huge unaccounted cash in local currency and dollars in several vaults in Colombo banks. As usual, “good connections” saw the (late)well-connected man went scott free. There are dozens of them – men and women – who became multi-millionaires thanks to the War.

      Sadly tens of thousands of Sinhala youth also made the supreme sacrifice for their motherland – some of whose bodies were burnt at the point of action so that the Southern hinterland does not get too disturbed if these bodies “came home”

      Sri Lanka is not the only country with this sordid record in the contemporary world is our only point of consolation.

      Backlash

  • 2
    2

    How did the Army win a civil-war; an uprising of separtist of its own citizens? By
    holding out a false promise to the I/C as a solution will be found in return for
    war support. India/US/UK fell for it. This opened the SLA to use prohibited weponary and
    banned heavy-artillery to conclude a “war” without witnesses. This is no Victory
    of celebrations! It ended similar to dropping atom-bombs to end WW2.

  • 1
    2

    even barbarians will be ashamed about the followings :

    1

    .after anuradhapura airport attack SL ARMY who couldn’t face the rebels ..paraded the NAKED dead bodies LTTE girls and boys in open tractor throughout the town as instructed by Doggabaya …THE BISHOP IN ANURADHAPURA EXPRESSED ANGRY AND SHOCK AND SAID HE IS ASHAMED TO BE A SINHALSAE..

    imagine what would have happened in Mullivaikal by this baBarian army ….

    2.

    After so called borrowed..fake..artificial victory Dogabaya has ordered to bulldozed all cemeteries -no civilized person in this world will allow this ..in North- East and Sinhala army played foot ball on this place..

    imagine how these army would have behaved at the last moment in mullivaikal …

    Can any Sinhalse tolerate if this happened to your own sisters or brothers ???

    or someone bulldozed the place of rest of your children ..sisiter..brother ..and play foot ball there ??

    These 2 incidents are also coming under WAR CRIMES ….

    Next stop for Murderpake and Doggabaya is ICC at The Hague

    Cheers

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    Rajeewa.

    ….Bringing HIM[MR] into this issue serves no purpose as he now is an ordinary citizen….

    But look at the Photo to your essay.

    MARA is about to fire a cannon.This time directed towards MS-RW.
    Most probably it will backfire!

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    Whilst it would be nice to think of May 19th as a victory for all Sri Lankan’s the intervening 6 years has seen a mono-ethnic Sinhala army occupy and repress the majority Tamil regions, with continued torture, rape and disappearances. In the North they commemorate a massacre, whilst in the South you celebrate a massacre. So many tragic contradictions.

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    Gratefulness is an admired quality of Sri Lankan life-style. We all need to be grateful to Mahinda Rajapaksa for bringing peace to the country. It was a brutal war with LTTE as many invisible hands were behind LTTE. They are not invisible any more as they openly interfere Sri Lankan politics and its sovereignty using their henchmen politicians in power. We need to be very careful about the people who disguised as “peace-keepers” but actually destroying the peace by being disgraceful to heroes.

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    If the LTTE had won they would have celebrated Victory.

    Would that have been wrong? Anyone against this?

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    What should be done is something like the US. A Memorial Day where the entire nation gets together to remember all those who served and died in uniform. That’s when we have parades, wave flags, and pay respects to our soldiers, sailors and airmen.

    A separate day, the 19th of May should be set aside as a Unification Day to celebrate the end of the civil war and the joining of the north and south once more. Very little military activities. Lighting of candles, prayers, remembering the terror and saying never again.

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    Rajiva Jayaweera has racism in his blood.His father Stanley and uncle Neville were two stooges of the greatest racist of all time N Q Dias.Rajiva practiced racism while posted as Manager ,Srilankan airlines office in Paris until the management quietly got rid of him.

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    Hi! All,

    Abraham Lincoln showed us all how to reconcile after a civil war, to call one side terrorist is to risk call both sides the same (pls refer to the UN definition of terrorism).

    If one is to fight another to protect ones constitution then one must fight on the basis of the constitution. LTTE fought using terrorist tactic against the constitution, did we violate the very constitution we fought to protect by using terrorist acts………

    Remembrance day should be a memorial for all that we lost on both sides and a day that we together say never again as a united nation of different cultures. Never again to choose to discriminate, differentiate or put down each culture as inferior.

    Petros

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