This week marks the 30th anniversary of Black July, the state-sponsored anti-Tamils programme in Sri Lanka on 24 July 1983. We publish below the Tamil National Alliance MP M. A. Sumanthiran speechon Black July.
Part 1
Part 2
M.A. Sumanthiran
Video: Sumanthiran’s Full Speech On Black July
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Jim softy / July 27, 2013
All live one wants to thrive on dead carcasses.
Humanity ?
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Probono Publico / July 27, 2013
jim nutty take your medicines man
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Native Vedda / July 27, 2013
Probono Publico
“jim nutty take your medicines man”
How do you know Jimmy is a man? Jimmy can be he, she or it.
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Taraki / July 27, 2013
Or both he and she…
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Rohan / July 27, 2013
he_he_he :) ho_ho_ho…
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Burt / July 27, 2013
Or could be he and she at the same time, this could explain where the word “softy” is comming from. :)
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 27, 2013
Is this guy for reconcilliation?.
Are his arguments,logical and reasonable?
Successive Srilankan Govts have apologized, for the dastardly attacks on innocents and their properties and paid compensation to the victims with whatever meagre resources available.
The great majority of the inhabitant population sympathized with the victims and have expressed their sorrow, although they did have nothing to do with those atroicities.
The population of Tamils in Colombo in far higher now and they are the cream of the crop.
But the politicians who are responsible have now become the best buddies of Sumanathiran and his Leader Sambandan.
32 Baby Monks,Thousands of innocent Mums and Children in remote Villages bordering the ” Homeland” which Mr Sumanthiran seems to be proud of.Hundreds of Buddhist and Muslim devotess, mainly rural poor worshipping at Maha Bodhi, Kattankady, and the Temple of the Tooth,Mums and Dads at work or travelling to and fro ,who were Hacked, Shot, Burnt or Blasted didn’t get a mention, although these atrocities are unparalled in anals of Modern History.
These atrocities were not committed in one hit but staggered over Thirty Years.
But the great inhabitant population in the South didn’t lay a hand on any Tamil civilians among them.
Does Mr Sumanathiran deliver these onesided spiels because he was hand picked by Sambandan and shoehorned into Pariament by the LTTE poxies in the TNA?.
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Wyatt K / July 27, 2013
This is far from a one-sided spiel. It is actually a very forward looking speech if you took the time to watch the whole thing. Sumanthiran is for reconciliation and healing. And, he is for the Rule of Law and democracy which is something Sri Lanka is in danger of losing right now if it were not for people like Sumanthiran who are standing up on behalf of ALL Sri Lankans.
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Apollo / July 28, 2013
agree!
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Lanka Liar / July 27, 2013
What he says is crime is a crime. That is all. Your argument is a typical Sri lankan one. No wonder you are one of them. may be apologize after 50 years. that is the game you play. But it will come to an end when Lankastan is created.
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Anura / July 27, 2013
You can’t say those lions suddenly became civilized after 1983.
When tigers got agitated and took arms, Sinhslese lions like Leela and KA Sumanasekara went on hibernating. They woke up again after 30 years and start hurting little tigers and camels and their families.
Anura.
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Peace Lover / July 29, 2013
k A sumanasekera and leela are one and same person and he is no sinhalese lion,he is more a sinhalese vulture which i gather from his writings
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Probono Publico / July 28, 2013
ah Leela is back with his nonsense!
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Milton / July 27, 2013
Black July 1983 was part of Neo-Political agenda of Local party of UNP.
It’s help and encourage War for 30 years and undermine the unity,split Island into TWO;One for Tamils-created ROUGH STATE by Tamil leaders in Indian soil.That is we so-called Eelam State.The main role play by TNA and LTTE and other Tamil-terrorist outfits encourage by TULF.
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Coconut Donkey / July 27, 2013
Balanced deposition. Thank you for the reminder of our past written in blood
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Wyatt K / July 27, 2013
Another great speech from Sri Lanka’s great man! M.A. Sumanthiran is one of the most brilliant minds in Sri Lanka. He is a gentleman, a great speaker, a great lawyer and I believe this man will save democracy in Sri Lanka and prevent it from becoming a banana republic. Great stuff! My only criticism is I wish you would post better quality audio of his speeches. However, I will take whatever I can get from Sumanthiran. Sri Lanka has a man to be proud of who is a national statesman and a global humanitarian figure…
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Wyatt K / July 27, 2013
Who is the elderly man who usually interrupts M.A. Sumanthiran’s speeches to bring up issues under the guise of being points of order? I don’t like him and I wonder why he feels a need to get up and speak on the coattails of a much better man…
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manel fonseka / July 27, 2013
Without looking — I’m deaf, anyway, & can’t hear a soundtrack — let me, like a fool, rush in & suggest it must be Azwer. Sounds like his style.
