“Lasantha Wickrematunge of the Sunday Leader, an independent English-language paper, explained that the Rajapaksa brothers are personally involved in intimidation attempts. He likened their involvement to a “good cop, bad cop” routine where the Defense Secretary will personally call an editor and threaten arrest or even assassination. The President will then follow up by saying not to worry; he will look into the matter.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
A Leaked “CONFIDENTIAL” US diplomatic cable, dated May 15, 2007, recounts the details of a meeting the US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher has had with media managers in Colombo on May 10, 2007. The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database which is classified by the ambassador Robert O. Blake.
“To underline U.S. support for freedom of the press, Boucher held a press roundtable on May 10 with managing directors from ten leading independent Sinhala, Tamil and English papers in Colombo. Participants described how the government is directly and indirectly threatening journalists to prevent them from reporting on human rights abuses, abductions, paramilitary groups or other topics that do not portray the government in a good light. Citing specific examples of intimidation by government officials as well as the Karuna faction, they described the current climate as one of fear and intimidation. Lasantha Wickrematunge of the Sunday Leader, an independent English-language paper, explained that the Rajapaksa brothers are personally involved in intimidation attempts. He likened their involvement to a “good cop, bad cop” routine where the Defense Secretary will personally call an editor and threaten arrest or even assassination. The President will then follow up by saying not to worry; he will look into the matter. Mr. Vithyatharan of Tamil paper Sudar Oli commented that the government “may be playing this game with you, but with us, they are playing with our lives” — an allusion to the government’s markedly harsher attitude toward Tamil journalists.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
gamini / October 24, 2012
The irony is the US being made aware of all these dangers, well before time, just allowed them to happen. WHY? Because the US had their finger in the Rajapaksa Pie, and these individuals were considered obstacles. So the US allowed the Rajapaksas to liquidate them. Now the US is making devious moves to prevent the Rajapaksas being exposed, as it will in turn expose the US connections, hence they influence on the UN to stall any investigations.
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Jegath / October 24, 2012
US is simply not bothered, Sri Lanka is a tiny pea and its problems are nothing compared to what US deals with in the International scene, thanks to MR and GOTA, they bought in China and war with war crimes is hard for US to resist..
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gamini / October 24, 2012
Jegath, Sri Lanka was known as the Jewel in the Indian Ocean. Due to it’s shape, we are now known as the teardrop of the Indian Ocean. I believe the latter suits us better as we are destined to live in turmoil and torment thanks to our Pseudo Patriots. It is indeed a Paradise Lost!
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Jogan / October 24, 2012
Pseudo-patriots came into power because they gave money to Tigers. Tigers then prevented Tamils to vote Ranil.W.
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PresiDunce Bean / October 25, 2012
In recent times Sri Lanka has become the piss drop hanging from India’s penis. :)
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Sri Lankan / October 25, 2012
[Edited out]
Please treat your motherland with the respect that it deserves. This name calling is uncalled for.
Your cartoonish behavior is comical at times,and I’m willing to forgive you for that.
But re: this despicable comment , please take it back like gentleman worthy of the elite Anglican school in which you were educated.
your comments above speaks volumes for majority of the diaspora loving MR hating crowd ,I suppose
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hansan / October 31, 2012
Well said Sir, Next will be Liking Shit from the Ashole, Ra.. love it.
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Prem / October 24, 2012
Every bloody person works on there self interest. Finally it’s just us, my family and I. What petty souls are we on this planet. End of the day all our clock are counting down and we all have to eventually leave everything behind
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Sammy / October 24, 2012
well said…. the I, me and myself and the strong ego are due to ignorance…… at the end of the day leaving without anything. Finally the money will stop at the bank and the relatives at the cemetery. you will have to go by yourself and at that time…. well no one is there, you need to battle it out yourself. most people expect to harvest carrots after planting potatoe seeds. the most evil thing is not letting go things in life which eventually bring stress.
finally it comes down to three things, lust, hatred and ignorance…..
