By Harsha Gunasena –
Harsha Gunasena
Sri Lanka has entered into a staff level agreement with IMF on 1 September 2022 and the agreement was not reveled to the Parliament. However the summary of the agreement was published in the webpage of IMF. The key elements of the agreement were raising fiscal revenue and aim to reach a primary surplus of 2.3% of GDP by 2025; introducing cost-recovery based pricing for fuel and electricity; introducing a social safety net; restoring price stability through data-driven monetary policy action, fiscal consolidation, phasing out monetary financing, and stronger central bank autonomy; rebuilding foreign reserves through restoring a market-determined and flexible exchange rate; safeguarding financial stability by ensuring adequately capitalized banking system, and by upgrading financial sector safety nets; and reducing corruption.
Primary account is the difference between the revenue and expenditure of the government excluding interest payments and debt repayments. If a surplus is needed in addition to increasing the revenue the expenditure also should be reduced. IMF statement was not specific about that. What was meant by fiscal consolidation was to reduce the budget deficit and expansion of debt.
Salaries and wages of the government employees amounts to around 50% of the government revenue in 2020-2022. In the budget estimates of 2023, it was brought down to 30% level as a result of the increase of the revenue. The government intend to reduce the number of government employees by not filling the vacancies. The treasury should give the approval to fill the vacancies but they do not give such approval. Revenue will increase instantly by privatizing the State Owned Enterprises (SOE) and thereby the budget deficit will reduce. By doing so there is an impact to the budget deficit in the long run since the government does not have to pump cash to these institutions if they make losses.
In last September addressing a party meeting in Ambalantota, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the state sector must be downscaled and be made more efficient. He said over the years, politicians have used the State sector to provide employment to their supporters.
Citing few examples he said that there were 600 academic staff at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura while it had over 4000 non-academic staff and the bottom level of the state sector is inundated with staff. He said five buses leave Matara daily with workers bound for the Colombo harbour after they were employed by a politician who hailed from the area during his tenure as Ports Minister.
The President in his budget speech said in Parliament on 14 November 2022 that .he proposes to restructure which means privatize Sri Lankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Telecom, Colombo Hilton, Waters Edge and the Insurance Corporation and use such funds to increase the foreign exchange reserves of the country and strengthen the Rupee.
At a conference about budget proposals he said that the Government does not intend to do business, whilst pointing out that it lost billions and trillions of rupees which would have been better invested on education, health or housing. He said that we have to decide whether we want to strengthen the people or whether we want to take public money and strengthen the Insurance Corporation, SriLankan Airlines and Sri Lanka Telecom. He stressed that his priority was to look at the people and not these companies and buildings. He went on to say that if these institutions could fetch USD 7 Billion Sri Lanka would be back to normal.
Champika Ranawaka, the leader of the 43 Brigade is having a different view. He is of the view that there will not be foreign investors at the point where the country is bankrupt. They will not be interested to invest in Dollars and get the return in Rupees since there are restrictions for outward remittances. If any one comes the reason could be that there are geopolitical interests of the nations hosting those companies. Therefore these institutions could be sold to the cronies as did by the previous governments. In contrast to this process he thinks that efficient management without any political biases should be appointed to SOEs at this point. He is not of the opinion that SOEs should not be privatized.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa speaking in the Parliament during the budget debate said that they were opposed to selling SOEs which make profits which means they were not opposed of selling loss making SOEs.
Daily Mirror Newspaper reported on 15 December 1922 that that based on a survey carried out by Social Scientists Association led by Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda together with USAID had revealed that 93. 8% of the younger generation and 93.2% of the elderly population does not think national assets should be sold off. Only 42.1% of the youth and 47.4% of the elderly believe that recruitment of persons to the state sector should be minimized. As per the research report 69.1% of the youth population and 69.4% of the elderly population believes that development projects implemented in Sri Lanka after the war will have some benefit to the nation in the future. The survey has also revealed that 76.6% of the youth population, and 71.9% of the elderly population believe that rulers have to be responsible for the country’s economic downturn
In this country as a result of nationalization of businesses the wealth of the country concentrated in the hands of the government. The underlying reason for the economic downturn of the country is the deficit budgeting policy applied by the successive governments and the business community has not increased the exports by innovation supported by the government policies. This process was aggravated during the time of Mahinda Rajapaksa and it was triggered during the time of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. People have given their blessings for this process. Therefor I would say that those who are primarily responsible for the economic downturn is not the politicians but the people. Since they still do not understand the situation it would be difficult to come out from this disastrous position.
nimal fernando / December 23, 2022
People are not perfect: no one is. ……. Not even God: if he is, would he create such an imperfect world/beings? …….. If it was his exact intention to create this …….. then he is the ultimate sadomasochist.
