Sri Lanka Government Forces

Brigadier Shavendra Silva
Commander 58 Division


This can be highlighted as the highest achievement by the military in its effort to liberate the Wanni and the North from the clutches of the LTTE as this is first time in military history of the country in which troops were able to reach Pooneryn after commencing operations from the South.

Also this can be the highest achievement by the military as the LTTE has lost one of its most important strongholds. Now they are left with only Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

We were able to clear the entire Western coast from the clutches of the LTTE enabling the civilians to use the entire Western coast for commercial and military purposes. By denying the western coast to the LTTE we were able to cut off the LTTE’s link with the Indian coast from the Western coast.

It is a relief for the military as this enables us to open a land route to Jaffna for military purposes for the first time in 20 years.
Not only for military, the civilians population will also be able breath a sigh of relief now as no artillery rounds will fall into Jaffna hereafter with the capture of Pooneryn since this was used by the LTTE as a launching pad to harass the civilians in the Jaffna peninsula. So this will be a message of peace for the civilians living in Jaffna.

This is a proud moment for the troops of the 58 Division as they achieved this task sacrificing their lives and limbs for the sake of liberating this fertile land in the North Western coast from the clutches of the LTTE.



Army Commander
Lt. General Sarath Fonseka



Capturing Pooneryn is one of the important milestones in our efforts to liberate the entire North from the clutches of the LTTE. It marks the opening of a land route to Jaffna through A-32 road after 20 years. A lot terrorists perished in this battle. We are poised to achieve victories on the other fronts as well.

Felicitations our brave heroes of the Government Forces.

We cannot thank you enough our brave heroes of the Government Forces, for the task you have undertaken to free our motherland, of the uncouth terrorist virmins. You have taken risks, gone through physical and mental sufferings we can little imagine. Some of your companions have made their ultimate sacrifice. You have taken risks to save the motherland putting your lives in danger. You have done all this for us without distinction of our race, colour , or religion, so that we , our children, and generations thereafter may have this motherland of theirs’, an undivided Unitary State where the Sinhala, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers and Malays may live as a Nation of Sri Lankans.

You have done this not to receive applause, but as true heroes of our Nation, to free our country from the terrorists, who were ruthless murderers, who assassinated many a great sons of our land.

Please forgive those who unwittingly minimised your heroism, fail to recognise the risk you were taking to save this motherland of “ours and theirs”. While you fought your valiant battles without knowing whether your next step would be on a personal mine , or wading in waist deep marshy waters carrying your guns and back packs not knowing whether you would be the target of an enemy bullet, when you had cramps of hunger while crawling on the ground to be safe from the enemy, we shamelessly waited in comfort to get news of your victories, or defeats. We prayed for you when we heard of your victories, we were saddened by your defeats, but we wept for those who died by your side.

Those who were hard hearted, who could not understand your suffering, the price you are paying to save the motherland, were critical of your violation of human rights, when you violated none, critical you claim the motherland as belonging to you, when you claimed no ownership. You are not politicians but real heroic sons of Sri Lanka.

A journalists who believes he is the cream of defence reporters said the capture of Poonaryn is not significant, as there are many pockets of active terrorists elsewhere. This sad reporter believes a military victory is annexing a whole territory all at once. He does not know that wars are won by taking villages, towns, and provinces one after the other. For us, every step you take into terrorist held areas, every square meter you have taken from the terrorists, is a victory, for which we honour you, and pray for your safety.

The Sri Lanka Tamil diaspora will not hail your victories, for they live in clover in foreign lands, dreaming a Tamil Kingdom for themselves in the north east, for which they are paying the terrorists to continue to fight a loosing war.

Pardon them, our valiant heroes, for they are angry men who think of only of themselves, and what they can get out of your sufferings, after your brave heroic deeds are done.

But, those others know that you go through all that suffering and take all those risks ,to save this motherland for all those who share it, to live in peace and unity.

After poll contemplations on political problems of Sri Lanka.

Julius Nyarere


Milton Obote


Kwame Nkruma




Provincial Council Elections of the 23rd August, was a demonstration of peoples’ demand for an end to terrorism, and the confidence they have placed on the President Mahinda Rajapakse as the one who is capable of responding to this popular demand.

In analysing the peoples’ choice at the polls, one should be careful not to not mix ,(1) the liberation of the civilian population in Wanni, (2) the rampant corruption, and (3) the ethnic problem. These are three different problems, which in my opinion were not uppermost in the minds of the voters. The solution to these three different problems, have to be found in a sequential order, one at a time.

If the political analyst is a Tamil, you can bet your “ last rupee”, that the racial hatred towards the majority community will be seen through the analysis, with the assertion that there are those of the majority community who seek to dominate the minority communities. The relevance of this argument may not have any direct relation to the topic under analysis, nevertheless, rhetoric of hatred has to be spewed out. The “cancer” is this mental attitude, which stops the Tamil political analysts from thinking beyond the so called “majorities’ desire to dominate the minorities”. It is this biased opinion, perhaps springing from an inferiority complex, which is the root cause of the “ethnic problem”.

If we are to profit from the results of the polls, after twenty five years of spouting venom at the Sinhala majority in various ways, and the possible end to terrorism which is in the horizon, we should make these two events the catalyst to rid ourselves of all prejudices with intelligent apperception of the different aspects of the problem, that keep the Tamil and the Sinhala Communities away from a meaningful integration.

On the other hand, the Sinhala people, who would analyse the political situation after the polls keeping the “ethnic problem” in mind , and bracing to the continuous potshots taken at them as the “ majority”, by unconcerned Tamil racists, they will be awakened to the fact that they are after all the “majority”, and question what right the 13 percent of the Tamil Community has, to ask for equal rights. Therefore, it is pertinent to ask why the heavens do these morons of Tamil political analysts, have to systematically broach the question of Sinhala majority. They should merely ask for the rights of the Tamil speaking people, not claiming to equate themselves to a majority.

However, it has to be emphasised, that the Sinhala people do not claim special rights over and above the minority communities. It is only a figment of the biased, complexed minds of the militant Tamils-the politicians, journalists, and political analysts. Therefore, it is relevant to ask what, after all, are the rights that the Majority Sinhala Community enjoy, that the minority communities are deprived of ( other than the language )? This claim for equal rights is a creation of the interested politicians beginning from Ponnambalm, Chelvanayagam, and the rest, to wield political power within their communities. For the last 25 years I have heard about an existing “ethnic problem”, without any one explaining what exactly is this “ethnic problem”.

Of course, the Sinhala people have a special claim which they profess as a duty to save, for which in a way the Sinhala Buddhist soldiers are giving their lives in numbers to rid this blessed Island, from being desecrated by the terrorists. They want to save this Island from being divided and mutilated, as it is the land that was visited by the Sublime Buddha, the blessed One, and where his teaching, the pinnacle of Buddhist faith, is enshrined.

This claim the Sinhala people make, is not in any way to subordinate the rights of the Tamil, Muslim, and the people of other faiths. On the other hand the preservation of this Island as a whole, with its sacred glory, would be a common heritage for all the people, their children and the generations to come.

That said, every one agrees , that the Tamil Speaking Communities( Tamils and Muslims) should be given the right to use their mother tongue Tamil, in all correspondence with the government and receive replies in the same language, thus giving Tamil the same official status as the Sinhala Language. Secondly one also agrees that the Tamils should be given equal opportunities in education , without any racial discrimination. Thirdly , one agrees further more that there should not be any racial discrimination in providing employment opportunities to the persons of the three communities.