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zaheer musamil / October 24, 2012
Lasantha is triator. Prabakaran is beter than this bugger.When he was live he write anything for money
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gamini / October 24, 2012
Zaheer Musamil, I would have normally ignored your comment. But the distortion of facts and your foolishness displayed, I feel sad for this society to know that there are individuals as yourself who constitute our polity. It is no wonder we are in this predicament thanks to your ilk. Can you please tell the readership here how you class Lasantha Wickrematunge as a Traitor? First do you know the meaning of the word Traitor? Is it because he revealed Corruption at all levels irrespective whether it was the UNP or the PA? If not for LW this Nation will be unaware of the Hambanthota Scam of MR and a whole lot of Corruption that had taken place in this Country. The present Politicians would have paraded as Lily Whites for FOOLS AS YOURSELF, or is it due to the proverbial saying you are a true MUSLIM who turns to the side where your fez turns? You state that he wrote anything for money. It is more honourable to write and earn a living than robbing, like your idols. For what and whom you are writing is known for many of us readers. Simply to eat PIG SHIT dished out by the Rajapaksas. No wonder you must be definitely relishing, in eating PIG SHIT. Generally Pigs like you eat Pig Shit.
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Punchinilame / October 24, 2012
Well said Gamini. This kind of arm-chair commentators need to know where to draw the line.
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PresiDunce Bean / October 25, 2012
Due to many people like zaheer musamil living in this country… today Sri Lanka has become nothing more than a low lying country , inhabited by a majority of low lying people who regularly vote for low lying politicians. All they are good at doing is, eating kiribath, lighting crackers and watching cricket matches while screaming ‘jayawaaaywaaa we are lions’ and shouting out to anyone who will listen, telling them what a great country we are and how inferior all other countries are…a xenophobic fools paradise…that’s what our country has become. :O
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zaheer musamil / October 25, 2012
ha ha. u try to be Gota. never can men. Because u r looser(Nikama).U have only words with rubbish. no action. u can write anything in CT or any kind of forum. some people like u think LW is journlist and He loved the our mother land. Bullshit. He wanted money through blackmail the people. All Sri Lankan knws that. My uncle (He is good business man Sri lanka Since 1977). this burger threatn to publish some gossip of Uncle’s related with Minister Ashrof. And he asked something (It must be Money )if it doesnt want publish in His news paper.My uncle’s word was ‘never mind u publish it. I’l never pay for u’. that de story. Anyway he’s gone like His cousin Prabakaran. I dont want to insult anyone. but sucker is a sucker. he was LTTe sucker.
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gamini / October 25, 2012
Zaheer, you say your Uncle known to Ashroff a good or wealthy businessman from ’77 and Lasantha demanded money from him not to write about him. But your Uncle refused to pay and did Lasantha publish the article? He should have, since he was not paid. The said article is no secret now. So could you reveal the article for the readership here to asses your concoction.
You say you do not want to insult Lasantha. But he is a sucker and how you call him a LTTE sucker, you should explain to the readership. What do you call MR who paid the LTTE to become President? If you do not explain, you could be addressed in the same manner.
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nSathees / October 24, 2012
Have you ever read the articles by this honorable journalist? Your allegations are baseless.
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Supun / October 24, 2012
Go to hell Zaherr, it s not worth getting angry reading your comment. But I have to – Your ilk of people in or out of SL have no brains the size of a mustard seed :(
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mike / October 24, 2012
Zaheer, your command of the English Language is painful to my ears. Lasantha was a great journalist and I do not want to waste time responding to you. Please get lost from this column.
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Native Vedda / October 24, 2012
zaheer musamil
“When he was live he write anything for money”
How much did he charge for a piece?
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zaheer musamil / October 25, 2012
[Edited out] I dont knw how much it was. any way he is in Hell now. but I cant take my mind from that kind of ugly memory
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Sagara / October 26, 2012
Please disclose the article. Then we can judge!I feel sorry for people like you.
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Lanka Muslim, UK / October 24, 2012
Zaheer, you can criticise but use decent language. I could be one who one time disliked LW for his views and did not even read Sunday Leader but later found him to be a courageous journalist who would not cow down to intimidation and threat in the use of his freedom of expression Sri Lanka needs many such journalists of his calibre if the country is to move forward as a truly free country.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / October 24, 2012
YOU SUCKER,…..