–
People cannot be absolved from some of the foolish decisions they make. ……… but
–
–
“Who Are Primarily Responsible For The Economic Disaster, The Politicians Or The People?”
–
It’s very simple …… it’s the politicians.
–
If you read all the manifestos and the promises/undertakings politicians give to obtain votes and come to power ……… all the promises are rational and noble and in a broad-sense what the people desire.
–
No one promises to kill Lasantha and other journalists …… set fire to media institutions ……. prosecute Muslims for meddling with fallopian tubes … set Ganasara loose on the Tamils ……. sell Hambanthota Harbour (sorry native gotta be impartial) …… rob or not rob the Central Bank …… remove cases pending against you, your family and friends …….. appoint 37 ministers without real work, as bribes ……. give useless positions and perks to your party men who have lost their seats …….
–
None of those were on any side’s promises of Vistas of Splendour and Prosperity.
–
When the good ol’ Vistas don’t appear like magic ……… supporters of each/all sides, who believed them, console themselves with their very own self-manufactured vistas of delusional-reality that gives them some mental consolation/sanity
/
Kanapathy Varunan / December 23, 2022
I recollect an advertisement for a branded brassier:-
Nobody is perfect, everybody needs a “Peter Pan”.
/
Harsha Gunasena / December 24, 2022
This answer is to all the commentators.
Hope you all have read my article carefully where I have developed an argument in which the climax was the research. Economic disaster was not created overnight but it was triggered by the foolish acts of the team of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Country was going through this path for a long time.
It seems to be that the politicians where I have sited examples were trying to deviate from that path but based on the research the people were not.
I can give you another example. Regarding the ethnic conflict the politicians over the years followed the people. They were scared of the people that they would loose the next election if they do something which is not approved by the people. Our leaders are not leaders who lead the people like Nelson Mandela. Mandela acted against the wishes of the majority and of ANC and spearheaded reconciliation which was needed at that time. Our leaders are mere followers of the people.
I said ‘primarily’. Primarily they are responsible.
This is the dilemma of democracy although I do not advocate dictatorship under any circumstances.
/
Ajith / December 24, 2022
“Regarding the ethnic conflict the politicians over the years followed the people. They were scared of the people that they would loose the next election if they do something which is not approved by the people.”
This statement is completely wrong , not based on any facts. It is politicians who was responsible for the ethnic conflict and ethnic violence. Yes people are ignorance and when politicians and religious leaders threatened people with lies over lies and fabricated stories what can people do? A clear recent example is the arrest of Muslim MPs, arrest of a Muslim doctor.
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
Dear Harsha,
I am not under any circumstances advocating totalitarianism, but this is the dilemma of democracy.
–
Totally agree with you.
–
However, don’t you think our complex problems lie elsewhere? . The socio-cultural situation in the island is very questionable with a highly biased and incompetent media that praises for favoring its salary earners over the public.
–
MLECHCHA This country is rotten with media culture, people are human shields.. We know social media is based on satirical news but at the same time so is mainstream media.
So fact-based information is constantly being avoided by people. Then false perception automatically becomes common perception. People’s opinions don’t seem to change even after they find out it’s a fake, because people’s general knowledge is far below the level of actual information and statistics in that society.
–
tbc
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
cont.
We know how they breached Muslim covid death rights. This was heavily criticized by BIASED professors of microbiology in favor of those anti-Muslim people. If this had happened in a civilized society, the professorship of those candidates would have been immediately condemned and their prefixes would have been legally stripped.
.