These are matters that could be settled without calling names to each other, harbouring intense racial hatred towards the Sinhala, because they happen to be the “Majority”. This continued anti Sinhala racism, condemning every thing connected with the Sinhala, such as their religion- Buddhism, their history, their historical chronicle- the Mahavansa, may harden the Sinhala peoples’ attitude towards the Tamil Community, which will not help to construct a durable Unity of Communities.

There is no question now, for the army to withdraw from Wanni without having removed the terrorist scourge. As long as the canker of it continues, there would never be an opportunity for the civilians in the Wanni to revolt against the terrorists.

The UNP and the JVP are adopting a divisive political attitude. Their continued opposition is to matters that the Government will attend to according to its election manifesto Mahinda Chintanaya, when the times would be propitious after the elimination of the terrorists, which is its priority at the moment.

The people who vote for the UNP are the people who are still attached to the old UNP of the D.S.Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, CWW Kannangara, A.Ratnayake, DB Wijetunga and other role model politicians, and those who inherited an old guard political affection to the UNP, from their parents, and the elders. The People, on the other hand, seems to be running away from Ranil Wickramasinghe, with his band of windbags, the market politicians- Lakshman Kiriella , Tissa Attanayake, SB Dissanayake, and the rest. If the UNP leadership is not changed, the present UNP politicians will soon end up in the political morass, despite their cache of the block votes, which seems to seep from the seams.

Since the departure of Wimal Weerawansa, JVP has lost its political attraction. Amarasinghe, Lalkantha, and now Anura Dissanayake drive people away from the JVP. These three are negative personalities that have dimmed the light of an essential young political group which had vast possibilities, and a bright political future. The ordinary members of the JVP should revolt against its present outmoded leadership to bring back the break away group lead by Wimal Weerawansa, and be a part of the governing body, if it wants to revitalise its political image. Lal Kantha that opposes every thing, and Anura Dissanayake who speaks of blood baths, hark back to the days of JVP’s tumultuous revolutionary period, which may frighten away the people from JVP.

Mahinda Rajapase is a great political figure- a rare gem in the political landscape. He is a world class political leader, a statesman. He is a charismatic politicians, who has a personal magnetism that exudes confidence. He is sincere and dedicated to the political cause he spouses to unite the people without discriminating against their racial, or religious differences.
He is a genuine leader of the people, who is simple, who is uncomplicated, who thinks like them, and acts like them. He is a person who could be identified with the ordinary masses.

Mahinda Rajapakse is the only political leader among the many we have had, who having evaluated the immense material and intellectual riches of the nation, is driven by a passion to muster these potentials to develop the nation economically, socially and culturally to bring it in line with any developed country in the world.

As an example from the developing countries, we could mention the political leaders of Singapore, Malaysia, Cuba, China or Viatnam. Julius Nyerere, the President of. Tanzania, was such a visionary leader. But he was never given a chance by the International Community. So were Milton Obote of Uganda and Kwame Nkruma of Ghana..

Mahinda Rajapakse’s inherent leadership capacity should be recognised, and we should rally round him to make him realise his vision.

It is an insult to one’s intelligence to compare Mahinda Rajapakse, to Ranil Wickramasinghe who has no leadership qualities- a politicl moron.. He is a politician running after his own gain, like a grey hound running after the lure. People of the North and East will surely place their trust in Mahinda Rajapakse, rather than on Ranil Wickramasinghe. It is already evident in the East. If the people of North and East do not trust Mahind Rajapakse, it would be because they are lead by their nose by selfish political leaders and Ullemas, for whom the political vision for our country does not go beyond the end of their noses.

However, the Provincial Council elections show that the ordinary Tamil and Muslim people are turning to Mahinda Rajapakse, and they are ready to turn away from the old Political Parties like the CWC of Thondamans, and the SLMC of Rauf Hakhim, that they were forced to follow through sentimental attachment roused by rhetoric, or zealotry( or Muslims Religious Councils).

Once the war against terrorism is over the Government may have the time to turn to eliminate corruption, set up development projects, begin progressive programmes to unite the communities in to a Nation of Lankans , bound by the common object of brining peace and prosperity. In order to make it a reality we should not turn away from now available forces, to seek alternative forces else where, in another time.

To chew and digest by the Tamils, and the Muslims of Sri Lanka, who seem to consider the Sinhala majority a barrier to unity and development of Sri Lanka, I give below an extract of Michelle Obama’s speech made on the opening day of the Democratic Convention in Denver, “…..You see, Barack doesn’t care where you’re from, or what your background is, or what party, if any, you belong to. You see, that’s just not how he sees the world. He knows that thread that connects us — our belief in America’s promise, our commitment to our children’s future — he knows that that thread is strong enough to hold us together as one nation even when we disagree.”

Commemorating the First death Anniversary of Wesley Muthiah


On the 4 August,2007, one year ago our dear friend Wesley, parted from us leaving an emptiness amidst those who loved him, and all those who had come to know him well. A memorial to Commemorate his life and work will be held in London by his family on the 9th August,2008.

More often, people are taken for granted when they are living and active. But once a person has departed, we begin to see him differently, for what he was in reality, we question, we begin to see what is missing since he had left us, and we measure him from his work, and memories he had left behind.

Wesley seemed to be a man in a hurry, a man who did not waste time with small talk, but came strait to the subject he had in mind, and walked away cheerfully as he came, leaving behind an indelible aura of his endearing personality, friendly disposition, and his inert goodness.

That is how I remember him, when I met him fifty years ago in Matale. He spoke to me about socialism, and having gauged my interest in what he had been talking, and being assured of my political sympathies, invited me to his home to meet a few of his friends with whom he proposed to form a LSSP Group in Matale. He was able to generate the enthusiasm of every one present and the Matale LSSP Group , thanks to him, took wings that day. It turned out to become an active group.

Wesley was a Labour Officer, in Matale, and his work took him to the tea plantations, where he met the poorest of the poor in Sri Lanka- the Tamil Estate Workers. The contact with these poor people, gave meaning to his political work. He was determined to help them to rise above their suffering. He organised the Matale Estate Workers Union, with a liaisons officer. as a contact man between the Estate workers and the LSSP Group in Matale.

Even after leaving Sri Lanka, Wesley did not forget his dear Estate workers. He collected Sewing machines, type writers, and computers, and with the help of his friends, set up workshops in the upcountry to help the children of the Estate workers.

Wesley was a socialists, who did not seek fame, popularity, political position, financial gain or self aggrandisement. He was a selfless man- a kind we rarely meet. He had taken away the “ I , and Me “ complex, giving himself selflessly to the cause of LSSP. At the time he organised the LSSP Group in London, he had been admitted to the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He had to read for his Bar Examinations, but the organising and keeping alive the LSSP Group, left no time to prepare for Examinations.

He was dedicated to the cause of LSSP, and stood by it unwaveringly through out its different phases of existence. Even when every thing was bleak , Wesley was looking forward to a resurgence of the LSSP.