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
http://colombotelegraph.com/comments-policy/
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Banda / October 24, 2012
What a fairy tale the media is promoting. Why Gota or anyone should should behave this way unless Gota is stupid. The government have better ways to protect them rather than resorting to direct involvement with media on these issues. This like the famous white van reports. When everyone is looking for white vans why any person with ounce of brain use a white van unless they are retarded. There was a case someone was abducted by police in a white van in the heart of Colombo. Big publicity was given on most media to this news. However, it was learnt later that this was an arrest warrant carried out by excise department in a Grey van. There have been no white vans. Similarly trying to blame Gota or the President with these childish claims will only hurt real journalism in the country.
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gamini / October 24, 2012
Banda, to quote you,’Why Gota or anyone should should behave this way unless Gota is stupid’. Bando, GOTA is more than stupid as he has no brains. He has so far shonne because not due to his brilliance, but he has fitted the plan executed by the Americans. That is all. Otherwise see the blunder he has created for MR by calling to abbrogate the 13th Amendment? See what will be the outcome of this call very soon?
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Perisappu / October 24, 2012
Bando, you should have either slept or left blinded ALONE over the past few months. How many of the incidents were reported where white van scenes were the case alone during recent past ? How many were not taken to custody by police even if the court issues were already there?
Unfortunately the typical Nature of your sort of people – far from understanding even minor issues further pave way MR thugs to continue their agendas. It is the duty of media to reveal those incidents – my problem is the degree of media involvement in such issues is still not to the level that it should be in Sl.
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Jogan / October 24, 2012
Banda must be a Daily News reporter. There are two kinds of journalists,one who take money/enjoy the benefits granted by the (Corrupt) Politicians in power, the other like Lasantha wants see Truth to triumph and fight unfairness/injustice/corruption/thuggery
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Huna / October 24, 2012
So Banda could you figure out where is the latest destination where the off shore bank accounts are been maintained by the regime for safekeeping.Also the lost museum stuff.
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Piranha / October 24, 2012
In the case of the late TNA Trincomalee MP Pararajasingham, Mahinda Rajapaksa telephoned him and vowed to kill him and indeed that’s what he did through the assassins controlled by Karuna. The americans know this and the other murders committed at the instigation of the Rajapaksa brothers but are keeping silent. Gota and Basil are american citizens and regretfully the americans are turning a blind eye to their activities.
It is no secret that the Rajapaksa brothers are born criminals with a nasty streak who won’t hesitate to kill anyone who is a threat to their criminal activities. The ignorant sinhala masses keep on electing this bunch of criminals to be their leaders. What a shame!
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Donald / October 24, 2012
“The ignorant sinhala masses keep on electing this bunch of criminals to be their leaders”
Only this bunch? I would say all thsose bunches, present and past provided that the word “criminal” does not apply to all of them, other adjectives may.
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Gamaya / October 24, 2012
I can only agree with you Donald and to add a little to it to say that whether we Sinhalese are born stupid ignorant A..H…s with no wisdom to think and take necessary action when needed.
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Podi Thambi / October 24, 2012
I usually don’t comments to posts.Seeing most of your responses makes me feel optimistic about our motherland.But I’m afraid the kind of leadership we need won’t be around the corner.Even in the most unlikely event in which the Rajapassas are dethroned. Who will rise to the occation? I don’t see any potential candidates who are capable of steering our quasi paradise to the promised land of true freedom and democracy.
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gamini / October 25, 2012
Podi Thambi, do not worry this Nation will not fall by the way side even without a Leader. It sure will, if Leaders as MR is at the helm only.
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Lanka Muslim, UK / October 25, 2012
The people of Sri Lanka up to now, due to their own fallacies, have leaders of the present type but there is a growing intelligent generation waiting to overthrow the present corrupt, communal and violet leadership and take over the country towards a better future. We could see changes taking place in world, not only in the West but also in the East, and Sri Lanka will not be an exception.
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F.L. Waiting / October 25, 2012
Beware of plots of the enemies of Sri Lankans to create hatred and disunity among us. That is the ground work required to prior to create violence and then upgrade it to terrorism.
Our leaders did not fall from the sky… they were elected by us. If someone does not like them, just vote the leaders out in next election, without being a roadblock to progress.
I see this forum is being used to not only to insult our elected leaders and create hatred, but also to label Sri Lankans as stupid. If victims have evidence, use litigation to bring those responsible to justice.