People are misled primarily by the mainstream media, then by the Sangha Samaj and thirdly by the politicians. Indeed, politicians are the winner and reap what the media and the Sangha society sow. This vicious cycle must be broken. That’s when we see people who are responsive rather than passive.
/
nimal fernando / December 25, 2022
Nelson Mandela had paid a very high price and had tremendous stature, not just among his people but in the entire world. He was a man of principles. He could lead.
–
Who among our leaders is comparable to Mandela?
–
Trying to compare Mandela to our pols is an insult to Mandela ………. and an insult even to our pols.
/
davidthegood / December 24, 2022
nimal fernando, God is perfect and created perfect man with free will so as not to have puppets. Perfect angel lucifer wanted to be worshipped and was cast out. He deceived Eve to sin through disobedience to God and we all in the universe in fallen state need help from Jesus to be restored. Restoration will be complete when Jesus returns to send lucifer (satan) to hell together with any who are deceived into following strange gods. Own power is not enough to make perfect.
/
Native Vedda / December 24, 2022
nimal fernando
–
“No one promises to kill Lasantha and other journalists ………………………………….. …………. …….. appoint 37 ministers without real work, as bribes ……. give useless positions and perks to your party men who have lost their seats …….”
–
You intentionally have forgotten an important Sri Lankan trait that South Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (SKDRF) President Cho Sung Lea reminded the Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual.
–
For details:
State Minister slammed by Korean delegate for not being punctual
https://www.dailymirror.lk/top_story/State-Minister-slammed-by-Korean-delegate-for-not-being-punctual/155-250881
–
It is interesting.
Foreigners are telling the so called important people off on their faces in public.
You, Old Codger, Sinhala_man, …… failed to do your duties, that is to teach these Leaders … what to learn, how to behave, manners, punctuality, ………
–
Now that Mr Cho Sung Lea has started disciplining arrogant politicians of this island even the notoriously undisciplined Indian politicians are going to have a go at all your leaders, sad but true.
–
Happy Happy Holidays, hope you have given your partner(s) days off during the holiday season.
/
shankar / December 23, 2022
both.because the people elect the politicians. 6.9 mllion elected murderer gota,so they deserve him.
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
Shankar,
.
agree with you more.
.
Politicians and people are both from Sri Lanka. So both have to bear the failure and be responsible for it.
:
Can I jog your memory knowing Sri Lankans are world champions in their amnesia?
.
By 2015, Rajaksha was defeated not only by Sri Lankans but also by the international community. Not a single country but only Swaziland and Belarus supported Rajapaksa. As Sri Lankan expatriates living in Europe, we were very clear that by 2015, Rajapaksa was ostracized by the entire EU countries.
:
Good governance was able to regain some form of democratic governance, and its community was reclaimed by them. Thanks to the late FM Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, GSP Plus was given back.
–
tbc
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
cont.
The saddest reality is that Sri Lanka’s media mafia continues to be manipulated by the Rajapaksa’s looted funds. Therefore, nothing was imagined as good during that time.
:
However, the so-called bond scam and the Easter Sunday Easter disaster twisted, distorted almost every good achievement the government made and made a U-turn to Rajapaksa.
… There is no doubt that the Rajapaksas were good at hanging the “so-called bond scam ” in order to marginalize the UNP and mislead the nation again. There they did any low work in twisting the mindset of the vulnerable.
–
So now you will understand that not only the politicians but also the majority of the people and voters of this country are responsible for this mess.
:
No doubt majority in this country will repeat it again and again… such is the nature of South Asian mind set.
. They either don’t care or respect facts and figures…or don’t re-think anything properly. The Sinhalese majority will make any low sacrifice for small gains. That’s how they got addicted to drugs and alcohol in a short period of time.Aids is allso now on rise rapidly. I am very pessimistic about this nation. Alas, it is not easy to get them back to the track. JVP cry babies would stay arguming and enjoying their crowds.
/
shankar / December 24, 2022
leelagemalli
“However, the so-called bond scam and the Easter Sunday Easter disaster twisted, distorted almost every good achievement the government made and made a U-turn to Rajapaksa.”
i agree with you on that.That is why they should see who benefited by the easter sunday.Though the cardinal knows the culprit he can’t do anything because ranil will not want any investigation to be done properly.however people should not have voted for gota just because there was a bomb blast by muslim extremists.