Marx’s dictum that the religion is the opium of the masses, was taken out of context by the forces against Marxism to make it unpopular. But Marxism stood for a political system that could alleviate the suffering of the poor masses. The world has changed and the Church has evolved. When the Roman rich sought entertainment, throwing gladiators into arenas to meet their death, Jesus spread the words of love and peace to the poor Romans. Significantly, Jesus performed miracles for the benefit of the poor.

Wesley knew to separate religion, from politics. He was a Christian not merely because his father was a Pastor, but because he felt the Presence of God. He did not take issues with any religion. Once when I said that Buddhism dos not believe in a self, he turned to me with a smile and said, “I breath therefore I am”.

He with his gentle ways, was able to bring his Church to the cause of socialism. His beloved wife, had even organised needlework, and language classes to the poor members of the congregation of their Church in Sri Lanka. He had introduced traditional decorations, and drummers to Church Ceremonies.

Socialism was in his blood, it came from within him. It made him frank, honest and likeable. He was comfortable in a socialist surrounding, wherever it was. He once came to France, along with his wife to attend a Festival Organised by the French Workers Union. He came with a load of books written in English. When I told him that the crowds at the Festival will be mainly French, and books written in English may not interest them, he laughed at me, and took the whole load of books to the Festival Ground. Before, the lunch hour was announced, Wesley had not only sold the whole load of books, but had also made a number of contacts, who had given their addresses to him, asking him to send the book by post !!

He was an endearing person, to my knowledge he made only friends, and no enemies. He would hardly say a harsh word, though he liked to tease others, and laugh when they take offence ! He did not impose his point of view. He accepted criticism of the LSSP, and gave possible reasons for the errors committed by the Party. However, if the criticism was not justified he would quote from books, relate incidents and go all out to prove that the criticism was not justified.

The greatest contribution of Wesley, not only to the LSSP and the Left Moment of Sri Lanka but also to future generations of politicians, historians, and students, is his writings. When the Public Records Office of London released the secret files documenting Britain’ s persecution of Ceylonese anti-war freedom fighters, Wesley conceived the idea of writing the history of the LSSP and the Left Movement in Sri Lanka.

He contacted late Sydney Wanasinghe, a fellow member of the Party and got him interested in his projected. This partnership, resulted in the issue of the first book, “Britain, World War 2 & the Sama Samjists”, in January,1996, followed by, “ Bracegirdle Affair” (1998), “ We Were Making History”, (2002), “The Case for Socialism”(2004), “Two Languages One Nation-One Language Two Nations” (2005) and “ Socialist Women of Sri Lanka” (2006).

These works will stand a monument to Wesley’s dedication to the cause of LSSP, and the Left Movement of Sri Lanka.

His beloved wife Tencey- patient and devoted stood by him through out his long service to the cause of the LSSP and the Socialist Left Movement of Sri Lanka. Later on he had the support of his two affectionate sons Ninesh and Romesh, and then his two daughters-in-law Nina and Geeta. He was a happy grandfather, and adored his grandson Rawishan.

May he Rest In Peace.

Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Janaka Perera, and Pillaiyan Chandrakanthan.

Pillaiyan Chandrakanthan

Janaka Perera

Gotabhaya Rajapakse

(Three persons with three different backgrounds. Three persons with three different visions)

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, was a soldier-Commander of the Gajaba Regiment. He retired from his military service as the Commandant of the Kotalawala Defence Academy. He was the Administrator of the Loyola law School in Los Angeles , when he was called to enter into politics as the Secretary of Defence of the Government of Sri Lanka. He is a dedicated patriot for the cause of his mother land. His vision, now, is to redeem parts of his motherland held by the terrorists- who he fought against and helped to drive them from Jaffna to the jungles of Killinocchi, and give back to the people of Sri Lanka the whole of their motherland without abandoning any part of it, for an Eelam State of the loathsome terrorists led by murderous psychopath Prabhakaran.

In this new role as the Secretary of Defence, Gotabhaya does not mix politics with military activity. He, as an experienced Serviceman, coordinates the three defence forces, the Army, the Air, and the Navy, and participates in the planning of military strategies with the Commanders of the Security Forces, leaving them the responsibility for the execution of the plans.

He has allowed the Security Forces to conduct its military offensive, modernising the army by providing them with necessary equipments. He also serves as the spokesman of the Army, to the President and the Government. The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse keeps the politicians away from interfering with the activities of the armed forces. That was an important contribution which has resulted in the unprecedented success of the Security Forces.

Whatever is said by the media and his political enemies, as a politician he is not corrupt, and as an experienced former soldier, he is dedicated for the cause of the Armed Forces. His larger vision is to make a success of his service as the Secretary of Defence, to allow the government and the people of Sri Lanka regain the lost pride and prestige of the beloved motherland. He has given up a lucrative post, to take over a risky task as the Defence Secretary, in which capacity he narrowly escaped death from a terrorist attack in which an auto-rikshaw laden with explosives was driven on to his vehicle.

As a Buddhist his aim is to preserve this Land of ours, sanctified by several visits of the Buddha, where his original teachings are preserved, and therefore revered by the Buddhists of the entire world, in its entirety without any part of it severed by an unholy demon of a terrorist.


Janaka Perera, was a soldier-a Major General, Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. It was when he was the Commander of the Army in the North Western Province, that he captured the leader of JVP Rohana Wijeweera, and suppressed the JVP insurgence. He was responsible for Liberating the Jaffna Peninsular from the terrorists, chasing them away to the wilds of Killinocchi with the able Regimental Commanders Gotabhaya Rajapakse and Sarath Fernando, under his Command.

It was when he was the Commander of Jaffna, that 40,000 soldiers were stranded in Jaffna at the mercy of a possible terrorist attack due to lack of transport. The Indian Government, with whom the then President of Sri Lanka negotiated for ships to transport the stranded army, refused to provide the requested means of transport. The army however, with the support provided by the Government of Pakistan halted the terrorist march towards Jaffna. Janaka Perera who retired after 34 years service in the army, was sent to Australia as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka.

After his retirement from Diplomatic service, he has taken up politics to espouse the cause of a right wing political party, who sympathies with the terrorists Janaka Perera himself was fighting against and drove away from Jaffna to the jungles of Killinocchi.

Janaka Perera has accepted the leadership of a failed political leader- Ranil Wickramsinghe, who was responsible for signing a CFA, prepared by the terrorists Leader Prabhakaran and a Pro- terrorist Norwegian negotiator, giving parts of North and East to be kept under the control of the terrorist, without consulting the then President or the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

By joining with the right wing, pro-terrorist political party the UNP, Janaka Perera has tarnished his respected image as the Army Commander who launched the Operation Riviresa, which lead to the liberation of the Jaffna Peninsular from the terrorists.

Why did Janaka Perera, take this step to make his maiden entry into Politics, through a party which is pro terrorist. UNP is a party of the rich, and well to do elitist class, which believes that the rich should give the leadership to the poor and under privileged. Janaka Perera probably prefers to be with them for his future prestige, rather than join a Part which is of the people, and dedicated to serve the Country, and save it from destructive Terrorists.