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Palayandi / October 27, 2012
F.L.Waiting,
You say “Our leaders did not fall from the sky… they were elected by us. If someone does not like them, just vote the leaders out in next election, without being a roadblock to progress.”
1)Every decent learned citizen of Sri Lanka knows that your hero first was elected by bribing VP, and still with a narrow margin.
(2)Then he broke the ceasefire and went to war, in the process killing
many innocent Tamil civilians, as he wanted the support of extremist
Sinhala voters.(BTW this was the method adopted by all previous politicians who wanted to come to power and to continue in power).
(3) With the victory in war, he was voted again,{though his victory was suspected as the Election Commissioner was kept at Temple Trees before the election result was announced}
As he did not have the required majority in Parliament to amend the constitution, he lured the sycophants from opposition parties, (offering undue perks like cabinet posts) to get a 2/3rd majority and amended the Constitution as an URGENT Bill without due study by the Judiciary as was the practice.
Thus he became supreme leader contolling the Judiciary, Public service and the Army.
So do you really think that you can vote him out in the present set up?
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Panikkiya / October 25, 2012
Gahapiya – Marapiya – Bellata Kotapiya! Ane amme mee waatha amaaruwak hadila appa….. konda ridenawa inda baa!!!
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gamini / October 25, 2012
Once I asked Lasantha Wickrematunge, that people accuse that the Sunday Leader publish articles to extort money and if they pay they do not publish further and if not, they continue to publish. To wit, Lasantha repiled, that any whistle blower or whoever furnishes information, first they check whether it is authentic and publish same. Thereafter if the assigned Journalists for investigation, comes up with further material there will be further publication if not the matter ends. He said there was no point in repeating over and over again the same thing. So this was construed as the Leader Publicaion publishing for money.
Now with reference to the Tsunami Scam, the Sunday Leader went on to reveal evidence as it unfolded. How the first time around the Chartered Bank refused to open the Account and how it subsequently did. Now if what was published was false, MR could have esily taken LW to Courts, for publishing false or cooked up stories. But MR did not. WHY? Because it would have revealed further and the truth would have got established. Without doing the right thing, sueing LW for libel, MR and his cohorts kills LW the messenger. As for Gota reference the MIG deals although he pretends to be innocent, where he prevailed and influenced the Judiciary to issue a Restraining Order, the truth is he could have sued LW for libel. No he did not want to do that, because the truth would have been out. The funny thing with this society is that when Corruption is exposed, some of the Public take offence for exposing same. They little understand that the responsibility of the media is precisely that. They do not take note of the Corruption and take remedial action to rid the system of such Corrupt, but make all excuses and blame the party that exposed Corruption. Similarly here, I know that there are some who hates me for what I state as alleging that I resort to slander people. But when I support with facts they are silent. They accuse me of favouring RW. I do not favour anyone for that matter, let alone RW. So far I have never come across, RW being accused of Corruption by anyone or being Dishonest. If someone does so with sufficient evidence, my stance will not be to safeguard him thereafter. I simply fail to understand the Logic of some people.
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PresiDunce Bean / October 25, 2012
Well said gamini. Except for zaheer musamil, there haven’t been any government apologists or sycophants trying to tarnish the image of Lasantha on this thread because to give the devil his due, even they must be knowing that what was done to Lasantha was despicable.
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F.L. Waiting / October 25, 2012
Now who can tell me the name(s) of any Sri Lankan leader, who has not been accused of favoritism, violence, corruption, nepotism etc.?
Every leader is “accused”, labeled as “this” and “that”, and the stories are amplified. This is due to a complex set of forces. The power hungry politicians opposed to the government just would not let the elected government do the job. The unions are encouraged to strike. The Tamil Terrorist Diaspora, the TTD, eternally teams up with the foreign vultures and become a headache, making sure the progress slows. The foreign vultures are engaged creating disharmony and mistrust among the communities aiming to get a foothold in the country to command and control us. Finally there’s a readership who has ample time to waste, reading the BS.
I am saddened that some journalists just don’t see this happening, which in turn, not surprisingly, adversely affect the journalists themselves!!!
For that special win-win result, journalists have to add that uniqiue spice to their writing. It’s called PATRIOTISM.
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PresiDunce Bean / October 25, 2012
@F.L. Waiting
Someone once said that patriotism is the last resort of the scoundrel.