With regard to bond scam ranil is responsible because he allowed it to fill up the depleted UNP coffers though he did not personally benefit from it.The people had the right to give the unp only 200000 votes because of what he did,but i don’t agree with them voting for gota because of it because they could have voted for sajit as he did not have anything to do with the bond scam.However the mistake sajit made was he did not break away from the UNP when he contested for the presidency.
/
shankar / December 24, 2022
cont
Sirisena and ranil were fighting tooth and nail in public.Mahinda was poking fun at them saying that it is like 2 buffaloes pulling in different directions.
sajit broke away from the UNP and formed his party too late.As a result the people may have wondered whther a vote for him was going to bring back these 2 buffaloes to rule them through a puppet sajit.However they should not have voted for gota because any person who is decent will not do so as they know he is a murderer.
They say the people’s representative also represents the traits of the people.If we take murder very lightly then we will get the representatives we deserve.
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
Shankar,
.
We HAVE staunch defenders and propagandists of JVP/NPP in CT (Sinhala-Man). THEY STILL DON’T QUESTION,WHY SUPER AKD FAILED TO ACT TIMELY ON PROPERLY DENOUNCING GOTA#S AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AT NOMINATION FOR PE.
–
The same was the IGNORANCE with SAJITH PREMADADA and all other contestants in that election. none of them can respond to the media on this today.
.
Can people ever forgive them today ?
–
These are just issues of totall ignorance in our country, but if this would have been found in Germany or any other european country, neither EC commissioner nor any other officers would not have right to enjoy their freedom further.
.
Can any of today’s excuses do anything to correct the biggest mistake made by the Election Commission in November 2019?
/
shankar / December 25, 2022
leelagemalli
“Can any of today’s excuses do anything to correct the biggest mistake made by the Election Commission in November 2019?”
I thought that gota renounced his US citizenship because he wanted to be the president.Because of that sacrifice hewas unable to bolt to the US when the mob was after him.If he had his citizennship he would be now in the US.
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
Dear Shankar,
one by one
First things first. Starvation and saving the nation are now at the top of the list.
Now Srilanka is hanging by a single hair.
Believe it or not, like it or not, when the truth is there… we have fallen that deep, unable to live another day. It is much more dangerous than Greece 7 years ago. And Sri Lankans are not aware of the truth.They would love to enjoy and make parties in funeral houses. And they are not compatible.
–
I think the inquiry into the Easter Sunday atrocity will come next. And Harin Fernando Hadaya (Minister of Tourism) assured the nation in a press conference last week. I hope the President will act on it… Like it or not, Rajapaksa will have to face the music… If Sorisena is sent to jail for his later life, it will be better than all. our. Hope drives us forward.
–
I mean guys, there are two MRs who have destroyed this nation….one is from Medamulana, the other is from Colombo – Cardinal. If only one or both of them had brains, we would not have suffered such bad things.
/
Amrit Muttukumaru / December 23, 2022
Harsha Gunasena
.
“Who Are Primarily Responsible For The Economic Disaster, The Politicians Or The People?”
.
1) Your question indicates (i) BIAS (ii) you have not understood the nature of the “The Economic Disaster”.
.
2) Both the POLITICIANS and the PEOPLE bear SOME responsibility. It is we the people who elect the politicians.
.
3) What about the PROFESSIONALS who advised and those who kept silent? What about the ‘captains’ of the PRIVATE SECTOR?
.
Amrit Muttukumaru
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
AM,
1) Your question indicates (i) BIAS (ii) you have not understood the nature of the “The Economic Disaster”.
–
The nature of the economic disaster was carefully studied by the good governance government. That is why they repeatedly reminded that there is no other option but to go to the IMF…. Vasideva today is no different from a “crocodile that has swallowed clay – a crocodile that ate clay”, he stood strongly against going to IMF….remember?
–
Curse, Hambantota pattapal thieves (then as united opposition) did not allow any good step taken by GG to be seen as good by the people. They were revealing that 22nd and 23rd will be a really dangerous year for the country and the economy. However, the yellow pets racism supporting people astray and brought the ignorant scoundrels back to power.