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Point of View / July 27, 2013
Must be Gon Azver ! He is a JOKE.
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Wyatt K / July 27, 2013
He is nauseating actually…
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Lanka Liar / July 27, 2013
He is the Parliament toilet Toilet cleaner is sitting in the parliament after he finished his job. Utter fool.
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Wyatt K / July 28, 2013
I love how Sumanthiran just casually laughs him off at the end… Sumanthiran is far and away above all of them…
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mike / July 27, 2013
He is ASSwar, Hitlerpaksha’s kiss-ass man. He has no educational qualifications other than being a former Maliban Biscothu Factory employee. I have a strong feeling he is rewarded handsomely to interrupt all speeches made by Hon. Sumanthiran in parliament!!
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Rooster / July 28, 2013
You mean the hypocrite who called Sajin Vas an avtar of Buddha? The same idiot yesterday disturbed Harin Fernando too in the parliament for mentioning someone and said that ‘Dont say that to Karu ayasuriya’ as if karu is his buddy. MR loves these lots. ame mind set.
Sumanthiran is a leader material, I love the way he talks. Wish to have a leader like him if not him.
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Wyatt K / July 27, 2013
The UNP should draft M.A. Sumanthiran and make him the leader of the UNP. They could allow him to stay in the TNA simultaneously as well and have him be a member of both parties. M. A. Sumanthiran is pretty much the opposition to the increasingly repressive government anyway. That would be the boldest move the UNP could make right now…
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Burt / July 28, 2013
[The UNP should draft M.A. Sumanthiran]
What have you got against Sumanthiran?
I think TNA has the ability to attract good candidates from accross the country and the maturity to look beyond racial lines with a vision for prosperity for the whole country.
The best Alternative will be for TNA to expand nationally but “T” in TNA might not be acceptable to the Sinhalese or Muslims. Remembering TNA was created to unite the Tamils and is only a collection of parties with that objectiv. TNA could desolve at any time without affecting the individual parties that form it.
Its time to form a party that unites the whole country with a vision for the future. Will the south like this? There will power movers that are Tamil. The next question is can Sinhala politicians be trusted? More than 25% UPFA MP’s at the moment were UNP that crossed over for personal gain. Look at Dayasiri. 24hrs before cross over he was swearing that he was loyal to the party.
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Deepika / July 27, 2013
Very good speech..only ones affected by the ’83 violence would know how it felt. The Muslims today have yet to see such a large scale of an onslaught, yet the style remains the same- government complicity, police inaction, uneducated Sinhala people mobilized by radical forces…. So this government too needs to be sent home for they have no heart for humanity, no mercy, no understanding…just selfish regard for power at any cost and loss to others!
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Tony Haniffa / July 27, 2013
You are a wel educated person not like those thugs in this Government .
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Sun / July 27, 2013
I am sinhalese, but I wish we could have leaders like Sumanthiran to lead our nation – then they can become OBAMAS of united srilanka. They have the vison and wisdom none of them the ruling bunch claims to have.
So called intelligent defence secretary has appearently chickend out the meeting with on going UK delgation. Why did we have to do with UGANDA lately, . why should lanken govt give the priority to those countries while we have thousand crucial other problems to settle – specially at this critical juncture of the country.
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Wyatt K / July 28, 2013
Bravo! Please spread the word among all people’s that this is the man to lead all Sri Lankans out of the dark… This is the leader of the restoration of Sri Lanka’s past greatness.
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Native Vedda / July 28, 2013
Sun
“I am sinhalese, but I wish we could have leaders like Sumanthiran to lead our nation”
No chance.
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Wyatt K / July 29, 2013
There is a chance. This type of person only comes around once or twice in a generation. Fortunately, little Sri Lanka has a giant figure of its own. You are looking at the equal of an Obama here. I don’t especially care for Obama, but the comparison is a good one. I would, however, take Sumanthiran over Obama.