Janaka Perera’s vision is rather selfish, and shrouded in clouds of uncertainty. He seeks his own personal prestige by stepping into politics by seeking to be the Provincial Chief Minister of North Central Province, and thereafter enter the Parliament. The reason for him to accept a Political leader, who has nothing for his credit, other than several failures in his search for political recognition, may be his Christian religious affinity with the leader Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, was a child from Batticaloa recruited by the terrorists. His name was changed by the terrorists to Pillaiyan. Pillaiyan was serving under Karuna Amman- a terrorist, also a native of Batticaloa. When Karuna Amman was the terrorist leader of the Batticaloa District, he broke away from the main terrorists group of Prabhakaran, on the grounds that the terrorists recruited from Batticaloa, were made to take risks, but were not duly recognised by the terrorists of the Jaffna Tamil stock, and formed the Karuna Faction. Pillaiyan followed Karuna, and became the deputy leader of the Karuna Faction.

The Sri Lanka army began a campaign against the terrorists in the Eastern Province in 2002 when the CFA was ineffective. The Karuna faction which also wanted the terrorists away from the east, indirectly helped the army by making intermittent attacks on terrorist groups. This acceptance of the Karuna faction by the Army, interested Karuna Amman to give up terrorism to follow a democratic process. He formed the TMVP as a political party, with Pillaiyan as his deputy. Due to an internal rift in the TMVP, Pillaiyan took over its leadership and Karuna left Sri Lanka to London.

In the meantime the East and the North, the two Provinces that were recognised as one under an Agreement with India, was separated. The army launched an offensive against the terrorists in the East and with the help of the Karuna Faction (TMVP)drove the terrorists out of the East.

In the subsequent election for the Eastern Provincial Council, TMVP contested the election as an ally of the UPFA and won a large number of seats. Pillaiyan having shed his former terrorist affiliations , became a convinced full fledged Democrat, and as the leader of the TMVP became the Provincial Chief Minister, a significant appointment, that was contested by the Muslim leadership, due to their inability to understand the implication of Pillaiyan’s appointment in view of the continuing military action against the terrorists in the North.

However, Pillaiyan being more intelligent, accepted the socialist camp, in his political venture, rather than the reactionary terrorist sympathetic UNP, selected by Janaka Perera for his maiden entry into politics.

Pillayan has shown a brilliant political acumen since his acceding to the position of the Chief Minister of the East. He seems to have so far shown an excellent capacity to understand the democratic political system, and demonstrated an honest desire to work together with people from different communities.

His vision is the progressive development of the East, which had been neglected due to terrorism for a long period of time. He also wants the unity of the different communities in the East, and works with the government to make a reality of his Eastern development programme. He cooperates with the government to make the motherland a happy place for all the people of the East without any communal distinction, to live together in and atmosphere of détente and harmony.
* * *
In conclusion we observe that of the three persons, it is only Janaka Perera a war hero coming from the past, that decided to take a different path, abandoning a President and his Government, who have recognised the role of the Army allowing it to carry out its responsibilities without political interference, to join hands with a failed politician whose object is to discredit the President in power and his government and to become the President of Sri Lanka. Janaka Perera though he was a Commendable Military Commander, has shown his naiveté in the choice of his political camp.

Janaka Perera is selfish, seeking his own personal benefits, while Gotabhaya and Pillaiyan are dedicated to protect and serve the mother land for the common good of all Communities.

Janaka Perera should have rested on his laurels, receiving the respect of people, and their gratitude for the role he played in the Operation Riviresa, driving the terrorists out of Jaffna Peninsular.

The Communities of Sri Lanka should bury their whatever hatchets of discord, to build a united Sri Lankan Nation.

The said to be the Invincible Terrorist Army of the Sun God, is at last brought to its knees, and his mighty terrorist armed forces are running in disarray. We the people of Sri Lanka should be ever grateful for the Commanders of the Combined Military Forces of Sri Lanka, for bringing back to our country the pride it had lost. The International Community who was out to make us come to a peace settlement with the terrorist and eventually divide our country like India, has failed in its endeavour.
Incidentally, as the Commander of the Army made a statement to the press that the Army is seeing the tail end of the “war” against terrorism, Swaminathan Natarajan of the BBC Tamil Service writes in the BBC News website, the most twisted and negative article, “ Sri Lanka’s east in shadow of war” .
This had been by and large the foreign media comments that had been, an on going journalist retching against all efforts of the Sri Lanka Government and its Army, through out the last two years in its successful military action against the terrorists.
This success story of the Sri Lanka Security forces will not be received well by the International Community and the British Colonialists. It is a well known fact that the British Colonialists practiced its- now famous divide and rule policy in the administration of its colonies. They tried it with great success in India.
To India they brought in Jinnah who was already engaged in the British politics, having left India after his famous 14 points were rejected by the Congress . The British probably had a hand in using him as a wedge, between the crack that was appearing between the two Communities in the course of India’s struggle for independence , and probably kept on striking on Jinnah the divisive desire, which finally resulted in the split between the Muslims and Hindus, and the formation of Pakistan by the break away Community of Muslims.
The British Colonialists failed to do the same in Sri Lanka before Sri Lanka was granted independence, and belatedly tried their best to put right their failure, by splitting Sri Lanka using the LTTE terrorists as the “wedge”, between the Sinhala and the Tamils.
The Tamil Diaspora most of who left Sri Lanka in 1983, espoused the terrorists’ demand for a separate Tamil Eelam, making the terrorists their heroes- freedom fighters. But the terrorists were nothing but a group organised by Prabhakaran to make a reality of his Eelam dream. It was the bitter memories with which the Tamil Diaspora, were made to wrench away from their bellowed motherland, that made them embrace the terrorist cause for a separate Tamil Eelam.
The interested parties who were looking forward for personal benefits that may “fall on them”, from a political separation of Sri Lanka, fanned the Tamil hatred against the Sinhala and Sinhala Buddhists. The communal uprising of the 1983, was not a Sinhala sponsored movement, there were other actors who played their part to make it take the aspect of a Sinhala-Tamil racial riot.
The Sinhala never had any grudge against the Tamils for the colonial manipulation of minority as a wedge, to keep the communities apart for the convenience of their colonial rule. The idea itself, of Sinhala Supremacists with a Mahawansa mindset, discriminating against the Tamil minority, is a completely false concept, created apparently by the Tamil intelligentsia, for reasons better known to them.
Of course, after the independence the Governments of Sri Lanka had taken measures to put right the colonial discrimination against the Sinhala, which had been instituted to keep the Sinhala Majority from rising against the British rule, along with the minority Tamils.
Those actions of the Sri Lanka governments, now condoned by the Tamil diaspora, were exagerated to distance the minority Tamils from the Sinhala, which resulted in the first uprising of the communal riots in 1957 after a Sinhala man was supposed to have been assassinated in the North. The subsequent communal rights were the distant results of the first. It is high time that these unfortunate deplorable events are forgotten, and the Sinhala and Tamil rise from the past errors, who ever was responsible to them, and begin to build a united nation of Sri Lanka.
The great victory of the Security Forces, over the disastrous terrorism, is no doubt also due to our President Mahinda Rajapakse, who allowed the Commanders of the Combined Security Forces to carryout their responsibilities in complete independence, without any interference.
The nearly three decades of terrorism have given a chance for each Community to reflect, and bury the wretched hatchets of discord, and unite together as brothers and sisters in this land where we were born, and live together as the children of one great family.

Don’t bring your wars to Canada, says the Canadian Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day

The Canadian Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, should be congratulated for his quite appropriate stand taken against those who raise funds for terrorist activities abroad. In allowing continued collections of funds for such activities the Canadian government itself indirectly contributed to terrorism in Sri Lanka, and other countries. Having understood this fact, the Minister Mr. Stockwell Days had taken a pertinent decision which is praiseworthy. This should be followed by other European countries as well, and specially Australia.