–
Seeds of Racism were sowed every corner of the country and created a wave of racism. It was like a wild fire, looking back.
.
If I was born a Muslim, how would I live? If I were Dr. Safi, I would have killed myself because I couldn’t bear the stress that he and his family had been going through.
.
/
hanchopancha / December 24, 2022
Srilankans are born cheats and liars. Cheating and lying begets cheats and lies.
/
Gus / December 23, 2022
The people as they elected the politicians on the basis of who can best persecute the minorities which has resulted in BACKFIRING BIG TIME!!! YOU REAP WHAT YOUR SOW!!!
/
Svenson / December 23, 2022
I agree. Tamil terrorism too. Look how it all ended. You too REAP WHAT YOU SOW!!!
/
Native Vedda / December 24, 2022
Svenson
–
“You too REAP WHAT YOU SOW!!!”
–
I agree.
You know the Lankies have already started reaping for what they allowed their stupid racists leaders to sow since 1948.
Even the South Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (SKDRF) President Mr Cho Sung Lea has told off your minister and his entourage.
How pathetic they are.
/
Fakeculturebug / December 23, 2022
Of course,but this finding is not rocket science in some democracies.
But …..on what basis did the people vote the politicians in ?
Did politicians thereafeter pilfer and benifit ? Who are the benificiaries from the charade ? should the people/clean politicos not hold them accountable ?
Some Doners and Donees could love corruption
In Harry Balafotes duet song “there is a hole in the bucket” Lizas repeated answer is “so fix it”.The melody here seems to go “do it again”
Finding the answer to why that is so will be rocket science
/
Dinuk / December 23, 2022
Corrupt, ignorant and Colonized politicians and their business cronies, along with the privileged duty-free car loving doctors and other govt. servants are responsible for the debt crisis.
But this is not just in Sri Lanka but all over the world there is a corruption epidemic particularly in the Capitalist West where the Rick 1 percent control obscene wealth.
The biggest corrupt criminals are the US EU bond traders and bond holders whose names must be disclosed before any IMF agreement and these would include local corrupt politicians and businessmen!
/
Mahila / December 23, 2022
The yellow robes for the mischievous guidance in the process of selecting the candidate The yellow pets who carried out the death unto fast on the “Shafi case which finally turned into a No Case”
/
cugan / December 23, 2022
Total disaster was by people of all sorts ,whether voted for rice packets arrack and Rs 5000 .The mind sets equals to cinema artists ,singers, big high and low Mullas, PhD holders, the elites…….all for something back. This Dutta steal the Tsunami fund,what sort of a man he is. See that devastation how and where is his morals,
Unleash the attacks on minorities but super humans 69 justified as normal.
This Palli uni degrees what’s the purpose to serve the people. Just opened up more technical colleges for the youngsters, rather than Labourers.
.
When fellow citizens dying celebrate with milk rice. All Tamils are LTTE and Muslims are sympathisers.
.
How many of our Hon members have pending cases against but keep selecting, our doctors not different to.our Mps love perks and luxury cars.now to add the list this golden saffrons incl
/
Svenson / December 24, 2022
‘All Tamils are LTTE and Muslims are sympathisers’
.
All Sinhala Buddhists are racists and all their bhikkhus are yellow pets. Understand?
/
cugan / December 23, 2022
Cont
With electricity tarrif too they demanded got it kandy Mullas in palace with AC.
Treat all citizens equal, or one nation two states, we had enough of these roughs. Not separate country only look after our own affairs. What a hectic past 70 .
/
Raj-UK / December 23, 2022
Who Are Primarily Responsible For The Economic Disaster, The Politicians Or The People? Its a case of which came first, the chicken or the egg.