There is also such a thing called “Blind Patriotism,” (pronounced as kaday yaama). The real patriotic journalists are either dead like Lasantha, imprisoned and then released like Tissanayagam, made to vanish like Eknaligoda, forced to resign like Fredrica or exiled like those who run this website. The kaday yanna blind patriots on the other hand live happily in SL singing hossanas of the corrupt murderous family regime.
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Brian de Bois Guilbert / October 27, 2012
OMG PresiDunce
how do you term people like you who obviously hate country of your birth ???
It’s a damn shame that you are also a Thomian
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gamini / October 26, 2012
F.L. ( hopefully not an abreviation for French Leather), granted as you say a Leader not being accused for favouritism. For that matter RW is accused by his own classmates at Royal for not heading any of them, let alone helping or favouring any, even showing signs of friendship. He is totally aloof. Further he is not accused for Violence, Corruption nor Nepotism either. On the other hand, MR stands out like a sore thumb displaying all the qualities you have mentioned. So the inability for a society to sellect the right person makes all the difference.
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shankar / October 29, 2012
Gamini,I agree with you that a people get the representatives that they deserve,but where i disagree with you is RW cinging on to the leadership even after losing election after election.He should step aside gracefully so that someone else can give a better fight to MR.You have to set a thief to catch a thief. RW would have been a automatic choice in a western country but not in ours and that is why we are not a developed country full of bumsuckers and their representatives are the mirror image of themselves.
So RW should take a rest and step back and when the next election is lost by the new leader he can put up his hands again for the leadership.Then he can truly say it was not my fault that the UNP is losing the elections,but the reason is people are gullible idiots in this country and are getting the representatives that they deserve.Now at the moment RW with his stubbornness is just taking the flak unnecessarily and by not stepping aside is not allowing the people to realise the root cause of the problem as to why we are not getting better representatives.In other words the people will be forced to take a hand mirror and see their own ugly mugs and decide to apply some make up and beautify themselves instead of Colombo only.
In a nutshell the people will notice that there is a problem in themselves only if RW steps aside because now they think the problem is RW.
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American Lanka Lover / October 26, 2012
Gamini how I wish they were true, those accusations you make against the US. But IF true, why would we sponsor the UNHCR resolution last March criticizing GOSL? Why would we refuse GOSL pleas for military aid and intelligence assistance time and time again? Why would we grant asylum to all the LTTE cadres now living in the US? Why was LTTE only designated as a foreign Terror Organization during the Bush Presidency rather than back in the 80s under Reagan?
We gave only very limited assistance to GOSL: the defense review by the Pentagon and the satellite pictures showing location of LTTE arms smuggling ships way offshore in the Bay of Bengal which allowed SLN to attack them in international waters. If you have any proof of other assistance please provide it here.
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gamini / October 28, 2012
Ugly American, a watered down Resolution was just to satisfy the world Human Rights Watch as otherwise it would have exposed the Americans connivance. Will see how long the US acn pretend?
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shankar / October 29, 2012
American Lanka lover,
Firstly could you tell us, why if you are a american you claim that you love Lanka?If you are a Srilankan domiciled in the US,I will accept your loving tendencies,but if you are a white anglo american,then your love for us will be considered like the love you bestowed on the native americans practically liquidating them,and the african americans with your lynch mobs of the ku klux clan and now the love for the Arabs for their oil fields.So bugger off with your love because we have in the 21st century become a bit enlightened unlike others whom you took for a ride in the 20th century.
So,lover,you say the you gave satellite pictures you say which destroyed the arms supply of the LTTE,and that is all you said you did.Well,do you expect the LTTE to fight with bows and arrows like the apaches did with you and win the war against the Srilankan armed forces,with all their modern weapons they got from china.Your statement shows you are a fool and think others are also fools.Though I was initially sceptical of gamini’s contention that the US is a friend of the Rajapakshe’s,now i am beginning to change my mind after reading your statement.
I think the US is leveraging through the Rajapakshe’s to get more and more influence in srilanka,by using blackmail.Everytime they turn the screws a bit on the rajapakshes when they don’t get what they want.They could not care a tuppence for the tamils or the human rights or anything except our strategic location in the Indian ocean.
So put your love up your white arse because we are not coconut climbers anymore and are a bit more educated now.
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