It is normal that those immigrants to foreign countries keep in contact with their home lands, and help their families, or the people of their country of origin by making voluntary contributions for their welfare.

The immigrants if accepted in to a country and given the citizenship of that country, are for all intents and purposes citizens of that country, whether it is Canada, France, and so on. Such citizens should abide by the laws of that country, and should not engage in any activity that would bring discredit to the adopted country. In Canada, a Canadian may be of Sri Lankan, Indian or Pakistan origin, but as a Canadian, he is integrated without distinction of his origin, colour, race, or religion. They can if they are interested in political activities join the political parties of the adopted country as any other citizen.

That is the wonderful liberty in foreign countries such as Canada, USA , France etc. In these countries there are no political parties. designated to Tamils, Indians , Filipinos etc., every one is a Canadian, or an American, and has the liberty to join the main political parties .

This, unfortunately, has not happened in Sri Lanka. The Tamils, and Muslims and Sinhala have their own political parties. Therefore, the main Communities in Sri Lanka, the Tamils, Sinhala and Muslims are politically, racially and socially, divided.

The terrorism in Sri Lanka is a result of this division. We should take an example from countries like Canada, and follow their political systems, and the Tamils, Sinhala and Muslims, should join the existing Political Parties which have no distinctive nomenclatures, such as Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim. That would give political equality to all communities, and will end communal antagonism. This is a way to bring about peace and Unity to Sri Lanka.

Therefore, the Canadian Tamils should refuse payments to extortionists, or willingly contribute to terrorist front organisations to kill, maim or cause suffering to men, women and children in Sri Lanka. They should instead advise all Tamils, both in Canada and Sri Lanka to Unite, and integrate into the political system of Sri Lanka as Sri Lankans without identifying themselves as Tamils.

Jamiyyathul Ulama dictating terms to Muslim Provincial Councillors

The East liberated from the terrorists, has all the reason to organise itself to live in peace, and harmony. But unfortunately the Muslim Community in the East seems to have decided otherwise.

Like the TNA Parliamentarians who work in consultation with their terrorist superiors, the Muslim Parliamentarians too seem to be controlled by an “unseen” force. The Sinhala Parliamentarians take decisions in consultation with their political leaders, and seek the blessings of the religious prelates, who have no hand in the decisions taken by the Parliamentarians. And so are the Tamil Parliamentarians who take decisions in consultation with their leaders and colleagues, and then go to the Hindu Temple for the blessing for the decision they have taken.

But this does not seem to be so with the Muslim Parliamentarians. They do not seem to take decisions on their own but has to consult an “unseen” force behind them to help them take a decision. This came to light in the process of the appointment of the Chief Minister for the EPC.

When Pillaiyan was to be named the Chief Minister, Hizbullah rebelled and threatened to break away from the Government party and sit separately with his two companions, as an independent group. The President called him and explained the situation and requested to accept Pillaiyan as the Chief Minister, Then Hizbullah said that he will have to consult the Ulema before taking a decision. Is it then the Ulema, which is the “unseen force” that directs the Muslim Parliamentarians in the East.

This was further confirmed in a recent news item in the website Muslim Guardian, where proposals had been made against the TMVP by a Muslim Front Organisation. This is an extract from the news report, which does not auger well for unity and peace in the East.
”…… (MIC - sri Lanka) The Kattankudi Jamiyyathul Ulama had requested all the newly elected Muslim members of the Eastern Provincial Council to boycott its inaugural session to highlight the demand of strengthening security of the Muslim community in the east. Ethnic violence has flared in the east between the Tamil and Muslim communities since the EPC polls were conducted and tense situation prevails in the east putting into question the government claim of having liberated the east from the clutches of the LTTE. Political analysts indicate several possible reasons for the above situation.”

The Muslims in the East are organising themselves to oppose the administration of the East under its Chief Minister Pillaiyan.

This may be the beginning of an ethnic conflict in the East, and it should be stopped before it takes a greater dimension. East is home for the Muslims, Tamils and the Sinhala, therefore the Muslims should accept this reality, and learn to live with the other Communities. If instead, the Muslims were to adopt a confrontational attitude, the situation in East will soon deteriorate and perhaps the terrorists will take the opportunity to infiltrate into the region once again. Therefore, Muslims should change their attitudes for the greater good of the whole country.

Recently I had an e-mail from a friend in America, in which he had mentioned of areas in the East which are open only to the Muslims, where even the Sri Lanka Police is not allowed to enter. My friend had been told that there is a fishing harbour in Beruwela reserved exclusively for Muslim fishermen. He also mentions a Muslim Parliament with modern communication facilities. If the trend in the East is allowed to continue we may soon have other problems to deal with, after Prabhakaran’s war against the people.

We are beginning to see an end of the disastrous period of terrorism in Sri Lanka. This should therefore be made the occasion to build bridges between the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities, forgetting all our differences. The East liberated from the terrorists should be made the beginning of the communal unity. The media which complains of government interference, should wake up to their real responsibility which is to help the people to cast away their mantle of communal isolation, to develop the country together, end enmity and build a lasting solidarity, to wake up tomorrow as a happy nation of Sri Lankans.

The Muslim Politicians, and the UNP are responsible for the recent communal violence in the East of Sri Lanka.

A report in IRIN Humanitarian news and analysis read “………. Clashes were triggered by the 22 May killing of two members of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), the prominent Tamil political party in the district, in Kathankudi, a Muslim majority town south of Batticaloa City.

"There is a history of tension between the two communities and the killings of the TMVP members added to it," according to Mujeeb Rahaman, information officer of the Colombo-based Muslim Information Centre (MIC) rights group.”

The blame for this unfortunate incidents should be taken by those responsible for the divisive election campaign conducted by the SLMC-UNP combination during the provincial elections of the East, and for accentuating this Communal division by the Hisbollah group attempting to vindicate their right to the office of the Chief Minister of the East.

The President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse in his greater wisdom knew that the Muslim Politicians would, blinded by their desire to capture political power at any cost, would stir communal violence in the East. He therefore advised them to see the reality of the situation and allow the office of the CM go to Pillaiyan of TMVP, which after all was the more appropriate and urgent solution.

The Muslims of the East to support Hisbollah’s repeated claim for the Office of CM, and the threat to quit the UPFA to sit as an independent group, called a strike shutting down their shops. This did not help to create an atmosphere of peace and unity between the two Communities in the East . The result was the assassination of two Tamils in Kathankudi, followed by killing in reprisal two Muslims.

These unfortunate deaths resulted from the most unthoughtful attitude of the Muslim Politicians.

These Muslim Politicians and their supporters remained in the fringe away from bombs and bullets, watching the Tamils and the Sinhala kill each other, either as terrorists or as soldiers, and when the smoke had settled in the battle front, came out, without a passing thought for those who had died before they could claim victory, or those who risked their lives to see the victory, to share the spoils of the war. And the worst of it, they claimed the prized pieces, leaving the rest for those who risked their lives, or lost their comrades in the battle.

This attitude of the Muslims of Sri Lanka should change. Unlike their Muslim counterparts in Arabia, the Muslims of Sri Lanka are living together in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society. Therefore they have to adopt to the situation in which they find themselves. They cannot remain as a separate entity safeguarding only their own interests.

In Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi or Kuwait, where Islamism is the only religion, with a Muslim population, they may follow the religion of the Koran, which is primarily a religion founded for them, to the letter. But in countries which have different cultural back grounds, and different belief systems, the Islamic religious tenants should be “broadened” to suit the country, enabling the followers of Islamism to cohabit in peace and harmony with the followers of other faiths.

Sri Lankan Muslims should not look after the welfare of only the Muslim Community, imitating the Arab Nations whose generous aid is extended to Arab Countries or special projects for the Muslim Community in other countries,

In the West communal disharmony has been reduced by integrating people of different races and different faiths to live in the same space. But yet, even in the West, communal dissension has arisen from attempting to mix religious customs, in a strictly secular or lay society, and trying to live in segregation, away from those of other faiths.

In Sri Lanka there should be a social, cultural and religious evolution, after the terrible terrorism we had been compelled to live with for the last three decades. The Muslims, should develop a fraternal existence with the Sinhala and Tamil Communities. The Muslim Community should take part along with the other Communities, in the development of the country, and share both in its fortunes and misfortunes. They should refuse to be mere spectators, but active participants in Nation building. For that they should not make their religion a barrier, a wall built to separate them from the others.

In a foreign land if one were to meet another Sri Lankan, one would recognise him as a Sri Lankan, but will have difficulty in guessing whether he is a Tamil, Sinhala or Muslim. The reason is that each one of us belonging to one or the other Community, living and being brought up together, has assimilated the basic characteristic of a Sri Lankan. There is arecognisable similarity. A Muslim, whether he is from Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, or an Arab State will have a cultural difference that distinguishes one from the other.

Therefore, whether we are Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim, we apparently have a distinctly common cultural background which is a mixture of Sinhala Buddhist, Hindu Tamil and Islamic Muslim. Therefore, we can set aside our religious differences, and develop a deep relationship of being Sri Lankans.

If the Muslims had built such a relationship with the rest of the Communities, the problem concerning the appointment of a Chief Minister to the Provincial Council of the East would not have arisen. Because the Muslim politicians would have then understood, the importance of giving the office of Chief Minister of Eastern Province to a Tamil, who had given up terrorism to follow a democratic path, to enable him to understand the value of democracy. Besides, making Pillaiyan the Chief Minister of the East, the continued terrorism for a Tamil Eelam has become futile.

Though Ranil Wickramasinghe and the UNP are also a party to the violence raising its head in the East, the people of Sri Lanka knows by now, that Ranil will engage even with the devil himself, if he could make things difficult for the President Mahinda Rajapakse, and his own dream of becoming the President of Sri Lanka could be realised.

Who really are the Violators of Human Rights ? Is it the Government of Sri Lanka or the International Community with its various partners ?

The pen is mightier than the sward they say. Then why not those who use the pen write the truth, and defend the President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, the man who stands for peace and unity in Sri Lanka.

Human Rights issue on which the President and his government is held accused is phoney.
Those who accuse the Sri Lanka government of violation of human rights ,are themselves violators of human rights.

When the International Community demands, that the government should stop military action against the terrorists and come to a political settlement, the IC is moving towards violation of human rights of the people of Sri Lanka. Because the people of Sri Lanka has accepted that terrorism is causing terror, hampers development, has plunged the country into a fear psychosis, elected a President and a Government who have pledged to end terrorism in their election manifesto. The government has to keep its promise to the people and has to end terrorism. When the International Community, hinders by various means the government of Sri Lanka to carry out its right to defend its people from terrorist, is it not a violation of the right of democratically elected government to carry out its duty of defending its people ?

The terrorists, who have refused to negotiate peace with the government, continue their terrorist activities, ruthlessly killing civilians, and putting the people of the whole country in to untold misery. In this situation the IC, that asks the government, despite the continued terrorism by the terrorists, to negotiate a peace settlement with them, is violating the right of the government to defend its people against a murderous group of savage terrorists. Therefore the IC defends the terrorists, and hampers the efforts of the government to carry out its promise given in its election manifesto, thus violating the human rights of the people who are looking forward for the government to end terrorism and give them peace and freedom.

Again the International Community, which refuses to understand the “war” situation of Sri Lanka, in which safety of unfortunate people in the terrorist held areas, caught in the cross fires between the Security Forces and the terrorists, cannot be 100 per cent assured, as in, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, or elsewhere, there is war against terrorists, imposes sanctions on the government. This is also a violation of the human rights of the people, who depends on the government to develop the government and provide food, employment, and shelter, from the aid receivable from the rich nations of the IC.
Or, the proposal of the European Union to cut off resources, and the threat to withdraw trade benefits under GSP + means the dissemination of poverty, deprivation and adversity. Through the withdrawal of trade benefits the persons working in the garment industry may lose their means of lively hood, which is a violation of the human rights of the people who depend on the EU trade benefits for continued employment.

The United States and the European Union have withheld various aid programs and are supposed to be debating whether to withdraw special trade benefits from Sri Lanka. This is also a violation of the rights of the people who depend on these aid programmes.
Karuna, who broke away from the LTTE terrorists, helped the Sri Lank Security Forces to take back the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka from terrorist control. He left Sri Lanka when his life was under threat. He was arrested by the UK Police for being in possession of a false Sri Lankan Passport. He is to be deported to Sri Lanka.

Now the President of the Amnesty International, who does not seem to understand the invaluable importance of a person, who turns his back to terrorism to adhere to democracy and freedom , to persuade other terrorists to follow his example demands, that Karuna should be arrested by the Government of Sri Lanka on his return, and punished for his past activities as a terrorist. In making this proposition the Amnesty International is violating the human rights of a man who regrets his past terrorist activities, and turned to democracy and demands freedom.

Under these circumstances one begins to wonder, who really are the violators of human rights ?

Is it the President of Sri Lanka Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse and his Government grappling with terrorism, or the International Community with its various partners standing in the way of the effort of the Government of Sri Lanka, which is fighting alone, to end terrorism from Sri Lanka ?

Rev.Desmond Tutu and his uncalled for diatribe against the Government of Sri Lanka

Now it is Rev.Desmond Tutu who makes a homily of his imagined fantasy, without verifying facts or addressing the President of Sri Lanka himself for an explanation, before making his unacceptable comment.
There is lot of violation of human rights going on in South Africa according to latest information, which seems to go unpunished. The immigrant workers in South Africa are being attacked and burnt alive, while Rev.Tutu calls for vengeance against Sri Lanka, without having checked from where , and through whom these accusations against Sri lanka have come.