No doubt corrupt & self-serving politicians, particularly, the current set of uneducated yobs in Parliament & their bum sucking cronies, are directly responsible for the current mess but it was the citizens who voted them in, knowing very well of their incompetence & corruption. Maybe the voters had no choice & the average man (or woman) on the street was brainwashed into a ‘nationalistic’ pride by the politicians, from SWRD to the current Rajapakses, just like the Nazi strategy in the 1930s. However, despite mega corruption, mismanagement, abuse of power, incompetence, nepotism & cronyism, the Rajapakses & their cronies continue their luxury life style & perks funded by the people. Despite Tiran Alles going public, before he became Police Minister, that Rajapakses were conniving with the LTTE at the height of the war, & the Rajapakses being directly responsible for the current mess, many are still in denial & accept the Rajapakses as saviours of the nation. Since we are happy to continue with the flow without making waves on the Sinhala Buddhist rhetoric, I blame the stupid voters, & the rest for being silent.
Cont.
/
Raj-UK / December 23, 2022
Cont.
A female Greek European parliamentarian is under investigation & currently in custody for accepting over 1m Euro in cash as a bribe for promoting Qatar. Our politicians have blatantly demanded multiples of such bribes but we ask no questions of their ill gotten wealth. Nobody is held responsible or accountable, therefore, the blame lies with the citizens of SL. The only hope was the Aragalaya but it was crushed by a man with no integrity for his own survival & we are back at square 1.
/
davidthegood / December 23, 2022
HG, Surely the whole world knows that the economic disaster in Sri Lanka is basically due to the robber family greedily robbing all the dollars and transferring to foreign accounts, as the whole family was where they had access to the national wealth. IMF loans needed accountability where as money for Chinese project loans was robbed by family which now has enormous wealth . No jobbing but all robbing. They also printed excess of local money. Imprison the whole lot, recover the money and no disaster, but president’s brain has changed to suppression which cannot produce wealth and hence the struggle to sell off.
/
whywhy / December 23, 2022
How and when did we get elections ? What had we been doing before that for
thousands of years ? Were we not offered to elect people from a Selection of
people so we don’t Select people to be Elected ? I think I made it easy now !
/
lankan100 / December 23, 2022
Srilankan People are responsible for the current failure.
– No innovation
– No skills workforce .
-Used to get all free from Govt
-Speak of the past starting of Mahavamsa to Heros like of Kings instead of future plans.
/
Native Vedda / December 24, 2022
lankan100
–
The heartless and brainless Lankies can’t or won’t see beyond their nose, can’t or won’t learn from past mistakes, …….
/
Human Touch / December 24, 2022
They say a leader is a reflection of the people.
I think we have to look objectively at the dynamics of political power to answer your question.
First, let us look at how a person called a politician gathers his strength. A politician’s strength comes from the support he or she gates from the people who stand behind him.
If we take a scumbag like wimal weerawansa for example, despite how dodgy he is, there are people who blindly believe in the garbage that comes out of his mouth.
The politicians exploit a weakness in the psyche of dumb voters to gain popularity. People who use emotions to decide on issues are the biggest culprits in the voting game.
Let me take the case of Sinhala only ideology that SWRD peddled to the stupid Sinhala race, if we had stopped to think for a second, every 1 Tamil that would lose the ability to communicate in English, 7 Sinhala boys and girls would lose the same. But we were more interested in depriving the Tamil people, what happened? In the long run we the Sinhala people lost out the most. We are now going all over the world as cleaners and servants.
The same thing keeps repeating over and over, unfortunately.
/
Human Touch / December 24, 2022
The foundation of our society is based largely on the Hindu Caste system.
The caste system leads to a live-and-let-die attitude in the people.
The caste system is fundamentally flawed because a strong society must be built on cohesion, not on some stupid outdated ideology such as the caste system.
If you carefully observe, the fallacy of the Caste system and the warped Hindu ideology is obvious, they do not eat meat because of the consideration towards animals, yet they treat low-caste humans worst than animals.
Yes, one considered, being considered beneath, another human is worst than Racism.
While other societies have tried to root out Racism, we try to embrace the caste system that was outrightly condemned by the Buddha. Slowly we have defaulted to the primal animal instinct within us.
The effects of ill will toward others are manifesting in the degenerate society we have created. We may have 2,500 years of history, but we are still in the cradle of humanity.
We will not escape from this punishment unless we develop a new and up-to-date mindset.]
Look at countries that have progressed and check, if the progress is due to discrimination or love towards one another.