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Native Vedda / July 30, 2013
Wyatt K
“This type of person only comes around once or twice in a generation”
This miracle man never arrives.
The culture is such either these people are not born here or they leave this land as soon as they realise their full potential could not be achieved.
Anti intellectualism runs rampant.
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Milton / July 27, 2013
Sumanthrin speech has demand for separate state by TNA political agenda.
There is no problem only power sharing with Tamils,but Tamils are NOT minority in the region, but there are majority Tamil Nadu in India.
Our power structure since 1987 has created by Indian hegemony,over-rule power of people’s sovereignty by Invade India army of IPKF.
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Wyatt K / July 27, 2013
I disagree, there is nothing to suggest Sumanthiran wants a separate Tamil state. He wants a unified Sri Lankan state where all people, of all religions and ethnic background are treated with dignity under a constitutional democratic government which is based on the rule of law and not rule of law. Someday, Sumanthiran will be president of a Sri Lanka which is unified and its past greatness is restored. Sumanthiran is more Sri Lankan than a lot of other Sri Lankans. He just happens to be Tamil. His allegiance is to democracy and the rule of law. You are looking at a unifier, not a divider. If you want to see dividers, you only need look at the present regime.
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Wyatt K / July 27, 2013
I meant to say rule of law and not rule of clan….
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Native Vedda / July 28, 2013
Milton
“Sumanthrin speech has demand for separate state by TNA political agenda.”
When and where did he demand a separate state?
“Tamils are NOT minority in the region, but there are majority Tamil Nadu in India.”
Are you suggesting that North East Sri Lanka should be merged with Tamilnadu?
Or did you mean that the Sri Lankan Tamils should be sent back to Tamilnadu?
I will agree with you so long as the Tamils take their Sinhala brethren with them.
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JimSofty / July 28, 2013
Native Veddha from Tamilnadu or Saudi Arabia:
Read carefully what he says. He as a shroud politician is trying to appeal to Tamils without harming the thinking pattern of Sinhala people (Because he lived among sinhala people in Colombo). He is talking about Tamil self -determination. As a politicians what is the end to that ? What is the end of that ? will they resign from politics if they get one of their wishes. Won’t they ask for more ?
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Native Vedda / July 28, 2013
Jimmy
Historically people demanded more from their rulers and continue to aspire for more. What is wrong with their aspiration? Not all demands are unreasonable if you open your eyes to other’s views.
Ultimately it would be India which will decide what is good for both stupid people after taking into account of its own interest. The more you deny the stupid Tamils the more the stupid Sinhala/Buddhist will loose.
In the past I have commented on your comments. You never responded to a single comment of mine. Why now?
Is it because what I said above?
“I will agree with you so long as the Tamils take their Sinhala brethren with them.”
Please learn to share everything with your fellow country men and women? Failure to do so will destroy everything you hold dear and want to preserve, including your language, religion, and my ancestral land.
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Hemantha Jayawardena / July 27, 2013
Bravo Suman! Sadly there are only 2 sane voices in Parliament today – you and Harsha. By coincidence, both were my batch mates in school!
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Spotlight / July 29, 2013
July’83 should have become a ‘non event’ by now but there are people – small in number maybe – who keep stimulating feelings and actions of religious and racial hatred – making it easy for politicians to make use of it. It is up to the ‘silent majority’ of decent people to make their presence felt.
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Burt / July 29, 2013
It can never become a non event. For the majority it could not for the minority that suffered and lived through it. Memory is not something that you could on/off like a light switch.
I do hear you in the sence that what happened was horrible but it did happened and now we cannot undo it. But we have to take the next step too to learn from it and prevent it happening again. Before you can take a lesson from it you should be able to acknowledge it and understand it not find excuses for it. This is one of the things that Sumanthiran tried to convey. It has already been established that politicians and people in power were behind 1983. What made them think that they could get away with mass murder, rape and looting? Because no one acknowledged there was a problem since 1956, no one was ever punished or held accountable.
We are seeing the same thing all over again, now its not Tamils but Muslims as a race, Muslims and Christians as religions. Where is the law and order of the country. Most of what is done is criminal the state has a responsibility to enforce the law and its miserably failing, sooner or later there will be another Black day in the history of SL.
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Wyatt K / July 29, 2013
This man should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Can anyone help?
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ARULCHELVAN / August 13, 2013
[Edited out]
We are sorry, the comment language is English – CT
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