If you are not aware of what his going on under your very nose in South Africa , Rev. Tutu, how can you expect any one to listen to your diatribes against the Government of Sri Lanka.
Rev. Desmond Tutu has got it all wrong. He certainly has not taken an objective view of a serious situation prevailing in Sri Lanka. He has merely gone on information fed to him by biased analysts. He obviously has no first hand information.
The government forces are at "war" against a well equipped terrorist groups with hundreds of brain washed young women and men trained as black tigers, whose mission is to blast them selves to assassinate a selected person, material or equipments, along with who ever happened to be on the spot. They plant claymore bombs on roads or inside buses to kill a large number of civilians, with the sole aim of provoking the Sinhala people to start a back lash against Tamils in the South, so that the Government could be blamed for ethnic riots.
The government forces are fighting the terrorists who make use of the innocent villagers, as human shields, to protect themselves from the armed forces. Despite these tactics of the terrorist the government forces are doing their best to avoid large scale damage to civilian population. It is normal that in a war situation norms of human rights are subject to be disturbed. It is an indirect cause of the war situation, but certainly not a deliberate attempt by the Security Forces.
The responsibility for kidnappings, murder or torture cannot be passed on to the Security Forces. They are committed by criminals, or by the terrorists themselves to put the blame on the government forces. At least some of the kidnappers have already been arrested by the Police, and investigations are being made.
The government of Sri Lanka cannot be accused of violation of human rights. On the other hand, the government of Sri Lanka should be felicitated for redeeming the civil population in the East from the grip of the terrorists. The "war" against terrorists is also to allow the Tamil population in the areas presently under the control of the terrorists to exercise their human rights and live in peace, free from fear and intimidation.
Therefore, the statement of Rev. Desmond Tutu is made without substantiated evidence against the government as a violator of human rights.
Sri Lanka on the other hand can give valuable lessons on what is human rights, and how can a government protect the human rights of its citizen, including those who become prisoners in areas controlled by the terrorists. Terrorists are not freedom fighters, Rev.Tutu. They are misguided individuals who have lost respect for human life, being blinded by fanatism, and paranoiac of being hunted by the Sinhala people.
Human rights has become a means to attack Sri Lanka, which despite fighting a battle against terrorism, is doing enormous work for the development of the country, and safeguard its people.

United Kingdom, France, and USA have no moral right to boycott 2008 Olympic Games in China.

China is today one of the fast developing economies in the world, having gone through many trials, and humiliation by the British; first by its shameless trade in opium that made millions of Chinese at all levels drug addicts. The Chinese army which was weakened by drug addiction, and equipped with outmoded arms , was no match to the well equipped British army, and was defeated in the opium wars. Thereafter, the British profited to further its humiliation of China by entering into unequal treaties with most favoured Nation clause.

China a self sufficient country traded in tea and silk, leaving a trade deficit to the British, which they shamelessly converted to a surplus by sale of opium. China was weakened and poor. We read in Pearl S Buck's, Good Earth, how the Chinese were living in utter poverty. When the production of tea and silk was low, China paid the foreign traders in silver. Shiploads of Chinese taken away to USA, worked as labourers building railway tracks and cities ,living in most inhuman conditions. Missionaries were brought into China to convert the Chinese to Christianity, thus pushing China from economic poverty, to a cultural poverty by forcing on them a foreign belief system.

It is this nation that was humiliated and pauperized by the West, that has risen to be a power block ready to compete with the West. China had no one to help her to be whatshe is today. Russia which helped it at the beginning to build its machinery and factories left without completing their work. The British occupied Hong Kong, bringing it under its administration.

The West not withstanding the utter humiliation it caused to China, despite its population of more than one billion people, denied it a seat in the UNO, recognising the American puppet regime of Taiwan, as representative of the Chinese people and the mainland China. It was only in 1972, that it was accepted as a full member of the UNO and elected to a seat in the Security Council

This is a reminder that the Western political tactics have not changed from what they were in the past. Recognising a portion carved out of Serbia, and making Kosovo an independent state is similar to the humiliations the ancestors of Western countries enforced upon the poor countries in the past. Or accusing Sri Lanka of violation of human rights and calling the government to negotiate with the terrorists, while at the same time asking Pakistan not to negotiate with the terrorist, is typical of the old Western practices..

Nevertheless, China- thanks to the Communist revolution, was eventually proclaimed a Republic. Left to its own, with its undaunted determination, even making iron in back yard kilns, China developed its machines and technology. The Chinese people lived a simple life and every one of them putting in maximum effort, made China what it is today, different from what it was, not poor any more and not addicted taking opium.

The West lost no occasion to draw the carpet under the developing China. The student uprising in Tiananmen in 1989 was capitalised by the West to create dissention in the country, but despite the Western efforts, the government of China was able to bring the manifestations under control. If the uprising was not curbed and the West was allowed to pour more oil into the troubled waters, situation in China would not have been what it is today. It is good that China is keeping a close watch at changes and not giving in to calls for more freedom, lest there would be a repetition of what went on in USSR, before its break up.

The West has a duty to stand by China now, at least to mitigate the humiliation caused by their fore fathers, and to welcome China as it is, settling political differences in cordial dialogue, not resorting to aggressive political thuggery.

China does not need the Western accolade, but on the other hand the West has a moral duty to bow before China as a great nation, for its fulgurous ascension to the present height. The so called violation of human rights in Tibet is nothing in comparison to what the British and its allies had inflicted on China, with its illegal commerce, and coerced treaties.

If the West is comprised of cultivated, democratic, and honest Nations , they should participate in Olympic Games in China, at least to make it forget the humiliation caused to it in the past.

Tibet is an excuse for the West to interfere into internal affairs of China and to break it up and stop its further development. Tibet has been modernised by China, and if left to it self, China will settle the present problem with Tibet, in its own way, at its own time.. Human rights is not something invented by the West, on the other hand there is much evidence to accuse the West of violation of human rights through out its history..

China, Tibet, and Olympic Games

Human Rights is the new modus operandi of the West to create dissension and perhaps Kosovos, in developing countries. It extends from Sri Lanka to China, North Korea to Burma, Iraq to Afghanistan, Palestine to Iran.

The West, like a hungry vulture waiting to swoop on a dying animal to eat out its bowels, awaits an occasion, to pounces on a country, screaming the now famous cry of “violation of human rights”. These vultures come with different insignia, the Media Forums, Human Rights Watch , the UN, Amnesty International and so forth. They are in Sri Lanka when the government is on the way to eliminate terrorism. They are in Burma, when it is trying to cut itself away from the interference of the Western vultures, and find a way to develop on its own. They are now in Tibet just when China is about to celebrate the 2008 Olympic Games.

The West thinks that they are clean, and above being accused of human rights violations. They are the new saints preaching to the world about human rights, when their own history still smells of the blood of the innocent people they had spilled, be it in America, China, Japan, India , Peru and else where in the world.

France calls for a boycott of the Olympic Games in China for human rights violations in Tibet. But France has also a bloodied past and denial of independence to some of the Islands they had occupied. In Nouvelle Calédonie or Kanak the voice of the freedom fighters of the FNKS was silenced. The leader of the movement Jean Marie Jibaou was mysteriously assassinated.

The British who may also call to boycott the Olympic Games in China, carried out a war to keep the Falkland Island to themselves, and claims a part of the peninsula of Gibraltar as belonging to them.

The massacre of hundreds of innocent civilians men, women and children by the British Army under the command of General Dyer, for which act he was felicitated by the British Governor of Panjab Sir Michael O’dwyer will remain in history to mark the inhuman British rule in India.

It is not necessary to speak of the American CIA sponsored riots against Salvador Allande in Chili, or the failed Bay of Pigs attack on Cuba.

It is this West that gives lessons on human rights now. They cannot keep away politics from any thing that is going on in the world. In a debate in the France 2 of the French TV,on human rights in China and boycotting the Olympic Games, Romain Mesnil the President of the Syndicate of French Athletes said that for the athletes Olympic Games- is an important occasion to participate, and compete with world class champions and get to know them, politics is outside sports and would like to leave it for politicians.