Considering the innate greed at the Centre of our hearts, this is an impossible task.
/
old codger / December 24, 2022
HT,
“they do not eat meat because of the consideration towards animals”
A small clarification if I may.
As far as I know, Hindus don’t eat beef because they consider the cow to be sacred. They have no qualms about other animals, since they happily kill goats and chickens as sacrifices. Buddhists have adopted Jain dogmas about consideration towards animals, and Hindu ones about cows.
I doubt there is any religion that wouldn’t find a way around the prohibition on killing humans. Humans of all religions are killers.
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
HT and OC,
Critical issues in society are not yet open to public criticism for certain reasons.
:
We have enough university professors with expertise in history and Buddhist culture, but most of them do not care enough to bring this into lively conversation. Why do I ask? We are a predominantly Buddhist nation (actually practicing Sinhala-Buddhism not true-Buddhism), however, our sangha society has failed and wasted more time on “sangya” than “Dharma”. Assuming they were much more into “Dharma”, there is no doubt that this country would not have succumbed to dastardly crime promoters like Mahinda Rajapaksa and their machinations. If Dhamma guides, people will question twice before falling for any trick.DHARMA is more close scientific way of thinking and that would not mislead the nation ever.
:
Caste and religion are relatively diminished among the Sinhalese today. However, Tamil Sri Lankans carry on with it as before. Our Tamil brothers can discuss this openly today, why these topics are not discussed in the media even today, give others a chance.
TBC
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
cont. .
.
Those politicians including Superb men in JVP (behaving as if they are genetically modified) still do not talk openly about university seizures, racism, Sinhala Buddhism, LGBT issue, Rajapaksaism and several other topics. Nalin Jaythissa (MBBS colombo) is a JVP MP who is totally against homosexuality and gay and transgender issues. I think these men need to be trained to think that any sexual orientation issue should be allowed to be treated as humanely as possible. If I had a gay child I would not kill him or her.I would never treat him or her like some SRILANKEN parents treat them today.
/
Human Touch / December 24, 2022
OC
What I am trying to establish here is that for whatever reason Hindu people respect cows over other humans from the same race, language and religion.
“you have heard of sacred cows right?”
The Hindu religion gives credibility or validates the caste system. In other words, the Hindu religion is fine with this discrimination.
So, such thinking has become part and parcel of our lifestyle. We constantly see the need to compare ourselves and blow our trumpets.
Such attitudes reflect innate weakness within one’s inner being. This negative attitude goes a long way in defining our society.
A society without consideration, respect, or love for its members is a weak society.
Why do you think the Europeans were able to come to our countries and plunder?
This is happening to this day, not necessarily by foreigners, but by our own people to our people.
It is very sad, the way our psyche seems to be working.
Unless that attitude stops, nothing will change.
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
HT,
.
The psyche of our people (majority).
.
They argue in such a way that you and I would go crazy if asked to check the facts. I tell you, recently, during my short stay in Sri Lanka (Nov 2022) I got to talk about “Southern Expressway with a retired teacher”. She said that this was indeed one of the “7 Wonders” that MARA won for the nation. I asked if she knew that the Chinese have built over 800 km of highways even for Ethiopians today, and she scoffed at me saying that I have no respect for Rajapaksa’s achievements. The discussion ended with me being branded a “puka sudda” and he might be working in an NGO….. bla bla..
:
It is also what our so-called “graduate and advanced graduate-led” work environments are airing during parliamentary sessions or any council meeting.
–
tbc
/
leelagemalli / December 24, 2022
cont.
They don’t care about the time factor. They are not bound to work for time. Time goes by and every time they are elected to parliament nothing is done. They have not reached a common agreement. They are also not ashamed of not succeeding at the appointed time. There has been more shamelessness among politicians under Mara’s rule than in other previous sessions. However, politicians with impudence or criminal minds were publicly rewarded by the MARA doctrine, which people could disagree with.
.
So all or most of what they promised voters is eroded. Knowing that, they are not ashamed to face the people. The people themselves do not question. The whole system is tied together so that they cannot go back and question the reasons and correct our big mistakes and at least fix it in the next session.
.
/
RBH59 / December 24, 2022
The people are responsible as the Ranil was voted for the president by the Pohottuwa proved that none in Pohotuwa is available to make one from there team a replacement president.
Pohotuwa parliamentarian existed by default make the choice, unconscious for the people
Maithri was choose by Ranil and left Rajapasha
When Maithry in power he Choosed Rajapasksh and Left Ranil
When Rajapajsha In power he choosed Ranil
Even the parliamentarian can cannot choose a stable leader Same the people also cannot choose
Where there is no vision, the people perish.
/
Gus / December 24, 2022
Dinul
If the West and EU are bad why are the chinks not agreeing with IMF for a restructure of the sl loans granted by the chinks to the RAKSHAPAKSES who merel channedled the majority of these loans into their pockets or useless white night monuments for their family!!!
/
Svenson / December 24, 2022
If 6.9m Sinhalese are responsible for supporting a corrupt Government, then the Tamils are responsible for supporting LTTE terror. No?
Do you see where insane generalisation leads you?
/
Fakeculturebug / December 24, 2022
S
I am able to accept fully that the LTTE used means of terror and many tamils kept justifying their actions(I say not all)
“6.9 Supported currupt governement”
(I say not all sinhalese }
Are we equating a government of a democratic country with the LTTE ?
Perhaps this is why the youth of both communities are revolting
Did any Priest,Monks Cardinals play a part in politically conditioning minds ?
/
Native Vedda / December 24, 2022
Svenson
–
“If 6.9m Sinhalese are responsible for supporting a corrupt Government, then the Tamils are responsible for supporting LTTE terror. No?”
–
The evidence is there for all to see of course from election data.
Now tell us where is the evidence for your claim/assertion that “then the Tamils are responsible for supporting LTTE terror”.
The Tamils are as much victim as rest of the people.
–
“Do you see where insane generalisation leads you?”
–
In fact to you.
/
davidthegood / December 24, 2022
nimal fernando, God is perfect and created perfect man with free will so as not to have puppets. Perfect angel lucifer wanted to be worshipped and was cast out. He deceived Eve to sin through disobedience to God and we all in the universe in fallen state need help from Jesus to be restored. Restoration will be complete when Jesus returns to send lucifer (satan) to hell together with any who are deceived into following strange gods. Own power is not enough to make perfect.
/
whywhy / December 24, 2022
The question here is , ” who are PRIMARILY responsible for the economic
disaster ” ? People or Politicians ? So , the primary responsibility is in the
politicians and then of course the people who keep voting them back to
power believing in false promises !
/
Pandi Kutti / December 24, 2022
Wish you all a happy Christimas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dghCqJ08Wg4
/
Gus / December 25, 2022
Svenson
One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
The sinhala peoples’ terrorism on the ceylonese tamils created the LTTE.
Many tamils say that under LTTE there was absolute law and order compared to the situation now where the armed forces are involved in selling drugs to tamils to destroy their society.
In any even the results since 1983 is a very powerful tamil mainly professional diaspora that if it sets in mind to do so can further damage sinhala land in the international community.
Compare this to the mainly sinhala “toilet cleaners” diaspora!
/
Gus / December 25, 2022
Dinuk
When it comes to the West they feel guilty of racism. Among asians racism is natural ingrained no guilt. The chinks are the biggest racist. I have chinks friends and they admit it to me that in chink land china it is a given racisim against others.
South Korean consular official BERATED sinhala land minister. SHOWS CONTEMPT.
Frankly I have faced minuscle racism in the West compared to the so called “motherland” sri lanka.
/
Mallaiyuran / December 25, 2022
Britain bear a major share in this problem. It was 1915, Tamils brought peace between Sinhalese and Muslims. British parliament listened to Tamils and acted justifiably. Later, parties wared turned on Tamils, by jelous.
/
Mallaiyuran / December 25, 2022
Britain spared only a deaf ear on matters like, immature implementation of universal franchise and unitary constitutions. Either if it was people error or politicians’ error, both stem from from universal franchise and Soulbury constitution. Without somebody coming solutions to those two issue Ceylon cannot give shift to reverse gear. It will be going on this cursed path like Venezuela, Iran, North Korea…….
/