This is the problem with the Western countries and the media. They cannot differentiate politics from sport. Problem with Tibet is an internal matter of China. The west should interfere into it differently, not to score political points. The Political leaders of China may even invite Dalai Lama to discuss the issue if they are left alone to do so. But the Western Governments and their media have already made it an issue to condemn China, and thus distanced any possibility of China and Dalai Lama getting together to solve their problems.

Problem in Sri Lanka is the Racial Hatred of the Minority Communities against the Majority Community.

"The world is fast changing, but Sri Lanka is rapidly decaying. The changing world is accepting and accommodating the minorities as part of their nation’s society and embracing them as people in an accommodative way. Sri Lanka which is a tiny drop in the world map is still talking about prejudicial politics to alienate and marginalize the minorities"


This is how the Sri Lanka Guardian begins its editorial of the 6 March,2008. It is a strange editorial because it speaks of a different Sri Lanka seen through the eyes of the writer. In reality Sri Lanka is different from what he tries to portray. In a fast changing world Sri Lanka which had been stagnating for 60 years after independence is trying to find its place. If one looks though coloured glasses one will see every thing in the same colour- the colour of the glasses. The reality will be hidden behind the even colour through which one sees the world.

It is true that in most of the countries in the world the minorities have been absorbed in to the larger majority. But to be accepted and accommodated as a part of their nation’s society and embracing them as people in an accommodative way, the minorities have also contributed by making an effort to change their minority back ground , by learning the language of the majority, accepting the culture of the majority and by taking an oath of being respectful and loyal to the country of adoption.

In Sri Lanka this has not happened. The minority instead of accepting and respecting the majority and being respectful and loyal to the country of their birth , is doing everything prejudicial and destructive to the majority. The minorities want to be a group apart from the majority, and that is the cause of the problem of Sri Lanka, and the disfunction of it as an inclusive society.

What has gone wrong with Sri Lanka is unflinching hatred of the minorities towards the majority. For the minorities in Sri Lanka the problem is with the majority, forgetting that they also have a role to play for not being alienated by the majority. How easy it is to praise other countries and criticise our own country for a problem created by prejudiced minorities.

The writer of these scathing remarks, has forgotten it is more respectful to leave the religion out of political discussions. Many minority Tamil writers do not stay with their criticism of the majority for their political rivalry, but goes on to criticise and belittle every cultural and historical aspect of the majority, when they write of the plight of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is not decaying in a fast changing world. The President Mahinda Rajapakse since his taking over the high office has done a lot to raise the image of Sri Lanka from what it had been for a few decades. The International Community has suddenly become aware of a small nation a tiny drop in the world map is making a mighty effort to overcome the debilitating situation it had been put into by a handful of ruthless terrorists , and making its mark in the fast developing world.

An army which was a decade or two ago, a mere decoration of a developing country humiliated and indiscriminately attacked by a terrorist group, whose armed forces were developed through purchase of modern equipment from the contribution of a minority diaspora full of hate towards the majority, is today not second to any army in the world. This modernised army of Sri Lanka Government, has made the mythical well equipped terrorist forces a dilapidated tin army running away hiding their tails between their legs to hide in their holes, from which they will soon be hunted out.

That is what the modernised army of Sri Lanka- the little drop in the world map, has done. No body, neither the minority diaspora, nor the minority sympathisers of the Terrorists believed that it could happen, and now that it is really happening the minority pro terrorists are raising their voices about a Sri Lanka majority that is alienating and marginalising the minorities. How can the Sri Lanka majority under these circumstances, “ accept and accommodate the minorities as part of their nation’s society and embrace them as people in an accommodative way.” In what ways have the minorities helped the majority to cleanse the country of the terrorists, to make it a place for every one- the majority as well as the minorities, to live peacefully despite the minorities hatred towards the majority.

The writer of the editorial, sees Somawanse’s and Weerawanse’s as religious bigots surviving on defunct words. What has religious bigotry got to do with the alienation of the minority from the majority. Who is really running away from transforming the different societies, to an inclusive society in Sri Lanka?
After sixty years of independence, despite a 30 years of a terrorist “war”, Sri Lanka is at last seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and progressing in many ways possible despite the high stakes against terrorist war that no body ( except perhaps a few of the minorities) wants.

It is not correct to make general remarks such as that “ Sri Lanka has become the hotbed to produce degenerated lots of politicians who lacks the political will or charisma to transform the country into an inclusive society. These politicians thrive on the progressive decay and contribute further to compound it to bring the country to an anarchic state.” The Ministers seem to be doing a good job of work despite the immense difficulties they obviously encounter.

Sri Lanka is neither progressively deteriorating, nor is there any signs of the country being taken towards anarchy. Our country is far too small, “a tiny drop in the world map”, to experiment with new political methods. If the minorities give up their notion of being side tracked by the majority, and stop their racial hatred towards the majority both the majority and the minorities could live in harmony.

This excerpt from the Guardian Editorial, “ Tamil terrorism is the manifestation of the unwilling majority Sinhalese rule to accommodate the minorities with open heart and dignity. Unfortunately, the Sinhala mindset is yet to change significantly to accommodate the minorities magnanimously with due respect and provision of power sharing to manage themselves within the island nation of Sri Lanka.”- is just a fiction of the writer’s imagination.

The majority in Sri Lanka have been magnanimous, that is one of the reasons, that there is no racial tension in the South. The minorities live very happily among the majority. There is no country in the world where the majority and the minorities live together in a mixed environment without racial clashes, as it is in the south of Sri Lanka.

This idea of an ethnic problem is new. The only areas that one could point out as an ethnic problem areas, are the language and the University admission at a percentage rate according to the population. But those are matters that could easily be settled.

Unlike in other countries like France or England the minorities in Sri Lanka are quite free to do what they want. The minorities in Sri Lank have their own schools, or they can go to any school they want to. There is no restriction about even what they wear.

In France Muslims girls were not allowed to enter schools with the chadors. There are no separate schools for French people of Arab , Chinese, Vietnamese, or African origin. In Sri Lanka the minorities could correspond with the government departments or institutions in their mother tongue. In France there is one official language, but they are assisted by providing forms in different languages to correspond with the Government departments.

In France as well as in other Western Countries, there are no political parties called the Chinese, Arab, or African United Liberal Front. They become members of the existing political parties of the country. That is how , today, Barack Obama is seeking Nomination from the Democratic Party for the Presidential election.

This could happen in Sri Lanka if the Minorities give up their communal parties and join the two or three main Political Parties such as the UNP , the SLFP or the JVP. These parties have no communal label. If that were to happen it would not be a surprise if Sri Lanka would one day have a President from one of the minority communities.

JHU and JVP are not extremists, they are not against the minorities. The extremists in Sri Lanka are unfortunately in the minority communities. The day the minorities put their thumbs down not to be recognised communally but as Sri Lankans, and give thumbs down to political parties carrying communal labels, and join the main political parties, it “….will be the day Sri Lanka will emerge as a nation that could survive in the fast progressing global village.”

The Guardian Editorial is well written, and it would be a great boon, if the editor would write editorials without racial hatred , to bring the communities together to build a harmonious Sri Lankan Nation of all our people, rather than to keep them divided, and apart from one another.